california news

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) has reported 1,180 hate incidents across 49 counties in 2024 through the CA vs Hate hotline and online portal, a multilingual resource providing support to victims and witnesses of hate crimes. More than two-thirds of those reporting requested counseling, legal assistance, or other resources, with racial or ethnic bias mentioned in 44% of reports. Despite a slight decrease in anti-Black hate crime events from 518 in 2023 to 494 in 2024, Black individuals remain the most-targeted racial group for hate crimes in California. In response, Governor Newsom has announced $76 million in grants to 347 community groups to protect nonprofits and houses of worship, while Attorney General Rob Bonta's Racial Justice Bureau continues developing strategies to address bias and strengthen responses to hate crimes.

The County of San Diego has officially adopted an $8.63 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which is now available on the County's budget website. The budget, which took effect July 1, prioritizes core services while investing in key areas such as housing, homelessness, behavioral health, public safety, and environmental sustainability. County staff developed the budget with consideration for potential federal and state policy changes, while incorporating public input gathered through hearings, open houses, and written comments. The final budget was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on June 24 following a comprehensive process that began with the release of the recommended budget on May 1 and included budget deliberations held June 3-12.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Trump-appointed Administrator Lee Zeldin has secured a significant court victory allowing it to freeze $20 billion from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund established by the Inflation Reduction Act. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 in favor of the EPA, with two Trump-appointed judges framing the issue as a contract dispute that belongs in federal claims court. This decision affects funds that were originally earmarked for low-income and disadvantaged communities, with 70% intended for these areas. The ruling overturns a previous court decision that had required Citibank to release the frozen funds to the nonprofit organizations to which they had been awarded.

The Mental Bar Coffee, Tea & Wellness Cafe in Encanto recently celebrated its three-year anniversary with a community gathering at its Imperial Avenue location. Owners Tommy and Danielle Walker hosted the celebration for their veteran- and woman-owned business, which has become a cornerstone of Encanto's Black Arts & Culture District. Co-owner Danielle Walker highlighted the significance of reaching the three-year milestone, noting that many Black-owned businesses don't survive that long. Beyond serving coffee and food, the establishment offers wellness information, youth programs, art shows, and functions as a vital community gathering space.

Lisane Basquiat, co-administrator of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, participated in Actively Black's New York Fashion Week event titled "This Is Not a Fashion Show" on September 12th at Sony Hall. Accompanied by her children Raymond and Jessica, as well as her 8-year-old granddaughter Emma, the family modeled clothing from a collaboration between Actively Black and the Basquiat Estate. The event honored several Black cultural icons, including Jean-Michel Basquiat and Ruby Bridges, with Emma reenacting Ruby's historic school integration experience. Lisane expressed deep gratitude for the event, praising Actively Black co-founders Lanny Smith and Bianca Winslow for celebrating important figures in Black history through their fashion presentation.

The University of California community has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming it is violating civil rights laws to restrict academic freedom. The suit challenges the administration's $1.2 billion fine and research funding freeze at UCLA over alleged antisemitism violations. Plaintiffs argue that the government's proposed settlement demands violate university independence by requiring access to private data, ending diversity scholarships, banning overnight demonstrations, and mandating cooperation with immigration enforcement. UC President James Milliken described these actions as "one of the gravest threats" in the university's 157-year history, as the system receives over $17 billion annually in federal support for research and student aid.

California's 39th District State Senator Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson has authored Senate Resolution 56, officially designating September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in California. As an OB-GYN, she emphasizes that while less than 20% of ovarian cancers are caught early, increased awareness can lead to earlier detection and better outcomes. The resolution aims to create a platform for educational campaigns, partnerships with health organizations, and encourage healthcare providers to have proactive conversations with patients about risk factors. Dr. Weber Pierson urges other states to follow California's example, noting that awareness initiatives can help address health disparities, spur policy development, increase research funding, and provide support for survivors and families.

The San Diego City Council is considering a Paid Parking Program for Balboa Park that would implement tiered rates in surface lots while offering discounts for residents and free parking for park employees and volunteers, with revenue dedicated to park maintenance. Additionally, the Council has approved creating a Parking Meter Zone for streets around the park and will implement special-event parking rate increases to $10 per hour near Petco Park for events with over 10,000 attendees beginning September 1. Other recent developments include California Attorney General Rob Bonta issuing guidance to protect immigrants from scams and the adoption of a Residential Tenant Utility Fee Ordinance that prevents landlords from charging tenants more than the actual cost of city utilities, effective August 17, 2025.

Several health care bills awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom's approval aim to improve access to affordable prescription drugs, reduce medical care delays, and enhance privacy protections for Californians. These bills include measures to cap insulin costs at $35 monthly, regulate pharmacy benefit managers, streamline prior authorization processes, and ensure patients receive information about hospital financial assistance. The legislation also includes privacy protections for immigrants seeking medical care and safeguards for abortion information, responding to concerns about federal enforcement and interstate legal conflicts regarding reproductive healthcare.

The NAACP is embarking on an aggressive legal strategy for 2025, with Chief Strategy Officer Yumeka Rushing declaring "We suing everybody" as their rallying cry. This approach revives the organization's historical roots of seeking social change through court battles, similar to the work of NAACP Legal Defense Fund icons like Thurgood Marshall and Constance Baker Motley. The organization has already filed multiple lawsuits challenging actions they view as threats to Black Americans, including suits against the Trump Administration over education policies, and against Texas and Missouri for alleged racial gerrymandering. Beyond litigation, the NAACP is also launching community mobilization efforts like the Fierce Advocacy in Action Town Halls and the Black Voter Defense Fund to protect voting rights and engage Black communities ahead of upcoming elections.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has established a new citrus quarantine across northern San Diego County and part of Camp Pendleton after finding Huanglongbing (HLB) disease in a residential tree in San Clemente. This quarantine, which connects with existing restrictions in southern Orange County, prohibits moving citrus plants and fruit outside the quarantine boundaries without proper treatment. HLB, spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, poses a significant threat to San Diego County's $144 million citrus industry by causing bitter, misshapen fruit and eventually killing infected trees. Officials are actively testing nearby trees, arranging protective treatments, and collaborating with local residents and growers to prevent further spread of this deadly citrus disease.

Afro-Bolivians, though officially recognized in the constitution since 2009, continue to struggle for visibility and acceptance in a country where they're often mistaken as foreigners despite being native Bolivians. Around 23,000 people identified as Afro in Bolivia's 2012 census, with most residing in the remote Yungas region where they depend on coca harvesting and honey production for their livelihoods. Despite some progress through the establishment of the Afro-Bolivian National Council (CONAFRO) in 2011 and the designation of a national day for Afro-Bolivian people, community leaders argue that symbolic recognition has not translated into meaningful structural change or accurate representation in educational curricula. The community maintains its cultural identity through traditional "saya" music and dance, which serves as both a cultural touchstone and a tool for political visibility and protest.

of News Article A memorial event for conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Arizona blended religious service and political rally elements, revealing tensions within the Republican Party between reconciliation and conflict. Erika Kirk, Charlie's widow and newly appointed head of Turning Point USA, delivered a powerful speech advocating forgiveness and love, contrasting with President Trump's subsequent remarks rejecting such sentiments toward opponents. The event showcased potential future Republican leaders including JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., while emphasizing Christian values as central to the conservative movement. Additionally, the event unexpectedly featured a reconciliation between Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, who had previously fallen out over policy disagreements.

The SF Bay View National Black Newspaper is facing a financial crisis, losing an average of $4,000 monthly in 2025 and falling $7,500 behind on rent. Publishers Dr. Willie Ratcliff and Mary Ratcliff are hosting a combination 93rd birthday celebration and brainstorming session on September 24, 2025, at the Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House to generate ideas for saving the publication. The newspaper particularly emphasizes its importance to incarcerated people, crediting prisoner stories published in the Bay View with contributing to California's 30% drop in incarceration rates following the 2011-2013 hunger strikes. The publishers strongly oppose moving to an online-only format as it would cut off thousands of prisoners who rely on the print edition while simultaneously increasing their financial deficit.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation banning law enforcement officers, including ICE agents, from wearing face masks while on duty, effective January 2026. The bill is part of a package of measures designed to protect residents from what Newsom termed "secret police" following controversial immigration raids in Los Angeles. While federal officials claim the state has no jurisdiction over federal operations, the legislation includes exceptions for undercover work, health protection, and tactical gear. Additional bills in the package require officers to identify themselves by name and badge number, restrict immigration enforcement access to schools and hospitals, and mandate that families be informed when officers visit their children's schools.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has strongly criticized FCC chairman Brendan Carr for threatening ABC over Jimmy Kimmel's monologue about Charlie Kirk's death, calling the regulatory pressure "dangerous as hell." Kimmel was indefinitely suspended after suggesting the "Maga gang" was trying to distance themselves from Kirk's killer and making comments about Trump's reaction to Kirk's death. While Cruz disapproves of Kimmel's remarks, he warned that government regulation of media content could eventually harm conservatives when Democrats return to power. President Trump disagreed with Cruz's assessment, while other Republican lawmakers have had mixed reactions to the controversy surrounding Kimmel's suspension.

Chicago churches and community leaders are mobilizing in response to President Trump's threatened federal intervention, which includes immigration enforcement operations and possible National Guard deployment to the city. Reverend Marshall Hatch of New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church urged congregants to carry identification and stay connected with family members to avoid "disappearing" amid the expected crackdown. While details remain sparse, Trump's border czar Tom Homan confirmed federal law enforcement action will begin in Chicago this week, potentially using a military base north of the city for a 45-day operation. Local leaders, including Democratic U.S. Representative Danny Davis, have strongly objected to the intervention, arguing it's unnecessary and unwanted, particularly in Black and Latino communities where trust in law enforcement is already fragile.

Harjit Kaur, a 73-year-old woman who has lived in California for over three decades, was arrested by ICE on September 8 despite regularly reporting to immigration authorities for years after her final asylum appeal was rejected in 2012. Her detention has sparked outrage from the Sikh community and political figures, including California State Senator Jesse Arreguin and Congressman John Garamendi, who criticized the Trump administration's immigration enforcement priorities. While ICE maintains that Kaur has exhausted all legal remedies and must be deported, her family argues that she never opposed deportation but simply lacked the necessary travel documents to return to India. Her lawyer has alleged concerning treatment during her detention, including denial of regular medication, proper seating, and vegetarian meals.

Prologis, a global logistics real estate company, is seeking Planning Commission approval for the San Francisco Gateway project in Bayview Hunters Point, consisting of two three-story buildings spanning over 2 million square feet with parking for 2,000 vehicles. The massive industrial facility would rise over 100 feet tall, bridging Interstate 280 and accommodating trucks on every level. Local community leaders like Kamillah Ealom of All Things Bayview have expressed serious concerns about the project's potential health impacts, specifically citing how dirty air is already causing severe health problems in the predominantly African-American community. Prologis has requested a Special Use District designation that would allow the project to proceed under modified zoning rules.

Two Black men in Mississippi - 21-year-old Delta State University student Trey Reed and 36-year-old homeless man Corey Zukatis - were recently found dead, hanging from trees in separate incidents. Reed's family received conflicting information about his death location and will conduct an independent autopsy after the state completes its report within 24 hours. Civil rights groups including the Equal Justice Initiative, NAACP, and Southern Poverty Law Center are involved, with Congressman Bennie Thompson calling for a federal investigation into both deaths. The incidents have raised serious concerns given Mississippi's history of racism and lynchings, with Brian Fair of the SPLC noting how these deaths evoke the state's troubled past.

Harvard Law School has seen a significant rebound in Black student enrollment for the Class of 2028, with 46 Black students admitted following a dramatic drop to just 19 students in 2024, which had been the lowest since the 1960s. This recovery comes in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's 2023 decision to end race-conscious admissions, which caused Black student enrollment declines across multiple prestigious institutions including Harvard College, UNC, MIT, and Princeton. The enrollment rebound at Harvard Law was achieved through targeted outreach and recruitment efforts led by Black alumni and the Harvard Black Law Students Association, even as the university eliminated diversity offices and ended a minority recruitment initiative for undergraduates. This recovery appears fragile and represents part of an ongoing nationwide struggle for Black student access to elite educational institutions.

The White House under Trump has criticized the Smithsonian Museum of American History for displaying the Immokalee Statue of Liberty, claiming it is "too woke." This paper-mâché sculpture, created by artist Kat Rodriguez, depicts Lady Liberty holding tomatoes instead of a torch and tablet, commemorating the Coalition of Immokalee Workers' 2000 march for fair wages and dignity. An official White House post specifically objected to this alternate depiction of the Statue of Liberty among other exhibits deemed excessively progressive. The article suggests this criticism represents an authoritarian attempt to rewrite history and undermine the recognition of farmworkers' contributions to America, particularly those of immigrants and people of color.

Peter Mutabazi's life transformed dramatically from living as a homeless child on the streets of Uganda to becoming one of America's most recognized foster fathers. At age 15, while attempting to steal from a stranger named Jacques Masiko, Mutabazi instead found a mentor who would change his life by providing him with food, education, and a loving home environment. Now 52 and living in Charlotte, North Carolina, Mutabazi has fostered 47 children and adopted three more, channeling the kindness he received from Masiko into his own mission of helping vulnerable children. After graduating from university and moving to the United States in 2002, Mutabazi now works as a senior child advocate at World Vision while continuing his commitment to foster care and advocacy.

The Trump administration is reviewing signage, exhibits, and materials at federal parks that could be considered "disparaging" to Americans, following a March executive order directing the Interior Department to focus on American achievements and landscape beauty. National Park Service employees were required to flag "inappropriate" content by July 18, with materials about slavery, Native American cultural destruction, and climate change among those identified for review. The Interior Department plans to remove or cover inconsistent signage by September 17, while promising to maintain "full and accurate" historical narratives. Critics argue this directive risks sanitizing American history by removing information about darker historical aspects that should be preserved for educational purposes.

A 21-year-old Black college student was found hanging from a tree at Delta State University in Mississippi, with campus police stating there were no signs of foul play or ongoing threats. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, local police, and sheriff's deputies are assisting in the death investigation. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump has been retained by the student's family to conduct an independent investigation, while U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson has called for FBI involvement. The incident has stirred online rumors evoking Mississippi's history of racist violence, despite the county coroner's preliminary examination finding no injuries consistent with assault.

The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey revealed several demographic and economic shifts in the United States from 2023 to 2024. Income inequality decreased nationally by nearly half a percent as median household income rose slightly from $80,002 to $81,604, with significant drops in ten states and Puerto Rico. The country became more demographically diverse with increasing Asian and Hispanic populations, while the non-Hispanic white population declined. Housing costs increased for both homeowners with mortgages and renters, and fewer Americans changed residences compared to previous years, continuing a downward mobility trend that began before the pandemic. Additionally, the survey showed a higher percentage of unmarried individuals and more people with college degrees across the nation.

The early 2024-25 European soccer season has been marked by a concerning surge in racist incidents targeting Black players across multiple leagues, with anti-discrimination campaigners noting incidents have more than doubled compared to the same period last year. Players like Antoine Semenyo, Christopher Antwi-Adjei, Weston McKennie, and Kylian Mbappé have all been victims of racist abuse from spectators in recent matches. Despite numerous initiatives from governing bodies like FIFA and UEFA, racism persists in soccer stadiums and on social media, leading frustrated players to call for tougher penalties against offenders. FIFA's latest response includes forming a 16-member "Players' Voice Panel" featuring soccer legends like George Weah and Didier Drogba to advise on anti-racism initiatives, while experts debate whether the problem stems from broader political trends or from structural issues within soccer itself.

The Montessori approach to education emphasizes the critical developmental period from birth to age three, when children's brains develop most rapidly. Montessori Infant & Toddler programs provide much more than basic childcare, offering environments designed by specially trained teachers to foster independence, exploration, and development across all areas. These programs also support families through parent education and group experiences. The American Montessori Society (AMS) identifies five essential components for high-quality Montessori education, with approximately 15% of member schools achieving accreditation status. Additionally, over 500 public schools nationwide now offer Montessori programs as a parent choice option, typically admitting students through lotteries due to high demand.

Edward Enninful, after a successful six-year tenure as editor-in-chief of British Vogue, has launched a new media and entertainment business called EE72, featuring a print magazine titled 72. The venture represents Enninful's decision to leave one of fashion's top jobs at age 50 to create something independent and agile, without the constraints of legacy media. Despite challenging times for print publications, Enninful's new magazine notably contains no traditional advertising pages, instead pursuing a business model centered on brand partnerships across digital platforms, print, and events. The inaugural issue features Julia Roberts on the cover, interviewed by George Clooney, and includes diverse content spanning fashion, art, wellness, and design that reflects Enninful's long-standing commitment to inclusivity and diversity.

The Trump administration is redirecting nearly $500 million in federal funding from various minority-serving programs toward historically Black colleges and tribal colleges. This reallocation represents a 48% funding increase for HBCUs and more than doubles funding for tribal colleges, coming primarily from cuts to Hispanic-serving institution grants and other programs. Education Secretary Linda McMahon justified the change by stating they're moving money away from "ineffective and discriminatory programs" toward those supporting student success. The redistribution also includes $60 million for charter schools and $137 million for American history and civics grants, enabled by a stopgap funding bill that gives the executive branch more authority over spending decisions.