Category: Local & Community
Luvina Beckley Honored as Innovator of the Year Ahead of National Multi-City Tour
Ontario, CA — Recently, business leader and funding strategist Luvina Beckley was honored with the Innovator of the Year Award during the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Dinner in Ontario, CA The award recognized Beckley’s years of work helping businesses, nonprofits, and underserved communities gain better access to funding opportunities, federal grants,…
Election 2026: Who’s running for California Superintendent of Public Instruction?
Zaidee Stavely Assemblymember James Ramos has a persistent memory from his childhood in San Bernardino County. A teacher at his elementary school played a drum song and asked students to stand up if they were Native American and interpret the song for the class. “That’s not our culture,” Ramos told his teacher. He grew up…
As California cuts school counselors, one program shows what’s at stake
Raven Jones-McKinney Across California, at least 5,000 school employees received preliminary pink slips this spring as districts scramble to close budget gaps caused by falling enrollment and rising costs. Oakland Unified plans to eliminate counselors, case managers and attendance clerks as part of sweeping layoffs to address a $103 million deficit. Counselors and mental health…
SNAP Cuts Threaten Food Security in Vulnerable Communities, New Data Show
By Sunita Sohrabji Black, Latino, and Native American households face greater food uncertainty than the population at large, according to data from the Congressional District Health Dashboard. During a period marked by soaring food prices, more than 3 million people have lost access to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — SNAP — over the…
Caltrans Awards $23 Million to Strengthen Climate Resiliency and Improve Safer Mobility for All Californians
Sacramento — Caltrans announced today it has awarded $23.6 million in planning grants to 58 local projects statewide that will enhance climate resiliency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and increase natural disaster preparedness throughout California. The projects selected focus on multimodal transportation and help improve mobility options for under-resourced communities. Nearly…
Empowering Teen Wellness: Planet Fitness Announces Sixth Annual High School Summer Pass® Program And Opens Its Doors To Teens For Free All Summer Long
Program powered by Gymshark provides a welcoming, Judgement Free environment for teens to prioritize physical and mental health HAMPTON, N.H. (May 20, 2026) – Planet Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing fitness center operators with more members than any other fitness brand, announced the return of its annual High School Summer Pass® program. Now…
BWOPA-PAC Endorses Xavier Becerra for Governor of CaliforniaFollowing Statewide Memorial Day Community Conversation
Oakland, CA — Following a statewide Memorial Day community conversation on May25th that engaged more than 150 Black women leaders, elected officials, advocates,educators, healthcare professionals, and community stakeholders from acrossCalifornia — including participants from Bakersfield, San Diego, the Inland Empire, LosAngeles, Sacramento, the Central Valley, and the Greater Bay Area — Black WomenOrganized for Political…
Seven-day-a-week tutoring and mentoring through a partnership between Valdez Educational Services and the San Bernardino City Unified School District, Valdez helps students improve academic performance and gain access to higher education.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—Valdez Educational Services, headquartered in San Bernardino, recently recognized student achievement at a banquet highlighting academic progress and the impact of tutoring and mentoring, and awarded scholarships to four deserving students. The event brought together students, families, school district leaders, and community leaders to celebrate the importance of sustained tutoring and mentoring. The…
Former Caretaker Arrested After Allegedly Assaulting 71-Year-Old Victorville Man
On Monday, May 25, 2026, at approximately 10:14 a.m., deputies from the Victorville Police Department responded to the 17000 block of C Street for a report of an assault. The 71-year-old male victim reported he was assaulted by Savannah Gordon, his former caretaker. Gordon became agitated during an argument and struck the victim multiple times…
Revised State Budget Could Impact IE Families
Riverside, CA, May 26th, 2026 – Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) is grateful that Governor Newsom included $38 million of CalFood funding in the new state budget; however, the local food bank worries that it is not enough to address hunger as a whole within the Inland Empire (IE) and beyond. “Programs like…
Historic San Bernardino Building Becomes New Headquarters for Valdez Educational Services
Valdez Educational Services opens its new headquarters, honoring civil rights leader Bonnie Johnson and the long fight for educational equity she helped lead. SAN BERNARDINO, CA – In a moving ceremony that blended celebration, reflection, and community unity, Valdez Educational Services dedicated its new headquarters facility on Friday, May 15, to Bonnie Cherie Johnson, a…
Explore Promising Careers in Trades Jobs Today
By Billie Pollisotto Trades jobs offer stable income, hands-on work, and strong long-term demand, making them one of the most practical career paths available today. From electrical and plumbing to HVAC and construction, these roles combine skill development with real earning potential without the need for a traditional four-year degree. A high school graduate watches…
Inland Empire Mayors Cyber Cup Crowns 2026 Champions and Launches Year-Round Cybersecurity Pathway for Regional Students
538 students. 53 teams. 7,861 challenges solved. The marquee event of a continuous, year-long pipeline now connecting Inland Empire students directly to the region’s top cybersecurity employers. INLAND EMPIRE, CA. April 27, 2026. The 8th annual Inland Empire Mayors Cyber Cup, hosted by the Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity Collaborative (IEGO), wrapped today with a…
From Prison to Purpose: Why Eugene Weems’ Run for Congress Is Turning Heads Across San Bernardino County
In a political climate where voters are hungry for authenticity, real-life experience, and leaders who truly understand struggle, one name is beginning to spark conversations across San Bernardino County: Eugene Weems. A world champion kickboxer, community activist, bestselling author, and CEO of Vibrant Green for Vibrant Peace (VG4VP), Weems is now stepping into the political…
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…
San Bernardino County Museum to Host Mahjong Game
San Bernardino County Museum invites residents to participate in guided Mahjong sessions on May 26, held in conjunction with the Chinese Pioneers exhibition. Two sessions will be offered in the Fisk Gallery from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. These two-hour, instructor-led experiences introduce participants to the modern American style of…
Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed
AKAs, Zetas and Sigmas Rally at State Capitol to Advocate for Legislative Priorities On April 27, members of two Black sororities and one fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma – all members of the Divine Nine (D9) — visited the California State Capitol for a day of legislative advocacy, including presentations on the Senate and Assembly floors…
Black PressLA28 Olympic Tickets: Register by July
Tickets for the 2028 Olympic Games go on sale in August, but fans must register by July 22 to enter a random draw for access to purchase them. Selected participants will receive an email with a designated time slot to access the ticket sale when it opens in August. The upcoming sale is the second…
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…
Governor Newsom appointments Kisha Collier to the 28th District Agricultural Association San Bernardino County Fair
History was made when Governor Newsom appoints Lizet Angulo a latina Community Leader and National Chef the first hispanic President on the SB County Fair Board and Governor Newsom appoints Kisha Collier, who was nominated by Lizet as the first black woman to the San Bernardino County Fair Board Kisha Collier, of Victorville, has…
Cases of student press censorship attempts on the rise in California schools
Thomas Peele Student journalists at the Redwood Bark at Redwood High School in Marin County aren’t alone in facing recent attempts to control student journalism. Despite protections in a 1977 landmark state law, the Student Free Expression Act, which prohibits administrators from interfering with the gathering and publication of news, student reporters and their journalism…
Civil Rights Landmark Becomes New Hub for Student Success: Valdez Educational Services Grand Opening
The new headquarters of Valdez Educational Services will be dedicated to the late Bonnie Sheree Johnson, a civil rights advocate best known for her role in fighting school segregation during the 1960s and as a “torchbearer” for civil rights in the Inland Empire (advancing educational equality and community empowerment). SAN BERNARDINO, CA —Valdez Educational…
California Primary Elections: Black Candidates Appearing on Your June 2 Ballot
Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media The June 2, 2026, primary election will test the voter appeal of Black political candidates in California, where Black residents make up about 6.5% of the population. At least 57 Black candidates are competing across multiple levels of government. Six of 8 statewide contests (75%)…
Astronaut Victor Glover’s Grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell
Happy Birthday! Commander Victor Glover 🎉 Astronaut Victor Glover’s Grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell By Ellen Turner On April 30, 1976, Astronaut Victor Glover was born with a dynamic spirit—grounded yet imaginative, realistic yet driven by possibility. From an early age, he carried a youthful, high-energy presence and a passion for flight that would one…
