Antelope Valley College

Nov 10 2011

Mandy Borquez

LANCASTER, Calif.—A former Antelope Valley College accounting assistant has been arrested on suspicion of embezzling $500,000.

Mandy Borquez, 33, was charged with six felony counts of grand theft/identity theft after a 10-month investigation by the Commercial Crimes Bureau of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, said Sgt. Pauline Panis of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The investigation started after “the college reported the embezzlement in 2010 discrepancies in their accounting,” Panis said.

Sep 22 2011

Antelope Valley College student

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A state appellate court panel is set next month to hear arguments in the case of an ex-security guard convicted of murdering an 18-year-old woman in a Palmdale park-and-ride lot, where he worked more than a decade ago.

On Oct. 27, the three-justice panel from the 2nd District Court of Appeal is set to consider an appeal filed on behalf of Raymond Lee Jennings, who was convicted in December 2009 of second-degree murder for the Feb. 22, 2000, slaying of Antelope Valley College student Michelle O’Keefe.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Aug 24 2011

Ledford to be chased by Campbell, Desmond Kester

PALMDALE, Calif.—It’s election time again in the city of Palmdale and this time, incumbent Mayor Jim Ledford has competition. Running against him are two A.V. locals, both of whom have tried their hand at politics in the past.

Jun 28 2011

$10,000

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Board of Supervisors approved a $10,000 reward today for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a hit-and-run driver who struck an 18-year-old Lancaster woman, leaving her hospitalized on life support.

The collision happened about 8:45 p.m. on June 20 in the 300 block of East Avenue J in Lancaster.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Mar 10 2011

Classes at Antelope Valley College

LANCASTER, Calif.—Because California is known for lawsuits and other types of court cases, mediation and peer mediation is becoming a growing option for individuals, families, feuding friends and companies. In fact, most cases that choose mediation settle at a reasonably happy medium.

Allan Stitt, author of “Mediation: A Practical Guide,” writes that 70-80 percent of cases that voluntarily go to mediation settle.

Across Black America

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

Alabama
A mass meeting at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Selma, Ala., will kick off a March 5 Bridge Crossing Jubilee featuring the original Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Freedom Singers and the president of Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Eric P. Lee. The Jubilee is a five-day event that will celebrate the 47th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the victories of the voting rights movement. Organizers say that this year’s Jubilee is not just a commemoration but a recommitment to protect the right to vote. “For the past two years, assaults on immigrants, healthcare, worker rights and voting rights have soared to alarming heights. Consequently, the Jubilee, NAACP, National Action Network and the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute are sponsoring a series of workshops to address vital issues plaguing our nation,” said state Sen. Hank Sanders. The workshops will coincide with the all-day music festival at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge and all are encouraged to attend both events. The conference, featuring speakers from across the nation, is free to the public.

California
U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) will be honored by Loyola Marymount University’s African American Alumni Association on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m., at the organization’s 10th annual awards dinner and scholarship fundraiser. Bass, who represents California’s 33rd Congressional District, will receive the organization’s Legacy Award for her pioneering achievements as an elected official and a community activist. LMU’s Legacy Award marks the association’s commitment to academic excellence and the spirit of community service. Approximately 6 percent of LMU’s student body is African American, and the university has been cited by the Education Trust as one of the most successful universities at graduating African American students. Proceeds from the awards dinner will fund scholarships for deserving students. Over the last 10 years, LMU’s African American Alumni Association has raised nearly $600,000 in scholarships for 185 students.