Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/13059
Los Angeles Times reporter Hector Tobar was invited to speak at UC Irvine's graduation ceremony. Similarly, OC Weekly's "Ask a Mexican" columnist Gustavo Arellano was asked to speak at the graduation ceremony at UCLA. Both journalists were subsequently contacted by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) representatives and asked to take part in a "speakers' boycott," by not giving speeches at the ceremonies. The boycott would, in theory, undermine the University of California's administrative decision to cut wages and lay off employees. But Tobar and Arellano chose to give their speeches at the UC campuses on graduation day—and, ironically, spoke about the plight of the UC workforce. On behalf of wheelchair-using Angels fans, J. Paul Charlebois of Los Angeles is suing Angels Baseball and Anaheim for failing to offer premiere club level seating and services for patrons who use wheelchairs. Attorney V. James DeSimone stated Charlebois was accompanying a friend with season tickets at a July 2009 game when he could not get to the seats without stadium employees carrying him (which he declined). The only two wheelchair seats on that level were occupied. Charlebois filed the lawsuit in the Santa Ana U.S. District Court to force the stadium to become completely accessible to wheelchairs and train staff on accommodating patrons with disabilities. He filed no monetary claims, other than attorney fees. The West County Connectors construction project began on freeways crossing Garden Grove, Westminster, Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and Rossmoor. The Orange County Transportation Authority and CalTrans are heading the $400 million project to link up the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on the San Diego Freeway (I-405), Garden Grove (SR-22) and San Gabriel River Freeways (I-605). Aquatic and bird life cement artwork will adorn the new lanes. The plan includes additional carpool lanes on the 405 in both directions. When construction completes, HOV drivers on the I-405, between the I-605 and SR-22, will not be able to merge in and out of the general lanes. Jonathan Metz of West Hartford, Connecticut was cleaning his basement furnace June 7 when he dropped vacuum equipment. He reached down to fetch it and his arm got stuck. CNN and The New York Daily News reported that the more he tried to free his arm, the more tissue tore and swelled. After 12 hours of shouting for help, he partially cut off his arm, between the shoulder and elbow with a saw blade, and then he fainted. Two days later a friend came by Metz's house and called the police. Firefighters rescued Metz and amputated the rest of his arm. He underwent surgery at St. Francis Hospital and will be using a prosthetic arm. Abigail Sunderland's attempt to sail the seven seas ended when her boat was damaged in an Indian Ocean storm with 30-foot waves. At age 16, she set sail from Marina del Rey, California on January 23, wanting to break the record for the youngest person to circumnavigation the world. This record was formerly held by her brother, Zac Sunderland, and is currently held by 16-year-old Jessica Watson. After the waves broke the mast of her vessel, Wild Eyes, she sent out emergency distress signals. She was picked up by the French fishing ship Ile De La Reunion 2000 miles off the west coast of Australia. Although she is healthy, her smashed Wild Eyes was left behind. South Africa is hosting the Fédération Internationale de Football Association's (FIFA) World Cup tournament, which kicked off June 11 in Johannesburg. The first match between South Africa and Mexico ended with a draw of 1:1. The semifinal winners' final match will be broadcast July 11 on ABC. Qualifying teams for the series of competitions began in 2007 with 204 countries competing; 32 made it to the World Cup. Behind the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup attracts more nations than any other sports competition. In a tragic turn of events, Nelson Mandela's 13-year-old great granddaughter was killed in a car accident the morning of the opening ceremonies. He attended her funeral instead of the opening games. LOCAL IN REVIEW THEMONTH NATIONAL Journalists Boycott a UC Speakers' Boycott Angels Stadium Wheelchair Lawsuit HOV Lane Expansion Project Underway Man Amputates Own Arm Sunderland's Solo Sailing Sayonara World Cup Soccer Writer>>Tova Morrison 6 LIVEMAGS.NET JULY>>10