Long Beach

Mar 25 2011

No longer open to the public

LONG BEACH, Calif.—A public viewing was held today for rapper Nate Dogg, giving fans a chance to pay their final respects to the Long Beach native whose rap career spanned three decades, but getting into his Saturday funeral will be a little tougher.

Nate Dogg, whose real name was Nathaniel D. Hale, died March 15 at age 41 after a series of health struggles precipitated by a pair of strokes he suffered over the past four years.

Today's viewing began at 10 a.m. at New Hope Baptist Church, 1160 New York St., in Long Beach.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Mar 10 2011

Antelope Valley chapter leader

LANCASTER, Calif.—The Antelope Valley is swarming with talented women, from those in education to those in power positions like the president of Greek letter organization, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., Antelope Valley chapter.

LaTonya T. Nelson, born and raised in Los Angeles, has been with the organization since 1988, when she joined while attending California State University, Long Beach. Attracted to the organization’s commitment to community, social awareness and sisterhood, Nelson had to be part of the movement.

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.

Feb 16 2011

Closing 200 stores

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—According to a court filing in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, Borders Group plans to close about 200 of its stores nationwide, including three in the city of Los Angeles, and stores in other parts of the Southland, including Orange County, it was reported today.

The nation's second-largest book retailer said in a statement that the moves were being made "in light of the environment of curtailed customer spending, our ongoing discussions with publishers and other vendor related parties, and the company's lack of liquidity.''

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.