Nevada

Nov 15 2012

John Edward Smith is the latest in a long line of prisoners released by the Innocence Network

A grateful John Edward Smith happily joined a small group of family and friends at his exoneration party Saturday, where he was welcomed with applause, cheers, and tears of relief. Smith was exonerated on Sept. 24 after spending 19 years in state prisons, most recently at Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County for a crime he did not commit.

“Thank you everyone for getting me back to my grandmother,” said the 37-year-old man. “She was the source of my faith and strength.”

Oct 17 2011

“The Last Stand”

SANTA MONICA, Calif.—Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in a starring role for the first time since he took office, as filming started today in Nevada and New Mexico for his new Western, “The Last Stand.”

The star plays a former Los Angeles Police Department officer who ends up sheriff of a small border town after a botched operation, according to Lionsgate. He must take on a drug kingpin who escapes the FBI and flees for Mexico, heading straight for the town.

Oct 11 2011

Affects California, Nevada

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A Los Angeles-based meat company is recalling more than 377,000 pounds of ground beef due to possible E. coli contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today.

The affected ground beef was produced by Commercial Meat Co. between Sept. 7 and Thursday, and was shipped to restaurants in California and Nevada, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. No illnesses have been reported.

The possible contamination was discovered during routine testing.

Aug 23 2011

Criticized for glorifying graffiti

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—An art supply chain store canceled its “urban art” promotions in metropolitan Los Angeles at the request of City Councilman Dennis Zine, an ex-cop who accused the company of promoting graffiti, it was announced today.

Jun 28 2011

Largest revenue after AT&T

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Los Angeles-based U.S. TelePacific Corp. announced today it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Tel West Network Services Corp. of Texas.

TelePacific, which does business as TelePacific Communications, says it has the largest revenue market share for small and medium size business customers in California and Nevada after AT&T, Verizon and CenturyLink. The company and its 1,300 employees manage over 38,000 business accounts.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”