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SAN BERNARDINO, CA — As the Apostle Peter warned, for if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly [2 Peter 2:4-5] killing every man, woman and child who spurned and ignored his warning, what do you think will happen if we continue to ignore His warnings? We too will experience the utter wrath of God. [Romans 11:21]. Isaiah warned the people that they must be in tune with God’s timing and not presume that they would always have the ear of the Lord. His words, “Seek the Lord while he may be found,” stressed the urgency of the time of decision. [Isaiah 55:6-9]

“We’ve Been Warned” encourages its reader to repent while it is still daybreak. Get your copy today online $10.00 for Book; $5.00 for eBook at:

Dorrance Publishing Bookstore- https://bookstore.dorrancepublishing.com

ISBN: 978-1-6393-7282-9

Barnes and Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/books

Publisher – Dorrance Publishing Company

Author: Lou K Coleman-Yeboah

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday and other education advocates around the state are encouraging college students to apply for financial assistance through the Californians for All College Corps program.

Over the next two year, 6,500 California students who qualify will receive stipends of $10,000 each year to pay for college expenses. In return, the students will be required to participate in community service projects tackling issues related to climate change, education, food insecurity and more.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in January that the state was investing $146 million in the work service effort that his office says would help low-income students graduate on time and with less debt. Selected students will also receive academic credit for the work they do in their communities.

“Students are graduating with crippling debt. This service and career development program helps create a debt-free college pathway while promoting service. If you are willing to serve your community and give back in a meaningful way, we are going to help you pay for college,” said Fryday.

Fryday, who Newsom appointed in 2019 to oversee volunteering, civic engagement and service initiatives in California, was speaking at the launch of the “College Corps” program in Merced earlier this month.

Officials from the University of California Merced, California State University Stanislaus, and California State University Fresno joined Fryday at the kickoff event.

“This is a win-win-win: Helping to pay for college, gaining valuable work experience, and having a meaningful impact on your community,” Fryday continued.

Universities across the state will collaborate with local government, community service organizations and non-profits to assign students to projects that are priorities in their region.

The College Corps program is being launched at a time Newsom is initiating several programs organized to address skyrocketing inflation as Californians recover from economic challenges brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

On May 12, Newsom announced an $18.1 billion package with relief funding in tax refunds, childcare assistance, a minimum wage increase, help with utility bills, health insurance subsidies, stimulus payments for health care workers, and more.

“We enacted the most comprehensive economic stimulus program in the nation last year, getting billions in immediate relief to millions of Californians. But many folks are still struggling, especially with high costs due to inflation, so we’re leveraging this historic surplus to get money back into the pockets of Californians,” said Newsom when he announced the relief package.

“This inflation relief package will help offset the higher costs that Californians are facing right now and provide support to those still recovering from the pandemic,” the governor continued.

The College Corps program requires students to complete 450 hours of community service over the course of the school year to receive the funding.

“The College Corps initiative is not only an important way for California to show that it values the efforts of our students, but also another significant advancement in helping more students complete college without financial stressors that can follow them into their early careers,” said Juan Sánchez Muñoz, University of California Merced Chancellor.

Here is the link to apply.

PACIFIC OCEAN— Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Ryan Barnes, from Chino Hills, Calif., performs maintenance on an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

June 7, 2022, is Primary Election Day in California.

On the ballot are candidates for U.S. Senate, Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, State Board of Equalization, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, U.S. House of Representatives, State Senate and State Assembly, as well as candidates for local elected positions.

There are two contests for U.S. Senate on the ballot. One is for a full six-year term ending Jan. 3, 2029. The other is for the remainder of the term that Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) has been serving in place of V.P. Kamala Harris that ends Jan. 3, 2023.

Mail-in ballot voting has been underway since the second week in May. Assembly Bill 37, signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021, requires the state to send vote-by-mail (VBM) ballots to every registered voter in the state. The law applies to all elections held after Jan. 1, 2022.

Ballots are sent 29 days before the election, which was May 9 for the primary. For the November General Election, voters will start receiving ballots Oct. 10.

A majority of California voters live in counties that have adopted the Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) system. In 2016, Senate Bill 450 created the VCA, an election model that expands voters’ options for how, when and where they can cast their ballots in an attempt to provide more accessible voting options. VBM ballots are provided with a postage paid return envelope. For a ballot to count in the upcoming primary election, it must be postmarked on or before election day and received by June 14, 2022. It can also be dropped off in-person to a secure ballot drop box, a voting location or county elections office by 8:00 p.m. on June 7, 2022.

The VCA is an optional law. Counties elect if they want to adopt it. In 2018, five counties adopted the new law: Madera, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento and San Mateo. In 2020, nine additional counties changed their election models to the VCA: Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Orange, Santa Clara, and Tuolumne. In 2022, the number of counties that have transitioned to the VCA grew to 28 with the addition of Alameda, Kings, Marin, Merced, Riverside, San Benito, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Ventura, and Yolo counties.

In VCA counties, early in-person voting begins as early as May 28. Voters can vote at any county vote center instead of being assigned to a neighborhood polling place. The vote centers are open four to ten days prior to the election, including weekends. They serve as one-stop shops with accessible voting machines – venues where voters can drop off their VBM ballot, receive a replacement ballot, register to vote, and get help with voting material in multiple languages.

Unregistered voters who miss the close of registration on May 23 will be able to conditionally register to vote at any vote center and cast a provisional ballot through the end of Election Day.

When California policymakers and election officials proposed the Voter’s Choice Act most proponents applauded its benefits, including lowering election administration costs, providing greater convenience and flexibility for voters, and the potential to improve voter turnout.

Recently, California Secretary of State (SOS) Shirley Weber released a report on the implementation of VCA during the 2020 Primary and General Elections.

Key findings of the report include:

VCA counties had higher voter registration rates in the state. The 15 VCA counties accounted for about half of the state’s registered voters in both elections.

Many VCA counties experienced a higher voter turnout compared to their non-VCA counterparts. Turnout in the 2020 General Election across racial groups showed White voters had a higher overall turnout than their non-White counterparts. The voter turnout gap for Black voters was 5.2 points, and AAPI voters had a turnout gap of 4.3 points.

Black and AAPI voters turned out at similar rates as the VCA counties’ average, and Latino voters used in-person voting most among all races and ethnicities.

Use of vote-by-mail ballots was the primary choice of voting in the 2020 elections. More voters chose to return their ballot by drop box than by mail. Use of drop boxes decreased after the age of 45 in the Primary Election and age 35 in the General Election.

Voters in VCA counties cast a ballot in-person at a higher rate than voters in non-VCA counties in the General Election (55.1%). For the Primary Election, that number was 46.6%.

In the General Election, voters aged 46-55 voted in person most compared to all other age groups. In both the Primary and General Elections, voters aged 66+ voted in-person least.

VBM ballot rejection rates in VCA counties were similar to VBM ballot rejections statewide. Voters aged 18-25 had the highest ballot rejection rate. Ballot rejection rates decreased as voter age increased in VCA counties.

VBM ballots were rejected (69.3%) mainly due to not being received on time during the Primary Election. But General Election VBM ballots were mainly rejected due to non-matching signatures (56.09%).

Provisional ballot use decreased significantly between the Primary and General Elections.

There were no confirmed instances of voter fraud in both the Primary and General elections in 2020.

SOS’s Recommendations based on the report findings:

Share best practices from counties that have high voter registration rates with counties that have lower registration rates.

Reduce ballot rejection rates through increased voter education.

Continue to work with counties to ensure drop box locations are accessible and convenient to the public.

Increase outreach and education about early in-person voting and other voting options available in VCA counties.

Increase targeted outreach efforts to engage young voters (18-25).

“We have taken away every excuse a person can possibly have as to why they won’t vote,” SOS Weber said recently. “People realize this is going to be easy and it’s comfortable.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Saturday, May 14th, 2022, over 150 youth from San Bernardino County joined Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. for a day of fishing and fun at Glen Helen Regional Park’s Lake. The lake was filled with trout the day before the youth came to fish. Children from ages eight to sixteen were in attendance and they spent the day learning how to fish by professionals. The day was made possible by the support of San Bernardino County Probation, Bass Pro Shops, California Fish and Wildlife, San Bernardino County Libraries, San Bernardino County Fire, San Bernardino County Museum, San Bernardino County Agriculture, San Bernardino County Airports, Preschool Services, First 5, Children’s Network, Friends of Regional Parks.

“Fishing with these youth was something that I will always hold dear to me. These kids got to have a fun day outdoors, and we got to highlight the exciting recreational opportunities that Glen Helen has to offer, all while providing mentorship opportunities. This day would not have been made possible without the support and mentorship of all our sponsors, partnering agencies, and volunteers. Fun days like this are made to teach the youth in our community that they can always grow and learn that there is a lot more to life. Their opportunities are endless, and we use these events to remind our youth that they have great potential that should not go unrecognized.”-Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— With 23 valedictorians from 7 comprehensive high schools, San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) has a lot to be proud of—two valedictorians are going to Stanford University, one to Princeton University, three are headed to the University of California, Berkeley, and two to California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB).

Our valedictorians have even more to be proud of, as they have shown that with hard work and dedication, you can rise to the top, even when life throws obstacles at you.

Wendy Aguilar has a 4.91 G.P.A. and a passion for politics and leadership, as evidenced by her participation in the Global Leadership Academy club and the Young Legislators club at Arroyo Valley High (AVHS) and her decision to major in Political Science at the University of Redlands. The teacher who had the greatest impact in her life was her high school art teacher, Robyn Holt. Holt’s kindness, positivity, and belief in her students made all the difference.

San Gorgonio High School (San G) valedictorian Melody Ambriz’s 4.92 weighted G.P.A. and extracurricular activities, including National Honor Society and Calculus Club, were the ticket to being accepted to almost any college. And after being accepted to UCLA, Cal State Long Beach, University of California, Irvine, and Cal State LA, she has decided to major in psychology or social gender studies at the University of California, Riverside (UCR).

With a 4.76 weighted G.P.A., Desteny Becerra Figueroa has earned her place as a Middle College High School (MCHS) valedictorian. In addition to taking both high school and college courses, as all MCHS students do, Desteny was also a member of Key Club, School Site Council, National Honor Society, Principal’s Focus Group, Peer Leaders, and the Class Committee of 2022. She plans to become a general physician or cardiothoracic surgeon.

Cardinal City Mayor and valedictorian Kimberlyn Chavez Quiroz is graduating from San Bernardino High School (SBHS) with a 4.785 weighted G.P.A. She is on her way to UC Berkeley to study psychology. She credits Arrowview Middle School science teacher Roice Bethel with teaching her “the importance of keeping a balance between fun and school.”

Indian Springs High School (ISHS) valedictorian Sarai Conde is graduating with a 4.84 G.P.A. and college acceptance letters from California Baptist University, Creighton University, Xavier University, University of California, Santa Cruz, and UC San Diego. However, she has decided to attend University of California, Riverside (UCR) to study neuroscience and neuropsychology.

Daniela De La Torre is a member of ASB (Associated Student Body), Key Club, the Class of 2022 Committee, and Peer Leaders, and maintains a 4.66 weighted G.P.A. This MCHS valedictorian plans to major in business administration at UC Berkeley with the goal of becoming a financial manager.

San G valedictorian Lilianna “Lily” Gracia is a musician at heart, so it’s no surprise that she was part of the San G Quintet and Symphonie Juenesse and the teacher who inspired her most was her high school orchestra teacher, John Brannon. When college starts in the fall, Lily will be studying music history and the music industry at either Berklee College of Music or the University of Southern California (USC).

AVHS valedictorian Frankie Grant credits her freshman English teacher Brian Mudd for much of her academic success by challenging her to develop the work ethic that would land her at the top of her class. Frankie would go on to participate in Academic Decathlon, Best Buddies, Students for Change and Calculus Club. Her goal is to attend UCLA and eventually become a clinical psychologist.

Michelle Le is graduating from AVHS with a 4.87 G.P.A. and plans to earn an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology degree from University of California, Irvine. Her ultimate goal is to become a marine biologist. She credits her ninth-grade biology teacher, Karen Swedlove, with sparking her love of biology.

With activities like Best Buddies, Students for Change, varsity tennis, NHS, and CSF under her belt, Cajon High School valedictorian Kalea Luna had her choice of colleges, and she decided to attend UCLA. She credits Dr. Stephen Imbriani and Cajon’s Sports Medicine Pathway with teaching her basic first aid and injury prevention and helping her build leadership and teamwork skills that have prepared her to deal with an emergency if one happens.

Cajon valedictorian Luis Luna is planning to dual enroll in New York’s Columbia University and France’s SciencesPo to study political science and eventually become a diplomat. With a 4.0 unweighted G.P.A. and extracurricular activities like Speech & Debate and Model United Nations and being the debate coach at Rodriguez Prep Academy, Luis is well on his way to accomplishing his dream.

Cajon valedictorian Eric Martinez is on his way to Stanford University to major in Anthropology and Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity. The founder and president of the DREAMers Club credits his high school International Baccalaureate teacher John Anderson for teaching him “how to learn, how to question my learning, how to take control of my learning, and what it truly means to be human.”

With extracurricular activities like water polo, National Honor Society (NHS)/California Scholarship Federation (CSF), and Jr. Public Relations and Communications Specialist for Tomorrow’s Talent, it’s no surprise that Cajon valedictorian Roxana Martinez will be attending Princeton. Her goal is to become an immigration lawyer.

Not only does Spencer “White Lightning” Nelson excel in academics, he is also part of the SBCUSD Teen Music Workshop and the cross country and track and field teams. Spencer credits Richardson PREP HI Middle School music teacher Peter Llamas with helping him blossom into the type of hard-working student who becomes a Cajon valedictorian. Spencer’s next stop is UC Berkeley, where he will major in biology or business.

MCHS valedictorian, School Site Council member, and peer leader Julie Nguyen said her sophomore math teacher, Steven Wright, “instilled in me an appreciation and fascination of (math), which ultimately led me to deciding to pursue a career in computer science.” Julie was accepted into UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara, but decided to attend UC San Diego.

Pacific High School valedictorian Miranda Owen excels in academics, sports, and music. She maintained a 4.69 G.P.A. while also playing on the basketball, tennis, and track and field teams, and playing in the band. This Keith Hubbs Award winner was accepted to UCLA, UCR, the University of Hawaii at M?noa, and CSUSB. She has chosen to stay local and study geology at CSUSB.

SBHS valedictorian Fernando Ramirez-Barragan was accepted to UCLA, CSUSB, Cal Poly Pomona, and UC Irvine, but he has decided to attend UCLA to become a civil engineer. He maintained an unweighted 4.0 G.P.A. while also participating in track and field, cross country, National Honor Society, and Spanish Honor Society.

Stanford, Yale, Claremont McKenna, UC San Diego, and UC Irvine all wanted Alexa Roman Serrano, but this San G valedictorian has set her sights on Stanford University. Alexa has not decided on her major yet, but with her 4.87 weighted G.P.A. and her experience in Academic Decathlon, varsity tennis, Key Club, Thrive Scholars, and Speech and Debate Club, she’s ready for whatever she decides to do.

Cajon valedictorian Vivianna “Vivi” Santos wants to open her own dermatology practice in the future, and she has a plan to get there. Her time with Best Buddies, Caremates, and the Latino Student Union have prepared her to lead her own company and care for patients. Soon, she’ll be majoring in pre-biology, with a minor in business, at UC Santa Barbara. Once she earns her bachelor’s degree, Vivi will be heading to medical school to complete her education.

Sahian Solares will go from a wolverine to a coyote when she graduates as a valedictorian from MCHS with a 4.80 weighted G.P.A. and then joins the CSUSB campus to major in kinesiology. Her final goal is to become a doctor of physical therapy. Sahian said Eva Tillman, her fifth-grade teacher from Jones Elementary School, had the greatest impact on her education.

With extracurricular activities like tennis, Academic Decathlon, Club de Español, Best Buddies, AP Spanish Club, and Calculus Club, it’s no surprise that AVHS valedictorian Alexa Tapia-Plazola was accepted into colleges including the University of Redlands, UC Berkeley, USC, UCLA, and Claremont McKenna College. She plans to major in linguistics at Pomona College.

With her involvement in Best Buddies, National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, and the girls’ basketball team, it’s impressive that Cajon valedictorian Mya Verrett maintained a 4.82 weighted G.P.A. In a few months, Mya will be at UC San Diego working toward a degree in bioengineering.

San G Spartan valedictorian Emily Viramontes maintained a 4.0 unweighted G.P.A. while also participating in the National Honor Society, Key Club, the MedicaZone, track and field and cross country, and the BRAINterns Summer webinar. Emily said, “My fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. (Julie) Ohrt, was the first teacher to truly encourage me to push myself to new limits, and expectations I wouldn’t have thought of reaching.” Now she is reaching for new heights as she works towards a career as a neurosurgeon.

In order to qualify for the honor of valedictorian or salutatorian, a student must be among the top 10 to 20 students with the highest grade value based on the specific courses that every student at an SBCUSD high school campus has access to for seven semesters of high school. Additionally, the student must complete all SBCUSD graduation requirements and complete the eighth and final semester at the school from which they have been selected as valedictorian or salutatorian.

Unweighted G.P.A.s are based on the standard grade-point system of four points for every A grade, three points for every B, and two points for every C grade. Weighted G.P.A.s are determined by adding a point to grades earned for Honors-level, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. For example, an A grade earned in a Chemistry AP class would be worth five points instead of four.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The City of San Bernardino has announced that Commerce Public Works Director Daniel Hernandez has joined San Bernardino as its new Public Works Director.
“Daniel Hernandez has a proven track record of both leading effective Public Works Departments and private sector experience getting things done efficiently and cost effectively,” said City Manager Robert Field. “This is another win for San Bernardino.”

Hernandez is an accomplished and seasoned leader with two decades of experience in the public sector, aerospace, and manufacturing industries. He has spent the past six years leading public works departments in Los Angeles County, first in Huntington Park for three years and most recently as Public Works Director in the City of Commerce. In both Commerce and Huntington Park, Hernandez modernized those departments, implementing productivity and performance measurement systems, cost controls, work order/process systems, and customer care and responsiveness programs.

In 2011, Hernandez was elected City Clerk in Montebello and served a four-year term.

The San Bernardino Public Works Director oversees the wide variety of operations and programs in the Public Works Department, including Capital Projects, Fleet, Environmental Compliance, Traffic Operations, and Maintenance and Operations. Public Works is also responsible for the maintenance of the city’s parks and community centers.

It’s an honor and privilege to serve the City of San Bernardino,” said Hernandez. “I look forward to taking on challenges, embracing the opportunities, and leading the Public Works Department in achieving the City’s goals.”

Hernandez’s start date was May 16th.

By Dr. Oliver Brooks | Special to California Black Media Partners

In 1992, the federal government enacted the 340B Drug Discount Program. It afforded community health centers (CHCs) the ability to provide pharmacy services to their patients, a service that many CHCs did not have the resources to provide otherwise.

The program protects safety-net providers, including CHCs, from escalating drug prices, allowing us to purchase drugs at a discounted rate from manufacturers and pass those discounts directly to the patient. This program is presently under threat.

That is why I support Dr. Richard Pan’s Senate Bill (SB) 939. This bill, currently being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Health, would prohibit discriminatory actions by drug manufacturers and administrators when providing 340B drugs to health centers and the patients they serve.

It provides important consumer protections that are necessary to protect 340B savings and ensure that the savings remain with health centers and their communities, creating greater access to health care and equity for all.

The 340B Program also allows safety-net providers the ability to accrue savings that must be reinvested directly into patient care and services. Thus, the program enables covered entities to stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services.

For 30 years CHCs have used those savings to provide free medications to patients experiencing homelessness, free transportation vouchers, free nutrition classes, and hire provider types (like community health workers) who are not billable within Medi-Cal.

Today, there are over 1,300 health centers in California that provide care to 7.2 million people – that’s one in every five Californians and one in three Medi-Cal patients.

Additionally, 68% of CHC patients are from BIPOC communities. CHCs are often the only source of primary and preventative care for California’s most diverse communities, including those experiencing homelessness, immigrants, and agricultural workers.
Anyone who walks into our health centers today can access a variety of services from primary care to dental to behavioral health care and a variety of wraparound services, regardless of whether they have health insurance, or an ability to pay for care. A large part of why we’re able to offer those services is thanks to savings we receive from the 340B program.

In recent years the 340B program has been under assault by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), drug manufacturers, and others within big Pharma.

Through the expansion of the Affordable Care Act & Medi-Cal, more low-income patients can access healthcare in California, meaning more are also able to access medications, causing the 340B program to expand. Given this fact, manufacturers have put practices in place that limit patient access to 340B priced drugs while PBMs focus on trying to take 340B savings away from CHCs, and out of the local communities that need them, threatening patient access to critical medicines made available through the program.

Health centers were born out of the Civil Rights movement to ensure that all communities, particularly communities of color, would have access to high-quality care that is provided in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner. This program has allowed covered entities, including CHCs, to contract with local pharmacies so that our patients can access low-cost medications in a convenient manner. The continual acts of greed by pharmaceutical companies and PBMs threatens equity and access that CHCs were designed to create.

Community health centers around the country are sounding the alarm over Rx drugs manufacturers’ attacks on the federal 340B program. Since 2019, 21 states have passed laws addressing PBM discrimination against 340B covered entities.

It’s time for California, the policy trendsetter, to become the next state to protect the 340B program so it can operate as intended.

That is why Dr. Richard Pan’s SB 939 is so important and why I so fervently speak in favor of this legislation.

About the Author

Dr. Brooks is Chief Medical Officer and past Chief of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at Watts Healthcare Corporation in Los Angeles, California (CA)