By Dianne Anderson It’s that time of decade again when people tend to pull down the shades and pretend they don’t hear the knock. But rest assured, the Census enumerators will miss no door, and will likely come around more than once until that form is filled out. Community leaders are urging the Black and ...

Stater Bros. is spreading cheer this holiday season by giving back to the loyal communities it serves.  To brighten the holidays for those in need, Stater Bros. Charities donated over $840,000 to local non-profit organizations that benefit hunger relief and children’s well-being initiatives. Stater Bros. Charities supports critical needs in the communities where Stater Bros. ...

To better meet the needs of patrons of the Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) who may be experiencing homelessness, mental illness or have substance use challenges, LBPL is partnering with the Department of Health and Human Services to explore models of integrating social work into its existing services. With support from the Health Department’s Trauma ...

By Dianne Anderson Advocates and leaders came together last week to brainstorm longstanding problems in the Black community, and hear a panel discussion that delved deeper into what Black leadership means. For years, Dr. Alex Norman has compiled mounds of research across health, welfare, jobs, education, and the social justice system. He said the outlook ...

By Dianne Anderson Ask what Markel Cooper is doing lately, and he usually answers like any identical twin would — in the plural. “We’re working on our credential at this point,” he said. “We’re going to be teaching physical education, and we plan on getting our masters. We’ll probably get into athletic directing, then starting ...

By Dwight Brown NNPA Newswire Film Critic In this #MeToo age, a biofilm about a wrongfully convicted high school football player, who was accused, tried and imprisoned for rape, is timely. The real Brian Banks, the subject of this movie, lived through an ordeal that was tragic, inspiring and often profound, something is lost in ...

The City of Long Beach, in partnership with its nonprofit affiliate, The Long Beach Community Investment Company (LBCIC), and development partner AMCAL Multi-Housing, Inc. (AMCAL), recently celebrated the groundbreaking of Las Ventanas, a 102-unit affordable housing development in midtown Long Beach. “Las Ventanas is the third affordable housing development to begin construction in 2019 and ...

The Long Beach Community College District (LBCCD) has appointed Walter Johnson as the new Senior Director of Facilities Planning, Construction, and Operation.   At Long Beach City College, Johnson will lead the Facilities Department that includes campus construction and renovation, building maintenance, grounds and landscaping, custodial services, transportation, and related services of all District facilities. ...

Long Beach City Manager Patrick H. West named Cynthia Guidry as the City’s Director of the Long Beach Airport (LGB). Ms. Guidry brings 26 years of local government experience in various leadership positions including 14 years in airport management. For the past five years, Ms. Guidry has served as the Deputy Executive Director for the ...

Stating that he wants to continue making a difference for Central Long Beach, Vice Mayor Dee Andrews announced his intention to run for Re-Election to Long Beach’s 6th District City Council seat in next March’s municipal elections. Andrews, known by many central Long Beach residents as the “Son of the Sixth” for his lifelong work on behalf ...