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NoneThe College of Lake County appointed Jesus Gerena of Wadsworth to fill the seat of former Board of Trustees member Gerri Songer until a successor can be elected in April to serve the remainder of her term. Songer, who was elected to the board in April 2021, resigned on Oct. 3. Her term expires in April of 2027. CLC is governed by a seven-member board elected by voters of Community College District 532. Gerena’s appointment was approved at the Nov. 19 board meeting. He is senior pastor of the Christian Fellowship of Lake County, and has been a member of the CLC Lakeshore Campus Advisory Committee since 2017. In a news release, Gerena said serving on the advisory committee had provided him with valuable lessons about addressing barriers students face to access education, making college affordable and bringing programs to CLC that allow graduates to compete in the job market. He is eager to bring his skills and experience to support the overall mission of the College of Lake County, the release said. Gerena has served as a commissioner for the Waukegan Housing Authority for six years, working with the organization’s board to oversee a capital improvement budget of $200 million to create new housing units in Waukegan for families and seniors. The experience has given him a “strong foundation” for board governance, teamwork and collaboration, he said. “I am committed to fostering transparent decision-making and supporting policies that prioritize student success, equity, inclusion and financial responsibility,” Gerena said. He was “particularly inspired” by the advancements made by CLC in the community with healthcare, technology, business and human service programs, among others. “I will serve with integrity, passion, dedication and utmost commitment to the vision and mission of the college,” Gerena said. CLC Board of Trustees Chair Torrie M. Newsome welcomed Gerena, saying he looked forward to the pastor’s “active engagement in support of the college’s mission.” He highlighted CLC’s designation as a Hispanic-serving institution; 46% of the currently enrolled student body is from the Latino community, he said. “I look forward to Pastor Gerena’s insights and contributions to deepening the board’s relationship within the Lake County Latino communities,” Newsome said.Bucs' Mike Evans Reveals Emotion Over Injury Return vs. Giants
Tony Munguia and his daughter Bivianne were heading to a job fair at Cypress College when they saw smoke curling from a nearby roof. They stopped. Flames were dancing inside the home on Via Jacara in Stanton. Bivianne dialed 911 as her father rushed inside. “Is anyone here?” he bellowed into smoke so thick it stung his eyes. “Yes,” a weak voice answered – a senior who had recent surgery and couldn’t walk. Munguia couldn’t see. He told her to keep talking and followed her voice to a far bedroom. He scooped her up and headed back toward the door as best he could. A landscaper saw the commotion and rushed inside to help, and together they brought her out to safety. That’s when folks noticed Munguia’s pants legs were smoldering. Tony and Bivianne Munguia’s April adventure earned them the Fourth District Kindness Award for Stanton. The uplifting fall ritual from Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Doug Chaffee helps restore one’s faith in humanity, recognizing one person from each city in his district for doing something nice without any expectation of payback. Reading through the nomination papers has become a soothing launch to the holiday season for this grizzled scribe. “It is especially important for us to acknowledge kindness wherever we can find it and inspire others to perform their own acts of kindness in the community,” Chaffee said in a statement. “Our Kindness Award honorees have risen to the challenge and have gone beyond that to ensure the needs of our communities are met.” The winners are impressive, but many of the nominees are just as inspiring. There’s Janet Proctor and Bill Lawrence, who’ve helped families from Afghanistan and Ukraine settle into a strange new world. Erica Norgaard, a special education teacher for Access high schools, who has become a rock for her students. There’s Fullerton school nurse Susan Cravello, who transformed the garden at Woodcrest Elementary into a blooming oasis, and Paulette Holm, who didn’t crack under the stress of shepherding more than a thousand volunteers during the Orange County Point in Time Count of people experiencing homelessness, and Sunbie Harrell, who walks dogs at the Orange County Animal Care shelter. Then there’s Aaron and Allys Malais. On Aug. 3, a ’99 Toyota Camry heading north on Highland in Fullerton conked out in traffic. The driver was stuck, unable to find the emergency flashers. The young couple hopped out to direct traffic. Two more young couples saw the trouble and came to help as well. They all pushed the car across Chapman and into a parking lot, restarted it with jumper cables, and Aarona and Allys followed the owners home to ensure there was no further trouble. “They stayed with us the whole time offering full support both technically and emotionally,” the nomination said. “This was truly an exceptional act of kindness, and for all three couples that voluntarily pitched in, an affirmation of the goodness, caring, and high values, of our younger generation in our currently challenging society.” Wang is a senior at Troy High School who had a simple goal: to help his grandmother navigate the internet. Technology, he knew, was a powerful tool to help keep people connected, even if they couldn’t leave home. So he started volunteering at Happy Adult Daycare in Whittier, getting to know the seniors and understanding their needs. He developed an award-winning iPad application that uses augmented reality technology to help translate English into people’s native languages, and also designed a night-time medical monitoring device that allows families to keep a digital eye on loved ones and get timely alerts. “Dylan’s belief that technology should be an empowering tool for seniors, rather than something that alienates them, has driven his efforts,” the nomination said. “His work not only enhances the lives of the elderly but also exemplifies the spirit of kindness and service that this award seeks to honor.” Adults with disabilities can be quite capable and eager to work – but it’s often hard for them to find a job. So in 2021, Yoon stepped in. He started a nonprofit called Seesaw Communities to provide vocational training in areas like baking and coffeemaking and employs graduates as baristas at Seesaw Beans and Coffee. The work helps them grow in confidence and independence, together, just as people rise and fall together on a seesaw. “By focusing on their strengths and interests, he ensures that every participant can develop valuable skills and gain a sense of accomplishment,” the nomination said. “Under his guidance, Seesaw Communities has become a leader in providing integrated employment opportunities, fostering inclusive workplaces where individuals with developmental disabilities can thrive and contribute meaningfully to their communities.” When she was 7, Preston decided that she had enough stuff. For her birthday, she asked her friends to donate toys to needy kids instead of buying her gifts. The next year, she asked them to donate books. The next year, shoes. The year after that, school supplies, then board games, children’s clothing, food. Her most recent birthday resulted in 291 pounds of food for the Hub of Hope food pantry, the nomination said. A freshman at Fullerton Union High School, she volunteers at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fullerton, sings with the Southern California Children’s Chorus and was a soloist with the Pacific Symphony. “Her ongoing efforts exemplify how one young person, driven by empathy, can make a lasting difference in the community,” the nomination said. Wyckoff loves kids. During her career as a teacher’s aide with the La Habra City School District she was a guardian angel to those who needed help, buying them school clothes and Christmas gifts, and tutoring kids who struggled during school breaks, the nomination said. After she retired in 1985, she started volunteering at the Children’s Museum at La Habra . “Over the years she has literally volunteered at every capacity,” the nomination said, from manning the breakfast with Santa event to running the gift shop to creating a wishing well in memory of her late grandson. Those funds are used to help pay for school visits to the museum. Shiozawa has been a Rotary Club of Placentia member since 2015, including two terms as president. She has helped launch everything from neighborhood clean-ups to “stuffing” and distributing school backpacks to preparing hygiene kits and holiday gift packs. “It may be cliché, but Alice firmly believes that often it is the little things that count, that are meaningful to those in need or in pain,” the nomination said. Azaran , an independent living skills and outreach instructor at the Braille Institute, goes above and beyond by organizing free workshops for visually impaired individuals and their families and providing individualized attention to each student. “Her empathetic approach helps foster a supportive and nurturing environment,” the nomination said. Oates , former Fullerton Rotary president, got the Honorary Kindness Award. He has been a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club and at Crittenton Services for Children and Families. He’s been a coach at Golden Hill Little League and active in Fullerton’s Sister City Association. The honorees were nominated by community members and applications were independently scored by Tom Tait, former Anaheim mayor; Charles Barfield, general manager of the Orange County Employees Association; Rosalina Davis, owner of Tlaquepaque Restaurant; Christian Esteban, Project Manager of Store One; and Lorena Moreno, principal at Western High School. “There’s a lot going on in the world today,” said Oates’ wife, Elizabeth, “but if we can all just do a little bit where we are, we can make this such a better place.” Virginia Wyckoff, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of La Habra. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Sam Yoon, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of Buena Park. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Mike Oates, former Fullerton Rotary President, awarded the Honorary Kindness Award the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Awards. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Dylan Wang, right, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of Fullerton. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Tony and Bivianne Munguia, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of Stanton. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Zelda Makanaaloha Preston, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of Brea. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Alice Shiozawa (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Nicou Azaran, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of Anaheim. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Virginia Wyckoff, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of La Habra. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District)By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. Related Articles National Politics | Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirling National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump extends unprecedented invites to China’s Xi and other world leaders for his inauguration National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November’s election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”
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Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, defied the furor of US conservatives to negotiate the handover of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control, suspended aid to multiple authoritarian governments in the region, and even attempted to normalize relations with Cuba. Carter's resolve to chart a course toward democracy and diplomacy, however, was severely tested in Central America and Cuba, where he was forced to balance his human rights priorities with pressure from adversaries to combat the spread of communism amid the Cold War standoff with the Soviet Union. "Latin America was fundamental and his global policy was oriented toward human rights, democratic values and multilateral cooperation," political analyst Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue, a think tank in Washington, told AFP. During his 1977-1981 administration, which was sandwiched between the Republican presidencies of Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, the Democrat sought to take a step back from US alignment with right-wing dictatorships in Latin America. An important symbol of Carter's approach was the signing of two treaties in 1977 to officially turn over the Panama Canal in 1999. "Jimmy Carter understood that if he did not return the canal to Panama, the relationship between the United States and Panama could lead to a new crisis in a country where Washington could not afford the luxury of instability," said Luis Guillermo Solis, a political scientist and former president of Costa Rica. Carter called the decision, which was wildly unpopular back home, "the most difficult political challenge I ever had," as he accepted Panama's highest honor in 2016. He also hailed the move as "a notable achievement of moving toward democracy and freedom." During his term, Carter opted not to support Nicaraguan strongman Anastasio Somoza, who was subsequently overthrown by the leftist Sandinista Front in 1979. But in El Salvador, the American president had to "make a very uncomfortable pact with the government," said Shifter. To prevent communists from taking power, Carter resumed US military assistance for a junta which then became more radical, engaging in civilian massacres and plunging El Salvador into a long civil war. Carter took a critical approach to South American dictatorships in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, suspending arms deliveries and imposing sanctions in some cases. But his efforts "did not achieve any progress in terms of democratization," said Argentine political scientist Rosendo Fraga. The American president also tried to normalize relations with Cuba 15 years after the missile crisis. He relaxed sanctions that had been in force since 1962, supported secret talks and enabled limited diplomatic representation in both countries. "With him, for the first time, the possibility of dialogue rather than confrontation as a framework for political relations opened up," Jesus Arboleya, a former Cuban diplomat, told AFP. But in 1980, a mass exodus of 125,000 Cubans to the United States, with Fidel Castro's blessing, created an unexpected crisis. It "hurt Carter politically with the swarm of unexpected immigrants," said Jennifer McCoy, a professor of political science at Georgia State University. Castro continued to support Soviet-backed African governments and even deployed troops against Washington's wishes, finally putting an end to the normalization process. However, more than 20 years later, Carter made a historic visit to Havana as ex-president, at the time becoming the highest-profile American politician to set foot on Cuban soil since 1959. During the 2002 visit, "he made a bold call for the US to lift its embargo, but he also called on Castro to embrace democratic opening," said McCoy, who was part of the US delegation for the trip, during which Castro encouraged Carter to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Cuban All-Star baseball game. "Castro was sitting in the front row and we were afraid he would rise to give a long rebuttal to Carter's speech. But he didn't. He just said, 'Let's go to the ball game.'" In the years following Carter's presidency, Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) would go on to resume a full-frontal confrontation with Cuba. Decades later, Barack Obama (2009-2017) opened a new phase of measured normalization, which Donald Trump (2017-2021) brought to an end. US President Joe Biden promised to review US policy toward Cuba, but hardened his stance after Havana cracked down on anti-government protests in 2021. "Carter showed that engagement and diplomacy are more fruitful than isolation," McCoy said. bur-lp-rd-jb/lbc/mlr/bfm/sst/bbk
Mumbai: In a groundbreaking achievement, students from ATLAS uGDX – School of Technology have secured a prestigious spot in NASA's 2025 Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC). This marks ATLAS uGDX as the only Indian university to achieve this milestone, setting them apart as one of the three global contenders in the challenge's Remote Controlled division. The 15-member team will creatively design and build a rover capable of navigating Mars-like terrains remotely. Their rover must expertly handle obstacles like rocks and craters and perform tasks such as collecting scientific samples. This accomplishment not only represents the students' technical acumen but also elevates Indian representation at an international level. The initiative has been praised by Siddharth Shahani, Co-founder and Executive President of ATLAS SkillTech University. He noted the leadership and vision of the students and emphasized the university's commitment to providing mentorship and resources to these young innovators. The challenge serves as a platform for promoting STEM education globally, encouraging greater interest in the vital fields of science and technology. (With inputs from agencies.)Ukrainian girls’ team finds hockey haven at Wickenheiser festival
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The Washington Commanders put kicker Austin Seibert on injured reserve Tuesday, just over 48 hours since he missed an extra point that would have tied the score with 21 seconds left against Dallas. Seibert also missed a field-goal attempt and another extra point in the loss to the Cowboys. He missed the previous two games with a right hip injury but said afterward he was fine and made the decision to play. The Commanders filled that roster spot by signing running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. off their practice squad. Austin Ekeler had a concussion and Brian Robinson Jr. sprained an ankle Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl