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The Urban Collaborative Project is launching a stewardship initiative in Southeastern San Diego to address community concerns about maintaining green spaces and trees. The project centers around developing the Brooks Huffman Plaza at Imperial and Euclid as a community gathering place with amenities, while partnering with local schools. This effort grew from community feedback gathered during climate planning sessions that revealed residents wanted more green spaces but worried about their upkeep. Multiple organizations including San Diego Canyonlands, Groundwork San Diego, and several educational institutions are collaborating on the stewardship program, which includes regular Friday events at Chollas Creekside Park. # Key Takeaways

A bankruptcy judge has approved a $7.4 billion settlement requiring Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family to pay for their role in America's opioid epidemic, which has caused approximately 900,000 deaths since 1999. This agreement represents an increase of over $1 billion from a previous settlement that the Supreme Court rejected because it inappropriately shielded the Sacklers from future lawsuits despite them not filing for bankruptcy themselves. Under the new terms, the Sackler family will contribute up to $7 billion and surrender company ownership, with a nonprofit organization taking control to address the opioid crisis going forward. The settlement received overwhelming support from creditors and government groups, though some victims argued it provides insufficient direct compensation, with individual victims receiving up to $865 million total while state and local governments obtain the majority of funds for treatment and prevention programs. # Key Takeaways

The Bywater neighborhood in New Orleans has transformed from a working-class, predominantly African American area into a gentrified arts district with dynamic restaurants, vintage shops, and vibrant street art. Spanning 120 blocks along the Mississippi River near the French Quarter, the area features historic Creole cottages and shotgun houses dating back to the 1840s-1880s, plus Crescent Park, a 2.2-mile linear green space built on formerly abandoned industrial waterfront. While the neighborhood has experienced rising rents and initial Airbnb saturation following Hurricane Katrina, it maintains its eclectic character through independent businesses, experimental cuisine ranging from Mexican to French-Japanese fusion, and community-focused establishments like Frady's One Stop food store. Local residents and business owners express concern about preserving the neighborhood's unique identity and affordability amid ongoing development pressures and demographic changes.

John Beam, a 66-year-old former football coach and current athletic director at Laney College in Oakland, California, was shot on campus Thursday morning and transported to a hospital for treatment. The shooting occurred in the athletics building shortly before noon, prompting a campus-wide lockdown that was later lifted after police determined there was no ongoing threat. Beam gained national recognition through his appearance in Netflix's documentary series Last Chance U, which showcased his coaching career and the Laney Eagles football program. The unidentified suspect, last observed in dark clothing, remains at large while authorities continue their investigation without having disclosed a motive. # Key Takeaways

The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against California over new congressional maps approved by voters through Proposition 50, alleging they constitute illegal racial gerrymandering that violates the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. Attorney General Pam Bondi claims Governor Gavin Newsom orchestrated a power grab to benefit Democrats by creating five new districts that advantage his party, specifically accusing the state of using Latino demographics improperly. The redistricting effort was launched by Newsom as a counter-measure to Republican redistricting in Texas at President Trump's urging, part of broader nationwide efforts to influence the 2026 midterm elections. California officials have defended the voter-approved maps, arguing that previous legal challenges have failed and that the Justice Department is merely intervening in existing state litigation. While gerrymandering for political advantage is legal in the US, using race as the primary factor is unconstitutional.

The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego is presenting its 28th annual production of "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" under the direction of James Vásquez, who has been involved with the show for 23 years. This year's production features Andrew Polec in his fifth appearance as the Grinch, along with nine newcomers among the eleven cast members playing Whos, bringing fresh energy to the beloved holiday tradition. The show combines stunning visual elements, including refreshed costumes and glittering sets, with musical performances that create a communal celebration emphasizing themes of inclusion and compassion. Additionally, the Old Globe is introducing a Spanish-language concert version for the first time, and the theater transforms into a holiday village with festivities extending beyond the performance itself.

Kevin Epps, an award-winning documentary filmmaker and executive editor of the San Francisco Bay View newspaper, is currently standing trial for a 2016 shooting death that occurred when a methamphetamine-intoxicated registered sex offender broke into his home. Although prosecutors initially declined to press charges due to insufficient evidence supporting self-defense, they revived the case three years later using 3D animations from a contractor whose work had been discredited in other high-profile cases. The defense successfully blocked these animations from being admitted as trial evidence, but the damage was already done since they enabled prosecutors to reopen the case. The article argues this prosecution represents structural racism, as a wealthy white homeowner in similar circumstances would likely never face charges under California's Castle Doctrine, which presumes reasonable fear when defending one's home against forced entry. # Key Takeaways

California is revoking 17,000 commercial driver's licenses after a federal audit discovered they were issued with incorrect expiration dates that violated state law requiring licenses to expire when a holder's legal immigration status ends. The Trump administration has characterized these as licenses "illegally issued" to undocumented immigrants and is pushing for stricter verification requirements following a fatal August truck crash in Florida involving a driver without legal status. Governor Newsom's office contends the license holders had valid federal work authorizations but administrative errors led to improper expiration dates, while dismissing the federal government's actions as politically motivated. New federal rules introduced in September would significantly restrict commercial licenses for non-domiciled immigrant drivers, though courts have temporarily blocked their implementation. California's audit is the first completed, with other states' reviews delayed by the recent government shutdown.

Following the 25-year prison sentence of Susan Lorincz for fatally shooting her Black neighbor Ajike "AJ" Owens through a door during a 2023 dispute over children playing, Owens' mother Pamela Dias has channeled her grief into advocacy work. Dias co-founded the Standing in the Gap Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families affected by gun and racial violence through rapid-response grants and legislative advocacy. The organization challenges Stand Your Ground laws and aims to begin distributing grants to families and organizers by 2027. Despite the conviction, Dias emphasizes that no sentence can restore what was lost, but the family continues healing by transforming their tragedy into a movement for justice and community care that honors Owens' legacy. # Key Takeaways

Following the Supreme Court's 2023 ban on affirmative action in college admissions, an Associated Press investigation has revealed significant declines in Black student enrollment at elite universities over the past two years. Analysis of twenty selective institutions shows that nearly all experienced drops in their Black student populations, with some schools like Princeton seeing their Black freshman enrollment cut roughly in half and falling to levels not seen since the Civil Rights era. While some universities attribute the changes to natural fluctuations in applicant pools, students and advocates express concern about losing decades of progress toward campus diversity. The decline occurs amid intensified Trump administration scrutiny of college admissions practices and threatens representation at institutions that historically serve as gateways to social mobility, particularly as Black students comprise about 14% of high school graduates nationally but far less at these elite campuses. # Key Takeaways

The Trump administration is dismantling the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), reducing its staff from 23 career employees to zero, leaving only two political appointees. Originally established by President Nixon to help minority entrepreneurs access capital and business opportunities, the MBDA has served over 12 million minority-owned businesses through a network of more than 130 centers providing technical assistance and guidance. In recent years, the agency helped businesses secure billions in contracts and capital while supporting thousands of jobs, including its landmark Capital Readiness Program that raised $263 million for over 6,300 entrepreneurs in its first year. The authors argue this dismantling represents both a moral and economic failure that will harm not just minority communities but America's overall economic competitiveness, potentially sacrificing $7.1 trillion in untapped economic output.

The author argues that healthcare reform and welfare programs have been deliberately racialized through strategic messaging that falsely portrays them as primarily benefiting people of color, when White Americans actually constitute the majority of recipients. The article specifically criticizes how the Affordable Care Act was rebranded as "Obamacare" and suggests this racial coding was used to manipulate public opinion, particularly among MAGA supporters during a government shutdown. Mainstream media is accused of perpetuating this racial framing by consistently using "Obamacare" instead of the legislation's proper name. The author contends that calling the program by its official name—the Affordable Care Act—might reduce racially-motivated opposition and help people recognize it as a major social insurance program benefiting all Americans, similar to Social Security.

Project AWARE, a grassroots nonprofit organization, held its inaugural fundraising gala on November 8, 2025, marking twenty years since its founding by Reginald Washington. Washington established the organization while incarcerated to provide emotional literacy and restorative justice programs to marginalized youth—skills he lacked during his own involvement with gangs that led to imprisonment. The celebration featured keynote speaker Chef Jeff Henderson, who similarly transformed his life after incarceration by discovering his culinary passion and becoming a successful executive chef and bestselling author. The event honored multiple community leaders and youth recipients while raising funds for Project AWARE's ongoing programs across San Diego County's detention centers, schools, and neighborhoods. # Key Takeaways

The Grind2Gether (G2G) non-profit organization, under CEO Rickey Weaver's leadership, operates a weekly meal service every Sunday evening at 17th and K Street, providing free warm meals to anyone in need without judgment. The organization recently opened a youth center on Imperial Avenue as part of its expanded community outreach efforts. G2G receives support from donors like "I Am My Brother's Keeper" and relies heavily on volunteer participation to maintain its operations. The organization focuses on empowering communities through compassionate service, offering what they call "cooked-up kindness" to those seeking assistance. # Key Takeaways

This is an obituary, not a news article. It commemorates the life of Robbie Jean Williams, who passed away in October 2025 at age 75. Born in Tennessee and raised in San Diego from age nine, she built a successful career spanning over 25 years at Pacific Bell Communications before earning her business degree and working in real estate investment. She married her husband Ken in 1973 and dedicated herself to providing for her family throughout her life despite ongoing health challenges. She leaves behind three children, one grandchild, four siblings, and numerous extended family members. # Key Takeaways

This article commemorates three significant African American figures in history connected to November 13th. James Thomas Rapier, born in 1837, served as a Reconstruction-era congressman who championed civil rights legislation and Black suffrage before organizing migration efforts to Kansas. Ebenezer D. Bassett, who died in 1908, broke barriers as America's first Black diplomat serving as U.S. Minister to Haiti for eight years during a politically unstable period. June Carter Perry, born in 1943, built a distinguished 21-year Foreign Service career that culminated in ambassadorships to two African nations where she advanced democratic values and social programs. # Key Takeaways

The United States government shutdown, which lasted 43 days and became the longest in American history, has ended with federal workers returning to work and suspended services resuming. Senate Democrats initially triggered the shutdown by demanding an extension of healthcare subsidies for low-income Americans, but ultimately reopened the government after receiving only a promise of a Senate vote on subsidies with no guarantees of passage. Democrats, particularly those on the left wing, have criticized Senate leader Chuck Schumer for what they view as a surrender that yielded minimal results, while President Trump celebrated the outcome as a major victory. The political fallout continues as Republicans face the challenge of addressing expiring healthcare subsidies that could dramatically increase insurance costs for millions, while attention has shifted to demands for the release of Jeffrey Epstein investigation files.

President Trump signed a short-term spending bill to end a 43-day government shutdown, the longest in American history, which had left 1.4 million federal workers unpaid and disrupted essential services including food assistance and air travel. The bill passed narrowly after eight Senate Democrats broke with their party to support it in exchange for a promised December vote on healthcare subsidies for low-income Americans, triggering significant internal Democratic criticism. The legislation only funds the government through January 30th, meaning lawmakers will soon face another budget deadline. The deal includes full-year agriculture funding, back pay for federal employees, and extends food assistance programs through September, but Senate Democrats criticized it for failing to address healthcare concerns substantively.

The Governor's Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications held the seventh California Connects regional convening in San Diego on November 5, bringing together approximately 200 participants from community organizations, state agencies, and local partnerships. The daylong event featured interactive workshops, collaborative activities, and plenary discussions designed to strengthen relationships between state and local organizations while improving access to resources and communication channels. Notable speakers included Acting Executive Director Aubrie Fong, California's Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, Assemblymember Christopher Ward, and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, who emphasized the importance of two-way community engagement and collective action. The San Diego gathering was part of an eight-city statewide tour representing California's diverse regions, with the OCPSC working to expand public awareness and increase engagement in local and statewide initiatives since its establishment in July 2022. # Key Takeaways

Republican Kevin Lincoln, a former Marine and Stockton mayor, has announced his candidacy for California's 13th Congressional District, challenging incumbent Democrat Adam Gray in what was one of California's closest House races in 2024. Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi announced her retirement from Congress after nearly 40 years representing San Francisco, prompting tributes from California lawmakers who praised her historic leadership and legislative achievements. California Attorney General Rob Bonta expressed concerns about potential federal interference in the 2026 midterm elections under the Trump administration, citing past attempts to undermine election integrity. Additionally, the FBI issued a warning about criminals impersonating ICE agents to commit violent crimes, while Governor Newsom designated November as Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, highlighting state efforts to support the approximately 720,000 Californians living with the disease. # Key Takeaways

California has launched Operation Feed California, a statewide initiative to address food insecurity affecting 5.5 million residents experiencing delays in federal SNAP benefits during the ongoing government shutdown. Although a federal court ordered the release of emergency funds, the distribution process to individual payment cards will take time, leaving vulnerable populations without crucial food assistance. Governor Gavin Newsom has mobilized California Service Corps members and the National Guard to help with food distribution and fast-tracked $80 million in emergency funding to support food banks facing increased demand. The initiative encourages community involvement through volunteering and donations at local food banks, mirroring California's COVID-19 pandemic response efforts. Single mothers like Tasha Reynolds, who has been waiting over three weeks for CalFresh benefits, represent thousands of working families forced to rely on food pantries while managing their daily expenses.

Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr.'s 1988 presidential campaign represented a pivotal moment when a Black candidate came remarkably close to securing the Democratic nomination, forcing the party establishment to confront its own biases and electability concerns. After winning the Michigan caucuses in March 1988, Jackson briefly held a delegate lead over Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, triggering widespread panic among Democratic Party officials who feared both nominating him and losing in November, as well as alienating Black voters by denying him the nomination. Jackson's campaign combined powerful economic populist messaging with unprecedented grassroots fundraising from small donors, drawing enthusiastic crowds in rural white communities and urban centers alike. However, despite his popular appeal, establishment Democrats' concerns about electability ultimately helped Dukakis secure the nomination, though Jackson leveraged his second-place finish to implement party reforms that would later benefit Barack Obama's candidacy. # Key Takeaways

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed landmark legislation, Assembly Bill 1454, that fundamentally reforms reading instruction for elementary and middle school students throughout the state. The law mandates adoption of new teaching materials and methods based on the "science of reading" approach, backed by a $200 million budget allocation for teacher training and educational resources. This reform emerged after years of negotiations among various education stakeholders who previously disagreed on instructional approaches, finally reaching compromise in April. The legislation aims to address particularly severe literacy gaps affecting Black and Latino students, with data showing only two out of ten Black third-graders reading at grade level, while California ranks poorly nationally in reading proficiency for these demographics.

The California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute is launching SheWorks California, a free workforce development program beginning January 2026 for unemployed, underemployed, and formerly incarcerated Black women in Southern California. The five-month initiative will provide career coaching, skills training, financial literacy education, and direct connections to employers, along with stipends and childcare assistance to remove barriers to participation. The program addresses significant employment challenges facing Black women, including a 6.7% unemployment rate and recent mass departures from the workforce due to federal job cuts. With funding from the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and community resource center partnerships with Blue Shield of California, the initiative aims to enroll 30 women and help them achieve economic mobility through career-focused pathways. # Key Takeaways

Covered California officials are sounding the alarm as a federal government shutdown threatens to eliminate subsidies that help nearly two million residents afford health insurance, potentially causing premiums to spike by 97% in 2026. The Biden-era enhanced tax credits, which expire December 31st without congressional action, were excluded from the recent federal budget bill during negotiations. While California has allocated $190 million in state funds to help lower-income residents, officials warn this cannot replace the scale of federal assistance, and approximately 400,000 enrollees could lose coverage entirely. To combat this crisis, Covered California has launched a "Connectors for Coverage" campaign with community outreach events, particularly targeting Black and Latino neighborhoods where uninsured rates remain high, while open enrollment continues through January 31, 2026.

The Trump administration has fired all employees of the Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, effectively shuttering 11 programs that provide financing to underserved communities nationwide. For thirty years, the CDFI Fund has maintained bipartisan support while facilitating capital access for small businesses, affordable housing, and infrastructure in areas traditionally neglected by conventional banking institutions. The program supported nearly 110,000 businesses and over 45,000 affordable housing units last year alone, mobilizing approximately $300 billion annually through partnerships between public investment and private capital. This elimination occurs during a particularly vulnerable economic period, with Black unemployment rising above 7 percent and small business loan approval rates declining to pandemic-era lows, prompting calls from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers for immediate restoration of the program.

A bipartisan congressional resolution led by Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna aims to compel the Justice Department to release approximately 100,000 files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender who died in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking charges. The effort uses a discharge petition to bypass House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has refused to bring the measure to a vote, and is expected to reach the required number of signatures when newly elected Representative Adelita Grijalva is sworn in and signs it. House Oversight Democrats have simultaneously released emails showing connections between Epstein and President Trump, though Trump denies wrongdoing and has called the matter "a hoax." The push for transparency has gained support across the political spectrum and from Epstein survivors, though the White House has strongly opposed the effort and Johnson has labeled the email revelations as Democratic publicity stunts.

Mary Sheffield's election as Detroit's first woman and Black woman mayor at age 38 marks a significant milestone in the city's 324-year history and contributes to a growing trend of Black women leading major American cities. Sheffield, daughter of a longtime community leader, built her political career on fighting for economic justice and equitable development, starting as Detroit's youngest council member in 2013 and later serving as Council President. She now joins seven other Black women currently serving as mayors of the nation's 100 largest cities, a dramatic increase from just one in 2014, representing a transformation in American political leadership. These mayors are governing through significant challenges including federal shutdowns, SNAP benefit losses, and immigration enforcement issues while maintaining focus on housing, safety, and community equity. The author argues that Sheffield's victory demonstrates how Black women's leadership drives community progress and strengthens democracy during divisive times.

The San Diego Workforce Partnership has opened a new South Bay Career Center in Chula Vista to address the region's elevated unemployment rate of 8%, which is significantly higher than both the county's 5% rate and the national 4.3% average. The center's relocation to 333 H Street provides more centralized access to public transit and brings free career services—including job placement, training, and education resources—closer to South County's nearly 600,000 residents who have historically been underserved by workforce development programs. This expansion is part of a broader strategy to reduce economic disparities in San Diego County, where 25% of families live in deprived areas and many South Bay residents face long commutes to employment centers. The new facility serves as one of several career centers in the county-wide network that assists over 70,000 residents annually with employment and career advancement services.

Two Chicago men, James Gibson and Keith Smith, were wrongfully convicted of a 1989 double murder after being tortured by detectives under the command of Jon Burge, who led a group that abused at least 130 people. Both childhood friends from the same block were coerced into false confessions through brutal physical abuse and served over two decades in prison, losing their parents during their incarceration. Gibson maintained his innocence throughout and was eventually exonerated in 2019, receiving a certificate of innocence and a $14.75 million settlement from Chicago. Smith, however, took an Alford plea in 2012 to secure earlier release and see his dying parents, which legally bars him from receiving compensation despite also being a torture victim. The men, once estranged by anger over perceived betrayal, have reconciled and now support each other despite their vastly different financial circumstances.