Vol 60 Issue 10

Wednesday May 6 , 2020

Serving the Rio Hondo Community

Volume 60 Issue 10

With Limits, Lower Risk Retail Shops Can Reopen As Soon As Friday

PHOTO BY DAVID MEDINA/EPM Lower risk businesses such as bookstores, florists, sporting goods, and retail can reopen as California moves into Phase Two of COVID-19 response. That can mean curbside pickup as early as Friday which would be just in time for Mothers Day this Sunday.

NEWS

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Man Wears KKK Hood While Grocery Shopping in San Diego County

SAMUEL GARCIA/EPM A man was seen wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood while grocery shopping at a Vons in Santee. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the incident as a potential hate crime. The city of Santee has become known as “Klantee” because of white power and skinhead activity over the years.

SAMUEL GARCIA News Editor

samuel.garcia8465@my.riohondo.edu

Over the weekend, a man wore a Ku Klux Klan hood while grocery shopping.

The incident took place at a Vons in Santee, located in San Diego County.

Monday, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department stated that they were “looking into the matter and will pursue any appropriate criminal charges,” according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. Spokesman Lt. Ricardo Lopez said that the incident is being investigated as a hate incident, which could ultimately become a hate crime “if supported by facts.”

“The Sheriff’s Department does not condone hate or any acts of intolerance in our communities,” said the department. “We are a community that is welcoming of people from all backgrounds.”

Pictures on social media show the man pushing a cart through the store while wearing the white hood. One photo shows the man without his hood, revealing him to be a white, middle-aged man with his hair tied back in a ponytail.

Grocery clerks repeatedly asked the man to either remove his hood or leave the store. While in a checkout lane, the man was approached by a supervisor,

who again asked him to take off his hood. The man took off his hood, bought his groceries, and left.

“Many thanks to all who stepped forward to curtail this sad reminder of intolerance,” said Santee Mayor John Minto. “Santee, its leaders and I will not tolerate such behavior.”

In an online statement released before law enforcement began their investigation, Francine Maxwell, president of the NAACP San Diego Branch, implored law enforcement to investigate the incident. She also implored them to investigate another incident, where an African American woman

was aggressively arrested by police. Video footage shows the woman - who was walking with her unleashed dog - getting taken to the ground twice by two police officers.

This incident also took place in San Diego County, near a beach by Ocean Beach.

Maxwell hoped that through their investigationsa, police would enforce procedures to “eliminate racial discrimination and harassment in the enforcement of social distancing.”

Melissa Hill, a spokeswoman for Vons, Albertsons and Pavilions stores in Southern California, said that Vons was reviewing the incident and coming up with ways to respond to similar

“inappropriate” situations in the future..

“At Vons, fostering an environment of courtesy, dignity, and respect is one of our highest priorities, and we work hard to hold everyone in our stores to these standards, including customers,” she said, via The San Diego Union-Tribune.

A mandate requiring San Diego County residents to wear facial coverings while out in public went into effect the day before this incident happened. This mandate requires residents to wear facial coverings while shopping, going inside open businesses, and using public transportation, according to CBS8.

Canada Bans Military-Style Assault Weapons SAMUEL GARCIA News Editor

samuel.garcia8465@my.riohondo.edu

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a nationwide ban on military-style assault weapons.

This new ruling will make it illegal to sell, transport, or use 1,500 varieties of assault weapons, according to BBC News. The ban will take effect immediately, but there will be a two year amnesty period for owners of these weapons. After the two years, owners of assault weapons,

like an AR-15, will be able to turn their guns in through a buyback program. Through this method, they will be compensated for the weapons they turn in. If they choose not to turn in their weapons, licensed owners may be able to get their weapons grandfathered. More details on either method will be available once details of the ban have been finalized.

“These weapons were designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time,”

said Trudeau in a May 1 press conference. “There is no use and no place for such weapons in Canada.”

This ban comes a few weeks after a gunman in Nova Scotia murdered 22 from April 18 - 19. The shooter used semi-automatic rifles and handguns during his attack.

“Their families deserve more than thoughts and prayers,” Trudeau said of the killed victims. “Canadians deserve more than thoughts and prayers.”

Currently, to receive a firearms license in Canada, one must provide character references, undergo background checks, and pass a series of tests, according to Vox.

With the announced ban has come criticism from Trudeau’s political opponents.

“Taking firearms away from law-abiding citizens does nothing to stop dangerous criminals who obtain their guns illegally,” argued Andrew Scheer, leader of the Conservative Party of

Canada. “The reality is, the vast majority of gun crimes are committed with illegally obtained firearms.”

While the Nova Scotia shooter did not have a firearms license, many gun control advocates - like Wendy Cukier, who is the president of the Coalition for Gun Control - state that the majority of Canada’s mass shootings have involved legally owned rifles.

“Most mass shooters are law abiding until they are not,” Cukier said via The New York Times.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

3

Largest Arctic Ozone Hole Ever Recorded Has Closed

JAIME APARICIO/EPM Much like natural disasters that happen randomly around the world, the planet has seemed to heal itself to extend our time living in this world. Now the question of whether or not global warming will still be an issue will have to unravel as time goes by.

JESUS MARQUEZ Reporter

jesus.marquez1625@my.riohondo.edu

The largest arctic ozone hole ever recorded that formed over the Arctic closed Thursday, April 23.

Scientists at the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) who were tracking the unprecedented hole announced its closure this spring.

Researchers state the reason for the closure has

nothing to do with the coronavirus pandemic, global warming or climate change.

The simple reason for the closure has to do with the weather. CAMS monitored the rather unusual ozone that formed over the Arctic this spring. Ozone holes are more common over the Antarctic every year. According to CAMS, “the conditions needed for such strong ozone depletion are not normally found in the Northern Hemisphere.”

CAMS reports that the Arctic stratosphere is frequently less isolated than its Antarctic counterpart. For that reason the presence of nearby land masses and mountain ranges disturbs the weather patterns more than in the Southern Hemisphere.

This year however, a particularly strong polar vortex led to the Arctic ozone hole. In which most of the ozone typically found around eleven miles into the stratosphere depleted.

The last time such a strong depletion was seen in the Arctic was ten years ago.

Why did it happen this year?

The main reason for the closure of the hole could be simply a natural occurring process. The behavior of the ozone and the stratospheric polar vortex during the winter into spring. Reports state that the coldest and strongest polar vortex in the stratosphere and the lowest concentration of ozone over

the Arctic are more likely to happen when a combination of a solar minimum.

A polar vortex that stood above the polar region without weakening and a strong positive phase of the Arctic Oscillation.

Also, among a combination of factors that led the contiguous U.S. to experience higher than normal temperature from December 2019 through February 2020.

Scientists Create Glowing Plants Using Mushroom Genes EVELYN VARGAS Reporter

evelyn.vargas3749@my.riohondo.edu

JAIME APARICIO/EPM Perhaps this new implementation with plant life can maybe help doctors form a way to track illnesses within the human body.

A new creation with an eerie green glow, looking like a foliage from a retro computer game, has in fact been modified in a laboratory.

Researchers say the glowing greenery couldn’t only add an unusual dimension to home decor but also open up a fresh way for scientists to explore the inner workings of plants.

Dr. Karen Sarkisyan, the CEO of Planta, a startup that led the work, and a researcher at Imperial College London says, “In the future, this technology can be used to visualise activities of different hormones inside the plants over the lifetime of the plant in different tissues, absolutely non-invasively. It can also be used to monitor plant responses to various stresses and changes in the environment, such as drought or wounding by herbivores.”

Great amounts of animals, microbes and mushrooms that come from fireflies to honey fungi can glow, a phenomenon known as bioluminescence. This happens when enzymes act on chemicals known as luciferins within the organism, resulting in energy being released in the form of light. Nonetheless,

bioluminescence doesn’t crop up naturally among plants.

This latest research is not the first time scientists have created glowing greenery which is like a development that has led to suggestions of everything from plant based street lights to self-illuminating Christmas trees. Among past approaches, researchers delivered both luciferns and the enzymes required for bioluminescence into the plants via nanoparticles, meanwhile other teams have incorporated bacterial genes for bioluminescence into plants.

These approaches have had some drawbacks: the delivery of luciferin on tiny particles is far more expensive and is not self sustained, while the incorporation of bacterial bioluminescence genes involves a cumbersome process that results in only a very weak glow.

This research then took a different tack, and the recently discovered process in which fungi emit light. It is important since the process involves a luciferin produced from a chemical that is naturally active in all plants known as caffeic acid.

In the journal Nature Biotechnology, Sarkisyan

followed by a team of colleagues based in Russia and Austria report how the insertion of four genes from a bioluminescent mushroom named Neonothopanus nambi into the DNA of tobacco plants. They are related to the genes of the enzymes that convert caffeic acid into a luciferin that is able to emit energy as light, before it is turned into the resulting substance back into the caffeic acid.

This team found the site of the luminescence changed as the plants grew, the luminescence generally decreased as leaves grew old and increased where leaves became damaged.

“In the future, this technology can be used to visualise activities of different hormones inside the plants over the lifetime of the plant in different tissues, absolutely noninvasively. It can also be used to monitor plant responses to various stresses and changes in the environment, such as drought or wounding by herbivores.” - Dr. Karen Sarkisyan

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

4

The Pentagon Has Officially Released Three Videos Showing UFOs

JAIME APARICIO/EPM Questioning whether or not we’re alone in the universe has plagued the human conscience for countless years. Now it would seem that the existence of extraterrestrials has been proven. The universe would be a waste of space if humans were the only ones inhabiting it.

EVELYN VARGAS Reporter

evelyn.vargas3749@my.riohondo.edu

Three declassified videos showing Navy pilots interacting with “unidentified aerial phenomena” also known as UFOs have been released by the Department of Defense.

Last week in a statement released Monday, the Pentagon said that following a “thorough review” it had been determined that the videos do not reveal in any way shape or form “any sensitive capabilities or systems” and their release “ doesn’t impinge on any subsequent investigations

of these types of military airspace incursions.”

Out of the three incidents seen in these videos, the first occurred in November 2004 and the other two remaining in January 2015.

The statement given by the Pentagon acknowledged the fact that the clips were leaked to the public domain years ago.

A spokesperson from the Department of Defense said they were releasing these videos “in order to clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real, or whether or not there is more

to the videos.”

The older footage from 2004 was brought to light in a New York Times story published Dec. 16, 2017, and interviews are included along with the two pilots who observed the encounter. The way these pilots described this encounter is as seeing an oblong object about 40 feet long hovering about 50 feet above the water. As they approached, the object then took a rapid ascent into the air until it was out of sight.

“It accelerated like nothing I’ve ever seen,” one of the pilots said in the interview.

With this story’s publication, the Pentagon

acknowledged the existence of its Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, founded in 2007 and disbanded in 2012. The purpose of the program was to study reports of unidentified flying objects, and received $22 million in funding.

Another study was then published back in May 2019, by the New York Times which featured two new videos from January 2015 of navy pilots encountering unidentified objects during flights that looked similar as the previous ones. Interviews are part of the story included with a number of

pilots who described seeing extraordinary strange objects rapidly racing through the air. “The aerial phenomena observed in the videos remain characterized as unidentified,” it said.

The Pentagon had confirmed the previously leaked videos were authentic; however, Monday was the first time they have been officially released. “Wow, what is that, man?” a pilot can be heard saying in one of the videos. “Look at it fly!”Yet it has not reached a definite conclusion about what the videos demonstrate.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

5

Cam Gnarly Releases Top Notch Album,‘333HZ’

DAVID FLORES/EPM

Independent hip-hop artist Cam Gnarly taking a break in between multiple recording sessions in Downtown Los Angeles on May 6, 2019. His latest work can be streamed on various platforms including Spotify, YouTube Music and Soundcloud.

DAVID FLORES Reporter

david.flores5487@my.riohondo.edu

Cameron Grant, also known as Cam Gnarly, aka the “po$i god,” has released a new album titled “333HZ.” The San Bernardino native rapper is a fully independent artist with now six musical projects under his belt. Grant is known for his positive outlook on life and that is what is heard in his music, overall good positive vibes meant to uplift the listener. The project’s title stems from the

angel number 333 and HZ is short for hertz, which is used to measure wave frequencies.

With each of his releases, Grant rises to another level and with this project he does not miss a step.

The album’s first half is all Grant as he provides the listener with music that one can’t help but vibe to while also being let into his train of thought. The introductory track, “What’s Real,” has Grant spitting his gospel over a tropical-sounding beat, stating “what’s mine is mine

you can’t take this from me, live on my feet before I die on my knees.” Hearing the first track the listener may not know what to expect going forward, as it starts off very subtle, unlike the typical rap album as he is seemingly reciting poetry in such a calming manner that matches the beat. Entering into the second song, “Bigger Thangs,” the calmness turns into a real groove thanks to a bouncy beat by Los Angeles upcoming producer Nuglife.

The album then fully

MEGAN DE LARA /EPM

A portion of the album artwork for Grant’s recent release, ‘333HZ.’

takes off on the next song, “Signs,” as it is one of the most energetic tracks on the project. Grant takes the focus off himself and chooses to boost up the listener as he raps, “Imma show you how routine helps your operation, giving out free game no paycheck no reparation.” Which is Grant telling the listener he will show them how what he does to help himself will also help them out. He also provides his audience with lines they can use to empower themselves such as “everyday I feel elite, I feel whole I feel complete.”

Grant sustains the upbeat energy going into the next track with “Too Much” which is an interesting song. Upon first listen, “Too Much” could be written off as another hiphop love song but after a few spins the listener should realize it’s actually the opposite as Grant rather focuses on funds than love. The first half of the album ends with the introspective banger “Reignited,” where Grant rebounds from an internal conflict and he has emerged even stronger than before. The hazy production from Inland Empire producer The Audio King, paints the imagery of the song just as much as Grant’s lyrics do.

The second half of the project has Grant side by side

with independent artists like himself and they compliment each together perfectly.

Everyone from the various producers to the featured artists is at the top of their game for this album just like Grant. “333 HZ” deserves to be listened to by all hip-hop fans, especially those who prefer the golden age and underground stylings of the genre. When compared to popular rap of today, “333HZ” is a breath of fresh air. Although it is a positive hip-hop album it is hard to box it in that category alone as it is not overly positive where the optimism is right in the listener’s face throughout.

“When compared

to popular rap of today, ‘333HZ’ is a breath of fresh air.”

While there are many sides to Grant, the rapper is not afraid to show his positivity, as it is a true part of his character. “333 HZ” has the potential to turn a music lover who has never heard of Cam Gnarly into a new Cam Gnarly fan, which is why it deserves to be heard by all at least once.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT AMC Refuses to Work with Universal Pictures after ‘Trolls World Tour’ Comments

Oscars Eligibility to Temporarily Change due to Coronavirus MICHAEL MARTINEZ Reporter

michael.martinez5980@my.riohondo.edu

ILLUSTRATION BY MEGAN DE LARA /EPM EMILY DE LUNA Reporter

emily.deluna2549@my.riohondo.edu

AMC are now boycotting against a major Hollywood studio. The movie theater chain is refusing to show any Universal Picture films, arguing that the studio is “breaking the business model” that has sustained the companies for decades.

Universal Pictures recently released “Trolls World Tour” on video-on-demand on April 10th, a film that would have been offered to AMC to be shown in their theaters if they were allowed to open, but due to COVID-19 remain closed

AMC CEO Adam Aron claimed Universal broke a longstanding agreement to give cinemas exclusive access to new movies before they are made available on other distribution channels, a concept known as the theatrical window.

In an open letter to Uni-

versal Studios Chairwoman Donna Langley, the theater chain said the ban was in reaction to the film company vowing to make more films available online the same day they are released in theaters.

The letter also read that action would be effective immediately and will no longer play any Universal movies at any AMC theaters in the United States, Europe or the Middle East, adding that the policy is “not some hollow or ill-considered threat.”

Aron also stated that the theater chain isn’t trying to punish Universal, but will apply the ban to any movie maker who “unilaterally abandons current windowing practices absent good faith negotiations between us, so that they as distributor and we as exhibitor both benefit and neither are hurt from such changes.”

Universal Pictures said in response to the AMC letter that it “absolutely” believes in the theatrical experience.

A Universal spokesperson said in a statement, “Our goal in releasing ‘Trolls: World Tour’ on demand was to deliver entertainment to people who are sheltering at home, while movie theatres and other forms of outside entertainment are unavailable.” They went on to say that they don’t regret the decision “based on the enthusiastic response to the film, we believe we made the right move.”

This response knocked at AMC and the theater association for misinterpreting its remarks and making it public.

NATO said it had no involvement with the AMC letter, nor knowledge of it “before reading about it in the press.”

“We look forward to having additional private conversations with our exhibition partners,” Universal Studios said. “But [we] are disappointed by this seemingly coordinated attempt from AMC and NATO to confuse our position and our actions.”

6

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently approved a temporary hold on the requirement that a film needs a seven-day theatrical run in a commercial theater to qualify for the Oscars. Instead, films will be allowed to be released digitally without playing in theaters.

However, that doesn’t mean any movie premiering on a streaming service is eligible for Oscar gold. To be considered, the streamed film must have already had a planned theatrical release.

The film must also be made available on the Academy Screening Room member-only streaming site within 60 days of the film’s streaming release.

Academy President David Rubin said in a statement, “The Academy firmly believes there is no greater way to experience the magic of movies than to see them in a theater.”

CEO Dawn Hudson stated. “Our commitment to that is unchanged and unwavering. Nonetheless, the historically tragic COVID-19 pandemic necessitates this temporary exception to our awards eligibility rules. The Academy supports our mem-

bers and colleagues during this time of uncertainty. We recognize the importance of their work being seen and also celebrated, especially now, when audiences appreciate movies more than ever.”

The Academy also announced the sound mixing and sound editing categories will be combined into one award, reducing the total number of categories presented on the show to 23.

This change was initiated by the sound branch. Also, for the first time, all Academy members will be invited to participate in the preliminary round of voting for international feature films. Members will have to meet a minimum viewing requirement to be allowed to vote.

In the original score category, the board voted that a score must comprise a minimum of 60% original music.

Additionally, for sequels and franchise films, a score must have a minimum of 80% new music.

There is also talk about other award shows following in the same direction as the Oscar such as the Golden Globes. If this is successful could award shows expand their movie nominations to streaming service for years to come to attract more viewers.

The 93rd Oscars will air Feb. 28, 2021 on ABC.

Travis Scott Performs Virtual Concert within Fortnite

ESTEVAN MACIAS /EPM The concert, “Astronomical,” attracted a record-breaking 12.3 million viewers within Fortnite. The game can be played on multiple platforms including Xbox, PlayStation, Mac, and Windows.

ESTEVAN MACIAS Reporter

estevan.macias6303@my.riohondo.edu

Travis Scott has become a household name in the music industry as of late, but we haven’t been able to see much of him since the start of country lockdown. It wasn’t until April 23rd that Scott decided to put on show for everyone at home through the platform of choice being Fortnite. The game is a free multiplayer shooter available

on all gaming platforms and is currently one of the most popular games out there. In a collaboration with the producer Epic Games, the eight minute concert had a total viewership of 12.3 million concurrent players tuned in to see the performance.

While a giant Travis Scott in the video game rapped most of his hit songs like “Astroworld” and “Antidote”. A new song was also previewed during the event called “The

Scotts’ featuring Kid Cudi which was also a tease for the duo’s new album. People who missed the whole experience in the game can go to Travis Scott’s YouTube page where the entire concert can be viewed for free.

Other announcements included exclusive skins and items into the fortnite game that resemble Scott’s Cactus Jack brand, with the brand also having a side release of exclusive items that were

retained to the online concert. Things like video game themed t-shirts as well as a two action figure set of the Travis Scott designed for Fortnite and one of their signature characters.

Fortnite isn’t new to these types of concerts, as they did the same thing with the famous DJ Marshmallow previously last year. They also had a Weezer event where the map of the video game was Weezer Land where

you could hear songs from their new album “The Black Album.” All of these concerts were much from each other as Marshmallow had just a stage that people in the game could go up to watch. As for Scott’s it felt more like a live play of a music video with a concert experience.

With the successes of both of these streams it should be a no brainer that we can expect more concerts like this in the future.

SPORTS

7

New Division Realignment?

Potential Start in July? New Ideas for Return Discussed Around MLB ENRIQUE MEDINA Co-Sports Editor

enrique.medina4922@my.riohondo.edu

Over the past few weeks, Major League Baseball has been working hard in finding a plan to try and start up the 2020 MLB season. In one of its most recent proposals/ideas for a reopening Major League Baseball had the interesting idea of reopening the season with new realigned divisions, essentially removing the American League and National League for the 2020 season. This new idea would bring forth three 10 team divisions divided up by geographical location.

This meaning there would be a Western division with 10 teams, a Central division with 10 teams, and an Eastern division with 10 teams. This new potential division realignment would help reduce travel and amid this plan, teams would be able to stay at home and possibly even play at their own ballparks. This would allow players to stay at home for most of the season with their families, an idea that was nixed in one of the previous plans MLB had been discussing, which could have possibly started the season in Arizona. This new plan would almost certainly mean an expanded or readjusted playoff format since there would only be three divisions than the typical six. The new

division realignment would put most rivals together still in the same division, but may also spring new rivalries and bring teams new challenges all into another level. The division realignment would put the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros in the western division. The Astros being the team that cheated the Dodgers out of a potential World Series championship back in 2017, amid their recent and heavily criticized sign-stealing scandal. The division realignment would bring new meaning to inner-city rivalries as both the Dodgers and Angels would be in the western division, both the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs would be in the central division, and both the New York Yankees and New York Mets would be in the eastern division.

More details and other factors are also key in having a plan like this work because of the complications of COVID-19. Each state is taking its necessary precautions and some states are opening up already a lot faster than what other states may take. It is still too early to tell what an exact season may look like, but optimism still remains as many around the league expect there to be a Major League Baseball season this year. To add on to this optimism, ex-Major League Baseball players Trev-

or Plouffe and Phil Hughes revealed on Twitter Monday afternoon that they have heard from sources that Major League Baseball may even eye a return for June 10th, which would mark the beginning of a second spring training with an opening day date set for July 1st. With the Korean Baseball League having its own opening day without fans yesterday May 5th, perhaps the MLB is next.

POTENTIAL DIVISION REALIGNMENT WESTERN DIVISION: DODGERS, ANGELS, GIANTS, ASTROS, RANGERS, MARINERS, DIAMONDBACKS, ATHLETICS, ROCKIES, PADRES

PHOTO COURTESY YAHOO SPORTS ENRIQUE MEDINA/EPM

A new potential plan for a MLB return sees no National or American League. The teams would be divided in divisions set by geographical location. Many factors are involved, but such a plan is not totally out the equation.

CENTRAL DIVISION: CUBS, WHITE SOX, BREWERS, CARDINALS, ROYALS, REDS, INDIANS, TWINS, BRAVES, TIGERS EASTERN DIVISION: YANKEES, METS, RED SOX, ORIOLES, NATIONALS, PHILLIES, PIRATES, BLUE JAYS, RAYS, MARLINS NOTE: THIS FORMAT WILL ALMOST LIKELY BRING ABOUT A NEW PLAYOFF FORMAT FOR THE 2020 SEASON. THE HOPE IS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CAN AT LEAST PLAY AROUND 100 GAMES

TWEET COURTESY OF @TREVORPLOUFFE ENRIQUE MEDINA/ EPM

Recent reports have stated that MLB can start as soon as June with opening day beginning in July.

French Officals Say No to Sports Until September BRYAN CHAVEZ Reporter

bryan.chavez5634@my.riohondo.edu

PHOTO COURTESY BEIN SPORTS ENRIQUE MEDINA/EPM Paris Saint Germain were given the French Title in Ligue 1 as the league and rest of the season was cancelled due to the recent complications with COVID-19. The Dutch league took similar steps, but did not crown a champion. Other leagues like LA Liga and the Premiere League are still planning on finishing out the season.

French Prime Minister has announced that no sporting events will take place until September. The French League had plans to return behind closed doors for June 17, but with sudden news the LFP had to come up with a final decision to finish the league with the current standings. This meant that PSG were named champions and Olympique Marseille and Rennes qualified for the Champions League. Amiens and Toulouse are now being relegated to League 2. This sparked frustration into many clubs in the league.

Many are planning to appeal the decision, most notably Olympique Lyon and Amiens.

This also brings other questions for the Champions PSG. They are qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League and their

rivals Olympique Lyon having the lead on Juventus and with the ban of all sporting events until September, the team need to figure how they will play their european matches with UEFA planning for the return of the tournament in mid-August. PSG president.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi said.“We plan on competing in the Champions League with UEFA agreement - wherever and whenever it is held. If it is not possible to play in France we will play our matches abroad subject to the best conditions for our players and the safety of all our staff.� Lyon are yet to publicly announce their plans for the competition, but will most likely do the same.

Another league that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic was the Dutch League, otherwise know as Everdivise. The Dutch league had the same fate as the one in France, but they never declared a

champion. Ajax was the team on top of the table with goal difference giving the side an advantage. The last time there was no champion was during World War two. This decision was hard to accept for the team at the top, because they lost a chance to lift the trophy. This meant that teams that were in danger of being relegated are now safe for another season. This decision was to avoid as much controversy as possible.

Other leagues like La Liga in Spain and the Premiere League in England still have in plan to finish off the campaign. Some leagues such as La Liga are actually quite close to returning back to training as many countries have started to take steps forward in response to COVID-19. In regards to the Champions League, the hope is still for it to also finish what it started. The hope is for the competition to end by August.

SPORTS

8

Stadiums May Not Be Open Until 2021 LESLIE LOPEZ Reporter

leslie.lopez3339@my.riohondo.edu

One may wonder as to when stadiums will open again. Some people want to watch new sports again, and others would not mind rewatching old sports online or on television. Stadiums will most likely be open again until the year 2021. The number of cases of people having the coronavirus has been increasing. If stadiums are going to be reopened right now, more people are going to be affected by the coronavirus and the number of cases would be difficult to decrease. It would probably take months for a vaccine to be made for the coronavirus.

For the meantime, patients would either get treated with sources that are available at the hospitals or people would need to practice social distancing at home.

Some people may want the quarantine to end already, and others still want to stay at their homes. When will it be safe for one to go out and what do doctors think about quaran-

tine? Dr. Douglas J. Wiebe, who is a professor of epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, stated if an athlete gets tested positive from the coronavirus, that person will need to be isolated from other people and needs to be provided with medical care.

He added on how different kinds of testing will occur to test for antibodies to determine whether or not an athlete has been infected in the past or not.

When is the appropriate time for one to go back to stadiums? One needs to go to a location where the coronavirus is not a threat to the community and where a person is not the carrier of the infection because as of now, it may be difficult to determine who is actually sick.

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, the author of Fiber Fueled, mentioned how non-contact sports, such as golf, would probably return quickly and it is more complicated for contact sports, like basketball for example. According to Dr. Bulsiewicz, basketball and

LESLIE LOPEZ/EPM A picture off the internet of a soccer stadium, a dream filled image of sports returning to us in the near future. the National Football League maybe 2021. The mayor of Los Angewas accidentally touching their les, Eric Garcetti, stated how designed for the coronavirus faces since the athletes would he did not think how many because it is one of the conbe sweating people have never wanted tact sports and climbing all To add thousands of people in science to work so over each a stadium for the live sport in quickly and until there is other. Dr. Bulsiewicz does a time like this may be either a vaccine, science is have a point because for dangerous not only for the science. For Los Angeles, the example, when an athlete athletes but for the fans who opening of dribbles the are watching as well. Large the new SoFi Stadium, locatbasketball, it gathers up stuff gatherings ed in Inglewood, might take that is on the floor and ends may be banned in Los Anplace with no fans. up touching the ball and geles until at least the year

NBA Considering Disney as a Place to Resume for the Season LESLIE LOPEZ Reporter

leslie.lopez3339@my.riohondo.edu

LESLIE LOPEZ/EPM A picture off the internet of ESPN consideration of teaming up with disney for the return.

If the National Basketball Association (NBA) returns to its seasons, the Disney resort, which is technically private property, may easily be closed off from the public in order to create a “bubble” environment for the athletes. The whole point would be that all of the 30 NBA Teams would be quarantined in the same location, of course with limited exposure to the coronavirus infection and trying to keep the athletes as safe as possible. A couple of locations probably have made the rounds like Los Angeles, Bahamas, and Los Vegas. Some sports may not return to season anytime soon, and other sports are finding locations where athletes could stay place about it. According to Shams Charania, an American sports reporter for The Athletic covering the NBA reported how the NBA is considering to use the Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World as a way for a playing destination to be used once it is safe to return

to the season because of the coronavirus. This possibility has been thought of on the league’s radar for a couple of weeks already.

The number of obstacle courses that would stand out the way between the NBA and any return of the games.

Commissioner Adam Silver stated how widespread testing is a necessity because just in case someone is infected with the coronavirus. Medical personnel would need to be available at all times and for anyone to use, as they need treatment for injuries and suffering during the games.

Disney is promising if the league decides to pursue it.

A couple of locations may provide a place to stay for the NBA, and Disney also has many resources where they may play games without any fans being there in person.

Not only does Disney have all of the resources, but they also have the Wide World of Sports Complex, which can easily broadcast games because of the broadcasting partner with ABC and ESPN, so a business relationship was already there in place.