Losing Federal Unemployment Benefits or COBRA Health Plan Aid in September? Covered California Can Help

This month millions of Californians are losing federal unemployment benefits made available to them because of the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of others will lose federal aid that helped absorb the high costs of their COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) health coverage after getting laid off or having their hours…

Waiving IP rights means waving goodbye to future medical breakthroughs

By Sandip Shah and Deep Patel The Biden administration recently announced that it would back a proposal by South Africa and India at the World Trade Organization to nullify American innovators’ intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines. While the proposal’s adoption would not increase the number of global vaccine doses available, it would dissuade investment…

New Coronavirus Variant a ‘Concern’ for Health Officials

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent NNPA NEWSWIRE — Nearly 219 million people globally had contracted the novel coronavirus since March 2020, when officials officially declared a pandemic. Over 4.5 million have died, including more than 657,000 in the United States, where the disease has disproportionately attacked African Americans and other communities…

California COVID-19 Rent Relief Program Hits Major Milestone, with More Than $1 Billion in Rent and Utility Assistance Paid or Approved for Payment

More than 44,000 households have been assisted and more than $1 billion paid or approved for payment More than 243,000 applications have been received with more than $2.2 billion in rent and utility assistance requested SACRAMENTO – California’s COVID-19 Rent Relief Program is reaching a significant milestone today – by the end of the day,…

Comcast Rise Commits $11 Million In Grants To Small Business Owners Of Color As Part Of Ongoing Effort To Advance Equitable Economic Mobility In Cities Nationwide

Second round of Comcast RISE Investment Fund will award $10,000 grants to 600 additional small businesses in Houston, Miami, Oakland, Seattle, the Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C bringing the total of grants to $11 million. NEW YORK – Sept. 14, 2021 – Comcast announced today a second round of cities to receive grants from the…

SBCUSD Continues Working To Keep Schools Open For Teaching And Learning

The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) remains committed to slowing the spread of COVID-19 so schools can stay open for in-person teaching and learning. “Not only do we want to provide in-person learning opportunities, in fact, we must,” said Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer Ginger Ontiveros. “The State of California does not…

Grammy-Award Winning Artist Lecrae Partners With Experian To Talk About The Basics Of Financial Health The Experience Web-Series Will Take You From FOMO to Legacy Building

LOS ANGELES (TBD)– Grammy-award-winning recording artist and activist Lecrae is providing the blueprint for building a financial legacy through his new web-series, The Experience, powered by Experian.  Premiering Fall 2021, the six-part series guides audiences through the ins and outs of financial health. Through short sketches and the help of some special guests, Lecrae breaks…

EDITORIAL: California’s eviction protections remain in effect through September 30 CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Program  still accepting applications

SACRAMENTO – AB 832, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on June 28, extended California’s critical eviction protections through September 30, 2021, giving California the strongest eviction protections in the country. The bill also provided $5.2 billion to help struggling California renters remain housed by covering rent and utilities that date back to April 2020.  Officials…

FCC Proposes $5 Million Fine For Right-Wing Operatives Jacob Wohl And Jack Burkman

Two right-wing operatives already facing felony charges for thousands of robocalls that discouraged absentee voting during the 2020 election should be fined more than $5 million, the Federal Communications Commission proposed on Tuesday. The FCC said Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman should pay $5,134,000 “for apparently making 1,141 unlawful robocalls to wireless phones without prior…

CFPB Proposes Rule to Shine New Light on Small Businesses’ Access to Credit

Proposal Would Increase Transparency in a $2.4 Trillion Sector of the American Economy and Bolster Fair Lending WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today proposed a new rule designed to help small businesses gain access to the credit they need and deserve by increasing transparency in the lending marketplace. This rule, mandated…

WITNESS FOR JUSTICE #1063 We Were So Close

Roberto Ochoa Last August, I wrote an op-ed piece for the United Church of Christ’s Witness for Justice blog, entitled “Spiritual Malpractice” in which I stated: “Health care experts and scientists all agree that face masks, preferably made of cloth, hand washing, physical distancing and avoiding close contact gatherings especially indoors, are the best ways…

‘The Wire’ actor Michael K. Williams found dead in NYC apartment

By Larry Celona and Tina Moore “The Wire’’ actor Michael K. Williams was found dead of a suspected drug overdose in his Brooklyn penthouse Monday afternoon, law-enforcement sources told The Post. Drug paraphernalia was found in the five-time Emmy nominee’s apartment, suggesting the acclaimed 54-year-old actor may have fatally OD’d, possibly from heroin or fentanyl, sources said. “No foul…