Desert Star Weekly Jan. 15, 2021 issue!

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How to Welcome a New Puppy to the Family see page 4.

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Friday, January 15, 2021 Vol. 24 No. 5

Because it occurs behind closed doors, quantifying the scope of human trafficking is difficult. (AdobeStock)

Human Trafficking: Pandemic Increases Vulnerability, Diminishes Response

By Desert Star Staff January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and advocates in Ohio say COVID-19 has made awareness more important than ever.

Amy LaGesse, project coordinator for FOCUS on Runaways, and a board member of Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, has worked for years in the Toledo area on the issue

and said the pandemic has not necessarily increased incidents, but better disguised them more as people spend more time at home.

“Traffickers are not snatching and grabbing,”

LaGesse explained. “They are making friends with kids online; they’re playing games with them. They are absolutely thrilled to see us more online.”

Raven Cruz Loaiza, day one advocacy coordinator for

Allen County Crime Victim’s Services, added fewer victim referrals are coming from juvenile courts and other community partners.

Continues on Page 3

Groups Reach Out to Help Older Californians Get Vaccinated

By Desert Star Staff SACRAMENTO, Calif. -California has just changed its tier system to speed COVID-19 vaccinations for older people.

The first tier of Phase One included people in nursing homes and front-line workers.

Tier 1B has been expanded to include people age 65 and older, plus those who work in education, childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture.

Fred Buzo, associate state director for AARP California, commended the state for prioritizing older adults.

“Since the start of the pandemic, nearly 95% of the deaths from COVID-19 have

been among people who were 50 and over,” Buzo confirmed.

The state issues guidelines on each tier, but each county decides how to allocate them depending on the amount of vaccine they’ve received and the need in that area.

People should check with their own health-care provider and county to determine when they will be eligible to receive a vaccination.

Buzo noted AARP’s website now features a California Vaccine Distribution Guide. It’s an online hub for COVID information and a series of tele-town

Continues on Page 7

Bills Targeting Transgender Youths Introduced in MT

HB 113 would fine Montana doctors up to $50,000 for offering gender-affirming health care to minors. (nito/Adobe Stock)

By Desert Star Staff Two bills restricting transgender youths are on the docket for Montana lawmakers this year.

House Bill 112 would ban transgender athletes in public schools from

participating in sports consistent with their gender.

House Bill 113 would prohibit gender-affirming health care for minors, potentially fining doctors up to 50,000 dollars for violating the statute.

SJ Howell, executive

director of Montana Women Vote, said the bills would harm young people, and legislators should be focusing on COVID-19.

“We think it’s really, frankly, unconscionable that lawmakers are considering

supporting this type of legislation, especially at a time like this,” Howell contended.

According to the Montana Legislature website, hearings for both bills were canceled this week and have not yet been rescheduled.

The bills’ sponsor, Rep. John Fuller, R-Whitefish, did not respond to a request for comment.

In an interview with Montana Free Press, Fuller said he opposes treatment that could have lasting effects on young people’s bodies.

All 130 members of the Montana chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics oppose HB 113.

Dr. Lauren Wilson, vice president of the Montana chapter, believes the bill is based on fear, not fact, and said knowing more about care for trans youth could reduce some stigma.

For starters, therapy before puberty doesn’t involve medication and instead focuses on letting a child express

themselves how they choose.

“At the onset of puberty, that comes a time for reevaluation with the patient and the family and decision-making together about maybe starting a puberty-suppressing medication called a blocker, which is completely reversible, but allows the patient and the family time to kind of assess where they are,” Wilson explained.

Wilson noted trans youth have high rates of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts because they feel that they’re not in the right body. But she said those rates go down if young people are affirmed, especially from an early age.

“So that’s good news,” Wilson remarked. “If we’re allowed to provide appropriate care, and the family is supportive of the patient, then sometimes there’s really great outcomes for everyone.”

A measure similar to the ban on trans athletes in school sports passed the Idaho Legislature last year, but has been blocked by a federal court.

Make Heart Health Part of Your Self-Care Routine

D

FAMILY FEATURES

evoting a little time every day to care for yourself can go a long way toward protecting the health of your heart. Simple self-care, such as taking a moment to de-stress, giving yourself time to move more, preparing healthier meals and not cheating on sleep, can all benefit your heart.

Because heart disease is largely preventable, focusing on improving your heart health is important. Heart disease is a leading cause of death for women and men in the United States, and many Americans remain at risk, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). People with poor cardiovascular health are also at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

“Studies show self-care routines, such as taking a daily walk and keeping doctor’s appointments, help us keep our blood pressure in the healthy range and reduce our risk of heart disease and stroke,” said David Goff, M.D., NHLBI’s director of cardiovascular sciences.

It may be easier than you think to “put your heart” into your daily routine.

Each Sunday, look at your week’s schedule and carve out 30 minutes for hearthealthy practices. Take an online yoga class, prepare a heart-healthy recipe, schedule your bedtime to get at least seven hours of sleep or make a medication checklist. Then seek out support from others to help you stick to your goals.

Consider these self-care tips to try each day to make your heart a priority:

Self-Care Sunday

Find a moment of serenity every Sunday. Spend some quality time on yourself.

Mindful Monday

Be mindful about your health and regularly monitor your blood pressure or blood sugar if needed. Keep an eye on your weight to make sure it stays within or moves toward a healthy range.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images

Tasty Tuesday

Choose how you want to approach eating healthier. Start small by pepping your meals with a fresh herb or spice as a salt substitute. Get adventurous and prepare a simple, new, hearthealthy recipe. Or go big by trying a different way of eating, such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan, which is scientifically proven to lower blood pressure. DASH is flexible and balanced, and it includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry, lean meats, beans, nuts, whole grains and low-fat dairy products.

Wellness Wednesday

Don’t waffle on your wellness. Move more, eat a fruit or vegetable you’ve never tried, make a plan to quit smoking or vaping or learn the signs of a heart attack or stroke. You could be having a heart attack if you have chest and upper body pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea or lightheadedness. You might be having a stroke if you experience numbness in the face, arm or leg; confusion; trouble talking or seeing; dizziness; or a severe headache.

Treat Yourself Thursday

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Treats can be healthy. Try making a dessert with fresh fruit and yogurt. Then stretch your imagination beyond food. Host a family

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January 15, 2021

dance party, take a few minutes to sit and meditate, go for a long walk or watch a funny show. Whatever you do, find a way to spend some quality time on yourself.

Follow Friday

Follow inspiring people and pages on social media, or text a friend to help you stick to your self-care goals. Remember to take care of your mental health, too. Two of the main hurdles to selfcare are depression and a lack of confidence, according to a study published in the “Journal of the American Heart Association.” If your mental health is taking a toll, take action to show your heart some love. Reach out to family and friends for support, or talk to a qualified mental health provider.

Selfie Saturday

Inspire others to take care of their hearts. Talk about your selfcare routine with loved ones or share a selfie on social media.

Having social support and personal networks can make it easier to get regular physical activity, eat nutritious foods, reach a healthy weight and quit smoking.

Learn more about heart health and heart-healthy activities in your community, and see what others are doing for their heart health, at nhlbi.nih.gov/ourhearts or follow #OurHearts on social media.

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Amazon says it will SUSPEND donations to Republican lawmakers

By Desert Star Staff Amazon’s political action committee will halt donations to lawmakers who voted to challenge the results of the 2020 election – all of them Republicans – as a series of corporations take similar steps after the Capitol Hill riot.

The e-commerce behemoth said its PAC would suspend all “contributions to any member of Congress who voted to override the results of the US presidential election” in a statement on Monday, with spokeswoman Jodi Seth calling the votes an “unacceptable attempt to undermine a legitimate democratic process.”

“We intend to discuss our concerns directly with those members we have

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previously supported and will evaluate their responses as we consider future PAC contributions,” the company added, according to Protocol tech reporter Emily Birnbaum.

Out of nearly $1.3 million spent on candidates in the period between 2019 and 2020, the Amazon.com PAC gave around half of those funds to Republicans, including tens of thousands to some of the 147 GOP lawmakers who voted against certifying the 2020 election results, according to data compiled by Open Secrets.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (California), for example, received a $10,000 contribution, as did Republicans Sam Graves (Missouri), Morgan Griffith (Virginia), Richard Hudson (North Carolina) and Elise Stefanik (New York) – all of whom objected to certification last Wednesday. Others, such as Florida Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart and Arizona’s Andy Biggs, were given smaller amounts of $7,500 and $2,500, respectively.

The move comes after a rally in support of President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, spiraled out of control last week, seeing a crowd of his backers force their way into the Capitol building as Congress convened to certify

“Help” Continued from Page 1

“Mental-health providers, physicians; a lot of them are doing virtual appointments, or over the phone,” Loaiza outlined. “Well, you can’t always do a complete assessment, so out of sight, out of mind.”

In Ohio, youths who are homeless or run away from home are most at risk for sex trafficking, followed by those who use drugs or alcohol.

Other vulnerable groups include LGBTQ individuals, migrant farmworkers and those with a developmental or intellectual disability.

Loaiza said outreach to immigrant victims of trafficking, who are already in the shadows, is also a challenge.

“Getting them in for appointments, noticing those red flags, then you’ve got political rhetoric, and then you’ve got language barriers,” Loaiza observed.

“So those have increased people’s vulnerabilities.”

LaGesse added, engaging with survivors on a personal level is crucial to support them.

But those connections are complicated now because they’re over the phone or online instead of face-to-face.

“And you’re talking about

the election results. At least five people were killed in the chaos, including an unarmed woman shot by police as protesters attempted to storm the Senate chamber, as well as an officer who was reportedly bashed in the head with a fire extinguisher.

Amazon’s announcement followed several similar actions taken across corporate America in the wake of the unrest, including by Dow Inc., the massive chemical firm.

On Monday, the company told reporters that, like Amazon, it would also cut off contributions to lawmakers

who objected to certifying the election results, adding that it is “committed to the principles of democracy and the peaceful transfer of power.”

Financial institutions the State Street Corporation, Commerce Bank and Mastercard also said they would suspend donations to the same group of lawmakers, as did Marriott, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and AT&T. Others, such as Google, Citibank, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, have paused all political donations for the time being.

Last week’s violent

disturbance on Capitol Hill sent shockwaves through the US political and business worlds, seeing Big Tech firms rush to purge the president and his supporters from their platforms, most claiming he or his followers had incited violence or committed other policy violations. The incident has also sparked renewed calls to remove the president from his post, with Democrats threatening to impeach because Trump encouraged “insurrection or rebellion” with his repeated claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.

someone who has been traumatized and through terrible things, and now you’re going to say, ‘Hi, I’m Amy. How can I help you

today?’ It’s very hard to build a relationship,” LaGesse stated.

Because it occurs behind closed doors, quantifying the scope of human trafficking

is difficult. However, from a legal perspective, a report ranked Ohio 14th in the U.S. in 2019 for federal human trafficking convictions.

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How to Welcome a New Puppy to the Family

By Desert Star Staff Introducing a new puppy to your household can bring many rewards. However, getting the hang of things can take some time, especially for first-time pet owners.

In fact, it takes the average pet owner almost four months to get into the flow with a new four-legged family member, according to a survey by Royal Canin. Eight in 10 respondents said the first year of pet ownership is the most important, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. The survey found 64% believe the first year is also the most difficult and deciding how to train a new pet was cited as the most important decision pet parents have to make.

“Bringing a puppy home is a hugely rewarding experience for pet owners, but it’s also a time of huge challenges and steep learning curves,” said Dr. Jill Cline, pet nutritionist and site director of Royal Canin’s Pet Health and Nutrition Center. “In addition to helping your puppy adjust to its new home, you can support your puppy’s health now and always with a nutritionally complete diet tailored to its specific needs.”

Make welcoming a new puppy a rewarding

experience for the whole family with these tips.

Arriving Home: Your puppy may be feeling stressed by new sights, sounds, smells and the separation from its mother. Manage the noise and activity to avoid adding to this stress.

As soon as you get home, take your puppy to your yard or outside area so it can go to the bathroom. Use positive verbal reinforcement when the job is done.

Once indoors, block off a safe area and let your puppy sniff and explore on its own time. Getting acquainted with a new place takes time and lots of exploring.

Some puppies can be overwhelmed by too much human contact, so allow your puppy to come to you.

Getting Settled: Puppies like to know what to expect.

Plan your routine for feeding, potty trips, exercise and grooming so you can get started on day one. If you know what routine your puppy had before adoption, it’s best to continue for consistency until your puppy is settled.

Any sudden dietary changes can cause stress or digestive problems, so for the

Photo courtesy of Getty Images first week or two, give your puppy the same food as its previous owner, following the feeding recommendations on the package. Nutrition tailored to specific developmental needs can help fragile, young puppies grow into strong, healthy dogs. It’s important to select a highquality food based on age and expected adult size.

Your puppy’s eating spot should be away from where you and any other pets eat.

Allow your puppy to eat in peace to prevent it from

feeling nervous or protective.

Puppies tire easily and need as much as 18-20 hours of sleep per day for healthy development. A crate near where you sleep lets your puppy see and smell you but keeps it from wandering off. Put something that carries your scent in your puppy’s bed along with a blanket to snuggle into.

Remember to schedule regular veterinarian visits and gradually introduce your puppy to new experiences like sounds, car travel, walks

and other animals. It’s also important to begin behavior training right away to develop good habits from the start.

If you’re interested in getting a new puppy, before making a decision on which breed best suits your family and lifestyle, you can see all 196 registered breeds during the 2021 AKC National Championship. Find more advice for welcoming a new puppy into your home at RoyalCanin.com/ puppies. Family Features

House votes to impeach Trump for ‘insurrection’

By Desert Star Staff Arguing he incited an “armed rebellion” against the US, the Democrat-dominated House has voted to impeach President Donald Trump again. But with his term expiring in a week, it is unclear when the trial will proceed.

After several hours of debate on Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to formally impeach the president over the January 6 unrest at the US Capitol, when a group of Trump supporters broke into the building and interrupted the joint session of Congress meeting to certify Democrat Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 US presidential election.

However, it wasn’t immediately clear whether the Senate will reconvene on an emergency schedule to conduct the trial. Reports in mainstream US media were conflicted, with some outlets citing anonymous sources to claim that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) was eager to do so and help the Democrats get rid of Trump. However, McConnell’s spokesman said on Wednesday he would “not consent” to doing so before January 19, putting the trial into Biden’s term as president.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-South

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Carolina) told CNN on Sunday that the Democrats might even give Biden a hundred days “to get his agenda off and running” before they send the articles to the Senate.

The delays and calculations are at odds with the rhetoric coming from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) and her impeachment managers.

They called Trump a danger to the country and urged his immediate removal.

Democrats have even argued that Trump and anyone supporting him should be barred from holding any office under the 14th Amendment, passed after the Civil War, to punish the Confederacy leaders.

“We know that we face the enemies of the Constitution,” Pelosi said on the House floor on Wednesday. “We know we experienced the insurrection that violated the sanctity of the people’s capital – an attempt to overturn the duly recorded will of the American people. And we know that the United States president incited this insurrection, this armed rebellion against our common country. He must go.”

While much was made of a handful of Republicans – led by Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming) who said they

would back impeachment, much of the party stood by the president and spoke to that effect.

“If we impeached every politician who gave a fiery speech to a crowd of partisans, this capital would be deserted,” said Rep. Tom McClintock (R-California).

“That’s what the president did. That is all he did. He specifically told the crowd to protest peacefully and patriotically, and the vast majority of them did. But every movement has a lunatic fringe.

Suppressing free speech is not the answer. Holding rioters accountable for their actions is the answer.”

“It’s always been about getting the president no matter what,” said Rep. Jim Jordan. “It’s an obsession that has now broadened. It’s not just about impeachment anymore. It’s about canceling the president and anyone that disagrees with them,” he added.

“We’ve been here before.

We’ve done this before. This has failed before. We fractured our nation using the same process before,” said Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-New Jersey), who switched parties after Trump’s first impeachment in 2019, which he voted to oppose.

Trump was only the third US president to ever January 15, 2021

be impeached, after Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998, and the only one to be impeached twice.

Democrats impeached him in December 2019 for “abuse of power” and “obstruction of Congress,” citing a phone call with the president of Ukraine.

No Republicans voted in favor.

Pelosi then waited six weeks to send the articles to the Senate, which acquitted Trump on both counts in

another party-line vote.

Of all the Republicans, only Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) voted to convict, and only on one count.

Democrats currently hold 222 seats in the House, to 211 Republicans, with both parties having 50 senators. A twothirds vote in the Senate is required to convict a president on impeachment articles, a bar that has – so far – never been met in US history. www.desertstarweekly.com

ME Lawmakers, Advocates Urge Congress to Back Green Banks

By providing additional funding for clean-energy projects, advocates say, state-level green banks could create thousands of jobs in communities across Maine. (Tomasz Zajda/Adobe Stock)

By Desert Star Staff As Maine considers how to fund its statewide Climate Action Plan, advocates proffer so-called “green banks” as a possible solution.

A green bank is a public or nonprofit entity that uses public funding to leverage private investments into clean energy and other climate solutions.

David Gibson, a solar

design specialist with Revision Energy and an executive committee member of the Sierra Club’s Maine Chapter, said green banks create a revolving door of funding

by providing loans to draw in additional private capital and reusing the money once the loans are paid back.

He explained there’s a focus on working with low- to moderate-income households that may not have the funds on hand or credit scores to pay outright for renewable energy projects in the home.

“And so trying to offer credit enhancements or other means to help those customers be able to participate in the energyefficiency and clean-energy marketplace,” Gibson clarified.

Gibson pointed to the Connecticut Green Bank, formed in 2011, which has used $270 million in public funding over the last decade to finance $2 billion worth of climate-solution projects.

He hopes the Biden administration and new Congress will take on the National Climate Bank Act, which would provide federal funding for state-

level green banks.

Gibson noted new funding streams will be necessary to enact the state’s Climate Action Plan, announced at the end of last year, and green banks could help.

Plus, he added more funding for clean energy leads to more job creation. Workers will be needed in communities across Maine for air-sealing and insulating homes, installing heat pumps and other renewable energy sources, and more.

“There’s going to be a need for thousands of new workers in the clean-energy field to transition Maine away from fossil fuels and into local clean energy,” Gibson contended.

Gibson hopes to see more green banks crop up across the country.

He emphasized they’re gaining traction among the environmental community and businesses and nonprofits interested in mitigating the impacts of climate change.

N.Y. State Bar Association moves to expel Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani

By Desert Star Staff The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) has launched an investigation into disbarring President Trump’s attorney, Rudy Giuliani after he addressed a crowd of Trump supporters who went on to storm the Capitol.

Having received “hundreds of complaints” about Giuliani’s “baseless efforts” to prove the 2020 election fraudulent, and in light of a speech he gave before pro-Trump rioters barged into the U.S. Capitol last week, the New York State Bar Association has launched a “historic” inquiry into revoking the former New York City mayor’s law license, the association said in a statement on Monday.

The NYSBA strongly condemned the violent uprising that occurred at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, orchestrated by individuals bent on subverting the voters’ will by disrupting the certification of the 2020 presidential election results.

— New York State Bar Association Giuliani has stood by Trump’s claims that Joe Biden’s electoral victory was fraudulent, though his efforts to prove this fraud legally were denied by multiple courts. However, the latest batch of complaints to the NYSBA came after Giuliani addressed thousands of Trump supporters at a ‘Stop the Steal’ rally outside the White House last Wednesday.

“Over the next 10 days,” he promised the crowd, “we www.desertstarweekly.com

get to see the machines that are crooked, the ballots that are fraudulent. If we’re wrong, we will be made fools of. But if we’re right, a lot of them will go to jail. Let’s have trial by combat,” he said.

After speeches by Giuliani and Trump himself, a crowd of protesters descended on the Capitol and forced their way in, as lawmakers inside certified Biden’s win. The mob vandalized the building, and five people died as a result of the fracas. Among them were an unarmed protester shot dead by police and a police officer who died on Thursday, allegedly after being struck by a rioter armed with a fire extinguisher. Three other people suffered fatal “medical emergencies.”

Among those calling for Giuliani’s disbarment were Representatives Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and Mondaire Jones (D-Nyack). They alleged that Giuliani’s use of the phrase “trial by combat” amounted to incitement and seditious conspiracy.

We will hold responsible everyone involved with the attempted coup, including the attorney to @POTUS, Rudy Giuliani. Letter from Rep @MondaireJones and me to New York State Bar requesting they investigate @ RudyGiulianli to disbar him — Ted Lieu Giuliani’s potential disbarment could spell trouble for President Trump if Congress votes on his impeachment. Rumors have it that Trump will enlist Giuliani to defend

Biden’s inauguration is slim. Even if the House of Representatives votes on impeachment this week, the

him in any impeachment trial, but, with a week left in office, the likelihood of that trial taking place before

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was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on 12/31/2020. Peter Aldana, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder File No. R-202013494. NOTICE — THIS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT EXPIRES FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THAT TIME. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411, ET. SEQ., BUSINES SAND PROFESSIONS CODE).

Publish January 8, 15, 22, 29, 2021 DSW21-5008

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: COUNTRY VIEW HOUSE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARIES, 66634 CAHUILLA AVENUE, DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA 92240.

Riverside County. Full name of registrant: CVH CO., LLC, 66634 CAHUILLA AVENUE, DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA 92240/CA. Business is conducted by: LIMITED LIABILTY COMPANY. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name(s) listed above. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant, who declares as true, information which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime) Signed: CAMELITA R GREGORIO, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on January 11, 2021. Peter Aldana, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder File No. R-202100456. NOTICE — THIS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT EXPIRES FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THAT TIME. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411, ET. SEQ., BUSINESSAND PROFESSIONS CODE). January 15, 22, 29, February 5, 2021 DSW20-5012 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS MS SUPPLY COMPANY, 13535 BRYSON AVE., EASTVALE, CA 92880. Riverside County.

Full name of registrant MARK STEVE SESSIONS, 13535 BRYSON AVE., EASTVALE, CA 92880.

Business is conducted by INDIVIDUAL. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name(s) listed above on 02/2014.

I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant, who declares as true, information which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime) Signed MARK STEVE SESSIONS. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on 12/14/2020. Peter Aldana, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder File No. R-202012796. NOTICE — THIS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT EXPIRES FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THAT TIME. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411, ET. SEQ., BUSINES SAND PROFESSIONS CODE). Publish January 8, 15, 22, 29, 2021 DSW21-5010 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS ASIL TRANSPORTATION, 139 TAMARISK RD APT 2, PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262.

Riverside County; 139 TAMARISK RD APT 2, PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262. Full name of registrant MOHAMMAD- -MAQSOOD, 139 TAMARISK RD APT2, PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262. Business is conducted

by INDIVIDUAL. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name(s) listed above on 08/15/2020. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant, who declares as true, information which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime) Signed MOHAMMAD- -MOQSOOD. This statement

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: DEVIL VAPES, 1651 VIA GALICIA ST, CORONA, CA 92881. Riverside County. Full name of registrant: ALMUZIAN GROUP LLC, 1651 VIA GALICIA ST, CORONA, CA 92881/CA. Business is conducted by: LIMITED LIABILTY COMPANY. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name(s) listed above.

I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant, who declares as true, information which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime) Signed: OMAR ALAALDIN ALMUZIAN, MANAGING MEMBER. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on December 4, 2020. Peter Aldana, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder File No. R-202012445 NOTICE — THIS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT EXPIRES FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THAT TIME. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411, ET. SEQ., BUSINESSAND PROFESSIONS CODE). January 1, 8, 15, 22, 2021 DSW20-5007 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS RAND AUTO SALES, 3603 GEARY PL, RIVERISIDE, CA 92501. Riverside County. Full name of registrant DEEA ALI ALOBAID, 3603 GEARY PL, RIVERISIDE, CA 92501. Business is conducted by INDIVIDUAL. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name(s) listed above on 12/03/2020. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant, who declares as true, information which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime) Signed DEEA ALI ALOBAID. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on 12/03/2020. Peter Aldana, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder File No. R-202012362. NOTICE — THIS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT EXPIRES FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THAT TIME. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411, ET. SEQ., BUSINES SAND PROFESSIONS CODE).

Publish January 1, 8, 15, 22, 2021 DSW21-5006 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS AMERICA’S FINEST PLUMBING COMPANY; AFPC PALM SPRINGS, 2504 SHORE KING AVE., THERMAL CA 92274. Riverside County.

Full name of registrant JOSE JESUS NARANJO, 2504 SHORE KING AVE, THERMAL, CA 92274.

Business is conducted by INDIVIDUAL. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name(s) listed above on 09/15/2020. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant, who declares as true, information which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime) Signed JOSE JESUS NARANJO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on 12/09/2020. Peter Aldana, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder File No. R-202012668. NOTICE — THIS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT EXPIRES FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THAT TIME. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411, ET. SEQ., BUSINES SAND PROFESSIONS CODE). Publish January 1, 8, 15, 22, 2021 DSW21-5000

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE Trustee Sale No. 20-00169-2 Loan No: ***7427/Grillo APN 656-031092 NOTE: THERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT ATTACHED (The above statement is made pursuant to CA Civil Code Section2923.3(d)(1). The Summary will not be recorded pursuant to CA Civil Code Section2923.3(a).

It will be mailed to the Trustor(s) and/or vested owner(s) only, pursuant to CA Civil Code Section2923.3(d)(2).) YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED APRIL 2, 2018.

UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. On February 5, 2021, at 09:00 AM, in front of the Corona Civic Center, 849 W. Sixth Street, Corona, CA 92882, FIDELITY NATIONAL TITLE COMPANY, as the duly appointed Trustee (the “Trustee”), under and pursuant to the power of sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust recorded on April 3, 2018, as Instrument No. 2018-0126727 of official records in the office of the Recorder of Riverside County, CA, executed by: Nancy A Grillo, a Single Woman and Salvatore F Grillo, a Single Man as Joint Tenants, as Trustor (the “Trustor”), in favor of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. MERS as nominee for FirstBank, as Beneficiary, and any modifications thereto are collectively referred to herein from time to time as the “Deed of Trust”, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER, in lawful money of the United States, all payable at the time of sale, that certain property situated in said County, California describing the land therein as: A CONDOMINIUM COMPRISED OF: AN UNDIVIDED INTEREST IN AND TO THE FOLLOWING PARCEL OF LAND DESCRIBED IN CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE RECORDED OCTOBER 23, 1986 AS INSTRUMENT NO. 1986-265128 OF OFFICIAL RECORDS, TO WIT: PARCEL 1: AN UNDIVIDED 1/191ST INTEREST IN THE NORTH 660 FEET OF THE WEST 660 FEET OF THE EAST 1980 FEET OF GOVERNMENT LOT 1 IN THE NORTHWEST QUARTER AND THE NORTH 660 FEET OF THE EAST 1320 FEET OF GOVERNMENT LOT 1 IN THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 6, TOWNSHIP 3 SOUTH, RANGE 5 EAST, S.B.M., ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL PLAT THEREOF. EXCEPTING UNTO THE GRANTORS HEREIN ALL MINERAL, OIL AND GAS BELOW 500 FEET WITHOUT RIGHT OF SURFACE ENTRY EXCEPT AS SUCH RIGHTS AS MAY HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY RESERVED OF RECORD. ALSO EXCEPT THE FOLLOWING: (A) UNITS 1 TO 191, INCLUSIVE AS SHOWN IN CONDOMINIUM PLAN RECORDED NOVEMBER 20,1986 AS INSTRUMENT NO. 1986295713 OF OFFICIAL RECORDS. (B) THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE AND POSSESSION OF ALL THOSE AREAS DESIGNATED AS “EXCLUSIVE USE AREAS” AS DEFINED IN THE CONDOMINIUM PLAN HEREINABOVE REFERRED TO. PARCEL 2: UNIT 188 AS SHOWN ON THE CONDOMINIUM PLAN HEREINABOVE REFERRED TO. PARCEL 3: THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE AND POSSESSION OF ALL THOSE PORTIONS DESCRIBED IN PARCEL 1 ABOVE DESIGNATED AS “EXCLUSIVE USE AREAS” AS DEFINED ON THE CONDOMINIUM PLAN HEREINABOVE REFERRED TO AND AS APPURTENANT TO SAID PARCELS 1 AND 2 ABOVE. EXCEPTING ANY MOBILE HOME OR MANUFACTURED HOUSING UNIT AND APPURTENANCES, IF ANY, LOCATED ON SAID LAND. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the Property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the Property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the Property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this Property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information.

If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the Property.

NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this Property, you may call

PUBLIC NOTICE

January 15, 2021 PUBLIC NOTICE

714.730.2727 or visit this Internet Website www. servicelinkasap.com. using the file number assigned to this case 20-00169-2. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Website. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE TO TENANT: You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call 714.730.2727, or visit this internet website www. servicelinkasap.com, using the file number assigned to this case 20-00169-2 to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee.

Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase.

The real Property heretofore described is being sold “as is”. The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real Property described above is purported to be: 14777 Palm Dr, #188, Desert Hot Springs, CA The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be made without covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining unpaid balance of the obligations secured by and pursuant to the power of sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust (together with any modifications thereto). The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligations secured by the Property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of this Notice of Trustee’s Sale is estimated to be $80,077.81 (Estimated), provided, however, prepayment premiums, accrued interest and advances will increase this figure prior to sale.

Beneficiary’s bid at said sale may include all or part of said amount. In addition to cash, the Trustee will accept a cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings association or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the California Financial Code and authorized to do business in California, or other such funds as may be acceptable to the trustee. In the event tender other than cash is accepted, the Trustee may withhold the issuance of the Trustee’s Deed Upon Sale until funds become available to the payee or endorsee as a matter of right. The Property offered for sale excludes all funds held on account by the Property receiver, if applicable. DATE: January 12, 2021 FIDELITY NATIONAL TITLE COMPANY, TRUSTEE 20-00169-2 1101 Investment Blvd., Suite 170 El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 916-636-0114 Jenny Taylor, Authorized Signor SALE INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED ON LINE AT www.servicelinkasap. com AUTOMATED SALES INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 714.730.2727 A-4729141 01/15/2021, 01/22/2021, 01/29/2021. DSW21-5113 T.S. No. 093963-CA APN: 656-430-055 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 9/25/2006.

UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER On 2/9/2021 at 3:00 PM, CLEAR RECON CORP, as duly appointed trustee under and pursuant to Deed of Trust recorded 9/29/2006 as Instrument No. 2006-0725127 of Official Records in the office of the County Recorder of Riverside County, State of CALIFORNIA executed by: GERALDINE M SHARER, A SINGLE WOMAN WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK DRAWN ON A STATE OR NATIONAL BANK, A CHECK DRAWN

BY A STATE OR FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, OR A CHECK DRAWN BY A STATE OR FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION, SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, OR SAVINGS BANK SPECIFIED IN SECTION 5102 OF THE FINANCIAL CODE AND AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE; AT THE FRONT STEPS TO THE ENTRANCE OF

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE FORMER CORONA POLICE DEPARTMENT, 849 W. SIXTH STREET, CORONA, CA 92882 all right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and State described as: MORE ACCURATELY DESCRIBED IN SAID DEED OF TRUST. The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 15300 PALM DRIVE #179, DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA 92240 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be held, but without covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession, condition, or encumbrances, including fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust, to pay the remaining principal sums of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is: $207,429.75 If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee, and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse.

The beneficiary under said Deed of Trust heretofore executed and delivered to the undersigned a written Declaration of Default and Demand for Sale, and a written Notice of Default and Election to Sell. The undersigned or its predecessor caused said Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property.

You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (844) 477-7869 or visit this Internet Web site WWW.STOXPOSTING. COM, using the file number assigned to this case 093963-CA. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale.

NOTICE TO TENANT: Effective January 1, 2021, you may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call (855) 313-3319, or visit this internet website www.clearreconcorp.com, using the file number assigned to this case 093963-CA to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. FOR SALES INFORMATION: (844) 477-7869 CLEAR RECON CORP 4375 Jutland Drive San Diego, California 92117. Publish January 15, 22, 29, 2021 DSW20-5011

Safety-Net Health Centers Tapped to Deliver COVID-19 Vaccines

By Desert Star Staff DENVER - Colorado’s community health centers are shifting gears to deliver COVID-19 vaccines after Gov. Jared Polis called on the safetynet providers to deliver 20% of the state’s vaccine supply for people age 70 and older.

Polly Anderson, vice president for financing and strategy at the Colorado Community Health Network, said the centers are uniquely positioned to serve some of the state’s most at-risk populations, including Hispanic, Latino and Black communities.

“They’re also more likely to have multiple chronic conditions as a result of living conditions, adequate diet and other stressors,” she said, “and so health centers are really key to reaching deep into our state to ensure that those folks are not left out of vaccination efforts.”

Anderson said she’s hopeful that the centers will be eligible to tap funding from the latest relief package passed

by Congress. The omnibus spending bill includes some operational money for the next three years, but community health centers were not specifically granted requests for testing, vaccination programs and other emergency funding.

A new report showed how community health centers have responded to the pandemic by pivoting to telehealth, dispatching mobile clinics to serve people who are homeless, and ramping up testing.

Report co-author Jessica Sharac, a research scientist at George Washington University, said the extra effort has taken a toll.

“With so many schools being closed, we heard health center staff getting a lot of their staff members who had to quit,” she said, “because their kids were at home and they were doing virtual learning, and they couldn’t be in two places at the same time.”

Anderson said federal assistance helped keep the

Colorado’s 20 community health centers are the state’s largest primary-care network, serving more than one in seven Coloradans regardless of their ability to pay. (Fernando Zhiminaicela/ Pixabay) centers operating - and with a surge in cases showing no signs of slowing, more help will be needed.

“The PPP has been essential in helping Colorado businesses and businesses

around the country keep individuals on the payroll, keep the doors open and, in the case of health centers, keep patients served,” she said, “but not all health centers were eligible for that.”

Disclosure: Colorado Community Health Network contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues, Poverty Issues, Smoking Prevention, Social Justice.

Progressive Groups Mobilize to Protest Pro-Trump Chaos in D.C.

By Desert Star Staff SAN FRANCISCO -- Progressive groups are calling for mass protests across the nation at 5:00 p.m. today, where they say activists will call for immediate action to remove President Donald Trump from office.

On Wednesday, the president held a rally, and afterward thousands of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building in an attempt to stop the official acceptance of states’ electoral votes in favor of President-elect Joe Biden.

Coco Das, with the group Refuse Fascism, thinks Trump has been calling for what amounts to a coup for months.

“Whether or not it succeeds, it’s extremely dangerous,” Das contended.

“And it’s laying the groundwork for ongoing attacks on elections and the fascists’ re-seizure of power. We call this a fascist coup, because that’s what it is.”

Demonstrations popped up

in many cities across the U.S. on Wednesday, and the group is calling on people to take to the streets today, asking them to bang pots and pans at downtown locations at 5:00 p.m. local time, to demand President Trump step down.

The group Indivisible also released a statement calling on Congress to impeach Trump once again, remove him from office and disqualify him from ever holding office again.

President Trump, in a video message, called on supporters to go home peacefully but he continued to claim the election was rigged.

Das believes too many people have stood by thus far, ignoring the threats posed by some people who believe the false claims.

“In the first few hours of an attempted coup, which is what this was, what the people do is really important, and if we don’t stand up and oppose it, then anything is possible,” Das asserted. “But if we do stand up and oppose

Anti-Trump protestors unfurled a banner over Interstate 110, a Los Angeles-area freeway, on Wednesday. (refusefascism.org) it, the same is true, anything is possible. Trump could be forced to resign tomorrow.”

On Wednesday in Los Angeles, protesters draped an anti-Trump banner above an overpass

in downtown Los Angeles, while a car caravan circled City Hall in San Francisco.

Some protesters voiced fear President Trump will try to invoke the Insurrection Act and declare martial law.

Others are asking leaders to invoke the 25th Amendment to declare President Trump unfit for office, and replace him with Vice President Mike Pence, until Biden is sworn in on Jan. 20.

Single-Payer Health Care Could Cover All, Save $743B a Year

By Desert Star Staff All Americans could have health coverage, and costs would drop by as much as $743 billion per year if the U.S. switched to a single-payer health insurance system, according to a new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report.

Matt Bruenig, president of the People’s Policy Project, said the bulk of the savings would come from reduced administrative costs, including private insurance companies’ salaries and profits, from 15 cents out of every dollar, down to one-and-a-half cents.

“Think about the insurance system as like a leaky pipe,” Bruenig explained.

“You put money in it, and about 15% leaks out, and

then the rest finds its way to the health-care provider. So, we can tighten that leak a little bit and save a lot of money.”

The CBO projections also assume that a singlepayer system’s purchasing power would help lower prescription drug costs and set universal payment rates for health providers, much as Medicare does today.

Critics of single-payer proposals, including Medicare for All, warn people may not want to go to medical school if they can’t earn high salaries.

Others have argued pharmaceutical companies depend on high-profit margins to produce groundbreaking new medicines.

Bruenig said similar systems in most of the world’s

developed countries have not deterred people from wanting to be doctors and nurses, who still earn higherthan-average salaries.

He agreed surplus funds are necessary to develop new medicines but argued that money does not have to come through high drug prices.

“For example, the National

Institutes of Health fund a lot of drug research already, sometimes it grants money to academic researchers, sometimes it grants money to companies,” Bruenig outlined. “R&D money has got to be there, but you don’t have to pay a hundred times what other countries pay for insulin.”

Bruenig added a singlepayer system would not replace or take over hospitals and pharmacies and make health-care decisions.

It merely would reduce the number of companies that currently pay for health care from multiple insurers to just one.

Groups Reach Out to Help Older Californians Get Vaccinated Continued from Page 1

halls about the virus.

“Things are changing so quickly, so we are updating it very quickly,” Buzo explained. “So, you need to check back frequently.”

He added people should be on the lookout for vaccine-related scams.

In Santa Clara County, www.desertstarweekly.com

for example, Buzo indicated quite a few people have received fraudulent text messages telling them appointments are available “due to an excess of vaccine,” when that is not the case.

Disclosure: AARP California contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues and Senior Issues.

January 15, 2021

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Riverside County Officials Gearing up for “Massive Vaccination Program” Taylor Martinez RIVERSIDE (CNS) – COVID-19 hospitalizations dipped Wednesday slightly in Riverside County as officials reported 2,773 newly confirmed cases and 13 additional coronavirusrelated deaths.

According to the Riverside University Health System, the aggregate number of COVID-19 cases recorded since the public health documentation period began in early March is 230,600 compared to 227,827 on Tuesday.

The county’s coronavirus death toll rose to 2,307. The fatalities are trailing indicators because delays processing death certificates can go back several weeks.

The RUHS reported 1,660 coronavirus hospitalizations countywide, down 24 from Tuesday, but the number of intensive care unit patients edged up by nine from a day earlier.

The number of known active virus cases countywide is 78,607, an increase of 1,870. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total, 230,600.

Verified patient recoveries countywide total 149,686.

Meanwhile, officials

are gearing up for a “massive vaccination program for more than two million county residents,” according to a statement released Wednesday.

The county deployed a team on Tuesday that plans to set up several sites capable of vaccinating thousands of residents each day. Plans to activate the sites have yet to be announced.

Department of Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that 28,708 people have been vaccinated countywide.

“There is a lag in reporting, so there may be more now.

We are also expanding our approved providers,” she said. “The number is increasing every day.”

Currently, the list of vaccine providers numbers 146, and Saruwatari said roughly half of those have been supplied with either the Moderna or Pfizer SARS-Cov-2 shots. She said distribution is going at a brisk pace but has not been sufficient to equip all providers.

To date, the county has received 79,875 doses.

Another 114,825 should be arriving before the end of the month, the public health director said.

Supervisor Jeff Hewitt

pointed out that “so many people” have declined the vaccines, with reports indicating up to half of health care workers in some medical facilities countywide said no out of concern for potential risks.

Emergency Management Director Bruce Barton told the board about half of the patients in hospitals countywide have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Barton said six facilities are at 100% of licensed bed capacity. However, all hospitals are resorting to surge plans to expand critical care space

Wedded Bliss in Times Like This

Photo courtesy of Getty Images Taylor Martinez During pre-COVID times, wedding concerns like venue capacity had far more to do with budget and vision than with the health and safety of guests. It’s a different world today, but with some careful planning you can still find ways to safely celebrate your love.

As the vows say, marriage is in good times and in bad.

It may simply require some flexibility and creativity to

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make your dream day a reality.

Enlist help from an experienced coordinator. If you weren’t planning to use a wedding coordinator, the pandemic is a compelling reason to reconsider.

Keeping track of changing mandates and how they affect gatherings, crowd sizes and more is a job in its own right. Allowing your coordinator to keep tabs on the latest recommendations, and adjust arrangements with

your vendors accordingly, may save a great deal of time and frustration.

Be realistic about your invite list. A year ago, it would have been unthinkable to create a tiered guest list and even consider making cuts even after invites go out.

Today, that decision may be out of your hands. Rather than waiting until you get news that you’ll have to make cuts, take time now, with a level head and less emotion affecting January 15, 2021

wherever possible. No patients are being transferred to facilities outside the county because of space limitations.

The county’s overall COVID-19 positive rate is 25.8%, compared to 23.1% last week, based on state-adjusted figures.

The 11-county Southern California region’s ICU availability officially remains at 0%.

The regional ICU bed metric is a key benchmark under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s regional stay-at-home order, which went into effect on Dec. 6. The order was

triggered when ICU bed availability across Southern California fell below 15%.

The mandate is expected to remain in effect until bed availabilities recover.

The current stay-athome order impacts bars, theaters, museums, hair salons, indoor recreational facilities, amusement parks and wineries — all of which are supposed to remain closed.

Restaurants are confined to takeout and delivery, with capacity limitations on retail outlets. Source: NBC Palm Springs

your decisions, to segment your list. Determine who absolutely must be present as you exchange vows then expand in increments. Your coordinator or venue contact can help you determine thresholds (e.g., 25, 50 or 100 guests) based on the guidelines in your community.

Understand expectations.

Vendors are required to enforce local guidelines, so ensure you’re clear on what measures they will implement on your day. This may include everything from masks and distancing to whether you’re allowed to use a dance floor during the reception.

Keep guests informed.

If you haven’t already, create a blog or send out regular updates about wedding plans to guests. If circumstances require you to uninvite someone, be conscious of timing and give plenty of notice so travel can be canceled, if necessary. As the event approaches, be clear about expectations so guests

can arrive prepared or bow out if they’re not comfortable with what you’re planning.

Make safety convenient.

Providing masks, gloves and sanitizer can all go a long way to help make guests feel more secure at your event. A personalized hand sanitizer holder might even be a practical gift that guests can use and think fondly of your wedding day.

Forego traditions, for now. The pandemic won’t last forever, but while it’s still here, consider skipping highcontact traditions like photos that bring multiple households together or a receiving line where everyone is in close contact. One alternative is to plan a mini-wedding (or even elope) now, and save the bigger celebration for later, when everyone can honor your marriage more safely.

Find more wedding advice and tips for daily life at eLivingtoday.com.

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