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Volume 36 Number 3

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Thursday, December 3, 2020

President-Elect Biden Names AllWomen Senior Communications Staff Fills out Staff with Women of Color; Black Men Nominated for Key Posts

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent It isn’t often a politician running for office keeps his campaign promise.

Since defeating Donald Trump, Joe Biden has so far lived up to his promise of a diverse senior staff and cabinet.

The Democrat, who openly has recognized the critical role African Americans and women played in helping him to garner a record of more than 80 million votes, on Monday, November 30, 2020, named an-all women senior communications staff – including three Black women.

On Monday, Darrell Blocker appeared on his way to being nominated by Biden as the nation’s first African American CIA director.

“I am proud to announce today the first senior White House communications team comprised entirely of women. These qualified, experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country

Najee Harris 22- (Antioch High) ran for 96 yards on 11 carries as #1 Alabama (6-0) defeated Auburn 42-13 in the Iron Bowl. (Photo:Alabama Athletics)

Three of seven upper-ranking women elected to the Biden-Harris team are black women, including Ashley Etienne as Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’s communications director, Karine Jean-Pierre as the White House principal deputy press secretary, and Symone D. Sanders as Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’s chief spokeswoman. (@attorneycrump Instagram Photo)

back better,” Biden said in a statement.

Symone Sanders, an African American and a senior Biden campaign adviser will serve as a senior adviser and chief spokesperson for the vice president.

Ashley Etienne, an African American and senior adviser on the Biden campaign, will serve as communications director for

Vice-President-Elect Kamala Harris.

Karine Jean-Pierre, a senior adviser on the Biden campaign who later served as chief of staff to Harris and who is also Black, will serve as principal deputy press secretary.

Former Barack Obama White House communications Continued on page A3

Unemployed Californians Get Caught in the Middle Quinci LeGardye California Black Media California has implemented a series of safeguards to tackle widespread unemployment fraud amid mass job losses in the state due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But those safety measures have also resulted in the accidental loss of benefits for some innocent claimants.

A joint team of local prosecutors and law enforcement officials announced Nov. 24 that more than 35,000 incarcerated people were named in claims filed with the California Employment Development Department (EDD) between March and August of this year. According to Sacramento County district attorney Anne Marie Schubert, more than 20,000 of those claims have been filed in the state, totaling more than $140 million in benefits.

At least 158 claims were filed for people on death row, resulting in over $400,000 in benefits paid.

The investigation involved district attorneys from nine California counties, as well as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California. According to prosecutors, who learned about the fraud by listening to recorded prison phone calls, the fraud schemes varied -- some involving people on the outside and others orchestrated by organized networks within prisons.

Schubert, along with other county district attorneys, has called on Gov. Gavin Newsom and other state officials to ensure that EDD claimants are routinely cross-checked against incarcerated persons. According to an EDD spokesperson, the agency has also been working with the United States Labor Department’s Office of Inspector General to verify claims.

“Earlier this year, I launched a strike team to expedite unemployment payments and to minimize abuse of the

As State Fights Fraud

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer Matt Corral (Long Beach Poly) completed 24 of 36 for 385 yards and 2 TD’s to lead Ole Miss (4-4) to a 31-24 win over Mississippi State that earned him SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week…Lawrence White (Bakersfield, Ridgeview high) had 2 tackles as #13 Iowa State (7-2) edged #17 Texas 23-20 in a BIG-12 contest… LB Nate Landman (DanvilleMonte Vista high) of Colorado (3-0) had 11 tackles, 3 sacks in leading the Buffs to a 20-10 win over San Diego State…

JT Daniels (Mater Dei) connected on 10 of 16 passes for 139 and 2 TD’s ad the #13 Georgia defeated South Carolina 45-16…Najee Harris (Antioch High) ran for 96 yards on 11 carries as #1 Alabama (6-0) defeated Auburn 42-13 in the Iron Bowl…Ian Book (El Dorado Hills Oak Ridge High) completed 23 of 33 passes for 279 yards and 1TD, also Tariq Bracy (Milpitas, Milpitas High) had a tackle as #2 Notre Dame-(9-0) topped UNC 31-17.

Audubon: Images of ‘Racism, White Supremacy’ on Trail Signs CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – New Hampshire Audubon found several stickers on its trail signs last month with “images of hatred, racism, and white supremacy,’’ the nonprofit’s president said.

Doug Bechtel, president, said in a video message last week that the organization removed the “bumpersticker-sized’’ images and reported them to the Concord Police Department. New Hampshire Public Radio reported that there have been no developments since, and that other land trusts New Hampshire Audubon spoke with in the state didn’t report anything similar.

In the video, Bechtel noted that New Hampshire Audubon had issued a statement earlier this year saying it had zero tolerance for racism and would try to improve racial diversity following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the false attack claim made against birdwatcher Christian Cooper in New York’s Central Park.

Trails at the Silk Farm preserve have remained open during the coronavirus pandemic. Bechtel said the organization is working on several strategies to improve or be more welcoming to people of all backgrounds and abilities.

Continued on page A2

Small Businesses Can Apply for Up to $100,000 In Tax Credits Tanu Henry California Black Media Starting Dec.1 at 8 a.m., California small businesses that have hired new employees during the COVID-19 pandemic can begin applying for up to $100,000 in tax credits. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) has set up a portal on its website to receive the applications.

The CDTFA plans to close the window for accepting applications on January 15, 2021. However, the agency is warning businessowners to apply as soon as possible for the tax credits that will be awarded on a “first come, first serve” basis. If there is a high volume of applications, the agency says it might terminate the program earlier.

In September, Gov Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 1447 into law, responding to the devastating effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on small businesses in the state. According to Opportunity Insights, a Harvard University online tracker that monitors the health of economies across the United States, California’s small businesses are down 29.3% in revenue compared to January of this year. According to Yelp’s September local impact economic report, more than 19,000 businesses have closed

California College Football Roll Call

in California since the beginning to the COVID-19 global health crisis.

“As the authors of SB 1447, we want to make you aware of a new $100 million tax credit created by that legislation: The Small Business Hiring Credit. This is one way that we are working to ease economic hardships imposed on small businesses due to the necessary response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” three California senators

who introduced the legislation wrote in a letter reminding businesses in the state to apply for the assistance.

The letter -- signed by Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Los Angeles), Sen. Anna M. Caballero (D-Salinas) and Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) – says “eligible small businesses can receive $1,000 in credit for each net new hire that occurred during the second half of 2020, up to $100,000 per business.”

Small businesses can apply the tax credits to both personal and corporate income tax liabilities or sales and use tax liabilities from the 2020 tax year.

To qualify, the applying small business must have less than 100 employees (including part-time employees). It must have suffered a 50 % or more year-over-year decrease in revenue during the second quarter of 2020 (from April 2020 to June 2020); and it must have hired new employees between July 2020 and November 2020.

“Thank you to all the hardworking California small business owners that continue to persist through the difficulties of this year. If you are eligible for the Small Business Hiring Credit, we hope you will apply,” the three senators closed their letter to small business owners.

Prison Sentence for Man Who Threatened Black Renters GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) – A North Carolina man who pleaded guilty three months ago to charges that he threatened to shoot an African American family for renting a home has been sentenced to more than two years in prison.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the prison sentenced handed down to Douglas Matthew Gurkins, 34, on Monday, is followed by three years of supervised release. No hometown was given for Gurkins, and officials didn’t say where the incidents occurred.

Court documents said Gurkins drove to the family’s home, yelled racial slurs at them and told them they didn’t belong in the home. According to the documents, Gurkins threatened to shoot the mother and four children and any other Black people who entered the property. He then threatened the family with a metal rod, prosecutors said. The family moved out a few days later.

The defendant made similar threats toward two other Black families living in the same neighborhood, according to a Justice Department news release.

A2

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, December 3, 2020

World & Nation

Black Lawmakers from States Across the Country Are Meeting This Week Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media Various state legislators, policy advocates, subject matter experts, and young emerging leaders from across the country will convene virtually for the National Black Conference of State Legislators’ (NBCSL) this week. It is the NBCSL’s 44th annual legislative conference and college fair.

Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus -- including the group’s chair Shirley N. Weber (D-San Diego) -- are expected to attend.

Hundreds are expected participate in the online meeting, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 30 through Dec. 5. Conference discussions will focus on how state leaders are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and finding solutions to the many challenges that exist as a result of the crisis.

“Join us and tens of thousands just like you at the most extraordinary virtual summit in modern history,” said South Carolina House of Representatives’ member Gilda CobbHunter, a Democrat and president of NBCSL. “NBCSL’s annual summit will empower you through education and training, encouraging you to lead, equipping you to work and empowering you to thrive. Make the rest of your life the best of your rights.”

Organizers say conference attendees will also learn about steps leaders around the country are taking to protect the Black community from police violence while tackling a myriad of social and environmental justice issues.

The NBCSL is an organization that represents and serves the interests of African American State legislators.

It serves as a national network, information exchange,

advocate, and catalyst for public policy development as well as joint action on critical issues affecting African Americans and other marginalized communities.

In addition, this year NBCSL partnered with S.A.V.E. -- Students Advocating Vital Engagements -- to launch the inaugural “S.A.V.E. Summit” on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5.

S.A.V.E. is an organization that inspires young people to become civically engaged.

S.A.V.E. members are looking forward to reaching out to about 100,000 young people participating in the NBCSL annual legislative conference.

The S.A.V.E. Summit will present workshops with the help of experts and celebrities, including Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, former NBA player Metta World Peace and Gene Simmons of the heavy metal rock band KISS. Students interested in participating in the event, can register for free at SaveThatSeat.com.

The 700-member NBCSL, representing more than 60 million Americans of various racial backgrounds, has worked over the last several years to include students in their programs as a means of giving them the tools to learn about and implement their civic duties.

During the summit, young people from around the country will shape public policy and promote positive social change.

Through research, education, and advocacy, NBCSL strengthens its members and helps ensure their strong, effective, and influential voice on Capitol Hill. Get more information about NBCSL’s annual Legislative Conference.

“Registration is free,” Cobb-Hunter said. “That means the only currency you’ll be spending is your time. So, spend it wisely.”

State’s Top Doc to Lead Advisory Team as African Americans Raise COVID-19 Vaccine Concerns vaccine, from separate clinical trials is up to 90% effective.

Pfizer announced Nov. 20 that it has asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grant an emergency use authorization for its vaccine. On Nov. 22, Moncef Siaoui, the head of Operation Warp Speed -- the federal government’s program to produce and deliver 300 million doses of the vaccine by January 2021-- told CNN that the group plans to begin administering the vaccine immediately.

“Our plan is to be able to ship vaccines to the immunization sites within 24 hours from the approval, so I would expect maybe on day two after approval, on the 11th or on the 12th of December, hopefully, the first people will be immunized across the United States, across all states,” Slaoui told CNN. The FDA committee in charge of the emergency use authorization is scheduled to meet Dec. 10. According to reports, Pfizer and U.S. government officials expect to have 30 to 40 million doses of the vaccine before the end of the year, enough for 20 million people.

Officials have yet to decide which groups of people will qualify for the first round of vaccinations, but they are expected to start with groups vulnerable to infection first, including health care workers, older adults, and people who have risk factors such as obesity or diabetes.

According to Slaoui, herd immunity is expected by around May 2021.

During a Nov. 13 press conference, medical officials spoke about the progress of various vaccine trials.

One challenge they discussed was the distribution logistics of the Pfizer vaccine, which must be kept frozen while stored and transported.

Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris California Surgeon General

Dr. Oliver Brooks, who is the immediate past president of the National Medical Association

Quinci LeGardye California Black Media Nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic, three vaccine trials have yielded promising results, and the first round of Americans could begin to receive shots as early as mid-December.

Last week, the California Department of Public Health announced that California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris will chair the state’s Community Vaccine Advisory Committee. The group Burke-Harris leads will help guide the state’s decision making about vaccine distribution.

“While the COVID-19 vaccine is new, we are not starting our planning process from scratch. This is an area of expertise we have strong partnerships in, building on lessons learned from previous vaccination campaigns, including H1N1 and the seasonal flu,” said Gov. Newsom.

But as the anticipated end of the global pandemic finally comes into our line of sight, some Black activists are raising concerns shared and echoed by skeptical African Americans across the country.

Earlier this month, San Diego civil rights organization People’s Alliance for Justice (PAFJ) sent letters to the four companies developing COVID-19 vaccines, asking them to release data regarding the diversity of vaccine trial

participants.

“We need a break down of race and ethnicity to analyze data regarding whether communities of color are overrepresented in these trials or underrepresented or equally represented and how our communities are responding to the call for volunteering,” wrote Shane Harris, PAFJ’s president in the letter.

According to Harris, Pfizer, the global pharmaceutical company, has responded to his inquiry. He shared the letter with California Black Media.

“With regard to your data request, the demographic data collected to date shows that approximately 30% of trial participants in the United States have racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds,” the letter from the CEO of Pfizer reads. “More specifically, 10.1% of U.S. participants are Black, and 13.1% of U.S. participants are of Hispanic/Latinx origin. Please find additional demographic information at the global and U.S. levels here.”

Pfizer says it also plans to present subgroup analyses by age, race and ethnicity and may also do an evaluation by country.

Dr. Oliver Brooks, who is the immediate past president of the National Medical Association (NMA), said during a California Black Legislative Caucus (CLBC)

Dr Rodney Hood M.D.

press conference last week that he has also met with the companies developing vaccines and verified that African Americans are included in the trials.

The CLBC organized the virtual press conference to highlight work Black elected officials and healthcare professionals are doing to address the pandemic in California’s African American communities.

Asked whether the vaccine will be prioritized in communities that have been COVID-19 hot spots, which are primarily Black and Brown communities, BurkeHarris says she is taking steps to make sure that process is inclusive.

“We will be reviewing the distribution plan and ensuring that we are having an equitable framework for vaccine distribution,” said Burke-Harris.

Two of the companies developing a COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer, in partnership with BioNTech, and Moderna, announced Nov. 9 and 16, respectively, that their vaccines are producing promising vaccine trial results. The Pfizer vaccine is estimated to be more than 90 % effective, with 94 trial participants out of nearly 44,000 contracting COVID-19. The Moderna vaccine was found to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection by 94.5 %.

A third company, AstraZeneca, which is developing a vaccine with Oxford University announced that its

Unemployed Californians Get Caught in the Middle

Continued from page A1

system. While we have made improvements, we need to do more,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom in a statement.

Over the past few months, the EDD says it has been investigating fraud cases involving people who have allegedly exploited relaxed rules intended to speed up federal aid payments to people the COVID-19 pandemic has affected most, including self-employed workers and independent contractors. Investigations publicly reported so far include one case where out-of-state suspects were arrested while attempting to buy luxury goods on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills using multiple EDD debit cards.

In another, a rapper posted a music video online called “EDD” in which he appeared to brag about defrauding the department.

While law enforcement authorities have found some credible instances of fraud, lawmakers and advocates for unemployed Californians and low-wage workers have been

concerned that innocent claimants have gotten caught up in the state’s offensive to prevent fraud. On Oct. 22, EDD announced that they had frozen 350,000 benefit debit cards because of suspicious activity. After the freeze, there were reports of significant numbers of innocent unemployed workers left without their benefits because officials had erroneously targeted them in the operation.

“Our offices have been hearing complaints from constituents with legitimate claims who have had their EDD debit cards frozen as a part of this fraud prevention measure. Again, EDD seems unable to address fraud without harming Californians who are depending on them for benefits,” said Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco).

The EDD has been plagued by backlogs in processing benefit claims since the beginning of the pandemic. At one point, the number of unprocessed claims totaled

over 1.6 million. More than 16.4 million claims have been filed since March. The backup has left millions of Californians without access to unemployment benefits.

This is happening as reports emerge of many Californians falling behind on their rents and becoming food insecure.

State Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama), former chair of the Board of Prison Terms, said “Countless Californians continue to wait for their unemployment benefits. They worked hard and lost their jobs through no fault of their own. They are desperately waiting for their debit cards to pay for rent and other bills, while prisoners are paid. This exemplifies how dysfunctional California government has become.”

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, the program that gets benefits to self-employed workers and contractors, is set to expire Dec. 31.

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Thursday, December 3, 2020

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER A3

Features

Trevor Beck and Issac Rochell Founders of Local Human and the Do Good Foundation at their initial Thanksgiving Dinner giveaway in Santa Ana, CA. (Photo Credit: Voice of the Fans)

Trevor Beck Founder of Local Human and Do Good Foundation talks to the volunteers at their initial Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway prior to Thanksgiving 2020. (Photo Credit: Voice of the Fans)

Chargers Trai Turner Partners with Isaac Rochell to provide Thanksgiving Meals to Local Families

By Cameron Buford whatsgoodinsports.com With many families across America facing unemployment, food insecurities, and homelessness a few guys set out to assure local families facing these circumstances could enjoy their recent Thanksgiving holiday. Turner Trai Turner partners with fellow Los Angeles Chargers Isaac Rochell and Trevor Beck of Local Human by providing turkeys and Thanksgiving meals to local families to give back to their community. However, Turner was unable to attend the event due to COVID-19 concerns.

The funds donated by five-time NFL Pro Bowler Trai Turner to Local Human has helped to provide Thanksgiving turkeys as well as traditional fixings including, but not limited to, stuffing mix, potatoes, veggies to assist in a 450 total families’ hearty holiday. Through a well thought out drive-through pick-up process while following all local CDC health safety protocols, participating volunteers placed groceries into the trunk of

each family’s vehicle who passed through Raymond A. Villa Fundamental Intermediate School last week.

Started more than six months ago with the mantra “Do good, feel good,” Trevor Beck exclaims, “Everything boils down to being a good person and doing the right thing… doing good makes you feel the best.” After a conversation with Chargers DE Isaac Rochell, they founded Local Human. They both spent the day distributing complete Thanksgiving dinner meals for families in need.

When I spoke to Volunteer Coordinator Lily Foster, says “she reached out to them after they did something awesome for her dad who is a teacher and one of their biggest initiatives is (helping) teachers.” For those wanting to volunteer, and donate their time and goodwill, they posted their volunteering needs on www.localhuman.co just fill out the volunteer form and they will reach out to you.

Additionally, I spoke the Bekah Stanton, a Grad Student

at Notre Dame, about her reasoning for participating in this event and she mentions, “serving others is what really guides me and gives me my energy.” When asked what asked sparked that desire to give back, she replied, “Just seeing the impact of how much a simple gesture could have… giving someone meals for Thanksgiving, that has just a massive impact is something I want to be a part of!”

Lastly, I spoke to Chargers Defensive End Isaac Rochell, kind soul and partial Founder of this wonderful event. When asked what initiated this partnership Isaac told me, “Local Human started as a conviction to give back… We were like we need to give back to the people who are most impacted by COVID. So, we identified the elderly population and so we started Local Human, literally to give back to the elderly population.” He continued to say, “What that’s turned into is just a series of campaigns and different initiatives like this, and where we’ve donated over $50,000.”

Amid COVID and Racial Unrest

Black Churches Put Faith in Mental Health

By Aneri Pattani California Healthline Wilma Mayfield used to visit a senior center in Durham, North Carolina, four days a week and attend Lincoln Memorial Baptist Church on Sundays, a ritual she’s maintained for nearly half a century. But over the past 10 months, she’s seen only the inside of her home, the grocery store and the pharmacy. Most of her days are spent worrying about COVID-19 and watching TV. It’s isolating, but she doesn’t talk about it much.

When Mayfield’s church invited a psychologist to give a virtual presentation on mental health during the pandemic, she decided to tune in.

The hourlong discussion covered COVID’s disproportionate toll on communities of color, rising rates of depression and anxiety, and the trauma caused by police killings of Black Americans. What stuck with Mayfield were the tools to improve her own mental health.

“They said to get up and get out,” she said. “So I did.”

The next morning, Mayfield, 67, got into her car and drove around town, listening to 103.9 gospel radio and noting new businesses that had opened and old ones that had closed. She felt so energized that she bought chicken, squash and greens, and began her Thanksgiving cooking early.

“It was wonderful,” she said. “The stuff that lady talked about [in the presentation], it opened up doors for me.”

As Black people face an onslaught of grief, stress and isolation triggered by a devastating pandemic and repeated instances of racial injustice, churches play a crucial role in addressing the mental health of their members and the greater community.

Religious institutions have long been havens for emotional support. But faith leaders say the challenges of this year have catapulted mental health efforts to the forefront of their mission.

Some are preaching about mental health from the pulpit for the first time. Others are inviting mental health professionals to speak to their congregations, undergoing mental health training themselves or adding more therapists to the church staff.

“COVID undoubtedly has escalated this conversation in great ways,” said Keon Gerow, senior pastor at Catalyst Church in West Philadelphia. “It has forced Black churches — some of which have been older, traditional and did not want to have this conversation — to actually now have this conversation in a very real way.”

At Lincoln Memorial Baptist, leaders who organized the virtual presentation with the psychologist knew that people like Mayfield were struggling but might be reluctant to seek help. They thought members might be more open to sensitive discussions if they took place in a safe, comfortable setting like church.

It’s a trend that psychologist Alfiee Breland-Noble, who gave the presentation, has noticed for years.

Through her nonprofit organization, the AAKOMA Project, Breland-Noble and her colleagues often speak to church groups about depression, recognizing it as one of the best ways to reach a diverse segment of the Black community and raise mental health awareness.

This year, the AAKOMA Project has received clergy requests that are increasingly urgent, asking to focus on coping skills and

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER 20SMCP00393 Superior Court of the State of California, for the county of Los Angeles, 1725 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 PETITION OF: PAOLA ANDREA MONTERO SALAZAR FOR CHANGE OF NAME TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: PAOLA ANDREA MONTERO SALAZAR for a decree changing names as follows: Present name PAOLA ANDREA MONTERO SALAZAR Filed a petition with this court Proposed name PAOLA ANDREA BAILEY THE COURT ORDERS: that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the pe-

PUBLIC NOTICE tition should not be granted if no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: Jan 29, 2021 Time: 8:30 a.m.

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

A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER Date: November 10, 2020 Hon. Lawrence Cho JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT Marcos Mariseal DEPUTY Petitioner: Paola Andrea Montero Salazar 3219 Overland Avenue, Apt 9197 Los Angeles, Ca. 90034 Phone: (310) 844-3637 E-mail Address: paolaabailey@gmail. com LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Nov 26, Dec 3, 10, 17, 2020

tools people can use immediately, Breland-Noble said.

“After George Floyd’s death, it became: ‘Please talk to us about exposure to racial trauma and how we can help congregations deal with this,’” she said. “‘Because this is a lot.’”

Across the country, mental health needs are soaring. And Black Americans are experiencing significant strain: A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this summer found 15% of non-Hispanic Black adults had seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days and 18% had started or increased their use of substances to cope with pandemic-related stress.

Yet national data shows Blacks are less likely to receive mental health treatment than the overall population. A memo released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration this spring lists engaging faith leaders as one way to close this gap.

The Potter’s House in Dallas has been trying to do that for years. A megachurch with more than 30,000 members, it runs a counseling center with eight licensed clinicians, open to congregants and the local community to receive counseling at no cost, though donations are accepted.

Since the pandemic began, the center has seen a 30% increase in monthly appointments compared with previous years, said center director Natasha Stewart. During the summer, when protests over race and policing were at their height, more Black men came to therapy for the first time, she said.

Recently, there’s been a surge in families seeking services.

Staying home together has brought up conflicts previously ignored, Stewart said.

“Before, people had ways to escape,” she said, referring to work or school. “With some of those escapes not available anymore, counseling has become a more viable option.”

To meet the growing demand, Stewart is adding a new counselor position for the first time in eight years.

At smaller churches, where funding a counseling center is unrealistic, clergy are instead turning to members of the congregation to address growing mental health needs.

At Catalyst Church, a member with a background in crisis management has begun leading monthly COVID conversations online. A deacon has been sharing his own experience getting therapy to encourage others to do the same. And Gerow, the senior pastor, talks openly about mental health.

Recognizing his power as a pastor, Gerow hopes his words on Sunday morning and in one-on-one conversations will help congregants seek the help they need. Doing so could reduce substance use and gun violence in the community, he said.

Perhaps it would even lower the number of mental health crises that lead to police involvement, like the October death of Walter Wallace Jr., whose family said he was struggling with mental health issues when Philadelphia police shot him.

“If folks had the proper tools, they’d be able to deal with their grief and stress in different ways,” Gerow said. “Prayer alone is not always enough.”

Laverne Williams recognized that back in the ’90s. She believed prayer was powerful, but as an employee of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, she knew there was a need for treatment too.

When she heard pastors tell people they could pray away mental illness or use blessed oil to cure what seemed like symptoms of schizophrenia, she worried. And she knew many people of color were not seeing professionals, often due to barriers of cost, transportation, stigma and distrust of the medical system.

To address this disconnect, Williams created a video and PowerPoint presentation and tried to educate faith leaders.

At first, many clergy turned her away. People thought seeking mental health treatment meant your faith wasn’t strong enough, Williams said.

But over time, some members of the clergy have come to

Keon Gerow, senior pastor at Catalyst Church in West Philadelphia, talks openly about mental health from the pulpit and one-on-one with hiscongregants. (Kass McIntosh)

realize the two can coexist, said Williams, adding that being a deacon herself has helped her gain their trust. This year alone, she’s trained 20 faith leaders in mental health topics.

A program run by the Behavioral Health Network of Greater St. Louis is taking a similar approach. The Bridges to Care and Recovery program trains faith leaders in “mental health first aid,” suicide prevention, substance use and more, through a 20-hour course.

The training builds on the work faith leaders are already doing to support their communities, said senior program manager Rose Jackson-Beavers. In addition to the tools of faith and prayer, clergy can now offer resources, education and awareness, and refer people to professional therapists in the network.

Since 2015, the program has trained 261 people from 78 churches, Jackson-Beavers said.

Among them is Carl Lucas, pastor of God First Church in northern St. Louis County who graduated this July — just in time, by his account.

Since the start of the pandemic, he has encountered two congregants who expressed suicidal thoughts. In one case, church leaders referred the person to counseling and followed up to ensure they attended therapy sessions. In the other, the root concern was isolation, so the person was paired with church members who could touch base regularly, Lucas said.

“The pandemic has definitely put us in a place where we’re looking for answers and looking for other avenues to help our members,” he said. “It has opened our eyes to the reality of mental health needs.”

Two congregants expressed suicidal thoughts to Carl Lucas, pastor at God First Church in northern St. Louis County. “The pandemic has definitelyput us in a place where we’re looking for answers and looking for other avenues to help our members,” he says. (Evelyn Lucas)

Laverne Williams got worried when she heard pastors tell people they could pray away mental illness.

She created a multimediapresentation toeducate faith leaders about mental health to show that faith and mental health can coexist.(Laverne Williams)

The newly founded Local Human has its apparel line available strictly founded with the premise of giving back. One Hundred percent of proceeds generated by Local Human are invested back into the community through the Do Good Foundation.

Additionally, every time one of their shirts is purchased, Local Human will in turn donate a shirt to a local California foster center. You are encouraged to visit www.localhuman.co for more information and their future community efforts and events.

Many of you have heard me express my thoughts on the bad rap many athletes get, it’s events like this that I enjoy covering and sharing with the public that completely dispels that myth.

This is a tremendous, initiative that deserves all the support and adulation we can give. Kindly share your thoughts on Isaac’s, Trai’s, and Trevor’s initiative and feedback to @whatsgoodnsport on and efforts to make this world a better place. Twitter or you can forward any suggestions on what topics or angles you’d like to see things discussed to info@whatsgoodinsports.com.

PresidentElect Biden Fills Out Staff with Women of Color; Black Men Nominated for Key Posts Continued from page A1

director Jen Psaki will serve as press secretary, while Kate Bedingfield, who served as deputy campaign manager and communications director for the campaign, will be White House communications director.

Pili Tobar, who served as the communications director for coalitions on the campaign, will serve as deputy White House communications director.

Additionally, Biden was said to learn toward a nomination of Adewale “Wally” Adeyemo to serve as Deputy Treasury Secretary.

If confirmed, Adeyemo, the current president of the Obama Foundation in Chicago, would be the first Black person to hold that powerful position.

The Biden/Harris team has also selected Cecilia Rouse to lead the Council of Economic Advisers.

This appointment would make Rouse the first woman of color to chair the council.

In what could be another historic nomination, many believe that Biden is set to name Darrell Blocker the first African American CIA director.

Blocker has spent about 30 years at the CIA, so experience isn’t a question. He started as an analyst with the Air Force before joining the CIA, taking on various undercover assignments.

“My clandestine activities were enhanced by being viewed as a singer, because who would ever think that one could be both?’

Blocker told ABC News in a 2019 interview.

“That is a leap too far for most, and I honestly feel that it kept me safer by being in plain sight.”

Biden and Harris also announced they are forming a Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) to organize activities surrounding their swearing-in on January 20, 2021, announcing the initial senior leadership team who will lead PIC and unveiling its online presence.

The selections, which include two African Americans, and all individuals of color include: Tony Allen, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer The President of Delaware State University (DSU), one of the nation’s premiere public Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Before being appointed President, Dr. Allen served as Executive Vice President and Provost at DSU and previously led Bank of America’s corporate reputation group.

He is also the Founding President of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League and co-Founder of Public Allies Delaware. In the 90’s, Allen worked in then-Senator Biden’s office as a Special Assistant and Speechwriter.

Maju Varghese, Executive Director Chief Operating Officer and Senior Advisor on the BidenHarris campaign from the primaries through the general, overseeing the campaign’s day-to-day operations and leading the entire campaign through an unprecedented shift to remote working.

Varghese previously served in the Obama White House in various roles, including Assistant to the President for Management and Administration and Deputy Director of Advance.

He has also worked as the Chief Operating Officer at The Hub Project and a Senior Advisor at the law firm Dentons.

Erin Wilson, Deputy Executive Director Wilson served as the Biden-Harris campaign’s National Political Director throughout the primary and general elections, the senior staff member responsible for relationships with hundreds of elected officials and leaders across the country.

Previously, Wilson was a senior aide in Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey’s office, most recently serving as his State Director and Senior Advisor to his 2018 reelection. She is also a Hillary for America and Democratic National Committee alumna.

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Entertainment LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Mike Tyson Returns to Ring Draws in Exhibition with Jones

The former heavyweight champion of the world traded lively punches with Roy Jones Jr. for eight entertaining rounds that ended with two middle-aged legends wearily hugging each other in mutual admiration.

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) – Mike Tyson stepped through the ropes in his signature black trunks and heard the opening bell in a boxing ring for the first time in 15 years.

The former heavyweight champion of the world traded lively punches with Roy Jones Jr. for eight entertaining rounds that ended with two middle-aged legends wearily hugging each other in mutual admiration.

Their fight was only an exhibition, and it ended in a draw.

But for Tyson, the experience evoked the joy and excitement he felt so long ago at the start of his boxing career _ and it was likely the start of a new chapter in his epic life.

“I'm happy I'm not knocked out,” Tyson said. “I'll look better in the next one.''

Tyson showed glimpses of his destructive prime Saturday night during the 54-year-old boxing icon's return to the ring against the 51-year-old Jones.

Tyson had the most impactful punches, showing off versions of the footwork and combinations that made him the world's most feared fighter. After eight two-minute rounds, both Tyson and Jones emerged from Staples Center smiling and apparently healthy.

“This is better than fighting for championships,'' Tyson said of the heavyweight exhibition, which raised money for various charities. “We're humanitarians now. We can do something good for the world. We've got to do this again.''

Tyson's return to the ring for this show attracted international attention, and Iron Mike did his best to demonstrate his months of work to recapture a measure of the form that made him a legend to a generation of boxing fans.

Tyson tagged Jones with body shots, head shots and a particularly nasty uppercut during a bout that was required by the California State Athletic Commission to be a reasonably safe, glorified sparring session.

Tyson was exhausted two hours afterward, but also clearly energized as he recounted his emotions with his wife and team looking on.

“I took my youth for granted,'' Tyson said. “This event made me find out what I was really made of. ... My body feels splendid.

I want to beat it up some more.''

Tyson intends to fight in more exhibitions next year, perhaps heading to Monte Carlo next to challenge a European fighter. He didn't close the door on the possibility of a full-fledged comeback, although that would be many fights in the future.

For one night, Tyson and Jones were back at the center of the sports world, and they reveled in it.

“I'm happy to scratch that off my bucket list and move on with my life,'' said Jones, the former four-division world champion widely considered the most skilled boxer of his generation. “He hit harder than I thought. Everything hurt. His hands hurt.

His head hurts. Everything hurt when I made contact. He's an exceptional puncher still. He can do anything he wants next.''

Neither fighter was deceived by the quality of the bout.

While both came out throwing punches that evoked echoes of their glorious primes, they also tied up frequently on the inside, and their occasionally labored breathing could be heard on the microphones in the empty arena.

Hip hop star Snoop Dogg's witty television commentary was among the loudest noises inside Staples, and he had a handful of zingers: “This is like two of my uncles fighting at the barbecue!''

But Tyson and Jones were the headliners in the most improbable pay-per-view boxing event in years, engineered by social networking app Triller and featuring fights interspersed with hip hop performances in an empty arena.

The event was derided as an anti-sporting spectacle by some critics, yet both Tyson and Jones appeared to handle themselves capably and safely. Their fans were clearly enthralled, with the show getting enormous traction on social media.

Some of that success was due to the co-main event, in which YouTube star Jake Paul knocked out former NBA player Nate Robinson in the second round of Robinson's pro boxing debut.

Paul, in his second pro fight, recorded three knockdowns against Robinson, the three-time NBA Slam Dunk contest champion, before an overhand right put Robinson flat on his face and apparently unconscious.

But most of the fans tuned in to watch Tyson, many for the first time. Any boxing fan who came of age after Tyson retired from boxing in 2005 had never seen a live fight from the legendary figure – and within the bounds of this event, Tyson delivered.

Tyson said he no longer had “the fighting guts or the heart'' after he quit in a dismal loss to journeyman Peter McBride in his final bout.

Finally free of his sport's relentless pressure, Tyson gradually straightened out his life, kicking a self-described drug addiction and eventually succeeding in acting, stage performance, charity work and even marijuana cultivation while settling into comfortable family life in Las Vegas with his third wife and their children.

The idea of a boxing comeback seemed preposterous, but Tyson started toward this unlikely fight when he started doing 15 daily minutes on a treadmill a few years ago at his wife's urging in a bid to lose 100 pounds. The workouts soon became multi-hour affairs encompassing biking, running and finally punching as he regained a measure of his athletic prime through discipline and a vegan diet.

Tyson posted a video of himself hitting pads on social media early in the coronavirus pandemic, and the overwhelming public response led to several lucrative offers for a ring comeback. With the chance to make money for himself and for charity, Tyson eventually agreed to take on Jones long after the chance of their dream matchup seemed dashed.

Tyson and Jones negotiated with the California commission over the limitations of their bout, eventually arriving at eight twominute rounds of hard sparring with only ceremonial judging and no official winner. The WBC still stepped in to award a ceremonial “Frontline Battle Belt'' to both fighters.

Mike Tyson credits toad venom for his return to boxing ring. Photo courtesy Sport Grind Entertainment

Issa Rae Urges Participation in Small Business Saturday

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) – With many small businesses struggling to hold on during the coronavirus pandemic, Issa Rae believes now is the time to support independent stores more than ever.

The creator and star of HBO series “Insecure’’ strongly encourages people to shop locally as part of Small Business Saturday, a couple days after Thanksgiving. She said the initiative created by American Express, for which she is a compensated endorser, can help give an extra push during the holidays to small businesses who have gone into survival mode.

Rae said using “word of mouth’’ and tagging a business on social media tremendously helps.

“Survival is on the line,’’ the Emmy-nominated actor said in a recent interview. “You’re seeing the pandemic shut down so many businesses and businesses are struggling. I think now is the best time to shoutout some of the places that literally need you to keep their doors open.’’

While growing up, Rae learned the importance of shopping at small businesses from her grandparents and

mother while living in Inglewood, California. As a child, she initially wanted to shop the popular brands, but ultimately saw the value of spending her own dollars in her neighborhood as she grew older.

“For some reason in my mind, it was ingrained that these businesses weren’t good enough because they didn’t have the means to advertise on television,” she said. “I felt like we were getting the low brand version of what I really wanted. But as I grew up, I realized – while embracing my neighborhood _ how harmful that perspective was.’’

On Saturday, Rae will be purchasing products from a few Black-owned businesses including Queen Boutique in Los Angeles. The actor also became a partner and coowner of a coffee shop called Hilltop Coffee and Kitchen in Inglewood last year.

So far, during the pandemic, Rae has watched several businesses close down, which she says “breaks my heart.”

“These are the people within our community,’’ she said. “These are the people who are thinking of us first.

That is valuable as a consumer to know that you’re in a business owner’s mind.’’

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Sports

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER A5

Rams Have A Fall At Very End

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer Nothing in the NFL is predictable last week the Rams got a big road win against the Tampa Bay Bucs. This week they fell to a San Francisco team that was depleted by injuries.

Some years ago while watching an NFL game a young Garry Heath said, “Turnovers will kill you dead from this world.” Garry was just a big sports fans but what he said still applies in today’s game.

That turned out to be true as after a Los Angeles Rams turnover Robbie Gould kicked a 42-yard FG as time expired to give the 49ers a 23-20 win over the Rams at SoFi Stadium.

Early in the third quarter Rams QB Jarred Goff dropped back to pass he was pressured and threw the ball to a leaping Javon Kinlaw who came down with the interception then took it 27 yards for a touchdown. The rookie from South Carolina was activated just this week.

In all Goff threw two interceptions and coughed up a fumble that gave him an unwanted 11 turnovers in the last four games.

“Our quarterbacks have got to take better care of the

football, ” said Rams Head coach Sean Mcvay. When asked what could Goff do better: “We’ve gone over this but it might be an individual situation. It might be keeping two hands on the ball.

The Rams defense held the 49er’s (5-6) to 348 yards of offense and 3 of 13 on third down conversion’s. After only giving up only seven points in the first half they played like the number one ranked defense in the league.

There was a period in the game where Aaron Donald took over. He tipped pass that was intercepted by Jordan Fuller and it led to a Matt Gay field goal that made the score 17-6 RAMS he and the defense took things into their own hands.

After the ensuing kick-off Donald stripped running back James Joseph after he took a handoff from Nick Mullens- Troy Hill scooped it up who ran it in from 20 yards to make the score 17-13. It was Donald’s 19 force fumble of his career.

Gay appears to have made things more comfortable in the kicking game making two of two from 41 and 48 yards with ease. “He’s appears to be confident and reassuring,” said McVay He’s what we may be looking for long term.

Troy Reeder replacing the injured Micah Kiser had a

career high 15 tackles as part of a career best 12 solo. The Rams only gave up 126 yards on the ground.

After a three and out by the 49ers- Cam Akers took a hand-off from Goff and race 61 yards cross field to the 7-yard -line on the final play the third. On the first play of the fourth he took it to the one then in for the score.

Gay hit the PAT and the Rams led for the first time in the second half 20-17.

The Rams (7-4) could have gone to Akers more as the rookie had 81 yards on just nine carries. It marked the fourth straight loss to the Niners and the first at SoFi. The Ramstravel to Arizona next week.

RAM NOTES: Robert Woods had 7 catches for 80-yards. Goff was 19 of 31 for 198 yards with two interceptions giving him a passer rating of 52.9, his lowest of the year. Cooper Kupp finished the day with 41 yards on 2 receptions including a 30 yarder his third straight week with a 30 plus yard catch. Jordan Fuller is just the eighth RAM to have three interceptions in his rookie season. A bright spot -the RAMS only had 3 penalties for 27 yards.

Old reliable Johnny Hekker had 7 punts for a 49-yard average including a 62 yarder.

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer As a senior UCLA running back Demetric Felton Jr. is trying to pull out all the stops to help his team win. He got off to a good start by rushing for 134 yards in the first half helping his team jump out to a 20-7 lead after trailing 7-0 to Arizona.

When the dust settled the six-foot 200 pounder had finished with 206 yards on 36 carries both career highs leading the Bruins to a 27-10 win over Arizona.

“He has worked extremely hard since he’s moved to running back,” said head coach Chip Kelly. “He has turned himself into a quality back.”

Felton Jr. also caught 4 passes for 21 yards and has one catch in 16 consecutive games he has rushed for 100 yards in three straight games. The Bruins finished with 281 yards on the ground.

Chase Griffith was steady completing 12 of 20 for 129 yards and no interceptions. The freshman appeared to be comfortable in his second start and getting his first win as a starter replacing the Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Brittain Brown had ran for 72 yards on 16 carries for a 4.6 average and his third straight game with a touchdown for the Bruins (2-2).

On the Defensive side Bo Calvert led tacklers with 8 tackles

followed by Stephan Blalock with seven and he had his first career interception.

Elijah Gates had five and an interception helping the Bruins win the turnover battle 2-0.

“I challenged our defense to see if they could come up with them(turnovers) and they came up with two,” added Kelly.

Rams star defensive lineman Aaron Donald ready to get after it this past Sunday at SoFi Stadium against the rival 49ers. (Photo: Brevin Townsell/LA Rams)

Bruins Ground Attack Leads to Win The UCLA-D gave up just 290 total yards to the Wildcats (0-3) BRUIN NOTES: DTR who is out due to contact tracing.

He and eight others including Quentin Lake and Kazmeir Allen may be back this week vs. Arizona State.

Patterson, Landman Earn Walter Camp

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer Jared Patterson and Nate Landman were named National Players of the Week by the Walter Camp Foundation.

Patterson earn his honor while rushing for 409 yards on 36 carries and scoring on eight rushing touchdowns to lead the University of Buffalo Bulls to a 70-41 win over Kent State.

The junior running back from Glendale Maryland had four TD runs of 30 yards or more while averaging 11 yards per carry.

“I could call a game for 40 more years and I would never see a performance like that,” wrote head coach Lance Leipold twitter.

Patterson is fifth in the nation in rushing with 920 yards and he first averaging 230 yards per game on the ground while leading the Bulls to a 4-0 record.

“Welcome to the Eight Touchdown Club,” said Howard Griffith a former Illinois RB who also scored 8 TD’s in a game.

Griffith now works for the BIG-10 Network.

This is the second time he has won the WC Player of week award. He also was honored in December 1 of 2019 after rushing for 298 yards and six TD’s against Bowling Green.

On the defensive side Landman who was excited about the

honor had 11 tackles, nine of them solo as the Buffs defeated San Diego State 20-10. The senior linebacker from Danville, California also had three sacks helping the defense hold the Aztecs to a field goal.

“I thought our defense played outstanding,” said head coach Carl Dorrell. “Nate has been a great leader since he’s been here, he has been exactly what we’ve expected to be. He’s a great player, he’s been a great leader and he’s sets the tone for our defense. It was a great win for our defense.” (allowed just 155 yards of total offense) Landman was also named PAC-12 Defensive Player of The Week and a semifinalist for the 36th Butkus Award.

The Buffs are 3-0 and have had games postponed and canceled. Landman is the first Colorado player to win the award since Terrance Wheatley in 2007.

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 founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideas of Camp and continue the tradition to select annual All-American team. This is the 17th year that the Foundation has awarded one Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week.

Nate Landman (53) makes one of his 11 tackles vs. San Diego State. The Danville CA native is also a semifinalist for the Butkus Award. (Photo: UC Athletics)

Jared Patterson (41) rushes for some of his 409 yards to lead U of Buffalo to a 70-41 win over Kent State. It was the second time he has won the WC Player of the Week award. (Photo: U of Buffalo Athletics)

Demetric Felton (10) rushed for career highs 32 carries and 206 yards. (Photo Credit: Don Lieberg)

Chargers Weekly- Chapter 16

By Cameron Buford whatsgoodinsports.com In consecutive weeks the Los Angeles Chargers will be facing an AFC East opponent in the Buffalo Bills. Though the Chargers are currently on a 4 game win streak against the Bills in Buffalo, these Bills come into this matchup leading their division and boasting a 7-3 record on the season. Whereas the Chargers snapped a 3 game losing streak with their win last week over the New York Jets.

That Chargers victory over the Jets came with some recordbreaking performances. Keenan Allen, in his eighth season, became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 600 receptions behind a team-record 16 catches on 19 targets. His young quarterback Justin Herbert also threw 277 yards in the first half along with his fifth performance with three-plus touchdown passes each is an NFL record for rookie quarterbacks.

The Bills quarterback, Josh Allen, will be coming into this game at the top of his game. He has 21 passing touchdowns, a touchdown catch, and a team-leading five rushing touchdowns.

According to Anthony Lynn, “They have an MVP quarterback; who is full of confidence” when asked about their offense. In regards to their defense, Lynn said, “They have a lot of playmakers on their defense… Sixteen different players have a sack on their football team.”

Though the Chargers would be without notable veterans Melvin Ingram, Casey Hayward, and Uchenna Nwosu on defense.

Their offense would welcome the return of four-year starter Austin Ekeler to the lineup in replacement of Kalen Ballage. Ekeler has not seen live game action since their week 4 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After exchanging touchdowns in the first quarter, the Bills ran up 17 unanswered points on the Chargers between the second and third quarter including a 4 yard TD run by Josh Allen. That TD run by Allen gave him his 6th rushing TD of the season, which leads his team. The Chargers finally responded with a 1 yard TD from Joshua Kelley TD and 2 point conversion catch by Keenan Allen midway through the third quarter.

After a forced fumble by reserve linebacker Nick Vigil, the Chargers were able to kick a 27-yard field goal and narrow the Bills’ lead to seven points early in the fourth quarter. Joey Bosa would recover a fumble on a botched snap by the Bills, though the Chargers offense would not be able to convert this turnover

Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30) breaks away for a big gain Sundayy as the Chargers visited the Buffalo Bills. (Photo: Mike Now/Los Angeles Chargers)

into points before punting. Shortly after that, as in the next series, Mike Davis of the Chargers picked off an errant pass by Allen.

Unfortunately, Herbert returned the favor by throwing his only interception of the game, which lead to a Bills field goal that extended their lead to 10 points with under 3:30 remaining in the game.

This game ended up being a reversal of fortunes for the Chargers as their defense was able to get the offense three turnovers at opportune times, though the offense was only able to

muster up 3 points off said turnovers. Their 17 points total, in this game, was only the third time all season that they have scored less than 20 points in a game, after having scored over 21 points in 7 consecutive games. In four of those 7 games, the Chargers scored over 30 points. Head Coach Anthony Lynn opened up his postgame press conference saying, “We were out of sync a little bit…

I thought they did a good mixing up their pressures and making us adjust at the line of scrimmage.” When asked about challenges the Chargers had on the offensive side of the ball, Justine Herbert

simply said, “We just didn’t execute today.”

Joey Bosa was visibly sour during his post-game press conference, although he surpassed the late Hall of Fame Linebacker Junior Seau to move into 5th place on the All-Time Chargers sack list. You could tell he wasn’t thrilled with the game’s outcome as he stated, “I really, really wanted to pull this one out, it’s hard to feel excited to after such a tough game like that.” He added, “We did a good job, but if you lose you obviously could do more!”

Going deeper into Joey’s big game vs the Bills, not only did he set a single-game career-high with three sacks. He became the first player to register three sacks, five QB hits, five tackles for loss, a pass deflected, and recover a fumble. Additionally, he joined only 2 others by recording three sacks, five QB hits, and break up a pass, and have a fumble recovery in a single game since quarterback hits began being tracked.

Also worth noting, even in the losses, is the continued stellar play of Justin Herbert. He has eclipsed Andrew Luck (2,965) for the 2nd-most pass yards in a player’s first 10 career games as well as has tied Luck (6 in 2012) for the most games with 300+ pass yards by a rookie in NFL history and the Super Bowl era. Just as impressive as either of those stats, Herbert has joined Patrick Mahomes as the only players since 1950 with 3,000+ pass yards in their first 10 career starts and humbly he’d give props to his teammates and coaches for his immediate success.

Even with these historic performances, the Chargers have found yet another way to lose a game. Though it wasn’t the special teams’ miscues or the defense giving up big plays, strangely it was the inability to score points and capitalize on the turnovers, which hasn’t happened many times this season, but let them down on Sunday vs the Buffalo Bills.

With the season winding down, it will be interesting to see how the veterans and this coaching staff will be able to hold things together and build unity and chemistry for next season.

Kindly share your thoughts on how you see this team finishing this season. I can be reached at @whatsgoodnsport on Twitter or you can forward any suggestions on what topics or angles you’d like to see things 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!

Local Tips to Help Manage Holiday Stress During COVID-19

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LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER

Me

Thursday, December 3, 2020

6 Feet

You

Please wear a mask and socially distance youself.

Do your part to end COVID-19

By Ann Marie O’Brien, R.N. Director of health engagement strategies, UnitedHealthcare Feeling stressed? You’re not alone. Stress levels are rising due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the numerous disruptions in our daily lives.

The American Psychological Association recently reported that “we are facing a national mental health crisis that could yield serious health and social consequences for years to come.” And it’s not just adults who are feeling it. The report reveals that our children are “facing unprecedented uncertainty, are experiencing elevated stress, and are already reporting symptoms of depression.”

Although a modest amount of stress is normal, high levels of stress can be dangerous to your health and may contribute to serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, anxiety and depression. Therefore, make sure to keep a close eye on your well-being and the well-being of your loved ones during the holidays.

It’s true, there is no magic bullet to make stress disappear forever, but we can take action to help reduce stress. Here is a list of tips that may reduce your stress and lead to a more enjoyable holiday season.

• Learn to recognize your holiday stress triggers and relievers. Financial pressures and personal demands are two common triggers. Also, beware of unhealthy stress relievers.

Holiday stress may cause some people to fall into bad habits such as smoking, drinking or eating too much.

• Give yourself a break. While doing things for others, it’s

easy to forget to take care of ourselves. If you feel stress building up, take a break for a few minutes. Listening to calming music, taking time to watch a movie, or just getting away to take a brief walk can give you time to unwind and recharge.

• Make time for your health. In the holiday rush, don’t let your well-being fall by the wayside. Try to stay on your normal sleep schedule, incorporate healthy foods and get regular exercise.

If you can’t find a 30-minute chunk of time for exercise, break it up into three 10-minute sessions spread throughout the day.

• Check your health plan benefits. Some insurers, such as UnitedHealthcare, offer behavioral health care programs that can range from caring for your mental health to treatment for substance abuse, with a goal of helping improve your overall wellbeing. For example, Sanvello® offers clinically validated techniques and tools to reduce stress, anxiety and depression within a single app. Sanvello is free to download from the app stores and you can do an instant eligibility check in the app.

• Enjoy, even if it’s virtually. In the flurry of holiday activities, we sometimes forget what we’re celebrating, so remember to savor the time with people you love. If you or others you know are unable to meet in person, use a phone or set up a Zoom call to celebrate and spend time together. It’s important to minimize any feelings of isolation.

• Talk to your doctor. If it feels like you’re not able to get a handle on your stress, talk to your doctor. She or he may recommend a counselor who could help you find other ways to help reduce or manage the unhealthy stress in your life.