Chief

Stanley O. Williford  |   OW Editor
Dec 29 2011

Following the family tradition

Brian Cummings was named the newest Los Angeles Fire Chief this year, but it was not always his intention to lead the city’s fire safety.

“My father always encouraged us to pursue an education,” said Cummings. “He never encouraged me to be a firefighter. I wanted to be an electronic engineer. That was my goal.”

Stanley O. Williford  |   OW Editor
Dec 29 2011

Following the family tradition

Brian Cummings was named the newest Los Angeles Fire Chief this year, but it was not always his intention to lead the city’s fire safety.

“My father always encouraged us to pursue an education,” said Cummings. “He never encouraged me to be a firefighter. I wanted to be an electronic engineer. That was my goal.”

Oct 5 2010

CHP out in full force today

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—California Highway Patrol officers will be out in force in the Los Angeles area today to make sure motorists are complying with laws against texting or using hand-held cell phones.

"Distracted driving is a serious, life-threatening practice,'' CHP Sgt. Denise Joslin said. "With ever-growing technological advancement, the need to stop distracted driving has never been as great.''

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
Sep 16 2010

Becomes LAPD’s highest ranking Black woman

Growing up in inner city New Jersey, Regina Scott always saw police officers strolling into her community, but she never saw an African American female in uniform.

“Then I saw Christie Love, and knew I wanted to become a police officer,” recalls Scott, who chose that route even though people steadily told her it wouldn’t happen.

Undeterred, Scott began plotting a career course that would prepare her for that dream job.

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.