Author: Emilie St. John

Carla’s presents the first of its kind grocery store that brings together farm fresh produce and unique but sensible food products from celebrated and emerging BIPOC food makers Ariell Ilunga (Credit Katrina Frederick) Ariell Ilunga openend Carla’s Fresh Market in Highland Park on Nov. 15 in a beautifully designed 3,000 square foot market that functions as a neighborhood grocery store. Championing the ethos of a Farmers’ Market, Carla’s Fresh Market provides the northeast Los Angeles community with access to farm-sourced vegetables and fruits, farm-raised meats, and sustainable seafood. “Carla’s Fresh Market has been in the works for several years. What…

INGLEWOOD – The city of Inglewood announced they have achieved a major milestone in receiving federal funding towards the Inglewood Transit Connector (ITC) project. The City received a positive rating which declares the project eligible for funding from the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program which moves the project closer to groundbreaking. “We thank the FTA for advancing the ITC project as it will not only enhance access to our housing, commercial and world-class sports and entertainment centers, it will provide access to good job opportunities and will lift up Inglewood, the South Bay and the entire region,”…

COMPTON (SBE) – Compton Unified School District announced one of their school bands has been selected to participate in the Hollywood Christmas Parade on Nov. 26. This is the second time a Compton school has participated in the 91-year history of the parade, according to a release provided by the district. Photo courtesy of Compton Unified School District “I am excited to witness the Compton High School band take center stage at the Hollywood Christmas Parade. This is a moment of pride for the Compton Unified School District (CUSD) that highlights our commitment to arts education,” said CUSD Board Trustee…

Earvin “Magic” Johnson and the Magic Johnson Foundation hosted Holiday Hope, an invite-only, drive-through community giveaway event at Faithful Central Bible Church on Saturday, Nov. 18. Earvin “Magic” Johnson assisted over 800 families through the Magic Johnson Foundation and a host of sponsors at Faithful Central Bible Church on Nov. 18 in Inglewood, CA. (Credit: 2UrbanGirls) Holiday Hope assisted over 800 families from Inglewood and Los Angeles in receiving food and other items through the generosity of Johnson’s Foundation, Feed the Children, Mattel, Cricket, Starbucks, and others. “I’m inspired to give back because of my mother,” said Johnson, before the…

INGLEWOOD – The Inglewood City Council council approved another trash rate increase during the Nov. 14 regular city council meeting after increasing rates back in March. The City delayed increasing trash rates until after the runoff election for District 1. On March 21, the City approved a temporary special rate increase of 3.12% starting April 1 through November 30. Councilwoman Gloria Gray requested staff provide information on the proposed rate increases but Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. interjected to provide an answer alluding to the Special Rate Adjustment request being at the behest of their colleagues. “The first increase…

Abel Green bursts onto the stage after hopping on the train headed to perform in a minstrel show in a small southern town. It’s 1910 so why not “hire a real coon” whose face will stay Black long after the makeup is removed? J. Alphonse Nicholson Photo by Jonathan Benavente “All negroes are actors by necessity,” says Green. “The script is passed down generation to generation. The Negroes who know they lines tend to live longer than the Negroes that don’t, generally speaking, as it pertains to dealing with white folks.” Green, played by J. Alphonse Nicholson, (Broadway’s Tony award-winning A Soldier’s Play; P-Valley on…

INGLEWOOD – Another man was fatally shot in Inglewood Oct. 24. Inglewood Police Department officers responded to a shots fired call around 8:20 p.m. at the intersection of Venice Way and Victor Avenue where they found two victims. Credit: KeyNews.TV One man was pronounced deceased at the scene and the other was transported to a local hospital in an unknown condition. Jose Cubillos, 29, of Los Angeles died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. The other man was taken to a hospital in unknown condition. A witness spoke to a videographer off-camera and…

McDonald’s has partnered up with Los Angeles native, creative director, and founder of the famous game Millennial Lotería, Mike Alfaro, to design a special McDonald’s edition of the iconic game “lotería.” os Angeles native, creative director, and founder of the famous game Millennial Lotería, Mike Alfaro. (Photo: Emilie St. John | 2UrbanGirls) The games will be provided exclusively to restaurants in Southern California for game night events starting October 5th through the end of the month in select locations across LA, OC, Riverside, and Ventura counties. McDonald’s Lotería night in Whittier, California. (Photo: Emilie St. John | 2UrbanGirls) The first game…

HAWTHORNE – A Hawthorne Police Officer earned an eye watering $246,000 in overtime in 2022.His overtime pay of $246,000 was more than twice his regular pay of $106,000, with total wages of $465,208, according to data from the state controller.In 2021, the same officer clocked $206,000 in overtime, with his regular salary being $92,000.It is believed their overtime was earned working at special events in Inglewood under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Inglewood and Hawthorne police departments for Supplemental Law Enforcement Services.The officer earned more in overtime than those with a higher rank.The contract between the cities is funded…

INGLEWOOD – Inglewood Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor’s bill to allow legislative staffers to unionize was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. California becomes the largest state in the nation that will allow non-supervisor legislative staff to join a union and follows Oregon and Maine, whose staff are able to unionize. “Today is a huge victory for the nearly 2,000 legislative and district staff that have dedicated their careers to public service and have long deserved the right to be represented by a union,” said Assemblymember Tina McKinnor. “Legislative staff aren’t looking for special treatment – they are looking for the same…