Veterans who receive disability compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are seeing higher monthly payments and expanded home loan limits as part of recent benefit updates. A 2.8 percent increase in monthly disability compensation took effect Dec. 1 as part of the annual cost-of-living adjustment, known as COLA. The increase applies to all…
A proposed constitutional amendment that would end the use of temporary congressional district maps after the 2026 election has officially entered circulation, according to the California Secretary of State’s office. California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber announced that “the proponent of a new initiative was cleared to begin collecting petition signatures on Jan. 12,…
On Sunday night, eight Democratic senators provided the necessary votes to advance a plan to fund government agencies through Jan., reported The New York Times. The spending package includes a three-bill “minibus” of full-year funding for the Department of Agriculture, the FDA, the Department of Veterans Affairs, military construction projects, and the operations of Congress…
SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta today stood up for California families and the state’s economy by filing an amicus brief urging the U.S Supreme Court to strike down President Trump’s illegal tariffs. The President invoked an emergency law to impose tariffs without permission from Congress. But no emergency exists, the…
Nationwide — Radule Bojovic, a white police officer from Hanover Park, Illinois originally from Montenegro, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after officials found he had overstayed his visa and been living in the country illegally since 2015. The Department of Homeland Security said Bojovic first entered the U.S. on a tourist visa…
Millions of Students to Benefit as AB 1454 Transforms How Children Learn to Read LOS ANGELES, CA – In a monumental step forward for California’s students, AB 1454 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom – following unanimous votes of support in both the California Assembly (78-0) and the California Senate (38-0). Unanimous, bipartisan…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sharply criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi for the extreme politicization and weaponization of the Department of Justice (DOJ) during an oversight hearing. Padilla condemned Bondi for placing loyalty to President Trump over the rule of law and for fundamentally…
Key takeaways The total U.S. Latino population in the United States is estimated to be over 68 million, with one out of every five people being Latino for the first time in history. The researchers found that the nation’s Latino labor force grew 5.5% in 2024, to 35.1 million workers. The labor force participation rate…
What you need to know: Governor Newsom’s office responds to U.S. Attorney General Bondi’s letter on sanctuary policies. California’s Rules of Professional Conduct generally prohibit lawyers from bringing a claim or a position in litigation without probable cause and for the purpose of harassing or injuring a person. SACRAMENTO – Reaffirming the state’s values and…
Nationwide — Andrea Blackstone has created a platform to honor her ancestors, celebrate her personal identity, showcase her artistic projects, and keep history alive. AndreaBlackstone.com was developed because Blackstone wanted to prevent her ancestors’ plight from being forgotten. The first book in her new Black Water Cove series, The World We Left Behind, was inspired…
What you need to know: California’s proactive efforts to defend its values against the federal administration have resulted in at least $168 billion in federal funding remaining in the state. Spending $5 million to support the litigation, this represents a 3,360,000% (3.4 million percent) return on investment. SACRAMENTO – Acting as the first and last…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the nation observes Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), along with Representatives Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.-02) and Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), introduced the Mental Health for Latinos Act, legislation to improve mental health outcomes among Latino and Hispanic communities. Barriers to mental health care within…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the nation observes Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), along with Representatives Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.-02) and Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), introduced the Mental Health for Latinos Act, legislation to improve mental health outcomes among Latino and Hispanic communities. Barriers to mental health care within…
BARSTOW, CA – July 7, 2025 – The City of Barstow is pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Kirby as its new Chief of Police. With over 25 years of law enforcement experience, Kirby brings a strong legacy of public safety leadership, innovation, and community engagement to this role. Throughout his distinguished career with the…
What you need to know: Californians are urged to practice common sense and safety when using fireworks to celebrate this Fourth of July. People who resort to using illegal fireworks will be held accountable. SACRAMENTO – With Fourth of July celebrations set to go off with a bang across the state this week, Governor Gavin…
Lawmakers urge solutions that secure the border, uphold the rule of law, and support a strong economy SACRAMENTO, CA – Last week, a group of California Senate and Assembly Republicans asked President Trump to focus immigration raids on undocumented violent criminals, and urged the President to implement policies that will modernize our immigration process. The…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California’s former Secretary of State, and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee, led six Senators in expressing serious concerns about the harmful impacts to American voters of the Trump…
“We All We Got: A Digital Green Book for the Culture” will Empower Black Communities to Navigate Digital Manipulation and Misinformation ATLANTA, GA — Onyx Impact, the organization that empowers Black communities by fighting false and misleading information and promoting healthier digital spaces, today announced the launch of “We All We Got: A Digital Green…
SACRAMENTO—Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) today named Eunice Abel, a youth advocate and undergraduate student, as 2025 Woman of the Year for Assembly District 45. Assemblymembers, including Ramos celebrated their honorees on the Assembly floor today. “Eunice is a tireless and steadfast advocate for young people in the Inland Empire and is dedicated to…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Last week, Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur introduced AB 1333 to update the state’s self-defense laws. The legislation explicitly clarifies that Californians must avoid resorting to fatal actions when they have the opportunity to de-escalate or disengage from a conflict outside their homes, with the aim of preventing violent confrontations. In recent days,…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, applauded the confirmations of Judge Benjamin Cheeks and Judge Serena Murillo to fill vacancies on the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Central Districts of California, respectively. These confirmations mark the 234th and 235th federal…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) released the following statement after U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) was sworn into the Senate: “Throughout his career, Adam has been a tireless champion for middle-class families, working to lower the cost of housing and health care while protecting our fundamental freedoms. As California and the…
RIALTO, CALIF.– Ana Gonzalez will speak to the San Bernardino Democratic Luncheon Club’s August 23rd Noon meeting. She is running for a seat on the Rialto City Council. Gonzalez is a mother, educator, nonprofit executive director, volunteer, and community advocate. She attended public schools in Rialto. “My first priority is to promote equal access and…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — (July 1, 2024) U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) released the following statement after the Supreme Court granted former President Donald Trump partial immunity from criminal prosecution in the Trump v. United States ruling: “Today, former President Trump’s handpicked justices have cast aside our nation’s bedrock principle of the rule of law, afforded…
(SACRAMENTO, CA – 7/1/2024) – The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) today welcomed the release of California State Attorney General Rob Bonta’s statewide 2023 Annual Hate Crime report. SEE: Attorney General Bonta Releases 2023 Hate Crime Report, Highlights Continues Efforts to Combat Hate The annual Hate Crime Report presents and analyzes…