African American News

Feb 1 2013

The two ran away after tiring of continued abuse

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Palmdale woman accused of abusing her two adopted children. Ingrid Brewer, 50, was booked Jan. 16 in the Sheriff’s Palmdale Station on two counts each of child abuse, torture, assault with a deadly weapon and battery with serious bodily injury. She remains in custody in lieu of $2 million bail, according to the city of Palmdale Open Public Records. 

Feb 1 2013

A battle of neighboring cities

Lancaster mayor R. Rex Parris, an attorney, and the Malibu law firm Shenkman & Hughes have joined together in a suit against the city of Palmdale under the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The case, filed on behalf of plaintiff Juan Jauregui, seeks to end Palmdale’s at-large system of electing city council members in favor of geographic council districts.

Jan 31 2013

Cause of fire under investigation

INGLEWOOD, Calif.—Three people were injured today in a fire at an Inglewood apartment building, including one who suffered second-degree burns, authorities said.

The fire at the two-story building at 109 N. Eastwood Ave. was reported at 1:16 a.m., said Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatch supervisor Andre Gougis.

Firefighters were on scene by 1:20 a.m. and knocked down the blaze 17 minutes later, he said.

Jan 31 2013

Proposed film and soundtrack

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A judge today finalized her tentative ruling allowing Jimi Hendrix’s estate to move forward with its $2 million lawsuit against a producer concerning a proposed film and soundtrack compiled from 1969 concerts by the famed musician in Europe.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Amy Hogue affirmed her tentative ruling handed down Tuesday denying a motion by attorneys for Gerald Goldstein to toss out the case filed by the Hendrix estate in May 2011.

Jan 31 2013

Falsified police reports

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy pleaded not guilty today to charges that he assaulted two jail inmates and falsified police reports.

Jermaine W. Jackson, 35, is charged with two counts each of assault likely to produce great bodily injury, assault by a public officer and false report by a police officer.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”