Juneteenth Editorial 

By Karen Marine  On Juneteenth—a day that symbolizes the delayed arrival of freedom in America—we are reminded that liberty has never been distributed evenly, and justice has never always arrived on time. Juneteenth is not only a historical milestone. It is a warning. A reminder that freedom can be declared, yet still denied in practice….

Small-town school leader earns more than 670K votes in California superintendent race

DIANA LAMBERT A superintendent from a tiny school district in Kern County, working with only a dozen volunteers over three months, garnered at least 670,000 votes in her bid for California superintendent of public instruction, despite taking no campaign contributions.  Wendy Castañeda Leal, 42, superintendent and principal of Semitropic Elementary School District in Wasco, came…

Why Does California Take So Long to Count Votes? Election Officials Say Accuracy Comes First

As California continues counting ballots weeks after the primary election, some political leaders are raising questions about election integrity. But election officials say the lengthy process reflects safeguards designed to ensure every eligible vote is counted accurately — not evidence of fraud. California’s vote-counting process has come under renewed scrutiny after some Republican leaders questioned…

California Senate Votes to Advance AI Copyright Bill Backed by Voice Actors, Other Creators

Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media Matthew Parham, a professional voice actor, was among dozens of artists and creators from across California who traveled to Sacramento to witness the Senate Privacy, Technology and Consumer Protection Committee vote in favor of legislation that would require developers of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) models to disclose the…

Disability Advocates Rally at Capitol to Stop  $367.7 Million “Gutting” of In-Home Health Care Funding

Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media Disability advocates, caregivers, families and state lawmakers gathered at the California State Capitol on Monday to oppose Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed $367.7 million reduction to the state’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, warning the cuts could jeopardize care for thousands of seniors and people with…

Rialto Juneteenth Jam 2026 Returns to Ferguson Park, Celebrating Culture, Community, and Freedom

Juneteenth Jam strengthens the village mentality within our community by creating a space where residents, business owners, nonprofit organizations, and leaders from all sectors, at every level, come together. We unite to foster a deeper understanding of humanity and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to our community,” said Davis. Rialto, CA — The City of Rialto…

Disability Advocates Rally at Capitol to Stop  $367.7 Million “Gutting” of In-Home Health Care Funding

Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media Disability advocates, caregivers, families and state lawmakers gathered at the California State Capitol on Monday to oppose Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed $367.7 million reduction to the state’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, warning the cuts could jeopardize care for thousands of seniors and people with…

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove Introduces Bill to Restore Free Admission to Federal Parks Free on Juneteenth, MLK Day

Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) introduced legislation June 11 that would restore Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day as fee-free admission days at national parks and other federal recreational lands. Kamlager-Dove’s district covers parts of Los Angeles County, including Culver City, Ladera Heights, View…

Forty-Four Years of Silence: The David Dew Case, False Positives, and the Hidden Crisis Inside America’s Prison System

By Karen Marine On Juneteenth—a day that symbolizes the delayed arrival of freedom in America—we are reminded that  liberty has never been distributed evenly, and justice has never always arrived on time. Juneteenth is not only a historical milestone. It is a warning. A reminder that freedom can be declared, yet still denied in practice….

California Commission on Aging hosts hearing on supportive housing

Event examined challenges, gaps, and solutions as unhoused population over age 50 grows Sacramento (June 16, 2026) – The California Commission on Aging hosted its annual information hearing on June 11, 2026. Titled “Nowhere to Go: Addressing the Crisis in Supportive Housing for Older Californians,” the hearing explored challenges, gaps, and potential solutions for older…

Don’t Juneteenth Our Community

Juneteenth is more than a commemoration of delayed freedom. It is a warning about whathappens when people are denied timely access to truth, power, and the information theyneed to act. Freedom delayed is freedom denied. In 2026, that lesson still applies. When ourcommunities are the last to know how decisions are made in Sacramento, Washington,…

Exposing & Dismantling The Supply Chain To Sex Traffickers  American Foster Care 2026

By:  Wallace Pate, Esq. LOS ANGELES, CA (04.01.26) Since the late 80’s, American dependency Judges ordered 12 million children into foster care without due process, impartial tribunals, trials, in violation of civil rights under color of law at the direction and behest of state Supreme Courts leading to an explosion in foster care that supplied…

Black Culture Foundation Honors Jonathan Beauregard with a Black Rose Award

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The Black Culture Foundation has named Jonathan G. Beauregard one of 10 recipients of its 34th Annual Black Rose Awards, which recognize leaders making an impact across the Inland Empire.  “Nominations opened last September, and residents from across the Inland Empire submitted the names of individuals who have made a meaningful…

California students must soon learn personal finance to graduate. Here’s how it will be taught

By Lasherica Thornton, EdSource On a recent Friday morning, Fresno Unified high school students learned about the rise and fall of major companies in the stock market — from Walmart’s longevity to Apple’s surge past oil companies and Amazon’s emergence as a $1 trillion company. Earlier that week, students at the Farber Educational Center, an…

Riverside Transit Agency Offers “Youth Ride Free” Promotion, Making Summer Break Trips Even Easier

Anyone 18 or younger can ride free on RTA buses through June 30, 2027 WHAT: As Riverside County schools begin summer break, the Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) continues to offer free bus rides for youth. The “Youth Ride Free” promotion is available to anyone 18 or younger and runs through June 30, 2027. Youth riders…

Protecting the Land by Wasting Less: CalRecycle and 40 Acre Conservation League Kick Off Black Conservation Week 2026 with Youth Land Tour

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — CalRecycle is partnering with the 40 Acre Conservation League to launch Black Conservation Week 2026 with a youth-focused land tour and hands-on composting experience designed to connect Sacramento-area students with California’s natural spaces and the everyday actions that help protect them. During the tour, middle and high school students will explore the…