Community Roundtable Puts Spotlight on Scams Targeting Valley Communities

January 19, 2017 / By We'Ced
Tags: California Department of Justice, District Attorney, Federal Trade Commission, fresno, Fresno County, merced, minority communities, new america media, scams, spotlight

While anyone can fall prey to a scam artist, officials say immigrant, low-income and minority communities in the Central San Joaquin Valley are among the most frequently targeted by fraud. Language barriers and unfamiliarity with the U.S. government make them attractive targets for would-be scammers. Undocumented communities are especially vulnerable, with fears of deportation preventing victims from interacting with authorities.

Moms Say Dental Care Tops List for Medi-Cal Kids– Dentists Are MIA

April 27, 2016 / By We'Ced
Tags: children, dental care, Denti-Cal, health, medi-cal, medical care, new america media, spotlight

According to the University of the Pacific’s Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, which operates the Virtual Dental Home pilot program, more than 30 percent of Californians are unable to meet their oral health needs through the traditional dental care system. Some 54 percent of Medi-Cal-enrolled children received no dental care in 2012 and even fewer received preventive care services.

Expert: Stun-Guns Far From ‘Nonlethal’ Alternative to Bullets

December 14, 2015 / By We'Ced
Tags: aram james, ECW, electronic control weapons, interview, less lethal weapons, new america media, non-lethal weapons, police, police technology, police weapons, spotlight, stun-guns, tasers

So my question is, if law enforcement knows ECWs are too risky to use even in very controlled training circumstance, why the heck would they want to use it on unarmed citizens in uncontrolled street situations? The question I would put to [Police Chief ] Greg Suhr is, are you willing to use these on your own officers in controlled settings to show that they’re safe? If he’s telling the truth, he’s going to say, “No, we’re not going to do that.” Bottom line: They’re not safe to use on unarmed people and they’re not safe for police to use against armed suspects.

Mexican-American Family Continues Legacy of Military Service

November 11, 2015 / By We'Ced
Tags: army, ca, coachella, coachella unincorporated, eastern coachella valley, marines, navy, new america media, veteran's day, veteran's of color

The Ortiz family migrated from Mexico to the Coachella Valley in 1915, where the family patriarch, Esabel Parga Ortiz and his wife Maria Montoya Ortiz, first worked as fieldworkers. Esabel Parga’s sons, Pete and Joseph were the first family members to join the armed forces, and since World War II, members of every generation in the Ortiz family have served in the United States military. Now, five generations later, the Ortiz family has built a lasting legacy in the Coachella Valley, boasting more than 50 service members in four different branches of the military.