Category: Uncategorized

By Birmingham Times  irs.gov   With the 2026 tax season officially underway, and while millions of Americans prepare to file, IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office officials are urging taxpayers to stay vigilant against unscrupulous preparers who prey on unsuspecting filers. In fiscal year 2025, IRS-CI identified $4.5 billion in tax fraud, more than double…

Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌ ‌|‌ ‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌  Survivors of the Los Angeles fires and consumer advocates joined Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) at the State Capitol on Feb. 5 to announce Senate Bill (SB) 982, the Affordable Insurance and Recovery Act (AIR Act) The legislation aims to tackle California’s growing home insurance affordability crisis.  Supporters…

Edward Henderson | California Black Media  For generations, Black Americans have been written out of the story of the outdoors, say Black nature enthusiasts and leaders of Black conservation and environmental organizations.  They point out: It’s as if hiking trails, fishing lines, campsites, and open skies were someone else’s inheritance.  That absence from official documents…

Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌ ‌|‌ ‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌  Survivors of the Los Angeles fires and consumer advocates joined Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) at the State Capitol on Feb. 5 to announce Senate Bill (SB) 982, the Affordable Insurance and Recovery Act (AIR Act) The legislation aims to tackle California’s growing home insurance affordability crisis.  Supporters…

By Black PR Wire (Black PR Wire) CHICAGO – The Obama Foundation opened applications for the 2026-2028 Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service. Funded by a $100 million contribution from Airbnb CEO and Co-Founder Brian Chesky, the scholarship provides college students with demonstrated financial need a last-dollar scholarship to help alleviate the burden of college…

By Kisha A. Brown, Esq.  As Black people, we cannot experience the joy and peace of justice without building our own systems and institutions—designed by us, with our liberation, our lifestyle and our real needs in mind. From churches doubling as schools to kitchens doubling as boardrooms, we have started from scratch and built up….

by Alvin Buyinza/ Word In Black Teaching the “I Have a Dream Speech,” Rosa Parks refusal to give up her seat on the bus, and how George Washington Carver became “The Peanut Man” are common Black History Month lessons in American schools — if Black history is acknowledged or taught at all.  But this year,…

Tanu Henry | California Black Media  Tiffany Duvernay-Smith went from knowing the harsh realities of homelessness to owning her first home – made possible by the California Housing Finance Agency’s (CalHFA) Dream For All program, which is reopening applications this month with up to $150,000 in down payment assistance for first-generation buyers. “I feel like…

Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌ ‌|‌ ‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌ In step with its commitment to drive economic growth, equity, and wealth creation for African American businesses in the Golden State, the California African American Chamber of Commerce (CAACC) held its third annual California American Economy Summit at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel in Sacramento on Jan. 28.   …

Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D. | Special to California Black Media Partners   Technology is often sold to us as neutral, objective, and free of human flaws. We are told that computers remove emotion, bias, and error from decision-making. But for many Black families, lived experience tells a different story. When technology is trained on…

By Dr. Paul McConnell, National Dental Director, UnitedHealthcare Dental Oral health is more than just a bright smile, it’s an important part of a child’s growth, development and overall well-being. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among kids in the U.S., affecting nearly half of children ages 2-19. About 1 in 10 children…

Black Caucus Members Join Legislative Democrats to Condemn Fatal Shootings by Federal Agents Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media   Led by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D–Salinas) and Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón (D–Santa Barbara), California Democratic lawmakers, including members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), held a news conference…

By Beverly Moran/The Conversation More than 6 million Americans receive paper tax refund checks annually. Often, those refunds go to purchase groceries or pay the bills. But this year, those taxpayers may be surprised to learn that the paper check they’re waiting for no longer exists. That’s because of executive order 14247, which President Donald…

By Sally C. Pipes Rural America is running out of doctors. According to a recent report from the Commonwealth Fund, 43 million Americans now live in rural communities facing a shortage of primary care providers. This shortage isn’t new. It’s been reality for rural America for decades. And it helps explain why patients there experience…

“Join us in celebrating Black history and culture in Riverside at the 46th Annual Black History Parade & Expo. We can’t wait to see you there!” said Dell Roberts. RIVERSIDE, CA — Co-Marshals for The 46th annual Riverside Black History Parade are Tony Thurmond, state superintendent of schools and candidate for Governor; Eric Bishop, Ed.D.,…

By Stacy M. Brown Famed journalist Don Lemon may draw the headlines, but Emmy-winning independent reporter Georgia Fort and Trahem Jenn Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy were also taken into custody as federal agents moved against four Black journalists whose only apparent offense was documenting protests critical of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Lemon, a…

By Wanda Haynes, Certified Sommelier Finally, there is a product that can keep white and rosé wine cold while drinking! This product can also bring red wines to cellar temperatures in just a few minutes. As a wine lover I’m delighted to share this amazing product. VoChill is a wonderful concept brought to life by…

Riverside, CA – February 3rd, 2026 – Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) hosts highly-anticipated annual soup luncheon: Curbing Hunger: Serving Hope. This informative hour-long lunch showcases current initiatives and programs while offering the opportunity to engage with other hunger-relief advocates over a warm meal. “Everyone deserves equal access to nutritious food, and the…

The United Negro College Fund is proud to name Billy Mitchell a 2026 UNCF Los Angeles Masked Ball Honoree for his transformative impact at the intersection of music, education, and community. An acclaimed jazz pianist, educator, and Morehouse College graduate, Mitchell founded the Scholarship Audition Performance Preparatory Academy (SAPPA), providing free music training and scholarship…

By Ben Jealous Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson has emerged as a clarion voice for American democracy in turbulent times. The values he represents reflect the voters who elected him. They remind us of the power of the Black community and the White, Asian American, Latino, and Native American voters who believe in multiracial democracy. Together…

(February 2, Stockton, CA) – In honor of Black History Month, Gold Runner will run special trains to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park for its 2026 Black History Month Festival. The event will take place Saturday, February 7, 2026, beginning at 11:00 AM and concluding at 4:00 PM. Gold Runner has scheduled a special stop…