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California ban on concealed weapons overturned by court According to a report by the Associated Press on Thursday, a divided federal appeals court struck down California’s concealed weapons rules, saying they violate the Second Amendment right to bear arms. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said that California is wrong to require applicants to show good cause to receive a permit to carry a concealed weapon. The court ruled that all lawabiding citizens are entitled Please see page 2
First California transgender student to play High School softball The first transgender student-athlete in the state of California is being allowed to play for the this season, according to a published report. The report said that Pat Cordova-Goff, a 17-year-old senior at the school made the team on merit and skills. The student, who identified herself as a girl, is on the school’s cheerleading team and also was a member of the baseball team as a freshman. Cordova-Goff is able to take advantage of new guidelines put out by the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section, the body that governs prep sports in most Please see page 5
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INDEPENDENT THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 26, 2014
Volume 2, No. 8
Hit-and-run victim and amputee to “finish the ride” that almost killed him On Sunday, February 17, 2013, Damian Kevitt was struck by a mini-van while on his bicycle, and dragged close to a quartermile down the Interstate 5 Freeway in Los Angeles. The collision resulted over twenty broken bones and the amputation of Kevitt’s right leg. Now, one year later, Kevitt, working with the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC), is returning to his bicycle for a charity ride he organized called Finish the Ride. The event, which will be held on Sunday, April 27, 2014, will raise money for the Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF) and LACBC. It aims to raise awareness of Los Angeles’ hit-and-run epidemic. Kevitt has been working closely with the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, California State Assemblyman Mike Gatto, and Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge to organize Finish the Ride, which has grown into a movement to help make the streets of Los Angeles safe and fun for all bicyclists. “The only way I can bring closure to what happened to me is by taking the bad that occurred and turning it into something good – not just for one or
two others but for my city of LA,” said Kevitt. Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles), who authored legislation last year that increases the
statute of limitations on hitand-runs, and whose staff organized a canvassing effort to catch Kevitt’s assailant, has introduced new legislation this year to in-
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Mike Gatto comments on fatal hit and run in Silver Lake
Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) issued the following comment regarding a recent hit-and-run accident that killed a man in Silver Lake. “The brutality of this tragedy is felt deeply by our community. The senselessness of this death is compounded by the fact that a second driver struck the victim and also fled the scene. Our community will not stand for the reckless disregard of human life. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victim and his family.” According to police, the male victim was crossing Riverside Drive just south of Fletcher Drive around 10 p.m. when he was struck by a vehicle traveling southbound on Riverside Drive. As the man lie on the pavement, a second vehicle struck and dragged him a short distance. Neither vehicle -Photo by Terry MIller stopped to provide assiscrease penalties for hit-and- tance or even called to get run offenders. Gatto’s help. Last month, Gatto inAB 1532 would require troduced legislation that automatic license revocation for motorists who flee increases the penalties for people who leave the scene Please see page 6 of an accident. AB 1532, would expand hit-and-run penalties to include automatic license revocation for motorists who flee the scene of any accident involving another person, even if the victim’s injuries are minor. AB 1532 is a continuation of efforts by Assemblyman Gatto to address the epidemic of hit-and-runs in Los Angeles County and across California. Last year, Gatto authored AB 184, which extended the -Courtesy Photo statute of limitations to prosecute hit-and-run drivport of Repstedt's master- ers. Last night’s tragedy ful effort on the mound. The tall right-hander scat- comes nearly one year to tered five hits and walked the day after Damian Kevitt was struck by a mini-van three. On President's Day at while on his bicycle and
Big League dreams in West Covina
After a slow start in the annual USSSA President's Day NIT Tournament, the Pasadena Play Hard Chief bats came alive to combine with outstanding pitching as they stormed to three straight victories
and the Silver Bracket 11 and under Championship at Big League Dreams in West Covina. On Sunday, Will Repstad of San Marino pitched a seven-inning completer, striking out 12, as the
Chiefs defeated OC Premier, 6-2. Michael Gruppie of Arcadia had three RBIs, including a booming tworun home run at "Dodger Stadium" while Altadena's Nick Gallo added a long bases-empty shot in sup-
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