SB American News Week Ending 5/8

Vol. 50 No. 2

May 2, 2019 - May 8, 2019

Publisher’s Corner

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)

Former Exec Slams CBS News’ ‘White Problem’

Email: sbamericannews@gmail.com Clifton Harris Editor in Chief Publisher of The San Bernardino AMERICAN News

Bill Allowing Oklahoma Teachers To Carry Guns Without Special Training Advances By Aaron Brilbeck

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Photo by: theoklahomaeagle.net

Vanity Fair reported this week that, in response to Davis’ essay, Susan Zirinksy, the president of CBS News, and Kelly Kahl, president of CBS Entertainment, sent emails to staff expressing concerns.

In January, eyebrows were raised after a photo released by CBS revealing the correspondents scheduled to cover the 2020 presidential election for the network did not contain one African American journalist.

The snafu led to a meeting with Rep. Maxine Waters, Chairwoman of the powerful House Financial Services Committee, who said CBS officials admitted they had a lot of work to do and the network pledged to include blacks on their 2020 election team and other coverage.

Apparently, there’s still a problem at the “Eye” network.

More directly, former CBS Executive Whitney Davis said the network has a “white problem.”

In a scathing essay published in Variety, Davis said it’s a “white problem across the board.” She said there’s not one black creative executive working at the CBS Television Network or at CBS Television Studios.

Of the network’s 36 creative executives – all upper management roles that deal with content development, casting, current production, daytime and alternative programming – there are only three women of color, none black,

Davis said.

“There is not one executive of color working in casting at CBS. The one Latinx executive hired in casting last year lasted eight months – he works at Netflix now,” she said.

Davis, who began her media career at the network and most recently served as director of entertainment diversity and inclusion, said she decided to leave CBS in February.

“Last fall, when sexual-misconduct allegations against thenCEO Leslie Moonves prompted an outside investigation into the CBS workplace culture, I assumed that all forms of discrimination would be delved into,” Davis wrote in the essay.

“The attorneys I spoke with did not lead me to believe otherwise.

I was eager to tell my story and grateful that two independent law firms were brought in to conduct interviews with several hundred employees,” she said.

By sharing her experience, Davis said she hoped to shed desperately needed light on the truth that CBS, “sadly, doesn’t value a diverse workplace.”

“After an initial interview with one investigator, I talked to six at-

torneys from both firms, detailing my experience at the company and, in that heart-wrenching twohour interview, I talked about a workplace fraught with systemic racism, discrimination and sexual harassment,” Davis said.

“My understanding was that there would be follow-up and long-awaited reforms as their discovery continued. Yet, I heard nothing again from investigators, and soon saw that their report had been leaked to the media before the board had reviewed its findings,” she said.

Afterward, Davis said she immediately called the CBS investigation hotline, which, via a recorded message, told her the inquiry was now closed.

“It was then that I realized what I had long tried to ignore — CBS has a white problem,” she said.

Vanity Fair reported this week that, in response to Davis’ essay, Susan Zirinksy, the president of CBS News, and Kelly Kahl, president of CBS Entertainment, sent emails to staff expressing concerns.

Reportedly, Zirinsky said Davis’ essay “serves as reminder to CBS senior leaders to check ourselves

and to take our culture as seriously as we take our journalism.”

Kahl said that the letter shows how much work the network still needs to do to be fully inclusive.

Despite Zirinksy and Kahl taking responsibility, CBS likely will remain under scrutiny by Waters and others.

“True diversity is the inclusion of all,” Waters said. “I won’t let them off the hook.”

Earlier, Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez and the NAACP tweeted their disappointment with CBS’ lack of African American journalists selected to cover the 2020 election.

“This White House administration has made having a functional understanding of race in America one of the most important core competencies for a political journalist to have, yet CBS News hasn’t assigned a single black journalist to cover the 2020 election,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

CBS News’ decision to not include black reporters on their 2020 election news team “further proves the voting power and voices of Black American continue to be undervalued,” the NAACP said in a statement.

Oscar-nominated director John Singleton dies at 51 following stroke Anika Reed, USATODAY

John Singleton arrives at the premiere of FX's "Snowfall" Season 2 at Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 on July 16, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo: CHRISTOPHER POLK, Getty Images) John Singleton, the Oscar-nominated director and screenwriter behind films like "Boyz n the Hood" and "Poetic Justice," has died after being taken off of life support following a stroke earlier this month, the Associated Press reported Monday.

"It is with heavy hearts we announce that our beloved son, father and friend, John Daniel Singleton will be taken off of life support today," Singleton's family said in a statement earlier

Monday via his spokesperson.

"This was an agonizing decision, one that our family made, over a number of days, with the careful counsel of John’s doctors."

The family continued in the statement: "We are grateful to his fans, friends and colleagues for the (outpouring) of love and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. We want to thank all the doctors at Cedars Sinai for the impeccable care he received.

The family also said in the statement that Singleton "like many African Americans …quietly struggled with hypertension."

Singleton's family said that "in his private life, John is a loving and supporting father, son, brother, and friend who believed in higher education, black culture, old school music and the power of film."

The hashtag #RIPJohnSingleton was trending on Twitter Monday morning as thousands of tweets poured in, first with condolences and then with confusion.

His family revealed he'd suffered a stroke on April 17. "... Our beloved son/father, John Singleton, suffered a stroke while at the hospital..." said the statement, provided to USA TODAY on April 20 by spokesperson Shannon Barr. "We ask that privacy be given to him and our family at this time and appreciate all of the prayers that have been pouring in from his fans, friends and colleagues."

Taraji P. Henson said she and Tyrese Gibson visited Singleton in the hospital, writing in an Instagram post on Saturday: "You heard my voice and jumped up. I HAVE HOPE AND FAITH BECAUSE I KNOW THAT #GODIS." Henson, who starred in Singleton's "Baby Boy," urged people to "keep praying."

Singleton was nominated for two Oscars for 1991's "Boyz n the Hood," becoming the youngest best director nominee and first black person nominated for the same award.

His other films include "Poetic Justice," starring Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur, "Shaft," "Baby Boy," "2 Fast 2 Furious" and "Four Brothers."

Singleton's recent projects include creating and executive producing the FX Networks TV series "Snowfall," as well as directing the fifth episode of the network's "The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story."

When news broke of Singleton's stroke, prominent celebrities took to social media to wish him a speedy recovery.

"His films helped form me. His kindness lifted me up," wrote Ava DuVernay. "I remember him coming to the premiere of my indie years ago. Showing love/support for a fellow black director from LA. He is a lovely man. Pray with me."

Neil deGrasse Tyson, Snoop Dogg and Guillermo del Toro also sent well wishes.

Contributing: Sara Moniuszko; The Associated Pres

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill that would allow teachers and other school staff to carry guns without special training advances to the Senate floor.

Right now, school personnel can carry guns concealed on campus if they have the permission of their districts; if they have completed CLEET training and possess a valid armed security guard license or hold a valid reserve peace officer certification. This bill would reduce those requirements to just having a districts permission, and a valid weapons permit.

“We have too many kids right now that are unguarded, unprotected, they’re sitting ducks if somebody walks in,” said Senator David Bullard (R) Durant, who fielded questions from his colleagues about whether arming staff would make schools more dangerous, and who would be responsible should someone get hurt.

“Am I reading this right that they are not liable for any injury that they might inflict?” asked Senator J.J. Dossett (D) Owasso.

Reading from the bill, Bullard replied, “And upon acting in good faith shall be immune from civil and criminal liability. So yes, they would be immune from that.”

Senator Carri Hicks (D) Oklahoma City said, “My biggest concerns are that ultimately this does reduce the amount of training or

requirements that we currently have in place.”

The group Moms Demand Action has concerns about reducing the minimum training standards too.

“It’s an 8-hour minimum training. When we were here for the permitless carry debate, they talked over and over about how that training is worthless. If it’s worthless and we’re requiring less that is not a good argument for keeping our kids safe in schools,” said Cacky Poarch with Moms Demand Action.

Don Spencer with the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association said, “It’s like driving a school bus. You don’t just give that to anybody to do. The school board is going to make sure they’ve got people that are qualified to handle and do exactly that.”

Bullard added, “The idea is to give those local school boards the options of how to do that. We talk about local school control all the time. And we are just allowing the to do that to protect their kids at their school. We have too many who are not protected now.”

The bill already passed in the House of Representatives and now heads for the Senate Floor.

If it passes there, it goes to the governor.

This article originally appeared in the Oklahoma Eagle.

Charges Filed Against Apple Valley Mother and Sister SB County News SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office has reviewed the case involving Jackee Contreras, 29, of Apple Valley and Jennifer Contreras, 29, of Apple Valley.

As a result of the investigation, the District Attorney's Office filed 1 count of PC 187(a); Murder, each against Jackee Contreras and Jennifer Contreras. The victim is the six year old son and nephew of the defendants, respectively.

Both defendants will be arraigned tomorrow, April 30, 2019,

in the Victorville Superior Court.

Updated information will be sent when the department and times of the arraignments are determined.

A copy of the complaint and press release is available at www.sbcountyda.org by selecting Press Releases under the Newsroom tab at the top of the home page.

Contact: Kimberly Fuller, Executive Secretary by phone at (909) 382-7714 or by email at kfuller@sbcda.org

Our Values, Mission, & Vision Statement Our Values: Treat all people with care, respect, honor, and dignity. Tell it as it is with love, truth and integrity. Promote the interests of advertisers and sponsors along their strategic interest for the betterment of the community and beyond.

Speak truth to power.

Our Mission: To continuously improve communication between all people of the world.

Our Vision: To be the best community newspaper in our region and the nation.

Provider of: A voice for the poor, the underserved, those that are marginalized, Positive and edifying news about people, places and businesses. Keep San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles Counties informed about global trends while retaining the consciousness of local events and processes.

Memberships and Associations: The San Bernardino American Newspaper is a member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association, National Newspaper Association and addociated with California Black Media.

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 2

May 2, 2019

COMMUNITY/EDUCATION/ADVERTISING

Nation’s racial wealth divide worsens with federal tax cuts: Black families have a dime for every dollar held by Whites

By Charlene Crowell April 25, 2019

If you’re like me, every time you hear a news reporter or anchor talk about how great the nation’s economy is, you wonder what world they are living in. Certainly these journalists are not referring to the ongoing struggle to make ends meet that so much of Black America faces. For every daily report of Wall Street trading, or rising corporate profits, you’re reminded that somebody else is doing just fine financially.

To put it another way, ‘Will I ever get past my payday being an exchange day…when I can finally have the chance to keep a portion of what I earn in my own name and see how much it can grow?’

When new research speaks to those who are forgotten on most nightly news shows, I feel obliged to share that news – especially when conclusions find systemic faults suppress our collective ability to strengthen assets enough to make that key transition from paying bills to building wealth.

Ten Solutions to Close the Racial Wealth Divide is jointly authored by the Institute for Policy Studies, Ohio State University’s Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. This insightful and scholarly work opens with updates on the nation’s nagging and widening racial wealth divide. It then characterizes solutions offered as one of three approaches: programs, power, and process.

According to the authors, programs refer to new government programs that could have a major impact on improving the financial prospects of low-wealth families.

Power refers to changes to the federal tax code that could bring a much-needed balance to the tax burden now borne by middle and low-income workers. Process refers to changes to the government operates in regard to race and wealth.

“For far too long we have tolerated the injustice of a violent, extractive and racially exploitive history that generated a wealth divide where the typical black fam-

ily has only a dime for every dollar held by a typical white family,” said Darrick Hamilton, report co-author and executive director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at The Ohio State University.

From 1983-2016, the median Black family saw their wealth drop by more than half after adjusting for inflation, compared to a 33 percent increase for the median White households. Keep in mind that these years include the Great Recession that stole nearly $1 trillion of wealth from Black and Latinx families, largely via unnecessary foreclosures and lost property values for those who managed to hold on to their homes.

Fast forward to 2018, and the report shares the fact that the median white family had 41 times more wealth than the median Black family, and 22 times more wealth than the median Latinx family. Instead of the $147,000 that median white families owned last year, Black households had $3,600.

When Congress passed tax cut legislation in December 2017, an already skewed racial wealth profile became worse.

“White households in the top one percent of earners received $143 a day from the tax cuts while middle-class households (earning between $40,000 and $110,000) received just $2.75 a

day,” states the report. “While the media coverage of the tax package and the public statements of the bill’s backers did not explicitly state that it would directly contribute to increasing the racial wealth divide, this was the impact, intended or otherwise.”

With the majority of today’s Black households renting instead of owning their homes, escalating rental prices diminish if not remove the ability for many consumers of color to save for a home down payment. As reported by CBS News, earlier this year, the national average monthly cost of fair market rent in 2018 was $1,405. Recent research by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition on housing affordability found that more than 8 million Americans spend half or more of their incomes on housing, including over 30 percent of Blacks, and 28 percent of Hispanics Homeownership, according to the Center for Responsible Lending, remains a solid building block to gain family wealth. But with an increasing number of households paying more than a third of their income for rent, the ability to save for a home down payment is seriously weakened. CRL’s proposed remedy in March 27 testimony to the Senate Banking Committee is to strengthen affordable housing in both homeownership and rentals. To increase greater access to

mortgages, CRL further advocates low-down payment loans.

“The nation’s housing finance system must ensure access to safe and affordable mortgage loans for all creditworthy borrowers, including low-to-moderate income families and communities of color,” noted Nikitra Bailey, a CRL EVP. “The lower down payment programs available through FHA and VA, provide an entry into homeownership and wealthbuilding for many average Americans.”

“Government-backed loans cannot be the only sources of credit for low-wealth families; they deserve access to cheaper conventional mortgages,” added Bailey. “Year after year, the annual Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data reveals how consumers of color, including upper-income Black and Latinx households are disproportionately dependent on mortgages that come with higher costs. Our nation’s fair lending and housing finance laws require that the private mortgage market provide access for low-wealth families. We need additional resources for rental housing to address the affordability crisis that many working families face.”

There’s really no point in continuing to do the same thing while expecting a different result.

When the status quo just isn’t working, change must be given a chance.

OPINION: The interlopers better recognize that Howard University isn’t going anywhere Gentrification is now at the center of debate for students and neighbors on and off HU's campus.

By Kyra Azore

Howard University strongly objects to new residents around the open campus using “The Yard,” as a place for picnics and dog walking. (Photo courtesy of Howard University, Washington, DC by Nikolaus Fogle, 2010)

This is more than just about race; it’s also about respect. (Photo courtesy of Howard University, Washington, DC by Nikolaus Fogle, 2010)

For more than 150 years, Howard University has been located on sacred land. This great institution has been the training ground for so many global change agents such as activist Kwame Ture, writer Zora Neale Hurston, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Congressman Elijah Cummings, and Tony award winning actress, Phylicia Rashad. Yet, despite its historical significance, our beloved HU is being treated like a common public park.

In the last few weeks, as spring has sprung and the first buds are making themselves known, the campus has received an influx of visitors. Some of them travel in large groups and stop students on their way to class to ask for help with trivia questions from the Admission Center’s scavenger hunt.

Clearly, these are prospective

students and their parents who likely already understand what Howard means to the Black community. Others trek across “the Yard,” the open clearing carved by pathways that connect the main buildings on campus, with their picnic baskets, small children, yoga mats, pure-bred dogs and a palpable sense of entitlement.

We are talking about a place that is deeply connected to every major event in the Howard community since its founding—from traveling students sleeping on the floor of Founders Library the night before the Million Man March to Muhammad Ali sitting on the steps of Douglass Hall surrounded by students giving a speech about denying the draft.

The hallowed paths of Howard have seen more celebrities and thought leaders than any red car-

pet in the world.

Howard University is my home and has been ever since I first visited the campus in 2013, I remember that day like it was yesterday.

I was a sophomore in high school visiting colleges during my spring break. Unlike all the other places I visited, this felt most like home.

When I finally climbed the hill to the Yard, I marveled in the sight of young, Black students in suits and the latest fashions, treating the pathways like their own personal runway.

The Yard is the heartbeat of the University. It’s the host to Yardfest during Howard’s infamous homecoming and the backdrop for the annual commencement activities. To see it now littered with jogging pedestrians and nonchalant dog walkers infuriates me. I am also aware that these are the same people who have driven up the surrounding property value to the point where most students who live off campus have no choice, like myself, but to find apartments in neighboring states because we cannot afford to live adjacent to where we take classes.

The frustration that students experience is rooted in the fact that these are the same people who call the police to complain about our house parties and campus events, but then go ahead and picnic under the trees that are dedicated to our historic Greek letter organizations.

Excuse me? There’s a free, public park across the street where you can knock yourself out with all your healthy-living activities.

Black students see Howard as a safe space, where we can seek refuge from trials of the outside world of our campus. These interlopers, on the other hand, seem to be treating Howard’s campus like a community park, where those new to the area have felt free to lounge, enjoy a Spring day, and “deal” with the inconveniences that come with the patch of land that also happens to double as an institution of higher learning when they are not using it.

Since its founding in 1867, Howard has been an open campus regularly engaging students and neighbors from the surrounding communities, who at the time, looked like us. This wasn’t always an easy situation as I think back to what it must have been like to be a student here when the streets of Chocolate City surrounding the University were drug and crime infested 1980s and 1990s. And yet, Howard never closed its gates and turned its back on the community. In doing so, unfortunately, it seems our latest visitors have taken the kindness of an open campus as a weakness.

Let me be the first to tell them this is not the case.

Please do not be confused or (continued in next 2 columns)

OPINION: The interlopers better recognize that Howard University isn’t going anywhere...continued misled. This has been an ongoing issue at Howard over the past few years. In 2015, the hashtag #WeAreNotAPark surfaced on social media because students were outraged when this first started happening to our space.

Concerned students reached out to student government to act on their behalf, but not much else was done afterwards. I believe this #WeAreNotAPark movement didn’t receive much traction because some students felt like the hashtag was divisive and would only cause conflict in the community.

This most recent clash has emerged on social media as #HowardWontMove. This time is going to be different because the current student body is less in favor of respectability politics. We are talking about the same students who took over the Administration building last year bumping “Knuck If You Buck” and demanding the removal of chief university administrators in the wake of a misappropriation of financial aid funds scandal.

To be clear, this issue is not solely about race because it’s also about respect. Respect the sacred ground that is Howard University.

You do not get to complain about our unique HBCU experiences (Homecoming, etc.) and then use our campus for your leisure activities. That is not how this works.

Don’t like the noise from our parties on Saturday night? Then you’re probably not going to like the shade from our trees on the Yard on Tuesday afternoons. The idea that the interlopers are able to pick and choose which parts of Howard they are willing to accept or allow to be acceptable is at the heart of the issue. Like the rest of the Black experience, you have to take us or leave us as is.

Howard is not a restaurant that allows for substitutions or additions so you can have it your way.

The amount of entitlement displayed by community members like Sean Grubbs-Robishaw, who has since been dubbed

#GentrifyingGeorge by Black Twiiter and lives in the ShawHoward neighborhood where Howard resides. In a television interview with the local Fox affiliate, Grubbs-Robishaw famously suggested all of Howard “just move the campus” if we do not want people walking their dogs across the Yard.

Rather than educate themselves about these historic grounds, they disgrace us and our home.

The blatant disrespect, unmitigated gall is baffling.

How dare you?

It begs repeating, for more than 150 years, Howard has sat proudly on Hilltop high overlooking most of D.C., but now that we are in the way of community expansion, we’re expected to just move? That is not how this works.

Just like we respect your wishes about parties and noise you should be able to honor a simple request not to treat my expensive educational home as your cheap dog park. I should be able to strut across the Yard to class with my head held high, not constantly scanning the ground to avoid poop from your privileged pooch.

Just for the record, when you choose to live next to a college campus, you sign up for all that comes with it, so take it or leave it. Regardless of what you decide, Howard will remain unphased, a prideful symbol of tradition, and unmoved.

Just try to move us and see what happens. #HUStrong Kyra E. Azore is a senior at Howard University where she works as the news director for WHBC 96.3 and the editor-inchief of 101 Magazine. Kyra is also the Student Representative for the National Association of Black Journalists. After graduation she hopes to become a television news producer. Find her on Twitter @KyraAzore.

PAL Center Hosts The State of Youth Employment Event Community Education News The PAL Center and PAL Charter Academy held its annual State of Youth Employment Event on April 18, 2019. During this event, various community and state leaders met and spoke about the importance of positively engaging our San Bernardino youth in employment opportunities. The question was, “What are you doing about youth employment?”

Dwaine Radden Sr., Chief Executive Officer for the PAL Center opened the event thanking Mr. Edward Brantley, Director of Community Relations for the PAL Center, for his efforts to connect the dots in our community.

Radden’s welcome set the overall theme for the event. He stated that connecting the dots was central to achieving success during and after the conference.

After the introduction, all community and state leaders had an opportunity to describe their organizations and their work with the community. During the speeches, every speaker connected the dots by reflecting on how their organization and others in the room could work together to provide opportunities for students.

Throughout the day, everyone was interchanging business cards and supporting the "con-

nect the dot" analogy that Radden envisioned at the opening of the event. He quoted an old African proverb, “The child who is not embraced will burn the village down to feel its warmth.”

Radden said San Bernardino is burning because our youth need to work and have positive activities and facilities for them throughout the city, and their community. He volunteered to put together a website for the Inland Empire community base resource agencies to post and share services for families and the youth.

Various organizations attended the event, from faith-based programs to San Bernardino County programs, businesses that provide job opportunities for youth, and California State Senator, Connie Leyva’s office. Mr. Andre Bossieux, or as he refers to himself, “Dre from TAY,” expressed the power of communication and staying in touch with our people to help guide them. His message was strong and inspiring. He asked the members of the audience to be mentors and leaders for our communities.

Mr. Majadi, Director of the Center for Youth and Community Development, articulated the need for our communities to support (continued on page6)

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.

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

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 3

May 2, 2019

WORLD GOVERNMENT/BUSINESS/ADVERTISING

Lawmakers Announce Creation of Environmental Justice Caucus

Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Reflects on the Civil Rights Legacy of Judge Damon Keith...continued

American politics appears to have hit a new low

GROUP WILL RAISE AWARENESS, ADDRESS ISSUES

“Throughout his personal and professional life Judge Keith was faced with discrimination at times when our country was marred with segregationist policies and Jim Crow laws. Nevertheless, Keith persevered through these roadblocks and turned his experiences into the moral ground that he stood on throughout his career.

Clarke continued, “Judge Keith’s years as a federal judge, which spanned more than 5 decades and 10 presidents, was rooted in the high ethical standards that made him a man of character and sound judgement.

Many of his decisions establish core precedents that will continue to shape the fight for racial justice and equality for years to come.”

Judge Damon Keith’s seminal

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

“That should not be the case. I’m excited to co-found this caucus and confront this public health challenge, and I want to thank my EPW colleagues Senators Tammy Duckworth (left) and Cory Booker (center) for their dedicated leadership,” said Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) (right).

On Earth Day, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tom Carper (DDE) announced the creation of the Senate’s first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus to call Congress’ attention to the many environmental justice issues affecting our nation.

The caucus will raise awareness of the many environmental and pollution issues that have created public health challenges, which disproportionately impact low income communities and communities of color, according to a news release.

The caucus will help those communities advocate for themselves with the federal government by providing expertise and assistance, generating legislation and organizing hearings and events.

It will also coordinate with the House Environmental Justice Task Force, which consists of members from the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Asian Pacific American Caucus.

“Every American has the right to breathe safe air, drink clean water and live on uncontaminated land regardless of their zip code, the size of their wallet and the color of their skin,” Sen. Duckworth said in the release.

However, she said, too often that is not the case, especially for low income communities and people of color.

“That’s why I’m proud to start the Senate’s first Environmental Justice Caucus to raise awareness of the fact that communities of color face public health challenges at alarming rates while too many in power look the other way,” said Duckworth, the Ranking Member of the Senate Fisheries, Water and Wildlife Subcommittee.

“Together, we will be strong advocates for every person’s right to a safe, healthy and livable environment,” she said.

Booker, the Ranking Member of the Senate Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight Subcommittee, said economic or social justice cannot be achieved without also addressing environmental justice.

“The fact that communities of color, low income communities, and indigenous communities across the country disproportionately face environmental hazards and harmful pollutants on a daily basis has been ignored for far too long,” Booker said.

Clean air and clean water shouldn’t be luxuries for the privileged, and the Environmental Justice Caucus is an important step toward raising awareness and taking action to address this injustice, he said.

Further, added Sen. Carper, the Constitution guarantees every American the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — but none of those things are possible without clean air to breathe and clean water to drink.

“The sad truth is that the meaningful progress we’ve made over decades to clean our air and water has not been distributed equally,” Carper said.

“A disproportionate number of lower-income, minority and indigenous communities across the country are in the path of pollution that degrades quality of life and puts human health at risk,” he said.

Carper, the Ranking Member of the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee, added that far too often, the concerns of these communities is addressed at a woefully inadequate pace, especially in comparison to more affluent communities with ample resources.

“That should not be the case.

I’m excited to co-found this caucus and confront this public health challenge, and I want to thank my EPW colleagues Senators Duckworth and Booker for their dedicated leadership,” he said.

House Environmental Justice Task Force Co-Founder, Rep. A. Donald McEachin, said environmental rights have been inaccessible for too long for rural and low-income communities and communities of color.

“That is why, last Congress, I co-founded the United for Climate and Environmental Justice task force with Congresswomen Jayapal and Barragán to shed greater light on these environmental injustices,” McEachin said.

“I am thrilled that the task force is now a bicameral initiative. Under the leadership of Senators Duckworth, Booker, and Carper, we will pursue climate and environmental justice together, and take action to mitigate the effects of climate change on our most vulnerable,” he said.

Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Reflects on the Civil Rights Legacy of Judge Damon Keith World/GovernmentNews

Washington, D.C. – Judge Damon Keith, the longest serving African-American federal judge in U.S. history, passed away at his home in Detroit, Michigan on April 28, 2019. A graduate of West Virginia State University, Judge Keith earned his law degree from Howard University and went on to obtain a Masters in Law from Wayne State University in Detroit. Appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967, Keith was promoted to the U.S. Court of Appeals by President Jimmy Carter in 1977.

As the civil rights community reflects on his legacy, Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Commit-

tee for Civil Rights Under Law, issued the following statement: “Judge Damon Keith stands as a jurist who, at every stage of his legal career, sought to safeguard principles that lie at the heart of democracy while ensuring equal justice under law for all. Judge Keith lived a life of service from his early years in the United States Army, to his time as a young attorney and later as one of the great judicial minds in our nation. As we mark the passing of this legal giant, we recognize his legacy on the forefront of the Civil Rights movement and his work to preserve the freedoms for all in our country in the name of racial justice. (continued in next 2 columns)

civil rights rulings includes, In Stamps v. Detroit, Edison, Judge Keith found that the utility company had practiced racial discrimination, ordered it to pay fines and institute an affirmative action program. In an effort to protect equal protection under the law, Judge Keith ruled that President George W. Bush could not hold deportation hearings for terrorism suspects behind doors in Detroit Free Press v. Ashcroft. Judge Keith, a fierce advocate for democracy and the rule of law later uttered a now famous phrase “democracy dies behind closed doors”.

Contact Reynolds Graves, Lawyers’ C o m m i t t e e , RGraves@LawyersCommittee.org, 202-662-8375

Black Family-Owned Business Introduces Fried Catfish Brand To 1,200 Grocery Stores Nationwide Joe's Gourmet has partnered with Inland Seafood to offer the ultimate fried catfish experience in more than 1,200 Food Lion locations nationwide Business/Consumer News

Family owners of Joe's Gourmet Nationwide (BlackNews.com) - Joe's Gourmet has proudly announced a partnership with Inland Seafood and the launch of a new product line now available in the seafood section in over 1,200 Food Lion locations. Based in Atlanta, the veteran-owned company is creating a major buzz nationwide. Together with Inland Seafood, a Georgia-based company that already operates an extensive distribution network in the U.S. Southeast, Joe's Gourmet it is now offering a co-branded and fully Sustainable Breaded Catfish featuring Joe's Gourmet Fish Fry. "Here at Joe's Gourmet, we take great pride in offering a delicious and all in one seafood breading mix that beats all the other breading mixes," said Joe Dowell, the company's founder. "We are simply offering the best fried Catfish you will ever taste and our growing number of customers are backing this claim with full confidence in our products," he added.

Joe's Gourmet has also been recently featured on ABC's Shark Tank where they were offered a deal by Daymond John.

In addition, the Joe's Gourmet products use a blend of herbs and spices to bring out the best in seafood without overpowering it with salt. Moreover, this tasty blend does not absorb oil and as a result, it gives a unique and delicious crispy crunch on the market's best sustainable catfish.

"It's the best of both worlds," said Joe, while talking about the company's recent partnership with Inland. "We bring a niche market of passionate fans while Inland brings marketing, manufacturing and distribution expertise.

Working with their team is a dream come true for our company," he added.

Joe's Gourmet is a family operated business started by Joseph Dowell III after his parents gifted him their life savings. Together, the Dowell Family is pushing this business towards success.

For more information, please send an email at maranda@joesgourmet.com Or to plae an order online, please visit the company website at www.joesgourmet.com

Project Connect event offers services to the homeless SB County News Homeless and low-income individuals and families can access a variety of supportive services and information during the Project Connect outreach event in Barstow on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, hosted by the San Bernardino County Homeless Partnership and collaborative partners.

The event will provide free medical screenings, legal services, housing support services, child care information and services, veteran services and more.

Additional information regarding other county services and resources will be available.

"Project Connect is a valuable resource for Barstow residents because it's difficult for the homeless population to access services in the outlying areas of our County," said Supervisor Dawn Rowe, whose Third District includes Barstow. "This event brings those services directly to rural residents where they can have the greatest impact."

"The homeless and those atrisk of becoming homeless often lack transportation and access to mainstream services," said County Office of Homeless Services Chief Tom Hernandez.

"This is what makes the Project Connect event, and other events that bring together providers and those seeking services to one lo-

cation, so vital to these individuals and the community."

Project Connect will be held on Wednesday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Barstow Church of God in Christ, located at 1375 Sage Dr. in Barstow.

Project Connect outreach events are held periodically throughout San Bernardino County to provide a centralized service delivery location where non-profit medical and social services providers can collaborate to best serve those in need.

For additional information on this or subsequent Project Connect outreach events, contact Deanna Luttrell at (909) 386-8225 or 7-1-1 for TTY users.

The San Bernardino County Homeless Partnership (SBCHP) works to develop countywide public and private partnerships and to coordinate services and resources to end homelessness in San Bernardino County. SBCHP is helping to achieve the Countywide Vision by working to create a sustainable system of community health, public safety, and housing. Information on the Countywide Vision, the San Bernardino County Homeless Partnership and the Community Development and Housing Agency can be found at www.sbcounty.gov.

Representative, Ilhan Omar (D-MN) speaking at a Hillary for MN event at the U of MN, October 2018. (Photo: Lorie Shaull / Wikimedia Commons) According to reports, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has beefed up security following the vicious attacks she’s received and even news reports that paint her as un-American.

What’s worse, the attacks stem from tweets made against her by President Donald Trump.

“The criticisms of Congresswoman Omar, what Trump has been saying about her, is reprehensible,” said New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, a Democratic presidential candidate.

“It is trafficking in Islamophobia, and should be condemned by everyone,” Booker said.

One of the first Muslim women to serve in Congress, Omar has come under repeated attack from the president and others, including Fox News as a result of her questioning America’s relationship with Israel.

“We will never forget,” Trump tweeted in all-capital letters recently, attaching a video that spliced together comments Omar made with footage of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.

Some media favorable to the president have also attacked Omar and despite death threats made against her, Trump has continued his assault by calling her –without any supporting evidence and against her denials – “anti-Semitic,” and “anti-Israel.”

Booker noted that Trump has also attacked other African American women leaders like California Rep. Maxine Waters.

“The kind of language this president uses, especially about black women in power, is toxic,” Booker said.

That Trump claims he’s not racist isn’t satisfactory, Booker said.

“It’s not enough to say, I’m not a racist. We must all be anti-racist,” he said.

The rhetoric by Trump and his allies against Omar have resulted in the Senator ramping up security, particularly as she’s received death threats.

Recently, a Rhode Island man allegedly threatened to “kill every Democrat in the world,” federal officials said.

Matthew Haviland, 30, of North Kingstown was charged after sending approximately 28 threatening emails on March 10 to a college professor, whose name and affiliation was withheld by federal officials. Haviland is facing federal threat charges and cyberstalking.

In an affidavit, FBI task force

officer Richard Laft, Jr. wrote that the professor told authorities Haviland’s “views regarding abortion and politics have become more extreme” within the last year.

The professor, who had been friends with Haviland for about 11 years, believed Haviland’s views changed because “of the way the news media portrays” President Donald Trump, Laft wrote.

Authorities said Omar was among the Democrats whom Haviland threatened to kill.

Latagia Copeland-Tyronce, a writer and journalist out of Detroit, said as a black woman and social justice advocate, she knows “all too well what it feels like to be attacked for speaking up and out.”

“And, as such, I believe that there should be a zero-tolerance policy in regards to our black representatives in Congress,” Copeland-Tyronce said.

“We, as a people, cannot allow our black leaders to be attacked for their advocacy. I am a proponent of freedom of speech and freedom of the press, however, abuse and racism crosses the line and should be called out when and where it rears its ugly head,” she said.

Dr. Omekongo Dibinga, an American University professor and director of Upstander International, said it’s imperative that all stand up to bigotry.

“We need to fight fire with facts.

I know that President Trump has ushered in the era of fake news and alternative facts, but I believe at the end of the day, the reality of his policies of lies and dissension will do him in, even with his followers as the effects of [Former President] Barack Obama’s positive economy begin to dwindle and they realized he never cared about them in the first place,” Dibinga said.

Shiwon Oh of Sogang University in Seoul, South Korea, said Trump’s presidency exposes a racist underbelly of America that has always been there from the beginning.

“He just gave validation to their opinions and beliefs that its influence is now seeping into mainstream media channels like Fox News,” Oh said.

“All people can do is continue countering the lies with facts, voicing their opposition to racial oppression, and urging their communities to be on the right side of history, even if it means being ridiculed by some,” she said.

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 4

May 2, 2019

HEALTH/FITNESS/SENIOR NEWS

Mailing Colorectal Cancer Screening Kits Found Effective, Regardless of Financial Incentive Roughly a quarter of patients overdue for screening mailed the completed kits back within two months.

Penn News Service

A DIY colorectal cancer screening kit Shivan Mehta, MD, MBA PHILADELPHIA – Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the United States, and just six out of 10 adults in the age range recommended for routine screening—50 to 75—reported having it done in 2015. When patients do not keep up with screening, the risk of death is substantially higher, so Penn Medicine researchers, investigating a new way to boost screening among those who were overdue, found a high number of patients completed at-home screening tests when they were mailed directly to them, regardless of whether they were provided a financial incentive. The results of the study are detailed in a paper published in JAMA Network Open.

The researchers found that roughly 24 percent of patients mailed back completed kits within two months of receiving them, and 29 percent did so within six months.

“This is a relatively high response rate for screening since we only reached out to patients who had not been previously upto-date, despite having a primary care clinician,” said lead author Shivan Mehta, MD, MBA, associate chief innovation officer at Penn Medicine and an assistant professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Traditionally, colonoscopies

Screening kit mailed directly to patient have almost exclusively been offered by some doctors as a screening tool for colorectal cancer. But Mehta and his collaborators, who study behavioral economics—a concept that takes people’s psychology and decision-making tendencies into account to improve health behavior—thought simpler methods might increase low rates of screening, as a complement to colonoscopies. As such, use of fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kits, which can be completed by the patient at home, was explored.

“We believe that mailing kits directly to patients, which frames participation as the default, reduced steps in the screening process, making it easier for patients to get screened and catch colorectal cancer earlier or even potentially prevent it from occurring,” said the study’s senior author, Chyke Doubeni, MD, MPH, also a Penn Medicine professor.

Nearly 900 patients between the ages of 50 and 75 were selected for the study through the electronic health record from December 2015 to July 2017 using an automated algorithm. All of the patients identified were overdue for colorectal cancer screening, meaning they hadn’t had a colonoscopy in 10 years, a flexible sigmoidoscopy in five years, or stool testing in the last year.

Every patient was mailed a FIT

Leading ALS Researcher Shares Optimism on Finding a Cure Every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed with ALS Health/Fitness News

WHAT: You’ve heard of the Ice Bucket Challenge, but “Do You Know ALS?” This May, ALS Awareness Month, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Dr. Matthew Harms are shedding light on the disease that affects 400,000 people worldwide, with an individual being diagnosed every 90 minutes with no cure. However, this is a time of unprecedented promise for people ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, with specialized care centers helping people with ALS live longer and improving the quality of their lives along with two FDAapproved drugs that can affect the course of this disease.

Dr. Matthew Harms and Lynn O’Connor Vos can discuss research breakthroughs, advancements in care, the importance of collaboration and how with everyone working together this disease can be defeated.

Since 1950, MDA has invested more than $160 million in ALS research. The organization supports patients at 150 Care Centers, 48 of which are dedicated MDA ALS Care Centers throughout the US and currently has 52 active ALS grants totaling $12.2 million. A list of MDA ALS Care Centers can be seen in more detail here.

WHO/WHERE: Dr. Matthew Harms, Associate Professor of Neurology at Columbia University, via satellite Lynn O’Connor Vos, President & CEO, Muscular Dystrophy As-

sociation, via satellite WHEN: Thursday, May 2, 2019 from 6:30 AM – 11:00 AM EST B-roll is available.

Note to producers, editors, and hosts: For more information on interview opportunities please contact Brendan O’Connell at 301661-0022 or by e-mail at boconnell@straussmedia.com.

ABOUT THE SPOKESPEOPLE: Dr. Matthew Harms, Associate Professor of Neurology at Columbia University, received his A.B. in Biology summa cum laude from Harvard University in 1997, and his medical doctorate from the University of California San Francisco in 2003. He is a leading researcher within the neuromuscular disease, and in particular, ALS. Lynn O’Connor Vos, President & CEO of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, is a former pediatric nurse and an industry veteran credited with helping transform the marketing of healthcare.

She is committed to accelerating treatments, cures and care together for every MDA family.

ABOUT Muscular Dystrophy Association: Started in 1950, MDA has invested $160 million in ALS research, currently supports 48 designated MDA ALS Care Centers throughout the United States and has 52 active grants for $12.2 million.

CDPH Urges Californians Traveling Internationally to be Fully Vaccinated against Measles Health News SACRAMENTO - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today urged Californians to make sure they are protected against measles. Vaccination is especially critical for those who plan to travel internationally.

In 2019 to date, there have been 38 cases of measles in California.

This is an increase of 15 cases from last week, and compares with 11 cases at this time in 2018. Of the 2019 cases, 14 cases were in international travelers, 22 cases were due to spread from travelers to persons in California, and 2 (continued in next 2 columns)

kit from their primary care provider, and encouraged to complete the test and send it back within two months.

Four different groups were randomly assigned as part of the study. The control group received only the kit, while each of the others had a different financial incentive. One group received a kit and a $10 gift card to a national pharmacy store that was provided regardless of participation. In another group, patients received a FIT kit and the promise of a $10 gift card to the pharmacy if they mailed the completed kit back. The last group were informed that they would be entered into a lottery with a one in 10 chance of winning $100 in cash if they returned the completed kit.

Each of these incentives have an expected value of $10, but none performed statistically significantly better than the control group. Other studies in behavioral economics have shown that people may respond at a higher rate to larger incentives or lotteries: for instance, one involving Mehta that offered patients $100 to get a colonoscopy, and another that showed higher completion rates when a lottery incentive offered. But the financial incentives did not work this time.

“This newest study highlights that framing and context of incentives can be just as important as

the dollar value of incentives, which is consistent with the principles of behavioral economics,” Mehta said.

More studies investigating how these principles might affect colorectal cancer screening rates are ongoing. One is looking into the way clinicians offer the choice of colonoscopy and stool testing, since most outreach only focuses on one or the other. Researchers are also looking into how text messaging and online patient portals can be used to more efficiently communicate with patients about testing. Dr. Mehta also received a grant from the National Cancer Institute to support a program that applies behavioral economics to population-based colorectal cancer screening (K08CA234326).

This research was funded by a Health Research Formula Grant through the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and partly by grants received from the National Cancer Center Institute of the National Institutes of Health (K08CA234326, R01CA213645).

Other Penn co-authors include Rebecca Pepe, Nicole Gabler, Mounika Kanneganti, Catherine Reitz, Chelsea Saia, Joseph Teel, David A. Asch, and Kevin G. Volpp.

CDPH Urges Californians Traveling Internationally to be Fully Vaccinated against Measles...continued cases are of unknown source.

Measles is currently widespread in many countries.

“Vaccination is the only way to ensure you and your family members will not get measles,” said State Public Health Officer and CDPH Director Dr. Karen Smith.

“Many countries are currently experiencing widespread measles activity. Make sure you and your family are fully vaccinated before travelling internationally, and contact your healthcare provider immediately if anyone develops a rash and a fever while you are abroad, or when you return.”

The international travel associated with the 2019 California cases include India, Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and the Ukraine.

“Overall, California has a relatively high vaccination rate for measles,” said Dr. Smith. “Approximately 95 percent of all children entering kindergarten in California have received the necessary two doses of measles vaccine. Our vaccination rates have helped to stop the spread of measles in California. However, as evidenced by the outbreaks to

date, the remaining unvaccinated and under vaccinated Californians are at risk. Vaccination is the best way to stop the spread of this highly contagious and serious virus.”

Individuals returning from international travel should call their healthcare provider for advice and avoid contact with other people if measles symptoms develop.

Measles begins with a fever that lasts for several days, followed by a cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis (red eye) and a rash. The rash typically appears first on the face, along the hairline, and behind the ears and then affects the rest of the body. Infected people are usually contagious from about 4 days before their rash starts to 4 days afterwards.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations and guidance for measles vaccination can be found here.https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html California data on measles is updated weekly and can be found here.https://www.cdph.ca.gov/ Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Imm u n i z a t i o n / measles.aspxwww.cdph.ca.gov

Discrimination against natural hair motivates Atlanta stylist to create hair care brand By Sierra Porter

Chimere Faulk (Photo by: Kelley Raye) When Atlanta natural hair stylist Chimere Faulk heard about Chasity Jones’ discrimination case, and similar stories, it moved her to create her natural hair care brand Dr. Locs.

African American hairstyles have been a huge topic of debate in corporate America for a long time. Not only have there been issues in the workplace, but also

in schools and other places in society.

On May 14, 2018, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to consider a lawsuit filed against Catastrophe Management Solutions (CMS) for allegedly discriminating against Jones for her dreadlocks. (continued in next 2 columns)

Discrimination against natural hair motivates Atlanta stylist to create hair care brand...continued Jones claimed the company refused to hire her unless she cut off her dreadlocks.

According to Jones, after arriving for an in-person interview, she was offered the job by CMS’ HR manager, Jeannie Wilson, who told her that CMS could not hire her because of her dreadlocks, with the reason being “they tend to get messy.”

At the time, CMS had a hairstyle policy about employee’s hair that stated: “hairstyle should reflect a business/professional image” and that “[n]o excessive hairstyles or unusual colors are acceptable.”

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit on behalf of Jones for allegedly subjecting her to racial discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 U.S. The law prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex, race, color, national original, and religion. The law also applies to employers with 15 or more employees, including federal, state, and local governments.

The EEOC says race doesn’t have a biological definition and is a social construct, as well as race, is not defined or limited by immutable characteristics. EEOC alleged that race could also encompass: “cultural characteristics related to race or ethnicity,” including “grooming practices”; and that even though some non-Black people’s hair texture can lock, “dreadlocks are nonetheless a racial characteristic, just as skin color is a racial characteristic.”

Faulk, a mother of two, says that she has also been on the receiving end of discrimination for her hair. She recalls a time she was confronted by an older Black woman who was a secretary at the company she was hired.

“She pulled me into the office randomly and told me that she thinks I would go further in the company if I permed my hair,” Faulk said. “I was younger, and

she’s an older woman, so I didn’t want to be disrespectful, but I did take offense to that, so I’ll never forget it.”

Based on her experience and the experience of others, Faulk created Dr. Locs to cater to natural hair and dreadlocks. She started by mixing formulas in her Natural Hair Lady Studio back in 2013 and emerged with a viable product to sell in 2015.

A hair stylist since high school, Faulk says she would braid hair at her uncle’s barbershop.

“I started in 2000, and in 2007 I started managing a natural hair salon here in Atlanta, and I was doing that for about six years,” Faulk said. “I branded myself in my salon as the natural hair lady.”

Having a large clientele of dreadlock wearers, Faulk says that she even her clients “cup” their locs in wigs before going into work. Also, parents were urging their children not to go natural, fearing they wouldn’t be able to get a job.

“There’s a lot of hidden lawsuits that are going on that we don’t know about, but I know because I hear them,” said Faulk. “They can’t make it public because people are giving hush money.

We’ve been dealing with this for a long time.”

The first set of Dr. Locs bottles had 75 orders in 2015. In 2016, Faulk made $40,000, and now she’s made over $150,000 in profit.

Faulk sold her Dr. Locs product online via Etsy. Six months later, she wanted to close down the site until a stranger emailed her and told Faulk that she and her husband loved her pre-cleanser.

“It encouraged me that I’m doing something good and someone’s watching me,” Faulk said.

Faulk says that she continues to recognize an issue that Black people with natural hair face in the workplace.

“I saw a problem, and I created a solution,” Faulk said.

This article originally appeared in the Atlanta Voice.

Blue Shield Of California Wants To Go Big On Going Small And Diverse Company AIMS TO TRIPLE SPEND WITH DIVERSE SUPPLIERS OVER NEXT 5 YEARS Health/Fitness News

Oakland, CA (April 29, 2019) – Blue Shield of California has set new targets to dramatically increase the amount of business it does with suppliers of goods and services from diverse businesses, including those owned by minorities, women, disabled veterans and the LGBT community.

“If our mission is to provide quality affordable healthcare worthy of our family and friends and sustainably affordable, then we must also do our share to make a greater impact in the communities where we operate and live,” said Pradip Khemani, Senior Director of Global Business Services at Blue Shield of California.

Blue Shield’s target for diverse supplier spend is 12 per cent of its procurement budget by 2023, up from about four percent in 2018.

This means millions of dollars in incremental economic opportunities for these business owners compared to $28 million in supplier diversity spend in 2018.

Blue Shield purchases a vast array of services in their regular operations, and the following are the top categories: 1.

Professional Services such as event planning, catering, language translations, etc.

2.

Advertising and Marketing including promotional items 3.

Consulting 4.

I n f o r m a t i o n Technology 5.

Human Resources 6.

Facilities

7.

Office Supplies Joe Partida of Partida Benefits, a local of Blue Shield, “It was great to have the opportunity to host this breakfast and I hope the upcoming Blue Shield move to Oakland allows me to sell more coverage.”

Suppliers who wish to do business with Blue Shield and are certified or working to obtain certification as a diverse supplier will be given key consideration during the procurement process.

To learn more about Blue Shield’s Supplier Diversity program, visit the Supplier Diversity page under Corporate Citizenship page at h t t p s : / / w w w. b l u e s h i e l d c a . c o m / about.

About Blue Shield of Calif o r n i a Blue Shield of California, an independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is a nonprofit health plan with 4 million members, 6,800 employees and more than $17 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 and headquartered in San Francisco, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare health care service plans in California. The company’s mission is to ensure all Californians have access to high-quality care at an affordable price. Blue Shield has contributed more than $450 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation sinc

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 5 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20190005104 Date Filed: 4/24/2019 Filing Expires On: 4/24/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): WALLIE DAWGZ MOBILE CATERING County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: Mailing Address: 13835 OCHRE LN. VICTORVILLE, CA 92394 Name of Individual Registrant: WALTER J. ORELLANA 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: 13835 OCHRE LN. VICTORVILLE, CA 92394 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 Walter Orellana, 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 May 2, 9, 16, 23, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20190004400 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 4/09/2019 Began Transacting Business: N.A Filing Expires On: 4/09/2024 Business is Conducted By: A Corporation Fictitious Business Name(s): STOP 5 MARKET Business Address: 1505 WEST 9TH STREET SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92411 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Registrant(s)Address: DFFM, INC. P.O. BOX 1153 SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92402 A1#:3748377 State: CA Signature/Officer Title: Dan’l Mhana, Ceo

BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. 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 April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20190004319 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 4/08/2019 Began Transacting Business: N/A Filing Expires On: 4/08/2024 Business is Conducted By: An Individual Fictitious Business Name(s): MS AUTO SALES Business Address: 517 N. MOUNTAIN AVE. UPLAND, CA 91786 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Mailing Address: 1838 W. 146TH ST. APT. #C GARDENA, CA 90249 Registrant(s)Address: DAVID E. CARDENAS 517 N. MOUNTAIN AVE. UPLAND, CA 91786 Signature/Officer Title: David Cardenas

BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. 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 April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20190004487 Date Filed: 4/10/19 Filing Expires On: 4/10/2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): ONT LOGISTICS & WAREHOUSING County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 739 E. FRANCIS ST. ONTARIO, CA 91761 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: AFFORDABLE PLASTICS & PACKAGING, INC. State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No.: 45-5235967 Residence Street Address: 739 E. FRANCIS ST. ONTARIO, CA 91761 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 1, 2019 Rene Villalpando, 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 April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20190004278 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 4/05/2019 Began Transacting Business: N/A Filing Expires On: 4/05/2024 Business is Conducted By: An Individual Fictitious Business Name(s): GDL SHIRTS Business Address: 15572 NAPLES LN. VICTORVILLE, CA 92394 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Registrant(s)Address: JORGE A. VEGA 15572 NAPLES LN. VICTORVILLE, CA 92394 Signature/Officer Title: Jorge A. Vega, Owner

BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913

May 2, 2019

LEGALS/CLASSIFIEDS/NEWS of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. 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 April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20190004543 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 4/11/2019 Began Transacting Business: N/A Filing Expires On: 4/11/2024 Business is Conducted By: A Limited Liability Company Fictitious Business Name(s): RANCHO PHARMACY Business Address: 8237 ROCHESTER AVE., STE. 140 RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Registrant(s)Address: AHCS RANCHO PHARMACY, LLC 14039 SAN SEGUNDO DR. RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91739 A1#: 201907910088 State: CA Signature/Officer Title: Rajnis V. Jasani, Vice President

BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. 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 April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20190004398 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 4/09/2019 Began Transacting Business: N/A Filing Expires On: 4/09/2024 Business is Conducted By: A Corporation Fictitious Business Name(s): CALIFORNIA CLEANING SERVICE Business Address: 1505 1/2 WEST 9TH STREET SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92411 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Registrant(s)Address: DFFM, INC. P.O. BOX 1153 SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92402 A1#: 3748377 State: CA Signature/Officer Title: Dan’l Mhana, Ceo

BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) NOTICE - IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. 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 April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 2019.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVVS 1900205 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: SAMANTHA PIZZO filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a.

SAMANTHA PIZZO to Proposed name: SAMANTHA SPEAKS 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: 6/12/19 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: V15 SUPERIOR COURT 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: April 26, 2019 Judge Lisa Rogan Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper May 2, 9, 16, 23, 2019

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVDS 1902449 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: ISAIAH EDWARD BARNESCISNEROS filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. ISAIAH EDWARD BARNES-CISNEROS to Proposed name: ISAIAH EDWARD ABREGO 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: 6/11/19 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: S17 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO, San Bernardino District-Civil Division 247 West Third Street San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 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: January 24, 2019 Michael A. Sachs Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 2019.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVDS 1908546 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: EVELYN THERESA PEREDA VILLANUEVA filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. EVELYN THERESA PEREDA VILLANUEVA to Proposed name: ELLA CROSS 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: 5/28/19 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: S17 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Bernardino San Bernardino District-Civil Division 247 West Third Street San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 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: Michael A. Sachs Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 2019

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVVS 1900180 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: YUREM N. RAMIREZ filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a.

LERI HERNANDEZ to Proposed name: LERI FRANCISCO RAMIREZ 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: 6/19/19 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: V15 SUPERIOR COURT 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: April 12, 2019 Judge Lisa Rogan Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 2019

PETITION/PROBATE

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE (Probate-Decedents’ Estates) Notice Of Petition to Administer Estate Of: GWENDOLYN M. HUGHES Case Number: PROPS 1900257 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: GWENDOLYN

M. HUGHES A Petition for Probate has been filed by: PETER J. HUGHES in the Superior Court of California, County of: SAN BERNARDINO The Petition for Probate requests that PETER J. HUGHES be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

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: May 9, 2019 Time: 8:30 a.m.

Dept:: S37 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO, 247 WEST THIRD STREET San Bernardino Justice Center -Probate Division SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92415-0212 Main/ Central 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 personal 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 DE-154) 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: Guay P. Wilson 14 N. Eighth St. (P.O.Box 166) Redlands, CA 92373 Telephone: (909)793-2044 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper April 18, 25, May 2, 2019.

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE (Probate-Decedents’ Estates) Notice Of Petition to Administer Estate Of: LELAND J. LUTZ Case Number: PROPS 1900281 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: LELAND J.

LUTZ A Petition for Probate has been filed by: KAREN BENBROOK in the Superior Court of California, County of: SAN BERNARDINO The Petition for Probate requests that KAREN BENBROOK be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

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: May 14, 2019 Time: 8:30 a.m.

Dept:: S35 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO, 247 WEST THIRD STREET San Bernardino Justice Center - Probate Division SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92415-0212 Main/ Central 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 personal 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 DE-154) 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: Guay P. Wilson 14 N. Eighth St. , P.O. Box 166 Redlands, CA 92373 Telephone: (909)793-2044 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper April 18, 25, May 2, 2019.

SUMMONS

SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): CIVDS1827756 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): AMY A AMICO AKA AMY ANN MCKENZIE, YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

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

There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away.

If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service.

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

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su

respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro.

Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO, 247 West Third St., San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff's attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): REESE LAW GROUP, Harlan M. Reese, Esq., (Bar# 118226), 3168 Lionshead Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92010; 760/8425850 (File No. 558407) DATE (Fecha): OCT 23 2018 Clerk (Secretario), by Karina Venegas, Deputy (Adjunto) (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served 1. as an individual defendant.

4/25, 5/2, 5/9, 5/16/19 CNS-3245199# THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN

SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): CIVDS1824472 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): ANTOLINO DORADO JR YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

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

There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away.

If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service.

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

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

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro.

Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una

concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO, 247 West Third St, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff's attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): REESE LAW GROUP, Shiv Samtani, Esq., (Bar #320822), 3168 Lionshead Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92010; 760/8425850 (File No. 558049) DATE (Fecha): SEP 14 2018 Clerk (Secretario), by Danielle Paris, Deputy (Adjunto) (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served 1. as an individual defendant.

4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2/19 CNS-3240831# THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN

$40.00 TO PUBLISH

Notice Of Sale Of Real Property At Private Sale IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAN BERNARDINO DISTRICTPROBATE DIVISION IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO

YOUR

In the matter of the Conservatorship of the Person and Estate of,

FBN

RUBY N. LAKE aka RUBY NELL LAKE aka RUBY LAKE, Conservatee.

CASE No.: CONPS 1800262 NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL PROPERTY AT PRIVATE SALE (Probate Code sections 10304, 10306, 10312) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on or after May 15, 2019, PHYLLIS M. TINER, the duly appointed and acting Conservator of the Person and Estate of RUBY N. LAKE aka RUBY NELL LAKE aka RUBY LAKE, will sell at private sale to the highest and best bidder under the terms and conditions hereinafter mentioned, subject to confirmation by the above-entitled Superior Court, all the right, title, interest and the Conservatee’s interest in and to that certain real property located in the City of San Bernardino, County of San Bernardino, State of California, and is commonly known as 5094 Louise Street, San Bernardino, California 92407, whose parcel number is 0154504-05-0-000.

The property is improved real property. Sale will be subject to current taxes, covenants, conditions, restrictions, reservations, rights, rights of way and easements of record.

The property is to be sold on an “as is” basis, except as to title.

All bids or offers must be in writing and will be received at the office of HARTNELL LAW GROUP, A Professional Corporation, 25757 Redlands Boulevard, Redlands, California 923738453, or may be filed with the clerk of said Superior Court delivered to said Special Administrator personally, at any time after the first publication of this notice and before the making of said sale.

The terms and conditions of sale are: Cash or part cash and part credit, the terms of such credit to be acceptable to the undersigned and to the court. Ten percent (10%) of the amount bid to accompany the offer, and the balance to be paid promptly following confirmation of sale by the court.

Taxes, rents, operating and maintenance expenses, and premiums on insurance acceptable to the purchaser shall be prorated as of the date of recording of the conveyance. The cost of a standard form owner’s policy of title insurance, one-half (1/2) the escrow fee, and other escrow expenses customarily paid by the seller in a real estate sales transaction in San Bernardino County, California, shall be paid by the seller. One-half (1/2) the escrow fee, all costs of obtaining financing from a third party for part of the purchase price, the additional cost of title insurance for special endorsements or extended coverage beyond that of a standard form owner’s policy of title insurance, any lender required inspections or repairs, and all other expenses of escrow customarily charged to the buyer in a real estate sales transaction in San Bernardino County, California, shall be at the expense of the buyer.

The undersigned reserves the right to reject any and all bids prior to entry of an order confirming the sale.

DATED: April 23, 2019 HARTNELL LAW GROUP A Professional Corporation By: BRYAN C. HARTNELL Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper May 2, 2019.

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For Latest Editions: SB-American.com

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Aug. 1 is deadline to file with Riverside County for unclaimed property tax refunds Owners of residential or business property in Riverside County have until Aug. 1 to file for unclaimed property tax refunds.

Board of Supervisors Chair Kevin Jeffries and Treasurer-Tax Collector Jon Christensen issued the reminder today to give taxpayers sufficient time to file for refunds and not be caught short by the deadline. Filing instructions and a list of all unclaimed property tax refunds from tax year 2014 and prior are available on the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s website at: http:// w w w. c o u n t y t r e a s u r e r. o r g / Ta x C o l l e c t o r / UnclaimedMoney/ PropertyTaxUnclaimedRefund.aspx Christensen reports that 567 refunds totaling $486,466.57 remain unclaimed. Most refunds stem from valuation reductions by the county Assessor and are related to corrections or cancellations to the tax roll after taxes were already paid. Under California law, property tax refunds unclaimed for four years after the payment date – or one year after a requested claim form has been mailed back to a taxpayer by the county, whichever is later – may be transferred to the county general fund by order of the Board of Supervisors. After Aug. 1, any unclaimed money shifts to the general fund and can no longer be claimed.

Completed claim forms and supporting documentation should be emailed to PropTaxUnclaimed@rivco.org or mailed to: Riverside County Treasurer-Tax Collector Attn: Property Tax Unclaimed Refunds P.O. Box 12005 Riverside, CA 92502-2205

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 6

May 2, 2019

LOCAL/NATIONAL NEWS

Growing Awareness: Climate Change and California’s Crops California agriculture will have no silver bullets in a fight to survive global warming Avatar Published on April 22, 2019 By Larry Buhl

Animal House Project Helps Low Income Families Feed Their Animals Local/National News

California Climate Change Last month the U.S. Drought Monitor declared California drought-free for the first time since 2011, thanks to a series of winter storms. But the long-term prognosis is for more droughts and severe weather, which will profoundly affect state agriculture. While farmers and lawmakers are taking notice, few see an immediate threat.

However, a 2018 report published by Agronomy, a peer-reviewed, open access scientific journal, laid out a stark future for California agriculture, predicting it will be vastly different by the end of the century. Led by Tapan Pathak of the University of California, Merced, the research team concluded that almost all of California’s crops, together valued at more than $50 billion a year, will be endangered by rising temperatures and unstable weather patterns brought by climate change. The state will face wildly fluctuating precipitation patterns, leading to severe droughts and flooding, warming temperatures, more heat waves, and shorter chill seasons. The researchers wrote that the increased rate and scale of climate change “is beyond the realm of experience for the agricultural community,” and that changes in the state’s crop output “would not only translate into national food security issues, but also economic impacts that could disrupt state and national commodity systems.”

The report published on the Agronomy site is the latest evidence of threats facing California agriculture due to climate change, and those threats could have reverberations throughout the country and the world. California produces 13 percent of the crops in the U.S. and is nearly the nation’s sole producer (more than 99 percent) of walnuts, dates, figs, artichokes, pomegranates, peaches, grapes and kiwifruit.

At one “listening conference” held last year in San Diego County by the California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN), farmers and ranchers said they’re already feeling the

A California wheat field effects of climate change in the form of heat waves and uncertain harvest dates, said CalCAN executive director Renata Brillinger.

The growers were looking for recommendations, rather than strict mandates, about what they should plant.

It requires a gallon of water to grow a single almond.

“We’re at a moment of clarity across the agriculture industry and the state regarding climate change,” said Brillinger. “After the deepest drought in the state’s history, plus two years of wildfires, there have been many wakeup calls.” * * * Medium- and small-scale farmers are asking for tools to help them better forecast wild swings in weather, Brillinger added. She pointed to one promising response, the “Ag Adaption Tools” bill (Assembly Bill 409), which would establish a grant program to develop easy-to-use computer modeling that would help farmers decide which crops are best suited to their areas. The bill also provides strategies for diversification, plus peer-to-peer training and networking.

Brillinger and others acknowledge that the exact effects of climate change will vary by region, making it difficult for the state to enact sweeping legislation. Farmers, however, while concerned about the long-term effects of climate change, aren’t making plans to change the crops they grow or the way they grow them, at least not yet.

Eric Larson, executive director of the San Diego County Farm Bureau, told Capital & Main that, while Southern California has experienced warmer than normal weather, long-term climate change is not as important to farmers as short-term costs: how much they’ll get for crops and the cost of water.

“For those who use municipal water, which is very stable due to a broad portfolio of sources in San Diego County, farmers are worried about going out of business

Heated Charter School Debates Ignore One Key Fact: Black Students Are Underperforming In Our Schools

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

Photo By: Khiry Malik, Roland Martin takes questions from a town hall attendee directed to the panelist.

Apricot blooms: Going, going . . . ? (Photo: Satynek)

A “thirsty” almond orchard in California. (Photo: Bn100)

if the price of water keeps rising beyond what they can afford,” explained Larson.

High value crops – apricots, apples, cherries and pears – are, according to one report, the most vulnerable to climate change and could disappear from the San Joaquin Valley.

Last year the state’s Natural Resources Agency published a climate adaptation guide, with advice for farmers on anticipating declines in water quality, decreases in crop yields and the growing threat of pests. But there’s general agreement—even from fierce water management advocates—that it’s not the state’s job to tell farmers what to plant or where.

Low-value crops, like alfalfa and cotton, yield a low price per acre, and tend to be very “thirsty.” Ironically, the high value crops – fruits and nuts – are, according to the Agronomy-published report, the most vulnerable to climate change. Combined, those effects will make swaths of the San Joaquin Valley no longer viable for growing tree fruits like apricots, apples, cherries and pears.

The sustainability of growing almonds, in particular, has come into question in recent years. It requires a gallon of water to grow a single almond. California provides 80 percent of the world’s supply of almonds, and in 2016 the crop was estimated to be worth more than $5 billion.

Peter Gleick, president emeritus at the Pacific Institute, said farmers won’t change until they experience several back-to-back bad years, or unless the state intervenes, which it is unlikely to do.

Gleick recommends a multi-faceted approach to helping farmers adapt.

“Changing crop subsidies at the federal level would be very effective,” he said. “We planted a lot of cotton for a long time until cotton subsidies were cut back.”

Gleick also recommends grants for irrigation technology and lowinterest loans as part of state or

federal farm bills, as well as state funding for water infrastructure upgrades.

While California likely won’t tell farmers where and what to plant, it could force their hand by telling them how much water they can use. That’s where a law with potentially the greatest impact on agriculture comes in. Passed in the middle of a drought in 2014, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires local agencies to develop plans to bring groundwater use to sustainable levels by the early 2040s.

“Some of the changes needed with be hard and expensive — a problem for many small farmers.”

It may also require land to come out of production, especially in the southern San Joaquin Valley, Brillinger said. “Farmers in the Valley are in a tough place with reduced surface water allocations and, soon, restrictions on groundwater use. Creative and multiple solutions will be needed.”

Marcia DeLonge, a senior scientist in the Food and Environment Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists, agrees about multiple solutions, and recommends using the carrot approach, rather than the stick, to help farmers adapt.

“Some of the changes needed with be hard and expensive, and that’s a problem for many small farmers who are already operating on the margins,” DeLonge said.

One response that has near unanimous support from both policy advocates and farmers who have tried it is the Healthy Soils Program from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. It provides funding for farmers working to reduce greenhouse gasses and offers them adaptive strategies for farming in a changing climate.

There is no single way forward.

In dealing with climate change, farmers and policymakers need to use more than one tool at a time, DeLonge said. “There’s not going to be a silver bullet.”

Heated Charter School Debates Ignore One Key Fact: Black Students Are Underperforming In Our Schools...continued guage arts requirements.

On top of that, nearly 68 percent of all African-American students in California perform below their grade level in English and language arts. In math, about 80 percent of Black students fail to meet the state’s proficiency mark.

Black children are also three times more likely than Whites to be suspended for similar behaviors, according to a report by San Diego State University’s Community College Equity Lab and UCLA’s Black Male Institute.

When it comes to getting admitted to a California State University or University of California school, only 22 percent of Black high school seniors graduate from schools where a majority of their racial group passes the required courses.

“The critical question is not being asked: ‘what is best for our children?,’” said Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), a member of the Assembly Education committee.

She was speaking at a hearing held earlier this month on three charter school bills – AB 1505, AB 1506 and AB 1507 – before her colleagues voted to move them out of committee. The package of legislation would place significant restrictions on charter schools, if the full legislature passes them and Gov. Gavin Newsom signs them.

Then, last week, the Senate Education Committee voted in favor of another charter school bill.

This one, SB 756, would place a (continued on page 6)

Assemblymember Holden Introduces Resolution On PG&E’s Bankruptcy Local/National News

Photo By: Russell Stiger Jr.: Town hall panelist Dr. Margaret Fortune, President/CEO, Fortune School, Larry Lee, Publisher, The Sacramento Observer, Dr.Romel Antoine, Director Regulatory Affairs, California Charter Schools AssociationHazel Mahone, Professor Emeritus, Sacramento State University and, Pastor Tecoy Porter, President of National Action Network, Sacramento Chapter at Is School Choice is the Black Choice? Hosted by Roland Martin April 23 at the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Sacramento.

African-American children are California’s lowest performing group of students, only above students with special needs. Only 2 percent of Black kids in the state attend schools that are considered “high performing.” And only

10 majority African-American schools, located mostly in hardto-count, high-poverty census tracts around the Bay Area and Los Angeles, score, on average, above the state math and lan(continued in next 2 columns)

Sacramento, CA – Assemblymember Chris Holden introduced Assembly Concurrent Resolution 78, to express the will of the legislature in PG&E’s bankruptcy proceedings. The resolution has 21 coauthors.

“PG&E’s bankruptcy will have a ripple effect that impacts everyone across the state,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden.

“There is a lot at stake, and we want to make clear that the outcome must prioritize victims, ratepayers, and any reorganization of PG&E should not jeopardize the state’s safety, energy re-

liability, and climate change goals.”

The resolution also expresses that it is the will of the Legislature for the California Public Utilities Commission and any other entities representing the state of California involved in the court proceeding to ensure that damages to fire victims, where PG&E is determined to be responsible, are resolved equitably, that PG&E’s rank and file employees continue to receive wages, and that PG&E’s executive compensations be restricted. (continued in next 2 columns)

MaryBeth Yannessa President of Animal House Project was a guest recently WWDB 860 "Interesting People" radio show.

She was interviewed by Sarah Walker, who is also associate producer of the show.

She reported on how to donate and volunteer at Animal House Project, upcoming golf events, and how the charity benefits families and their animals. To donate or

volunteer check out their website "http:// animalhouseproject.org/" The radio show is produced by Joe Ball, who has been creating interview radio shows in the area for about 30 years. He is founder and owner of phillybizmedia.com. There is no cost for guests to be interviewed.

To be interviewed call 484562-0063.

Assemblymember Holden Introduces Resolution On PG&E’s Bankruptcy...continued “Our wildfire issues are not going away, which is why we must lay out our foundation of prin-

ciples in order to effectively and prudently guide decisions related to PG&E and its future.”

PAL Center Hosts The State of Youth Employment Event...continued from page 2 our youth and provide opportunities for them to succeed. Mr. Stan “Amini” Futch from the Westside Action Group explained the importance and need to have a resource database. He stated that we should have various events to keep up the momentum and bring in more resources for San Bernardino and its youth.

PAL Charter Academy showed a school video where it highlighted their student work. It also showed the real-time work with youth that had graduated from one of their programs.

The video expressed how the morale and life skills for these students could be taken with them professionally. Several enrolled students at the PAL Charter Academy talked about their academic success, their involvement in ASB, the Upward Bound Program, and other involvement at the school that led them to suc-

cess that they never thought they would achieve.

The milestone event also provided a lot of other resources and information that could benefit the youth in San Bernardino. The event was very positive, motivating, and it supported the continued need to work together.

The landmark occurrence concluded with an opportunity for all of the audience members to comment and express their thoughts.

Many participants described the event became more personal when an added theme was tied to the overall message of the event.

It opened the door for many to make sure that they connect with as many other organizations and programs as possible to strengthen our services and employment for our youth in San Bernardino and outside of the city.

Thank you for your support!

Wells Fargo Awards $15,000 Grant for Workforce Training and Development Program Local/National News San Bernardino, CA (April 30,2019): The Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy (YVYLA) is pleased to announce receipt of a $15,000 grant from the Wells Fargo 2019 Grants Program.

Funds from this grant will be for our Workforce Training and Development Center located inside the CAPSBC facilities. As one of the nation's leading logistics hubs, San Bernardino County is experiencing significant job growth as distribution centers and warehouses for such giants as Amazon, FedEx Ground, Toyota Motor Corporation and Lineage Logistics advertise hundreds of jobs each week. Many of these job opportunities are going unfilled due to the lack of trained and experienced workers.

Through collaboration with the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC), Board of State and Community Corrections and Wells Fargo, YVYLA's Workforce Training and Development Center will help fill the local workforce skills gap by providing hands-on training and experience in supply chain logistics.

Participants in the Workforce Training and Development Program will learn the process of planning, implementing, and controlling the efficient, cost-effective flow and storage of raw materials, in-process inventory, production of finished goods and related information from point of origin

to point of consumption for the purpose of meeting customer requirements - also known as Logistics and Operations.

To support YVYLA's Workforce Training and Development Program, CAPSBC is providing classroom and warehouse space to house the training center.

Industry experts will provide on-site instruction at the training center located at the CAPSBC headquarters. Curriculum will include an in-depth study of global supply chain logistics, the logistics environment, material handling equipment, quality control principles, as well as safe material handling and equipment operation. Students will also participate in pre-employment workshops on work communications, resume writing, interviewing techniques, self-marketing, leadership and team building, and financial literacy.

"It is the purpose of YVYLA's Workforce Training and Development Program to move the unemployed into well-paying jobs by preparing individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to become Certified Logistics Technicians," says Stone. "With the help of our partners and funding from the Wells Fargo Foundation, we can improve the lives of many in San Bernardino County while improving the local economy as well," he adds.

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

Page 7

May 2, 2019

LIFESTYLE NEWS/ADVERTISING/RELIGION

LL Cool J reveals how cancer has touched him By Rollingout.com

LL Cool J (Photo credit: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Splash News) LL Cool J opens up about how cancer has touched his family LL’s wife, Simone Smith, was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a rare bone cancer, in 2004, and had to undergo a 15-hour operation to have her right tibia removed and replaced with her left fibula, a steel rod, screws, nails and micro veins from her other leg, but when doctors explained the procedure, her now 51-year-old husband instantly offered to donate the bone from his own limb instead because he thought it would be “stronger.”

Smith told “Entertainment Tonight,” “I was working out with my trainer, walking, talking, not paying no mind, walked into the wastebasket and it hit that little knot. That sent me to the doctor, and that’s when I found out I had a chondrosarcoma stage three tumor in my right tibia bone.

“I remember sitting in the doctor’s office, and he [LL Cool J] wanted to give his fibula bone … because he felt that his fibula bone would be bigger and stronger.”

The “Doin It” hitmaker – whose real name is James Todd Smith — made sure that any visitors coming to see his wife post-surgery were composed and full of “positive energy.”

Smith — who is in remission — said: “Todd would tell them …

‘You can’t go in there crying.’ “

Her husband added: “Because you need positive energy. I learned that you got to be grateful, and you can’t take things for granted. I learned that left turns could come, right turns could come.

“You can’t always see around every corner, but you just have to have faith and you have to have gratitude, you got to roll with humility, you got to believe.

I believe in God strongly, and you got to believe in yourself too.”

The couple has teamed up with the American Cancer Society for a new campaign called “Beat Cancer Like a Boss,” which features Mary J. Blige, Jhene Aiko, Remy Ma and Salt-N-Pepa giving encouraging messages to those affected by cancer, and the singer said he was inspired to be part of the initiative because of his wife’s strength.

He said: “The campaign is ‘Beat Cancer Like a Boss,’ and when it comes to that, she’s definitely been a boss. I think that so many people, if you can inspire others to learn more, dream more, do more, that’s being a boss and that’s why we did this campaign for the American Cancer Society and for Simone Smith, her jewelry, which a portion of all the proceeds [will] go to the ACS.” This article originally appeared in Rollingout. com.

Hate Crimes and Activists...continued groups than in any other state.

Hate crimes are also on the rise in the state, increasing by 17.4 percent between 2016 and 2017, according to the California Attorney General’s office. The sharpest upturn in the state has been AntiJewish attacks which rose from 82 too 104 between 2016 and 2017, Several lawmakers, community activists and religious leaders have already stepped forward to thank the governor for his timely decision and his willingness to address a pressing safety concern in the state.

“We appreciate Governor Newsom commitment to the faith community. These resources will be helpful to protect our residents and communities that rely on our churches. I look forward to assisting Black churches in taking advantage of these resources,” said K.W. Tulloss, president of The Baptist Ministers Conference of Los Angeles and Southern California.

The funding, which will be ad-

Solutions

offered

by

ministered through the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, will be awarded through a competitive grant process. The grants will help Non-profits that are targets for hate-motivated violence bolster security at their facilities. Criteria identifying those groups may include, religious affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, immigration status and more.

Since 2015, California has allocated $4.5 million for the State Nonprofit Security Grant Program. Because more non-profits than anticipated have applied for grants, the governor’s office said he made the decision to add an additional $15m to the fund in the wake of the Poway shootings. The governor will also work with the Commission on Peace Officer Standards to ensure training modules are up to date as new applicants become a part of the ongoing state program.

The festival features some of today’s hottest shows and comedy talent including Nick Cannon, Deon Cole, The 85 South Show, and more.

The inaugural Hollywood Black Comedy Festival (HBCF) takes place June 20th through June 23rd, 2019 in Los Angeles, CA in some of Hollywood’s most iconic entertainment venues. The festival highlights the best of the many shades of Black comedy thriving in Improv, Standup, Digital and traditional media. From provocative panel discussions, hilarious stand-up comedy, and historic honors, the festival presents the most fun and entertaining formats Black and Urban Comedy has to offer.

Tickets: The Hollywood Black Comedy Festival go on sale Tuesday, April 23rdat 11 AM (PST) are will be available at www.TheHBCF.comor www.Facebook.com/TheHBCF

Hospital revival launches ‘Healthcare Legacy Awards’

By Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell, Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Black Religious Groups, Non-Profits Can Apply for Security Grants as Gov Prioritizes Hate Crimes With $15M Emergency Fund Tanu Henry | California Black Media

Photo By CBM: First African Methodist Episcopal Church FAME, the oldest church in Los Angeles founded by African Americans in 1872 posted signage at their information desk a few years ago because of attacks on houses of worship. Rev. J Edgar Boyd is the pastor of this church.

African-American churches, mosques and other religious organizations are among vulnerable non-profits in California eligible to apply for security grants after Gov. Gavin Newsom approved $15 million in emergency funds this week to help religious and community based groups protect themselves against hate crimes.

The governor made the announcement two days after a violent mass shooting at a synagogue just north of San Diego shocked Californians and people around the world.

On Saturday, John Earnest, 19, a White supremacist allegedly entered the Chabad of Poway Synagogue carrying an assault-style rifle and opened fire. Police said he killed one woman, Lori Kaye, 60, and injured three others, including a Rabbi and an 8-year-old girl. Authorities are investigating the case as a hate crime and possibly a federal civil rights violation.

“We all must call out hate – against any and all communities – and act to defend those targeted for their religious beliefs, who they love or how they identify,” said Governor Newsom.

“An attack against any community is an attack against our entire state – who we are and what we stand for.”

Earnest, the accused gunman and a nursing student at California State University San Marcos, has been arrested and charged

with one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder.

“Just weeks ago, AfricanAmerican churches were burned in the South and these were confirmed as hate crimes,” said Shane Harris, an African-American pastor and President of the People’s Alliance of Justice, a national civil rights organization based in San Diego. “I have worked closely with the Jewish community for many years on interfaith efforts to take on social justice issues surrounding hate in our country against any faith.

It hurts my heart to hear that one person has been killed in this shooting and our prayers go out to the others who have been injured.”

For the African-American religious community in California, the synagogue shooting brings with it echoes of a painful past familiar with centuries of fire bombings, arson, shootings and other acts of domestic terrorism perpetrated against predominantly Black church congregations and places of worship. This year, in a 10-day span between late March and early April, arsonists burned down three historic AfricanAmerican churches in Louisiana.

And between 1995 and 1996 alone, more than 30 AfricanAmerican churches were burned in the United. States, spurring Congress to pass the Church Arson Prevention Act. Since the 1950s, there have been close to 100 hate crimes committed at African-American places of worship.

The most heinous attack in recent history against a Black church was a hate-fueled mass murder that happened on June 17, 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina. Dylan Roof, a then-20-yearold White supremacist and NeoNazi,stormed into the historic Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church during a Bible study in the sanctuary and killed nine African-American parishioners, including a South Carolina state senator, Clementa Pinckney.

In California, there are more hate (continued in next 2 columns)

“You Stiff-neck, Uncircumcised Philistines!”

By: Lou Yeboah

Lou Yeboah

“I give you chance, after chance to come unto me, but you take my grace for granted. You best know that I will not strife with men always. Do not be like your fathers and your brethrens who trespassed against Me, causing me to give them up to desolation.

Yield yourselves to Me, and enter My sanctuary, which I have sanctified forever, and serve Me. Do not provoke my anger! Turn from the evil road you are traveling and from the evil things you are doing. Only then will I let you live. Again, I say, turn, turn, turn!”

I tell you, we have just about reached the limit of God’s mercy and forbearance. Our pride and arrogance, our greed and selfishness, our violence and brutality have reached a level which is intolerable.

God, of course, will not destroy us without first warning us of the impending doom. But, like those in Noah’s time, most of us will ignore the warnings. Noah preached to the people for 120 years, trying to warn them of what was going to happen, but none would listen. They mocked and ridiculed as he gave the warning that rain would fall to such an extent that the whole world would be flooded. They laughed and insulted as he constructed the ark which carried him and his family safely through the flood. Again and again

the Lord has sent you his servants, the prophets, but you have not listened or even paid attention.

Listen, we cannot afford to see the warnings and not heed them. The Bible says in [2 Peter 3:9], that God wishes that no one perish, but that all should come to repentance.” “If you do not repent, God says, that He will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place [Revelation 2:5]. “O that [you] were wise, that [you] understood this, that [you] would consider [your] latter end!” [Deuteronomy 32:29]. Rend your heart and turn unto the Lord your God [Joel 2:13] John the Baptist said, “Repent”… Jesus says, “Repent”…. The Apostles said, “Repent”….. Paul said, “Repent”…… Peter said “Repent”…. Jeremiah said “Repent”…. Ezekiel said “Repent”… [Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; Matthew 9:13; Mark 1:15; Luke 5:42; Mark 6:12; 2Corinthians 7:9; Acts 2:34; Acts 3:19; Acts17:30; Ezekiel 14:6]…..

Repent! Repent! Repent!

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and earth, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live, that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

[Deuteronomy 30:18-20]

Witness For Justice #942 The recipients of the inaugural Healthcare Legacy Awards joined Bishop Henry M. Williamson Sr. and First Lady Doris Yvonne Williamson (seated) for a photo after the Awards ceremony. (Photo: Tyrone P. Easley) Saturday was a day of “firsts” and “new beginnings” for the Collins Chapel Connectional Hospital effort as the project’s board of directors honored 13 physicians and healthcare advocates in the first class of Collins Chapel Healthcare Legacy Awards.

Hundreds of CME officials and community supporters filled Germantown’s Great Hall for the first Collins Chapel Connectional Hospital Celebration Luncheon.

Much was made about the history and legacy of the first private hospital in Memphis to “treat Black people or provide a facility in which Black doctors and nurses could practice and train.”

Bishop Henry M. Williamson Sr., board chair of the hospital’s reconstruction, saw profundity and significance in this inaugural event set on the eve of Easter Sunday.

“So this is a great day for the community because of this day, before Resurrection Sunday, a great resurrection is occurring on Ayers Street. While we yet have work to do to realize a fully operational facility, this day signals an important step on the journey toward delivering quality healthcare in the Memphis community.”

Beverly Robertson, former president of the National Civil Rights Museum and current president and CEO of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce, delivered the afternoon’s keynote address.

She rhetorically asked the significance of rebuilding a facility so important to African Americans in the days of segregation.

“Why should we be concerned about rebuilding a black hospital when black people can go to any hospital they want now? After 300 years of slavery, 90 years of

Jim Crow, and 60 years of ‘separate but equal,’ Collins Chapel Connectional Hospital still means something,” Robertson said. “It was built by the Martin brothers, two physicians who owned a Negro Baseball team. They also built a stadium with the help of R.S. Lewis Sr. “Oh, I’m going to give you a little bit of history. J.B. Martin was run out of town by Boss Crump.

He moved to Chicago and became owner of three baseball teams.

“As African Americans, we must value our institutions. We don’t replace them with newer, more shiny, more appealing ones.

When we take care of our institutions, they will take care of us. If we value our own institutions the way we should, they can withstand the test of time.”

Robertson set forth three directives for seeing the Collins Chapel CME Connectional Hospital come to fruition.

Refine the plan and flawlessly execute it.

Learn from the past to inform the future.

Have the right people in the right seat.

Thirteen recipients of the Healthcare Legacy Award were: Antoinne Able Kennard Brown Charles A. Champion Louis E. Cunningham Greg Duckett, Esq. William George Rickey N. Hudson Derrick D. Payne Lucy Shaw Gary Shorb – Lifetime Achievement Altha Stewart William Terrell Jr. Michael Ugwuekes

Truth John C. Dorhauer General Minister and President In 1620, the Mayflower set sail for new shores.

On November 9 its surviving inhabitants caught sight of Cape Cod. Two days later, on November 11, they signed the Mayflower Compact. It would be a long winter that followed, and almost half of those aboard the ship would not survive.

Next year, we will commemorate 400 years of worship on these shores following their landing.

What has transpired in those 400 years, if fully told, would consume volumes. Much of what we who are descendants of those first pilgrims choose to tell ourselves about our collective footprint and impact makes us out as heroes and champions.

Truth be told, we are so much more than that.

We are enslavers who entrapped black bodies and forced them to live lives of hard labor to build our wealth.

We are torturers who beat, imprisoned, disenfranchised, under-nourished, and oppressed indigenous and enslaved peoples alike in order to possess lands others had claim to.

We are rapists, men whose lust was insatiable and whose ideology afforded us the right to force ourselves on women we claimed as property.

We are idolaters, embracing theologies of conquest and dominion and worshiping gods who authorized our forced enslavement of black and brown bodies and who preferred our white skin.

Not all that we did was evil. The Amistad is a part of our story.

Antoinette Brown and Lemuel Haynes and Bill Johnson are a part of our story. We were abolitionists and suffragists and labor

union advocates. We built schools for freed blacks and hospitals for ailing immigrants. We stood on the front lines for justice and human rights in lands near and far and for causes some of which were easily understood and others painfully negotiated.

We love to tell that part of our story. It is the other stories that are harder to tell, but which we ignore or deny at our peril.

We are in the midst of the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024), a program and proclamation of the United Nations. The World Council of Churches recently noted that African descendants and indigenous populations are still suffering in the United States.

Continued silence in the face of such an assessment is unforgivable and renders us complicit with evil.

As the inheritance of that remnant of white immigrants who arrived here almost 400 years ago, and of generations of white European immigrants who followed, the United Church of Christ must realize that any action we take toward repairing our damage must be accompanied by our truth. We must tell the full story of the United Church of Christ’s complicity with the evil of racism.

I call upon all settings of the church to spend the next year uncovering new truth. Let our commemorations of 400 years of occupation not just be a rehearsal of our heroism, but a full telling of the impact of our colonial footprint on these shores.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR John C. Dorhauer is General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ.

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 8

May 2, 2019

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Educators, Students, Win Lawsuit Against Secretary DeVos and Department of Education Federal Court Orders Department to Implement Rules to Protect Millions of Students Who Are Studying in Online Programs Community Education News

A federal court ruled Friday that Secretary Betsy DeVos and the U.S. Department of Education broke the law by refusing to implement regulations designed to protect students enrolled in online higher education programs. The court ordered the Department to implement the rules within 30 days. The decision is a significant setback for the Trump administration’s deregulatory agenda, and a victory for the National Education Association, the California Teachers Association, and students. The plaintiffs were represented by the National Student Legal Defense Network, a nonprofit organization that advocates for students’ rights through litigation.

The lawsuit challenged the Education Department’s delay of requirements for online universities to notify students about compliance with state licensing re-

quirements, or adverse actions from a state or accreditor. Without these protections, students could spend time and money in programs that don’t meet their goals and may saddle them with debt for a degree that doesn’t advance their careers. The Department of Education admitted in its own filings that delaying the disclosures would “make it harder for students to access available consumer protections.”

While enrollment in online courses and degree programs has grown exponentially over the last decade, under DeVos’s leadership the Department took the shocking step of rescinding protections for students pursuing online degrees — protections students need now more than ever. The rules, which will take effect on May 26, also ensure that state (continued in next 2 columns)

Educators, Students, Win Lawsuit Against Secretary DeVos and Department of Education...continued regulators have sufficient tools to oversee online institutions, including schools that enroll students in a state without having a physical presence in that state.

“Time and again, Betsy DeVos and the Trump administration have inexplicably and brazenly set their sights on rolling back vital protections for students, and in this case, did so unlawfully. The federal court’s decision is a victory for students, transparency and common sense.” said NEA President Lily Eskelsen García.

“We must ensure that students have access to the critical information needed to make decisions about their educational opportunities and are protected from predatory attacks. We are thrilled that these protections will be there for our members and for all students who enroll in online programs.”

“Betsy DeVos’ latest move that removes students’ protections from predatory online universities is a direct attack on our students and their future. The commonsense disclosures help prospective and enrolled students evaluate the legitimacy of online programs and the institution that offers them. Without them, students like Stephanie Portilla could end up saddled with debt and stuck with a worthless degree they can’t use,” said CTA President Eric Heins.

According to the court’s order, the Department of Education has

30 days to implement the state authorization rule. Originally issued in December 2016 and scheduled to have taken effect in July 2018, the rule will protect students in online, distance or correspondence programs. The rule provides important protections, including common sense disclosures to help prospective and enrolled students evaluate the legitimacy of both the online program and the institution that offers it, preventing students from wasting time and money on programs that will not help them further their careers. The disclosures include information about whether the program would permit the student to meet the licensing requirements in the student’s state and whether the school is under investigation by the state or accreditor for its online programs.

“Now Betsy DeVos will be forced to implement the Obamaera regulations that allow states to regulate online programs wherever they enroll students. It has been clear from day one that Betsy DeVos has little regard for students. This decision, and others like it, shows she doesn’t much care about following the law, either,” said NSLDN President Aaron Ament. “We will not allow this administration to use illegal shortcuts to more quickly dismantle protections for students.”

Learn more at www.nea.org and follow on Twitter at @NEAmedia.

Heated Charter School Debates Ignore One Key Fact: Black Students Are Underperforming In Our Schools...continued from page 6 five-year ban on certifying any new charters. The language in the bill, introduced by Sen. María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), states that it is designed to ensure public charter schools do not “replace or undermine” the state’s public school system.

In California, roughly 52,800 Black students attend charter schools. Although the independent taxpayer-funded schools only account for about 10 percent of public schools, they enroll 3

percent more Black students than the traditional district schools.

Because such a high percentage of African Americans attend charters, opponents of the bills see the package of proposals as a direct attack on Black students.

“Charter schools have been a way within the public school system for African-American and all families to have choice,” says Margaret Fortune, an AfricanAmerican educator who founded (continued in next 2 columns)

Heated Charter School Debates Ignore One Key Fact: Black Students Are Underperforming In Our Schools...continued and runs Fortune School, a network of seven charter schools in Sacramento and San Bernardino that focuses on closing the African-American achievement gap and preparing students for college beginning in Kindergarten.

She says, under current California law, the number one consideration for a charter school to be approved is the academic performance of students. Under the new proposals, one of the criteria would be money – if the applying charter impacts the finances of the local school district.

The legislators who authored the bills and their supporters say they introduced them to bring about more accountability and that charter school reform is long overdue.

“School board members have a fiduciary duty to ensure the fiscal health of their district. They know the needs of their schools the best and should be able to consider the fiscal impact on their students and district when considering whether to approve a new charter school,” said Assemblymember Rob Bonta (DOakland).

Critics of the legislation have said nowhere in the language of the new bills or public statements about them, have the bills’ legislative sponsors taken a critical look at why Black students are underperforming across the state.

Last week, nationally recognized television journalist and commentator Roland Martin moderated a town hall in Sacramento focused on school choice.

Martin said charter schools are the only option for AfricanAmerican families who don’t have the means to move to a better performing school district.

During the town hall, Martin stated reasons he supports charter schools and has launched a national initiative to explore the issue called, “Is School Choice the Black Choice?”

“You control the resources,” he told the audience. “You control

who gets the janitorial contracts, textbook contracts, IT contracts.

So you do not only control the education of our children, you control the economics of our neighborhoods.”

Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego)| recently proposed making Black students a high-risk group under the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) because of low scores on statewide exams. Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Los Angeles), the Chair of the Assembly Education committee, has pulled the bill.

The education chair’s staff said that this was not the only bill O’Donnell has withdrawn and that he is waiting for a state auditors report before hearing legislation that would tinker with LCFF funding.

During the town hall, several of the panelists called out Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), who is African American and in whose district has three high performing charter schools that are performing above traditional district schools, two of those are Fortune schools.

“To see Black state legislators, Black city council members, Black county commissioners - who are some of the most ardent opponents of charter schools. Yet, they are representing constituents who have some of the worst academic records,” Martin said.

“That to me is an abomination.”

In McCarty’s legislative area, which covers two school districts, Natomas Unified and Sacramento City Unified, Black students are performing below the state’s African-American averages in both math and English.

About 87 percent of students are scoring below their grade level in math and about 78 percent are not meeting the English requirement.

This article is the first in a series of stories on African-American students and public education in California.