WSSN Stories

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Proposition (Prop) 6 would repeal language in the California Constitution that prohibits “involuntary servitude except to punish crime.”

Instead, it will replace it with language that prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude absolutely.

The amendment would also prohibit the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from disciplining any incarcerated person for refusing a work assignment and authorize the department to award time credits to incarcerated persons who voluntarily participate in work assignments.

To gain a greater understanding of the proposition and the experience of incarcerated individuals impacted by the current language, California Black Media spoke with Dr. Tanisha Cannon, Managing Director of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC).

The LSPC organizes communities impacted by the criminal justice system and advocates to release incarcerated people, to restore human and civil rights, and to reunify families and communities. They also build public awareness of structural and systemic racism in policing, the courts, and the prison system, and aim to advance racial and gender justice in their work.

“There are really two main messages for this to be a yes vote,” said Cannon. “The way that the Constitution names what’s going on in these prisons is called involuntary servitude. Involuntary servitude is just another name for slavery. That means that there’s a force and there’s coercion. People don’t have autonomy over their bodies or their decisions: if they even want to work. So, the main message here is that involuntary servitude is slavery.”

The LSPC also facilitates focus groups to gain understanding on how individuals who have not been impacted by the prison-industrial complex view the involuntary servitude currently utilized.

“They’re like, ‘Oh, people are in prison; they do the crime; they should do the time.’ That has nothing to do with bodily autonomy. You should still be able to make decisions — if you want to work or an option maybe if you want to go to school instead or maybe if you want to take anger management classes instead you should have the choice to create what you believe is your rehabilitative process.”

So far, eight states, including California, have made provisions in their constitutions permitting involuntary servitude, but not slavery, as a criminal punishment. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 34 states have “earned time” credits that are awarded for participating in or completing education, vocational training, treatment, and work programs. Time credits can later be applied towards early release from secure custody.

The Anti-Recidivism Coalition has also been on record supporting Prop 6, stating that, “More than 94,000 Californians are currently enslaved in state prison. African Americans account for 28% of the prison population despite making up less than 6% of California’s overall population. Although no courts explicitly order forced labor as a part of criminal sentencing, it’s standard practice to force incarcerated people to perform labor.”

Of those roughly 90,000 inmates, the state’s prison system employs nearly 40,000 who complete a variety of tasks including cleaning, cooking, firefighting, construction and yard work. Most of these workers earn less than 74 cents an hour, excluding the firefighters who can make up to $10 a day. State law permits the corrections department to pay up to half of the current minimum wage in California ($16).

Eighty percent of the employees at LSPC have been directly impacted by the prison-industrial complex. Cannon’s brother works there as well and was in prison at the age of 16 experiencing first-hand how forced labor can negatively impact an individual’s psyche.

“My grandmother passed away and he received that news in the evening. On the outside, you’d get some grieving time. That wasn’t the case for him,” said Cannon.

“He had to wake up at five o’clock the next morning. So, imagine learning that the woman who raised you just passed away. You’re due for work at 5 a.m. in the morning to operate heavy machinery and you cannot say that you don’t want to work because there’s no excused absence in prison.”

So far, there hasn’t been any organized opposition to Prop 6 in California.

A “yes” vote supports amending the state constitution to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime and authorize the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to award credits to incarcerated persons who voluntarily participate in work assignments.

A “no” vote opposes amending the state constitution to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime.

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

That no human lives would be spared “UNLESS” those days were shortened. [Matthew 24:22]. I ask you; Should we take God seriously? Absolutely Yes! Because God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man that He should repent; hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good? [Numbers 23:19].

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you [ Matthew 23:37-39]. Do you see all these things? I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down [Matthew 24:1-2]. The whole earth is about to be visited with Judgment and Destruction [Isaiah 24-27; Isaiah 34]. A period marked by unparalleled suffering and distress, unlike anything seen before or after. [Matthew 24:21; Zephaniah 1:15].

The disciples were speechless. They sat for a while in silence, and then they asked Him three specific questions. When will these things take place, what will be the signs of His coming, and what will be the signs of the end of the age. [Matthew 24:3]. Jesus replied, it is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority [Acts 1:7].

I tell you; there are many biblical warnings that leave us in no doubt that increasingly cataclysmic events will occur. So, watch and repent and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man [Luke 21:36].

Even Paul warned Timothy, “After I am gone, things are going to get worse before they get better. So, buckle up. Terrible times are coming. Pay attention to this. Don’t be naïve and think everything is going to be okay [Romans 1:18-32]. A future time so horrendous is on the horizon [Ezekiel 5:17]. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Repent and get under the Umbrella of the Almighty God NOW!

In the Book of Daniel, Belshazzar saw the writing on the wall. Judgment had been declared. It was too late. That night Babylon fell, and Belshazzar was slain. The Bible records his trembling, his fear, his knees smote together in terror. He found no place of repentance, he found no mercy, he found no grace.

I tell you, these are the end times, the time of great tribulation, when God will pour out his wrath and judgment on an unbelieving world. Repent and get under the Umbrella of the Almighty God NOW because once the door of opportunity closes, it will be too late.

God’s wrath and judgment is coming to this world. I have told you these things before they happen, so that when they do, you will remember that I told you about them [John 14:29; John 16:4].

Unfortunately, the people didn’t respond. They didn’t care. They continued to live their lives the way they pleased. They ignored God. God tells Ezekiel that He is about to cut off the food supply in Jerusalem and only give the people rationed water. He tells Ezekiel the people will waste away because of their sin. They were to be scattered to the wind. Nations would hate them. The wild beasts will be against them. And plagues and bloodshed were coming. Bones were going to be scattered, towns laid waste, and the high places of idolatry were going to be demolished.

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen when God speaks. Your ancestors didn’t escape when they refused to listen to God, who warned them on earth. We certainly won’t escape if we turn away from God, who warns us from heaven [Hebrews 12:25; Ezekiel 5:11].

Even Paul warned Timothy, “After I am gone, things are going to get worse before they get better. So, buckle up. Terrible times are coming. Pay attention to this. Don’t be naïve and think everything is going to be okay [Romans 1:18-32]. A future time so horrendous is on the horizon [Ezekiel 5:17]. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Repent and get under the Umbrella of the Almighty God NOW!

In the Book of Daniel, Belshazzar saw the writing on the wall. Judgment had been declared. It was too late. That night Babylon fell, and Belshazzar was slain. The Bible records his trembling, his fear, his knees smote together in terror. He found no place of repentance, he found no mercy, he found no grace.

I tell you, these are the end times, the time of great tribulation, when God will pour out his wrath and judgment on an unbelieving world. Repent and get under the Umbrella of the Almighty God NOW because once the door of opportunity closes, it will be too late.

God’s wrath and judgment is coming to this world. I have told you these things before they happen, so that when they do, you will remember that I told you about them [John 14:29; John 16:4].

Unfortunately, the people didn’t respond. They didn’t care. They continued to live their lives the way they pleased. They ignored God. God tells Ezekiel that He is about to cut off the food supply in Jerusalem and only give the people rationed water. He tells Ezekiel the people will waste away because of their sin. They were to be scattered to the wind. Nations would hate them. The wild beasts will be against them. And plagues and bloodshed were coming. Bones were going to be scattered, towns laid waste, and the high places of idolatry were going to be demolished.

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen when God speaks. Your ancestors didn’t escape when they refused to listen to God, who warned them on earth. We certainly won’t escape if we turn away from God, who warns us from heaven [Hebrews 12:25; Ezekiel 5:11].

I will choose their punishments and will bring on them what they dread. Because I called, but no one answered, I spoke, but they did not listen. And they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight” [Isaiah 66:4].

The final period of catastrophic events, climaxing in Christ’s return to earth, shows God punishing a wayward world that has refused to heed the warnings He has set.

Listen, a noise on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! An uproar among the kingdoms, like nations massing together! The Lord Almighty is mustering an army for war to destroy the whole country. Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty [Isaiah 13].

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Prop 36 would Increase drug crime and theft penalties and allow a new class of crime to be called “treatment-mandated felonies,” which also require some offenders to participate in drug and mental health treatment.

It would also make the crime of shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders and increase penalties for some drug charges, including those involving the synthetic opioid fentanyl. It would also give judges the authority to order those with multiple drug charges to get treatment.

Supporters of the proposition say that it is a good balance between California’s ‘tough on crime’ days and the passing of prop 47 which they blame for creating loopholes in state law that criminals use to avoid accountability for drug trafficking and retail theft. They also claim it will combat homelessness which has risen 50% since the passing of prop 47.

The intent of Prop 47 was to reduce spending on imprisonment in California and reduce the state’s prison population as mandated by a United States Supreme Court in 2011.

During the pandemic, the rate of shoplifting and commercial burglaries increased statewide. The Public Policy Institute of California found that reported shoplifting of merchandise worth up to $950 increased 28% over the past five years.

Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona), a supporter of prop 36, made his stance clear in a press release in August.

“As a strong advocate for both public safety and comprehensive treatment programs, I am proud to support Proposition 36. This measure strikes a necessary balance between accountability and rehabilitation, ensuring that repeat offenders of retail theft and serious drug crimes are held responsible while also offering a path to recovery for those struggling with addiction,” Rodriguez wrote.

“It’s time we prioritize the safety of our communities and provide the resources needed to help individuals turn their lives around,” he added.

Opponents of the proposition argue that it is misleading to present idea tough-on-crime policies as a solution to homelessness. They, instead, directly link so-called “tough” polices of the “War on Drugs” to the overcrowding of prisons in the state and the over-incarceration of Black Californians.

California Black Media spoke with Eric Harris and Carolina Valle of Disability Rights California who strongly oppose the Prop 36.

“The kind of rush to panic at this time is misplaced and misguided based on the actual data,” said Harris. “The first folks who are going to get penalized by these types of policies – and we know this based on our long history of criminal justice work in this state – will be Black people, Latinos, and people with disabilities – with intersections among the groups.”

While supporters claim crime is increasing in California, Valle points to statistics that say otherwise. The Center on Juvenile & Criminal Justice released a study that shows the latest crime trends for 48 California cities clearly show significant declines. The data show crime declines across almost every major crime category, including an 11% decline in theft and a 17% drop in burglary, in the first three months of 2024 compared to the first three months of 2023.

“Having a felony on your record has very drastic consequences for public safety and family togetherness,” said Valle. “Because of Prop 47, they were able to avoid a felony conviction. That person is able to get a job that they need, housing that they need, they’re able to vote, all these things that we really value for stability here in California. So, a few years ago, there was actually a ballot initiative to do exactly what Prop 36 aims to do: roll back Prop 47.”

“And voters, again, really affirmed their commitment to preserving Prop 47 and rejected that ballot initiative because you really can’t throw a rock in California without hitting somebody who has been positively affected,” continued Valle. “We want to, as voters, recommit our votes to preserving Prop 47, and we can do that by rejecting Prop 36.”

A “yes” vote on Prop 36 supports making changes to Proposition 47, which was approved in 2014, including:

• classifying certain drug offenses as treatment-mandated felonies;
• increasing penalties for certain drug crimes by increasing sentence lengths and level of crimes;
• requiring courts to warn individuals convicted of distributing illegal drugs of their potential future criminal liability if they distribute deadly drugs like fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine; and
• increasing sentences for theft based on the value of the property stolen.

A “no” vote opposes changes to Proposition 47 (2014), thereby maintaining certain drug and theft crimes for items valued below $950 as misdemeanors.

By Dr. Le Ondra Clark Harvey | Special to California Black Media Partners

The opioid crisis, once perceived as predominantly affecting rural, White communities, disproportionately impacts Black Americans. This is a result of long-standing health equity barriers, documented in both local reports and federal studies.

As overdoses continue to rise statewide and fentanyl continues to wreak havoc in our communities, California policymakers must take action. Slight declines or plateaus are not “wins.” We need proactive, comprehensive solutions that improve education, provide wraparound services, and increased access to proven treatment methods like medication assisted treatment and overdose reversal agents.

As an advocate, psychologist, and mother of two young children, today’s fentanyl crisis is difficult to process. On one hand, I understand how challenging it can be to pass meaningful policies that will save more lives — whether those of individuals injecting drugs on sidewalks or suburban teenagers poisoned by counterfeit pills they bought on Snapchat. These challenges are compounded by critical deficits, such as workforce shortages, minimal treatment beds and facilities, and a lack of culturally competent care, all of which disproportionately affect Black Californians.

On the other hand, I’m also just tired of waiting.

I have witnessed the devastating impact of fentanyl on Black families. These deaths shatter families, destabilize communities, and perpetuate cycles of trauma and socio-economic hardship. For Black Californians specifically, grief is compounded by helplessness and frustration, knowing that more could – and should – have been done to prevent these tragedies. This crisis isn’t just about numbers; it’s about the lives of our children, our brothers and sisters, and our community.

As I sit in numerous health policy workgroups, task forces, and legislative hearings, I hear policymakers request more studies to better understand how vulnerable communities are impacted. This is critical, and it is not enough.

We don’t have time to waste.

Naloxone, a well-known opioid reversal medication, has saved hundreds of thousands of lives. However, as the opioid landscape evolves, so too must our response. California must adopt flexible policies that evolve with the rapidly changing drug landscape. We cannot rely on outdated, product-specific policies when the illicit drug landscape is changing faster than we can blink.

Efforts to do just that at the statewide level have been aggressively rebuffed by the Administration. Last year, Senate Bill 641, authored by Sen. Richard Roth (D-Riverside) would have expanded California’s statewide standing order for naloxone to encompass all FDA-approved opioid reversal agents. It passed out of the Legislature unanimously, yet Governor Newsom vetoed the bill.

Several months after the veto, Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, (D-Delano), a physician who treats substance use disorder (SUD), led a sign-on letter among her colleagues calling on the California Department of Public Health to update the statewide standing order to no avail.

Fortunately, Los Angeles County has stepped up in the absence of statewide legislation being signed into law.

For decades, Dr. Brian Hurley, Medical Director of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and President of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, has taken a comprehensive approach to addressing substance use disorder.

He has increased access to proven treatment models and implemented innovative initiatives to save lives. His department’s efforts have contributed to the plateau in overdose rates, and we hope to see further improvement through the expanded standing orders for the Los Angeles Unified School District and the LA County Sheriff’s Department, ensuring access to all FDA-approved reversal agents. By equipping first responders and schools with a full range of reversal agents, Dr. Hurley has enhanced Los Angeles’ ability to save lives and reduce the impact of overdoses.

The time for action is now. With a united and informed approach, we can turn the tide on the devastating impact of opioid overdoses in Black communities.

About the Author

Dr. Le Ondra Clark Harvey is the Chief Executive Officer of the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies and Executive Director of the California Access Coalition.

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

If not, then today is the day of salvation [2 Corinthians 6:2]. Do not delay another moment. Make preparation today. Receive Christ as your Savior today. If you do not you will be left behind in the Rapture and those left behind in the Rapture will face a quickly changing world—and the change will not be for the better. For [2 Thessalonians 2:11], says that the “power of lawlessness” is currently being held in check by the Holy Spirit. But after the Rapture the Holy Spirit’s restraint will be “taken out of the way.” Don’t be left behind. Make sure you are ready for the rapture and since the rapture is for believers, it is vital that you place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior [Acts 16:31].

Repent of your sins. Believe in Jesus, and you will not perish [John 3:16]. For today is the day of salvation. Do not delay another moment. The matter is urgent. Trust Christ now for there is no debate of whether or not a rapture will occur; the Bible is clear on that question. As to when the rapture will take place, no one knows the exact timing of the event. Jesus confirms this in Luke when He says, “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” [Luke 12:40].

Now understand that the Rapture is different from Christ’s Second Coming. The Rapture sets in motion the End-Time events leading to Christ’s Second Coming. The two stages, Rapture and Return, will be separated by a seven-year Tribulation on earth. The purpose of the Rapture is to spare Christ’s own from the horrors of the Tribulation according to [Revelation 3:10].

Now there are forty-four significant Bible verses about the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ. The Bible teaches that the next major event in God’s plan for the future is the Rapture of the church. Then the tribulation will follow. At the end of the tribulation, the Battle of Armageddon will occur and during that battle, the Second Coming of Christ will occur. After Christ victoriously defeats the armies of the world that seek to destroy Israel, Christ will establish His millennial kingdom. I ask you, “Are You Ready for The Rapture?”

There are forty-four significant Old and New Testament passages that refer to the Rapture and Second Coming. We are now waiting of the Rapture of the church from the earth to occur.

As [Revelation 22:20] says, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

From Los Angeles to Oakland, Black voters gathered at watch parties in living rooms, community centers, and restaurants across California to witness Vice President Kamala Harris face off against former President Donald Trump in a much-anticipated debate. For many, this was more than just a political event — it was a moment to witness Harris, the first Black woman vice president, go toe-to-toe with Trump, whose bombastic debate style has dominated headlines in previous election cycles.

Trump’s decision to rule out another debate against Harris has left the upcoming election more contentious than ever. With both candidates presenting starkly different visions for the future, voters will have to weigh their options before November’s election.

When Harris took the debate stage, she approached Trump, extended her hand, and said firmly “Kamala Harris,” setting a deliberate tone for the evening. Moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis of ABC News, the debate provided a clear contrast in vision, temperament, and leadership style as the candidates addressed key issues.

The debate opened with discussions on the economy. Harris focused on the Biden administration’s achievements and outlined plans to support small businesses, reduce costs for working families, and create what she called an “opportunity economy.” She proposed down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers and tax deductions to help young families. “I intend to create an opportunity economy, investing in small businesses, in new families, and in what we can do around protecting seniors,” Harris said.

Trump, in contrast, offered a more apocalyptic view of the country’s state, repeatedly claiming that the nation was in decline under the Biden-Harris administration. He said the country was being “laughed at” on the world stage and criticized Harris for not accomplishing more during her time as vice president. However, his criticisms lacked concrete solutions. At one point, Trump claimed that 21 million people had crossed the border illegally. Harris quickly rebutted, reminding viewers that Trump had blocked a bipartisan immigration reform bill during his presidency.

As the debate shifted to healthcare, Harris, speaking passionately emphasized the administration’s work to lower prescription drug costs and cap insulin prices. “We have allowed, for the first time, Medicare to negotiate drug prices on behalf of you, the American people,” she said.

Trump struggled to provide specific details about his healthcare plan, despite having promised for years to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). When pressed, he said that he was “working on concepts of a plan,” a vague response that mirrored similar statements from his previous campaigns.

On the issue of abortion, the contrast between the candidates became even sharper. Harris strongly condemned the “Trump abortion bans” in more than 20 states, which she said criminalized healthcare providers and offered no exceptions for rape or incest. “It is immoral for a survivor of a crime, a violation to their body, to not have the right to make a decision about what happens to their body next,” Harris said.

Trump defended his role in appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade and repeated false claims about late-term abortions, which Harris dismissed as “lies.”

As the debate moved into foreign policy, the conversation turned to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump claimed that the war “would have been over within 24 hours” had he been president, suggesting that his relationship with Vladimir Putin would have prevented the conflict altogether.

Harris countered by emphasizing the work she and the Biden administration have done to support Ukraine and build a coalition of allies to defend democracy. Harris said that world leaders are “laughing at Donald Trump” and that she has talked with military leaders who have worked with Trump, and they say, “You’re a disgrace.” She accused Trump of favoring dictators like Putin, reminding viewers that Trump had attempted to negotiate directly with the Taliban in Afghanistan, bypassing the Afghan government entirely. Harris’s sharp rebuttal – “If Donald Trump were president, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now” —seemed to visibly unsettle Trump, whose demeanor shifted as he interrupted her multiple times despite the muted microphone rule.

Throughout the debate, Harris adhered to the rules, delivering focused, policy-driven responses. In contrast, Trump frequently interrupted and avoided direct responses, visibly frustrated by the format and Harris’s composure. At one point when he found himself backed into a corner, he went off the rails and made a bizarre claim that illegal immigrants in Ohio were eating pets, which Muir swiftly refuted, noting there was no evidence to support the assertion.

The debate concluded with the candidates delivering a closing statement. Harris’s remarks focused on unity and optimism, reflecting her belief in what America could achieve with the right leadership. “We all have so much more in common than what separates us, and we can chart a new way forward,” she said. Trump, in contrast, offered a grim vision of a nation in decline, recycling many of the same talking points from earlier in the night about economic failure and foreign policy missteps.

After watching the debate, pop star Taylor Swift endorsed Harris on social media, writing, “I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.” Swift’s endorsement, which quickly gained over a million likes, added a cultural moment to the post-debate discussions, particularly among younger voters. She signed her post “Childless Cat Lady.”

Despite the attention the debate received, Trump announced that there would be no third debate. Posting on Truth Social, he wrote, “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!” He referred to the first debate as his June encounter with President Joe Biden and the second as the debate with Harris. Trump argued that Harris only wanted a rematch because he “clearly won” the first debate.

However, in a rally in North Carolina just minutes after Trump’s announcement, Harris said, “We owe it to the voters to have another debate.” Several instant polls taken after the debate indicated that voters felt Harris had outperformed her opponent.

While Trump called his performance in Philadelphia “my best debate”, some Republicans and allies expressed disappointment with his performance. Sen. Lindsey Graham called it “a missed opportunity.”

Launched in 2018, the Medically Tailored Meals pilot program was designed to help Medi-Cal patients with congestive heart failure by reducing hospital readmissions and emergency department visits by providing tailored meals meeting specific dietary needs.

The program’s success in improving health outcomes and reducing costly emergency room visits encouraged the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to expand the Medically Tailored Meals program to all 58 counties through Medi-Cal transformation and a new set of services called Community Supports.

Medically Tailored Meals are one of 14 new services offered through Medi-Cal that provide members with access to new and improved services to get well-rounded care that goes beyond the doctor’s office or hospital.

Medically Tailored Meals: Overview

Malnutrition and poor nutrition can lead to severe health outcomes, especially among Medi-Cal patients with chronic health conditions. Medically Tailored Meals aim to improve health outcomes, reduce hospital readmissions, and enhance patient satisfaction by providing essential nutrition.

Key Features:

1. Post-Discharge Delivery: Meals are delivered to patients’ homes immediately following discharge from a hospital or nursing home.
2. Customized Nutrition: Meals are tailored to meet the dietary needs of those with chronic diseases, designed by registered dietitians (RD) or certified nutrition professionals based on evidence-based guidelines.
3. Comprehensive Services: Includes medically tailored groceries, healthy food vouchers, and food pharmacies.
4. Educational Support: Behavioral, cooking, and nutrition education is included when paired with direct food assistance.

Key Benefits:

• Address Food Insecurity: Mitigates poor health outcomes linked to food insecurity.
• Support Complex Care Needs: Tailored to individuals with chronic conditions.
• Improve Health Outcomes: Studies show improvements in diabetes control, fall prevention, and medication adherence.

Patient Testimonial:

“Three days a week, I come home from dialysis tired and hungry. In less than five minutes from fridge to plate, I have a great tasting meal ready to eat. My husband has diabetic needs and I have renal diet needs, so we order our meals and put them in the fridge separately. Mom’s Meals makes mealtime a lot easier in our household.”

Eligibility:

• Eligible Populations: Eligible Medi-Cal members include those with chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, congestive heart failure, stroke, chronic lung disorders, HIV, cancer, gestational diabetes, and chronic mental or behavioral health disorders. Also, those being discharged from a hospital or skilled nursing facility or at high risk of hospitalization or nursing facility placement are also eligible.
• Service Limitations: Up to two meals per day for up to 12 weeks, extendable if medically necessary. Meals eligible for reimbursement by alternate programs are not covered.

Cost Savings and Improved Health Outcomes:

• Health Outcomes: Research indicates a 22% to 58% decrease in emergency department visits and a 27% to 63% decrease in inpatient admissions among Medically Tailored Meals recipients, translating to significant health care cost savings.

Mom’s Meals: A Success Story

Mom’s Meals has partnered with Medi-Cal to deliver medically tailored meals to patients in the Inland Empire, focusing on individuals with severe and chronic illnesses such as diabetes and kidney disease. These meals, aligned with Medi-Cal’s mission to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs, provide nutritious, balanced meals directly to patients’ homes. The goal is to help patients develop healthier eating habits, reduce hospital admissions, and lessen the strain on the healthcare system.

Inland Empire Health Plan, one of the Medi-Cal managed-care insurers, has contracted with Mom’s Meals to provide these services. Patients receive weekly deliveries of meals that are customized to their dietary needs. The meals are convenient, microwave-ready, and delivered within 48 hours of processing.

The program aims to empower patients to sustain a healthy diet long after the meal deliveries end. By making medically tailored nutrition accessible, Mom’s Meals is helping Medi-Cal to support some of its sickest and costliest patients in the Inland Empire, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes and advancing Medi-Cal’s mission to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care.

Join Us in Our Mission

You can experience the profound impact of Medically Tailored Meals by joining the Medi-Cal Community Supports services initiative. Your involvement can make a difference in promoting your health through nutrition.

Learn More

For more information about Medically Tailored Meals and how to get involved, call the state’s Medi-Cal Health Care options at 800-430-4263 or contact your local managed care plan.

In Riverside County and San Bernardino County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact the following managed care plans:
*   Inland Empire Health Plan: 800-440-4347

*   Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613

*   Molina HealthCare of California Partner Plan, Inc.: 888-665-4621

Your health and well-being are your health care provider’s top priority. Medically Tailored Meals are designed to enhance quality of life by advancing health care through the power of nutrition. Experience the benefits today and take the first step toward a healthier you.

By Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media??

On September. 3, community leaders and civil rights advocates joined lawmakers at the State Capitol to raise awareness about Proposition (Prop) 6, a ballot initiative that aims to ban forced labor in California’s prisons.

California voters will decide the ballot initiative in this year’s November election. The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) introduced Prop 6 as part of the 14-bill reparations package. The State Legislature passed the measure in June with a bipartisan vote, placing it on the November ballot. The Black Caucus proposed Prop 6 as the “Remove Involuntary Servitude as Punishment for Crime Amendment,” under the Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8 (ACA8) to promote justice and equality in California.

Community groups organized a press conference including members of the Black Caucus, The Anti-Recidivism Coalition, The Abolish Slavery National Network, Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition, the ABC Coalition, and the American Civil Liberties Union

Assemblymember and Legislative Black Caucus Chair Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) is the author of the ballot measure and has been supportive of community groups in their efforts to abolish slave labor.

Carmen-Nicole Cox of the ACLU led the rally and condemned forced labor stating that it prevents people from building the necessary skills after they leave prison.

“Slavery never has and never will promote rehabilitation,” said Cox.

Supporters of the reparations bills challenged Republican and Democratic legislators to back the ballot measures and help voters understand the harmful impact of forced labor statewide.

By McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ (SFBFS) campus, located on Bell Avenue in the state capital, is set to get a $131,583 security facelift.

The funding is courtesy of the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which has awarded nonprofit community and faith-based groups across the Golden State with financial support to prevent hate-motivated violence since 2015.

SFBFS is home to the largest hunger relief group in Sacramento County and a food bank that distributed 31.6 million meals nutritious meals to people in need in 2023.

SFBFS Director of Communications Kevin Buffalino said the grant money will enhance the safety and security of the food bank site.

“We’ll be adding security lighting, security cameras, access control systems to ensure we continue providing food assistance to over 305,000 people every month safely and without interruption,” he said.

SFBFS was one of 193 community organizations across the Golden State to receive $39 million in awards from the grant program in April to enhance their security. In late July, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state’s Office of Emergency Funding is accepting applications from community-based nonprofits to apply for $76 million in expedited funding from the security grant program.

According to a 2023 hate crimes report compiled by the California Department of Justice, Black Californians remain the most affected group by hate crimes. Hate incidents and hate crimes targeting Jewish, Muslim and LGBTQ people are also increasing.

Newsom said an attack against any community is an attack against all of California and its values.

“Every Californian deserves the ability to worship, love, gather safety, without fear or hate,” he said in a news release. “This new round of funding is aimed at helping high-risk organizations protect themselves against violent attacks and hate crimes.”

Funds are awarded through a competitive grant process in which groups, particularly those targeted on the basis of race, religious affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, immigration status or similar criteria may apply.

The monies allow organizations such as Black and LGBTQ+ groups, churches, synagogues, mosques, and other houses of worship to implement security equipment upgrades such has access control systems, doors, gates, high-intensity lighting, and inspection and screening systems.

Requests for proposals are on the Office of Emergency Services website. Groups eligible include ones exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 23.

Because anti-Black hate crimes continue to be the most prevalent in the Golden State and last year there was an increase in bias activity against Jewish. Muslim, and LGBTQ+ communities, Newsom increased funding for the grant program, which added an additional $20 million for nonprofits to use.

The initiative awarded $39 million to nonprofits and faith-based organizations in the spring, following Newsom funneling an additional $20 million into the program in October 2023. The state received 1,254 applications from groups.

The program has awarded $152,750,000 in state funding to 924 community groups since the grant program’s beginning.

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D- Los Angeles) and Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) said in a statement that the California Legislature will stand firm in its commitment to support vulnerable communities targeted by hate despite budget difficulties. They also thanked Newsom for expediting the deployment of the security funds.

“We have no doubt that this funding will continue to make a major difference in protecting the Jewish community and all communities targeted by hate,” Gabriel and Wiener said.

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

Who is the Antichrist?

The Bible is clear that one man, the Antichrist, will rise up to unite the world under ONE GOVERMENT during the Tribulation. This global dictator will pose as an angel of light, just like his father the devil, but will later act out of his true, evil nature. He will persecute, torture, and kill the people of God as he leads the armies of the world into the Battle of Armageddon. He will be the most powerful dictator the world has ever seen, making Caesar, Hitler, Mao, and Saddam seem tame by comparison. [Revelation 13:1–8] describes the Antichrist as a Beast who is against Christ.

How will you recognize him?

The Antichrist will begin inconspicuously as one of many minor political leaders, but he will gradually grasp more and more power. As Daniel says, the coming world leader will be renowned for his eloquence, which will capture the attention and administration of the world. He will be a man whose appearance was greater than his fellows. He will be strikingly attractive. He will be a clever man of great intellect. The combination of his magnetic personality, speaking ability, and extreme good looks will make him virtually irresistible to the masses [Daniel 7:7-8, 20, 25]. When he comes on the scene, people will flock to him like flies to honey, and they will do anything he asks. Step by step, the Antichrist will promote himself from a European leader to a world leader, to a tyrannical global dictator, and finally to a god. His rise to power will be inconspicuous. It will not be noticed in the beginning and will hardly raise the attention even of those who are closer to the center of action. He will rise out of the general population. A contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries [Daniel 11:21]. Daniel describes him as somebody who understands sinister schemes for through his cunning…shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule. [Daniel 8:23,25]. According to Daniel he will come in peaceably and seize the kingdom by intrigue. [Daniel 11:21]. He will be speaking great things and blasphemies; against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those that dwell in heaven. The Antichrist will and start his own religion [Revelation 13:5-6].

During the last 3½ years of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will personify Satan himself with all power, signs, and lying wonders [2 Thessalonians 2:9-10].

Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. It is crucial to be aware of the prophecies regarding the Antichrist and the end times for the groundwork is being laid for the Antichrist’s appearance at the present hour. Current events such as increasing divisions and conflicts between nations, tremendous social unrest, a general hostility toward the Jews and Christianity, rank moral degradation, technological advancements that have enabled widespread surveillance and control, global pandemics, and the probability of a major worldwide economic crisis, are all signs of the last days pointing to the coming of the Antichrist, who will appear as a charismatic and persuasive leader who can provide salvation and deliverance. When in reality, he is a Beast – a human monster whose power comes from the dreaded Dragon — the devil himself. Do not be deceived.

As [M.R. DeHaan] quoted; “Terrible are the days which lie ahead. The rumblings of the coming judgment can be heard in the distance. The clouds are gathering. Inventions…have made men tremble at what lies ahead. There is only one way out, and that is through him [Christ], who is the door to absolute safety. Those who receive him and enter through the door by faith are safe. They are described as those whose names ‘are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.’ Is your name written there? Are you ready for his coming? If not, will you turn to him [Christ] and be saved now?”

God offers safety and rescue for those who are His. Statement of Personal Trust in God’s Care [Psalms 46:1-3,7; Psalms 91:1-2]. Declaration of God’s Care for His People [Psalms 91:3-4; 14-16]. The Results of God’s Care [Psalms 91:5-8]. The ones who God protects [Psalms 91: 9-10]. The Means of God’s Care [Psalms 91:9-13]. Promises for the people of God – they are not universal; they are reserved for the people of God: those who have given their life to him [John 10:27-29]. This is a relationship that is made possible through repentance and trust in Jesus Christ. So, if you have not given your life to the Lord, repent and get under the Umbrella of the Almighty God NOW. For not only is the Antichrist coming, and all hell is about to break loose, but judgment will soon follow. The Time is Near!

Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and 10 horns, with 10 crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. This Beast looked like a Leopard, but it had the feet of a Bear and the mouth of a Lion! And the dragon gave the Beast his own power and throne and great authority. I saw that one of the heads of the Beast seemed wounded beyond recovery — but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the Beast. They worshiped the dragon for giving the Beast such power, and they also worshiped the Beast. “Who is as great as the beast?” they exclaimed. “Who is able to fight against him?” [Revelation 13; Daniel 7].

They did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward [Jeremiah 7:24]. God gave them over [Romans 1:24–28].