Author: Emilie St. John

SACRAMENTO (2UG) – CA Speaker Anthony Rivas has kept his word and appointed a legislator from South Los Angeles to a top position in the State Assembly. Assemblymember Isaac Bryan was named the new Majority Leader in a move that has been in the works for weeks. Bryan has shared with everyone within earshot that Rivas would be appointing him to a leadership post. Once Rivas was in the seat, Bryan heaped praise on him, while appearing to shun the outgoing Speaker Anthony Rendon as he made no fond wishes to him on his way out. Credit: Isaac Bryan/Twitter “[Rivas]…

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (SBE) – The City of Inglewood will open applications for small businesses and nonprofits to apply for one-time grants on July 24. Here are all the details on what you need to be considered for the one-time grant of up to $20,000. The program is being funded with $4 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds made available from the federal government due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Related: Inglewood finally establishes grant programs to help small business, nonprofits According to Economic Development Manager Qiuanna Williams there are over 5,000 registered businesses and 225 registered nonprofits in the…

INGLEWOOD (SBE) – Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. closed the scheduled public hearing on the Street Vending Ordinance and tabled the matter to an unknown date during the city council meeting held June 20. The city scheduled the public hearing to establish guidelines for street vending in accordance with state law. “The ordinance would create a no-vending buffer zone around entertainment venues, schools, and other sensitive uses,” said Code Enforcement Manager Jerry Tucker. “Department staff desires a 1,000-foot buffer zone, however, City Attorney [Ken Campos] office reduced it to a 500-foot buffer zone.” The ordinance identifies the cemetery, hospital,…

WASHINGTON D.C. (2UrbanGirls) – A petition has been filed with the Federal Communications Commission to stop the sale of KBLA 1580AM to Tavis Smiley. The law firm of Smithwick & Belendiuk filed the petition for denial on behalf of The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) calling Smiley a “sexual predator” who violated the morals clause of his contract after hearing accounts of six women, who testified that he had sexually harassed them when they worked for him. The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America or UCCA is a non-partisan non-profit national umbrella organization uniting over 20 national Ukrainian American organizations in advocating for…

COMPTON – Vanessa Bryant celebrated the dedication of a refurbished outdoor basketball court in memory of her late husband Kobe and daughter Gianna in Compton on June 16. “Thank you for showing up and showing out for our exclusive court reopening at Wilson Park in honor of Kobe and Gianna,” said Bryant. “Special thanks to artist Sloe Motions for the incredible mural and Lisa Leslie and Trae Young, for being a big part of this special occasion.” Bryant also thanked the donors who made the court possible. “To our donors – you made this happen. Every single dollar you’ve donated…

INGLEWOOD (SBE) – NFL legend Terrell Owens will be promoting his wine brand, 81 Wines, at Inglewood wine bar, 1010 Wines on June 29. The event will feature a Special Happy Hour that includes a special wine & food pairing and a Q&A session with Owens. 81 Wines features a Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 made in Paso Robles, CA, which is a blend of two great Paso Robles vineyards that provides the quality fruit for this bold Cabernet. After a 3-day cold soak, the wine was pumped over 3 times a day throughout fermentation. An exceptional example of the power…

INGLEWOOD (SBE) – An Inglewood hospital is under scrutiny after federal regulators found they violated federal requirements that jeopardize patients. According to the LA Times, investigators Centinela Hospital “failed to properly assess and treat birthing patients to reduce the risk of blood clots”, according to a state review. April Valentine died on January 10 of this year after experiencing complications during childbirth at Centinela Hospital. Her daughter Aniya survived. “Aniya is going to have to grow up without her mother,” said Mykesha Mack, her cousin. “She was supposed to come out of that hospital with her baby and DIDN’T. I…

INGLEWOOD (SBE) – Inglewood rapper D-Smoke will receive a ‘Key to the City’ during the Inglewood Juneteenth Street Festival on June 18. “I couldn’t be more honored to be the second person in history to be awarded the key to the city of Inglewood,” wrote Farris on his social media account. “To see the changes its incurred and to know that black businesses still thrive and we’re a part of its growth makes me proud!” D-Smoke, born Daniel Farris, grew up in Inglewood and attended local schools. He graduated from UCLA with a degree in Spanish and became a teacher…

CARSON, Calif. (SBE) – The Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying additional suspects of a man suspected of attempted rape and kidnapping of a female juvenile on June 11 in Carson. Eugene Martindale III, 28, was arrested and charged with the attempted kidnapping of a woman in Carson. Deputies responded to the 21000 block of Main Street to reports of the attempted rape and kidnapping and placed Martindale under arrest. He remains in custody with a bail amount of $300,000. Martindale is due back in court June 28 at the Superior Court in Compton. The Long Beach…

Stephen Marley has released the video for his highly anticipated new single “Old Soul.” The well-crafted retrospective video reveals never-before-seen old family photos, vintage vinyl album covers, and a collage of Jamaican music history.  The award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer chronicles his growth and innocence as a youth Marley kid, the second son of Bob Marley, and his personal rites of passage through the family legacy. The warm acoustic track takes the listener on a coming-of-age journey through allusions to personal legends and eras of musical influences that “made it all possible.” “April 1972, my mom and poppa brought me through,” Stephen…