compton

Jul 7 2011

Programs continue through August

The Compton, Los Angeles and Tehachapi unified school districts are among the local agencies that will offer free summer meals to the public, many beginning this week.

The meals are open to the public, in most cases to youth 18 and younger; interested individuals just need to show up. The details follow.

Compton’s Seamless Summer Feeding program will serve breakfasts and lunch daily at participating elementary and middle schools through July 21 and through July 28 at the high schools.

Jul 1 2011

Not in the city of Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Leaving the fireworks to the professionals this July Fourth is a safer alternative than setting off  pyrotechnics yourself.

That’s the message from safety officials to residents of Los Angeles County cities that allow the personal use of fireworks.

All fireworks are illegal for personal use within the city of Los Angeles, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Jun 30 2011

Junior lifeguard training offered

Kaiser Permanente, the LA84 Foundation, the city of Los Angeles, as well municipal officials in other areas have teamed up to offer two weeks of free swim lessons to 6,000 youth and adults this summer.

Signups began at Los Angeles city pools on June 26, and students will have the opportunity to take 10 lessons.

City pools will also train an additional 780 junior lifeguards this summer. Those interested in a junior lifeguard scholarship must have some background in swimming and will be trained this year to work in pools next year.

Jun 23 2011

Unions urge officials to study alternatives

COMPTON—A coalition of labor unions representing workers in Compton, including Service Employees International Union Local 721, and the Compton firefighters, Tuesday presented a letter at council meeting accusing the city manager of acting in bad faith and refusing to consider what they say are viable alternatives that would help the city balance its budget, save jobs and city services.

Jun 16 2011

Janna Zurita defeats incumbent

Janna Zurita, cousin of former Compton Mayor Omar Bradley, narrowly defeated two-term City Councilwoman Barbara Calhoun, and is expected to be sworn into office no later than July 1. After failing to obtain the 50 percent plus one vote needed to win outright, the outgoing second district councilwoman, who has often been ally of current mayor Eric Perrodin battled Zurita for the council slot. Despite her low showing in the April primary (615 votes), Zurita upset Calhoun by capturing 1,637 (51 percent) of the ballots cast.

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.