BAKE 5.20.20 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 20, 2020 in the case Group ew s of the re-t the murderCalifornia som’s order oftoSouthern help37 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 DJeffrey ie g o Th C l p te ac L. Boney Shares His Personal Journey of Surviving the Coronavirus and Dealing o d o an mas ross the stat with e go unnamed “Un rtunat 26 and an nts of murder. At unty jury convicte vernor’s dec e say Los Angeles oR. Parker, a former ely, over tith for justicefoin th d Cand e timEmotional ooper Mental is ffi d m io e ep ce cord - incluescaped prisowith o n e , the Anguish Required to Overcome COVID-19 f u . it b ty h th el is n se is h ie em ar in ead of the This guy is ves case rest no istrict s e victim ate. His n FBI’s in Pennsylv ding several burgm innocent,” Cooper.

Attorney Jamatters less and leth s’ desire “The eviden gthy crim,inhe was “PriD laries and le ania – did ss h o e ,” so r al ce to S D n an ld re N A w n th as A B th d er o e 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 several attack, and in nsw round of c California.

L ag Californiah. ealth facility in Pen1982, Cooper esca u n e h in r a BStudents, av w w o v ea f the BAKERSFIELD estie high expec hose suppo each PoliIncorporated orn testimo pons were u ped from three attacker nsylvania b th–eAssociated progressive O ce rt ra ta O er n n se ti ffi g y, s d o e o s ce ef Josh Duri County R in th n th wh ore moving rhas Thomas e poliat (ASI) State Bakersfield NA test g ns. meone’University, ticaCalifornia egister he in l Left tosostudents to could have been Hoiswere White. He lautea Ryen said he sawe solve “D gued that ng his murder trial, s pwho should imm et whwere ittoially th the Ryen in donated $25,000 not eligible 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 tareceive that they Chiang sa se and fin arted in fro succ ke placesupport the federal government dthrough named Diacomplicating the pro nt M to re- from cG neighbor C 10-year-old daugh d and wife Dougesansfully ar- ban uirand that DNA id during the campally ensure justthe na Roper ca secutions’ cl e sa Coronavirus Aid, Relief Economic Security y ic s el ter Jessica an e hristopher w th o d is h n ev ai e P en g servAct. animal was h e ed g ,” o Hughes. Po d an 11-yea eggy inal. S ing to her former me forward with b aims, a wom- but testing inidence can help lawgn. “Not on(CARES) t out to chec bigger than ly it pro boyfriend w loodthat r-old lice found he rned Anim this case wowanted en y clohad ven from the aline

By Jeffrey L. Boney opened. tofoget rcement soisUsing houitems al Contr thinrecently funds program and travel se cat. the eviden the bloodie Even thI odesperately ho wassites destroyed tu g u ld o to lv l co o an e a ffi m cr v ce u an io ce e im d g it rs at le h New NNPA Newswire Contributor of mind, butsoalso because nIo cost es, usedtr due toimthe over to the tested, primarily . nt crim- for is my al hpandemic, that were not decided shed the ble boldpeace ospital, whASI ru , m to h ’s e th au p A d is o ec fr e m li tr e ic st is ce a. eadwere an American ate.” , but they forismy e it was for “Jeffrey, unfortunately, your test came back positive was concerned still iniothe n in thetoChelp students, ing ca including the Deferred erAction suefamily. that They refuliving diagnose s, Hispanic ll ooper caseArrivals Dr. Kristi K for the Coronavirus.”

Childhood (DACA) students, international s and othersame house as me.watching. CHalifornia voters acroy on a potential rause, a vet ly polariziand she expec ss theand minIorisaw is keepreports erinaria aid ng students politicalstudents without Hearing those words from the doctor, March 27th, I read thee media online ts the 11federal ties the ing his fo liv- news. , tells the sp -pound financial C b ec ac o n tr k cu ti u in n s m (5-kilogranm to u o documents on file. ar edbased n shook me to the core. on social media. It was clear, those reports, that I th e fa on paon e ir w n il es d s an“A ge A2 af ) t to te d r M it ju regai stic lot ofeour studentscG and are struggling Was that a death sentence for me? was not displaying the type of respiratory symptoms that uirtheir ns strengca e visitfamilies that th the allocation if hIebelieve during these times and thatedASI’s of b o Was it a coincidence that my mom years earlier had the majority of COVID-19 patients were reported to have sees it ag b ca t on Frid.ay n, he’ll is the $25,000 is the best way we couldaiprovide ansuequitable died in the same month of March? been experiencing, such as shortness of breath or having e a ticket fo . service to help our students in need,” said ASI President r ja Was this really how my life was going to end? a heavy cough. There were also reports that the only way Aaron Wan. The news reports I had been watching and reading a person could be tested was if they were elderly or a first Following guidance from the governor’s office, the reported dire results relative to those who had contracted responder. I was deeply concerned.

California State University system and local public health the virus. Death tolls were rising. Governors began A few days after my call with Rep. Reynolds, I received officials, CSUB moved to virtual instruction in March. searching for beds and ventilators for people who were a call on my cell phone from U.S. Congresswoman Though students, faculty and staff have shown resilience being impacted by this virus.

Sheila Jackson Lee on Wednesday, March 25th. She had and adaptability in the transition, the impacts of shelterHonestly, I felt like the odds were stacked against me. heard I was experiencing a health challenge and asked in-place orders have been challenging for many in the The journey for me started with a very slight cough. me some questions. Congresswoman Jackson Lee then CSUB community. The donation will allow all students On March 17th, I started experiencing internal digestive immediately informed me that she wanted me to come to share in the support they need. symptoms that I initially assumed was a result of me not down to United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) on The California State University system received eating anything that day. It was a Tuesday, which meant Tidwell to get tested right away. I wasted no time. I asked more than $262 million to allocate to students under it was Press Day at the Houston Forward Times, where I the Congresswoman for the address and immediately got the CARES Act. Of that, $6.8 million will support CSUB students. Another $6.8 million will allow CSUB serve as the Associate Editor. Now, it wasn’t uncommon for dressed to make my way to UMMC. to cover the costs of the transition to alternative forms me to skip breakfast and skip lunch in order to remain laser As I was driving to the hospital, Congresswoman of instructional delivery and replace a portion of the focused on getting the newspaper done. However, when I Jackson Lee told me that she had already spoken to the revenue lost from student housing and parking refunds. started feeling faint, I decided to get something to eat.

Chief Medical Officer for United Memorial Medical Full-time students enrolled in the spring 2020 I made my way down to the Reggae Hut around Center (UMMC), Dr. Joseph Varon, and that he was semester as of May 4 are receiving emergency aid of 5:30 pm and ordered the oxtails, rice and peas and the prepared to receive me and administer the test. $320, $800 or $1,100, depending on level of need. The vegetables, along with a beef patty and a Kola Champagne I was so relieved that I would be able to get tested grant is pro-rated for part-time students. The CARES to drink. I made my way back down to my office with my and get a definitive on whether I had contracted the Act provides strict guidance to colleges and universities plate and I ate a little bit of the rice and peas; a little of the COVID-19 virus or not. on how to determine Title IV eligibility, including the vegetables; and barely ate one of the oxtails, before closing I arrived to UMMC and was met by Dr. Varon. He level of student need, Pell Grant eligibility and other the container and putting the plate in the refrigerator. That walked with me inside to the place where I was to be indicators. was the last time I saw that plate or my office. tested, and he immediately tried to put me at ease. I was Funds are being distributed now, and should be The next day, I not only had a continuous loss of told by Dr. Varon that my test results would take anywhere entirely disbursed this week. All students will receive appetite, I also had stomach pain and was experiencing I am forever grateful to God and to everyone who from 24-48 hours to come back, so I waited patiently and their grant in one check or direct deposit. heavy and unusual bouts of diarrhea. I even had an episode uttered a prayer, shared an encouraging word, eagerly. where I went to the bathroom and while on the way, I As anxious as I was to find out the results on the passed out and was disoriented. I woke up lying on the providing any resources or sent positive energy my following day, I decided to give it another day. floor in a sweat, trying to figure out what happened to me. way. (Photo: Facebook) On that Friday, March 27th, things took a drastic turn I drank lots of water, tried natural remedies and ceased all for the worse, as it relates to my health. I began to cough, of my normal activities. None of that worked or changed probably the best option at the time, considering the and what I thought would be regular phlegm coming out, symptoms I was experiencing. my situation. turned out to be a significant amount of bright red blood.

I decided to reach out to my good friend, State As this continued to happen, I made the decision to call I self-quarantined and self-isolated for eight days Representative Ron Reynolds to express my concerns about from Tuesday, March 17th to Wednesday, March 25th.

Dr. Varon and share my update. After hearing my status, During that time, I contacted my primary care physician, my health status, as well as get his advice on whether he Dr. Varon implored me to come to the UMMC Emergency who informed me that continuing to self-quarantine was thought I should go through one of the drive-thru testing Continued on page A4

By JILL COLVIN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) – Former President Barack Obama on Saturday criticized U.S. leaders overseeing the nation’s response to the coronavirus, telling college graduates in an online commencement address that the pandemic shows many officials “aren’t even pretending to be in charge.’’

Obama spoke on “Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition,’’ a two-hour event for students graduating from historically black colleges and universities broadcast on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. His remarks were unexpectedly political, given the venue, and touched on current events beyond the virus and its social and economic impacts.

By Lisa Fitch “They don’t have culturally competent messages leadership I know all of you aspire to,” Obama said. “You “More than anything, this pandemic has fully, OW Editor-in-Chief for us,” Karenga said, claiming that at least 46 percent have to be intentional about these issues.” finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many Dr. Maulana Karenga, chair of the Department of of coronavirus victims are Black. “Even though Black Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), chair of the Congressional of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,’’ Obama Africana Studies at CSU Long Beach, wants the Black people are in the emerging hot zones… Chicago, Detroit, Black Caucus holds frequent town hall teleconferences on said. “A lot them aren’t even pretending to be in charge.’’ community to make sure that physical distancing during Milwaukee, New Orleans…we lack the ethnic data. Who’s various subjects.

Later Saturday, during a second televised the pandemic does not interfere with relationships or tested positive? Who has died? We don’t have any of that.”

“Healthcare disparities in our country have been a commencement address for high school seniors, Obama establishing networks.

“Why do we need this data?” he asked. “It saves lives. long-standing issue and concern for the Congressional panned “so-called grown-ups, including some with fancy “We’ve got to shop for each other, we have to pick up We could target resources where they’re most needed. Black Caucus,” Bass said. “The spread of the coronavirus titles and important jobs’’ who do “what feels good, prescriptions for each other,” Karenga said. “We’ve got to Help slow down the virus. We need culturally responsible has compounded these issues, leaving Black people even what’s convenient, what’s easy.’’

“Which is why things are so screwed up,’’ he said. talk; we’ve got to share information, so we don’t have to be education and mobilization.” more vulnerable. We need to urgently address these Obama did not name President Donald Trump afraid unnecessarily.”

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has called for disparities with a targeted response to our community.” or any other federal or state officials in either of his Karenga was recently featured on the Carl Nelson the Centers for Disease Control to collect and report racial Los Angeles County released figures amid a national appearances. But earlier this month, he harshly criticized Show and conducted a phone conference with Nelson and data for COVID-19. As of April 8, only nine states and the conversation on how COVID-19 is affecting racial groups Trump’s handling of the pandemic as an “absolute his radio audience at WOL radio in Washington, D.C. District of Columbia released data based on race. differently. The city’s racial breakdown of coronavirus chaotic disaster’’ in a call with 3,000 members of his “There’s no real denying of the damage and destruction “We need full disclosure of racial data to identify and deaths shows the majority of people who died were administrations obtained by Yahoo News. that this coronavirus has done to our lives,” Karenga said. prioritize the areas of greatest impact,” the letter stated.

White or Latino. However, Black people accounted for a The commencement remarks were the latest sign “We can’t even worship in the same way anymore.”

Former President Barak Obama agreed, raising the disproportionate 17 percent of the deaths while making up that Obama intends to play an increasingly active role During the show, Karenga admitted that there is a lot issue at a virtual meeting with mayors, local leaders and only 9 percent of the county’s population. in the coming election. He has generally kept a low of fear and confusion out in the world now, and he warned members of response teams from around the world.

Across the nation, the numbers reveal similar racial profile in the years since he left office, even as Trump has against buying into the conspiracy theories which can pit “When you start looking at issues of domestic abuse disparities. Blacks are at greater risk, mostly because many disparaged him. Obama told supporters on the call that persons against each other. He also expressed his dismay and you start looking at racial disparities that are popping have a greater burden of disease. The problem is especially he would be “spending as much time as necessary and with the information the government issues to the public. up in your cities, paying attention to that is the kind of acute in Louisiana, Illinois and Michigan. In Louisiana, campaigning as hard as I can” for Joe Biden, who served 70 percent of people who died were lack, but African as his vice president.

Americans make up only a third of the population As he congratulated the college graduates Saturday “It’s not that [Blacks are] getting infected more often,” and commiserated over the enormous challenges they said Dr. Anthony Fauci during a recent With House face given the devastation and economic turmoil the virus has wrought, the former president noted the February briefing. “It’s that when they do get infected with their shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, 25, who was killed underlying medical conditions -- diabetes, hypertension, while jogging on a residential street in Georgia. obesity, asthma – those are the kind of things that wind “Let’s be honest: A disease like this just spotlights them up in the ICU and ultimately death.” the underlying inequalities and extra burdens that black Fauci says the pandemic is shining a bright light on communities have historically had to deal with in this the healthcare disparities which have always existed in the country,” Obama said. “We see it in the disproportionate country and added that efforts to limit these disparities impact of COVID-19 on our communities, just as we see should resume after this global crisis. it when a black man goes for a jog and some folks feel like “Many of the social structures in our country have they can stop and question and shoot him if he doesn’t long placed African Americans in disadvantageous submit to their questioning.’’ positions,” said Dr. Marjorie Innocent, senior director of “Injustice like this isn’t new,” Obama went on to say.

NAACP Health Programs in a recent teleconference. “At “What is new is that so much of your generation has the same time, African Americans are more likely not to woken up to the fact that the status quo needs fixing, have regular sources of healthcare and tend to rely far too that the old ways of doing things don’t work.” In the face much on emergency center care.” of a void in leadership, he said, it would be up to the NAACP Director of Environmental and climate graduates to shape the future. justice, Jacqui Patters, noted that the most vulnerable and “If the world’s going to get better, it’s going to be up to you,” he said. most marginalized populations often end up falling through It is a perilous time for the nation’s historically black the cracks during an emergency. NAACP President Derrick colleges and universities, which have long struggled Johnson agreed, adding that the government’s response to with less funding and smaller endowments than their the Black community reminded him of the Katrina crisis. predominantly white peers and are now dealing with “People were left stranded on rooftops,” he said during the financial challenges of the coronavirus. Even at the the teleconference. “Are we going to leave a significant better-endowed HBCUs, officials are bracing for a tough portion of the population stranded?” few years.

Johnson later sent an email reiterating the “deepObama’s message to high school students came seated racial inequities embedded in everything from at the end of an hourlong television special featuring healthcare to the economy are compounding the effects celebrities, including LeBron James, Yara Shahidi and of the coronavirus pandemic for Black, Brown, Asian and Ben Platt, and was less sharp-edged than his speech to indigenous communities.” the college graduates. He urged the young graduates “This is a pivotal moment for our communities, our to be unafraid despite the current challenges facing the country and our future,” Johnson continued. “This is the nation and to strive to be part of a diverse community. moment when we unmask those inequalities and injustices “Leave behind all the old ways of thinking that divide us – sexism, racial prejudice, status, greed – and “This is a pivotal moment for our communities, our country and our future,” said NAACP President Derrick and chart a new path toward a more just nation.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was wary of set the world on a different path,” Obama said.

Johnson. “This is the moment when we unmask those inequalities and injustices and chart a new path to-

Welcome to Observer Interactive

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

Man in Go Breaks in r Hides UndH e

News Observer Free!

Bakersfield

COVID-19 —

My Personal Battle from a Positive to a Negative Result

The Black Crisis in the Midst of the Coronavirus Crisis

ward a more just nation.” (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

Continued on page A2

Bobcat Re CSUB Student cove A f t Leadership er Being Hi DonatesPolice Car Emergency Aid to DACA Students

Obama Criticizes Virus Response in Online Graduation Speech

A2

BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER

World & Nation

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Early Data Shows Encouraging Census Response Rates in Hard-to-Count Cities Charlene Muhammad California Black Media Early data is showing cities in California with some of the hardest-to-count census tracts are among places with above-average U.S. Census response rates so far. Many of them are areas where African Americans live.

Invitations to fill out the Census 2020 questionnaire started going out to Californians in mid-March. At the time, the deadline for completion was July 31.

But because states across the country issued emergency shutdown orders about two months ago responding to the global coronavirus pandemic, the federal government has pushed the self-response deadline to October 31.

Now, as California begins to phase in the reopening of offices, businesses and public spaces, census advocates are reminding people that even with the extension, it is still urgent that they submit their questionnaires as soon as possible.

“The data coming in suggests that response rates are encouraging, but we can’t get comfortable,” said Walter Scott Hawkins, a senior research associate at NewHawk, a southern California-based data collection firm.

“African Americans across the state have to push each other and make sure every person they know completes his or her form,” Hawkins said. “Until we have the actual numbers for those hardest-to-count places in the state, which can sometimes be as small as several blocks, we don’t have the full picture.”

In California, 60.6% of all residents have submitted their 2020 Census forms. A total of 51.1% of that number completed their questionnaires on the internet. The state has a response rate of 59.5%.

So far, among the top 13 counties in California with the highest African American populations, Contra Costa County has the highest response rate at 69.1%. Kern County has the lowest at 54.5%.

Across the United States, approximately 79 million households have already responded to the 2020 Census online, by phone or by mail. The estimated 55 million that haven’t should be receiving “don’t forget to respond” postcards soon.

Hawkins, who spent 30 years in the California State University system, recently authored California Black Media’s Counting Black California: Counting the Hard to Count” study.

The report identified areas in the state where African Americans are least likely to be counted by the 2020 Census.

“Several cities with pretty good response rates are areas with large numbers of hard-to-count populations,“ said Hawkins.

Among California’s cities with the highest numbers of African American residents, Elk Grove in Sacramento County has the highest response rate of 73.7%. The Black population in Elk Grove, one of the hardest-to-count areas in Sacramento County, is more than 11% — nearly two times the percentage of African Americans in the state.

Other cities with sizable Black populations and above average response rates include: Carson (64.8%); Sacramento (63.3%); Riverside 62.7%; Oakland (61.8%); Rialto (60.7%); and Long Beach (59.3%).

In the greater Los Angeles area, including parts of Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire, the number of Black residents is more than the number of African Americans in the rest of the state combined. The response rate in several Los Angeles area cities are slightly lower than the state’s total number. They include Victorville (59.3%); Fresno (59.1%); Bakersfield (58.8%); Stockton (57.7%); San Bernardino (54.7%); Compton (54.5%); Inglewood (54.3%); and Los Angeles (49.2%).

For African-American community-based organizations, the ongoing COVID-19 crisis has thrown their outreach plans off track, many of them say. So, news that the Census Bureau has moved its deadline to later in the year was a gift they had been anticipating.

“We know that working-class Black people in Oakland already face barriers to being counted in the Census. The extension of the Census deadline will give the Black community the opportunity to prioritize adjustments to their livelihood, while also giving us more time to complete the Census,” said Laneisha Butler, field manager for Oakland Rising, a community-based civic engagement organization.

Butler is optimistic the extension will enable her organization to find new ways to reach people where they are.

Recently, the organization conducted tens of thousands of wellness checks via text that revealed the alarming amount of African Americans throughout Oakland and Alameda County who have lost their homes, jobs, and even loved ones as a result of the coronavirus crisis, according to Butler.

“On top of this, many Black people lack access to adequate — proper medical attention and other resources to help them get through this quarantine,” she continued.

According to the Census Bureau, some areas where census takers were originally going to hand deliver forms will now receive a reminder letter in the mail. The agency will drop off invitations for those who don’t receive mailed letters, until it’s safe enough to return to business as usual.

Like other advocates working to ensure a robust Black count, part of Oakland Rising’s efforts include a new text banking program on top of its current phone banking program to be able to directly reach out to Hard-to-Count communities, specifically Black and other communities of color, according to Butler.

“This is a new strategy we developed in order to be able to check-in on our neighbors who have been more than likely burdened by the impacts of COVID-19,” said Butler.

In Inglewood, the California Black Women’s Health Project says the census extension brought great relief to them, too. Although it’s hard to make major adjustments with partners, said CEO Sonya Young Aadam.

A couple of the organization’s partners were able to push forward because of their associations with food banks or other places where food is distributed, Aadam said. This gave the group an opportunity to distribute information by slipping them in care packages.

According to Aadam, the California Black Women’s Health Project’s faith-based approach to the census targets Christian, Muslim, and elderly Black female communities. It also works with partners focused on improving the lives of marginalized youth.

“Extending it just gives us time because right now our community is very much focused on something other than the census, and it’s going to take time before people start to think about things that are more civic engagement-related,” continued Aadam.

COMMENTARY: Old, Sick and Incarcerated

By Julianne Malveaux NNPA Newswire Contributor There were 4623 incarcerated people over 65 in federal prisons during the first week of May. Until May 12, Paul Manafort, Mr. Trump’s one-time campaign manager, was one of them. The 71-year-old petitioned the court for release to home confinement because of his age, heart condition, and “fear of coronavirus.” Yet the federal correctional institution that housed Manafort had no coronavirus cases, and Manafort had served fewer than two years of his more than seven-year sentence. Recently

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

developed federal guidelines suggest at-home confinement for those at risk who have served more than half of their sentence or have less than eighteen months of jail time left to serve. Manafort meets none of these criteria, but he apparently had enough high-priced lawyers to push his case aggressively.

I’m not as outraged at Manafort’s early release as I am disturbed about the other 4622 elderly inmates, most who lack the resources and access that Manafort had. Nearly forty percent of those incarcerated in federal prisons are African American, many serving very long sentences for drug-related crimes. Many have some of the same underlying medical conditions and “fear of coronavirus” that Manafort had. How many of them will get an early release and the relative luxury of home confinement? The treatment of a wealthy, older white man and a poor, older Black man is vastly different.

Prisons are a breeding ground for the coronavirus.

Prisons are overcrowded with social distancing an impossibility since an average cell, about five feet by five, does not allow six feet of distancing. Recent studies show that the COVID-19 germs from a loud conversation or a cough linger for minutes, sufficient time to infect another person. The notorious Riker’s Island prison has eight times the COVID-19 infection rate of the New York City rate.

Infection is not a possibility, but a near-certainty. Prison infections are so widespread that some activists describe them as “death camps.”

Older people don’t commit violent crimes (although they commit financial crimes and perjury). Releasing those over 65 who were convicted of drug crimes and other nonviolent crimes saves money and has little social cost. But incarceration is an economic driver for some communities. Federal prisons employ tens of thousands of people. In some isolated communities, these prisons are a significant source of employment. Releasing prisoners early may cause layoffs. Is this why we insist on keeping so many people locked up for such long periods?

Parole was eliminated in federal prison in the mid1980s, allowing “good behavior “ only after 85 percent of a sentence has been served. But Manafort, citing “fear

of coronavirus,” ended up serving less than a quarter of his sentence. Can an old Black man get the Manafort treatment and serve the rest of his sentence in a cushy condo in Northern Virginia? Manafort had a lot less to fear, at his minimum-security prison, than a Black inmate might.

Other countries have reacted to coronavirus crowding by releasing inmates in the tens of thousands. According to David Anderson of the International Legal Foundation, Iran released more than half of its prisoners – 100,000 of 189,000. Palestine is holding emergency court sessions to allow inmates to petition for release. Other countries seem to understand that COVID-19 and crowding don’t work and are releasing prisoners.

Meanwhile, our country, in Anderson’s words, is “addicted to punishment.” In keeping nonviolent inmates incarcerated, we are “prioritizing punishment over public health.” The inmates aren’t the only ones at risk.

Correctional officers, lawyers, and visiting family members are also vulnerable. We are so committed to getting a “pound of flesh” from those incarcerated that we refuse to consider the high costs of incarceration.

Consider the case of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Convicted of perjury, obstruction of justice, and other crimes, Kilpatrick was sentenced to 28 years for his crimes. He is not scheduled to be released until 2037! While Kilpatrick certainly deserved to be convicted, a 28-year sentence is excessive. Recently an inmate at his Oakdale, Louisiana prison died from the coronavirus. I’m sure Kilpatrick is as frightened of the coronavirus as Manafort is. He is not likely to be allowed home confinement.

Unless there is intervention, Kilpatrick will be eligible for Social Security before he is released! What is the purpose of such a long sentence? How much does it cost to incarcerate someone for 28 years? Is it worth it?

The coronavirus magnified our nation’s inequality.

Manafort is out after less than two years’ incarceration.

Thousands who are old and poor remain incarcerated and vulnerable to coronavirus. Our criminal injustice system is in dire need of reform.

Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist. Her latest project MALVEAUX! On UDCTV is available on youtube.com. For booking, wholesale inquiries or for more info visit www.juliannemalveaux.com

The Black Crisis in the Midst of the Coronavirus Crisis Continued from page A1

publicizing incomplete information, as not every health facility was completing demographic information.

Last week, County Supervisor Herb Wesson penned a letter to fellow board members and Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the director of the county’s Department of Public Health.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is presenting many compelling challenges. An important challenge is transparency in the reporting of data on how this pandemic is impacting communities and ethnic groups in Los Angeles County.

“It is vital that while our emergency public health mobilization gathers momentum that we have the needed data that is key to understanding the impact and the response that is aimed at addressing the crisis.

“This data is critical to the effective deployment of needed resources and the shaping of public education and communications, particularly in communities of color. It is also vital for the purpose of accountability.

“More specifically, I am requesting data including, but not limited to, a break-down by ethnic groups related to rates of death, the number of tests, the results of those tests, the number of those in quarantine and the data on

individuals who have tested positive and have recovered. I am also requesting that this information be included with the Public Health Department’s regular updates.”

The message was received, as during one of the recent briefings, Ferrer noted that the ethnic data was often no filled in on the forms that the county collected for daily statistics during the crisis, but that the department would do its best to get the requested data. Data from April 9, there were 7,574 laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 384 of them were Black. There were 212 deaths and 23 of them were African American.

“Early data on deaths show that no group is immune from COVID-19,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti in his recent news briefings. “We need every community to understand this can affect you. No matter what community you live in or come from, this can affect you.”

“Long-term racial disparities still exist,” Garcetti said.

“The effect it has on communities can be disproportionate.”

Garcetti also mentioned that it is important to be conservative when it comes to judging the peak of the crisis. Lawmakers don’t want to cause a second virus surge by lifting the social distancing order too soon.

The mayor has ordered all residents to don nonmedical masks when out in public. These can be scarves or purchased coverings for the nose and mouth.

“Keep your masks very secure and sterile,” Garcetti said. “Wash them at night. Don’t lay them down anywhere, they can pick up germs.”

Karenga, who spoke at the 1995 Million Man March, reminded his radio listeners that he wrote the mission statement for the march, which included the reaffirmation of and strengthening of the Black family, based on principals of shared responsibility. That strength will help conquer “the awesome task before us,” he said.

“We are the people who survived the holocaust of slavery,” Karenga noted. “We have no business thinking we cannot handle this.”

Karenga referred to Kwanzaa and pointed to the fourth principle of the holiday, Ujamaa, cooperative economics.

“That’s central to this,” said Karenga, who stressed the need to find a common ground in our blackness. “We need a collective approach where everybody benefits.”

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER A3

Entertainment

Michael Jackson Musical Postpones its Broadway Debut

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) – A stage musical about Michael Jackson has pushed its Broadway debut until next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Preview performances of “MJ'' are now set to begin in March 2021 at the Neil Simon Theatre. The musical _ previously called “Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough'' _ was to start performances in New York City on July 6.

The musical is inspired by Jackson's life and music.

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage is writing the book, using Jackson's vast catalog of songs. Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon will direct and choreograph and Ephraim Sykes will star as Jackson.

Jackson sold millions of records and was a 13-time

Grammy winner. In 1983 he became an international icon with the release of “Thriller,'' the best-selling album with such hits as “Beat It'' and “Billie Jean.'' He died in 2009.

Although an exact date for performances to resume on Broadway has yet to be determined, Broadway producers are now offering refunds and exchanges for tickets purchased for shows through Sept. 6.

Other shows _ like an upcoming revival of Neil Simon's “Plaza Suite'' starring Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker _ have also pushed their production to next year.

Other shows scheduled to open this spring have abandoned their plans, including “Hangmen'' and a revival of Edward Albee's “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?''

Legal Notices PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

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 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 �������������������������������

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

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

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/ 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

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

������������������������������� 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

SOCIAL DISTANCING? Get The Bakersfield News Observer Online at www.

OGNSC.COM Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California

A4 BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER

News

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

COVID 19– My Personal Battle from a Positive to a Negative Result Continued from page A1

Room (ER) immediately, which I prepared to do.

Before I got off the phone with him, however, he hit me with the update I was anxious to finally receive, but with some news I was definitely hoping and praying not to hear.

Dr. Varon informed me that I had tested “POSITIVE” for the Coronavirus.

I was shook. My family was stunned. I am a married father of three. My family is everything.

Upon my arrival, there were two large signs that said STOP. My wife, who had followed me to the hospital, was not allowed inside. I was met by medical staff and they ushered me into a room in the ER. She stood outside awaiting word. The nursing staff immediately went to work, initially drawing blood and then taking some vitals at the order of Dr. Varon.

As events would unfold, Dr. Varon would turn out to be one of the primary angels of medicine that made the difference relative to my Coronavirus recovery efforts.

One of the first things Dr. Varon ordered his medical staff to do with me upon my arrival to the ER was to do a CT Scan. For those who may not know, a CT Scan is more detailed than a regular X-ray, and allows doctors to see inside your body by using a combination of X-rays and a computer to create images of your organs and other things inside your body.

Of course, I didn’t know why a CT Scan was being performed on me at the time, nor did I know what the end result would be. Let me just say that performing that CT Scan on me was the best thing that could have ever happened to me, because it revealed something major that was going on inside my body that couldn’t be seen by looking at me from the outside. The CT Scan revealed that my lungs showed a severe case of pneumonia, as well as other issues involving my vital organs that came as a result of the Coronavirus.

It was decided at that moment that I needed to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) right away. It was then that I realized how serious things were, and it was the moment that I knew that I was going to have to rely on my faith in God. I called my wife to tell her I was being admitted and informed her that I was not going to be able to have any visitation throughout my time in the ICU. I was on a mental and emotional roller coaster at this point. I didn’t know how long I would be in ICU, but more importantly, whether I would make it out alive. I could not help but think about the time in 2003 when my wife and I took my mom to the ER because she was ill. It was a life-altering experience for me.

After being seen by doctors in the ER, the medical staff informed us that my mom would need to be admitted to address her serious health condition, which turned out to be worse than believed.

My wife and I decided to stay with her, but my mom kept telling us to go home, get some rest and come back the next morning. We stayed anyway. They moved her in the wee hours of the morning to a different floor. It was then that I told her that I was not be going very far, as I chose to sleep at my mother-in-law’s house because it was closer to the hospital than my house was.

As reluctant as I felt leaving my mom at that hospital, nothing compares to the phone call I received from the hospital, no more than five minutes after I laid my head down on the pillow. The nurse on duty called to inform me that my mom had stopped breathing and had slipped into a coma. I mean, right after I left.

They told me that there was a shift change and that my mom had been given a specific medication, and by the time the new nurse on duty went to check on my mom, they became aware of the situation.

I was devastated. I felt guilty. I felt as if I was there, I could’ve possibly done something. Several months later, my mother passed away and I never forgot that moment.

As I was being prepared to go to ICU myself, I was reminded of my mom’s experience, and I was instantly bombarded with memories and emotions about what she endured. I also struggled with the mental anguish of worrying about a virus that reportedly has no cure or vaccine to fight it. I knew I needed to draw on something greater than myself to get through this ordeal.

On Friday, March 27th, the journey towards fighting the Coronavirus had truly just begun.

Not only did I have a severe case of pneumonia when I entered ICU, my liver and kidneys also needed to be protected from the virus; my heart rate was through the roof; my heart condition worsened and I was headed to the point of potential heart failure; my blood pressure was high; I had a sharp pain in my right side; I continued to have heavy diarrhea episodes; and I still had a loss of appetite. Things were not looking good for me and I felt horrible. I began to wonder if I was ever going to get better.

From the very beginning, I had to rely on my faith in God, as I continued to deal with the mental anguish of being in this Coronavirus-specific ICU area, particularly knowing that there were people around with breathing issues and hearing machines go off all day and night, and

Jeffrey L. Boney with his doctor, Dr. Joseph Varon and his nurse, Jerusha Brown Harshman. (Courtesy Photo)

as I regularly looked at the news and read reports showing the number of people dying on a daily basis as a result of the virus.

I needed a miracle.

Because I didn’t have any respiratory issues, just digestive issues, it caused the doctors to develop a treatment plan for me that was different than other patients they had been treating prior to my arrival to the hospital. Dr. Varon and Dr. Joseph Gathe, Jr. oversaw my care. They created a whole Coronavirus cocktail, which included heavy doses of Vitamin C, which was specific to my treatment. Per Dr. Varon, my case taught them that they must use high dose blood thinners on every Coronavirus patient admitted to the hospital.

After several days, my symptoms began to subside, and my appetite came back in a major way. I longed for my breakfast, lunch and dinner, and couldn’t wait to eat it. Dr. Varon eventually informed me that all of my vital organs had returned to normal and that my blood work and vital signs were solid.

Finally, I felt like I was turning a corner and getting better. That was until a second CT Scan was performed, which revealed more shocking and devastating news regarding my health condition.

When the results of my second CT Scan came back, it revealed that I had been diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism in my right lung. A pulmonary embolism occurs when blood clots block the flow of blood to the lungs. A pulmonary embolism can be fatal and life-threatening, which is why Dr. Varon and his team promptly took the

necessary steps to address the blood clot and reduce my risk of death. I was immediately placed on blood thinner medication.

I continued to follow the instructions of the doctors until I received that wonderful news that on Sunday, April 5th, I had made significant and miraculous improvement, and subsequently was being discharged to go home to my family. I was so thrilled, yet still deeply concerned because I still didn’t know whether I was still “POSITIVE” with the Coronavirus.

I was concerned about my family and praying they would be fine. Prior to being discharged, I had another COVID-19 test done and was awaiting the results. I selfisolated once again, until I got my second test results. After several days, I got the results and tested “NEGATIVE” for the virus. Because I wanted to be completely sure before interacting with my family again, the doctors administered another COVID-19 test and those results came back “NEGATIVE” as well.

This was a long and faith-filled journey, to which I still am slated to have to deal with this blood clot in my right lung for the next six months or so. I will continue to fight and do what I am supposed to do. In the meantime, I am encouraging everyone, especially my African American brothers and sisters, to get tested. I believe everyone should be tested immediately, regardless of whether you have symptoms or not.

This is NOT a drill.

This virus is unrepentant and aggressive and can spread quickly to anyone who comes in contact with it.

Listen to your local leaders and medical professionals to help stop the community spread.

I am a living witness that you can contract this virus and how it impacts you. Don’t ignore your symptoms and don’t ignore the seriousness of this virus. Don’t be selfish and just think about yourself. Think about your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, loved ones and those you don’t know. Stay safe!

Giants can be intimidating. The fight can many times be tough. Sometimes we lose. Sometimes we win. The common thread in winning versus losing is giving it all you have when you are in the midst of a fight. In the Bible, David showed us that giants can indeed fall. This was my journey, and this is my testimony.

I am forever grateful to God and to everyone who uttered a prayer, shared an encouraging word, providing any resources or sent positive energy my way.

My family and I greatly appreciate each and every one of you. God bless you, and let’s do everything in our power to defeat this horrible and vicious COVID-19 virus.

Jeffrey L. Boney is a political analyst and international correspondent for the NNPA Newswire and BlackPressUSA.com and serves as Associate Editor for the Houston Forward Times newspaper. Jeffrey is an award-winning journalist, dynamic international speaker, experienced entrepreneur, business development strategist and founder and CEO of the Texas Business Alliance.

Follow Jeffrey on Twitter @realtalkjunkies.

publicizing racial inequities and fighting for racial equality in North Carolina and throughout the United States.

Austin’s grandson, Kenneth Edmonds, became EditorPublisher at his mother’s retirement and continued the legacy of printing “The Truth Unbridled,” which is the newspaper’s motto.

Kenneth brought the newspaper into the age of digital technology and ushered in an era of a new relevance to the publication with the inclusion of national wire service stories, and the incorporation of color photography within the pages of The Carolina Times. Though he made these improvements, Edmonds was always mindful of a statement his mother once made, “I’m trying to work my way out of a job.” She made that comment in the hopes that someday the playing field for all Americans, economically as well as socially, could be leveled.

Her son took up that banner and continued printing weekly to not only point out the need for continued African American progress but chronicle the Durham Black community’s continued movement in that direction.

The Carolina Times, under Mr. Edmonds, continued its membership in the National Newspaper Publishers Association, as well as the North Carolina Black Publishers Association. Even though his responsibilities at “The Times” were pressing, he still accepted the position of Treasurer of the North Carolina Black Publishers Association, a position he handled admirably at the time of his death.

He was also a life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and enjoyed fellowship with St. Joseph’s African Methodist Episcopal Church since his childhood.

Born on Dec. 5, 1953 to the late educator, Woodrow “Woody” W. Edmonds, and educator and editor, Vivian L. Austin Edmonds, Kenneth leaves to cherish his memories his loving and devoted son, Christian Edwards, and cousins, Bernard Austin and Vivian Austin.

“Although considered soft spoken by some, Kenneth

William Edmonds, had a way of making a point that got the attention of everyone in the room. His carefully thought out points were a significant voice in the direction for Black Newspapers in North Carolina,” said Paul R. Jervay, Jr., NCBPA Media Services Specialist, who often conversed with Edmonds regarding issues, as well as advertising concerns from around the state.

Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association offered the following comment, “At the age of 14 in 1962, I started to drive my parents’ car in Oxford, N. C. and in that same year, Mr. Louis Austin, the distinguished publisher of The Carolina Times Newspaper in Durham, N. C. gave me my first job as a weekly writer and researcher on the civil rights issues impacting Black Americans across the state of N. C. The Austin family, like the Jervay family, was the heartbeat of the courageous Black Press freedom-fighting publishers.

Kenneth Edmonds, the grandson of Louis Austin, carried on the family tradition of being a bold steadfast advocate of the empowerment of Black American families and communities as the third-generation publisher of The Carolina Times. Our responsibility today is to respectfully mourn the passing of Kenneth Edmonds, but also we must use this moment to rededicate our support for the continuation of The Carolina Times in Durham and to strengthen the Black Press across America.”

“It is difficult to sum up the life, legacy and work of Kenneth W. Edmonds. However, we are comforted by the exemplary life of this servant leader, who leaves behind a legacy of excellence that can never be undone. He will be genuinely missed, but his spirit will live on today and forever,” concluded NCBPA President, Mary Alice Jervay Thatch.

Funeral arrangements for Kenneth Edmonds are under the direction of Fisher Memorial Funeral Parlor and are incomplete at press time.

IN MEMORIAM: Kenneth W. Edmonds, Carolina Times Publisher, 66, Dies By the NCBPA (North Carolina Black Publishers Association) DURHAM, NC — Kenneth William Edmonds, Editor-Publisher of The Carolina Times, died on Saturday, May 2, 2020, at the age of 66. Edmonds succeeded his mother, Ms. Vivian Edmonds, in 2002, and carried on the legacy of his grandfather, Louis Austin.

Kenneth attended the local public schools in the Durham and Chapel Hill-Carrboro school systems, where he excelled in basketball and, after the ninth grade, attended prep school at Laurinburg Institute and majored in journalism at East Carolina University.

He began working for The Carolina Times in his youth, at age 4 or 5, as he assisted his grandfather by serving as “Keeper of the Keys.” He remarked that his grandfather would misplace his keys around the house, the office, the post office, and other places that he frequented.

Kenneth’s first job was to keep up with them as they moved around Durham. He saw firsthand through the life, work and sacrifices that Louis and Stella Vivian Walker Austin faced as they sought to bring about a more equitable and just community in Durham.

Kenneth held numerous positions at the paper, including selling newspapers outside the office and later in the neighborhoods, which gave him keen insights into the lives of those featured weekly in “The Times.” He progressed at the paper, and his first writing assignment was writing obituaries and, eventually editorials. His photography also graced the newspaper, and, eventually, he began laying out the paper and exploring the business side of the profession.

The Carolina Times was founded as The Standard Advertiser in 1921 by Charles Arrant, who died in 1922.

In 1927 Louis E. Austin, originally from Enfield, NC, purchased the paper and renamed it The Carolina Times.

Austin transformed the paper into the most important voice for Black North Carolinians during the 1930s. Mr. Austin edited and published The Carolina Times from

Kenneth William Edmonds, Editor-Publisher of The Carolina Times, died on Saturday, May 2, 2020, at the age of 66.

1927 until his death in 1971.

He was succeeded as publisher by his daughter, Mrs. Vivian Edmonds. She carried on the tradition of

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER A5

Local Is There More COVID Cash Coming to Help Californians?

Quinci LeGardye California Black Media Last week, Gov. Newsom presented his May Revision budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year.

The spending plan includes new priorities that reflect a projected $54.3 billion budget deficit brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has $14 billion in spending cuts, including a 10% salary reduction for state workers, that would be triggered only if the federal government does not provide funding to California to cover some of its coronavirus losses before the fiscal year begins July 1.

There are also billions in cuts to education and MediCal services in the proposal.

“The federal government has a moral and ethical and economic obligation to help support the states,” the governor said. “This is an opportunity to make real our purpose and advance our values. Federal government, we need you. These cuts can be negated. They can be dismissed with your support.”

Gov. Newsom also expressed support for the U.S. Congress’ Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed on May 16. The $3 trillion legislation includes another round of $1,200 stimulus payments to individuals, an extension of the extra $600 per month in unemployment benefits, and nearly $1 trillion in assistance for state and local governments.

The new forms of aid the HEROES Act passed in

Congress Friday include $200 billion in “hazard pay” for essential workers, $75 billion for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing and a $75 billion fund to help homeowners with mortgage payments and property taxes. It would also extend student loan relief to borrowers with private loans, who were left out of the CARES Act relief.

Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), who serves as chair of both the California Legislative Black Caucus and the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Public Safety, joined the governor and other state leaders calling on the federal government to lend California a helping hand.

“As the Governor said, what we are facing is unprecedented,” said Weber. “Fortunately, the Legislature has worked to reduce the impact through investing in reserves and a rainy-day fund. We will, however, need the help of the Federal government and the passage of the HEROES Act to ensure that we get back on a more secure footing to recover from the economic impacts of COVID.” The aid efforts for essential workers and testing included in the HEROES Act would proportionally affect more Black Americans, as studies have shown that Black people are more likely to be essential workers, and more likely to live in urban areas hit hard by the virus.

The Congressional Black Caucus championed the concerns of Black households and businesses, sending out a press release that outlined a proposal submitted to House and Senate leadership on April 29.

“The proposal includes policies to safeguard social

safety net benefits; keep Black businesses afloat; support students and educational institutions; address health care inequities; strengthen infrastructure in the Black community; protect Black farmers; keep people in their homes; ensure incarcerated individuals are protected; and much more,” the Congressional Black Caucus press release reads.

The Western States Pact — a regional coalition that includes California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Nevada — sent a letter to Congress asking for $1 trillion in state and local government aid on May 11. The California Labor Federation, California State Association of Counties, League of Cities and California Travel and Tourism Coalition have also endorsed the HEROES Act for its inclusion of state and local government aid.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters May 12 that Republicans will insist on “narrowly targeted legislations” and that there’s no urgency to pass any COVID-19 relief bill any time soon. President Donald Trump commented that there’s “no rush” to pass another bill.

Republicans in the California legislature have also expressed skepticism about the governor’s budget plan.

“While additional federal assistance can help cover some of the deficit, expecting Uncle Sam to come to the rescue is wishful thinking,” said Sen. Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel).

“Raising taxes makes no sense when many families

and businesses have significantly less income to live with.

That is why a final 2020-21 budget must help support a safe reopening of the state’s entire economy. Workers and businesses cannot earn income and pay taxes if our economy continues to be in an induced coma,” she said.

Assemblymember Weber said even though California is asking for federal aid, the state’s legislators still have the responsibility to find solutions that work for Californians, especially those hit hardest by the pandemic.

“Let’s be clear; we are not absolved of having a vision for the state. We must strive for a recovery, but we have to ask what that recovery will mean,” she said. “Before this crisis hit, we had communities underserved by the healthcare system, ignored by the education system, and robbed of economic opportunity. All of this is underscored by the disproportionate impact of COVID on these communities.”

MLK CommUNITY Initiative Mask Campaign

Wear MASK - Be SAFE

Fred Prince and Curtis Floyd provide relief in the donation of thousands of masks

By Autumn Nichols Contributing Writer BAKERSFIELD – Fred Prince, owner of Omega Insurance and Curtis Floyd, owner of the Law Office of Curtis Floyd, partnered in meeting some of the needs of Kern County residents by donating thousands of protective masks to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

As face masks or coverings have become a requirement to go out into a number of essential businesses and hospitals, Prince and Floyd are doing their part by donating masks to those who are most vulnerable.

Prince and Floyd took into consideration the high amount of affected individuals within the southeast side of Bakersfield. Most recently, the pair donated 1,000 masks to support the MLK CommUNITY Initiative Mask Campaign - Wear MASK - be SAFE, founded by Arleana Waller.

The distribution of these masks took place Monday, May 18 at 9:00 am during the MLK CommUNITY Initiative drive through food giveaway at 1116 E. California Ave. When speaking on this notable donation, Prince expressed: “Primarily we are aware of the fact that there are underserved communities without adequate supplies. We both are African American business owners and a large portion of this community that the MLK Initiative serves is African American.”

“This pandemic has hit the minority communities a lot harder than other communities and we know that it’s

important to make sure that those that go out into the public, have to go to the grocery stores, and do the essential things, have the right protection at hand.”

Following national nurses week, in efforts to show appreciation to the nurses of our community, the pair of businessmen also donated 2,000 surgical masks to local hospitals.

Ken Keller, President and CEO of Dignity Health Memorial Hospital received the donations on May 14th from Fred Prince in front of the main entrance on 34th street for nurses at Mercy & Memorial hospitals. Prince stated “We realized they are on the front line of those who come down with the virus. We wanted to make sure they have masks as well.”

These philanthropists did not stop there. To help protect the workers and residents of The Mission at Kern County they donated 1,000 more masks.

“We wanted to make sure as many as possible had access to the masks. They are not something that is free but is being required in some places and necessary at this time.”

Great leadership has been shown by this powerful duo through the act of stepping up. They provided the financial means, had access to do so, and stayed committed to the community.

The actions of these local businessmen are beyond admirable. The support and teamwork demonstrated in the distribution of the generous amounts of masks are the efforts needed by our community to fight through this pandemic.

MLK CommUNITY Initiative Mask Campaign - Wear MASK - be SAFE Volunteers. (Courtesy Photo)

Curtis E. Floyd, Esq., The Law Office of Curtis Floyd.

(Courtesy Photo)

Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez and Roosevelt Vickers are all smiles under masks during MLK CommUNITY Initiative drive through mask giveaway. (Courtesy Photo)

Frederick Prince, President Omega Financial and Insurance Services. (Courtesy Photo)

Roosevelt Vickers passing out masks during the MLK CommUNITY Initiative drive through mask giveaway (Courtesy Photo)

A6

BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER

Local

Wednesday, May 20, 2020