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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 . 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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 January 15, 2020 over BernardinWednesday, in e case Group the murderCalifornia som’s order oftoSouthern hel19 r o m p p o 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, lower cops lied ag t.” pay premiums. re months onldear Pittsburgh, PenRichard Goodman, ep ed t a to th fe all confirm e case goin deral appel and nsylvania. was born Y et ed g la p • Additional savings: Having good credit may even give you During his , he was adopted an te er M an su W ec co r. d ooper al asive argum ution and re hen he was urt’s decisio CooLAK–E2020 ive - is ents ased six monies and n in 200C view theputting Calif. Bakersfield Black the ability to purchase aGservice without down and he spenchildhood, his par d renamed Kevin FORE 4 toBAKERSFIELD, case with on co o v. ST, Calif. (A 29, ents physica is reco stay History Cooper. reasonable qualeslegations of evidenbce t a good p N n ew fl his ex- Parade m ic so v American When: Saturday, a costly deposit beforehand. 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Deadline to submit all applications by Friday, purchases — such as a home or vehicle — in a number er te d th se ar C co ly at h te an m ia ta th d p d n k ey li in front g an e fi ca sa sf n p 1 ti d n al 0 la u id n am -y an ll ly ce g y d ear-o dw McG the rosecu ed D ensure just uring the ca to re arneighbor C February 18, 2020 8:00 pm. of ways: uire says w that DNA - by tions’ cl ice is serv mphaving hristopherld daughter Jessica ifane Doug and Peggy belonging toiana Roper came foprw th h ev ai e en g an id ai n en h im . m e ed “N • Use credit cards smartly: Sometimes simply a s, ce al g ,” b o a her former ot nly is it Hughes. Po can help law d was ut testing in t out to chec womd with b o boyfriend ar lice foundan 11-year-old inal. She turned proven Animal Cobigger than a house enforcemoen th dy cl is cathan credit card spending more intended, othcan se woyou who was alo the eviden ing lead to E the bloodie n d t u v tr es so ld en t. o to tr lv l co o o th an e y ffi m cr o ed v ce u an io ce e im d it. rs rushed ca lentyou the gbalance. to at pay imal hospit h NewsoFailing es, tr over to the leaving is bto no cost to th crimunable oldafford , m the ble h ’s al e au poyour African Am , d is w ec e m li tr h st is ce a. ea er at io , credit card balance on time every month can rack up d e e. n b in is it ” u in su g t w they ericans, His carefully on e that Calif as diagnose the Coop.er Dr. Kristi K orniasovodon’t panics and a potential case interest and hurtwyour score, more atchincredit ters acspend rause, a vet other m ly gback. sh . ro p H e o ss e ex la th is ri inoriyou’ll p ec zi e k er than be able to pay If you’re considering using n p ts the 1 eeping his inarian, tell g olitica ties liv- Co s th nti cusHands nuecredit, on fairnesl sspectrum are, bac.k into the wild1-pound (5-kilogram a credit card to build your atfo the d on ptake age aAlook af an te d r 2 M it ju cGuire visit regains stre ) cat to stice on Banking website for tips on using one responsibly. ngth. that if he se ed • Pay down other debt: Your credit card balance is not the es it again, the bobcat on Fri day he’ll issue a only thing that can affect your credit score. Student loans ticket for j. and other forms of debt can lower your credit score if not managed correctly. Keep track of payments, and try to pay a little more than the minimum balance each month. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Dr Martin Luther King, Keeping your debt low can help you maintain and even Jr. Birthday Celebration Free Dinner Where: Discount improve your credit over time. Plus Store located at 431 Martin Luther King Blvd. • Ask for help when you need it: If making payments on in Bakersfield. When: Sunday, January 19, 2020 from time for your credit card or a loan payment becomes 2:30pm - 4:30pm too difficult, don’t be afraid to speak with the lender to Once you have established good credit, work to keep it that way so you can continue to enjoy the For further information Contact: Deconstructions negotiate a payment plan that works for you. It’s better opportunities that come with good credit. (photo: iStockphoto/NNPA) Isaiah Crompton at (661) 747-4661 or Pastor Josephate to get ahead of any potential problems before you fall Jordan at (661) 834-3075 Learn how having healthy credit can help you access managing debt. Some employers will run a credit check if behind on payments. new opportunities, plus some tips on how to manage it. the job requires you to access money or sensitive data. Regularly review your credit Your credit score is one of the most important • Lower interest rates: A high credit score not only makes Beyond credit growth, review your credit reports measures of financial responsibility. It’s a big part of what it easier to be approved for services but it may also mean annually . to make sure nothing fraudulent or negative lenders and vendors look at when considering you for a you may qualify for a lower interest rate on future credit has been reported. Every 12 months, you can access your loan or line of credit. It also can impact your ability to accounts. You also likely won’t need a co-signer to get report for free from each of the three largest credit bureaus , . rent an apartment, sign a phone contract, or even get a approved. in the United States at annualcreditreport.com. “Be sure to job. Once you have established good credit, work to keep • Savings on insurance: According to Certified Credit check the inquiry and personal data sections where signs of BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Join us as we celebrate it that way so you can continue to enjoy the opportunities Counselor Netiva Heard, founder of MNH Financial identity theft can be spotted right away,” says Heard. the legacy of a King! The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that come with good credit. Services, LLC, having a good credit score can help you March 2020. Ultimately, strong credit can help you reach your goals The financial benefits of good credit save money on insurance rates, though the impact of by qualifying When: you for loans, contracts, discounts, and access Strong credit can help you get: your credit on this may depend on the state you live in. to even more credit options. Discipline and the ability to Monday, January 20, 2020. • Easier approvals: Mortgage lenders, landlords, and auto “Insurance companies have found that those with higher pay your credit-related debts off every month comes first, Where: finance companies will check your credit to see how credit scores file fewer claims,” says Heard. As a result, however. CHURCH- People’s Missionary Baptist Church reliable you are when it comes to paying bills on time and some adjust their rates so people with good credit tend to located at 1451 Madison St. PARK- Belle Terrance Park located at 1101 E Belle Terrance Marching Instructions1) 5:00pm Park your vehicle at the church 2) The buses will transport you from the church to the park By Keith C . Wolaridge their children’s education because they are preoccupied 3) 6:00pm March will start from the park and end at Letter to the Editor with the hardships that come with an unaffordable surprise the church Now that the U.S. House of Representatives has bill. 4) 7:00 pm Program begins after the conclusion of the gotten impeachment out of the way, it is working on Most members of Congress agree the problem requires March some business that got bottled up last year. Members of a solution urgently. But if Congress acts urgently and both parties, such as Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy wrongly, it could make matters worse. (CA-23) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD-05), are One approach under consideration in Washington considering what needs to get done before they go hit the would allow the federal government to set “benchmarks” campaign trail. And one persistent, nagging item is surprise in which insurance companies would reimburse providers medical billing. at deliberately low “in-network” rates. However, this A Stanford University study found that that the approach would be a disaster for hundreds of hospitals in problem is getting more expensive and more widespread. rural areas treating underserved populations. The study looked at patient billing between the years of The key to quality, affordable care is a meaningful 2010 and 2016. It found that over 42 percent of patients Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process. Here’s LAMONT, Calif. (AP) – Authorities in Central admitted to emergency rooms or hospitals got hit with how it works: When an insurance company receives an California are investigating the shooting deaths of three surprise bills and that the dollars charged are going up – out-of-network bill, it is prohibited from passing it along men whose bodies were found in a car and a nearby from a mean of $804 in 2010 to $2040 in 2016. to the patient. Instead, the bill is sent over the Internet vineyard. The reasons behind the plague of surprise medical to a qualified mediator empowered to resolve the billing Kern County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Angela billing are complicated but it is in no way due to negligence dispute. Through this simple, transparent online process, Monroe said someone reported hearing gunshots in on the part of patients with insurance coverage. Patients the insurance company presents its offer and the provider Lamont, a community 10 miles southeast of Bakersfield, almost always confirm that a facility is “in network.” Later, can make his or her Friday evening. they are hit with a surprise bill because while the facility case, for a different amount. The process rewards When deputies arrived, Monroe said, they found was “in network,” one or more of the providers that treated moderation because the mediator has to pick one of the two men in the car who were not breathing. They were them were “out of network.” two figures. If the insurance company shoots too low, or pronounced dead at the scene. The problem is most acute in the emergency room. the provider too high, they only help the cause of their The deputies found the body of a third man in a By law, providers are obligated to treat patients yet are rival disputant. nearby vineyard. prohibited from telling them if their insurance won’t cover Such an approach has worked in New York, which Monroe said the men were victims of a homicide. a test or procedure. Out-of-networks providers submit enacted an IDR law in 2015. Since then, patients have However, she declined to release any suspect information. their bills, insurance companies don’t pay, and the patient saved over $400 million in emergency services and out-ofShe asked anyone with information about the gets stuck with the bill. network billing has shrunk by 34%. shootings to call detectives. The financial stress resulting from surprise medical Congress must act on surprise medical billing. The billing negatively affects every aspect of our lives. As a best solution would include a meaningful IDR component Trustee for the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District that is fair to all parties – fair to providers, to insurance for the past ten years, I see families struggle to focus on companies, and above all to patients. Keith C . Wolaridge (Courtesy Photo)
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The Black Struggle in 2019:
Staying Aware, Facing Injustice and Fighting for the Future By Brian Crawford | J.S. Adams and Toure Muhammad The Final Call@TheFinalCall 2019 saw challenges and signs of a continual awakening of the Black community, even as racism and police killings remained a problem in the United States. Alongside the insults was a strong spirit of resistance and growing frustration with the lack of respect for and deprivation of Black lives. Heroes continued to emerge in sports and entertainment as Black stars refused to bow to the desires of powerful figures in those industries. Colin Kaepernick continued to be a lightning rod for discussion, even though the former NFL quarterback played his last game in 2016. He continued to challenge the NFL for essentially blackballing him and keeping him off the field. Mr. Kaepernick was openly critical of what was billed as an NFL workout in November for team scouts, but in actuality, was an attempt to get him to sign a nonstandard waiver that included language that would have limited his ability to pursue legal claims against the NFL. Mr. Kaepernick held his own, private workout instead, and his representatives sent that tape to all 32 NFL teams. Hip hop guru Jay-Z received criticism for entering into a business relationship with the NFL. His Roc Nation imprint was named the league’s “live music entertainment strategist,” putting the rapper’s company in charge of the Super Bowl halftime show. The rapper took heavy criticism from NFL players and many in the Black community, but Continued on page A5
According to the Gun Violence Archive, as of December 1, 2019, there were more mass shootings in America (385) than days in a calendar year.
Bakersfield City Council Violated Open Meeting Law
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) – A judge has ruled that several Bakersfield City Council sessions held behind closed doors in 2017 violated California’s open meeting law. The closed sessions involved discussions of city finances that led to a sales tax increase, the Bakersfield Californian reported. Kern County Superior Court Judge Stephen Schuett issued the ruling Wednesday in a lawsuit by the nonprofit advocacy organizations First Amendment Coalition and Californians Aware. The city attorney’s office said no one was available Thursday to comment on the ruling, the newspaper reported. The ruling was a “complete victory,’’ the First Amendment Coalition said Friday. “The City Council shut the public out of crucial discussions on exactly the kinds of topics California law requires be discussed in full public view,” coalition executive director David Snyder said in a statement. California’s Ralph M. Brown Act allows meetings of legislative bodies to be closed to the public only in limited circumstances. The city claimed that the three closed sessions involved legal advice concerning pending litigation, an exception under the law. The judge ruled, however, that financial information disclosed at the meetings was clearly outside the scope of the open meeting law. “To permit the City Council to use this exception as a subterfuge to allow the discussion of the city’s critical budget issues, the potential solutions to those issues, impacts on city revenues, and potential staff layoffs and curtailing of services would allow the exception created by (the Brown Act) to swallow the rule,’’ Schuett wrote. The judge ordered the city to record all closed sessions for one year because of the potential for future violations. The city also was ordered to give the plaintiffs documents related to their complaint and to pay their attorneys’ fees.