Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with words or blows or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance those of whom they suppress.
—Fredrick Douglass
By: Wallace Pate, Esq.
LOS ANGELES, CA
(04.01.26) Since the late 80’s, American dependency Judges ordered 12 million children into foster care without due process, impartial tribunals, trials, in violation of civil rights under color of law at the direction and behest of state Supreme Courts leading to an explosion in foster care that supplied sex traffickers worldwide including Jeffrey Epstein. By suppressing the civil rights of 12 million children, the states collected a shocking $ 1.7 Trillion for foster care under Title IVE of the SSA without due process in the unspeakable secret, nationwide, corrupt, criminal “Kids for Cash” sex trafficking operation engineered by state Supreme Courts to increase the number of foster children to increase the Title IVE foster care funds. This is not the first “Kids for Cash” operation run by judges who violated the civil rights of children appearing before them for money. In 2014, the US Attorney prosecuted two Judges under 18 USC 242 in the notorious Penn “Kids for Cash” scandal. In that case, Judges ordered 600 or more children detained without impartial tribunals for kickbacks from the detention centers. The judges were convicted and sentenced to 29 and 17 years in federal prison, respectively. In contrast to the 2014 case involving two judges, the dependency court “Kids for Cash” sex trafficking operation engineered by state Supreme Courts, involves thousands of judges who ordered 12 million children detained in state foster care since the late 80’s in a comprehensive court corruption scheme to collect $1.7 Trillion
under Title IVE for foster care without due process. The dismantling of this massive sex trafficking operation requires isolating the source, the agency that has authority to ensure thousands of judges and lawyers commit federal crimes and to conceal the crimes and shield the judges and lawyers from criminal accountability – the state Supreme Court. Bottom line, it is counter intuitive to believe thousands of dependency judges in the U.S. randomly chose to commit the same federal crimes on 12 million children for over for four decades to order foster care unless they were following orders from the top and protected from criminal prosecution from the top i.e., the Supreme Court, given the core duty to regulate the legal profession – lawyers – and manage the state judicial
system – judges. The High Court writes the detailed rules of the procedure that govern all lower courts, oversees the disciplinary procedures for attorney misconduct, serve as the highest authority, supervising lower courts to ensure efficient administration and uniform application of the law, adopt and enforce the Code of Judicial Conduct, setting the ethical standards for all judges within the state, creates and amends rules of practice and procedure for all state courts, ensuring consistency in how cases are processed, manage the professional conduct, continuing education, and general operations of the judiciary. In most states, the State Bar is under the direct supervision of the state Supreme Court, created to manage the legal profession.
The state Supreme Courts gutted due process and turned foster care into the world’s largest child sex supply chain for traffickers, including Jeffery Epstein [FBI 2012, Newsweek 2018]. According to “rights4girls”, Stopping the Foster Care to Child Trafficking Pipeline, “[T]he crisis of child trafficking and exploitation in the US is finally capturing our attention. But, a critical part of the story has not been told. Most of the children who are being bought and sold for sex in our nation are foster children…Our very broken foster care system has become a supply chain to traffickers”.
According to Newsweek, “We Have Set up a System to Sex Traffic American Children” Jan 12, 2018, “Here’s the ugly truth: most Americans who are victims of sex trafficking come from our foster care system. We have failed our children by not fixing the systemic failures that have allowed this to happen for decades. Most people don’t know about our nation’s foster care to sex trafficking pipeline but the facts are sobering. …in a 2013 FBI 70-city nationwide raid, 60 percent of the victims came from foster care or group homes. In 2012, Connecticut police rescued 88 children from sex trafficking, 86 were from the child welfare system. In 2014, New York authorities estimated that 85% of sex trafficking victims were previously in the child welfare system.” In 2025, Los Angeles County paid the rape claims of nearly 7000 former foster children for a record $ 5 Billion. Currently, four hundred thousand [400K] children are
recognized as a Black Rose Award recipient is an honor I will carry with me for a lifetime,” said
of its 34th Annual Black Rose Awards, which recognize leaders making an impact across the Inland Empire.
“Nominations opened last September, and residents from across the Inland Empire submitted the names of individuals who have made a meaningful difference in our communities,” Black Culture Foundation President Carl M. Dameron said. “The committee selected Jonathan G. Beauregard as one of this year’s 10 recipients.”
Black Rose Award recipient Jonathan G. Beauregard is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a 24-year career in providing services for Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health Disorders.
Jonathan began his career in 1998, providing in-prison
substance abuse treatment at the California Department of Corrections facilities at the California Institution for Women and the California Rehabilitation Center.
He went on to obtain his master’s degree and a license in Marriage and Family Therapy, understanding that substance abuse and mental illness affect families and communities.
“When I learned I had been selected, I felt deeply honored to be part of such a meaningful and lasting legacy. To be recognized as a Black Rose Award recipient is an honor I will carry with me for a lifetime,” said Beauregard.
He firmly believes that every problem has a solution. “They may not be easy or feel good at times, but finding solutions comes with strength, endurance and enlightenment. Individuals,
couples or families are provided with a safe environment to confront life’s challenges,” said Beauregard.
Beauregard works with school-aged children ages 5 to 17. He worked with San Bernardino County’s Early Wraparound Program, a strength-based approach that supports youth and their families in identifying their own strengths.
Beauregard has extensive expertise and experience in evidence-based practices for depression, anxiety, trauma, anger and substance abuse disorders. His experience includes motivational interviewing, trauma-informed services and gender responsive services.
In 2020, during the global
Black Culture Foundation Honors Jonathan Beauregard with a Black Rose Award...continued pandemic, Jonathan founded Beauregard Family Therapy Group. His practice is dedicated to serving minority families and individuals, working to dispel myths about therapy and promote healing. As one of the few Black male licensed psychotherapists in practice, Beauregard is committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment where individuals can find support and begin their journey toward healing.
Today, Beauregard Family Therapy Group offers therapeutic services in community and school settings. Beauregard’s extensive expertise in addressing community concerns such as depression, anxiety, trauma, anger, and substance use disorders continues to inform his practice, enabling him to provide valuable insights and support to those facing mental health and substance abuse challenges.
“Join us for the Black Rose Awards Gala on Saturday, September 12, at 5:30 p.m. at Cal
State San Bernardino’s Santos Manuel Student Union, located at 5500 University Parkway in San Bernardino. Don’t miss this inspiring event. Purchase your tickets now on the Black Culture Foundation website to celebrate excellence and culture,” said Dameron.
This year’s recipients include the Jim King Founders Award, which goes to the J.W. Vines Medical Society. Carl M. Dameron received the Dr. Juanita Scott Humanitarian of the Year Award. Other Black Rose Award winners includeAlisha James, Alton Garrett Jr., Anthony Morris, Chache Wright, Dr. Keith Moses, Marcelino “Mars” Serna, Keith Hosea and Tawon Green. For tickets to the gala, visit the Black Culture Foundation website: https://sbbcfoundation. org/events/2024-black-roseawards/. To become a Black Rose Awards sponsor, go to https://blackculturefoundation. square.site/.
Bo Tefu | California Black Media
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to begin this week, California officials say they are ready to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the globe as the state prepares to host 14 matches. That’s more than any other state in the nation.
During a June 5 media briefing, leaders from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Transportation, the California National Guard, local law enforcement agencies, and federal partners outlined extensive preparations already underway to ensure the tournament is safe, secure and seamless.
California will host eight matches in the Los Angeles region and six in the San Francisco Bay Area, including knockout-round contests and the U.S. Men’s National Team’s opening match in Los Angeles.
Caroline Thomas Jacobs, Director of Cal OES, said the state is taking a “whole-ofgovernment” approach to hosting the World Cup and ensuring safety and security.
“The 2026 FIFA World Cup will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world to California, showcasing our communities, our culture and our economy on a global stage,” said Thomas Jacobs. “It requires an extraordinary level of coordination to help ensure everyone can safely enjoy the matches, the fan events, and celebrations that come with the World Cup. Public safety is always our top priority.”
State officials said planning efforts have been underway for more than a year and involve coordination among federal, state, local, tribal and privatesector partners. The preparations include public safety operations, transportation planning, cybersecurity protections, emergency response coordination, intelligence sharing and public information campaigns. The World Cup, which runs
from June 11 through July 19, is the largest in FIFA history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico. California’s 14 matches will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
The state is drawing on lessons learned from previous large-scale events, including Super Bowl LX, which was held in the Bay Area earlier this year.
Officials say many of the same planning frameworks used for the Super Bowl are now being expanded for the World Cup, including real-time intelligence sharing, coordinated emergency response teams, advanced traffic management and transportation operations.
Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol Sean Duryee said, “What an honor. It’s going to be historic. The work has been done, and the foundation has been laid. We are ready. We’re ready to host some historic games.”
Duryee said law enforcement, first responders and emergency managers have done the work to lay out operational plans, transportation plans and contingency plans at the state, county, regional and local levels “in case something goes awry.”
The World Cup is also expected to serve as a major test run for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover recently said organizers will closely study the World Cup’s transportation, security and crowd-management operations as preparations continue for the Olympics.
“What makes the World Cup different from a typical event is the scale duration and complexity of this event. This is not a oneday operation. This is a monthlong international event involving multiple host cities, fan festivals, airports, transportation systems, hotels, critical infrastructure and millions of people moving throughout California every day.”
Thursday, June 11, 2026
By Lasherica Thornton, EdSource
a class project, teacher
strategies that students used to invest in stocks
based learning is an instructional approach
on special assignment for personal
Credit: Lasherica Thornton/ EdSource
On a recent Friday morning, Fresno Unified high school students learned about the rise and fall of major companies in the stock market — from Walmart’s longevity to Apple’s surge past oil companies and Amazon’s emergence as a $1 trillion company.
Earlier that week, students at the Farber Educational Center, an alternative learning campus, had finished a competitive project for their personal finance class. Using $100,000 in pretend money, they invested in the stock market and tracked their strategy’s success.
The state’s third-largest school district, a pioneer in developing these personal finance courses, offers a preview of how educators will meet California’s new high school graduation requirement, teaching students life skills such as banking, managing debt and building wealth.
California will require all high schools to offer a personal finance course starting in 202728, and all students must take the class beginning with the graduating class of 2031. By adding the course at most of its high schools before the legislation, Fresno Unified emerged as an early adopter — so much so that the state tapped one of the district’s educators to help guide the statewide rollout.
Since the 2023-24 school year, Jeff Allen has led the creation and implementation of personal
finance courses across Fresno Unified, helping turn them into some of the district’s most sought-after electives.
The California Department of Education selected Allen to lead the statewide rollout because of his hands-on approach in implementing Fresno Unified’s program. Already, Allen has authored a curriculum guide for the state’s educators.
“He demonstrated a combination of subject-matter expertise and direct, districtlevel implementation experience, along with a strong understanding of scheduling, credentialing and classroom realities,” said Scott Roark, a spokesperson for the state department of education.
‘I wish I had that’
In 2024, the state Legislature added personal finance to what every California high school graduate must learn. Assembly Bill 2927 made California the 26th state to require a stand-alone personal finance course for all public high school students.
Making personal finance a graduation requirement has received little resistance because adults recognize its value, Allen said.
“You say personal finance, and it’s like a universal, ‘Oh, I wish I had that,’” he said. “You do not see that physical reaction (to other subjects) from parents
Riverside Transit Agency Offers “Youth Ride Free” Promotion, Making Summer Break Trips Even Easier
Anyone 18 or younger can ride free on RTA buses through June 30, 2027
WHAT: As Riverside County schools begin summer break, the Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) continues to offer free bus rides for youth. The “Youth Ride Free” promotion is available to anyone 18 or younger and runs through June 30, 2027.
Youth riders may board RTA’s fixed-route and GoMicro buses anywhere and anytime they operate by showing a valid RTA Youth ID, school ID or other proof of age when boarding.
RTA also offers unlimited rides to students participating in the U-Pass or Go-Pass programs. College students attending Cal Baptist University, La Sierra University, Moreno Valley College, Mt. San Jacinto College, Norco College, Riverside City College and UC Riverside can enjoy unlimited rides on RTA buses using the GoMobile app.
For assistance with trip planning, contact RTA’s Customer Information Center at 951.565.5002 or visit
RiversideTransit.com.
WHEN: The Youth Ride Free program is available through June 30, 2027. College students whose schools participate in the Go-Pass or U-Pass programs can enjoy unlimited rides for as long as their school is part of the program.
WHERE: All RTA local and GoMicro buses serving western Riverside County, as well as CommuterLink Express routes serving Riverside, Orange and San Bernardino counties.
WHY: Providing free rides makes public transportation more accessible for youth and connects them to education, recreation and employment opportunities safely and affordably. The program reflects RTA’s ongoing commitment to supporting local families and encouraging lifelong public transit use.
BACKGROUND: At May’s board meeting, RTA’s Board of Directors unanimously approved an extension of the Youth Ride Free program, making it available through June 30, 2027.
and community members the same way that you see it with personal finance because, as an adult, you understand what you didn’t know and how you paid the consequences for it.”
That sentiment resonates with students, too, including 18-yearold Daniel Tecomulapa at the Farber Educational Center.
“I wanted to be better with my finances,” Daniel said.
The practical benefits students receive from learning personal finance has motivated many educators to teach the course. KongMia Her, who teaches the class at Farber, said he wants students entering adulthood to avoid the financial mistakes he made.
“I didn’t have any education,” Her said. “No one taught me at school or at home.”
Fresno Unified personal finance classes
Following a class project, teacher KongMia Her reviewed the different strategies that students used to invest in stocks on May 22, 2026. The projectbased learning is an instructional approach that Jeff Allen, the district’s teacher on special assignment for personal finance, has coached teachers to do.
Credit: Lasherica Thornton/
EdSource
Her is among 17 Fresno Unified teachers this year who are instructing 730 students in the course.
Most Fresno Unified high schools offer personal finance as a yearlong course, though state law will only require one semester. Regardless of length, the district’s personal finance classes already cover the 13 topics mandated under AB 2927.
The lessons on retirement plans, savings, investments and credit scores have been some of the most meaningful for students in Her’s class at Farber.
The teens learned why they didn’t yet have credit scores, for example. During a call to Experian, Daniel discovered he had not owned his credit card long enough to develop a credit profile.
Students also learned how to build and maintain strong credit, including by making payments on time.
“(The class) teaches you to manage money correctly,” 16-year-old Autumn Walker said.
JEFF ALLEN, THE EDUCATOR LEADING IMPLEMENTATION FOR PERSONAL FINANCE
Exposing & Dismantling The Supply Chain
To Sex Traffickers American Foster Care 2026...continued from page 1
trapped in the “Kids for Cash” supply chain like chattel, without due process, without impartial tribunals in violation of the 14th Amendment. The children’s courageous mothers and fathers formed an unprecedented nationwide Parent Whistle Blower Coalition led by veteran civil rights lawyers, Wallace Pate, to expose and dismantle the criminal “Kids for Cash” supply chain, release the children to their families, end child sex trafficking, and hold judges and lawyers accountable to the fullest extent of 18 USC 242 and 241.
The Coalition is a vast, expansive, nationwide, network composed of parents in every state who collected evidence that proves beyond a reasonable doubt, that lawyers committed federal crimes under 18 USC 241 and judges committed federal crimes under 18 USC 242 in every state: no trial on the merits by court appointed lawyers, no advisement of trial rights by judges, no waiver of trial rights by the parent, and foster care orders without due process to increase Title IVE funding.
The coalition data also proves the nationwide coverup that could only be arranged by the Supreme Court in each state as stated above, to wit: the commission on judicial performance is instructed not to discipline dependency judges for ordering foster care without due process which are
California students must soon learn personal finance to graduate. Here’s how it will be taught...continued
Experience: Has taught social science classes in Fresno Unified schools for more than 20 years
Current roles: Fresno Unified teacher on special assignment helping create and implement personal finance courses throughout the district since the 2023-24 school year and lead author chosen by the California Department of Education to write the state’s personal finance curriculum guide and support implementation of the course statewide
“I grew up and I was fortunate enough to have parents that told me the value of putting money into a bank, but that’s where it started and stopped. To see that that’s not even a standard baseline was both discouraging and encouraging,” Allen said.
“Discouraging that that’s where we were, but encouraging that we could bring that information so easily.”
Credit: Lasherica Thornton/ EdSource
Over the past three years, Allen has supported and coached teachers, reviewed lessons and organized professional development.
Because the classes are already aligned with state standards, and most educators are in their second year of teaching the course, Allen is now helping teachers enrich the personal finance classes through community partnerships and programs.
So, teachers are going beyond the classroom, bringing in speakers from local credit unions, Rotary clubs and businesses.
During a financial literacy event at Farber, community organizations presented students with real-life scenarios about how food, housing and transportation costs affect budgets. At McLane High, students use the on-campus bank as part of the course. At Edison High, students pitched business ideas in a “Shark Tank”style project that required them to calculate startup costs, needed investments and profit margins.
The qualifications required to teach personal finance in Fresno Unified will change under the state mandate. Right now, any
federal crimes under 18 USC 242; court appointed appeals lawyers in the CAP program are instructed not to file appeals based on due process violations by the lawyers and judges, that would compel the return of the children, which are federal crimes under 18 USC 241; and the State Bar is instructed not to discipline dependency lawyers for violating the civil rights of their clients which are federal crimes under 18 USC 241.
In addition, dependency cases are confidential in each state with highly restrictive access and severe penalties including contempt of court if information is released without court order preventing media coverage. However, the restrictions do not apply to parents and advocates who expose federal crimes committed by corrupt judges and lawyers that increase and expand Title IVE and the foster care sex trafficking chain.
The search for justice to give voice to the voiceless, dismantle the “Kids for Cash” supply chain, and free 400K children, has strong public support. The mission begins with nationwide exposure of the truth. The “journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step”.
Tao Te Chng.
By: Wallace Pate,
Esq. 4-126, wallacepate2222@gmail. com
teacher with a single-subject credential can teach the course in the district. Beginning 202728, however, only teachers credentialed in four subject areas will be eligible to teach the class. Other school districts aren’t waiting for the state mandate to begin teaching personal finance. Pasadena Unified, Yosemite Unified in Oakhurst and San Luis Coastal Unified have launched courses at multiple high schools. Elk Grove Unified in Sacramento County has offered a course since 2021, with enrollment growing each year.
Supporting teachers and schools
Staffing is often a challenge when schools must add new graduation requirements, but the state’s personal finance law gives districts several years to train teachers before the requirement takes effect.
Allen, who led the rollout in Fresno Unified, wrote the state’s personal finance curriculum guide to help districts create their own courses. He said he authored the guide to make the implementation of the new mandate less daunting for rankand-file teachers.
He intentionally organized the curriculum guide around three questions: why personal finance education matters, what students should learn and how schools can put the course into practice. And Allen continues to support districts as the state rolls out the requirement. Nearly 700 educators registered for a late May webinar he led on legislative requirements, implementation challenges and professional learning opportunities.
Allen highlighted ready-made resources districts can use, including the Next Gen Personal Finance platform, so teachers don’t have to build courses from scratch. Teachers statewide can access hours of professional development on topics ranging from car buying to “buy now, pay later” plans — lessons to pass down to their students.
Allen said personal finance classes generate some of the highest student engagement he has seen. Students enter class eager to pick up where the conversation left off the day before, he said.
“This is clearly seen by families, by students as one of the most, if not the most, relevant topics that they can be exposed to right now.”
By Charlene Crowell
For more than 50 years, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) has been an effective federal safeguard to ensure that Black, Latino, Native Americans and other economically marginalized people have fair access to safe and affordable credit. Enacted with bipartisan support in Congress and signed into law by President Gerald Ford in 1974, ECOA has been a legal backbone in the fight against financial discrimination for literally millions of qualified borrowers.
But this April, the agency created to be the nation’s consumer financial cop on the beat issued a new rule to roll back enforcement of antidiscrimination efforts. The bureau’s proposal will end disparate impact standard for enforcement actions, allow lenders to discourage applicants by race, and limit the use of special purpose credit programs to expand access to credit for women, Blacks, Latinos, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Native-Americans, older Americans, and other economically vulnerable families.
“The amendments represent one of the most consequential shifts in federal fair-lending policy in decades and are likely to prompt litigation challenging key aspects of the rule,” predicted a recent legal blog.
That prediction proved correct.
On May 27, a federal lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by the National Fair Housing Alliance and four other housing organizations that are suing the
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and its Acting Director Russell Vought.
“The statute did not change. The legal decisions did not change. Washington’s commitment did,” said Lisa Rice, NFHA President and CEO. “This reversal by the CFPB is a continuation of this Administration’s efforts to gut fair housing and lending protections.”
“To start, the CFPB failed to identify any concrete problem with the current regulatory regime,” states the lawsuit.
“The CFPB relied on conclusory assertions and speculation, not evidence, to justify its dramatic departure from decades of settled ECOA implementation.
The CFPB’s approach is at odds with the available evidence: As commenters to the proposed rule made clear, public data and research—much of it from the CFPB itself—show that the Final Rule is ill-conceived and likely to harm covered entities and consumers alike.”
The lawsuit also raises the question of Vought’s authority as an Acting CFPB Director. The law that created CFPB explicitly awarded rulemaking authority to Senate-confirmed CFPB Directors, which Vought is not.
According to the advocates, during an abbreviated public comment period, an estimated 64,500 industry participants, including a coalition of 78 civil rights organizations, other consumer advocates, state attorneys general, and Members of Congress, registered their opposition to the reversal.
“The CFPB set an unusually
Protecting the Land by Wasting Less: CalRecycle and 40 Acre Conservation League Kick Off Black Conservation Week 2026 with Youth Land Tour
County/Government News
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
CalRecycle is partnering with the 40 Acre Conservation League to launch Black Conservation Week 2026 with a youth-focused land tour and hands-on composting experience designed to connect Sacramento-area students with California’s natural spaces and the everyday actions that help protect them.
During the tour, middle and high school students will explore the 40 Acre Conservation League’s 650-acre conservation property in Emigrant Gap. They will learn how simple habits, such as putting food scraps in the green bin, choosing reusable items, and cashing in California Redemption Value (CRV) beverage containers at approved recycling sites, can reduce waste, conserve resources, and help keep California’s landscapes clean and healthy for future generations.
The event will also feature an interactive compost
Thursday, June 11, 2026
New CFPB rule turns its back on fair housing... continued
short thirty-day public comment period over the Thanksgiving holiday, failed to employ a small business advocacy review panel, and made not a single material change to the rule in response to tens of thousands of comments, the overwhelming majority of which opposed the rule,” said Janell Byrd-Chichester, National Fair Housing Alliance General Counsel.
Recapping registered opposition comments, the housing plaintiffs found that more than 90 percent opposed dropping disparate impact liability, changes to discouragement protections, and the elimination of Special Purpose Credit Programs that expand credit access for communities that historically face persistent barriers.
“The CFPB needs to follow the law and return to its core mission of protecting consumers and small businesses,” said Paulina Gonzalez-Brito, CEO of Rise
Economy, whose organization is also a plaintiff.
If allowed to stand, CFPB’s new rule will shift the burden of proof in cases of discrimination from the powerful to the vulnerable. It is also a misguided effort to make consumers prove intent instead of analyzing available, fact-based patterns of economic exclusion.
Equity in our nation’s housing finance system cannot be achieved until or unless families of color are afforded equal opportunities to build wealth through homeownership.
Disparate impact rightly places the burden in proving marketplace discrimination on lenders and should be preserved.
“When the agency built to enforce civil rights and protect consumers walks away from the job, the rule of law remains” added NFHA’s Rice. “That is why we are in court.”
Protecting the Land by Wasting Less: CalRecycle and 40 Acre Conservation League Kick Off Black Conservation Week 2026 with Youth Land Tour
organization is helping create new pathways for youth to engage with California’s natural resources and conservation efforts.
“Black communities have always been stewards of the land, even when that history hasn’t been fully recognized,” said Jade Stevens, Executive Director of the 40 Acre Conservation League. “When youth see how their everyday choices can protect the environment, they begin to understand their own power to shape the future.”
Black Conservation Week runs June 14 - 21, celebrating Black environmental leadership and expanding access to nature for all Californians.
About Recycling Reimagined
Recycling Reimagined is a CalRecycle outreach effort promoting simple actions, like redeeming CRV containers and putting food scraps in the green bin, that help create a cleaner, healthier Californian. Visit RecyclingReimaginedCA.com to learn more.
About 40 Acre Conservation League
40 Acre Conservation League is a Black-led nonprofit stewarding a 650-acre property in Emigrant Gap and working to reconnect Black communities to land ownership, conservation, and outdoor education. For more information, visit and follow 40 Acre on Instagram 40 Acre League.
By Morgan Knight, Armani Durham and Zoe Cummings | Howard University News Service
demonstration led by the Association of Compost Producers, where students can examine compost at different stages, sort out contamination from finished compost, and take home the clean compost.
“Partnerships like this help young people see how recycling and composting can strengthen communities and protect the environment,” said Sue Vang, Senior Environmental Scientist at CalRecycle. “We’re proud to support opportunities that empower youth to build sustainable habits and an appreciation for California’s natural resources.”
The 40 Acre Conservation League is a Black-led nonprofit organization dedicated to reconnecting Black communities with land ownership, conservation, and outdoor education. By combining environmental stewardship with cultural connection, the
As the federal government moves toward automatically registering men ages 18 to 25 for the Selective Service System, a long-standing requirement tied to a potential military draft, confusion and concern are growing among young Americans.
The policy shift is intended to streamline the registration process and increase compliance by using existing government databases, such as Social Security and DMV records, rather than relying on individuals to sign themselves up.
While officials frame the change as administrative, many young people say it feels more significant.
John Aden Wilson, a 20-year-old college student who plans to join the D.C. National Guard, said his initial reaction was uncertainty and concern.
“I was a little bit worried,” Wilson said. “It feels like it sets up the future generation to become pawns of whatever administration is in power.”
Although Wilson is already involved in the military in a noncombat intelligence and logistics role, he said his perspective might be different if he had no connection to service.
“If I wasn’t already going into the National Guard, I think I would have been more worried,” he said. “Now it feels less like a choice and more like something that’s forced.”
The United States has not
difference,” Wilson said. “And that lack of clarity is what scares people.”
Misinformation circulating on social media has only added to the anxiety. Some posts falsely claim that automatic registration leads directly to military training or deployment.
“I’ve had people ask me if being registered means they have to go to basic training right away,” Wilson said. “That’s not the case at all.”
Still, he believes social media plays a mixed role.
“It depends on who you follow,” he said. “There’s misinformation out there, but there are also people trying to explain what’s really happening. You just have to be careful about where you get your information.”
Beyond confusion, the policy raises broader concerns about government authority and privacy. The use of centralized databases to automatically enroll individuals has prompted questions about how personal information is being used.
“That’s what worries me the most,” Wilson said. “Where is that
used a military draft since 1973, during the Vietnam War. Still, registration with the Selective Service has remained mandatory for men, though enforcement has historically been inconsistent. The move toward automatic registration changes how that requirement is experienced, particularly for younger generations who may not have been fully aware of it.
Wilson said many people his age misunderstand what the change actually means.
“A lot of people think this means you’re going to be sent off to war immediately, and that’s not true,” he said. “It just means you’re in the system. A draft would have to be officially activated for anything beyond that.”
He added that there is also confusion about the difference between registering and being drafted.
Registering for the Selective Service simply means a person’s information is entered into a system that could be used in the event of a national emergency. Being drafted, however, would only occur if the government officially reinstates the draft and begins calling individuals to serve in the military.
“I don’t think the government has clearly explained that
information going, and how else is it being used? The government doesn’t always have the best track record when it comes to protecting people’s data.”
The change also shifts the symbolic meaning of registration. For some, signing up for the Selective Service was previously seen as a civic duty tied to patriotism. Automatic enrollment removes that element of personal choice.
“Signing up yourself felt like you were doing your part,” Wilson said. “Now it feels like, ‘We already have your name, you don’t have a say.’” At the same time, not all young Americans view the policy through the same lens.
Brock Morgan, who is pursuing his master’s degree at Northwestern University, said military service was never part of his plans and views the potential return of a draft as deeply troubling.
continued on page 6
County Department of Behavioral Health honors Silverado High School educator for promoting mental health
County/Government News
Silverado High School teacher
Lydia Lane has received the 2026 Guiding Light Award from the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), recognizing her exemplary commitment and outstanding leadership in mental health awareness through the Directing Change Film Contest.
DBH leadership proudly visited Lane at Silverado to underscore the transformative impact of creative expression and mental health advocacy within the school community and celebrated the dedication of educators like Lane who inspire positive change and empower students to address important issues through storytelling.
Department leadership was honored to witness firsthand the enthusiastic engagement of students and staff, highlighting the collaborative spirit and innovative approach that makes Silverado High School a beacon for mental wellness.
The Guiding Light Award was established in 2025 to honor educators who serve as mentors and champions for youth, creating safe, supportive, and creative environments where students can express themselves, explore mental health themes and use storytelling to impact their communities. Lane embodies these qualities wholeheartedly, guiding her students through the Directing Change process with compassion, insight and encouragement. During the visit, DBH staff had the opportunity to interview
Lane, discussing her involvement with Directing Change, her commitment to fostering a positive learning environment and her belief in the importance of mental health education in schools and youth programs. Adding to the special moment, Assistant Principal Guadalupe Berzunza joined the visit to show support for Lane and the students involved.
Four women smile for a photo, with teacher Lydia Lane holding the Guiding Light Award.
Students shared their perspectives on filmmaking, their experiences participating in the Directing Change contest and the importance of storytelling in addressing real-life issues. They also asked DBH staff questions about media careers, production and their work in public outreach, an engaging exchange that showcased the students’ curiosity and enthusiasm. In appreciation of their efforts, DBH presented participation certificates to all students and provided behavioral health resources for the school community. The visit underscored DBH’s ongoing commitment to youth engagement, prevention, early intervention and creative partnerships.
Automatic Draft Registration Raises Questions Among Young Americans...continued continued in next 2 columns
By National Women’s Law Center
The National Women’s Law Center released its annual State Child Care Assistance Policies report, finding that the number of children placed on waiting lists for federally funded child care assistance nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025 — and that number has only continued to grow. The report serves as a key resource for state lawmakers, advocates, and policymakers by tracking state child care assistance policies and identifying where states are strengthening support for families and early educators — or falling behind.
“This deeply troubling increase in the number of children on child care waiting lists is the result of a failure to invest in this crucial sector,” said Karen Schulman, senior director of state child care policy and author of the report.
“Since the expiration of tens of billions of dollars in federal child care funding in 2023 and 2024, an already fragile child care system has been pushed even closer to the brink.”
Key findings in the report related to waiting lists for child care assistance include:
• 17 states had waiting lists or a freeze on intake for child care assistance in February 2025, up from 13 states in February 2024.
• Approximately 106,700 children nationwide were added to waiting lists between February 2024 and February 2025, bringing the total to 225,500 children in February 2025 — a 90 percent increase compared to February 2024.
• The numbers climbed even further between February 2025 and summer/fall 2025, with more than 175,000 additional children added to state waiting lists in just a few months — a 78 percent increase.
• At least seven states newly began placing families on waiting lists or freezing intake, while at least 10 additional states saw their waiting lists grow, after February 2025.
The report also includes stateby-state data on key child care assistance policies, including income eligibility limits, parent copayments, provider payment rates, and eligibility policies for parents searching for work.
County Department of Behavioral Health honors Silverado High School educator for promoting mental health...continued from page 3
Thursday, June 11, 2026
New York City artist, journalist and talk show host
Rob Redding is presenting a new drawing concept rooted in negative space and erasure
Tuesday at Soho Project Space during Pride Month ahead of the Juneteenth week release of his forthcoming book Graphic Graphite: Bucking as a Challenge to Racial Narrative.
Redding says the project is built from the testimony of enslaved people and archival accounts of sexual violence against Black men. He explains that the drawings are meant to confront the parts of history that are often avoided.
“I am creating images that come directly from the record. These stories have been documented, but they have not been fully seen,” Redding said. “My goal is to make the viewer engage with what the work makes visible.”
The exhibition, titled A Culture of Queer, is curated by David Biko and Harvey Redding. It introduces this new visual approach as part of a broader conversation about how queer art operates. The work extends Redding’s Constructive Expressionism into a form that asks audiences to consider how
power, desire and memory shape the way history is understood.
“This method requires the viewer to participate in the image,” Redding said. “The act of looking becomes a form of responsibility.”
Redding’s forthcoming book expands this method into a larger body of work. It draws from the WPA narratives, the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano and lesser known archival fragments. The project examines how enslaved men described intimacy, survival and the psychological strategies they used to navigate coercion.
Redding positions the work within a lineage of Black artists and scholars who have shaped the visual and intellectual language of racial memory, including Kara Walker, Glenn Ligon, Kerry James Marshall, Carrie Mae Weems, Lorna Simpson, Vincent Woodard and Saidiya Hartman.
Redding holds a Master of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from Pratt Institute and a Master in Communication from Marshall University. He is the host of the daily talk show “Redding News Review Unrestricted” and the author of 18 books, including 11 number one bestsellers.
Baby Wipes Recalled Due to Life-Threatening Infections...continued
baby wipes. Customers also flagged product discoloration.
“Use of products contaminated with Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioi may result in serious and life-threatening infections,” the notice reads. “The products are predominantly used on newborns, infants, and young children, who are particularly vulnerable to opportunistic infection due to their immature immune systems.”
The use of the recalled product on immunocompromised individuals, including infants and young children, can potentially lead to life-threatening sepsis or pneumonia, as potential infection is more likely to spread into the bloodstream.
What Is Sepsis and How Serious Is It?
Sepsis is a life-threatening immune response to an infection that has entered your bloodstream.
Other Names for Sepsis Are:
Septicemia
Blood poisoning (this is an older term that should not be used as it isn’t an accurate description)
Early sepsis signs can resemble other conditions, complicating early identification. Contact your
healthcare provider if an infection doesn’t improve with treatment or if you suddenly develop a fever or new symptoms. Sepsis can worsen rapidly and become lifethreatening.
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The Sepsis Alliance suggests using the acronym TIME to remember early symptoms in adults:
Temperature (either higher or lower than normal)
Infection (especially a bacterial infection that is not treated and spreads)
Mental decline (meaning sudden changes, confusion, sleepiness)
Extremely ill (shortness of breath, severe pain, or discomfort)
When you are sick with an infection, it can be hard to tell if you are starting to feel worse. Generally, people who develop sepsis will start feeling more tired or confused and may have shaking or chills. Others may not know they
Dr. Damanpreet Jamarai, Medicare & Retirement Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare of California
those everyday connections. What’s good for the heart is good for the brain
Brain health and heart health are closely connected. Conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
For more information about the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health and available resources, visit SBCounty.gov/DBH.
“We are grateful to Ms. Lane and all of the students who welcomed us today,” said Behavioral Health Public Relations and Community Outreach Manager Miranda Canseco-Ochoa. “Our team looks forward to continuing a strong partnership with the school and supporting future opportunities for youth expression and mental wellness.”
“Don’t walk in front of me...I may not follow Don’t walk behind me...I may not lead Walk beside me...just be my friend -”Albert Camus
Wanda Haynes-Certified Sommelier
Gervasi
Baby wipes sold nationwide at a popular retailer are being recalled due to some potentially serious reactions to the products.
Up & Up Fragrance-Free and Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes were pulled off shelves following customer complaints and U.S. Food and Drug Administration testing that identified traces of bacteria in the
products, according to a June 5 notice from the FDA.
Target stores and Turkish manufacturer Sapro Temizlik Urunleri received reports from customers alleging that symptoms like skin irritation, eye irritation, and infections had occurred following the use of the recalled
As more Americans live longer, maintaining brain health is becoming an increasingly important part of overall wellbeing. During Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, and throughout the year, there’s growing awareness that there are simple, everyday ways to support brain health as we age.
Managing these conditions through regular care, medication when needed and healthy habits can help reduce risk over time –supporting both heart and brain health.
Stay active – physically and mentally
Enter
to satisfy even picky youngsters.
Crush House
The Crush House is a contemporary wine bar and eatery housed in a modern industrial style building with indoor and outdoor seating options. Stop in for lunch or dinner and no reservation required.
The Piazza The Piazza is an open-air casual restaurant. Opens in the spring annually. Featuring live music when weather permits. You’ll enjoy watching the swans swim in a nearby pond.
The Twisted Olive The Twisted Olive is a few miles from the main campus and provides a modern dining experience. The contemporary
restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. This is my favorite Gervasi restaurant, providing one pond with lily pads with pink flowers and a second pond with a deep blue fairy tale color.
The Spa I don’t know of anyone who couldn’t benefit from a massage or a day of pampered spa treatments. The spa is available for overnight guests as well as the public.
There is a free shuttle service to get around the vast property and parking is also free.
Italian Collection Gervasi currently offers ten Italian imported wines, from a private label specifically for Gervasi Vineyard. Franciacorta rosé and Amarone Della Valpolicella are my favorite Italian wines at Gervasi. Enjoy while dining they’re not available to be purchased for carryout or shipment.
Gervasi Estate Wines Gervasi's in house wine portfolio is made from grapes in their own vineyard, and juice from other regions.
https://gervasivineyard.com/
kid’s menu is ready and able On Your Next Vacation Visit Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa
Research estimates that around 10% of the 65+ population are living with some form of dementia, and 1 in 9 Americans age 65 and older is living with Alzheimer’s disease. While the numbers are growing, so is our understanding of the small steps within our control that can help delay or even prevent the onset of dementia.
Staying connected matters
One of the most meaningful ways to support brain health is also one of the most familiar: staying connected to others. Research continues to show that strong social relationships are linked to a lower risk of cognitive decline, while isolation can have the opposite effect. That doesn’t have to mean anything complicated. Regular phone calls, time with friends and family or participation in community activities can all help people stay engaged and supported.
Don’t overlook hearing health
Hearing plays an important role in how we stay connected and engaged with the world around us. Untreated hearing loss has been identified as a key, modifiable risk factor for dementia and is tied to both social isolation and cognitive decline.
Because hearing changes can be gradual, they’re easy to dismiss. But checking in with your doctor and addressing any concerns early can help maintain
Staying active is another important way to support brain health. Regular physical activity helps increase blood and oxygen flow to the brain, which may benefit cognitive function.
Just as important is keeping your mind engaged. Activities like reading, learning something new or pursuing hobbies can help strengthen connections in the brain over time. Together, physical and mental activity can help maintain sharpness as we age.
Making prevention part of routine care
Regular check-ins with your primary care provider can help catch changes in memory or thinking early, even when they seem minor. These conversations can lead to earlier support and reinforce the role preventive care plays in long-term brain health. They also provide an opportunity to stay on top of overall health, from managing chronic conditions to maintaining healthy routines.
Small steps, lasting impact
Supporting brain health doesn’t require a major life overhaul. In many cases, it starts with small, consistent steps like staying socially engaged, keeping up with routine care or simply paying attention to changes in hearing or memory.
Prioritizing brain health is a lifelong effort, and it’s never too early or too late to start.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
By David Marshall | Jacksonville Free Press
(TriceEdneyWire.com) — It appears that every week, there is a news story or event that leaves us even more tired and weary of the political climate we live in. At a time when we should be paying increased attention to evolving events, we also face the personal need for emotional and mental breaks from the chaos. Taking that mental offramp to recharge and receive the temporary relief we need is critical. Sports can often be used as that emotional and mental off-ramp. While the same can be said of music and other forms of entertainment, sports have a unique way of uniting people of various backgrounds. This is particularly true when attending live sporting events where sports arenas and stadiums become safe spaces for passionate sports fans to escape the polarizing cultural wars between conservatives and liberals.
David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and the author of God Bless Our Divided America.
David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and the author of God Bless Our Divided America.
At the beginning of every professional sporting event, it has become an American tradition to stand during the playing of the national anthem. By doing so, it represents a moment of
unified respect for our nation that goes beyond race, class, gender, age, political affiliation, and religion. It represents a time before the game when players, coaches, and fans of opposing teams are Americans first, and are joined together as one American team. The national anthem is a few precious minutes where patriotism and unity are established. It establishes an atmosphere of fan camaraderie where MAGA conservatives and die-hard liberals can cheer together for their favorite home team while being free of the political divisions from the outside world. Fans sitting in the stands can be totally unaware of the political persuasions of those around them because political differences are put aside, and support for the home team on the court or field becomes the unifying shared interest of those in attendance. It is a part of the game day experience that can easily be overlooked and taken for granted.
As starting quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, Colin Kaepernick received backlash on multiple fronts when he used kneeling during the national anthem as a means of silently protesting racial injustice and police brutality. At the time, Joe Lockhart was the executive vice president in charge of communications and government affairs for the NFL. He later became a political analyst for CNN. In a column written in 2020, Lockhart stated, “No teams
David W.
Body and the author of God Bless Our Divided America.
wanted to sign a player – even one as talented as Kaepernick –whom they saw as controversial, and therefore, bad for business.”
Colin Kaepernick was not blackballed from the league because of his lack of skills, injuries, or salary demands. He was ostracized because he became a financial liability. “For many owners, it always came back to the same thing,” Lockhart wrote. “Signing Kaepernick, they thought, was bad for business. An executive from one team that considered signing Kaepernick told me the team projected losing 20% of their season ticket holders if they did. That was a business risk no team was willing to take, whether the owner was a Trump supporter or a bleedingheart liberal. As bad of an image problem it presented for the league and the game, no owner was willing to put the business at risk over this issue.”
Looking back, I personally believe he should strategically use his platform as an NFL player in speaking out against racial injustice and police brutality, but his method underestimated the fan reaction when he invaded the political safe zone on game day with controversial social issues. It arguably led to Kaepernick losing his promising NFL career and not being re-signed
by any other team in the league.
Recently, the New York Giants’; starting quarterback was another NFL player who misjudged a politically sensitive situation by introducing President Trump at a MAGA rally. Jaxson Dart’s decision will not cost him his job and career, but it did result in a backlash from a different perspective: The public backlash came from those defending the Black cause, including one of his New York Giants teammates.
Linebacker Abdul Carter initially voiced discomfort with the optics of the event, according to multiple reports. “Some things are bigger than football, and this is one of those things,” Carter told reporters during a press conference. “If he chooses to align himself with a man like President Trump, it’s my responsibility based on what I believe and what I stand on to not only show my teammates that I’m against that, but to show the world.”
Dart, along with other Trump supporters, cannot forget that the majority of players in the NFL are Black. Abdul Carter’s comments refer to the character of a leader. If Dart is accepting the character of an anti-DEI leader, how can he, with any sense of credibility, be the quarterback and leader of a locker room that is predominantly Black? Hopefully, during the private meeting used to repair the fractured locker room, the team will learn that a player in leadership cannot bring racial insensitivity into another version of the NFL safe zone. This is why diversity, equity, and inclusion are always needed to bring racial awareness when needed.
David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and the author of God Bless Our Divided America.
Originally published by Jacksonville Free Press — https:// www.jacksonvillefreepress.com.
Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
The California Civic Media Program’s grants will open in the summer of 2026, with the first round of award decisions and funding distributions expected to be officially announced in the fall of 2026, according to the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).
Referred to as the Civic Media Fund, the program is a $20 million public-private partnership aimed at strengthening local journalism, improving access to reliable information, and increasing community engagement across California. The program is funded by a $10 million appropriation from the state and a $10 million matching contribution from Google.
Regina Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media and a member of the program’s advisory board, said the fund is a “step in the right direction.”
“I believe the Civic Journalism Fund is one of many tools that
will be needed to help save local journalism. It may not satisfy all of the needs that community media, or journalism more broadly, faces at this moment,” Wilson said. “But it does infuse much-needed resources into an industry that has been badly harmed by federal policies and market shifts that began decades ago and have steadily weakened local news.”
Wilson added, “I believe the Civic Journalism Fund is one of many tools that will be needed to help save local journalism. It may not satisfy all of the needs that community media, or journalism more broadly, faces at this moment. But it does infuse much-needed resources into an industry that has been badly harmed by federal policies and market shifts that began decades ago and have steadily weakened local news.”
GO-Biz is California’s primary office for economic strategy, job growth, and business assistance. It serves as the single, centralized
point of contact for companies seeking to start, expand, or relocate within the state.
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) authored Assembly Bill (AB) 886, the “California Journalism Preservation Act,” (CJPA) to put pressure on digital advertising monopolies and major tech platforms like Google and Meta to subsidize local news outlets for utilizing their journalism content.
Wicks said she authored AB 886 to help ensure the sustainability of local journalism, as news outlets across the country are downsizing and closing at alarming rates.
Wicks’s office discovered through a study produced by Northwestern University that an average of two and a half newspapers in the country close every week, and that the United States has lost two-thirds of its newspaper journalists since 2005.
California has lost more than 100 newspapers in the last decade alone.
“The CJPA provides a lifeline for news outlets – large, small, and ethnic – by directing a portion of the ad dollars back to the print, digital, and broadcast media that bear the entire cost of gathering and reporting local news while Big Tech bears none,” Wicks stated after she introduced the bill. “It’s time they start paying market value for the journalism they are aggregating at no cost from local media.”
thorough Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
Applications Open This Summer for the California Civic Media Program Supporting Local Journalism...continued their communities best,” stated Priscilla Enriquez, President and CEO of the James B. McClatchy Foundation.
The nonprofit foundation is in charge of designing overarching program guidelines in conjunction with GO-Biz, while the advisory board independently processes and scores all grant applications ahead of final awards.
“Through longstanding regional partnerships in the Inland Empire and Silicon Valley, and statewide collaboration with community foundations across California, we’re prepared to help ensure this program reaches newsrooms where they are, while fully protecting editorial independence and honoring the leadership of journalists, publishers, and nonprofitnewsrooms who know
Wilson said by setting up the fund to support community news, “the Governor and the Legislature are acknowledging that local journalism matters and that community news organizations play a vital role in informing residents, strengthening civic engagement, and holding institutions accountable.”
“This investment alone will not solve every challenge facing the industry. But it is a meaningful start, and we should continue building on it with additional strategies and long-term solutions that protect and sustain local journalism for future generations,” said Wilson.
Ranking Member Maxine Waters Calls for Urgent Briefing from Top U.S. Financial Institutions on Emerging Cybersecurity Threats Identified by Mythos
Financial News
WASHINGTON, D.C.June 8, 2026- Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, sent a letter to the Chief Executive Officers of leading U.S. financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and Goldman Sachs, demanding an immediate briefing on how they are addressing newly discovered cybersecurity vulnerabilities linked to advanced artificial intelligence.
The letter follows Anthropic’s announcement of “Claude Mythos Preview,” an “extremely autonomous” artificial intelligence model capable of carrying out sophisticated computer security and coding tasks. According to Anthropic, the system has already identified thousands of high-severity vulnerabilities across major operating systems and web browsers, with the company warning that exploitation of these flaws could pose severe risks to the economy, public safety, and national security.
To help navigate the state’s landmark $20 million Civic Media Program, GO-Biz created an Advisory Board consisting of a nine-member panel. The advisory board holds public meetings throughout the year to provide recommendations to GOBiz on the program’s approach and guidelines of the program. Meetings will be noticed on the Civic Media Program webpage.
GO-Biz appointed news industry leaders and journalistic advocates with knowledge of fact-seeking, verification, objective journalism, and the persistent watchdog oversight of the world’s fourth-largest economy to the Civic Media Program Advisory Board.
“An informed public is the foundation of a healthy democracy,” stated Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Gov. Gavin Newsom and Director of GO-Biz.
“By bringing together distinguished leaders from across the state who care deeply about supporting local journalism, expanding access to trusted information, and improving newsroom sustainability, the Civic Media Program will help Californians stay connected to the issues that shape their lives and strengthen their communities,” Myers added.
To ensure strict editorial freedom, GO-Biz appointed the James B. McClatchy Foundation as the third-party administrator for the state funds following a
In the letter, Ranking Member Waters raises concerns about the growing cybersecurity and financial stability risks posed by increasingly powerful AI
systems, as well as a troubling lack of engagement and transparency from major Wall Street institutions.
“I am deeply concerned that the Committee has not been briefed by your banks on how you are confronting the heightened risks of cybersecurity vulnerabilities identified by Mythos, and your efforts to ensure your institutions operate in a safe and sound manner, protect consumers, and mitigate your risks to U.S. financial stability,” wrote Ranking Member Waters. “Bank CEOs’ lack of engagement, as these developments come to light, impairs the Committee’s ability to protect the public and the financial system as we know it from novel and existential AI risks.”
In closing, Ranking Member Waters requests that the banks provide Democratic staff of the House Financial Services Committee with a comprehensive briefing and written responses to a series of questions regarding cybersecurity preparedness, regulatory gaps, internal AI risk-management frameworks, federal coordination protocols, and vulnerability disclosure procedures no later than July 3, 2026.
To him, the decision represents a dangerous step backward.
“It’s a waste of time, resources, taxpayer money and most importantly American lives over something that didn’t need to happen,” Morgan said.
Wilson emphasized that, regardless of perspective, young people should remain engaged, particularly through voting.
“People think once something like this happens, there’s nothing they can do,” he said. “But that’s not true. Elections still matter. Congress still matters. That’s how you push back.” For veterans like Keith Austin, who served nearly 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, the conversation reflects a deeper disconnect between civilians and the military.
“I would fight to protect my country,” Wilson said. “But I think people want to understand what they’re being asked to fight for and why.” As the policy moves forward, that question of purpose, transparency and trust remains at the center of the national conversation.
Morgan Knight, Armani Durham, and Zoe Cummings are reporters for HUNewsService.com
“I think for you to understand the military, you need to have at least been part of it,” Austin said. “The reason we serve is to protect the freedoms people use every day.” But for many young Americans, the issue is less about understanding the military and more about trust in the institutions making these decisions.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
“I discovered part of my true purpose in walking alongside those with a limited time left. I value the trust that patients and their loved ones place in me during such a personal and trying time,” said Carrie Madrid.
Carrie Madrid earned
Certified CareDoula® designation from the School for Accompanying the Dying. As an End-of-Life
RIVERSIDE, CA, The CARE Project, Inc., a Riverside-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals diagnosed with breast cancer, is formally announcing the expansion of its emotional support services to include Endof-Life Doula care. Founded by Stage III breast cancer survivor Carrie Madrid, the organization now offers specialized, nonmedical companionship and advocacy for those nearing the end of life or facing a terminal diagnosis.
Carrie Madrid, who serves as the nonprofit’s President, discovered a profound calling to walk alongside patients during their most personal and trying times after spending eight
years working closely with the breast cancer community. Her experience revealed that many patients and their families yearned for emotional support and companionship beyond traditional settings.
“I discovered part of my true purpose in walking alongside those with a limited time left. I value the trust that patients and their loved one’s place in me during such a personal and trying time,” said Madrid. The services she offers are for individuals who are nearing the end of life or have received a terminal diagnosis with a short life expectancy
Compassionate, Certified Care To meet this need, Madrid
By Jacksonville Free Press
Peabo Bryson, the two-time Grammy Award-winning R&B singer whose powerful voice helped define romantic ballads and Disney movie classics, has died at age 75 after suffering a stroke, according to family members. Bryson passed away June 2 surrounded by family. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Bryson became one of music’s most recognizable vocalists, earning acclaim for both his solo recordings and memorable duets. He won Grammy Awards for “Beauty and the Beast” with Celine Dion and “A Whole New World” with Regina Belle, songs that became signature hits and introduced his voice to generations of listeners.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Bryson launched his recording career in the 1970s and went on to release more than 20 albums. He earned two Grammy Awards, eight Grammy nominations, five gold albums, 25 Top 20 singles and six No. 1 hits during his distinguished career.
earned her Certified CareDoula® designation from the School for Accompanying the Dying. As an End-of-Life Doula, also known as a "death doula", she provides holistic, non-medical support that complements traditional hospice care.
Her services include:
Legacy Projects: Assisting patients in documenting their life stories or creating farewell messages for loved ones.
Vigil Support: Sitting with patients at the very end to ensure they are not alone and to provide respite for family members.
Advocacy and Coordination: Helping patients express their final wishes, setting up their environment for comfort, and facilitating difficult conversations.
Bereavement Support: Providing a compassionate presence for families during the grieving process.
Commitment to the Community
The CARE Project, Inc. remains dedicated to its mission of reducing the financial and emotional burdens of breast cancer. Madrid provides these doula services at no cost to patients who come through the nonprofit. While the organization serves both men and women nationwide through its "Men 2" program, its direct emotional support services remain focused on the Inland Empire of Southern California.
Since its incorporation in 2013,
The CARE Project has provided thousands of dollars in financial assistance for rent, utilities, and treatment co-pays. The addition of End-of-Life Doula services marks a significant milestone in the organization's holistic approach to patient care, ensuring that "no one walks this journey of life and death alone."
The CARE Project, Inc. provides a range of essential services to breast cancer survivors, including:
● Financial support for treatment co-pays, rent, utilities, groceries and transportation.
● Emotional support through peer mentoring and the Survivor Social Club.
● Lymphedema care via a partnership with LymphaDivas, providing compression sleeves, gauntlets and gloves to survivors at no cost.
For more information about these services or to inquire about support, please contact Carrie Madrid, Founder and President of The CARE Project, Inc., at CMadrid@TheCareProjectInc. org, TheCareProjectInc.org, or (951) 742-7405.
About The CARE Project Inc.
The CARE Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to providing financial and emotional support to male and female breast cancer patients. Through direct grants, mentorship programs, and endof-life advocacy, the organization lives by its motto: "Never Stop Caring."
Among his most popular recordings were “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again,” “Can You Stop the Rain,” “Feel the Fire,” and “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love,” his beloved duet with Roberta Flack. His smooth tenor voice and romantic style made him a staple of R&B and adult contemporary radio throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Bryson’s greatest commercial success came through his Disney collaborations. “Beauty and the Beast” won a Grammy Award in 1993, while “A Whole New World” became the first song from an animated film to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned both Grammy and Academy Award honors.
Fans and fellow artists remembered Bryson as one of contemporary music’s premier male vocalists, whose rich voice and timeless recordings left an enduring mark on R&B, soul and popular music. His legacy lives on through a catalog of songs that continue to resonate with audiences around the world.
Is In California! (Bay Area & Los Angeles)
June 11-July 29, 2026
Baby Wipes Recalled Due to LifeThreatening Infections...continued from page 4
have an infection but should note symptoms if they’ve been exposed to someone who is ill or has recently had surgery, an invasive medical procedure, or a wound that breaks the skin.
Pneumonia Symptoms You Should Watch For Chest Discomfort or Pain
Chest pain is one of the most common symptoms. You may experience sharp or stabbing pains, which can happen when you’re breathing or coughing.
Chills
Chills may be a sign of pneumonia. If they also cause you to shake, this is known as rigors. Walking pneumonia, which feels like a bad cold, may only cause mild chills.
Cough
You can have a dry cough or a phlegmy one with pneumonia.
Bacterial pneumonia may present with a mucus-like cough with blood. Viral pneumonia is likely to cause phlegm that is watery or comes with pus.
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Fever
People with pneumonia can develop a fever.
Shortness of Breath
If you have pneumonia, you may have difficulty breathing. Some people require supplemental oxygen or treatments to help them breathe.
Sweaty or Clammy Skin
When your body tries to get rid of an infection like pneumonia, you can have excessive sweating or clammy skin.
What Are Pneumonia Symptoms in Children?
Similar to adults, pneumonia in children may include fever, chills, or labored breathing. Signs of breathing problems for babies specifically include:
Bluish skin and lips
Grunting
Inward muscle pulling between the ribs when breathing Nostril widening during each breath
Rapid breathing
Additionally, look out for symptoms like:
Abdominal pain
Lack of energy
Loss of appetite
Poor feeding in infants (this can lead to dehydration)
Vomiting
Which Products are Affected?
Out of abundance of caution, Target is recalling the following products:
Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes
20 Count: UPC 085239265956
Count: UPC
The Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes are packaged in plastic pouches with each pouch containing 20, 72, or 100 wipes. The wipes were sold individually in 20 and 72 count pouches, a bundle of three 72 count pouches (216 wipes) and 100 count pouches packaged in 800 count and 1200 count boxes. Fragrance Free Baby Wipes with a manufacturing date code of November 07, 2025 (071125X/ XX) to May 5, 2026 (050526X/ XXX) and expiration dates between May 10, 2028 (100528) through November 5, 2028 (051128) The Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes are packaged in plastic pouches with each pouch containing 72 or 100 wipes. The wipes were sold individually in 72 count pouches, a bundle of three 72 count pouches (216 wipes) and 100 count pouches packaged in 800 count boxes.
Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes with a manufacturing code of December 29, 2025 (291225X/ XX) to December 30, 2025 (301225X/XX) and expiration dates between June 29, 2028 (290628) through June 30, 2028 (300628).
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled products and return them to any Target store for a full refund. Consumers can contact Target Guest Relations at 1-800-440-0680 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT daily for more information.
and
(Answers on page 8)
1. Where will you find the smallest bone in the human body?
2. In what European city will you find the famous statue of the Little Mermaid?
3. How many hearts does an octopus have?
4. Which planet in our solar system rotates clockwise on its axis?
5.In the popular children’s movie Toy Story, what is the name of the toy cowboy?
6. What is the only food that is commonly known to never go bad or spoil?
McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media
Lawyers for La-Kebbia “Kiki”
Wilson, a Black woman who won a $15 million racial discrimination lawsuit against the City of Fresno in March, fired back at the city’s motion for a new trial with a pointed response, calling it a distortion of the facts.
Wilson’s attorneys, Gary G. Goyette and Kevin Schwin, said in their 32-page notice to U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California Judge Kirk E. Sheriff that the city presented a “watered-down version of the facts” that ignores egregious conduct Wilson suffered and dismisses the reputational harm caused to her on grounds unsupported by law.
The lawyers, who also represent Wilson’s co-plaintiff Charles Smith, insist the jury’s unanimous verdict was objective and should stand.
“Contrary to the City’s arguments, the jury followed the law,” they wrote in the notice
dated May 20. “The verdict is supported by the evidence and is entitled to great deference by the Court. However, to the extent the Court is inclined to remit the damages, any remittitur must reflect the maximum amount sustainable by the proof.”
The case centers on allegations of years of racial harassment, retaliation, and inadequate oversight within Fresno’s Code Enforcement Department. A federal jury ruled in favor of Wilson, who worked as a Community Revitalization Specialist from 2004 to 2013 and again from 2016 to 2022. The jury also sided with Smith, a former part-time and later full-time Code Enforcement employee, holding the city liable and awarding him $400,000 in damages.
The lawsuit describes repeated racial harassment by supervisor Howard Lacy — including calling Wilson an “entitled n****r” in 2018 — and retaliation after complaints were raised, while Fresno’s leadership failed to respond. The allegations date back as far as the early 2000s. Wilson cried when the jury ruled in her favor.
“I was so happy the jury believed I was the person I said I was,” she said. “For Black people in general, we want people to respect us for who we are -- not what we are stereotyped to be.”
“I wasn’t thinking about money at all,” Wilson added. “I felt vindicated.”
Fresno’s attorneys filed a
Los Angeles Public Library Hangs Soccer Mural to Celebrate the Return of the World Cup to Los Angeles
City/State News
LOS ANGELES June 5, 2026—The Los Angeles Public Library presents World Encounter over El Arroyo Seco, a mural by the East Los Streetscapers, to celebrate the FIFA World Cup. On view through August 2028 to coincide with both the World Cup and the LA2028 Olympics and Paralympics, the mural hangs in the Atrium of the Tom Bradley Wing outside the Art, Music, and Recreation Department.
The large vertical mural depicts two soccer players vying for the ball as they float into space towards a passing satellite. Far below lies the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, its rim mimicking the curvature of the earth.
The East Los Streetscapers (David Botello and Wayne Healy) created this dynamic image in 1994 to capture the global excitement of the World Cup when Los Angeles last hosted the games. The mural—measuring 9’6” x 24’2”—celebrates the potential for sport to unite the globe.
“Los Angeles Public Library is thrilled to pay tribute to the world’s passion for soccer with this spectacular, multi-story mural—World Encounter over El Arroyo Seco—hung inside Central Library’s Atrium,” said City Librarian John F. Szabo. “Although the East Los Streetscapers painted the piece in 1994, their message of hope that international sports can help unite the world resonates today.” World Encounter over El Arroyo Seco was originally installed on the old air traffic control tower over the main entrance to Hollywood-Burbank Airport. It symbolized global peace and friendship, welcoming visitors arriving for the World Cup games. It hung at the airport for a month, and then was placed in storage for more than 30 years. Botello and Healy always work closely together to plan and paint their murals. Of the
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Advisory: Victorville Police Department Conducting DUI Patrols on Friday, June 12th
Victorville, Calif. - The Victorville Police Department will be out June 12, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence (DUI).
“Impaired driving is preventable,” Sergeant J. Snyder said. “It’s a choice. If you’ve been drinking or taken drugs that impair, make the right choice by finding a sober driver or alternate transportation to take you places.”
Victorville Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may
interfere with driving. Always follow directions for use and read warning labels about driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.
Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Victorville Senior Citizens Club 14874 S. Mojave Dr., Victorville, CA 92395
We offer three free visits to participate in club activities such as: Soul/Country Line Dance, Exercise Class, Card Games, Crafts, Billiard, etc. Events – Open to the Public
Bingo: Sat June 13 & 27, Buy-
DOJ Announces $90 Million Medicaid Fraud Indictment in Minneapolis as Acting AG No-Shows
By Clint Combs | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder
two artists, Healy holds the most enthusiasm for soccer, even playing the position of goalie on the Hughes Aircraft Company team. In fact, Healy’s job as an aerospace engineer in the satellite division of Hughes influenced the design concept of satellites and space.
Botello has stated that they often use circles in their murals as symbols of unity and wholeness, and several can be seen in the World Cup mural. The curvature of the earth is also depicted in a number of their murals, a reference to circles and interconnectedness.
Kren Malone, Director of Central Library, said, “Displaying the mural near our Art and Recreation department is a wonderful idea and a nod to both sport and play. It not only highlights the excitement of soccer but also beautifully captures the art of movement and moments of intensity through color and action.”
Inspired by the Chicano Mural Movement, Botello and Healy founded the East Los Streetscapers (originally called “Los Dos Streetscapers”) in the 1970s. The two men remain the core members. They have worked collaboratively painting murals for nearly 50 years, inviting other artists and hundreds of youth to join them on their public art projects. People from diverse backgrounds in their murals reflect the city as a place where culture and traditions are shared, and community flourishes.
“This summer, we are celebrating all things soccer (or fútbol) by holding events in our branches and Central Library with Kick It in the Library, a timely program that coincides with interest in the world Cup” said Mayra Valadez, President of the board of Library Commissioners.
Clint Combs/MSR
15 Indicted in $90 Million Minnesota Medicaid Fraud Case as Acting AG Defends Fund for Trump Allies in Washington
Contributing writer Clint Combs reports on the federal indictments of 15 people accused of defrauding Minnesota’s Medicaid program of $90 million, the presence of RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz at the Minneapolis press conference, the absence of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and the story of stroke survivor Aaron Johnson who has spent years fighting to receive benefits lost in Medicaid fraud fallout.
Federal prosecutors announced indictments May 21 against 15 people accused of defrauding Minnesota’s Medicaid program of $90 million, but the nation’s top law enforcement officer was absent from the Minneapolis press conference where the charges were unveiled.
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche did not attend the event, instead appearing in Washington to defend a $1.776 billion fund that would compensate claims from allies of President Donald Trump, including participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Days before the press conference, the Justice Department released a memo stating the IRS is “forever barred” from investigating past tax returns of Trump and his family.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr.
DOJ Announces $90 Million Medicaid Fraud Indictment in Minneapolis as Acting AG No-Shows... continued
Force will add 11 new prosecutors nationwide to combat growing Medicaid fraud. The expansion comes amid a wave of departures from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota, with prosecutors resigning in protest over the DOJ’s refusal to investigate federal agent Jonathan Ross, who shot and killed Renee Good during an immigration enforcement operation earlier this year.
While federal officials highlighted the fraud cases, a victim of the fraud’s ripple effects raised pointed questions at the press conference. Aaron Johnson, an independent photojournalist, suffered a stroke six years ago. A COVID-19 diagnosis combined with an autoimmune disease left him paralyzed from the neck down. He said years of Medicaid and housing assistance benefits were lost in the fallout from widespread fraud.
“I was approved for Housing Stability Services in December 2023, which came after a fouryear fight to get my disability benefits,” Johnson told the Spokesman-Recorder. “But between December 2023 and right now in May 2026, I just got my first assistance payment in the right amount.”
Johnson’s application for Group Residential Housing, a program that allows renters with disabilities to cap rent at 30% of income, was finally approved in May.
Mehmet Oz joined DOJ officials at the Minneapolis event, where they alleged defendants billed for services never provided, exploited vulnerable children and adults, and used stolen funds to purchase luxury vehicles and real estate.
“My message is this: eat, drink and be merry today, because your days of frolicking and freedom are numbered,” said Colin McDonald, assistant attorney general overseeing the Justice Department’s Fraud and Enforcement Division.
Court filings describe what prosecutors characterize as a multi-year Medicaid fraud operation. In one case, defendants Muhammad Abdulqadir Omar and Ibrahim Bashir Abdi allegedly operated two home health care LLCs as fronts to submit fraudulent claims and falsified case notes, bilking $3.8 million from the state Department of Human Services. Prosecutors allege the two used the money to invest a combined $170,000 in Kenyan real estate and purchase a $60,000 Mercedes-Benz.
Oz referenced a 32-yearold defendant, displaying a blurry still photo of Omar, who allegedly jumped from a fourth-floor balcony before being arrested later that night. “Those people need our help because of that man,” Oz said. “This gentleman, this picture, is one of the reasons that the housing stabilization program in this fine state is shut down.”
DOJ officials also announced that the Health Care Fraud Strike
McDonald offered few specifics. “The president issued an executive order that relates to the establishment of a fund for victims of fraud. President Trump announced that around 60 days ago,” he said. Minnesota officials pushed back on the White House framing, defending the state’s existing anti-fraud efforts.
“The investigators and prosecutors in Attorney General Ellison’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit regularly work alongside federal law enforcement to go after those who defraud Medicaid,” said John Stiles, chief of staff to Attorney General Keith Ellison. “The federal law enforcement agents based in Minnesota who work directly with Attorney General Ellison’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit have never once expressed dissatisfaction with the work of the MFCU, which regularly ranks as one of the most effective Medicaid fraud units in the nation.”
DHS Inspector General James Clark also responded on social media. “My office continues to use our administrative power to shut off money to these and other Medicaid providers as soon as we uncover credible allegations of fraud, which we’ve done more than 600 times over the past 18 months,” Clark wrote. “In fact, we stopped payments to some of the businesses connected to today’s charges more than a year ago.”
Clint Combs welcomes reader responses at combs0284@gmail. com.
At the press conference, Johnson pressed McDonald directly. “I’m a victim of HSS fraud. I hear all these plans to prevent it… is there any course of action? Is there a plan to compensate victims like myself for damages?” he asked.
Woman Who Won $15M Discrimination Lawsuit Against Fresno Fights Back as City Tries to Decrease Her Award ...continued
motion for a new trial or a partial new trial to reduce the damages in April. They wrote that the March 11 judgment in favor of Wilson and Smith “exceeds awards that case law has held excessive, despite more concrete proof of more severe emotional distress in those other cases.”
“Despite a record that objectively supports a sum lower than in other reported cases, this jury returned an award that far exceeds other amounts that have been judicially found to be excessive,” the 30-page motion read. “A trial judge has both broad authority and a duty to intervene where a damages award is excessive. Not only does the size of the verdict alone warrant such intervention, but so do other circumstances that indicate that a judge’s moderation should accompany the jury’s verdict.”
When contacted by California Black Media (CBM), spokespersons for the Fresno City Attorney’s Office and Whitney, Thompson & Jeffcoach LLP declined to comment.
In the days after the trial, Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias urged the city not to appeal, saying further litigation is costly and unjust to Fresno taxpayers.
“The conduct described in this case was wrong and reprehensible and does not reflect the values of our city or the safe, respectful workplace every employee deserves,” Arias said. “It is time for the City to take responsibility, resolve this matter, and learn from the mistakes that were made under the prior city attorney.”
The next hearing is scheduled for June 15, continuing a longrunning legal battle that began with the lawsuit’s filing in 2019.
In their filing, Wilson’s lawyers reiterated her claims — including that Lacy called her lazy and dishonest and pressured coworkers to stay away from her — and argued in favor of the jury’s verdict.
Goyette and Schwin wrote that the jury carefully weighed the evidence over two days, even ruling in the city’s favor on some issues and awarding Smith less
than requested. They said jurors accurately assessed emotional distress damages.
“For these reasons, determinations about ‘intangible, non-economic losses’ are ‘peculiarly within a jury’s ken,’” they wrote. They also argued that the jury’s finding is legally protected and entitled to respect.
“A district court may not grant a new trial simply because it would have arrived at a different verdict,” they said. The amount awarded is tied to the scope and severity of the harm done to Wilson, according to their filing. The attorneys said she experienced intimacy problems with her husband, was diagnosed with anxiety, developed heart problems, and experienced weight gain, insomnia, hair loss, and social withdrawal as a result of what she endured. Wilson’s reputation was also tarnished professionally by years of discrimination and retaliation by Lacy.
“It negatively impacted literally everything that is meaningful in life — her family, her career, her health, and her relationships with other people,” the lawyers said. They also rejected Fresno’s argument that damages should be reduced under federal limits, noting the case includes state law claims that allow higher awards. Wilson said the city tried to portray her as an “angry Black woman,” adding that anyone would react to the treatment she endured.
“Black, white, Hispanic, Asian,” she said. “Anyone would be angry. We need to start normalizing Black women’s anger. I’m not a robot. I get emotional sometimes. Black women are human. I have a right to be upset when people are hurting me.” Wilson said the case is emotional but remains committed to seeing it through.
“They don’t care anything about what this verdict was,” she said about the city. “They acknowledge that something happened but say it wasn’t on their watch.”