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…

Opinion: When Wall Street Buys Up the Neighborhood — The Impact on Black Californians

Craig J. DeLuz | California Black Media    Homeownership has long been one of the most dependable ways for everyday families to build wealth—not through speculation, but through the steady accumulation of equity in a place they call home. For Black Californians, this path has always been narrower because of historical barriers to wealth building….

Shreveport Tragedy Sparks Urgent Warning on IPV and Gun Violence

Addressing  Intimate  Partner  Violence  and  Firearm-Related Harm  as  a  Public Health Crisis A  statement  from  the  NMA  following  the  Shreveport, Louisiana  incident  and  recent  nationwide tragedies  Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., President of the NMA  The tragic killing of eight children in Shreveport, Louisiana, by their father is a devastating reminder of the deadly intersection…

Unity In Diversity Business Summit Returns To Ontario,CA MAY 7–9, 2026

ONTARIO, CA — The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce (SCBCC) announces the return of the Unity in Diversity Business Summit, taking place May 7–9, 2026 at the Delta Hotel in Ontario, California. This three-day event brings together entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, investors, and government partners from across Southern California for business education, networking, and community…

Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed

Asm. Mia Bonta “Tells the Truth” About Bill Conservatives Say Would Silence Citizen Journalists Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media     Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) is pushing back against criticism of her bill, Assembly (AB) 2624, releasing a video statement on X defending the legislation and accusing critics of spreading misinformation….

Asm. Mike Gipson Makes His Case for California Board of Equalization Seat in High-Stakes Race

Edward Henderson | California Black Media   As California heads into the 2026 election cycle, all four elected seats on the State Board of Equalization are up for grabs, with voters in each of the agency’s four geographic districts choosing a representative. The board—which handles tax appeals, property tax oversight and equalization, and other key functions…

Black Micro-Schools Deserve Recognition: NABML Creates National Standards and Resources

by Dawn Montgomery BlackPressUSA Contributor Public school advocates and politicians typically spearhead the attack on microschools, focusing on their perceived “lack of oversight and public accountability.” Yet Black families are the fastest-growing demographic in alternative education. This shift is driven by the recognition that traditional public education cannot change quickly enough to serve its children’s…

Black Student Success Week 2026 Set To Kick Off  Monday, 4/20

Kimberly.brown@tandtpublicrelations.com A New Revolution for Black Student Success Statewide Week of Action Returns April 20-24, 2026 Los Angeles, Calif. — On Monday, April 20, community colleges across California will kick off the seventh annual Black Student Success Week (BSSW), bringing together students, educators, policymakers, and community partners for a week of programming focused on advancing…

Executive order targets inclusion, equity and diversity in federal contracting

By Ashlee Banks Special to the AFRO In a move that systematically dismantles decades of civil rights-era procurement philosophy, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on March 26, effectively purging “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI) requirements from the federal contracting landscape. While the administration frames the move as a return to “merit-based” efficiency, the…

A $37.2 Million Boost: California Announces New Funding for Apprenticeships and Workforce Training  

Bo Tefu | California Black Media  California is investing $37.2 million to expand apprenticeship and workforce training programs, aiming to support more than 60,000 residents and strengthen pathways into high-demand careers. On April 9, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the funding through the California Apprenticeship Council Training Fund and the California Workforce Development Board’s High Road…

Mayor and Council Candidate Forum at San Bernardino Valley College

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – San Bernardino Valley College, in partnership with the League of Women Voters, San Bernardino Area, announces a nonpartisan candidate forum scheduled for April 29 and April 30.   Valley College supports civic engagement and voter education by hosting this nonpartisan candidate forum in partnership with the League of Women Voters. Date: April…

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…

How employers can help Black employees thrive in remote work environments

Employers can help Black employees thrive in remote work environments by combining strong inclusion practices with thoughtful remote-work design. The most impactful steps are building psychological safety, offering genuine flexibility, standardizing career growth criteria, and holding managers accountable for equitable outcomes. What does a typical office morning cost a Black professional? Code-switching before the first…

Memorial  Day  Remembrances  Span Forest Lawn’s Six Southern California Locations

Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills’s Memorial Day commemoration is the featured event in family-friendly, parkwide observances Monday, May 25, 2026 Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks Cathedral City, Covina Hills, Cypress, Glendale, Hollywood Hills, Long Beach GLENDALE, CA—Forest Lawn will honor fallen veterans with free Memorial Day remembrances at each of its six Southern California locations: Cathedral City, Covina Hills,…

The Trump administration is quietly seeking unprecedented access to medical records for millions of federal workers and retirees, and their families.

By Amanda Seitz and Maia Rosenfeld A brief notice from the Office of Personnel Management could dramatically change which personally identifiable medical information the agency obtains, giving it the power to see prescriptions employees had filled or what treatment they sought from doctors. The regulation would require 65 insurance companies that cover more than 8…