The Odyssey

By Dwight Brown, Film Critic for DwightBrownInk.com and NNPA News Wire “Promise me you’ll come back.”  “What if I can’t?”  Back in ancient Greece, when Odysseus (Matt Damon), the king of the island of Ithaca, went off to fight the 10-year Trojan War against the city of Troy, he didn’t know if he’d return. That…

National Medical Association Convenes Historic Conference and Community Event in Puerto Rico

NMA’s “Walk a Mile With a Child” Brings Together Health, STEM Education, and Youth Empowerment Initiatives SILVER SPRING, Md., July 20, 2026 — The National Medical Association (NMA) will convene its Annual Convention & Scientific Assembly in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from July 25-29, 2026, at the Puerto Rico Convention Center. The theme of the…

Covered California Rates and Plans for 2027: California Continues Fight for  Health Insurance Affordability and Access

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California announced its health plans and rates for the 2027 coverage year, with a preliminary weighted average rate increase of 9.9 percent and one new carrier entering the marketplace in 2027. Many enrollees can lessen the impact of increasing rates by shopping and switching to more affordable plans. The proposed rate…

Why Is Resilient Infrastructure So Crucial for New Developments?

By BlackPressUSA Newswire Why developers are investing in resilient infrastructure from day one Instead of waiting, developers are going all in on resilient infrastructure because it lowers long-term costs and shrinks future risks. Far-sighted planning also helps buildings and public spaces become adaptable to change, whether they’re environmental, economic, or regulatory changes. This shift goes…

Southern California National Council of Negro Women to Host Annual Black Family Reunion

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Southern California Coalition of the National Council of Negro Women (SCC-NCNW) invites families, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, community leaders, businesses, and residents from across Southern California to attend its annual Black Family Reunion on Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the historic SoCal Council House,…

OP:ED How Black WNBA Players Became Collateral in the Caitlin Clark Culture War

By A.R. Shaw Caitlin Clark is more than a WNBA player; she has become a tool of weaponization against Black women. And now the federal government is involved. Led by Texas representative August Pfluger, 11 Republican lawmakers signed a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, threatening to have the Department of Justice investigate the league…

What  Are  the  Top 3  Chronic  Diseases  in  the US?

By BlackPressUSA Newswire How chronic illness is reshaping the American workforce Chronic illness is reshaping the American workforce, as there’s a growing demand for flexible workplace policies and employers are investing more in workplace wellness programs. Advances in technology are also making work more accessible, and chronic illness is influencing workplace planning and business strategy….

Assemblymember Mike Gipson: Tragic Compton Shootings Drive Home Need for Stronger Gun Control Legislation  

Solomon O. Smith | California Black Media  Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson) says a deadly Fourth of July weekend shooting in Compton that claimed the life of one of his former staff members underscores the urgent need for stronger gun safety laws at both the state and federal levels.   The shooting was one of…

LAUSD, California school districts seek money, changes to social media apps in lawsuits

L.A. Unified and other school districts are suing companies like Meta, Google and TikTok for platforms they say are ‘addictive’ for children. By Vani Sanganeria, EdSource Meta, Google, TikTok and other social media companies could soon be compelled to fund student mental health services and redesign features alleged to encourage compulsive use if school districts…

Inland Empire Legislative Caucus secures state funding for new judgeships to expand access to justice

The Inland Empire Caucus recognized the inclusion of funding in the 2026-27 State Budget to begin expanding judicial capacity in California’s most under-resourced courts, including the Inland Empire. The budget provides $44 million annually, to support the phased implementation of 13 new superior court judgeships and $100 million for related court facilities authorized by Chapter…

California’s Unhoused Seniors: A Crisis Within the State’s Homelessness Crisis

Edward Henderson | California Black Media    California’s homelessness crisis is increasingly becoming an aging crisis, as a growing number of older adults experience housing instability at a stage of life when health challenges, fixed incomes and mobility limitations can make finding stability far more difficult.  Nearly half — about 48% — of single adults…

Preventing Amputation: A Doctor’s Guide for Diabetes Patients

By BlackPressUSA Newswire For many diabetes patients, amputation becomes a last-resort measure after infections, ulcers, or poor circulation worsen rapidly and leave few other treatment options. But according to Dr. Estelle Everett, a physician and researcher specializing in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at the  University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), most diabetes-related amputations can be…

Over 300 People Attend the Splish Splash Water Safety Fun Day to Kick off a Kid Safe Summer

More than 300 parents, caregivers and children kicked off a Kid Safe Summer at Lake Gregory Regional Park for a day of family fun, hands-on activities, community connection and life-saving water safety education. Hosted by First 5 San Bernardino, in partnership with Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Safe Kids IE and San Bernardino County Regional…

Advocacy Groups Call for LAUSD Investigation Over Alleged Racism, Retaliation Against Black Educators                                      

Edward Henderson | California Black Media  The Black Educator Advocates Network (BEAN) and the NAACP San Fernando Valley Branch are calling for an independent investigation into what they say is a longstanding pattern of racial harassment and retaliation against Black educators in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).  During a July 9 virtual press…

City of Rancho Cucamonga Opens Candidate Filing Period for the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election 

 Rancho Cucamonga, California – The City of Rancho Cucamonga has opened the candidate filing period for the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election. The election includes two Council Member seats voted by district: Districts 2 and 3, as well as the office of Mayor, which is elected at large.   Prospective candidates may obtain nomination…

Alert: Diarrhea Outbreak May be Linked to These Vegetables as Cases Rise Across U.S.

By Nutritionist Mary Toscano A microscopic parasite that can trigger days—or even weeks—of severe diarrhea is sickening thousands of Americans this summer, prompting health officials to investigate one of the largest outbreaks of cyclosporiasis in recent years. The illness is caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, a parasite that spreads when people consume food or water contaminated…

Protecting your health during a wildfire: What Southern California residents should know

By: Dr. Dinelli Monson, Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual Plans of California A wildfire can change daily life quickly in Southern California when residents face smoky skies, reduced air quality, and the possibility of evacuation during periods of elevated wildfire activity. While conditions may look different from one community to the next, smoke,…

Trump Administration Shelves Harriet Tubman $20 Bill Plan

By BlackPressUSA Newswire The Trump administration has shelved the decade-long effort to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill— while simultaneously pushing to putTrump’s face on a brand-new $250 bill. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed Monday (July 6) that the Trump administration is “not at present” planning to move forward with placing Tubman’s likeness on…

Updated Analysis Shows Proposed Stormwater Mandates Will Cost San Bernardino County and Cities $11 Billion

New regulations — failing in Los Angeles despite a $300 million new tax — threatens to increase housing costs, bankrupt cities, and harm disadvantaged communities across the region. An updated Beacon Economics analysis reveals that proposed stormwater requirements will impose an estimated $11 billion in costs on San Bernardino County and 16 of its cities…