Valley's News Observer 8.11.22

Senate Dems Pass Huge Climate, Health and Tax Bill

Donald Trump Raided by FBI, is Arrest Imminent?

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Brittney Griner Sentenced to More Than 9 Years in Russian Prison

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent WNBA Superstar Brittney Griner has been sentenced

to more than 9 years in a Russian prison following her conviction on drug charges.

Her lawyers called the verdict a disappointment and

Russian officials contended that Griner committed the crime on purpose. They also levied a fine totaling about $16,400 American dollars on the basketball star.

vowed to appeal.

The lawyers of WNBA star Brittney Griner, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, said in a written statement following the verdict announcement that the court ignored all the evidence they presented and that they will appeal the decision.

“We are very disappointed by the verdict. As legal professionals, we believe that the court should be fair to everyone regardless of nationality,” Attorneys Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov said in a statement.

“The court completely ignored all the evidence of the defense, and most importantly, the guilty plea. This contradicts the existing legal practice.

“Taking into account the amount of the substance (not to mention the defects of the expertise) and the plea, the verdict is absolutely unreasonable. We will certainly file an appeal,” they added.

Russian officials contended that Griner committed the crime on purpose. They also levied a fine totaling about $16,400 American dollars on the basketball star.

Authorities arrested Griner on Feb. 17 at an airport in Moscow after finding less than a gram of cannabis oil in her luggage.

She has been detained since then.

Recently, American officials revealed that the BidenHarris administration had offered notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for the release of Griner and Paul Whelan.

“Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney,” President Biden said.

“It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates. My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible.”

The Monkeypox Health Crisis: How California is Responding Tanu Henry California Black Media As the monkeypox virus outbreak spreads across the globe, Gov. Gavin Newsom says California will need to galvanize “forces” across regions and relax some state regulations and statutes to combat a disease that poses a threat greater than local authorities may be able to respond to effectively.

“California is working urgently across all levels of

government to slow the spread of monkeypox, leveraging our robust testing, contact tracing and community partnerships strengthened during the pandemic to ensure that those most at risk are our focus for vaccines, treatment and outreach,” the Governor said Monday night as he declared a State of Emergency in California.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has begun to collect and report racial and other demographic data, tracking how the disease is impacting

various groups across the state.

The Governor’s State of Emergency follows similar actions taken in San Francisco, New York City and Illinois.

On July 23, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a “public health emergency.”

Last Thursday, the federal government also declared monkeypox a national public health emergency.

“We are prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus and we urge every American to take monkeypox seriously,” said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás J. Aragón says he welcomes the federal health emergency because it opens up channels for California to get more access to resources to slow the spread the disease.

“We hope today’s action injects additional federal funding and resources into our collective response efforts.

The state remains focused on slowing the spread of the virus in impacted communities, administering the limited number of vaccine doses we have, and raising awareness about prevention measures and access to treatment,” Aragón said, before adding that California is “well-positioned” to tackle the outbreak.

Although monkeypox is not considered deadly, the Continued on page A4

ComplYant Creates Free Tax Tool for Los Angeles Businesses ComplYant, the first platform to help small businesses manage their taxes all in one place, has created a free business tax reminder tool exclusively for LA small businesses.

LOS ANGELES, CA., August 10, 2022 -- ComplYant®, a digital tax assistant for small business owners, announces its new initiative offering free business tax tools for Los Angeles small businesses on August 10, 2022.

ComplYant was founded by Shiloh Johnson, MST, CPA after she noticed a need for a technology platform to help manage complex tax rules and regulations year-round. The FinTech company is on a mission to remove tax barriers for small or underrepresented business owners, by helping them navigate their taxes, anticipate owed taxes, and budget for those ahead of time. This new initiative offers a free tax reminder tool exclusively for Los Angeles-based small businesses. “Over the past year, we’ve developed unique tax tools, created educational workshops, and partnered with local government organizations to support small business owners in their jurisdictions,” states Shiloh Johnson, Los Angeles-based founder and CEO of ComplYant. “Nationwide, there is a yearly ‘tax gap’ of around $600 billion in taxes that are owed and go unpaid by individuals and businesses. ComplYant is offering this free tool to Los Angeles businesses to help them take control of their financial future, and ultimately support the fiscal health of our community.”

As an entrepreneur that supports other entrepreneurs, Johnson understands the financial challenges that come with launching a new venture. There are more than 31 million small businesses in the United States, and they pay billions in tax penalties every year for filing forms or making payments late. Some businesses forget to make payments, Continued on page A4

Take One!

Thursday, August 11, 2022

Alabama Town Disbands Police Dept Over Racist Text VINCENT, Ala. (AP) – A racist text message sent by a police officer has prompted officials in a small Alabama town to disband their police department and fire the police chief and assistant chief.

Vincent Mayor James Latimore on Thursday confirmed that Police Chief James Srygley and Assistant Chief John L. Goss had been dismissed, al.com reported.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office on Friday condemned the two officers’ actions and said it stands with the city “in providing emergency law enforcement related service to the citizens (of Vincent) at this time.’’

In the message, which recently surfaced on social media, someone identified as “752? texts: “What do y’all call a pregnant slave?’’ An unidentified recipient responds twice: “?’’ and “??’’

“752? answers: “BOGO Buy one, get one free’’ “This has torn this community apart. It doesn’t matter what color we are as long as we do right by people,” City Councilman Corey Abrams said during Thursday’s council meeting.

On Tuesday, Latimore said “appropriate action has been taken’’ against the officer alleged to have sent the text, though at the time he would not name the person or anyone involved.

The city’s website lists three people in its department: Srygley, Goss and Officer Lee Carden.

During the council meeting, Latimore announced he had suspended the chief and assistant chief, and the council voted to end the agency. Latimer said Carden turned in his resignation via text message just hours after the city council voted to dissolve the department.

Located in central Alabama, southeast of Birmingham, Vincent has a population of just under 2,000 people. It’s located in Shelby, St. Clair, and Talladega counties.

Man Arrested on Hate Crime Charges in Church Vandalism

ANNE ARUNDEL, Md. (AP) – Police in Maryland have arrested a 66-year-old man on multiple hate crimes charges after racist graffiti was discovered at a church in Anne Arundel County.

The Capital newspaper reports that the graffiti discovered at Kingdom Celebration Center Wednesday followed a similar incident last month, when a racist slur was found on the church’s doors before a food distribution one morning.

Donald Eugene Hood Jr., 66, who has no fixed address, faces three hate crime charges and a fourth charge of malicious destruction of property in the most recent incident. Police identified him after reviewing surveillance footage from the church, according to a news release from the department.

He was arrested Friday and was later released on his recognizance, the news release said.

Police have not determined whether he was involved in the vandalism incident last month.

“I am appalled by these acts of hate targeting Black churches in our communities,’’ County Executive Steuart Pittman said in a statement Wednesday.

Buffalo Man Charged for Twitter Threat to Black Shoppers

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) _ A Black resident of Buffalo, New York, told investigators he anonymously tweeted out a fake threat to commit mass killings against Black people in his community, days after a real mass shooting, because he wanted to see if racists would cheer him on, according to federal prosecutors.

The U.S. Attorney’s office said Thursday that the suspect, 24, said in a May 16 post that he and “associates’’ would target Black people at area grocery stores _ two days after a white gunman from Conklin, New York, opened fire at a Tops Friendly Market and killed 10 people.

He “stated that the purpose of the post was to see what everyone would say and if anyone would agree with him,’’ according to an FBI agent’s affidavit supporting the charge.

The suspect was charged with making an interstate threat. His assigned attorney declined to comment.

The affidavit said the suspect told law enforcement that he also created a second account “in an effort to rectify the earlier post.’’ He replaced “only looking to kill blacks’’ with “ants, spiders and things of that nature.”

A search of his cellphone revealed a screenshot of a post from the second account claiming not to have meant any harm, the affidavit said.

The suspect made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court and was released. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

Last month, authorities announced the arrest of a Washington state man after police said he made multiple calls to a Tops supermarket in Buffalo in which he referenced shooting and killing Black people. A different Buffalo resident was arrested in May for making similar threatening phone calls to two local business and also referencing the Tops supermarket shooting.

Hitler’s Watch Sells at Maryland Auction for $1.1 Million CHESAPEAKE CITY, Md. (AP) _ A Maryland auction house has sold a wristwatch that once belonged to Adolf Hitler for $1.1 million.

Alexander Historical Auctions in Chesapeake City had estimated the value between $2 and $4 million, describing the watch as a “World War II relic of historic proportions.’’

Newsoutlets report that Jewish leaders and others objected to the sale this week, saying it had little to no historical value.

The auction house’s president, Bill Panagopulos, defended the auction and said the buyer is a European Jew. The watch features the initials AH and a swastika. The auction house said a French soldier seized the watch as spoils of war on May 4, 1945, when his unit became the first Allied force to arrive at Hitler’s Berchtesgaden retreat. The Nazi leader died in Berlin on April 30, 1945.

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World & Nation

Thursday, August 11, 2022

DOJ Charges Officers in Death of Breonna Taylor

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Say her name.

Breonna Taylor’s family may finally get justice after the Department of Justice charged four current and former police officers in Louisville, Kentucky, who were involved in the fatal March 2020 raid on her apartment.

The DOJ accused the officers of lying to obtain a warrant that was used to search her home when they knocked her door down and opened fire.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that members of an investigative unit within the Louisville Metro Police Department had included false information in an affidavit that was then used to obtain a warrant to search Taylor’s home.

He told reporters at a hastily called news conference that prosecutors believed the officers “violated federal civil rights laws, and that those violations resulted in Taylor’s death.”

Three of the officers also misled investigators who began looking into Taylor’s death, Garland said, including two that he said had met in a garage in the spring of 2020 and “agreed to tell investigators a false story.”

“On March 13, 2020, Breonna Taylor should have awakened in her home as usual, but tragically she did not,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke.

“Since the founding of our nation, the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution has guaranteed that all people have

Black Lives Matter street signs in Faixfax, California — “Say Their Names”

a right to be secure in their homes, free from false warrants, unreasonable searches, and the use of unjustifiable and excessive force by the police.

“These indictments reflect the Justice Department’s commitment to preserving the integrity of the criminal justice system and to protecting the constitutional rights of every American.”

BLACK LIVES MATTER Art on Wrought Iron Gates at Lafayette Park along H Street between Madison Place and Jackson Place, NW, Washington, DC on Wednesday afternoon, 4 November 2020 by Elvert Barnes Photography

According to a DOJ release, the first indictment charges former Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) Detective Joshua Jaynes, 40, and current LMPD Sergeant Kyle Meany, 35, with federal civil rights and obstruction offenses for their roles in preparing and approving a false search warrant affidavit that resulted in Taylor’s death.

The second indictment charges former LMPD Detective Brett Hankison, 46, with civil rights offenses for firing his service weapon into Taylor’s apartment through a covered window and covered glass door.

The third charging document — and information filed by the Department of Justice — charges LMPD Detective Kelly Goodlett with conspiring with Jaynes to falsify the search warrant for Taylor’s home and to cover up their actions afterward.

The first indictment — charging Jaynes and Meany in connection with the allegedly false warrant — contains four counts. Count One charges that Jaynes and Meany, while acting in their official capacities as officers, willfully deprived Taylor of her constitutional rights by drafting and approving a false affidavit to obtain a search warrant for Taylor’s home.

The indictment alleges that Jaynes and Meany knew that the affidavit contained false and misleading statements, omitted material facts, relied on stale information, and was not supported by probable cause.

The indictment also alleges that Jaynes and Meany knew that the execution of the search warrant would be carried out by armed LMPD officers and could create a dangerous situation both for those officers and for anyone who happened to be in Taylor’s home.

According to the charges, the officers tasked with executing the warrant were not involved in drafting the warrant affidavit and were not aware that it was false. This count alleges that the offense resulted in Taylor’s death.

Count Two charges Jaynes with conspiracy, for agreeing with another detective to cover up the false warrant affidavit after Taylor’s death by drafting a false investigative letter and making false statements to criminal investigators.

Count Three charges Jaynes with falsifying a report with the intent to impede a criminal investigation into Taylor’s death.

Count Four charges Meany with making a false statement to federal investigators.

The second indictment —against Hankison — includes two civil rights charges alleging that Hankison willfully used unconstitutionally excessive force, while acting in his official capacity as an officer, when he fired his service weapon into Taylor’s apartment through a covered window and covered glass door.

Count One charges him with depriving Taylor and a person staying with Taylor in her apartment of their constitutional rights by firing shots through a bedroom window that was covered with blinds and a blackout curtain.

Count Two charges Hankison with depriving three of Taylor’s neighbors of their constitutional rights by firing shots through a sliding glass door that was covered with blinds and a curtain; the indictment alleges that several of Hankison’s bullets traveled through the wall of Taylor’s home and into the apartment unit occupied by her neighbors.

Both counts allege that Hankison used a dangerous weapon, and that his conduct involved an attempt to kill.

The information charging Goodlett with conspiracy contains one count. It charges Goodlett with conspiring with Jaynes to falsify the warrant affidavit for Taylor’s home, and file a false report to cover up the false affidavit.

All of the civil rights charges involve alleged violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242, which makes it a crime for an official acting under color of law — meaning an official who is using or abusing authority given to that person by the government — to willfully violate a person’s constitutional

An icon illustration of Breonna Taylor, shot and killed by police on March 13, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky.

rights.

A violation of this statute carries a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment where the violation results in death or involves an attempt to kill.

The obstruction counts charged in the indictments carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years; and the conspiracy

A mural in Minneapolis, Minnesota depicting three Black Americans who were killed by police officers in 2020: George Floyd, Tony McDade, and Breonna Taylor. This mural was painted by Leslie Barlow as part of the Creatives After Curfew program organized by Leslie Barlow, Studio 400, and Public Functionary.

counts carry a statutory maximum sentence of five years, as does the false-statements charge. Actual sentences, in case of conviction, are determined by a judge.

The charges announced today are separate from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division’s pattern or practice investigation into Louisville Metro Government and the Louisville Metro Police Department, which Attorney General Garland announced on April 26, 2021, the DOJ news release stated.

The charges are criminal against individual officers, while the ongoing pattern or practice investigation is a civil investigation that is examining allegations of systemic violations of the Constitution and federal law by LMPD and Louisville Metro, the DOJ noted.

The civil pattern or practice investigation is being handled independently from the criminal case by a different team of career staff.

Further, the charges are also separate from the charges previously filed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky against Hankison related to the shooting at Taylor’s home.

The federal charges allege violations of the U.S. Constitution, rather than of state law.

“They also allege excessive use of force with respect to Taylor and a person staying in her apartment; violations not included in the Commonwealth’s case,” DOJ officials wrote in the news release.

Senate Dems Pass Huge Climate, Health and Tax Bill

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Senate Democrats took a critical step toward reducing inflation and the cost of living by passing the Inflation

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Reduction Act. Proponents said the measure would make a big difference for many Americans by locking in savings on health insurance premiums and reducing the cost of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices.

The bill, when signed by President Joe Biden, should also lead to creating family-sustaining jobs and cutting energy costs by making the most significant investment in history in combating climate change, Democrats have claimed.

The country will pay the bill’s $739 billion price tag by making corporations pay their fair share. Those making less than $400,000 annually won’t see tax increases.

Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote in a deadlock Senate to ensure passage.

“I’m thrilled we were finally able to pass this historic, once-in-a-generation investment in our country’s future that will lower costs for Georgians, create clean energy jobs and reduce the deficit all at the same time,” said Georgia Democratic Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock.

“I’m especially proud the legislation includes two provisions I introduced to cap insulin costs for Medicare patients at $35 a month and to limit the cost of prescription drugs for seniors. This bill will strengthen health care access and lower health care costs for people across Georgia.”

Warnock said the legislation would make a real change in people’s lives.

“From saving seniors money by allowing Medicare to directly negotiate drug prices, to expanding vital health care subsidies, to greening the economy, this legislation will make a lasting impact on Georgians’ lives,” Warnock stated.

Experts and economists said the Inflation Reduction

Act would save American households thousands of dollars.

“This bill will reduce the cost of prescription drugs, make health insurance more affordable, cap out-of-pocket costs, reduce your energy bill, reduce the federal deficit, and bring down inflation,” Florida Democratic Rep. Val Demings said.

“As the daughter of a maid and a janitor, every dollar mattered in our household, and I’ll always fight to protect working families.”

Demings said the deal builds on work she did in the House to allow Medicare to negotiate the cost of prescription drugs, bring down energy costs, and create significant new jobs by fighting climate change.

“Senate Republicans tried and failed to block this legislation because it takes on their biggest backers: prescription drug companies, fossil fuel companies, and billionaire tax cheats,” Demings remarked.

“I’m going to put Florida families first and support policies to bring down costs for working people even if it cuts into the profit margins of these special interests.”

Senate Republicans, all of whom opposed the package, lashed out.

“This is not about inflation reduction. This is all about Democrats spending on things they want to spend money on,” Utah GOP Sen. Mitt Romney asserted.

“It’s another taxing and spending bill,” he insisted.

Biden said he ran for president promising to make government work for working families again, and that is what this bill does.

“This bill caps seniors’ out-of-pocket spending for prescription drugs at $2000 per year – no matter what their drug bills would otherwise be, seniors will not have to spend more than $2,000,” Biden stated “Additionally, 13 million Americans, covered under

President Joe Biden said he ran for president promising to make government work for working families again, and that is what this bill does.

the Affordable Care Act, will see their health insurance premiums reduced by $800.”

Biden continued: “This bill tackles inflation by lowering the deficit and lowering costs for regular families. This bill also makes the largest investment ever in combatting the existential crisis of climate change.

“It addresses the climate crisis and strengthens our energy security, creating jobs manufacturing solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles in America with American workers. In addition, it lowers families’ energy costs by hundreds of dollars each year.

“Finally, it pays for all this by establishing a minimum corporate tax so that our richest corporations start to pay their fair share. It does not raise taxes on those making under $400,000 a year – not one cent.”

Star-Studded Voting Rights Celebration Encourages 10 Million More Registered Black Voters

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent The Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) joined the Rainbow Push Coalition and others at a star-studded celebration of the 57th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The all-star program presented what organizers called a tremendous opportunity to educate the public regarding the significance of the Voting Rights Act and the dangerous threats from the Supreme Court.

Held at the Thurgood Marshall Center Trust in Washington D.C.’s historic Shaw District, the event also highlighted the “anti-democracy forces” that continue to threaten voting rights around the country.

Participants included the Rev. Jesse Jackson, TJC President Dr. Barbara Arnwine and Board Chair Daryl Jones, National Urban League President Marc Morial, NNPA President, and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.,

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Dr. William Barber II, and Black Voters Matter Fund co-founder Latosha Brown.

“We’ve got to make sure our Generation Z and Millennials don’t, as Malcolm X said, fall for the okeydoke,” Dr.

Intending to register 10 million more Black voters before the midterm elections, Arnwine, Chavis, and others urged the crowd in D.C. and those watching via a livestream to join the crusade.

Chavis exclaimed to the large gathering outside the Thurgood Marshall Trust Building.

“That they don’t fall for misinformation. Our history shows that if we continue fighting for freedom, we will win freedom,” Dr. Chavis said.

“If we continue to fight for voting rights, we will win voting rights.”

Morial called out the evils of misinformation and voter suppression.

“There’s an effort to suppress and dilute our votes, but we cannot be thwarted, frustrated, or deterred,” Morial asserted.

“Only determination and perseverance will help us ensure … because a lot is on the line. The violent insurrection threatened to bring this nation to its knees on January 6. But unfortunately, there are some in this country who don’t believe in representative democracy. So don’t believe in the universality of the right to vote.”

Intending to register 10 million more Black voters before the midterm elections, Arnwine, Dr. Chavis, and others urged the crowd in D.C. and those watching via a livestream to join the crusade.

“We struggle, and we sacrifice not for ourselves,” Dr. Chavis asserted. “We struggle and sacrifice and go to the frontlines, and the best feeling in the world is to go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning knowing that you’ve done something for your freedom, for your right to vote.

“Our sleeves are rolled up. We will have votercades and do everything we can to ensure that 10 million more Black people are registered to vote.”

Thursday, August 11, 2022

The Valley’s News Observer A3

Entertainment

Roots of Music Aims to Change New Orleans Kids’ Lives

By JABEZ BERNIARD The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate NEW ORLEANS (AP) _ One. Two. Three. Four.

One. Two. Ready. Breathe.

For a brief moment, it's silent as a roomful of gradeschoolers take a breath and wait for a signal.

With a wave of his hand, their director, Lawrence Rawlins, queues them in and they sound their instruments in unison, playing the notes to Starpoint's “Object of My Desire.''

The band, known as the Roots of Music Marching Crusaders, is rehearsing for its upcoming performance at this weekend's annual Satchmo Summerfest, a two day-festival dedicated to the legendary New Orleans jazz musician Louis “Satchmo'' Armstrong. The festival will be held Saturday and Sunday. The Roots of Music plays Saturday at 11:30 a.m. outside of the New Orleans Jazz Museum's gates on Esplanade Avenue.

Established in 2007, the Roots of Music is a nonprofit, after-school and summer music education program for kids ages 9-14 from low-income households.

Derrick Tabb, Roots co-founder and executive director, said he was inspired to create the program after his junior-high band director took a special interest in him.

“He saved my life,'' said Tabb, who then began to use music as a positive outlet.

He has expanded on the music-program concept by introducing transportation, food, and tutoring.

Roots of Music operates three buses that pick up the students from over 50 schools around the city, Tabb said.

After practice, the buses take the kids back home. As for food, each day students receive a hot meal, donated to the program from organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank.

The tutoring program is led by students from Tulane and other local universities. Tabb said he hopes that the tutors can serve as role models for his students and inspire them to pursue higher education.

“Those three things are the tools these kids really needed to succeed,'' Tabb said. “Implementing them made this a no-excuse program.''

The program operates year-round, with students coming four to five times a week for music history and theory lessons, instrumental instruction and performance

preparation, which includes honing the marching and drill skills that make them Carnival parade regulars. Since starting in 2007, the program has grown from a group of 42 student musicians to about 150.

Throughout the year, they perform at conventions and festivals in New Orleans, in addition to parades. The band also travels around the world for performance opportunities, having previously played in London, Canada, France, Amsterdam and most recently Switzerland.

“It's a good time for (the) kids,'' Tabb said. “It gets them to see another part of the world, experience a different culture and meet new people that they probably wouldn't have.''

With kids coming from all over the city, Tabb said the program is about much more than music.

“It's also like an anti-crime program,'' he said, explaining that the band helps the kids build friendships and learn about teamwork. “It brings them together around a common goal at a neutral place. Now they have a positive reason to be together instead of being out doing whatever.''

Tabb said the added bonus of bringing the kids together is that it also brings entire communities closer.

“When you bring the kids together, you bring moms, dads and everyone else. It builds friendships with the whole family,'' he said.

For ninth grader Imand Peterson, 15, who plays the French horn, the performance at Satchmo SummerFest will be his final with the Roots of Music, as it's time for him to graduate from the program.

“I'm sad because, I've been here since I was little,'' he said. “I know it's going to hit me hard.''

Before Roots, Peterson said he had never touched an instrument. He remembers hearing the band for the first time while looking up random bands on YouTube.

“I just knew I wanted to join them,'' he said.

After a quick application, he was learning the rudiments of music and playing the drums, before eventually moving on to horns.

Although he wishes he could stay longer, he said he is grateful for all that he has been able to accomplish with the group.

“Playing a horn isn't just for the moment,'' he said. “I can get scholarships to schools now and travel all over the world playing music.''

Like Tabb, Peterson said music has changed his life.

When he's older, he wants to play in a brass band before branching out to work as a band director.

“There's no feeling like coming here and seeing kids happy and wanting to succeed,'' Tabb said Roots of Music graduates, like Jazz Henry, have gone on to have professional careers in music. Others are on their way.

Every high school band in the city has students from the Roots of Music, most serving as section leaders, Tabb said. The program also has a partnership with Berklee City

Music Boston, an out-of-school, student-centered music and performing arts educational organization.

Tabb has big goals for the program, which is back to its normal operations following a period of remote learning due to the pandemic and a hiatus after Hurricane Ida. “I want to make this the best place for kids to come to,'' Tabb said. “I want them to want to come here every day.''

Students interested in joining the band or those who wish to donate to the organization can learn more at therootsofmusic.org.

Driver Gets 1 Year in Jail in Death of Nicki Minaj’s Father

Nicki Minaj, the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated rapper of “Anaconda,’’ “Super Bass’’ and other hits, was born Onika Tanya Maraj in Trinidad and was raised in Queens. In a post on her website, Minaj, 39, called her father’s death “the most devastating loss of my life.’’

MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) – The driver in a hit-and-run crash that killed the father of rapper Nicki Minaj last year was sentenced Wednesday to a year in jail, in keeping with a promise the judge made when the man pleaded guilty in May. Charles Polevich, who pleaded guilty to leaving the scene and tampering with evidence in the crash on New York's Long Island that killed Robert Maraj, was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and had his driver's license suspended for six months.

Polevich's lawyer, Marc Gann, suggested his client may have had a medical issue at the time of the crash and that he wasn't fully aware of what had happened when he fled.

Polevich, 72, said in court that he's “been heartsick since realizing the extent of the tragedy'' and that there was “no excuse'' for his behavior.

Maraj's widow, Carol Maraj, said in court that Polevich had left her husband “like a dog on the street'' and that sparing him a longer jail sentence was a “slap in the face for the family,'' Newsday reported.

Polevich struck Maraj, 64, while Maraj was walking along Roslyn Road in Mineola in February 2021. Polevich stopped briefly to ask Maraj if he was OK, but didn't call for help, prosecutors said.

Instead, Polevich went home, parked the car – a white, 1992 Volvo station wagon – in his garage and covered it with a tarp, prosecutors said. Maraj was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead the next day.

Prosecutors sought a sentence of one to three years behind bars, but Nassau County Judge Howard Sturim said in May, when Polevich pleaded guilty, that he would get “no more than one year in jail.''

Brendan Brosh, a spokesperson for the Nassau County district attorney's office, said that “given the severity of the defendant's conduct,'' prosecutors felt a stiffer sentence was warranted.

“We continue to express our condolences to the family of Robert Maraj,'' Brosh said.

Gann asked for a 90-day jail sentence, arguing that other factors outside of Polevich's control were partially to blame for the crash, including road construction, street lights that weren't working and Maraj's physical condition.

Maraj's widow, Carol Maraj, is suing Polevich over the crash.

Polevich, who had been splitting time between Long Island and Guam, where he runs a drilling and water purification business, surrendered to police a few days after the crash.

Detectives said they used pieces of surveillance video to track the Volvo involved in the crash to Polevich's Mineola home.

Nicki Minaj, the platinum-selling, Grammynominated rapper of “Anaconda,'' “Super Bass'' and other hits, was born Onika Tanya Maraj in Trinidad and was raised in Queens.

In a post on her website, Minaj, 39, called her father's death “the most devastating loss of my life.''

Rapper Mystikal, Accused of Rape Denied Bond by Judge GONZALES, La. (AP) – A Louisiana judge has refused to set any bond for rapper Mystikal, who is accused of raping and choking a woman at his home outside Baton Rouge.

State District Judge Steven Tureau ruled on Tuesday that evidence against 51-year-old Michael Tyler, his past history and the victim's fears met the standard for holding him without bail, The Advocate reported.

Tyler served six years in prison after pleading guilty in 2003 to sexual battery. In December 2020, prosecutors in Caddo Parish, in northwest Louisiana, dropped rape and kidnapping charges that had kept him jailed for 18 months.

He was not convicted of other charges, including marijuana possession and misdemeanor domestic violence, that had been brought against him since the mid-1990s, the newspaper reported.

Defense attorney Roy Maughan Jr., who had asked for $250,000 bond, maintained that Tyler is innocent of the most recent charges, including rape and domestic abuse battery by strangulation. But he told the newspaper after the hearing that Tyler probably won't appeal the bond ruling.

Maughan tried unsuccessfully to get the court record to reflect that Tyler made all of his court dates in those cases and, as a celebrity, would have a hard time evading capture if he fled. He had been released on $3 million bond in February 2019, nearly two years before the Caddo Parish charges were dropped.

Mystikal, who grew up in New Orleans and now lives in Prairieville, is accused of attacking the woman, taking her keys and holding her against her will, according to an arrest warrant.

Sheriff's Detective Garrett Keith testified Tuesday that the woman went to Tyler's home about 8 p.m. Saturday to talk about alleged financial commitments he had made to her.

He said the woman reported that Tyler's behavior changed abruptly after he went into the bathroom and returned: He accused her of stealing cash, choked her and pulled out her hair, Keith testified.

Tyler later apologized, prayed with her and threw rubbing alcohol on her to cleanse her “bad spirits'' before raping her, Keith testified.

Maughan's cross-examination tried to show that the prayer and apology indicated that things were calmer and the woman wasn't afraid, the newspaper reported.

Keith later told prosecutors that the woman was “praying for her safety'' and didn't know what Tyler said.

The woman was cut and bruised, and deputies found some of her braids, an earring and a broken nail in the house, the detective said. Some wounds were consistent with rape, he said.

Maughan also cross-examined Keith about whether and how the woman had objected to sex. Keith quoted her as saying Tyler's threats had made her afraid to object at first, but she later clearly told him “no.''

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The Valley’s News Observer

Features

Legal Notices

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PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO: 2022 166046 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: TCM WELLNESS SPA at 1145 Foothill Blvd., La Verne, Ca. 91750 County: Los Angeles Mailing Same REGISTERED OWNERS(S): SHAOXIA ZHANG, 1145 Foothill Blvd, La Verne, Ca. 91750 The business is conducted by: an Individual SIGNED: SHAOXIA ZHANG, Owner The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 7/2022 This statement filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on: Jul 26, 2022 DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk By: A. GUTIERREZ 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 Jul 26, 2027 LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Aug 4, 11, 18, 25, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO: 2022 166046 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: TCM WELLNESS SPA at 1145 Foothill Blvd., La Verne, Ca. 91750 County: Los Angeles Mailing Same REGISTERED OWNERS(S): SHAOXIA ZHANG, 1145 Foothill Blvd, La Verne, Ca. 91750 The business is conducted by: an Individual SIGNED: SHAOXIA ZHANG, Owner The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 7/2022 This statement filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on: Jul 26, 2022 DEAN C. LOGAN, Los Angeles County Clerk By: A. GUTIERREZ 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 Jul 26, 2027 LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Aug 4, 11, 18, 25, 2022

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ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER 22VECP00411 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES 6230 Sylmar Avenue Van Nuys, Ca. 91401 Branch Name: Northwest District PETITION OF: DEAN O’HAYON-FADIDA TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: DEAN O’HAYON-FADIDA for a decree changing names as follows: Present name DEAN O’HAYON-FADIDA Filed a petition with this court Proposed name OSHER O’HAYON THE COURT ORDERS: that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted if no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: SEPT 16, 2022 Time: 8:30 a.m.

Dept: A Room: 510 The address of the court is: Same as noted above.

A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER Date: August 2, 2022 VIRGINIA KEENY JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT SHERRI R. CARTER EXECUTIVE OFFICER/CLERK OF COURT ERIN MONTAGNA DEPUTY Petitioner: Dean O’Hayon-Fadida 5440 Van Noord Ave. Sherman Oaks, Ca. 91401 Phone: (818) 966-2076 E-Mail Address: osherohayon2@gmail. com Attorney For: Self Represented The Valley’s News Observer (E) PUB: Aug 11, 18, 25, Sept 1, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER 22VECP00411 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES 6230 Sylmar Avenue Van Nuys, Ca. 91401 Branch Name: Northwest District PETITION OF: DEAN O’HAYON-FADIDA TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: DEAN O’HAYON-FADIDA for a decree changing names as follows: Present name DEAN O’HAYON-FADIDA Filed a petition with this court Proposed name OSHER O’HAYON THE COURT ORDERS: that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted if no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: SEPT 16, 2022 Time: 8:30 a.m.

Dept: A Room: 510 The address of the court is: Same as noted above.

A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER Date: August 2, 2022 VIRGINIA KEENY JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT SHERRI R. CARTER EXECUTIVE OFFICER/CLERK OF COURT ERIN MONTAGNA DEPUTY Petitioner: Dean O’Hayon-Fadida 5440 Van Noord Ave. Sherman Oaks, Ca. 91401 Phone: (818) 966-2076 E-Mail Address: osherohayon2@gmail. com Attorney For: Self Represented The Valley’s News Observer (E) PUB: Aug 11, 18, 25, Sept 1, 2022

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Thursday, August 11, 2022

ComplYant Creates Free Tax Tool for Los Angeles Businesses Continued from page A1

while others don’t understand enough about the taxes to know that they owe them. ComplYant’s digital platform solves this problem by helping business owners streamline their workflow, know what taxes they owe, when they’re due, and budget for tax bills ahead of time – all right in your browser.

“It’s important for entrepreneurs to tend to their financial health, and how we prepare to do taxes is a huge part of that. Taxes are extremely complex. They’re not written in easy-to-understand language; understanding tax types and how to file them isn’t accessible to small business owners for a variety of reasons,” says Johnson. “By simplifying this process, we’re able to reduce tax anxiety and avoidance and ensure that more taxes will be paid on time.

ComplYant is working to close the financial education gap for small business owners.”

Using ComplYant, United States small business owners can easily manage and take charge of income tax, sales tax, business licenses, annual reports, and more with deadline tracking, budgeting, and easy-to-understand tax education resources. By digitizing and streamlining the business tax compliance process ComplYant has saved thousands of customers over 100,000 hours and over $5.5 million in late fees and penalties each year.

The new tax reminders tool is live now and completely free for small businesses in Los Angeles. Small business owners in L.A. who want to sign up for the free reminders can get them at mytaxreminders.comAbout ComplYant

ComplYant is a technology startup putting power back in the hands of small business owners. Founded in LA in 2019, ComplYant wants to upend the status quo that says only big businesses benefit from great tax support.

ComplYant was founded by Shiloh Johnson, entrepreneur and former CPA. ComplYant recently closed a seed funding round of $5.5 million led by Craft Ventures with participation from Mucker Capital, Slauson & Co., and Techstars. ComplYant was founded by Grid110, MuckerLab, and Techstars alum Shiloh Johnson. If you’re interested in learning more about ComplYant’s mission to empower the more than 31 million small business owners in the U.S., check out www.complyant.co.

The Monkeypox Health Crisis: How California Is Responding

Continued from page A1

disease can be fatal for some categories of people, according to public health authorities. Symptoms of the disease, lesions and blisters, can be extremely painful in some cases as well.

“Over 99% of people who get this form of the disease are likely to survive. However, people with weakened immune systems, children under 8 years of age, people with a history of eczema, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding may be more likely to get seriously ill or die,” the CDC reports.

According to the governor’s office, CDPH has taken a number of steps to expand access to vaccinations and the state has launched a public information campaign, mostly relying on webinars and town hall meetings to get information about Monkeypox out to people across the state.

“CDPH is also expanding treatment options. Access to the antiviral prescription drug tecovirimat (Tpoxx) used to treat monkeypox is limited, but the treatment can now be administered at more than 30 facilities and providers across the state,” a press release issued by Newsom’s office states.

As of August 2, the state had distributed nearly 1,713 treatment courses and 168 IV doses of Tecovirimat to health centers in various locations across the state.

So far, the CDPH has received a little over 109,000

monkeypox vaccines – of which 51,000 doses have been distributed to local health departments across the state.

Among Black Californians, there have been 129 cases reported so far, accounting for about 11% of all confirmed cases in the state. African Americans make up about 6.5% of the state’s total population.

As of Aug. 5, CDPH reports that there have been 1,310 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the state with the most confirmed cases being reported in Los Angeles (431) followed by San Francisco (398) and Alameda County (83). There have been 7,509 confirmed cases in the United States and 28,220 across the world.

Shortly after the Governor declared a State of Emergency, Shane Harris of the Peoples Association of Justice Activists, a San Diego-based advocacy group, called on San Diego County to release demographic data on monkeypox cases in that county.

“The governor has declared a State of Emergency as of last night and constituents deserve to know the truth about this virus in our region,” said Harris speaking at a press conference. “My office led this argument during COVID that we needed more demographic data, and the county’s response is that we did not have enough cases at that time.

I want them to know that response will not work this time.

There is never too few of cases.”

At the state level, the CDPH has begun to disaggregate the Monkeypox data it is collecting by race, city, hospitalizations, gender, age and sexual orientation.

The age group with the highest number of reported monkeypox cases (482) are 25-to-34-year-olds, who make up about 36.8 % of all confirmed infections in California.

“We’ll continue to work with the federal government to secure more vaccines, raise awareness about reducing risk, and stand with the LGBTQ community fighting stigmatization,” Newsom added.

Aragón echoed the governor’s statement.

“Our team is also committed to reducing stigma among the LGBTQ community, which has been singled out and treated unfairly because of this outbreak. No single individual or community is to blame for the spread of any virus,” Aragón reinforced.

When it comes to race, Harris said it is important to approach the containment and treatment of monkeypox with the same “perspective and passion” that characterized the state government’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Race and ethnicity were very important during COVID because we studied the very impact of cultural competency pertaining to COVID – how different communities dealt with it. It is still significantly important today,” Harris emphasized.

Thursday, August 11, 2022

The Valley’s News Observer A5

Features

‘The Mandela Act’ Aims to Set Clear Definition of Solitary Confinement in CA Prisons Edward Henderson | California Black Media Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus and Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, has proposed legislation that would restrict prisons from holding people in solitary confinement, or all-day isolation for more than 15 consecutive days and no more than 45 days total, in a 6-month period.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2632, a.k.a ‘The California Mandela Act’, would prohibit the practice entirely for persons belonging to a “special population,” including pregnant women, persons with a developmental disability or a serious mental disorder, and individuals under 25 and over 60. It would also establish the procedures and reporting requirements for segregated confinement.

Last week, the Senate Appropriations committee sent AB 2632 to the suspense file.

Bills meeting the committee’s suspense threshold, i.e., the cost of a bill is determined to be $50,000 or more to the state’s General Fund or $150,000 or more to a special fund, are often placed on the suspense file after committee testimony is taken and not passed directly to the Senate for a vote. Instead, a vote-only suspense hearing will be held prior to the deadlines for fiscal committees to hear and report bills to the Senate Floor. The bill will either move on to the Senate Floor for further consideration or be held in committee.

If the bill passes the Legislature, California would be the first state to ban the practice in private immigration facilities. Since 2017, 14 other states have limited or ceased the practice for certain groups.

“Rehabilitation is lost once you put someone in a solitary confinement setting,” said Holden in a press release. “Our constitution prohibits torture, and I believe that the use of prolonged solitary is wrong, both morally, and also with respect to the rehabilitation of individuals in jails and prisons.”

The bill is named after Nelson Mandela who was famously detained in solitary confinement for 18 of his 27 years of imprisonment in South Africa. In 2015, the United Nations also named its standards of imprisonment after Mandela and deemed any period of isolation beyond 15 days torture.

Opponents of AB 2632 argue that suspending solitary confinement would complicate housing decisions and lead to dangerous living conditions for detainees and staff.

The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reports the bill would necessitate a one-time cost of $775 million to double the programming space at each institution and a one-time cost of up to $512 million to expand exercise yards by approximately 50%. CDCR also reported the increase in custody staffing required to implement the bill across its 31 institutions would cost about $200 million annually.

(Shutterstock Photo)

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reports ongoing costs of about of $3.8 million would be incurred to establish 25 new permanent positions to assess CDCR facilities in accordance to AB 2632 and report the findings to the Legislature.

AB 2632 is estimated to add millions in operating costs to the Board of State and Community Corrections, the Department of Justice, and county jails.

However, a recent fiscal report titled “The Cost of Solitary Confinement: Why Ending Isolation in California Prisons Can Save Money and Save Lives” drafted by the Immigration Defense Advocates and Berkeley Underground Scholars highlights potential savings from implementing the Mandela Act. The report used figures from the 2016 state budget and cost estimates from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. It predicts

savings between $60 and $300 million, while impacting more than 150 facilities in the state.

“The Mandela Act builds on the decades of work done by detained individuals, activists and organizers to shed light on the darkness that is solitary confinement and allows for constructive alternatives. This bill promotes accountability, safety, and human decency and I hope others will see that too,” said Holden.

Elections ‘22: Prop 26 and Prop 27 Are Dueling to Make Sports Gambling Legal McKenzie Jackson California Black Media Joseph Thomas, an avid sports fan in the San Fernando Valley, is stretching his texting fingers, anticipating the legalization of online sports gambling in the Golden State.

The retail sales manager enjoys playing fantasy football and wouldn’t mind wagering up to $100 a month on his favorite NFL team or players via the online gambling company FanDuel.

“It is something to do that could make watching the games more exciting,” Thomas said.

On Nov. 8, California voters have a choice between two ballot initiatives to legalize and tax sports betting: Prop 26 would allow in-person-only sports betting at Native American tribe operated casinos and at four horse racing tracks in the state, while Prop 27 would allow major sportsbooks operators to partner with tribes in California to offer sports betting to gamblers age 21 or older whether the bettor is on tribal lands or not.

Kathy Fairbanks, speaking for the Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming, a coalition of California Indian tribes and tribal organizations and state and community partners that are proponents of Prop 26, said winning the support of every potential voter, including Black Californians like Thomas, is their goal before the November Election.

“We are reaching out to everybody — we want the support of all voters in California — but the Black community is very important,” she said. “The way we will communicate with them throughout the campaign is similar to the way we communicate with all voters, but a little bit different.”

The Yes on 26 campaign is advertising in all mediums and utilizing direct mail to reach voters. It is urging the coalition’s organizations like the Baptist Ministers Conference of Los Angeles and Southern California, the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Los Angeles Urban League to ask their members to mark “yes” for Prop 26 and “no” for Prop 27 on their ballots.

California-Hawaii State Conference NAACP spokesperson Kristine Yabumoto said in an email to California Black Media (CBM) that the civil rights organization endorses Prop 26.

On Aug. 3, the NAACP branch filed a lawsuit against California Secretary of State Shirley Weber in Sacramento Superior Court seeking to remove its name from a No on Proposition 26 opposition statement that would be printed in the state ballot pamphlet. According to the organization the quote from a Los Angeles NAACP member gives the impression the NAACP opposes Prop 26. The lawsuit says the quoted NAACP member, Minnie Hadley-Hempstead, believes she had been misled into giving the quote.

Conference NAACP President Rick Callender said his organization is proud to support Prop 26. He is

(Shutterstock Photo)

disappointed that Prop 27 supporters and those opposing Prop 26 would try to use the NAACP’s name deceptively.

“We are suing to have these dishonest statements removed from the ballot arguments, so it does not mislead voters,” he said.

As of press time, the coalition supporting Prop 27, had not responded to CBM inquiries.

Prop 27 is backed by major gambling companies including Bally’s, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel, PENN Entertainment, and WynnBet. Tribes such as the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe, and Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians also support the initiative.

The proposition imposes a 10% tax on adjusted gross gaming revenue. 85% of the taxes goes toward fighting California’s homeless and mental health challenges. Nongaming tribes get the remaining 15% of tax revenue.

Leo Sisco, Chairman of the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe, said Prop 27’s approval would give tribes the economic opportunity to fortify their future for generations and protect tribal sovereignty.

“It is the only measure that will deliver hundreds of millions of dollars each year to help solve homelessness and address mental health in California,” Sisco said.

United Way of Greater Los Angeles President and CEO Elise Buik said that California needs to think big if the homeless problem is going to be solved.

“It could provide hundreds of millions each year in funding for proven solutions that help people experiencing homelessness come off the streets and into housing with supportive services,” Buik said Fairbanks said Prop 27 would have a negative impact on tribes and all of the state. She said online gambling companies have no effective way to prevent youth from using their apps or websites to place bets and that the proposition does not guarantee funding to tribes.

Over 50 Indian tribes oppose Prop 27 and are supporting Prop 26, which allows roulette and dice games at tribal casinos.

Fairbanks said Prop 26 extends the promise California voters made to tribes in 1998 when they authorized tribes to have gaming in the state.

“Tribes have been able to lift themselves out of poverty,” she said. “They’ve built casinos. They contribute annually to jobs, wages, and taxes in California. Proposition 26 will continue that and expand that by introducing in-person sports betting in a responsible manner.”

Tribal casinos annually employ over 150,000 Californians, generate $12.4 billion in wages, and have a $26.7 billion economic impact. They pay $5.1 billion in taxes and revenue sharing to federal, state, and local governments. Prop 26 will grow those figures, its supporters argue.

“Tribes will continue what they have been doing, which is sharing the prosperity,” Fairbanks said. “Sharing it with their tribal members; sharing it with their local communities; and sharing it through contracts tribes negotiate with the state.”

Fairbanks said polling Yes on 26 conducted suggests that voters are skeptical of online gambling and worry about underage gambling.

“Voters believe tribes have done a good job of being the only people in California, who can do Nevadastyle gambling,” she said. “The casinos are well run and responsible. If you want to do sports gambling, look at Prop 26 as the more responsible vote. You can do it inperson to your heart’s content.”

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The Valley’s News Observer

Features

Thursday, August 11, 2022

‘A Powerful Moment.’

Family Advisors React to Life Sentences for Men Convicted of Ahmaud Arbery Murder

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent More than two years ago, Transformative Justice Coalition President and Founder Barbara Arnwine and Board Chair Daryl Jones put their arms around Ahmaud Arbery’s family. Both lawyers, Arnwine and Jones, didn’t seek to represent the family legally but to offer encouragement and help strengthen the resolve they needed to pursue justice for the 25-year-old coldly and cruelly shot to death in Brunswick, Georgia. “When we first interacted with the family, they were hesitant to get involved,” Jones told NNPA Newswire following the sentencing of Travis McMichael, Greg McMichael, and William Bryan. “They figured they’d do whatever in this case and that there would be acquittals. But we were able to work with the family to stiffen their spine and stand with them and walk with them and talk with them. [The result] is that they became very strong advocates,” Jones said.

U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Wood handed down life sentences to Travis and Greg McMichael and gave Bryan 35 years. A federal jury convicted the men of federal hate crimes. They were also found guilty in state court and received life without parole for those convictions. Over objections from the defendants, Judge Wood ordered the men to serve their sentences in the harsher environment of state prison. “This is a major victory for holding these men accountable for a racial hate killing,” Arnwine stated. “People don’t understand that should anything go wrong with the state verdict, a reversal, and now they have to somehow deal with the federal charges. It’s like having two padlocks at the door.” Arnwine called the McMichael father and son duo and Bryan symbols of hate. “They will forever be a symbol of hate in this country,” Arnwine asserted. “The Arbery family will forever be symbols of jus-

tice – fighters who refused to be lied to and people who refused to believe the worse about their son. They demanded justice, and they persisted,” she declared. Both Arnwine and Jones were in the courtroom when Wood announced the sentencing. Each called Wood’s decision a powerful moment. “For the last two years, we had been advisors to the family, and we have mobilized hundreds of people to come to Brunswick to lift up this tragedy and demand justice,” Arnwine insisted. “For the Transformative Justice Coalition, for the hundreds who have come demanding justice, for the Arbery family without whom there would be no murder or hate crime case but for them and their persistence, today was a moment of reckoning,” she continued. “It was judgment day. A day in which the racist murderers of Ahmaud Arbery were held accountable in a very powerful way.” Jones said Arbery’s family expressed relief. “We were pleased to hear the sentencing. It assures that McMichaels and Bryan will not get out of jail for the rest of their lives,” Jones stated. “The Arbery family demonstrated for this country how to be strong in the face of adversity. They weren’t seeking publicity; they were thrown into this fight.” National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., working with the Transformative Justice Coalition to get 10 million new Black Americans to register to vote, pledged to keep Arbery’s memory alive. “The NNPA takes due notice of the additional federal prison time given to the brutal and convicted murderers of Ahmaud Arbery,” Dr. Chavis exclaimed. “We stand with the family of Ahmaud Arbery and their attorneys who stood strong and vigilant to demand justice. We pledge to keep Ahmaud’s memory alive and the legacy of all those murdered by the Transformative Justice Coalition Founder Barbara Arnwine and Board Chair Daryl Jones have served as ruthless terrorist acts of racists in America.” advisors for the family of Ahmaud Arbery. (Photo: Mark Mahoney/Dream In Color)

In California, Abortion Could Become a Constitutional Right. So Could Birth Control.

By Rachel Bluth California Healthline SACRAMENTO — Californians will decide in November whether to lock the right to abortion into the state constitution.

If they vote “yes” on Proposition 1, they will also lock in a right that has gotten less attention: the right to birth control.

Should the measure succeed, California would become one of the first states — if not the first — to create explicit constitutional rights to both abortion and contraception.

The lawmakers and activists behind the constitutional amendment said they hope to score a one-two punch: protect abortion in California after the U.S. Supreme Court ended the federal constitutional right to abortion under Roe v. Wade, and get ahead of what they see as the next front in the reproductive rights fight: birth control.

“The United States Supreme Court said that the privacy and liberty protections in the United States Constitution did not extend to abortion,” said UCLA law professor Cary Franklin, an expert in constitutional law and reproductive rights who has testified before the California legislature in support of the amendment. “If they said ‘no’ on abortion, they’re probably going to say ‘no’ on birth control because that has a similar history.”

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ended the federal right to abortion and left states to regulate the service. In his concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas said the court should revisit other cases that have created protections for Americans based on an implicit right to privacy in the U.S. Constitution, such as the 1965 case Griswold v. Connecticut, which established a federal right to contraception for married people — which was later extended to unmarried people.

Some congressional Democrats are now trying to codify the right to contraception in federal law. In July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Right to Contraception Act, which would give patients the right to access and use contraception and providers the right to furnish it.

But the bill has little chance of success in the U.S. Senate, where Republicans have already blocked it once.

Protecting access to contraception is popular with voters. A national poll from Morning Consult and Politico conducted in late July found that 75% of registered voters support a federal law that protects a right to birth control access.

California isn’t the only state where voters are considering reproductive rights in their constitutions.

On Tuesday, Kansas voters decisively rejected a constitutional amendment that would have allowed state lawmakers to ban or dramatically restrict abortion. It failed by nearly 18 percentage points.

Kentucky voters will face a similar decision in November with a proposed constitutional amendment that would declare that the state’s constitutional right to privacy does not cover abortion.

Vermont is going in the opposite direction. Voters there will weigh a ballot measure in November that would add a right to “personal reproductive autonomy” to the state constitution, though it does not explicitly mention abortion or contraception. In Michigan, a proposed constitutional amendment that would guarantee a right to both abortion and contraception is expected to qualify for the November ballot.

In California, Proposition 1 would prevent the state from denying or interfering with “an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an

Should the measure succeed, California would become one of the first states — if not the first — to create explicit constitutional rights to both abortion and contraception.

abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives.”

The proposed constitutional amendment doesn’t go into detail about what enshrining the right to contraception in the state constitution would mean.

California already has some of the strongest contraceptive-access laws in the country — and lawmakers are considering more proposals this year. For instance, state-regulated health plans must cover all FDA-approved contraception; pharmacists must dispense emergency contraception to anyone with a prescription, regardless of age; and pharmacists can prescribe birth control pills on the spot. State courts have also interpreted California’s constitution to include a right to privacy that covers reproductive health decisions.

The amendment, if adopted, could provide a new legal pathway for people to sue when they’re denied contraceptives, said Michele Goodwin, chancellor’s professor of law at the University of California-Irvine.

If a pharmacist refused to fill a birth control prescription or a cashier declined to ring up condoms, she said, customers could make a case that their rights had been violated.

Making the rights to abortion and contraception explicit in the state constitution — instead of relying on a right to privacy — would also protect against shifting political winds, said state Senate leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), who was the director of a women’s health clinic in the 1980s. Although California’s lawmakers and executive officers are solid supporters of abortion rights, she said, the composition of the legislature and courts’ interpretation of laws could change.

“I want to know for sure that that right is protected,”

(E+ / Getty Images)

Atkins said at a legislative hearing in June. “We are protecting ourselves from future courts and future politicians.”

The amendment would solidify California’s role as a reproductive rights sanctuary as much of the country chips away at birth control availability, Goodwin added.

Experts said two forms of birth control that are vulnerable to restrictions in other states are intrauterine devices, or IUDs, and emergency contraception like Plan B. These methods are often incorrectly conflated with abortion pills, which end a pregnancy instead of preventing it.

Nine states have laws that restrict emergency contraception — for example, by allowing pharmacies to refuse to dispense it or excluding it from state family planning programs — according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. In Alabama and Louisiana this year, abortion opponents introduced legislation that would restrict or ban abortion, and would also apply to emergency contraception.

“We’re seeing an erosion of abortion access that is playing out in statehouses across the country that have and will continue to target contraceptive care as well,” said Audrey Sandusky, senior director of policy and communications for the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association.

Susan Arnall, vice president of California’s Right to Life League, said the proposed amendment is symbolic and merely echoes current laws. Arnall thinks the campaign is mostly about Democratic politicians trying to score political points.

“It just allows the pro-abort legislators to trumpet and give them talking points about how they’re doing something about the overturn of Roe v. Wade,” she said. “It is political virtue signaling. I don’t think it does much of any-

thing else.”

Goodwin argues that the measure’s symbolism is significant and overdue. She pointed to the Civil War era, when enslaved people in Southern states could look to free states for spiritual hope and material help. “Symbolically, what that meant is a kind of beacon of hope, that those places did exist, where one’s humanity could be regarded,” Goodwin said.

But California’s reputation as a haven for contraceptive availability may not be fully warranted, said Dima Qato, an associate professor at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy. In her 2020 study of contraceptive access in Los Angeles County, which has some of the highest rates of teen and unintended pregnancy in the country, Qato found that only 10% of pharmacies surveyed offered pharmacist-prescribed birth control. Pharmacies in low-income and minority communities were the least likely to offer the service, Qato said, worsening disparities instead of solving them.

Qato supports the constitutional amendment but said California should focus on improving and enforcing the laws it already has.

“We don’t need more laws when we don’t address the root cause of a lack of effectiveness of these laws in these communities,” Qato said. “Lack of enforcement and accountability disproportionately impacts communities of color.”

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

Thursday, August 11, 2022

The Valley’s News Observer A7

Features

Diversifying American Media Ownership Must Become a National Priority

By Jim Winston and Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. Thus far, 2022 has been a year of multiple socioeconomic and political challenges for all Americans across the nation. Yet for African Americans and other communities of color, this year represents both challenges and opportunities from a business ownership perspective.

In particular, for Black-owned media businesses there is a growing sense of resilience even in the face of continued profound racial disparities and societal inequities.

The communications and media industry in America especially should be one of the leading industries that adopts the “good business” sense to embrace the values and benefits of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). This is not about charity or benevolence. Diversity is objectively good for business.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) are working together to encourage the media and advertising industries to become more proactive and committed to diversity from the C-suites to the decision-making managers. But more needs to be done to increase and to enhance the ownership of media businesses by African Americans and other minorities.

Economic equity in media requires equal access to investment capital, technical advances in communications infrastructure, and inclusion in other industry innovations.

As increased changes in the racial demographics of the nation continue to accelerate in the United States, American media must be more representative of the growing diversity of the nation.

It is noteworthy, therefore, that one of the recently announced major media mergers has Standard General, a minority-owned firm, pending regulatory reviews and approvals by the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission, acquiring TEGNA,

Jim Winston is President and CEO of the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) headquartered in Washington, DC. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) headquartered in Washington, DC.

a company owning 64 television stations around the country. Soo Kim, a successful Asian American business leader, who serves as Standard General’s founding and managing partner, emphasized “We’re open to exploring

new partnership models to get diverse viewpoints and perspectives on the air and to make sure people have the resources to do it.”

We agree with this sentiment as multiracial ownership

of American media businesses will continue to be viewed as a strategic forecast for the future economic wellbeing of the nation. We intend to raise our voices in support of the positive economic and social-equity consequences of diversifying American media.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights has pointed out, “Access to the media by the broadest sector of society is crucial to ensuring that diverse viewpoints are presented to the American people, but racial and gender disparities in media ownership dating back to the beginning of the civil rights era continue to persist.”

Again, overcoming these disparities should be a national media industry priority.

“At a time when more people, particularly Black people, are distrustful of the media, diversity in media ownership,” the Leadership Conference argues, “has become more important than ever for the functioning of our democracy. Diversity in ownership is part of that solution.” We agree with the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ position on this issue.

Lastly, as our nation prepares for the upcoming Midterm Elections in November, there are many who are predicating low overall voter turnout. Millions of dollars will be spent on Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) campaigns.

Those who desire to increase GOTV among AfricanAmericans and other communities of color will have to engage Black owned media as the “Trusted Voice” of Black America in order to increase voter turnout.

Jim Winston is President and CEO of the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) headquartered in Washington, DC. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) headquartered in Washington, DC.

Donald Trump Raided by FBI

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent The FBI on Monday executed a search warrant on former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. “My beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents,” Trump said in a statement first sent to CNN. It wasn’t immediately clear what the FBI was looking for and what spurred the raid. However, the Department of Justice recently acknowledged it had launched an investigation into Trump’s actions leading up to Jan. 6. Multiple outlets cited several individuals familiar with the investigation in their reports. The outlets noted that prosecutors had asked witnesses before a grand jury about conversations with Trump. “Some of the questions focused on substituting Trump allies for electors in states President Joe Biden won and on a pressure campaign on then-Vice President Mike

Is Arrest Imminent?

Pence to overturn the election, the newspaper reported,” the Washington Post reported earlier this month. The newspaper said the Justice Department obtained aides’ telephone records, including former Trump chief of staff

Mark Meadows. The Department of Justice, a Trump spokesperson, and a lawyer for Meadows did not respond to requests for comment. In an NBC Nightly News interview last week, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said “anyone” would be held accountable. “We will hold accountable anyone who was criminally responsible for attempting to interfere with the transfer, legitimate, lawful transfer of power from one administration to the next,” Garland said. The former President declared the election as fraudulent “right out of the box on election night before there was any potential of looking at the evidence,” former U.S. Attorney William Barr said in a taped deposition played by Committee members in June. Matt Morgan, the Trump campaign’s general counsel, provided a videotaped deposition in which he noted that “the law firms were not comfortable making arguments that (lawyer and advisor) Rudy Giuliani was making publicly” about election fraud. One lawmaker described Giuliani as “apparently

inebriated.” At the same time, Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, testified that the former President waited in the White House in a room with advisers while awaiting election results. Meanwhile, Trump’s former campaign manager Bill Stepien, said his boss disagreed with those who suggested it was too early to call the election. “They were going to go in a different direction,” related Kushner, who admitted telling Trump that “it was not the approach I would take if I were you.” Following Joe Biden’s election win, Trump publicly declared himself the victor, and the Big Lie began. He told supporters at the White House, including Barr, that a big vote dump had occurred in Detroit. “I said, ‘Did anyone point out to you – did all the people complaining about it point out to you, you actually did better in Detroit than you did last time?” Barr stated. The former attorney general declared, “there’s no indication of fraud in Detroit.”

A8

The Valley’s News Observer

Thursday, August 11, 2022

Sports

Serena Williams Announces Retirement from Tennis

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Serena Williams is giving tennis one last hurrah before hanging up her racket for good.

With 23 Grand Slam titles and 192 career wins, Williams announced that she’s retiring following next month’s U.S. Open.

“This morning, my daughter, Olympia, who turns five this month, and I were on our way to get her a new passport before a trip to Europe. We’re in my car, and she’s holding my phone, using an interactive educational app she likes,” Williams penned in the September 2022 issue of Vogue Magazine.

“This robot voice asks her a question: What do you want to be when you grow up? She doesn’t know I’m listening, but I can hear the answer she whispers into the phone.

She says, “I want to be a big sister.”

Williams said it’s time for her to focus on family.

Earlier this year, Williams penned an essay for Elle Magazine in which she recounted her reckoning that proved once again that Black women remain three times more likely to die after childbirth than white women.

She said she was almost one of them.

“I’ve suffered every injury imaginable, and I know my body,” she wrote. “Giving birth to my baby, it turned out, was a test for how loud and how often I would have to call out before I was finally heard.”

As Williams recounted, she had a “wonderful pregnancy” with her first child, Alexis Olympia, and even her epidural-free delivery was going well – at first.

“By the next morning, the contractions were coming harder and faster. With each one, my baby’s heart rate plummeted. I was scared,” she continued.

“Every time the baby’s heart rate dropped, the nurses would come in and tell me to turn onto my side. The baby’s heart rate would go back up, and everything seemed fine.

“Then, I’d have another contraction, and baby’s heart rate would drop again, but I’d turn over, and the rate would go back up, and so on and so forth.”

The CDC noted significant disparities in the birthing experience of Black women in its most recent report.

The agency noted that Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women.

The agency said multiple factors contribute to these disparities, such as variation in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias.

The CDC added that social determinants of health prevent many people from racial and ethnic minority groups from having fair economic, physical, and emotional health opportunities.

After an emergency C-section, Williams gave birth to her daughter, Alexis.

“I have never liked the word retirement,” Williams wrote for Vogue.

“It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people.

“Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis toward other things that are important to me.”

The U.S. Open, which begins in New York on August 29, will be Williams’ last tournament.

With 23 Grand Slam titles and 192 career wins, Williams announced that she’s retiring following next month’s U.S. Open. (Photo: Vogue)

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t ready to win Wimbledon this year. And I don’t know if I will be ready to win New York,” Williams stated, directing her message to her fans.

“But I’m going to try. And the lead-up tournaments will be fun. I’m not looking for some ceremonial, final oncourt moment. I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst.

“But please know that I am more grateful for you than I can ever express in words. You have carried me to so many wins and so many trophies. I’m going to miss that version of me, that girl who played tennis. And I’m going to miss you.”

Channel 7 to Cover Rams Preseason

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer The Rams will begin the 2022 NFL season as defending Super Bowl champions, ABC7 will broadcast all of the team’s preseason games, beginning on Aug. 13.

ABC7’s coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday with the pregame show “Game Time.” Sports anchor Rob Fukuzaki will be joined by Rams Legend Roland Williams for pregame and coverage throughout the preseason. The pregame show will provide an inside look into the upcoming games complete with player profiles.

At 7 p.m., the Rams will take on the Chargers at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium, with ABC7’s Curt Sandoval reporting from the sidelines.

After the game, stay with ABC7 for the Rams postgame show with exclusive reaction and analysis. And it’s all followed

by Eyewitness News at 11 p.m.

The Rams are scheduled to host the Houston Texans at So-Fi Stadium on Aug. 19, and then will travel to Cincinnati to face their Super Bowl LVI opponents, the Bengals, for an afternoon game on Aug. 27.

They will begin the defense of their title when they open the season hosting Von Miller’s Buffalo Bills on Thursday night Sept. 8.

Its Latham and Watkins in the 55th

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer It was a warm summer day when several families gathered at Cheviot Hills Rec Center in West Los Angeles. The youth from as young as five years and older played soccer.

Others enjoyed games at the outdoor basketball courts and some spent time with their pets.

With all that the biggest happening was the Lathan & Watkin Law firm capturing the Coed Softball Championship of the Landau Lawyers League Softball league.

L&W defeated the firm of Hinshaw and Culbertson by a score of 6-3 to claim the title in the 55th season of the Landau Lawyers League The team was led by tournament Co-MVP’s Josh Hamilton and Matthew Lee. Hamilton had a pair of homers and made a serious outfield diving catch worthy of the ESPN highlight reel.

Lee had three doubles and scored a pair of runs.

Kate McKeon made several stretch plays at first base helping out the defense.

With just a limited review of the records it is believed to be the third or fourth title for L&W in recent years.

Hinshaw and Culbertson were regular season champs and drew the top seed. L&W defeated Allen Matkins 13 to 6 earlier in the day to reach the Championship game. Joe Heinz of L&W was MVP as he went to “Rip City” with a couple of four baggers.

ADD Landau Lawyers League: Anything that last 55 years had got to have some substance to it. Hats off to Marie and Colby Wong. The mother, daughter Commissioners team has stepped up by providing fun, guidance and professionalism to keep the tradition going even after being slowed a bit by COVID. Semifinalist for 2022 spring season-Lathan & Watkins was founded in Los Angeles in 1934, Latham’s first office remains one of its largest and serves as home base for many of the firm’s top-ranked corporate lawyers. Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is local law firm with offices nationwide. The firm’s national reputation spans the insurance industry, In 1934, after saving up $300, Joseph Howard Hinshaw, a World War I veteran and well-known trial lawyer, established his own law firm in partnership with James G. Culbertson, a banking and corporate transactional lawyer…Allen Matkins was founded in 1977, is a California-based law firm with approximately 200 attorneys in four major metropolitan areas of Los Angeles…If your in

the Greater Los Angeles area and want to become a part of history get your law firm to join the Landau Lawyers League by emailing landaulawyersleague@gmail.com. Its an excellent opportunity for your employees and friends to bond and have fun away from work.

Players from Lathan and Watkins gather around Championship trophy for 55th edition of Landau Lawyers League Co-ed softball league.

(Photo: Earl Heath)

Thursday, August 11, 2022

The Valley’s News Observer A9

Sports

Angels City Sports Impacting Lives Through Sports

By Cameron Buford Whatsgoodinsports.com Every weekend there are weekend warriors who compete in sporting events from basketball to surfing and everything in between. To be any good or have success in these sports, athletes need to have confidence, a willingness to work hard, a desire to win, and the ability to be quality teammates. These same traits that the thousands of weekend warriors display each weekend are similar traits to some of the world’s best athletes.

Where able-body weekend warriors are able to find pick-up games just about anywhere and often don’t consider the challenges of playing hindered until they have an injury, adaptive sports athletes must first find the inner strength to find their way to a venue. After they find a place to play, they need to get out there and display the willingness to compete, similar to the Hall of Fame athletes most sports fans admire.

We all heard the saying, “necessity is the mother of all invention.” With Ezra Frech being born with “congenital limb differences,” the spawn of Angel City Sports was born. Father of would be Paralympian Ezra, Clayton Frech, a long-time executive coach, non-profit founder, and business consultant, utilized his twenty-plus years of executive leadership experience to create Angel City Sports. This unique forum would provide adaptive sports athletes and paralympic athletes a place to work and train together.

Founded in 2013, Angel City Sports provides free, year-round sports training, equipment, and competitive opportunities for adaptive sports athletes. Inspired by the young Ezra, adults, and veterans with physical differences and impairments, the belief is that they can change lives through the power of sports, both on and off the field of play.

Ezra Frech was born with congenital limb differences.

Regardless, he did not get treated any different than the kids he went to school with by his parents anyway. This inclusion helped him to become the youngest USA athlete to compete at the 2019 World Par Athletics Championships.

The younger Frech also has his eyes set on competing in the upcoming 2028 Paralympics, which will be here in Los Angeles.

“It is one of the things I’m looking forward to the most in my entire life. I think about it all the time,” Ezra says about competing in the 2028 Olympics. “I’m very much looking forward to competing in my hometown in front of my family and friends because a lot of those people aren’t going to be able to fly to Tokyo or Paris to watch me compete.”

Angel City Sports is now the leader in the adaptive and Paralympic sports movement, working to prepare athletes for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympic Games, which again will be held here in Southern California. This will be yet another opportunity for additional growth of the Paralympic movement!

Focusing on three primary, interconnected programming areas they can offer; * Training and Development - We host adaptive and Paralympic sports clinics and a wide variety of sports

throughout the year, including T&F, Golf, Swimming, Archery, Wheelchair Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball, Adaptive Kayaking, Para-rowing, Volleyball, Rock Climbing, and many more! * Adaptive Sports Equipment - We are building an inventory of adaptive sports equipment to support individuals in their pursuit of sport. * Angel City Games - We host one of the country’s largest Paralympic competitions each June @UCLA. 2018 featured five Paralympic sports, T&F, Swimming, Archery, Wheelchair Tennis, and Wheelchair Basketball.

“I come here to have fun, that’s the main thing,” Angel City Sports regular Simon Bartolome says to me as we convene on the corner of the basketball court, and he rocks his modified wheelchair forward and back. “Also, to play basketball and meet other people. It’s a community out here!”

“I learned about it in high school,” Simon said about

how he learned of Angel City Sports. “I was always wondering what other adaptive sports I could get involved in, and Angel City was one of the programs I got into.”

Unaware of the Paralympics, Eric Duda was playing able-body Volleyball for the University of Florida when he approached to be a Paralympian. He was an alternate in the 2000 Olympics, 2004 Athens, and 2016 in Rio, pushing towards Paris now.

“To being able to represent your country, without going to the military; because it’s all I can do,” Duda explains his involvement with the Paralympics team. “To be able to do that, plus be an ambassador for the sport and the disable. I love it; I wouldn’t ask for anything different.”

“My parents didn’t give me outs. It was a little bit tough at times because there were no coaches to help me with some of this stuff,” Duda says looking back on his early days of playing adaptive sports. “That’s why I’m happy

to be here now, especially with the sports media age, I can reach so many more people and let them know there are sports out there for you.”

We’ve heard what Angel City Sports mean to a frequent participant like Simon, and you have also heard from one of the coaches about maximizing your time in the gym. I also had an opportunity to chat with paralympic Mike Scott, who talked about the business of the game with me.

“Once a Paralympian, always a Paralympian,” explains Mike Scott, a five-time Paralympian and two-time gold medalist for the Team USA Wheel Chair team. “I’m here to be a mentor for wheelchair basketball. Adaptive sports has been a big part of my life; to be honest it’s not big a part of my life; it is my life!”

“Played and resided in four different countries outside the states. Won gold medals, traveled the world,” Scott said proudly, exuding the confidence one would expect from a gold medalist. “To be honest, I don’t play this game; I am this game!” Scott added.

“That’s how you gain respect. That how you game notoriety, to be good at basketball when I was growing up, was everything,” Scott recalls growing up in Detroit. “I want to shine a beautiful light on our sports, and show people what we can do and emphasize our ability and not our disability.”

For good measure, I would like to share a testimonial from a new employee Angel City Sports recently brought on. After assisting with multiple events, Chris Lita was encouraged to join the staff and now gets to coordinate and work on their multi-events.

“I’ve been loving the process of creating these events for the community of LA and people with disabilities,” Chris said about enjoying his role with Angele City Sports.

“It’s just a beautiful feeling to get everybody come out.”

“It’s beautiful to have that inclusivity, that community. It’s very motivating, joyful, and it changed my life,” Lita shares with me. “It’s amazing to be around people who want to stay active.”

Roughly 15% of the population in the US can benefit from these initiatives, and Angel City Sports needs sponsorship support to achieve its goals. Because schools and recreational centers DO NOT support these athletes or sports, this community suffers from either fragmentation or being economically disadvantaged, causing some athletes to suffer from poor health. To support their efforts, you can reach out to them by checking out angelcitysports. org, email them at info@angelcitygames.org, and follow them on Instagram, FaceBook, and Twitter for event schedule dates and times.

Angel City Sports takes pride in providing training and development, equipment, and competition for children, adults, and veterans with physical disabilities. If you haven’t been to an event to check out the spirit the team displays, you should do so. Or go to a Paralympics event to get an idea of the sportsmanship displayed there? Let us know your thoughts by reaching out to me on Twitter @ voiceofthefans, or email me at voiceofthefans@outlook. com.

Intensity Increases During Los Angeles Chargers Training Camp

By Cameron Buford Whatsgoodinsports.com The Chargers mixed it up a bit by having practice on Sunday evening versus at the morning practice like they have the majority of training camp. This practice would be the most physical practice we’ve seen from them. Though Staley made it clear that they want to be a “line of scrimmage team,” it’s looking like, with their recent additions, they will finally be that team this season.

Last off-season, they added Pro Bowler Rashawn Slater to bolster their offensive line last season. This off-season, they drafted the “rugged, tough, and versatile offensive lineman” Zion Johnson to improve their offensive line.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Chargers brought in Khalil Mack, a member of the 2010 all-decade team. Along with former Rams defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day, and former Giant Anthony Johnson to add size and depth to their defensive line.

“We brought him here because he’s made up of all the right stuff. He’s an intense competitor. He loves the work,” Staley said about the Superbowl Champion Sebastian Joseph-Day. “I think that what is going to happen between the white lines is Sebastian Joseph-Day is going to be turned up to play football every time he’s out there.

What that does is it elevates not only his teammates on defense but that other side. You need guys like Sebastian in order to be that.”

We saw the combustion of these competitive forces during their live scrimmage on Sunday evening in their live one-on-one drills. After one particular play during their goal line drill, rookie Zion Johnson refused to back down to Sebastian Joseph-Day. Once the whistle blew, the Johnson appeared to get the last shove on Joseph-Day. Which didn’t sit well with him and Joseph-Day responded by snatching the helmet off of the young Johnson.

“You have to be smart, obviously, but it’s a violent

think he’s been playing great. He’s surprised me a bit. I haven’t seen any of his film or anything, but he’s a brick house,” Bosa said when asked about the scuffle that broke out between Joseph-Day and Johnson. “I think he’s been having a really good camp so far and we’ve needed that inside.”

It’s likely a good thing that things got physical in the Chargers training camp. This physical mindset is needed for them to become a more competitive team this season.

One can’t argue, this sense of nastiness was missing last season and Joseph-Day might be the guy to pull that out of the rest of the defense. “[LB Drue] Tranquill, [LB Nick] Niemann, [LB Kenneth] Murray [Jr.], [OLB Kyle] Van Noy, those are of the soft-tissue nature. Drue is trending positively, Nick is new and will be day-to-day. Kyle Van Noy is day-to-day. Murray is trending positively,” Staley explained their injury situation to the assembled as the sky darkened as the sun set on the evening training camp.

“TE [Tre] McKitty is trending positive. TE [Donald] Parham Jr. is a new, soft-tissue hamstring. He should be out, for sure, this week. WR [Jason] Moore, trending positive. DB [Mark] Webb Jr., day-to-day, getting better. [OL] Andrew Trainer is going to be out,” Staley explained.

Get your season tickets now if you haven’t already.

This team will be competing for the division title again this season, and you want to be a part of this coming season.

On paper, this team is expected to have the best season J.C. Jackson (27) ranked No. 1 on NFL.com’s top cornerbacks list entering 2022 Season (Photo: Chargers. in Chargers Franchise history. They focused on winning com) the line of scrimmage this off-season by acquiring Khalil Mack, nose tackles Austin Johnson, and Sebastian Jogame. If we want to play for a championship, we’ve got to think [G] Zion [Johnson] has that in him, for sure. From seph-Day while adding Guard Zion Johnson to improve get rugged and kick some ass,” four-time Pro Bowler Edge what I’ve seen, he’s a tough player. Especially in the front the offensive line. How do you see these off-season acquisiRusher Joey Bosa said about the attitude of Joseph-Day. line there, going against each other, you’ve got to get down tions factoring into their season’s success? Let us know your thoughts by reaching out to me on Twitter @voiceofthe“You can’t be afraid to get after each other sometimes. I and dirty sometimes.”

“You have to set the rookies straight sometimes. I fans, or email me at voiceofthefans@outlook.com.

Rams Ink McVay Sean McVay got paid. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean had signed a new contract with the club. He announced it recently and the team will in the near future.

McVay led the Rams to a win in Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals, their first championship since 1999. It was the team’s second Super Bowl appearance in five seasons under McVay. His previous contract is set to expire after 2023.

McVay said the Rams will announce his extension when they complete a deal with general manager Les Snead.

“Les and I have always been a pair,” said McVay. “We wanted to be able to announce them when both of them had gotten done. Mine is done Les is in the process. “It is very important that it is represented that Les and I have represented that we are a partnership and we are a pair.”

McVay has established himself as one of the best coaches in the NFL during his brief tenure. At age 30 in 2017, he was named the youngest head coach in the NFL’s modern era. He also was named the NFL Coach of the Year in his first campaign after going 115.

The sometimes firer coach has led the team to postseason appearances in four of his five seasons. He has a career record of 55-26 in the regular season and 7-3 in the playoffs.

A10

The Valley’s News Observer

Local

Thursday, August 11, 2022

Thursday, August 11, 2022

The Valley’s News Observer A11

Local

Rep. Waters Announces $15 Million Federal Grant for Inglewood Transit Connector (ITC) WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chair of the House Committee on Financial Services, announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $15 million RAISE grant to the City of Inglewood to support the Inglewood Transit Connector (ITC) Project.

“I am proud to announce that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $15 million grant to the City of Inglewood to support the groundbreaking Inglewood Transit Connector Project,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters. “This innovative project will improve access to the City of Inglewood and provide my constituents a world-class transit connection from the Metro Crenshaw/ LAX Line to downtown Inglewood and the City’s major sports, entertainment and employment centers.”

Congresswoman Maxine Waters requested $20 million in funding for the ITC in April of 2021, during House consideration of transportation infrastructure legislation.

While the House-passed infrastructure bill included $9 million for the ITC in response to the Congresswoman’s request, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law, did not designate funding for specific projects, but instead included $1.5 billion in funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program, which resulted in the $15 million grant award for the ITC. “I am proud that my efforts to secure funding for the Inglewood Transit Connector made this $15 million RAISE grant possible,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters. “I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress and the Biden administration to secure funding for leading-edge transportation projects in Inglewood and throughout my congressional district and invest in the 21st Century infrastructure that my constituents deserve.” The ITC Project will complete an approximately 1.6-mile fully elevated, automated transit system with three stations on segments along Market Street, Manchester Boulevard, and Prairie Avenue in the City of Inglewood. It includes construction of three center platform stations located at Market Street/Florence Avenue, Prairie Avenue/Manchester Boulevard, and Prairie Avenue/Hardy Street.

A rendering of the proposed Inglewood People Mover’s Downtown station. (Photo Credit: LA Metro)

Grupo Congo Istmeño De Panama (Photo: Ricky Richardson)

Queen Nzingha Camara, Ben Caldwell and Mama Rene Fisher-Mims (Photo: Ricky Richardson)

Black Women Magic- Acknowledge, Celebrated & Honored in Leimert Park Village

By Ricky Richardson Contributing Writer (Los Angeles, Ca.)- A large group of beautiful African Queens from all over the diaspora descended upon the monthly Leimert Park Art Walks to join the exiting celebration of Black Women for International Day of Women of African Descent, Sunday, July 31, 2022.

In 1992, Black women from 32 different Latin American and Caribbean countries united in the Dominican Republic to fight racism and sexism they face. The day became known as La Dia Internacional de la Mujer Afrodescendiente, or the International Afro-Latin American and Afro Caribbean Women Day. Now every year on July 25th, the world unites to celebrate Black women.

The Leimert Park celebration feature live music performances, poetry, panels, workshops, free wellness swag bags, film showcase, food and an aroma/fragrant garden and more.

The International Day of Women of African Descent is on the fast tract/path to becoming a premiere, signature event in Leimert Park. This is a welcome addition to add to the mix of the cultural hub of the African American community.

The weather Gods looked down favorably upon this event. It was a nice pleasant day, with a slight breeze.

The program got underway with opening remarks by Nikki Campbell, acknowledging the land that was first occupied the Native Americans.

Back by popular demand, Khalil returned as Master of Ceremony and participated in the Libation Ceremony with Nikki Campbell and Amir Whitaker.

Markaky presented an excellent overview, ground-

Gina Belafonte (Photo: Ricky Richardson)

ing, history and importance of burning sage and frankincense before the program.

Several poets were onsite to share original poetry.

Dr. Amina Humphrey recited “Feat Black Womxn”.

Barbara Fant shared a couple of poems from her book Mouths of Garden. Tauheedah Shakur recited “Leave my Home Alone (about Gentrification) followed by a relevant and humorous “What Are You Mix With.” Amir Whitaker recited a heartfelt and powerful poem about his Grandmother.

The 2nd Annual International Day of Women of African Descent presented awards to three amazing women as well as group pf women for their lasting contributions for and in the community.

2022 Recognition Award presented to Gina Belafonte for your outstanding work for Black freedom, healing, unity and consciousness. We commend your work as an artivist and for leading Sankofa.org, a social justice organization using culture and entertainment in advancing justice, peace, equity and equality.

2022 Recognition Award presented to The Women of Black Lives Matter-LA. For your outstanding work for Black freedom, healing, unity, and consciousness. We commend you on building a grassroot movement for Black liberation and recognize the role phenomenal Black women in leadership. Sheila Battes was onsite to accepted the Award.

2022 Recognition Award presented to Queen Nzingha Camara for your outstanding work for Black freedom, healing, unity and consciousness. We commend your work in sharing ancient African culture and bridging the gap with future generations in Los Angeles, Your love and work as a dancer and educator has changed the world.

2022 Recognition Award presented to Mama Rene Fisher-Mims (Sister’s Healing, Inspiring, Nurturing, and Empowering in the Hands of God). For your outstanding work for Black freedom, healing, unity, and consciousness. We commend your work for establishing S.H.I.N.E. MUWASI to share West African drum culture with women in the community. Your love and work as a vocalist and master percussionist have changed the world.

The awards were presented by Ben Caldwell.

It is an ongoing struggle. The work to acknowledge and offer full enfranchisement to Afro-descent women continues today.

The International Day of Woman of African Descent welcomed the 2022 Mandela Washington Fellows during a historic stop in Los Angeles, and in Leimert Park Village. The Mandela Washington Fellows was established

by former President Barack Obama. Dr. Tadios Belay, an Ethiopian refugee and President of U.S. Africa Institute, started this organization to create a strategic bridge between Africa and the United States through education and exchange programs. https://yali.state.gov/mwf and http:// www.usainstitute.org for more information.

The celebration featured a variety of performances representing the diaspora. Nadia Calmet, Afro-Peruvian danced, teamed up with Barbara Fant and percussionist Marco, for a song entitled “Negra” by Victoria Santa Cruz.

Nikki Campbell and Grupo Congo Istmeño De Panama dazzled the crowd with Afro Panamanian drumming, singing and dancing.

S.H.I.N.E MUWASI gave Blessing/Libation to

honor our ancestors, as well as to acknowledge and remember the cultural icons of Leimert Park and to share seeds of wisdom/knowledge for future generations to nurture and grow. S.H.I.N.E. MUWASI thrilled the captivated crowd with energy-fueled traditional drumming and dancing of West Africa.

Kati Hernandez and Kimbabula (Lisa Lopez and Shana Christopher) performance was simply amazing, to close out the first part of the celebration.

Part 2 of the International Day of Women of African Descent featured a Black Women Film! Showcase and Panel, with films and panel participants Alile Sharon Larkin, Tasha Wiggins Hunter, Angela Jordan, Reva Santo and a special performance by Indigo Smith.

Nikki Campbell, Adrienne Bambou Diagne, Dr. Amina Humphrey, Dr. Tadios Belay and 2022 Mandela Fellows (Photo: Ricky Richardson)

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Thursday, August 11, 2022

A Generous Serving of Taste of Inglewood Jazz Festival

By Ricky Richardson Contributing Writer (Inglewood, Ca.)- The spotlight continues to shine over the City of Inglewood, the City of Champions! People came from near and far to get their groove on for the Taste of Inglewood, presents Inglewood Jazz Festival, Saturday, August 6, and Sunday, August 7, 2022.

Organizers couldn’t have picked a better venue than the well-manicured, well maintained, tree-lined Edward Vincent Jr., Park to host this wonderful celebration, on a beautiful, sunny, and pleasant weekend in Southern California. A large crowd of party people gathered inside the park to groove and move. The crowd was estimated around 3,500.

Hilarious comedian Screwroy Rice was the perfect host for both days of the festival. He was great as a Master of Ceremony, and he kept the crowd laughing with his jokes, humorous take on everyday life. His jokes were fluid, relevant and timely, which resonated with the crowd. I’m sure that you have heard your family members, friends or fellow co-workers talking about his routine by now. You can catch his one-hour comedy special streaming online entitled “Someone Call the Cops,” available on Amazon Prime, Tubi and Comcast Network. The show is produced

by Butterflywerks.

DJ LaLa Land and DJ Brad Rush was bumping the

ones and twos throughout day one of the festival. They complimented the festival with some classic, old school tracks between acts, to the delight of the dancers in the house, at the Main Stage.

Malik Rice got the show underway with several classic R&B songs. Local LA based band As Is was up next to entertain the crowd at the Main Stage. They opened their set with “Rock With You,” “Stay,” “Keep Working on It,” and “Feel Like Making Love to You.” Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Councilmember Alex Padilla, George Dotson and Eloy Morales Jr. greeted the crowd with welcome remarks.

Herman Jackson Band was fantastic during their time in the spotlight. They opened their set with “Water Sign,” “Sun Goddess,” followed by “All I Do Is Think About You” featuring Lyric Roche making her festival debut on the West Coast. They concluded their set with “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.”

Vocalist/keyboard player Frank McComb did his thang! He dedicated his set to his mentor, the late great George Duke. Their tight set featured to songs “It’s So Easy to Love Somebody Like You,” Cupid Arrow,” followed by “Superstition” with an intro imaging keyboard wizardry of Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock. They closed their set with “Do You Remember Love.” Frank McComb-keyboards, was aided superbly by David McKenzie-bass and

Joe Tate on drums.

L. Young kept the party flowing and moving as he started off with “I Want You,” “Before I Let Go,” “Oh, My Love,” followed by an original song entitled “Fairytales,” about a person staying/stuck in the friend zone. He continued with “Can We Talk for a Minute,” and brought his set to an end with “Love is a Verb.”

Sensational smooth jazz saxophonist Phil Dennis thrilled the crowd with material from his latest CD Urban Troubadour to closed out the show on the opening day of the Main Stage.

The VIP Stage was smokin’ with performances by Jacques Lesure, Amina Buddafly, Larry Nash and Eric Robertson on Saturday afternoon. Sunday’s performers on the VIP Stage consisted of Chevonne Shapine, Lao Tizer, Sy Smith, Jose Rizo’s Mongorama, and a headlining set by Chrisette Michele.

DJ Twin and DJ Brad Rush was on the ones and twos. The Main Stage got off to a good start with the vocal styling of Derek Bordeaux. His band opened the show with “Breezin.” They continued with Derek Bordeaux joining them onstage to sang “Women Got to Have It,” “Treat Her Like a Lady,” “Lovely Day,” “I’ll be Around” and finished with “We Are One.” Saxophonist Rastine Calhoun got down and took care of business for the party people to groove. They entertained

Erin Stevenson (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Kindred The Family Soul (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

L. Young (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Frank McComb (keyboards) (Photo: Ricky Richardson)

the crowd with “Equinox,” “Peg,” “Knucklehead,” and “Allure” from an upcoming CD. The grooves kept flowing on “Pass the Peas,” and concluded with “Hollywood Swingin,” aka, “Inglewood Swingin” very fitting for the occasion.

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Councilmember George Dotson and Dionne Faulk was onsite to offer welcome remarks on the final day of the festival.

Erin Stevenson had the party people vibing with her throughout her engaging and entertaining set. She opened with “Oh, My Love,” “Take Me Away,” “You Are Everything to Me,” “Sweet Love” by Anita Baker, followed by “I Like It,” and finished with “Double Touch.”

Biscuit and Gravy Live, David Broussard, Kindred the Family Soul, and Eric Benet were the additional artists with outstanding sets on the Main Stage that contributed to the success of Taste of Inglewood presents Inglewood Jazz Festival.

We have just rounded third base, as we approach the home stretch for the remainder of the Summer. There are many exciting outdoor events in the weeks ahead to get out to enjoy before you have to return to school or return to your physical work place if you have been working remotely in the past.