That is good news. That has been an ugly, hateful word ever since its inception. However, I'd agree with the article's author that Jackson should first try and work to discourage the use of that word within the black community itself, since they use that word more often, and more casually, than whites do.
I always thought the word was slang for negro (with a Southern accent). I wonder why they hate Southern accents so much. As far as I know it is still ok to say negro as in negro college fund.