Category: Local & Community
November Jobs Report Shows Rising Unemployment and Worsening Outlook for Black Workers
By Stacy M. Brown The U.S. labor market showed further signs of strain in November, with new federal data revealing rising unemployment, steep losses in government jobs, and worsening conditions for Black workers, particularly Black men, according to an analysis of the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report and a review by the National Women’s…
New California Law Strengthens Protections Against Employee Tip Theft
By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media California Senate Bill (SB) 648, authored by Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D–Los Angeles), takes effect on Jan. 1. The law strengthens legal protections for workers against employee tip theft. The legislation applies to restaurant servers, hotel staff, hairdressers, and other service workers who rely on gratuities to cover…
Covered California Encourages All Californians to Explore Health Insurance Options Before Dec. 31 Deadline to Get Coverage for All of 2026
Figure 1: Nearly 1.2 Million Uninsured Californians Are Eligible for Financial Help SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California is encouraging all uninsured Californians to sign up for health insurance by Dec. 31. The open-enrollment period for 2026 ends on Jan. 31, but to have insurance in place for January, consumers need to enroll by the end…
2025 in Review: Seven Questions for Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, Chair of the Emergency Management Committee
By Edward Henderson | California Black Media Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom represents the 13th Assembly District, which includes Stockton, Tracy and Mountain House. With over 20 years of experience in public service, Ransom is a former Tracy city councilmember and an outspoken advocate for social justice, equitable education and economic empowerment. Ransom currently serves as chair…
SBCUSD Honors Inland Empire Children’s Book Project as November Outstanding Community Partner
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—On Tuesday, Nov. 18, the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) Board of Education presented its November Outstanding Community Partner Award to the Inland Empire Children’s Book Project for helping ignite a lifelong love of reading by placing thousands of free books into the hands of children across the District. “A home…
Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Presents 15th Annual SATCHMO Award to GEORGE COLEMAN, January 7, 7pm, at Dizzy’s
The Evening Features the George Coleman Quintet in Concert with Steve Myerson, John Webber, Peter Bernstein and George Coleman, Jr.,and Special Guests, Camille Thurman, Sarah Hanahan, Alexander McCabe, Eric Alexander, Gideon Tazelaar and Adam Brenner Tickets: $25.00-$55.00 | ticketing.jazz.org NEW YORK, NY, December 22, 2025 – The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation (LAEF) will present the…
San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. Delivers Holiday Joy to Muscoy Elementary Students
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., in partnership with the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD), brought holiday cheer to Muscoy Elementary School on December 9 by distributing toys to all 650 students and presenting the school with $5,000 to be used for the school’s greatest need. The event…
Jolly winter holidays in store for Ontario International Airport with record numbers expected
ONT passenger volumes on track to exceed 7 million this year Ontario, California – December 15, 2025) – Ontario International Airport (ONT) officials are preparing for record passenger volume during the upcoming winter holidays and embracing all in the spirit of the season. The ONT forecast anticipates more than 362,000 passengers over the 18-day winter…
State Housing Secretary visits San Bernardino County to tour affordable housing communities
San Bernardino County hosted a visit by California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss on Friday for a tour of two major affordable housing communities in the valley region. The visit highlighted the county’s efforts to expand affordable housing and strengthen collaboration with the state. Secretary Moss toured Pacific Village, one of…
Ontario High, Chaffey District helping to fill the growing demand for automotive service technicians and mechanics
ONTARIO – Step inside Rich Lewis’ auto maintenance and repair shop at Ontario High School, and you will quickly forget that you’re surrounded by students. There’s a small group repairing brakes, another replacing an alternator and vehicle charging system, and yet using computer technology to inspect an engine – all under the tutelage of Lewis,…
California Celebrates National Scholarship Month by Empowering Over 5 Million Children with CalKIDS Scholarships
SACRAMENTO, CA — As National Scholarship Month shines a spotlight on the power of educational opportunity, California is celebrating the growing impact of the CalKIDS Scholarship Program, the nation’s largest children’s development account program, serving more than five million children statewide. Launched in 2022, the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS) provides scholarships…
Legislative Analyst’s Office Releases Outlook on California Budget; State Could Face $18 Billion Shortfall
Bo Tefu | California Black Media California may face substantial financial challenges in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, according to the latest analysis from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO). Despite a surge in state revenue this year, which brought in roughly $7 billion more than expected, the state could face an $18 billion budget shortfall,…
New Report: Black Women in California Face Stark Inequities – Yet Hold Remarkable Power
McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media A new report reveals that while Black women in California face some of the steepest inequities in wages, health, and housing, they also display remarkable strength through high civic engagement and community leadership. Black women in California earn just 60 cents for every dollar paid to White men —…
Black Voice News Publisher Paulette Brown Hinds Appointed to California Transportation Commission
Bo Tefu | California Black Media Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Paulette Brown-Hinds, a veteran media executive, educator, and civic leader from Riverside, to the California Transportation Commission (CTC). The CTC a key state body responsible for allocating funding and shaping policy for the state’s transportation infrastructure. The 13-member committee also assists the Secretary…
Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Commit $6 Million to Boost Access to Real-World Learning and Community Impact at Cardozo
Transformational gift will result in the creation of a new, state-of-the-art facility, which will be named the Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano Program for Clinical Education. LOS ANGELES, Nov. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Powerhouse philanthropists, investors, and change makers, Kwanza Jones, Cardozo Class of 1999, and José E. Feliciano, commit $6 million to the…
Newsom Signs Bills Strengthening Pay Equity and Assisting Unhoused People Living in RVs
Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media Gov. Gavin Newsom, in October, signed two Senate bills introduced by members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC). One bill, by Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles), strengthens pay equity by expanding employer pay-data reporting. The other, authored by Sen. Laura Richardson (D-Inglewood), assists local governments in managing…
SB Symphony presents A Christmas Festival
Annual Holiday Concert will be Performed December 13 The San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra will present their annual holiday concert on Saturday, December 13, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. Entitled “A Christmas Festival,” this performance will be held at the historic California Theatre of the Performing Arts in downtown San Bernardino. Under the baton of Maestro Anthony…
Public/Media Assistance Needed to Identify Unknown Patient
On November 9, 2025, around 7:10am an unidentified male was brought into Harbor-UCLA Medical Center by Los Angeles City Fire. The unidentified male was laying in the street, near Imperial Hwy and Lemoli Ave S. in the City of Inglewood, in severe distress, with swelling and bruising to the left eye. The hospital is seeking…
California Leaders Push Back Against Offshore Drilling as Trump Admin Moves Forward
By Bo Tefu and Joe W. Bowers | California Black Media California officials are preparing to challenge federal plans to allow new offshore oil and gas drilling along the state’s coast, warning the proposal threatens coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and the state’s clean energy goals. Gov. Gavin Newsom, speaking at COP30 in Brazil, called the…
Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Tribal Council Member Reads to Students and Shares Culture at Anton Elementary
Elementary Students to Learn About Native Heritage on Friday, November 21 WHAT/WHO: In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Tribal Council Member Joe Maarango and Tribal representatives will visit Anton Elementary School in San Bernardino to read to first and second grade students. Joe will read books written by Native…
Waymo to Offer Freeway Rides for Self-Driving Taxis in California
By Bo Tefu and Joe W. Bowers | California Black Media Waymo announced Wednesday that its self-driving taxis will begin traveling on freeways in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area, marking a major milestone for autonomous vehicle technology. Previously restricted to city streets, Waymo said its technology is now ready for higher-speed…
The Salvation Army Needs 500 Turkeys for Thanksgiving Dinners
Thanksgiving Day Dinner, Thursday, Nov. 27, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm at the Hospitality House & Family Transitional Living Center, 925 W. 10th St., San Bernardino. REDLANDS, CALIF.— This Thanksgiving, The Salvation Army of San Bernardino County will host its annual Thanksgiving dinner from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27,…
California’s Proposition 50: A Quiet Rebellion Against the Rigged Game
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent In a political season defined by distrust, Californians did something rare on Tuesday night. They stood up for democracy. Proposition 50, approved by a wide margin, was more than a ballot measure. It was a statement of intent. Voters sent a message that when the system…
Community Sees How SBCUSD Shines During Annual Principal for a Day Event
More Than 70 Community Leaders Shadowed Principals Across SBCUSD SAN BERNARDINO, CA—San Bernardino City Unified School District’s (SBCUSD’s) annual Principal for a Day event kicked off with a brief breakfast and orientation on Oct. 23 before more than 70 guest principals traveled to school sites across San Bernardino and Highland. The event is designed to…
Thank You, Chaffey College
I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Chaffey College for its many years of dedication to education and community advancement throughout the Inland Empire. I am deeply honored to have been invited as the Guest of Honor at the Annual Chaffey College Report to the Community Luncheon, held on November 5, 2025, at…
