Cancer forces publisher to shutter Native American Press/Ojibwe News

Bill Lawrence is battling late-stage cancer and has been admitted to hospice. Prayers to his family.<blockquote>By CURT BROWN, Star Tribune
Last update: September 29, 2009 - 10:36 AM

Bill Lawrence never flinched from scrutinizing Minnesota's tribal governments, even when someone fired bullets through his newspaper office windows in Bemidji. But a battle with late-stage cancer has prompted Lawrence to fold the Native American Press/Ojibwe News after 21 years.

"I am no longer physically able to do the tasks -- computer searches, investigating, seeking ads -- that are necessary to put out an edition," he wrote in his recent final edition, under an editorial titled "A good day to die.'' His failing health, and the difficult publishing environment, "makes it impossible for me to continue." . . .

Since starting his newspaper in 1988, Lawrence has engaged in relentless legal efforts to open the books of the state's 11 Indian casinos. His tireless work as a watchdog helped send several prominent tribal leaders to prison. Among his final works was a definitive series on the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome on the Indian community.

"He simply had the guts to take a look at Indian country and tell the truth," said Jim Randall, a retired Minnesota Court of Appeals judge and Lawrence's longtime friend.

A celebrated athlete, U.S. Marine in Vietnam, lawyer and one-time taconite miner, Lawrence entered journalism to challenge the tactics of powerful Red Lake Reservation Chairman Roger Jourdain, who happened to be his godparent. His newspapers soon became his obsession, prompting him to mortgage his house to help finance his work when casinos pulled their ads in protest of his scrutiny.</blockquote>http://www.startribune.com/local/62479257.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4OW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ

 

Sounds like a helluva guy. Peace to Bill.

 

Wow. Keep on fighting Bill.

 

Cancer sucks. My thoughts are with him and his family.

 

Keep Pounding, Bill.