california news

Juneteenth, which commemorates the day in 1863 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned of their freedom, has grown from a celebration primarily within Black communities to a federal holiday recognized nationwide since 2021. This year marks the first Juneteenth under the second Trump administration, which has banned diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in federal government and removed Black American history content from federal websites. Despite this political climate, numerous Juneteenth celebrations continue to be planned nationwide, featuring traditional elements like cookouts, educational panels, and cultural events. The National Urban League's president Marc Morial has emphasized that no one should feel intimidated from celebrating this important historical milestone.

Seven California men have been charged in a $100 million jewelry heist, described as the largest in US history. According to the Department of Justice, the suspects tracked a Brinks truck for approximately 300 miles after it left a jewelry show near San Francisco with 73 bags of valuables in July 2022. Without using weapons, they allegedly stole 24 bags containing gold, gems, and luxury watches while the truck was parked at a rest stop in Lebec, California, as one driver slept and another was having a meal. Some of the stolen jewelry was recovered during search warrant executions on June 16, though it remains unclear how much was retrieved.

Tens of thousands of Americans participated in nationwide protests against Donald Trump on Saturday, uniting under the "No Kings" movement across more than 2,000 cities and towns. The demonstrations, organized by the 50501 Movement, were timed to coincide with Trump's military parade and birthday, with participants expressing concerns about perceived authoritarian leadership. Many protesters carried images of former President Barack Obama as a symbol of democratic ideals they believe Trump is undermining. Though largely peaceful, the protests faced disruption in Minnesota where two Democratic lawmakers were targeted in separate shootings, prompting Governor Tim Walz to describe the incidents as "politically motivated assassination."

A new Pew Research Center survey reveals widespread global skepticism toward President Donald Trump during his second term, with only 34% of respondents across 24 countries expressing confidence in his leadership on world affairs. This negative perception has damaged America's international reputation, with favorable views of the U.S. declining in 15 countries since last year, including steep drops in Mexico and Canada. The survey, conducted between January-April 2025, shows Trump receiving poor ratings on handling major international issues like climate change and the Russia-Ukraine war, with most respondents describing him as "arrogant" and "dangerous." Though Trump maintains strong support among right-wing political groups globally, he lags behind other world leaders in trustworthiness, contributing to diminished confidence in American democracy.

San Diego's City Council narrowly approved a series of amendments to regulate Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) development following significant community backlash, particularly in neighborhoods like Encanto, Clairemont, and North Park. The 5-4 vote introduces new restrictions including caps on unit numbers, parking requirements, and developer impact fees to address what some councilmembers described as "loopholes" being exploited to create dense "granny towers" on single-family lots. During a contentious seven-hour meeting with overwhelming opposition from speakers, councilmembers defended the changes as keeping the ADU program aligned with its original purpose while still maintaining housing opportunities. Pro-housing groups criticized the amendments as barriers for working families, while the California Department of Housing and Community Development warned against provisions that might decrease affordable housing opportunities.

The Trump administration has reportedly removed at least 500 migrant children from their homes across the United States, placing them in government custody following "welfare checks" conducted by ICE and other federal agencies. These operations are part of a broader campaign coordinated through a "war room" inside the Department of Health and Human Services, where officials review data on children who entered the country alone and were later released to sponsors. While the administration claims this effort aims to protect children from unsafe conditions or unqualified sponsors, critics note that new vetting requirements—including income verification, government IDs, and DNA tests—have made it significantly more difficult for parents and guardians, especially undocumented ones, to reclaim their children. The average stay in Office of Refugee Resettlement custody has increased dramatically from 67 days in December 2024 to 170 days by April 2025, with over 2,500 children currently in custody.

Donald Trump's recent comments thanking Elon Musk for his help with "vote-counting computers" in Pennsylvania have raised concerns about election integrity. Following these remarks, a Wisconsin nonprofit has filed a legal complaint against Musk, his America PAC, and United States of America Inc., alleging they violated state election laws by offering monetary incentives to voters. The complaint claims Musk distributed $1 million checks and his PAC paid $100 to registered voters who signed petitions and provided contact information, potentially violating Wisconsin's prohibition against offering anything valued over $1 to encourage voting. This lawsuit follows a previous unsuccessful attempt by Wisconsin's Attorney General to block Musk's activities before the April state Supreme Court election.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's latest Quarterly Report reveals household debt reached $18.20 trillion in Q1 2025, with student loan delinquencies surging dramatically following the end of federal payment protections. Nearly six million student loan borrowers, about 14 percent, were 90+ days delinquent or in default between January and March 2025, compared to below 1 percent during the pandemic payment freeze. The consequences have been severe, with over 2.2 million newly delinquent borrowers experiencing credit score drops exceeding 100 points, limiting their access to affordable financing across various financial products. While non-housing debt categories like credit cards and auto loans saw modest declines, housing-related balances increased significantly, with mortgage balances growing by $199 billion to $12.80 trillion.

of News Articles The news compilation covers several significant political developments in California and national politics. Senator Monique Limón has been unanimously selected as the first woman of color to become Pro Tem Designee of the California State Senate, with the leadership transition scheduled for early 2026. The California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute hosted its annual event celebrating Black women leaders across various sectors. Other articles detail U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters attending former Congressman Charles Rangel's funeral, Senator Alex Padilla being forcibly detained at a Homeland Security press conference, Mayor Karen Bass leading opposition to federal immigration raids, and a Legislative Analyst's Office report showing an 11% increase in retail theft over the past decade in California.