California’s CARE Court Expands to Include Psychotic, Bipolar Disorders
By Bo Tefu | California Black Media A new California state law, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October, is set to expand California's CARE Court program, which aims to better serve residents struggling with severe mental health issues. Senate Bill (SB) 27, introduced by Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana), took effect on Jan. 1, 2026. It broadens the California CARE...
Asm. Sade Elhawary Wrote Bill Extending the Work of the Commission on the State of Hate
By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media A bill authored by Assemblymember Sade Elhawary (D-Los Angeles) and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom will extend the sunset (repeal) date of the California Commission on the State of Hate from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2031. Assembly Bill (AB) 822 allows the California Commission on the State of Hate (CCSH) to...
Borrow a Free State Parks Day-Use Pass with Your County Library Card
SAN BERNARDINO, CA--- San Bernardino County Library would like to remind residents that free day-use access to California State Parks is just a library card away. Through a continued partnership with the California State Library and California State Parks, cardholders can borrow a California State Library Parks Pass from participating County Library branches and enjoy some of the state’s most celebrated outdoor...
Black Caucus Members Assigned to Key Leadership Roles in the State Senate
By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media In December, incoming California Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) announced her leadership and committee appointments for the 2025–2026 legislative session, including several members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC). Senators Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D–Los Angeles), Laura Richardson (D–Inglewood), and Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson (D–San Diego) were appointed to prominent leadership...
Don’t Take the Bait: Venezuela is a Distraction from Trump’s Affordability Crisis
By Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel As families struggle with rent, groceries, and health care costs, Donald Trump is once again trying to drag the national conversation off course - this time with the dramatic capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro has ruled Venezuela as an authoritarian dictator, rigging elections, imprisoning political opponents, and driving millions of Venezuelans into...
A Night of Praise and Unity: Celebration of Gospel to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
FONTANA, CA — As part of the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative weekend, the Inland Empire community is invited to experience an evening of worship, music, and cultural reflection at the Celebration of Gospel, taking place on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. The event will be held at Stage Red Fontana, located at 8463 Sierra Avenue...
2025 in Review: Seven Questions for Assemblymember Mia Bonta, an Outspoken Advocate for Maternal Health and Working Families
By Edward Henderson | California Black Media Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) serves California’s 18th Assembly District (East Bay). She was first elected in a special election on August 31, 2021. Bonta, who says she is guided by a long-standing commitment to educational equity, community safety, and expanding opportunities for working families, has built a legislative record focused on addressing systemic inequities...
Marching Toward the Dream: Riverside to Host 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Walk-A-Thon
RIVERSIDE, CA--- The Riverside community will once again unite in service, remembrance, and collective purpose during the 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Walk-A-Thon, taking place on Monday, January 19, 2026. Organized to honor the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the event embraces this year’s theme, “Marching Towards the Dream,” reinforcing a shared commitment to...
Taking It Back to the Beginning: Inland Empire Churches and Community Unite for the 6th Annual San Bernardino Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade & Extravaganza
SAN BERNARDINO, CA — The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce – Inland Cities East, YouthBuild Inland Empire, and LUE Productions Community Umbrella Services proudly announce the 6th Annual San Bernardino Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade & Extravaganza, a powerful community celebration honoring the life, legacy, and enduring vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Taking it back to the beginning,...
Honoring the Life of Betty Reid Soskin, Nation’s Oldest Park Ranger and Witness to Port Chicago Exoneration
By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media Betty Reid Soskin, the nation’s oldest former active National Park Service ranger and a lifelong witness to and advocate for Black history, died peacefully on December 21, 2025, at her home in Richmond, California. She was 104. Surrounded by family and friends, Soskin closed a life that spanned more than a century of...
