SB American News Week Ending 4/1

Vol. 50 No. 49

March 26, 2020 -April 1, 2020

Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with words or blows or words or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they suppress.

—Fredrick Douglass (1849)

NAACP holds teleconference to reach out to community NNPA NEWSWIRE — “The truth is, there are so many within this nation who are disenfranchised from receiving adequate and affordable care due to socio-economic circumstances,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP president and CEO. “This virus will have dire consequences on so many, but specifically African-Americans, who suffer from higher rates of chronic illness.”

“We have to approach this from a community preparedness standpoint to work together and engage our community,” said Nicolette Louissant, PhD., is the executive director of Healthcare Ready, an organization established after Hurricane Katrina

Residents urged to look out for one another

By Lisa Fitch, Editor in Chief, Our Weekly News The NAACP hosted an Emergency Tele Town Hall about coronavirus, COVID-19 and its potential impact on communities of color.

“The truth is, there are so many within this nation who are disenfranchised from receiving adequate and affordable care due to socio-economic circumstances,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP president and CEO. “This virus will have dire consequences on so many, but specifically African-Americans, who suffer from higher rates of chronic illness.”

Johnson prefaced his comments by sharing his experiences as someone who lived through Hurricane Katrina.

“When the administration is not working for communities, those communities can suffer,” he said.

“We want to make sure to get the information out to our communities as much as possible.”

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) agreed.

“We want to make sure we’re not looking at another Katrinalike response from the government,” she said, adding her support for the Coronavirus Response Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives over the weekend.

The House worked late last

Friday and into early Saturday to pass—with bipartisan support— a relief bill designed to dull the societal impact of the coronavirus pandemic. President Donald Trump endorsed the bill, first on Twitter Friday night, and again in his press conference on Saturday.

H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, includes the priority of paid sick leave, as well as enhanced unemployment insurance, increased funds for Medicaid, and provisions to ensure food security for those affected by the global public health crisis.

The act is designed to assist U.S. low-income workers who do not have paid sick leave, should their business owners close shop.

Harris said that 40 percent of those persons are either Black or Latino.

“We will be pushing this in the Senate and working with our friends in the House to make sure as many people get paid sick leave as possible,” Harris said.

“We need to make sure that the Senate does its job and brings this to a vote without delay.”

The senator also emphasized that residents need to look out for one another.

“We also have to check on our elders. Try giving them a call to brighten their day,” Harris

suggested. “Offer to get them groceries.”

Harris alluded to the violence that has arisen from some panicked residents toward “our Asian brothers and sisters.”

“We have to push back against any racism wherever it exists,” she said. “Kindness and patience will be required a lot from us.”

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams agreed.

“People need to make attempts to connect more deeply and more often,” Adams said, suggesting a buddy system. “People want to still feel like someone out there still cares about them.”

Adams said that (then) current coronavirus numbers in the U.S. matched numbers Italy saw two weeks ago.

“The next few weeks are going to be critical,” Adams said, adding that he realizes the African American community does not have a lot of trust in the current administration. “I know what it’s like growing up poor, Black and with limited healthcare. I will keep fighting for people of color and I hope I can earn your trust.”

Adams has held the surgeon general post since 2017 and stressed that he is not a politician.

The former anesthesiologist and Indiana State Health Commissioner began a campaign in September 2018 along with

other public health officials to promote seasonal flu vaccinations because the previous year’s flu epidemic resulted in the deaths of an estimated 80,000 Americans.

“Testing has not gone the way we would have liked it to have gone so far,” Adams said regarding the coronavirus. He noted that the country is at a turning point now, as over 83 state and local labs are now working on developing and providing tests.

“We’re prioritizing testing for healthcare workers and those most vulnerable, those over 65 with medical conditions.”

In addition to the CDC guidelines for limiting the impact of the disease, which include social distancing and hand washing, Adams also mentioned that the President had authorized more than $50 billion in funding for states and localities to work against the spread of coronavirus.

“I promise you I’m in there fighting for your priorities,” Adams said. “It’s going to be a tough several weeks ahead. We need to lean into it now and we’ll see the positive effects down the line.”

Nicolette Louissant, PhD., is the executive director of Healthcare Ready, an organization established after Hurricane Katrina. It works with the public and private sectors to strengthen healthcare systems before, during, and after disasters.

“We have to approach this from a community preparedness standpoint to work together and engage our community,” said Louissaint, who also suggested one-on-one support like making “old-school phone calls” and delivering prescription medications to those who need them.

“This is a sustained event,” she said. “Over the long haul, we’re going to radically change our lifestyles. Equity issues are at play here. Eighty-five percent of people of color have to rely on more prescription drugs. They have medical needs. Access is incredibly important.”

Eight new cases of novel coronavirus recorded within county SB County News

San Bernardino County today reported eight new cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The county now has a total of 17 confirmed cases and no deaths attributable to the disease.

The county reported its first case on Sunday, March 15.

Additional cases have been expected to emerge as more test results are reported to the County.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the State Public Health Officer on Thursday issued a statewide stay-at-home order with exceptions for essential tasks and services. See details here: covid19.ca.gov/stay-homeexcept-for-essential-needs.

“Complying with public health orders is essential to our continued health and safety,” said Acting County Health Officer Dr. Erin Gustafson. “These orders are not intended to spark panic, but rather reduce the spread of

infection and minimize the number of people who get sick at any one time to keep our healthcare system functioning.”

“There is a fairly even distribution of cases throughout our county. No one should assume the virus is not present in their community. We must presume and behave as if the virus is everywhere,” Dr. Gustafson said.

The Acting County Health Officer and the Board of Supervisors have declared a local health emergency to help ensure county government and the public are prepared and allow flexibility in response. Various county departments and agencies are working together and in partnership with cities, schools, and the business and nonprofit communities to ensure an effective response.

As with any virus, especially during the cold and flu season,

there are a number of steps you can take to protect your health and those around you: · People experiencing symptoms of contagious illness should seek medical guidance. · Persons aged 65 years and older and persons of any age with certain underlying health conditions are at increased risk should they contract COVID-19 and are encouraged to selfquarantine. · Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. · Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth, especially with unwashed

hands. · Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning spray or wipes. · N95 masks are not recommended outside a healthcare setting. Surgical masks can be worn by sick individuals to reduce the likelihood of spreading germs to others.

For information about the coronavirus crisis, visit the County’s coronavirus website at w p . s b c o u n t y. g o v / d p h / coronavirus. New information and resources have been added and the site is being updated daily. The public can also contact the coronavirus public information line from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at (909) 387-3911, or email the County at coronavirus@dph.sbcounty.gov.

Publisher’s Corner Publisher of The San Bernardino AMERICAN News

Email: sbamericannews@gmail.com

Clifton Harris Editor in Chief

5 Confirmed Cases of African Americans Who Died from Coronavirus National News

Nationwide — Many from urban communities initially believed that Black people were immune to the coronavirus. This was obviously false information, partly due to the media’s bias in their reporting.

Not only can Black people contract the COVID-19 virus, but many are also dying from it. Many have died already, but here are just five confirmed cases: #1 – Larry Edgeworth: a 61-year old long-time employee of NBC News. According to CNN, he worked in an equipment room at the company’s headquarters in New York City, also suffered from other health issues. #2 – Oliver Stokes Jr.: a 50-year old man from New Orleans who was best known as Go DJ Black N Mild. He worked as a DJ in Houston for KHOU, and also spun bounce records for New Orleans AM station WBOK. According to People, he was initially diagnosed with pneumonia. #3 – Patricia Frieson: a 61-year old retired nurse from Chicago

who had a history of respiratory issues which including severe asthma. NBC Chicago reports that she contracted the virus at a nursing home. #4 – Tre Wiser: a 32-year old family man reportedly from San Diego. He was a father, husband, son, and uncle. He reportedly contracted the virus from someone he knew who also was infected. #5 – Alvin Simmons: a 54-year old from Rochester, New York. He reportedly had hypertension and liver disease, and was initially diagnosed with pneumonia. After being given antibiotics, he vomited blood, had a stroke, and later tested positive for coronavirus according to ABC 13 News.

For the best information about the virus pandemic, please follow the Center of Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) or call the National Coronavirus Helpline at (888) 581-5029.

Congress rejects reversal of student loan forgiveness rule For-profit colleges termed the “coronavirus of higher ed”

By Charlene Crowell

While much of the nation grapples with multiple adjustments attributed to the coronavirus pandemic, a rare bipartisan effort in recent days united lawmakers to reject an illadvised Department of Education push against financial fairness for student borrowers.

The lawmakers’ efforts were to allow a 2016 rule to stand unchanged.

Without the March 11th vote, borrowers of student loans taken out after July 1st would have little ability to secure discharge of these loans if incurred at fraudulent, mostly for-profit institutions. Hundreds of thousands of students are already deeply in debt for educations whose benefits never materialized due to misrepresentations like job placement rates, graduate incomes, and the ability to transfer credits earned.

Passing the upper chamber on a 53-41 roll call vote, 10 Republican members representing 9 states joined their Democratic colleagues to preserve the federal student loan rule known as the Borrower Defense to Repayment (BD).

“We need a policy in place that will allow defrauded students the chance to have their loan debt forgiven,” noted Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, “while protecting good colleges and taxpayers.”

“These for-profit colleges are the coronavirus of higher education,” remarked Illinois’ Senator Dick Durbin, who is leading his chamber’s efforts to halt DeVos’ rule.

Echoing similar sentiments was New York’s Senator Chuck Schumer.

“With this vote, the message to the Trump administration and the predatory institutions Secretary DeVos is propping up is clear: you can’t cheat students and get away with it,” said Schumer.??

Originally adopted by the Obama Administration, the rule was estimated to help relieve $17 billion in federal loans for defrauded college borrowers.

This sector has been characterized by its high tuition costs, as well as its targeting of distinct demographic groups -students of color, veterans, and low-incomes – that together led to large numbers of vulnerable students incurring unaffordable debt through a combination of private and federal loans to financially support the artificially high cost of their studies. (continued on page 2)

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PAGE 2

March 26, 2020

COMMUNITY/EDUCATION/NATIONWIDE

“In Spirit of Lord’s Prayer,” Black Churches, Non Profits Ask For Mortgage Help Tanu Henry | California Black Media

Rev. Michael Fisher, pastor of Greater Zion Church Family in Compton speaking with then candidate for Governor, Gavin Newsom June 3, 2018 before the 11 am worship service. CBM Staff photo Hit by loss of income due to the Coronavirus pandemic, AfricanAmerican churches across California are asking state leaders and the federal government for help to pay their mortgages.

“National Christian leaders are coming together across denominational, theological and affiliation lines, in the spirit of the Lord’s Prayer, with this plea: “make them one” to strategize for the plight of hundreds to thousands of small to medium size congregations nationwide which are in danger of financial distress triggered

by the COVID-19 pandemic,” says the Rev. Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, the pastor of Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood.

Even before Gov. Newsom placed a stay-at-home order on the state’s estimated 40 million residents Thursday, attendance at Black churches across the state had begun to decline.

Some Black church leaders say their revenues have dipped by an average between 40 and 50 percent.

Last Sunday, in fact, a majority of Black churches in the state either

COVID - 19 RESPONSE

Omnitrans to Implement Reduced Service, New Procedures Community News

(San Bernardino, CA) In response to the evolving COVID19 pandemic and California Governor Newsom’s “Stay at Home” order, Omnitrans will implement a reduced service plan, rear boarding procedures, and the suspension of fares beginning Monday, March 23.

“Omnitrans has no higher priority than the safety of our employees and customers,” said Interim CEO/General Manager Erin Rogers. “This service plan will support public health efforts and allow the agency to continue to provide vital services for those who need it.”

Under the reduced service plan,

Omnitrans routes that regularly operate every 15 minutes will instead operate every 30 minutes.

Routes that typically operate every 30 minutes will operate every hour, and hourly routes will continue to operate as scheduled.

The agency also will ask customers to board and exit buses through the rear doors, to encourage social distancing. Customers with disabilities will continue to board via the front doors of the bus. For logistical reasons and to assist customers during this challenging time, Omnitrans will not collect fares on any of its buses.

Congress rejects reversal of student loan forgiveness rule...continued from page 1 Many of the colleges that defrauded borrowers closed abruptly under the weight of investigations and sanctions Corinthian Colleges, ITT Tech and Art Institutes. Other career colleges continue operating but with scant accountability from the Trump Administration and the Department of Education.

With few students actually graduating from largely for-profit career and technical institutions, debts incurred could not be repaid on the low earnings and lack of marketable skills and knowledge.?According to a?report?by the nonprofit Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), 53% of defrauded students’ debt would be forgiven under Obama-era rules. That number falls to just 3% under DeVos’ re-write.

By its own estimates the Education Department expects that next year – 2021 -approximately 200,000 students will experience similar misconduct.????????

Even so, the Department of Education’s 2019 BD version anticipates only 3 cents of every loan dollar would be cancelled for defrauded students, and the institutions would repay a penny for documented misconduct.

Additionally, the opportunity for loan discharge for groups of borrowers experiencing widespread mistreatment would end. If allowed to take effect, the DeVos version would require each student to individually apply and prove their claim – despite evidence of systemic or widespread mistreatment.

Other key?changes?identified jointly by TICAS, the National Consumer Law Center and the Century Foundation include: The time limit to file a borrower defense claim will be cut in half, from the current six year to three and only after borrowers leave

school; Even if the school concedes it made false, or deceptive promises, borrowers filing a BD claim will still be required to show specific types of harms incurred; and Neither judgments against the schools or a breach of contract would be sufficient grounds for borrowers to receive loan discharge.

Two other advocacy groups, The Project on Predatory Student Lending and Public Citizens jointly filed a related lawsuit in February on behalf of the New York Legal Assistance Group.

With both chambers of Congress having voted to preserve the 2016 BD rule, the next step is presidential action. Should President Trump sign the measure, he would reject Secretary DeVos’ rule in favor of students and taxpayers. If he vetoes the resolution, Congress will face a pivotal decision on whether to override that veto.?

For Ashley Harrington, Federal Advocacy Director with the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), preserving the BD rule is not Congress’ only obligation to higher education.

“We commend the bi-partisan members from both chambers for overturning a rule that would have allowed students and taxpayers to be ripped off by forprofit colleges. We also encourage Congress to advance a comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act that holds true to its original values by opening the doors of higher education to low-income students and students of color,” said Harrington. “We need a higher education system that is truly affordable, reducing the need for students to borrow for college, and provides a pathway out of student debt and into economic security.”

shuttered their doors completely or organized virtual Sunday morning services online; even though a handful of them still held regularly scheduled services.

“This is a critical time for churches who have heretofore faithfully served the community with resources and information without government assistance,” said Lisa Collins, the publisher of L.A. Focus, an AfricanAmerican newspaper in Los Angeles that dedicates a significant amount of its coverage to Black religious life.

“Now, they have found themselves in the position of having to continue to pay staff and monthly expenses, including some pretty sizable mortgages, and yet can no longer hold services,” Collins added.

“Online giving—while beneficial, doesn’t come close in making up the difference. They are vital community partners who need assistance right now.”

The Rev. Michael Fisher, pastor of Greater Zion Church Family in Compton, says African-American pastors in California are joining hands with other Black clergy around the country to ask the federal government and their states’ elected officials for assistance.

“We are asking our governors to write executive orders to banks that will defer mortgage payments specifically for churches, religious organizations, mosques, synagogues

and non-profits for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis,” says Fisher, who leads the oldest and largest Black congregation in Compton.

Fisher’s church is located in an area of the state with one of the highest concentrations of African American residents.

“We also want it to be clear that deferred payments will be collected on the back end of the loan,” Fisher continued. “Because most banks are FDIC insured, they can choose to only abide by federal regulations. So, we want to lead a national initiative to request that President Trump also signs a moratorium on mortgages specifically for the churches and the non-profit sector.”

About two weeks ago, Black religious leaders from cities and towns up and down the state met with Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) to tell the lawmaker, who is chair of the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, about their concerns regarding the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

“We want to hear from you. I want you to let me know what you need,” said Mitchell, who is the only AfricanAmerican woman in the Senate, to the pastors on the conference call.

Throughout the history of the United States, churches have played a central role in the social, cultural and political (continued on page7)

California Awards $100 Million to Cities, Counties and Continuums of Care to Help People Experiencing Homelessness During COVID-19 Pandemic Community News SACRAMENTO - California has awarded $100 million in emergency grant funding to California counties, Continuums of Care, and the state's 13 largest cities to help protect the health and safety of people experiencing homelessness during the COVID19 pandemic.

On March 17, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 89, which was approved unanimously by the state Legislature. SB 89 authorized a total appropriation of up to $1 billion to provide assistance to help fight the spread of COVID19. On March 18, 2020, Governor Newsom’s Administration allocated $100 million in emergency funding from SB 89 to local governments to help protect this vulnerable population and reduce the spread of COVID-19 by safely getting individuals into shelter and providing immediate housing options.

The Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency's Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council sent out award letters today.

"The fast action by the legislature in approving this funding has been matched by the swift action taken by our

Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council to get this money out the door and to the local jurisdictions where it's needed," said Governor Newsom.

"This is money that will be immediately available to help those who are homeless – among the most vulnerable to COVID19."

California’s 13 largest cities, or cities that are also a county, will receive $42,968,750, while the state’s 58 counties will receive $27,343,750 and California’s 44 Continuums of Care will receive $29,687,500. Allocations can be found here.https:// w w w. b c s h . c a . g o v / h c f c / coronavirus19/allocations.pdf The funding is intended for measures to help prevent and contain COVID-19 and can be used for medically indicated services and supplies, such as testing and hand-washing stations. It can also be used for such things as acquiring new shelters, supplies and equipment for emergency shelter operations, increasing shelter capacity, street outreach, and acquiring locations to place individuals who need to be isolated because of COVID-19 illness or exposure.

Are Delivery Packages Safe From The Coronavirus? Educational News

In this day and age, everyone is reliant on delivery drivers. From everything we order on Amazon to every day food and groceries– it’s all being delivered by someone. Especially now, during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, many people are not going out, but relying on a delivery service to bring them the items they need.

So many are have started to ask the question, can the coronavirus live on the packages that are being delivered? What if my delivery driver tests positive for the virus and he delivered my packages? When I touch that package, does that mean I may get it too?

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Tuesday found that coronavirus

could be detected up to three hours after aerosolization in the air, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.

“This virus is quite transmissible through relatively casual contact, making this pathogen very hard to contain,” said James Lloyd-Smith, a coauthor of the study and a UCLA professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. “If you’re touching items that someone else has recently handled, be aware they could be contaminated and wash your hands.”

The study attempted to mimic the virus being deposited onto everyday surfaces in a household (continued in next 2 columns)

Are Delivery Packages Coronavirus?...continued or hospital setting by an infected person through coughing or touching objects, for example. The scientists then investigated how long thevirus remained infectious on these surfaces.

So what’s the answer?

The answer seems to be no. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the virus is spread through respiratory droplets and there is currently no evidence to support the transmission of COVID-19 with imported goods.

“In general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures,” the CDC said on its website.

So now what?

Safe

From

The

Since we are learning in real time about this virus, there are constant updates. So while the CDC may say something one minute, we might learn something new about the virus the next. So some experts say, err on the side of caution.

How do you do that? It’s a simple 3 step process.

Wait – If you can wait for your times, then wait 12 to 24 hours before bringing in your package indoors. This helps with the whole notion of how long the virus can live on the surface of the box Wipe down all your products – It doesn’t take long to wipe down your box of goodies with sanitary cloth that kills germs before you open them. This further will kill any germs still lingering around Check the packaging – Be sure that all of the indoor packaging is done

Arrowhead United Way establishes Emergency San Bernardino United Covid-19 Relief Fund to Support Community During Pandemic Community News San Bernardino, CA March 19, 2020-Arrowhead United Way has launched the San Bernardino United Covid-19 Relief Fund to Support those in the Arrowhead United Way service area who are most vulnerable during COVID19 pandemic.

“During times of crisis as a community, we must maintain the strength to support the needs of our families and work collaboratively to assist those we are called upon to serve while maintaining our mental wellness,”

says Gwendolyn-Dowdy Rodgers, Interim CEO and President of the organization.

Donations will be used locally and will counter the economic impacts of coronavirus to lowincome individuals and families through emergency support.

Funds will also support organizations that are on the frontlines by providing materials and supplies to prevent the spread of disease. (continued on page 4)

UCLA Voting Rights Project Urges Congress And States To Consider A Universal Vote by Mail Program Amid Coronavirus Pandemic White paper launched today raises voter turnout concerns for the November election amid the current public health crisis, particularly for underserved groups.

Educational News

The UCLA Voting Rights project released a white paper today with recommendations for voting officials to begin planning now for the implementation of a vote by mail program for upcoming primary elections and, most importantly, the November General Election.

The impetus for the paper is to raise an early call to action for the ongoing concern that the novel coronavirus will affect turnout in upcoming elections given the large and persistent public health campaign encouraging the public to practice “social distancing.”

The paper urges Congress to immediately provide funding and guidance for a national vote-bymail effort as part of current relief proposals to help with the economic impacts of the coronavirus. If Congress fails to act, the paper calls on state and local officials to step in. The paper also seeks to highlight the lowhealth risks and general safety to the public that voting by mail provides during this national emergency.

“States around the country are pushing back primary and runoff elections in the hope that election procedures can return to normal at a later time,” said Chad Dunn, co-founder of the UCLA Voting Rights Project and co-author of the report. “But hope is not a plan.

We must prepare now to protect the fundamental right to vote.”

The UCLA Voting Rights Project is an advocacy project of the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative and is focused on voting rights litigation, research, policy and training. The report is the first comprehensive review of vote by mail laws, and it includes best practices on how to implement the measures most effectively and quickly. The report was made available to Congressional offices as coronavirus relief discussions are underway.

The white paper offers the following solutions to implement a universal vote-by-mail program

by November:

Enroll voters immediately in a vote-by-mail program, allowing for an online registration option.

Provide a universal mail ballot and envelope to standardize the process and education efforts.

Work with the U.S. Postal Service to design a reliable and convenient program to return mail-in ballots.

Create security measures for vote-by-mail ballots.

Create a process for voters to address any issues with their vote-by-mail ballots so as to ensure all lawful votes are counted.

Modify any in-person polling places to maintain social distancing and minimize public health concerns for at-risk populations.

Improve sanitation efforts at polling places to provide public health assurances for in-person voting.

Increase voter education efforts on reforms implemented.

Six states can take immediate action to move the November election to universal vote by mail because of existing programs: Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Utah and California.

Further, the coronavirus pandemic provides a crucial opportunity to put benefits in place that will last beyond this election by reducing costs, making it easier to engage communities of color and voters with disabilities, and protecting elections from hacks or other tampering attempts, the report states.

“The 2020 election could have record turnout for young voters and communities of color, groups that must be engaged in deciding the future of our country and on issues that affect our local communities,” said Matt Barreto, UCLA Voting Rights co-founder and co-author of the paper.

“Voting is the foundation of our democracy, and vote-by-mail offers a solution to challenges that range from busy work schedules to global pandemics.”

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 3

March 26, 2020

COMMUNITY/ GOVERNMENT/BUSINESS/ADVERTISING

Sabrina Elba Tests Positive for COVID-19, Explains Her Decision Not to Self-Isolate From Idris Tonja Renée Stidhum

Sabrina Dhowre Elba and Idris Elba attend The World Premiere of Cats on December 16, 2019, in New York City. Photo: Jamie McCarthy (Getty Images for Universal Pictures) If there’s anyone who is going to use the extra time that comes with social distancing in order to be more productive, it’s Oprah Winfrey.

“Like millions of people all over the world, I’ve been staying safer at home for over a week now,” Oprah tweeted on Saturday. “I know a lot of people are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, & uncertain. [Because] of that, I want to offer some hope & gather thought leaders & people going through it to add some perspective.”

The media mogul then took that moment to announce her new

timely Apple TV series, Oprah Talks COVID-19. The title is pretty self-explanatory, but here’s the synopsis provided by Apple in case you need extended insight into what to expect from the series: How can we mindfully move through a crisis while holding on to ourselves and our humanity?

In this series, Oprah has remote conversations with experts and everyday people to provide insight, meaning and tangible advice for the human spirit.

“This is an opportunity for our humanity to either rise or not,” Oprah noted.

L.A. Board of Supervisors Issues Order to Facilitate Reduction of Jails Population During Pandemic LA County News LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors took a major step today toward significantly reducing the population of L.A. County Jails during the COVID19 pandemic. In an executive order, the Board directed the Los Angeles County health officer to identify “all necessary and appropriate measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the jails...and make any orders necessary for that purpose.”

Please attribute the following statement to Jacob Reisberg, jails conditions advocate for the ACLU of Southern California: “We are grateful that the Board has recognized the urgent need

to protect people in the jails and community from the spread of COVID-19. We urge the county health officer to issue an order as soon as possible, as this will allow the sheriff to exercise his statutory authority to build on the steps he has already taken by dramatically lowering the jail population. This will protect not only people in the jails but the community as a whole.”

Read the Board’s executive order here: https:// www.aclusocal.org/sites/default/ f i l e s / l o s _ a n g e l e s_county_board_of_su pervisors_20200323_covid19_jails _final_executive_order.pdf

In the first episode, Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre Elba sat down for a virtual discussion to talk about their personal experiences following last week’s announcement that Idris had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus strain.

Idris Elba Confirms He Tested Positive for COVID-19, Has Remained In Isolation Since Following much speculation, Sabrina confirmed she too tested positive for COVID-19 after showing no symptoms. She also directly addressed any concerns or questions fans had in regard

to her decision not to self-isolate from her husband.

“I could have made the decision to put myself, maybe, in a separate room or stay away, and I’m sure that people are making those decisions. And they’re tough decisions to make,” Sabrina noted. “But I made the decision to want to be with him and, you know, still touch him.”

Besides, the couple believes she may have also come in contact with the same person that Idris was probably exposed to, as they were together on that day.

“If I had caught it, she had certainly caught it in that time period, as well,” Idris explained.

“People were right to have highlighted that spatial distancing is important. I think given the context of the video, which was telling the world what has happened to us, we weren’t thinking about that specifically.”

Again, I wish the couple well as they heal together. Also, I hope they’re both sharing a laugh over New York Daily News referring to Elba as “Cats Actor Idris Elba” in their social media copy.

The first episode of Oprah Talks COVID-19 is currently available on Apple TV and the series can be streamed with or without a subscription.

CEO/President of the California Black Chamber of Commerce Jay King Calls on Private Sector toAssist Small Black Businesses Amid the Coronavirus Crisis...continued of directors and holds the post in a permanent capacity. In less than a year, he has worked tirelessly as an advocate for African American small business owners, adding to his workload positions that include sitting on the Cal Trans Small Business Council as the Chairman of the African American DBE Participation Committee for the California Department of Transportation, as well holding seats on the Small Business Council for the Department of General Services (DGS) and the California High Speed Rail. He is a commissioner on the Sacramento Police Commission, organizer of the North Sacramento Leadership Council and founder and spokesperson for the Greater Sacramento Financial Literacy

Group. King hopes to expand the vision and strengthen the CBCC's connections with the Chambers of Commerce for other ethnic groups.

King bears three decades of continuous achievements in the entertainment industry with accomplishments that include management, consulting and publishing in music, film and television. He is the founder of the Grammy Award winning pop group, Club Nouveau, and can be heard daily sharing his insight on politics and popular culture trends on his morning talk show, "Kings in the Morning," Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

PT at www.thejaykingnetwork.com. drive time radio personality on KDEE (http://www.kdeefm.org/)

CEO/President of the California Black Chamber of Commerce Jay King Calls on California State Treasurer Fiona Ma Private Sector toAssist Small Black Provides Valuable New Information on Tax Relief and Food Access State/Government News Businesses Amid the Coronavirus Crisis Business News

Jay King Sacramento, CA - Jay King, the CEO and President of the California Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC), is initiating a statewide call to action to the private sector, requesting banks, multinational corporations, the technology industry and philanthropic organizations to create funding for grants for African American small business owners as they struggle to survive amid the Coronavirus pandemic. As the largest African American non-profit business organization, representing hundreds of small and emerging businesses, affiliates and chambers of commerce throughout California, the CBCC is extremely concerned about the aftermath of Covid-19 which has immobilized and shut down businesses around the entire world.

The United States Census Bureau statistics show that African Americans make up more than 13% of the U.S. population, but only own 7% of the businesses. It is the CBCC's fear that the current pandemic has jeopardized the already compromised position small Black business owners face, not just crippling but perhaps even decimating an already fragile community. According to The Road to Zero Wealth report

published in 2017, far before the impact of the current Coronavirus event, by Prosperity Now and the Institute for Policy Studies, the median wealth of black Americans could fall to zero by 2053. King is seeking fast and deliberate measures to mitigate what he foresees as a fallout that would take decades to recover from.

"Financial giants like Bank of America and Wells Fargo have the means to provide the resources we seek. They have already set in place grants benefiting homeowners in marginalized communities. We are asking for similar efforts for our business owners," explains King.

"We are publicly imploring financial institutions in the private sector, along with the government, for aid that is critical to our long-term survival."

"Historically, since the Emancipation Proclamation, African American businesses have suffered a uniquely disadvantaged position in this country, from predatory lending and discriminatory banking practices to racism and bigotry.

After our experience as slaves in servitude to this country, our climb back into respectful positions in society has been deliberately challenged by our very own government, government agencies, elected officials and law enforcement leaders," adds King. "Now with the onset of the Covid-19 crisis, the Chamber is urgently engaged in seeking immediate solutions."

Jay King was elected president of the California Black Chamber of Commerce in June of 2019. He was voted in as CEO by the board (continued in next 2 columns)

Sacramento – California State Treasurer Fiona Ma today announced she has added new resource lists on tax relief and food access to the State Treasurer ’s website, which already includes a list of resources for small businesses.

View the tax relief list here, the food list here, and the small business list here.

The tax list provides the latest news on changes in regulations and deadlines and phone numbers and links to relevant agencies. The food access list also contains phone numbers and links to organizations that have information regarding food banks, where to pick up school

Short-term rentals advised to comply with health orders...continued until further notice.

The county regards compliance with the state and county orders as a high priority and vital to the health and well-being of the people of San Bernardino County.

For information about the coronavirus crisis, visit the County's coronavirus website at w p . s b c o u n t y. g o v / d p h /

(BPRW) Black PR Wire and Women Grow Strong present “Sistas Who Succeed” -- A FREE Women’s History Month Webinar -Set for Monday, March 30 at 2 p.m. (ET)Business News

(Black PR Wire) MIAMI, Fla. – In celebration of Women’s History Month, Black PR Wire, Inc., in partnership with Women Grow Strong will present a powerful webinar entitled “Sistas Who Succeed.” This national webinar is free and open to the public and takes place on Monday, March 30, 2020 from 2 – 3 p.m., ET. “We are very excited to present this dynamic online event,” says Bernadette Morris, president/ CEO of Black PR Wire and Women Grow Strong, Inc. “We have an all-star line-up of successful professional women who are ready to impart powerful and meaningful words of wisdom that will help empower and inspire us all.”

The Sistas Who Succeed webinar will feature a candid conversation from business and community leaders who will share their best practices and success stories on building a successful business; overcoming obstacles and more. The all-star line-up of presenters include (pictured above, left to right): Cheryl Procter-Rogers, APR, Fellow, PCC, MBA, MA, Senior Consultant and Certified Master Coach for A Step Ahead PR Consulting and Coaching

meals, grocery store hours, and nonprofit and government programs. The small business list has information about new government and private sector programs and loans for small businesses.

“These new lists are part of my continuing efforts to keep Californians informed about changing rules and deadlines and give them access to resources that will help them navigate these troubled times more effectively,” said Treasurer Ma. This list will be updated periodically. If you have a resource to share, please contact Gloria Li gli@treasurer.ca.gov.

Aisha Becker-Burrowes, Manager, PR and Strategic Communications, Essence Communications, Inc.*

Short-term rentals advised to comply with health orders SB County News

The webinar is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is requested. To sign up, click the evite link. Once registered, you will receive the calendar evite with the GoTo Meeting link and call in number.

As an added bonus, the first 50 registrants for the webinar will receive a 50% discount on all BPRW services in April and May. And all additional registrants will receive a 20% discount on all

The county has received numerous complaints that vacation rentals are continuing to operate within the county, particularly in the Joshua Tree area, in clear violation of state and county public health orders that clearly prohibit their operation, and despite the Federal closure of Joshua Tree National Park.

The orders are clear in that lodging facilities may not operate except under very narrow exceptions that are unlikely to apply to vacation rentals in the county. Those exceptions are limited to the housing of critical infrastructure workers for purposes of performing such work, and designation by the state or county to house confirmed COVID-19 patients.

Violation of state and county health orders are crimes punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both.

The county is providing the

following information to shortterm vacation rentals that are continuing to operate: -Vacation rentals currently operating within the county are required to cease operations immediately.

-Bookings for the foreseeable future should be immediately canceled.

-No new arrivals should be processed.

-No new reservations should be accepted until the State and County orders have been rescinded.

-Any current guests in a vacation rental should be immediately directed to return directly home to "shelter in place" or should remain sheltered in place within their vacation rental

coronavirus. New information and resources have been added and the site is being updated daily. The public can also contact the coronavirus public information line from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at (909) 387-3911, or email the County at coronavirus@dph.sbcounty.gov.

(*invited) Dr. Cheryl L. Holder, MD Program Director, Florida International University College of Medicine; and Associate Professor Dr. ML Taylor, Author, Speaker, & Purpose Pusher Althea Harris, President/CEO, Harris Global, Inc. will present and be the session’s moderator.

BPRW services as well.

Black PR Wire delivers its clients' press releases, video and audio news releases, electronic video messages and electronic newsletters to key reporters, writers, and influential grassroots, social and civic community leaders throughout the country.

Black PR Wire also provides specialized services including direct media calls and product placement pitching as well as audio, video and e-newsletter development and distribution.

The company’s service center has compiled and owns a comprehensive and continuously updated database of Black media and organizations throughout the country and the Caribbean, and has direct contacts with hundreds of Black and minority media outlets, community, social and civic groups and affiliates nationwide. The company's database holds a comprehensive listing of over 1,200 Black-owned publications and media and includes a comprehensive listing of key Black journalists throughout the United States and the Caribbean.

Women Grow Strong, Inc., (also known as WINGS for Women in Need Growing Strong), is a notfor-profit support group that serves to help develop, build and sustain women’s contribution, purpose and goals in society.

For more information and to register for the “Sistas Who Succeed” Webinar, call 877BLACKPR or visit www.blackprwire.com.

WHO: Black PR Wire and Women Grow Strong present “Sistas Who Succeed” Webinar WHAT: A candid conversation from business and community leaders who will share their best practices and success stories on building a successful business; overcoming obstacles and more!

WHEN: Monday, March 30, 2020 ? 2 – 3 p.m. ET COST: FREE but advanced registration is required WHERE: Click on the link to register (via Evite) http://evite.me/ UJ9PfGt3ZH and the GoToMeeting Link and call in number will be sent to you FOR MORE INFO: Contact Black PR Wire at 1-877-BLACKPR

The San Bernardino AMERICAN News Staff Samuel Martin Sr.-Founder Clifton Harris/Editor in Chief/Investigative Reporter Mary Martin-Harris/Editor Clifton B. Harris/Audio Engineering Editor Legal /Display Advertising & Sales (909) 889-7677 The San Bernardino American News was established May 8,1969. A legally adjudicated newspaper of general circulation on September 30, 1971, case number 153913 by the Superior Court, of San Bernardino County. The San Bernardino AMERICAN News, a division of Don Roberto Group, Inc. is published every Thursday by Mary Martin-Harris and Clifton Harris P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393, Telephone (909)889-7677, Emails: msbamericannews@gmail.com sbamericannews@gmail.com The San Bernardino AMERICAN News subscription rate is $58.00 per year.

The San Bernardino AMERICAN New is committed to serving its readers by presenting news, unbiased and objective, trusting in the mature judgment of the readers and, in so doing strive to achieve a united community.

News releases appearing in the San Bernardino AMERICAN News do not necessarily express the policy nor the opinion of the publishers.

(continued in next 2 columns)

The San Bernardino AMERICAN News reserves the right to edit or rewrite all news releases.

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 4

March 26, 2020

HEALTH/FITNESS/SENIOR NEWS

Your Immune System, Autoimmune Diseases And Coronavirus Health/Fitness News

Do you wonder why you constantly hear that you need to boost your immune system, especially during this coronavirus crisis? It’s critical for everyone to have the strongest immunity possible because your body’s immune system (it runs throughout your entire body) protects you from pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and infections. Eating healthy food that include large amounts of fruits and vegetables, getting a good night’s rest (7-8 hours), maintaining a healthy weight, don’t smoke, drink alcohol in moderation (or not at all), frequent hand washing, and exercise can keep your immune system strong.

Even though our survival depends on our immune system, there are nearly 24 million Americans whose immune system is attacking them. They have an autoimmune disease (ADs) which is when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissue, and organs. Autoimmune diseases can attack almost any part of your body and some may affect more than one part of the body. They are in a group of more than 80 chronic illnesses. The cause of autoimmune diseases is not

known and there are no cures, but some are treated with immunosuppressive medication and corticosteroids which helps to reduce the immune system’s hyperactivity. Research shows that race, genetics and environmental factors are thought to play a role in the development of some autoimmune diseases.

For reasons unknown, more women develop autoimmune diseases than men, and AfricanAmerican, Hispanic-American, and Native-American women are at a higher risk for some autoimmune diseases.

These diseases are the leading causes of death in women under 65 years. In women, it is believed that hormones may play a role in them acquiring ADs at a higher rate than men.After cancer and heart disease, autoimmune diseases are the third common category of disease in the United States.

There are some ADs that African Americans develop at a high rate such as Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Vitiligo, Crohn’s and Alopecia Areata. These are just a few of the autoimmune diseases that affect African-American.

Vitiligo

more often compared to American women of European decent, usually presenting symptoms between the ages of 15 and 44 years.Some indicators of lupus include inflammation, swelling, and damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, blood, heart, and lungs.

Vitiligo occurs when skin begins to lose its pigmentation in blotches. Sometimes it can affect the inside of the mouth and hair.

This disease happens when the cells that produce melanin start to die.

“My vitiligo presented itself about 15 years ago on my legs, says Charla Draper, Chicago Food Expert, Writer, Food Stylist. “I didn’t know what an autoimmune disease was until my vitiligo diagnosis. Doctors were very candid about the challenges of treating it or arresting the progression. All I know is that I was losing the melanin in my skin.

Initially, the color loss was gradual, but as time wore on, larger areas of body began to change. Now, the majority of my pigmentation is gone and I’ve come to terms with that. It has been a long journey, but it is important that I remain healthy and in order to do that I must maintain a strong immune system.

I watch my stress, eat foods that are high in nutrients and antioxidants, I attend an exercise class twice a week, and I try to get plenty of sleep.”

Lupus is one of those ADs that affect African-American women

Crohn’s Disease Crohn’s is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases that causes inflammation and ulcers in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

For the past six years, Melodie Narain Blackwell has been dealing with the affects of Crohn’s disease. Initially, she had various symptoms and agonizing pain that doctors could not identify, including bleeding from her colon. After constantly being misdiagnosed, she become seriously ill and required surgery.

After her second surgery, she finally received a correct diagnosis. Now, in her late 30s, Melodie is an advocate for Crohn’s and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

She educates the minority community about this often misdiagnosed illness, especially with women of color.

Research shows that millions of African Americans are diagnosed with Crohn’s, however, AfricanAmericans have been underrepresented in most large Crohn’s disease trials. Melodie understands how important being healthy is to her survival. Having a strong immune system, getting her rest, exercise, and her relationship with God are the keys to her successful existence with an autoimmune disease.

If you have an autoimmune disease that’s considered an underlying medical condition so you must be extra vigilant about following the guidelines for coronavirus protection and mantain a healthy immune system.

Covered California Releases the First National Projection of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic’s Cost to Millions of Americans With Employer or Individual Insurance Coverage The one-year projected costs in the commercial market range from $34 billion to $251 billion for testing, treatment and care specifically related to COVID-19.

The potential costs for 2020 could range from 2 percent to 21 percent of premium if the full first-year costs of the COVID-19 pandemic were priced into premiums.

Premium increases in the individual and employer markets for 2021 — which are in the process of being set right now — could be 40 percent or more solely because of COVID-19 costs in the absence of federal action.

This data comes as federal policy makers consider how to address COVID-19’s impact on Americans, small and large employers and the public sector, which are all stepping up to meet urgent health and economic insecurity.

Reinsurance policies under consideration — that provide mechanisms to provide federal funding for portions of unforeseen COVID-19 costs for the individual and employer markets, along with Medicaid managed care programs — could provide needed funds and certainty for consumers, employers and states.

Health/Fitness News

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California on Monday released the first national projection of health care costs due to the coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic. The analysis estimates the projected costs for 170 million Americans in the commercial market — which includes the individual, smallgroup and large-group markets — for testing, treatment and care specifically related to COVID-19 ranges from a low of $34 billion to $251 billion or more in the first year of the pandemic.

“Covered California’s analysis shows the impact of COVID-19 will be significant, and that absent federal action, consumers, employers and our entire health care system may be facing unforeseen costs that could exceed $251 billion,” said Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee. “Consumers will feel these costs through higher outof-pocket expenses and premiums, as well as the potential of employers dropping coverage or shifting more costs to employees.”

Covered California’s chief actuary, John Bertko, prepared the report after engaging with external actuaries with deep expertise in the commercial insurance markets and after analyzing expert clinical review and interviews with health insurance plan leaders.

The analysis found: The one-year projected costs in the commercial market range from

$34 billion to $251 billion for testing, treatment and care specifically related to COVID-19.

Those potential COVID-19 costs for 2020 could range from 2 percent of premium to more than 21 percent of premium if they had been priced for.

Premiums in the individual and employer markets for 2021 — which are in the process of being set right now — could be 40 percent or more solely because of these unexpected COVID-19 costs in the absence of federal action, as insurers would seek to recoup unplanned for losses from 2020 and budget for pandemicrelated costs in 2021.

“Given that insurers will be submitting 2021 rates in May and finalizing them around July 1, congressional action is needed very soon in order to affect 2021 premiums,” Bertko said. “While there is a lot of uncertainty with anything related to COVID-19, one thing we can be certain of is that the impact will be significant, and now is the time to take action.”

Covered California sent the policy/actuarial brief “The Potential National Health Cost Impacts to Consumers, Employers and Insurers in the Commercial Market Due to COVID-19" to members of Congress to help inform the ongoing discussions at the federal level about how to handle the COVID-19 response.

“These increased costs could mean that many of the 170 million Americans in the commercial market may lose their coverage and go without needed care as

we battle a global health crisis,” Lee said. “These are not ‘insurer’ costs — these are costs directly borne by individual Americans in the form of cost-sharing and premiums; these are costs to small and large businesses that are struggling; these are costs to individuals who may avoid needed care.”

Covered California suggested several actions that Congress could take to mitigate the potential impact of these cost increases on consumers: Enhance the federal financial assistance provided in the individual market to increase the level of tax credits for those earning under 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) and expand subsidies to those earning more than 400 percent FPL as California implemented on a three-year basis in 2020.

Establish a temporary program to limit the costs of COVID-19 for health insurers, self-insured employers and those they cover, which would directly benefit individuals and small employers for 2020 and allow for more certainty in their pricing for 2021.

Establish a national specialenrollment period for the individual market, such as has already been adopted by 12 marketplaces representing 30 percent of Americans.

“As we have seen throughout this crisis, there is no time to waste. We must take action now to prevent the pain of this epidemic from becoming worse for hundreds of millions of Americans next year,” Lee said.

“Reinsurance policies under consideration in Washington — that offer mechanisms to provide federal funding for portions of unforeseen COVID-19 costs for the individual and employer markets, along with Medicaid managed care programs — could provide needed funds and certainty for consumers, small and large employers and states across the nation.”

Lee also noted that while Covered California’s analysis deals with the commercial market, other populations — including those in Medicare, Medicaid, other public programs and the uninsured — will also need a comprehensive review and solutions to address the unplanned for costs.

COVID-19 Special-Enrollment Period Covered California’s analysis comes just days after it announced a special-enrollment period for uninsured individuals who need health care coverage amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

From now until June 30, anyone who meets Covered California’s eligibility requirements can enroll in health care coverage, similar to the rules in place during the annual open-enrollment period.

Staying Safe While Getting Help Enrolling In an effort to support the state’s social distancing recommendations, Covered (continued in last 2 columns)

Medicare and Coronavirus: What You Need to Know

By Seema Verma Since older Americans are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus (COVID-19), I wanted to let you know the steps we’re taking to help our Medicare beneficiaries cope with the pandemic.

We’re warning Medicare beneficiaries that scammers may try to use this emergency to steal their Medicare number, banking information, or other personal data.

Unfortunately, scammers come out of the woodwork during times of uncertainty and change. So make sure you give your Medicare number only to your doctor, pharmacist, hospital, health insurer, or other trusted healthcare provider.

If someone calls you on the phone, says they’re from Medicare, and asks for your Medicare number or other personal information – just hang up.

Remember: Medicare never calls its beneficiaries to ask for or to “verify” Medicare numbers.

My agency finished removing Social Security numbers from all Medicare cards last year in order to reduce fraud and protect Medicare beneficiaries from identity theft. Even with this change, you should guard your Medicare card. Treat it like a credit card. Be sure to check your Medicare claim summaries for errors and questionable bills.

If you suspect Medicare fraud, please report it by calling Medicare’s toll-free customer service center at 1-800MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or by visiting www.medicare.gov/ fraud.

I also want to inform you what Medicare covers with regard to coronavirus.

If your doctor orders a COVID19 test for you, Medicare covers all of the costs. You should not have any cost-sharing.

Medicare also covers all medically necessary hospitalizations. This includes extra days in the hospital for inpatients who were on the verge of being discharged, but were diagnosed with COVID-19 and had to stay longer under quarantine.

There's no vaccine for COVID19 at this time. However, if one becomes available, Medicare will cover it.

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you have the same benefits as people with Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans are now required to have the same costsharing for COVID-19 lab tests as Original Medicare: zero.

Seema Verma Administrator, U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medicare also recently expanded its coverage of telehealth services to enable beneficiaries across the country to receive a wider range of healthcare services from doctors without having to travel to a healthcare facility.

These changes allow beneficiaries to communicate with their doctors without having to physically go to a healthcare facility, thus cutting their risk of acquiring or spreading the virus.

And frontline clinicians will be better able to stay safe themselves while treating people with Medicare.

Doctors, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers can deliver telehealth services via phone and video chat. Medicare beneficiaries can receive telehealth services in their home as well as in any healthcare facility, including a physician’s office, hospital, nursing home, or rural health clinic.

Telehealth services include routine office visits, mental health counseling, and preventive health screenings for cancer and other illnesses.

By helping healthcare institutions across the nation offer services remotely, telehealth can free up hospital emergency departments and doctors’ offices to deal with the most urgent COVID-19 cases. For example, you can talk with a doctor about your diabetes management or prescription refill without having to go to his or her office.

During this emergency, Medicare will pay for telehealth services at the same rates as inperson services, giving doctors and other clinicians an incentive to use this alternative and reserve their offices to treat those who truly require in-person care.

We know many Medicare beneficiaries are concerned about the spread of coronavirus and the threat it poses to their well-being.

That’s why we’ve taken these rapid steps to ensure that the Medicare program continues to protect our beneficiaries while maintaining trusted access to care in these uncertain times.

Arrowhead United Way establishes Emergency San Bernardino United Covid-19 Relief Fund to Support Community During Pandemic...continued from page2 Donors can visit the Arrowhead United Way website and click on ‘Donate’ to support this fund.

Checks made out to ‘Covid-19’ are also accepted by mail at Arrowhead United Way, 646 North D Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401.

San Bernardino County residents can dial 2-1-1 at any time to hear the latest information about Covid-19 and can receive

referrals for local services including food, shelter, and other health related issues. Calls can also be placed to 888-435-7565 (toll free). Information & Referral Specialists are available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week For more information, contact the Arrowhead United Way at (909) 884-9441 or visit www.arrowheadunitedway.org

Covered California Releases the First National Projection of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic’s Cost to Millions of Americans With Employer or Individual Insurance Coverage...continued California is working with the more than 10,000 Certified Insurance Agents who help Californians sign up and understand their coverage options through phonebased service models.

"We are in a different world right now, but social distancing does not mean you cannot get personal help,” Lee said. “Our agents and staff are stepping up to help people by phone and support them to enroll online.”

Consumers can easily find out if they are eligible Medi-Cal or other forms of financial help and see which plans are available in their area by using the CoveredCA.com Shop and Compare Tool and entering their

ZIP code, household income and the ages of those who need coverage.

Those interested in learning more about their coverage options can also: Visit www.CoveredCA.com.

Get free and confidential assistance over the phone, in a variety of languages, from a certified enroller.

Have a certified enroller call them and help them for free.

Call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 5

March 26, 2020

LEGALS/CLASSIFIEDS/NEWS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200003536 Date Filed: 03/18/2020 Filing Expires On: 03/18/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): FORGET ME NOT MICROBLADING County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 771 W. FOOTHILL BLVD. UPLAND, CA 91786 Mailing Address: 7543 WELLINGTON PLACE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 Name of Individual Registrant: MELISSA P. FLORES Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 13115 2ND STREET CHINO, CA 91710 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 03/01/2020 Melissa P. Flores, Owner, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

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 FORT 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. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper March 26, April 2, 9, 16, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200002327 Date Filed: 02/21/2020 Filing Expires On: 02/21/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): SHINE BRIGHT NETWORK LLC County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 27076 CYPRESS ST. HIGHLAND,CA 92346 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: SHINE BRIGHT NETWORK LLC State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No.: 202002810805 Residence Street Address: 27076 CYPRESS ST. HIGHLAND, CA 92346 This business is/was conducted by: A Limited Liability Company Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: Not Applicable Daisy Meza, Manager, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

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 FORT 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. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper March 19, 26, April 2, 9, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200002460 Date Filed: 02/25/2020 Filing Expires On: 02/25/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): ALWAYS AVAILABLE TRANSPORTATION County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 11947 TAYLOR CT. VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: BABAJI LLC State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 11947 TAYLOR COURT VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 This business is/was conducted by: A Limited Liability Company Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: February 05, 2015 Deepak Bawa, CEO, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

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 FORT 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. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200002500 Date Filed: 02/26/2020 Filing Expires On: 02/26/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): 1. STOFFEL CONSULTING 2. THOMAS RHYS CONSULTANTS County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 7835 CHURCH ST. HIGHLAND, CA 92346 Mailing Address: Name of Individual Registrant: MICHAEL T. STOFFEL Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 29044 ELDER CREEK LANE HIGHLAND, CA 92346 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: January 01, 2020 Michael Stoffel, Consultant, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

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 FORT 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. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200002722 Date Filed: 02/28/2020 Filing Expires On: 02/28/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): SUBWAY #38224 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 1333 N. MOUNTAIN AVE. ONTARIO, CA 91762 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: SANGHA FAST FOOD INC. State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No. 2301309 Residence Street Address: 15195 BEARTREE

ST. FONTANA, CA 92336 This business is/was conducted by: A Corporation Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A Manleen K. Sangha, President, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

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 FORT 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. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200002482 Date Filed: 02/26/2020 Filing Expires On: 02/26/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): FOOD SERVICE AMC CATERING County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 1568 HOME AVE. SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92411 Name of Individual Registrant: ANALIT MITRE Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 1568 HOME AVE. SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92411 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: February 20, 2020 Analit Mitre, Owner, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

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 FORT 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. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200003077 Date Filed: 03/06/2020 Filing Expires On: 03/06/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): MR T’S TOWING, INC. County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 997 E. 8TH ST. UPLAND, CA 91786 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: MR. T’S TOWING, INC. State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./ Org./Reg. No.: C1773459 Residence Street Address: 997 E. 8TH ST. UPLAND, CA 91786 This business is/was conducted by: A Corporation Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 01/01/2019 Omran Alqazah, President, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

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 FORT 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. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper March 19, 26, April 2, 9, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200002578 Date Filed: 02/27/2020 Filing Expires On: 02/27/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): SOCOMM County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 8435 TEMECULA AVE. HESPERIA, CA 92345 Name of Individual Registrant: DANIEL LOZANO Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No.: Residence Street Address: 8435 TEMECULA AVE. HESPERIA, CA 92345 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: February 27, 2020 Daniel Lozano, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

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 FORT 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. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200002710 Date Filed: 02/28/2020 Filing Expires On: 02/28/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.):WILLIAMS AUDIO MEDIA County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 1733 S. PALMETTO AVE. ONTARIO, CA 91762 Name of Individual Registrant: DEREK WILLIAMS Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No. Residence Street Address: 1733 S. PALMETTO AVE. ONTARIO, CA 91762 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A Derek Williams, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

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 FORT 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. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200003041 Date Filed: 03/05/2020 Filing Expires On: 03/05/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): GDS CONSTRUCTION County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 17927 SALMONBERRY WAY SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92407 Name of Individual Registrant: GERARDO D. SANCHEZ Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No. Residence Street Address: 17927 SALMONBERRY WAY SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92407 This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A Gerardo D. Sanchez, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

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 FORT 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. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper March 12, 19, 26, April 2 , 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200002176 Date Filed: 02/19/2020 Filing Expires On: 02/19/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): 1. SONUS 2. SONUS HEARING CARE PROFESSIONALS County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 1425 W. FOOTHILL BLVD. SUITE 110 UPLAND, CA 91786 Mailing Address:5555 GARDEN GROVE BLVD. SUITE 200 WESTMINSTER, CA 92683 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: SERENDIPITY HEARING, INC. State of Inc./ Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No.: 3324324 Residence Street Address: 5555 GARDEN GROVE BLVD. SUITE 200 WESTMINSTER, CA 92683 This business is/was conducted by: A Corporation Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 11/15/2010 Loren Lunsford, President, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

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 FORT 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. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20200002071 Date Filed: 02/18/2020 Filing Expires On: 02/18/2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): STICHIC County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 1245 RENAISSANCE PARKWAY, SUITE 550 RIALTO, CA 92376 Mailing Address: 800 E. 12 TH STREET, UNIT 322 LOS ANGELES, CA 90021 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: YIMAX CLOTHING, INC. State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./ Org./Reg. No.: C2211518 Residence Street Address: 800 E. 12TH STREET, UNIT 322 LOS ANGELES, CA 90021 This business is/was conducted by: A Corporation Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: February 16, 2020 Dong K. Yi, President, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct.

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 FORT 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. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2020.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVVS 2000127 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: GARY MIDDLETON filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a GARY MIDDLETON to Proposed name: b. GARY MYREE MIDDLETON SR. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall 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 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: 4/22/2020 Time:8:30 a.m. Dept:V15 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO, VICTORVILLE DISTRICT 14455 Civic Drive Ste. 100 Victorville, CA 92392 A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each 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: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: March 03, 2020 Carlos M. Cabrera Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 2020.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVDS 2006461 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: ANNASTACIA WANJIRU WANYOIKE-GROETSCH filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a ANNASTACIA WANJIRU WANYOIKE-GROETSCH to Proposed name: b. ANNASTACIA WANJIRU BLACK THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall 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 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: 4/15/2020 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: S16 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO, 247 West Third Street San Bernardino, CA 924150210 San Bernardino District-Civil Division A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each 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: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: Lynne M. Poncin Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper March 19, 26, April 2, 9, 2020.

PETITION/PROBATE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE (Probate-Decedents’ Estates) NOTICE OF ADMINISTER

PETITION TO ESTATE OF:

ROBERT W. HALL, lll aka ROBERT WILLIAM HALL, lll aka ROBERT HALL, lll Case Number: PROPS 2000205 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: ROBERT

W. HALL, lll aka ROBERT WILLIAM HALL, lllaka ROBERT HALL, lll A Petition for Probate has been filed by: BRANDON J. HALL in the Superior Court of California, County of: SAN BERNARDINO The Petition for Probate requests that BRANDON J. HALL be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action). The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why, the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: 05/06/20 Time: 8:30 a.m.

Dept::S36 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, County Of San Bernardino, 247 W. Third Street , Second Floor San Bernardino, CA 92415 -0212 Main/ Probate If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner: BRYAN C. HARTNELL HARTNELL LAW GROUP, APC 25757 REDLANDS, BOULEVARD, REDLANDS, CA 92373-8453 (909 ) 796-6881 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper March 19, 26, April 2, 2020

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE (Probate-Decedents’ Estates)

hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner: BRYAN C. HARTNELL HARTNELL LAW GROUP, APC 25757 REDLANDS, BOULEVARD, REDLANDS, CA 92373-8453 (909 ) 796-6881 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper March 12, 19, 26, 2020

SUBSCRIBE TO THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS AND GET YOUR NEWSPAPER

WEEKLY! Email: msbamericannews@gmail.com

Social distancing options created for Supervisors meetings Despite the current public health emergency, the Board of Supervisors must conduct official meetings to ensure county government continues to function and adapt to ever-changing challenges. That's why the county has set up ways for the public to easily view and participate in Board of Supervisors meetings while practicing safe social distancing, starting with this Tuesday's meeting.

The county strongly urges the public to not physically attend board meetings while public health orders aimed at controlling the spread of novel coronavirus are in place. But those who want to watch board meetings and even offer comments and participate in public hearings can do so through websites and email from their homes.

The public may view board meetings live by visiting http:// www.sbcounty.gov/Main/Pages/ViewMeetings.aspx. Video recordings of past meetings are also available on that site.

Those who want to comment on specific agenda items, make general comments, or submit testimony for public hearings and have those comments provided to each board member prior to the meeting can send their comments and testimony to the Clerk of the Board by email at BoardMeetingComments@cob.sbcounty.gov or online, up to 1,500 characters, at http://www.sbcounty.gov/cob/ publiccomments/default.aspx prior to 8 a.m. on meeting days.

The public can also submit comments and testimony during meetings through the same email address and website. Comments and testimony submitted after 8 a.m. and during the meeting won't be provided to each board member but will be read aloud by the Clerk of the Board during the meeting, time permitting. All comments and testimony submitted before and during the meeting will be included in their entirety in the official record of the meeting.

Those who choose to physically attend the meeting at the County Government Center in San Bernardino will be required to maintain social distancing and remain at least six feet apart from anyone else. This will greatly reduce capacity in the board chambers and could result in denying entry to members of the public if capacity is reached. A viewing room will be set up near the board chambers if capacity is reached, but social distancing will be enforced in that room as well.

The public can also view and participate in board meetings at the county's videoconferencing sites in Hesperia and Joshua Tree.

Those sites are located at the Jerry Lewis High Desert Government Center, 15900 Smoke Tree Street, Hesperia, and the Bob Burke Joshua Tree Government Center, 63665 Twentynine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree. Social distancing protocols will be enforced in all locations.

Need to publish your FBN, Name Change or Summons?

Go to our website: sb-american.com to upload your legal and make payment through our Paypal account

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: MARIA

S. HERNANDEZ aka MARIA SANTOS HERNANDEZ aka MARIA HERNANDEZ Case Number: PROPS 2000154 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: MARIA S.

HERNANDEZ aka MARIA SANTOS HERNANDEZ aka MARIA HERNANDEZ A Petition for Probate has been filed by: KILLIAN C. DALTON in the Superior Court of California, County of: SAN BERNARDINO The Petition for Probate requests that KILLIAN C. DALTON be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action). The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why, the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: 04/08/20 Time: 8:30 a.m.

Dept::S36 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, County Of San Bernardino, 247 W. Third Street , Second Floor San Bernardino, CA 92415 -0212 Main/ Probate If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the

You don’t have to worry about social distancing.

It’s that easy!

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Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 6

March 26, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT/LOCAL/NATIONAL NEWS

It’s Time for Dr. Fauci to Tackle the President, Steal the Mic and Keep Telling America the Truth Stephen A. Crockett Jr.

By Dr. Valda Crowder, M.D., MBA

President Donald Trump speaks as Dir. of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci looks on during a news briefing. Photo: Alex Wong (Getty Images) During these pandemic times and on these pandemic streets, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), is the lone adult in the room.

He’s literally the only one in Trump’s administration who knows what the fuck he’s talking about.

The problem is the president— the man tasked with calming America’s fears during these unprecedented, scary AF times— is a goddamn egomaniac who is more concerned with Twitter beefs, throwing shade and misunderstanding reporters’ questions so he can drive home his true talking points: that he is doing a wonderful job and the response has been swift and steadfast and if there is a mess, it’s left over from the Obama administration.

Even Fauci is getting tired of the president’s bulls**** On Sunday, the renowned immunologist gave a telling interview about his relationship with the President and his lies.

Science Magazine’s Jon Cohen asked NIAID’s leader his thoughts on “the representative of truth and facts” when “things are being said that aren’t true and aren’t factual.” The 79-year-old

simply responded he’s just doing the best he can.

“I can’t jump in front of the microphone and push him down,” Fauci said, referencing Trump.

“Okay, he said it. Let’s try and get it corrected for the next time.”

But that’s just it. America, the real America, the America that didn’t lie about supporting Hillary Clinton only to get in the voting booth and lie, would love for him to do it. Just knock Trump’s lying ass out of the way and tell the truth.

From the Washington Post: On more than one occasion, Fauci, described by The Washington Post’s Ellen McCarthy and Ben Terris as “the grandfatherly captain of the corona-virus crisis,” has found himself in the uncomfortable position of having to publicly contradict the president—a risky action that could conceivably jeopardize the scientist’s job.

Fauci acknowledged as much on Sunday.

“To my knowledge, I haven’t been fired,” he told Cohen, laughing.

Most recently, Fauci has sought to temper Trump’s comments touting an old anti-malarial drug as a potential treatment for covid-

19. At a news conference Friday, one day after Trump called the medicine a possible “gamechanger,” Fauci said the only evidence of the drug’s promise so far has been “anecdotal,” adding, “So you really can’t make any definitive statement about it.”

Dr. Fauci—the other doctor in Trump’s administration is Dr. Ben Carson, and he’s the doctor of houses—tried to downplay any tension (read, keep his job) during an appearance on Face the Nation Sunday.

He claimed “there isn’t, fundamentally, a difference” between him and Trump, adding, “I was taking a purely medical, scientific standpoint, and the president was trying to bring hope to the people.”

But that’s the thing: Trump’s not even doing that. It’d be one thing if his lies were for the betterment of the people’s spirit, like when South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham tells Trump that he doesn’t look fat in his golf pants. But Trump’s lies are only to serve himself.

He wants to be seen as a “wartime president” whose response to the crisis was prompt and effective. He wants to be remembered as the true “leader of the free world” who beat the coronavirus when the truth is vastly different. However, Fauci did stand his ground on one point. The good doctor noted that he’s never called the coronavirus the “China virus” or “Chinese virus,” which Trump does freely despite being told on several occasions that the term is divisive, xenophobic and dangerous.

Fauci wants America to know that his hands are tied. He literally can only do so much and even gave a look into what his life is like working with a president who doesn’t fucking listen.

“We sit down for an hour and a half, go over all the issues on the agenda,” he said, noting that the

group even emphasizes points they want to drive home.

“Then we go in to see the president, we present [our consensus] to him and somebody writes a speech,” he explained, adding, “Then he gets up and adlibs on his speech. And then we’re up there to try and answer questions.”

Watch Dr. Fauci’s reaction when Trump ad-libs a “deep state” joke into his speech.

He literally can’t stop cringing.

And if you think Fauci hasn’t addressed the close quarters during press conferences, then you’re wrong.

“I keep saying, is there any way we can get a virtual press conference,” he said, the Post reports. “Thus far, no. But when you’re dealing with the White House, sometimes you have to say things 1,2,3,4 times, and then it happens. So I’m going to keep pushing.”

And therein lies the problem.

Fauci is working with a goddamn idiot who refuses to listen to reason and common sense, and the only thing he can do is try and keep suggesting something until one day Trump believes the idea is his and thus the idea becomes reality.

Even Fauci knows being too honest might cost him his job, so he’s got to finesse his position so that he doesn’t upstage the imbecile occupying the White House.

“I don’t think they’re going to try to silence me. I think that would be foolish on their part,” he told the Atlantic. “I think, in some respects, they welcome my voice out there telling the truth.

I’m going to keep doing it. And no matter what happens to me, I’m going to keep doing it.”

Stephen A. Crockett Jr. Posts Senior Editor @ The Root, boxes outside my weight class, when they go low, you go lower.

Expired License or Registration? You COMMENTARY: Panic buying adds additional stress in COVID-19 pandemic Got 60 More Days to Renew Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

To comply with health officials’ recommendations regarding COVID-19, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is allowing customers a 60-day extension for license or registration renewals.

Stay away from our offices, stay home and be safe, the DMV is telling Californians.

The DMV says it has informed law enforcement departments that some drivers may be driving around the state with expired licenses or registrations due to COVID-19.

"This 60-day period for driver license and vehicle registrations is intended to protect the health and safety of DMV customers who would otherwise have to come to a DMV office to take care of business, but are concerned during this coronavirus pandemic," the DMV press release read.

The extension period goes into effect March16 and will cover all appointments that require physical office visits.

"Transactions that fall within this category include driver license renewals for those 70 years of age and older who are required to take a knowledge test; individuals who are required to renew in the office (their last DMV visit was 15 years prior); individuals subject to vision testing; and individuals with a complex driving history,” the press release continued.

The extension also applies to those who aren't able to seek alternatives to office visits under

Neighborhoods with 'Medical Deserts' Have Emergency Needs During COVID Pandemic

certain conditions.

The grace period also applies to vehicle registration renewals for customers “who are not eligible to use an alternative service channel because of the following reasons: Outdated insurance information, registration expired for 90 days or more, smog issues, and recent transfers," stated the press release.

The DMV also described what kind of appointments would require an in-person visit.

"Those transactions that require a DMV office visit include new driver licenses, duplicate driver licenses, some driver license renewals, new license plates, complex vehicle registrations or title transfers and off-highway permits," stated the press release.

The DMV will remain open to handle transactions such as getting a REAL ID, which requires an office visit. According to the press release, the DMV will improve their systems to help increase efficiency.

The DMV says it is taking the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, especially since Gov. Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency.

"The DMV is taking this action so that at-risk populations, including seniors and those with underlying health conditions, can avoid required visits to DMV field offices for driver license or vehicle registration renewals," according to the statement.

Katharina Wittgens, a psychologist with the behavioral strategy agency Innovation Bubble, suggests that shoppers are creating too much anxiety in themselves, which is never good during either clear or uncertain circumstances. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

You don’t need a year’s supply of toilet paper

By Merdies Hayes, Managing Editor, Our Weekly News Panic buying has been rife around the globe in wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Customers have been stockpiling goods like hand sanitizer, bottled water, canned goods, paper towels and toilet paper.

The trend has seen stores in some nations ration products. The U.K. is limiting sales of hand hygiene products.

Australians have seen restrictions on paper goods. Americans now have to wake before dawn to purchase cases of bottled water, which are now limited to two per customer.

America not alone in frenzy America isn’t alone in experiencing empty shelves. Mass demand for rice and noodles in Singapore prompted Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to assure the public that there was enough to go around. In Auckland, New Zealand, supermarket spending shot up 40 percent in about 72 hours.

Shoppers in Malaysia wanting to pad their “pandemic pantries” have driven an 800-percent increase in weekly hand sanitizer sales. All of these places have confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Psychologists explain this phenomenon as “retail therapy,” defined as when, where and what we buy to better manage our emotional state. Experts suggest that the answer may lie in a fear of the unknown and believing that dramatic events warrant

a dramatic response — even though in this case, the best response is something as mundane as washing your hands for 20 seconds.

In some ways, the trend of panic buying is a way for people to take back control in uncertain times. Many psychologists have suggested that panic buying can be understood as playing to our three fundamental psychology needs in (1) autonomy— as in the need for control; (2) relatedness—better defined as “we shopping,” rather than “me shopping,” and (3) competence—whereby a level of accomplishment is achieved and making a purchase gives people a sense that they are “smart shoppers.”

Conflicting messages add to uncertainty In the U.S., people initially received conflicting messages from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and President Donald Trump. It was no surprise that people were worried when one organization says the matter is urgent, and another says it’s under control. With the virus present in all 50 states, and daily life has been altered from coast to coast, an unexpected “fear contagion” has taken hold.

Often in times of uncertainty, people can enter a “panic zone” that makes (continued in next 2 columns)

A zip code has become a life or death matter. Families that live more than an hour from a hospital may face a death sentence based on their address. A long ambulance ride increases the risk of death. Patients with respiratory emergencies, like the ones caused by coronavirus, are particularly vulnerable.

According to the American Hospital Association Annual Survey, over 1,000 hospitals in our country have closed since 1975. As a result, communities from coast to coast have populations in which residents must drive more than 60 minutes to reach an acute care hospital.

These places are called "medical deserts."

They exist in every state.

Now is the time to strengthen known weaknesses in our healthcare safety net. We desperately need new investment in our healthcare infrastructure.

A recent study by the UK Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team anticipates the "capacity limits of the UK and US health system being exceeded many times over." It warns that "even if all patients are able to be treated, we predict there would still be in the order of 250,000 deaths in Great Britain and 1.1-1.2 million deaths in the US." As an Emergency Medicine Physician and Chair of the Health Committee of Black Women for Positive Change, I call on the nation's leaders to immediately implement three recommendations to improve access to medical care and thereby save lives before it is too late.

(1) The U.S. Congress Should Pass Legislation to Create Free Standing Emergency Departments (FSEDs).

FSEDs are 24-hour, 7 day a week, emergency departments established in communities that lack immediate healthcare services. Stand-alone emergency departments are physically separate from hospitals. They can be independently owned, hospital owned or, government owned, and are staffed by emergency medicine physicians.

FSEDs are available for walk-in patients and accept patients arriving by ambulance. These facilities treat and discharge patients while also transporting admitted cases to full-service hospitals by ambulance or helicopter. FSEDs can be quickly built and maintained at a fraction of the cost of large hospitals.

FSEDs are just as effective at providing time sensitive critical medical care services as hospital associated emergency departments. FSEDS can be a vital safety net for people who live in medical deserts.

(2) Convert Unused Spaces into Temporary COVID Hospitals Health care facilities and providers can quickly become

Dr. Valda Crowder accelerating vectors for the transmission of COVID-19. It is important for that reason to not only increase the number of critical beds with ventilator capability but also to physically separate COVID and non-COVID patients. We need to immediately convert unused spaces into dedicated Temporary COVID Hospitals. If that is not done immediately, patients that are ill from non-COVID medical diseases can be infected by providers and other patients increasing their morbidity and mortality. Since every State in the U.S. now has empty conference centers, cruise ships, coliseums, concert halls and other large venues those unused spaces can be converted into Temporary COVID-only Hospitals.

Physically separating patients is a critical step to decreasing mortality and morbidity rates.

(3) Expand Medical Flight and Ground Transportation Capacity.

To strengthen our emergency and intensive care capacity, we need to rapidly put an increased number of ambulances and medical flight helicopters into service. Expanding transportation capacity must include enhanced staffing with medical personnel.

The physical location of patients in medical deserts, and their health care resources should not factor into their access to transportation. Since the coronavirus pandemic is straining transportation systems there is a need to establish "UberLike" emergency transportation models, that can facilitate transportation to hospitals and emergency medical facilities.

Dr. Stephanie Myers, former Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and National Co-Chair of Black Women for Positive Change comments, "Dr. Crowder's recommendations to address the Medical Deserts in underserved communities, is timely and urgent.

Her vision should be included in the new policies being considered by federal, state and local governments. We must act fast to reduce the death rates associated with coronavirus. We are only at the beginning of this pandemic and have the opportunity now to put in place the medical capacity Americans will need."

Valda Crowder, MD, MBA, is a Board-Certified Emergency Medicine Physician who serves as Chair of the Health Committee for Black Women for Positive Change.

COMMENTARY: Panic buying adds additional stress in COVID19 pandemic...continued them irrational and—in rare cases— borderline neurotic. In other disaster conditions like an earthquake, tornado or hurricane, people tend to prepare because they know how many supplies they will need. It’s hard to do that with a virus that scientists around the world are still learning about.

Peter Noel Murray, a New Yorkbased member of the American Psychological Association and the Society for Consumer Psychology, is

uncertain that persons in authority have the power to calm the panicbuying trend.

“On the emotional side, the answer is self-affirmation,” he said. “In our minds, we know one day we are going to be dead, and the mind deals with it through [seeking] control.” He said there is an “over-estimation” of fear and people’s minds need to respond to those kinds of feelings. (continued on page 7)

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Page 7

March 26, 2020

LIFESTYLE NEWS/ADVERTISING/RELIGION

Bedside Baptist Has Taken on a Whole New Meaning Due to the Coronavirus Crisis McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

Top Row: Bishop Charles E. Blake West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles, Rev. Jacqueline Thompson, pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, Pastor “J” Edgar Boyd of First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles Bottom Row: Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr., of Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda, Pastor Amos Brown Third Baptist Church in San Francisco and Pastor Touré Roberts of The Potter’s House at One L.A. Usually it’s come as you are, but this past Sunday the message to parishioners of African-American churches across the Golden State was tune in online.

Worship houses from Southern California to beyond the Bay Area have been instructed not to hold in-house services for some time due to the novel coronavirus outbreak making its way around the globe.

“We may not be able to touch in the natural but we are connected in the spirit,” the Rev. Jacqueline Thompson, pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, told her parishioners via video stream last Sunday. The 100-year-old congregation is one of the oldest Black churches in the Bay Area.

For Clint Thompson of Santa Monica the governor’s shelter in place order meant abandoning his weekly jaunt to West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles for Sunday service. The popular South Los Angeles church canceled its service and instead live-streamed Bishop Charles E. Blake’s message online.

Thompson, a 37-year-old actor, said he watched the service for his weekly inspiration, but noted that he missed sitting in the pews.

“The service is good and its theatrical,” he said. “The music is good, the praise dancing. It feels like a live music festival.”

Thompson isn’t the lone California worshipper who will be

catching the gospel online during this time.

Churchgoers across the state are tuning into worship services online via video streaming on their websites or social media pages in response to government officials across the state requesting that church services not convene anytime in the foreseeable future to slow the rapid spread of the coronavirus and COVID-19, the disease it causes.

Sermons, choir performances, praise and worship, and other church service mainstays go on as usual. But they happen in front of a handful of worshippers, camera crews and technicians responsible for posting the services online — instead of the dozens to hundreds of people who usually pack California Black church benches on Sunday mornings.

The Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr., pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda, said not preaching in front of hundreds of familiar faces is a strange feeling, but it is an essential one because of the health risks that come with the rapidly spreading respiratory illness. Curry said when Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a health emergency that put restrictions on public gatherings larger than 250 people, his church’s services were immediately cancelled. They began taping them for the internet.

COMMENTARY: Panic buying adds additional stress in COVID-19 pandemic...continued from page 6 A need for ‘self-affirmation’ “The need for self-affirmation is triggered and that drives us to do unreasonable things like buying a year’s worth of toilet paper,” Murray explained. “It overwhelms the knowledge that we don’t need to be doing that.”

There is a difference in disaster panic and general panic. Toilet paper has become the symbol of the latter. For instance, weather forecasters are able to predict with much greater certainty that a hurricane is barreling toward a certain region. They can provide more information about a cluster of tornadoes about to come your way (though warning times are uncertain at best).

With an earthquake, of course, there is little way of predicting that. In these cases, you know it is going to happen and you usually know ahead of time that the emergency will last a couple of days. You’re able to prepare yourself by being somewhat rational with what you buy.

In public health issues we have no idea about the duration and or intensity.

Therefore, the messages we receive daily may encourage some to go into panic mode and purchase far more than needed because it’s often the only way to maintain a sense of control.

But why purchase huge amounts of toilet paper? Dr. Dimitrios Tsivrikos, an expert in consumer and behavioral science at the University College London, has for the past few months witnessed this phenomenon and offered an unexpected assessment: “Because toilet paper has a longer shelf-life than many food items,” he said. “And it’s prominently featured in aisles and is big in size. We’re psychologically drawn to purchasing it in times of crisis. It’s in big colorful packages; the bigger they are, the

more important we think they are.”

Take precautions, but don’t panic While the threat is very real and all precautions should be taken to stay healthy, some shoppers may overestimate the risks of dying from coronavirus. Katharina Wittgens, a psychologist with the behavioral strategy agency Innovation Bubble, suggests that shoppers are creating too much anxiety in themselves, which is never good during either clear or uncertain circumstances.

“Far more people die in car accidents or household accidents per year, but we don’t panic in the morning before we go to work about these things,” Wittgens said. “It’s hard to convince our brains of facts, hence why statistics often don’t work.”

Wittgens said the surge in panic buying will probably decline after a month when people have had time to think more rationally.

“When we stand in front of empty shelves, people fear that stocks will run out, so they buy far more than they need,” she said. “This becomes dangerous as some goods such as soap, medicines and sanitizers become unavailable for those in immediate need.” And because it is more obvious when the paper goods aisle is empty— compared to smaller items—this can also lead to craze over the item intensifying.

There have been plenty of examples of price gouging in response to the coronavirus pandemic. There have been reports of a 20-pack of face masks costing more than $100 on ecommerce sites like eBay and Esty.

These prices have caused companies to put measures in place to stop speculators from taking advantage of a spike in demand. This month, for example, Amazon announced it (continued in next 2 columns)

“I’ve preached in small groups, but its hard when you are standing in a sanctuary that you know holds 700 people, and you might be preaching to ten, and you are trying to make it feel like Sunday morning, and you’re far from Sunday morning,” he said.

“It’s different, but it’s a service that is needed, so I make it happen for my people to the best of my ability.”

Last Sunday, was men’s Sunday at Allen Temple Baptist in Oakland. The members of the men’s chorus performed on stage in a formation that allowed six feet of social distance among them.

Each man had his own mic.

“We’re scared right now, lord.

We don’t understand what you are doing and we don’t like it,” Thompson, the pastor at Allen Temple, prayed during her Oakland church’s live stream that was broadcast on Facebook and on the church’s website.

“But remind us that you are gracious. Even in the midst of this, thank you for slowing us down and connecting us with family and what is important in this world,” she added.

The spread of the coronavirus, officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, has sickened more than 329,000 people on six continents according to official tallies by governments and health organizations. It has caused the deaths of at least 14,522 people, as of Monday morning.

In the United States, there have been 428 deaths and 33,018 health cases attributed to the illness.

In California, so far, there have been 33 deaths related to COVID19 and an estimated 1,849 people have tested positive.

The high infection rate of the untreatable virus has changed life across the globe, shuttering businesses, schools, offices, restaurants, sports and entertainment venues and any other places groups of people might gather.

Governments have urged people to stay indoors.

California’s Black churches say they are taking the pandemic seriously by vigorously cleaning their worship houses and closing their doors to the public for regular church activities.

Pastor “J” Edgar Boyd of First

African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles said in an online statement his church is working on ways for the church body to stay connected through video chats and conference calls.

“Please know that we are praying for the safety, physical wellbeing and spiritual strength for you, your household, and for your entire family,” Boyd wrote.

Curry said no services have taken place at his church since March 15. The church has been streaming its 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. services, and Sunday was the first time they broadcast their Sunday school service, which had about 130 viewers. He said churchgoers watch online messages.

“I don’t care what a church does, even if it is in a minimized form, I think every church has to have some type of online presence,” Curry said. “They will figure out how to watch it. Even if they have to bring their grandkids over to get them online.

They will figure out how to access it.”

The pastor hinted at a question some churches will have: How to deal with deaths in church families? One of Curry’s congregants recently died, and another expected to pass soon.

“We have to find a way to figure out how to celebrate that individual’s life,” he said.

Pastor Touré Roberts of The Potter’s House at One L.A. said in his Sunday morning sermon, that it seems like the world has been flipped on its head during the coronavirus emergency, but he saw a silver lining “There are sometimes it feels like the world wasn’t turned upside down, but it was turned right-side up,” he said. “People are spending more time with their families. People are texting one another and checking on one another. In the midst of all this craziness, it seems we are getting our priorities straight, and I have just come to suspect that God is somewhere in it.”

At Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, a 168-year old AfricanAmerican congregation, pastor Amos Brown prayed a solemn prayer for those affected by the Coronavirus crisis.

“We pray for those on hospital bed waiting for healing, waiting for medical supplies desperately needed in this time of a pandemic worldwide,” he said.

COMMENTARY: Panic buying adds additional stress in COVID19 pandemic...continued from page ...continued removed more than a million basicneeds products for misleading claims and price gouging.

Face masks won’t stop infection The U.S. government has recommended people stop buying face masks, not only because surgical masks aren’t sufficient protection from coronavirus, but because there may not be enough for healthcare professionals who need them to do their jobs.

Americans have witnessed this type of irrational behavior before. In 1962 during the Cuban missile crisis, when nuclear war seemed imminent, American families filled their basements with enough canned food and bottled water to survive an atomic blast. Then there was Y2K at the turn of the millennium. There were widespread fears of a catastrophic glitch when computers’ internal clock reset to “00”

for the year 2000. It was believed that the glitch could crash global markets or send missiles flying across the globe. People just didn’t hoard nonperishables and bottled water, but lots of money: In 1999, the U.S. Treasury was ordered to print an extra $50 billion in the expectation that people would withdraw and stockpile cash.

A better plan than panic buying would be to be prepared year-round for a possible emergency or crisis. It’s also worth keeping everyone else’s needs in mind as these types of events unfold.

Stock up on what you and your family need and no more. Avoid the urge to hoard enough supplies to fill a doomsday bunker.

“Anxiety needs to be acknowledged and managed,” Wittgens said. “We do not want complacency, but high levels of anxiety are not useful to prepare [or] prevent catching it.”

“In Spirit of Lord’s Prayer,” Black Churches, Non Profits Ask For Mortgage Help...continued from page 2 life of Black Americans. Almost 80 percent of African-Americans in the United States self identify as Christians.

That number is about 20 percentage points higher per capita, compared to Whites and Latinos.

Recently, 23 African-American pastors from around the state emailed a letter to Gov. Newsom, sharing details about the challenges they have been facing since the international health crisis began.

“The Coronavirus outbreak is having a devastating impact on the faith community, particularly as we approach the Easter season, which for many churches can easily account for up to one-quarter of their annual budget,” the pastors wrote. “This email expresses the interests of a coalition of pastors concerned that they may be

left out of those stimulus packages that don’t classify churches and non-profits as businesses. However, they — like other businesses —have payrolls to meet and critical operating expenses, i.e. mortgages.”

Fisher says the Black pastors deserve to be included in the relief disbursements that the federal and state governments are making to help individuals and organizations affected by the pandemic.

“Mortgages make up the vast majority of our overhead costs. That’s why we need to ask for help to continue serving our communities,” says Fisher.

“Our needs don’t end with this crisis.

Our children still need to be fed and we need to continue taking care of our seniors.”

“Can You Hear Me Now... {Coronavirus} Do I Have Your Attention?”

By: Lou Yeboah

Lou Yeboah Listen... If you think the “Corona-virus” is something—I tell you, but, Nay, except you REPENT... ALL of you will likewise perish... That’s right...

I’M FED UP... I’m sick of your sin and disobedience. I’m sick of your rejection, your injustice, and your complaining. Think you can flaunt your sin in My face and nothing happens. Think you can continually take My Grace for granted and nothing happens... I tell you what….Yield yourselves to Me, and serve Me, ONLY THEN, will I let you live and not bring on you any of the diseases which I put on the Egyptians.

Because from the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have rebelled against Me, so much so, that I am ready to destroy you. I tell you, IF YOU DO NOT REPENT, All of you will likewise perish! I have for along time held my peace; I have been still, and restrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once... No more will I relent if you do not repent! You have been warned, says the Lord.”

I want you to know that both the Old and New Testaments display a God who doesn’t tolerate sin, he punished it. A few stories from the Old Testament: The Garden: God didn’t tolerate Adam and Eve’s sin. He didn’t accept their lifestyle choice to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He banished them from Eden and left an angel with flaming swords to guard the entrance so they couldn’t return.

Noah and the Flood: His anger was provoked against the sin of Noah’s day and He brought on the flood that changed the face

of the world. Uzzah: One of the most uncomfortable accounts of divine intolerance found in [2 Samuel 6]. This story recounts Uzzah’s attempt to steady the ark of the Lord after an oxen stumbled on the journey back to Israel.

When he reached out and touched the ark, Uzzah’s instinctive response was met with God’s intense anger, and Uzzah was immediately struck down. I could go on and on throughout the Old Testament, considering Achan, Korah, Aaron’s sons, the Canaanites, and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, just to name a few. All perished by the very hand of God. He did not tolerate their sin; he punished it.

I tell you, God is very patient and loving with us. He gives us many chances to repent and turn from our wickedness. One day, however, His toleration of sin will cease. That is the lesson of the Old Testament, that God waits, longing for people to repent.

However, He will not delay punishment forever and when it does arrive, it will be without recourse. The lesson to humanity today is to repent while there is time.

“The people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them... The king made proclamation... "Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence which is in his hands." [Jonah 3:5, 7-9] “I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. So choose life, so that you and your descendants may live, 20and that you may love the LORD your God, obey Him, and hold fast to Him...” [Deuteronomy 30:19].

Scripture Reference: Luke 13:2-5 Isaiah 65:2 2 Chronicles 30:7-8 Exodus 15:26 Numbers 11: 1-34 Romans 1:18 Isaiah 42: 23-25

Witness For Justice #987

COVID-19: A Time for Global Solidarity Noel Andersen UCC Grassroots Coordinator for Immigrants' Rights, Justice and Local Church Ministries Coronavirus doesn’t discriminate, why should we?

We are living through a scary time. All our lives have been touched by COVID-19 spreading at a rapid pace throughout the world. Even as we utilize social distancing and isolation as tools to combat the spread, we cannot allow ourselves to lose the sense of community and solidarity— not just for our own families, churches and states, but across the world. Each life touches another, and we share a mutual responsibility to work together and protect one another in this time of crisis.Nationalism, nativism and xenophobia have exacerbated this crisis. The Trump administration was content with travel bans as its only tactic in combating what he termed the “foreign virus.” As a result, the U.S. has been illprepared to measure or contain the virus from spreading into the pandemic it has become.

No ban or border wall can stop COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends against travel bans because they can only slow the spread of an epidemic for a short while. WHO has a plan to fight pandemics, but most countries have chosen not to follow it; the Trump administration recently proposed slashing 3 billion dollars to the WHO for 2021. Now more than ever we need global solidarity to act in developing vaccines, testing kits, and canceling large gatherings. The latter may be particularly hard for our churches. The United Church of Christ has put together an incredible list of resources for congregations to maintain faith, cultivate community and serve one another while adhering to the Center for Disease Control

guidelines that require us to stop gathering in large groups.

As congregations find creative ways to worship virtually, care for elderly, and bring groceries to those in need, marginalized populations—such as those without access to health care or the countless asylum seekers who are detained—are also at greater risk. Immigrant rights organizations are calling on President Trump to protect all people and to suspend immigration enforcement, as the need is clear for free COVID-19 testing and treatment for all, regardless of immigration status.

Guaranteed safe conditions and healthcare for those in detention and prisons must be included in the measures to protect the public health, because we are all in this crisis together.

We all must continue to lift a prophetic and moral voice against xenophobic responses. Racist attacks are on the rise as people seek a scapegoat to blame for this virus. Domestic policy impacts international policy, and it is clear that “America First” policies are hurting us more than helping us in the global struggle. Now, the more divided we let ourselves become, the less effective we are in warding off this crisis.

As we work to care for our church members, let us also ensure that we are educating people to stop xenophobia, to reduce humiliation, and to advocate for everyone to have health care and testing access, no matter their economic or immigration status. Together, we can meet fear with education and necessary action steps in order to reduce stigma and make it through this crisis stronger than we entered it. This is a time for global solidarity, and we must start here at home.

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