By Adam Hunsucker   MONROE, La. (AP)—In the seven years since Cesar and Allison Camacho founded INFIT, the couple have paired a unique approach to fitness with an engaging, personal touch to help members achieve their goals. The goal at INFIT is to redefine the gym experience. The Monroe-based facility, located at 1816 Glenmar Avenue since 2017, offers personal training and group classes alongside weight management and nutrition coaching. A loyal following has kept INFIT afloat during the novel COVID-19 pandemic. Some members even continued paying dues instead of...

By Jonathan Landrum Jr.   LOS ANGELES (AP)—Tyler Perry is planning to make his Atlanta-based mega studio one of the first domestic filming grounds to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic. But while Perry is looking to restart production in July, other studios in Georgia and beyond are anxiously waiting for Hollywood's green light. “We're taking the lead from our production partners,” said Frank Patterson, president of the sprawling Pinewood Studios, located in suburban Atlanta. The studio has been home to big-budget films such as “The...

By Molly Sprayregan   In “Sunny Days: The Children's Television Revolution That Changed America,” journalist David Kamp takes readers on a fascinating journey through the development of one of the most beloved shows on television. Educational children's programming was not at all a given before “Sesame Street” began to take over living rooms across the country over 50 years ago. The show started as a type of experiment to determine whether it was indeed possible to use television to bolster children's learning, especially low-income...

By John Carucci   NEW YORK (AP)—Roger Daltrey worries that the coronavirus pandemic will have a devastating effect on a special group of people in need—teens with cancer The Who frontman, along with bandmate Pete Townsend, started the Teen Cancer America foundation in 2012 to deal with the specific needs of teenage cancer patients. The organization has funded specialized hospital wings and services for teens and their families. But heading into June, which is National Cancer Survivors Month, the situation is looking bleak. Teen Cancer America funding...

By Gabby Boyd   CORINTH, Miss. (AP)—Born amidst a national crisis, some local and area babies will have a story to tell when they grow up as “pandemic babies.” Stephanie Davis gave birth to her baby girl, Alaura, on April 3 during the COVID-19 state shutdown at Magnolia Regional Health Center. The registered nurse said she was afraid throughout her pregnancy, especially as the due date drew near. “I was absolutely terrified. I tried to talk my doctor into delivering her two weeks early because the virus wasn't in the area. However, she...

By Will Graves   It wasn’t exactly the finish line Ali Riecke had in mind. The 27-year-old had envisioned something more tropical when she signed up to participate in her second “Run Across Haiti,” an ambitious eight-day, 200-mile tour of the impoverished Caribbean nation sponsored by the nonprofit organization WORK. Instead of celebrating with more than 30 others from across North America who raised north of $200,000 to make the journey to run and to get a first-hand look at WORK’s mission, the end for Riecke came as she neared her house in...

By Cuneyl Dil   SACRAMENTO (AP)—Hundreds of protesters rallied outside the state Capitol on Saturday to protest against California's stay-at-home orders even as residents entered the Memorial Day weekend with newly expanded options for beachgoing, barbecuing and shopping. The rally to demand that Gov. Gavin Newsom lift his restrictions on business, religious gatherings and other activities took on the atmosphere of a political rally and festival on a closed-off street. California Highway Patrol officers closed the Capitol lawn to demonstrators, so speakers...

By Marian Wright Edelman FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT EMERITA   Every day my very beautiful, brilliant, and much beloved mixed-race African friend, Maria Nhambu—who was placed in a Tanzanian orphanage in her first week of life—feeds my spirit. She is a daily trove of shared wisdom and loving support. She recently shared a poem by Heather Plett, which profoundly spoke to me during this pandemic and turbulent political time. I hope it will move you too.   Today I will greet Grief When it comes: I will meet it at the door, I will say “Come...

By Beth Harris   ARCADIA, Calif. (AP)—Horses are thundering down the stretch again at Santa Anita. There are no fans or owners cheering them on. No photos in the winner’s circle. No bets placed at the track’s windows. Still, it’s a win for the sport to be back racing against the backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains after being idled for 1 1/2 months because of the coronavirus pandemic. “We were going to be willing to do whatever it took to get it open,” said Bob Baffert, the two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer. From March...

By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com   Oxnard-- The Finance & Governance took another look at the 2020-2021 budget preview, May 26, which offers a peek into the future mired with questions.   COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the city budget, as the outbreak sparked a recession, and the city will use its reserves, most of them, to hold the line to the best of its ability.   The item sparked a lot of questions, but there is no budget in place yet.   Chief Financial Officer Kevin Riper said during the fiscal year 2019-2020, the city...