Executive order targets inclusion, equity and diversity in federal contracting

By Ashlee Banks Special to the AFRO In a move that systematically dismantles decades of civil rights-era procurement philosophy, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on March 26, effectively purging “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI) requirements from the federal contracting landscape. While the administration frames the move as a return to “merit-based” efficiency, the…

A $37.2 Million Boost: California Announces New Funding for Apprenticeships and Workforce Training  

Bo Tefu | California Black Media  California is investing $37.2 million to expand apprenticeship and workforce training programs, aiming to support more than 60,000 residents and strengthen pathways into high-demand careers. On April 9, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the funding through the California Apprenticeship Council Training Fund and the California Workforce Development Board’s High Road…

Mayor and Council Candidate Forum at San Bernardino Valley College

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – San Bernardino Valley College, in partnership with the League of Women Voters, San Bernardino Area, announces a nonpartisan candidate forum scheduled for April 29 and April 30.   Valley College supports civic engagement and voter education by hosting this nonpartisan candidate forum in partnership with the League of Women Voters. Date: April…

Bonta and Weber Pierson Lead on State Health Policy as Disparities Persist 

Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media    Nearly 6 in 10 Californians delayed or skipped medical care in the past year because of cost, and 4 in 10 reported their conditions worsened as a result — trends that disproportionately affect communities already facing disparities, including Black Californians.  Black Californians have the shortest life…

How employers can help Black employees thrive in remote work environments

Employers can help Black employees thrive in remote work environments by combining strong inclusion practices with thoughtful remote-work design. The most impactful steps are building psychological safety, offering genuine flexibility, standardizing career growth criteria, and holding managers accountable for equitable outcomes. What does a typical office morning cost a Black professional? Code-switching before the first…

Memorial  Day  Remembrances  Span Forest Lawn’s Six Southern California Locations

Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills’s Memorial Day commemoration is the featured event in family-friendly, parkwide observances Monday, May 25, 2026 Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks Cathedral City, Covina Hills, Cypress, Glendale, Hollywood Hills, Long Beach GLENDALE, CA—Forest Lawn will honor fallen veterans with free Memorial Day remembrances at each of its six Southern California locations: Cathedral City, Covina Hills,…

The Trump administration is quietly seeking unprecedented access to medical records for millions of federal workers and retirees, and their families.

By Amanda Seitz and Maia Rosenfeld A brief notice from the Office of Personnel Management could dramatically change which personally identifiable medical information the agency obtains, giving it the power to see prescriptions employees had filled or what treatment they sought from doctors. The regulation would require 65 insurance companies that cover more than 8…

“Evidence of Us” by E. Tyler Burton at the County Museum

The San Bernardino County Museum presents Evidence of Us, a new exhibition by artist E. Tyler Burton, on view from May 9 through September 6, 2026. Evidence of Us explores the material record we are creating in real time. Through sculpture, projection, textile installation, cyanotypes and participatory elements, the exhibition invites visitors to consider what…

California leaders highlight bill to expand college savings flexibility and deliver tax relief for families

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA joined Assemblymember Michelle Rodriguez, state leaders and a California family Tuesday to highlight AB 2444 (Rodriguez), “The Academic Savings for Lifelong Financial Security Act,” legislation that would expand college savings flexibility and provide new tax relief for families. The proposal would align California law with recent…

Black Women in Rural Areas Grapple with Stark Decline in Obstetric Care

By Ashleigh Fields, Special to the AFRO Black women in rural areas are facing the brunt of declining medical services, including access to obstetric care as new policies threaten clinic and hospital closures. Under the current White House administration’s summer spending package, federal reimbursement for services covered through Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act severely…

Lawsuit filed against president’s mail-in voting executive order by Lawyers’ Committee, NAACP and Common Cause 

WASHINGTON – The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the NAACP, Common Cause, and Black Voters Matter Fund filed a lawsuit  against President Trump challenging his new executive order on mail-in voting.  Shaylyn Cochran, deputy executive director for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said, “The executive order is unlawful, unconstitutional, and…

California Advances a National Model for Early Wealth-Building at CEWAS Summit

Los Angeles, CA — Launched under the leadership of the State Treasurer’s Office and California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, through the STO-FSFA (State Treasurer’s Office Financial Savings for All) initiative—the nation’s largest and most inclusive public savings collective—California is advancing one of the most comprehensive early wealth infrastructures in the nation, bringing together leaders…

Stop the ‘Perfect Trap’ Before It Starts: New Children’s Book Helps Kids Build Self-Worth

LOS ANGELES, April 6, 2026 — Long before children fully understand social media, they can absorb its message: how they look matters more than who they are. In her new picture book, Perfectly Perfect, physician, author and radio personality Dr. Tiffanie Tate offers families a way to gently interrupt that narrative. Written for children under…

California’s next governor to face tough choices for education as state budget tightens

John Fensterwald “This story was originally published by EdSource.  Top Takeaways A new governor with an agenda of new programs could find a chilly reception from districts. A continuing decline in statewide enrollment will erode districts’ ability to cover operating expenses and increase staff pay. Ideas for financial relief include increasing money for special education,…