Valley's News Observer 5.19.22

Travis Scott, Morgan Wallen Hit Billboard Music Awards Stage

SoCal Group Graduation: 674 Grads and Boundless Black Joy Page A8

Page A3

News Observer The Valley’s

Volume 37 Number 27

Serving the San Fernando Valley for Over 37 Years

Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California

Officials Release Names of those

Killed in Racist Buffalo Massacre

Avowed white racist Payton Gendron allegedly put together a 180-page manifesto that revealed his hatred for Black and Jewish people and the “replacement theory” ideology that Fox News often speaks of, notably hosts Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent The victims of the racist massacre at a Buffalo, New York supermarket have been identified and their ages range from 32 to 86.

Avowed white racist Payton Gendron allegedly put together a 180-page manifesto that revealed his hatred for Black and Jewish people and the “replacement theory” ideology that Fox News often speaks of, notably hosts Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham.

Additionally, several Republican politicians have spouted the racist “theory,” saying that Democrats’ immigration policies would “replace” GOP voters with individuals of color.

New York Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and Ohio GOP hopeful JD Vance recently have been outspoken in supporting “replacement theory.”

Stefanik used the concept in her 2021 campaign ads saying, “radical Democrats are planning their most aggressive move yet: a permanent election insurrection.”

Vance, a Donald Trump-endorsed candidate, recently ratcheted up the rhetoric.

“You’re talking about a shift in the democratic makeup of this country that would mean we never win, meaning Republicans would never win a national election in this country ever again,” he claimed at a campaign event last month.

Vance’s defeated opponent, Josh Mandel, also ran on “replacement theory.”

“This is about changing the face of America, figuratively and literally,” Mandel stated in a published interview.

“They are trying to change our culture, change our demographics and change our electorate. This is all about power,” he said.

So far, the only Republican politician of note to call out the racist rhetoric is Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney.

“The House GOP leadership has enabled white nationalism, white supremacy, and anti-semitism,” Cheney wrote on Twitter.

“History has taught us that what begins with words ends in far

Among the victims in the Buffalo shooting was a former police officer, and 11 of the 13 killed or injured were Black.

worse. @GOP leaders must renounce and reject these views and those who hold them.”

Meanwhile, among the victims in the Buffalo shooting was a former police officer, and 11 of the 13 killed or injured were Black.

The names of the ten who died were: Celestine Chaney, 65 Roberta Drury, 32 Andre Mackneil, 53 Katherine Massey, 72 Margus Morrison, 52 Heyward Patterson, 67 Aaron Salter, 55 Geraldine Talley, 62 Ruth Whitfield, 86 Pearl Young, 77

North Carolina Community Mourns Lynching Victims

PITTSBORO, N.C. (AP) – About 100 people attended a service to honor the memories of five people who were lynched in Chatham County, North Carolina, more than a century ago.

The News & Observer reports that the service held Saturday was organized by local NAACP branches with support from the nonprofit Equal Justice Initiative, based in Montgomery, Alabama. The group encourages researchers around the country to gather and share information about lynchings that happened in their communities.

According to the EJI, researchers have documented 123 “terror lynchings’’ of African Americans in North Carolina between 1877 and 1950. Those were among 4,084 that have been documented in Southern states during that time.

A series of readers recounted the events leading up to the lynchings, while another group of volunteers scooped Chatham County dirt into jars symbolizing the places where the lynchings took place.

The service honored the memories of Harriet Finch, Jerry Finch, John Pattishall and Lee Tyson, who were lynched in 1885, and Henry Jones, lynched in 1899.

Karen Howard, chair of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners, said the service felt like a kind of healing.

“Those spirits can go free. That hurt, that anger, that code of silence around it, has dissipated,” she said.

Harris cast ballots in favor of the nomination. “The Fed Board needs governors who understand how the economy works for Americans across race, gender, and class. Dr. Cook’s deep expertise makes her exceptionally qualified to serve,” Michele Holder, president of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, wrote in a statement. An adviser on the BidenHarris and Obama-Biden transition teams, Cook will help set fiscal policy on the Fed Board. “I was proud to cast my vote for Dr. Cook,” Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock stated. “Her decades of experience as an economist and her Georgian sense of fairness will help promote balance and innovation to strengthen our economy,” Warnock concluded.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Six historically Black universities in five Southern states will be getting the first IBM cybersecurity centers aimed at training underrepresented communities, the company said.

The schools are Xavier University of Louisiana, that state’s Southern University System, North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State, Clark Atlanta and Morgan State universities, according to a news release Tuesday.

“Technology-related services are in constant demand, and cybersecurity is paramount,’’ said Dr. Ray L. Belton, president of the Southern University System based in Baton Rouge.

The centers will give students, staff, and faculty access to modern technology, resources, and skills development, said Dr. Nikunja Swain, chair and professor of the Computer Science and Mathematics Department at South Carolina State, in Orangeburg.

It will further enhance our ongoing activities on several key areas, including cybersecurity, data science analytics, cloud computing, IOT, blockchain, design thinking, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence,’’ he said.

IBM said it plans more than 20 such centers at historically Black colleges and universities nationwide.

The company said each school will get customized courses and access to company academic programs. They also will be able to experience simulated but realistic cyberattacks through IBM Security’s Command Center.

The company said it also will provide faculty and students free access to multiple SaaS IBM Cloud environments.

Xavier is in New Orleans, North Carolina A&T in Greensboro and Morgan State in Baltimore.

Frierson Sworn In As First Black US Attorney in Nevada

Cook, well-known for her work on racial and gender equality, won Senate confirmation as the first Black woman to serve on the Fed Board in the agency’s 109-year history.

Getty 25th Celebrates Inglewood

Voices of Creation (Photo: Ricky Richardson)

Thursday, May 19, 2022

6 Black Colleges Getting IBM Cybersecurity Centers

Dr. Lisa Cook Confirmed as First Black Woman on Federal Reserve Board

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Michigan State University Economics Professor Lisa Cook is the latest Biden-Harris administration nominee to break the glass ceiling, this time on the U.S. Federal Reserve Board. Cook, well-known for her work on racial and gender equality, won Senate confirmation as the first Black woman to serve on the Fed Board in the agency’s 109-year history. The history-making moment required a tie-breaking vote in the Senate from Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to hold her position. Each of the Senate’s 50 GOP members voted against Cook, while all 50 Democrats and

Take One!

By Ricky Richardson Contributing Writer Inglewood, CA - The Getty Trust and a diverse group of community partners launched a 10-part series of free outdoor festivals in neighborhoods across Greater Los Angeles County from May 14-August 28, 2022. The occasion is to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Getty Center.

The Inglewood celebration was produced by Community Art Resources in collaboration with the LA Phil’s Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) with Community Advisors: Inglewood Arts Commission and Social Justice Learning Institute.

DJ Qwesscoast was on deck of the ones and twos and served as Master of Ceremony to introduce each performance.

The show got underway with Walkgood presents: Makélé Sound Bath & Kemetic Yoga with Anu Wolley.

The Makélé Sound Bath uses aspect of music sound waves to help improve one’s spiritual, emotional and physical well-being. Makélé Sound Bath consisted of father and son Amen Santo and Avila Santo. This session left a calming effect that reverberated throughout the festival.

Continued on page A5

LAS VEGAS (AP) – Nevada’s new top federal prosecutor has been sworn in to his job in Las Vegas.

U.S. Attorney Jason Frierson was administered his oath of office Wednesday by Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda Du during a ceremony at the downtown Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse.

Frierson is the first African American to serve as U.S. attorney for the District of Nevada. He’s a former Democratic state Assembly leader and deputy Clark County public defender.

He was recommended for the four-year post by Democratic U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, nominated in November by President Joe Biden, and confirmed in April by the U.S. Senate.

In a statement, Frierson said he was humbled and honored to be named to the position and grateful for his family’s support throughout the nomination and confirmation process.

He promised a commitment to upholding the rule of law, preventing violent crime in neighborhoods, protecting the civil rights of citizens and seeking justice for victims.

Frierson replaces Christopher Chiou, who became interim head of the office when Nicholas Trutanich resigned after Biden took office. Trutanich, a Republican, had been appointed by former President Donald Trump.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Nevada has more than 100 employees in Las Vegas and Reno.

Two Black Female Officers Sue Kansas City Police Department

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Two Black female police officers allege in separate lawsuits that they were subjected to discrimination, retaliation and a hostile work environment at the Kansas City Police Department.

Officer Rashawnda Williams said in her lawsuit that her male colleagues made misogynistic, racist and sexist comments in her presence. Officer Alexis Bush-Bailey alleges in her lawsuit that a white female supervisor treated her unfairly because of her race, sex and age, The Kansas City Star reported.

Both lawsuits name the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners as defendants. The women said the police board, which controls the department, was responsible for how they were treated.

Their attorney, Spencer Webster, said both officers worked in department programs that included outreach to Kansas City youth.

Police spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina said the department does not comment on pending litigation.

A2

The Valley’s News Observer

Thursday, May 19, 2022

World & Nation

Erica Loewe Helping to Open Doors for Black Press, Others at White House In Erika Loewe’s all-too-important job as director of African American media, she has ensured that the Black Press and other media of color have enjoyed unprecedented access to the White House and top administration and cabinet officials. “President Biden and Vice President Harris promised an administration that looks like America, and they have fulfilled that promise,” Loewe said during a recent visit to the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s (NNPA) headquarters at the Thurgood Marshall Center in Northwest, Washington, D.C.

(Pictured left to right): Karine Jean-Pierre, the nation’s first Black press secretary, Erica Loewe, director of African American media and outgoing press secretary Jen Psaki.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent As Karine Jean-Pierre prepares to make history as the first Black press secretary at the White House, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have continued to ensure that African Americans – particularly Black women, helm crucial posts.

Alongside Jean-Pierre, there’s chief of staff to Kate Bedingfield, Khanya Brann, outgoing press secretary Jen Psaki’s chief of staff, Amanda Finney, and senior regional communications director, Rykia Dorsey.

Then, there’s Erica Loewe.

In Loewe’s all-too-important job as director of African American media, she has ensured that the Black Press and other media of color have enjoyed unprecedented access to the White House and top administration and cabinet officials.

“President Biden and Vice President Harris promised an administration that looks like America, and they have fulfilled that promise,” Loewe said during a recent visit to the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s (NNPA) headquarters at the Thurgood Marshall Center in Northwest, Washington, D.C. There, Loewe sat for an interview with NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., for his PBS-TV show, “The Chavis Chronicles.”

“Since day one, the Biden-Harris Administration has valued diversity, empowered Black voices, and taken a wholeof-government approach to advance racial equity,” she told Dr. Chavis during the episode scheduled to air later this year.

Loewe grew up in Miami after her mother gave birth to her in South Carolina.

She attended the University of Florida and later interned at the White House for President Barack Obama.

A prolific volunteer, Loewe has worked as press secretary and deputy communications director for U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and as deputy communications director for Congressman James Clyburn (D-S.C.).

“Jim Clyburn is one of my favorite bosses, and he’s been very clear that I need to tell people that I’m from Charleston even though I grew up in Miami,” Loewe stated.

“He’s a great man, and I’ve learned a lot from him,” she remarked.

Her early influence came from her parents, particularly her mother and grandparents.

Loewe’s father worked in the nonprofit sector and helped her to gain a focus on economic empowerment and business development.

Her mother worked for a city commissioner, allowing Loewe to spend time at City Hall.

“I have always been around people who lead and serve, to some extent,” she said.

“My parents split up, but I lived with my mom and grandparents in a house full of love and laughter,” she said.

While working in the Obama White House, Loewe lived with her family and worked under the director of African American outreach.

Now, as director of African American media, she said her life had come full circle.

“I’m back at the White House, and my mother lives with me,” she said.

Loewe said her mother battles Alzheimer’s disease, but “somewhere inside, she’s there, proud of me.”

Loewe said she has enjoyed returning to the White House and tries to stay out of the crosshairs of secret service.

“We have fun. They take their jobs very seriously and we do

as well,” Loewe said.

The fulfilling part of her job is allowing access to Black media and the American public, Loewe offered.

“There’s nothing like being able to grant access to the White House for the very first time,” Loewe declared. “It’s a building people have seen on television and thought they may never get inside. But, our job is to provide access to people.”

She exclaimed that the Biden-Harris administration had provided access never before experienced by the American public.

The administration also has remained the most inclusive in American history.

“Never has there been an administration that has uplifted and supported Black women as much as President Biden and Vice President Harris,” Loewe asserted.

“It’s just a fact. Numbers don’t lie. The Honorable [Kamala] Harris is a Black woman who has lived experiences… She attended Howard University, and she’s a member of the Divine Nine, the Black Church, and an advocate for Black maternal health and accurate home appraisals for Black people.”

Loewe continued: “There are more Black people in first time positions in the President’s cabinet. You have the war in Ukraine and Gen. Lloyd Austin, the first Black to head the Department of Defense and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda ThomasGreenfield. Two Black people you see every day making sure that we’re providing aid to Ukraine.”

She noted the Environmental Protection Agency’s Michael Regan as the first Black person to lead there, and HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, as examples of other Black appointees in the administration.

“These are not symbolic positions,” Loewe concluded.

California Will Be First State to Break Down Black Employee Data by Ethnic Origin Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media Last week, when Gov. Gavin Newsom presented the annual May revision of his budget proposal for the next fiscal year, he announced that California will establish new demographic categories when collecting data pertaining to the ethnic origin of Black state employees.

Kamilah A. Moore, the chairperson of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans, said the breakdown of data is “amazing news.”

“California will become the first state in the nation to disaggregate data for its Black population by ancestry/lineage,” Moore posted on her Twitter page on May 13. “This will assist the task force in our efforts to develop comprehensive reparations proposals for descendants.”

News Observer The Valley’s

Adjudicated a Newspaper of General Circulation on July 2, 1991, Los Angeles Superior Court Decree, Case No. BS007262, Government Code 6023.

Bulk Mailing Permit 724 Bakersfield, CA 93385

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

Associated Press, Better Business Bureau, GLAAACC

President: Ellen Coley CEO: Jon Coley Publisher/ Editor: James Luckey Jr. Operations Manager: James Luckey

Credo - The Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonisms when it accounts to every person, regardless of race, color, or creed full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as any one is held back.

The Observer Group Newspapers reserves the right to publish views and opinions that may not necessarily reflect those of the staff and management are soleley the product of the responsible individuals who submit commentaries published in these newspapers. Letters, articles and comments appearing in the Observer Newspapers reflect the opinions of the contributor and do not constitute the opinion or endorsement by The Observer Newspapers or its staff. The Observer Group Newspapers assumes no responsibility for photographs, articles, letters, press releases and unsolicited materials. Decisions as to the editiing and publishing of materials are at the discretion of the Publisher and Editors. All rights are reserved on materials accepted for publication unless otherwise specified.

Disaggregated data refers to the separation of compiled information into smaller units to clarify underlying trends and patterns. Newsom’s actions are similar to a bill authored by thenAssemblyman Rob Bonta.

In September 2016, former Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1726 into law that required the state Department of Public Health to separate demographic data it collects by ethnicity or ancestry for Native Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Islander groups.

Recently, disaggregation of Black data has been a top priority for some Black lawmakers and advocates supporting reparations for Black descendants of American slavery in California. In January, Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), introduced AB 1604, the Upward Mobility Act of 2022, legislation that will require the state to breakdown the data of state employees by ethnic origin.

The Assembly Committee on Appropriations is currently reviewing the bill.

AB 1604 promotes mobility for people of color in California’s civil services system and requires diversity on state boards and commissions. Newsom vetoed AB 105 last year, the legislative forerunner to AB 1604, which Holden also introduced.

Shortly after he was appointed chair of the Assembly Committee on Appropriations in January, Holden reintroduced the legislation as AB 1604.

Holden, a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, said AB 1604 will give the Reparations Task Force more

accurate data to utilize in its study and deliberations. The bill was passed by the Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement on March 14.

In a written statement released in October last year, Newsom said he vetoed AB 105 because “the bill conflicts with existing constitutional requirements, labor, agreements, and current data collections efforts” but found disaggregation useful for dissecting data about California’s workforce.

As stated in his 2022-2023 May revision of the state budget, under the section titled “State Workforce Demographic Data Collection,” Newsom proposed the separation of Black employee data beginning with the state’s 2.5 million-plus employees.

The Department of Human Resources (CalHR) will work with the State Controller to establish new demographic categories for the collection of data pertaining to the ancestry or ethnic origin of African American employees.

The collection of this data, the document states, “continues CalHR’s duties to maintain statistical information necessary for the evaluation of equal employment opportunity and upward mobility within state civil service.”

In March, the nine-member Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans decided with a 5-4 vote that lineage will determine who will be eligible for reparations.

The May Revision also includes $1.5 million in funding for the Department of Justice to continue supporting the work of

(Shutterstock Photo)

Reparations Task Force: What to Expect in the Committee’s First Report Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media The California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans will submit its first report to the California legislature in June.

The 13-chapter document will detail the committee’s findings so far and include recommendations related to them.

Task force member Donald K. Tamaki said the “comprehensive report connects the dots between past racism and its current consequences.” He also inferred that the report presents a “landmark opportunity” to shape the national conversation around reparations.

“I think the report will not only attract California publicity but will also be looked upon nationally,” Tamaki said before the task force approved the report. “With the report, we can go out to the people to develop an allyship and (generate) support for it.”

As prescribed in Assembly Bill (AB) 3121, the report will establish how California laws and policies have disproportionately and negatively affected African Americans. The report will be available to the public.

The California Department of Justices’ (DOJ) Civil Rights Enforcement Section formulated the document based on hearings, expert testimonies, and evidence accumulated since the panel first convened on June 1, 2021.

One of the DOJ’s duties is to facilitate task force consultation with various experts on California history and reparations. The department also provides administrative, technical, and legal assistance to the panel.

The preliminary report opens with an introduction that leads to chapters focused on enslavement, racial terror and political disenfranchisement, among others. It also covers a range of topics documenting historical injustices Black Americans have endured, including housing segregation, separate and unequal education, environmental racism, and others.

Titles such as Pathologizing the Black Family; Control over Spiritual, Creative and Cultural life; Stolen Labor and Hindered Opportunity; and An Unjust Legal System, among others, frame the testimonies and historical accounts recorded during the task force meetings.

Task force chair Kamilah Moore wrote the foreword. Her introduction is an overview of the task force’s activities over the last year.

“This interim report will catalog all those harms we’ve discussed throughout those two-day virtual meetings since June of last year,” Moore said in an online Blk TLK Platform discussion in April. “It will also have some preliminary recommendations for the legislation to adopt.”

The first report was supervised by Michael Newman, the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Senior Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Enforcement Section (DOJCRE).

The task force voted to describe the first presentation, the “Interim Report.”

Tamaki said about 10 DOJCRE attorneys — including Deputy Attorney General Xiyun Yang, DOJCRE Legal Assistant Francisco Balderrama and additional DOJ staff members created the report.

In a collaborative effort, the diverse DOJCRE team, Newman added, consulted with the task force to determine edits, make clarifications in terminology, modify corrections, and implement recommendations.

“It was a labor of love for everyone who worked on it,” Newman said during the task force meeting held in San Francisco on April 14. “I also want to thank all of the (task force) members and the community’s input in producing an incredible record.”

California’s AB 3121, signed into law in 2020, created the nine-member task force to investigate the history and costs of

The Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, Inc.: Los Angeles News Observer, Bakersfield News Observer, The Valley’s News Observer Los Angeles News Observer 6060 Center Drive Floor 10, Los Angeles, CA 90045 Mailing Address: PO Box 2341, Bakersfield, Ca. 93303 Phone (661) 324-9466 FAX (661) 324-9472 General Info: observernews@gmail.com Advertising: observeradvertising@gmail.com Online: www.ognsc.com

the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans Supporters of disaggregation say it will serve as a key tool for the task force as it enters its second year of studying slavery and its lingering effects on African Americans.

The state’s reparations task force will recommend what compensation should be and how it should be paid by July 2023.

Six of the nine members of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans. From left to right are Don Tamaki, Jovan Scott Lewis, chair Kamilah Moore, vice-chair Dr. Rev. Amos Brown, Dr. Cheryl Grills, and California State Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena). (CBM photo

by Antonio Ray Harvey)

Aisha Martin-Walton, with the California Department of Justice, provides directions for public comment on April 13 in San Francisco. (CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey)

slavery in California and around the United States. AB 3121 charges the Reparations Task Force with studying the institution of slavery and its lingering negative effects on Black Californians who are descendants of persons enslaved in the United States.

The group is tasked with studying and developing reparation proposals for African Americans and recommending appropriate ways to educate Californians about the task force’s findings.

After the task force decided on March 30 that lineage will determine who will be eligible for compensation, the panel approved a framework for calculating how much should be paid — and for which offenses — to individuals who are Black descendants of enslaved people in the United States.

An expert team of economists identified 13 categories that would be the basis of the method used to calculate damages and determine what constitutes harms and atrocities. A second report is due by July 2023 when the task force two-year charge is expected to end.

Members of the task force include Kamilah V. Moore, a Los Angeles-based attorney, reparations scholar and activist; vice-chair Dr. Amos Brown, a civil rights leader and respected Bay Area pastor whose journey to leadership started under the tutelage of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s; Cheryl Grills, a professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles; and Lisa Holder, a nationally recognized trial attorney.

Rounding out the panel are Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena); Assemblymember Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles); San Diego Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe; Dr. Jovan Scott Lewis, chair of the Department of Geography at the University of California Berkeley; and Donald Tamaki, Esq. is an attorney best known for his role in the reopening of the Supreme Court case Korematsu v. the United States, which led to the conviction being overturned of Fred Korematsu who refused to be taken into custody during the imprisonment of Japanese Americans in World War II. For more information, visit https://oag.ca.gov/ab3121#

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Entertainment

The Valley’s News Observer A3

Travis Scott, Morgan Wallen Hit Billboard Music Awards Stage

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer Travis Scott and Morgan Wallen made controversial performances on the Billboard Music Awards stage on Sunday, while Mary J. Blige was honored for her musical excellence.

Wallen performed in his first major awards show after he was caught on camera using a racial slur. After not receiving a verbal introduction, the country star sat alongside his four-piece band and performed ``Don't Think Jesus'' then his chart-topping ``Wasted on You,'' a single from his popular project ``Dangerous: The Double Album.''

Shortly after his performance, rapper Pusha T presented Wallen with the top country artist award. ``I want to say, `Thank God.' And thank my fans. I got the best damn fans,'' said Wallen, who acknowledged his mother for accompanying him as his date to show. He also thanked for Billboard for inviting him. He did not mention last year's incident, which once found the disgraced singer rebuked by the music industry. ``Thank you to my little boy,'' he continued. ``You inspire me every single day.''

Shortly after Wallen's set, Scott made his first televised performance since a massive crowd surge killed 10 people and injured thousands at his Astroworld Festival in Houston in November last year. The rapper performed his single ``Mafia'' in an icy, polar-themed prerecorded set that was heavily censored.

Mary J. Blige received the Icon Award for being an influential music maker. The singer, known as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, was presented the award by Janet Jackson and escorted on stage

by Sean ``Diddy'' Combs - who emceed the show, which was broadcasted live from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

Blige said she was in a ``dream right now'' after she received the honor. She spoke about the journey of becoming an icon not being an easy feat during her stellar career. ``I've been on this journey for a long time, one that didn't

Travis Scott performs Mafia" at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, May 15, 2022, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

always look the way you see me now,'' she said. ``One that is filled

with a lot of heartache and pain, but God helped me to channel those experiences and emotions in my music which is where I started in music.''

Earlier, Drake was named top artist, male artist, rap artist, rap male artist and rap album for ``Certified Lover Boy.'' The rapper extended his record as the most decorated winner in the history of the awards show with 34 wins.

Olivia Rodrigo and Kanye West, known as Ye, took home the most awards with six during a non-televised ceremony.

Rodrigo was awarded best new artist.

Ye made his mark in the faith-based categories - again: The rapper won top Christian artist for the first time, but he claimed top gospel artist and gospel song for a third year in a row. He also received top gospel album for the second time.

The Kid LAROI became a first-time winner, taking home five wins for his song ``Stay'' with Justin Bieber - whose Billboard Music Awards win count rose to 26.

Doja Cat came away with four awards. She won top R&B artist and R&B female artist for the second consecutive year, along with top R&B album and female artist.

Taylor Swift - who has the second most-ever award show wins with 29 - won four awards. Bad Bunny received two wins while R&B duo Silk Sonic, comprised of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, won their first-ever award for top R&B song for ``Leave the Door Open.''

Becky G, who released the album ``Esquemas'' on Friday, performed her hit song ``MAMIII,'' which topped the Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart. Ed Sheeran delivered a remote performance from Northern Ireland, where he is on tour.

Other acts who took the stage include Miranda Lambert, Meghan Thee Stallion and Grammy Awards darlings Silk Sonic.

Nominees are determined by Billboard chart rankings and winners are selected based on several criteria, including their album and digital song sales, airplay and streaming success and touring.

Doja accepting the "Top Rhythm and Blues Album" award for 'Planet Her' on stage during the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.

Rodrigo, Drake, Ye Early Winners at Billboard Music Awards

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer Olivia Rodrigo, Kanye West and Drake are already big winners before the Billboard Music Awards officially kicks off.

Rodrigo and West, known as Ye, both have taken home the most awards with six during a non-televised ceremony on Sunday. Rodrigo, who won best new artist, is a finalist in the top female artist category, which will be announced later in the show's live broadcast.

Sean ``Diddy'' Combs will emcee the show, which is being broadcast live from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas and will air live beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern on NBC and its Peacock streaming service.

Drake was named top artist, male artist, rap artist, rap male artist and rap album for ``Certified Lover Boy.'' The rapper extended his record as the most decorated winner in the history of the awards show with 34 wins.

Ye made his mark in the faith-based categories - again: The rapper won top Christian artist for the first time, but he claimed top gospel artist and gospel song for a third year in a row. He also received top gospel album for the second time.

The Kid LAROI became a first-time winner, taking home five wins for his song ``Stay'' with Justin Bieber - whose Billboard Music Awards win count rose to 26.

Doja Cat won top R&B artist and R&B female artist for the second consecutive year. She'll compete for top R&B album and female artist.

Taylor Swift - who has the second most-ever award show wins with 29 - won four awards. Bad Bunny received two wins while R&B duo Silk Sonic, comprised of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, won their first-ever award for top R&B song through ``Leave the Door Open.''

The show will include performances by Travis Scott, Ed Sheeran, Becky G and other artists who have enjoyed charttopping success.

Becky G, who released the album ``Esquemas'' on Friday, will perform her hit song ``MAMIII,'' which topped the Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart. Sheeran will deliver a remote performance from Northern Ireland, where he is on tour.

Other acts taking the stage include Scott, who's nominated in the dance/electronic music category, as well as Miranda Lambert, Meghan Thee Stallion, Morgan Wallen, and Grammy Awards darlings Silk Sonic.

Nominees are determined by Billboard chart rankings and winners are selected based on several criteria, including their album and digital song sales, airplay and streaming success and touring.

Drake, Olivia Rodrigo, and Kanye West scooped top awards.

A4

The Valley’s News Observer

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO: 2022 078904 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: LINCOLN PLUMBING AND ROOTER at 12450- Culver Blvd, 115, Los Angeles, Ca. 90066 County: Los Angeles Mailing Same REGISTERED OWNERS(S): DANIEL REYNOSO, 12450- Culver Blvd #115, Los Angeles, Ca. 90066 The business is conducted by: an Individual SIGNED: DANIEL REYNOSO, Owner The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A This statement filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on: Apr 12, 2022 DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk By: J. CARPENTER Deputy NOTICE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2014, THE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE AFFIDAVIT OF IDENTITY FORM. This statement expires on Apr 12, 2027 LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Apr 28, May 5, 12, 19, 2022

The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Michael Raichelson/ SBN-174607, Sarah Jane Reynolds/ SBN 299510; Luis Duenas/SBN 271873; Martin Weingarten/SBN 201906 PERSOLVE LEGAL GROUP, LLP 9301 Corbin Ave Ste 1600 Northridge, CA 91324 Telephone: (818) 534-3100 Fax: DATE (Fecha): December 30, 2020 Clerk (Secretario), by M.Morales, Deputy (Adjunto) Sherri R. Carter, Executive Officer/Clerk of Court (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served.

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 5, 12, 19, 26, 2022

������������������������������� SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): 20CHLC33297 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): ARSEN OHANYAN, an individual; and DOES 1-100, inclusive YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): PERSOLVE LEGAL GROUP, LLP NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements.

You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte. ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 9425 Penfield Ave Chatsworth, Ca. 91311

Order to Show Cause Hearing is set for 1/5/2023 at 8:30 A.M. in Department F43.

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 5, 12, 19, 26, 2022 ������������������������������� SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): 20CHLC32875 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): CE LEE, an individual; and DOES 1-100, inclusive YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): PERSOLVE LEGAL GROUP, LLP NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements.

You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte. ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 9425 Penfield Ave Chatsworth, Ca. 91311 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Michael Raichelson/ SBN-174607, Sarah Jane Reynolds/ SBN 299510; Luis Duenas/SBN 271873; Martin Weingarten/SBN 201906 PERSOLVE LEGAL GROUP, LLP 9301 Corbin Ave Ste 1600 Northridge, CA 91324 Telephone: (818) 534-3100 Fax: DATE (Fecha): December 28, 2020 Clerk (Secretario), by C. Ibanez, Deputy (Adjunto) Sherri R. Carter, Execu-

PUBLIC NOTICE tive Officer/Clerk of Court (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served.

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 5, 12, 19, 26, 2022 Order to Show Cause Hearing is set for 1/3/2023 at 8:30 A.M. in Department F43.

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 5, 12, 19, 26, 2022 �������������������������������

SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): 20NWLC29016 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): MONICA RINCON, an individual; and DOES 1-100, inclusive YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): PERSOLVE LEGAL GROUP, LLP NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements.

You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte. ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 12720 Norwalk Blvd Norwalk, Ca. 90650 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Michael Raichelson/ SBN-174607, Sarah Jane Reynolds/ SBN 299510; Luis Duenas/SBN 271873; Martin Weingarten/SBN 201906 PERSOLVE LEGAL GROUP, LLP 9301 Corbin Ave Ste 1600 Northridge, CA 91324 Telephone: (818) 534-3100 Fax: DATE (Fecha): November 17, 2020 Clerk (Secretario), by H. Chavez, Deputy (Adjunto) Sherri R. Carter, Executive Officer/Clerk of Court (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served.

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 5, 12, 19, 26, 2022

Order to Show Cause Hearing is set for 10/17/2022 at 8:30 A.M. in Department A. LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 5, 12, 19, 26, 2022 ������������������������������� SUMMONS

Legal Notices

Thursday, May 19, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

(CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): 20CHLC08018 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): MANUK KARAPETYAN, an individual; and DOES 1-100, inclusive YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): PERSOLVE LEGAL GROUP, LLP NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements.

You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte. ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 9425 Penfield Ave Chatsworth, Ca. 91311 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Michael Raichelson/ SBN-174607, Sarah Jane Reynolds/ SBN 299510; Luis Duenas/SBN 271873; Martin Weingarten/SBN 201906 PERSOLVE LEGAL GROUP, LLP 9301 Corbin Ave Ste 1600 Northridge, CA 91324 Telephone: (818) 534-3100 Fax: DATE (Fecha): February 26, 2020 Clerk (Secretario), by M.Morales, Deputy (Adjunto) Sherri R. Carter, Executive Officer/Clerk of Court (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served.

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 12, 19, 26, June 2, 2022

served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements.

You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte. ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 12720 Norwalk Blvd Norwalk, Ca. 90650 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Michael Raichelson/ SBN-174607, Sarah Jane Reynolds/ SBN 299510; Luis Duenas/SBN 271873 PERSOLVE LEGAL GROUP, LLP 9301 Corbin Ave Ste 1600 Northridge, CA 91324 Telephone: (818) 534-3100 Fax: DATE (Fecha): January 5, 2021 Clerk (Secretario), by H. Chavez, Deputy (Adjunto) Sherri R. Carter, Executive Officer/Clerk of Court (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served.

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 12, 19, 26, June 2, 2022

may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements.

You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte. ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 9425 Penfield Ave Chatsworth, Ca. 91311 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Michael Raichelson/ SBN-174607, Sarah Jane Reynolds/ SBN 299510; Luis Duenas/SBN 271873; Martin Weingarten/SBN 201906 PERSOLVE LEGAL GROUP, LLP 9301 Corbin Ave Ste 1600 Northridge, CA 91324 Telephone: (818) 534-3100 Fax: DATE (Fecha): December 29, 2020 Clerk (Secretario), by M.Morales, Deputy (Adjunto) Sherri R. Carter, Executive Officer/Clerk of Court (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served.

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 12, 19, 26, June 2, 2022

ferral service. If you cannot afford

sponse at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements.

You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte. ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 12720 Norwalk Blvd Norwalk, Ca. 90650 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Michael Raichelson/ SBN-174607, Sarah Jane Reynolds/ SBN 299510; Luis Duenas/SBN 271873 PERSOLVE LEGAL GROUP, LLP 9301 Corbin Ave Ste 1600 Northridge, CA 91324 Telephone: (818) 534-3100 Fax: DATE (Fecha): December 28, 2020 Clerk (Secretario), by J. Alvarado, Deputy (Adjunto) Sherri R. Carter, Executive Officer/Clerk of Court (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served.

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 12, 19, 26, June 2, 2022

Order to Show Cause Hearing is set for 8/1/2022 at 8:30 A.M. in Department F43.

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 12, 19, 26, June 2, 2022 �������������������������������

SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): 21NWLC00194 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): SALVADOR GARCIA, an individual; and DOES 1-100, inclusive YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): CROWN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are

Order to Show Cause Hearing is set for 1/4/2023 at 8:30 A.M. in Department F43.

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 12, 19, 26, June 2, 2022

������������������������������� SUMMONS

(CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso):

Order to Show Cause Hearing is set for 1/18/2023 at 8:30 A.M. in Department A. LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 12, 19, 26, June 2, 2022

20CHLC32784

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): SEE TANG, an individual; and DOES 1-100, inclusive

YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE):

������������������������������� SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): 20CHLC33089 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): SAMVEL YEPREMYAN, an individual; and DOES 1-100, inclusive YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): PERSOLVE LEGAL GROUP, LLP NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property

PERSOLVE LEGAL GROUP, LLP

NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you

respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are

served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy

served on the plaintiff. A letter or

phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in prop-

er legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the

California Courts Online Self-Help Center

(www.courtinfo.ca.gov/self-

help), your county law library, or the

courthouse nearest you. If you can-

not pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do

not file your response on time, you

may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property

may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements.

You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney re-

an attorney, you may be eligible for

free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can lo-

cate these nonprofit groups at the

California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Cen-

ter (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or

county bar association. NOTE: The

court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or

arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must

be paid before the court will dismiss

the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte. ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 9425 Penfield Ave Chatsworth, Ca. 91311 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Michael Raichelson/ SBN-174607, Sarah Jane Reynolds/ SBN 299510; Luis Duenas/SBN 271873; Martin Weingarten/SBN 201906 PERSOLVE LEGAL GROUP, LLP 9301 Corbin Ave Ste 1600 Northridge, CA 91324 Telephone: (818) 534-3100 Fax: DATE (Fecha): December 28, 2020 Clerk (Secretario), by G.Rivera, Deputy (Adjunto) Sherri R. Carter, Executive Officer/Clerk of Court (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served.

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 12, 19, 26, June 2, 2022 Order to Show Cause Hearing is set for 1/3/2023 at 8:30 A.M. in Department F43.

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 12, 19, 26, June 2, 2022 �������������������������������

SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): 20NWLC34338 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): IVAN MOLINA, an individual; and DOES 1-100, inclusive YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): UHG I, LLC NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written re-

Order to Show Cause Hearing is set for 1/9/2023 at 8:30 A.M. in Department A. LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER (PLG) PUB: May 12, 19, 26, June 2, 2022 �������������������������������

Thursday, May 19, 2022

The Valley’s News Observer A5

Features

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Jr., Inglewood City Councilmembers and representatives from the Getty Museum, LA PHIL, and Beckmen YOLA Center (Photo: Ricky Richardson)

Getty 25th Anniversary Celebrates Inglewood Continued from page A1

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr., City Council Members Eloy Morales and Alex Padilla and representatives from the Getty Museum, LA Phil, and Beckmen YOLA Center greeted the crowd with welcome remarks. Lisa Lapin, Vice President for Communication, J. Paul Getty Trust; Renae Williams Niles, Chief Content and Engagement Officer, Los Angeles Philharmonic; Camile Delaney-McNeil, Director, Beckmen YOLA Center; Chad Smith, CEO, Los Angeles Philharmonic; and Elsje Kibler Vermaas, Vice President for Learning, Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Inglewood High School Marching Band, under the direction of Joseph Jauregui, affectionally known as “Mr. J” entertained an attentive crowd. Their Grand Finale consisted of parading up Grevillea Avenue to the South Lawn of City Hall.

Black Nile a local jazz band featuring Aaron Shaw-sax, Lawrence Shaw-bass, Myles Martin-drums and Harrison Hendricks-keyboards had the crowd moving and grooving throughout their wonderful set. Black Nile performed “Malibu/Risin to the Top,” “Miss Ann,” “Red Sun,” “Fine

China,” and “Didn’t Ya Know” with ample opportunities for solos for each member of the quartet.

Voices of Creation led by Jimetta Rose, performance was enthralling and uplifting. The multicultural group performed “Let the Sunshine In,” “Operation Feed Yourself,” “Spirits Up Above,” “Answer the Call,” “Things are Getting Better,” “Real to Me,” and “Ain’t Life Grand.”

Can I get an AMEN! The accompanying musician consisted of Jack Maebe-keyboards, Brian Hargrove-keyboards and Alan Lightner-percussions and vocalist Khalila Gardner.

Foreigner B2B Blaq Pages, No)one. Art House and We Are King rounded out the entertainment on the Main Stage.

Students from Inglewood Unified School District showcased their awesome talents on the Youth Stage, located on the South Lawn of City Hall.

The two-day festival shined the spotlight on the Beckmen Yola Center. Beckmen YOLA Center is a critical addition to the vibrant array of arts and culture in the City of Inglewood. Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, better known as YOLA, provides young musicians across Los Angeles with

S.H.I.N.E. Muwasi and Fode Sissoko (Photo: Ricky Richardson)

Brasil Brasil (Photo: Ricky Richardson)

free instruments and up to 18 hours of music instructions every week, as well as academic support and leadership training. Beckmen YOLA Center held an Open House for the public to see the various rehearsal rooms and to inquire about enrollment and perform on various instruments.

The public was also able to see an open rehearsal of YOLA and see a performance of Youth Orchestra Los Angeles and ICYOLA Jazz Band.

Sunday, May 15th, DJ Jeli was on the control panel of the ones and twos, as people gathered for another day of exciting performances.

S.H.I.N.E. Muwasi, with Rene Fishers, aka, Mama Nae Nae, led the crowd on a musical journey throughout several regions of West Africa, through songs and drumming, with special guest Fode Sissoko on kora.

Youth Orchestra Los Angeles and Voices of Creation made a return engagement to the delight of the crowd.

Brasil Brasil Cultural Center brought out the WOW! factor as they shared the rich, vibrant heritage of Brazil in a spirited, exuberant performance filled with joy, that expressed the rich blend of African, Portuguese and

Indigenous influences.

Godfrey at Large, Katalyst, MUÑEKA, and Battlecat and G-Funk All-Stars featuring Georgia Anne Muldrow built up on the energy and took it up a notch to showcase stellar performances.

DJ Gudo, S.H.I.N.E. Muwasi, 1500 Sound Academy and a Capoeira workshop by Brasil Brasil was held on the Inglewood Youth Stage.

The two-day festival consisted of engaging and informative art activations for the entire family. A good time was had by all in attendance.

The festivals are being held to celebrate the cultural richness of ten communities and to say “thank you” to Los Angeles for 25 years of supporting the Getty Center. More than a dozen Type equation here.neighborhood nonprofits and cultural organizations are partnering with the Getty to organize the festivals, celebrating the art, artists, and culture of each neighborhood.

A6

Make Mental Wellness Part of Our Total Health

By Rhonda Smith Executive Director California Black Health Network The next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in California has arrived. As the state begins to implement its SMARTER Plan, protecting ourselves and our communities from COVID-19 and its fast-spreading variants through vaccination can ensure better outcomes for us all.

Despite mask mandates ending, we must continue to spotlight the importance of keeping Black and African Americans healthy and encourage our community to think about being more proactive about our overall health and well-being. We can start by focusing on our whole selves – our physical, mental, and emotional health.

The pandemic has propelled health inequity and racism into news headlines and helped spark national conversations about the health disparities that face the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. The impact of decisions about the treatment we receive or deserve are often driven by racism and the resulting implicit bias that individuals who have sworn to take care of their patients often harbor. And this affects our physical, mental, and emotional health and ultimately health outcomes.

A reflection on our historical relationship with the medical community has certainly warranted the level of distrust of the healthcare system, and the many stories of outright racism and discrimination experienced in the past.

One example is Dr. James Marian Sims, who performed surgeries and experiments on Black women without their permission or anesthesia. Another example, which many of us are familiar with, is the Tuskegee Syphilis Study,

Features

The Valley’s News Observer

which was administered by the U.S. Public Health Service from 1932 to 1972 to better understand syphilis. During the four decades, hundreds of Black men in Tuskegee, Alabama, were injected with the disease without giving their consent; and even once penicillin became a common syphilis treatment, they were left untreated.

Our distrust of the healthcare system has been further shaped by present day experiences, with many Blacks and African Americans saying they have experienced racism during a medical visit or that their physical pain or discomfort is frequently ignored.

Unfortunately, our healthcare system has often disregarded BIPOC patient needs, and systemic racism has morphed into a true public health crisis. Despite this, as Blacks and African Americans, we have persisted. Our individual and cultural resilience equips us to persevere and survive in a system built on a foundation of discriminatory design.

As part of our culture and heritage, we have relied on an oral tradition that passes on stories about how we should care for ourselves and remedies that heal our ailments. I hear many of these stories through our network and I heard them in my own family. We have relied on our own learnings; and in some instances, we have relied on our faith. And through it all, we have found ways to maintain our health and wellness.

However, we are weathered, and enduring resiliency is hard. If we are not whole, we are not healthy. If we are not healthy, we cannot be resilient.

Resilience is an element of mental health, and our whole health comprises elements of physical, mental, and emotional wellness. This means our whole health needs to be a priority, not only one dimension or another. We must invest in our individual health and wellbeing and make it a priority so that our families, community, and all of us will be healthier and live longer.

We must look to the past to inspire a better future so that we can rewrite our heath history here in California.

I appreciate the state’s COVID-19 awareness campaign which has sought to address mental health concerns and other issues that impact us by partnering with African American and Black medical experts and advocates for community conversations. These conversations have provided a platform for discussion and opportunities to educate, dispel misinformation and break stigmas.

We are not strangers to race-based adversity, and its impact on our health and wellbeing. Racism, health inequities inequity, police brutality, and residential redlining each affect public health in its own unique way.

Yet we continue to persevere. Black History Month was a time to remember our past, honor our heroes, celebrate our great legacy of achievement. The theme for the month this year was “Black Health and Wellness”, and it was meant for us to prioritize total wellness and build a healthier history for us now and for generations to come.

For more about COVID-19, including guidance on masking and testing, visit covid19.ca.gov. You should also visit covid19.ca.gov or the CDC.gov more timely, accurate information about the pandemic. To schedule an appointment for a vaccination or a booster, visit MyTurn. ca.gov, or call 1-833-422-4255.

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Black Leaders Undervalued in America

The vital key to advancing the economic status of African American communities and families is the support and the promotion of the success of Black-founded, managed, and owned businesses. We will not stand silent about this matter. Our businesses deserved to be respected, engaged, and empowered.

The challenges that Black businesses are facing is a national concern from the east coast to the west coast, and from the north to the south. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) When is the last time that you read a national news story in the so-called mainstream media about a successful Black business in America that has achieved unprecedented excellence and profit in today’s marketplace? I know it has been a long time.

On the other hand, when was the last time that you read or heard in the media about allegations of corruption, financial failure and excessive greed by the owners of some Black businesses?

In my opinion it, has been an all too frequent and reoccurring false narrative that continues to be cast in the media to undermine and devalue Black business leaders across the nation.

Late last year, I called attention to a barrage of unfair attacks being leveled in the media against CORE Services Group, Inc., a Black-run nonprofit that has for years provided food, shelter, and other services to New York City’s growing homeless population.

I was particularly offended that the attacks appeared to be waged through anonymous leaks by city bureaucrats in the previous mayoral administration who seemed bent on destroying the nonprofit organization and its founder, Jack Brown, a successful Black businessman.

Now, seven months later, the case has moved to court, where CORE has begun to fight back – and where city officials cannot hide behind a veil of anonymity. In a series of legal filings, CORE has presented evidence that appears to rebut the allegations by NYC’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS) against CORE and its leaders, while raising questions about the city’s motives under the previous mayor, Bill de Blasio, according to published reports.

Central to the city’s case, for example, are claims that CORE officials concocted a scheme to enrich themselves by hiring several for-profit companies that CORE itself owned to provide food, security, and maintenance at CORE-run shelters. An outside observer without the benefit of all the facts might be tempted to conclude that CORE was engaged in some kind of self-dealing.

But upon further examination, this hardly seems to be the case.

Far from it, in fact.

As CORE has reportedly noted in court documents and elsewhere, the for-profit companies -- wholly owned subsidiaries of the non-profit -- are part of a model of integrated services that CORE established to run its shelters efficiently – and without the uncertainty its leaders say they regularly faced from outside vendors that all too often provided inferior services or threatened to cut off services because the city was slow to reimburse CORE for its expenses.

More than that, according to documents filed with the court, CORE told DHS about the formation of the for-profit companies even before the companies began providing services at CORE’s DHS-funded shelters. In other words, CORE operated the for-profit companies for years with the city’s knowledge and consent.

But none of this explains why city officials have targeted CORE for this kind of attack, particularly after years of consistently providing support to the city’s neediest residents, a disproportionate number of whom are Black and Latino. Yet to hear CORE tell it, city officials began raising questions about the organization under the previous mayor, Bill de Blasio, only after CORE officials began demanding that the city pay a backlog of unpaid bills that totaled $35 million.

“The sequence of events says it all: de Blasio used CORE to deflect from his own failures addressing homelessness in New York City,” Wendy Weingart, CORE Vice President/General Counsel, told the news outlet Inside Sources. “The failure to pay nonprofits that continued to operate during the worst of the pandemic is indefensible. Simply put, the de Blasio administration took advantage of CORE through administrative delays and did not pay CORE for several programs it operated at the behest of the city for over a year.”

As a result, many Black leaders are speaking out on behalf of CORE and urging the city’s new mayor, Eric Adams, to correct this injustice.

In a recent Op Ed in Black Enterprise, the renowned freedom-fighting Attorney Benjamin Crump argued that Mr. Brown and his organization have been singled out for attack despite the essential role the nonprofit has played in helping legions of homeless individuals in a city with a notoriously overburdened social service system.

“Jack Brown’s plight is yet another sad example of the impediments Black Americans still face when we strive for excellence,” he said. “Mr. Brown is being pilloried for his commitment to caring for the homeless New Yorkers, a group which unfortunately includes a disproportionate number of Black and Brown people. CORE came every time DHS called.

But sadly, as Congresswoman Chisholm once said, ‘Racism is so universal in this country, so widespread, and deep-seated, that it is invisible because it is so normal.”

Now that there is a new administration in New York City, I believe that the Honorable Mayor Eric Adams will have the opportunity to rectify the situation with Jack Brown and CORE. The city’s homeless deserve to receive the best care possible as the city rebounds from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Adams has already expressed a priority in ensuring the future sustainability of local and citywide businesses that are owned by African Americans and other people of color.

Yet, what Jack Brown, as a Black business leader, was facing and continues to face in New York City is not isolated to that one city. The challenges that Black businesses are facing is a national concern from the east coast to the west coast, and from the north to the south. There appears to be a systematic attempt throughout the country to undervalue the strategic importance of supporting Black businesses. This is apparent at the municipal, county, state, and regional levels in nearly every state. The eventual fate of businessmen like Jack Brown III will be the future fate of our advance and progress in America.

The vital key to advancing the economic status of African American communities and families is the support and the promotion of the success of Black-founded, managed, and owned businesses. We will not stand silent about this matter. Our businesses deserved to be respected, engaged, and empowered.

No one should attempt to devalue what is invaluable to the future of our communities. It is time to vote. It is time to speak out. It is time to support our Black businessmen and women—especially those devoted to serving the underserved.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is the President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and Executive Producer/Host of The Chavs Chronicles on PBS TV stations weekly throughout the United States; and can be reached at dr.bchavis@nnpa.org

Features

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Los Angeles News Observer A7

SoCal Group Graduation: 674 Grads, Scholarships Worth $27,000, and Boundless Black Joy

Aldon Thomas Stiles California Black Media This past weekend in the Inland Empire, a San Bernardino couple welcomed hundreds of African American high school graduates from the region for a joyous pan high-school, Black-themed graduation celebration.

“Sometimes we have students doing magnificent things and nobody sees them,” said Keynasia Buffong, cofounder of Buffong Consultation Solutions, the company that organized the celebration honoring graduates from various high schools in the area.

Keynasia Buffong co-owns the firm with her husband Jonathan Buffong. The couple wants to expand the mass graduation event to all regions in the state.

"When you come into your community, we see you.

We recognize you,” Kaynasia Buffong continued.

The Buffongs say 694 students signed up for the Black graduation event their company held in conjunction with the Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement (CEEM) and a myriad of other sponsors.

In addition to celebrating the students’ achievements, the Buffongs say the event held at the Los Angeles County Fair Grounds in Pomona introduced members of the class of 2022 to culturally significant career, social and civic opportunities.

Black Greek organizations attended the weekend-long event as well as the first Black valedictorian of Beaumont High School where African American students make up a little under 7 % of the student population.

"We got a chance to give away $27,000 in scholarships," said Keynasia.

Both Buffongs are educators and student advocates in

On it.

Ending racial injustice requires all of us to work together and take real action.

What can you do to help?

Educate yourself about the history of American racism, privilege and what it means to be anti-racist. Educate yourself

about the history of American racism, privilege and what it means to be anti-racist.

Commit to actions that challenge injustice and make everyone feel like they belong, such as challenging biased or racist language when you hear it.

Vote in national and local elections to ensure your elected officials share your vision of public safety.

Donate to organizations, campaigns and initiatives who are committed to racial justice.

Let’s come together to take action against racism and fight for racial justice for the Black community.

Visit lovehasnolabels.com/fightforfreedom

California. They have been hosting the graduation event appreciating Black students for over 11 years.

But the Buffongs say celebrating success always comes with a reminder of the challenges Black students face.

According to the California Department of Education, at 72.5%, Black students had the lowest high school graduation rate among all other racial or ethnic groups at the end of the 2020 to 2021 academic year.

Jonathan said one of their goals is to help graduates transition into the next stage of their academic life, whether that be a 4-year university, community college, trade school, or employment.

"Sometimes they don't know where to go or what to do," said Keynasia. "There's mentorship and sponsorship and we aim to have both."

For the scholarship awards, the Buffongs are not just

looking at grades but the full context of the graduates’ lives.

"Whether it's COVID, deaths, family or health issues, disabilities, we're looking for things to support them on so we can get them to the next level," said Jonathan.

Outside of academic and career success, the Buffongs spoke about the importance of Black cultural exposure through education and traditional practices such as the Black national anthem and a libation ceremony.

The libation ceremony is performed by an elder in the community as a way to honor one's ancestors. It is significant in various African cultures as well as other cultures around the globe.

The Buffongs say their next step is to look into more internship opportunities and figure out how to help curb the high numbers of Black high school graduates who leave the state to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

Why Every Californian Should Support the Prescription Drug Pricing Bill Dr. Oliver Brooks Special to California Black Media Partners In 1992, the federal government enacted the 340B Drug Discount Program. It afforded community health centers (CHCs) the ability to provide pharmacy services to their patients, a service that many CHCs did not have the resources to provide otherwise.

The program protects safety-net providers, including CHCs, from escalating drug prices, allowing us to purchase drugs at a discounted rate from manufacturers and pass those discounts directly to the patient. This program is presently under threat.

That is why I support Dr. Richard Pan’s Senate Bill (SB) 939. This bill, currently being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Health, would prohibit discriminatory actions by drug manufacturers and administrators when providing 340B drugs to health centers and the patients they serve.

It provides important consumer protections that are necessary to protect 340B savings and ensure that the savings remain with health centers and their communities, creating greater access to health care and equity for all.

The 340B Program also allows safety-net providers the ability to accrue savings that must be reinvested directly into patient care and services. Thus, the program enables covered entities to stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services.

For 30 years CHCs have used those savings to provide free medications to patients experiencing homelessness, free transportation vouchers, free nutrition classes, and hire provider types (like community health workers) who are not billable within Medi-Cal. Today, there are over 1,300 health centers in California that provide care to 7.2 million people – that’s one in every five Californians and one in three Medi-Cal patients.

Additionally, 68% of CHC patients are from BIPOC communities. CHCs are often the only source of primary and preventative care for California’s most diverse communities, including those experiencing homelessness, immigrants, and agricultural workers.

Anyone who walks into our health centers today can access a variety of services from primary care to dental to behavioral health care and a variety of wraparound services, regardless of whether they have health insurance, or an ability to pay for care.

A large part of why we’re able to offer those services is thanks to savings we receive from the 340B program.

In recent years the 340B program has been under assault by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), drug manufacturers, and others within big Pharma.

Through the expansion of the Affordable Care Act & MediCal, more low-income patients can access healthcare in California, meaning more are also able to access medications, causing the 340B program to expand. Given this fact, manufacturers have put practices in place that limit patient access to 340B priced drugs while PBMs focus on trying to take 340B savings away

Dr. Brooks is Chief Medical Officer and past Chief of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at Watts Healthcare Corporation in Los Angeles, California (CA)

from CHCs, and out of the local communities that need them, threatening patient access to critical medicines made available through the program.

Health centers were born out of the Civil Rights movement to ensure that all communities, particularly communities of color, would have access to high-quality care that is provided in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner. This program has allowed covered entities, including CHCs, to contract with local pharmacies so that our patients can access low-cost medications in a convenient manner. The continual acts of greed by pharmaceutical companies and PBMs threatens equity and access that CHCs were designed to create.

Community health centers around the country are sounding the alarm over Rx drugs manufacturers' attacks on the federal 340B program. Since 2019, 21 states have passed laws addressing PBM discrimination against 340B covered entities.

It’s time for California, the policy trendsetter, to become the next state to protect the 340B program so it can operate as intended.

That is why Dr. Richard Pan’s SB 939 is so important and why I so fervently speak in favor of this legislation.

About the Author Dr. Brooks is Chief Medical Officer and past Chief of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at Watts Healthcare Corporation in Los Angeles, California (CA)

A8

The Valley’s News Observer

Local

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Black Dem and GOP Candidates Vying for Cal Legislature Seats Joe W. Bowers Jr. California Black Media Primaries will be held June 7 for four positions on the California Board of Equalization, all 80 seats in the State Assembly, and 20 State Senate seats. Half of the 40 State Senate seats are subject to election every two years. The 20 even numbered districts are on ballots this year.

California Black Media (CBM) is reporting that no Black candidates are running for the Board of Equalization. Malia Cohen, current Board Chair and the first Black woman elected to the Board, is passing up a re-election bid to continue representing District 2 to run for State Controller instead.

There are five Black candidates running for two State Senate seats. Four are Democrats and one is a Republican. Three candidates are women and two are men.

Twenty-two Black candidates are on ballots for 18 State Assembly contests. Twenty candidates are Democrats and two are Republicans. Eight candidates are women and 14 are men. Nine races involve incumbents, and eight incumbents are Black. Three Black incumbents are running unopposed. Two Assembly seats are being contested by more than one Black candidate.

Although African Americans are 5.8% of California residents and 7% of the voting-eligible population, Black candidates are on ballots for 10% of the Senate races and 22.5% of the Assembly races.

State Senators represent an average of 988,455 residents and Assemblymembers represent an average of 494,227 residents.

After the redistricting done following the 2020 US Census, African Americans no longer exceed 40% of the population in any district. Three Senate districts and five Assembly districts have African American populations exceeding 20%.

Black candidates running for State Senate are: Republican Gregory Tatum is a pastor, U.S. Army veteran and avionics technician. He is running to represent Senate District 16 (Bakersfield). State Senator Melissa Hurtado who currently represents District 14 is in this race because redistricting changed her district boundaries. This district is predicted to be a tossup for the two Republican and three Democrats on the ballot.

Four Black Democratic candidates are running to represent Senate District 28 (Los Angeles). Jamaal A. Gulledge is a public servant. Kamilah Victoria Moore, chair of the California Task Force to Study and Develop.

Reparations proposals for African Americans, has no ballot designation. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas is an educator and community organizer. Cheryl C. Turner is a Civil Rights Lawyer.

Five candidates are on the ballot. This is a solid Democratic district.

Black candidates running for State Assembly are:

Andrea Rosenthal (Courtesy Photo)

Democrat Kevin McCarty is an Assemblymember representing District 7 (Sacramento). Due to redistricting, he is running to represent District 6 (Sacramento). He has four opponents. This is a solid Democratic district.

Two Black candidates are competing to represent Assembly District 10 (Elk Grove). Democrat Tecoy Porter is a pastor, educator and nonprofit director. Republican Eric M. Rigard is a retired businessman. Five candidates are on the ballot. This is a solid Democratic district. No incumbent is on the ballot.

Democrat Lori D. Wilson is listed on the ballot as a Democratic Mayor and Finance Director running to represent Assembly District 11 (Vallejo). Recently, she won a special election to represent District 11, making her the incumbent. She has one opponent. This is a solid Democratic district.

Democrat Ida Times-Green is a School Board Trustee. She is Board President of the Sausalito-Marin City School District and is running to represent Assembly District 12 (Marin). She has three Democratic rivals. This is a solid Democratic district.

No incumbent is on the ballot.

Democrat Mia Bonta is the Assemblymember representing District 18 (Oakland). She is running for re-election unopposed.

This is a solid Democratic district.

Democrat Jennifer Esteen is a Psychiatric Registered Nurse.

She is on the ballot to represent Assembly District (20) Alameda.

Her opponents are two Democrats and a Republican. This is a solid Democratic district. No incumbent is on the ballot.

Democrat Maurice Goodman is a San Mateo County Community College District Trustee. He is running to represent Assembly District 21 (San Mateo). He is running against five Democrats and a Republican. This is a solid Democratic district.

No incumbent is on the ballot.

Democrat Jon Wizard is a Councilmember and Housing Policymaker. He is running to represent Assembly District 30 (San Luis Obispo). He is running against three Democrats and a Republican. This is a solid Democratic district. No incumbent is on the ballot.

Democrat Marlon G. Ware is a University Professor and Director. He is also a retired US Marine officer. He is running to represent Assembly District 36 (Imperial). He has two opponents.

Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D) currently representing the 56th Assembly District is on the ballot for this seat due to redistricting. This is a solid Democratic district.

Democrat Andrea Rosenthal is a housing affordability organizer. She is running to represent Assembly District 39 (Palmdale). She has one Republican and two Democratic rivals.

This is a solid Democratic district. No incumbent is on the ballot.

Democrat Chris Holden is an Assemblymember representing District 41 (Pasadena). He is running for re-election unopposed. This is a solid Democratic district.

Democrat Jamie Swain is a truck driver and businesswomen.

She is running to represent District 47 (Palm Springs). Her opponents are two Republicans and a Democrat. There is no incumbent on the ballot. This race is judged to be a tossup between the Republicans and Democrats.

Democrat Isaac G. Bryan is the Assemblymember representing District 55 (Los Angeles). He is the incumbent and has one opponent, a Republican. This is a solid Democratic district.

Democrat Reggie Jones-Sawyer is the Assemblymember representing District 57 (Los Angeles). He is running for reelection unopposed. This is a solid Democratic district.

Democrat Corey A Jackson is a Riverside County Board of Education member. He is running to represent Assembly District 60 (Moreno Valley). He has three opponents. This is a solid Democratic district. No incumbent is on the ballot.

Three Black candidates are running to represent Assembly District 61 (Inglewood). Democrat Tina Simone McKinnor is Non-Profit Director and businesswoman. Democrat Robert Pullen-Miles is Mayor, City of Lawndale. Republican James Arlandus Spencer is an Environmental Consultant. Five

Running to Represent:

(L-R) Democrat Tecoy Porter, Kamilah Moore (No Ballot Designation), Republican Gregory Tatum, Democrat Corey A Jackson, Democrat Lori D. Wilson and Democrat Maurice Goodman.

candidates are on the ballot. This is a solid Democratic district.

No incumbent is on the ballot.

Democrat Mike Anthony Gipson is the Assemblymember for District 65 (Compton). He is running for re-election against one opponent. This is a solid Democratic district.

Two Black candidates are on the ballot to represent Assembly District 69 (Long Beach). Democrat Al Austin II is a Long Beach Councilmember. Democrat Janet Denise Foster is a Healthcare Administrator. Four Democratic candidates are running for the seat. This is a solid Democratic district. No incumbent is on the

ballot.

Democrat Akilah Weber Democratic State is an Assemblymember and Doctor. She represents Assembly District 79 (La Mesa) and is running for re-election against two Republican opponents. This is a solid Democratic district.

In each contest for Senate and Assembly seats the two candidates receiving the most votes in the June 7 primary will move on to the November 8 general election.

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Los Angeles News Observer A9

Sports

Bruins Host Softball Regionals

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer It’s spring and that means it’s softball tournament time. Seven teams from the Pac-12 Conference were chosen to participate in this year’s NCAA road to the Women College World Series in Oklahoma City.

UCLA (43-8, 19-5) is the highest seed from the conference at 5 and will host the regional at Easton Field.

They will play Grand Canyon on Friday., It will be the 37 appearance in the tournament for Coach Kelley InoynePerez and the Lady Bruins.

During the 2022 season the Bruins went 21-1 at home with a team ERA of 1.45 with 20 shutouts to go with a team batting average of .317. They just completed a weekend sweep of the CAL. The Antelopes won the WAC going 19-5, also boasting the top overall record in the conference at 39-14. It will be

Megan Faraimo (Courtesy Photo)

the schools first ever appearance in the tourney for the team that also claimed the WAC tournament title and has won 22 of its last 28 games. They had big win over Minnesota (Big-10) and are led by first year coach Shannon Hayes.

“This is bonus softball for us right now and we’re happy to be there,” said Hayes. “Hopefully, that’s how we’ll play – see an opportunity and not have any fear. It’s a way to prove what we do. “I was fairly certain that we’d go to Arizona State. You’re going to great programs either way, but it’s nice to get that road trip and get that real regionals experience, especially going to a storied program like UCLA. It’s going to be fun and we’ll try to step up to the challenge.”

The Bruins won its only meeting with Grand Antelopes, 7-6, on Feb. 19, 2018 Others in the Los Angeles Regional include Ole Miss, Loyola Marymount and Grand Canyon. The Rebels and Lions will get things started on the other side of the bracket.

“Our team is real confident right now,” said Rebel head coach Jamie Trachsel. “We’ve been playing our best when it matters the most, and you know, you have to be this time our year.”

The team features So Cal players Mikayla Allee of Norco High and outfielder Nyomi Jones a former Mater Dei standout. The four-time letter winner helped lead the Monarchs to the 2016 Southern Section Championship with a win over The Nation’s #1ranked Orange Lutheran.

This season the junior outfielder played in 53 games batted .280 while scoring 14 runs on 17 hits.

She’s the daughter of Jaymon and Jamila Jones and has three siblings Nyah, Nyari and Jace.

Allee was a five-time letter winner at Norco High School in Norco and named all-league four times.

During the 2022 season the Junior played in 51 games, starting all of them. She batted .220 was fourth on the team with 39 RBI’s to go with six homers to go with

Corona native Makayla Allee played in 51 games this season for Ole Miss and returns home to help lead the Rebels in the NCAA Regionals. (Photo: Ole Miss Athletics)

Former Mater Dei Standout Nyomi Jones will be in Westwood this weekend to help Ole Miss in the NCAA softball Regionals. (Photo: Ole Miss Athletics)

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer UCLA’s Megan Faraimo earned Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year honors, fellow Bruin Briana Perez was selected Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year The 2019 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and a 2021 NFCA First Team All-American, Faraimo adds to her historic UCLA career with her first Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year award. The 2022 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top-25 Finalist claimed two Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week honors this season and became the 17th pitcher in program history to reach 50 career wins. Faraimo is second in program history in solo perfect games (3) and total perfect games (4) and already holds the Bruins’ single-

season saves record (6)..

Perez has been a defensive presence all season long.

She has tallied 56 putouts, only committed eight errors and boasts a .938 fielding percentage heading into the final weekend of the regular season. Offensively, Perez became just the fourth Bruin to join the 300 hits club and is also UCLA’s career runs scored leader. This season, she has stolen 15 bases to bring her career total to 72. She leads the conference in triples (6), has driven in 37 runs, hit 10 home runs and scored 40 times.

The pair will lead the Bruins to their 37th NCAA Tourney as they host the Regionals this weekend in Westwood.

Bruins Earn Pac-12 Honors

six doubles.

Her parents Ryan and Natalie will be in Westwood most likely joined by her sisters Brooklyn and Delaney.

It will be double-elimination format, the winners of the opening two games will face off Saturday with a spot in the Regional Finals on the line Sunday. The losers may have a brutal way out of the loser’s bracket.

Arizona State (39-9, 20-4) earned the Pac-12’s automatic bid to the 64-team NCAA field by winning the conference title. The Sun Devils (39-9, 20-4) were given a No. 8 seed.

Also landing in the field is 13th seeded Washington Huskies. (35-15, 14-10), Oregon (31-17, 10-14), Stanford (36-19, 11-13), Oregon State 33-19, 9-15) and Arizona (33-20, 8-16).

Defending champion Oklahoma (49-2) received the No. 1 overall seed, despite losing to rival Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tournament championship game.

The Sooners will be vying for their sixth National Championship.

Briana Perez (Courtesy Photo)

Dodgers; Betts Regain “Momentum”

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts (50) runs the bases after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer Mookie Betts has regained his form and that’s helped the Dodgers get their momentum again. Trailing 2-0 in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader it was Betts who sparked the “ Men in Blue” with a homer.

Then later Trea Turner and Justin Turner each homered in a five-run sixth inning, for the Dodgers leading them to a 7-6 win in game one.

Following a slow start to the season, when he was batting just .171 with a .496 OPS after 10 games, Mookie Betts has come to life of late. He is looking more like the player that helped earned World Series championship rings with Boston in 2018 and Los Angeles in 2020. He’s a fire spark.

Since April 20, Betts is batting .302 (29-for-96) with eight home runs and 17 RBIs in 24 games. He also has three home runs over his past five games after not hitting his third homer of the season until April 30 in his 19th game.

“It’s just mental clarity,” said the 2018 American League MVP. “That’s when you step back and gather yourself.”

The Dodgers have been getting wins but it’s been comeback fashion. They have had to come back four times over the past three days.

“I mean, we’re obviously a resilient team and we’re going to play 27 outs,” Betts added. “We’re going to make people earn it. I think we’re a lot better when we’re playing downhill, but right now, the cards we’re being dealt is playing from behind, so we have to play from behind.”

The Diamondbacks had another 2-0 lead in the first inning of Game 2 before the Dodgers powered their way to an 8-2 lead after two innings, with three runs coming on a homer from Edwin Rios. The Dodgers rolled to a 12-3 victory in the nightcap.

The 12 runs were a season high as the team played its first scheduled DH since 1999 at the Stadium. ‘’I just think we’re getting going a little bit more,’’ Trea Turner said. ‘’I feel like nobody has really played up to their potential other than maybe Mookie right now, and maybe Freddie. We know there’s a lot more in there, so hopefully going forward there’s a lot more home runs up and down the lineup. We’re all dangerous players, so I expect more of that.’’

Jermell Charlo Knocks-Out Brian Castano to Become Unified Champion

By Cameron Buford whatsgoodinsports.com This journey for Houston, TX native Jermell Charlo to become a unified Super Welterweight Champion began nearly a year ago. In July of 2021, Charlo clashed with Brian Castaño in San Antonio when these fought to a controversial draw. On the line, that night in San Antonio was Charlo’s World Boxing Council’s Super Welter Weight (WBC) belt, his World Boxing Association Super Welter Weight (WBA) belt, and his International Boxing Federation World Super Welter Weight (IBF) belt. In turn, Argentinean Brian Castaño would be putting up his World Boxing Organization Super Welter Weight (WBO) belt in their fight.

Both men thought they won their grueling 12-round fight last year in San Antonio, TX. Yet the fight was so close because of its back-and-forth exchanges. The opportunity to crown the first-ever undisputed 154-pound champion in the four-belt era would have to, unfortunately, be put on hold, making this fight one of the most significant fights in any year. Well, the wait was worth it because boxing

Jermell Charlo, right, lands a shot to Brian Castano during a super welterweight boxing title bout Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/ Marcio Jose Sanchez)

fans witnessed an instant classic on Saturday night at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA. “I’m going to be stronger, faster, and smarter than I’ve ever been before. Thank you, Castaño, for giving me more time to prepare myself,” Charlo said about having extra time to prepare for this fight due to it previously being postponed. “I didn’t finish him, so I think that was the only mistake I made. I’m usually a closer. I have that in the back of my mind. One he’s hurt again, and hopefully it’s earlier than later, it’s over,” Charlo added.

“It is going to be special to show everyone what I’m capable of, especially in front of the Latin fans here. This is the culmination of years of work. I’m anxious to go out there and prove that I’m the champion and give the Latin fans the show that they deserve,” Castaño said leading up to their bout this past Saturday night.

“The lack of respect he has for a fellow athlete bothered me. He said a lot of things that I thought were out of line.

I don’t know why he’s all edgy and screaming and nervous.

I’d rather him show that energy in the ring,” Castano said about Charlo and his alleged steroids usage. “Saturday is going to be electric. The way that we’ve been spicing this up, we’re guaranteeing a spectacle. You’re not going to want to miss it,” Castaño vowed to boxing fans.

Though many people picked Charlo to win this fight, the anticipation for this bout grew as fight night drew closer. The many Argentineans who traveled to Southern California to support Castaño increased the competitive environment of the week’s events leading up fight night.

However, all the chanting and singing from Castaño’s supporters would not be able to protect him from Charlo’s eventual onslaught.

These guys took little time to find a groove in this fight. In this first round, Charlo and Castaño exchanged some haymakers that would test the resolve of their opponent. An energized Charlo connects on a four-punch combination that rocks Castano. Castano returns the favor by landing a few right hands blows on Charlo’s chin.

Charlo controlled most of the second round of the fight. Though similar to the first round, Castaño would come on to attempt to steal the end of the rounds. They exchanged heavy punches in the next couple of rounds, as Charlo would continue to draw Castaño in and then catch him with that hard right hand each time he was in range.

The fourth round was one to replay, as they both

seemed to unload the tank on each other. Just when one would suspect Charlo has gained the edge in the fight, Castaño would land some power punches to make you rethink your position. As tough as it was to score, I gave the fourth and fifth rounds to Castaño. He controlled the fight, and he remained the aggressor in those middle moments of the rounds, with his consistent activity.

Sensing that he may have dropped a couple of consecutive rounds, Charlo came out firing, in the seventh round. His offensive onslaught allowed him to regain control of the fight and stifle Castaño’s aggression. Charlo vowed, “to fight better off the ropes in this fight,” and he was true to his word as he showed off his power, quickness and craftiness.

Charlo’s planned to allow Castaño to get within reach and then unloaded his right hand, filled with bad intentions, appeared to be working masterfully. In that seventh and eighth round, Castaño’s granite chin seemed to withstand all it could, and Castaño began to show the effects of the battery he endured from the young Charlo brother.

Impressively, Castaño was the aggressor in round nine.

Where Charlo thought he was wearing Castaño down, the hard-hitting Argentinean wasn’t ready to give in just yet.

The resolve Castaño showed to exchange power shots with Charlo is the stuff champions are made of.

Charlo wasn’t impressed as late in the tenth round, he hit Castaño with a right hook to the body and followed that up with a short-left hook that Castaño never saw coming and forced him to take a knee. The referee gave Castaño a six-count yet didn’t make Charlo go to a neutral corner before allowing the fight to continue.

Without even giving Castaño a chance to catch his breath, Charlo came in hot. Charlo hit Castano with a left jab and a powerful right-hand punch that sent Castaño to the ropes. Charlo connected with another left hand to Castano’s jaw and then hit him with a finishing shot to his ribs, which knocked the rest of the air out of Castaño. Once Castaño went down on both knees and struggled to get up, the referee called the fight. Just like that, Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo, at 31, became boxing’s seventh Undisputed Champion.

“This is legacy,” the 31-year-old Charlo said after the fight. “This is legendary. I’m a legend. I knew Castaño was going to give it his all. I knew I had trained very hard, but

you all can see that I came in at 152 pounds because I was really in shape, and I wanted to make sure that this was my fight.”

“We showed that we are warriors,” Castaño said. “We both were fighting back-and-forth. He’s a champion. He got me,” Castano humbly added.

“I listened to my corner this time,” Jermell, “Iron Man,” Charlo said after the fight. “I got in my bag around the seventh round. I started sitting down a little bit more instead of boxing so much and moving around. I saw that he was wearing down a little bit, and I was breaking him down. I just saw my punches being more effective. I get stronger in the later rounds if they didn’t know.”

Each of these men landed over 40 percent of their power punching in this exciting fight. Charlo landed an impressive 46.9 percent of his power punches. Let me know your thoughts on Jermell Charlo’s career; now that he is the new Unified Undisputed 154-pound Champion, where do you have him ranked on your pound-for-pound list?

Kindly share your thoughts by reaching out to me using Twitter @whatsgoodnsport or email me at voiceofthefans@ outlook.com.

Jermell Charlo, right, celebrates after defeating Brian Castano in a super welterweight boxing title bout Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/ Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Local 14th Annual Pink Pump Affair; Strutting For A Cause

A10

The Valley’s News Observer

Thursday, May 19, 2022

By Philtrina Farquharson Contributing Writer Autism and special needs children matter, and the success of the 14th annual Pink Pump Affair proved just that. More than 350 dynamic women came together this past Sunday, May 15, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel to benefit the Special Needs Network (SNN), a nonprofit addressing autism and other developmental disabilities crises throughout Southern California. While funds were raised at this event, Black women were also honored, and creatives had the opportunity to share their talents through an exclusive fashion show.

Areva Martin Speaking, SNN Founder and CEO (Photo: Philtrina Farquharson)

Model Walking The Fashion Show (Photo: Philtrina Farquharson)

Guests at The Silent Auction (Photo: Philtrina Farquharson)

“This is my first time being here, and I am super excited because my brother-in-law is autistic, so this is very beneficial to me to learn about the work being done at Special Needs Network,” said Nimi Adokiye.

The Pink Pump Affair was filled with community presence as Pat Harvey, CBS LA News Anchor, was Mistress of Ceremonies and took guests along the journey of this nonprofit and the 14 years of this event and 17 years total of the organization’s existence. The Special Needs Network started in 2005 when two moms struggled to find support and services for their children diagnosed with autism. These moms were disheartened by the lack of services accessible for children with special needs and their families.

One of the moms, Areva D. Martin Esq, author, awardwinning civil rights attorney, commentator, and a group of concerned community leaders, leveraged their resources, beginning the Special Needs Network. This organization has made it their mission to educate and raise awareness of autism and related disorders and bring healthcare services and educational resources to underserved communities.

SNN also provides unique learning opportunities for children who need it and advocates for fair policy-making through government resources.

“Areva has changed the term special needs because every child needs something special. The great thing about

From Left to Right_ Dr.Gail Jackson, Anna Maria Horsford, Kym Whitley, Areva Martin, Vivica A. Fox (Photo: Philtrina Farquharson)

From Left to Right Pat Harvey CBS2 KCAL9,Wendy Raquel Robinson, Audreona McRoy,Kellie Hawkins, Areva Martin (Photo: Philtrina Farquharson)

SNN is that it helps the kids and the parents because it may be difficult to raise that child by yourself when you have a special needs child. I hope that this organization continues long after us”, said Actress Anna Maria Horsford.

The SNN provides services and programs for children that give families peace of mind through its mission, including the Parent Advocacy Mentor Program (PAM).

This eight-week training program offers parents and caretakers the tools to become better equipped to care for someone with special needs. “I took the class, and it changed our lives. It gave me a full understanding of my legal rights and services that were available to children with special learning needs,” said Akilah McRoy, attendee and mom of Audreona McRoy. Audreona McRoy is an 18-year-old with special needs honored for her leadership, inspiring robust growth, and extraordinary change throughout the community; she was awarded Special Needs Network’s 2022 Everyday Award.

Comedian Lunell and LGBTQIA+ advocate and singer/songwriter attended the event to support their friend Areva and the cause. After the pink carpet, guests headed to the ballroom. Attendees were graced with a fashion show led by Toshiba Jones-Wilson, presenting the works of four sought-after Black designers, Izayla, Madame Adassa, Claude Kameni (also known as Lavie by CK), and

Rene Tyler. “I am extremely excited to be a part of this event while also being the first Black retail store in Playa Vista. Showcasing our independent designers really means a lot to me,” said Toshiba Jones-Wilson, celebrity fashion stylist and owner of MaTte ArGyLe. The event ended with the announcement of Silent Auction Winners and a few closing remarks from Maya Van Barclay, SNN Communications + Strategic Partnerships.

“I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and love for the 14th annual PINK PUMP AFFAIR. The generous donations will allow the Special Needs Network to continue the transformative work of fighting and advocating for Black and brown kids with autism and other special needs. The Pink Pump Affair was put together to raise awareness and ensure that they are valued and given every opportunity to thrive in our society,” said Areva Martin, founder, and president of Special Needs Network.

The funds raised at the event will send children with autism and special needs to a summer camp known as Camp JPAC and will also go towards the opening of a new autism clinic set to open in Fall 2022. on the campus of Martin Luther King hospital in South Los Angeles. To learn more or support the Special Needs Network, visit https://snnla.org/.

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Local

Los Angeles News Observer A11

A12

The Valley’s News Observer

Local

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Planned Parenthood Los Angeles Celebrates Opening of Inglewood Health Center LOS ANGELES – Planned Parenthood Los Angeles’ (PPLA) Black Health Initiative Leadership Team celebrated the grand opening of their Inglewood Health Center and Planned Parenthood Community Center on Friday, May 13th. The Inglewood Health Center is the flagship location of the Black Health Initiative (BHI), an agencywide program designed to improve the overall well-being of African Americans by empowering communities to advocate for themselves toward better health outcomes.

“Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles’ Black Health

Initiative offers an affirmative vision for what sexual and reproductive health care should look like, and that vision is particularly heartening and sorely needed at this moment when we risk losing freedom over our own bodies,” stated Alexis McGill Johnson, president & CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). “The Supreme Court is prepared to end the constitutional right to abortion by overturning Roe v. Wade, and Black people will disproportionately bear the devastating consequences.

This is on top of centuries of systemic racism and barriers

Kara James, PPLA nurse practitioner and BHI team member, ends her powerful speech during the Inglewood grand opening program. (Photo: Monte Images)

to accessing care. But with the example and leadership of the Black Health Initiative, we have a model for more agency and access that sets out to reduce inequities, and provides the necessary tools and resources for everyone to decide their own future.”

The Black Health Initiative is working to improve Black reproductive and maternal health by providing coaching to address chronic conditions before, during, and after pregnancy, acknowledging underlying social needs that impact health, and connecting patients to resources and programs needed to flourish.

“The work that Planned Parenthood Los Angeles is embarking on with its Black Health Initiative is more critical than ever,” said Natasha Rothwell, writer and actress from HBO’s “Insecure”. “With the threats to reproductive health care, access to abortion, and Black maternal health care, the direct impact of this initiative on the Black community is key to helping overcome the critical challenges facing Black women today.”

The Inglewood Health Center reinforces PPLA’s commitment to providing the Black community with the resources needed to combat health inequities by offering prenatal care, doula services, behavioral health services, contraceptive counseling, birth control, and more. For services not offered at the health center, patients are referred to additional care that is accessible, culturally specific, and supports overall health and well-being.

In partnership with Black Women for Wellness, California Black Women’s Health Project, Reclaiming America’s Communities Through Empowerment, and UCLA Law Institute on Reproductive Health, Law

Left to right: Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), and Kara James, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles (PPLA) nurse practitioner and Black Health Initiative (BHI) team member as they chat inside the new Inglewood Health Center. (Photo: Monte Images)

& Policy, the grand opening included public tours of the health center, elected officials, community based organizations, and PPLA and PPFA staff.

LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell speaks during the PPLA Inglewood grand opening program.

(Photo: Monte Images)