BAKE 5.13.20 4C

e

Cooper. can-Americ in han a d an death roquadruple The allegeddcuffs and ha New w inmate in ci Cooper’s 1som’s decision could d en F t wa lori making o da Today reports Hills fam 985 conviction in lead to the over rning of Enough Ouft. Authorities say tt has the poily and their 11-yea the killing of a rutu Your Love” Californiantential, some politir-old house guest. ral Chino and a s.

The case cal watcher s Both the C sa y, to divide aliforn and more an a dozenia and United States past appeath lo su w p er re ls. courts have m rejected Ceocourts “I take no p oper’s osition regar nocence at about the h this time,” Newsodming Mr. Cooper’s g uilt igh-profile said in his terest. New casefor executive oor in2. When you see a photo or ad with the Observer 1. Get the app free by downloading that Y h o as rk d rder ra T Sen. Kamal imes’ colum wn internat Interactive logo scan over the whole photo with your it from Google Play or The Apple App a io n is H n al t ar Nic in ri have all ca lled for res -tand reality TV starholas Kristof, U.S.tablet or smartphone.

Store forensic te es K ting using im SUL chnology. current, m Kardashian The ACLU gorilla suitPHUR, La. (AP) – P o re se n si an ti v groups hav d other hu e mattress befbroke into a Louisiaol man rights e also urged o n a deeper in an C d alifornia st News ouretl officers arrested ha ves gation ate officialsos cial justice Serving Kern County ets quote into Cooper Gov. Newtiso sp o k es to m launch ’s con m’s Mel Est in Sulphu tion issu for Over 46 Years officers saan Thursday by formerorder Friday expandviction. w Jeremie es test four ed s G p co o Moran wal re v. st v ume. They ious direcrry Brown lowed analpyieces of crime scenJe h ad in so re D ember n looking in ceived callksin to an orange sts to perform DNe evidence. Brownec a to h omes.

Estes says prosecutorstowel; and the hanA re-testing on a t’sanorder al- bo M o p ra ro n ac ra h d dies in the n into a say Cooper ed but was le and shea T-shirt; Ry In th new u th charges incl discovered investigatseiod in the murders. of a hatchet Joshua Ryen, theen’s home with a total u d of hair frois in in g re tr si y, victims’ 8-y sting an hoid wound on meth posses of 143 stab ffic button Com the victims’ hannd, analysts will look ea h w si is in ro o g u o n th ld n in an ro d s. so ta at th d In at o s, ck . n w e p s , H b L ea .

S er tr ds su lo d sample an e was the o ’s atto ey ring a m uisiana, a p tigators pla in publicoca nly survivffoered a slash the allegations Bernardino County s and a gan Norman oH nted at thrn After Coop reen n be senteerson convicte Cooper’s at r of the at- D.A.’s Angeles C ar il e e e m n sc o m ai t er en n o su s’ ta st e le s n rp o ce. Man . Ex torneys are ced to thre rised about vestigationounty Superior Couof the crime. A reins inves- al gally stayed in a h jail break, investig racial biaffi making ab holidays licekptions are allowed fo . at so y they tire o rt judge wil ses and disy of them frequen out their e H al found eviduse next door to thoers found, he il- complaints tl lo l oversee thd Los familsa cr Cooper, 61 y w een and M r relig It’s unclear ence in the y’s station w are handledimination in the w complain about e invictims. Th , has main years. His la if g an M m R g ay . oran has a ardi G ag en y ta ey Ju p en o th ro t. in st n ’s w ei se ed last month that tied C home and in r cases or cutor Mich For some, G lawye

by Gov. N yers hope the resu his innocence u n , o d a o ae er o p th S v. l er an in p e S N ressure for ew m, wh elyem, who gObserver over the Bernardino Wednesday, May 13, 2020 in the case Group ew s of the re-t the murderCalifornia som’s order oftoSouthern help36 Volume 46 Number Newspapers m o ich couldltta n prove thso ak is is s. so es in W b

to ti ci ei g cr ng ord ed of the murd hite, al m ng met it b aden D eir client’s him. h dismay. ro A test- chelle Obamedia. His insults taurgde and racist and co resigned innocenceke several months, er porters of ers Joshua Ryenwan The lone N mments et a, w ed an U il l ,S d th fo su B . d e rm fi R la In 1 rvivor nally exon ep ck shooting er erate they are disappoRinyens and Hughesfaalmily, friends and su victim. . Maxine Waters andFirst Lady Mion four co9u85, a San Diego Co Th l p te ac d o an mas ross the stat with e go unnamed “Unfortunat 26 and an nts of murder. At unty jury convicte vernor’s dec e say Los Angeles oR. Parker, a former ely, over tith the time of d Cooper for justice in is ffi d m io ep ce cord - incluescaped prison inm n e , u . it b ty h th el is se is h ie em ar ead of the This guy is ves case matters rest, he was no Distric s the victi FBI’s in Pennsylv ding several burglaate. His lengthy cr innocent,” Cooper. s’ desire “The eviden iminal re- “Prior DNtAAttorney Jason Anless and less,” San m ries and the ania – did h e ce to ld w as B th d er o n te er e p n ot help his 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 ai Y , id an ork at r. Coo med ould he was fram d.” case. inor erly named in 1958 p sought,in a statement. exonerate M ed, the copTimes.

What has k per’s guilw him have er agreed to an s lied t.” months onldear Pittsburgh, PenRichard Goodman, ep t a th fe al e d eral appella l confirmed case going d nsylvania. was born Yet persuas During his , he was adopted an te M an W ec co r. d u h u C ive argumen tion and re en he was C rt ooLAKE FOR six monies and iew the ca’ssedecision in 2004 toooper alive - is and he spenchildhood, his par d renamed Kevin ts ased on Gov. Newvso EST ents physica is recoverin w stay his exCooper. reasonable qualeslegations of evidenbce t a good p co it h n fl m ic juvenile det o ti m re n D ’s g sc g after bei,nCalif. (AP) – Offici ar

N ll d te ti ie t ta y ec A o n st o m n ab ti is if g te s p fi io at ad u ab st er c en y se n o o in o ev in o rs d ti n le u to g g id o u t sc h ro , n se co th en im k al en ad centers. In a mental d to ail Co ee e ethods low another m ce. ce living in in Southern g struck by a poli and storiesp raising California Governoes early in the term oper. Threm Byro DON THOMPSON several attack, and in nsw c California. u L n ag d Californiah. ealth facility in Pen1982, Cooper esca u o n e h in r f av w w o v ea fAssociated estie high expec hose suppo orn testimo the progre pons were u ped from three attacker nsylvania b the Orangea Beach Police Offi Press rt ta ss er n se iv ti y, s d o e o s ce ef Josh Duri County Reg in th n the politi wh ore moving r Thomas NA test g ns. somCalif. cal Left eone’s(AP) isteLisa to could have been Hoiswere White. He lautea Ryen said he sawe solve “D gued that ng his murder trial, r heTrino SACRAMENTO, pet w–hManager should imm initially th the Ryen in en p r prosecutors F an te eb th F st ic u . e ifi . ed rt 1 ca ed 9 h ia Ryen, theirCooper killed husban t ca . er tely tathought darteCafe that they Chiang sa se and fin succ was doing everything right at Spencer’s d in front ke placeshe named Diacomplicating the pro McGuire sa to reneighbor C 10-year-old daugh d and wife Dougesansfully ar- ban that DNA id during the campally ensure justinicBakersfield. na Roper ca secutions’ cl y s el ter Jessica an e hristopher w th o d is h n ev ai e P en g served,” gn. “Not o animal was eggy id ce can m ing to her fo ai he got out Hughes. Po d n h p law en biggusing rmer boyefrforward with bloodmys, a wom- but testing in then to ch er thannine were only it proof lice foundan 11-year-old inal. She turned nim is case woel forcemently is“Out ven25 tables Awe iend who w a hotables, cl al o th C use cat. ec o th in the bloodie E n d g e u v tr es so ld en ev o to troyed it. as a violent lv l idence over co o th an e ffi m cr o and all staff was wearing masks and using gloves and we ce u an e im d g rs at imal hospit h Newsom es, tr rushed the no cost to th cr - is bold, he is to the poli audistancing,’’ African Am , where it w b e state.” social ma. ce, but thim practicing she al said. issue that C treading carefu’sll decision in thewere ericans, His as diagnolesee ey C o y o al p o if D er n o panics and r. rn a ca K p ia se w ri o v te at st Customers loved being able to sit down for breakfast ote ntially pola ching. He other mino expects thei Krause, a veterinaria is keeping rs across the politica rizinTuesday rities liv- C g bshaceafter 1of1-p n, tells the lunch stay-at-home land his focus o sp ec oun (5-kil orders ontinued tr k u intoweeks m ar n fairness an the wavailable e on page A ograthe ild after itdtable. and dtakeout But 2 McGevery justice food, filling regains strem) cat to uire visited ngth at ifjust th reopening ended th after one day, when Kern e bobcaCounty he sees it ag t on Frid.ay n, hopen e’ll isrestaurants . health officials warned the handfulaiof sue a ticket with dine-in service violated Gov. Gavin Newsom’s for ja emergency order to limit spread of the coronavirus.

Throughout California, there has been an on-again, off-again patchwork of enforcement on everything from business closures to wearing face masks. It’s fallen to local officials to both interpret and enforce rapidly evolving rules, with state and local orders often at odds.

Charles L. Brunson co-founder of the Sacramento Branch of the Black Panther Party family and friends say goodbye to their loved one April 21, 2020 at the “The orders are changing, you have a national Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon California. (Photo by Antonio Harvey) narrative, you have the state, you have other parts of Antonio Ray Harvey the state that are opening up and people, some people California Black Media are confused about everything that’s going on,’’ said San It could be the high-profile deaths of African American Francisco Police Chief William Scott. His department is cultural icons like Little Richard, Andre Harrell or Betty Wright, who all left us within the last week. Or it could be not aggressively enforcing orders, instead preferring to the delayed news of a heinous hate crime murder victim warn businesses or people that they’re in violation. like Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia. Maybe, it’s the peaceful The confusion is likely to continue after Newsom passing of a well-known local activist or the sudden death outlined more guidelines Thursday for local governments of close family member. COVID-19 has changed the way death hits us, and the ways we mourn and memorialize to follow as they allow businesses to reopen. The revised people we respect and love. guidelines do not allow immediately reopening sit-down Funeral homes across the United States and here in dining, nor hair or nail salons as he aims to prevent a California are taking extraordinary steps to maintain the second wave of coronavirus infections and deaths. safety of their staffs, mourners and the general public. They are also going an extra mile to console families having to For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate deal with the loss of a relative, while accepting the grim symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two reality of not being able to hold a traditional funeral — all to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and the while doing everything they can to keep their businesses people with existing health problems, it can cause more profitable.

In Los Angeles, at popular entertainment promoter severe illness and death.

Roland Wirt’s funeral on May 1, hundreds of mourners Enforcement of the rules meant to keep people safe and well wishers drove by the Angelus Funeral Home on has been spotty at best.

Photo by Donna Dymally Photography A billboard tribute sponsored by friends and family of Roland Wirt.

Crenshaw Boulevard to pay their final respects.

After Sutter and Yuba counties allowed restaurants Due to COVID-19 restrictions on public gathering, L. Brunson, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, to The Brunsons were the co-founders of the Sacramento they saluted the family and honked from their cars, a Charles to reopen this week, state Department of Alcoholic COVID-19 on April 13.

Branch of the Black Panther Party (BPP), which was in final act of respect to honor the man they remember as Beverage Control agents asked restaurant owners to Mrs. Brunson said she understands that there was operation from 1968 to 1970. They were also good friends the “Godfather of LA Nightlife.” Wirt, 68, who was the nothing the funeral home or the cemetery could do of Bobby Seale, the well-known political activist, Oakland voluntarily end in-house dining, but it did not take mastermind behind a number of prominent African- to accommodate the end-of-life arrangements she had 1973 mayoral candidate, and co-founder of the national any action against them, instead hoping for “voluntary American events in Southern California, died from a heart planned for her husband. Mr. Brunson, who died at 76, arm of BPP with Huey P. Newton. condition unrelated to COVID-19. compliance,” spokesman John Carr said. was also fighting pneumonia as well as recurring health “In the African-American community, there are so The community raised $13,000 to contribute to Wirt’s complications due to stroke and hypertension.

As of last week, the department had acted on 81 many rituals we all know when it comes to funerals — burial and even put up a billboard to bid him farewell.

“Those are the rules,” she shrugged, sharing her to burying our people, family members and friends we complaints statewide, with all but one of the operators Wirt didn’t die of COVID-19. So, although his experience with California Black Media (CBM). love,” says Mark McKay, owner and operator of McKay’s voluntarily going back to takeout, he said. Officials are family could not organize a traditional funeral, they could CBM attended the funeral and burial which was held in Southern California. He says, so far, he has still say goodbye to him in a way more dignified than 30 miles west of Sacramento in Dixon at the Sacramento Mortuaries still weighing what to do with the one defiant business. several cases of COVID-19 deaths. McKay’s has how most families whose relatives die from the deadly Valley National Cemetery. The service, handled by Morgan handled But on Friday, California’s Office of Emergency locations both in the Los Angeles area and in the Inland respiratory disease can.

Funeral Home in Sacramento, lasted no more than Empire.

Services went further, telling Yuba, Sutter and Modoc “My husband wasn’t embalmed. They put him in a Jones minutes, and the 10 people who attended the burial “It is difficult. People are taking this hard. Imagine plastic bag and then put him a casket,” said Margo Rose seven they could lose federal disaster aid if they continued Brunson, a resident of Sacramento, who lost her husband, stayed in their cars.

Continued on page A4 going beyond the governor’s order.

The state Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, which issues permits for hair and nail services, similarly said it was warning violators they could lose their licenses.

But Amy Johnson, owner of Rockabetty’s Hair Parlor in Yuba City, said she was cordially told by a board official that her license was not in jeopardy despite her reopening this week.

“I am not going to close,’’ she said Wednesday.

“Everyone is really scared and they need to open their businesses and pay their employees.’’

The governor signaled a continued light touch on enforcing rules Thursday, saying he is working with counties “including those that may have gotten ahead of themselves a little bit to try to pull them back in, in the

By Lauren Victoria Burke through numerous media reports as Greg McMichael, a That is changing. Since the viral video has been widely NNPA Newswire Contributor retired investigator in the Brunswick District Attorney’s seen everyone from LeBron James to former Vice President spirit of collaboration and cooperation.’’

Months after the U.S. House passed a new lynching office, and his son Travis McMichael. They appear to Biden and President Trump has commented on Arbery’s The Rural County Representatives of California is law, which has been held up by the Republican led U.S. follow Arbery from behind as he is jogging down a death. urging its 35 member counties not to reopen things like Senate, and a day after investigative journalist Ida B. Wells suburban street. Travis McMichael, the alleged shooter, is “Initially I was told there was a burglary and a struggle malls, gymnasiums and salons until Newsom approves it. was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize — a lynching seen confronting Arbery and part of a struggle ensues in over a firearm,” Cooper-Jones said on Roland Martin “You don’t want to go out and open those up when story dated February 23, 2020 is in the news. and outside of the camera’s range. The sound of shotgun Unfiltered. She confirmed she has not watched the video of you know that in X number of hours the state can shut The shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, 25, went viral fire is heard. Arbery is then seen on video collapsing after her son’s death but the description of it from others did not on social media on May 6, months after his murder. The the sound of the gunshot in front of the truck. line up with what authorities told her after her son died. them down,’’ said Paul A. Smith, the group’s senior vice video shows Arbery jogging down a street in Brunswick, Brunswick District Attorney Jackie Johnson recused “I need to get these men indicted. They need to go to president of government affairs.

Georgia. It appears to demonstrate the involvement of herself because one of the men seen in the video of the fatal jail. Two months has been too long,” said Jones on Martin’s Newsom did order beaches shut down in Orange three men — two on a pickup truck and another filming shooting pointing a gun at Arbery worked in the district show answering a question from Dr. Gregg Carr, the County when officials resisted calls to restrict access after the scene from behind. attorney’s office.

Chairman of the African American Studies Department at hundreds congregated there one weekend. The beaches Arbery’s death took place on February 23rd about During an exclusive interview on Roland Martin Howard University. three miles from where he lived. Arbery was an avid jogger Unfiltered on May 7th with Arbery’s mother, Wanda Late on May 7, Greg and Travis McMichael were were reopened within days under agreements with local and played football.

Cooper-Jones confirmed there was no support of her from finally arrested. Many observers of the breaking news officials.

The two men on the pickup truck have been identified anyone in the small Georgia community after her son died. warned that the exotic charges and where any future court Smith said the governor could also use the state’s case is likely to take place matters. financial power to punish local governments that openly The Congressional Black Caucus had demanded violate his orders, though he doesn’t envision Newsom arrests the day before and released a statement that in part read, “the killing of Ahmaud Arbery shows us that the sending in the California Highway Patrol or National spirit of lynching is still alive and well in our nation and Guard, despite his theoretical power to do so. something that we cannot tolerate.”

Many agencies are wary of taking aggressive action “The scary thing for me is the they thought the video during a pandemic that has already been stressful for would help his client. The culture is so backwards down many people; others are outright resistant. there they actually thought that,” said Arbery family attorney Lee Merritt on Roland Martin Unfiltered. The “I refuse to make criminals out of business owners, case has widely been compared to the 2012 murder of single moms, and otherwise healthy individuals for Trayvon Martin in Florida by George Zimmerman. exercising their constitutional rights,’’ Riverside County “What happened to #AhmaudArbery is a Sheriff Chad Bianco said in prepared remarks to the MODERN DAY LYNCHING. This February, the House county board of supervisors. overwhelmingly passed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, Government officials should step out of the which would make lynching a federal crime,” wrote Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) enforcement business entirely and put the “responsibility South Carolina Republican U.S. Senator Tim Scott for hygiene and healthy practices back into the hands of wrote, “ Every.single.time. The excuses pour in – ‘he the public,’’ Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said looked suspicious’… ‘we thought he was committing a in a Facebook post urging an end to business restrictions. crime”…The fact remains, #AhmaudArbery was hunted In Kern County, public health officials also preferred down from a pickup truck and murdered in cold blood.

My heart breaks for his family, and justice must be served.” to warn restaurants they were in violation first. That Likely Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden left Trino fielding dozens of calls from Spencer’s Cafe said, Arbery was “shot down in cold blood,” and his killing customers. She had to tell them the restaurant was back reflected a “rising pandemic of hate.” to takeout only.

“AhmaudArbery should still be alive right now. This is “It was very short-lived,’’ she said. “Back to square tragic and unacceptable. It should ignite us all in demands for justice.

I’m calling on the Department of Justice to one.’’

“What happened to #AhmaudArbery is a MODERN DAY LYNCHING. This February, the House overwhelmingly passed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which would make lynching a federal crime,” investigate. We need justice for Ahmaud and his family,” wrote Sen. Cory Booker on twitter. wrote Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL)

Welcome to Observer Interactive

Deeper Content. Pictures Move. Ads Talk. Live Shopping.

Man in Go Breaks in r Hides UndH e

News Observer Bakersfield

How COVID-19 Has Changed Funerals and Mourning

No Time to Grieve:

Shooting Death of Ahmaud Arbery is Defined as a

“Modern Day Lynching”

Free!

Bobcat Re Is this allowed? cove A f t Confusing er Being Hi PoRules, California lice Car Enforcement

A2

BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

World & Nation The Fight for the 2020 Vote and the March to the Ballot Box

“In some of these states, they have this evil match law where if they don’t think your signature matches, they will not count your vote,” said Transformative Justice Coalition Founder and President Barbara R. Arnwine Arnwine. “We have to be clear, you have to not only have vote-by-mail options and absentee balloting, but you have to have on-site, distances, and personal protective equipment for workers and voters.” (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent Since the onset of COVID-19, voter registration in the United States has decreased by a whopping 90 percent.

Additionally, more than 18 million voters have been purged off the rolls since 2016, and, with the all-important

2020 General Election on the horizon, activists, and others, are working to ensure the registration of millions.

On Monday, May 4, The Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) and the Voting Rights Alliance held a teletownhall titled, “The Fight for the Vote 2020: Our March to the Ballot Box.”

Broadcast over Facebook Live, the presentation featured panelists who agreed that the election process would be severely hindered unless strategies are developed for more robust voter outreach and empowerment.

Panelists included National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., TJC Founder, and President Barbara R. Arnwine, Esq., Moms Rising CEO Kristin RoweFinkbeiner, and Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey.

“A person without a vote is a person without protection,” stated Attorney Daryl D. Jones, TJC’s Board Chair, who served as a moderator.

The panelists tackled robust voter outreach and registration strategies, media, and specialized outreach to purged voters and those on inactive lists, creating voter contact systems, onerous absentee ballot requirements, and voter identification.

“The struggle for voting rights continues in America even amidst the pandemic the struggle for the most fundamental right, the right to vote, continues,” Chavis stated.

“We have to be concerned that while we sit here tonight, there are tactics, strategies, and efforts afloat in too many of these states to suppress the vote and to make people fearful of voting such was the case 50 years ago,” Chavis continued.

“We had to overcome those tactics of voter suppression, and we have to do it now,” he added.

No excuses, and no barriers should be in place for mail-in ballots, Arnwine stated.

“Vote by mail works for White people, but it doesn’t for a whole lot of people of color,” she stated, adding that there were 1.3 million ballots mailed in Wisconsin, but

197,000 were not counted for various reasons, including the lack of postage stamps.

“In some of these states, they have this evil match law where if they don’t think your signature matches, they will not count your vote,” Arnwine said. “We have to be clear, you have to not only have vote-by-mail options and absentee balloting, but you have to have on-site, distances, and personal protective equipment for workers and voters.”

Rowe-Finkbeiner added that Moms Rising has more than 1 million members spread out across all 50 states.

She said mothers are high targets of voter suppression.

“You change your name, and you get pushed off the rolls,” Rowe-Finkbeiner stated. “You have to check your status and make sure you have at least five friends ready to vote. The situation has never been more urgent.”

Hailey stated that Vote.org had team members working as late as 3 a.m. during recent primaries to monitor lastminute rule changes that affected voters.

“Confusion itself can be a voter suppression tactic, so we’re trying to cut through all of that noise to make sure there’s no confusion,” Hailey noted.

“We see it as our job to monitor this and to work with state and local officials to have an understanding of what the voter experience is going to look like. Every state should have no-excuse absentee voting. You should be able to have at least 20 days of early voting so that you don’t have these long lines like you saw in Wisconsin. People should not have to choose between their health and their ability to cast a ballot,” Hailey said.

Click over this stories picture using your “Observer Interactive” App to view a replay of the town hall.

COVID Crisis: The Black Press is Doing What It Does - On Budgets Spread Thin Chida Rebecca California Black Media In 1827, before slavery ended, prominent freed African Americans in the North gathered in the New York City home of Boston Crummell, a social reformer and former slave. They assembled to seek solutions on how best to communicate and register their views on economic, social, and political issues and injustices that were challenging their respective communities.

Recognizing that Blacks lacked access to public print media, the Rev. Samuel Cornish and the Rev. John B. Russworm bonded and emerged from within that assembly with a plan: To produce the nation’s first Black newspaper titled The Freedom’s Journal. In the first issue they proclaimed, “Too long have others spoken for us. We wish to plead our own case.”

Now, 193 years later, approximately 200 Black newspapers have followed the path taken by Russwurm and Cornish. Today, those publications are still collectively pleading our cases and giving voice to our causes. Through all of history’s ills, the Black Press has proven resilient.

But in 2020, COVID-19 has been a menace like no other, threatening to silence the voice of the many AfricanAmerican newspapers that were already fighting so hard to be heard.

Numerous Black Press publications are family owned and operated with proprietors serving as second and third generation publishers. Throughout the nation, they produce weekly print news and compete tirelessly with larger conglomerate-owned dailies for advertising dollars to stay afloat. After pandemic worries increased and governors across the country enforced stay-at-home orders, print media, like most other businesses, became severely

News Observer Bakersfield

Adjudicated a Newspaper of General Circulation August 11, 1980, Kern County Superior Court Decree, Case No. 16964, Government Code 6023.

Bulk Mailing Permit 724 Bakersfield, CA 93385

Published By Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, Inc. Corporate Office 1219 20th St. Bakersfield, CA 93301 (661) 324-9466.

Member of The National Newspapers Publishers Association, Associated Press, and The Better Business Bureau

President: Ellen Coley Operations Manager: Jon Coley Editor: James Luckey

Credo-The Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonisms when it accounts to every person, regardless of race, color, or creed full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as any one is held back.

The Observer Group Newspapers reserves the right to publish views an opinions that may not necessarily reflect those of the staff and management and are solely the product of the responsible individuals who submit commentaries published in these newspapers. Letters, articles and comments appearing in the Observer Newspapers reflect the opinions of the contributor and do not constitute the opinion or endorsement by The Observer Newspapers or its staff. The Observer Group Newspapers assumes no responsibility for photographs, articles, letters, press releases and unsolicited materials. Decisions as to the editing and publishing of materials are at the discretion of the Publisher and Editors. All rights are reserved on materials accepted for publication unless otherwise specified.

Los Angeles News Observer Bakersfield News Observer Valley s News Observer 1219 20th St. Bakersfield, Ca 93301 Mailing Address P.O. Box 2341 Bakersfield, CA 93303 Phone (661) 324-9466 FAX. (661) 324-9472 Emails and general info: observernews@gmail.com, Advertising: observeradvertising@gmail.com Available online: www.ognsc.com

impacted. Advertisers pulled back on placements, brutally cutting the papers’ revenues.

California U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA37) has been pushing for Black and other ethnic-owned media to receive federal stimulus funding to prop up their operations during the coronavirus crisis. Her district covers Culver City, Inglewood and parts of Los Angeles, including Baldwin Hills, Crenshaw, Ladera Heights, Leimert Park, Hyde Park and more.

“Many communities of color rely on their local newspapers or radio stations — oftentimes these outlets are in a language other than English — for information,” Bass, who is chair of the Congressional Black Caucus wrote in a letter to the United States congressional leadership in April, advocating for African American and ethnic media.

She co-signed with chairs of the other ethnic caucuses: Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20) Hispanic Caucus chair ; Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM-1), Native American Caucus cochair; Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA-27), Asian Pacific American Caucus chair.

“So many outlets across the U.S. are providing valuable information,” the letter continued.

According to Marketing Charts, a data research firm, African Americans make up 13.4% of US consumers, but only receive 1.4% of advertising buys targeted toward media.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, president of the National Newspaper Publishers Association stated “Across the nation, the Black Press of America, represented by the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), has been financially negatively impacted across the board as a result of COVID-19 due to severe reductions in local, regional and national advertising dollars targeted toward Black America. Yet, the Black Press has a history of resilience and many of the NNPA member newspapers are striving to endure and to survive the disproportionately deadly impact of COVID-19 on Black America.”

The abrupt decline in targeted revenue has forced publishers to look beyond the traditional ways of print news and standard website posting; and get creative with ways in which they can continue reporting while ensuring that the health of both their journalists and businesses aren’t compromised.

Larry Lee, publisher of the Sacramento Observer, is one of 17 Black newspapers based in California. When orders went into effect, Lee did not hesitate to make the safety and well-being of staff his foremost priority. “[The newspaper is] a people driven business,” he shared. “One of the first things we did was to make sure my reporters and photographers were practicing appropriate steps, social distancing, and working from home. Making sure they’re safe.” When this became standard, they began visiting ways to stay connected to their readers.

Many of the Sacramento Observer’s distribution sites throughout the city have closed, impacting how readers are able to purchase copies of the newspaper. Instead of counting the losses, Lee focused on encouraging readers to get short-term subscriptions. “We are [also] subscriptionbased, so we still mail out the paper through the postal service,” he said.

In addition to promoting subscriptions, Lee has

found ways to increase engagement through things like the implementation of video discussions on the publication’s social media platforms.

As a weekly, competing with the continuous mainstream pandemic reporting has made delivering what would be breaking news challenging. “While content is heavily geared towards the pandemic, we try to make sure we have a good balance of stories that aren’t just about the doom and gloom, [but address] the health and concerns of our community,” Lee said.

In San Diego, Dr. John Warren, publisher of the San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper has seen no shrinkage in his 60-year-old business’s workload and revenue. When the stay-at-home orders were enforced, Warren immediately shifted newspaper deliveries to local food distribution sites, partnering with organization who are servicing the community. Warren, like many publishers who offer digital subscriptions, selected to drop his website paywall to make accessing the newspaper online free.

Other publications have not been as fortunate. Brenda Andrews, publisher of Norfolk Virginia’s New Journal and Guide, released a statement to her readers that she would be suspended until further notice.

“It is not business as usual. Advertisers have cancelled scheduled placements, and distribution locations, including small business and churches are closed. As Publisher, my greatest concerns at this time are for the health and safety of my staff and their families and for the economic viability of this business affected adversely by the global health crisis.

We fully expect to rebound from this temporary setback and to resume serving our community that has supported us the last 120,” the statement concluded.

In the last two months, grants have been made available through funding sources like the Facebook Journalism Project COVID-19 Local News Relief Fund for US local news organizations. The money has enabled them to continue serving communities during the coronavirus outbreak.

Although some Black-owned publications have been able to attract funding through investments, loans and grants, the majority of them are struggling to keep the lights on, trying not to collapse under the mounting weight of the COVID-19 recession.

All of them are seeking innovative ways to keep providing vital information to their primary audiences who overwhelmingly live in census tracts of the country that are most underserved based on any metric.

The letter to leaders of both parties in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives argued that ethnic media in communities across the country play a critical role in providing vital information to the public about the global pandemic.

“Many of these already endangered outlets, are now in danger of disappearing altogether due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As African American, Latino, Asian Pacific American and Native American communities experience the disproportionate impact of COVID-19, we ask that you prioritize ethnic media and local media outlets that serve those communities,” the letter read.

COVID-19 Makes This Recession Different for Public Schools

By Dr. Margaret Fortune Budget cuts loom on the horizon, prompting public schools to prepare for the worst. We can gain some insights on what schools can expect in this recession, by reflecting on what happened in the last one. Keep in mind, however, that COVID-19 presents big differences putting even the most experienced school officials through the looking glass.

The Great Recession (2007-2009) brought massive teacher layoffs. New teachers couldn’t find jobs. Some abandoned education all together, while others lined up behind laid-off, veteran teachers to be day-to-day substitutes. A generation of college students decided against majoring in education, which dried up the supply of teachers entering the profession when the economy recovered. The lean years for public schools lingered beyond the time when the record books said the Great Recession was officially over. It wasn’t until 2013 that California public school funding, in particular, started looking up.

What’s different now? COVID-19 has abruptly shut down the economy, causing a new brand of uncertainty.

We don’t know how the economy will re-open, but it is clear public schools will play an essential role. Parents can’t get back to work if their children don’t get back to school.

What’s not as clear is exactly how schools will reopen when it’s time.

Some point to Denmark for how schools can come back to some sort of normalcy with social distancing. For one, among other things, the Danes reduced class sizes. But class-size reduction in California would increase costs at a time when the state can ill afford it. There is, however, a strong argument to be made that because of the pandemic, in this recession, lawmakers should protect public school funding from cuts.

Teachers are strategic players in the state’s economic recovery and public health response to COVID-19.

Districts and charter schools may be able to reduce the number of students in school buildings with staggered start times, year-round schedules and hybrid-online programs.

However, these social distancing solutions require teachers to be in the classroom, not unemployment lines.

The financial stability public schools need to reopen safely this fall in light of COVID-19, could be on a collision course with the cuts to school budgets lawmakers typically make during a recession. It’s imperative for Sacramento to do things differently this time to guard against the teacher lay-offs that usually accompany budget cuts.

Certainly, in this moment, the most important thing is for schools to come back in a way that avoids the spread of the coronavirus. In order to do that, schools need teachers along with very intentional planning with public health officials to be up to the task.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Margaret Fortune is the President/CEO of Fortune School, a network of K-12 public charter schools in Sacramento, California she founded to close the African American achievement gap in her hometown. Dr. Fortune has been an education adviser to two California Governors. She is secretarytreasurer of California State National Action Network, a national civil rights organization.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER A3

Entertainment

One of the Most Influential Founding Fathers of Rock n’ Roll

Little Richard’s high-energy performances while playing the piano included dancing on top of the piano, running on and off the stage and throwing souvenirs to the audience. He also dressed flamboyantly onstage. Some of what is taken for granted now in popular music was invented by Little Richard. (Photo: Little Richard performing at the University of Texas Forty Acres Festival in 2007. Wikimedia Commons / Anna Bleker)

Little Richard Dies at 87 FILE - In this April 2, 2013, file photo, singer Betty Wright performs the national anthem before an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks in Miami. Wright, the Grammy-winning soul singer and songwriter whose influential 1970s hits included “Clean Up Woman” and “Where is the Love,” has died. Several media outlets reported that Wright died of cancer at her home in Miami on Sunday, May 10, 2020. She was 66. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

Grammy-Winning 1970s Soul Singer Betty Wright Dies at 66 Associated Press MIAMI (AP) — Betty Wright, the Grammy-winning soul singer and songwriter whose influential 1970s hits included “Clean Up Woman” and “Where is the Love,” has died at age 66.

Wright died at her home in Miami on Sunday, several media outlets reported. Steve Greenberg of S-Curve Records told the New York Times Wright had been diagnosed with cancer in the fall.

Wright had her breakthrough with 1971′s “Clean Up Woman,” which combined elements of funk, soul and R&B. Recorded when Wright was just 17, the song would be a top 10 hit on both the Billboard R&B and pop charts, and its familiar grooves would be used and reused in the sampling era of future decades.

The youngest of seven children, Wright was born Bessie Regina Norris in 1953 in Miami, the city whose funk and soul sounds her music would always be identified with.

She started singing with the family gospel group, Echoes of Joy, and released her solo debut album, “My First Time Around,” at age 15 in 1968. The album yielded a top

40 hit, “Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do.” After “Clean Up Woman,” written by Clarence Reid and Willie Clarke and later sampled by Afrika Bambaataa and Mary J. Blige, she would have her first hit she wrote herself with “Baby Sitter,” a 1973 hit that showed off her so-called “whistle register” vocals, an ultra-high singing style later employed by Mariah Carey and others.

With members of K.C. and the Sunshine Band, she co-wrote her 1975 proto-disco hit, “Where is the Love,” which would win her a Grammy for best R&B song.

A career lull in the late 1970s and early 1980s prompted Wright to start her own label in 1985, leading to a gold album, “Mother Wit,” in 1987 and the comeback hit “No Pain (No Gain)” She spent much of the rest of her life as a producer and mentor to younger artists, many of whom were singing her praises after her death.

“Thank you for being a master teacher, a friend and one of the greatest female soul singers in our industry,” Ledisi said on Twitter. “You were so much more than your music. We were blessed to be around royalty.”

John Legend tweeted that Wright “was always so loving and giving to younger artists. Always engaged, always relevant. She will be missed.”

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor Richard Wayne Penniman, better known as Little Richard, was one of the most influential singer songwriters in popular music. He was one of the founders of Rock n’ Roll in the 1950s and one of the most memorable performers in rock history. Little Richard was born in 1932 in Macon, Georgia.

“Tutti Frutti” (1955), one of Richard’s signature songs, became a hit reaching the No. 2 on the Billboard chart.

Another hit, “Long Tall Sally” (1956), hit No. 1 on Billboard. “Tutti Frutti” was added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2010 and cited for its “unique vocalizing over the irresistible beat announced a new era in music”. Two of his songs,”Tutti Frutti” and “Good Golly, Miss Molly” were listed on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

Little Richard’s music was covered by several artists thereafter and his influence included The Beatles, who opened for Little Richard as he toured Europe in 1962. He also advised Paul McCartney on his distinctive vocalizations. Little Richard influenced Otis Redding, James Brown, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, John Lennon and Cliff Richard and those influences frequently showed up in their music.

Legend has it that James Brown came up with the Famous Flames debut hit, “Please, Please, Please”, after Richard had written the words down on a napkin.

Redding started his professional career with Little Richard’s band, The Upsetters. Bob Dylan performed covers of Little Richard’s songs on piano during a high school talent show with his rock and roll group, the Golden Chords. In 1959, Dylan wrote in his yearbook under “Ambition”: “to join Little Richard.”

Many Rock critics noted the similarities between Prince’s androgynous look and vocal style to Little Richard.

In 1963, Richard agreed to assist a failing tour effort

by The Everly Brothers, Bo Diddley and The Rolling Stones and was given his own TV special after the tour ended.

Little Richard received all the honors possible in music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of its first group of legendary inductees in 1986. He was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Little Richard is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy and a

Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. In 2015, Richard received a Rhapsody & Rhythm Award from the National Museum of African American Music for his key role in the formation of popular music genres and helping to bring an end to the racial divide on the music charts and in concert in the mid1950s changing American culture significantly.

At the suggestion of Lloyd Price, Little Richard sent a demo to Price’s label, Specialty Records, in 1955.

Producer Robert “Bumps” Blackwell, who worked at Specialty Records, thought Little Richard was Specialty’s answer to Ray Charles, but was told by Little Richard he was a fan of the sound of Fats Domino. In 1955, he recorded “Tutti Frutti” in three takes and it was released as a single in November 1955.

Penniman’s performances, like most early rock and roll shows, resulted in integrated audience reaction during an era of strict segregation in the South. On tours that included groups of music stars, Little Richard and other artists such as Fats Domino and Chuck Berry would allow audiences Black and white to enter buildings via the same door but sit in separate places — but everyone would dance.

Vocal supremacist groups such as the North Alabama White Citizens Council warned that rock and roll “brings the races together.” The universal popularity of Little Richard killed the myth that black performers could not successfully perform at white-only venues.

Little Richard’s high-energy performances while playing the piano included dancing on top of the piano, running on and off the stage and throwing souvenirs to the audience. He also dressed flamboyantly onstage. Some of what is taken for granted now in popular music was invented by Little Richard.

Little Richard was ranked eighth on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and Rolling Stone listed three of Little Richard’s recordings, “The Girl Can’t Help It”, “Long Tall Sally” and “Tutti Frutti”, on their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Little Richard was the third of 12 children of Leva Mae and Charles Penniman. His father was a church deacon and his mother was a member of Macon’s New Hope Baptist Church.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist for NNPA and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is also a political strategist as Principal of Win Digital Media LLC. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

By Nsenga K. Burton Ph.D NNPA Newswire Culture and Entertainment Editor THE BURTON WIRE - At Uptown, Harrell signed Heavy D and the Boyz, Marly Marl, Al B. Sure, and Guy among others. It is at Uptown Records where Harrell famously discovered future music mogul Sean “P Diddy” Combs, who started at the company as an intern and rose to the ranks of a Vice-President of A&R signing such acts as Mary J. Blige, Jodeci and Father MC. The Twitterverse is in mourning after reports legendary music executive Andre Harrell was found dead today in his Los Angeles apartment. The Bronx native was one half of the rap duo Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde. In the early 1980s, Harrell joined Russell Simmons at Def Jam Records, eventually becoming Vice President and General Manager. In 1986, Harrell left Def Jam Records to start his own label, Uptown Records at MCA, which became the sound of 1990s Hip-Hop Soul.

At Uptown, Harrell signed Heavy D and the Boyz, Marly Marl, Al B. Sure, and Guy among others. It is at Uptown Records where Harrell famously discovered future music mogul Sean “P Diddy” Combs, who started at the company as an intern and rose to the ranks of a VicePresident of A&R signing such acts as Mary J. Blige, Jodeci and Father MC. Harrell also served as an Executive Producer for the FOX television hit New York Undercover (19941989). Harrell fired Combs, who left to form Bad Boy Records bringing Hip-Hop legend Notorious B.I.G. with him and signing Total, Faith Evans, 112, Craig Mack, and

a host of other artists. Despite the breakup, Combs and Harrell remained lifelong friends.

After Combs’ departure, Mary J. Blige and Jodeci also left the label, leaving Uptown with declining sales. In 1995, Harrell left Uptown Records to join iconic record company Motown Records with Heavy D becoming CEO of Uptown. Harrell, who had been paid $20 million to sign with Motown, was fired two years later in 1997, taking a $5 million payout with him.

In 2014, Andre Harrell and Combs reunited, with Harrell becoming Vice-Chairman of Revolt TV & Media, Combs’ multi-platform music network. Harrell was also a producer on Revolt‘s wildly popular show “State of the Culture.” At REVOLT, Harrell oversaw the REVOLT Music Conference (RMC) and produced and hosted the show, “Music Talks” where he interviewed music legends like L.A. Reid, Babyface, Nas, Queen Latifah and Sean Combs. At the time of his death, the entertainment powerhouse was working on a 3-part-series about Uptown Records for BET Networks. A pioneer of Hip-Hop Soul and a major figure in black R&B music and television soundtracks, Harrell was 59.

This story is developing. Check for updates on Twitter @TheBurtonWire.

This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual.

This article originally appeared in The Burton Wire.

Andre Harrell, Legendary Music Executive, Dies at 59

Andre Harrell, December 2019 (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Sean Combs)

Get The Bakersfield News Observer Online at www.

OGNSC.COM Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

A4 BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER

Features

How COVID-19 Has Changed Funerals and Mourning Continued from page A1

Ahmaud Arbery

crying and having to look in the other direction because you’re making these unusual home going service plans,” he said. For some families whose relatives die of COVID-19, there are “no services, no prayers. They take them straight from the hospital to the cemetery and put them in the ground – or they go to a crematory and burn the bodies.”

“At McKay’s, we take two photos if there is no funeral. We mail one to the family with the death certificate and keep one for the record,” he said. “We try to support and encourage them and tell them they can have a proper memorial when the emergency

order is lifted.”

Most Black funeral home owners say they have seen sharp dips in their revenues since most of their customers no longer need auxiliary services like limousine rentals and other costs associated with funeral services.

McKay says, during this crisis, mental health of mourners should be taken seriously. His team spends a lot of time helping people deal with grief. There have been two cases he has dealt with, McKay says, involving people who died worrying about the pandemic. One was a 71-year-old Black woman who died from stress.

Funeral homes across California have adopted technologies like Zoom and other streaming services to allow families to watch funeral services remotely online.

“People in the business are embracing technology. It

is becoming more popular, a necessity,” says the Rev. Ray Turner, pastor of Temple Missionary Baptist Church in San Bernardino. “It will become an integral part of our future.” Turner also invests in several funeral homes in the Inland Empire.

For families everywhere in the world, the coronavirus crisis has complicated dying, grieving and and funeral services. Across the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people keep a safe distance of six feet between them to avoid spreading or contracting the virus. The state has ordered that no more than 10 people can assemble for a public gathering.

In California, there are 66,680 confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to the California Department of Public Health. So far, the disease has caused the deaths of 2,657 people. More than 260 of the deceased are Black Californians.

“Oh, it’s horrible. Its horrible and its hectic. One of the worst experiences I’ve had in my 55 years of being in the funeral business,” said Albert Tillman, another AfricanAmerican funeral home owner and operator. His business is Tillman Riverside Mortuary, located in Riverside.

Tillman says he approaches funeral services with a sense of duty, but he constantly has to steel his nerves because he’s always thinking about the safety of his 19 employees and guests who attend viewings at this funeral home.

“We sanitize all the time. We follow CDC guidelines.

We wear masks,” says Tillman, who does not embalm any bodies of people who died from COVID-19. He says he tells families who want their loved ones’ bodies preserved to go to Snyder Mortuary in Rancho Cucamonga, the one funeral home he knows of in the greater Los Angeles area

that embalms bodies of people who died from COVID-19 complications.

“What scares me most is the unknown,” says Tillman.

“We just don’t know enough about this virus, that’s why I don’t make decisions that might endanger my staff and the community.”

Most cemeteries across California remain closed to the public and only open their gates for burials. When they do, most of them allow between five to 10 guests only, including pall bearers and the funeral home staff.

The California Department of Public Health and the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau of the California Deparment of Consumer Affairs both provide information for funeral establishments and the general public on their websites.

They include guidance for making funeral arrangements; COVID-19 embalming and burial procedures; and the safe handling of infected bodies.

Morgan Jones Funeral Home in Sacramento follows the safety directions of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) COVID-19 guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Morgan Jones Funeral Director Shirley White says that the new safety rules strip away some of the solemnity that we’ve become accustomed to experiencing at funerals.

Andre Harrell, Betty Wright, and Little Richard.

“It’s difficult and it’s hard adjusting,” White told CBM. “But we’re going to take care of our families. We’re going to get stuff done. We just have to follow the rules and do the best we can do for them.”

We’re In This Together Coronavirus (Covid-19) Response

Improvements include adding walls between individual treatment areas, moving the sterilization further away from patient areas, doubling the number of hand sanitizing facilities, replacing the HVAC, procuring leading edge American made dental equipment and more. (Courtesy Photo)

Dr. Nicole Chen and Alfonso Li Letter To The Editor As the coronavirus continues to dramatically impact lives, please know that we stand with you, your family, and our entire community. This is a difficult time for everyone, but we’re all in this together and together we’ll make it through.

Improvements include adding walls between individual treatment areas, moving the sterilization further away from patient areas, doubling the number of hand sanitizing facilities, replacing the HVAC, procuring leading edge american made dental equipment and more.

Safety is our primary concern – for you, your loved ones, our families, our team, and our community.

We genuinely care for the Rosedale, Green Acres and surrounding Bakersfield communities. With that in mind, we have decided to be proactive and postpone all dental treatment and make unprecedented investment in your safety and comfort. During this time we are completely remodeling the what used to be the old Kern Dental space.

We want to also use this remodel to further support and invest in the our local and regional businesses community.

Rosedale Dental Studio will be built by Bakersfield, for Bakersfield.

This extraordinary step may seem to some like an overreaction, but as a healthcare professionals, we believe we must do what we can to help minimize spread of the virus and “flatten the curve.” We would never want to put our patients or our community in a situation that has the potential to increase their risk factors for serious illness or death. We sincerely hope this decision is an overreaction and that the virus stops spreading and dissipates quickly.

If you have an appointment scheduled for May, we’ll be in touch to reschedule your appointment for sometime in June. Please be patient with us because we have many patients to contact. We realize this decision may be an inconvenience to you or your family, but we will work hard to accommodate your schedule.

Like everyone else, we are in uncharted waters with this situation. Our goal is always to do what’s in the best interest of our patients. If something changes or we have news to share, we’ll be in touch. Please be safe and take all necessary precautions. Remember, we’re all in this together and together we’ll make it through. Join me on quest to improve your safety and comfort instagram or facebook Dentistry, differently For more information on COVID-19, visit cdc.gov

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF LONNIE WATTS, JR. CASE NUMBER: BPB-19-002400 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of LONNIE WATTS, JR. A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by YVETTE REGINA WATTS-LYKES in the Superior Court of California, County of KERN 1215 Truxtun Ave Bakersfield, Ca. 93301 Branch Name: JUSTICE BUILDING THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that YVETTE REGINA WATTS-LYKES be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval.

Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: JUL 5, 2020 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: P Room: P located at 1215 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, Ca. 93301 IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the deceased, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within four months from the date of first issuance of letters as provided on

Probate Code section 9100.

The time for filing claims will not expire before four months from the hearing date noticed above.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. IF you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (for DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate code section 1250. A request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Petitioner: YVETTE REGINA WATTS-LYKES 14300 CHESTNUT STREET #220 WESTMINSTER, CA. 92683 Telephone: (310) 505-2685 Email: yvette.lykes@yahoo.com IN PRO PER

be granted if no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: Aug 5, 2020 Time: 8:30 a.m.

Dept: 12 The address of the court is: Same as noted above.

A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER Date: March 19, 2020 Linda S Etienne COURT COMMISSIONER Rebecca Saldivar DEPUTY BRUCE DONALD CHAMBERS 4313 Cambridge Dr. Bakersfield, Ca. 93306 Phone: (661) 871-5360 IN PRO PER BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Apr 29, May 6, 13, 20, 2020 �������������������������������

selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form.

If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements.

You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association.

NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www. sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no

conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro.

Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil.

Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF KERN 1415 Truxtun, Bakersfield, CA 93301 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): THE DUNNING LAW FIRM APC Donald T. Dunning (144665) James MacLeod (249145) 4545 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 200 San Diego, Ca. 92123 Telephone: (858) 974-7600 Fax: DATE (Fecha): August 20, 2019 TAMARAH HARBER-PICKENS, Clerk (Secretario), by Esmeralda Salinas, Deputy (Adjunto) (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served.

BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER (DLF) PUB: May 6, 13, 20, 27, 2020

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): JUAN MANUEL REYNA, JR., an individual; LISA ANN REYNA, an individual; and DOES 1 to 5, inclusive YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): SUNSTREET ENERGY GROUP, LLC, a limited liability company NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you.

Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form.

If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements.

You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association.

NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta

citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www. sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro.

Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil.

Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF KERN 1415 Truxtun, Bakersfield, CA 93301 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): THE

DUNNING LAW FIRM APC Donald T. Dunning (144665) James MacLeod (249145) 4545 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 200 San Diego, Ca. 92123 Telephone: (858) 974-7600 Fax: DATE (Fecha): October 28, 2019 TAMARAH HARBER-PICKENS, Clerk (Secretario), by Layton Johnson, Deputy (Adjunto) (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served.

BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER (DLF) PUB: May 6, 13, 20, 27, 2020

BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2020

������������������������������� ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER BCV-20-100786 Superior Court of the State of California, for the county of Kern, 1415 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93301 PETITION OF: BRUCE DONALD CHAMBERS FOR CHANGE OF NAME TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: BRUCE DONALD CHAMBERS for a decree changing names as follows: Present name BRUCE DONALD CHAMBERS Filed a petition with this court Proposed name BRUCE RONALD CHAMBERS THE COURT ORDERS: that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not

SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): BCL-19-016226 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): LYDIA TORRES, an individual; and DOES 1 to 5, inclusive YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): SUNSTREET ENERGY GROUP, LLC, a limited liability company NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you.

Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/

������������������������������� SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): BCL-19-018172

������������������������������� FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO: 2020-B2245 Doing business as: CICI & ME TREASURES at 5601 Coffee Rd Unit 714, Bakersfield, Ca. 93308 Mailing Address: Same County: Kern Full name of registrant: MELISSA GONZALEZ, 5601 Coffee Rd Unit 714, Bakersfield, Ca. 93308 The business is conducted by: Individual SIGNED: MELISSA GONZALEZ The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 04/02/2020 This statement filed with the County Clerk of Kern County on: May 5, 2020 MARY B BEDARD County Clerk By: M HERNANDEZ, Deputy This fictitious Business Name Statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the County Clerk’s Office. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another to a trademark or trade name under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 ET SEQ., business and professions code).

I declare that all information in this Statement is true and correct. (A) Registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime This statement expires on May 5, 2025 BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: May 13, 20, 27, June 3, 2020

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER A5

Local

Black Barbers and Beauticians Push Gov. Newsom to Reopen Their Shops Aldon Thomas Stiles California Black Business Two weeks ago, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp drew sharp criticisms from African Americans across the country.

Black politicians, social media commenters and others blasted the governor, saying his decision to lift his state’s month-long stay-at-home order by first opening businesses like barbershops, nail salons, sneaker stores, tattoo parlors, gyms and bowling alleys put the lives of Blacks at risk. Those are businesses African Americans frequent, his critics pointed out.

But unlike Georgia, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said businesses like barbershops, beauty shops and nail salons will not be allowed to begin servicing their customers again until the third phase of the Golden State’s reopening plan.

Lorenzo Griffin, CEO of Laran Products (Facebook photo)

“Phase three is not a year away. It’s not six months away. It’s not even three months away. It may not even be more than a month away,” Newsom said at his daily press conference Friday. “We just want to make sure we have a protocol in place to secure customer safety, employee safety and allow the businesses to thrive in a way that is sustainable.”

On May 8, California started the second in a four-stage process of reopening business and public spaces shut down during the COVID-19 crisis on a category-by-category basis. Businesses in industries such as retail, manufacturing, logistics and others that fit certain safety requirements opened Friday, still maintaining recommendations for wearing masks and gloves, and maintain a social distance of six feet between people.

Now, smaller businesses like salons and barbershops that require closer contact between people — and that have been hit hard in the pocket by coronavirus-related shutdowns — are calling on the California governor, state legislature and other politicians to allow them to return to work.

The Black Small Business Association of California (BSBA) wrote letters to Sacramento Mayor Darryl Steinberg and Gov. Gavin Newsom urging them to consider allowing barbers and cosmetologists to safely resume their business.

“While we understand the need to prioritize public health and safety during this unprecedented crisis, the economic devastation of this moment cannot be overstated,” the letter read. “This loss of income is compounded by the limits of California’s safety-net services and has left too many barbers and cosmetologists without assistance during this difficult time.”

The BSBA claimed that many of the protections federal and state officials promised to small businesses did not reach barbers and cosmetologists.

“For example, many of these individuals have applied for Unemployment Insurance, but were denied,” the letter read. “Others applied for the federal Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans through the Small Business Administration, and were denied access to these funds as well. In addition, few if any have received access to information about local emergency funding options, when these funds have been made available.”

In addition to those letters, the BSBA, along with the Mixed Cosmetology School, several barbers and cosmetologists wrote safety guidelines to serve as a model for how these specific businesses could begin reopening sooner rather than later.

Those guidelines include the implementation of personal protective gear, mandatory temperature checks, symptom questionnaires and extensive disinfection.

California joins several other states in reopening businesses after months of closures in the midst of this pandemic. But due to the size of the state, Gov. Newsom says, the reopening process has been based on the needs of different counties.

Kathryn Barger, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, detailed how Los Angeles County will cooperate with the governor’s reopening plan. “[Los Angeles] County is in conversations with our state partners and wants to ensure any restrictions we ease are in the best interest of the health of all of our residents,” Barger said. “What’s best for other counties may not necessarily be right for Los Angeles County as we are the most densely populated county in the state, our guidelines will certainly look different than others.”

Dave Charles Presley Jr., a Rialto resident and barber for 28 years, had to move out of his apartment due to all of the revenue he has lost since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“It’s been an absolute nightmare,” Presley said. “I’m looking at all of these politicians with these fresh haircuts yet our businesses are suffering. I know they didn’t cut that themselves.”

Presley also claims that he has waited for over a month to receive the unemployment benefits that he applied for after the governor issued his stay-at-home order.

Lorenzo Griffin, CEO of Laran Products, has been trying to help barbers like Presley as Laran Products only sells their merchandise directly to salons and barber shops.

“The beauty industry, the barber shops and the beauty salons, is the second largest social institution in Black America, second only to the church,” Griffin said. “It’s vital that we open but it is absolutely vital that we stay safe when we open.”

Some have expressed concern about Black people returning to certain jobs during this reopening process.

Dr. Melva Thompson-Robinson, Executive Director of the

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Center for Health Disparities Research, spoke about the many challenges Black people have been facing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For the African American community, this has been something that has been centuries in the making in terms of the inequality and the racism that African Americans in particular have experienced,” Thompson-Robinson said.

“As far as the African American community, they are often working in positions where they’d be considered essential workers. Not just as a doctor or nurse, but they are part of the janitorial staff or other essential staff.”

Thompson-Robinson also expressed her concern about the inherent racial bias in the medical community and explained how African Americans can combat that bias without coming across as hostile.

“You can advocate for yourself by having someone who can go with you, who can advocate on your behalf, or if you can’t have someone go with you, have someone put together a list of questions that have to be answered by the doctors so if you’re there by yourself, your issues and concerns aren’t being overlooked,” Thompson-Robinson said.

A6

BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER

Local

Wednesday, May 13, 2020