Category: Government & Politics
Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed
Bo Tefu, Antonio Harvey and Edward Henderson | California Black Media California Launches Free Diaper Program for Newborns Statewide Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that California will launch a first-in-the-nation programproviding free diapers to families with newborns, part of a broader effort to lower costs for parents and improve infant health outcomes. The initiative, called…
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…
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…
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…
Early voting has begun for the 2026 Statewide Direct Primary Election
SAN BERNARDINO, CA — The San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters has delivered mail ballots to the U.S. Postal Service for all 1.2 million active registered voters. Voters do not need to wait for Election Day or for their mail ballots to arrive to cast their votes. Early voting is available at the Registrar of…
Gunfire Shatters White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Secret Service Rushes President to Safety; Federal Agent Wounded, Suspect in Custody By Staff Report WASHINGTON, D.C. — A night meant to celebrate journalism and the First Amendment turned into a scene of fear and chaos Saturday evening when gunfire erupted outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, prompting a rapid evacuation of top officials and…
Atty. Gen. Bonta Warns School Districts: Act on Sexual Misconduct or Face Consequences
Bo Tefu | California Black Media California Attorney General Rob Bonta is urging K-12 school districts across the state to take stronger action to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, assault, and abuse, reminding them of their legal obligations under state law. In a legal alert issued April 22, Bonta emphasized that schools must actively…
San Bernardino County sheriff opposes bill to bar ICE from California courthouse ground
SB 873 would put local law enforcement into no-win scenario, Shannon Dicus writes “SB 873 places county sheriffs in an impossible position, creates direct conflict with federal law, exposes counties to significant liability, and undermines public safety,” Dicus wrote in a March 26 letter to Reyes in which he expressed “strong opposition” to the bill….
Rep. Sewell Presses RFK on 2024 Comments He Made Suggesting Black Children Should Be ‘Re-Parented’
By Birmingham Times Washington D.C. — During a Thursday House Ways and Means Committee hearing, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) questioned Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about his previous comments suggesting that Black children with ADHD should be “re-parented.” Sewell pressed the Secretary to clarify and account for those remarks, which…
Your Vote in 2026: Bill Banning Law Enforcement From Polling Stations Advances – Carrying Fines Up to $1000 and 5-Year Max Prison Time
Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media A California Assembly committee has advanced a bill that would ban law enforcement officers from being near polling places, with violations carrying penalties of up to $1,000 in fines and a maximum five-year prison sentence. The proposal would make it a felony for anyone in…
Bill That Would Force Corporations to Disclose Slavery-Era Profits Moves Forward
Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media On April 14, 2026, Assembly Bill (AB) 2599, known as the Truth in Disclosure Act, authored by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights), passed out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee on a 9-3 vote. Supported by the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), the bill would…
California Sees Surge in Gas Prices, Igniting Fresh Political Blame Game
Bo Tefu | California Black Media California drivers are once again paying the highest prices at the pump in the nation, setting off a renewed clash between Democrats and Republicans over who is responsible — and what should be done. The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in California hovered around $5.90…
Do DUI checkpoints reduce impaired driving? What local data shows
It’s true that DUI checkpoints can reduce the number of impaired drivers on the road if they’re used in a consistent manner that supports larger enforcement efforts, such as public education campaigns. Local data shows that DUI checkpoints have resulted in a decline in alcohol-related crashes in areas where such checkpoints occur on a regular…
Bonta and Weber Pierson Lead on State Health Policy as Disparities Persist
Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media Nearly 6 in 10 Californians delayed or skipped medical care in the past year because of cost, and 4 in 10 reported their conditions worsened as a result — trends that disproportionately affect communities already facing disparities, including Black Californians. Black Californians have the shortest life…
California leaders highlight bill to expand college savings flexibility and deliver tax relief for families
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA joined Assemblymember Michelle Rodriguez, state leaders and a California family Tuesday to highlight AB 2444 (Rodriguez), “The Academic Savings for Lifelong Financial Security Act,” legislation that would expand college savings flexibility and provide new tax relief for families. The proposal would align California law with recent…
Sheriff’s Office in Northern CA Sought Agreement With ICE, in Violation of State Law
By Madison Holcomb Last year, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office attempted to enter into an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that would have given officers immigration enforcement authority. The process was paused last May, and it’s unclear where things stand now. Documents recently obtained by Shasta Scout show the sheriff’s office was seeking…
CAIR Condemns President Trump’s Threat to Destroy Iranian Civilization; CAIR-SFBA’s Zahra Billoo Warns of Anti-Iranian, Anti-Muslim Hatred
Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization joins national call for Congress, presidential cabinet, and Pentagon to prevent genocidal attack on Iran (SANTA CLARA, CA, 4/7/2026) — The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today joined a national CAIR condemnation of…
Student Loan Shake-Up Sparks Backlash: Senate Democrats Push Back on Trump Plan
U.S. Senate Democrats speak out against a proposal to shift student loan oversight from the Education Department to the Treasury. Lawmakers warn the plan could impact millions of borrowers navigating student loan repayment nationwide. WASHINGTON — A proposed shift in how federal student loans are managed is drawing sharp criticism from U.S. Senate Democrats, who…
Civil Rights Giant, Legal Expert Kristen Clarke Joins NAACP as General Counsel
communications@naacpnet.org WASHINGTON — The NAACP today announced that Kristen Clarke, one of the nation’s most respected civil rights attorneys and legal advocates, has been appointed General Counsel of the Association. The move comes as the Trump Administration works to erode democratic institutions and dismantle civil rights protections. To meet the moment, the NAACP is…
Waters, Warren, Klobuchar, Merkley, Craig, Lawmakers Push Regulators to Address Illegal Insider Trading in Prediction Markets
Multiple incidents prompted speculation about possible insider trading in prediction markets by federal employees WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the Ranking Member on the House Financial Services Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), the Ranking Member on the Senate Banking Committee, along with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Representatives Angie Craig…
Padilla Statement on DHS Funding Deal
WASHINGTON, D.C. — (3/27/26) U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, released the following statement after the Senate passed funding for all elements of the Department of Homeland Security except for ICE and CBP border security operations: “For months, we’ve been clear: no blank checks for Trump’s lawless ICE…
Fiona Ma Calls For Major Electoral, Governmental Reforms
Will Push Proposal to Put Gov/LG on Same Ticket, Abolish Board of Equalization SACRAMENTO, CA — Lieutenant Governor candidate Fiona Ma today announced two proposals to improve the efficiency and accountability of California state government: abolishing the state Board of Equalization and the gubernatorial/lieutenant governor candidates run together on the same ticket. Ma says the…
Smallwood-Cuevas Town Hall Warns ICE Risks Extend Beyond Immigrants
Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media A Los Angeles town hall on immigration took on broader urgency as speakers warned that encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are not limited to immigrants and can also affect African Americans, underscoring shared concerns across Black communities. The Black Migrant Town Hall, convened…
Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed
Bo Tefu | California Black Media California Requires Personal Finance Course for All High Schoolers — Promising Gains for Women and Girls On March 18, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new requirement for California high school students to complete a personal finance course, part of a broader effort to expand economic opportunity and address wealth…
Trinidad & Tobego – U.S. Launches WhatsApp Channel for American Citizens in the Country
New York Carib News The U.S. Embassy Port of Spain has introduced a new WhatsApp-based communication channel to strengthen outreach to American nationals residing in or visiting Trinidad and Tobago. The initiative, led by the Embassy’s American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit, is designed to deliver real-time updates on safety, security, and emergency situations. Operating under…
