Los Angeles

Feb 3 2012

Mark Berndt was arrested and booked Monday for suspicion of lewd conduct with children

SOUTH LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A second teacher at Miramonte Elementary School near South Los Angeles was arrested today on suspicion of lewd conduct with two female students, just days after news broke about a former third-grade teacher who allegedly took photos of blindfolded and gagged children with spoons of semen held to their faces.

Martin Bernard Springer, 49, of Alhambra, was arrested around 10 a.m. when he came out of a school district building at 107th Street and Western Avenue, according to sheriff’s Capt. Mike Parker.

Stanley O. Williford  |   OW Editor
Feb 2 2012

Three African American leaders

The rift between Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson on the one side and council members Bernard Parks and Jan Perry on the other continued to widen at City Hall after Wesson stripped both Parks and Perry of key committee assignments last week.

Wesson removed Parks from the Budget and Finance Committee. Parks had been chairman of the committee for eight years. The powerful committee does much of the early vetting of the mayor’s budget proposals.

Feb 2 2012

Final Farewell

Hundreds of family and friends turned up at City of Refuge church in Los Angeles on Saturday to bid a final farewell to legendary singer Etta James. James, best known for such hits as the Jazz ballad “At Last” and the explosive rocker “Something’s Got a Hold on Me,” died at the age of 73, due to complications from leukemia. The Rev.

Cynthia E. Griffin  |   OW Managing Editor
Feb 2 2012

Crenshaw/LAX is first project on list

Now that the parade of labor union members and leaders, bus riders, politicians and ordinary citizens have voiced their overwhelming support for an historic Project Labor Agreement (PLA) and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board of Directors unanimously approved it, the next step [in the process] is to get an OK from the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA).

Once the FTA has signed off on the agreement, the Crenshaw/LAX Light Rail line will be the first project to begin construction under the new guidelines.

Feb 2 2012

Tours site of new healthy food market

INGLEWOOD—On the second day of a two-day visit aimed at raising funds for her husband’s re-election campaign and touting her “Let’s Move!” initiative, first lady Michelle Obama Wednesday toured the site of a planned Inglewood market that benefited from a state program created to increase the availability of healthy foods.


“Let’s Move!” is dedicated to solving the problem of childhood obesity within a generation, including bringing grocery stores and other forms of healthy food retailers to underserved communities.

Across Black America

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

Arkansas
Walmart Stores Inc. recently announced the promotion of Rosalind G. Brewer, 49, to president and CEO of Sam’s Club. She will replace current Sam’s Club President and CEO Brian Cornell, who informed the company that he would move back to the Northeast for family reasons. Brewer was most recently president of the Walmart U.S. east business unit, where she was responsible for more than $100 billion in annual revenue, representing almost 1,600 stores and more than 500,000 associates. Brewer was also the first chairperson of the Walmart President’s Council of Global Women Leaders. “Roz came to us with an outstanding background in consumer packaged goods more than five years ago,” said Mike Duke, Walmart president and CEO. “During that time I have seen her develop into a talented merchant and retailer. She has strong strategic, analytical and operational skills and has successfully managed a large and complex business. I’ve also been struck by Roz’s servant leadership when I have visited stores with her. She always lets her team do the talking, with her focus being on how to better support their needs.”
 

California
Essence magazine recently announced the fifth annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon honoring the industry’s most exciting African American talent, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes in Hollywood. The event will take place on Feb. 23 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Essence will celebrate five extraordinary women who have left an indelible impression with their work within the film and television industries: Kerry Washington (Vanguard Award), Octavia Spencer (Breakthrough Performance), Pam Grier (Legend Award), Paula Patton (Shining Star Award) and Shonda Rhimes (Visionary Award). This star-studded event commemorates Essence magazine’s annual Hollywood issue and in honor of the fifth anniversary, Essence.com is giving fans exclusive access to all the red-carpet interviews via live stream from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and re-airing that evening at 9 p.m. EST.