Los Angeles News Observer 2.24.22

CEL EBR ATE

BLACK

HISTORY MONTH

News Observer Los Angeles

Volume 37 Number 15

Serving Los Angeles County for Over 37 Years

Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California

Arbery Killers Found Guilty of Hate Crimes in Federal Court

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent A federal jury found Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael, and William “Roddie” Bryan guilty on all counts in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.

The verdict came on the eve of the anniversary of Arbery’s murder.

The McMichaels and Bryan chased Arbery through their mostly white Georgia neighborhood in their pickup trucks, cornering him before Travis McMichael shot the innocent jogger with a shotgun.

The trio was convicted in state court and given life sentences.

The federal charges included a hate crime that exposed each of the men’s history of racism.

Throughout the one-week trial, defense attorneys tried to sell the jury that, while the men weren’t “likable,” their actions weren’t driven by racial hatred.

However, Prosecutor Christopher Perras ferociously attacked that stance.

The murder “was driven by their pent-up racial anger and [Travis McMichael] was just looking for a reason,” Perras insisted.

He also noted that if the men thought Arbery had committed a crime, they never alerted the police.

Trial testimony from FBI intelligence analyst Amy Vaughan revealed a host of racist remarks from Travis McMichael.

Vaughn testified that Travis McMichael and his friends routinely used racist slurs directed at African Americans.

One text from Travis McMichael to a friend describe how he enjoyed his new job because he didn’t have to work with Black people.

“They ruin everything,” McMichael wrote. “That’s why I love what I do now. Not a [n-word] in sight.”

In a Facebook video that purportedly shows a group of Black teenagers beating a white youth, Travis McMichael commented, “I say shoot them all,” and he referred the group as “monkeys.”

Travis McMichael also referred to a woman who dated a Black man as an “[N-word] lover.”

Kim Ballesteros, who lived next door to the McMichaels, told the court about a conversation in which Gregory McMichael used racist language to describe a tenant he had.

“She was a large Black woman who did not pay her rent very well,” Ballesteros told the court. “Their name for her was

The trio was convicted in state court and given life sentences. The federal charges included a hate crime that exposed each of the men’s history of racism.

the walrus.”

When Gregory McMichael told her that the woman didn’t pay her rent on time, he disabled her air conditioning unit.

“You should have seen how fast her big fat Black a– came with the rent check,” Gregory McMichael said, according to Ballesteros.

The FBI’s Vaughan also testified that Bryan often used the n-word and words like “bootlip” to describe Black people.

She said he routinely slurred African Americans on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “Happy Bootlip Day,” Bryan told a friend in one message.

“I worked like a [n-word] today,” he stated.

Perras dismissed any notion that suggested somehow justified the deadly action.

“There’s a big difference between being vigilant and being a vigilante,” he told the jury.

“It’s important for you to understand the full depth of the defendants’ racial hatred.”

Before the trial, the McMichaels cut a deal with prosecutors.

They agreed to plead guilty to hate crime charges and serve their sentence in federal prison.

However, Arbery’s parents, Wanda Cooper-Jones and Marcus Arbery argued against the arrangement.

That prompted the judge to toss out the plea deal.

“Ahmaud didn’t get the option of a plea,” Cooper-Jones demanded.

The judge gave the McMichaels and Bryan two weeks to file an appeal.

Calif. Reparations Task Force: This Week’s Mtg Will Honor Movement’s History Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media The California Task Force to Study and Development Reparations Proposal for African Americans is holding its seventh meeting this week.

During the two-day virtual conference, the task force will pay homage to Black History Month as well as African American heroes who initiated the fight for reparations – and kept it alive over the years -- in the United States.

“Happy Black History Month! The first-in-the-nation California Reparations Task Force meets again on Wed-Thurs Feb 23-24,” tweeted Kamilah Moore, chair of the task force. “Join us as we celebrate past and current reparations efforts!”

Mary Frances Berry, author and professor of history and Africana Studies

Moore, a Los Angeles native, is an attorney and activist whose scholarship and work has focused on the study of reparations.

On Feb. 23, the committee members and guest speakers will revisit the origins of Black History Month, followed by a commemoration of past and current reparations movements that have fought for restitution from the government for formerly enslaved Black people in the United States.

Chad Brown, a member of the National Assembly of American Slavery Descendants – Los Angeles, will speak to the panel during the segment of the program recognizing current reparations movements.

“Sending *special* Congratulations to @Chad_Boogie @ NAASDLA on his selection testify to the CA Reparations Task Force on Wed 2/23 (between 3pm & 4pm) in recognition of current efforts at reparations,” tweeted the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California.

During the second half of the first day, the panel will host historian, attorney and University of Pennsylvania professor Mary Frances Berry. She will lead a discussion titled “Recognizing Current Efforts at Reparations” discussion.

Berry is the author of “My Face is Black Is True: Callie House and the Struggle for Ex-Slave Reparations.” The book tells the story of a formerly enslaved woman named Callie House who spearheaded a movement for reparations for the descendants of enslaved Black people 70 years before the Civil Rights Movement.

A widowed washerwoman from Nashville and mother of five, House (1861-1928) fought for African American Union soldiers to get pensions denied them, strategically targeting $68 million generated in taxes on seized cotton from Confederacy states.

On Feb. 24, the members of the task force are scheduled to hold a discussion focused on eligibility.

The nine-member panel will also vote on operational details of the project as outlined in Assembly Bill (AB) 3121, the law that authorized the task force.

The same day, the task force’s Advisory Committee Members: Moore, Jovan Lewis, who is chair of the Department of Geography at UC Berkeley, and a representative from the California Department of Justice will discuss how the task force will employ expert consultants to assist with their work.

Each day, the first action on the task force agenda is an hour devoted to public comment. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes to speak.

In 2020, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the state’s historic reparations task force bill into law. It was authored by California’s current Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber when she was a member of the Assembly representing the 79th District in the

San Diego area.

This week’s meeting will be accessible by video and teleconference. For more information on the task force, visit the California Department of Justice website.

Take One!

Thursday, February 24, 2022

San Francisco’s Sir Francis Drake Hotel Ditches Old Name

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – San Francisco’s Sir Francis Drake Hotel will be called The Beacon Grand in the latest attempt in the Bay Area to rename streets and landmarks after the slave-trading explorer.

For 94 years the hotel, famous for the Beefeater doormen who greet tourists and passersby on the sidewalk by Union Square, paid tribute to Francis Drake, the first English sea captain to circumnavigate the globe in the 1500s.

But he also participated in slaving voyages to Africa, and the use of his name came under scrutiny as the Black Lives Matter movement prompted a nationwide reexamination of place names and monuments with ties to racism.

A school district in San Anselmo, north of San Francisco, voted last year to rename Sir Francis Drake Hotel to honor Archie Williams, a Black Olympic gold medalist and World War II veteran. Fairfax, a town in Marin County, also renamed a stretch of the 43-mile-long Sir Francisco Drake Boulevard to Coastal Miwok Trail.

The 416-room hotel, which has been shuttered since the onset of the pandemic, is scheduled to reopen this spring following a makeover of interior elements. A spokeswoman for the Northview Hotel Group, which purchased the hotel last year for about $157 million, told The San Francisco Chronicle the rebranding of the hotel will preserve components of the property’s past.

“Everything was done with so much thought for such an iconic property,” Leah Goldstein said. “We are not just changing the name and then quickly changing everything about the hotel. It is all much more intentional than that.”

‘Atlanta’ to End with Season 4 LOS ANGELES (AP) – There won’t be a long wait for the fourth season of FX’s “Atlanta,” but it will be its last.

The Emmy-winning series created by Donald Glover, which begins its third season March 24, will be back in the fall to wrap up the story of Glover’s music manager Earn, rapper Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry) and their circle, FX said Thursday.

There was a big gap between season two, which concluded in May 2018, and this season because of scheduling conflicts that delayed production, FX said previously. But the final two seasons have both been shot.

On Thursday, Glover said he has no regrets about wrapping the series.

“To be honest, I wanted to end it after season two,” he said during a Q&A with TV critics. “Death is natural...when the conditions are ripe for something, they happen, and when the conditions aren’t right for it, they don’t happen.”

“I feel like the story was always supposed to be what it was,” Glover said.

The upcoming 10-episode season is set largely in Europe, with Earn, Alfred aka Paper Boi, Darius (LaKeith Stanfield) and Van (Zazie Beetz) on tour. Episodes will be available on Hulu after debuting on FX, with past seasons also on the streaming service.

North Carolina State Removes ‘Dixie” from Alma Mater RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – The North Carolina State University Board of Trustees has decided to remove the word “Dixie’’ from its alma mater because of its Confederate connotation.

The board voted Friday to change the wording of the first line of the song. “Where the winds of Dixie softly blow’’ will be replaced by “Where the Southern winds so softly blow.’’

WNCN-TV reports that a letter from Chancellor Randy Woodson said the song was originally written in the 1920s and the word “Dixie’’ has been part of the song since 1925.

“The University and the larger society have changed substantially in the last 100 years. A growing number of students, faculty, staff and alumni have expressed concerns about the word ‘Dixie’ in our Alma Mater and see it as contrary to NC State’s vision, values and goals,” Woodson wrote in his letter.

Woodson said the university has the responsibility to “continually educate ourselves and those who pass through our doors to unite against intolerance, model inclusivity, and advance the dignity and power of diversity.’’

Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes to Host Oscars

Chad Brown, member of the National Assembly of American Slavery Descendants, Los Angeles (The Los Standard)

LOS ANGELES (AP) – After three years without a host, the Oscars are reportedly making up for lost time with three hosts for this year’s awards: Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes are in final talks to host the 94th Academy Awards, the trade publication Variety reported Monday.

Reports say that each actor will be responsible for one hour of the three-hour broadcast, airing live on ABC on March 27. Neither the academy nor representatives for Schumer, Hall and Sykes immediately responded to request for comment by The Associated Press. The hosts will be confirmed Tuesday morning on “Good Morning America.’’

“Girls Trip’’ producer Will Packer is producing this year’s ceremony. Hall has been in several of Packer’s movies, including “Think Like a Man’’ and “Little.’’

The show is hoping to rebound from the dismal viewership of last year’s broadcast, which was both an all-time low and the norm for pandemic-era awards shows. In addition to bringing back starry hosts and bumping the best picture nominees to a set ten, the Academy is also hoping to spike interest through social media voting for a “fan favorite’’ movie that will be announced during the show, as well as a chance to win a trip to Los Angeles for the ceremony.

A2

Los Angeles News Observer

World & Nation

Thursday, February 24, 2022

The GOP Takes Aim at D.C. Statehood and Home Rule as Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton Fights Back

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Longtime Democratic District of Columbia Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton has condemned attacks on her city by Republicans who now want to strip the nation’s capital of Home Rule.

“Representative Clyde literally wants the federal government to resume running D.C. as a colony,” Rep. Norton said.

Republican Georgia Rep. Andrew Clyde, a member of the House Oversight Committee, counts among those leading a GOP contingent seeking to repeal the District of Columbia’s Home Rule Act. Clyde and others have been critical of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration, claiming that crime, homelessness, and open drug use are out of control in the nation’s capital.

The GOP lawmakers also cited Mayor Bowser’s indoor vaccine mandate, which she’s since rolled back.

“While I’m glad our intention of repealing D.C.’s Home Rule Act was heard loud and clear, the problems facing our nation’s capital city extend far beyond medical tyranny,” Rep. Clyde contended.

“Make no mistake, this was not an empty threat; legislation is coming to restore Congress’ Article I Section 8 Constitutional duty ‘to exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District’ and to properly manage D.C.’s affairs.

“In the near future, we will free Washington D.C. from the failed experiment of so-called ‘Home Rule,’ and we will return our nation’s capital to the American people after the Democrats’ almost 50-year reign of terror and failed leadership,” Rep. Clyde continued.

With the midterm elections in November, Republicans are positioned to retake the U.S. House and Senate, and killing any hopes of D.C. statehood.

“Rep. Clyde wants to take away the limited self-government the nearly 700,000 D.C. residents, a majority of whom are minorities, have had for the last 50 years and give absolute power over D.C. to Congress and, presumably, to congressionally or presidentially appointed administrators,” Rep. Norton stated.

Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) With the midterm elections in November, Republicans are positioned to retake the U.S. House and Senate, and killing any hopes of D.C. statehood.

“At a time when we are having unprecedented success on our D.C. statehood bill, we will continue to move forward, not go back. We will defeat his anti-democratic efforts.”

President Richard Nixon signed the Home Rule Act into law, and the measure gives D.C. an elected chief executive (mayor) and legislature (Council).

Rep. Norton pointed out that, in signing the statement on Home Rule, Nixon wrote, “One of the major goals of this Administration is to place responsibility for local functions under local control and to provide local governments with the authority

and resources they need to serve their communities effectively.”

Nixon’s statement continued: “The measure I sign today represents a significant step in achieving this goal in the city of Washington. It will give the people of the District of Columbia the right to elect their own city officials and to govern themselves in local affairs.”

“As the Nation approaches the 200th anniversary of its founding, it is particularly appropriate to assure those persons who live in our Capital City rights and privileges which have long been enjoyed by most of their countrymen. But the measure I

sign today does more than create machinery for the election of local officials. It also broadens and strengthens the structure of the city government to enable it to deal more effectively with its responsibilities.”

D.C. remains deprived of voting representation in Congress and full self-government, which Rep. Norton called undemocratic.

“Statehood is the remedy,” she declared.

“Congress has the constitutional authority to grant D.C. statehood. D.C. has a larger population than two states, pays more federal taxes than 21 states, pays more federal taxes per capita than any state, has a larger budget than 12 states, has a larger gross domestic product than 17 states, has a triple-A bond rating, and federal funds constitute a smaller percentage of its budget than the percentage of total state revenue.”

Severe Drought has Brought on Near Catastrophic Hunger in the Horn of Africa An estimated 13 million are facing severe in the region.

Stacy M. Brown hunger mostly because of droughts that By NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent The United Nations World Food Program is appealing to the have afflicted the Horn of Africa, and world for at least $327 million to care for the urgent needs of 4.5 those in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia million people over the next six months and help communities better-equipped to deal with extreme climate shocks. are experiencing droughts not seen in become An estimated 13 million are facing severe hunger mostly more than 40 years. UN officials contend because of droughts that have afflicted the Horn of Africa, and in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia are experiencing droughts that malnutrition rates also have soared those not seen in more than 40 years.

News Observer Los Angeles

Adjudicated a Newspaper of General Circulation on July 2, 1991, Los Angeles Superior Court Decree, Case No. BS007262, Government Code 6023.

Bulk Mailing Permit 724 Bakersfield, CA 93385

Published every Thursday by The Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, Inc. Member: National Newspaper Publishers Assc.

Associated Press, Better Business Bureau, GLAAACC 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 and opinions that may not necessarily reflect those of the staff and management are soleley 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 editiing 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.

The Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, Inc.: Los Angeles News Observer, Bakersfield News Observer, The Valley’s News Observer Los Angeles News Observer 6060 Center Drive Floor 10, Los Angeles, CA 90045 Mailing Address: PO Box 2341, Bakersfield, Ca. 93303 Phone (661) 324-9466 FAX (661) 324-9472 General Info: observernews@gmail.com Advertising: observeradvertising@gmail.com Online: www.ognsc.com

UN officials contend that malnutrition rates also have soared in the region.

People in South Sudan, Yemen, and the northern parts of Ethiopia and Nigeria, are especially at risk, according to the Hunger Hotspots report, published jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

The report calls for action to “prevent starvation, death and the total collapse of livelihoods” as more and more people slide towards catastrophic hunger.

“As humanitarian actors, we are faced with overwhelming challenges. We must scale up operations in challenging conditions, we must sustain critical assistance in complex crises, and we must be prepared to respond quickly to sudden disruptions and unexpected emergencies,” Margot van der Velden, the U.N. World Food Programme’s director of emergencies, said in the report.

The troubling record notes that the primary drivers of hunger include conflict, climate, and economic challenges.

According to the report, “many of the people that the U.N. World Food Programme and FAO support are fleeing conflict and have been forced to abandon their land, homes and jobs in countries such as the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and the Central Sahel region.”

Weather extremes such as heavy rains, tropical storms, hurricanes, flooding and drought continue to wreak havoc in most vulnerable countries, making life particularly hard in places such as Afghanistan, Angola, Haiti and Syria, the report continued.

“Three consecutive failed rainy seasons have decimated crops and caused abnormally high livestock deaths,” the agency

— which won the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize — said in a statement.

“Shortages of water and pasture are forcing families from their homes and leading to increased conflict between communities.”

More forecasts of below-average rainfall raise the specter of worsened conditions in the coming months, the agency said.

Meanwhile, the economic challenges of the COVID-19

pandemic persist and are projected to continue to increase food prices and drive hunger.

Officials noted that, despite a brief decrease in mid-2021, world food prices have continuously risen since May 2020.

South Sudan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Yemen are identified as the four countries at risk of catastrophic hunger.

The troubling record notes that the primary drivers of hunger include conflict, climate, and economic challenges.

Supreme Court May End Affirmative Action at Universities “The filing from the office of US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar emphasized that lower US courts had extensively reviewed Harvard’s racial admissions practices and found them sufficiently limited to meet Supreme Court precedent as they furthered the school’s interest in campus diversity,” CNN reported. rpt:

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent The Supreme Court said it will reconsider race-based affirmative action in college admissions.

The Monday, January 24, announcement could eliminate campus practices that have widely benefitted African American and Hispanic students.

Policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina are at the heart of the issue that the court has agreed to consider.

A student’s race counts among the criteria used to decide who enters class at those institutions.

The Department of Justice urged the justices to reject the case against Harvard.

“The filing from the office of US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar emphasized that lower US courts had extensively reviewed Harvard’s racial admissions practices and found them sufficiently limited to meet Supreme Court precedent as they furthered the school’s interest in campus diversity,” CNN reported.

Admissions practices that take a students’ race into account were first upheld in a 1978 Supreme Court decision and reaffirmed in 2003. Such practices have reportedly boosted the The Department of Justice late had urged the justices to reject the case against Harvard. (Photo: iStock- admission of Black and Latino students for decades. photo / NNPA)

Entertainment

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Los Angeles News Observer A3

Wallace Grudgingly Relives 2020 Turmoil in New Netflix Doc

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – “It wasn't a hoax. It was real.”

That's what former FBI supervisory agent Stanley Ruffin tells viewers in “RACE: Bubba Wallace,” a Netflix docuseries that chronicles the only Black driver at NASCAR's top level and his professional rise and personal role in social justice issues. The series is targeted to a non-NASCAR audience unfamiliar with Wallace's emergence or the facts surrounding the noose found in his garage stall at an Alabama track.

Wallace had successfully called on NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its events in June 2020. Two weeks later, NASCAR told Wallace a noose had been discovered in his assigned stall at Talladega Superspeedway.

The incident occurred at the height of a national racial reckoning following the murders of Black men George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery. Wallace felt compelled to take a public position for the first time in his life _ he was 26 years old, NASCAR's only fulltime Black driver, and although he drove for icon Richard Petty, Wallace was an underperformer seeking his first career Cup Series win.

The FBI investigated and determined the noose had been in that garage stall for months, since the unit had last been used.

Wallace was not the victim of a hate crime.

He faced national ridicule _ thenPresident Donald Trump accused Wallace of perpetrating a hoax _ even though Wallace did not discover the noose or even see it.

Wallace was accused of orchestrating the entire incident to boost his career.

“Mr. Wallace had nothing to do with the placement of that noose,” Ruffin, who led the investigation, says in the docuseries that debuts Tuesday, two days after the season-opening Daytona 500.

The six-episode series directed by Erik Parker documents Wallace's life and ultimate shift into a change agent willing to use his voice and platform. Wallace wanted a show _ he had asked for Netflix to create something like its “Drive to Survive” behind-the-scenes Formula One show _ to chronicle his first year driving for 23XI Racing.

Wallace learned the project had to include his tumultuous 2020.

“I just wanted to go race,” Wallace said. He told The Associated Press that “I was a pain in the ass,” to Parker as the director tried to focus on 2020.

Wallace exploded in exposure and pulled in millions of dollars in new sponsorship during 2020 and he parlayed it into the job of a lifetime. The funding helped Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan launch 23XI, and Wallace wanted to chronicle what he believed was his best chance to earn his first career Cup victory.

“I wanted that to be documented,” Wallace told AP. “And I wanted people to see what it takes

to be successful at this level and how hard it is... I wanted to showcase what it's like inside the mind of me going into these races.

“But, the other side of that is the off-track stuff. How Bubba Wallace got his household name off the racetrack was everything from 2020. That was Erik's path, he wanted to capture the history

side of things and I am focused on the racing side. It created an interesting dynamic there.”

Parker relies on Wallace in “RACE” to recount the emotional rollercoaster of Talladega, from the discovery of the noose to Wallace earning his first career victory 15 months later at the same track.

NASCAR President Steve Phelps alerted Wallace to the noose, and the driver included his estranged father among the first phone calls made. Their relationship has been strained since his

parents' 2016 divorce, a theme touched upon as the possible root of Wallace's admitted struggles with depression.

“They found a noose,” Wallace recounted telling his father.

“You got a gun?” Wallace said Darrell Wallace Sr.

replied.

“No.” “You need to get one.”

Parker told AP he found asking Wallace to relive 2020 conflicted with how Wallace lives.

“It seems like his mantra is moving forward, moving forward, moving forward,” said Parker, who added t hat he felt compelled to accurately document what was “such a traumatic time, not just for Bubba, but for the country.”

“I can see where somebody like Bubba, he was trying in his mind to move on to the next day, he's already gone past that,” Parker told AP. “So getting him back, it always felt like dragging him back to the past, while he's running to the future. It wasn't all easy, but it was an important endeavor.”

That was Wallace's attitude Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway, where he deflected questions about his race.

He's still the only Black driver at NASCAR's top level, but 34-year-old Jesse Iwuji, a lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve, will become the second fulltime Black driver this season with plans to run in the second-tier Xfinity Series.

Iwuji co-owns his team alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, who enters NASCAR a year after Jordan and entertainer Pitbull joined the ownership ranks.

Floyd Mayweather has a car that will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500, as does NY Racing, a team owned

by Black entrepreneur John Cohen.

When the season opens Sunday with the Daytona 500, Cup Series race director Jusan Hamilton will become the first Black race director in the long history of NASCAR's biggest event.

McDonalds, one of Wallace's sponsors, announced a streetwear line Wednesday in collaboration with the driver and 23XI. Proceeds from the 10-piece collection will benefit the 23XI Speed Institute, a development program focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in motorsports.

Hamlin said the McDonalds line is part of 23XI's desire to push boundaries and beyond the NASCAR norm _ a directive from Jordan himself.

“I think it was very important for our team in general to just be different,” Hamlin said. “I guarantee that this drop of this special (McDonalds) collection will get eaten up very, very quickly, probably by the younger demographic, and next thing you know you have people wearing NASCAR gear again.”

Mother-Daughter Duo Launches Selfie Studio in Virginia

By JESSICA NOLTE Daily Press NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) – Say cheese!

A mother and daughter duo launched the Peninsula's first selfie studio earlier this month with the hope of spreading smiles and creativity throughout Hampton Roads.

The studio features 32 decorated cubes with themes inspired by everything from entertainment _ such as the movie Mean Girls and the popular show Squid Game _ to a classic Rubik's Cube. Some of the cubes are permanent fixtures while others, such as those featuring a Valentine's Day theme, will rotate.

Each cube has a ring light and phone mount for taking selfies. Staff members are on hand to help with taking photos too.

“I would like to just dispel the myth that family can't work together,” Tawana Randolph said. “We have had a huge amount of fun and we look forward to a huge amount of success building this business.”

Randolph said her daughter Chelsea Haskins came up with the studio name – Say Cheezz! Selfie Studio – and her husband and son designed the logo.

Randolph and Haskins started kicking around the idea for the studio about a year ago, and by summer they'd incorporated their business.

The two women worked together to brainstorm the ideas for their themed photo cubes, and did the painting and wallpapering themselves. When they couldn't find props they wanted, they made their own.

The backdrops are a product of their creativity, but there's no right way to take a selfie in the studio.

They see the business as a judgment-free space for others to showcase their own creativity whether it comes in the form of a selfie or video.

Although they just opened this month, they've already had customers ranging from 2 to 85 years old.

“We decided to come to Newport News because we just

saw some areas and some youth that may need some positive role models and positive activities,” Randolph said.

They're planning to bring in DJs and host theme nights.

They're also in the works of partnering with local organizations that provide support for young people.

“We have a very close-knit family _ I'm very familyoriented,” Haskins said. “This is a family-run business and I think we're just opening our arms for a bigger hug around the community.”

Randolph, 48, said she was a single parent for a long time and she knows the importance of finding safe, fun and affordable places for children and teenagers to hang out. She wants Say Cheezz to be that place.

“Saying it will pay off doesn't always mean monetarily,” Randolph said. “Paying it forward comes in all different ways. If we can help to keep kids out of trouble that's just as gratifying as making the money.”

The studio isn't just for people in Newport News or on the Peninsula.

One of the cubes features street signs from major roads all around Hampton Roads. There's also a graffiti wall with the names of the seven cities and a 757 wall of fame that pays homage to athletes and celebrities from Hampton Roads.

The women currently live in Hampton, but they've lived in cities around the region and Haskins graduated from Norfolk State University in 2016.

They're hoping the spot in Newport News is just the beginning for Say Cheezz. Randolph says if there's enough interest, they hope to be able to build a second studio in Hampton or near Williamsburg.

The studio is open for general admission Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday tickets can be purchased online at www. saycheezzselfies.com/. A green screen and party rooms are available for rent by calling the studio at 757-527-2592 or emailing info(at)saycheezzselfies.com.

Super Bowl Has 101 Million TV Viewers Up From 2021

By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer NEW YORK (AP) – The Super Bowl rebounded to draw an estimated 101.1 million television viewers who saw the Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals on a late-game drive, proving the dominance of football as an audience magnet.

The audience on NBC and Telemundo was a 6% increase over the 95.2 million TV viewers who saw the Tampa Bay Bucs crowned as champions in 2021, the Nielsen company said on Tuesday.

The ratings improvement for what is traditionally the most-watched event of the year was no surprise, given the run of terrific playoff games leading up to it. Viewership for the NFL’s divisional round was up 20% over last year, and the conference championships were up 10%, Nielsen said.

Besides the good games, a sense _ or hope _ that the coronavirus pandemic may be winding down might have

contributed to the increased audience, said Cole Strain, head of measurement for the research firm Samba TV. “We felt there was a little more freedom,” Strain said.

The halftime show starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary K. Blige was also a hit, and NBC expressed hope that the game’s halo will kick-start ratings for the otherwise disappointing Winter Olympics in Beijing.

NBC said another 11.2 million people streamed this year’s game, putting the total audience at 112.3 million people. The audience for television and streaming combined is up 12.6% over last year.

For its hometown Bengals, Cincinnati had the highest audience share in the country, meaning the percentage of television viewers watching the game, Nielsen said. Los Angeles didn’t even make the top 10 markets.

The most-watched Super Bowl ever remains the 2015 game between New England and Seattle, which had 114.4 million

viewers. Last year’s slip gave rise to some thinking that the NFL wasn’t immune to the overall drop in audience that afflicts virtually all television programs, but this year the NFL defied that gravity.

Live television viewing in the last three months of 2021 was up over the previous year, and that can be attributed solely to football, Strain said.

Nielsen estimated that 103.4 million television viewers watched the Super Bowl halftime show, and Samba’s data illustrated how it is become an event in itself. Samba estimated that 379,000 households, or roughly more than a million people, tuned in for the halftime show and left after it was done. Another 1.2 million households, or more than 3 million people, tuned in first for the show and stayed for the game’s second half.

“This year was a very big standout in terms of the halftime show performers versus the last year,” Strain said. It was the first time rap artists took center stage at halftime.

As a result, Samba said the 15 most-watched commercials came either just before, during or just after the halftime show.

That represents a change from the time advertisers jockeyed to get their ads placed early in the game or, if they were feeling lucky, late in the fourth quarter to take advantage of a suspenseful finish.

Nielsen said 21.3 million people stuck around after the game to watch Olympics programming. NBC specifically requested to broadcast a Super Bowl during a Winter Olympics year in the hope that each event would benefit the other, and its executives said they hoped to take the same approach in the future.

Late last year, Nielsen adjusted its estimate of viewership for the 2021 Super Bowl from 92 million to 95.2 million, saying it had undercounted the number of people who watched the game outside of their homes.

A4

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO: 2022 014103 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: TAURO CAPITAL ADVISORS, INC. at 444 S. Flower Street Suite 620, Los Angeles, Ca. 90071 County: Los Angeles Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number (if applicable): 3707143 Mailing Same REGISTERED OWNERS(S): TAURO REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS SERVICES, 444 S. Flower Street Suite 620, Los Angeles, Ca. 90071 The business is conducted by: a Corporation SIGNED: TAURO REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS SERVICES Title: PRESIDENT If COPR or LLC, Print Name: STEPHEN STEIN The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 01/2022 This statement filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on: Jan 21, 2022 DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk By: M. CARRASCO, Deputy NOTICE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2014, THE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE AFFIDAVIT OF IDENTITY FORM. This statement expires on Jan 21, 2027 LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Feb 3, 10, 17, 24, 2022

HEALTHCARE STAFFING HIRE (HSH) at 1058 S Citrus Ave, Los Angeles, Ca. 90019 County: Los Angeles Mailing Same REGISTERED OWNERS(S): THEODORE DREW AND ASSOCIATES, LLC, 1058 S Citrus Ave, Los Angeles, Ca. 90019 The business is conducted by: a Limited Liability Company SIGNED: THADDEUS DUFELMEIER, CEO The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 09/2020 This statement filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on: Jan 27, 2022 DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk By: (No Signature) Deputy NOTICE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2014, THE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE AFFIDAVIT OF IDENTITY FORM. This statement expires on Jan 27, 2027 LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Feb 10, 17, 24, Mar 3, 2022

Courthouse THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that RICHARD SHARY 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: Apr 20, 2022 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: 9 Room: Address of court: same as noted above 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 decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

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 (form 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.

������������������������������� FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO: 2022 020416 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as:

Legal Notices Los Angeles News Observer

�������������������������������

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF BRYAN SHARY CASE NUMBER: 22STPB00387 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of BRYAN SHARY A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by RICHARD SHARY in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES 111 N. Hill Street Los Angeles, Ca. 90012 Branch Name: Stanley Mosk

PUBLIC NOTICE Petitioner: Richard Shary 57492 29 Palms Hwy Yucca Valley, Ca. 92284 Telephone: (760) 820-2236

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Feb 24, Mar 3, 10, 2022

������������������������������� FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO: 2022 028198 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: HOUSE OF 210 / 210 HOUSE at 5407 Colfax Avenue Unit 307, North Hollywood, Ca. 91601 Mailing Same REGISTERED OWNERS(S): HOUSE OF 210 LLC, 5407 Colfax Avenue Unit 307, North Hollywood, Ca. 91601 The business is conducted by: a Limited Liability Company SIGNED: WALTER CHOLMONDELEY, Manager The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 07/2021 This statement filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on: Feb 4, 2022 DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk By: Deputy NOTICE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2014, THE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE AFFIDAVIT OF IDENTITY FORM. This statement expires on Feb 4, 2027 LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Feb 24, Mar 3, 10, 17, 2022 �������������������������������

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Experian Go: New App Helps “Invisibles” Build and Access Credit

(Shutterstock Photo)

Edward Henderson California Black Media Your credit score, that three-digit number, can dramatically expand or restrict access to purchasing property, goods or services you may need. Personal finance experts say knowing your credit status is the first step to becoming credit worthy.

But for nearly 50 million American adults, making this first step is not possible because they don’t have a credit history, or it is limited.

Those “credit invisibles,” as some financial services companies identify them, have trouble securing emergency funds, housing, transportation and are often subject to predatory lending practices.

To help address this problem, Experian, the financial services and credit reporting company, has created a first-of-itskind program to help individuals establish lines of credit without having to go into debt. Experian Go, which officially launched in January, is an app that allows users to create a credit report, tradelines and credit history within minutes. Users also have instant access to financial offers.

Experian Go is the first step in establishing a credit profile and report. Another app the company provides, Experian Boost, puts the users’ new credit information on their credit report.

Early analysis of the pilot release of the program showed that 91% of users with no credit history input their recurring cell phone, streaming service, internet and utility bills directly to their Experian credit report and became scoreable with an average starting FICO Score of 665.

“Living with a nonexistent or limited credit history can be a significant barrier to financial opportunity in America,” said Craig Boundy, CEO, Experian North America.

“We believe every individual deserves the opportunity to reach their fullest financial potential,” Boundy continued.

“Innovations like Experian Boost and Experian Go help to ensure people can access the credit they need when they need it.

This new program is a direct reflection of our mission to bring financial power to all.”

African Americans make up more than 5 % of California’s population, but they secure only 3 % of all home loans. And women of color make up about 30% of the state’s population but account for 8 % of all home loan recipients, according to the Greenlining Institute, an Oakland-based non-profit committed to creating to helping build an inclusive economy.

Across the United States, the average credit score for Blacks is about 677 as compared to an estimated 730 for Whites and 745 for Asian Americans, according to data compiled by a number of personal finance and credit payment processing companies.

Once a consumer downloads Experian’s free mobile app or (visits online here) and enrolls in a free Experian membership,

they’ll be asked to authenticate their identity using a government-issued ID, Social Security number and a face picture.

From there, personalized recommendations will help users add accounts, also known as tradelines, to their Experian credit report. Users may also receive information about becoming an authorized user or be invited to apply for a credit card designed specifically for those new to credit. Others may contribute their on-time bill payments directly to their Experian credit report with Experian Boost.

As part of their free Experian membership, users will receive education about how credit works and recommendations to further build their credit history, including access to free Experian credit reports, credit monitoring and more. Consumers can also get help setting and meeting financial goals through Experian’s Personal Finances tool.

Users must be 18 years of age of older.

The program aims to be a tool for minority communities disproportionally affected by financial illiteracy and accessibility.

A recent Experian survey revealed 1 in 5 Black consumers and one-third of Hispanic consumers don’t have any credit in their name, with 65 percent of Black consumers and 51 percent of Hispanic consumers unsure of the steps to take to establish or improve their credit.

Wil Lewis, Experian’s Global Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer recently shed some light on these figures during a virtual briefing organized by the company.

“Twenty-eight million consumers have been excluded from access to mainstream credit today. Out of that 28 million that have been excluded from access to mainstream credit, 28% of those folks are African American consumers. 26% are Hispanic consumers. 16% are White and Asian consumers. I bring that up because you can see that this cuts across all demographics. This is not a problem just for a few, this is a problem for many. At Experian we’re committed to helping more consumers get access,” he said.

To aid in this effort, Experian has partnered with Operation Hope. The nonprofit founded in 1992 focuses on equipping people with tools that help them secure a more stable financial footing. Operation Hope clients are counseled on improving their spending habits and developing personalized plans for building their own businesses, raising their credit scores or buying homes.

“We recognize the correlation between credit scores and opportunity in America and view credit worthiness – or the lack thereof – as a barrier to financial mobility and success,” said John Hope Bryant, CEO and Founder of Operation Hope. “We are thankful for our partnership with Experian and stand with them as we work together to amplify an actionable plan that increases financial access to all.”

February is Black History Month

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Los Angeles News Observer A5

Features

Looming Funding Cuts Worry Schools as California Faces Dramatic Student Enrollment Decline, Officials Search To Stabilize School Funding

By Dr. Margaret Fortune President/CEO of Fortune School Schools have become an extension of the public health system in California’s response to COVID-19. As the leader of a public school system, I can tell you we have become masters of administering weekly COVID-19 tests to thousands of students and teachers, hosting vaccination clinics, and doing contact tracing. It’s a lot of pressure.

Meanwhile, student enrollment is dropping dramatically across the state. To put it in context, student enrollment was already in steady decline before the pandemic because of low birth rates and migration. In the 2018-19 school year, student enrollment in California fell by 23,000 students. Last school year in 2020-21, California schools lost 160,000 students, nearly seven times the figure two years ago.

The pandemic has severely impacted student attendance.

Unfortunately, it has become common for parents to receive notices from school saying their child has been exposed to

COVID-19. Some parents are opting to keep their children home which is beginning to cause a sharp increase in chronic absenteeism in schools.

This is a huge problem for California public schools, because they rely on students’ average daily attendance for their state funding. In a year when California is expecting to have a $29 billion budget surplus, it’s imperative that elected officials give the state’s children the first call on the treasury by making school funding stable.

Senator Ben Allen, a Santa Monica Democrat has a good idea to ensure predictable public school funding. SB 579 (Allen), would hold schools harmless from drops in enrollment for this school year and next. This bill is on a fast track. It sailed through the Senate (37-0) and as of the writing of this column is in the Assembly. We applaud Senator Allen for his amendment to include public charter schools in the bill as well. Funding for school districts has always been protected from drops in student enrollment from year to year, but not for public charter schools.

Senator Allen’s bold action will keep all schools “whole” during a time when we are experiencing the traumatic impact of the pandemic.

SB 830 introduced by Senator Anthony Portantino, a Democrat representing the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys, is another piece of legislation that deals with how schools are funded. This bill proposes that the California Department of Education stop funding schools based on average daily attendance and instead provide funding according to a school’s enrollment numbers. California’s policy to fund schools based on average daily attendance made sense before we were in a pandemic. Now that public health officials are advising schools to require that parents keep their children at home if they are symptomatic, the rules about funding schools based on attendance must change with the times. The problem is SB 830 (Portantino) excludes public charter schools from the fix. That means 690,657 of California’s public-school children would be left behind in the old funding scheme. That is unacceptable. It’s particularly

problematic for Black students because their parents are more likely to choose public charter schools than other ethnic groups.

That means that these students would be funded at a lower level than their counterparts in school districts. Senator Portantino should amend SB 830 to include public charter schools so the bill is helpful to all of California’s public school children.

As we continue to navigate through a pandemic where the state’s response is heavily reliant on using a child’s school as the delivery system for education and public health, one lesson is abundantly clear. Providing in-person instruction during a pandemic is teaching us new things about the best way to fund schools. Enrollment and attendance are fluctuating as parents make decisions about whether they feel safe sending their child to school. If we want schools to stay open, lawmakers must stabilize funding for all public schools — including charters. In a state that has a surplus of funding, it is critical that our elected officials prioritize fully funding all schools to protect us from further feeling the impact of the pandemic.

$2M to Digitize Black Newspaper Archive

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Howard University has received a $2 million donation to digitize its Black Press Archives, that contains more than 2,000 newspaper titles including publications like the New York Amsterdam News, Chicago Defender, Washington Informer, Baltimore AFRO, and others historically Black publications.

The University said it hopes to make the archives more broadly available to researchers and the public.

“Once digitalized, Howard’s Black Press Archive will be the largest, most diverse, and the world’s most accessible Black newspaper database,” Benjamin Talton, the director of Howard’s Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, told the Associated Press.

The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center houses the archive, which dates to the 1970s and includes newspapers

from Africa and the Caribbean.

The $2 million grant from the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation should also help increase diversity in the university, officials stated.

Howard University credited its Center for Journalism & Democracy for helping to secure the funding from the Logan Family Foundation, which supports social justice causes in journalism and the arts.

“We will be able to go back and look at these archives and these newspapers and the way the Black press was covering the world and have a greater understanding of who we are as a society, who we were back then and who we are now,” Nikole Hannah-Jones told the news service.

“Right now, we really are only getting a very narrow part of the story, and that is the part of the story told through power and through the ruling class.”

The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center houses the archive, which dates to the 1970s and includes newspapers from Africa and the Caribbean.

Opinion: Don’t Look Far. Honor the Black History Around You Chief John Keene Special to California Black Media Partners Happy Black History Month.

It seems media coverage of Black History Month this year is getting lost in the merry-go-round of breaking news stories-from shifting COVID guidelines and skyrocketing food and gas prices to shocking crime stories and growing concerns about our military getting involved in Ukraine. Add to that the constant distractions of TikTok, Facebook Reels and other social media platforms all competing for our attention.

But whether or not the media gives Black History Month the attention it deserves, most African Americans realize how important it is to commemorate our history – and its important contribution to American history. So, we pause to honor our past, celebrate our forebears and pat ourselves on the back for the many contributions we have made to this country.

And we invite all Americans to celebrate Black History Month, too. It is all around us. There’s Black history to learn about in your neighborhoods, at your jobs, in your city and in your churches. Knowing about the struggles and contributions of Black Americans can enrich our understanding of each other and the hard-won freedoms Americans of all backgrounds often take for granted.

As the Chief Probation Officer for San Mateo County, and as the current President of the Chief Probation Officers of California, I have a very important responsibility in the positions that I hold to sustain a legacy built by many before me who have paved the way.

In probation, as in society, it is vital that all cultures are recognized, and Black history is no different. It is important for our deputies and staff to know that the path to get here was paved by the trials and tribulations of the people before us. Most African Americans in the 1940s and 1950s were limited to opportunities within correctional facilities, and did not have the opportunities to start off as deputy probation officers or elevate to that rank.

Shockingly, the first Black deputy probation officers and staff were not widely known to be employed around the country until the 1970s and 1980s.

Today, over 20% of deputy probation officers in California are African American. That diversity extends to gender (51% are women), and other races as well (72% of deputy probation officers are non-white). Probation today is even further diversified by educational backgrounds (the majority of officers have fouryear degrees), and many probation departments employ former justice system-involved individuals. Importantly, Probation’s diversity also extends to our leadership with just over 10% of probation chiefs in California being African American.

On the shoulders of African American pathbreakers, we take our seats as leaders of our profession with honor and humility.

For me, the weight of leading the association of the leaders of our profession is a reflection of the important role of Black History in probation that has led to the diversity and inclusion we see now.

The weight and responsibility of this history, I carry proudly.

With that diversity comes cultural competency and lived experiences. That understanding and sensibility equips probation to be an indispensable aspect of the criminal justice system. It is the connection between punishment and rehabilitation, breaking down barriers to help justice-involved people turn their lives around and leave the system permanently - creating long-term, sustainable safety in our communities. It is also what attracts even greater diversity to our ranks: this desire to help people succeed.

As a former police officer, attorney, deputy probation officer and now Chief, my experience has helped me tremendously in feeling a sense of empathy for the life experiences of the people we serve. It has helped me understand the challenges of young people I talk to with who have had tough upbringings. As African Americans, working through barriers is something that we know first-hand and reducing barriers is a central component to

Chief John Keene, chief probation officer for San Mateo County

rehabilitation.

Often, we must even go beyond that to see the difference between rehabilitation and habilitation, or helping someone who has only known a difficult life to gain the tools to create a new one that sets them on a healthier path. To help them succeed, we as probation officers often become much more – serving as teachers, mentors and role models.

Sometimes the people we serve think the challenges they face are unique to them, but we can often relate because we too have lived many of those experiences or we have encountered them within our own backgrounds. It breaks the ice, builds points of connection, reduces barriers, and opens a moment for them to pause and listen and let their guard down to learn and grow.

Now, in my new role as President of the Chief Probation Officers of California, I do this work on a broader scale, often working through policy conversations and larger fiscal decisions and assessing their implications.

My work in these positions continues to be informed by my own unique background, experiences, and cultural understandings. Black History Month gives us the space and time to reflect on how we got here, but also where we would like to go.

It is my privilege to be in a position now to help shape that future for my own children and their children.

Chief John Keene was appointed Chief Probation Officer of San Mateo County in June of 2013. Chief Keene brings more than 20 years of law enforcement experience to his role. Prior to his appointment as Chief, he served as Deputy Chief Probation Officer in Alameda County.

A6

Features

Los Angeles News Observer

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Biz Advocate: New SoCal Clean Gas Program Is “Amazing Opportunity” Aldon Thomas Stiles California Black Media Timothy Simon, CEO of the California African American Chamber of Commerce, says a new clean energy program in Southern California is an “awesome opportunity” for Black businesses.

Simon, who is an attorney and former Commissioner of the California Public Utilities Commission, says he looks forward to more Black entrepreneurs and companies participating in the emerging green economy.

Last Thursday, the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) announced a proposal to introduce green hydrogen infrastructure in the greater Los Angeles region, an early step in a broader statewide plan to help replace fossil fuels by 2035.

The system, called Angeles Link, seeks to replace diesel powered trucks with hydrogen fuel cell trucks, eliminate smogproducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) gasses, and convert up to four natural gas power plants to green hydrogen.

SoCalGas President Maryam Brown told California Black Media that Angeles Link will help advance California’s climate goals.

“We plan to target it to power the sectors of the economy that are often called hard to electrify,” said Brown. “It positions California, in particular Southern California, to be a clean fuels hub of the nation.”

Simeon praised SoCal Gas for its “exemplary record” contracting with Black-owned business for past infrastructure projects.

“From financing, environmental planning and construction, the Gas Company has walked the walk. I expect the same in the building of the Angeles Link,” he said.

Brown says she expects a “dramatic” decrease in greenhouse gas and NOx emissions.

Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed his support for the Angeles Link project during a press conference held last Thursday.

“I want to acknowledge what Southern California Gas did today as a step in the right direction, promoting something the state continues to promote and will be promoting more in the

next number of years,” said Newsom.

Brown expressed SoCalGas’s commitment to support the governor’s zero-emissions goals.

“It’s about renewable electricity, from solar to wind, being complemented with clean fuels -- like hydrogen, like renewable natural gas -- so we can drive to that net zero number,” she said.

Newsom emphasized the impact climate change is having on California, including the ongoing drought, that is the worst in 1200 years, according to a team of researchers from NASA, Columbia and UCLA. “There’s no bigger issue, outside of this issue that brings us here today, than the existential issues of climate change,” said the governor. “There’s no state more responsible for addressing this issue than the state of California because no state is more impacted by extremes than the state of California. What more evidence do I need to give you than your 90-degree weather down here in the last week?”

The governor also spoke about the role big industry plays in helping to mitigate the effects of climate change.

“The issue of addressing heavy industry -- not just residential solar, not just wind, not just conversion of electric vehicles-- but really going after big industry is critical in advancing our efforts of low carbon green growth,” said Newsom.

According to Brown, California has set an example in responding to the climate crisis.

“We pride ourselves in California on being a leader in energy and environmental policy,” said Brown. “This is the next big step in California’s leadership in the climate space.”

Supporters say the project is a job creator.

“As President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, my priority is creating good union jobs while also seeking solutions that protect workers and their families when they return from a hard day’s work,” said Ron Herrera, president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.

“The thought of creating a massive clean, green energy hub in Los Angeles, growing union jobs, and preserving the thousands of middle-class jobs for refinery, utility, and electrical

(Shutterstock Photo)

workers is exactly the sort of out-of-the-box thinking that this project presents. This is infrastructure done right,” he added.

Brown said Angeles Link is not only a program committed to clean energy, but to environmental equity as well.

“There is absolutely an environmental justice component to our goals and ambitions around climate change and that’s why an initiative like this is meant to directly respond to that,” said Brown. “It is really important to us as we develop Angeles Link to have those considerations because it’s about developing

infrastructure that cleans our communities and is designed in a way that is equitable in our communities as well.

Simon says the project is vital to the Southern California region.

“I expect to see more gas utilities advance green hydrogen infrastructure, as Governor Newsom referenced, presenting it as a carbon-mitigating fuel source,” he said. “Therefore, African American businesses have an amazing opportunity to be part of this historic environmental breakthrough.”

Zoe Bethel the Reigning Miss Alabama Dies at 27

Bethel, who worked as a reporter for Right Side Broadcasting, suffered fatal injuries from a car accident earlier this month, her family said in a social media post.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Zoe Bethel, the former model crowned Miss Alabama for America Strong in 2021, has died.

Bethel, who worked as a reporter for Right Side Broadcasting, suffered fatal injuries from a car accident earlier this month, her family said in a social media post.

The 27-year-old succumbed eight days later to those unspecified injuries.

“Zoe had an accident Thursday night, February 10th, and sustained severe damage to her brain, brainstem and is in a coma,” the family posted on Instagram after the injury.

“Unfortunately, the doctors are saying the damage cannot be repaired and that she may not have much time left.”

Grace Saldana, the editor-in-chief of Right Side Broadcasting then tweeted news of Bethel’s death.

“Besides the fact that she was always incredibly stunning, I’ll always remember how convicted Zoe was in her faith in God, how dedicated she was to her beliefs in protecting life, and how much she cared for others. May she rest in peace,” Saldana wrote.

The Miss Alabama America organization posted a message about Bethel’s death.

“On February 18th, 2022, the world lost a queen,” pageant officials wrote on Instagram.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear friend and reigning Miss Alabama for America Strong, Zoe Bethel. She was a light in this world, and we are heartbroken over the loss of such a bright and beautiful woman. Rest in grace and love, sweet one.”

President Biden Begins Supreme Court Interview Process

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent President Biden reportedly has begun interviewing candidates to succeed Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.

The President has vowed to nominate the first Black woman to the high court, and said he expects to announce his selection by the end of February.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia; California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger; Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, who sits on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago; and J. Michelle Childs, a federal district court judge based in Columbia, South Carolina, are all viewed as strong candidates for the nomination.

Judge Brown Jackson has received letters of support from a host of union groups, including the American Federation of Labor, Congress of Industrial Organizations, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the National Education Association (NEA).

Additionally, more than 170 Black Harvard alumni recently submitted a letter to the White House asking that President Biden select Judge Brown Jackson.

Judge Childs enjoys the support of Democrat powerbroker Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina.

A 1992 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, Judge Childs was appointed in 2010 by President Barack Obama to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the District of South Carolina.

Upon graduation from law school, Judge Childs went to

work as an associate attorney at Nexsen Pruet Jacobs and Pollard law firm, becoming the first Black female partner in a major law firm in South Carolina.

“In law school, you learn early on that your reputation and credibility will follow you throughout your career,” Judge Childs said in an interview with her alma mater.

“Your classmates will be on opposing sides in cases or matters and will be leaders in various firms, agencies, and organizations in the state, so you always want to be known for having good character as your reputation can affect your ability to resolve matters entrusted to you.”

Others reportedly being considered include 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Holly A. Thomas, federal Circuit Court Judge Tiffany P. Cunningham, civil rights attorney, and 11th Circuit Court candidate Nancy G. Abudu, 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals nominee Arianna J. Freeman, NYU law professor Melissa Murray, District Judge Wilhelmina “Mimi” Wright, North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls, and 2nd Circuit Judge Eunice Lee. “Our process is going to be rigorous. I will select a nominee worthy of Justice Stephen Breyer’s legacy of excellence and decency,” President Biden said.

“While I’ve been studying candidates’ backgrounds and writings, I’ve made no decision except one: The person I will nominate will be someone with extraordinary qualifications, character, experience, and integrity. And that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court.”

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia; California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger; Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, who sits on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago; and J. Michelle Childs, a federal district court judge based in Columbia, South Carolina, are all viewed as strong candidates for the nomination.

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Sports

Los Angeles News Observer A7

Cindric First-Wallace 2nd at Daytona Wallace comes in second….Bubba Wallace came in second by .360 seconds the rookie Cindric and teammate Blaney dueled each other at the end.

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer There was a whole lot of bump ‘in going on the final overtime lap of this year’s Daytona 500. When the dust cleared it was rookie Austin Cincric taking the checkered flag. It was a great way to celebrate team owner Roger Penske’s 85th birthday.

“Oh my God I have so many people to thank,” said the NASCAR newcomer in front of some 120,000 spectators. “First and foremost Roger Penske happy birthday.”

Cintric and his fellow Ford drivers seemed to follow a plan as they pushed each other around the 2xx mile oval where at the end Cintric edged out Bubba Wallace by a half a car length.

While leading during a restart the 23-year-old slid down to the bottom row in front Penske teammate Ryan Blaney so they could work together going to the finish line. But Blaney bounced off the wall and Watson nearly came in through the back door.

It was a stunner to most people and his first Cup victory for Cindric who was brought up from the Xfinity Series to replace Brad Kozloski in the Ford 2 car.

“I know there’s going to be highs and lows being a rookie in a field this strong,” said Cindric. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity, excited to climb the mountain we’ve got a head of us on the 2 team. But were in the play-offs and that’s one box checked.”

For Penske it was his third Daytona 500, Ryan Newman

won in 2008, joey Logano won in 2015.

Ford has won the race 17 times and finished with 7 in the top 10. Chase Briscoe third, followed by Blaney. Aric Almiro fifth while Michael McDowell, Dave Reagan and Brad Koslowski went seven, eight, nine.

Wallace comes in second….Bubba Wallace came in second by .360 seconds the rookie Cindric and teammate Blaney dueled each other at the end.

Wallace was disappointed he couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity. This was the second time coming in second at the great American Race.

“I’m going to be p- - - off about this one for a while,” said Wallace. “ I was happy on the first second place we got a couple years ago [at the 2018 Daytona 500],” Wallace said during his post-race interview. “This one sucks when you’re that close, but all-in-all, happy for our team, happy for our partners, and on to California.”

Wallace Drives for team co-owner NBA great Michael Jordan and Joe Gibbs racing team driver Danny Hamlin. He claimed his first NASCAR Cup win last October od 2021.

Wallace mentioned on twitter “The process of chasing dreams is experiencing the heart breaks. Solid effort by the 23XI racing team. Stings but we will take this momentum into the season.”

Austin Cindric celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Nia Strauss to Perform Anthem

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer Guitarist Nia Strauss will get things rocking at this weekends Auto Club Speedway by performing the National Anthem for the Wise Power 400in Fontana. “ Strauss has taken guitar playing to a whole new level,” said Auto Club Speedway President Dave Allen. “She combines energy and style to create soul-stirring sounds that connect with audiences all over the world. It’s an honor that she’ll rev up our fans before the best drivers in the world rev their engines.”

Strauss is a modern guitar virtuoso par excellence. Although the Los Angeles native rose to fame as the lead guitarist for Alice Cooper’s band, her work as a solo artist includes some of the best music ever produced on the instrument. Her 2018

Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James drives down the court during the second half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

album Controlled Chaos put her atop the Billboard charts as the No. 1 Top New Artist, furthering a reputation that has led to countless industry endorsements and critical acclaim.

Since 2018, she has thrilled Los Angeles Rams fans during the weekly Rampede, adding to the electric ambiance of the stadium. Nita Strauss will perform the National Anthem prior to the track’s NASCAR Cup Series race. She will also shred during driver introductions, delivering the same sonic energy to NASCAR fans that she delivers to fans of the Los Angeles Rams each week as the in-house guitarist at SoFi Stadium.

Moreover, Strauss has been featured in dozens of albums, trailers, and soundtracks, including Heroes of the Storm (Blizzard) and the Grammy-nominated Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (Konami/ Platinum Games).

Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, left, and former NBA great Michael Jordan greet each other during the introduction of 75 of the leagues greatest player during halftime at the NBA All-Star basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

LeBron James Discusses Leaving the Lakers During NBA All-Star Weekend

By Cameron Buford whatsgoodinsports.com This past weekend at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, the National Basketball League celebrated its season with its annual All-Star weekend slate of events. This is a celebration you don’t want to miss, should you have the opportunity to participate in the week of events during the NBA All-Star weekend. These festivities promote the excitement of their youth, fused with playmaking abilities most would die for and the imagination of some of the best athletes in the world.

Just this season, the NBA has added the HBCU Classic.

The inaugural HBCU Classic saw the Howard Bisons defeat the Morgan State Bears. Additionally, The NBA and AT&T donated a much-needed $100,000 to each team’s athletic department. I found this to be a great way to include HBCUs into this highprofile weekend however, I would like to see a few more teams involved in this classic. The NBA can make this a must-see event each year and make the HBCU Classic tournament even more appealing to future student-athletes.

Another advantage of the NBA’s midseason showcase is the highlighting of their youth movement. Kicking off the weekend is their Rising Star game, which finds teams combined with some of the most notable first- and second-year players. This game has morphed from a freshman vs. sophomore game to what we have seen over the weekend. Detroit Pistons #1 draft pick Cade Cunningham, The Cleveland Cavaliers 1st round pick Evan Mobley, Charlotte Hornets 1st round pick and, 2021 Rookie of the year LaMelo Ball, and Philadelphia 76ers Tyrone Maxey are among the young players chosen to display their talent in the weekend’s kickoff game.

The alterations of the Rising Star game format saw 28 players get selected onto four teams. 12 rookies, 12 sophomores, and 4 NBA G League Ignite players make up these teams. In commemoration of the NBA’s 75th anniversary season and an attempt to unite new players with those legendary players from back in the day, members of the NBA 75th Team Rick Barry, Gary Payton, Isiah Thomas, and James Worthy were chosen to coach these teams. By knocking off Team Isiah, for their second win, Team Barry won this inaugural four-team tournament.

In continuing with the modifications of this historic weekend, the NBA also added some tweaks to the Skills Competition, which has been seen as a warm-up for the highly anticipated Three-Point Shooting contest and ever-popular Dunk Contest. We’ve seen various machinations of how teams, were put together. I thought the use of WNBA players was a great look back then. It would be even now, considering society’s focus on inclusion and the me-to movement. This season they matched a selection of rookies against players from the hometown Cleveland Cavaliers and the Antetokpoumpo brother. Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley led the young Cavaliers squad to a win in this unique format.

Seven guards and one center competed in this season’s Three-Point competition. While it’s not often big men compete in this competition, Karl-Anthony Towns wasn’t shy about wanting to win this competition for the big men across the league. When asked how he’s practiced for this event, Towns said confidently, “Shoot 40% this season.”

Los Angeles Clippers guard Luke Kennard lit the gym up when he scored an impressive 26 points in the first round. Towns responded by scoring the most points scored, in the final round,

to beat Kennard and Atlanta Hawks Trae Young in the final round. His 29 points secures the first and only victory for a center and the first Minnesota Timberwolves since Kevin Love in 2012.

The luster has come off the shine of the Dunk Contest, which used to be the major attraction of the weekend. Long gone are days of the best players in the league competing for the crown of dunk champion. Since bragging rights and knowing you’re the best dunker isn’t enough to lure to get the best players to compete, and if financial incentives aren’t able to get it done; what if they, the league, went outside the NBA to find the best dunkers around the country and bring them in to challenge the NBA players, dunk for dunk. Would this encourage guys like Ja Morant, Anthony Edwards, or Aaron Gordon to compete in next year’s event?

Something has to be done because this was the worst Dunk Contest, I’ve seen in my 30+ years of watching the NBA. Not only are we not seeing the best of the best compete, but the lackluster performance of those competing has also tarnished the history of this event. How do you think the NBA can improve this event to bring it back to its prominence?

The biggest takeaway from this NBA All-Star weekend was the revelation from former Cavaliers Lebron James. James threw a couple of things in the pot of the NBA mash-up this weekend.

Now whether he was back home and got too comfortable on the microphone, James intimated that he may return to Cleveland to play for the Cavaliers for the third time.

“The door’s not closed on that,” James said. “I’m not saying I’m coming back and playing; I don’t know. I don’t know what my future holds. I don’t even know when I’m free.” Considering all that is happening with the current Los Angeles Lakers team,

this is a bombshell.

In collaboration with James, the Lakers have constructed a team that they felt could compete for a championship; however, they are hovering around the play-in tournament. This underwhelming season seemingly has Lebron one foot in and one foot out on the Lakers and looking towards greener pastures.

“My last year will be played with my son,” James stated. He went on to add, “Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.” This is only further evidence of Lebron having one foot in and one foot out on the Lakers.

Also, this makes it tough for the Lakers to plan for the future after making significant accommodations for LeBron and his camp.

Did LeBron James over shadow the NBA All-Star weekend with his comments about a potential return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, or did his announcement of wanting to play with his son in the future? Do you see this as a feasible option, and what are your thoughts on LeBron’s future with the Lakers? Did these comments put them in a tougher position moving forward? Let me know your thoughts by reaching out to me on Twitter @ whatsgoodnsport or email or voiceofthefas@outlook.com.

Lastly, be sure to subscribe to our weekly “Voice of the Fans Podcast,” which is available for you on most podcasting platforms; Apple and Google Podcasts, including Spotify, TuneIn, and iHeart Radio. On our Podcast, we have passionate banter about everything NBA while addressing current NFL topics, in addition to discussing multiple issues in and around the world of sports. Thank you, as always, for spending time with me and Making Our Voice, Your Choice!

Local

A8

Los Angeles News Observer

Leimert Plaza Park signage (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Thursday, February 24, 2022

ALL POWER TO ALL PEOPLE (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Monumental Art Exhibits in Los Angeles

By Ricky Richardson Contributing Writer Los Angeles, CA.- Kindred Arts teamed up with Council District 10 and City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs to host the current Monumental Tour. Monumental Tour is a touring exhibition empowering social change through the arts. Monumental Tour features acclaimed artists Arthur Jafa, Coby Kennedy, Christopher Myers and Hank Willis Thomas in a group showing of sculptures across the city of Los Angeles in Council District 10 and Downtown Los Angeles.

The amazing and magnificent exhibit was unveiled

on Thursday, February 12, 2022 in Leimert Plaza Park. Leimert Plaza Park location is significant for this exhibit. This is where local rallies and protests and cultural events are held.

The works opened during Black History Month and will remain on display through May 2022 at four locations across South Los Angeles and Downtown Los Angeles. These titans of contemporary art appear as part of the traveling outdoor art exhibit, empowering social change through the arts.

In a Press Release: organizers stated the exhibit is free and open to the public.

Works and Locations:

Hank Willis: ALL POWER TO ALL People- Leimert Plaza Park, 4395, Leimert Park Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA. 90008. I was able to see this awesome artwork, in Leimert Plaza Park, it sits on the Southwest corner of the Park, hovering over Crenshaw and Vernon.

Christopher Myers: CALIBANS’s HANDS- Benny H. Potter Park, 2413 2ND Avenue, Los Angeles, CA. 90018 Coby Kennedy: KALIEF BROWDER: THE BOX, The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, 100-198 N. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA. 90012 Arthur Jafa: BIG WHEEL IV, Nate Holding Performing

Arts Center, 4718 W. Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA. 90016 You can view the artworks virtually and find out more information about each artists as well as current and upcoming events in conjunction with the exhibit by visiting https:// monumentaltour.org/current-location You can also follow Monumental Tour on Instagram for updates. https://www. instagram.com/monumental_tour .