Bay Briefs
July 29, 2005
Laura Ling, Chopra on Al Gore TV
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. –– Current-TV, Al Gore’s news channel debuting in August, has announced the additions of Gotham Chopra and Laura Ling as producers and hosts.
Current is aimed at 18-to 34-year-olds, and will feature more individualized and targeted news content.
Chopra will produce, report and host a variety of programs including Current Soul. He is the son of self-help guru Deepak Chopra, who runs a comic book company in India and has done television news in New York and for PBS.
Ling will serve as an on-air reporter while managing the original enterprise video journalism division. She has won numerous awards and worked for ABC’s Nightline, NBC, PBS and the WB. Ling is also the co-creator of Breaking it Down, a documentary series on MTV covering issues from gang violence to young Americans in the military.
Cambodian Gang Members on Trial
District Attorney Kamala D. Harris announced the arraignment of Roeung Chhith and Keo Sobera for the attempted murder of Nectali Martinez, 27.
Both men allegedly followed Martinez to the entryway of his Tenderloin apartment building. Chhith allegedly stabbed Martinez several times, puncturing his lung, while Sobera kicked the victim both during and after the stabbing. Police say the two defendants are members of the Tenderloin Cambodian Crips.
The defendants are in custody on $1 million bail. They could face life imprisonment. Assistant District Attorney Tony Brass is the prosecutor in the case.
Asian Adult Role Models Needed
EVENT: Experience Corps
BACKGROUND: Asians over age 55 needed to tutor or mentor a child, help with homework, provide classroom assistance or work in an after-school program.
INTERESTING: Share your life experiences and provide children in our community with a caring Asian adult role model. Training provided. Monthly stipend available to members serving 15 hours per week.
DETAILS: Call Janet Oh at (415) 759-3690 for more info.
Presidential Teaching Award Finalist
Sacramento, Calif. –– Caleb Cheung, 33, of Oakland, has been named one of five outstanding California teachers as a state finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), announced State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell.
Cheung teaches seventh grade life sciences at Frick Middle School. He also mentors other science teachers and plans special science activities for students and their families. Cheung earned his Nation Board Certification in 2000.
“The exemplary work of these teachers is important now more than ever before as we begin to challenge kids with more difficult coursework in order to prepare them for college or jobs of the future,” said O’Connell. “I commend them for their love of teaching, hard work, and dedication that inspires kids to learn math and science.”
Anti-Vietnam Regime Bomber Fights Extradition
PASADENA, Calif. –– Baldwin resident Van Duc Vo, 45, is awaiting a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decisions on whether he should be extradited to Thailand for attempting to bomb the Vietnamese Embassy in Bangkok in 2001.
Vo, who fled Communist Vietnam in 1978, claims his actions were political and has become a hero to some Vietnamese in America still dedicated to overthrowing the Southeast Asian nation’s Communist leadership.
“Now the judges in the case, every time they mention about 9/11 and the terrorist situation, but he’s not terrorist, he’s a freedom fighter,” said supporter Chanh Nguyen.
Vo was arrested after returning to the United States. He remains in custody in a federal detention center in Los Angeles. A decision is expected in 60 days.
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