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Los Angeles

Volume 35 Number 52

Serving Los Angeles County for Over 35 Years

Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California

Biden and Harris Defeat Trump To Change History

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris take the stage at the Chase Center to address the nation November 07, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. (Photo: Andrew Harnik-Pool/Getty Images)

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Correspondent After days of counting in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Arizona, President Obama’s former Vice

President, Joe Biden, and California Senator, Kamala Harris, won the 2020 race for the White House.

News of their victory sparked spontaneous celebrations around the country. In Washington, DC, Philadelphia,

New York and Atlanta people took to the streets on foot and in cars in celebration with Biden flags and signs. Times Square filled with a crowd unseen in months since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March.

In Washington, DC, cars honked horns driving up and down Connecticut Avenue and around the White House.

A large crowd assembled at Black Lives Matter Plaza on 16th Street as close to Lafayette Park as they could get near The White House. Streets around The White House were fenced off creating a large perimeter around the streets that would allow people to get clear video and still photos of the building.

The level of celebration in several cities was reminiscent of the revelry seen after a sports team wins a championship.

Bottles of champagne were opened on the street and music played loudly. Relief after four years of Donald Trump’s decision making and endless controversies, tensions and policy decisions were clearly on display in public.

The backdrop, 235,000 Americans dead as the result of the coronavirus pandemic, was not lost on the man who will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States.

In his first speech after being elected, President-elect Biden said he would, “marshal the forces of decency, the forces of fairness, the forces of science, the forces of hope” and promised his first job would be tackling the coronavirus epidemic.

“Our work begins with getting COVID under control,” Biden told thousands of people in Wilmington, Delaware. On November 9, Biden will formally announce a task force to confront the COVID-19 crisis.

“In an election of record-breaking turnout, the American people have made clear who we are and who we aspire to be. Difficult times are ahead, but I have no doubt President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris have what it takes to help us build back better. I look forward to working with them to tackle the challenges ahead, from defeating the pandemic to addressing the racial and economic inequality that continues to grip our nation,” wrote Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) after Biden was declared the winner.

Trump is unlikely to admit the loss and concede. In the end, on January 20, 2010 at noon, the federal government and all executive power will be in hands of Barack Obama’s former Vice President and now the new President of the United States, Joe Biden.

COVID-19 Worsens Debt Collector Harassment New CFPB Rule Leaves Room for State Actions

By Charlene Crowell Senior Fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending

As the final days of the 2020 election season drew to a

neighborhoods than in mostly white areas. Nearly a year ago, Urban Institute research found that debt collection disproportionately affects 42% of communities of color. By contrast, the national average of all consumers was lower in

“By reforming their exemption laws, states will not only protect families from destitution but will promote economic recovery by enabling families to spend their money in state and local communities,” said Carolyn Carter, NCLC deputy director and author of the report. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

close, major media across the nation focused on polls and prospects for the presidential candidates. At the same time, scant news coverage reported on a development affecting 68 million consumers: debt collection regulation.

On October 30, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released its 653- page regulatory revision for enforcement of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), originally enacted in 1977. Since that time, the debt collection industry has grown into a multi-billion industry with over 8,000 firms throughout the country.

For Black America, debt collection was troublesome even before the COVID-19 pandemic. One investigation revealed that in three major cities – Chicago, Newark, and St. Louis – the rate of judgments for debt collection lawsuits was twice as high in mostly Black

double-digits at 31%, and a wider racial gap among whites at 26%.

The largest portion of debt for communities of color are medical services and student loans. Given the decades of discriminatory policies and practices that perpetuated the nation’s racial wealth gap, these disparities extend to a lack of access to health care as well as a greater dependence on debt to finance higher education. For-profit colleges and institutions are among the latest and most visible financial predators.

In addition, the CFPB’s own 2017 survey found that 44% of borrowers of color reported having been contacted about a debt, compared to 29% of white respondents. Even when accounting for differences in income, communities of color are disproportionately sued by debt collectors. In

fact, 45% of borrowers living in communities of color faced litigation, while only 27% of similarly situated consumers in white areas were sued.

CFPB’s revised rule will allow debt collectors to contact affected consumers up to seven times within seven days – or – within seven consecutive days of a prior telephone conversation about a debt. It is important to note that this allowed communication is for each debt owed. Multiple numbers and types of debt collection can legally multiply the number of allowed contacts and result in harassment for already struggling borrowers.

Secondly, debt collectors who opt to contact consumers by electronic media, must also offer consumers a “reasonable and simple method” to opt out of these communications that include social media, emails and text messages.

Commenting on the new rule, CFPB’s Director, Kathleen Kraninger, said, “Our rule applies these protections to modern technologies. …And our rule will allow consumers, if they prefer, to limit the ability of debt collectors to communicate with them through these newer communications methods.”

But for the 233 consumer, civil rights and legal advocates who filed public comments on the proposed rule, the announcement sent mixed messages for what it proposed as well as what it delayed.

“The devil is in the details, and we will have to scour this complicated rule to make sure that it does not open up new fronts for debt collectors’ pervasive and abusive treatment of consumers,” said Christine Hines, legislative director at National Association of Consumer Advocates. “Through the guise of modernization, the debt collection rule could open the gate for collectors to aggravate vulnerable consumers with even more harassment and a flood of electronic communications.”

Although the October 30 announcement does address the emerging modes of communications, it also delayed action on three specific areas of concern in debt collection.

Guidelines on “zombie” debt, the term used to describe debts that outlived statutory limitations for collection, are expected to be announced this December.

Similarly, debt collectors’ practices of leaving messages with third parties or on postcards was not addressed, nor was negative information on consumers’ credit reports.

“As we face a dire and worsening economic crisis, we will be keeping a close eye on the ‘zombie debt’ rule, coming in December, which could leave consumers more vulnerable to deception and harassment,” said Linda Jun, senior policy counsel at Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund. “Collectors should not be allowed to bring expired debt back to life by luring people into making Continued on page A2

Free!

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Kamala Harris Books Surge in Popularity

Books by and about Kamala Harris proved to be a popular purchase following the election. The vice president-elect was the subject or author of four books on Amazon’s top 10 Sunday.

They included her own children’s book “Superheroes Are Everywhere,” her memoir “The Truths We Hold: An American Journey,” a children’s book by her niece Meena Harris called “Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea” and Nikki Grimes’ illustrated “Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice.”

Harris made history as the first Black woman to become vice president. The California senator, who is also the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency, will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.

President-elect Joe Biden also got a spot on the charts just outside of the top 10. Dr. Jill Biden’s children’s book “Joey: The Story of Joe Biden” landed in 14th place.

Family Sues Over Student’s Slave Assignment A Tennessee family has filed a lawsuit against Metro Nashville Public Schools and a teacher over an elementary school assignment about slavery.

The assignment at Waverly Belmont Elementary in Nashville was called “Let’s Make a Slave.” The Tennessean reports it was given to a fourth grade class in February and focused on a historical speech to white Virginia colonists about how to control their slaves.

The family claims that the “wild graphic and inappropriate” content caused physical and emotional harm to their child, who has autism.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in federal court. It claims the speech contains “the most dehumanizing, vile, and racist prose imaginable.”

The child, who is Black, is referred to as John Doe in the court filing. The suit alleges the child suffered repeated acts of racial harassment by adults and peers.

It alleges the teacher and the school district knew about the harassment and the “racially hostile educational environment” but were indifferent to the circumstances.

The assignment asked students to read the speech, listen to the instructions contained in the speech and even pretend to be actual slaves by “folding themselves under their desks and pretending to seek freedom from slavery,” according to the lawsuit.

Metro Schools on Thursday declined to comment further on the pending litigation.

The assignment led to community outrage earlier this year, including calls from community and city leaders asking for stronger oversight and policies for the district.

Man Guilty of Threatening Officials & Police

Ebon Ellis, 26, pleaded guilty last month to three counts of felony intimidation.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) – A man who helped organize rallies in southwestern Indiana during a nationwide reckoning on racial injustice will be sentenced this week after pleading guilty to threatening the lives of city officials and police officers.

Ebon Ellis, 26, is set for sentencing Friday in a Vanderburgh County court after he pleaded guilty last month to three counts of felony intimidation, the Evansville Courier & Press reported.

Ellis was arrested on July 8 after he made the threats in live videos posted on Facebook. Police said he made threats against Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, City Council President Alex Burton, Police Chief Billy Bolin and Officer Phil Smith.

“This is what’s going to happen one by one,” Davis said in one video the Evansville Police Department provided to news outlets in which he pretended that his hand was a gun, pulled the trigger and made gunshot noises.

Before his July arrest, Ellis helped organize an anti-violence rally in Evansville at the end of May, followed by a protest a couple weeks later over the dress code at several local bars.

Those protests followed the police killings of Black people, including George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, that sparked a nationwide reckoning on racial injustice.

A2

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, November 12, 2020

World & Nation

Election 2020: Results Show California May Not Be That Liberal After All Quinci LeGardye California Black Media California’s unofficial 2020 proposition results have shown an electorate that is fairly moderate, supportive of business interests and concerned about issues affecting older citizens.

It also showed that there is limited support for progressive policies. Initiatives a majority of African Americans and young Californians supported such as affirmative action and rent control also fell short.

Prop 16, the ballot initiative to reinstate affirmative action programs in California, failed with 56 % of voters voting no. The proposition would have allowed public universities and state and local governments to consider race, sex, ethnicity and national origin in their hiring, contracting or admission decisions. Although supporters of the proposition argued that it would increase racial equity in the state, it faced heavy opposition. With the no vote, affirmative action is still banned in California.

The most recent attempt at rent control also failed, with 60 % of voters rejecting Prop 21. The initiative would have allowed local governments to enact rent control on housing built over 15 years ago, while exempting landlords who own no more than two properties. Instead, California’s statewide ban on new forms of rent control will stay in effect, at a time when millions of Americans are struggling with rent or facing eviction due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After months of high spending and heated debate, Proposition 22 passed with over eight million yes votes, as of Nov. 8. Gig economy companies including Uber, Lyft and DoorDash are now exempt from AB 5, the California law that classifies workers. The companies will be allowed to continue classifying their drivers as independent contractors.

The Yes on 22 campaign received over $202 million in contributions, making Prop 22 the most expensive ballot

initiative campaign in California history. According to Ballotpedia, the top five donors for Yes on 22 were Uber, DoorDash, Lyft, InstaCart and Postmates, with Uber and Lyft spending over $50 million each.

Voters also struck down Prop 23, which would have required dialysis clinics to have at least one licensed physician on site during treatment. Opponents of the proposition had argued that the ballot initiative’s passage would force multiple clinics to reduce hours or shut down due to the increased hiring costs.

Voters said no to rolling back previous criminal justice reforms, rejecting Prop 20 by the widest margin, with 62 percent of voters voting no on upgrading several crimes to violent felonies and upgrading some theft crimes to be chargeable as either misdemeanors or felonies.

Voters also rejected replacing money bail with a risk assessment system, with 55 % voting no on Prop 25.

Although it was billed as an attempt at serious bail reform, multiple social justice groups had concerns that the risk assessment system would lead to increased racial profiling against Black and Brown suspects awaiting trial.

Two propositions this year focused on voter rights.

Prop 17 passed with 59 % of yes votes, giving parolees the right to vote upon release from incarceration. With Prop 17’s passage, tens of thousands of predominately Black and Brown parolees have regained their voting rights.

However, Prop 18 fell short, with 55 % of voters saying no to allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they turn eighteen by the next general election.

In both of this year’s propositions related to property taxes, voters resisted tax increases. Prop 15, which proposed an increase on property taxes for commercial properties to fund education and local governments, failed by a margin of about 425,000 votes as of Nov. 8. Prop 19 passed, with 51 % of the vote approving tax breaks for property tax assessment transfers for homeowners over 55 years old, people with severe disabilities and victims of natural

disasters.

Voters approved Prop 24, to strengthen the California Consumer Privacy Act and establish and limit the use of

sensitive consumer data among businesses. Also, Prop 14 passed, approving the issue of $5.5 billion in state bonds to fund stem cell and other medical research.

Stockton Mayor’s Reelection Wavers nt e d fi n o c s ’ e but h

Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs says he is “100%” confident he will win reelection.

By ADAM BEAM The Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, who skyrocketed to national attention as one of the youngest mayors of a big city in the country, says he is “100%” confident he will win reelection despite early returns in San Joaquin County that show him trailing his Republican challenger.

Tubbs, 30, who was raised by a single mother after his father was imprisoned for most of his life, graduated from Stanford University and interned in the Obama White House before returning to Stockton to run for city council

in 2012, when he was just 22. Oprah Winfrey endorsed him in 2012, and then-President Barack Obama backed his run for mayor in 2016.

But after getting more than 70% of the vote in 2016 to become Stockton’s first Black mayor, Tubbs is still trailing Republican Kevin Lincoln by about 2,000 votes after three days of counting.

The numbers have surprised California Democrats, who have viewed Tubbs as a potential candidate for statewide office. And it’s raised questions about the political effect of some of Tubbs’ most ambitious experiments, including privately funded programs that pay small groups of lower-

income or disadvantaged people between $500 and $1,000 a month in an effort to combat poverty and violent crime.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, Tubbs insisted he is behind not because he lacks support, but because of the way San Joaquin County Registrar Melinda Dubroff is counting the votes. Through Thursday, the registrar’s office has counted only ballots cast in-person on Election Day or mail-in ballots received prior to Oct. 30, he said.

Statewide, registered Democrats were more likely to vote by mail while registered Republicans were more likely to vote in person. Tubbs says there are still about 44,000 vote-by-mail ballots to be counted and he expects the vast majority to be for him.

“The current vote count reflects an overabundance of conservative voters, which will be radically different once all the votes are counted,” Tubbs said. “The frustration is, it’s taking the registrar a lot of time to count the ballots. I think in that window of time there’s anxiety building up where people are trying to Monday morning quarterback.”

A San Joaquin County spokeswoman could not verify how many ballots were still left to count in Stockton, saying the whole county has more than 125,000 left.

But Lee Neves, a Stockton-based political consultant, said lots of Democratic votes came in early.

“He really should have been in the lead,” Neves said of Tubbs. “It’s a toss-up.”

Lincoln, Tubbs’ opponent, said he’s “feeling pretty good” about his chances. The 40-year-old pastor of LifeSong Church, who was born and raised in Stockton, said Tubbs’ pursuit of national notoriety has caused him to neglect his duties in Stockton, marginalizing many residents and contributing to “a huge increase of distrust in our city.”

“The trend has been going in the same direction, we’ve

continually increased our lead,” he said. “Our hope is that through the weekend this trend will continue.”

Lincoln, the son of a Mexican mother and an African American father, also left Stockton _ to become a Marine. He was eventually assigned to Marine One, the call sign for the aircraft that carries the president, later worked for a private security company in Silicon Valley, and then returned to Stockton to become executive pastor for LifeSong Church.

A local website, 209 Times, has also weighed in on the race. Activist Motecuzoma Sanchez, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in the March primary and co-runs the site, said he is devoted to “exposing Michael Tubbs and who he really was.” “(Tubbs) was spending so much time outside of the city promoting himself and his political branding, that he was neglecting the fundamental duties of why he was elected,” Sanchez said.

Michael Fitzgerald, a retired columnist for The Record newspaper in Stockton, said the group has “published a nonstop narrative of lies and distortions” about Tubbs that have been difficult to counter.

Tubbs said 209 Times did not have the power “to change the election,” adding he still has “a very strong base.”

“If I’m wrong, I’m happy to come back and have a conversation about things,” he said.

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COVID-19 Worsens Debt Collector Harassment New CFPB Rule Leaves Room for State Actions

Continued from page A1

a small payment that revives a debt that would otherwise be past the timeline for a lawsuit.”

Although consumers have a right to expect more and better financial regulation at the federal level, many advocates are calling for states to do their fair share on protecting consumer rights.

A new survey from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) analyzed how the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands currently protect wages, bank account assets, and personal property from seizure by debt collectors.

Entitled, No Fresh Start 2020: Will States Let Debt Collectors Push Families into Poverty in the Wake of a Pandemic?, warns that once the pandemic recedes, families struggling to get back on their feet are likely to face a wave of debt collector lawsuits for medical bills, back rent, credit card debt, the balance due on repossessed cars, and even utility bills. It recommends that states “protect a living wage for working debtors – a wage that can meet basic needs and maintain a safe, decent standard of living within the community”. The report also recommends that states allow debtors to keep “a reasonable amount of money” to enable debtors to pay daily living costs such as rent, utilities, day care, and transportation.

This gap in state regulation became evident when federal stimulus checks were deposited in families’ bank accounts and then garnished by debt collectors. Further, and according to NCLC, not one state currently meets five basic standards of debt regulation:

• Preventing debt collectors from seizing so much of the debtor’s wages that the debtor is pushed below a living wage, • Allowing the debtor to keep a used car of at least average value;

• Preserving the family’s home—at least a median-value home; • Preserving a basic amount in a bank account so that the debtor has minimal funds to pay such essential costs as rent, utilities, and commuting expenses, and • Preventing seizure and sale of the debtor’s necessary household goods.

NCLC identified the worst states that allow debt collectors to seize nearly everything a debtor owns, even the minimal items necessary for the debtor to continue working and providing for a family. States receiving an F grade included: Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, and New Jersey. States rated with a low D grade include: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.

“By reforming their exemption laws, states will not only protect families from destitution but will promote economic recovery by enabling families to spend their money in state and local communities,” said Carolyn Carter, NCLC deputy director and author of the report.

Recalling its earlier research on the family wealth lost as a result of the Great Recession, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), holds that the effects of families of color losing $1 trillion of wealth, still hinders these same families a decade later. Until or unless regulators recognize that race

and income are inextricably linked, harmful rules will only perpetuate the nation’s wealth gap.

“We applaud the CFPB for dropping the safe harbor that would have widened the door for collectors to use state courts to sue consumers on wrong or incomplete information,” said Center for Responsible Lending policy counsel Kiran Sidhu. “But, the CFPB’s final rule does not do enough to protect communities of color, especially during COVID-19, who are still struggling to recover from the Great Recession because of discriminatory exclusion from the financial mainstream and predatory inclusion into high-cost loan products.”

Sidhu also emphasized how the right kind of policy reform was important to stop debt collection law firms and attorneys from filing thousands of collection lawsuits each year that harass consumers on debts that may not even be owed.

To phrase it another way – It’s hard to build family wealth when you’re burdened with heavy debts and harassed by abusive debt collection practices. No amount of collector harassment will result in payments when no funds are available to pay past due bills. Further, any policy that denies indebted consumers the ability to preserve essential services like housing or utilities is unsustainable.

The financial disparities that Black America strives to endure would significantly diminish if an inclusive financial marketplace became a reality. The crux of many burdensome debts is the lack of affordable and accessible financial services.

It is time to stop seizing our hard-earned monies.

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

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Features

Thursday, November 12, 2020

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER A3

2020 Voting: A Different World

Ashley-Ward, whose more than 76-year-old newspaper, the Sun Reporter, is among the oldest in the 230plus member Black Press of America.

‘It Had to Be You’ — Black Press Publisher on Her Respect and Commitment to Vice President-Elect Harris

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent One day before the Associated Press and other media outlets called the 2020 Presidential Election for Democrat Joe Biden, San Francisco Sun Reporter Publisher Amelia Ashley-Ward communicated with her longtime homegirl, Sen. Kamala Harris.

“I told her ‘It had to be you,’” Ashley-Ward, whose more than 76-year-old newspaper, the Sun Reporter, is among the oldest in the 230-plus member Black Press of America.

As she had done so many times in her nearly twodecade friendship with Ashley-Ward, Sen. Harris quickly responded: “We’ve been on this journey for a long time.

Thank you, Sister Amelia, love you very much,” the VicePresident Elect responded.

Ashley-Ward proudly says she had Harris’ back since the renowned former District Attorney and California Senator began her glass-ceiling shattering political career.

Harris wasn’t a household name, but all that mattered to Ashley Ward was that she was a sister with immense talent and on the rise.

“I gave up a close friendship with her former boss in the District Attorney’s office to support Kamala,” AshleyWard told Black Press USA. “People were saying that they didn’t really know her.

Well, she’s definitely a sister, and she’s brilliant, she’s warm, she’s easy to talk to, she’s nurturing, she doesn’t back down, and she’s fearless.”

On Saturday, November 7, 2020, when Joe Biden and Sen. Harris cemented victory and claimed their status as President and Vice-President-Elect, Ashley-Ward sat and reflected joyfully inside a San Francisco beauty salon.

“I cried, and there were three or four other women

Legals PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF PINKIE M. ROBINSON CASE NUMBER: 20 STPB01419 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of PINKIE M. ROBINSON, PINKIE MAE ROBINSON, PINKIE ROBINSON A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by CLARENCE ROBINSON in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, Ca. 90012 Branch Name: Central District THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that CLARENCE ROBINSON 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

there who jumped for joy,” recalled Ashley-Ward, who, by her association with Vice President-Elect Harris, has become somewhat of a celebrity.

The New York Times has been among the outlets that have called Ashley-Ward to gain insight into Harris.

A longtime member of the Black Press and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Ashley-Ward formally introduced Harris to her Black Press family in 2018.

That year, Harris received the honor as the NNPA’s 2018 Newsmaker of the Year Award during Black Press Week in Washington, D.C. Ashley-Ward escorted her friend into a ballroom to accept the award.

“In all of my years covering news in our community, Sen. Harris has been one of the smartest, most fearless, steadfast and caring politicians that I have come to know,” Ashley-Ward stated during the ceremony.

“She has a lot to offer the world. We are so fortunate to have her advocating on our behalf.”

Ashley-Ward has never been shy about her endorsement of Harris.

The Senator and former District Attorney often checked-in with Ashley-Ward from time to time.

“It’s important that the Black Press is not left out of this historic occasion,” Ashley-Ward remarked.

“We have to make sure that people know that she’s of the Black community. Black women helped to elect her, and I’ve been with her from the very beginning with the Black Press.

“I was the first newspaper, a Black newspaper, to endorse her when no one believed in her. It’s always been the Black women. As I told her, it had to be you. I love you, Madame Vice President. That felt good to say.”

There was a lot of voters inside the Pantages Theatre on Election night. (Photo: Earl Heath)

By Earl Heath Contributing Writer In 1977 after graduating from Ferrum Junior College (Virginia) I went on to pursue a B.A. degree. I enrolled at what then was known as Slippery Rock State University in Western Pennsylvania.

“The Rock” as it’s known is located some 50 miles from Pittsburg in an isolated Butler County where it’s green in the summer and has the snow white woods and mountains in the winter. Some famous graduates include Vivian Stringer- Hall of Fame Basketball Coach, Dr. Cheryl Bailey – Executive Director of New Women’s Soccer League, Rickey “Squeaky” PorterPro football player and Dr. Elaine Hozdik-Former head of International Studies at FGCU. I was new on campus when I befriended a graduate student named Valarie Sansone. For three of four days we talked and laughed and shared life stories between classes. There was no cell phone, no texting and no emails. All our conversations were done in person.

On one Saturday evening she wanted me to go with her to an on-campus meeting. When we got there about 200 people were in this ballroom type venue.

Valarie got up on the stage a said how important it was to vote. Then a couple more speakers got up on the stage and talked about voting and registering. I had no idea of her involvement in this event.

Next we all watched a film that took place in the early sixties and in that film we saw John Lewis and others marching for voters rights. In one segment Andrew Young was first in line trying to get access to Atlanta City Hall trying to vote.

Young was slapped across the face and hit with a night-stick repeatedly. When that happened the entire room moaned and

Lissa Hakim is all smiles after voting at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. (Photo: Earl Heath)

cringed. It was a life changing moment for myself and others in the room. After the film we all talked among each other.

After leaving the event I was home and thought of Andrew Young for hours. He was doing something unique. He absorbed every hit of that baton for the entire race.

The following Monday I drove twenty miles to Butler, PA and registered to vote. There was no on-line registering, no go to the local library to do it and you couldn’t go to any local post office.

In February of 1870 the 15th Amendment was ratified and “prohibits the Federal Government and each state from denying any person the right to vote based on a ‘citizens race, color, or previous servitude.”

The problem occurred when many southern states refused to acknowledge that and thus all the marching and protesting in the fifties and sixties.

The Voting Rights Act was signed into law by under President Lyndon Johnson in 1965. The law superseded all state laws that didn’t.

In 2020 there were more people registered to vote and more people voted than any other time in the country’s history. There are more places to register and more places to vote.

Registration is due in part to people like LeBron James, Stacey Abrams, Steve Harvey and ad blitz’s by The NFL, The NBA, Pro soccer, hockey and other professional sports teams. All this helped increase the number of legal registered voters.

“We really want to promote American citizens learning about issues and learning about candidates in their local elections,” said Dr Cheryl Bailey. A board member of the League of Women Voters a non-partisan group that helps educate.

Large entertainment and sports facilities like the Forum, SoFi Stadium, Stables Center, and Dodger Stadium just to name a few helped decrease long lines and help voter’s social distance during the time of COVID. “Hosting a vote center at the Banc of California stadium allows us to meet health standards while allowing patron a chance for in person voting options,” said Los Angeles County/Clerk Dean Logan.

The Pantages Theatre in Hollywood saw a high number of people cast their ballots. If you voted there you were rewarded with an “I Voted” sticker with the Hamilton silhouette background.

“I am done,” said Lissa Hakim. “It’s a great feeling after you cast your ballet.” The transplanted New Yorker was all smiles as she stood in front of the legendary Pantages on Hollywood Blvd.

California mailed over 22 million ballots and approximately 12 million were returned by mail before Election Day. Social media was filled with photos of people standing long lines, celebrating after ballot casting.

Big names like Shaquille O’Neal and Snoop Dogg were first time voters.

There were over 70 million ballots cast for each Presidential candidate Joe Biden and Donald Trump. That means people care they feel that they have a important value within them.

With voting at an all-time high in this years election and monumental venues used to cast vote.

We can see that voting has come along way since those days at Slippery Rock.

PUBLIC NOTICE be held in this court as follows: Date: Dec 15, 2020 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: 5 Room: IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the deceased, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within four months from the date of first issuance of letters as provided on Probate Code section 9100. The time for filing claims will not expire before four months from the hearing date noticed above.

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

Attorney for Petitioner: Daniel De Soto 9420 Reseda Blvd., Ste. 400 Northridge, Ca. 92341 Telephone: (818) 270-8309 LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Oct 29, Nov 5, 12, 2020

Please wear a mask and socially distance youself.

DO YOUR PART TO END COVID-19

A4

Entertainment LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, November 12, 2020

FILM REVIEW: Radioactive

By Dwight Brown NNPA Newswire Film Critic Rosamund Pike makes a lot of good choices. Check out her filmography and some of her very impressive feminist roles: A courageous war correspondent in A Private War, gusty widow in Hostiles, stoic wife in an interracial marriage in A United Kingdom and cunning spouse in Gone Girl. Now this.

Pike portrays world-renown physicist and chemist Marie Sklodowska Curie. She explores the life of the Poland-born, naturalized French citizen who pioneered and advanced the science of radioactivity and discovered the elements polonium and radium. Radium produced a radioactive gas used to treat some forms of cancer and is also used in x-rays.

The source material is a National Book Award Finalist biography by Lauren Redniss, Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout. It chronicles the ascent, love affairs, findings, achievements, awards and tragic endings of both Marie and her husband. British screenwriter Jack Thorne (TV mini-series National Treasure) wrote the screen adaptation. Director Marjane Satrapi (Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature for Persepolis) helmed the production. Between the strong intelligent script and her artistry this turn of the 20th century parable glows.

Production designer Michael Carlin (In Bruges, Colette), set decorator Robert Wischhusen-Hayes (Mr. Jones) and art directors Géza Kerti (The King) and Zsuzsa Kismarty-Lechner (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) recreate late 19th century Paris perfectly. Rooms are small, streets are grungy, the atmosphere is vibrant. People bustle around in clothes (costume designer Consolata Boyle, The Queen) that look lived in. As they do, soft bubbly music (Evgueni Galperine and Sacha Galperine, Corpus Christi) follows them, creating a spirited atmosphere.

The magic of those days is chronicled by cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle (Oscar winner for Slumdog Millionaire), whose footage often looks antique. Bits and pieces, scenes and sequences are pulled together by editor Stéphane Roche (Persepolis) into a 1h 49min brisk diary that captures Curie’s experiences with a very steady rhythm.

Early 1890s Paris. Maria Sklodowska (Pike) is the only female in a room full of 23 scientists at an industrial laboratory run by the arrogant Professor Lippman (Simon Russell Beale, Mary Queen of Scots). Hosting her does not please him, and her unapologetic manner hastens her exit. She looks for other places to run her experiments, to no avail. Maria then lucks up on a chance encounter with another fringe scientist, Pierre Curie (Sam Riley, Control),

who offers her a spot at his lab. It isn’t love at first sight: Maria, “I want to make it clear that I will not be your mistress.” However, he is smitten.

Working side-by-side the two become collaborators, lovers, then husband and wife, with Maria becoming Marie Sklodowska Curie. Their field of interest is radiation, and though other scientists are chasing the same dreams, it is Marie who coins the term “radioactivity.” Together in 1903, Marie and Pierre co-win half of a Nobel Prize for Physics for their research on and analysis of spontaneous radiation, which was discovered by Henri Becquerel. Becquerel is awarded the other half of the Prize.

Prospective audiences should not be deterred by the physics and chemistry involved in Curie’s story. Yes, sometimes it’s like you’re sitting in a science class taught by two teachers who can’t keep their hands off each other.

But for the most part, that discipline almost subordinates Marie Curie’s fight to make discoveries, be respected and take her rightful place in the world of academia and an industry dominated by men. Through the insight of a superbly written and intimate screenplay and under the direction of a filmmaker who is as fascinated by the familial and romantic elements as she is by the science, viewers will find increasingly compelling drama, in and outside of the lab.

Pike diligently and sensitively portrays the inner turmoil that churns inside Curie and erupts as a steely determination. Fragility and bravery embrace a stream of conflict that propels Curie forward. Pike harnesses that fiery life-force as she depicts a student becoming a professional, a lover transitioning into a wife, a widow finding her way as a single mother and a scientist slowly dying from the element that gave her fame.

Pike’s emotions run the gamut from curiosity to anger and jealousy, fear to happiness, pride to sadness.

The multiple layers and gravitas are only achieved because Pike digs deep inside the feisty character. Her most primal moment is when she cries over her husband’s coffin, emitting the most guttural sounds.

The entire supporting cast shines bright beside Pike.

Anya Taylor-Joy plays her inquisitive and equally smart daughter Irène Joliet-Curie like a genius in waiting. Aneurin Barnard as student and controversial paramour Paul Langevin inflames the love story. Beale makes you hate the sexist professor. Sam Riley finds the right mix of supportive husband, attentive lover and punching bag when his wife loses her temper Fledgling filmmakers should take a critical look at Marjane Satrapi’s inventive and clever style. Without her eclectic flair, this could have been just another period piece.

Rosamund Pike in Radioactive. (Courtesy Photo)

She shows her appreciation and disgust for the legacy of radiation, in vivid images—from radiotherapy acting as a cancer killer, to atom bombs annihilating Hiroshima.

These visions display an unconventional approach that elevates what’s on view. And her keen ability to create a story that female audiences are sure to admire should have producers banging down her door with offers Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. The only person to win the Prize twice. The only person to win in two different fields (physics and chemistry). She worked on the frontlines during WWI, developing mobile

radiography units that diagnosed the injuries of millions of soldiers. Her story is old, centuries old. Yet somehow her challenges and successes feel timely, as if they just happened yesterday As much as Marjane Satrapi is the genius behind the camera, Rosamund Pike is the gifted artist in front of the lens. She turns this portrait of a groundbreaking heroine into an impressive allegory about a scientist who fought her way to the top leaving a legacy behind that has yet to be equaled.

It Was All a Dream: KAREN JACKSON Whitney, B.I.G. Sisters Network Inducted into Rock Founder Inspires & Roll Hall of Fame Others in New Book

Sisters Network Inc. Founder and CEO Karen Jackson (center) greets Greensboro members Jeannette McCall (left) and Rokisha Rover-Simrel (right) in Durham, N.C.

By Dominique Talbert Defender News Network When four-time breast cancer survivor, Karen Jackson was first diagnosed with breast cancer, she had no experience nor knowledge of the disease. Jackson felt alone and knew the importance of having people around during this difficult time. That was the reasoning behind her founding Sisters Network Inc. in 1994. And it’s why she’s detailing her journey in a new book, In the Company of My Sisters: My Story, My Truth.

Jackson’s new book speaks about her life dedicated to assisting other breast cancer survivors. She talked with the Defender about the book, Sisters Network Inc. and her motto in life.

Defender: What do you hope people walk away with after having read the book?

Karen Jackson: Well, the biggest thing is that there is no need for women to die of breast cancer. They don’t need to be alone. I share my story in hopes that people will be educated and inspired by my battling – and surviving – breast cancer four times.

Defender: Is this just for those diagnosed with breast cancer, or does it contain information for others?

Jackson: It is for African American breast cancer advocates, so that includes people who have breast cancer, those who know someone battling it, or those who just want to educate themselves.

Defender: Why did you decide to write In the Company of My Sisters?

Jackson: It gave me an opportunity to speak on my story and my truth. When I was first diagnosed, I had little knowledge of the disease, so I immersed myself in information. It didn’t take me long to discover that finding information was difficult due to the limited amount of culturally sensitive material. You learn quickly how to become your own best advocate and sometimes even your own best friend. And as I educated myself, the fire was

fueled to educate others. In retrospect, my need to make a difference in the lives of Black breast cancer survivors was my total focus. This memoir is a culmination of my journey through breast cancer - from my personal experiences and observations as a survivor, to my life’s path and commitment to increasing local and national attention, to the devastating impact that breast cancer has in the African American community.

Defender: A lot of people would give up after being diagnosed four times. How did you find strength to go on?

Jackson: I have inner strength that developed over the years. I needed to know what my body was trying to tell me. I had to pay attention and it saved my life. I call it my inner spirit.

Defender: What is your motto in life?

Jackson: To live the best life. A purposeful life.

Defender: How does it feel to be an inspiration to countless African American women?

Jackson: I never thought of it that way. I feel knowledge is power and when you gain that power, you should share that with others. It’s just second nature for me to give back.

Defender: Did you ever think the Sisters Network would expand to this extent to help numerous African American women?

Jackson: Yes. I was wondering when it would happen.

It took a long time. I never doubted but I didn’t think it would take so long.

Defender: Did you experience any struggles when starting the Sisters Network Inc? Jackson: Black non-profits were not taken seriously and there was little funding. The Sisters Network shines bright because we were doing the work but we didn’t have the funding or support. We never were able to spend money on advertising. So we would have to post on social media or word-of-mouth. Black women, breast cancer is real and should be a priority.

By MESFIN FEKADU AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) – In a normal year, the newly inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class would have hit the stage and perform the well-known songs that made them famous and helped them enter the prestigious organization.

Not in 2020.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, this year's allstar group was inducted Saturday night in a taped HBO special that told the stories of Whitney Houston, Notorious B.I.G. and the Doobie Brothers' rise to fame and how acts like Nine Inch Nails, T. Rex and Depeche Mode heavily impacted the music industry and generations after them.

As she inducted Houston into the Rock Hall, Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys gave a beautiful, heartfelt speech about one of the best singers in pop history.

“We all know what a miraculous singer Whitney was, perhaps the greatest voice of our all-time. We all know how her unprecedented success brought Black women into the absolute highest reaches of the music industry's pantheon,” said Keys, who wrote a song for Houston's last album. “We all know that her music will live forever _ that music, that everlasting voice is her final generous gift to us. And she will now be one of the brightest lights ever to shine in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”

Houston, one of the best-selling acts in music history who died in 2012 at age 48, released her debut album in 1985 and recently became the first Black artist to have three diamond-certified albums.

Her mother and aunt, Cissy and Pat Houston, accepted the award on her behalf.

“This is something that Whitney always wanted,” Pat Houston said. “I remember in 2009 we were in London and Whitney looked at me and said, `This is really special but there's only one thing missing _ I got to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”'

“She did it,” Cissy Houston added.

Other acts were posthumously inducted Saturday night.

The Notorious B.I.G. was shot to death in 1997 at 24 and in a few years became one of the top voices in rap and pop. He was inducted by close friend and collaborator Diddy.

“Nobody has come close to the way Biggie sounds, to the way he raps, to the frequency that he hits. Tonight, we are inducting the greatest rapper of all-time,” Diddy said.

Nas said B.I.G. “represents Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, New York City, America, the world and he represents the Black experience.” Jay-Z recalled when B.I.G. sent him a demo of “Life After Death,” his second and final album that was released 16 days after his death, explaining: “I was a little worried for myself as an artist.”

“It's just really unfortunate what happened after that,” continued Jay-Z. “The human side of him came through in his music and I think it moved the molecules in the world.

I know for a fact it pointed me in the (right) direction and I'm sure that's happened to millions and millions of people

worldwide.”

The Notorious B.I.G.'s son and daughter, C.J. and T'yanna Wallace, accepted the honor. The son of T. Rex's Marc Bolan, who died in 1977 at 29, was also on hand to pay tribute to his father with a touching speech.

“As I reflect on this incredible honor of my dad and his band being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I think about how I really didn't have a chance to know him very well. He was taken away from all of us so early in his life,” Rolan Bolan said. “I discovered his music pretty much the same way you have _ through my eyes and ears.”

The British band T. Rex was known primarily for its 1970s hit “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” and, to a lesser extent, “Jeepster.” They were inducted by Ringo Starr.

T. Rex, Houston, B.I.G. and the Doobie Brothers were inducted after being on the ballot for the first time.

The Doobie Brothers' inclusion makes 2020 historic for the band _ it's also their 50th anniversary. The group known for hits like “Listen to the Music” and “Black Water” were supposed to celebrate this year with a tour featuring singersongwriter Michael McDonald _ who sang with the band starting in 1975 before beginning his own solo career _ but it was postponed because of the pandemic.

“It seems unreal, but it's been quite a trip and we aren't done yet,” Tom Johnston said.

It's also been a good year for Nine Inch Nails _ their induction comes two months after Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross won their first Emmy for their musical contributions to the hit HBO series “Watchmen.” Reznor and Ross are also Oscar and Grammy winners, only needing a Tony to enter the esteemed EGOT club.

Rick Rubin, Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Iovine, David Fincher, Mark Ronson and others spoke passionately about Nine Inch Nails' influence on them and others.

“What a disoriented, strange year we find ourselves in.

As I've been wrapping my head around Nine Inch Nails being welcomed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I think I was most looking forward to the ceremony itself, where hopefully the whole camp, past and present, was going to get together and have a moment, and we're all stuck in our little boxes here in our screens,” Reznor said. “But even now music's always been the thing that keeps me going.”

Oscar winner Charlize Theron inducted Depeche Mode, whose biggest influence came in the 1980s when their post-punk, synthesizer-dominated music made the Brits a favorite of the goth subculture. Theron thanked the band “for being the soundtrack of my life.”

Dave Grohl, Bruce Springsteen, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jennifer Hudson, Adam Levine, Gwen Stefani and Brad Paisley also made appearances during the TV special. Topnotch music manager Irving Azoff and Jon Landau, who manages Springsteen, both earned the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

The Rock Hall's annual induction ceremony was originally supposed to take place in May at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, the city where the rock museum is located.

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Sports

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER A5

Chargers Weekly- Chapter 13

By Cameron Buford Whatsgoodinsports.com The Chargers will be welcoming the Las Vegas Raiders into SoFi Stadium on Sunday’s Week 9 matchup, as they debut their new dark blue uniforms for the first time. This will be the 120th meeting all-time for these divisional rivals. Though the Chargers have a 12-4 record in the last 17 home games, the Raiders do have a 64-52-2 series advantage. While Melvin Ingram boasts a fivegame sack streak against the Raiders, Rookie QB Justin Herbert has led the Chargers to the NFL’s No. 2 offense as they put up an average of 417.1 yards per game.

The Chargers will play this without the services of All-Pro Defensive End Joey Bosa and lineman Trai Turner and storm Norton. They will also be missing Running Back Troymaine Pope, though newly acquired Kalen Ballage would get the call to fill in.

Ballage would fill in admirably, per coach Anthony Lynn “he stepped up and I thought he did a good job… I thought he helped us today he certainly did not hurt us. Late in the 4th quarter, he got behind his pads and made a difference.” by averaging 4.6 yards a carry while having 2 receptions for 15 yards in the game. While Keenan Allen chipped in 9 catches for 103 yards to complimented their rushing attack. Even though Justin Herbert had another record-setting performance by surpassed Cam Newton (2,103) for the most pass yards by a rookie QB in their first 7 starts since 1950 in addition to 250+ pass yards in each of his first 7 starts.

His 326 yards passing and 24 yards on the ground would not be enough to get the victory. As the Raiders were led by their 6.4 yards rushing and a couple of big plays. All 6 of Josh Jacobs’ rush TD this season have been on the road. In doing so he surpassed HOF Marcus Allen (1,711) for the most rush yards in a player’s first 2 seasons in franchise history.

Los Angeles Chargers offense in the redzone this past Sunday at SoFi stadium against the Oakland Raiders.

(Photo: Ty Nowell/Los Angeles Chargers)

The Charger did take a lead into the locker room, yet coming out of the locker room they gave up 14 consecutive points to

the Raiders. In Coach Lynn’s words, “We got to eliminate the explosives (plays).” That Chargers sideline had to have it in their

head that they have lost 9 straight games vs AFC West opponents.

Even more daunting is the fact that they are 3-15 (.167) in games decided by 8 or fewer points since 2019 (most such losses in NFL in that span).

Even after a muffed punt in the 4th quarter, the Chargers did have a chance to come back to win this game. When Coach Lynn was asked if he was truly aware of the resiliency within Justin Herbert, he responded by saying, “Absolutely, there was no doubt in my mind we weren’t going to go down and score? Justin’s a playmaker and he doesn’t flinch!”

They ended up having a couple of attempts at getting the go-ahead score once they got the ball inside the Raiders 10-yard line. Though Justin and Mike couldn’t connect on a fade route in the corner. On the final play of the game, Herbert went to use the height of Donald Parham Jr to complete the second fade attempt though, after high pointing the ball, he bobbled the ball as he hit the ground rendering the pass incomplete.

Each week the Chargers seem to invent different ways to lose games. It’s imperative the leadership in the locker room doesn’t allow this attitude to fester and become a culture. Whether they bring Anthony Lynn back next season or not, they have certainly found their quarterback of the future. It’s going to be key that they find quality players for him to grow and develop with.

Kindly share your thoughts on how you see this team finishing the season and if they can gain some momentum for the future, by reaching out to me on Twitter @whatsgoodnsport or forward any suggestions on what topics or angles you’d like to see discussed to info@whatsgoodinsports.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. Thank You, as always, for making our voice your choice!

USC Trojans Kickoff Season with a Big Comeback Win

By Cameron Buford Whatsgoodinsports.com On a chilly 55-degree morning at the Los Angeles Memorial Stadium, the USC Trojans welcomed in Coach Herm Edwards and the Arizona State University Sun Devils to kick-off their season for the first 9 am game for the PAC 12. Between the 12 noon start time on the east coast coupled with the CFB on FOX telecast, the PAC 12 hopes to gain more viewers than they typically would with a 4 pm Pacific Standard Time or a 7:30 PST start time.

Arizona State came out here to play today, they caused 2 turnovers in the first half and another to start the third quarter.

They took a 3-point lead into the third quarter and extended that lead to 10 points at the end of the 3rd quarter. They added on to that lead early in the 4th quarter on a 41-yard FG from Cristian Zendejas.

“3 times in the red zone with no points, a year ago we may not win this game.” Explained Coach Helton, but the USC Trojans showed major resolve to complete this comeback, down 2 scores in the fourth quarter. “A game with now fans we need to feed off each other?” Slovis said, of playing with no fans in the stadium. With 3:05 remaining in the game, Kedon Slovis tried to hit Tyler Vaughns in the end zone, but the pass was deflected right

into the hands of Bru McCoy from 14 yards out. This brought the Trojans within a single score of the Sun Devils.

What happened next was “Great situational mastery of football,” in the words of Coach Helton. They recover an on sides kick, after their fortunate score, then Kedon Slovis hits London Drake on a 21-yard seam route right on the S in USC in the middle of the end zone, for the go-ahead score, with 1:20 left on the game clock. ASU ran 5 plays and couldn’t move the ball past midfield before giving the ball back to the Trojans, who then sealed the win with a couple kneel-downs in victory formation.

Post-Game Clay Helton said will all sincerity, “that was a major hurdle for us today!” As they look to run the table in the PAC12 south, yet this will be a tough loss to digest for the Arizona State Sun Devils. Kindly share your thoughts on how you saw this gameplay out and do you have faith in the Trojans running the table, by reaching out to me on Twitter @whatsgoodnsport or forward any suggestions on what topics or angles you’d like to see discussed to info@whatsgoodinsports.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. Thank You, as always, for making our voice your choice!

Trojans QB Kedon Slovis hands the ball off to running back Vavae Malepeai in the Trojans home opener against the visiting Arizona St. Sun devils. (Photo: John McGillen/USC Athletics)

Walter Camp Hail King and Jackson

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer D’ Eric King and Tarron Jackson were named the Walter Camp Offensive and Defensive Players of the week for their play in college football the past week.

King who is in the middle of a fight for the ACC title completed 31 of 41 passes for 535 yards and 5 touchdowns while leading # 11 Miami to a 44-41 win over Virginia Tech. He also rushed for 106 yards on 15 carries.

The Redshirt Senior became the only player in FBS History in the last 25 years to throw for 500 yards and have no interceptions for two different schools (U of Houston 2018). He was also named W. Camp Player of the Week doing that week.

“D’Eric King came to play,” said Canes tight-end Will Malloy. “He came to lead us and that’s exactly what he did. The preparation he put in this week the commitment he has to this team is exactly why we won this game.”

The Canes (6-1, 5-1 ACC) are tied for second place with Clemson who fell to Notre Dame in an ACC classic over the weekend Jackson put on a show with 10 tackles, 2.5 quarterback sacks, 2 hurries and a force fumble to lead #15 Coastal Carolina

D’Eric King became the only player in FBS History in the last 25 years to throw for 500 yards and have no interceptions for two different schools (U of Houston 2018). (Photo: Miami Athletics)

Demetric Felton (#10) had a rushing and receiving TD for the Bruins. (Photo: Colorado Athletics)

Tarron Jackson (8) is the first WC Player of the Week winner from Coastal Carolina since it originated in 2004. (Photo: Coastal Carolina Athletics)

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer UCLA football is part of a different 2020 all together when they played their first college game a weeks days before Thanksgiving.

The Bruins got an early start as they were kind in giving away the football four times in the first 25 minutes against Colorado. The kindness help put them in a 28-point deficit.

It appears to be the norm under recent Bruin teams like last season when they spotted Oregon State 21 points and trailed Washington State by 32 before making a big college football comeback.

This time the Bruins rally fell short to the Buffaloes 48-42.

The turnovers were a big part of the first half.

There has been a barrage of mistakes every place in the college game.

“You see it all around the country,” said QB Dorian Thomson-Robinson. “Guys are making mistakes early on and even later in the season.”

The Bruins got a little going late in the 2nd as ThomsonRobinson hit tight-end Greg Dulcich on a 56-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 14 at the half.

to a 23 -6 win over South Alabama.

The Senior from Aiken, South Carolina is the first player in school history to win this award.

The Chanticleers (7-0, 5-0 Sun Belt) have had back-to-back 5-7 seasons.

“It’s been a blessing having been through so much (with teammates) we talk about it all the time the way things were and to see where we are at now it’s a blessing.”

Walter Camp is known as the Father of American football.

He first selected an All-American team in 1889.The Walter Camp Foundation is an all-volunteer organization based in New Haven, Connecticut. It was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideas of Camp and continue the tradition to select annual All-American team.

This is the 17thyear that the Foundation has awarded one Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week. Tarron Jackson is the first winner was selected from Coastal Carolina since it originated in 2004.

Recipients are selected from a group of national media members and administrated by the Foundation.

Bruins Have Kind Opening DTR got the scoring started in the 3rd period with a 65yard TD run that was followed by a 6 play 77-yard drive capped off by a 15-yard scamper by Demetric Felton that made the score 35-21.

Felton finished the day with 10 carries for 57 yards and caught 7 passes for 46 yards and 2 touchdowns.

DTR completed 20 of 40 for 303 yards and 4 TD’s with one interception. He also ran for 109 yards on nine carries.

The Bruins finished the day with 478 total yards.

The home team scored on four of six possessions in the first half as Jereck Broussard ran for three TD’s. He finished the day with 187 yards rushing on 31 carries.

The game marked the debut of Buffs Head Coach Karl Dorrell. He had spent five years as the head of the UCLA program.

BRUIN NOTES: The Bruins game vs Utah was moved from Friday to Saturday at the Rose Bowl…DTR is now 11th all-time on the Bruin passing list with 4,315 yards he passes Heisman Trophy winner Gary Beban and Kevin Prince.

His career 348 completions make him 10th all-time. The 65yard TD run is the longest of his career.

A6

Local

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Covered California Officially Launches Open Enrollment

with Millions of Masks to Encourage Californians to “Get Covered/Stay Covered”and a New Ad Campaign SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California officially kicked off its annual open-enrollment period on Monday with a statewide effort to encourage Californians to protect themselves, their families and their friends from the COVID-19 pandemic by wearing a mask and signing up for health care coverage.

The campaign includes sending face masks, emblazoned with the message “Get Covered/Stay Covered,” to every Covered California enrollee who is renewing their coverage as well as all new enrollees.

“The pandemic shines a light on the importance of health insurance and access to quality care, and now is the time when people can sign up for coverage through Covered C a l i f o r n i a ,” s a i d Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. “We will be reaching into every corner of the state to encourage Californians to keep COVID-safe and to get health coverage now.”

An estimated 1.2 million uninsured people in the state are either eligible for financial help through the exchange, or they qualify for low-cost or no-cost coverage through Medi-Cal. Of those eligible for subsidies through Covered California, more than half are believed to be Latino (see Table 1: Estimated Number of Uninsured Californians Eligible for Financial Help Through Covered California or Medi-Cal [by Race and Ethnicity]).

“Providing access to affordable health care coverage is more critical than ever as our state and nation continue to navigate this pandemic,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “Covered California opens the door to quality care by making financial assistance available to help Californians get the coverage they need. Now is the time to get covered and stay covered.”

Implications of the Presidential Election and Context of Supreme Court Hearing The launch of the statewide campaign comes in the midst of two critical developments regarding the future of the Affordable Care Act. Most importantly, President-elect Joe Biden campaigned on two core health care issues — responding effectively to the COVID pandemic and building on the health care law to make it work better, including expanding financial help and coverage options for millions of Americans.

“President-elect Biden ran a campaign focused on the importance of responding well to the COVID pandemic and building on the Affordable Care Act,” Lee said. “In many ways, you can say that the health and health care of America was on the ballot in 2021 — and health care won.”

California has been on the forefront nationally of implementing and protecting the Affordable Care Act. While the inauguration of Biden will take place after open enrollment has closed for much of the nation, Californians will be able to sign up through Jan. 31.

“California’s open enrollment will be a bellwether for the nation and a model for the Biden administration as it takes office with a commitment to build on the Affordable Care Act,” said Lee. “California has shown how to go beyond the law with new state subsidies and investments in marketing and outreach that have resulted in record-low rate changes for two consecutive

years.”

In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Tuesday in the case of Texas vs. California. The case centers on the question of whether Congress’s decision to reduce the individual mandate penalty to zero invalidates the entire law.

A decision to invalidate the Affordable Care Act could have a significant effect on consumers by jeopardizing the federal subsidies that help bring the cost of health insurance coverage within reach to not only 1.3 million Californians, but many more across the nation; the protections for the 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions; the Medicaid expansion; Medicare prescription savings; critical health programs to fight the COVID-19 pandemic; and a range of other programs.

C a l i f o r n i a’s Attorney General Xavier Becerra is leading a coalition of 20 states and the District of Columbia in defending the Affordable Care Act. “On Nov. 10, we’re taking our fight to defend the Affordable Care Act and health care for all Americans to the United States Supreme Court,” said Attorney General Becerra. “Here in California, the ACA helped create Covered California, a health care marketplace that has helped millions of Californians access quality health care coverage they can afford. Let’s not stop there — open enrollment is happening now, and I encourage all Californians who qualify to sign up and get covered.”

The Supreme Court is expected to make its decision sometime next year and Attorney General Becerra has indicated that he would request a stay of any impending actions, so that no one would be at risk of immediately losing their coverage if the law were struck down.

“We have been through this before, and the one thing that consumers need to know is that their coverage will be rock solid for 2021, and the time to sign up is now,” Lee said.

Get Covered, Stay Covered In an effort to promote open enrollment and make clear the connection between insurance coverage and the COVID pandemic, Covered California will be mailing masks (see right) to its record 1.5 million enrollees throughout the month of November, and provide them to all new consumers who sign up during the open-enrollment period. All consumers will be asked to wear the masks to prevent the spread of the virus, while spreading the word about open enrollment.

“The pandemic is front and center in all of our lives, which means the issues of health and wellbeing are more important than ever before,” Lee said. “Getting covered with a mask will help protect Californians and their families and friends; getting covered with a health plan will help protect people if they get sick.”

While Covered California’s open-enrollment campaign was launched “virtually,” the focus of the event was Los Angeles, the state’s largest metropolitan area. While Los Angeles has benefited from the Affordable Care Act, an estimated 338,000 people in the city’s metro area remain uninsured even though they are eligible for financial help through Covered California or MediCal (see Table 2: Estimated Number of Uninsured Eligible for

Financial Help Through Covered California or Medi-Cal [by Metro Region].

“The COVID-19 pandemic has reaffirmed what we’ve long known: affordable health care coverage can make the difference between health and illness, economic security and financial ruin, life and death,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Covered California is a direct route to the ability to see a doctor and get treatment, and it provides a little peace of mind for millions of struggling families across our city and state — and now is the time for all Angelenos and Californians to get covered and stay covered.”

New Covered California Ad Campaign Covered California launched its statewide campaign in conjunction with a new ad campaign that began airing statewide on Monday. The ads center on the experiences of real Californians who’ve struggled to get health insurance in the past. The campaign acknowledges that getting health insurance hasn’t always been easy and addresses the hurdles so many Californians face with practical, scalable solutions.

Five new television spots, directed by Academy-award winning director Errol Morris, unfold as in-home vignettes that offer a window into the everyday lives and concerns of real families.

The spots include a newly unemployed father worried about securing coverage for his family; a man living with depression for whom mental health coverage has meant everything; a Latinx woman who has always translated for her parents, but needed help understanding their health insurance options; and a single mother who has struggled to afford health insurance in the past.

Click here to see the television ads, which were produced in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese.

The ads are part of Covered California’s $157 million investment in marketing, sales and outreach.

“These are unprecedented times, and Covered California is stepping up to answer the call for the millions of Californians who have been affected by this recession and pandemic,” Lee said.

“We have increased our investments in marketing and outreach to make sure people know that Covered California is here for them if they need health insurance.”

Record-Low Rate Change and Increased Choices Consumers who shop for coverage during open enrollment will benefit from Covered California’s record-low rate change of 0.5 percent for 2021.

Consumers both on and off the exchange also benefit from Covered California’s competitive marketplace, which allows them to shop for the best value. In addition, existing consumers can save more by shopping and switching to a lower-cost health plan. For unsubsidized consumers who shop and switch to the lowest-cost plan in the same metal tier, on average they would see a 7.4 percent decrease in their premium, which means many Californians can get a lower gross premium if they shop and switch.

The average rate change varies by region and by an individual’s personal situation.

In addition, all 11 carriers will continue offering products across the state in 2021, and two companies will expand their coverage areas, providing increased competition and consumer choice. Nearly all Californians (99.8 percent) will have two or more choices and over three-quarter of Californians (77 percent) will have four or more choices.

Financial Help Lowers Costs for Consumers In addition to the record-low rate change, roughly nine out of every 10 consumers who enroll through Covered California receive financial assistance — in the form of federal tax credits, state subsidies, or both — which helps make health care more

affordable. California’s state subsidies, which first became available in 2020, are benefiting nearly 600,000 consumers — including more than 41,000 middle-income consumers who had

Peter V. Lee and Sonya Young Adam (Courtesy Photo)

previously been ineligible for financial help because they exceeded the federal income requirements.

The latest data shows that, with the combination of federal tax credits and state subsidies, the average consumer receiving financial help paid an average of $127 per month for their coverage (with federal and state assistance reducing their costs by $454 or nearly 80 percent).

The state subsidies are only available to eligible consumers through Covered California. The amount of financial help consumers receive will vary depending on their age, their annual household income and the cost of health care in their region. Shop and Compare Those interested in applying for coverage can explore their options — and find out whether they are eligible for financial help — in just a few minutes by using the Shop and Compare Tool at CoveredCA.com. All they need to do is enter their ZIP code, household income and the ages of those who need coverage to find out which plans are available in their area.

Covered California unveiled a new and improved CoveredCA. com website last month, which features a modern redesign, moreintuitive navigation, condensed and simplified language and enhancements in accessibility and mobile responsiveness.

Getting Help Enrolling Consumers will need to sign up by Dec. 15 in order to have their coverage begin on Jan. 1, 2021. Those interested in learning more about their coverage options can: • Visit www.CoveredCA.com.

• Get free and confidential in-person assistance, in a variety of languages, from a certified enroller.

• Have a certified enroller call them and help them for free.

• Call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.