Happily Divorced And After

StormyWeather Banks, a Fashion Designer and Boutique Owner recently announced the grand reopening of her newly remodeled and expanded boutique, StormyWeather Designs in Bellflower California. The grand reopening took place with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring beautiful statement jewelry, structured and relaxed handbags, on trend accessories, jackets, and apparel. The event was well attended by Bellflower City Officials, local celebrities, and the community. Those in attendance included: Larry Wehage (Bellflower Chamber of Commerce President), Dan Koops (Bellflower Councilmember), Actress Camille Calvin (Lifetime’s “Deadly Cheers”), Actress Samantha Bailey (CBS’s “The Young and the Restless”), and many others.

“I am excited about this expansion, but more so grateful for the support of the community and the City of Bellflower over the last 10 years,” says Banks.

StormyWeather is a respected designer, retired LAUSD fashion design teacher, and a minority-women owned business. Her boutique is located at 16737 & 16739 Bellflower Boulevard in the City of Bellflower offering selective custom designs, apparel consultation on making the perfect prom dress, wedding dress and an unveiling of her new sewing and manufacturing shop for those who want to learn how to sew.

Sewing classes are available on Monday and Thursday from 11am – 1pm and 4pm – 6pm. The classes are open to individuals ages 6 years old and up.

To learn more about StormyWeather Designs, visit:

 https://stormyweather-designs.myshopify.com/.

Stay connected with StormyWeather Designs at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stormyweatherdesigns-266515007325099/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stormyweatherdesigns/

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media

Proposition 28 is one of seven statewide initiatives on the November 8 ballot. If passed, Prop 28 will boost arts and music education funding for 6 million public school students. The proposition requires California to dedicate 1% of the education budget to arts and music programs.

If the proposition passes, it will provide approximately $1 Billion to PK-12 schools.

Prop 28 is backed by Austin Beutner, former superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, Arne Duncan, education secretary in the Obama administration, and a broad coalition of teachers, families, artists, entrepreneurs, community leaders and labor organizations.

Among celebrities and musicians supporting the proposition are Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine, John Lithgow, Issa Rae, and Will.I.Am

 “This initiative is timely as our country seeks to create a more just and equitable future for all children. A boost in arts and music education will help ensure the future workforce in media and technology properly reflect the diversity of the children in our public schools,” according to a joint statement from Beutner and Duncan.

As schools adapt to tightening budgets, arts and music are often the first to go. But these programs have a profound impact on students’ academic outcomes and behavior. This was shown in a study of 10,000 students in the Houston school system by University of Missouri professor Brian Kisada and Texas A & M professor Daniel H. Bowen.

“We find that a substantial increase in arts educational experiences has remarkable impacts on students’ academic, social, and emotional outcomes. Relative to students assigned to the control group, treatment school students experienced a 3.6 percentage point reduction in disciplinary infractions, an improvement of 13 percent of a standard deviation in standardized writing scores, and an increase of 8 percent of a standard deviation in their compassion for others,” the professors wrote in their Brookings Institution article.

There is no major opposition to prop 28, but some fiscal conservatives say it could lead to an increase in property taxes.

“If Prop. 28 passes, a 1% combination of state spending, in addition to the spending of each locality through property taxes, would be solely dedicated to music and arts education,” said Ari DeWolf, educational outreach manager at the Reason Foundation, an organization that promotes libertarian values.

“California already spends $95.5 billion on its public school system, translating to around $17,000 per student. This figure puts California in the top 10 states for per-student education funding. California’s current spending on K-12 education has reached a historic high, while public school enrollment is the lowest in two decades,” according to DeWolf.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond recognizes the importance of music and arts education. $3.5 billion has been budgeted for an Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Discretionary block grant program according to a Department of Education press release. These one-time grants will be available to county offices of education, school districts, charter schools, and the state special schools in the 2025–26 fiscal year.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Thousands of students participated in the annual Science and Technology Education Partnership (STEP) conference, referred to this year as STEPCon22.

This conference focused on exploration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) with various exhibits that sparked students’ interest.

“STEM-based education provides our students with connections to grasp difficult concepts,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “STEPCon22 is giving students the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning with real-world applications that will strengthen our region’s workforce for the future.”

This annual event is designed to ignite student interest in STEM related career fields.

Through this conference, students became familiar with how STEM can be leveraged in careers such as first responders, law enforcement, military, engineering, manufacturing, environmental and healthcare sectors.

“There are not a lot of women in the STEM area,” said Nia Hoghs, a Yucaipa High School student. “I think it would make a big impact on people if we can get more women in this field because then they will see if she can do it, then maybe I can, too.”

Students had the opportunity to engage with college educators and industry professionals one-on-one. They also participated in hands-on science experiments, interactive technology exhibits, presentations, breakout discussions and a science showcase.

LOS ANGELES, CA— Covered California and Secretary Xavier Becerra of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services teamed up to officially launch open enrollment across the nation for the 2023 coverage year. Open enrollment is the time when Americans can sign up for health insurance coverage through Affordable Care Act marketplaces. This is the 10th open enrollment period under the landmark law, which has helped provide health insurance to millions of Americans and will feature increased and expanded financial help for consumers through the Inflation Reduction Act.

Becerra joined Jessica Altman, Executive Director, Covered California, Mayor Eric Garcetti, City of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, Representative 37th Districtand Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services.

The open-enrollment period begins with a record-high 14.5 million people enrolled in the federal and state marketplaces, including 1.7 million in Covered California. The increased enrollment has been driven by the increased financial help first made available through the American Rescue Plan and extended under the Inflation Reduction Act.

As part of its efforts, Covered California is launching a “10 Years Strong” campaign, celebrating a decade of providing quality health insurance plans and reducing the state’s uninsured rate to a historic low.

“Covered California is ‘10 Years Strong,’ celebrating a decade of expanding access to quality, affordable health care for millions of people throughout the state,” said Jessica Altman. “Open enrollment is here and now is the time to sign up for quality health insurance coverage through Covered California that will protect you and your family.”

10 Years Strong

Covered California’s “10 Year’s Strong” campaign will highlight the progress made in expanding health care access by increasing the number of people with health insurance in every region over the past decade. It will also showcase continuing efforts to reach into every community in the state to make sure all Californians have access to quality health care.

Since Covered California’s first open-enrollment period in 2013, federal data shows that California’s uninsured rate fell from 17.2 percent to a record low 7.0 percent in 2021, which is the largest percentage point drop for any state in the nation over this time.

During this time, more than 5.2 million Californians have received health insurance coverage through Covered California for at least one month. Covered California’s has seen its overall enrollment grow by more than 40 percent, including a nearly 50 percent increase in the number of people signed up in Los Angeles County.

One Million Uninsured Californians are Eligible for Low-cost or No-cost Coverage 

Covered California enters open enrollment with 1.7 million consumers. However, new data shows that there are more than 1 million uninsured Californians who are eligible for financial help to bring the cost of coverage within reach. Of that group, at least 55 percent – or about 568,000 people – could get quality coverage through Covered California or Medi-Cal at no cost.

The remaining 471,000 uninsured Californians are eligible for significant financial help that will lower the cost of their monthly health insurance premiums. Right now, 90 percent of Covered California’s enrollees qualify for financial help, and thanks to the increased and expanded financial help made available through the American Rescue Plan and extended through the Inflation Reduction Act, those consumers are saving an average of $475 per month, or an average of 80 percent of their monthly health insurance premium.

Currently, two-thirds of Covered California’s consumers are eligible for comprehensive health insurance coverage at a cost of $10 or less per month.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, CEO of Covered California Jessica Altman, Covered California enrollee Zhang Yue, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, California Congresswoman Karen Bass, and Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Dr. Mark Ghaly attend the kick off event for Health Care.gov and ‘California’s 10th open enrollment launch event on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 in Los Angeles. (Mark Von Holden/AP Images for Covered California)

Signing up for Coverage is Easy

Consumers can discover their options by visiting CoveredCA.com, where they can easily find out if they qualify for financial help and see the coverage options in their area.

All they need to do is enter their household income, ZIP code, household size and the number of people who need coverage and their ages into the calculator on Covered California’s homepage.

Open enrollment began on Nov. 1 and is the one time of the year when eligible people cannot be turned away from coverage.

In addition to visiting CoveredCA.com, those interested in learning more about their coverage options can also:

• Get free and confidential assistance over the phone, in a variety of languages, from a certified enroller.
• Have a certified enroller call them and help them for free.
• Call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.

About Covered California

Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace, where Californians can find affordable, high-quality insurance from top insurance companies. Covered California is the only place where individuals who qualify can get financial assistance on a sliding scale to reduce premium costs. Consumers can then compare health insurance plans and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. Depending on their income, some consumers may qualify for the low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal program.

Covered California is an independent part of the state government whose job is to make the health insurance marketplace work for California’s consumers. It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the governor and the legislature. For more information about Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA.com.

By McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

The “Stop the Hate. Spread the Love,” initiative spearheaded by California Black Media (CBM) and others, was introduced to the Los Angeles community at the 17th annual Taste of Soul Family Festival on Oct. 15.

Representatives of the campaign maintained a booth at the daylong, multicultural event that drew over 300,000 people to a two-mile stretch of Crenshaw Boulevard in South Los Angeles to celebrate the Black cultural experience – as well as the traditions of other ethnic groups — through food, music, and art.

Brandon Brooks, CBM’s campaign project manager, said attending the festival was a good way to familiarize people with Stop the Hate and organizations that are geared toward combatting hate incidents and hate crimes in the Golden State.

“We brought together a lot of partners to give information on how to combat and address hate — outside of law enforcement,” Brooks said.

Representatives from local and state government departments including the City of Los Angeles’ Civil + Human Relations & Equity Department, the California Secretary of State, the California Department of Social Services, and the California Civil Rights Department were at the three-table booth with Brooks and CBM Executive Director Regina Wilson

“Having those representatives on hand was a must,” Brooks said. “If you or I experience hate we might not be comfortable with calling the LAPD or sheriff’s department, so who can we actually really call,” Brooks asked rhetorically, speaking to this CBM reporter. “You can actually call the civil rights department; you can call social services. A lot of people don’t know that. These organizations are there to be a resource or an olive branch to start that dialogue. You may need some help. That’s these organizations’ job.”

A report released by California Attorney General Rob Bonta in June revealed hate crimes inspired by racism and homophobia resulted in a 33% uptick in reported incidents in the state in 2021. Hate crimes against Blacks were the most prevalent, according to the report. There were 513 crimes committed against Blacks in 2021, 13% more than the 456 in 2020.

Becky L. Monroe, the California Civil Rights Department’s deputy director for strategic initiative and external affairs, said working to eliminate hate crimes and the attitudes and circumstances that contribute to them is about saving lives.

“It is critical that people know what their options are if they are targeted for hate and know that we can take action and that we can stop hate and spread love,” Monroe said.

CBM is in the early stages of its Stop the Hate public information campaign. The media and advocacy organization’s goal is to publish a series of stories that educate Black Californians and state residents from other backgrounds about each other’s lives, cultures and traditions as it promotes an appreciation for diversity and fosters deeper inter-ethnic understanding.

CBM has four events or festivals planned within the next year that promote the message of the Stop the Hate campaign.

“Regina’s goal is to really break bread and bring people together,” said Brooks, referring to CBM’s executive editor.

The initiative is funded by a joint venture of the California State Library and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. The Ethnic Media Grant Project has awarded nearly $6 million in grants to 50 ethnic media outlets and organizations serving communities that are historically vulnerable to hate crimes and hate incidents.

The program’s aim is to enhance public awareness of the Stop the Hate Program being run by the state’s social services department.

Festival attendees who visited the Stop the Hate booth were able to meet representatives from media publications Al Enteshar, Carib Press, Ethnic Media Services, Impulso News, and Indian Voices.

The booth was sponsored by CBM, Ethnic Media Services, the Civil + Human Relations & Equity, the NAACP, and the California Civil Rights Department.

Brooks said CBM’s Taste of Soul booth was successful because it introduced people to the Stop the Hate initiative and individuals gained more information about fighting hate crimes and reporting hate incidents.

“When you say hate crimes or hate incidents, we as a collective really need to figure out how to address this topic,” he said. “We really wanted to bring resources and information to the community.”

Los Angeles Sentinel Executive Editor Danny J. Bakewell Jr., whose newspaper organizes Taste the Soul and is a CBM partner, said the festival aligns with “Stop the Hate. Spread the Love.”

“That is what Taste of Soul is all about,” Bakewell said to CBM’s videographer. “Spreading the love, right here in our own community on Crenshaw Boulevard.”

“California Black Media was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.”

By Maxim Elramsisy | California Black Media

The California Hawaii Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) hosted elected officials, activists, organizers, faith leaders, and entertainers at its 35th Annual State Convention held in Los Angeles from Oct. 21 through Oct. 23.

Workshops and discussions were held that covered pressing issues confronting African American and other communities of color in California and Hawaii.

Activities included “Stop the Hate” and discrimination training, a Health Forum, a Reparations Townhall, an economic development panel discussion, workshops for youth and college-aged members, an environmental justice workshop and the Annual Gwen Moore Utilities Workshop.

The convention highlight was a fireside chat featuring Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin, NAACP California Hawaii President Rick Callender Esq., and the Dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at California State University Los Angeles, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, on Saturday night.

For the last two weeks, the LA city council has been embroiled in a scandal centered around the release of a recorded conversation involving former City Council President, Nury Martinez, and City Councilmembers Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo and former LA County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera made disparaging comments about several groups including Blacks, Mexicans, LGPTQIA+, as well as several individuals, including Bonin, who is White, and his adopted son Jacob, who is Black

“The attitude that they had of contempt and racism did not surprise me,” Bonin said.  “This was about the three of them holding power…They said, because I voted with Marqueece [Harris-Dawson], Curren [Price Jr.] and my other colleagues, I was the fourth Black member… They went after the organization that Karen Bass founded, The Community Coalition, which is based on a Black-Brown coalition. They went after KIWA, the Korean Immigrant Worker Association, which is based on multiracial collaboration. They were against the idea of people working together, their whole thing was about divide. Their whole thing was for them to win. Somebody else had to lose.”

Martinez and Herrera resigned within days after the meeting tape was leaked, but despite public outrage and pressure from across the political spectrum, including Pres. Joe Biden, Cedillo and De León are refusing to step down.

“One of the things that I think we should be actually calling for is the official censure of these offending council members, and we need to take away their pay,” said Callender.  “If they want to sit there, if they want to do something, they should do it without receiving any money… They refused to resign, refused to pay them… They took Mark Ridley-Thomas’ pay the exact same way.”

“We’re literally looking at every possible thing,” said Bonin. “There is no one on the council who wants them there.”

The President awards dinner honored the activism and achievements of high preforming members and NAACP branches. Honorees included D’Adrea Davie of Stockton, a real estate agent and advocate for building generational wealth, and Yusef Miller of San Diego, a leader of Racial Justice Coalition. Jeanette Ellis-Royston of Pomona, an appointee of the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission, was also honored for her volunteer work. The Butte County, Hayward and San Francisco NAACP branches were honored for their advocacy and programming.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump gave the keynote address at a youth-focuseddinner Friday night. Crump has a national reputation as an advocate for social justice and is known for his representation of clients like the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Jacob Blake, and Daunte Wright. The Rev. Al Sharpton calls him “Black America’s Attorney General.”

The NAACP was founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country. The NAACP is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. There are over 2,200 units and branches across the nation with over 2 million activists. Its mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

More information about the NAACP California State Conference is available at www.CAHINAACP.org.

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media  

California voters are being asked to decide on whether or not language in the California Constitution should be changed to explicitly ensure the right to reproductive health.

Proposition 1, proposed by Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), amends the California constitution to prohibit the state from interfering with one’s right to choose to have an abortion or refuse contraceptives.

The Reproductive Privacy Act passed in 2002 guarantees these protections, however Prop 1 supporters are concerned that the act could be interpreted in a way that would put them at risk of misinterpretation and new limitations could be placed on reproductive freedom.

If Prop 1 fails to pass, the constitution won’t change, and the Reproductive Privacy Act would continue to guarantee one’s right to an abortion up to the point of viability.

“We are on the precipice of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that could topple Roe v. Wade and erode the right to abortion that was secured nearly 50 years ago — altering reproductive freedom in America as we know it,” said Atkins in a statement made before the Supreme Court decided in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that the Constitution does not confer the right to abortion, overturning Roe v Wade and a half-century of legal precedent

According to Akins, “[Proposition 1] would make it undeniably clear that in California, abortion and contraception are health care and are a private matter between a patient and their medical provider.

“I have seen what is at stake when people don’t have access to abortion—the real lives and real families that are at risk. In California, we are resolute in our determination to protect women and families, no matter who happens to be wielding power at the federal level,” she continued.

Current state law places some restrictions on abortions. California courts have interpreted the right to privacy so that the state can only restrict abortions when needed to meet certain state interests such as public health and safety. For example, California law requires abortion providers to be licensed.

Abortions can only be performed on a viable fetus if the pregnancy puts the health or life of the person who is pregnant at risk. Under state law, a fetus is considered viable if the fetus likely would be able to survive outside the uterus.

Failure to expand Constitutional language could shift the grounds for physicians to deny reproductive freedom affecting Black Women, some experts say.

Monica McLemore, an associate professor at the University of California San Francisco School of Nursing, told Bloomberg.com about the distrust and negative experiences Black Women have when it comes to medical professionals.

“The health system we have in the US isn’t functioning well for Black and brown communities. But it’s a more nuanced discussion; there are a whole lot of other things that can go wrong than just death,” she said.

“When we talk about maternal mortality, we aren’t even talking about the 50,000 near misses, [the women of all races who had] serious pregnancy-related complications, like a hemorrhage, an infection, a C-section wound coming apart,” McLemore continued.  “We’re not talking about people like Serena Williams and Beyonce who live but had trauma. Black women are less likely to be believed by their health-care providers, and they are undertreated and under-diagnosed.”

Opponents of Prop 1 believe that it is unnecessary and written so broadly that it could face years of protracted court battles to clear up the language, costing the state millions of dollars in legal fees. They raise particular concern that the measure would override state regulations that now limit abortions after the point when a fetus is viable on its own outside of the womb, at about 24 weeks of pregnancy. These late-term abortions are currently only legal if the health or life of the mother is threatened.

Catherine Hadro, Media Relations Director for the No on Proposition 1 Campaign, spoke with California Black Media about the cost that could come from Prop 1.

“Everyone knows that abortion is and will remain legal in the state of California. The California Legislature has already set aside $220 million to expand abortion access in the state of California. $20 million of that is specifically to pay for women coming from out of state into California to get abortions. The California Legislature has said they expect it’s going to cost an additional $100 million dollars within the next 5 years to pay for women coming into California for abortion. This is only going to increase and cost California taxpayers even more if abortion is legalized up till the point of birth … This is just another example of politicians throwing money at another problem that does not exist.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom has begun airing ads supporting Prop 1 using least $2 million of his own campaign funds to pay for them.

“Fundamental freedoms are vanishing. Women are under attack. This November, we say NOT here. Prop 1 will enshrine reproductive rights in the CA constitution,” Newsom says in the ad.

Prop 1 is on the November 8^th General Election Ballot.

EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—-The University of California Board of Regents today (Oct. 18) approved Katherine S. Newman, a nationally renowned academic leader and scholar, as UC Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Newman is currently the System Chancellor for Academic Programs and the Senior Vice President for Economic Development in the Office of the President of the University of Massachusetts. She also holds the Torrey Little Chair of Sociology at UMass Amherst where she previously served as Provost.

Effective Jan. 9, 2023, Newman will serve as the University of California’s chief academic officer and help lead the University’s efforts to advance academic opportunity and inclusive excellence across the 10-campus system. She replaces veteran professor and administrator Michael T. Brown, who is stepping down at the end of 2022 after serving five years in the role.

University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D., selected Newman following an extensive nationwide search that included consultation with a UC-wide advisory committee with representation from faculty, students, staff and senior leaders

“I’m deeply grateful to Provost Brown for the many significant contributions he has made to the University over these past five years. With his leadership on the 2030 goals, UC has charted a bold path for the years ahead,” President Drake said. “Dr. Newman is an excellent choice for helping us realize the vision of those goals. She is a talented academic leader who cares deeply about public higher education and the vital role it plays in helping communities thrive. I look forward to working with her to advance our shared academic priorities, including the important work underway to close equity gaps across the University of California and to diversify our professoriate.”

A California native, Newman has deep UC roots. She earned a B.A. degree in Philosophy and Sociology from UC San Diego, then went on to earn a Ph.D. in Anthropology at UC Berkeley. She began her teaching career at Berkeley Law in the then newly-formed Ph.D. program in Jurisprudence and Social Policy.

She has since held numerous academic leadership positions, while continuing to teach and publish scholarly works in her field.

“It is the honor of a lifetime to return to the University of California, my alma mater twice over as an undergraduate and a graduate student. I lost count at 9 in totaling up the number of people, across three generations of my family, who have completed their degrees within the UC system. Its excellence in all spheres — from its remarkable faculty to its extraordinary students — is recognized the world over. I am excited to join President Drake and thank the Regents for this welcome.”

Susan Cochran, Chair of the Academic Senate, said that she believes Newman is the right person for the position.

“I’m pleased that UC will have someone of Dr. Newman’s caliber in the role of Provost during such a critical time for California and its leading research university,” Cochran said. “Provost Michael Brown has done so much to advance student opportunity and equity at the University of California, and I’m confident that Dr. Newman will be equally passionate about continuing that important work.”

Richard Leib, Chair of the Board of Regents, also praised Newman’s selection, noting that she has a long track record of success both as a scholar and an academic administrator.

“Dr. Newman has devoted her professional life to academia because she understands its significant value,” Leib said. “Higher education is transformative for individuals and for our communities as a whole. Dr. Newman recognizes that and is committed to helping more students come to UC and thrive. I look forward to working with her to lead UC’s efforts in innovation and entrepreneurship as I know that she is the right person to truly make strides in this area. She will help us in advancing the important work of the University of California.”

Among her many accomplishments, Newman worked as the James Knapp Dean of the Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins, the Director of the Institute of International and Regional Studies at Princeton, and was the founding Dean of Social Science at the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study at Harvard. She was the Forbes Class of 1941 Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton and the director of Harvard’s Multidisciplinary Program on Inequality and Social Policy, where she served as the Malcolm Weiner Professor of Urban Studies in the Kennedy School of Government.

Marty Meehan, President of the University of Massachusetts, celebrated Katherine Newman for her service to their university system.

“Katherine has served the University of Massachusetts at both the campus and system levels with distinction in many different leadership capacities, always focused on leveraging the power of public higher education to drive the upward socio-economic trajectory of individuals and communities,” said President Meehan. “We wish Katherine all the best with her new adventure.”

An elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Newman is also the author of 15 books on topics ranging from a sociological study of the working poor in America’s urban centers to middle-class economic insecurity under the brunt of recession.

Her forthcoming book, “Moving the Needle: What Tight Labor Markets Do for the Poor” (co-authored with Elisabeth Jacobs at the Urban Institute), will be published by the University of California Press in April 2023.

Newman’s base annual salary will be $508,000 with a 20 percent signing bonus. As background, UC’s top executives comprise less than one-tenth of 1 percent of all employees. Their combined earnings equate to less than one-half of 1 percent of UC’s systemwide gross compensation. More details on Newman’s appointment may be found here.

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

Time is running out! The signs are so strong, and the evidence is so clear that any person willing to accept the truth can see that the end of the world, as we know it, is near. EVERY sign that is given in [2 Timothy 3] are specifically pointing to our day today. These are the signs showing that the end of the world is near. I tell you, we ARE living in the last days, there can be no doubt. Do not be foolish! Repent while you still have time. Jesus said, “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many I say to you, will seek to enter, and will not be able to.” [Luke 13:23,24].

Listen, we are commanded to seek the Kingdom of God first; not our careers, riches, or anything else. If we seek anything else first, Hell will be our portion. Ain’t no if and or butts about it. Jesus made it clear, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. We cannot serve both God and money [Matthew 6:24]. Oh, how I wish you would understand what I’m trying to convey to you.

You cannot continue your life without absolute focus on the Kingdom of God. Enter by the narrow gate [Matthew 7:13]. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness [Matthew 6:33]. Hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches” [Revelation 2]. Time is running out!

Now learn this lesson from the fig-tree: as soon as its twigs become tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. [Matthew 24:33-42].

I want you to know that throughout Scripture, God is constantly taking His people to a point of decision. To a point in which they need to make a commitment one way or the other. A point in which they need to decide to choose life or death. It’s been that way from the very beginning. In the garden of Eden, God set a tree, the tree of the knowledge of the good and evil and said, “You shall not eat from that tree. For the day you eat from it, you shall surely die”. And so, he set before Adam and Eve a choice

In the book of [Deuteronomy chapter 30:15-20], He gave us a choice, “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

“This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the Faithful and True Witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:  For, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me. And to him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. [Revelation 3:15-22].

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. [Revelation 3:3].

Oh, how I wish you would understand what I’m trying to convey to you! Time is running out! Repent, before it is too late!

By Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

State officials have announced eligibility for the updated Moderna COVID-19 booster and the Pfizer-BioNTech booster has been expanded.

Now children 6 years old and older who have received their initial series of vaccinations can receive the updated Moderna bivalent booster. Children 5 years old and older are approved to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent booster two months after their most recent injection.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these reformulated single dose boosters are referred to as “bivalent” because they are meant to defend against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants which currently make up about 80% of the cases in the United States.

California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly, and Director of the California Department of Public Health and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás J. Aragón made this announcement on Thursday Oct. 13 as experts are predicting that there will be an uptick in COVID-19 cases during the upcoming holiday season

The decision to approve the use of bivalent boosters is in line with recommendations the CDC has made to the public and it is supported by the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup.

“Given the anticipated burden of COVID-19 infections and related illnesses this fall/winter season, the Workgroup believes that the benefits of bivalent booster doses that more closely match currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants will sustain protection against COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths in young children and substantially outweigh any potential risks,” Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup Chair Arthur Reingold, MD, said in a statement addressed to the governors of California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington State.

Medical experts warn that cooler weather will bring a surge of COVID-19 cases at the same time that cases of the flu could make a return this fall and winter. Doctors are promoting flu shots to keep hospital admissions down as health systems grapple with surging COVID cases.

According to the CDC and official California state estimates, the national 14-day-average for COVID-19 hospitalizations is currently 6,496 while the state average is about 1,818.

According to the state, the number of COVID-19 deaths averaged about 19 per day.

About 72.3% of Californians have received the primary series of vaccinations. 58.6% the state’s population have received the primary series and the booster. Only 37.5% of children 5-11 have received the primary series of vaccinations.

Eligible Californians can speak with their doctor, visit MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255 for more information to make a vaccine or booster appointment.