New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker announces engagement to Alexis Lewis

By The Associated Press New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, whose record-setting Senate speech this year denouncing the Trump administration fueled talk of a potential future national campaign, has announced his engagement to girlfriend Alexis Lewis. Booker, a former Democratic candidate for president, announced the engagement on Instagram Sept. 2, posting five photos of the couple…

Padilla Supports Legislation to Grant D.C. Officials Full Control Over Its National Guard, Police

WASHINGTON, D.C. — After the Trump Administration deployed National Guard troops across Washington, D.C. and took control of the city’s police department, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL) in introducing legislation to grant the District full authority over the D.C. National Guard and…

More Conversations, Better Outcomes: 5 Tips To Help Prioritize Mental Health While In College

By Dr. Nicole Brady, Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare Student Resources College is often seen as the ultimate proving ground for independence – you’re setting your own schedule, managing classes, navigating new relationships and adapting to a new environment. For many, it can also be the first time living away from home. These many new experiences…

$96 Million Allocated So Far to Black-Owned Firms as High-Speed Rail Project Expands Jobs, Boost Local Economies

Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌ ‌|‌ ‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌  As of May 31, the most recent data from the California High-Speed Rail Authority shows that 47 African American-owned firms are participating in the project as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs). A total of 936 Certified Small businesses are working on the high-speed rail program statewide, representatives of the…

Arrowhead United Way Hosts Ribbon-Cutting for First-Ever National Veterans Chamber of Commerce Site in San Bernardino

Arrowhead United Way expands its support for IE’s 220,000 veterans with a new dedicated space for career training, community events, and mentorship at its downtown San Bernardino office. SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Over 220,000 Veterans living across the Inland Empire will soon have a new dedicated space to support their journey toward self-sufficiency and civilian…

Opinion: Discredited Trump Adviser Navarro Attacks Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook’s Credibility 

Joe W. Bowers Jr. | Special to California Black Media Partners  This op-ed is in response to that comment.  Navarro’s remark fits into a well-documented pattern in which Trump and his spokespeople have questioned the legitimacy of accomplished Black leaders. Remarks like this warrant scrutiny, especially when they come from an administration that has often…

OP-ED: Trump Should Let African American Museum Tell the Truth About Slavery

By A. Scott Bolden President Donald Trump’s recent social media post complaining about how the Smithsonian Institution museums portray slavery is inaccurate, insulting, and a national embarrassment. “The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been — Nothing…

Pasadena City College Joins with New Affiliate Pilot

PASADENA, Calif. — Pasadena City College (PCC) is launching a new #CaliforniansForAll College Corps Affiliate pilot for the 2025-26 program year, becoming the first campus to test this innovative model designed to expand access to the transformative service experience College Corps provides. With more than 700 applications received for 20 openings, the program has drawn…

State Superintendent Thurmond Convenes Statewide AI in Education Workgroup for Public Schools 

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted the first meeting today of the Public Schools: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Workgroup at the California Department of Education (CDE) Headquarters in Sacramento. Established after last year’s passage of Senate Bill 1288, a bill authored by Senator Josh Becker (13th District) and sponsored by Superintendent Thurmond, the workgroup marks…

Remembering Katrina

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Today, twenty years ago, George W. Bush was president of the United States, and Ray Nagin was the mayor of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina barreled into the Gulf Coast, creating one of the worst natural disasters in the nation’s history. By April Ryan Today, twenty years ago, George W. Bush was…

Report: Taxes and Fees California Lawmakers Are Proposing Add Up to $14 Billion a Year  

Bo Tefu | California Black Media California legislators introduced proposals during the first eight months of the 2025-26 legislative session that could raise annual taxes and fees by more than $14 billion, according to a report from the California Tax Foundation. The report comes as the state’s 2024-25 general fund revenue exceeded projections by $2.7…

J.W. Vines Medical Society and Foundation Continues Mission to Diversify Inland Empire’s Healthcare Field

“By providing mentorship, funding, and hands-on opportunities, we are actively working to create a more diverse and equitable healthcare landscape for the Inland Empire,” said J.W. Vines Medical Society President Dr. Leita Harris. SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The J.W. Vines Medical Society and its philanthropic arm, the J.W. Vines Foundation, are reaffirming their long-standing commitment…

From the Statehouse to the Small Screen: The Painful Property Insurance Struggles of Altadena Fire Victims 

Edward Henderson | California Black Media   CBS has tapped “Black-ish” creator Kenya Barris for a new series inspired by the story of victims of the Eaton fire in Altadena and Pasadena, which claimed 19 lives, burned nearly 14,000 acres, and destroyed thousands of properties.  According to Dateline, the series centers on two brothers trying to…

Commentary: Beyond the diversity, equity and inclusion backlash: Addressing root causes to advance equity in every industry

By Chrissy M. Thornton The fight for equity in America has never been simple, and today it is facing one of its biggest challenges yet. Across industries – healthcare, higher education, corporate and philanthropy – there is a coordinated rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Executive orders, court rulings and state-level policies are dismantling…