Sarah Lund In the beautiful diversity of humankind, we are invited to celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. This is especially true when it comes to the holy work of disability and mental health justice. Alice Wong, disability activist and author who died on November 14, at age 51, felt like a friend to me,…
Figure 1: Nearly 1.2 Million Uninsured Californians Are Eligible for Financial Help SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California is encouraging all uninsured Californians to sign up for health insurance by Dec. 31. The open-enrollment period for 2026 ends on Jan. 31, but to have insurance in place for January, consumers need to enroll by the end…
By Edward Henderson | California Black Media Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom represents the 13th Assembly District, which includes Stockton, Tracy and Mountain House. With over 20 years of experience in public service, Ransom is a former Tracy city councilmember and an outspoken advocate for social justice, equitable education and economic empowerment. Ransom currently serves as chair…
By Edward Henderson | California Black Media Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) is entering his final year of service in the state Legislature due to term limits. A native of the Watts community in Los Angeles, Gipson says he inherited a spirit of service from his parents. He was elected to the Carson City Council in…
By Edward Henderson | California Black Media Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2024 to represent the 79th District, which includes southeastern San Diego, El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies, a master’s in education with an emphasis in Multicultural Counseling, and…
By Edward Henderson | California Black Media Assemblymember Corey A. Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) represents the 60th Assembly District. He was first elected in November 2022. In the Legislature, Jackson has emerged as a key voice on issues related to equity, social services, and community well-being — first as chair of the Human Services Committee in…
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—On Tuesday, Nov. 18, the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) Board of Education presented its November Outstanding Community Partner Award to the Inland Empire Children’s Book Project for helping ignite a lifelong love of reading by placing thousands of free books into the hands of children across the District. “A home…
The Evening Features the George Coleman Quintet in Concert with Steve Myerson, John Webber, Peter Bernstein and George Coleman, Jr.,and Special Guests, Camille Thurman, Sarah Hanahan, Alexander McCabe, Eric Alexander, Gideon Tazelaar and Adam Brenner Tickets: $25.00-$55.00 | ticketing.jazz.org NEW YORK, NY, December 22, 2025 – The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation (LAEF) will present the…
By Andrea Stevens AFRO Staff Writer/astevens@afro.com The Department of Education will no longer classify several long-recognized graduate programs as professional degrees, a shift that will affect financial aid limits and reshape how universities describe advanced training in fields that rely on licensing. The updated definition removes nursing from the government’s professional degree category. The change…
by BVN Enhanced premium tax subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will expire on Dec. 31 as Congress prepares to break for the holidays without voting on a health care package. Though House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to call for a vote regarding extending ACA tax credits for three years as proposed by Democrats,…
By Katie Dukes, EdNC QuaShawnda Everett, the program chair for early childhood education at Edgecombe Community College in North Carolina, has traveled the globe with her musician husband, but she’d never flown anywhere by herself — or even traveled outside of North Carolina alone. That’s why she was skeptical when the college’s president, Greg McLeod,…
By Fred Redmond, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer In our workplaces, in our communities and in our government, the right to vote is how working people make our voices heard. The late Rep. John Lewis (Georgia) proclaimed, “Your vote is precious, almost sacred.” The Supreme Court’s recent decision allowing Texas to use a racially discriminatory congressional map threatens…
By Stacy M. Brown Joy Reid had finally had enough. After Stephen A. Smith went on his show and tried to frame her departure from MSNBC as a failure of ratings rather than a collision with an administration working to silence Black voices, she laid out the truth without ceremony. “You got one hundred million…
LAGRANT COMMUNICATIONS Making Confident Health Coverage Decisions for the Year Ahead Choosing a health plan can feel overwhelming, especially for individuals making important decisions about their coverage for the first time or reassessing their needs for the upcoming year. Covered California provides tools, financial assistance, and trusted guidance to help individuals and families review their…
By Nicole Chang Heightened ICE enforcement accelerates student losses. Falling international enrollment raises broader concerns for higher education and the economy. LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second-largest school district in the United States, is experiencing a steep decline in newcomer student enrollment. Educators say the trend has been sharply…
Over 50 years ago, Ms. Cathy Hughes, Founder and Chairperson, Urban One, Inc., was one of the very first faculty members of the School of Communications at Howard University. Myla Roundy Published on December 11, 2025 Over 50 years ago, Ms. Cathy Hughes, Founder and Chairperson, Urban One, Inc., was one of the very first…
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., in partnership with the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD), brought holiday cheer to Muscoy Elementary School on December 9 by distributing toys to all 650 students and presenting the school with $5,000 to be used for the school’s greatest need. The event…
By Stacy M. Brown This is not a reflection. It is a demand. The Black Press of America is being deliberately starved, and unless people act now, it will collapse in full view of the nation it has served for nearly two centuries. This is not about nostalgia. It is about whether truth survives when…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Commission on Aging (CCoA) announced the release of a new policy brief that offers clear, actionable strategies to strengthen disaster preparedness, response, and recovery for older adults and people with disabilities across California. The brief summarizes key findings and practical recommendations from the Commission’s report, Rebuilding Lives: Disaster Response and…
ONT passenger volumes on track to exceed 7 million this year Ontario, California – December 15, 2025) – Ontario International Airport (ONT) officials are preparing for record passenger volume during the upcoming winter holidays and embracing all in the spirit of the season. The ONT forecast anticipates more than 362,000 passengers over the 18-day winter…
Bentley deBardelaben-Phillips One of my favorite seasons of the year is Advent, which often falls on the first Sunday after Thanksgiving and lasts about 25 days. A reason for my excitement is the annual spiritual reminder that something highly valued is on its way, arriving on Christmas Day. Hence, I, along with other humans worldwide,…
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Katherine Bourbeau-Medinilla, M.D., to the newly established senior executive position of Chief Population Health Officer (CPHO) and Associate Chief Medical Officer (ACMO). Reporting directly to the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Bourbeau-Medinilla will be responsible for the clinical aspects and physician alignment of ARMC’s…
Living with movement disorders like tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a unique challenge that affects every sufferer differently. While some people struggle just to keep the involuntary movements at bay, others have fewer symptoms, only faced with the occasional jerk or twitch. Clearly, there are many manifestations of the condition. However, did you know that all…
Edward Henderson | California Black Media Representing the 28th Senate District, Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) brings a lifelong commitment to working families, shaped by her upbringing as the daughter of a single mother who was a military veteran and a registered nurse. After earning her communications degree from California State University Hayward (now known…
Edward Henderson | California Black Media Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) joined the California Legislature in 2022 after making history as Solano County’s first Black female mayor, bringing with her a track record of fiscal discipline, community investment, and inclusive leadership. She represents the state’s 11th Assembly District, which spans Solano County and portions…