Page 15 - Florida Sentinel 3-15-19

News From Around The Nation
Mom’s Boyfriend Charged In Gruesome Slaying Of 9-Year-Old Black Girl Found In Duffel Bag
Hypertension Study Based in African American Barbershops Honored By Clinical Research Forum For Saving Lives
The Clinical Research Forum recognized the Cedars- Sinai’s Smidt Heart Institute with a 2019 Top Ten Clinical Research Achievement Award for its study aimed at develop- ing a blood-pressure control program for African-American men in the comfortable and convenient environments of their barbershops.
In just six short months, the study – first published in the New England Journal of Medi- cine and led by the late hyper- tension expert Ronald G. Victor, MD – improved the outcomes and control of high blood pressure in more than 60 percent of participants.
The 12-month data published recently in the peer-reviewed journal Circulation backs up the results, proving that a pharmacist-led, barbershop- based medical intervention can successfully lower blood pres- sure in African-American men who face a higher risk of dis- ability and premature death due to uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Not only are black men dis- proportionately affected by hy- pertension, they’re also the least likely population to seek treatment.
Barber Eric Muhammad says that’s one reason he was so enthusiastic about the study. He’d hosted other single-day
Barber Eric Muhammad takes patron Marc Sims’ blood pressure at his Ingle- wood, CA shop A New You.
awareness events about hyper- tension, but Dr. Victor’s study aimed to find a long- term solution for treating high blood pressure.
“High blood pressure has cost the lives and health of a lot of good men,” Muhammad said. “What’s different about this study is it looks at bringing down blood pressure by using the men’s community—their friends, family, and support group.”
The collaboration between physicians, pharmacists and barbers showed that medical intervention in neighborhood settings can profoundly im- prove the health of hard-to- reach, underserved communities. Cedars-Sinai was nominated for the award by researchers at UCLA, the University of California, Los Angeles.
Georgia Teen Accepted To 31 Colleges And Scores Almost $1M In Scholarships
A Georgia teen is currently living the life after her viral tweet of multiple college ac- ceptances has gone viral. Kayla Willis, a high school senior from Fairburn, Georgia, now has the selection of 31 schools, and is waiting for pos- sible others after sending out applications to 50 schools.
“I kinda don’t want to post this, but someone said ‘the whole world needs to know how great you are’ so here we go twitter!” Willis, a student at Westlake High School, posted on February 24. The photo shows a multitude of college placards under a photo of her senior yearbook photo. Since then, her tweet has generated a lot of conversation surround- ing Willis and her accomplish- ments.
But the glory didn’t come without hard labor. Willis told WXIA-TV that she scored 1,160 and maintained a 3.95 grade- point average.
“My goal was to have op- tions,” she told Fox 5, “I didn’t want to limit myself. I also
KAYLA WILLIS
asked the question, how can I go to school for free?”
“I’m here to encourage. If you are proactive and perse- vere, you can achieve any goal,” she told Fox 5. In an interview WXIA-TV she said, “I really wanted people to see what they could do because a lot of people doubt themselves.”
Willis continued, reveal- ing she’s received about $900,000 in offer money! Not bad for someone who spent no money on application fees, and only paid for postage. But Willis did have to contend with some online trolling.
“Also I did not spend a dime on anything! My application fees were waived, no transcript or SAT fees!” she wrote on Twitter.
The body of 9-year-old Trin- ity Love Jones was found in a duffel bag along a hiking trail last week in California, now the boyfriend of the child’s mother has been charged withmurder, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Emiel Hunt, 38, was ar- rested Saturday and was being held on a $2 million bond, the Los Angeles district attorney’s office said.
Hunt reportedly spent more than a decade in prison on a tor- ture and child abuse conviction from 2005, according to San Diego County court records, NBCN Washington reported. Upon his release, his father said he pleaded with his son to attend church and straighten out his life. But Hunt refused, so the two became estranged, the re- port states.
Emiel Hunt charged in death of 9-year-old Trinity Love Jones.
“He wanted to do what he wanted to do and we have rules and regulations here. He could- n’t abide by rules and regula- tions so we don’t have any contact [for years],” Hunt’s fa- ther said.
“He needs help. If he did this, he needs help. I’ve already prayed for him,” Hunt’s father added.
When asked if he thought his son’s prior child abuse convic- tion played a role in Jones’ death, Hunt’s father replied, “It could have. I would say yes.”
The Los Angeles County
“Words can’t explain what I’m feeling right now,” said the girl’s father, Anthony Jones, Sunday at the memorial site. “I just want answers. I just want justice. She was just the best—
“Even if it includes Emiel, justice needs to play out. What- ever justice needs to happen. I’m not the law. It’s in the hands of the law. If you do a crime you take your punishment,” he said.
Sheriff’s Department confirmed that the body discovered inside a duffle bag on a Hacienda Heights hiking trail was identi- fied as Jones. Hunt is accused of killing her on or about March 1, according to the criminal com- plaint.
full of character, full of life, full of joy.”
The girl’s mother, Taquesta Graham, was reportedly taken into custody over the weekend, but no charges have been filed against her.
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