Antelope Valley

Joseph Wright  |   OW Senior Staff Writer
Jul 15 2010

Spearheaded Palmdale development

Danny Roberts, the leader of Palmdale’s economic development efforts for the past 13 years and a city employee for more than two decades, recently took an early retirement.

Roberts, the city’s assistant executive director of community redevelopment, said he will stay with the city through September. After that, Roberts said he would  be available for special projects with the city.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Jul 8 2010

New home cooking in Lancaster

LANCASTER, Calif.—Although the economy is slowly healing itself, going into business at this time almost seems like financial suicide. But one family is throwing down on a wing and a prayer and opened up Lil’ Annie Mae’s soul food restaurant in Lancaster at 1063 East Ave. J on May 15 of this slow economic recovery year.

Chantee and Fatima Ayers, the mother-daughter duo, went into business together with a little money saved up and a box of recipes in good faith that God and the spirit of “Grandma” would carry them on.

Joseph Wright  |   OW Senior Staff Writer
Jul 8 2010

Some see it as another excuse for racial profiling

The city’s Public Safety and Community Relations Department is encouraging Palmdale residents to form Neighborhood Watch groups where they live.

“Neighborhood Watch is the most effective means available for keeping crime out of our neighborhoods,” said Community Safety Supervisor Kelly Long. “It relies on the best crime fighting tool around, and that’s a good neighbor.”

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Jul 8 2010

LNVC meets in exclusive location

Lancaster, Calif. -- Every first Tuesday of the month, the Lancaster Neighborhood Vitalization Commission meets to discuss the improvements of the city and how to make it a better place for residents.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Jul 8 2010

Budget shows no mercy for the heat

Palmdale, Calif. - An empty, quiet park is an unusual sight in the Antelope Valley during the heat of the summer, particularly at Courson Park. The sight can be partially credited to the closed pool.

Palmdale residents and community activists are questioning the city about the Courson Park pool closure for the summer. In these times of sun beaming temperatures and slow economic growth, public pools are some of the community’s best sources of relief.

Across Black America

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

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.