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WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino) released the following statement in support of President Barack Obama’s new action to help millions of student loan borrowers better manage their debt.

“Our economy is weakened when a generation of college graduates is burdened by large amounts of student loan debt,” said Rep. Negrete McLeod.  “This is why I agree with the President’s new plan to help millions of people across the country pay off student loan debt. We must make college more accessible and affordable for the sake of our nation’s economy and its future.”

The executive actions the president took earlier this week will allow millions more borrowers to better manage their student loan debt, directing the Department of Education to expand the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) program.   PAYE enables student loan borrowers to cap their loan payments at 10 percent of their monthly income.  The new rules will open the PAYE program to borrowers who are currently ineligible because they have loans that originated before October 2007.  The administration estimates that these new rules will mean that an additional five million borrowers can cap their monthly student loan payments in relation to their income.

In addition, on Saturday, President Obama urged Congress to pass the Bank on Students Emergency Refinancing Act (H.R. 4582; S. 2292), legislation cosponsored by Rep. Negrete McLeod that would help 25 million borrowers nationwide refinance their existing federal and private student loans to lower interest rates, similar to those that are currently available to new student loan borrowers. In total, American families would save around $55 billion under the legislation, which they can then reinvest in their local economy.

“I urge House Leadership to bring the Bank on Students Emergency Refinancing Act up for a vote.  Passage of this legislation would help millions of struggling borrowers pay back their student loans at reasonable accommodations,” concluded Rep. Negrete McLeod.

Learn more about the Bank on Students Emergency Refinancing Act here.

Cajon High School is holding a blood drive to benefit LifeStream on Tuesday, June 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each blood donation can help save a life with their blood and raise funds for the Cajon Cowboy football team. Blood donors must be at least 15 years old. Those under 18 years must have permission from a parent or guardian. Cajon High School is located at 1200 W. Hill Drive in San Bernardino. For more information, call Audrey Reisenhofer, Associated Student Body director, at (909) 881-8120. For more information about LifeStream, visit https://www.lstream.org.

THE GRAND OPENING of “THE CLUB, an Interactive theatrical production, invites the community out this Father’s Day, June 15th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to watch the production. This event will be presented by DeVeaux Entertainment., Sun Lion Productions. and Generations Model Company at the Historical Landmark, Maverick’s Flat, 4225 Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles (90008). It features acting, modeling, comedy, poetry, live art, singing and dancing.

The theme is set in 1978 with icons such as Ike and Tina Turner (Ikkor and Felice LeVair), Diana Ross (ALLJAHe), and several others who will be sharing their stories of overcoming adversity on their road to success. This is an interactive, comedic play where guests are encouraged to come dressed in 70’s attire as they blast to the past in this 70’s Theme Production.

The Maverick’s Flat is a  theatrical caravan of 45 cast members performing for One-Night-Only! Tickets start are $20 ($15 in advance). For more information, call or text DeVeaux at (323) 445-8277.

ONTARIO, CA- All county departments, community and faith based organizations, and community members who are interested in gaining knowledge on Suicide and Bullying as a universal topic and on a multi-cultural dimension in an effort to increase awareness are invited to come out to the Suicide and Bullying Multi-Cultural Awareness Forum being presented by the Cultural-Specific Committees of the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) in partnership with Riverside – San Bernardino County Indian Health Inc.

The forum will include keynote presentations by Dulce Peña, JD, MAOD, MA, PCC; Arnold Thomas, MSW; and Patti Cotton, MA, MAOD, PCC. Along with the keynote presentations,  ten culturally specific breakout sessions and a treatment based suicide and bullying awareness panel.

The purpose of the Suicide and Bullying Multi-Cultural Awareness Forum is to promote awareness education and further understanding of suicide and bullying on both a universal and multi-cultural level and to encourage mental wellness when dealing with these sensitive topics.

The forum will be held on Wednesday, June 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Double Tree by Hilton – Empire Ballroom located at 222 N. Vineyard Avenue in Ontario (91764). For additional information, questions, or interpretation/translation needs please contact Imo Momoh at (909) 252-4069 or 711 for TTY users.

Cheryl Brown

SACRAMENTO, CA-. With 100 percent of all precincts reporting, Assemblymember Cheryl Brown bested her opponents with 68 percent of California’s 47th Assembly district vote. In the race for the Congressional District 31, Democrat Paul Chabot will face Republican Pete Aguillar. Seven candidates were vying for the job, including San Bernardino City Unified School District Board Member, Danny Tillman. During this primary election, voters decided on state office positions from governor to insurance commissioner, as well as a host congressional and legislative seats. Gov. Jerry Brown has won his bid to appear on the November 2014 ballot, along with several other state-level Democratic incumbents. June 3rd, statewide primary election was the first to test California’s top-two primary system. Republican Neel Kashkari will the face the governor on November 4, 2014.

Democratic incumbents Brown, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, state Attorney General Kamala Harris, and Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones maintained their place on the ballot and each will face Republican challengers in the general election, in November. In the race for the 3rd District seat on the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, former Assemblywoman and state Senator Sheila Kuehl will face former Santa Monica Councilman Bobby Shriver. Former U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis cruised to a commanding victory over two rivals, well above the 50 percent threshold that will give her an outright win without need for a runoff campaign.

In Los Angeles County, voters were also deciding many hotly-contested countywide offices, including that of Los Angeles County Sheriff, and two open seats on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Jim McDonnell will face his nearest rival in second place, former Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, this November. Seven candidates were vying for the job. Two ballot measures were before California voters as well. Both passed. Proposition 41 would put $600 million in bonds toward rental housing for low-income veterans; Proposition 42 would require local governments to continue to comply with state open government and public records laws despite no longer getting reimbursed by the state for related expenses.

Derron Smith, Fresno State University

Re-edited by Naomi K. Bonman

FRESNO, CA- Derron Smith, Banning, California native, was recently named by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation to the 2014 Loft IMPACT Trophy watch list. He was one of 42 players on the list. He plays football for the Fresno State Bulldogs in the position of safety. Every year the IMPACT trophy goes to the college defensive player who has the biggest IMPACT on his team both on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

In addition, Smith is a two-time first-team All-Mountain West selection and enters his senior year as the nation’s active leader in career interceptions with 14. He was the Defensive MVP of the 2013 Mountain West championship game, which was the second-straight conference championship Smith has helped lead the Bulldogs to. Smith was also a quarterfinalist for the award last season where he tied for second in the nation with seven interceptions, one of which he returned 41 yards for a touchdown in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl against USC. He had 18 tackles in the game against USC, which set a new Mountain West record and tied the Fresno State record for tackles in a bowl game.

For those that would love to listen in to Smith and his teammates during football season, the official Fresno State Bulldogs station is 940 AM ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes 1600 AM.

Re-edited by Naomi K. Bonman

For the past 63 years, JET Magazine has been providing positive and introspective news for the Black Community on a weekly basis. Now that the digital age as transformed the way the Journalism world operates, JET released its final print issue on Monday, June 9. The cover of the issue salutes JET magazine’s iconic history with images of previous covers throughout the years. Inside, readers will find a retrospective of the news covered in the magazine dating from 1951 to the present.

Jet will be launching a new weekly digital magazine app later this month, which is scheduled to launch on June 30,and will be available on all tablet devices ad mobile platforms. It will feature weekly updates on entertainment, sports, and news of importance to the readers, as well as an enhanced functionality for the Beauty of the Week.

LA QUINTA, CA- The La Quinta Resort and Spa comes alive on Saturday, June 14 when the Family Health and Support Network, Inc. presents the Annual Juneteenth Celebration and Pioneer Awards. The venue will resonate with the sounds and performances of gifted and talented area youth and young adults, as well as a performance by Ms. Alfreda James. The emcee of the evening will be actress Gye Nyame Maat. This premier event is a “White Soiree” for those who cannot resist a fabulous night out enjoying live music and dancing while celebrating our talented youth.

The keynote speaker this year is Mr. Oronde Miller, Senior Director of Strategic Consulting at Casey Family Programs and Operator of the Institute for Family and Child Well-Being. In addition, a live band will be playing smooth R&B for guests dance the night away.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with a V.I.P. Reception at 6 p.m. The main event begins at 7 p.m. V.I.P. tickets are $85 and general admission is $65. Tickets can be purchased online at www.juneteenthcv.com or by calling (760) 340-2442. All of the proceeds from this event will directly benefit the early intervention services and enrichment programs provided to children in foster care and at risk youth serviced by the FHSN.

This year’s Celebration promises to excite, motivate and move you with these energy filled performances and presentations. Saxophonist Chase Huna. The La Quinta Resort and Spa is located at 49499 Eisenhower Drive in La Quinta (92253).

Join the NAACP, 211 Riverside County and the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce this Saturday at the 14^th Annual Juneteenth Celebration in Riverside where they will be educating the community about Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace.

The educators will be at Bordwell Park from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. to inform residents about health care plans through Covered California, Special Enrollment and Medi-Cal. By the end of March, 1.4 million people had selected a Covered California health insurance plan, including 40,377 in Riverside County.

Although open enrollment has ended, consumers who experience a qualifying life event can still enroll in a health insurance plan through Covered California. Qualifying life events include losing health coverage through a job, getting married or entering into a domestic partnership, having or adopting a child, changing where a person permanently lives or gaining citizenship. For a list of common types of qualifying events, visit www.CoveredCA.com.

The Magnolia at 9th Senior Apts

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The Magnolia at 9^th, a 119 unit , affordable senior housing community, invites the community to tout the facility on Wednesday, June 11 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The apartments are located at 181 E. 9^th Street in San Bernardino (92410).

The Magnolia at 9th Senior Apartments is a public, private non-profit partnership of The City of San Bernardino, Western Community Housing, Inc. and Meta Housing, Corp., professionally managed by Western Seniors Housing.

“This is a great example of what private, public partnerships can accomplish,” said San Bernardino Mayor Cary Davis. “It is a great place for seniors. They have a wonderful opportunity to improve their lifestyle.”

Magnolia at 9th is located in San Bernardino near the corner of 9th and Lugo Street.  Open since February, the apartments provide seniors age 62 and older with an upscale and affordable living option.  The apartments include 100 one-bedroom units, and 19 two bedrooms apartments, a pool, garden, workout room and large community room. Rent ranges from $557 to $807 a month depending on income and availability.

For more information or to reserve a spot call the Magnolia at 9th Street Senior Apartments at Call Julio Martinez at 909-388-1203