Antelope Valley

May 10 2013

New mom was one of three killed

An Air Force captain who is a new mother from Palmdale was identified by the Pentagon this week as one of three airmen killed when their tanker plane crashed in Central Asia, while supporting American troops in Afghanistan.

Capt. Victoria “Tori” A. Pinckney, 27, of Palmdale, was killed in the May 3 crash of a KC-135 tanker near Chon-Aryk, Krygyzstan, the Defense Department announced.

Colorado Springs television station KKTV reported that Pinckney was the mother of a 7-month-old son, and was a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy.

May 10 2013

Largest cycling event in America on May 14th

When the world’s largest cycling event in America, the 2013 Amgen Tour of California, comes to Palmdale on May 14, fans will have a number of great vantage points to watch the race from.

“Of course one of the best places to be for the race is at the starting line at Marie Kerr Park,” said Palmdale Communications Manager John Mlynar. “There you can get up close to these world-class athletes and experience the excitement and build-up to the start of the race, while enjoying a festival-like atmosphere.

May 9 2013

Allegations of sexual abuse resurface

Michael Jackson told his tour director days before he died he was hearing God’s voice, a producer testified Wednesday.

“God keeps talking to me,” Jackson said.

Those words spoken to Kenny Ortega and Jackson’s frail appearance were so disturbing that it caused Ortega and associate producer Alif Sankey to burst into tears at a rehearsal, Sankey said Wednesday in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Jackson’s mother and three children.

May 3 2013

Canopies 4 Kids promotes community peace

Ace Canopy visited the Guidance Charter School in Palmdale for its “Canopies 4 Kids Program” this week.

The program consists of Ace Canopy showing up at the school with the company truck and spreading out a 30’ x 30’ white canvas tarp atop a pop-up tent. The school kids get to paint their hand prints on the tent top.

May 3 2013

BLVD Farmers Market starts summer hours

Lancaster’s Human Relations Tapestry Commission, in collaboration with the BLVD Association, celebrated Cinco de Mayo with special festivities at the BLVD Farmers’ Market Thursday. At that time, the Farmers’ Market also switched to its summer schedule, 4-9 p.m.

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is observed as a celebration of Latino heritage and pride. The Farmers’ Market featured live entertainment on the Bex Stage, including Latin music.

Across Black America

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

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.