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se rican-Amer o t in han Cooper. ican deathld quadruple The allegeddcuffs and ha New row inmate in ci Cooper’s 1som’s decision could d en Flori t wa making ouda Today reports t Hills famil 985 conviction in lead to the overtu t. y th rn A an e u in th k d g il o ling of a ru their 11-y ri Enough Of of has the Your Lovtie”es say t Californiapnotential, some polieatir-old house guest. ral Chino and a s. The case cal watcher s say, to d Both the C ivide aliforn and more an a dozenia and United States past appeath lo su w p er courts hav re ls. e rejectedmCe courts “I take no p ooper’s osition regar nocence at about the h this time,” Newsodming Mr. Cooper’s g uilt or inigh-profile said in his terest. N ca ex se free 2. When you see a photo or ad with the Observer 1. Get for that hby Yothe as downloading rk Tapp drawn inteecutive order Sen. Kamew im es ’ co rn lu al at m Interactive logo scan over the whole photo with your it from Google Play or The Apple App a io n is H n al in t Nic arri have all ca lled for res -tand reality TV starholas Kristof, U.S.tablet or smartphone. forensic Store technology. esting using curr Kim Kardashian SUL ent, more The ACLU gorilla suitPHUR, La. (AP) – P se n si an ti ve groups hav d other hu mattress befbroke into a Louisiaol man rights e also urged o n a deeper in an News ouretl officers arrested h Serving Kern County ves gation California state o d social justice et into Cooper fficials to la s Gov. Newtiso sp q u o k o es te m Mel E for Over 46 Years unch ’s con m’s tion issu st in ThSuulphu officers saan by formerorder Friday expandviction. w Jeremie es rsday test four ed s G p co o Moran wal re v. stume. They vious direc rry Brown lowed analpyieces of crime scenJe h ad in son looking received ca kin D ember lls a into homes to an orange sts to perform DNe evidence. Brownec ’s . E to A o st es says Mo prosecutors wel; and the han re-testing on a tan rder al- bo p ra ro n ac ran into a hed but w dle and sh dies in the say Cooper T-shirt; as discover eath Ry In th new u charges incl ed investigatseiod in the murders. of a hatchet Joshua Ryen, theen’s home with a total u d of hair frois in g re tr sisting an hoidin y, meth poss victims’ 8-y wound on of 143 stab button Com the victims’ hannd, analysts will look es ea h w si is in ro o g in the San u o son, su throat. He In Louisian n and wearingffia c ffered a slnasds. the al was the old Bernardino tigators plaoper’s attorney No s, blood samples anat strands tack. a, a person in n p ly le h u g County are blic survivor of ations Coo nvicte Angeles Co nted at the scene rman Hile mainta d a green le After Coopers’s per’s attorn not surprise the at- D.A.’s office most. Excecan be sentencedco in g o ja u al f s n il ly ty th in ey b to d . p e v re st S s M ab esti uperior Co ay crime. A re ak thre ar vestigation o an o n ed , e u s ra y in t m ar in ci v o h ak e es al biases an f em freq olidays like al a ho in tigat also urt judge w . ti d discrimth Halloweenlowed for relig uently comg about their ill oversee rethd Los familsay they found eviduse next door to thors found, he il- complaints Cooper, 61 in It at an p ’s la io dM unclear if M e victims. ence in th y’s statio in abou are hand n in the e in, has main years. His g ment. oran has a ardi G tained his For some,nGwagon that tied Coe Ryen’s home and inThey unang prosecutor Miclehd. Just last month,way their cases ort lawy by Gov. Nlawyers hope the re in n o ce d a o ae er o n p th S v. l er ce an ingObserver pressure fo e Selyem, wh sults New ewso Volume 46 Number Newspapers over BernardinoWednesday, January 8, 2020 in e case Group the murderCalifornia som’s order oftoSouthern hel18 r o m p p o n ak is is being met s. so rove theirm, which could taokfe the re-testing orderthe of the th in W to broaden cial media. mu ers Jo client’s inn ed him. His insultgscrude and racist anhdite, resigned shua Ryenwith dismay. The lonDNA test- chelle Obama, U ocence ansedveral months, will porters of rd ta rg mments et ed an e ,S th fo su B . d e rmer Firstco finally exo Rep. Maxin lack shooti In 1 Lady Minerate they are disappoRyens and Hughesfamily, friends andrvivor n e g W v on four co9u85, a San Diego Co ic at ti er m s . su an in al Th l p te d across the o an unnamed “Unfortunat d with the gov 26 and an nts of murder. At unty jury convicte state say Los Angelmas R. Parker, a form ernor’s dec ely, over tim the time of d Cooper for justice in es office, bel er is d io ep cord - incluescaped prison inm n e u . it ty h th is se is case mat head of the ie ems the vic arrest, he w Th ters FBI’s ti s’ desire “The evis guy is innocenvt,es Cooper. as no Distric in Pennsylv ding several burglaate. His lengthy cr ” he told th iminal re- “Prior DNtAAttorney Jason Anless and less,” San m id ries and the ania – did en ce w as B d er o not help his te er e p n n Cooper, form rape of a m st la so N ar th in n ew n d te e g icl sa d st th aimed ou Y , he was fr and.” case. inor erly named in 1958 ld exoneratat Mr. Cooper sougidh in a statement. amed, theork Times. What has k per’s guilw e him have t, agreed to cops lied t.” months onldear Pittsburgh, PenRichard Goodman, ep t a th fe all confirm e case goin deral appel and nsylvania. was born Y et ed g la p During his , he was adopted an te er M an su W ec co r. d C er al asive argum ution and re hen he was urt CooLAKE FORBakersfield Black ive ents ased six monies and iew the ca’ssedecision in 2004 tooopBAKERSFIELD, and he spenchildhood, his par d renamed Kevin Gov. Newvso on conflicti EST, Calif. ents physica is reCA w stay his exisCooper. reasonable qualeslegations of evidenbce t a good p it h cover–inThe m juvenile det o m re (AP) – n D ’s g sc gbeafte ar N ll d te ti ie t ta y ec A o n st o m American History Parade will held n ab ti is if g te r s p fi io at ad u ab beion st er c en y se n o o in o ev in o rs d ti n ng stSaturday, le u to g g id o u t sc h ro , n se co the method en2020 im keep raisin allow anFebruary ence living centers. In a mental h d to nail Co ruck by aOpffic mes early ce. at 10:00ad in Souther California o 29, a.m. th at g s in ea er ta 1 an in olic o 9 n By Stacy M. Brown ck lt p d G se 8 ro th er h C 2 , stories inves overnor wh veral . Th und of , Laguna Bea facility in P alifornia. and in swo California. haveCorrespondent ose suppoertterm of theApplications high expec ti- Senior totheparticipate can obtained rn testimonree weaponsNNPA ch Pobe three attack ennsylvanCiaooper escaped from p Newswire w ro li er O g ce re e ra u ta ss O er n se iv ti er ffi g y, s b d in the 22, stands ons. 2 inches tall on th e CouFebruary e 6,so2020 through s who were cer Tho as efore movin Jo Duri “DNAat teabout beginning 18, 2020 e politicaJanuary nty Registe meone’s pet White. Heshua Ryen Tonee g to could have been H sting 5shfeet said heTurner l Left Luther gued that nCg his murder trial, rCenter. he initiallm solve the130 oShe sa w later teand uld im at the Dr. Martin King Jr. Community w h is en p o p F an o R ro eb weighs approximately pounds. has black, th F p st ic m y se u . e er en ifi . ed rt 1 cu ca ed k 9. Jr. Community Center her iately taThe Ryen, th illed husb t dartedisin y th case and fi tors succ th they Chiang sa ke pDr. Luther King nally en front named Diacomplicating the pro laceMartin id which wavy, andatshoulder-length hair, she sometimes wears d M u to ri cG neighboreiCr 10-year-old daughand and wife Dougesansfully ar- ban su n re g re u th ir n th se at e says whenCA. just cutions’inclai e campaign DNA eviden located atrv1000 Owens Street, Bakersfield, ice is se elonging to a Roper came fo ter Jessica an hristopher th d a bonnet. e P an eg h g im . m y e ed “N s, ce al g rw ,” b o a her former Hughes. Po can help lawof Policeot onDeadline d was ger ut teby t out to chec wom d with bloo Turner, stin tovsubmit all applications - listed g inPittsburgh now the boyfriend ar thanFebruary lice foundan 11-year-old inal. She turned Animal CobisigFriday, enforcemenly is it pro this case wBureau dy clothin a house ca en pm. who was as the eviden the bloodie Even o n d 18, 2020 at 8:00 t g u tr es so ld o to tr lv l co Report No. 19-264396, went missing sometime between o o th an e a y ffi m cr o ed v ce u an io ce e im d gh Newsom it. rs shed tht. at lent crim- is bold, h im es, tr over to the ’s decisionno cost to the state. eb e is tr30. auma. al hospital, where itruw p6olip.m. African Am and 8 p.m.ison December ce ea , d b in ” u in su g t ericans, His carefully on about the Cooper as diagnolese thatanyone ey askedethat Californwith Policeth have information D panics and r. a ca K p ia se w ri o atcall sti Krau , chin412-323-7800, rs911. other Tonee across the p tentially polarizin g. He is kee vote a veter aria minoriTurner, g bshace expects the 11-pse olitical spec ti liv- please pinaor g Bohemian-style n, tells th h is ound (5-kin fo She eswas lastCoseen Dobra Tea, ntinat tr k cu u in s m to ued on p o ar n th e ilogram) ca fa e ir w n il d age A2said a firefighter ess and just af te tearoom in the Steel City. Authorities t to r M it cGu e visit re ns stre ice th ngth. ed the bogai at if he seir discovered her wallet, cell phone, and keys, and family b es ca t n Friday it again, he’ members believe she may have traveled down Interstate 80 . ll issue a tiock et for j near Homestead, Pennsylvania. “I’ve known her for about one year, and I met her through her sister, Sydnee Turner,” Akayla Bennett told NNPA Newswire. “She danced over to me and gave me a big hug, and I knew her soul was beautiful at that moment that I met her,” Bennett stated. Described as an artist, educator, and a lover of dance, Turner enjoyed going to music concerts in Pittsburgh. EL SEGUNDO – Los Angeles Lakers forward “If you’ve gone to concerts in Pittsburgh, you’ve probably seen Tonee in front, dancing her little heart LeBron James has been named NBA Western Conference away,” Bennett noted. “Whether she was alone or with Player of the Week for games played December 30 to friends, that didn’t matter to her when it came to dancing.” January 5, it was announced today. James averaged a triple-double with 23.0 points According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an estimated 613,000 people were (.475 FG%), 11.7 rebounds, 12.7 assists and 1.3 steals reported missing in the U.S. in 2018, the most recent as the Lakers finished the week 3-0 with victories over statistics available. Of those, 60 percent were people of Phoenix, New Orleans and Detroit. On January 1, James notched 31 points, 13 color. Although black women make up less than 7 percent of rebounds, 12 assists and two steals against the Suns. He the U.S. population, they represent about 10 percent of all closed out the week with his ninth triple-double of the season, finishing with 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 missing person cases throughout the country. Estimates by the Black and Missing Foundation put assists versus the Pistons. His nine triple-doubles are the the total number of disappeared black women and girls at most by a Lakers player in a single season since Earvin “Magic” Johnson had 13 in 1990-91. more than 64,000. The league leader in total assists and assists per Turner’s family wants her to be among those who are game, James continues to own an NBA-record 63 found safe. “She’s bubbly and caring,” Sydnee Turner told NNPA career weekly awards. It is his second career Western Newswire. “She made a practice of caring for herself Conference Player of the Week selection, last earning the honor on Dec. 15, 2019. holistically.” Sydnee Turner stated that her sister had an aptitude for teaching herself. She studied nutrition, black history, art, and she also studied herself. “Tonee is known around town as an amazing dancer. She was studying Flamenco and Kathak/Bollywood dance,” Sydnee Turner stated. “Though she is intuitive, she is a tough person who spoke her truth.” “She’s bubbly and caring,” Tonee’s sister, Sydnee Turner, told NNPA Newswire. “She made a practice of Police have asked that anyone with information about caring for herself holistically.” Tonee Turner, please call 412-323-7800, or 911. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) – A man was arrested after allegedly attacking firefighters as they saved him from his burning home in Southern California, authorities said. Crews arriving at the scene of the blaze in Bakersfield on Wednesday found Patricio Orque barricaded inside a room, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office said. those lower prices to Americans with private insurance funding boost to community health centers, which Orque was combative with firefighters who had to too. “This is an important step toward providing serve 28 million Americans in communities across the force themselves inside to pull him out as flames roared, American consumers more accessible and affordable United States, including over 350,000 veterans, 8 million KBAK-TV reported. prescription drugs,” Congressman Clyburn said. “In the children, and 1.4 million homeless patients. He had to be restrained until sheriff’s deputies United States, our drug prices are nearly four times higher This $10 billion includes $5 billion for capital arrived. Orque was arrested on suspicion of assaulting than in similar countries, and this legislation will provide improvements and construction to expand the footprint a peace officer, sheriff’s officials said. It wasn’t known real price reductions that will put significant money back of community health centers and an additional $5 billion Thursday if he has an attorney. in the pocket of consumers.” in funding over the next five years for community health Two firefighters suffered minor injuries, the news Negotiating lower prescription drug prices has the center grants, allowing them to serve more people, station reported. added benefit of cost savings to American taxpayers. A including Americans living in rural areas, where half of The cause of the fire is under investigation. portion of those savings will be reinvested in the National the Centers are located. Institutes of Health to research new cures and treatments. “Providing robust funding to build on the success Cost savings will also support an expansion of Medicare of community health centers is critically important U.S. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn hailed benefits to cover dental, vision, and hearing needs and to providing quality health care in hard-to-reach House passage of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings sets a $2,000 out-of-pocket limit on prescription drug communities,” Congressman Clyburn continued. “In Lower Drug Costs Now Act. costs for those on Medicare. my district alone, where three rural hospitals have closed, WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. House Majority In addition, cost savings will be used to fund there are eight federally-funded community health Whip James E. Clyburn hailed House passage of H.R. provisions of Congressman Clyburn’s H.R. 1943 – centers working to serve almost 190,000 patients.” H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. Community Health Center and Primary Care Workforce 3 passed the House on a bipartisan vote, 230-192, and This landmark legislation gives Medicare the power to Expansion Act of 2019. H.R. 3 will provide a $10 billion was sent to the Senate for consideration. negotiate directly with drug companies and extends SAN DIEGO (AP) – A private prison firm that just won multibillion-dollar contracts to run federal immigration detention centers in California sued the state on Monday, claiming that a new ban on for-profit lockups in California is unconstitutional. The GEO Group, Inc., argued in the federal suit that Assembly Bill 32, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October, would unlawfully undermine enforcement By Stacy M. Brown justice on a discrimination suit against the United legislation. criminal and immigration law. It asks a federal court to NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent States Department of Agriculture. “We’ve done a lot as African Americans,” Watts stated permanently bar the law from taking effect. Washington, DC — On January 6, 2020, the Black • Helped push through legislation for the before referencing a recent statue unveiling that took place “There is a longstanding and clear-cut constitutional News Channel (BNC) will become the nation’s only 24African American Museum of in Richmond, Virginia, earlier this month. “Rumors of principle that individual states cannot regulate the hour news and information television network focused History and Culture. War,” a statue by artist Kehinde Wiley, was unveiled on actions and activities of the federal government,” the primarily on African Americans. The historic launch of • Sponsored HBCU summits to December 10 during a ceremony at the Virginia Museum Boca Raton, Florida company said in a statement. the BNC will fulfill the business dream and vision of establish relationships and of Fine Arts. The figure depicts an African American man AB 32 bars renewal of contracts with operators of J.C. Watts, Jr., a nationally known entrepreneur and better understanding between dressed in contemporary clothing riding a horse, echoing private prisons. It also bars the use of private immigration former U.S. Congressman, Representing Oklahoma’s students and Republican the equestrian sculptures of Confederate soldiers. detention facilities in the state. Fourth District. policymakers. “Rumors of War” was reportedly Wiley’s response to The suit said the law, due to take effect Jan. 1, Programming will include special news features • Sponsored anti-poverty the Confederate monuments that pepper the U.S. and would affect at least 10 privately-run facilities with on topics that most affect the quality of life of legislation (community the South in particular. The new memorial arrived amid nearly 11,000 beds. Seven are managed by GEO. communities of color – like Sickle Cell Disease and renewal/new markets tax an ongoing debate across the country about what do with The lawsuit names Newsom and Attorney General hypertension – that generally aren’t given much credits). Confederate imagery. “This was history,” Watts said of the Xavier Becerra. attention to by other news outlets. The BNC • Led Congress in highlighting statue. “Because, if we talk about the slave owner, how Messages seeking comment from Becerra’s office has also established a news-content alliance with minority health care can we ignore the slave? African Americans contributed were not immediately returned Monday night. the National Newspaper Publishers Association disparities. mightily to the United States, and you don’t see enough California, with its large immigrant population, is (NNPA), representing the Black Press of America, • Led on the Republican side statues of African Americans.” one of several states at the forefront of efforts to fight via 225 African American-owned newspapers and against sentencing disparities “Think about what Rosa Parks contributed, Harriet Trump administration policies over the federal detention digital companies throughout the United States. between crack/powder Tubman’s sacrifice, Martin Luther King’s sacrifice, and of people who are in the country illegally. Supporters of The Tallahassee, Florida-based BNC counts as the cocaine. Frederick Douglass. Their contribution was to raise the AB 32 hoped the law would force U.S. Immigration and brainchild of J.C. Watts, Jr., who is described by Tommy • Led in getting funding to conscious level of America to say that you know, we are Customs Enforcement to look elsewhere when citing Ross, the network’s director of communications, fight malaria in West all human and, and all created by the same God,” Watts detention facilities after current contracts expire. as “a father, husband, grandfather, business owner, Africa. emphasized. ICE currently has four detention centers in entrepreneur, author, elected official at the state and • Sponsored Africa He said the BNC would highlight the contributions California, all of them operated by private companies. federal level, a pastor, and a rancher who grew up growth and of African Americans. And, to successfully accomplish that The federal government recently announced $6.8 billion in a small town in Oklahoma.” opportunity mission, Watts said it was essential to partner with NNPA. worth of long-term contracts for the facilities in San In reality, Watts appears as much more, “NNPA already has people in the trenches that Diego, Calexico, Adelanto and Bakersfield. The sites and those who know him, understand report on African American life, whether it’s Chicago, house about 4,000 detainees, with capacity to expand that he’s a Republican conservative Atlanta, Birmingham, Detroit or Oklahoma City, they in the future. whose accomplishments crosses party report on African American life every day,” Watts stated. The GEO Group Inc. won two five-year extensions lines. Watts is also a former All-Star “I don’t know if I can put into words how important that – one to operate the detention center in Adelanto, with quarterback who played college partnership will be, and that’s just in terms of content. capacity for 2,690 beds, and another to run the facility football in Oklahoma and pro ball When I was in politics, we used a strategy where you’ve got in Bakersfield, with capacity for 1,800 beds. Those two in Canada. people knocking on doors and leaving literature, and that’s The historic launch of the BNC will contracts are worth more than $3.7 billion. His congressional your ground game,” Watts continued. fulfill the business dream and vision of Under the new contracts, detention space in accomplishments and living legacy “But you also need an air attack to augment that a nationally known entrepreneur and California is set to double to nearly 7,200 beds. are noteworthy, including: ground game, so with NNPA being on the ground and former Oklahoma Representative to the ICE said the contracts were not subject to the new • Helped Black farmers get some giving us information and data, and us being able to launch United States Congress, J.C. Watts, Jr. state law, deflecting criticism that the timing was meant to circumvent it. Continued on page A2
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