By Quinci LeGardye California Black Media     Inmate firefighting crews, made up of more than 2,000 inmate firefighters per year, have helped extinguish many of the biggest wildfires in California.     However, once they’re released, they cannot serve in that profession under current law because of their criminal records.     Now, AB 2147, a law that would lift that ...

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 Dr. Maulana Karenga   The recent wave of walkouts and walkaways from playing and practice in protest against the savage shooting of Jacob Blake, first by the Milwaukee Bucks and followed by others in solidarity, i.e., the NBA, the WNBA, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer, is clearly worthy ...

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 Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor John Thompson was the first Black coach to win the NCAA Championship. In 1984, he led the Georgetown Hoyas to victory over the Houston Cougars. In 1985 Thompson was named Coach of the Year.  He coached at Georgetown University from 1972 to 1999.  Thompson was a coach who set ...

By Nsenga Burton, Ph.D., NNPA Newswire Culture and Entertainment Editor The world is reeling from the loss of iconic actor Chadwick Boseman, who died Friday, August 28, after losing a private battle to colon cancer. Boseman died at home surrounded by his family. A statement released by his family said Boseman was diagnosed with stage ...

By Tanu Henry California Black Media Family members, friends, former colleagues and other loved ones across California were shocked to learn about the passing of former Assemblymember Gwen Moore on Aug. 19. Moore was first elected to the state legislature in 1978 and served for 16 years until 1994, representing California’s 49th district (redistricted and renumbered in 1990 as the 47th district), which currently includes Long Beach, Catalina Island and parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties. While ...

Contract with diagnostics company will allow California to process up to an additional 150,000 COVID-19 tests a day with a contractual turnaround time of 24-48 hours Groundbreaking deal will disrupt testing market and drive down cost of tests for everyone; it expands California’s ability to fight COVID-19 and protect essential workers and those most at ...

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent President Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire to dismantle the United States Postal Service or revamp the agency in a way that has angered Democrats and others who said it’s a tactic to prevent mail-in voting for the upcoming election. The CARES Act ...

By Dianne Anderson If seen to completion, an initial 112-page report of the city of Long Beach Racial Equity and Reconciliation Initiative features numerous goals, strategies and action items that community members say hold the key to end racial inequities and lack of access. It’s all part of the city’s recognition of the need for ...