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EDISON From page 1A describe why that is and our customers have a right to know what’s driving those rate increases.” An important factor in the current cost jump is the price of natural gas, and that price has spiked in part because of the severe weather that blanketed most of the Midwest and the east coast last winter. “Much of the supply for California is driven by natural gas-fired power plants,” said Worden. “In addition, natural gas tends to drive the clearing price for wholesale electricity on the markets.” Worden also noted why severe winter weather has a significant impact on power prices in California. “California imports about 85% of its natural gas,” he said, “so California is very sensitive to the markets.” In addition, Edison is updating its infrastructure and investing more money in a smarter grid that, according to Worden, will improve its services. An immediate example of that includes the new smart meters that have recently gone into many local homes in Ventura County. But something else is happening with rates. Remember when the energy crisis hit California ten years ago? After that energy crisis, the legislature passed a law that established tiered rate structures for customers in California. Edison believes that, after nearly 15 years of implementation, the cost of these tiered structures seems unfairly slanted toward larger consumers. “Every tier became more expensive,” he said. “Over the succeeding 1314 years, it became apparent that customers who used less electricity were not paying the true cost of the service.” Worden noted that Edison, pending California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approval, has proposed to even out those rate increases among tier users. For instance, the average increase for larger users for this round of rate hikes will be less (7%) than for smaller users (11%). For Edison, this summer’s increase in energy prices are the beginning of a long-term plan to make electric rates more equitable. “It’s the first step in the larger effort by the state legislature and the Public Utilities Commission to take a look at rate reform,” said Worden. The proposal, due to be voted on some time next year, would reduce the current tiered structures from four to two. Added to this would be a flat rate tacked onto a user’s bill that would cover about one-third of Edison’s fixed costs. Worden believes the overall impact of these changes would make rates more equitable for all customers: “We think a more fair allocation of our cost recovery is to try to equalize rate costs but still preserve some incentive to conserve. So we think that having only two tiers and a longer term plan for a fixed charge is a better way to treat all of our customers.” For households who may need assistance paying their electric bills, Worden pointed to an energy assistance program called California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) that targets rate reductions for low income households. For those who qualify, it could significantly reduce any future rate increases. Worden encouraged all customers to investigate and apply if they qualify. Information for CARE and any special energy assistance programs can be found at www. on.sce.com/ratechange. DEBT From page 1A because many creditors simply refuse to deal with debt settlement companies. According to the report, “Debt settlement companies do not tell consumers whether creditors will work with their firms at the time of enrollment. However, even if debt-settlement companies were required to disclose whether a particular creditor routinely works with their firm, this provides no real guarantee. In many cases, the party who owns a debt changes over time, since a debt may be sold successively to multiple parties.” Available data suggests that at least two-thirds of debts must be settled in order to achieve a net positive outcome from debt settlement. Even more debts must be settled for the consumer to achieve real savings if they end up being liable for taxes on the debt reduction. In the end, many consumers never realize that kind of experience. Rather, they end up worse off financially. According to the American Fair Credit Council, an industry trade association, consumers must typically be enrolled in debt settlement plan for three to four years in order to complete the program. During this time, debt balances grow an average 20 percent while consumers wait for settlements to be reached. Additionally, their credit scores are negatively affected, financial instability increased, and the likelihood of creditor lawsuits loom near. According to Leslie Parrish, co-author of the report and deputy research director at CRL, “When a consumer stops making payments on a debt, not only
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is she/he vulnerable to fees and an increased interest rate, the reporting of this delinquency to credit bureaus can impact credit scores for years.” In general, the higher a consumer’s credit score is, the lower the cost of credit they will incur. Conversely, the lower one’s credit score, the higher the cost of credit and interest will be. Whether applying for a credit card, auto loan or a mortgage, bad credit histories make future credit and borrowing more expensive. In 2010, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued regulation that barred debt settlement companies from charging fees until they reached settlements with the client’s creditors. While this regulation has stopped some of the most egregious industry practices, CRL’s report finds that significant financial risks remain for debt settlement clients. Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau shares regulatory oversight of debt settlement with the FTC. Thus far, CFPB has taken multiple enforcement actions against several debt-settlement companies and one payment processor. CRL also sees a role for states to establish meaningful limits of debt settlement fees. One recommendation is to limit the fees that can be charged and to calculate such fees on the basis of the amount of savings achieved for the consumer. State and federal regulators could also require better screening of prospective customers to lower the risk of a bad outcome. Factors such as the amount of debt to be enrolled, creditors and the consumer’s financial circumstances would be taken into account. Additional recommendations can be found in the report located at: http://rspnsb. li/1x5lPOe. Ellen Harnick, co-author of the report and senior policy counsel at CRL, said, “What’s clear is that more action is necessary to protect consumers.” Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. LIFE From page 2A talk. I have come up with a very effective, discreet, private, and convenient way for you to get support and encouragement with your area of struggle whenever you needed. If you are feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, angry, struggling in your career or working through family conflicts, I have a very special way to help you if you’re interested, simply email me at mac@lonniemccowan.com and I will send you information on how you can share your heart with me, and let me share mine with you—you deserve to be heard! And you deserve to receive good solid biblical balance advice and insight. Hear Pastor Lonnie each Sunday live at the Miracle Center 5105 Walker St Ventura Ca, www.miraclecenterventura.com (805)6447722 lonnie100@msn.com Lonnie G. McCowan is pastor at The Miracle Center of Ventura, in Ventura, CA. He can be contacted through email at lonnie100@msn.com or by visiting www.miraclecenterventura.com. PERMISSION From page 2A But you have to grant yourself permission first. A few weeks ago I gave myself permission and took a field trip to Santa Cruz Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park, an amazing galapago just off shore of the gold coast of California. My friend Susan was planning a trip from Chicago and we had discussed this adventure during one of her previous visits. Everything was aligned for now. I invited another friend, Amy, to join us. She shares a love of the sea and was in need of such a field trip. She said “Yes”, the magic word. Our field trip was magical. A very brisk wind was howling when we first set out from Ventura Harbor aboard our bus - Island Packers’ ferry. The sea was a bit choppy from the wind waves but we had sunny, clear skies and warm temperatures. During the crossing, we were visited by hundreds of dolphins who played in the wake alongside the boat. Squeals of human and dolphin delight filled the air. As we approached Scorpion anchorage, we were met with more than a dozen whales. Amazing, gigantic, graceful blues, grays and humpbacks. Wow! I’ve sailed this channel for more than twenty years and although I have been blessed with many whale sightings, this was awesome! Upon disembarking the vessel we were given instructions about when to return to dock. We were warned of the dangers, reminded of the remoteness and the distance from any medical facility, and strongly cautioned about the lack of drinking water available. We were told of the presence of the hanta virus and rodents and to stay away from the foxes and not to feed any animals. When released from orientation, we took a short walk where we feasted on our deluxe picnic lunch in the shade of a eucalyptus grove. From there we began a hike (moderate to strenuous by park stan-
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dards) which brought us up a very steep trail. Trusting that we would be rewarded with a scenic view at the top, we trudged our way up. It was 88 degrees and very sunny and we whined a bit. When we reached a place where there was no longer a climb in elevation, we were still far from any view of the ocean but we knew it must be just ahead. And then the reward… After our hike, we made our way to the beach where we nestled ourselves in the cool shadows of an open cave carved into the cliff on the rocky shore. We planted ourselves on the smooth boulders and sat there with our feet in the sand while the waves splashed over them. We gazed at the mainland and the civilization which seemed so very very far away from this wild island. We reveled in the now moment of the experience. And we congratulated ourselves for making the time to do it. On our return crossing, we were again greeted by a massive congregation of dolphins as a fine ending to the day. Do you remember that summertime childhood feeling you would get when you had been outside in the sun playing all day long? A little sleepy. Content. Your mind full of happy. Summer’s here. I encourage you to make the choice to plan a field trip. Take a day and make it fun. Discover the child again. What are you waiting for? Tick tock. Time is passing. Give yourself permission. Now. THINGS From page 2A advised to simply finish the degree since I was so close to completing it. During my senior year, I had to spend time in a classroom and at that point I knew that teaching elementary school children was not what I was called to do. Once again, I went to my counselor and was told to finish the degree. I was told it was good to have the degree and that many people don’t work in fields that they went to school for. Needless to say, I never went into teaching, but I did spend a lot of time studying to teach. It was true I obtained one of the degrees as the counselor recommended, but had I taken time to realize my heart’s call, I could have made better use of my educational higher learning opportunity to obtain a degree in a field I loved and would do even if no one paid me. #3. Taking the job that offers more money may not be the best choice. Money is a great thing. It affords us a comfortable lifestyle and allows us to purchase things we need and desire. It is wonderful when we are able to move up the ladder. However, more money should not be the only reason for taking a job. There are other things to look at, such as the benefits package and also what type of working environment it is. Taking a job that is more money but mentally wears you down and keeps you stressed out isn’t worth the money. Working very hard for money and things but never having time to enjoy them isn’t worth it. Working so much at the expense of greatly damaging or losing your family and important relationships is not worth it. More money isn’t worth less peace of mind. If you work really hard and make an abundance of money but wear your body out and are sick when you retire, you won’t be able to enjoy it. If you lose your family for the sake of money, you better have a lot of money for good senior citizen housing and care because it takes an investment in love for people to want to care for you when you are old and sick. #4. Exercise and eating healthy are a much better means of having energy then drinking coffee. When I was growing up, I played sports. But when I became an adult, got married and on my own I no longer worked out. I think that I became so busy parenting and moving with our military family from place to place, that I did not think about the long term importance of committing to exercising regularly and eating healthy. Did you realize that many of the foods that we eat contain certain chemicals that can produce energy or cause us to be sluggish, cause tumors or increase our antioxidants? A good rule to follow is if you can’t pronounce that ingredient or it has initials in bold, don’t eat it. Not only is eating the right food and getting regular exercise the healthier way to get energy, the energy also lasts longer. Caffeine and energy drinks give a temporary boost – a very quick up that also has a very fast down. Another way to be in good health? Regular exercise. When we work out consistently we will have more energy and also find it easier to get up in the morning. #5. Long term lasting benefits/ legacy outweigh temporary rewards. I have learned that the things that end up having lasting results are the ones that take longer to get. Quick fixes don’t last forever – that’s why they’re quick! Diets and pills can cause a person to drop weight quickly, but once they stop taking that pill or stop that diet the weight comes back. Fast money doesn’t always keep producing more, but good investments produce good returns. Many times when sounds too
good to be true it really is. #6. The people that are meant to be in your life will be there. People come and people go. Different people have different experiences to share with you or things you may need to impart in their lives. Sometimes we would like to have people in our life who are not meant to be a part of the best purpose and plan for us. Those we expected to always be there sometimes have to go, but the ones that are really meant to be there will weather the storms, stand the test of time and be there. It goes with the saying that God doesn’t always give us what we want, but He always gives us what we need. Inez Lanns was born and raised in Ventura County. She currently owns an Internet Marketing & Communications business called Inez Knows. She also writes on her blog on her web site: www.inezknows.com. EDC-VC From page 2A and their needs. This system, which matches advisors to the appropriate clients, is the first of its kind in the greater SBDC network and provides a more focused approach to consulting. The program’s goal is to reduce consulting hours and related costs. WORKS From page 3A Gallo, Roads Engineer for Ventura County Public Works Agency Transportation Department. “Raising awareness and creating programs that assist the community to save time and money to safely dispose of waste is our main focus.” Businesses that generate more than 220 pounds (approximately 27 gallons) of hazardous waste per calendar month, or no more than 2.2 pounds of acutely hazardous waste in that calendar month are considered a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG). These businesses are invited to bring their hazardous wastes on the 4th Saturday of each month to the County’s Business Hazardous Waste Collection Event. “The County’s website has a wealth of information on the types of hazardous and large non-hazardous waste, such as furniture, tires, oil, and paint, and the safe ways to dispose of them, as well as available waste disposal facilities in the County,” explains Gallo. For more information on VCPWA’s Integrated Waste Management Division services and its waste-disposal facilities, visit http://pwa.ventura.org/ water-sanitation-department/ integrated-waste-management. CONCERT From page 3A awareness as a single voice,” says Conor Quinn, President of the Clean Water. During the event, BOS, LLC will be providing attendees with the opportunity to purchase Hope2o, a comprehensive water analysis kit that is capable of testing for a wide range of pesticides, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals and organic chemicals in tap or filtered water. In the same way families use smoke detectors in the home, Hope2o is a solution to detect contaminants in water and inform the community about the existing pollutants and their concentration. The water analysis kit is uniquely capable of detecting chemicals down to the part per trillion –because lowlevel contaminants can have a long-term impact. In small concentrations, toxic chemicals can have detrimental health effects when consumed over long periods of time. Hope2o is a simple solution to provide accurate information on water quality and provide peace of mind. Hope2o water analysis kit will launch in August, 2014 and will be available online via www.blueoceansciences.com. For more information about Hope2o and/or BOS, LLC, or to schedule an interview with the founding CEO and water expert, Dr. Andrea Neal, contact Minh Tran at (951) 317-8481 or minhxktran@gmail.com. BOOKS From page 5A images that reflect their lives and their communities. 2. White children need diverse stories, too. This is something not everyone realizes. Seeing only white characters in books can turn children of color off of reading, but it also keeps white children from getting a clear picture of the world they live in. 3. Multicultural stories empower and inspire teachers. BROWN From page 6A company offers counseling and guidance on a variety of services including auto, life, fire, health and business commercial insurance. He prides himself on his ability to meet the specific needs of clients and exceed their expectations. He currently serves as chairman of the Fontana Planning Commission and was appointed membership director of the Personal Insurance Federation of California (PIFC). Each year, he and wife Lena coordinate the annual Miss Fontana Pageant, which awards $3,500 in college scholarships to young women residing in the
city of Fontana and the unincorporated parts of Fontana. BOYFRIEND From page 7A Smith reported her missing the following day. The search warrant also reveals that Smith has an outstanding warrant for domestic battery in Arkansas. Smith disappeared in the days following Tanner’s disappearance. U.S. Marshals reportedly arrested him at a relative’s Glenwood, Illinois home. DAD From page 7A after Mr. Hall paid the arrearages and court fees, and had a positive balance, he was sentenced to six months in jail for child support underpayment and over-visitation. Prior to the repeal, my client could not have been incarcerated. Because his case was reset six times until after the repeal, Mr. Hall was held in contempt and sentenced to jail.” Hall’s attorneys have exhausted all appeal recourses. Attorney Eraka Watson will file a motion for reconsideration introducing the AT&T sworn affidavit for the existing court’s consideration. The affidavit was signed and delivered to Hall’s previous attorney on January 21, 2014, and was not available nor considered during Hall’s November 18, 2013 hearing. The motion for reconsideration, if successful, could mean Hall’s freedom. If the motion is not successful, Hall’s lawyer will take the next course of legal action to free Hall. Attorney Watson will also seek full custody for Mr. Hall of 12-year-old Dreydon Hall, his son. FCC From page 8A South Carolina. Without the help of JSAs my company has entered into with Sinclair Television Group, Inc., I would not have been able to fulfill my lifelong dream of being a TV station owner. These agreements allowed me to obtain access to capital that would have otherwise been unavailable to me. Access to capital and financing are without question the single biggest obstacles to new entrant and minority broadcast ownership. Single buyers of a TV station, especially in small- and medium-size markets, simply cannot get financing without JSAs and similar types of shared services agreements. In my experience, JSAs and shared services arrangements provided the only means over that obstacle, and are thus a critical avenue for addressing the FCC’s goals of serving the public interest in fostering competition, diversity, local programming and minority ownership. Therefore, the FCC’s statement that its recent action banning JSAs is designed to “enhance broadcast diversity and minority ownership” rings hollow. Nevertheless, the FCC also invited parties to seek waivers of this new rule, promised a prompt review and stated it had “an obligation to take a hard look at whether enforcement of a rule in a particular case serves the rule’s purpose or instead frustrates the public interest.” I immediately filed for such a waiver -- which costs thousands of dollars in legal fees and costs -- to acquire three more station licenses in the hope of doubling from three to six the total number of full-power TV stations in the country owned by AfricanAmericans. Armstrong Williams is the sole owner of Howard Stirk Holdings and Executive Editor of American Currentsee. MARRIAGE From page 9A Over the years, many studies have found married people to live longer than their single counterparts. More specifically, research has linked marriage with a lower risk of developing cancer, having a heart attack and being diagnosed with dementia and various diseases. But there also has been some good news for singles, too. Research has shown that unmarried people with active lifestyles enjoy their own health benefits. ARTHRITIS From page 9A Distraction does have drawbacks. Knee distraction is not widely available in the U.S. (most patients opt for full knee replacement). The frames stay on for months. Rehabilitation is long. And the cartilage produced may be less durable than natural cartilage. 4. Cartilage Replacement Because it’s the loss of cartilage that makes osteoarthritis so painful, researchers have focused on finding ways to replace this connective tissue. Autologous chondrocyte implantation, or ACI, involves doctors’ taking a small amount of cartilage from the patient’s joint, cultivating the cells, sealing the affected area and injecting the cultivated cells under the seal. For all its promise, though, ACI works only when the arthritis is contained in a relatively small area. PATH From page 11A There are now more than 5,300 charter schools and 41 states and D.C. have passed charter school legislation.
Harry C. Alford is the cofounder, President/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce®. Website: www.nationalbcc.org. VOTING From page 11A establishment wing of the GOP? No praise of Black voters responding to their civic duty? No pledges to really show Black voters in other states it’s in their interest, too, to vote for Republican candidates? No mention of the once vaunted “outreach” effort the Republican National Committee promised to mount in the wake of its national ticket’s decisive defeat in 2012? Of course, you aren’t. For one of the many ironies of Black Mississippians’ rescue of the veteran conservative Cochran is that it undermines the longstanding, three-card-monte GOP rhetoric that Blacks unthinkingly vote Democratic against their own best interests. Here, Black Mississippians, perhaps the most reliably Democratic voters anywhere in the country, chose to vote for a Republican conservative who has delivered resources that benefit their districts, their interests and those of the state as a whole. Lee A. Daniels is a longtime journalist based in New York City. His latest book is Last Chance: The Political Threat to Black America. FAMILY From page 14A education was the key to being successful in life. They knew that education was the most important thing they could give to us. So we went to the best schools in Cameroon and we emphasized that with our kids.” As a result, Bon and Irene’s kids graduated from St. Bonaventure High School. Bon and Irene then gave their children the gift of an undergraduate education and paid for it without any scholarships. Their efforts seemed to have paid off. Bonarene graduated from Harvard and is currently working in marketing. Glenn graduated from Princeton and is attending UC San Francisco’s School of Medicine. Daniel recently graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon with a degree in economics. For two busy professionals like Bon and Irene, working fulltime and raising children has its challenges, but Bon emphasized that the key to making it all work is to be respectful. “No matter whether we agree or disagree,” he said, “we have one common goal—what benefits the family. We don’t always have to agree but we always have to respect each other’s decisions.” Bon loves living in Ventura where the temperature is “never too hot and never too cold,” and he has participated extensively in local community life, including being a member of the Chamber of Commerce, serving with Rotary Club, the Boys and Girls Club of Ventura, and being a board member for AYSO. “The way I see it,” he reasoned, “when you’re involved in a small community, you take a lot of satisfaction in giving back to the community.” While Bon holds tight to his Cameroonian roots, he also enjoys life in America. In particular, such things as jazz and classic TV comedies like “Sanford and Son” and “The Bill Cosby Show.” He talks about the benefits the U.S. has offered to him and his family. “I’m glad for the opportunities that are available here,” he said. “This country provides lots of opportunities and allows for everybody to work hard and succeed.” WORD-FINDS, From page 5A
SUDOKU, From page 5A
CROSSWORD COMPANION, From page 5A