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old Cooper. ea ican-Americ in han an death roquadruple The allegeddcuffs and ha New w inmate in ci Cooper’s 1som’s decision could d en Flori t wa making ouda Today reports t Hills famil 985 conviction in lead to the overtu t. y th rn A an e u in th k d g il o li th ri E of ng of a ru has the ti say t nough Of Y eir 11-y our Love”esan Californiapnotential, some polieatir-old house guest. ral Chino da s. The case cal watcher s say, to d Both the C ivide alifornia an and more th d nited S past appeals an a dozen lower U tates suprem courts hav . e rejected Ce courts “I take no p ooper’s osition regar nocence at about the h this time,” Newsodming Mr. Cooper’s g uilt igh-profile said in his terest. N executive oor inse free 2. When you see a photo or ad with the Observer 1.ew Get the appca for by downloading th at Y h o as rk d rder rawn intern Times’ colu Sen. Kamal at m Interactive logo scan over the whole photo with your it from Google Play or The Apple App a io n is H n al t arri Nic in have all ca lled for res -tand reality TV starholas Kristof, U.S.tablet or smartphone. forensic Store technology. esting using curr Kim Kardashian SUL ent, more The ACLU gorilla suitPHUR, La. (AP) – P se n si an ti ve groups hav d other hu mattress befbroke into a Louisiaol man rights e also urged o n a deeper in an C d alifornia st Serving the San Fernando News ouretl officers arrested ha ves gation ate officialsos cial justice et into Cooper s Gov. Newtiso sp q u o k o Valley for Over 35 Years es te to m Mel E launch ’s con m’s tion issu st in ThSuulphu officers saan by formerorder Friday expandviction. w Jeremie es rsday test four ed s G p co o Moran wal re v. st vious direc ume. They rry Brown kin lowed analpyieces of crime scenJe h ad in so rece D ember n looking in to an orange sts to perform DNe evidence. Brownec to homes.ived calls a ’s E to A o st es prosecutors wel; and the han re-testing on a tan rder al- bo proached bsays Moran ran in dle dies in the say Cooper T-shirt; to u was disco R In this new used in theand sheath of a hat y ch en ar ’s ges inclutdin vered hidain chet Joshua Ryen, the home with a tota murders. investigatio of hair from g re tr sistin y, meth poss lo vic wound on button Co the victims’ hannd, analysts will look his throat.tims’ 8-year-old sofn143 stab wounds. ing in the sion and wg an offic In Louisiaes at strands tack. oper’s attorn s, blood sam , H S su an e ff w B er as tigators pla er ed n th n a, a personearing a m the allegatio ar a e only surv ples and a g ey N in public ca After Coop convicte ns Cooperd’sino County are not ivor of theslash D.A reen n Angeles Co nted at the sceneorman Hile mainta b e m er .’s o su at s’ st at legally stay s jail break rprised abo office. Man . Exception sentenced to th torneys are vestigation unty Superior Couof the crime. A reins inves- al ed , u s ra y in t m ar in ci v o h ak e es al f o allowed for re a ho lidays like H tigat th biases and . so y they tire rt judge wil frequently ing about their relig discriminem alloween an found eviduse next door to thoers found, he il- complaints l oversee thd Los familsa Cooper, 61 co m It at p ’s la io d Mardi G unclear if M ence in the y’s station w in about are handled n in the w e invictims. Th , has main years. His la g an m R g ay . o ag en y ta ey Ju p ra en o th ro t. in n st n ’s eir cases or se tor Mic has a lawy last month that tied C h For some, G by Gov. N wyers hope the resu ed his innocence , a San Ber ooper to thome and in the under presscu hael Selyem ov. Newsom ing in Group ewsom, wh over th lts of the re ure for mak nardino the case Newspapers eCalifornia , m w hel23 ’s e u Volume 35 Number Observer of Southern Thursday, April 23, 2020 h o rd o p pro o rd ic n er -t is h is er s. so es in W b co to ti ci eing met w him. ve their client’s innould take several mong ordered poof the murders Josh ith dismayb. roaden DNA test- chelle Oal media. His insultgscrude and racist anhdite, resigned ua Ryen an nths, will cence and bam ta eted fo rters of the The lone su comments B d rm fi lack shooti a, U,S. Rep. Maxrg In 1 rvivor nally exon ine Waters er First Lady Ming victim. erate they are disappoRinyens and Hughesfaalmily, friends and su on four co9u85, a San Diego Co and an unn “Unfortunat ted with the gov l across the state p- Lo Thomas R. Parker amed 26 and an nts of murder. At unty jury convicte s Angeles o ernor’s decis , el sa a y, fo y fo es th d r o rm ca v C ju e er ti o p er st o ed m ti ic ffi per d m io e of his arre e ep ce cord - inclu prison inm n in e , u . it b ty th el se is h ie ems the vic ead of the This guy is ves Cooper case matte st, he was no District A FBI’s in Pennsylv ding several burglaate. His lengthy crim “Prior DN ttorney Jason Arsnless and less,” Santims’ desire “The evidence w innocent,” he told. ries and the ania – did in al re as A B th d er o not help his te er e p n n Cooper, form rape of a m st la so N ar th in n ew n d te e g icl sa d st th aimed ou Y , he was fr and.” case. inor erly named in 1958 ld exoneratat Mr. Cooper sougidh in a statement. amed, theork Times. What has k per’s guilw e him have t, agreed to cops lied t.” months onldear Pittsburgh, PenRichard Goodman, ep t a th fe al e d an eral appella l confirmed case going d nsylvania. was born Y et p During his , he was adopted an te er M an su W ec co r. d as ution and re hen he was urt Cooive argumen C LAKE FOR six monies and iew the ca’ssedecision in 2004 toooper alive - is and he spenchildhood, his par d renamed Kevin ts ased on Gov. Newvso EST ents physica is recoverin w stay his exCooper. reasonable qualeslegations of evidenbce t a good p co it h n fl m ic juvenile det o ti m re n D ’s g sc g after bei,nCalif. (AP) – Offici ar N ll d te ti ie t ta y ec A o n st o m n ab ti is if g te s p fi io at ad u ab st er c en y se n o o in o ev in o rs d ti n le u to g g id o g struck by u t sc h ro , n se co th en im k al en ad in South centers. In a mental d to ail Co ee e ethods low another m ce. ce living in a polic ern Californ and storiesp raising California Governoes early in the term oper. Threm several attack, and in nsw round of L ag Californiah. ealth facility in Pen1982, Cooper esca u n e h in r a av w w o v eapons wer f the progre estie high expec hose suppo orn testimo ped from three attacker nsylvania b the Orange Beach Police Offi ia. e rt u ta ss er n se iv ti y, s d o e on the poli s who were efore movin n Jo During his By Sentinel News Service someone’s p County Register h cer Thomas tical Left White. Heshua Ryen said hein the solve “DNA testing shs.o g to could have been H murder tria gued that e itially th et when th saw later testified uld immed th is l, C The Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center p e o p F an o R ro eb. 19. F p ic y se u e cat dartein er en . rt cu k h iately take Ryen,its illedLove” case and fi tors succes er complica that they Chiang sa husbanoutreach thei“Operation d in front an r (BHERC) continued sf n p 1 ti d n al 0 la u id Suggest Number of Infections Far Exceeds n am -y an ll ly ce g y d ea d M th ed Diana R ensure just uring the ca to rearr-old daugh wife Doug e prosecuti cGuire says eighbin that DNA or the o ic b ChriLos p an o m el Sunday, April 12, n2020 area targeted te e er n w th o r p d s’ is h n ev Je ca ai e stopAngeles P cl ms, a w en h ging to her se of gn. “Not o Number animalCases ssica and eggy id her Hughes e got out to ed,”Confirmed was in Los Angeles former bomye forward with bloai m- but testing in thence can help law en nly is it prv towards seniors and those with “underlying” . Pohealth chec lice foundan 11-year-old inal. She turned Animal Cobigger than a house ody clothoin roven friend who is fo rc ca em se w en th th E o n d t g ca e e u v tr estroyed it. solve crimes was a violen conditions who have been extremely impacted and need ld come at en though evidence ov bloodied t. o to l o an ffi ce an rs ru is no cost to th N som’s , (April t al hosp-itUSC er to the p Los Angeles 20,im2020) theshed Losthe ble assistance. This effort provided a heartwarming – from a trauma. al, whand African Am d ision in olice, butcrthim- issubold, he is treadingew e stCounty ere it(Public ate.” Department w Angeles of Public Health ericans, His carefully ec e that Calif as th ey e d C distance — welfare check, Easter Sunday meal and gift o o per case released on a Dr. preliminary ornia voters panics and Kristi Krau results from aiagnose watching. Health) other mino ly polaritoday across the ppotential basket of essential items for 100 seniors. The program has sh se H e , a e ex v is p et ec zi k er n ri ts ee inarian, tell oli ties liv- Co ping his fo ththat infections e 11-psuggests spectrum ar g scientific reached over 500 seniors since the start of the COVID 19 back instudy ound (5-k ntinued o cus on fairticalcollaborative to thare e coronavirus ilogram-) cas th e wfar new more widespread n page A nesfrom il d s and the pandemic. af te t to r 2 M it ju cGlower re stice rate much g u ai ir e and the fatality – in L.A. County than rength. “Operation Love” meals and gift baskets were that if he se visited the bob ns st es ca previously thought. t on F it again, delivered to seniors including retired nurses, caregivers issuongoing e a ticketrifoday. The results are from the first roundhe’ofll an and others that have labored in the community for many study by USC researchers and Public Health officials. r ja years among others. All have in some way or another added They will be conducting antibody testing over time on to the betterment of Los Angeles over the decades. “This a series of representative samples of adults to determine small showing of love is both a practical and a heartfelt the scope and spread of the pandemic across the county. demonstration of the importance of our seniors. We want Based on results of the first round of testing, the our seniors to know they have not been forgotten during research team estimates that approximately 4.1% of this mandated and necessary physical distancing,” states the county’s adult population has antibody to the Sandra Evers-Manly, president of BHERC. virus. Adjusting this estimate for statistical margin of The gift basket included hard to find items such as: error implies about 2.8% to 5.6% of the county’s adult gloves, toilet paper, face masks, hand sanitizer, paper towels population has antibody to the virus- which translates and various other essential items. The meals and baskets to approximately 221,000 to 442,000 adults in the were prepared and delivered using City/State and CDC county who have had the infection. That estimate is 28 guidelines by a host of volunteers. Contributors to the gift to 55 times higher than the 7,994 confirmed cases of baskets include the Barbershop Health Outreach Program COVID-19 reported to the county by the time of the (www.blackbarbershop.org), Dr. Bill Releford, founder, study in early April. The number of COVID-related Mothers in Action, Tracy Mitchell, president and Larry deaths in the county has now surpassed 600. Chapman, production coordinator, Record One Studio. “We haven’t known the true extent of COVID-19 “You thought of everything,” exclaimed recipient Millicent infections in our community because we have only Newkirk. “You even thought to include the L.A. Sentinel tested people with symptoms, and the availability of tests and I have truly missed my paper!” has been limited,” said lead investigator Neeraj Sood, a During this unprecedented time in our lives, this USC professor of public policy at USC Price School COVID-19 worldwide health and humanitarian pandemic for Public Policy and senior fellow at USC Schaeffer is redefining the very way we live out our lives daily. In Center for Health Policy and Economics. “The estimates many instances, eclipsing the future of what daily work, Operation Love Basket Prep. (Sentinel News Service Photo) also suggest that we might have to recalibrate disease education, entertainment and play will look like in the prediction models and rethink public health strategies.” future for all of us. In addition to the need for essential The results have important implications for public supplies is the need for emotional support. “Operation health efforts to control the local epidemic. Love delivers a strong message that you are not alone in “These results indicate that many persons may have these difficult times. We are with you!” remarked Eversbeen unknowingly infected and at risk of transmitting Manly. the virus to others,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director At BHERC, this is the kind of action that has of the L.A. County Department of Public Health. characterized the BHERC family, its friends and colleagues; “These findings underscore the importance of expanded a unique demonstration of enthusiastic, abiding support polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to diagnose and responsive manner when called upon over the years. those with infection so they can be isolated and BHERC encourages everyone that can to act. “Let’s remind quarantined, while also maintaining the broad social the ones around us how much they matter. Encourage distancing interventions.” them to stay strong and steadfast,” noted Evers-Manly. The antibody test is helpful for identifying past The BHERC family encourages everyone to consider infection, but a PCR test is required to diagnose current supporting a senior. You can: infection. • Call a senior to check on their well being “Though the results indicate a lower risk of death • If shopping (do so under City/State and CDC among those with infection than was previously guidelines), pick up an item or two for a senior or thought, the number of COVID-related deaths each day someone in need (practice social distancing) continues to mount, highlighting the need for continued • Help with an online task vigorous prevention and control efforts,” said Dr. Paul • Make a meal and drop off (practice social distancing) Simon, chief science officer at L.A. County Department • Send an online order to someone in need of Public Health and co-lead on the study. It was an emotional day full of love and thanksgiving The study’s results have not yet been peer reviewed and the camaraderie BHERC members, community by other scientists. The researchers plan to test new volunteers and members of the National Black Nurses groups of participants every few weeks in coming Association participating in the distribution. months to gauge the pandemic’s trajectory in the region. In addition to the focus on seniors, the BHERC Operation Love is focused on distributing masks to the homeless in Los Angeles and supporting the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA). Last week, the BHERC president contributed to the NBNA to create a special fund to support nurses on the front-line battling COVID19 and to curate an online instructional program for Nurses to Help Nurses. The NBNA donation will also provide 1000 masks for NBNA nurses and provide support for their distribution of masks and meals where chapters are located across the country. “Each and every one of us must reach BHERC John Forbes and members of National Black Nurses Assn Prepare to deliver packages. (Sentinel out in a safe way to make sure vulnerable populations have News Service Photo) someone to talk to, have medications and have enough food to eat during these difficult times,” expressed Dr. Everyone can all join in the fight by making just a #BHERCStrongTogether LOS ANGELES, California, April 21, 2020 – Fans Martha A. Dawson, president of the National Black Nurses quick phone call or sending a simple text message. Keeping of many of Los Angeles’ most popular professional For more information about BHERC email bherc@ Association. “We are pleased to partner with Ms. Sandra each other positive and reminding your neighbors and bherc.org. sports franchises will now have the chance to acquire Evers-Manly during these challenging times.” merchandise bearing their favorite team’s recognizable loved ones that even in our isolation, we are not alone. logos and colors while also donating to the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, it was announced today by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti during his daily COVID-19 press briefing from City Hall. AEG, the LA Clippers, LA Galaxy, LA Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, LA Sparks and Rank + Rally have joined forces to launch the TEAMS FOR LA ONLINE SALE to sell logoed team merchandise, as well as classic merchandise from the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the GRAMMY Awards, to benefit the Mayor’s L.A. Emergency COVID-19 Crisis Fund. Proceeds from the website, www.teamlastore.com (direct link - https://teamlastore.com/collections/teamsforla), that launched today, support critical needs as they arise in our city – such as childcare and meals for the neediest, relief and counseling for frontline healthcare workers, critical healthcare equipment, and services for our homeless population. The site, which will be updated regularly, will offer Chida Rebecca their service has remained consistent throughout this crisis. workload is great, Renee shares that there are aspects of California Black Media I appreciate that,” said Morrow talking about the USPS. her job that reinforce the importance of the human con- jerseys, hats, t-shirts, warm-ups, scarfs, bobbleheads and other specialty items bearing the current and classic logos As frontline workers mount up daily to battle Morrow said people don’t realize that the USPS has nection. COVID-19, each “essential employee” fights in a different postmasters who are dedicated to helping business custom “I deliver to a lot a seniors,” she says. “They can’t go of the LA Clippers, LA Galaxy, LA Kings, Los Angeles way to keep our economy powered; our lives and liveli- ers. They work with clients to make sure that their import- anywhere, and they don’t have anyone to talk to. They Lakers, LA Sparks , Ontario Reign and TEAM USA as well as merchandise from high-profile hoods sustained; and our cities and towns safe. While some ant mail shipments are moved and reach destinations on want to talk to us but they’re scared to come near us, and (basketball), that have taken place in Los Angeles including the tend to the sick in hospitals, others brave the streets to dis- time. they don’t want to sign for their packages just in case we events and 2018 NBA All Star Games, the 2017 NHL All tribute food. Now that researchers have confirmed that the Coro- have [coronavirus]. We have to sign the receipts for them.” 2011 Star Game, the Amgen Tour of California, memorable But what may seem as the postal worker’s simple act navirus can be transmitted through the air and that it can Postal workers, businesspeople and Californians under championship boxing events and music events such as of delivering mail is proving to be more essential than most even live on your mail, postal workers on the frontlines are shelter in place orders all seem to appreciate the value and the GRAMMY Awards and the Coachella Valley Music would expect. more concerned about their safety than ever. So far, about constancy of the USPS. But some politicians in Washing- and Arts Festival. Every day across California, about 63,000 post- 30 USPS workers have died from COVID-19 and thou- ton have been giving the mail delivery service that has en“All of us in the Los Angeles sports community al workers continue to make sure precious cargo gets to sands have been infected, according to Mark Dimondstein, abled communications between Americans for more than have been looking for additional ways to support the where it needs to go in the state — life-saving medications president of the Postal Workers Union, a national organiza- 200 years a hard way to go. tremendous efforts of our City’s leadership and to to people living with chronic illnesses, pension checks to tion that represents more than 200,000 members. According to the Washington Post, Treasury Secretary help those in our community that are most impacted aging adults, mail-in ballots to homebound voters, and “I’ve been a postal worker for four years,” says Renee’ Steve Mnuchin threatened Congress that President Trump by the Coronavirus outbreak,” said Dan Beckerman, more. And even with growing competition from Amazon, Adams, who is African-American and delivers mail in San would veto the $2 trillion stimulus package that lawmakers President and CEO, AEG. “Our collective donation FedEx, UPS and other courier services, the United States Diego. approved earlier this month if it included a $13 billion di- of merchandise will provide our fans a way to show Postal Service (USPS) still delivers more online orders than Adams says the team she works with delivers approx- rect grant to the USPS. A bipartisan team of congressional their ongoing support for their favorite teams while also any of those businesses. imately 20 packages an hour. Last Sunday, they had over negotiators had already agreed to the provision. Instead, the contributing to help their fellow Angelenos in need.” In addition to the 30,000+ items offered at Cheryl Morrow, an African-American businesswoman 800 individual packages with only three postal workers in feds offered a $10 billion loan to USPS in the final stimulus in San Diego, says both of her businesses — a print news- her unit on hand to make all the deliveries. bill the president signed. The Treasury Department has not discounted prices, fans can also send gear through the directly to local shelters and non-profits for those paper that she mails and beauty products that she ships “They started at 8:30 a.m. but didn’t get finished until yet approved the funds although the bill passed more than site that need it most. All financial contributions will be - rely on the USPS. 9 p.m.,” she said. “They were calling people to report to a week ago. directly to the Mayor’s Fund. “The USPS is a partner that I can depend on,” said work, but no one would pick up the phone.” The Post Office is not taxpayer funded, so it normally donated Fans are encouraged to visit the site often as new Morrow, who owns the San Diego Monitor News and a A trusted face, a friend and sometimes a confidante, runs on revenue from postage and services,” Dimondstein items will be added as they become available as well as hair care company called California Curl. postal workers across the nation often have to step in and said, according to a Common Dreams report. “And if 40 to other ways to support those affected in our region. “Other than following the new social distancing rules, do more than drop mail off to customers. Although the Continued on page A3
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