Category: Government & Politics
WATCH: Padilla Warns of Politicization of DOJ During Oversight Hearing With Attorney General Bondi
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…
U.S. Latinos hit new population and labor force records
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…
Governor Signs AB 385, Expanding Access to Public Parkland in San Bernardino County
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (October 6, 2025) — Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) and San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman Dawn Rowe announced today that Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed AB 385, legislation authored by Ramos and sponsored by the County, allowing a land exchange that will expand public access to recreational space near…
Documents Show Trump Lied About Fed Reserve’s Black Governor Mortgage Fraud Allegations
Nationwide — Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook is being vindicated by newly revealed documents that undercut allegations of mortgage fraud leveled by the Trump administration. Financial forms obtained by NBC News show Cook’s Atlanta home was consistently identified as a “vacation home” and never claimed as her primary residence, directly contradicting accusations that she misled…
Padilla Supports Legislation to Grant D.C. Officials Full Control Over Its National Guard, Police
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After the Trump Administration deployed National Guard troops across Washington, D.C. and took control of the city’s police department, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL) in introducing legislation to grant the District full authority over the D.C. National Guard and…
Governor Newsom’s office reminds Bondi of ethical obligations for U.S. Department of Justice lawyers
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…
New Book Keeps Black History Alive
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…
Fighting federal government pays off – California’s legal challenges have restored at least $168 billion in federal funding
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…
Padilla, Gallego, Salinas, Barragán Introduce Mental Health for Latinos Act
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…
Padilla, Gallego, Salinas, Barragán Introduce Mental Health for Latinos Act
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…
City Of Barstow Appoints Christopher Kirby As New Police Chief
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…
Governor Newsom urges safety this Fourth of July after 600,000 pounds of illegal explosives seized
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…
California Republican Lawmakers Urge Immigration Enforcement to Focus on Violent Criminals & Call for Modernizing Immigration Process
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…
Padilla, Luján Lead Colleagues Warning Against Trump’s Plan to Privatize Postal Service That Would Undermine Vote by Mail
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…
Secretary Rollins Statement on Dairy Industry Voluntarily Removing Artificial Colors from National School Lunch Program
(Washington, D.C., April 22, 2025) – Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins applauded the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announcement on the IDFA Healthy Dairy in Schools Commitment, a voluntary, proactive pledge to eliminate Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 in milk, cheese, and yogurt…
Onyx Impact Unveils Cutting-Edge Platform to Combat Digital Deception
“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…
Ramos names youth advocate Eunice Abel as Woman of the Year for Assembly District 45
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…
FACT SHEET: AB 1333 is Life-Saving Legislation Aimed at Preventing Those Who Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
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,…
Valladares Urges Federal Action to Protect Energy Affordability & Consumer Choice
SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares ( R-Santa Clarita) joined Legislative Republicans to call on the U.S. Department of Energy to intervene against state and local efforts to ban natural gas, which drive up costs and limit consumer choice. In a letter sent to Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Valladares urged the federal government to…
Standing Against the Erosion of Equity and the Erasure of the Tuskegee Airmen’s Legacy
OLIVE BRANCH, Miss., Jan. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The following statement is from Tennesse Garvey, Chair, Board of Directors, Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals: Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (PRNewsfoto/Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals OBAP) OBAP Speaks Out Against Repeal of Equity Order and Erasure of Tuskegee Airmen’s Legacy in USAF Training The Organization of…
Padilla, Schiff Applaud Record-Breaking Confirmations for California-Based Federal Judgeships
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…
Padilla Statement on Swearing in of Senator Adam Schiff
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…
California Tracking Increase in Diseases Spread by Mosquitoes
Recent cases in Los Angeles County and the Central Valley show importance of “taking charge of your yard” and protecting yourself from mosquito bites What You Need to Know: California is experiencing an increase in diseases spread by mosquitoes, including West Nile virus and dengue. Californians can protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites and getting…
Seventh Annual United Against Hate Week Kicks Off as Partners LA vs Hate, CA Civil Rights Department, Stop The Hate, and Dozens of Local Government and Community Partners Issue a Call for Solidarity
LOS ANGELES – LA vs Hate, the county’s anti-hate program, will host a press conference for the launch of United Against Hate Week, welcoming coalition partners Not in Our Town, CA vs Hate, and Stop the Hate. Partners, activists, organizations, schools, and communities will join the coalition to rally together and spread messages of hope,…
California for Kamala: At DNC, State Leaders Rally Around One of Their Own
Maxim Elramsisy and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media (CBM) – Vice President Kamala Harris officially accepted the Democratic party’s nomination for President of the United States on Aug. 22, the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago. Harris, a former California U.S. Senator and Attorney General, needed the…
