Category: Uncategorized
Freed Slaves Started First Memorial Day in the U.S.
By BlackPressUSA Memorial Day is a time set aside to honor those who fought and died while serving in the United States military. While many Americans mark the holiday by heading to the beach or gathering for family barbecues, fewer may be aware of the different theories surrounding its origins. One of the earliest known…
ICE Raids Target Home of Pro-Immigrant Activists in Ventura
By Araceli Martinez It was 3 in the morning on May 13 when Lara Valdez, 70, woke up terrified by a deafening sound. Federal immigration agents were trying to enter her home in Ventura County, California. “I was in a deep sleep, and I remember hearing what sounded like a bomb in my bedroom,” said…
Five Years After Atlanta Spa Shooting, AAPI Community Faces Stalled Trial, Fading Support
By Jongwon Lee On the final day of January this year, Kim sat stoically in a Fulton County courtroom, watching Robert Aaron Long and his legal team. On the final day of January this year, Kim sat stoically in a Fulton County courtroom, watching Robert Aaron Long and his legal team. Five years have passed…
More Than Just Dinner-Making: How Cooking Classes Empower Learners
By Billie Pollisotto Cooking classes do far more than teach recipes. They build confidence, sharpen problem-solving skills, and create real-world independence that carries into daily life. Learners walk away with practical abilities, stronger decision-making habits, and a deeper connection to what they eat. Someone who once relied on takeout stands in a small kitchen, calmly…
IN MEMORIAM: Rest in Power: Hip-Hop Legend Rob Base Dead at 59
By MSR News Online Rob Base, born Robert Ginyard and one half of the legendary hip-hop duo Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2026, at age 59 after a private battle with cancer, leaving behind a legacy rooted in the 1988 anthem It Takes Two and a pioneering role…
Election Day Is Right Around the Corner. Here’s How to Prepare
Solomon O. Smith | California Black Media Voters in California have two major elections coming up this year: the state primary election on June 2, and the midterm election on Nov. 3. To help make sure eligible state residents understand the voting process, the state has created resources to inform the public. Shirley N….
California education leaders react to Gov. Newsom’s revised budget
Zaidee Stavely Gov. Gavin Newsom’s latest education budget proposal for 2026-27 received mixed reviews from education leaders and advocates. Many applauded Newsom’s proposed increases to special education funding, but school districts and teachers unions continue to protest the governor’s plan to withhold billions in overall funding. Some advocacy organizations also called for increased funding for…
At your Next Summer Party Why Not Try Thirst Quenching Sassy and Warm White Wine
Wanda Haynes-Certified Sommelier So, what’s the thirst quenching sassy warm weather white wine this year? Pinot Blanc aka Pinot Blanco is a versatile white-wine grape variety used in the production of still, sparkling and sweet dessert wines. Producing lovely white wines in Italy, Alsace, and beyond. An easy drinking white wine and great for a…
Your Medical Provider Might Be Recording Your Mental Health Care Visits
By Roxsy Lin In 2024, Kaiser Permanente announced the rollout of Abridge. Described in a press release as “ambient listening technology,” the AI-powered scribe is designed to help clinicians including mental health providers securely capture clinical notes during patient visits. But what the description fails to indicate is that the tool records entire medical appointments,…
Price controls could prevent the next “miracle drug”
By Sally C. Pipes and Wayne Winegarden The death rate from cancer in the United States has fallen by more than one-third since 1991. HIV-related mortality has dropped ninefold since 1995. Death rates for Alzheimer’s, chronic respiratory diseases, and stroke have all declined in recent years, too. These gains didn’t happen by accident. They’re the…
Prescription Drug Costs Are Forcing Families to Choose Between Medicine and Meals
By KiwiDrug High prescription drug costs create serious financial burdens on many American families. These same families have no choice but to make extremely difficult financial choices. The most severely impacted are typically those in the lower-income bracket. New research from the West Health-Gallup Center found that nearly a third (82 million) of Americans cut…
Patients in Koreatown Are Delaying or Dropping Health Care
By Nicole Chang LOS ANGELES — More low-income and immigrant patients in Los Angeles’ Koreatown are delaying health care because of concerns over medical costs. This comes amid increasingly stringent Medi-Cal eligibility reviews and restrictions on new enrollments. The new rules, along with the closure and consolidation of services at health clinics countywide, are fueling…
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…
More Meat, Less Tomato — Inflation Hits a Culinary Staple
By Christopher Alam SAN FRANCISCO — When it comes to food, there is perhaps no more iconic or indeed universal ingredient as tomatoes. They’re a staple, essential to everything from pizza to pico de gallo, from Middle Eastern wraps to your favorite Indian curries. And they are getting expensive, in the Bay Area and nationally,…
Q&A With Steven Bradford: Why He Wants Your Vote for California Insurance Commissioner
Edward Henderson | California Black Media As California confronts rising insurance costs, market instability, and growing concerns about access and equity, the race for the state’s top insurance regulator is drawing increased attention. Among the candidates is Steven Bradford, a veteran public servant with more than two decades of experience in government, including eight years…
There are several styles of sake you can enjoy!
Wanda Haynes-Certified Sommelier What is sake? Sake is a Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice. It consists of four ingredients: rice, water, yeast, and a mold called koji. Primarily sakami rice is used for making sake. Koji is the mold that is distributed over the rice that convert the starches into sugar. This process…
More and More, Black Californians Are Worried About Rising Costs of Housing, Energy, Food and Gas
Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media Housing, energy, food and gas are four essential household expenses, and their rising costs are forcing residents—especially lower-income households—to make difficult trade-offs, Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton) said at a conference on affordability last week in Sacramento. Ransom, a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), noted a…
California must step up to protect programs that engage and support students
Pedro Noguera California students need more than instruction to succeed. They need consistent support from trusted adults who can help them stay engaged, attend school regularly and navigate the challenges that can interfere with learning. That is why California should continue funding the Student Success Coach Learning Network in the 2026-27 state budget. Without action…
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…
The Reality of Financial Emergencies: Why Access to Responsible Lending Matters
By April D. Lee Financial emergencies can happen when a household faces a sudden expense, income loss, medical bill, car repair, housing issue, or family crisis. Access to responsible lending matters because it can provide a safer bridge when savings, insurance, or community help are not enough. A broken transmission, surprise medical bill, job loss,…
Marketing Strategies for Service-Based Businesses Looking for More Leads
By Amy Kang To compete and grow, service-based businesses need a consistent flow of potential clients. Quality marketing attracts the correct customer base and generates inquiries from potential clients. Through well-structured marketing strategies, service-based companies can build trust with their clients and turn curiosity into booked appointments. The most recent Small Business Check Up Survey…
Hantavirus: The Rare But Dangerous Disease Making Headlines
By Aria Ellise, BDO Special Contributor It seems like everyone is talking about the Hantavirus. There have been people questioning if it’s like the coronavirus that plagued us years back. Some say it’s just an over-hyped flu. But what’s the truth? Luckily, BlackDoctor has you covered. Hantavirus is a rare but potentially deadly virus that…
Ruthie Hopkins, Pioneering Black Publisher and San Gabriel Valley Community Leader, Passes at 83
PASADENA, CA — Ruthie Hopkins, co-founder and publisher of The Pasadena/SanGabriel Valley Journal News and one of the San Gabriel Valley’s most celebratedcommunity voices, passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2026. She was 83.Born October 16, 1942, in Oakland, California, Hopkins relocated to Altadena in 1969,where she would spend the next five decades building a…
Retirement Income Planning Mistakes That Leave Seniors Scrambling in Their Golden Years
By Amy Kang As you enjoy your youth, you should think about retirement income planning. Many retirees face financial suffering because of some planning errors they made in their younger years, such as not considering longevity, ignoring inflation, or claiming Social Security too early. If you aren’t too careful, these mistakes can make it hard…
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…