by Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 793 into law on Aug. 28. The legislation is one of the country’s strongest restrictions on flavored tobacco. The bill makes it a crime for any retailer or individual to sell a flavored tobacco product or any tobacco product flavor enhancer in the state. Violation will be punishable by a fine ...

By Quinci LeGardye California Black Media     In the Aug. 16 premiere of the HBO show “Lovecraft Country,” created by Misha Green and based on the novel of the same name by Matt Ruff, the main characters drive past a sign that reads “[N-word]s, don’t let the sun set on you here. Understand?” Towns that banned African Americans in the mid-20th century would, either ...

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent   California Sen. Kamala Harris is Joe Biden’s choice for vice president. Following months of speculation and debate over whether Biden should pick a Black woman as his running mate, Harris was named Tuesday as Biden’s choice. Biden reportedly had called Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), former ...

By Antonio Ray Harvey and Manny Otiko California Black Media This past weekend, the Mississippi Legislature approved the removal of the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag. It’s a sign of the times, historians say, that speaks to the turning spirit of the nation – even happening in a state that has remained a proud stronghold, clinging to enduring customs that nod to a romanticized version of the “Old South.” Gov. Tate Reeves said he will sign the bill into law. The deep south state ...

James W. Sweeney was born in Fresno on July 28, 1948 to the union of Lonnie Lee Sweeney and Evelyn Randle. He is the younger of two sons born to this union. Sweeney’s parents, and his brother Sherman Sr., preceded him in death. While a portion of his childhood was spent in Fresno, where he ...

By Aldon Thomas Stiles California Black Media Kim Kardashian West will likely check “Black or African American” on the US 2020 Census form when marking the race of her children. In several interviews with various media outlets, the famous media personality and businesswoman, who lives in the San Fernando Valley near Calabasas, has said she’s ...

One Year of California for All  By Governor Gavin Newsom There’s no state in America quite like California. In troubled times for the Nation, California is where the American Dream is alive and well. The most diverse state in the world’s most diverse democracy, California is big-hearted, thriving, inclusive and bold. This year, we’ve been ...

By Tanu Henry California Black Media “My cellulitis has become so chronic, if I get scratched, cut, pinched or burned, I’ll have to be admitted to the hospital,” says Angela Agbasi, 64, a Cancer survivor and Los Angeles single mom who drives Lyft and Uber about 30 hours a week to supplement her Social Security ...

Crisis Is Hitting Black Californians the Hardest By Manny Otiko and Tanu Henry California Black Media Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $214.8 billion state spending plan he and legislative leaders are calling “the Affordability Budget” for the 2019-20 fiscal year. It took effect July 1 after the governor hashed out differences with the Assembly and ...

By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media The California Act to Save Lives, AB 392, cleared its first hurdle at the State Capitol. The Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 5-2 in favor of the legislation which is now headed to the Rules Committee for review. Authored by Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), the legislation aims to restrict ...