By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

The California Surgeon General’s Office has launched a new questionnaire that they believe will help reduce the state’s maternal mortality rate by 50% by December 2026 as part of its Strong Start and Beyond movement.

The Preconception Medical Assessment or PreMA is comprised of eight yes or no questions that can help potential mothers understand how their current health status and history affect a future pregnancy. The Office plans to provide digital links and physical PDFs of the questionnaire and distribute them among women living in communities designated as “high risk.”

“We know that over 85% of maternal deaths in California can be prevented,” said California Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos during an Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC) digital press conference.

“Moms don’t have to die. Our sisters, our mothers, the wives, they don’t have to die. We can save their lives by simply alerting people to the fact that their current health could impact the pregnancy and postpartum.”

Question topics include heart health, high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory issues, drug use and history of surgery.

Once a woman answers the questions, there are general recommendations for care at the bottom of the questionnaire based on the number of ‘yes’ responses they give. Also, at the bottom of the quiz, there are links to resources where people can get information on medical care, housing and other programs providing aid to new mothers.

Additionally, 62% of maternal deaths occur after the baby has been delivered. PreMA can also be effective to monitor health conditions between pregnancies as well to help lower this number.

“There were so many times when I cared for patients and I had to tell them, ‘you’re going to be needing more medical care, or you’re a higher risk pregnancy because of the chronic medical condition that was present before you became pregnant.’ And inevitably, the words that always came out of the people that I cared for was, ‘I wish I would have known. I wish I would have known that there was something that I could have done to improve the outlook for my pregnancy.’”

Black women in the U. S. are more than twice as likely as white women to die due to complications related to maternity and the birthing process, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For Black women in California, the risk of death due to pregnancy complications is four to six times higher than any other ethnic group, according to data from the California Health Care Foundation.

Licensed Doula Ithiopia McKinney is an example of one of those women. McKinney, said at the time of her pregnancy she did not qualify for insurance. According to McKinney, she had to utilize the services of an emergency room. During a visit she found out that there was a bleeding from her placenta caused by high blood pressure.

“If it was something that was caught beforehand, I would have been able to take the necessary steps to fix it with medical care,” said McKinney. “And I would not have had anxiety during my pregnancy. They were even talking about it might be possible that I had to stay in the hospital. I was put on bed rest, but I really couldn’t be on bed rest because I was an immigrant trying to work.”

A Black immigrant, McKinney’s struggles are common for women of color in the United States.

Black women in California experience pregnancy-related maternal mortality rates that are three to four times higher than other women.

“A tool like PreMA would give us the information that we would need before we even think about getting pregnant. Every time you empower a woman, and in terms of their reproductive health, it leads to better outcomes. And so that is one of the reasons why me personally, we started the mobile health planning. No woman would not have that prenatal care that I, unfortunately, had.”

By Angela M. Coggs

Join us for an unforgettable evening of laughter, inspiration, and celebration as the Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation (YWEF) presents A Comedic Celebration of Women’s Empowerment in honor of Women’s s History Month. This empowering event will take place on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 6:00 PM (doors open at 5:30 PM) at the Diamond Gold Event Center, located at 371 W. Highland Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92405.

This special evening will highlight the achievements of six extraordinary women as we honor the 2025 Women Making History award recipients:

• Debbie Flores
• Suzanne Hazel
• Cazzmirr Middleton
• Shonie Perry
• Devona Robertson
• Wendy Whitmore

Tickets are available for $50 per person or $400 per table of eight. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for those who want to support and uplift the empowerment of women in our community.

Come celebrate the strength, resilience, and impact of women in a night filled with laughter and empowerment. Don’t miss this incredible event!

For more information, sponsorship inquiries, or to purchase tickets, please contact Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation or visit ywefoundation@gmail.com

About Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation

The Young Women’s s Empowerment Foundation is dedicated to inspiring, mentoring, and empowering young women to reach their full potential. Through programs, events, and scholarships, YWE Foundation continues to make a lasting impact in the lives of women and San Bernardino and the Inland Empire.

LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — “It is with profound sadness that I share the news of my father’s passing. During this time, my family and I respectfully request privacy as we grieve the loss of our beloved father, grandfather, husband, and extraordinary family patriarch—a man whose strength, wisdom, and love touched so many lives.

Above all, my father was a man of deep faith, and his unwavering belief in God guided every aspect of his life. He instilled in me the importance of faith, integrity, and service, demonstrating what it truly means to lead with purpose and compassion. As both a daughter and a business leader, I am forever grateful for his mentorship, guidance, and the powerful example he set in both family life and professional excellence. He showed me what it meant to lead with integrity, to balance entrepreneurship with parenthood, and to create lasting positive change in our community.

His guiding presence and inspirational spirit will be forever missed. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and care extended to our family from his NBA family, the Louisville community, and beyond.”— Eden Bridgeman, EBONY CEO

By Angela M. Coggs

San Bernardino, CA- On Friday, February 28, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. the San Bernardino community, alongside Congressman Pete Aguilar and Maggie’s Kids Foundation, came together for a historic event the Dr. Margaret B. Hill U.S. Post Office Dedication Ceremony. This special occasion honored the legacy of Dr. Margaret B. Hill, a beloved educator, mentor, and advocate for children, by renaming the San Bernardino Del Rosa Post Office in her memory.

A Lasting Tribute to Dr. Hill

Dr. Margaret B. Hill dedicated her life to education and community service, making a profound impact on the lives of countless students and families in San Bernardino. Through her work as a teacher, administrator, and founder of MaggiesKidsFoundation, she empowered and inspired young people to achieve their dreams. Her legacy of kindness, leadership, and dedication continues to resonate throughout the community.

To ensure that Dr. Hill’s contributions are permanently honored, Congressman Pete Aguilar led efforts to secure the necessary signatures and legislative approval to rename the Del Rosa Post Office in her name. It was not an easy task however Aguilar was determined. This dedication stands as a lasting tribute to her unwavering commitment to education and the youth of San Bernardino.

During the ceremony, Congressman Aguilar, family members, and Maggie’s Kids Foundation representatives officially unveiled the plaque that was installed at the post office immediately after the ceremony. The San Bernardino Postmaster Edwin Mendoza was also present and spoke to attendees about this meaningful tribute and the impact of Dr. Hill’s lifelong dedication to the community.

A Community Celebration

To honor Dr. Hill’s memory, all attendees were encouraged to wear purple, a color that symbolizes her warmth, wisdom, and passion for education.

The event marked a historic moment for San Bernardino, ensuring that Dr. Hill’s name and legacy will live on in a place of everyday importance to the community. Although there was a swift breeze in the air, it was exhilarating to witness the celebration the extraordinary life of Dr. Margaret B. Hill and the lasting imprint she has left on generations to come.

SACRMENTO, CA – Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) named Eunice Abel, a youth advocate and undergraduate student, as 2025 Woman of the Year for Assembly District 45. Assemblymembers, including Ramos celebrated their honorees on the Assembly floor this month.

“Eunice is a tireless and steadfast advocate for young people in the Inland Empire and is dedicated to eliminating inequities,” Ramos said. “She is especially committed to addressing youth homelessness, a legislative priority for me since my election. Even at her young age of 22, she has built an exemplary record of positive action and contributions to our community,” Ramos stated.

Abel, born in Aba, Abia, Nigeria, immigrated to the United States at 11 years old and navigated life as an unaccompanied minor throughout her childhood. She confronted countless obstacles, including unstable housing, poverty and difficulty in accessing an education. This struggle fueled her passion for advocacy and inspired her to become a youth homeless advocate.

“This award is a testament to youth who are fighting to empower other youth, showing that our work is valuable and that standing up for others is not a waste of time,” Abel said.

She has served as a youth ambassador for non-profits that support underprivileged youth. In 2022

Abel was elected Chairperson for the Youth Advisory Board of San Bernardino County where she supported several initiatives to aid homeless youth in San Bernardino County. She later became Youth Leadership Coordinator and revived the Youth Advocacy Summit. This summit brought together legislators, service providers, and youth in San Bernardino County to raise awareness and facilitate meaningful conversation about youth homelessness.

Her advocacy extends to other policy areas that affect the overall well-being of California youth such as food insecurity, immigration and racial equity. Abel will graduate with her bachelor’s degree in public policy this spring from University of California, Riverside.

Only one of several dozen escaped dogs remains at large.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – The City of San Bernardino Department of Animal Services was the victim of an early morning break-in on Wednesday, February 26 at its facility, resulting in the release of dozens of dogs and the discovery of four escaped dogs placed in a nearby trash dumpster. Authorities were on the scene shortly after the break-in and a person of interest is in custody on unrelated charges.

At approximately 4:45 am on February 26th, 2025, police responded to an emergency call for an overnight break-in. The suspect, who gained unlawful access to the premises using bolt cutters, cut the locks multiple kennels, releasing approximately 25 dogs.

San Bernardino Animal Services staff were able to locate and return all of the escaped dogs to the shelter except for one, who still remains at large. Four dogs were found in a nearby dumpster, believed to have been placed there by the person of interest.

“We are shocked by this event,” said Kristine Watson, San Bernardino Animal Services Director.

“The safety and well-being of the animals in our care are our top priority, and this action put many of our dogs in danger.”

The four dogs found in the dumpster were examined by the Animal Services veterinary care team.

All are in good condition and are expected to be available for adoption within
a few days.

The remaining missing dog is a cream Chihuahua named Louise (ID #A576436), who is both spayed and microchipped. Shelter staff are asking for the community’s assistance to help find Louise and have initiated a social media campaign to spread the word.

“We urge anyone with information about the whereabouts of Louise to contact us. Her safety is of utmost concern, and we are hopeful that someone will recognize her and help
us bring her back,” added Watson.

For updates or to report any sightings, please contact the City of San Bernardino Department of Animal Services at 909-998-4000 for any information on Louise.

In the meantime, Animal Services is pleased that the security measures in place at the shelter led to the quick response by the City of San Bernardino Police Department and the Department of Animal Services staff and resulted in the identification of a possible suspect.

“The support from the community as word has gotten out about the break-in has been overwhelming,” said Watson. “There are so many amazing animals at the shelter, we hope this will inspire area residents to visit our shelter to adopt, foster, volunteer, or donate.”

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media 

As California continues to face a severe housing crisis, only 17 % of households can afford to purchase the median-priced single-family home, which is less than half the national average, according to a report by the California Association of Realtors.

Two state legislators, champions of affordable housing, would like that number to increase as Californians experience even higher costs of living post-pandemic.

On Feb. 18, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and Sen. Christopher Cabaldon (D-West Sacramento) introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 736 and Senate Bill (SB) 417, legislation that would place a bond measure on the June 2026 California primary ballot to provide $10 billion to the state’s affordable housing programs.

“All of our communities need it. That’s the reality,” Wicks told California Black Media (CBM) about the state’s need for housing that costs no more than 30% of a household’s gross income. “You see demand in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Everywhere across the state has been hit hard by the housing crisis but a majority of these funds will go to multifamily housing.”

The two bond proposals share the same name, the Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026. If the measures pass out of the Assembly and Senate — and voters approve the ballot proposal — they will provide 35,000 affordable homes and rental housing units while assisting 13,000 extremely low-income and homeless families, Wicks said.

In addition, bond funds would be set aside for farmworkers and tribal housing. They would also preserve and rehabilitate tens of thousands of homes and provide supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness.

“Affordable housing providers have made steady progress toward building more of the housing lower-income Californians need, but there is much more work to do,” Cabaldon stated. “The housing crisis has only been exacerbated in areas impacted by wildfires — disasters that have destroyed homes, tightened rental markets and made it even harder for every community across the state to access the workers, materials, and funding needed to build affordable housing. One of the most important ways California can respond is through a substantial new housing bond.”

Wicks said that 65% of low-income renters in the state are rent-burdened, paying more than 30% of their income toward housing, which leaves them with meager resources for necessities such as food, transportation, educational supplies, and health care.

Wicks and Calbadon’s office shared that the reason for California’s housing crisis is the critical gap between housing supply and demand. According to the Statewide Housing Plan, prices in the state continue to climb. In August 2021, the statewide median sales price of a single-family home landed a new record — $827,940.

The Statewide Housing Plan estimates that California needs approximately 300,000 new housing units annually, including 125,000 affordable units for lower-income households. From 2014 to 2023, the state has produced approximately 13,000 affordable units per year.

“We’re 3.5 million homes shy of where we need to be as a state,” Wicks shared with CBM. “And we need about 1 million affordable units.”

Lack of homeownership has hit Black Californians hard in the last several years, according to various reports. Data from 2019 revealed that 41% of Black families in California owned their homes compared to 68% of White families, according to the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), a 1.5% dip from 1960.

Established in 1975, CalHFA supports the needs of low-and moderate-income renters and homebuyers by providing financing and programs that lead to equity. It is a self-sustained state agency that doesn’t rely on taxpayers’ funding but regularly manages an assortment of state and federal resources on behalf of California.

Since CalHFA’s report was released six years ago, Black homeownership in California has declined much further. According to a Jan. 8, 2025 report by the Othering and Belonging Institute(OBI), minority groups, specifically Black households, have faced lower homeownership rates compared to the state level, highlighting disturbing disparities.

The OBI at the University of California at Berkeley convenes researchers, organizers, stakeholders, communicators, and policymakers to identify and eradicate obstacles to creating an inclusive society.

All racial groups, OBI reported, saw homeownership rates increase, except for Black households, compared to 50 years ago.

Black people residing in California began to dwindle by 2020, but also the percentage of those who own a house dropped from 40% to 35%, OBI presented. The Black community consisted of 5.7% (2,237,044) of California’s total population in 2020, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.

“The drop in the homeownership rate of Black households results in what housing advocates and economists call a ‘racial homeownership gap’ between the share of White households that own homes and the share of Black households that own homes,” OBI’s report stated.

Wicks said the state has previously used similar voter-approved bonds to fund the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing to help increase homeownership across the state.

California’s last housing bond, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2018 authorized $3 billion for various affordable housing programs. These funds were fully allocated by the end of 2024.

AB 736 and SB 417 have the support of members throughout the Legislature, Wicks said. As of Feb. 28, 32 lawmakers signed on as co-authors, which Wicks says, “Is a really good start.”

The two bills should move through the Assembly and Senate concurrently this year to ensure members of both houses have an opportunity to shape final bond proposals. Wicks is adamant that the state leaders will understand “loud and clear” the value and seriousness of the bills.

“We have an audience of three — the speaker (Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas), pro temp (Senate president pro tem Mike McGuire), and Gov. Gavin Newsom,” Wicks said. “I am confident we can get the votes on the bills but how these bonds come together is we build with the grassroots movement within the legislature to pressure our leadership. And that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

By BoTefu | California Black Media

A day after the U. S. House of Representatives voted to approve a resolution cutting nearly $2 trillion from the federal budget, Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) informed Californians that the state will not be able to fill in the anticipated gap in federal funds.

Chairing an Assembly Budget Committee hearing on Feb. 26, Jackson said, “California cannot save you. The cuts are that devastating. That bad. That disgusting. So, if you are on Medi-Cal, if you’re receiving CalFresh, if you are getting housing support, if you’re getting support for childcare, if you’re getting SSI [Supplemental Security Income], you are in big trouble.”

“Given what Republicans have just voted on last night, I just don’t see that California will have what we need to ensure that people will continue to get their payments, continue to get their healthcare, continue to get assistance with their housing,” Jackson stated.

Jackson pointed out that House Republicans from California also voted for the cuts and urged people to “make it clear” to their representatives that they are “voting against the interest of the people they profess to represent.”

A representative from the California Department of Finance who testified at the hearing, said, “We are analyzing all the federal funding we receive, but with that said, there is no way the general fund can backfill the loss of federal funds.”

U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) said she voted “hell no” on the resolution she is calling the “Republican rip-off.”

“I refuse to be complicit in Donald Trump and House Republicans’ attempts to steal from my constituents. Hell no to raising health care premiums by $2,020 a year; hell no on ripping food assistance away from 40 million Americans; and hell no on giving $4.5 trillion in tax cuts to the Billionaire Boys Club,” Kamlager-Dove said in a statement.

By Jasmyne Cannick

To all of the Black journalists who were too dark, wore their hair too nappy or were too plus-size to get hired for television news — we see you.

To all the Black journalists who didn’t have the luxury of J-school — or college at all — who never got that big media break and have been dismissed by those who did — I see you. Your work is just as real, just as necessary, and just as powerful.

To my Black journalists out here doing the work without the backing of a major media machine — watching others get the paycheck, take the credit, collect the awards, and bask in the spotlight, all because you passed along a tip, knowing the story mattered more than your byline — thank you. You deserved better. You still do.

To all my Black journalists who had to pivot to PR or comms because news media wouldn’t hire you — and because, shocker, you actually needed to make a living — while still knowing how to string a sentence together without relying on ChatGPT? We see you. And we know who really has the range.

To the Black journalists who are made to feel like they’re not “real” journalists because they’re not working full-time in a newsroom — miss me with that nonsense. Journalism isn’t just about who signs your checks or what fancy title is on your LinkedIn. It’s about the work. The reporting. The storytelling. The impact.

Whether you’re freelancing, juggling gigs, running your own platform, or working in another industry while still doing the work, you are still a journalist. Your voice still matters. Your stories still shape narratives. And let’s be real — half of these so-called “real” journalists are just repackaging work that independent Black journalists broke first. So keep doing what you do. The industry may not always recognize you, but the people do.

To all the Black journalists who got tired of waiting for a seat at the table and decided to build their own — who launched platforms, built loyal followings, and proved that you don’t need a major outlet’s stamp of approval to tell the stories that matter — this is for you. You refused to be silenced, overlooked, or forced to play by rules that were never meant for you in the first place. You made your own lane, and whether they acknowledge it or not, the industry is watching — and taking notes.

To all the Black journalists who weren’t “corporate news” enough to get hired by a major outlet but somehow stay on speed dial for their reporters, editors, and producers — because they need your contacts, your story ideas, your relationships to make their jobs (and their careers) easier — yeah, I’d say we see you, but let’s be real, we don’t. You do the work, they take the credit. Just know this — I know exactly how that game goes. Personal experience is a hell of a teacher.

To all the Black journalists who put everything on the line to stand on truth, to tell the stories that make people uncomfortable, to challenge power even when it comes at a cost — you are the backbone of this industry, whether they acknowledge it or not.

You don’t just report the news — you expose what they’d rather keep hidden. You ask the questions they’re too afraid to ask. You amplify voices they’d rather silence. And in a world where truth is constantly under attack, your work isn’t just important — it’s essential.

They’ll call you biased, difficult, radical — anything to discredit you — because they know the power of your words, your reporting, your storytelling. But keep pushing. Keep writing. Keep telling the stories that matter. Because history won’t remember the ones who played it safe. It will remember the ones who told the truth, no matter the cost.

And finally, a thank you to the Black, non-corporate-owned media — the ones who know what it’s like to be dismissed, overlooked, and underestimated — who saw us, valued us, and gave us space when mainstream outlets wouldn’t. You’ve been holding it down, telling our stories our way, long before it was trendy. We see you. We appreciate you. And we owe you.

Among her many hats she proudly wears, Jasmyne Cannick is an award-winning journalist. Find her at iamjasmyne.com.

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

It is taking so long to acquire licenses for concealed carry guns in California that some Black and Latino state residents are beginning to suspect the delays are rooted in racial bias or political foot-dragging.

The average wait time for a concealed carry gun license in California can be up to six months or more. This is a significantly longer wait compared to other states that may process licenses within timeframes that span a week to a few months.

Julio Amayo, who works for Los Angeles County training canines, recently applied for a license and was told there would be a 16-to-20 month wait just for the initial interview to see if he qualifies for the license.

“It’s a protection thing. I grew up in South Central Los Angeles back in the ‘90s. It was not uncommon to just go to sleep with gunfire, nightly, or have a helicopter circle your house if something was going on in the neighborhood,” Amayo said. “It’s just a safety thing for me. If these people are walking around with guns and are able to use them for whatever reason, I should be legally able to carry it to protect myself and my family.”

Amayo is not alone.

Black Californians who spoke with California Black Media (CBM) pointed out that some of California’s gun laws are rooted in racism and a fear of Black residents owning firearms. It is well documented that the Mulford Act, grew out of reactions to the Black Panthers in Oakland openly carrying firearms during the 1960s. They are hoping that some of those historical racial biases do not still exist in state policymaking.

They also point out that California’s Democratic state leadership strongly supports restrictions on gun ownership. Therefore, they say, there may not be any incentives built into the state’s bureaucracy to speed up the processing of gun permits.

The California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) and The California Department of Justice (DOJ) are the two agencies in the state that process gun permits. The BSIS has noted that there are a number of reasons for delays, including incomplete or inaccurate applications, federal processing delays, and incorrect fees, among others.

California Black Media reached out to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to inquire about average wait times but, as of press time, the department had not responded.

In 2022, there was a surge in new gun applications after a Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision  determined that New York State’s requirement to demonstrate ‘proper cause’ before obtaining a permit to carry a concealed weapon in most public places was unconstitutional. That decision overturned similar, long-standing gun control laws in California.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta both expressed their disappointment with the Court’s decision, prompting counter measures by the state that critics say may be prolonging the permit issuing process.

“The fact is, individuals who are not law-abiding, responsible citizens simply shouldn’t possess firearms — and they especially shouldn’t be allowed to carry a concealed weapon in public,” said Bonta in a release following the SCOTUS’s decision. “When a gun is placed in the wrong hands, it is deadly. The Second Amendment is not a regulatory straitjacket. We must protect our communities.”

Newsom said gun control laws in California are working.

“Only in America do we see the kind of carnage and chaos of gun violence that destroys our communities and our sense of safety and belonging,” said Newsom. “America is number 1 in gun ownership, and we far surpass every developed nation on Earth in gun deaths – it’s not complicated. In California, we’ve passed common sense gun safety laws and they work: we have a 37% lower gun death rate than the national average.”

After the SCOTUS decision, Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) replaced California’s ‘good cause’ gun control requirements by expanding where concealed firearms are prohibited. It also increased minimum training from 8 to 16+ hours and requires applicants to have ‘good moral character’, which critics say is a vague prerequisite that is subject to the discretion of authorities.

“When there are critical delays accessing a constitutional right, especially around the right to defend oneself and family, you do have to wonder about the impact it’s having on underserved communities and populations,” said gun owner Micah Grant.

“What we definitely don’t want is a system where only the connected and elite can have added assurances and those without are left only to hope,” continued Grant, who is also chair of the board of trustees of CBM.

Craig DeLuz, owner of 2A News and a gun enthusiast for over 10 years, believes that delays in gun processing are having a critical impact on Black and other minority families, considering police response times in certain disadvantaged areas where Black communities are disproportionately located.

“I need to be my own first line of defense. You’re seeing that more and more. You’re seeing even people who weren’t averse to firearms being more proactive in engaging in buying firearms and getting firearms training because they are recognizing the need for self-defense,” said DeLuz.