WSSN Stories

This week, Marijuana enthusiasts across the state of California — and around the world are — observing 4/20/2020.

But, this year, the famous pot smoking celebration in California, where the weed industry has been struggling to take off, has taken another twist. Like every other activity and public function, it will be happening, if it does at all, privately, away from public spaces, as the global COVID-19 pandemic that has now killed more than 1,000 Californians continues to rage.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed  issued a statement urging people to continue practicing social distancing on 4/20.

“I want to be clear with people who come to San Francisco on 4/20 to Robin Williams Meadow to celebrate 4/20, do not come to San Francisco,” warned Breed, the city’s first Black woman mayor. She was elected in 2018.

“We will not allow this unsanctioned event to occur this year especially in the height of a pandemic,” she added.

The unofficial “holiday” honoring the consumption of cannabis has become almost synonymous with California. Five high school students first coined the term “4:20” in 1971 at San Rafael High School in Marin County near San Francisco. Hippie Hill, the largest annual public pot smoking celebration in the world is held in San Francisco every year. Several more large festivals rivaling the Bay Area’s are held downstate around Los Angeles.  

In pop culture, California rappers like Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Nipsey Hussle – and 1990s urban movie classics like “Friday” —  have popularized weed smoking and created a laidback, dazed-out hip hop weed aesthetic straight out of the stereos of tricked-out whips and against the backdrop of the hazy Southern California sunshine.

In 1996, California became the first state in the United States to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. Then in 2016, by a ballot measure, Prop 64, voters approved the use of recreational marijuana, prompting big investments in the state’s weed industry. But the retail business has been slow to pick up — some say because of high state and local taxes, protests from NIMBYs, and stiff competition from a thriving untaxed illegal market that is more rooted and widespread than the legal one.  

Prop 64 included in it a provision to establish the California Community Reinvestment Grant (CalCRG) program funded by excise and cultivation taxes on cannabis. The program funds programs that assist Californians disproportionately affected by federal and state War-on-Drug policies. Among its programs, the grant helps formerly incarcerated people reintegrate into society with “trauma-informed” care. The majority of those impacted were Black and Hispanic men, women and children.

Even though the state has deemed weed an essential commodity during the COVID-19 crisis, the state’s weed industry is sputtering.

Some weed smokers have been excited that the unofficial observance of weed smoking is unique this year because the date has four twenties in it. Some putting forth the suggestion that entire month of April, which is technically 4/20, like the date, be celebrated this year.

“At 4:20 on 4/20/2020, there will be four twenties,” are the words on a sign rapper Snoop Dogg is holding on a meme making its way around the internet.

But the excitement that was building up to this year’s celebration has been cooled by strict social distancing measures issued by the state during the current pandemic. Organizers of San Francisco’s “Hippie Hill” 4/20 celebration have cancelled the event.

“We take the health and safety of the public, our staff, vendors, and sponsors very seriously. We feel it’s all of our responsibility to do our part to minimize social gathering and potential spread of this virus in the community,” reads a message on Hippie Hill’s official website.

The 4/20 celebration usually takes place in Golden Gate Park, but this year organizers are urging people to stay home and smoke.

“While this event is cancelled in person, it is not cancelled in spirit! We want everyone to celebrate this historic day by staying in and supporting your local delivery services and dispensaries,” it says on the Hippie Hill website.

LOS ANGELES, CA— Free, same-day tests are now available for all LA County residents who have symptoms of COVID-19.  Symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. 

The following factors do not affect eligibility for a COVID-19 test: 

• Immigration status
• Insurance status
• Age
• Underlying health issues

Health equity is central to Los Angeles County’s mission to build a network of free COVID-19 testing sites. There are currently 29 operational sites throughout the County. There are both drive-up and walk-up sites. To ensure the sites prioritize people who need it most, only people who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 are eligible for these testing services at this time.  

Appointments are necessary. Here are the steps for getting a test appointment: 

• Visit the website lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs
• Answer a series of questions. The answers determine if you are eligible for an appointment. 
• If you are eligible, you will receive an appointment confirmation number by email. 
• Bring the confirmation number and photo ID to your appointment.
• People with no access to the Internet can dial 2-1-1 for help making an appointment. 
• People without a car can be tested as long as they have an appointment. The sites can accommodate pedestrians.
• There are NO walk-up appointments available for people who do not register. 
• For a full list of locations and answers to questions about testing, go tocovid19.lacounty.gov.

There is a helpful instructional video to prepare you to take the test. Test results may take up to 3-4 days. Positive test results will be notified with a phone call. Negative test results will be notified by email.

For more information, visit https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing. To schedule a test, visit https://lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs.

By Lou Yeboah

Hear me and hear me good. If you never listen to anything else I say, listen today. The judgment of God is looming right over the horizon. Don’t be caught off guard, going about your daily life, unable to understand what is going on around you. Put yourself in a position to hear the warning, to understand what it means, and to have the wisdom to act accordingly. Our world has just about reached the limit of God’s mercy and forbearance. Man’s pride and arrogance, his greed and selfishness, his violence and brutality have reached a level which is intolerable. Our nation and world is in turmoil and this is the time for God’s people to get right with God. To repent of our own sins and to pray that in the midst of His coming wrath, He would remember mercy. [Habakkuk 3:2]. This was the message God gave to the Assyrians in Nineveh in the 8th Century BC through the preaching of the prophet Jonah. [Jonah 1:2]; and it is the same message He is giving to us today through his Word; a message of a judgment that is coming.

You know, Noah could have thought, “One hundred and twenty years is a long ways off,” and procrastinated on building the ark. But he didn’t do that. AS SOON AS HE HEARD God’s warning about the coming judgment, he went to work building the ark. It took him over a century to complete, but he kept at it. It seemed crazy to the world, but it all suddenly made sense when the sky began to pour rain and the fountains of the deep opened up. But then it was too late! Then the destruction that DID come found the people unprepared. Heed the warning! The judgment of God is looming right over the horizon.

God has issued a clear warning: A “Category 5” storm of judgment is heading toward everyone who dwells on earth! The door of His ark is still open. Flee to Christ and you will be saved. Scoff at the warning and you will be lost forever. As the three angels proclaimed in Revelation 14, ‘with loud voices’, very strong and dire warnings to the world, as well as the angel in Revelation 18, ‘crying out mightily’ to the inhabitants of the world, giving God’s final warning and call of mercy, it is high time for us to heed these final warnings, because we are living in end times. 

Wake up! Be reminded and become aware of these things which will soon affect every single one of us. Time will not just “continue on” the way it has, so says the Word of God. And even as it begins to happen, God is faithful, and His Word says that someone will see [Ezekiel 33:3] the sword coming upon the land, and this someone is commanded to give warning or indeed lose his own life also!” Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among you. [Jeremiah 6: 18]. The trumpet is sounding. The time is at hand. It is near. The judgment of God is looming over the horizon. We must take heed to God’s warnings or suffer the consequences.

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live…” [Deuteronomy 30:19].

By Kim Callinan

“I have heart disease, and I am scared.  For years, doctor’s visits and medication have kept me alive. However, now I am afraid if I go to the doctor, I will catch coronavirus and die. If I don’t go, my heart disease could kill me.” 

I have had similar conversations with seriously ill Americans nationwide who have a host of diseases. They ARE legitimately at greater risk of dying prematurely if they are exposed to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Terminally ill patients at the end of their life face an even direr dilemma. They need access to quality medical care to control pain, manage symptoms, reduce suffering and extend their quality of life. A shortage of hospice care could drive them to seek pain and symptom management in already crowded, infectious emergency departments, which would increase their risk of a premature, painful death.   

As the nation grapples to contain and treat patients with COVID-19, we’re rethinking how we care for people with other serious or terminal illnesses.  Given that patients risk contracting the coronavirus at healthcare facilities designed to save lives, medicine must adopt accordingly, by replacing brick and mortar medicine with the safe, effective use of telehealth.

Fortunately, late last month the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued regulations to implement telehealth provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) that significantly expand patients’ access to telehealth services. They will help ensure that vulnerable populations, including terminally ill patients, can seek care in the safety of their own homes while allowing quarantined doctors the ability to safely deliver quality health care.

1. CMS will now pay for more than 80 additional Medicare services when furnished via telehealth. They include emergency department visits, initial nursing facility and discharge visits, and home visits, which must be provided by a clinician that is allowed to provide telehealth.
2. Providers can evaluate Medicare beneficiaries, who have audio phones only, a vitally important option for low tech seniors.
3. Licensed clinical social worker services, clinical psychologist services, physical therapy services, occupational therapist services, and speech language pathology services can receive payment for Medicare telehealth services.
4. Licensed practitioners, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, are allowed to order Medicaid home health services during the existence of the public health emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fortunately, telehealth recently has become a rapidly growing care vehicle in the United States. According to a 2018 JAMA study, annual telehealth visits have increased at an average annual compound growth rate of 52 percent from 2005 to 2017.  A 2018 study by Deloitte indicates that 9 out of 10 physicians recognize the benefits of telehealth. Furthermore, two-thirds of physicians (66%) note that virtual care improves patient access and the majority (52%) recognizes it improves patient satisfaction.

Despite these promising statistics and the new CARES Act provisions, widespread adoption of telehealth will take some time. It will require buy-in by both healthcare providers and patients to restructure our health system and make telehealth a first-line approach, particularly during the threat of COVID-19. 

If you are a patient with a terminal or serious illness or a caregiver to one, talk with your healthcare providers about whether telehealth could replace an in person office visit. While it cannot substitute all office visits, it can be used in more instances than people realize. For example, clinicians are able to furnish patients with medical equipment so that they can monitor vital health indicators remotely and more effectively.

We know from experience that doctors are more likely to take the steps necessary to learn and then implement new approaches to medicine when patients request them. Given these facts, your self-advocacy for telehealth could benefit you, others, and ultimately contribute to more widespread and appropriate adoption. 

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Kim Callinan is President & CEO of Compassion & Choices. 

WASHINGTON, D.C.—- The NAACP, in conjunction with BET, will host part two of their four-part virtual town hall series, “Unmasked: COVID-19” on Wednesday, April 15, at 8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT. The hour-long call will focus on naming and addressing the real trauma communities are experiencing at this moment. Panelists will also touch on the severe impact this pandemic has had on the prison and incarcerated population throughout the country. 

Callers can participate via interactive toll-free conference call that will stream LIVE on the NAACP’s website at https://naacp.org/call-to-action-program/. To join via phone, dial (866) 757-0756 and to join the conversation on social media follow @NAACP and @BET. 

“Living in this new reality, we not only have to think about how we interact with each other, but we must give special care to our mind, body and soul,” said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO, NAACP. “The dynamic speakers in our second virtual town hall will provide in-depth information on how to cope during times of uncertainty.”  

Participants on the call will have the opportunity to hear remarks from Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP; Iylana Vanzant, host and executive producer of the award-winning show, Iyanla: Fix My Life; Benny Napoleon, sheriff of Wayne County, Mich.; and Dr. Patrice Harris, president of the American Medical Association.

Each speaker will offer words of encouragement and actions our communities can take to contribute to their well-being during this challenging time.

WHAT: Unmasked: COVID-19 (Part 2)

WHERE: Participant Dial-in: (866) 757 0756

WHEN: Wednesday, April 15, 2020, @  8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT

WHO

Ed Gordon, Journalist

Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP

Iyanla Vanzant, Host and Executive Producer, Iyanla: Fix My Life

Benny Napoleon, Sheriff, Wayne County, Michigan

Dr. Patrice Harris, President, American Medical Association

LOS ANGELES, CA—- Hallelujah! The Lifetime Original Movie  The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel  hit a high note on Saturday night, delivering 2.7 million Total Viewers in L+SD, according to Nielsen Media Research, making it Lifetime’s highest-rated movie since 2016 and the strongest original movie on all of television for 2020 across key demos, including both broadcast and cable. Additionally, The Clark Sisters was the best ad-supported cable original movie since 2018 in key demos, with 1.1 million Adults 25-54, 905,000 Adults 18-49 and 813,000 Women 25-54. With the success of The Clark Sisters, Lifetime now claims the top three original movies on ad-supported cable in 2020 in key demos, along with Stolen By My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story and Chris Watts: Confessions of a Killer.

On social media, #TheClarkSisters ranked #1 across all TV on April 11 with over 700,000 interactions, according to Nielsen Social. #TheClarkSisters was the top social Lifetime movie over the last year.

Hailing from executive producers Queen Latifah , Mary J. Blige and Missy Elliott , The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel recounts the story of the legendary pioneers of contemporary gospel music and their trailblazing mother, Mattie Moss Clark ( Aunjanue Ellis ). Credited with bringing Gospel music to the mainstream, the five Clark sisters (Christina Bell as “Twinkie,” Kierra Sheard as “Karen,” Raven Goodwin as “Denise,” Sheléa Frazier as “Dorinda,” Angela Birchett as “Jacky”) overcame humble beginnings in Detroit, enduring abuse, loss, rejection, betrayal, and sibling rivalries to achieve international fame as icons of the Gospel music industry. Grammy-winner, songwriter and gospel record producer and artist Donald Lawrence produced all the re-recorded Clark Sister hits for the movie. Christine Swanson (Chicago P.D.) directed, based on a script written by Sylvia L. Jones and Camille Tucker . In addition to Latifah, Blige, and Elliott, executive producers also include Holly Carter who also executive produces for Relevé Entertainment and Shakim Compere executive produces for Flavor Unit. Loretha Jonesalso executive produced. 

Follow Lifetime Publicity onTwitter  and   Instagram

By David Tucker

Every 10 years, the United States Census Bureau works to conduct an accurate count of the nation’s population, as provided for under the U.S. Constitution. This decennial count – which is currently underway – is one of our nation’s most inclusive civic activities, including every person living in the country, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion or citizenship.

An accurate count is essential to our democracy and our community’s growth because the data helps determine how much federal funding and political representation each state and community receives. Census results are used to determine political seats and draw district lines for all levels of government and to allocate hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending nationwide for critical community resources like parks, infrastructure, health care, and support programs in education, housing grants and nutrition.

Black Americans have been systematically undercounted from the very first census, disadvantaging Black communities and neighborhoods, and silencing our voices. An inaccurate census count can negatively impact community programming for schools, housing, health care services, business investment and much more.

The first census count in 1790 deliberately listed only the names of the heads of free Black households, while all other free persons were listed by age. By the 1860 census, at the start of the Civil War, the Black population increased to 4.4 million, about 14 percent of the overall population of the country. Yet, the explicit undercount of the Black population continued until the first post-Civil War census in 1870, following granting citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to African Americans and slaves under the Fourteenth Amendment. 

Over the following century, explicit discrimination was outlawed – but systemic discrimination persisted. Even today, the Census continues to disproportionately and systematically undercount the Black population. Black men have been undercounted in greater numbers than men of any other racial or ethnic group. In 2010, Black children were undercounted at twice the rate as a young non-Black child, affecting the funding for programs designed to serve children and families, like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs and the National School Lunch Program. Even as the 2010 census overcounted the population as a whole, it undercounted the Black population by more than 800,000 people.

Certainly, there are social and economic problems that make the Black community hard-to-count, including increased rates of housing instability, industrialized incarceration, homelessness, and even lack of internet access. And a deep distrust of government and concerns about privacy only make things worse.

This means many in the Black community are “missing” in their own communities, hiding in plain sight – even to this day.

These are unprecedented times. So, we must come together to ensure that Black communities are seen, heard and counted.

That starts by ensuring people know what to do to participate: You can go to my2020census.gov right now to fill out the form. It’s a simple, confidential nine-question survey that asks for basic information like your name, address, sex, race, and age. For those who prefer to fill out the form over the phone, you can dial 844-330-2020 to participate.

And don’t forget, your responses to the Census are protected by law and cannot be shared with, or used by, any other government agencies. Answers cannot be used for law enforcement purposes or to determine eligibility for government benefits or immigration enforcement. 

Black Californians deserve a fair and accurate census count in 2020. Our democracy relies on accurate data to make sound decisions that reflect our country’s needs. An accurate representation of our communities in the census will allow Black Americans to have a greater influence over resources and representation and the ability to hold lawmakers accountable. The Black community has an opportunity to change the history of the census in 2020 and participate in record numbers – let’s seize this moment. 

By Curtis Bunn ,Urban News Service, A Division of Zenger News 

Vada O. Manager found his purpose in his East St. Louis childhood. Amid the trappings of inner-city life, where crime and poverty dominated, he was inspired to achieve.

The president and CEO of Manager Global Consulting Group—who has traveled the world as an executive for Nike and Levi’s—sees that journey as more than about his own success. 

Manager, now 58, resisted the pull of crime that permeated his city and lured and devastated many of his classmates.

“Despite what challenges were all around me, [I] still had to find a way, either through education, spirituality or like-minded friends/family to persevere and succeed,” he said. “My story, like many others, demonstrates that it isn’t how you start in life, it is how you finish. I had great family support—albeit a single mother and grandparents who helped raise me.”

The teachings of his mother and grandparents helped him reject a life of trouble. He participated in school organizations, often alongside award-winning film producer Reginald Hudlin, who directed Eddie Murphy in “Boomerang” and worked on “Django Unchained.”

“I could not have imagined all that when we represented SWAPO back in our Model UN days,” Hudlin said, referring to the Namibian political party South West African People’s Organization. “But I’m not surprised either.”

Manager would serve as former Washington, D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly’s press secretary, and advise the late South African President Nelson Mandela and U.S. President Barack Obama. he sees his story as a barometer for black and brown young people who feel limited by their circumstances.

“I keep a sense of history in mind,” Manager said. “Having the privilege of serving President Mandela, even in a small capacity, was a historic moment as both his release from prison and the eradication of apartheid were the most pressing global priorities at the time.”

That’s a long way from where Hudlin and Manager met in high school.

“We quickly bonded over shared values: a drive to succeed, a deep interest in politics, and a healthy sense of humor,” Hudlin told Zenger News. “All three qualities have served us well over time. Vada has an amazing life, working in government and the private sector, serving on boards, advising high profile clients, and raising a beautiful family with his wonderful wife. He’s a success story in every sense of the word.”

Manager attended Arizona State University, and is now the school’s first African American trustee. The companies that make up his business invest in hotel and hospitality companies, along with strategic consulting, real estate and parking services.

“With President Obama, while I never served in his administration, I was an early donor when he came to Arizona and we had lunch with a small group to make a compelling case for governing,” he said. “I consider my contribution [to his presidential exploratory committee] after that lunch one of best investments in our civil society that I have ever made.”

He participated in mergers and acquisitions work at Nike when it bought Converse, Starter and Umbro. He joined the board of Ashland Inc., thanks to a recommendation from former Honeywell executive Mannie Jackson, who helped the Harlem Globetrotters emerge from bankruptcy.

Manager is turning his sights toward Hollywood, advising a project that debuted in January at the Sundance Film Festival.

Manager hopes his story encourages black youths to resist difficult circumstances. East St. Louis, which is 95 percent black, had America’s highest murder rate last year and has a low high school graduation rate. When Manager, who has great pride in his hometown, was growing up, the city’s residents faced crime and poverty but not to the same degree. 

He said he carried a burden in corporate America that many African Americans would recognize.

“The duality of successful African American men and women in America is that you have to be twice as competent, uphold the race and still be able to authentically be yourself and relate to your people,” Manager said. 

“It is a heavy mandate, which each person has to interpret for themselves.”

By Liz Elting

Keep a cool head. 

“We’ve been warned to expect a huge surge in mortality in the very near future, and it cannot be overstated how hard it will be to cope with. It’s critical you keep your composure, especially right now, because emotional decision-making is often bad decision-making. Focus on the data, not the news; you can’t control the mortality numbers, but you can control your own internal processes and strategies. Now is not the time to panic; rather, it’s time to hunker down and hold fast.”

Protect your employees. “Joblessness is spiking in a way we’ve never seen since unemployment insurance record-keeping began in the 1960s, and that’s got to have your team’s anxiety spiking too. People need assurances that their jobs are safe, even in the midst of this, as much as is realistically possible. Luckily, the CARES Act has created a system for paycheck protection loans designed to alleviate layoffs. If you’re in a position where you may have to begin letting people go at this worst possible time, it’s worth looking into whether or not your business qualifies.”

Maintain normal operations as much as possible. “There is always work to do. Emails need answering, clients need servicing, files need maintenance, even birthdays need celebrating. You and your people alike need normalcy, and the best way to maintain that is to keep chugging along. We’re all stuck at home in the midst of an onslaught of bad news, and we need to stay occupied. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of things that need doing. Work especially hard to keep your team focused this week, and the machinery working. This isn’t going to last forever.”

Show up for your clients. “There remains in the middle of this mess very real business opportunities, and I’m not talking about price-gouging or profiteering. Your clients are still out there, and they’re as scared and uncertain as you are. Times of great stress and difficulty can foster even stronger partnerships. Be there for your clients. Start looking for ways you can provide them with a solution to their problems; how has the pandemic affected their lives and their businesses in ways you are uniquely suited to relieve? Building client loyalty has never been more important because everyone is cutting costs. If you’re able to anticipate and meet the unique needs of your clients during these times, you’re far less vulnerable to lost business.”

Lead with hope and positivity. “These are uncertain times, but they will not last forever. The worst will pass, the clouds will part, and we’ll all return to our lives. It’s up to you to keep that candle lit in this darkness, for yourself and your team, so that you all remember that there is a tomorrow, a light at the end of this tunnel, and we’re going to make it there together.”

The Ontario City Council on Tuesday approved a temporary moratorium on evictions for nonpayment of rent by residential or commercial tenants adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The moratorium, which also applies to storage unit patrons, protects tenants who cannot make their rental payments for any of the following reasons:

• The tenant is unable to work while sick with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 or must care for a household or family member with a suspected or confirmed case of the virus.
  • The tenant experiences a layoff, loss of hours or other income reduction resulting from COVID-19, the City’s local emergency declaration, or related government response.
  • The tenant must miss work to care for a child whose school was closed in response to COVID-19.

The eviction moratorium builds on the protocol established by the state of California to prohibit the removal of residents at the very time they’re being instructed to stay in their homes. It

does not forgive rental payments, but provides breathing room for tenants who fall under one of the covered reasons while the City is under its state of local emergency. All missed rental payments are due to the landlord within six months of the emergency being lifted.

The moratorium provides tenants with a tool they can use in an unlawful detainer proceeding. It does not apply to eviction proceeding begun before the local emergency was declared. Tenants would need to provide verifiable documentation that they meet one of the qualifying standards. On March 14, Ontario was among the first cities in San Bernardino County to declare a local state of emergency and implemented a comprehensive COVID-19 emergency response plan to minimize the risk of exposure, anticipate potential vulnerabilities and act quickly and responsibly to any new developments.

For updates on the City’s COVID-19 response efforts, including the eviction moratorium, please visit: www.ontarioca.gov/coronavirus