Ruthie Hopkins, Pioneering Black Publisher and San Gabriel Valley Community Leader, Passes at 83

PASADENA, CA — Ruthie Hopkins, co-founder and publisher of The Pasadena/SanGabriel Valley Journal News and one of the San Gabriel Valley’s most celebratedcommunity voices, passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2026. She was 83.Born October 16, 1942, in Oakland, California, Hopkins relocated to Altadena in 1969,where she would spend the next five decades building a…

Retirement Income Planning Mistakes That Leave Seniors Scrambling in Their Golden Years

By Amy Kang As you enjoy your youth, you should think about retirement income planning. Many retirees face financial suffering because of some planning errors they made in their younger years, such as not considering longevity, ignoring inflation, or claiming Social Security too early. If you aren’t too careful, these mistakes can make it hard…

Asm. Jackson Bill Requiring Anti-Hate Speech Training for Calif. Public Officials Sent to “Suspense File”

Bo Tefu, Antonio Harvey and Edward Henderson | California Black Media  After a hearing on May 6, the Assembly Appropriations Committee ordered Assembly Bill (AB) 1578to the Suspense File, delaying action on legislation that would require California public officials to complete anti-hate speech training.  The bill, authored by Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), would add…

Highland Branch Library Farmers Market Celebrates Successful Launch, Continues as Weekly Community Tradition

Following a highly successful debut, the San Bernardino County Library (SBCL) Highland Branch Farmers Market is set to continue as a weekly event, bringing fresh produce, local vendors, and community engagement to residents every Wednesday from 2 to 7 p.m.  Launched in partnership with the California Farmers Market Collective (CFMC), the market has quickly established…

California schools could get billions more in Newsom’s May budget revision

By John Fensterwald, EdSource Look for three key numbers affecting TK-12 funding when Gov. Gavin Newsom releases a much-anticipated revision of 2026-27 state budget on Thursday, known as the “May revision.” One big, one small and one huge. $5.6 billion: In his initial January budget, Newsom said he planned to withhold $5.6 billion from TK-12…

College Students and Young Adults Face Ongoing Mental Health Challenges

 By Dr. Nicole Brady, chief medical officer, UnitedHealthcare Student Resources  Mental health challenges among young people remain persistently high, and many students and families are still trying to understand how best to respond.  UnitedHealthcare’s fourth annual Young Adult and College Student Behavioral Health Report found that more than 6 in 10 (62%) college students and…

California Youth Groups Participate in Legislative Advocacy Days at the State Capitol

Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌ ‌|‌ ‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌ Various youth organizations and youth-led initiatives participated in legislative advocacy days last month at the California State Capitol to amplify the voices of Black communities and help cultivate the next generation of leaders. Among the organizations, the NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference youth councils and young people sponsored by…

A new reality: Retirement while supporting young adult children or parents

by Victoria Mejicanos With the rising costs of living, economic pressures and longer life expectancy, many who are preparing to retire must think about what retirement would look like while still financially supporting legal dependents, young adult children or their parents. According to experts who spoke with the AFRO, retiring with dependents has become either…

Why Most Businesses Don’t Realize They’re Underinsured Until It’s Too Late

By BlackPressUS It’s often the businesses that don’t realize they’re underinsured until it’s too late. Rather than putting yourself at risk, it’s better to reassess your policy and make sure that there are no glaring gaps that can result in major losses. From operational changes to rising costs, there are many ways a once-foolproof policy…

EDD Simplifies How Unemployed Workers Can Certify for Benefits Online

What You Need to Know: Following the recent release of the Weekly Wage Reporting Tool, the Employment Development Department has made it easier for customers to certify for unemployment benefits online. The Department reviewed the full process from start to finish and used customer feedback to make improvements. This includes clearer questions and simpler instructions…

Targeted Crime Suppression-Operation Consequences, April 27, 2026, through May 3, 2026,

SUMMARY: Between April 27, 2026, and May 3, 2026, investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department – Gangs/Narcotics Division, along with deputies from patrol stations, and personnel from partnering agencies served 17 search warrants and contacted suspects throughout the county. Additionally, the San Bernardino Movement Against Street Hoodlums (SMASH) Street Enforcement Team (SET) conducted…

California Bill Models ‘Buy Local’ Journalism Strategy With Focus on Ethnic Media

By Julian Do For millions of Californians, ethnic and community media are more than a patchwork of local news sources. These outlets are “trusted messengers,” part of an expansive information network connecting otherwise hard to reach communities across the state.  A new legislative proposal would, if approved, shift how California communicates with its residents leveraging…

What they wish they knew about money: Older adults pass on financial advice

by Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer For many older adults, financial wisdom didn’t come from the dinner table or classrooms, it came from experience and hard-learned lessons. Now, women like Verlincia Roach, 62, and Carol Fillmore, 79, are sharing what they wish they had known about saving, spending and building financial stability with the younger…