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Board Declares Juneteenth a County Holiday

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Juneteenth, a national celebration of freedom and equity, has become San Bernardino County’s newest official holiday.

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously proclaimed June 19 of each year as Juneteenth within San Bernardino County, encouraging all county residents to take time on that day to reflect upon the freedoms we enjoy and how each of us can practice and promote equity for all people.

The Board also formally granted County employees a corresponding holiday to celebrate Juneteenth and what the observance represents. June 19 falls on a Sunday this year, so County offices will be closed on June 20.

“This time of year holds special significance for San Bernardino County because it was on June 23, 2020 that the Board of Supervisors officially declared racism a public health crisis, added Equity as an element of the Countywide Vision, and established an Equity Element Group to address the underlying causes of disparities in various key aspects of community life,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman.

“The Board is committed to making equity a focus of everything we do,” Hagman said. “We look forward to continuing to work with our county team, community leaders, our residents, and those who invest in the county to build a prosperous and healthy community that creates opportunity and an outstanding quality of life for everyone.”

Juneteenth, a blending of the words “June” and “nineteenth,” marks the date in 1865 when slaves in Galveston, Texas were informed the Civil War had ended and they were free. Although President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation more than two years earlier, countless Americans continued to be held as slaves for the duration of the war. June 19 has become the date that represents the end of slavery in the United States.

“On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, I encourage everyone to observe Juneteenth as a day to celebrate that race, ethnicity, heritage, or belief must never stand in the way of freedom,” Hagman said.

With the upcoming recognition of Juneteenth, also referred to as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, the Victor Valley Museum is pleased to embrace the theme of diversity in the Wade in the Water: Art and Quilt Exhibition. Curated by artist Theresa Polley-Shellcroft, Wade in the Water will be on display June 1 through June 30, 2022, featuring twenty-five nationwide artists whose interpretations derive from African American Spirituals containing messages of freedom through mediums such as painting, photography, mixed media, dolls, and quilts. For more information visit https://fb.me/e/1OqhKSYFp.

2022 Latino History Bee Winners Join Elite Group

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— As the only Latino History Bee in the nation, the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) event is truly unique and the student winners are among an elite group of who have proven that they value the rich culture and history of Latin America.

Last month, students in grades 6–12 from 11 SBCUSD schools competed in three rounds focused on different aspects of the Latino experience. Round one focused on Latino history. During round two, students identified Latino artwork, including the title, artist, and country of origin. New this year for round three, students presented a Latino-inspired dance, skit, monologue, or other performance.

This year’s judges included Dr. Barbara Flores, Dr. Scott Wyatt, Dr. Esteban Diaz, and Dr. Enrique Murillo.

The winners of the middle school division (grades 6–8) were:
1st Place—Alani Guzman, Richardson PREP HI Middle School
2nd Place—Sophia Williams, Arrowview Middle School
3rd Place—Katty Camacho, Arrowview Middle School

The winners of the high school division (grades 9–12) were:
1st Place—Elizabeth Bañuelos, Arroyo Valley High School
2nd Place—Crystal Tello, Arroyo Valley High School
3rd Place (tie)—Stephen Zermeño, San Gorgonio High School, and Valeria Ramirez, Arroyo Valley High School

“We are proud of the hard work that our students put in to prepare for the competition and their ability to perform under pressure,” said Multilingual Department Director Tex Acosta. “Their collective mastery of facts and knowledge of the Latino culture was impressive.”

 

“66ers Negro League Tribute” Community Meet and Greet and Award Ceremony

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— “66ERS” is teaming up with Riverside Black chambers of Commerce, and Green Smilez Loving Care Foundation to present a community meet and greet tribute featuring the minor league baseball team who will pay a tribute to the 102nd year negro league, along with a recognition ceremony to the Black Excellence and Achievements of individuals and their businesses.

The “SB 66ers Negro League Tribute” Community Meet and Greet & Award ceremony event gives the community the opportunity to showcase and celebrate the talents of African American players during segregation. Their organized efforts became a successful business enterprise generating millions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs in the Black community.

The Negro league athletes were inspiring, and a grand success beating the odds, and representing the very best of the sport.

The event will be held on Friday, June 10, 2022, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at San Manuel Stadium, 280 S E St, San Bernardino, CA 92401. The event hashtag for social media posts is #66ersblackexcellencetribute. The community is encouraged to attend the event. Admission is $18.00. San Manuel Stadium will sell food and beverages. There will be merchandise for purchase and a small vendor marketplace.

The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. The 66ers are based in San Bernardino, California, and play at San Manuel Stadium.

The Black chambers of commerce of Riverside Mission is to empower and inspire minority entrepreneurs, in their indigenous communities to be successful, partner with like minded individuals, companies, and nonprofit organizations to achieve that mission. We believe that our greatest opportunity to empower and inspire minority communities and businesses lies in cooperation and collaboration with the industries of tomorrow.

The narrative of African-American playing Professional Baseball has changed sports history. An enterprise of Black ownership launched and funded the Negro National League.

Black Baseball became known for showcasing a style of speed, daring play and showmanship. August 1945, Jackie Robinson shook the baseball world with his official announcement he integrated major league baseball playing for the Dodgers in 1947.

After Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier other major league team followed suit and eventually the Negro American league support was stretched thin. As of 2020 many of the founding Negro leagues baseball teams have been declared official major leagues with their players records and statistics counted in baseball’s record books.

Baseball fans around the world garner strong supporters of players, teams, and the BIG games.

The inner-city kids who play baseball in the community spend this time rising above their circumstances, baseball is where young people find a common purpose in the ball parks and in the stadiums.

It is important that the inland empire youth, and many who grow up in challenging neighborhoods with limited opportunities, be exposed to positive events like the 66ers Negro league tribute to honor the legacy of their ancestors and be empowered by the organizations that bring them resources. Public recognition and highlighting the achievements of local businesses and the people who serve, motivate, encourage, and inspire is the icing on the cake for this event. There will also be a fireworks display preceding the Baseball Game. This will be a Family fun event where all is welcome and your support very much appreciated. Purchase tickets at this link.

Davis Stops Romero Before Star-Studded Crowd


By Lem Satterfield

Gervonta Davis’ fights guarantee high-drama, celebrity-filled crowds and knockout victories, and Saturday night’s clash with Rolando Romero was no exception.

“Tank” Davis scored a highlight reel sixth-round stoppage of Romero, defending his WBA 135-pound title before a sold-out arena record 18,970 fans at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“Tank is the biggest puncher out of the guys at 130 and 135,” said trainer Stephen Edwards. ”I don’t care what anybody says: He deserves top pound-for-pound consideration.”

Previously unbeaten Rolando Romero (left) rolled to all fours and rose on unsteady legs from a counter left hand by WBA 135-pound champion Gervonta Davis. Referee David Fields (right) waved an end to the fight. (Amanda Westcott/Showtime)

The 27-year-old Davis (27-0, 25 KOs) won his fourth straight pay-per-view match in defeating Romero (14-1, 12 KOs), having consistently produced between 200,000 and 230,000 pay-per-view buys.

Davis knocked out Romero in a star-packed venue including Madonna, tennis star Naomi Osaka, television personality and former NFL star Michael Strahan, former NFL running back LeSean McCoy, Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson and other current and former NBA players.

Davis’ knockout was his third in as many appearances at Barclays.

“This meant a lot to come back to Barclays, where I won my first belt,” said Davis, whose 96-percent knockout ratio ranks second among world champions to that of IBF/WBC 175-pound titleholder Artur Beterbiev (17–0, 17 KOs).

“I knew my Baltimore fans were going to come, but I also have a huge fan base in New York. So to see them show up was amazing. It wasn’t just me who won tonight, I think it was the whole [sport of boxing] that won tonight.”

Rolando Romero (left) fell face-first into the ropes from a counter left hand by WBA 135-pound champion Gervonta Davis (right), resulting in Davis’ sixth-round stoppage victory. (Amanda Westcott/Showtime)

A five-time, three-division title winner, Davis delivered the highest-grossing boxing match at Barclays, which was hosting its first post-pandemic fight since heavyweight Robert Helenius’ fourth-round knockout of Adam Kownacki in March 2020.

There was talk that the bout with Romero might be Davis’ last fight with Mayweather Promotions, but the champion hugged the company’s CEO, Leonard Ellerbe, at the post-fight press conference, stating, “We’re still with Mayweather Promotions, baby!”

“Gervonta Davis is a terrific fighter who does a phenomenal job inside of the ring,” Ellerbe said. “He has a great trainer in Calvin Ford, and when all of these things are working together, this is what you get. That’s big. It shows that we know what we’re doing.”

So did Davis against the 5-foot-8 Romero, who had vowed an early knockout against the 5-foot-5½ Davis.

“Even when we weighed in, I knew that I could out-think him, easily. I knew that I was going to out-box him,” Davis said.  “I thought I was going to wind up stopping him in the later rounds, but I knew he was strong off of the first punch he threw.”

Romero troubled Davis with a timely jab, twice forcing the champion to clinch after landing hard second- and fifth-round right hands.

“He caught me with an early shot, and I knew I had to stay out of the way. But I knew that down the stretch, I was gonna break him down,” Davis said. “I knew he would run into something. I was just trying to figure out his range and see how hard he hits. But he definitely has power.”

Davis ended matters with 21 seconds left in the sixth. Davis’ head-jolting, counter-left hand to the face sent Romero crashing forward into the ropes and eventually onto his butt.

Romero rolled to all fours before rising on unsteady leg. Referee David Fields waved an end to the fight. Davis led, 49-46 and 48-47, on two cards and trailed, 48-47, on the third.

“I want the fight again,” said a defiant Romero, 26. “I exposed him and won every single round. I jumped into something and ate a stupid shot.”

Davis compared his fight-ending blow to the right hand by Juan Manuel Marquez that floored southpaw Manny Pacquiao once each in the third and final round of his come-from-behind, sixth-round knockout victory in December 2012. The blow left Pacquiao knocked out cold and in a prone position.

“[It was] something like when Manny Pacquiao got caught. The crazy thing is that I didn’t even throw it that hard. He just ran into it. He just ran into it,” Davis said.

WBA 135-pound champion Gervonta Davis “is a terrific fighter who does a phenomenal job inside of the ring,” said Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe after Davis stopped Rolando Romero on Saturday before a record 18,970 fans at the Barclays Center. (Amanda Westcott/Showtime)

A similar scenario played out in October 2020 for Davis’ sixth-round knockout of four-division champion Leo Santa Cruz, who was knocked out and stopped for the first time in his career by Davis’ ripping left uppercut.

“That was a different shot than the one against Santa Cruz, which just shows you that a focused Tank Davis is a dangerous Tank Davis,” said Ford, Davis’ career-long trainer. “That’s a factor, which speaks for itself in that Tank’s an exciting fighter.”

Davis yet again displayed “an elite IQ,” according to Edwards.

“Tank knew [Romero] was a threat, and his punches had heat on them. Rolly also has reflexes where you can’t just hit him when you want to,” Edwards said. “Tank was trying to take Rolly into deep waters, moving and not allowing Rolly to get set. Tank felt the impact of Rolly’s punches and used his legs to box Rolly and not get touched. While boxing, he got Rolly to run into a money shot.”

“I’ve never seen Tank under-perform, which says a lot about his courage, character and integrity…,” said retired two-time 147-pound champion Shawn Porter, who attended the fight and is a Showtime and Premier Boxing Champions analyst and host of The Porter Way Podcast.

“Tank is a sharpshooter who is very vast and a very good counter puncher who can throw the fight punch at the right time,” said Porter, who called Davis the best fighter at 130, 135 and 140 pounds.  “Gervonta Davis is a sellout and a main attraction in Los Angeles and everywhere else when he’s from Baltimore. From a media standpoint, it’s long past the time to give this man the credit he deserves.”

Davis’ victory preceded this Saturday’s 135-pound unification battle of unbeatens in Melbourne, Australia, between IBF/WBA and WBO super titleist George Kambosos Jr. (20-0, 10 KOs) and WBC counterpart Devin Haney (27-0, 15 KOs).

“If you win, and you’re saying all of that. If you win … let’s make the fight happen since you wanna talk crazy,” said Davis of Haney, who must grant a rematch to Kambosos if he wins. “Let’s do that. I wanna fight you if you win. Devin Haney. Just know that the winner [of Haney-Kambosos] can come and see me.”

Edited by Richard Pretorius and Matthew B. Hall

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The post Davis Stops Romero Before Star-Studded Crowd appeared first on Zenger News.

California, Federal Gov’t Set Policies, Programs to Arrest Inflation

By Alton Thomas Stiles | California Black Media Partners

As the costs of goods surge nationwide along with gas prices, Gov. Gavin Newsom is committing $18.1 billion in “inflation relief” to Californians through the California Blueprint, his mid-year revised budget proposal.

The White House is also taking steps to ease the pinch from inflation Americans across the country are experiencing.

“Global inflation, the war in Ukraine driving up costs, climate change impacts – everyone is feeling the weight. So, we’re putting $18.1 billion on the table to help lower costs for Californians – tax refunds, [money] for healthcare, rent, utility bills, public transit [and] more,” Newsom tweeted.

California’s economy is the largest in the United States and is currently experiencing a budget surplus of close to $100 billion, according to the governor’s office.

“Backed by a robust surplus and grounded in our unshakable values, we’re paving the California Way forward to prosperity and progress for all,” said Newsom recently, referring to investments the state is making in financial relief efforts, including an increase to the minimum wage, rental and utility bill assistance, tax refunds, health care subsidies, and more.

As Newsom and federal government officials announce relief packages to tackle inflation, they are taking the opportunity to criticize their colleagues across the aisle.

“While gridlock persists in Congress and Right-wing fanatics turn statehouses across the country into laboratories of hate and oppression, here in California, we’re putting in the work to grow our economy and implement real, inclusive policy change to create a brighter future for all,” said Newsom.

President Joe Biden also urged Republicans in Congress to cooperate with Democrats on their inflation efforts.

“I encourage Congressional Republicans to join us in our efforts to lower prices for families across the country, by making more in America, strengthening our supply chains, and cutting energy and prescription drug costs,” Biden tweeted recently.

The federal government’s plan for offsetting the impact of inflation includes giving Medicare the power to negotiate prices for prescription drugs and bringing food prices down in grocery stores by “bringing more competition to those markets,” according to Sameera Fazili, Director of the White House National Economic Council.

Fazili told California Black Media (CBM) about some of the unique challenges facing communities of color as the prices of goods and services skyrocket nationwide.

One such challenge is childcare, which is essential for many parents of color as they are less likely to work remotely.

“Often times, the amount that you spend on childcare may be as much as what you bring in from going to work,” said Fazili.

The White House has also received commitments from large internet providers to lower the cost of internet access for lower income households. such as Verizon, for example, has committed to dropping monthly payments for highspeed service by $10.

Housing is another challenge for Black Americans, Fazili told CBM.

“We don’t have enough affordable housing in this country,” said Fazili.

Fazili said the federal government cannot directly lower or raise the price of gas because gas is traded on the global market.

United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm told CBM that the increases in gas prices are due, in part, to U.S. sanctions on Russian oil because of the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Granholm says since the European Union is following the U.S. with sanctions on Russia, there might be additional challenges around the corner.

“We’re going to see more volatility, more increase,” said Granholm.

To combat this, the federal government plans to tap into the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve in the Gulf of Mexico, which Granholm called the “biggest tool we have” against rising gas prices.

On the state level, Granholm praised California’s approach to combating these prices.

“Some states are providing direct payments to people — I know Gov. Newsom has looked at that – to try to alleviate this huge impact on people’s wallets,” said Granholm.

Fazili says she is optimistic. When the economy begins to recover from hardships it is currently experiencing, the financial outlook for Blacks will begin to improve as the equity and relief programs the Biden administration is implementing take effect.

 

San Bernardino Brings Back Military Street Banner Program to Recognize Its Hometown Heroes

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The City of San Bernardino has brought back its Military Street Banner Program to salute its hometown heroes. It is seeking the names of military personnel currently serving in the armed forces to honor with a banner to be installed on streetlights near the civic plaza, and then spreading throughout the city. There is no cost to participate in the program.

In addition to active-duty service members, reservists and veterans who reside in San Bernardino may also be honored with banners. Special Gold Star banners will be produced in memory of service members who died while serving.

“There is no amount of thanks that we can give San Bernardino’s military men and women to match our appreciation for their service to our country and community,” said Parks and Recreation Director Lydie Gutfeld. “This recognition let’s everyone know who among us has made the commitment to serve.”

All military street banner participants or living family members will be invited to a City Council meeting as part of a formal presentation and recognition by the Mayor and Council.
Service members or their families must submit an application along with Verification of Military Status (DD-214) and a color 5×7 image of the service person. An online application is available at City of San Bernardino – Military Banner Program Application (sbcity.org). Funding for this program is being provided by sponsorships, community donations, and city funds.

For more information, contact the City of San Bernardino Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department at 909-384-5233.

 

 

 

 

Evo Hemp Unveils NEW Directory of BIPOC Farmers + Announces Podcast

BOULDER, CO — Evo Hemp is thrilled to announce “Dirty Words,” a new podcast produced in conjunction with the 40 Acre Cooperative that provides a platform for diverse voices and stories from the frontlines of our food and plant medicine systems. The mission is to show what is possible and what is necessary to create equitable access to food and plant medicine. Evo Hemp has also launched a campaign to connect BIPOC farmers with manufacturers and consumers to create solutions toward agricultural equity. If a BIPOC farmer would like to be included on the BIPOC FARMS MAP or a manufacturer looking to source from BIPOC farms, please reach out to customerservice@evohemp.com or visit https://evohemp.com/bipoc-farms-map.

“Our goal is to bring about change,” said Evo Hemp Co-Founder Ari Sherman. “The pandemic has brought the many racial inequities in our healthcare and food systems to the forefront, and this is a moment to ignite a cultural conversation around this public health crisis.”

Over the past 100 years BIPOC farmers in the United States have lost roughly $326 billion worth of acreage. In 1910, Black farmers owned more than 16 million acres of land. In 2017, that figure was just 4.7 million acres, about 0.5% of all farmland. According to experts, the land loss was due to discriminatory USDA lending policies and forced sales of co-owned land called heirs’ property.

“By bringing Black farmers to parity on a per-farm revenue and profit basis, there is $5 billion in economic value that can be created,” said Jourdan Samel, Co-Founder of Evo Hemp. “Increasing business participation for Black farmers could create ladders of opportunity for the 66,000 Black workers employed in the agriculture sector and beyond.”

Public and private programs exist today to support Black farmers, but they vary in maturity and reach. For example, many private programs are in pilot stages and have yet to achieve their full potential scale and scope. Further, many public programs have faced challenges to scale due to historical distrust of farming support and lack of awareness among the Black farming community.

“We want people to be aware that because of the color of your skin, there are disparities in your ability to cultivate and access food and plant medicine,” said Sherman. “We hope that our podcast and the BIPOC Farms Map will positively affect people, impact communities, and make change that will help us become a better society.”
About 40-Acre Cooperative: 40-Acre Cooperative is an agricultural company focused on addressing equity gaps within agriculture. The co-op provides technical assistance, and marketing support that supports Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized communities. https://www.fortyacre.coop/

About Evo Hemp: Evo Hemp has established a supply chain of USA-grown hemp in order to rebuild America’s agricultural system. With the help of retail partners, Evo Hemp has been able to create countless opportunities for small family farmers, while providing consumers with organic, USA-grown hemp products. https://evohemp.com/

Monday, May 30: City of Rialto Memorial Day Tribute

RIALTO, CA– Mayor Deborah Robertson welcomes the community to join the City of Rialto and American Legion Post 422 in honoring our American heroes on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30th, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at Rialto Park Cemetery, 200 N. Willow Ave., Rialto. This event is emceed by Mayor Pro Tem Ed Scott, Council Member Rafael Trujillo and Post Commander Armando Chavez. Council Member Andy Carrizales and Council Member Karla Perez will also be in attendance to greet and welcome our veterans.

The city is honored to have Keynote Speaker, Lieutenant Colonel Robert K. Furtick from Fort Irwin, CA. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Kennerly Furtick is a native of Springfield, SC. In December of 2001, he was commissioned an Armor Officer through the ROTC program at Newberry College in Newberry, SC. He has served in various leadership and staff positions within both Cavalry and Armor Formations.

LTC Furtick’s first assignment as a Major was as the Squadron Operations Officer and Executive Officer for 3-16 CAV, 316th CAV BDE. Upon completion of this assignment in 2013, he was reassigned to Fort Irwin, CA where he was assigned to 1st Squadron 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Here he served as the Senior O/CT for the Regiment and later as the Squadron Executive Officer. He was then reassigned as the Chief of Protocol for the National Training Center. LTC Furtick completed his duties at NTC and in 2015, was reassigned to the Office of Program Management – Saudi Arabia National Guard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as a Battalion Advisor. In 2016, he was then assigned to the Department of the Army G-3/5/7 as an Operations Officer in the Army Operations Center. In August of 2018, LTC Furtick was reassigned to 8th US Army, Camp Humphreys, Korea as the Aide De Camp to the Commanding General.

Following his 8th US Army assignment, LTC Furtick assumed command of the 1st Squadron of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Irwin, CA on 24 June 2020, and he is currently serving as the Squadron Commander.

The city is also honored to have Veteran Speaker, Colonel Gilbert Roldan (Retired). Colonel Gilbert Roldan served 38 years of Honorable Service in both the United States Marine Corps (Active Duty) and the United States Army (Reservist). He entered the service in 1982 as a Private in the Marine Corps where he served as an Infantryman. He retired from the service as a Colonel in 2021 where his last assignment was Chief of Staff for the 40th Infantry Division. His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Colonel Roldan also served as a Law Enforcement Officer for both San Diego and Los Angeles County. He retired with 30 years of law enforcement service.

The San Bernardino Valley Young Marines will conduct the Flag Folding Ceremony, Color Guard by the NJRTOC from Rialto High School, 21 Gun Salute by the Riverside Army Recruiting Company, poem readings by Rialto residents Nancy Burch and Joseph Raden, “Taps” by echo buglers, “Amazing Grace” by Bagpiper Stephen, Bomber Airplane flyover and after the program, attendees are invited to a picnic lunch at Margaret Todd Park across from the Cemetery. Military Vehicles displayed by the Inland Empire Military Vehicles Preservation Association.

Please come out to honor, salute and remember all those who served this great nation.

Governor Signs Assembly Majority Leader Reyes’ Reform Bill of Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (AB 35)

SACRAMENTO, CA— In a historic event, Governor Gavin Newsom gathered with legislators, patients, the California Medical Association, watchdog groups, Consumer Attorneys, and patient advocate groups to sign AB 35, which represents the long-awaited modernization of California’s Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, known as MICRA.

For almost 50 years, Californians who have been victims of medical negligence or medical malpractice have been limited on their recourse because of the MICRA law, which was signed into law in 1975 by then Governor Jerry Brown. The intent of the law was to stop the rising costs of medical malpractice insurance and increased complaints of physicians leaving the profession. It limited a victim’s non-economic recovery to $250,000 without regard to the egregiousness of the injury even if it resulted in death.

“Advocates and stakeholders have been fighting for years to update the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act. This year they have succeeded. For almost five decades, families and patients have complained that they are not equitably compensated for their pain and suffering because of a limit put in place 47 years ago – without adjustment for inflation, that changes today,” said Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes. “Today is a historic day, the signing of AB 35 into law signals to all Californians that our state will continue to put equity and justice first.”

“For decades, medically injured patients suffered from both the pain of being wrongfully injured and the unfairness of a system that severely restricted their access to justice. With Governor Newsom’s signature on AB 35, a 50-year battle, led by injured patients and their families to restore justice to California’s MICRA law, is finally resulting in a better outcome. This historic agreement will ensure patients are more fairly compensated when their rights have been violated,” said Craig M. Peters, President of CAOC.

Families and patients have not given up and have continued the fight to increase these limits. With success, AB 35, authored by Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Reyes along with Senator Tom Umberg was passed by both houses with bipartisan support and signed by Governor Newsom. Beginning on January 1, 2023, AB 35 will usher in a new period of increased recovery for pain and suffering for the next 10 years with a cost-of-living adjustment thereafter.

“I Want You to Know – There are Consequences to Pay When One Does Not Heed the Warnings of God!”

By Lou Yeboah

You see, God began human history with a warning. He told Adam and Eve that if they ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would surely die. [Genesis 2:17]. The soul that sins shall die [Ezekiel 18:20]. There are consequences to pay when one does not heed the warnings of God. If you continue to disobey and live in sin, God’s anger will descend on you like King Manasseh. Don’t take God’s grace for granted. Repent before it is too late!

“A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” [Proverbs 22:3]. How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?” [Proverbs 1:22]. “How long will you keep ignoring the warning signs and live for your own ways and desires as if there are no consequences for doing so?” Proverbs 14:12; 16:25 reminds us that, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” God’s warnings always precede God’s judgment!

Case in point, before the tragedy that befell the house of Eli, the death of his two sons and his own death, God had warned about the sin of Eli’s sons and his failure to discipline them. He warned of the impending judgment. “Then the LORD said to Samuel, ‘I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family. I have warned him continually that judgment is coming for his family, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn’t disciplined them. So, I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings” [1 Samuel 3:11-14]. Why? Because they had squandered the opportunities, to repent. God’s warnings always precedes His judgment.

The angels who came to execute God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah told Lot, “‘Run for your lives!’ the angels warned. ‘Do not stop anywhere in the valley. And don’t look back! Escape to the mountains, or you will die.’” [Genesis 19:17]. But Lot’s wife didn’t heed their warning. She looked back. Therefore, God’s judgment came upon her. She became a pillar of salt [Genesis 19:26]. I tell you, there are consequences to pay when one does not heed the warnings of God!

Be like the people of Nineveh who repented and believe that God will do what He said he would do. Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes”

The king took Jonah’s message very seriously and caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, “Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?” [Jonah 3:5-9].

“When God saw that they had put a stop to their evil ways, he had mercy on them and didn’t carry out the destruction he had threatened” [Jonah 3:10]. God’s warning always comes before His judgment. Your response to His warnings determines what happens to you. As Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar [Daniel 4:27] please listen to me. Stop sinning and do what is right. God’s warning comes before His Judgment. [Ezekiel 18:20].

God did not just let them go into sin. He sent messenger after messenger, prophet after prophet, judge after judge, king after king—and they never listened. Even though God had compassion on them and wanted to save them from this, they were not willing. [2 Chronicles 36:15].
“Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” [Amos 4:12].