By Dianne Anderson After paying rent, keeping food in the fridge and micro-budgeting, next comes the soaring utility bills after endless days of scorching heat. By then, school shopping is usually the last thing on the list. For families fortunate enough to have a home, even smaller supplies and a few new clothes can be ...

By Dianne Anderson Coming out of pocket for backpacks with supplies can run families anywhere from $50 to $100 at retail, and that’s a big ask for families already living paycheck to paycheck. But just the thought of getting something free is bringing out long lines locally and tens of thousands of families nationally, all ...

By Stacy M. Brown BlackPressUSA Sr Natl Correspondent   The new budget framework approved by Congress may result in sweeping changes to the federal safety net and tax code. The most significant benefits would flow to the highest earners while millions of low-income families face cuts. A new analysis from Yale University’s Budget Lab shows the ...

By Solomon O. Smith California Black Media The Eaton Fire has left a devastating mark on southern California, including the Black and Brown communities of Pasadena and Altadena, where homeowners are grappling with unimaginable loss. Among them is Ruth Hopkins, publisher of The Pasadena Journal, the area’s only Black newspaper. Hopkins lost her family home ...

By Dianne Anderson With the mad rush to keep up with festivities, bundles for the best online deals, and the blur of dazzling lights and delectables –  it can be a tough time of year. But more than likely than not, many parents are in survival mode, scraping together a few small presents, keeping a ...

By Dianne Anderson For some homeless individuals and families in Fontana, more help is on the way. Last month, the city held its ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Path, a model Homeless Prevention Resource & Care Center, providing shelter for up to 120 in need for those referred by the city’s police HOST Team. Full wraparound services for clients ...

By Dianne Anderson If the thermostat appears a lot hotter than usual, it’s not a mirage. Scientists are looking to tag this year as the hottest year ever recorded for planet Earth. It’s likely not the last debilitating heatwave in the IE, but making it out to cooling centers may be harder for some than ...

The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) and Superintendent Mauricio Arellano announced the launch of Vision 2030: SBCUSD SHINES, a transformative initiative aimed at cultivating pride and purposeful futures for students. “I have always firmly believed that every student is brilliant and that it is our responsibility to discover their brilliance,” said Superintendent Arellano. “Our job is to ...

By McKenzie Jackson California Black Media The California vs. Hate Resource Line, established to assist victims of hate crimes and hate incidents in the Golden State, received 823 calls from 79% of California’s 58 counties during its first nine months of operation. The telephone line’s first anniversary is in May. Since its launch, callers have dialed the hotline at 833-8-NO-HATE ...

Riverside University Health System – Public Health (RUHS-PH) launched a maternal health equity campaign, Rallying Around Sisters: Redefining & Strengthening the Village, to address high mortality among pregnant Black women and their infants. The campaign aims to increase awareness of free, local assistance such as prenatal education, doula services, breastfeeding support and positive parenting classes for fathers. ...