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Several Black Californians Are Playing Key Roles in LA 28 Olympics Planning
By Lila Brown California Black Media
From politicians and businesspeople to athletes and community leaders, a number of Black Californians are contributing to the thought leadership that is shaping the planning of LA28, the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
At the forefront is Los Angeles’ first Black woman mayor, Karen Bass, who has, in many ways, become the face of the Games in the City of Angels.
“The 2028 Games present an incredible opportunity to unite our city and lift up every corner of Los Angeles,” said Bass during a historic event at Los Angeles City Hall on Sept. 13, when the Olympic and Paralympic flags were unveiled and installed.
The event marked the return of the Olympic flag to L.A. since 1984, when the city hosted the Olympics for the second time. It was the first time the Paralympic flag was raised in California’s largest city.
“From creating jobs to supporting small businesses, we are committed to ensuring that these Games benefit all Angelenos -- not just for the summer of 2028, but for decades to come,” Bass added.
On Aug. 11, Bass received the Olympic flag at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, making history by becoming the first ever Black woman Mayor to receive the Olympic flag at a closing ceremony of the Olympic Games. Team USA Gymnast Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, joined Bass on stage, sharing that historic moment. Nearly two months after the Olympic flag handover from Paris to Los Angeles, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach visited Los Angeles.
Inflation Hits Lowest Level Since Pandemic as Consumer Prices Stabilize
By Stacy M. Brown
since the early months of the pandemic. The CPI for All Urban Consumers rose by 2.4% over the past year, a substantial easing from the higher inflation rates seen over the last two years. September’s monthly increase of 0.2% matches the growth recorded in August and July, indicating a steady, moderate rise in consumer prices. The most significant contributors to the monthly increase in CPI, a vital indicator of inflation that measures the price change for goods and services affecting consumers’ daily lives, were shelter and food, which comprised over 75% of the overall rise. Food prices alone increased by 0.4% in September, with the cost of meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rising sharply by 8.4%. Fruits and vegetables also saw a notable increase of 0.9%. These rises reflect ongoing pressures on household budgets as essential goods continue to grow more expensive. The nonprofit Prosperity Now said the index showed
housing prices increased by 0.2%, remaining a major stumbling block for American families seeking security and economic stability. The organization noted that housing costs remain a significant hurdle for families striving to build wealth and achieve long-term financial security through homeownership.
“Homeownership has long been one of the most reliable ways to build wealth in this country, but for far too many families, it remains out of reach,” said Marisa Calderon, President and CEO of Prosperity Now. “While it’s encouraging to see inflation slow, we must ensure that economic gains translate into real opportunities for families to build a more secure financial future.”
A cooling of inflation could bode well for African Americans. Research in 2022 revealed that, at a time when households across the U.S. widely reported experiencing serious problems from inflation, Black Americans were disproportionately affected by rising costs. According to a poll conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 55% of Black Americans report facing serious financial difficulties, compared to 38% of white
Americans. The survey also showed that Black Americans are more likely to lack emergency savings, with 58% unable to cover even a month of expenses, compared to 36% of white respondents. Food insecurity also presented a more pressing issue, as 32% of Black Americans report struggling to afford food, compared to 21% of white Americans.
Meanwhile, the latest CPI Index revealed that energy costs declined 1.9% over the past month. Gasoline prices
putting strain on resources, all because of the tiny back seat.
Police are often required to transport suspects, witnesses or victims for cases they’re working, sometimes for long distances. Crook remembered a case where his detectives drove 630 miles to Mexico to transport a potentially dangerous subject in their vehicle. If the detectives were in a Tesla, Crook noted they would have had to spend an hour in the middle of the drive at an unsecured public charging station standing guard over the person, something that would not happen with an internal combustion engine. Furthermore, Crook told SFGATE that he’d heard officers were unable to comfortably get in and out of the driver’s seat with their duty belt on because of the Tesla’s design. Police duty belts generally weigh between 20 and 25 pounds, adding bulk to an officer’s torso, which may not fit within the slim, streamlined Tesla aesthetic.
Another concern Crook has about Teslas, and EVs broadly, comes from an essential lesson he was taught in the police academy: “In a firefight, hide behind the engine block.” In a Tesla, there is no engine block, leaving officers without their preferred cover, he said. There’s also the issue of charging. While public chargers are on the rise, police have struggled to find and use them. And they say that stopping to charge while on a long haul with a dangerous suspect can put officers at undue risk. The Model Y is not much better than the Model 3, according to Menlo Park officers. Problems include cramped spaces for cops in bullet proof vests and duty belts leavelittle room for comfort and an inability to do cop things like jump curbs due to Autopilot programing. But there is an obvious option here: Don’t use a Tesla. The Fort Bragg Police Department told SFGate using a F-150 Lightning as a patrol vehicle makes a lot more sense.
“Tesla isn’t the right answer in the law enforcement market currently for electric adoption,” Police Department Chief Neil Cervenka told SFGate. “But
By Edward Henderson California
an avid supporter of Prop 35. “It’s a generational opportunity to make timely access to care reality in California. We’ve done a wonderful job of expanding coverage, expanding benefits, and we’re still having challenges in the state to make sure people can see a physician, a nurse, timely to care in the emergency room and it’s because the lack of stable funding. So, it’s an opportunity to secure access for funding for health care the way it was meant to be.”
More than 15 million Californians are enrolled in Medi-Cal, representing more than one third of the state’s population. However, the lack of funding for medical professionals creates a lack in service that can have devastating impacts on patients who need care immediately.
“In some areas of the state, wait times to get a mammogram for instance is six months a year. That’s the difference between life and death for many people,”
Silva noted. “Prop 35 would allocate billions of dollars to expand access for specialists, it would fund the workforce and loan repayment programs so we can get physicians, dentists, and nurses to communities that are underserved,”
“If I was white and in a suit, you would stop the f***ing plane,” she shouted in the video posted on Sunday. “Laugh now, I am the president of this whole
country. Watch see the f***ing TV news. That’s a d*** bonafide word.”
“Yes, I need to get off this plane and I’mma tell you straight up, don’t you ever come against nobody because of their skin colour again,” she continued. She went on to claim that Frontier Airlines had been engaging in criminal activity other times she had flown with the airline in years prior.
“You had enough time. I see Frontier do illegal stuff several times. I’ve been riding you for the last eight years.
The unnamed woman made bizarre claims while shouting at the flight attendant (@jenskilicious/TikTok)
“Don’t tell me. You had enough time to stop, tell the pilot to not go. You just released him from the bay. I saw it out the window. I know it was in my heart,’ she said.
A flight attendant started to explain something to the passenger that was not clearly picked up by the video’s audio, but the woman replied to the attendant, “that’s a lie from the pit of hell.” She asked for the flight attendant’s name before declaring to the rest of the cabin that she was “an affirmed sovereign ruler here in the government.”
“Seven continents I own,” the woman added before fellow passengers on the two-and-a-half-hour flight started to laugh at the woman.
“Keep laughing, watch your a** be right on a boat,” she said, addressing other the other passengers.
“We shipping people out just for a nice group of expedition. What comes around goes around, it’s time now. Keep laughing watch what happens – you’ll be expired just like your battery on your watch.”
It is unclear why the woman made those claims, or whether the flight was delayed due to the incident.
The Independent has contacted Frontier Airlines for comment.
IOC Member Hong Zhang, IOC Vice President Nicole Hoevertsz, Rex Richardson, Mayor of Long Beach, LA28 President Casey Wasserman, James T. Butts, Mayor of Inglewood, IOC President Thomas Bach, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, the President of the Los Angeles City Council (IOC/Greg Martin)
45 Months After January 6, DOJ Charges
Over 1,500 with Focus on Trump
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
This week marks 45 months since the devastating January 6 attack, where over 140 police officers were assaulted as rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, delaying the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. Officials said the attack caused over $2.8 million in damages to the Capitol in a report by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia while outlining the nearly four-year aftermath of the insurrection. Since then, the Department of Justice said it has launched one of the most extensive investigations in US history. Approximately 1,532 individuals have been charged in federal court for their roles in the attack. The charges are extensive and include 571 counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers. Of these, 164 individuals allegedly wielded deadly or dangerous weapons, including firearms, chemical sprays, tasers, and makeshift weapons fashioned from objects like flagpoles and office furniture. Additionally, 171 defendants are accused of entering restricted areas with deadly weapons, while 87 face charges for destruction of government property.
Among the most severe charges, 18 defendants face accusations of seditious conspiracy, with prosecutors alleging an organized attempt to overthrow the government by force. Charges related to the theft of government property have been brought against 66 individuals. Nearly all defendants face some form of trespassing or disorderly conduct charges, as the DOJ said it continues to seek comprehensive accountability.
Sunday, October 6, 2024, marked 45 months since the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. As the Department of Justice pursues more than 1,500 individuals in connection with the attack, new court filings reveal further details on former President Donald Trump’s alleged involvement in the violent attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
The
enforcement,
122 admitted to obstructing law enforcement during civil disorder, and 67 admitted to assault with a deadly weapon.
Nearly 1,000 cases have reached sentencing, with over 600 individuals receiving prison terms and 141 allowed to serve their sentences in home detention.
The DOJ’s pursuit of justice has been impacted in 259 cases by the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Fischer v. United States about the proper use of the felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding. So far, prosecutors have dismissed these charges in 73 cases, while evaluating others. Despite the ruling, the DOJ said it remains firm, with all affected defendants still facing other charges related to their involvement in the Capitol attack that eventually led to the deaths of several police officers. The man who carried out a pepper-spray attack on a U.S. Capitol Police officer who died the day after the riot received an 80-month sentence.
Julian Khater, 32, who admitted in a guilty plea he had used the pepper spray against Officer Brian Sicknick and at least two other officers, told U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan the rash actions he took that day were not in his nature. He said he wished he could take them back. Sicknick, 42, died of a stroke a day later.
In a 165-page court filing released earlier this month,
Special Counsel Jack Smith outlined new allegations against the twice-impeached and 34 times convicted former President Donald Trump, accusing him of engaging in “increasingly desperate” actions to cling to power after his election loss. The filing detailed Trump’s alleged strategy to incite his supporters, pushing them toward violence on January 6. “When the defendant lost the 2020 presidential
election, he resorted to crimes to try to stay in office,” the filing states. The filing also described Trump’s public statements as calculated moves to provoke anger among his supporters, even as his advisers discredited his claims of voter fraud. According to prosecutors, Trump privately dismissed his lawyer Sidney Powell’s fraud claims as “crazy,” while continuing to use similar rhetoric in public. Prosecutors allege that Trump “laid the groundwork for his crimes well before” Election Day, including by promoting doubt in the electoral process and planning to declare victory immediately. US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who has overseen the case, recently addressed Trump’s defense team’s claims of partisan bias. “Defendant’s opposition brief repeatedly accuses the government of bad-faith partisan bias,” Chutkan wrote. “These accusations, for which Defendant provides no support, continue a pattern of defense filings focusing on political rhetoric rather than addressing the legal issues at hand.” Meanwhile, the DOJ has vowed to continue prosecuting fugitives, and the FBI recently released videos of suspects involved in assaults on law enforcement, seeking public assistance in identifying individuals who remain at large. The Bureau is also pursuing fugitives like Evan Neumann, Adam Villarreal, and Paul Belosic and is encouraging anyone with information to contact them at 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Federal Response Mobilizes Across Florida as Biden-Harris Administration Assures Continued Support After Hurricane Milton
By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National
In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton’s devastating impact on Florida, the Biden-Harris Administration has mounted a robust federal response to assist recovery efforts. Officials said the administration ensured there were pre-staging personnel and resources before the storm hit, and teams were swiftly deployed to support state and local officials. The administration said the focus spotlighted search and rescue, power restoration, and debris cleanup as immediate priorities.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have communicated closely with state leaders, receiving updates on the storm’s impact and coordinating federal support. Biden, who spoke with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, emphasized the federal government’s commitment to aiding recovery. He assured DeSantis that the federal government would provide “any federal support the state needs to speed response and recovery.”
To expedite relief for residents, Biden said he directed FEMA to open disaster recovery centers across the affected areas, offering centralized resources for individuals seeking federal assistance. As part of restoring power, the Federal Aviation Administration authorized Florida Power and Light to deploy drones for damage assessment, allowing ground crews to accelerate repairs.
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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard have also been tasked with assessing how quickly the Port of Tampa can reopen, which will be vital for reestablishing the flow of essential goods, including fuel, food, and water. Three Army Corps Temporary Power teams have also mobilized to support power restoration, and more than 50,000 utility workers from across the United States, Washington, D.C., and Canada have been mobilized to support crucial facilities like hospitals.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has been on the ground since last night, coordinating closely with state and local leaders. Joined by over 1,000 federal responders, Criswell continues to evaluate the storm’s impact and address unmet needs.
FEMA’s deputy administrator, Erik Hooks, spoke about the agency’s efforts on the Black Press’ Let It Be Known digital show. “It has been tremendous,” Hooks said. “You know, there are always a lot of challenges when you have a major and complicated storm and a community like that, but there are many assets on the ground.” He also addressed misinformation that has circulated about relief efforts, highlighting the complexities of coordinating a response of this magnitude.
In addition to speaking with DeSantis, Biden said he’s reached out to numerous local officials across Florida, including Sen. Rick Scott and Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Kathy Castor, and Anna Paulina Luna. He also called several mayors. Biden urged all of them to seek direct federal
Inflation Hits Lowest Level Since Pandemic as Consumer Prices Stabilize
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and 0.6% this month, respectively. With inflation now easing to pre-pandemic levels, the latest data suggests that while some price pressures remain, particularly in essential areas like housing and food, overall price growth is moderating. “We keep making progress, with inflation returning to pre-pandemic levels, 16 million jobs created, lower interest rates, and low unemployment,” said White House National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard. “Our economy has grown 3.2 % per year under the Biden-Harris Administration—stronger than during the previous administration,”
Black Californians Are Playing Key Roles in LA 28
Continued from page A1
Accompanied by IOC Vice-President Nicole Hoevertsz, head of the Coordination Commission for the LA28 Games, and IOC Members Anita DeFrantz and Hong Zhang, Bach was welcomed by Bass and LA28 President Casey Wasserman. Bach toured several of the city’s
economy, pointing out that 30% of subcontractors are minority-and womenled disadvantaged businesses. Nearly 88% of Inglewood residents identify as Black or Latino. Among his goals are reaching 35% in development agreements. He also pointed to a reduction in unemployment in Inglewood -from 17.5% in 2011 to 5% today.
Marqueece Harris-Dawson, President of the Los Angeles City Council, also attended the tour.
Harris-Dawson is one of the leading backers of PlayLA, a parks development program that promises to provide sports programming to “young Angelenos of all abilities.” The initiative is funded by a $160 million investment from the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the International Olympic Committee.
Jean-Paul, as well as several civic leaders and LA28 executives also attended. At that event, Bass emphasized the event’s theme, “Games for All,” underscoring the significance of the Games for every Angeleno and the transformative impact they could have on the city’s residents, particularly those from underserved communities.
The mayor highlighted the city’s focus on inclusivity,
Inglewood’s newest state-of-the-art venue and home to the LA Clippers, will host the Olympic basketball tournament in the 18,000-seat arena. In an interview with California Black Media, Butts highlighted Inglewood’s central role in the upcoming Games, stating, “Inglewood will host the Opening and Closing ceremonies, basketball, and swimming competitions of the 2028 Olympic Games. This will be our second hosting of Olympic Basketball, the first in 1984.”
By 2028, Inglewood will have hosted two Super Bowls, the 2027 NBA All-Star Weekend, and eight FIFA World Cup Soccer matches in 2026. Inglewood has become the sports entertainment epicenter of the United States,” Butts added. Butts said the LA28 will also be a boon to his city’s
“An investment in neighborhood parks is an investment in our families and community. The benefits are priceless,” said Harris-Dawson. “Outdoor spaces that are responsive to the needs of the neighborhood and offer programming and activities that residents want become the heartbeat of community life.”
Black Californians serving on the LA28 Board include Businesswoman Mellody Hobson; decorated Paralympian Lex Gillette; former Netflix Executive Dana Smith; President of the LA County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO Yvonne Wheeler; and television host, retired sprinter and four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson.
Among those in attendance at the unveiling of the flag in Los Angeles were Black Olympians such as Marcus Tupuola, a USA Rugby Sevens player who grew up in Carson, and Paralympian Arrell Middleton, a 16-year-old shotput silver medalist from Rancho Cucamonga. Other Paralympians Ashley Dyce, Korban Best, Isaac Charmond
expansive prosecution effort has led to approximately 943 guilty pleas, with 304 felony admissions. Of these, 161 pleaded guilty to assaulting law
Correspondent
Jason Mott Follows Award Winning Meta Novel with Novel About Award Winning Author
By HILLEL ITALIE
AP National Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Mott's first novel since “Hell of a Book” is a kind of meta-sequel to his awardwinning meta-narrative about a Black author's haunting promotional tour.
The Penguin Random House imprint Dutton announced Thursday that it has reached a deal with Mott for “People Like Us,” in which a “prize-winning Black author” embarks on a global book tour that finds him experiencing everything from invisibility and time travel to sea monsters and peacocks. “Hell of a Book," published in 2021, won the National Book Award for fiction and was chosen for Jenna Bush Hager's “Today” show book club.
“People Like Us” is scheduled for release next fall.
‘“People Like Us' originally began as a memoir. I was attempting to sort through some of the impactful experiences I had both as an author and as a teacher recently, and over the last few years," Mott said in a statement. “After a few false starts, I came to realize that, for me, exploring truth requires the framework of fiction. When I returned to the page with that understanding about myself and how I try to create art, I found the characters from ’Hell Of A Book' waiting for me, with new heartaches and joys they wanted to share.”
Mott's other books include the novels “The Returned” and “The Calling” and poetry collection “We Call This Thing Between Us Love.”
Next Met Gala Chairs: Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky and LeBron James
By JOCELYN NOVECK AP National Writer
Eds: UPDATES: Updates with background, quote from curator.; Updates Media.
NEW YORK (AP) — The theme of the next Met Gala and its celebrity chairs have been announced: Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky and LeBron James will help the museum launch an exhibit examining Black style in menswear over the centuries.
Williams and Hamilton were on hand Wednesday morning to help officials at the Metropolitan Museum of Art announce “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” the spring exhibit that will be launched by the Met Gala on May 5.
A precise dress code for the star-studded gala — tailored specifically to the exhibit's theme — will be announced early next year.
And this one's for the guys: It's the first fashion exhibit at the Met in over 20 years to focus exclusively on menswear, which explains the almost all-male slate of hosts. (Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who oversees the gala each year, rounds out the list of co-chairs.)
Hamilton, the Formula 1 star, gave poignant remarks on how fashion became a way of expressing his identity. When he was young, Hamilton said, “I was forced to conform. From my daily routine down to what I wore. My routine was rigid. And as the only Black kid on the racing track, there was no one like me to look up to.”
Later in life, he said, "I started to express myself more creatively and more specifically, through fashion. Finding my identity in how I dressed. This was a huge positive change."
“I know the power of representation and how fashion can be a vehicle to help push diversity forward and celebrate our differences,” Hamilton added. “I’m excited to celebrate Black history ... and to show that inclusion and creativity go hand in Museumhand.director and CEO Max Hollein said the exhibit, which will run for six months — more than previous Met fashion exhibits — would explore “the importance of sartorial style to the formation of Black identities in the Atlantic diaspora,” and would celebrate “the power of style as a democratic tool for rejecting stereotypes and accessing new possibilities.” He noted it was inspired by a book, “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of
Williams, who among his many pursuits is menswear creative director for Louis Vuitton, began by paying homage to the artists responsible for the pyramids in Egypt, and spoke broadly of the power of art.
“To me art is an expression of our humanity. It’s where we store our history, it's how we tell our stories, and the literal manifestation of our dreams," Williams said during the theme announcement.
“We are the survivors of what is perhaps the most intense hardships, trials and tribulations to ever bedevil a group of human beings, and not only did we survive, we carried the music, the culture, the beauty and the universal language across an ocean...” Williams added. “We gave it all back to the world and we continue to and that is what the Met Gala will celebrate — us, our gift, our history, our food, our resilience, our beauty, our style and our strength, our authorship."
Andrew Bolton, chief curator at the Met's Costume Institute. noted that in the last few years menswear has been undergoing a renaissance.
“That’s thanks in no small part to men of style like Lewis (Hamilton) and his fellow co-chairs, men who aren’t afraid to take risks when it comes to their self-presentation,” Bolton said. He added that Williams was among a group of talented Black designers that represent “a flowering of Black creativity in fashion that were very proud to highlight in this exhibition.”
Miller, the author and guest curator, noted that back in the 1780s, “dandies” were often defined as “men who paid distinct and sometimes excessive attention to dress.
“Historical definitions of dandyism range from absolute precision in dress and tailoring to flamboyance and fabulousness," Miller said. The show will focus specifically on Black dandyism and its various manifestations. The Met Gala red carpet is always one of the biggest pop culture spectacles of the year with stars like Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Billy Porter and Rihanna wearing outfits tailored to the night’s theme. It is also a huge fundraiser: Last year's gala raised more than $26 million, a record and an enormous sum for such an event.
“Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" will be open to the public from May 10 to October 26, 2025.
in Jail While
Court Takes Up Bail Fight
By MICHAEL R. SISAK
Black Diasporic Identity” by Monica L. Miller (a Barnard professor and guest curator of the show).
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
Puede
TD Bank Pleads Guilty to Bank Secrecy
Act Violations and Money Laundering, Agrees to $1.8 Billion Penalty
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior
National Correspondent
TD Bank N.A. (TDBNA) and its parent company,
TD Bank US Holding Company (TDBUSH), pleaded guilty to Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) violations and money laundering charges, agreeing to pay over $1.8 billion in penalties. The plea resolves a Justice Department investigation into the bank’s failure to comply with antimoney laundering (AML) requirements, including lapses in filing accurate Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs).
TDBNA admitted to conspiring to neglect its AML program and launder money, while TDBUSH pleaded guilty to causing TDBNA’s BSA compliance failures. The bank’s penalties stem from a coordinated resolution with the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
“By making its services convenient for criminals, TD Bank became one,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland remarked. He noted that TD Bank is now the largest US bank that has pleaded guilty to such charges and emphasized that the investigation remains active.
“Today’s guilty plea…offers an unmistakable lesson: crime doesn’t pay—and neither does flouting compliance,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said. The charges relate to long-term deficiencies in TD Bank’s AML program, spanning from January 2014 to October 2023. According to court documents, despite warnings, the bank failed to address significant risks and enforce necessary controls. Under a “flat cost paradigm,” the DOJ said the bank restricted compliance funding, leaving it vulnerable to money laundering activities involving trillions of dollars.
“These failures allowed corrupt bank employees to facilitate a criminal network’s laundering of tens of millions of dollars,” Principal Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri emphasized.
Additionally, US Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for
“The
approximately $18.3 trillion in transactions, including automated clearinghouse (ACH) transactions and highrisk activities. The oversight facilitated over $670 million in money laundering through TD Bank accounts. According to reports, the bank allowed transactions to proceed unreported, even when suspicious.
The bank’s plea agreement includes a forfeiture of $452 million and a criminal fine exceeding $1.4 billion. As part of its AML program improvements, TD Bank will also retain an independent compliance monitor for three years. It reached additional agreements with the FRB, OCC, and FinCEN, with $123.5 million credited towards the FRB’s resolution.
TD Bank’s partial cooperation with the investigation earned it a 20% penalty reduction, although it did not receive full credit due to delays in reporting AML concerns. The Justice Department noted that TD Bank’s nondisclosure contributed to imposing a substantial fine. The IRS Criminal Investigation Division, the FDIC Office of Inspector General, and the DEA investigated the case with support from several law enforcement agencies, including the Morristown Police Department and US Customs and Border Protection.
The case was prosecuted by attorneys from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and US Attorneys from New Jersey. The Bank Integrity Unit, established to address BSA and AML violations in financial institutions, led the investigation, which forms part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative to disrupt high-level criminal organizations in the US.
“We have taken full responsibility for the failures of our U.S. [anti-money laundering] program and are making the investments, changes and enhancements required to deliver on our commitments,” said Bharat Masrani, group president and chief executive of TD Bank Group. “This is a difficult chapter in our Bank’s history. These failures took place on my watch as CEO and I apologize to all our stakeholders.”
Prop 4 Would Approve $10 Billion for Climate Action, Conserving Natural Resources
By Edward Henderson California
flood protection projects. Additionally, 40% of the bond revenue would be used to fund activities that benefit communities with lower incomes or that are affected by environmental changes or disasters.
$3.8 billion would help pay to improve drinking water systems and prepare for droughts and floods. Another $1.5 billion would go to programs focused on wildfire preparedness and $1.2 billion would go to programs combating the rise of the sea level. The remaining funds would be divided up. Supporters of the proposition argue that the threat climate change brings to the state is an immediate one. Issues like wildfires, water pollution, and extreme heat call for funding to be directed towards countering the effects of climate change. Several environmental groups are backing the measure as well.
Supporters say urgency to push for the proposition
increased even more when Gov. Gavin Newsom scaled back the “California Climate Commitment,” which originally was a $54.3 billion spending package. In the most recent budget, it was cut to $44.6 billion.
Katelyn Roedner Sutter, State Director of the California Environmental Defense Fund, is on record saying, “We need to be not only helping communities adapt to climate change right now, but we also need to be reducing our climate pollution. This is not a problem that can wait until it’s convenient to fund in the budget.”
Ariana Rickard, public policy and funding program manager for Sonoma Land Trust, added, “Every Californian has felt the impact of the climate crisis, whether it is wildfires, extreme heat, flooding, sea level rise. I feel like this will resonate with voters who want to protect themselves and their communities.”
The bond measure would also require the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to publish a list of programs and projects on the agency’s website for the public, increasing transparency and accountability with the public. The measure would require the report to list the project’s location, objective, status, anticipated outcomes, total cost,
amount of bond funding, and any matching funds. Opponents argue that using bonds to pay for what they call “unproven technologies” is not the most prudent way to approach the issues. They believe the state should pay for projects like this without taking on more debt.
Governments, corporations and municipalities issue bonds when they need capital. An investor who buys a government bond is lending the government money. If an investor buys a corporate bond, the investor is lending the corporation money. Like a loan, a bond pays interest periodically and repays the principal at a stated time, known as maturity. Taxpayers eventually are burdened with paying for the bonds the Government issues.
Howard Jarvis of the Taxpayers Association is on the record stating that “These bonds will be paid by people decades from now that didn’t even get to vote for their authorization.”
A “yes” vote supports the state issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund state and local parks, environmental protection projects, water infrastructure projects, energy projects, and flood protection projects.
A “no” vote opposes the state issuing $10 billion
The Transatlantic Slave Trade: Overcoming
Authors, Legendary Civil Rights Icon Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. and Acclaimed Journalist Stacy Brown, Detail the Consequences of the Transatlantic Slave Trade New York, NY—Civil Rights icon and National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. and renowned journalist and NNPA Senior National Correspondent Stacy M. Brown collaborated on the groundbreaking book The Transatlantic Slave Trade: Overcoming the 500-Year Legacy, which is now available from Select Books (ISBN 978-1-59079-569-9). Released on October 8, 2024, this work explores the brutal legacy of the transatlantic slave trade and its ongoing impact on African people throughout the world. This searing book offers an unflinching account of the 500-year legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, beginning in 1500 with the abduction of millions of Africans and following the historical arc through centuries of oppression, Jim Crow-era terror, and modern systemic racism. The book is an unapologetic examination of how the horrors of the past—rooted in slavery—continue to manifest in present-day America through police brutality, mass incarceration, economic disparities, and educational inequality. Chavis, a central figure in the civil rights movement, draws on his decades of activism and personal experiences in the fight for equal justice. As a young activist with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Dr. Chavis worked under Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and later became a prominent leader within the United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the National Newspaper Publishers
Association (NNPA). His wrongful imprisonment as the leader of the Wilmington Ten in 1971—a group political prisoners falsely convicted and imprisoned for untruthful allegations of arson during the civil rights movement in North Carolina—serves as a vivid reminder of the institutionalization of racial discrimination in America that continues to suppress the human rights of communities of color.
“This book does not simply chronicle history; it challenges readers to face the lasting consequences of the transatlantic slave trade,” says Dr. Chavis. “The blood, sweat, and tears of enslaved Africans laid the very foundation for the American experiment in democracy, yet their descendants are still fighting for equality and justice in every facet of American life.”
Isiah Thomas, a legend in the NBA, highlights the importance of this work in his stirring words, which support Dr. Chavis’s call to action:
“Dr. Ben Chavis must continue to fight and tell this story, not just for our generation, but for future generations who must understand the truth about our history if they are to finish righting the wrongs that began over 400 years ago,” Thomas emphasizes that this book is a vital tool in paving the way for future generations, ensuring that they are armed with the unvarnished truth.
Arikana Chihombori-Quao, African Union Ambassador to the United States, underscores the importance of the book’s message:
“Dr. Chavis connects the dots from the slave ports of West Africa to the present-day struggles of Black Americans. The transatlantic slave trade was not just a historical event—it laid the groundwork for centuries of racial oppression. The fight against that legacy is still ongoing.”
The Transatlantic Slave Trade: Overcoming the 500Year Legacy digs deep into the trauma of the Middle Passage, where millions of Africans were stripped of their dignity, crammed into ships like cargo, and forced into lives of unimaginable brutality. Yet, as Chavis and Brown remind us, the legacy of slavery is not confined to the past. The authors draw powerful connections between historical atrocities and modern-day issues such as redlining, environmental racism, economic injustice, and mass incarceration.
The book pulls no punches in confronting America’s hypocrisy: while African slaves built the economic foundation of the nation, their descendants are still treated as second-class citizens. From the auction blocks of the 1700s to the prison industrial complex of the
21st century, The Transatlantic Slave Trade unveils the continued systemic structures designed to oppress Black communities.
As legendary hip-hop icon, Chuck D of Public Enemy passionately states in the foreword, “The chains of slavery may have been broken, but the shackles of systemic racism are still very much intact. If you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention.” His call to action resonates throughout the book, echoing the urgent need to confront this history and dismantle the systems of oppression that have evolved from it.
Public Enemy’s track “Can’t Truss It” is a thematic thread in the book, with its unfiltered depiction of the slave trade’s legacy. The song’s haunting lyrics—“Ninety damn days on a slave ship / Count ’em fallin’ off two, three, four hun’ed at a time”—capture the rage and pain of an entire people. This visceral connection to history is what makes The Transatlantic Slave Trade a powerful rallying cry for justice and equity.
Brown, an award-winning journalist and Senior National Correspondent for the National Newspapers Publishers Association (NNPA), brings his keen insight into this exploration of history. Brown has relentlessly advocated for justice and equity, using his platform to shed light on systemic injustices nationwide.
In The Transatlantic Slave Trade, Chavis and Brown challenge readers to reckon with the uncomfortable truths of America’s past—and to acknowledge how those truths continue to shape the realities of today. The authors highlight how the scars of slavery persist in police violence, economic disparity, and the underfunding of Black communities. They demand we face this history head-on without sugarcoating or sanitizing the truth.
This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the historical roots of modern-day racism and the enduring fight for equal justice. As Public Enemy famously said, “Fight the Power.” The Transatlantic Slave Trade is a potent weapon in the ongoing battle for racial equity and justice, reminding us that the struggle continues—and so must our resistance.
The Transatlantic Slave Trade: Overcoming the
First Partner Jennifer Siebel-Newsom Backs New
State Effort Addressing Black Maternal Mortality
By Edward Henderson California Black Media
California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom has joined forces with the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC) in collaboration with the Office of the California Surgeon General to promote the state’s “Strong Start & Beyond” movement.
Launched on Sept. 17, 2024, the effort aims to reduce maternal mortality in California by 50% by December 2026. African American women experience a maternal mortality rate three times higher than the state average, with the most common cause of death being cardiovascular disease.
“California is uniquely positioned to build on proven initiatives that enhance maternal health and reduce disparities,” said Siebel-Newsom, as the state led a coordinated effort to raise awareness of the program and its push to impact Black women.
“We are setting critical goals to improve maternal health outcomes and creating a robust support network for mothers, from preconception through postpartum care, addressing the diverse needs of our population and setting an example for the nation,” added Siebel-Newsom.
The OCPSC manages the state’s priority community engagement and public awareness efforts. It works in collaboration with state agencies, departments, and other stakeholders to realize more inclusive and effective outcomes in statewide outreach initiatives.
Black mothers continue to experience higher rates of complications during pregnancy and suffer from maternal
behavioral health conditions at alarming rates.
Every five days a mother dies due to pregnancy-related complications. Leading causes of maternal deaths are heart disease (23%), Bleeding (14%), Behavioral Health (mental illness/substance overdose) (12%), and Infection (excluding COVID-19 infections) (12%), according to the California Maternal Health Blueprint. About 62% of these deaths occur after the baby is delivered.
Dr. Diana E. Ramos, California Surgeon General, presented “Strong Start & Beyond,” during a media webinar last week emphasizing the movement’s focus on
reducing racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes that disproportionately affect communities of color.
Although California currently has the lowest maternal mortality rate in the nation, Ramos says there is still work to do to eliminate disparities.
“The best investment in a newborn’s health is ensuring the health of the mother,” added Ramos. “By leveraging powerful partnerships and pioneering cuttingedge solutions, together we can help California mothers, pregnant people, and newborns have a strong start and healthy future.”
Over 80% of maternal deaths are preventable. One of the action plans Start Strong & Beyond is promoting involves a seven-question quiz that can alert a person to the fact they may want to get overall general well-care before they become pregnant.
“Our vision is to put this in the laundromats, put this in the supermarket, wherever people are already before they’ re pregnant, so that they can then start to think, ‘wow, I didn’ t realize,’ and perhaps ‘my current health could maybe not be so healthy if I became pregnant’,” said Ramos. “We want to educate and empower individuals on their reproductive health. So, before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and then most importantly, afterwards.”
Additionally, the media webinar featured testimonials from mothers who experienced complications during their pregnancies and shared what they wish they knew going into their pregnancies.
Dr. Nzinga Graham is a practicing family medical
physician working in Urgent Care in Los Angeles. She is also a mother of three and experienced complications with each of her pregnancies.
“I know that Black women were three and a half times more likely to die but it’s different when it happens to you,” said Graham. Graham was admitted to the hospital suffering from severe postpartum preeclampsia (high blood pressure and excess protein in urine after childbirth). After this health scare, she was determined to take matters into her own hands going into her second pregnancy. She exercised more, ate healthily, and even ran a marathon. Unfortunately, after her second child was born, Graham was admitted to the hospital again with the same symptoms as before.
“Of course, the number one risk factor for any health complication is having had it before, so going into that second pregnancy, I should have known, I should have been aware that this was a real possibility,” said Graham. “I thought I did what I could to prevent it, but unfortunately, as Kairos mentioned, it really is our system that contributes to a lot of these health complications for women of color.” Graham noted that the main takeaway from her story is advocacy, and that speaking up is the most critical thing she could’ve done to get more information and demand the treatment she needed, even when she was told there weren’t any issues. The OCPSC is also inviting advocates to pledge their support to the Strong Start & Beyond movement to continue providing lifesaving information and support to at risk mothers to be.
Asm. Mike Gipson: Calif. Ports Need Dedicated Funding From State Budget
By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media
Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement, said the state must provide seaports permanent funding for them to run optimally and remain competitive.
“We have yet to see dedicated, ongoing, consistent money allocated to our ports from our state budget,” said Gipson during a news conference held at the State Capitol. In August, Gipson released an interim report that features California ports’ crucial role in the state and national economy.
The 52-page “Chair’s Interim Report” includes an observation of the most critical issues facing the goods movement sector and lays out a blueprint to keep the state’s 11 ports competitive in a complicated and constantly shifting environment.
Gipson stressed that foremost among priorities is the need for the state to continue investing in docking places for cargo ships.
Over the past year, the Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement toured the state’s 11 public ports and hosted numerous hearings on the state of the ports. Gipson was first appointed chair by former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood). When Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) replaced Rendon as speaker, he asked Gipson to continue as Chair.
“The final tour stop for the Select Committee was the port of San Diego last spring. The tour highlighted the port’s efforts in green and sustainable operations,” Gipson told California Black Media (CBM). The tour gave select committee members a breakdown of all of the possibilities the port has to create for economic vitality and growth.
“It’s important that California policymakers support efficient, modern, and sustainable maritime operations while we reduce emissions to improve environmental and public health in our communities,” stated Frank Urtasun, chairman of the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.
One of the most significant findings and policy recommendations summarized in the report is the need to understand the standard operations of the ports.
“We are still happy to make sure these ports are not left behind and not neglected,” Gipson said at the news conference. “We still see today that our ports are fighting to have allocations from our federal partners and federal dollars. This report elevates that we need our fair share,” he added.
The report states that a “failure to maintain competitiveness” could result in an “inability to afford climate and modernization investments” as well as maintaining “regional and national economic benefits.”
According to the report, the states’ ports drive trade and tourism, supporting millions of good-paying jobs; they are the cleanest in the nation and, by many measures, in the world; and the ports play a key role in local, regional and national emergency readiness.
In addition, the Chair’s report provides details that the market share of California ports has consistently declined since 2006, federal funds obtained by Californian ports are disproportionately low, and environmental challenges of decarbonization, reducing localized air pollution impacts, and maintaining clean water are negatively impacting California ports.
“It’s been made painfully clear that we need to do everything possible to elevate ports in the state of California,” Gipson told CBM. “I for one believe that the pandemic underscored why ports are essential to California.”
In July, Gov. Gavin Newsom invested $27 million in 10 innovative projects at the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, San Diego, and Hueneme, “the busiest ports in the nation,” Gipson said during the news conference.
The projects include a range of solutions including maximization of cargo routing, distribution of cuttingedge technologies such as artificial intelligence, emissions reduction measures, trucking appointment systems, and the development of new data systems for cargo.
Representatives from The California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA) praised the governor for allocating funds for projects that advance the ports’ objectives to improve the state’s supply chain.
CAPA consists of 11 major deepwater port authorities across our state. Since 1940, CAPA’s mission has been educating state and federal policymakers on port operations.
“These critical funds will establish more coordination across the supply chain at a time when the global economy is counting on California Ports,” said CAPA President Kristine Zortman.
In May, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced a $112 million federal investment in that the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach (San Pedro Ports) will receive more than $112 million through a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers program for critical construction upgrades, operations and maintenance activities.
“The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach move 40 percent of the nation’s container imports, transporting the goods that power our economy,” said Padilla. The report outlines the importance of ports up and down the state, Gipson said. They all serve a function whether they are located on the coast or inland. The Port of San Pedro encompasses the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach. About 30% of imports filter through these main ports alone, Gipson said. The Port of Humboldt Bay, 225 miles north of San Francisco, is in the process of building the largest “Wind Farm” on the West Coast, Gipson shared.
Gipson says he learned that the Port of Oakland uploads and discharges more than 99% of the containerized goods moving through Northern California. Oakland’s cargo capacity was the ninth busiest container port in the country based on the 2023 calendar year. The inland ports cities of West Sacramento and Stockton have “unique” harbor facilities that relieve congestions and facilitate distribution to inland destinations in the Sacramento and Central Valley regions, Gipson told CBM at the State Capitol.
“Each and every port in California plays a vital role and contributes to our supply chain. Not one port in California is more important than the next,” Gipson said. “Each and every port is essential to moving forward and essential to making sure California is the 5th largest economy in the world.”
Graph illustrating the flow of goods from ports to consumers.Courtesy of the Public Policy Institute of California.
Trump’s Attempts to Overturn 2020 Election Were Part of Private Scheme, Not Official Acts
New Filing:
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Special Counsel Jack Smith has delivered a powerful legal blow to former President Donald Trump, unveiling new evidence that the twice-impeached Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results were part of a private scheme rather than actions taken in his official capacity as president.
In a 165-page legal brief unsealed Wednesday, Smith provided new details about Trump’s behind-the-scenes maneuvers to subvert the election, including pressure campaigns targeting key officials, attempts to create false electors, and private discussions with his vice president, Mike Pence.
The filing reveals the extent of Trump’s interactions with figures such as attorney Rudy Giuliani and other senior officials, some of whose names were withheld. Trump persisted with a plan to undercut Joe Biden’s victory despite numerous warnings from people in his circle that his claims of a stolen election were untrue.
Smith’s brief is part of a broader strategy to prove that Trump can face trial for his actions, even after a Supreme Court ruling granted him immunity for official acts as president. The special counsel argues that Trump’s efforts to enlist Pence in blocking Congress’s certification of the election results were part of a private, illegal campaign to retain power, not part of his official duties.
“At its core, the defendant’s scheme was a private criminal effort,” Smith wrote in the filing. “In his capacity as a candidate, he used deceit to target every stage of the electoral process.”
The document provides new evidence of Trump’s attempts to sway election officials in critical swing states
to alter the results in his favor. The brief quotes a lawyer advising Trump, who gave an “honest assessment” that his claims of widespread fraud would not withstand scrutiny in court. Yet, Trump dismissed the warning. “The details don’t matter,” Trump said, according to the filing.
Further, the brief recounts private conversations between Trump and Pence, in which Pence urged Trump to accept defeat and consider another run in 2024. Trump, however, expressed reluctance, saying, “2024 is so far off.”
Smith’s filing depicts Trump’s actions as part of a desperate and illegal campaign to remain in power after losing the 2020 election. The brief also points to Trump’s reliance on Giuliani and other private allies in his election subversion attempts, asserting that none of these efforts fell under the scope of presidential duties.
“The defendant asserts that he is immune from prosecution for his criminal scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election because, he claims, it entailed official conduct,” the filing reads. “Not so. Although the defendant was the incumbent president during the charged conspiracies, his scheme was fundamentally a private one.”
A sealed appendix to the legal brief contains FBI interviews, search warrant affidavits, and grand jury testimony that might soon become public. Smith’s filing builds on the indictment released last year, expanding the evidence and reinforcing the argument that Trump’s conduct was criminal and not shielded by presidential immunity.
Smith concluded the brief with an explicit request to the court: “The government respectfully submits that the defendant’s conduct described in this motion is not subject to presidential immunity and that he should face trial for his private acts of subversion.”
Harris Unveils Plan
By Stacy M. Brown
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris has announced a major policy proposal to expand Medicare to include long-term, at-home care services. The proposal marks a notable shift for the public health insurance program, traditionally limited to older Americans.
Harris announced ABC’s The View, a popular daytime talk show, emphasizing the program’s potential impact on the “sandwich generation”—the more than 105 million Americans providing care for children and aging parents. The proposed program aims to relieve the burden on families relying on Medicaid, which covers the largest portion of the nation’s long-term care services.
“Taking care of a parent means picking out clothes that are soft enough, making meals that are easy for them to eat, and finding ways to bring a smile to their face,” Harris said, highlighting caregivers’ emotional and practical challenges. “We’re talking about declining skills, but their dignity, their pride, has not declined.”
If approved, the initiative would significantly broaden Medicare’s scope. Currently, Medicare only covers at-home care under limited circumstances, typically following a hospital stay. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Medicaid spent $207 billion on long-term care services in 2021, covering everything from nursing homes to home health aides, as Harris emphasized.
Harris explained that the expansion would be funded through enhanced Medicare prescription drug negotiations and payment limitations to pharmacy benefit managers. Medicare’s recent negotiation efforts with drug manufacturers are expected to save the government approximately $98.5 billion over the next decade. While the vice president did not specify the program’s total cost, her campaign noted that at-home care is generally about $3,000 cheaper monthly than
the
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
caring
her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who passed away in 2009, Harris
Jack Smith during a statement regarding the indictment of Donald J. Trump. (Wikimedia Commons)
Gronk Bowl Host NightFridayLights
By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer
Chargers Hold Off Broncos Late Comeback Attempt in Week 6 Win
By Austin Gage Contributing Sports Writer
Despite a push in the fourth quarter by the Denver Broncos, solid performances on both offense and defense allow the Chargers to pick up their third win of the season.
Overcoming a health scare to head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers were able to overcome a unique situation and a division rival on the same day as they took down the Denver Broncos 23-16.
Right before Los Angeles took the field, however, Harbaugh was taken into the blue injury tent and later the locker room to tend to what was labeled as an “illness” at the time. Thankfully, Harbaugh would recover and return to coaching the game in the same quarter, and he would later speak on the fact that he has atrial flutter, which is a style of arrhythmia.
Citing that this wasn’t the first time he had suffered an incident due to arrhythmia while coaching and winning an NFL game, Harbaugh was able to joke about the situation after the game once results came in clean and positive.
“2-0 with arrhythmias,” he said with a smile postgame.
As the boss recovered and returned for the Chargers, the Bolts cruised early to a lead that they would never truly let go.
Starting from the very first drive of the game, the Los Angeles defense made it known that this wasn’t gonna be an easy game for Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix and the Denver offense. Forcing a third and long early, Nix fired a pass that was deflected into the air. The fourth-year defensive back happened to be in the right place at the right time in the middle of the field, and he was able to secure his second interception of the season and set the Chargers offense up with good field position to start their first drive of the game.
Driving into a goal-to-go situation, Los Angeles suffered an offensive pass interference call by wide receiver Joshua Palmer that would end up stalling the drive. A short field goal by Cameron Dicker provided a 3-0 lead that would not be given up the rest of the day. After another good defensive possession for the Chargers to force a 3-and-out, quarterback Justin Herbert and company went to work once again. Thanks to chunk plays such as consecutive gains of 8 and 12 yards by emerging star running back J.K. Dobbins and a big rece[tion by Palmer for 24 yards, the offense set up a 1st and 10 at the Denver 38-yard line. Targeting rookie running back Kimani Vidal out of the backfield, Herbert dropped in a beautiful pass into the former’s hands for the long
touchdown. The touchdown reception, one that marked the first touch in the rookie’s NFL career as he beat his man on a wheel route, extended the Chargers lead up to 10-0. For Herbert, Sunday provided his best passing day of the 2024 season so far, as he ended his day with 237 passing yards on 21 for 34 attempts to go along with the singular passing score. This marked the first time the prolific passer has reached the 200-
yard passing barrier all season. ‘I thought he was as precise as he could be, as a quarterback could be. There were some great throws, some great avoids of pressure and [he] just put the ball in the appropriate spot throughout the entire game. Hopefully, this reminds everybody that Justin Herbert’s really good at playing quarterback,” said Harbaugh.
More of the same ensued in the battle of the Denver offense against the Los Angeles defense as the young and inexperienced Broncos struggled to get anything going in the first half. Another punt followed and the Chargers once again took over. Using a draining 20-play, 76-yard drive, Los Angeles marched down the field and controlled much of the possession in the second quarter. Converting 4 fourth downs on the drive, the Chargers stalled in the redzone in a “goal-to-go” situation once again and were forced to settle for another short field goal. Dicker’s second kick of the day pushed the Los Angeles lead to 13-0.
The following offensive drive for the Broncos shaped to be a much better one than their previous two to begin the game.
Highlighted by a 13-yard rush by running back Javonte Williams and an 8-yard catch on third down by veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton, Denver moved the ball into Los Angeles territory for the first time all day. However, that success would be short-lived as star linebacker Khalil Mack would force a fumble on a Williams’ carry, and the Chargers would have a chance to potentially go up three scores in the late second quarter. And that is exactly what they did. Relying on Dobbins heavily, the Bolts were able to capture a 20-0 lead off a 4-yard rushing touchdown by the aforementioned running back. Dobbins, who has been one of the game’s best rushers in his first season with Los Angeles, totaled 25 carries for 96 rushing yards and 2 catches for 6 yards with the rushing score on the day.
Entering the locker room with a 20-0 lead, not much more was needed to secure the victory in Denver. The Chargers added on a field goal late in the third quarter to edge the lead up to 23 points, and despite the Broncos producing a scoring drive on their last three drives of the game with two touchdowns and a field goal, it simply wasn’t enough to steal a comeback victory. An onside kick attempt for Denver failed with just under a minute left and all but sealed the divisional win for Los Angeles. Two kneeldowns by Herbert allowed the Chargers to emerge from their bye week with an immediate victory and gave them a 3-2 record overall on the campaign, which is very much still young. “It’s always huge to get a division win. I heard Coach say that they count for two wins. For us getting back in the plus win column, it’s always a great thing,” Mack said. Up next for the Chargers is a Monday night date against the Arzona Cardinals on October 21st.
Daily And Hill Earn Walter Camp Top Honors
Players of the Week. Bryson Daily of Army and Anthony Hill Jr of Texas were selected recipients for games ending October 12, presented by The Heights Group at Morgan Stanley. Daily accounted for five touchdowns (4 rushing, 1 passing) in Army’s 44-10 win over UAB. Daily passed for 102 yards and rushed for 136 on only 12 carries, becoming the first Army rusher with a four-rushing touchdown game since 2018. With the win, Army improved to 6-0 (first time since 1996), 5-0 in the American Athletic Conference. “The game plan was to take what they gave us and the guys executed well, the O-line played great, “said the senior QB. It feels so great running behind them (O-Line) they were up to the semifinal for the Joe Moore Award and they were playing like it today.” The Abernathy, Texas native is the second Army player to earn Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors. Former running back Terry Baggett was honored on Oct. 13, 2013. On the defensive side, Anthony Hill Jr. compiled a career-best 11 tackles (7 solo), two quarterback sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one pressure in Texas’ 34-3 win over Oklahoma. Notching his second
double-digit tackling effort of his career and season. It was Hill’s fourth straight game with a sack. With the victory, Texas started the season 6-0 for the first time since 2009. After the game, Hill planted a Texas flag at midfield of the Cotton Bowl, afterwords he stated “I just feel like it was the right thing for me to do. I seen all the stuff they posted last year so I feel like it was right for me to just get a touch of something on them.”
The Sophomore from Denton, Texas is the 13th Texas
player to earn Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors since 2004, and the first defensive honoree since linebacker Joseph Ossai (Nov. 1, 2020).
This is the 21st year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season. It is the nation’s longest-running Player of the Week award. Walter Camp is “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries, and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation (www.waltercamp.org) – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.
Global Sports & Entertainment is a dedicated division of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management that focuses exclusively on the complex financial needs of professional athletes and entertainers. Our division grew out of an understanding that every sports and entertainment profession has its own unique characteristics, earnings profile, and career span. Our clients need the support of advisors who understand how their money flows from their work to their wallets and can help them craft innovative
Clippers Plan for Kevin Porter Jr. Cameron Buford with Voice of the Fans
Most recently, Porter Jr., the former USC hoop star, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend, fracturing her neck vertebra, and causing a deep gash above her right
Porter Jr faced another suspension after a “spirited debate” with then-head coach Stephen Silas in 2022. While playing for the Trojans in 2019, he was “suspended indefinitely” for undisclosed conduct issues. These incidents detail a history and mindset that needs to be addressed. Coach Lue’s history as a player in the league and a championship head coach could be the leadership needed to assist Porter Jr. in growing into a contributing player on the court and in society. Before the Rain City Showcase in Seattle, I asked coach Lue about his plan for the immensely talented Porter Jr.
“Off the court, just being positive. Just show him that we care about him and we’re going to be there for him in every way,” Clippers head coach Ty Lue said. “He’s been putting in the work, also to be better. He’s been great.” “On the court, I want him to be him. After these preseason games, we’ll show him where we want him on the floor and
where we want him to attack,” said coach Lue. “He’s
Los Angeles head coach Jim Harbaugh stands on the sideline in the first half of their 23-16 victory over the Denver Broncos at Empower Field in Denver, Colorado on Oct. 13th, 2024. (AP
Photo/David Zalubowski)
Sooners
California Celebrates Native American Heritage with New Laws Addressing Violence, Hate and Social Supports
By Antonio Ray Harvey
California Black Media
As Native Americans celebrated 100 years of citizenship and the right to vote at the State Capitol, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a proclamation declaring Native American Day and signed several bills aimed at pushing tribal priorities forward.
The package of bills, which includes policies to enhance laws for vulnerable Native American youth and increase access to social supports, was signed on Sept. 27, while hundreds of people attended the event commemorating the 57th annual California Native American Day.
“I’m proud of the progress California has made to reckon with the dark chapters of our past, and we’re committed to continuing this important work to promote equity, inclusion, and accountability for Native peoples,” Newsom stated. “As we celebrate the many tribal communities in California today, we recommit to working with tribal partners to better address their unique needs and strengthen California for all.”
Newsom signed seven tribal-related bills introduced by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), including Assembly Bill (AB) 2695, which helps California track trends in domestic violence and collect accurate information concerning violence in tribal lands.
AB 2695 will require the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to align its records and data with the National IncidentBased Reporting System (NIBRS) to assist law enforcement agencies and other entities with identifying where incidents related to Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) are taking place.
In addition, the bill requires law enforcement to document whether domestic violence incidents took place in Indian Country. Ramos is the first Native American elected to the California legislature and the chair of the California Legislative Native American Caucus (CLNAC).
“This measure will help California deal with the lack of clear data about MMIP and where domestic violence occurs,” stated Ramos, a member of the Serrano-Cahuilla tribe. “That information will better inform us about how to deal with this issue as California ranks fifth in the nation in MMIP unresolved cases.”
According to Ramos’ office, “the National Institute of Justice 2016 report discovered that 84% of American Indian/Alaska Native women (1.5 million people) experience violence in their lifetimes, 67% feared for their own safety, and 41% had been physically harmed from physical violence by intimate partners, stalked, and sexually assaulted.
Underreporting, racial misclassification, bias, and lack of resources to follow through and properly close cases are also obstacles when working on MMIP cases. The DOJ will now have the assets to address those issues.
“For the first time in California, law enforcement agencies will be required to collect data on crimes occurring on Indian lands and report that information to my office,” Attorney General Rob Bonta stated. “(AB 2695) will help all of us develop datadriven strategies to end the MMIP crisis in our state and improve justice for tribal citizens.”
As part of the CLNAC’s priority package, Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 2795 authored by Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno). Ramos is the co-author of the legislation. AB 2795 lowers administrative barriers to CalWORKS and
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) services at Indian health clinics in the state. Currently, the law authorizes California to fund clinics that provide substance abuse and mental health treatment services. Despite the law, reporting and reimbursement requirements have made the funds almost unreachable to these clinics.
“It is vital that we ensure members of tribal communities have equitable access to safety net programs when needed,” Arambula stated.
The day of the signing of the bills by CLNAC, Newsom proclaimed Native American Day, a decree that commemorates 100 years ago when Native Americans were conferred citizenship in the United States and the right to vote in California. Native Americans have dealt with generational hate and policies that resulted in the taking of their land and resources. Native American Day is a moment of reckoning, the proclamation declares.
“This important milestone is not without controversyCongress’ act was in furtherance of assimilationist policy during a period marked by the forced removal of Native children from their families, the seizure and sale of Native lands, and prohibitions on languages Native people spoke since time immemorial,” the Newsom’s decree stated.
“This California Native American Day, I encourage all Californians to learn more about the ways California Native peoples throughout the state are cultivating a new generation of leaders and empowering their communities to build a sustainable future for all.”
Native American Day began in California in 1939, when Gov. Culbert Olson dedicated October 1 as “Indian Day.” In 1968, California Tribal Leaders and Gov. Ronald Reagan rebranded the fourth Friday of September as “California Indian Day.” The celebration was renamed “Native American Day” in 2015 under the Jerry Brown Administration.
Facilitated by the Native American Heritage Commission and the California Tribal Chairperson Association, the 2024 version of the event attracted hundreds of people for a full day of activities. It was a great opportunity for all to celebrate the rich history, culture of California Tribes, and its first people.
To further the acknowledgment of California Native Americans, Newsom signed Ramos’ AB 1821, a bill that requires California public schools teach the history of the impact on California Native Americans during Spanish Mission and Gold Rush eras.
Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instructions, co-sponsored AB 1821.
“This legislation will help ensure curriculum on California’s Spanish Mission and Gold Rush eras accurately captures the treatment and impact of Native Americans during these significant eras in state history,” Thurmond stated. “This initiative supports California’s diverse students to be seen, heard, and understood in their instructional materials, and to foster a deeper appreciation for our Native communities’ history and cultures.”
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Asm. James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Chair of the California Legislative Native American Caucus, addresses attendees during the event held at the State Capitol. Photo by Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media (CBM).
Native American performers showcase traditional dances and songs at the event, sharing the cultural meanings and stories behind each performance. Photo by Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media (CBM).