compton

Mar 4 2011

Minister of music

LOS ANGELES, Calif.— Jacob Lusk of Compton was named as one of the 13 "American Idol'' finalists.

The two other Los Angeles County residents who were among the 24 semifinalists failed to advance to the finals, Clint Jun Gamboa of Long Beach and Julie Zorrilla of Hollywood.

Lusk, 23, is a minister of music at his church and works as a spa concierge. He began singing when he was 4 years old. He also enjoys acting and playing the piano.

Feb 25 2011

Jacob Lusk, Julie Zorrilla

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Jacob Lusk of Compton and Julie Zorrilla of Hollywood were among the 19 contestants named today as "American Idol'' semifinalists.

Clint Jun Gamboa of Long Beach was named as a semifinalist Wednesday.

The male semifinalists will compete Tuesday and the female semifinalists Wednesday on the Fox Broadcasting singing competition.

The field will be cut to 12 next Thursday.

Jan 6 2011

First African American appointed public defender

Ronald L. Brown, a graduate of Compton’s Centennial High School, the University of Southern California and the UCLA School of Law, became the first African American appointed to the office of Los Angeles County public defender on Tuesday. Brown has been with the agency since his admission to practice law in 1981. According to the new public defender, he was raised on welfare in Watts and Compton. He will supervise more than 700 attorneys in his new post, and in his former position as assistant public defender was responsible for hiring more than 300 of them.

Dec 18 2010

Kevon L. Gulley writes book in 93 days

CARSON, Calif.—A one-time foster child, juvenile delinquent and felon from Compton will sign copies of his debut novel today at a Carson bookstore.

Kevon L. Gulley, 34, completed "Just Like Compton'' in 93 days while serving an 8-year sentence in Kern Valley State Prison for fraud and receiving stolen property, publicist Jasmyne Cannick said.

Today at 3 p.m., he will be signing copies of self-published book at Smiley's Bookstore at 20220 S. Avalon Blvd.

Dec 3 2010

Election system discriminates

COMPTON, Calif.—Three Compton residents filed a civil rights suit against the city, saying the at-large election system discriminates against Latinos even though they make up the majority of residents in the community.

Felicitas Gonzalez, Karmen Grimaldi and Flora Ruiz brought their case Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging the city's election system violates the state's Voting Rights Act of 2001.

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.