Valley's News Observer 4.6.23

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The California Black Media Political Playback: Developer Drops Land Purchase in Historically Black Town

Officials Show Respect for Ridley-Thomas’s Service

Tanu Henry California Black Media California Black Elected Officials React to RidleyThomas Conviction

Last week after a jury found former Los Angeles City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas guilty on corruption charges, California’s Black elected officials issued statements acknowledging Ridley-Thomas’s political leadership, many contributions to his constituents and his track record of unapologetically advocating for policies that advanced racial equity and improved the lives of African Americans in the state.

“I am compelled to share my appreciation for the civic contributions of Mark Ridley-Thomas. Mark RidleyThomas has devoted his professional life to serving the people of Los Angeles. He has invested his time and energy to empower and uplift his community and constituents for decades,” said Sen. Steve Bradford (D-Gardena), chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus in a statement.

“His relentless commitment to helping improve the lives of others through public service will always be worthy of our admiration and appreciation,” Bradford added.

I believe that this is a sad day for Los Angeles,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who worked with Thomas for more than 40 years. “And I feel that sadness personally,” she added. Bass described Ridley-Thomas as a “a policymaker who made a real impact.”

L.A. City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson took to Twitter to express his appreciation for RidleyThomas.

“When those in power chose to forget our community,

Mark Ridley-Thomas centered and uplifted us,” he wrote.

“I certainly think people are shocked and saddened by what they’ve read. But I’ve also heard people share how much respect they have for the work that Mark RidleyThomas has done.”

Gov. Newsom Announces $736 M in Funding for

Local Communities

Keeping his promise to fast track solutions addressing California’s stubborn homelessness crisis, last week Gov. Gavin Newsom announced $736 million in grants to be channeled directly to local communities for building or acquiring shelter for unhoused people.

“At a time when more housing is desperately needed, Homekey is proving that we can build faster, and at a fraction of conventional construction costs,” Newsom said.

“My Administration has made available an unprecedented $3.4 billion to date for Homekey to use at the local level to address housing and homelessness. I look forward to seeing more communities use this latest round of funding to boost housing around the state,” the Governor added.

California Black Media Hosts Dinner Honoring Joe Stephenshaw

Last week, California Black Media hosted a reception honoring Department of Finance (DOF) Director Joe Stephenshaw.

A number of state lawmakers, public officials, Black news publishers, journalists and others attended the event co-hosted by the California Black Freedom fund and held at the Prelude Kitchen & Bar in downtown Sacramento.

“For us, this is one of those moments we deeply treasure when the leaders of the Black Press in California get to officially welcome, celebrate and interact with a top thought leader and decisionmaker in state government in an environment that is intimate and welcoming – no spotlights, no cameras, no fanfare,” said Regina Wilson, Executive Director, California Black Media.

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Former Bruin Lucius Allen Talks Hoops and Life

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer

On a warm sunny day at the Bloom Cafe on Pico boulevard in the Midtown area of Los Angeles sits former UCLA basketball star Lucius Allen and childhood friend Willis Belton. They are here to enjoy a lunch and talked about Allen’s basketball life from high school and college to the NBA. He shared memories on and off the court.

I was an invited as a third wheel to the lunch. It was fascinating listening to “old school” stories from an era where America wasn’t quite set as it is today.

The eatery is full of great tasting food good for your mind, body and soul. Items like their free range turkey burger, vegetarian curry and brown rice, the three grain veggie burger, and miracle vegan whole wheat wrap.  It’s the kind of place the health-conscious Allen frequents regularly.

Early on Allen sipped on a cup of hot water and later ordered a grill chicken as he shared stories of yester-year.

“I’m at my playing weight right now,” said the 74-year-old. “I’ve been feeling good.”  He said it in the way like he was ready to come out of retirement. Belton and I had a good laugh.

Allen did look in good shape and was ready to share some good memories.

He was born and raised in Kansas City. “We had a lot of good players around the city,” Allen said. “There were good ones everywhere.”

Belton was a good basketball player but a better athletic. He had a 90 mile per hour fastball that helped him earn a scholarship to Texas Southern University.

Kansas City was a hot bed for talented hoop players. There’s a comradery with them as several have transplanted to Los Angeles. Former Laker John Drew who attended Wyandotte now lives in the So-Cal area. Claude Hardy played at Rosedale High would fire it up and hit a basket from anywhere on the floor. His nickname was ‘lights out’ Lenard Gray played at crosstown Sumner high and went on to play at Long Beach State under Hall of Fame coach Jerry Tarkanian. He later played under the great Bill Russell with the Seattle Supersonics. In June of 1969 ‘Coach and Athletes’ Magazine named Gray one of the top 100 players in the US.

He was a quick guard with a dangerous outside jump shot and could easily take it to the basket.

Allen also played at Wyandotte High under head coach Walter Shublom. As a prep All-American he won back-toback Class AA state championships in 1964 and 1965. He had only lost 4 games total while at Wyandotte.

As a high schooler he also turned out to be the best of the best. In 1999 the Topeka Capitol Journal named Allen the greatest high school player in the 20th Century. New Arena named him the best basketball player ever from the state of Kansas.

He is one of only a few players to have a ‘mega trifecta,’ winning a State Championship, Collegiate National Championship, and NBA Title.

When he arrived at UCLA freshman weren’t allowed to play varsity sports. It was during the annual Freshman vs Varsity game Allen caught your eye. The freshmen defeated the varsity 75-60. It was in that game Allen scored the first

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EATONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – A developer on Friday ended plans to purchase a 100-acre (39-hectare) property from the local school system in a historically Black town in Florida following a public outcry that the deal threatened the cultural heritage of the community made famous by Harlem Renaissance writer Zora Neale Hurston.

Derek Bruce said in a letter to Orange County Public Schools in Orlando that he had terminated the deal to purchase the land where a former school for Black students stood in the town of Eatonville. The school system said in a statement that it wouldn’t consider any further bids for the land.

‘’This decision presents us with a new opportunity to collaborate with the Eatonville community to preserve and celebrate the Town’s historic and cultural significance as the oldest incorporated Black town in the U.S.,’’ the school system said in the statement.

An association dedicated to preserving Eatonville’s cultural history last week sued to stop the $14.6 million deal, claiming it threatened the cultural heritage of the town. The developer had plans to build 350 homes, as well as business spaces, raising fears the project would increase traffic and price out longtime residents of the town.

With a population of around 2,350 people, of whom almost three-quarters are Black, Eatonville is perhaps best known through the writings of Harlem Renaissance writer Zora Neale Hurston. The town was the setting for one of her best known works, “Their Eyes Were Watching God.”

Founded in 1887, Eatonville was among the early all-Black incorporated municipalities established in the decades after the end of slavery in the U.S. Around 1,200 Black towns or settlements were established in the late 19th century and early 20th century, according to the Historic Black Towns and Settlements Alliance.

Lauryn Hill, Megan Thee Stallion Headline 2023 Essence Fest

By CHEVEL JOHNSON RODRIGUE

Press

Associated

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Hip hop takes center stage at this summer’s Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans as the event commemorates the 50th anniversary of the genre with performances by Lauryn Hill, Megan Thee Stallion and Jermaine Dupri.

Rap artist Doug E. Fresh will curate special performances by other soon-to-be announced hip hop pioneers, while Hill will mark the 25th anniversary of her five-time Grammy-winning album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.’’

In addition, the event will laud Dupri, a Grammy award-winning producer and founder of the So So Def record label, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. He will coordinate special performances by some of the Atlanta-based artists that So So Def has produced. Those performers have yet to be named, but Dupri has worked with Da Brat, Bow Wow, Xscape, Jagged Edge and Anthony Hamilton.

Also headlining is three-time Grammy winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion, whose work includes such hits as “Savage,” “Hot Girl Summer,” and “Body.”

The festival is set to run June 30 through July 3, with three nights of music inside the Superdome, beginning that Friday. Other artists scheduled to perform so far include Monica, Wizkid, Coco Jones and Kizz Daniel, with more talent for the nightly concerts to be announced later.

Presented by Coca-Cola, the festival has featured some of the world’s biggest entertainers including Janet Jackson, Beyonce, Prince, Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Kendrick Lamar and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. Essence Fest was founded in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Essence Magazine, but it has grown into one of New Orleans’ marquee events bolstering the city’s summer tourism season.

In addition to the concerts, there are free daytime seminars held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, as well as the Essence Food & Wine Festival, Beautycon, Essence Authors and other events held in the city and aimed at engaging the community and economically benefiting local Black-owned businesses.

“As the nation’s largest festival by per day attendance, (the festival) continues to be a crown jewel of Black culture and plays a pivotal role in the amplification and celebration of the contributions of the Black community through business, music, and more,” said Vice President of ESSENCE Festival of Culture Hakeem Holmes.

Both Hill and Dupri have history with Essence. Hill performed at the festival in 1999, and last year, she made a surprise appearance during her former Fugees bandmate Wyclef Jean’s set, sending the audience into orbit with their performance of “Fu-Gee-La” and “Ready or Not.”

Dupri shared the 2019 stage with Grammy-winning songbird Mariah Carey, rapper Lil Jon and others.

In 2020 and 2021, the festival was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 version was held in-person and virtually, resulting in 1.9 million live and virtual attendees, according to organizers.

Three-night ticket packages for the Superdome concerts are on sale now, starting at $214 plus fees. Single-night tickets are not available yet.

Mark Ridley-Thomas (Photo: Facebook screenshot)

Lucious Allen (42) had a 10-year pro career that included three with the Lakers, Known for his speed and quick jump shot, Allen won an NBA title alongside future Laker Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1971. He was traded to the Kansas City Kings in 1977 and retired in 1980. (Courtesy Photo)

HUD Announces $5.5 Million Award for HBCUs to Conduct Housing and Community Development Research

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced awards totaling $5.5 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to conduct housing and community development research.

The announcement came during a Black Media Roundtable hosted by HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge.

Adjoa Asamoah, HUD’s senior advisor for Racial Equity; Melody Taylor, regional director for the MidAtlantic Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity; Alanna McCargo, president of Ginnie Mae; and Erica Loewe, the director of African American Media at The White House, also participated in the roundtable.

“HBCUs create economic opportunity both for their students and throughout the communities they serve,” Fudge stated.

“At HUD, we are proud to partner with HBCUs to expand the voices in the housing research space to support strong communities, build affordable housing, create job opportunities, revitalize neighborhoods, and promote homeownership.”

HUD will provide the funding to Texas Southern University ($3 million) and North Carolina AT&T University ($2.5 million) to establish or bolster their existing Centers of Excellence that conduct housing and community development research.

At Texas Southern, the school’s research will focus on individual and community wealth building, and housing

security and stability. It also will focus on planning and infrastructure inequity that affects underserved communities.

At North Carolina AT&T, the funds will allow the university to establish a center with research that would focus on the production of affordable housing, homeownership, renewable energy, sustainable communities, and postdisaster recovery.

“This funding will bolster efforts HBCUs are making to expand opportunities for underserved communities and strengthen community development,” Fudge stated.

Under Fudge, HUD has worked to advance racial equity and ensure steps to make homeownership more accessible for Black Americans.

In a Fact Sheet, HUD officials noted that through the Federal Housing Administration, the agency has implemented major reductions to the annual premiums it charges homebuyers for mortgage insurance.

Officials said the action will help Black low-andmoderate income residents save an estimated $600 million in the next year, and billions over the next decade.

Additionally, HUD’s Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity issued a policy statement in 2021 about making way for lenders to resolve inequities in homeownership that individuals of color face.

Previously, the agency published a notice of proposed rulemaking to restore the department’s Discriminatory Effects Standards and allow policies that unjustifiably exclude people from housing opportunities to be challenged.

New York Grand Jury Votes to Indict Donald Trump

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

In 1872, police in Washington, D.C., stopped

President Ulysses S. Grant for speeding in a horse and buggy at the corner of 13th and M streets.

The officers issued the President a fine and immediately released him.

There are some that argue that the criminal charges against Donald Trump are similarly minor to those incurred by Grant. However, others relish in the fact that he may face justice for at least some of his alleged crimes now that a grand jury in New York has issued an indictment against the former President.

The “Election Denier-in-Chief” was indicted by a grand jury in New York on Thursday, March 30, on criminal charges stemming from his alleged encounter

with porn star Stormy Daniels. Though prosecutors haven’t said what charges the grand jury issued the indictments on, it’s alleged that Trump made a $130,000 payment to Daniels through his former attorney Michael Cohen.

It’s believed that the payment was issued to buy Daniels’ silence.

Further, it’s alleged that Trump illegally falsified records and violated campaign finance laws.

The twice impeached former president now faces the ignominy of becoming the first U.S. president to be criminally indicted.

Trump also faces potential conspiracy and racketeering charges in Georgia, where Atlanta prosecutor Fani Willis has been working to secure an indictment against the MAGA leader there.

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Further, Democratic Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson, who chaired the Congressional Committee investigating the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, told the Black Press that a special federal prosecutor had received a mountain of evidence suggesting Trump’s guilt.

Five police officers died because of the Trump-inspired riot at the U.S. Capitol.

“It would be a travesty of justice,” Thompson said if Trump isn’t prosecuted by federal authorities for his role in the insurrection.

“Nobody is above the law, not even the President of the United States.

“What we saw after interviewing more than 1,000 people – the majority of whom identify with the Republican Party – we are convinced that whatever happened, happened because of one person. So, we are clear in our recommendation.”

While Trump has called for demonstrations in response to his arrest, authorities have already begun preparing.

Last week, barricades were put up around the criminal courthouse in lower Manhattan where the former President was supposed to be arraigned.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other supporters lashed out at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, claiming his investigation amounted to a witch hunt.

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio),

House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), and House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil (R-Wis.); sent Bragg a letter demanding he appears before Congress.

“This indictment comes after years of your office searching for a basis — any basis — on which to bring charges, ultimately settling on a novel legal theory untested anywhere in the country and one that federal authorities declined to pursue,” the lawmakers wrote.

“If these reports are accurate, your actions will erode confidence in the evenhanded application of justice and unalterably interfere in the course of the 2024 presidential election.”

They said that Cohen, who used to work for Trump and seems to be the main witness against the former President, has a “serious credibility problem.”

They demanded Bragg provide them with documentation of any communications he’d had with the

U.S. Department of Justice over the past six years. Already on the defensive in multiple jurisdictions, Trump’s current attorneys have asked for a judge to toss the final report and evidence from a special grand jury in Georgia. The attorneys seek to remove Willis, a Black woman, as prosecutor.

“President Donald J. Trump hereby moves to quash the SPGJ’s [special purpose grand jury’s] report and preclude the use of any evidence derived therefrom, as it was conducted under an unconstitutional statute, through an illegal and unconstitutional process, and by a disqualified District Attorney’s Office who violated prosecutorial standards and acted with disregard for the gravity of the circumstances and the constitutional rights of those involved,” Trump’s attorneys wrote in a court filing.

The California Black Media Political Playback:

Officials Show Respect for Ridley-Thomas’s

Continued from page A1

We exchanged ideas and talked freely about our challenges as we got an firsthand view into how our government is deploying our tax dollars in ways that directly impact the lives of the communities we serve,” Wilson added. “We look forward to working more closely with Joe and the Newsom administration on priorities that advance equity for Black Californians.

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Stephenshaw to the DOF role. In January, he made his first annual budget presentation as the state’s chief fiscal officer alongside the governor. Project Homekey is a state government initiative that aims to quickly provide shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness. To date, it has successfully provided shelter for nearly 12,800 formerly unhoused individuals across the state.

Rep. Lee Releases Statement on Trump Indictment

After a New York grand jury reportedly indicted former President Donald J. Trump on more than 30 counts of business fraud last week, Rep. Barbara Lee (DCA-12) said she hopes the action was the “beginning of our

justice system holding him and all involved in these crimes accountable.”

“This is the first time a former President has been indicted in American history, and this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Trump’s alleged crimes—before, during, and after his one term as President,” said Lee who is a outspoken progressive known for her Left-leaning political stances and candidate in the competitive race to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the November General Election.

“No one is above the law,” emphasized Lee, the highest ranking African American woman in the United States House of Representatives.

Gov. Newsom Calls U.S. House Speaker McCarthy

“Coward”

In a tweet last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom called U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20) a coward. Newsom made the comment in a caption when heshared of the highest-ranking Republican member of Congress refusing to respond to a reporter’s questions about

the mass shooting at a Nashville private school that claimed the lives of three adults and three 9-year-old students.

Black Students Among Students With Highest

Absenteeism Rates

The Public Policy Institute of California is reporting that absenteeism is on the rise among all students in California, and Black children are among the top subgroups of kids who miss school the most.

Absenteeism rose substantially for nearly all student groups. However, we do see variation across demographic dimensions. Among racial/ethnic groups, Black, Native American, and Pacific Islander students experienced the highest rates of chronic absenteeism, exceeding 40% in 2021–22,” the report reads.

The California Legislature Is on Spring Recess

Look out for listings of your state lawmakers’ local townhall meetings in your city or a nearby town. On March 31, the California Legislature adjourned for its Spring Recess. Members are expected to return to Sacramento on or before April 10 when the Legislature reconvenes.

The powerful tool for HUD and private plaintiffs to address polices that cause systemic inequality in housing, includes policies on criminal records, zoning requirements, lending and property insurance policies that impact equal access to housing opportunities for Black people, HUD officials stated.

Bubba Wallace Rebuilds Confidence on Track, Community Off It

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer

A slow start to the NASCAR Cup Series season - two crashes and an engine failure through six races - has Bubba Wallace looking internally for the steadiness he needs to pull himself out of this early slump.

It was his mother who encouraged Wallace to do some self-reflection.

"It's day by day, right? Just got to be a better version of myself," Wallace told The Associated Press this week. "My mom had said to me, 'You know, if you want things to change, you got to change yourself.' So I'm just trying to change myself and be more active, working out, eating better, and just trying to have a better mindset so Richmond should be good for us."

Yes, Wallace and NASCAR head next to Richmond Raceway for a Sunday short track race at a venue that has not been one of Wallace's stronger tracks. His career- best finish at Richmond was 12th in 2019 when he drove for Richard Petty. He was 13th last fall in his new 23XI Racing ride.

But this weekend represents more to Wallace than a chance to show how far 23XI has come since its 2021 launch. The two-car team celebrated its first win of the season last week with Tyler Reddick at Circuit of the Americas and qualified three cars for the season-opening Daytona 500.

Wallace will use Richmond, a rare NASCAR stop at a facility located in a fairly urban area, for his second annual "Bubba's Block Party.'' The free Friday night event is a community-focused NASCAR initiative aimed at bringing awareness, access and engagement to the sport within the Black community.

The food truck village will feature Black-owned businesses, and there will be live entertainment including iRacing, video games and a live pit stop demonstration by Wallace's Toyota crew. Wallace will host a "fireside chat" to discuss both his career and his attention on promoting diversity and inclusion across the sport.

Wallace, who is from Alabama, in 2020 successfully called on NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its events. He is the only full-time Black driver at NASCAR's top level.

"Richmond is in the heart of a minority market, a diverse market, and I feel like a lot of those people don't show up at the racetrack," Wallace said. ''I wanted to provide an environment that's a Friday night cookout-type style vibes at a racetrack, and get them out and encourage

them to come out and cheer on their favorite driver - don't even have to be me.

"I think just getting them to feel welcome to walk in their own shoe, be comfortable in their own skin and have a great time just like they could go to NBA games, an NFL game, I think that's important. We have to make our markets feel just as welcoming as others."

Bubba's Block Party was born after the national social justice reckoning in 2020 that thrust Wallace into

the spotlight on issues he was still only just beginning to understand. He's not been shy to use his platform, but it's come with detractors and scrutiny, including a noose found in his Talladega Superspeedway garage stall after his call for the banning of the Confederate flag.

The FBI ruled the garage pull was indeed fashioned as a noose but that it was a coincidence it was in Wallace's stall and he was not the victim of a hate crime. Detractors, including then-President Donald Trump, falsely accused Wallace of orchestrating the event.

But it was that year that sparked an urge in Wallace to demand change in a predominately white, Southern sport.

"Our sport change has changed for the better. We removed the Confederate flag, and I felt like a lot of people from a diverse background, minority background, started tuning in," Wallace said. ''They tune in enough to where they actually come out. And I've had numerous people in the last two years now say, 'Hey, man, I'm here because of what you've done.' And that's powerful.

"I think being able to show face and give back to the community that have stood up and supported me is super important."

After the party, it's back to focusing on racing, where Wallace is coming off back-to-back disappointments. He spun without contact from anyone else two weeks ago at Atlanta on the 10th lap, hit the wall and finished 27th. At COTA, he showed early speed but was involved in an early crash and a 37th-place finish. Wallace seemed defeated in his post-incident interview.

"Trying my hardest not to go down that slippery slope of self-doubt here. Two weeks in a row making rookie mistakes. Six years in Cup, need to be replaced,'' he said. His mom gave him encouragement to stop wallowing in self-doubt, and the block party sends him to Richmond with a mission bigger than anything he does on track. Asked by the AP how his confidence was headed to Richmond, Wallace was expressionless: "Find out," was all he said.

Biggest Hollywood Films Still Go Mostly to White Men

By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - As Hollywood emerged from the pandemic, its biggest film productions dipped in diversity after years of incremental progress, according to a new study by UCLA researchers. Opportunities were notably greater for women and people of color on streaming platforms than in theatrically released films.

The annual UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report, published Thursday, presented one of the most detailed looks yet at how the film industry was shaped and, in many ways, set back during the pandemic. In analyzing 2022 movie releases, academics found that ethnic and gender inclusivity in theatrical films reverted back to 2019 or 2018 levels in many metrics, turning charts downward that had been slowly trending toward greater equity on screen and behind the camera.

As the film industry sought to claw back moviegoers in 2022, it did so by leaning more on films starring and directed by white men, despite considerable evidence that

more diverse films attract larger audiences. Black, Latino and Asian American moviegoers make up nearly half of all frequent moviegoers, and for the biggest hits, often account for the majority of ticket buyers.

The film industry was still recovering in 2022, releasing fewer wide releases and seeing the box office return to about 67% of pre-pandemic levels. Though the 2022 movie year ended in triumph for Asian American representation at the Academy Awards with the best picture-winning "Everything Everywhere All at Once, " researchers see a potential turning point where opportunity for women and people of color is usually reserved for lower-budgeted streaming movies.

"It definitely was not an industry that was back all the way. But I really think it gives a picture of a two-tiered system that's been created," says Ana- Christina Ramón, director of the Entertainment and Media Research Initiative at UCLA, which produces the report. "What will be interesting to see is what happens in 2023 if it continues to have this bifurcation."

"The fear is that diversity is something is temporary or could be easily cut at any point in either theatrical or streaming," says Ramón, noting that streaming services, after years of torrid growth, are now pulling back on original productions.

In theatrical releases, people of color accounted for 22% of lead actors, 17% of directors and 12% of writers. Women were 39% of lead actors and 15% of directors. While roughly double the percentages of a decade ago, the numbers are closer to those of five years ago, and still easily trail U.S. population demographics. Women have made gains in writing, composing 27% of writers in 2022 theatrical releases, up from 17% in 2019. Yet only one woman of color penned a top theatrical film in 2022.

At the same time, streaming releases are more inclusive, accounting for more films with diverse casts and more female leads. Sixty-four percent of original streaming releases in 2022 had casts that were more than 30% nonwhite, as opposed to 57% of theatrical releases. About a third of leads in top streaming films went to people of color

- nearly 12% more than in theatrical films but still about 10% below population demographics. Leads for women in streaming films (49%) nearly reached parity with men in 2022.

But by considering budget levels, which tend to be higher in theatrical releases, researchers found some of the greatest disparities. Studios are overwhelmingly choosing white male directors for their biggest productions. They accounted for 73% of film directors in theatrical release, in films that usually (60%) had a budget above $30 million. Budgets tended to be lower for female filmmakers and directors of color. Films directed by white women were usually (56%) budgeted less than $20 million. For directors of color, 76% of their streaming films had budgets below $20 million.

"With the industry unstable, what we could see was the culture that Hollywood has always relied on when in need of a surefire hit,'' says Ramón. "They think of surefire hits as a code for no diversity, for white-led. It's something that they're comfortable with."

Wallace will use Richmond, a rare NASCAR stop at a facility located in a fairly urban area, for his second annual “Bubba’s Block Party.”

After Calif. Gig Worker Ruling, Advocates Want Protections for Contract Nurses, Too

Edward Henderson

California Black Media

McKenzie Young is a traveling nurse from California who works in Hawaii. She gets placements though an agency that connects her to temporary jobs around the state and country. Her assignments can last anywhere from a couple of weeks to months at a time.

When Young returns to the mainland, she plans to sign up on a nursing placement app for shorter-term freelance nurses who get paid by picking up shifts at nearby medical facilities.

Currently, her gig in Hawaii pays Young by the hour. She gets medical insurance through the hospital to which she is assigned, and she opted to pay out-of-pocket for her own individualized retirement plan.

“If you can do it smart that way and make sure you’re giving what you should and set up the accounts you need, I can put even more into my retirement because I’m making more,” Young said. “It’s hard going back to staff.

Young says more nurses would opt for freelance work if they knew how flexible and lucrative it can be. And because there is a nursing shortage, she never has to worry about not finding temporary assignments.

As more nurses like Young enter the gig economy seeking higher pay rates and more control over their work schedules, some advocates assert that hospitals that contract nurses often misclassify them as independent contractors, a practice that comes with “tremendous legal and regulatory risks.”

“When workers are misclassified as independent contractors, there is a damaging domino effect that impacts all levels of our economy. In this case, caretakers were systematically denied minimum wage, overtime, and other legally required working conditions,” said California Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower.

Nurses have access to various apps that help them find work. Just like dating apps, many of these apps enable users to browse through job options by scrolling or swiping until they find a suitable job, facility, and working hours.

Within the spectrum of these healthcare staffing apps, some provide 1099 workers who are farmed out as

independent contractors. Other companies like IntelyCare and ShiftMed hire healthcare staff as W-2 employees, who are eligible for benefits not accorded to 1099 workers.

On March 13, California Courts of Appeal Justices ruled that Proposition 22 (a 2020 ballot measure that allowed Lyft, Uber and other gig economy platforms to classify their workers as independent contractors rather

than employees) is constitutional.

Executive secretary-treasurer of the California Labor Federation, Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, issued a press release speaking out against the court’s decision.

“Today the Appeals Court chose to stand with powerful corporations over working people, allowing companies to buy their way out of our state’s labor laws and

undermine our state constitution,” Gonzalez Fletcher said. “Our system is broken. It would be an understatement to say we are disappointed by this decision.”

Gonzalez Fletcher, who as an Assemblymember authored Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5), which established stricter criteria for classifying workers as independent contractors rather than employees, has been a vocal supporter of legislation prohibiting companies from hiring freelance workers to avoid paying them benefits they are entitled to under California’s labor laws.

The distinction between being an employee and independent contractor is very important, advocates like Gonzalez Fletcher point out. Employees have the right to benefits including sick and family leave, unemployment benefits, minimum wage and more. With 36% of workers in the US in the gig economy, the ongoing battle for these distinctions continues to rage on with both sides contesting court decisions made in the other’s favor.

This past year home healthcare placement agencies were fined $1.8 million by the California Labor Commissioner’s Office for misclassifying 66 workers. Healthcare app-based staffing company CareRev was sued for misclassifying workers who signed up on the app as contractors.

Advocates point out that the healthcare industry is more regulated than the rideshare industry.

“Any nurse who walks into a long-term care or memory care facility will have a long list of rules and protocols that need to be followed. They are often given access badges, a work schedule, a patient list, and time slots for medication, food, or exercise rotation,” reads a press release advocates published describing how companies are benefitting from hiring contract nurses and not paying them benefits fulltime employees must receive by law.

So far, no bill has been introduced in the California legislature to regulate health care industry staffing apps, but advocates say the problems they are posing will hurt health care workers and the industry writ large.

“Misclassification opens the door for joint employer liability and legal wage and hour disputes,” advocates added in the press release.

Sen. Padilla, Rep. Ruiz Push for National Park Named for César E. Chávez

(D-CA-25) last week introduced bicameral legislation to create the “César E. Chávez and the

The bill calls for preserving nationally significant sites associated with labor and civil rights leader César E. Chávez and the farmworker movement in California and Arizona. The legislation is co-sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and U.S. Congressmembers Raul Grijalva (D-AZ7) and Rueben Gallego (D-AZ-3).

“On César Chávez Day we commemorate the work and legacy of an iconic Latino civil rights leader,” Sen. Alex Padilla said in a statement. “Establishing the César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park will pay proper homage to Chávez’s tireless work for the dignity, respect, and equal treatment of farmworkers.

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared March 31, 2023, Cesar Chavez day in California.

Padilla continued, “Our National Park System tells the story of our nation and preserves the people and movements that we value as Americans. Yet our park system does not yet adequately preserve the full culture and diverse legacy of all Americans. This legislation would bring us closer to the recognition farmworkers have earned and deserve.”

Chávez is a Latino icon and civil rights leader, labor leader, and community organizer whose legacy is intricately connected to the story of California, the farmworker labor movement, and the push for worker and civil rights.

Chávez empowered Latinos and farmworkers to fight for fair wages, health care coverage, pension benefits, housing improvements, and countless other protections for their well-being. His commitment to social justice has inspired many, and advocates and activists point to him as a role model for their ongoing efforts to improve the lives of all people, regardless of their ethnicity or the color of their skin.

As a farmworker, César Chávez maintained a strong connection to the environment; and the bill by the lawmakers intends to uplift Chavez’s story, and those of others whose contributions helped build the farmworker and civil rights movements that are pillars of American history.

“Growing up the son of farmworkers in the Coachella Valley, I remember seeing César Chávez and the sense of hope he gave to our communities and farmworkers across

the United States. His story still inspires and motivates me even today,” said Ruiz. “My legislation with Sen. Padilla, the César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park Act, will help the National Park Service (NPS) embrace their role as storytellers of our nation and reflect the diversity and richness of our people.”

There are hundreds of sites that are part of the National Park system that preserve natural, historical, and cultural heritage while offering vital spaces for teaching, learning, and outdoor recreation.

The bill establishes the César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park, which incorporates the headquarters of the United Farm Workers (UFW) at La Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz in Keene, California, and expands upon the existing César E. Chávez National Monument.

The bill includes a provision to “Conduct a National Historic Trail Study” for the “Farmworker Peregrinación National Historic Trail,” the 300-mile march route taken by farmworkers between Delano and Sacramento in 1966.

If the legislation passes, the Department of Interior will be required to complete a general management plan for the historical park within three years.

In 2012, President Barack Obama’s established the César E. Chávez National Monument in Keene, which recognizes the achievements and contributions to the history of our nation by Chávez and the farmworker movement.

Obama traveled to Keene to announce the establishment of the monument. From the early 1970’s until his death in 1993, the site functioned as the residence and workplace of Chávez and his family, and now is home to Chavez’s grave.

“César Chávez gave a voice to poor and disenfranchised workers everywhere,” Obama stated in October 2012. “La Paz was at the center of some of the most significant civil rights moments in our nation’s history, and by designating it a national monument, Chávez’ legacy will be preserved and shared to inspire generations to come.”

This California Black Media report was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.”

César E. Chávez State Holiday Celebration in Northern California. (CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey)

Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media United States Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Congressman Raul Ruiz

Farmworker Movement National Historical Park.”

Antonio Ray Harvey

California Black Media

Economists advising The California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans have developed economic formulas that project the reparations owed to Black Californians who are descendants of people enslaved in the United States are likely to exceed $800 billion.

Three of five harms were used in the calculations conducted by a five-member panel of economic experts: health, disproportionate housing discrimination, Black mass incarceration and over policing are “from a long list of harms” the state “is a least partially responsible for,” said Dr. Thomas Craemer, a professor of public policy at the University of Connecticut and one of the experts involved in the assessment.

Craemer spoke last week at the task force’s 14th meeting held in Sacramento on March 29 and 30. The figures also applies to forebears who survived legal segregation, Jim Crow discrimination and other social and economic injustices.

“These are harms for which we thought that we’d have data, that’s one criterion,” said Craemer. “The other is that they are closely related to the actions of the state of California to make our estimates more defensible in the face of challenges that will undoubtedly arrive once the proposal is made public.”

The economic experts’ analysis and final recommendations for the Task Force regarding calculations of reparations and forms of compensation and restitution were presented by Craemer and Dr. William Spriggs.

Spriggs appeared remotely in front of the task force. He is the former chair of the Department of Economics at Howard University. He now serves as chief economist to the AFL-CIO.

The health harm calculations were determined by the annual loss to “Black, non-Hispanic Californians” from health disparities by computing the 7.6 year-life expectancy gap based on the Value of Statistical Life in the United States. It is a concept that is appropriately measured by estimating how much society is willing to pay to reduce the risk of death, Craemer said.

“That is what statisticians use to evaluate how much each individual places value on their life,” Craemer said. “We then divide the value associated with the gap by the average Black, non-Hispanic Californian expectancy of 71 years to obtain an annual estimate of the loss to Black, nonHispanic Californians from health disparities.”

The experts use the Black non-Hispanic Californian category because they didn’t have a U.S. Census count

available for Black Californians who can trace their ancestors back to slavery in the United States.

Black mass incarceration and over-policing calculations were derived from how many Black, nonHispanic Californians were arrested for drug felonies above the population percentage during the “War on Drugs” from 1970 to 2020. It was multiplied by the average prison term for drug offenses and by the average annual California State employee wages to arrive at the estimated total owed to Black Californians who qualify for reparation payments.

Housing discrimination was determined by calculating the average of the Black non-Hispanic Californian wage gap for 1930, 1980, 2019. The amount gave the experts the wealth disparity from all forms of housing discrimination, Craemer said.

“I should mention that what we are estimating is not reparations. What we are estimating are losses to the African American descendants of slaves in the United States,” Craemer said. “Our calculations could be used to come up with determinations of reparations but it’s not necessarily identical. The task force can go above and beyond because some losses are framed difficult to estimate. (Such as) pain and suffering.”

The last two atrocities – unjust property taken by eminent domain and devaluation of Black businesses — are not readily available in the calculation model because of lack of data, Cramer said. The 1980 amount minus the 1930 amount provides an estimate of the effect of redlining only. Task Force chairperson and Los Angeles attorney Kamilah V. Moore said some published news headlines have put out misinformed information about the experts’ final calculations.

“The task force has yet to determine a final amount,” Moore said.

The numbers are not concrete, leaving room for the members of the task force to evaluate, modify, or eliminate any of the experts’ findings. Spriggs said the experts are still in “deliberations.”

“I think it’s improper to prejudge what precise number we may recommend, but we’re only giving you expert advice on these specific harms. The task force has full latitude to ignore it, to add it, or take into consideration addressing tangible harms,” he added.

Reparations: Experts Compute Hundreds of Billions Owed to Black Californians Former Bruin Lucius Allen Talks Hoops and Life

Continued from page A1

points in the history of the newly built Pauley Pavilion. His frosh teammate Lew Alcindor (now know as Kareem Abdul Jabbar) had 31 points and 21 boards.

The UCLA freshmen team finished the season undefeated and Allen averaged 22.4 points a game.

“Walt (Hazzard) and them were the first to win it (National title),” said Allen. “Sometimes when we got together he would let me know all about it.”

Hazzard was joined by Gail Goodrich, future Laker Keith Erickson and Fred Slaughter from Topeka High (Kansas). They were part of Coach Wooden’s first NCAA championship team in 1963-64- The squad that went 30-0!

Hazzard was named tournament Most Outstanding Player, year’s later he would become head coach of the Bruins. Gail Goodrich went on to play 14 years in the NBA and is now a Hall of Famer.

Slaughter earned his MBA from UCLA and his Law Degree from Columbia University and became the first black sports agent representing former Jamaal Wilkes, Clyde Drexler and Dennis Johnson.

One day he and I was on the sideline at a UCLA football game, He talked about his Bruin teams. “We were killing them, killing them,” said the 6’5 Slaughter. “No one could touch us. After the first few minutes of a game we knew we had most teams beat. You could see it in their eyes.”    That was part of a cautious optimism taught by coach John Wooden.    That was the attitude most Bruin players had. They were confident because they were so “prepared” said Allen.

In 1967 his sophomore year with the varsity he averaged 15.5 points a game while helping lead the Bruins to a 79-64 win over Dayton in the title game. That wrapped up an undefeated 30-0 season as Allen was named to the All-Regional and Championship teams.

In Allen’s Junior campaign they were off and running until they ran into a Houston Cougar team led by Elvin Hayes. It was billed as the “Game of the Century” with two of college basketball’s big men Hayes and Alcindor squaring off.

It was the first syndicated nationally televised college game played in the Astrodome in front of a then record 53,000 fans. The COUGS and Hayes came out on top 7169. The loss ended a 47- game UCLA win streak.    The teams met later in the NCAA West Regionals, this time UCLA assistant coach Jerry Norman designed a diamond defense that had two men on Hayes throughout

the game. At times Allen was one of the two. Hayes had been averaging 37.2 points per game only had 10 on the night.

The Bruins came away with a 101-69 win that propelled them to the Final Four again. They went on to rout Dean Smith and North Carolina 78-55 for their second straight National championship. Lew Alcindor was named most outstanding player. He along with Allen and Mike Warren were named All-Tournament team.

Allen didn’t play his senior year. He finished his collegiate career averaging 15 points and 6 rebounds a game. He entered the UCLA Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

He became a first-round draft pick, the third overall selection for the Seattle Supersonics in the 1969 draft.

A year later he along with Bob Boozer were traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. He rejoined Kareem who was the number one overall pick in the 1970 draft. A 31-year-old Oscar Robertson was acquired by the team also along with Bobby Dandridge.

They won the NBA title in 1971sweeping the Washington Bullets 4 games to 0. Led by Finals MVP and the previous season’s Rookie of the Year Lew Alcindor and Hall of Famer Robertson the Bucks were the fastest expansion team (3-years) to win a title.

It was Robertson that helped him grow as a person and as a professional. He would frequent the Hall of Famers room on road trips.

On one visit the 31-year-old Robertson was unwinding with a bottle of champagne. Allen entered to the room with a bottle of Boone’s Farm wine.

“I could see the difference right away,” said Allen. “He had been around and he had class.”

Allen would be dragging a bit at practice and Robertson would notice. “He would let me know you can’t burn the candle at both ends,” said Allen. “Staying up all night is not a professional. You’ve got to separate good people from the ‘riffraff’ everyday. He (Robertson) was my best teammate as a pro he helped me grow in the league.”

Because of his quickness Allen was known as  a solid defensive player. However  Earl “The Pearl “ Monroe would always give him fits. Monroe a Hall of Famer had more moves than a moving van, more moves than ex lax. He was thee top playmaker in the NBA.

“When we lined up for the jump to start the game,” said Allen. “There was Earl looking at me grinning like a Cheshire cat. I knew I was in for a rough night.”

Today he and Monroe are friends off the court. They play tennis occasionally and Allen gets the better of this game.

Continued on page A9

Shown left to right, California Reparations Task Force members civil rights attorney Lisa Holder, Dr. Jovan Scott Lewis, and Dr. Cheryl Grills at the 14th meeting in Sacramento, California, on March 29, 2023. The members of the task force were presented with an $800 billion amount from economic experts to cover harms in three categories. (CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey)

‘Unapologetically Black’ ‘Unapologetically Black’ ‘Unapologetically Black’

Angel Reese Got Her Ring and the World Got Another Dose of Racism

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA

Newswire Senior National Correspondent

LSU’s Angel Reese’s post-game gesture has sparked a conversation about double standards in basketball.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock in LSU’s dominating 102-85 victory over Iowa, Reese waved her hand in front of her face, stared at Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, and pointed towards her ring finger.

Reese made it clear; she was the one going home with the championship ring.

For all the trash-talking and lack of sportsmanship on Clark’s part, Reese received the backlash.

Commentators including longtime sportscaster and former MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann, the response was telling.

Olbermann called Reese a “f-ing idiot,” while others called her a hood rat.

Shaquille O’Neil, the NBA hall of famer who played for LSU’s men’s basketball team in the 1990s, told Olbermann to shut up.

Reese, the Black superstar, was taking to task on social media for lacking grace in victory.

After the game, and to her credit, Reese remained unapologetic.

“All year, I was critiqued for who I was. I don’t fit the narrative,” Reese explained.

“I’m too ‘hood. I’m too ghetto. Y’all told me that all year.”

As many have noted, there remains a divide between white and African American women over opportunities and perception.

White players are considered tough and fundamentally sound, while Black players are seen as flashy brawlers, noted sports columnist William Rhoden observed.

In this case, the focus was on double standards.

Black players are vilified for doing the same things white players are praised for doing.

Caitlin Clark’s trash talk gestures had been lauded throughout the NCAA tournament, Rhoden continued.

Clark repeatedly made the “you can’t see me” gesture during Iowa’s win over Louisville in the Elite Eight.

She was heralded as confident and brash.

Clark followed up her “you can’t see me” gesture Friday against South Carolina freshman guard Raven Johnson.

Rhoden noted that Clark finally got her comeuppance when Reese lit her up for 15 points and 10 boards, eventually earning the women’s NCAA tournament’s most outstanding player.

Reese played brilliantly in an overall team effort that frustrated Clark, who was called at least twice for pushing off the ball and picked up four fouls.

Clark claimed afterward that she didn’t see Reese’s gesture, and Iowa’s head coach Lisa Bluder gave a near muted response, saying “We’re all different people, and we all have different ways to show our emotion.”

In other words, it was fine when her player – a white athlete – gestured, but not-so-cool when the winning player – a Black champion – gave a little back.

“Ultimately, the conversation around Reese’s gesture is not just about trash talk; it’s about how Black players

are perceived differently than white players,” Rhoden stated. “Reese’s gesture was an unapologetic response to the criticism she has faced all year.”

And, as white commentators like Olbermann continued their rhetoric and race-baiting, Black sportscasters like Rhoden, ESPN’S Stephen A. Smith, and FS1’s Shannon Sharpe, stepped up to back Reese.

“We see it two different ways… when Caitlin Clark did the John Cena it was considered ‘swag,’” Sharpe remarked.

“Angela Reese does the same gestured it’s considered ‘classless.’ “It’s funny how America – society sees black and white.” Sharpe wasn’t done.

“Angel Reese said ‘unapologetically me.’ She meant unapologetically Black. It’s … it’s so obvious what this is. This is not about anything other than race.”

He continued:

“One is a celebration and is celebrated. The other is condemned. And why? Only because a Black did the exact same gesture that a white female did 48 hours earlier.

“Trash talk is a part of the game. But white trash talk and black trash talk is viewed entirely different and we know why.” On his First Take show, Smith also went in on the race issue.

“We all know that there’s a white-black issue here,

because the fact of that matter is when Caitlin did it, people were celebrating it. And they were talking about nothing but her greatness,” Smith railed.

“But, the second a sister stepped up and threw it back in her face, now you’ve got half the basketball world saying ‘Well, you know what, that’s not the classiest thing to do.”

Smith continued:

“Clark kind of instigated this and the fact that hasn’t been brought up tells us a lot about our society as a whole. You know exactly what the hell you’re doing as people when you want to bring up how Angel Reese acted, but you don’t want to bring up how Caitlin Clark acted. That’s the inconsistency. That’s the story.”

Angel Reese (L) and Caitlin Clark (R)

PGA of America Announces 2023-’24 PGA LEAD Class

FRISCO, Texas (March 23, 2023) – The PGA of America has selected 15 PGA Members for the 2023-’24 PGA LEAD class, the program’s eighth cohort. Established in 2016, PGA LEAD is the Association’s leadership development program, created to identify, mentor and progress PGA Members from diverse backgrounds along a guided path to volunteer leadership roles at the Chapter, Section and National levels of the Association. PGA LEAD also helps PGA Members who have a desire to serve and make an impact on nonprofit boards within the communities where they work and live. This 18-month leadership development program reinforces the PGA of America’s commitment to create a game, workforce and industry supply chain that better mirror America’s demographics. More specifically, the PGA is committed to inclusive governance, environments, systems and structures that create the opportunity for all PGA Professionals to develop, grow and lead. Now, with a stronger focus on board preparedness, the PGA of America has engaged Boardspan, which brings extensive experience in technology, data analytics, board governance and recruiting to help boards do their best work, to enhance the PGA LEAD curriculum and ensure PGA Members are educated on the essentials of board governance and leadership. “I am excited to see the continued interest in PGA LEAD as it continues to thrive in helping PGA Members receive the training and skills needed to ascend into leadership positions throughout the Association,” said PGA of America President John Lindert, the Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing in Lansing, Michigan. “This program helps bring a diverse cross section of talented PGA Members together as leaders in a host of important positions within the golf industry nationwide, which will help position the PGA of America’s overall growth and success for decades to

come.” PGA LEAD is a complement to PGA WORKS – a strategic initiative designed to diversify the golf industry’s workforce. Among the alumni of the PGA LEAD are three

Former Bruin Lucius Allen Talks Hoops and Life

Continued from page A6

Nate “Tiny” Archibald was another tough one to guard. “Nate was the real deal he could go by you and leave you grasping at air.”

After a deal that sent Allen to the Lakers he reunited with Kareem and they reached the conference finals. The following season started he asked Laker owner Jack Kent Cooke for a raise to 150,000 dollars. Cook reaction: “I speak very good English, NO!” Allen thought the subject was closed and it was. The next day he came to practice only to find out he was traded to the Kansas City.

He retired after one season with the Kings and concluded his 10- career averaging 14 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists per game.     He went to coach AAU and other youth teams. He has coached pros like Spencer Dinwiddie, Baron Davis, DeMar DeRozan and others.

Former LA Clipper owner Donald Sterling was a big contributor with the Junior Clipper program. The same Sterling who was ban for life from the NBA for insensitive racial remarks.  ‘When it came to kids he saw no color,” said Allen.

“He gave them shoes and nice uniforms. The Clippers always donated a lot more than the Lakers.”

Allen also worked with the NBA when the All-Star game came to Los Angeles. In 2010 he and Doctor J (Julius Erving) organized a breakfast and concert that featured Janet Jackson for the retired players as part of All-Star weekend. Laker GM Jerry West also played a major role.  Allen had four boys that played college basketball and received their degrees - Geoffrey Allen-Eastern Washington, Jarred Allen attended Southern U, Kahlil Allen-University of San Diego and Bakir Allen went to UCSB.   Eve his wife of more than 30-years passed early in 2022.  Allen doesn’t attend NBA games but he drops by Pauley every so often to watch the team play. He inducted to Kansas Hall of Fame 2004.  Life goes on for Allen. He’s in a good spot at the Bloom Café.

Tigers Take Women’s Title

By Earl Heath

Contributing Sports Writer LSU defeated Iowa 102-85 to win the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball championship- Its first-ever national title. The Tigers and Hawkeyes combined for the most points in title game history, while LSU set a record for points by a team in the final.

Jasmine Carson ignited the Tigers offense. The graduate transfer had scored just 11 points in the tournament but was without a basket since the second round, made her first seven shots from the field to score 22 points and spark the Tigers before halftime.

Angel Reese a transfer from Maryland was  the key piece to the Tigers historic season, went to the bench with a pair of fouls late in the first quarter.

Reese was involved in a controversial moment after the game outcome was clear she held up her hand pointing to her ring finger showing it to IOWA All-American Caitlan Clark.    Senior guard Alexis Morris who played for three Power 5 teams prior to transferring to LSU to play for Mulkey for the second time, also picked up a second foul

with 6:36 left in the half. Morris came back strong with 21 points including 15 in the fourth quarter on 6-of-6 shooting. Reese set an NCAA single-season record with her 34th double-double of 2022-23, scoring 15 points with 10 rebounds in 29 minutes against the Hawkeyes.

The Tigers had five players in double figures with Reese, Williams and Carson each scoring at least 20 points.

Tiger head Coach Kim Mulkey who assembled nine transfers and freshmen in an effort to “Piece It 2gether” in her second season in Baton Rouge — brought the program its first Final Four victory in six tries. She led her home state university to its first NCAA Basketball Championship and the 50th team national title in LSU Athletics’ 130-year history.

It was the fourth championship in as many title game appearances in Mulkey’s coaching career (previous wins at Baylor in 2005, 2012 and 2019), as she became the first women’s basketball coach to win NCAA championships at multiple schools.

The NCAA Division I national championship game, which was shown on ABC on Sunday afternoon, was the most-watched women’s college basketball game of all time, ESPN announced with an average of 9.8 million viewers.

UConn Takes Men’s Title

By Earl Heath  Contributing Sports Writer

The

UCONN

men’s hoop team had a rock-solid chin and a cool hand in turning back San Diego State, 76-59, to win their fifth title in the past 25 years.

Tristen Newton scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Connecticut, which also got 17 points and 10 rebounds from Adama Sanogo, who was named the most outstanding player of the Final Four. Hawkins added 16 points — including a critical 3-pointer that stymied San Diego State.

The Huskies improved to 5-0 all-time in NCAA Tournament national finals, which is the best winning percentage and the most wins among undefeated teams in the title game. Interestingly enough, four of the five title game wins have come in the state of Texas and this is the second UConn title in Houston, the other coming in 2011. That 2011 UConn team is also the last team to start the season unranked in the preseason AP Top 25 poll and finish as national champions.

Th Aztecs had never before advanced past the round of 16, was trying claim the schools first title, tried to rallying from 15 points down in the second half to claim a championship. But the Aztecs just did not have enough offense, shooting 32.2 percent from the field and missing 14 consecutive shots in the first half, when the Huskies seized control.

No team has won three national titles under three coaches in a span of 13 years, and by winning a fifth NCAA Tournament title UConn moves into a tie with Duke and Indiana on the alltime list. Only UCLA (11), Kentucky (8) and North Carolina (6) have more titles than the Huskies, and all of those titles have been won in a shorter window than any of those other programs in the top six. It’s been difficult to put a pin in UConn as a blue blood of the sport even in the midst of obvious success, perhaps because of the coaching turnover in recent years. But in reality this years run was important because it marked a return to the biggest games in the tournament-The Title Game.

Connecticut guard Jordan Hawkins celebrates after the men’s national championship college basketball game against San Diego State in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Houston. (Photo: Brynn Anderson/AP)

PGA Section presidents,

and Facebook.

The LSU Women’s Basketball team celebrated after defeating Iowa for the National Championship. (Photo: Ron Jenkins/Getty)

Kansas City natives Lucious Allen (L) and Willis Belton(R) share a moment at Bloom Cafe in Los Angeles.

(Photo: Earl Heath)

The Easter Bunny Hopped into Town for an “Eggcellent” Event

By Ricky Richardson

Contributing Writer (Hawthorne, CA)- Several hundred kids and their parents gathered in Memorial Park on Saturday, April 1, 2023. The occasion was the annual Bunny/Earth Day Celebration and Service Provider Fair.

Organizers couldn’t have asked for better weather. The day was pleasant, warm, sunny and dry. This wasn’t an April fool’s joke, considering all of the much needed rain that we have been experiencing.

Hawthorne City Officials, Angie Reyes English, Mayor Pro-Tem and Councilmember Alex Monteiro greeted the enthusiastic crowd with welcome remarks.

The program shifted into high gear with a performance by Dave Skale The Magician. His show was fun, entertaining and engaging. You can image the priceless sea of smiles on the faces of the attentive kids.

The City of Hawthorne, sponsors and community partners wasn’t fooling around for this event. Several dozen bicycles, skateboards, and gift baskets were given out to

lucky recipients throughout the day.

Attendees enjoyed games, arts and crafts, face painting, inflatables, as well as entertainment from local dance ensembles and local musicians and box lunches.

The day featured an egg hunt and a special appearance by the Easter Bunny for all of the kids in the “City of Good Neighbors.”

Kinecta Credit Union was onsite to answer questions from the community about banking and to share treats of ice cream.  Community partners were present to share information and resources about the respective organizations.

Hawthorne Public Works Department, Hawthorne Parks and Recreation Department Hawthorne Community

Services Department, SoCal Gas, Clean CA, Safe Clean Water Program, Project Pollution Prevention, Clean Power Alliance, Republic Services and Southbay Environmental Services (Southbay Cities Council of Government) booths provided information on how to learn to protect and preserve our natural resources while reducing energy

consumption and how to reduce, reuse and recycle household trash. Resources were shared about how families can save money in the process.

Residents who got a jump start on their Spring cleaning projects were able to dispose of E-waste for recycling, paper shredding disposal and leave with some compost.

Mayor Pro-Tem Angie Reyes English is credited with creating this signature event for the City of Hawthorne that continues to grow in popularity.

Lions Club offered free eye exams, hearing test and blood pressure check. The Hawthorne Police Department had several vehicles available for photo ops for the kids and their families.

With All This Rain, Safety On The Road Is Crucial

By John Jones, III

California is receiving historic amounts of rain, and there is more wet weather on the way. In addition to setting records throughout Southern and Northern California, the heavy rainfall is also causing reduced visibility, making it harder for drivers to see other vehicles, hazards, pedestrians, and cyclists. Wet weather presents particularly dangerous road conditions in urban areas, where the buildup of oil makes roads slick. When added with low visibility, large amounts of traffic, one-way streets, limited U-turns, bus and bike lanes, speeding, uneven roads and potholes, it becomes a hazard not only for drivers, but also for those who do not have the same protections as drivers and passengers with seat belts and air bags.

Because of harsh weather, it doesn’t hurt to refresh our memories regarding some best practices to help avoid crashes.

To help you arrive safely to your destinations this rainy season, the California Office of Traffic Safety and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) want to remind drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists of the following tips: Avoid distracted driving: Do not engage cell phones: Texting or using your cell phone can divert a driver’s attention from the road. Silence your phone before you get on the road. You may utilize hands-free options, but remember that you may only use the phone to activate or deactivate a function, like starting or ending a call.

If you need your cell phone, be responsible: If you must answer a call, text or attend a video conference, pull over to a safe location and park your car to use your phone.

• Fallen objects: If something falls on the floor, leave it until you can safely retrieve the item or pull over to a safe parking spot before trying to reach it.

Follow the speed limit:

• Do not brake suddenly: Ease your foot off the gas until the vehicle slows naturally or brake in a gentle, pumping action.

• Leave room between other vehicles: If you follow too closely to the vehicle ahead of you and they suddenly slow down or stop, you may not be able to avoid a crash. Stopping distances are greater in wet weather.

• Stay alert to observe potential dangers:

Staying alert allows you to quickly react to potential problems – such as the driver in front of you suddenly stopping or a pedestrian or cyclist maneuvering onto the road. Be cautious when backing up: Check your rear-view before backing up to watch for other vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists. Also, pay attention to your blind spots by looking over both shoulders.

• Be work zone alert: Keep an eye out for work zones and flashing amber lights. California’s “Move Over” law requires all drivers to move over a lane or, if they are unable to do so safely, slow down when they see amber flashing lights on Caltrans vehicles, law enforcement and emergency vehicles, and tow trucks.

Tips for pedestrians:

• Utilize the proper gear: Wear brightly colored clothes at night to make sure drivers can see you and carry a flashlight.

• Pay attention: Stay off your phone and look left-right-left before crossing the street.

• Observe safety zones and notifications: Cross streets at marked crosswalks and intersections, preferably with a stop sign or signal.

Tips for cyclists:

• Ride in the right direction: Go with the flow of traffic. It helps reduce confusion for drivers, pedestrians and other cyclists. If there is a bike lane, use it.

• Protect yourself: Always wear a helmet. It protects both your head and brain, preventing external and internal damage.

• Reduce your risks: Use hand signals when turning or stopping. When others know your next move, they can plan accordingly. As Californians continue to face record amounts of rain, I encourage you to do your part to help reduce the risk of crashes and increase road safety. Since drivers, pedestrians and cyclists must share the road, let’s respect one another and Go Safely. To learn more about ways to stay safe, visit www. gosafelyca.org.

John Jones, III is the president and CEO of East Side Riders Bike Club, a volunteer organization in Watts/ South Central Los Angeles with a mission to improve Watts through community service, charity work, and bike programs aimed at keeping local youth out of gang activity.

The Easter Bunny (Photo by Ricky Richardson) Mayor Pro-Tem Angie Reyes English (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Dave Skale The Magician (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Hilda Valenzuela and Julian Zepeda (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Oscar and Adriana (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

John Jones, III (Courtesy Photo)