Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

Dec 24 2010

Charitable efforts, church services, entertainment

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Christmas Eve will be marked in the Southland today with efforts to help the homeless and poor, a musical and dance performance and religious services honoring the birth of Jesus Christ.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is scheduled to join host Jennifer Love Hewitt at the Los Angeles Mission's Christmas Eve meal service and toy and coat giveaway on Skid Row. Celebrities set to volunteer include past "Dancing with the Stars'' contestants Brandy Norwood and Gilles Marini.

Dec 21 2010

Do not throw in garbage

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—City residents will again be able to recycle their Christmas trees this year, with Los Angeles officials today urging residents to avoid throwing trees in the garbage.

"Something as simple as recycling your Christmas tree can help Los Angeles move away from landfills and closer to reducing, reusing and recycling more of our waste,'' Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. "The city can turn these trees into mulch or compost, which is then used for landscaping and gardens around the city. It is the gift that keeps on giving.''

Dec 10 2010

Program will not increase Metro's costs

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Students across Los Angeles County will get free rides on Metro buses and trains for school-sponsored field trips starting early next year, under a program approved by the Metro board.

"It's so important that teachers continue to pursue enriching educational opportunities off campus, even when school funds are tight,'' said MTA board chairman and county Supervisor Don Knabe. "We want our kids to get the best possible education, and it's our hope that this new program will help.''

Dec 1 2010

"I urge every Angeleno to get educated and get tested."

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Officials and activists are encouraging the public to be tested for the virus that causes AIDS, increase their awareness of the disease and contact the White House and Congress in connection with today's World AIDS Day.

The Los Angeles city government will hold its commemoration of World AIDS Day at the JW Marriott at LA Live, with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa among the scheduled speakers.

Nov 17 2010

One year as chief

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Looking over his first year as police chief today, Charlie Beck said it had been a professionally rewarding but emotionally difficult 12 months.

"I am very very optimistic about this organization,'' Beck said in a briefing in police headquarters attended by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

"Los Angeles is safer today, one year after the appointment of Charlie Beck ...,'' Villaraigosa said.

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.