Bakersfield News Observer 06.18.25 by Observer Group Newspapers of Southern CA

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Ananda Lewis Remembered for Power, Purpose, and Grace IN MEMORIAM:

Ananda Lewis at LA Direct Magazine’s “Remember to Give” Holiday Party at Les Deux in Hollywood, Ca ( Wikimedia Commons)

By Stacy M. Brown

Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

Tributes have continued to pour in for Ananda Lewis, the former MTV VJ and host of BET’s Teen Summit, one day after her death at the age of 52. Donnie Simpson, the legendary BET host and radio DJ, shared his heartbreak. “I just found out that Ananda Lewis has died and I’m absolutely brokenhearted,” Simpson said. “She had tremendous success at MTV and with her own talk show, but she worked with us at BET before all that. She was only 52 and such a lovely woman, who loved her young son so much.” Actress Holly Robinson Peete paid her respects on X, writing, “Rest well, beautiful Ananda.” DJ Syndicated Sam added, “Ananda Lewis, you are forever an icon. Sending love to her family & friends in this season of bereavement.”

Known for her powerful presence on television, Lewis brought intellect, compassion, and charisma to every platform she graced. A native of San Diego, California, she began making an impact as early as 13 when she volunteered with Head Start while attending the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. She studied theater, vocal music, photography, and dance from the fourth grade through high school. After graduating, Lewis attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a degree in history, graduating cum laude in 1995. She spent her college years

deeply engaged in youth activism, including volunteering with Youth at Risk and working with the Youth Leadership and Development Institute to train young people in leadership, conflict resolution, and parenting.

Her commitment to empowering youth ultimately led her to television. With the encouragement of teenagers she mentored, Lewis auditioned for BET’s Teen Summit and became its host. Her on-screen chemistry with co-host DaJour and her earnest engagement with issues affecting young people helped the show earn an NAACP Image Award in 1997 and a nomination for a Cable ACE Award in 1996.

In 1997, Lewis made the leap to MTV. While the move meant leaving a show that was deeply personal, she recognized the opportunity to reach broader audiences. “I saw MTV not only as access to the masses but also as an opportunity to be more of the woman I am,” Lewis said. She went on to host The Ananda Lewis Show, a daytime talk show that debuted in 2001 and further solidified her place as a voice of insight and authenticity in media. Throughout her career, she remained focused on empowerment and advocacy, often working to uplift others even when the spotlight was no longer on her.

Lewis is survived by her son, who is a constant source of love and pride.

Black Press Redefines Equity Goals, Introduces MAO

By Stacy M. Brown

Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), is calling for a major shift in how Black America and its allies frame the ongoing pursuit of equality. In a new push led by the Black Press, Chavis announced that “Merit, Advancement, and Opportunity” – or M.A.O. –will replace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as the movement’s guiding language. “The Black Press is proudly moving forward with new wording and nomenclature that more accurately describes our goals and adjectives with respect to corporate America and governmental agencies,” Chavis said. “Merit, Advancement, and Opportunity are taking the place of DE&I as a matter of self-determination by Black America. We cannot permit people who do not have our interest to define our reality.” Chavis said the DEI framework, once embraced as a path to equity, has been manipulated and weaponized by far-right forces to “undermine the progress of communities of color in America.”

to Replace DEI

In both public statements and a recent op-ed, Chavis outlined the logic behind replacing DEI with MAO. “Words matter,” he wrote, recalling the backlash to affirmative action and critical race theory—terms that, like DEI, have been twisted into targets by conservative politicians and media.

“In America today, it is time to move forward.” Rooted in history and collective family wisdom, the term MAO emerged from an intergenerational discussion within the Chavis family in Oxford, North Carolina—home to the family for over 200 years. Recalling the evolution of the freedom movement, Chavis asserted that Black Americans have always “worked hard to attain excellence and respect,” and that merit has been an integral part of their identity.

“MAO is a transcended and elevated way of describing the current goal of our struggle for freedom, justice, and equality,” Chavis explained. “The Black Press has always had a history and legacy of redefinition and re-articulation of the interest of Black America and of the interest of all those who cry out for freedom and justice.” The components

of MAO are straightforward. Merit, Chavis said, is about recognizing and rewarding ability and achievement. Advancement ties progress to measurable contributions, and opportunity ensures that everyone has access to the resources necessary to succeed—without bias tied to race, gender, or identity.

“MAO promotes a fair, objective, and efficient system where individuals succeed based on their merits,” he wrote in the op-ed. “MAO is aspirational without limitations to take advantage of opportunities to advance individual careers and greater societal good for all.” As some corporate executives backpedal on DEI, Chavis said none have proposed viable alternatives that both honor merit and ensure access. MAO, he argued, bridges that gap and offers a new framework for decision-makers in Congress, statehouses, and boardrooms. “We look forward to continuing the national dialogue and refinement of the conceptual framework of Merit, Advancement, and Opportunity,” Chavis said. “It is an urgent time to move our democracy forward and to reclaim the oneness of humanity.”

Household Debt Reaches $18.2 Trillion as Student Loan Delinquencies Trigger Credit Score Plunge

By Stacy M. Brown

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s latest Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit reveals a sharp rise in total household debt, reaching $18.20 trillion in the first quarter of 2025. While some categories of debt, such as credit card and auto loans, experienced modest declines, student loan balances jumped by $16 billion to $1.63 trillion, with a notable surge in delinquencies following the end of federal student loan payment protections. According to the report, nearly six million student loan borrowers—representing about 14 percent—were 90 or more days delinquent or in default between January and March 2025. In total, 13.7 percent of borrowers were at least 90 days past due, while 23.7 percent were behind but not yet seriously delinquent. The figures are a dramatic increase from the previous delinquency rate, which had remained below 1 percent due to the years-long pause in federal student loan payments.

The payment freeze, initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, lasted 43 months. Although payments resumed in October 2023, the U.S. Department of Education granted a 12-month “on-ramp” period during which missed payments were not reported to credit bureaus. That grace period ended in late 2024, prompting a flood of newly reported delinquencies in early 2025. The consequences have been swift and severe for millions of borrowers. According to the New York Fed, more than 2.2 million individuals newly marked as delinquent have seen their credit scores fall by over 100 points, while over 1 million have experienced drops of at least 150 points. These drops in credit scores threaten borrowers’ access to affordable financing options across the board.

“Your credit score is one of the most important numbers in your financial life,” Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate, told Newsweek. The New York Fed found the average drop for newly delinquent student loan borrowers was 177 points

for those who had scores above 720. Borrowers with credit scores between 620 and 719 saw an average decline of 140 points, while those below 620 dropped by an average of 74 points. For many, the impact of these declines will reverberate for years.

“There is very little in life that is more expensive than having bad credit,” said Matt Schulz, chief consumer finance analyst at LendingTree. “It can literally cost you tens of thousands of dollars or more over the course of your life.”

Newsweek noted that more than 2.4 million newly delinquent borrowers previously had credit scores above 620, making them eligible for traditional credit cards, auto loans, and mortgage financing. Falling below that threshold could now disqualify them from such products or saddle them with higher interest rates. The implications are especially dire for prospective homebuyers. The minimum credit score for a conventional mortgage is 620, and borrowers at that level currently face a 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 7.89 percent, according to Experian. In contrast, borrowers with a credit score of 780 pay 7.07 percent. For a $300,000 loan, that difference could amount to $60,000 more in interest over the life of the loan.

“Home prices and interest rates are already sky-high. Having less-than-perfect credit means that you may get stuck with an interest rate that’s even higher than the average,” Schulz said. “And, of course, a low enough credit score may mean that you don’t even get the mortgage at all.” Student loan delinquency also disproportionately affects older borrowers. The New York Fed reported that the average age of a delinquent borrower has risen from 38.6 to 40.4 years old. Delinquency rates are lowest among borrowers under age 30, indicating that older millennials—many of whom already face economic headwinds—are struggling most with resumed payments. Non-housing debt fell overall by $38 billion, or 0.8 percent, in the first quarter. Credit card balances decreased by $29 billion to $1.18 trillion,

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press

room, which was packed with media representatives and courthouse employees who heard erroneously that he might be there.

As word of his actual location spread and spectators trickled into the room where Ye sat in the front row with Combs’ son, Christian, a bodyguard and another Combs' supporter on a side of the room that was otherwise kept vacant by a court officer, Ye looked around the room before abruptly getting up and leaving, along with the others with him.

Ye didn't answer further questions as he left the courthouse, walking past reporters and TV cameras and ducking into a waiting black Mercedes sedan.

In the courtroom where the trial occurred, Combs, 55, seemed elated and aware his friend had visited as family members including his mother watched the proceedings. He has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges alleging that he used his fame, fortune and violence to commit crimes over a 20year period.

Ye's appearance at the courthouse came a day after a woman identified in court only by the pseudonym “Jane” finished six days of testimony.

She testified that during a relationship with Combs that stretched from 2021 until his arrest last September at a Manhattan hotel, she felt coerced into frequent dayslong sexual marathons with male sex workers while Combs watched and sometimes filmed the drug-fueled encounters.

Defense attorneys have argued that Combs committed no crimes and that federal prosecutors were trying to police consensual sex that occurred between adults.

On Thursday, Jane testified that during a three-month break in her relationship with Combs, she flew to Las Vegas in January 2023 with a famous rapper who was close friends with Combs.

Prior to Jane's testimony on the subject, lawyers and the judge conducted a lengthy hearing out of public view to discuss what could be divulged about the January trip.

Jane was asked if the rapper she accompanied along with the rapper's girlfriend was “an individual at the top of the music industry as well ... an icon in the music industry.”

and auto loan balances dropped by $13 billion to $1.64 trillion—only the second quarter-overquarter decline since 2011. Other consumer loans, including retail cards, fell by $12 billion. Despite those declines, total household debt continued to rise due to increases in housing-related balances. Mortgage balances grew by $199 billion, reaching $12.80 trillion, while balances on home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) rose by $6 billion to $402 billion. HELOC balances have now increased for 12 straight quarters and are $85 billion above the low recorded in early 2022. Aggregate delinquency rates also rose, with 4.3 percent of all outstanding debt in some stage of delinquency. While delinquency transitions remained stable for auto loans, credit cards, and other debts, student loans were the clear driver of the recent surge in overall delinquency. Experts advise borrowers who have damaged their credit scores to take gradual, responsible steps to

“Yes,” Jane replied. Once in Las Vegas, Jane testified, she went with a group including the rapper to dinner, a strip club and a hotel room party, where a sex worker had sex with a woman while a half-dozen others watched.

She said there was dancing and the rapper said, “hey beautiful,” and told her, in crude language, that he had always wanted to have sex with her. Jane said she didn’t recall exactly when, but she flashed her breasts while dancing.

Also Friday, the judge said he was leaning toward removing a juror and replacing him with an alternate after prosecutors found inconsistencies in his answers about where he lives.

During jury selection, the juror said he lived in the Bronx. But, prosecutors said, he told a court employee that he recently moved to New Jersey.

Under questioning by Judge Arun Subramanian, the juror acknowledged moving, but said he retains a New York driver’s license and stays there during the week. Only New York residents can serve as Manhattan federal court jurors. Combs’ lawyers called it a “thinly veiled effort to dismiss a Black juror” and suggested Subramanian was “conflating inconsistencies with lying.”

The judge noted that even if the juror is ousted, the jury would be diverse.

Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, leaves federal court during the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs in New York, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/ Larry Neumeister)

Cuba’s Top Diplomat to U.S.: Blockade Hurts Black Americans and Cubans Alike

By Stacy M. Brown

Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

Cuba’s Deputy Director of U.S. Affairs

Johana Tablada offered a sobering but impassioned critique of current U.S. policy toward Cuba during an exclusive interview in Washington, D.C., where she called on Americans—especially African Americans—to pay closer attention to the consequences of decades-long sanctions and misinformation. In an interview at Black Press USA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., Tablada described the current relationship between the U.S. and Cuba as being “at a low point,” marked by “maximum aggression” from the U.S. government. “It is difficult to describe this as anything but open hostility,” she told National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President & CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. “This year alone, since January 20, the U.S. has imposed more than a dozen unilateral coercive measures against Cuba.”

The NNPA is the trade association representing the more than 200 African American newspapers and media companies that comprise the Black Press of America. “On behalf of the Black Press of America, we are very pleased to welcome Secretary General Tablada to the offices of the Black Press of America. It’s important to emphasize the longlasting and long-standing solidarity between Cuba and Black America,” Chavis declared. “The historic meeting between President Fidel Castro and Malcolm X in the 1960s in Harlem, New York, epitomized not only the friendship but the comradeship between freedom fighters in America with freedom fighters in Cuba.” U.S. sanctions, Tablada noted, go far beyond restricting trade— they now include denying visas to Cuban athletes and scientists, interfering with cultural exchanges, and cutting remittances through Western Union. “The Cuban Olympic Committee’s president wasn’t granted a visa to attend events in the U.S.,” she said.

“And this during a cycle leading up to the Olympics in Los Angeles.” Tablada specifically pointed to the Trump administration’s reinstatement of Cuba on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism as fraudulent and damaging. “It’s a designation based on lies,” she said. “And when a country is placed on that list, it becomes nearly impossible to receive oil, medical supplies, or even financial transfers due to global banking fears.” She drew a sharp contrast between the current state of U.S.-Cuba policy and the optimism that accompanied President Barack Obama’s historic visit to Havana in 2016. “We had a breakthrough,” she declared. “We were talking and engaging respectfully—even when we disagreed. That’s no longer happening.” Throughout the 40-minute interview, Tablada spoke fondly of the long-standing solidarity between Cuba and the African American community. She invoked the legacy of Malcolm X, the symbolism of his 1960 meeting with Fidel Castro in Harlem, and Cuba’s military support for liberation movements in Angola and South Africa. “Cuba is the only country in Latin America that went back to Africa and fought and died to end apartheid,” she said. “That bond with the African diaspora is deep and permanent.”

She noted that Cuban identity and culture are inextricably linked to Africa. “Our music, our food, our sense of honor—it all comes from Mother Africa. And we have a responsibility to protect that legacy,” she remarked. Tablada called the decades-long U.S. embargo—enforced through a patchwork of laws, including the 1917 Trading with the Enemy Act, the Helms-Burton Act, and the Torricelli Act—an unprecedented and inhumane measure. “There is no other country in the world that faces this level of comprehensive economic warfare,” she said. “It’s not just unfair; it’s provoked suffering and hardship.” She added that Cuba has never

retaliated with sanctions or actions against the United States, highlighting the one-sided nature of the policy. The diplomat also pushed back on U.S. accusations of forced labor in Cuba’s international medical missions. “We operate in 56 countries with agreements supported by the United Nations,” she said. “Yes, those missions generate income to fund our free healthcare system—but calling that human trafficking is a grotesque lie. The U.S. is spending millions to manufacture pretexts for aggression.” Tablada warned that U.S. policies are even affecting tourism and access to energy. “Today, the U.S. actively blocks vessels from delivering oil to Cuba. It pressures other countries to deny Cuba tourism access,” she asserted. “And then it blames us for the resulting blackouts and scarcities. This is not diplomacy. This is punishment.” Despite the challenges, Tablada expressed hope for the people of the United States. “I believe that if Americans—especially African Americans—knew the full truth, they would reject these policies,” she said. “Because they have always stood on the side of justice, from civil rights to solidarity with global liberation movements.” She extended an invitation for the Black Press of America to work with Cuban journalists to strengthen the exchange of truth. “Let’s put Cuba back on the radar,” she said. “The people of both countries want peace, not conflict.” Chavis added that the Black Press plans to travel to Cuba soon. “We are planning to take a delegation of the Black Press to visit Havanna to work out a strategic alliance between the Cuban press and the Black Press of America,” Chavis insisted. “Our interests are vital, our interests are common, not only for the present but for the future.” Asked what gives her hope, Tablada answered without hesitation: “Our youth. And the truth. When people talk to each other honestly, good things happen.” Tablada said she would welcome a conversation with President Trump himself. “Let’s talk. Cuba is not an enemy

Critics Question 2024 Results as Musk Tactics Surface

By Stacy M.

Press USA Senior National Correspondent Cuba’s Deputy Director of U.S. Affairs Johana Tablada offered a sobering but impassioned critique of current U.S. policy toward Cuba during an exclusive interview in Washington, D.C., where she called on Americans—especially African Americans—to pay closer attention to the consequences of decades-long sanctions and misinformation. In an interview at Black Press USA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., Tablada described the current relationship between the U.S. and Cuba as being “at a low point,” marked by “maximum aggression” from the U.S. government.

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“It is difficult to describe this as anything but open hostility,” she told National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President & CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. “This year alone, since January 20, the U.S. has imposed more than a dozen unilateral coercive measures against Cuba.”

“The Cuban Olympic Committee’s president wasn’t granted a visa to attend events in the U.S.,” she said. “And this during a cycle leading up to the Olympics

in Los Angeles.” Tablada specifically pointed to the Trump administration’s reinstatement of Cuba on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism as fraudulent and damaging. “It’s a designation based on lies,” she said. “And when a country is placed on that list, it becomes nearly impossible to receive oil, medical supplies, or even financial transfers due to global banking fears.” She drew a sharp contrast between the current state of U.S.-Cuba policy and the optimism that accompanied President Barack Obama’s historic visit to Havana in 2016. “We had a breakthrough,” she declared. “We were talking and engaging respectfully—even when we disagreed. That’s no longer happening.” Throughout the 40-minute interview, Tablada spoke fondly of the long-standing solidarity between Cuba and the African American community. She invoked the legacy of Malcolm X, the symbolism of his 1960 meeting with Fidel Castro in Harlem, and Cuba’s military support for liberation movements in Angola and South Africa. “Cuba is the only country in Latin America that went back to Africa and fought and died to end apartheid,” she said. “That bond with the African diaspora is deep and permanent.” She noted that Cuban identity and culture are inextricably linked to Africa. “Our music, our food, our sense of honor—it all comes from Mother

Africa. And we have a responsibility to protect that legacy,” she remarked. Tablada called the decades-long U.S. embargo—enforced through a patchwork of laws, including the 1917 Trading with the Enemy Act, the Helms-Burton Act, and the Torricelli Act—an unprecedented and inhumane measure. “There is no other country in the world that faces this level of comprehensive economic warfare,” she said. “It’s not just unfair; it’s provoked suffering and hardship.” She added that Cuba has never retaliated with sanctions or actions against the United States, highlighting the one-sided nature of the policy. The diplomat also pushed back on U.S. accusations of forced labor in Cuba’s international medical missions. “We operate in 56 countries with agreements supported by the United Nations,” she said. “Yes, those missions generate income to fund our free healthcare system—but calling that human trafficking is a grotesque lie. The U.S. is spending millions to manufacture pretexts for aggression.” Tablada warned that U.S. policies are even affecting tourism and access to energy. “Today, the U.S. actively blocks vessels from delivering oil to Cuba. It pressures other countries to deny Cuba tourism access,” she asserted. “And then it blames us for the resulting blackouts and scarcities. This is not diplomacy. This is punishment.”

Despite the challenges, Tablada expressed hope for the people of the United States. “I believe that if Americans—especially African Americans—knew the full truth, they would reject these policies,” she said. “Because they have always stood on the side of justice, from civil rights to solidarity with global liberation movements.” She extended an invitation for the Black Press of America to work with Cuban journalists to strengthen the exchange of truth. “Let’s put Cuba back on the radar,” she said. “The people of both countries want peace, not conflict.” Chavis added that the Black Press plans to travel to Cuba soon. “We are planning to take a delegation of the Black Press to visit Havanna to work out a strategic alliance between the Cuban press and the Black Press of America,” Chavis insisted. “Our interests are vital, our interests are common, not only for the present but for the future.” Asked what gives her hope, Tablada answered without hesitation: “Our youth. And the truth. When people talk to each other honestly, good things happen.” Tablada said she would welcome a conversation with President Trump himself. “Let’s talk. Cuba is not an enemy of the United States,” she said. “Let’s stop the lies and sit down. Every time we’ve done that, progress followed.”table,” Mandel has said.

By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent As Donald Trump settles into his second term as president, a blistering new Pew Research Center survey reveals that much of the world sees him as a dangerous and arrogant leader unfit to handle global challenges—and it’s dragging down America’s image abroad. From Europe to Latin America and across Asia, confidence in Trump to “do the right thing” in world affairs remains deeply underwater. In 19 of 24 countries surveyed, the majority expressed little or no confidence in him. A global median of just 34% have confidence in Trump, while 62% say they do not. Trump’s worst ratings come from Mexico, where a mere 8% express confidence and 91% reject his leadership. The damage extends far beyond personal opinion. The United States itself has taken a reputational hit. Favorable views of the U.S. have dropped in 15 countries since last year, with support plunging 32 points in Mexico and 20 points in Canada. Sweden now gives the U.S. its worst rating—79% view the country unfavorably. The survey, conducted between January and April 2025 and released on June 11, paints a portrait of global mistrust. Trump earns dismal ratings on

nearly every major international issue, from climate change and immigration to the Russia-Ukraine war and U.S.-China relations. A median of only 24% have confidence in his ability to handle climate change, and just 33% trust him on Ukraine. Even among those who acknowledge his strength as a leader—a trait that a median of 67% worldwide attributes to him—many still find him unqualified for the role. Majorities in most countries describe Trump as “arrogant” (median 80%) and “dangerous” (median 65%), while only 28% believe he is honest. The ideological divide is eye-popping. In countries like Israel, 93% of those on the political right trust Trump, compared to just 21% on the left. His support is also high among backers of populist parties, from Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party in Brazil to Netanyahu’s Likud in Israel and Milei’s La Libertad Avanza in Argentina. Despite these pockets of support, comparisons to other world leaders reveal that Trump lags. French President Emmanuel Macron commands a global median confidence rating of 46%, compared to Trump’s 34%. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping fare even worse—but in countries like Mexico, Indonesia, and Turkey, more people trust Putin over Trump. The

Presidential Approval Rating and The Economy (Photo by Douglas Rissing)

United States,

of the United States,” she said. “Let’s stop the lies and sit down. Every time we’ve done that, progress followed.”

National Newspaper Publisher Association, President & CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. and Cuba’s Deputy Director of U.S. Affairs Johana Tablada

President Donald Trump participates in a press conference with departing DOGE adviser Elon Musk, Friday, May 30, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley) (Wikimedia Commons / Photo by The White House)

Brown Black

By Dwight Brown Film Critic for DwightBrownInk.com and NNPA News Wire

(***/12)

If Afrobeats music has a king, it’s Wizkid. He wasn’t self-anointed. It’s just that his music has crossed over worldwide in a way that’s made him part of the genre’s royalty. This insightful biodocumentary, which leads up to an historic concert, corroborates that notion.

Karam Gill directs this exploration into the Grammy-winning singer’s life, career and social concerns, He thoughtfully delves into the artist’s history, background and development. All the events in his life that’re leading up to a massive show at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. An event that could attract 45,000 fans. Music lovers who would witness history in the making as a Nigerian singer fills a gigantic venue with a breakthrough performance of contemporary African music on European soil. Ironically, in the same country that colonized his people. Call it a reverse invasion, of sorts. Poignant in scope. Kind of like the 1960s British music invasion in the U.S. Different, but still substantial.

Cinematographer Craig Deleon uses his camera to follow the artist’s path, from the suburbs of Lagos Nigeria to the mass hysteria of a British concert. It’s a long road, and how Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, aka Wizkid, rose to his heights is pretty well-documented. Not in the most innovative way, but accurately. Audiences who follow along will

never get bored. Editor Joshua Whitaker gamely clips scenes as short as they should be. Some of the footage has quick edits, a la a music video. Which helps to move the footage along with a steady rhythm for 83 breezy minutes. When the camera does languish, it’s at pivotal points. E.g., when Wizkid recalls his childhood or when his mother’s cancer scare happens just days before the concert. The film gets its verve from two main sources. 1.) The indomitable spirit of the young musician who has been singing since childhood. Someone who released studio albums that flourished and was introduced to a larger international audience by his collaboration with Drake in 2016 on the #1 hit song “One Dance.” That tune topped the charts in 14 countries and hurled his career into superstardom. Yet in fairly revealing interviews, he appears humble, grateful and knows that his music industry journey is more than just about him. His worldwide popularity can open doors for other African artists and show how the continent, as a union, has a diverse wealth of music, culture and artistry that should be shared—everywhere.

Femi Anikulapo Kuti, a noted musician and eldest son of one of Africa’s most celebrated and pioneering Afrobeat musicians, Fela, aka Fela Kuti, stresses what’s on the line: “When you see how far Africa has come you cannot ignore the significance…” That’s the crown Wizkid wears. An importance and responsibility that goes well beyond writing songs, selling records and performing. He’s the goodwill ambassador for Lagos, Nigeria and

Africa and well aware of his responsibility: “Finally the world is listening to Africa. I represent for my country. I represent for my continent.” He does so while being gracious, cool and a bit rambunctious in the most charming way. The energy around him is magnetic.

Then there’s the doc’s second source of strength. 2.) The music. Wizkid’s take on Afrobeats has a pop, reggaeish feel that is addicting and contagious. A joy to hear and feel. He’s been influenced by legendary musicians like the Nigerian jùjú singer/ songwriter King Sunny Adé, Bob Marley and his songs of peace, love and revolution and of course Fela. All that verve is in Wizkid’s beats. Add to it his soothing voice and trend setting style and it’s no wonder Tems, Drake and Beyonce partnered with him on hits. All that may have helped his cred, but he’s making his own path. Has his own voice, stage presence and musicians. You see clearly that he’s the mastermind who’s making very catchy music.

An endearing subplot about a young man in Nigeria, also called “Starboy,” who’s saving money and plotting his way to the concert at the stadium, is charming. A fanboy storyline music lovers will enjoy. It’s a nice addition. As are insights from Jada Pollock, Wizkid’s manager, girlfriend and the mother of his child. She gives details on Wizkid’s ascent, behind-the-scenes preparations for the big event and the pitfalls along the way. Her businesswoman point of view adds substance and dimension.

The film doesn’t hesitate to explore the

complications of living in a formally colonized country that has had to relearn how to love its own culture. To swing away from European, UK and western notions of what art and societal norms should be. This is an awakening in some ways. An emergence that’s been simmering. A reckoning. A disruption. A new awareness that’s being verbalized. For example, the young man trying to attend Wizkid’s British concert needs to travel from Nigeria to the UK and is frustrated. He expresses the irony that burns him and others: “Those that colonized us are now giving us a hard time to go visit them.” The film peaks when Wizkid takes the stage in an arena that’s filled with 40K+ fans. Blacks, whites and others. All screaming his name, singing along to songs and showing how far the artist and the motherland’s pop music have come to claim their place on the world stage. Wizkid knows the significance of the moment as he works the crowd of his admirers: “London make some noise!” And they do. Thousands bellow. It’s been documented. A visionary artist who’s the pride of Lagos, Nigeria is also a prophet who’s spreading the gospel of Afrobeats—one record-breaking hit at a time. And a savvy team of filmmakers has given Wizkid his flowers. You gotta love their documentary’s verve.

Wizkid: Long Live Lagos is a nice addition to the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival.

Visit Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com.

By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National CorrespondentSylvester “Sly” Stewart— known to the world as Sly Stone, frontman of the groundbreaking band Sly and the Family Stone— has died at the age of 82. His family confirmed that he passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by loved ones, after battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health complications. Born March 15, 1943, in Denton, Texas, Stone moved with his family to Vallejo, California, as a child. He began recording gospel music at age eight with his siblings in a group called the Stewart Four. By his teenage years, he had mastered multiple instruments and was already pioneering racial integration in music—an ethos that would define his career.In 1966, Sly and his brother Freddie merged their bands to form Sly and the Family Stone, complete with a revolutionary interracial, mixed-gender lineup. The band quickly became a commercial and cultural force with hits such as “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”— all penned by Stone himself. Their album Stand! (1969) and live performances—most notably at Woodstock—cemented their reputation, blending soul, funk, rock, gospel, and psychedelia to reflect the optimism and turmoil of their era. Sly Stone’s musical approach radically reshaped popular music. He transcended genre boundaries and empowered a new generation of artists. The band’s socially conscious message and infectious rhythms sparked a wave of influence, reaching artists as diverse as Miles Davis, George Clinton, Prince, Dr. Dre, and the Roots.As the 1970s progressed, Stone confronted personal demons. His desire to use music as a response to war, racism, and societal change culminated in the intense album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” (1971). But drug dependency began to undermine both his health and professional life, leading to erratic behavior and band decline through the early 1980s. Withdrawn from the public eye for much of the 1990s and early 2000s, Stone staged occasional comebacks. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys in 2017, and captured public attention following the

2023 release of his memoir Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)—published under Questlove’s imprint. He also completed a biographical screenplay and was featured in Questlove’s documentary Sly Lives! earlier this year.His influence endured across generations. Critics and historians repeatedly credit him with perfecting funk and creating a “progressive soul,” shaping a path for racial integration both onstage and in the broader culture. “Rest in beats Sly Stone,” legendary Public Enemy frontman Chuck D posted on social media with an illustrative drawing of the artist. “We should thank Questlove of the Roots for keeping his fire blazing in this century.” Emmy-winning entertainment publicist Danny Deraney also paid homage. “Rest easy Sly Stone,” Deraney posted. “You changed music (and me) forever. The time he won over Ed Sullivan’s audience in 1968. Simply magical. Freelance music publicist and Sirius XM host Eric Alper also offered a tribute. “The funk pioneer who made the world dance, think, and get higher,” Alper wrote of Sly Stone. “His music changed everything—and it still does.”Sly Stone is survived by three children.

Sly Stone, Keystone Berkeley, CA, April 16, 1982 (Wikimedia Commons)

Wizkid stars in the documentary Wizkid: Long Live Lagos (Photo courtesy of the Tribeca Film Festival.)

FOR PROBATE requests that MICHAEL RUIZ JR. be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate.The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows:

Date: July 17, 2025

Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: J-1 Address of court: same as noted above IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legaI authority may affect your rights as creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Petitioner: MICHAEL RUIZ JR. 716 Francis St., Bakersfield, CA 93308 Telephone: (661) 817-7997 BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER

PUB: Jun 18, 25, Jul 2, 2025

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF ESTHER M. CRUZ CASE NUMBER: BPB-25-002389 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of ESTHER M. CRUZ A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by RICHARD CRUZ in the Superior Court of California, County of KERN 2100 College Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93305 Juvenile Justice Center

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that RICHARD CRUZ be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.)

The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows:

Date: July 11, 2025

Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: J-1

Address of court: same as noted above

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

NOTICE OF HEARING ON PETITION TO DETERMINE CLAIM TO PROPERTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ANDREW V. NEGRETE AND THE RUTH O. NEGRETE 1987 TRUST AS AMENDED CASE NUMBER: BPB-18-002681 consolidated with BCV-18-101723 Superior Court of California, County of KERN 2100 College Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93305 Juvenile Justice Center A petition has been filed asking the court to determine a claim to the property identified in 3, and a hearing on the petition has been set. Please refer to the petition

Legal Notices

for more information. If you have a claim to the property described in 3, you may attend the hearing and object or respond to the petition. If you do not want to attend the hearing, you may also file a written response before the hearing. If you do not respond to the petition or attend the hearing, the court may make orders affecting ownership of the property without your input. NOTICE is given that LYDIA VOSE, Trustee of the Andrew V. Negrete and the Ruth O. Negrete 1987 Trust as amended has filed a petition entitled First Amended Petition Under Probate Code Sections 850 and 859 for Return of Real and Personal Property and for Double Damages under Probate Code section 850 asking for a court order determining a claim or claims to the property described in 3. A HEARING on the petition will be held as follows: Hearing date: September 10, 2025 Time: 1:30pm Dept.: 10 Name and address of court if different from above: 1415 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301

The property that is the subject of the petition is (describe each item of real or personal property; for real property—i.e., land or buildings—give the street address or, if none, describe the property’s location and give the assessor’s parcel number): This action concerns real properties identified as: 1308 Pearl Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305; 1316 Pearl Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305; 1317 Pearl Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305; 1318 Pearl Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305; as well as Cash Received. In addition to seeking to recover the property described in 3, the petition also alleges and seeks relief for bad faith conduct, undue influence in bad faith, or elder or dependent adult financial abuse. The petition describes these allegations in detail. Based on the allegations, the petition seeks to recover twice the value of the property described in 3 and requests that the court award attorney’s fees and costs to the petitioner. (Prob. Code, § 859.) Date: June 13, 2025 Signed: LEQUETTA HANSEN Attorney for Petitioner: Andrew Sheffield, Esq. LeBeau - Thelen, LLP 9801 Camino Media, Suite 103, Bakersfield, CA 93311 Telephone: (661) 325-8962 BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER PUB: Jun 18, 25, Jul 2, 9, 2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO: 2025-B3141

In Unprecedented Move, Member of Congress Charged with “Forcibly

Impeding” ICE Officials in Latest Escalation by Trump Administration

By Lauren Burke

New Jersey Congresswoman LaMonica McIver

was indicted on the evening of June 10 on federal charges. Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba announced the rare indictment of a member of Congress involving DHS officials on the Elon Musk-owned platform X. The charges against Rep. McIver are related to a confrontation between ICE officials and elected officials at Delaney Hall Immigration Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey on May 9. The confrontation led to the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka for “trespassing.” Though the charges were later dropped many said that it was another example of intentional intimidation by the Trump Administration. Habba wrote that individuals can express themselves but must, “must not do so in a manner that endangers law enforcement and the communities those officers serve.” The moment is another example of

the Trump Administration’s building aggressiveness toward Democratic members of Congress and other elected officials. Threats of censure and arrest are increasing. Yesterday, President Trump threatened to arrest another Democrat, California Governor Gavin Newsom. “I would do it if I were Tom [Homan],” answered President Trump on June 9 after being asked if he would arrest Gov. Newsom.

Though Habba is alleging that Rep. McIver “assaulted and interfered with immigration officers outside a New Jersey detention center” the video demonstrates a different set of facts on the scene as ICE agents prevented members of Congress, who are constitutionally permitted to entering suck facilities, from proceeding into the facility. “The facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job and will expose these proceedings for what they are: a brazen attempt at political intimidation,” McIver said in a June 10 statement. On May 19, Habba’s office

announced they were dropping previously filed charges against Mayor Ras Baraka for “trespassing.”

“Rep. McIver was doing her job and conducting oversight as a duly elected member of Congress. Trump is using baseless legal tactics to smear & silence this honorable Black Congresswoman—but

it won’t work. This won’t intimidate us, and we stand with Rep. McIver,” wrote Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) after news of the indictment of her CBC colleague.“This is a travesty. DOJ is filing charges that never would have been brought by prior Departments of either party. From Rep. McIver here to Judge Dugan in WI to David Huerta in LA — injustice. The congresswoman is vigorously contesting this, and I think she will be successful,” wrote attorney Norm Eisen on June 10, who is also a co-founder of The Contrarian. The federal charges against Rep. McIver are an unprecedented arrest of a member of Congress. There is no known previous public case that has involved a DHS-led arrest of a current member of Congress. Rep. McIver, 38, represents Newark and entered Congress in September 2024 after winning the seat of the late Congressman Donald Payne, Jr.

CDC Staffing Upheaval Disrupts

HIV Projects and Wastes Money, Researchers Say

By Amy Maxmen

Dozens of HIV experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received emails on Wednesday revoking notices they received 10 weeks ago that laid them off. Damage to their projects may be permanent, however, and ongoing restrictions on their research will harm lives, multiple HIV scientists at the CDC told KFF Health News on condition of anonymity because of fears of retaliation.

The researchers were laid off in early April, just before they put the finishing touches on in-depth, national surveys about HIV. Health officials across the country had interviewed tens of thousands of people at risk of acquiring HIV, or who are living with the virus, and compiled information from mountains of medical records.

States and cities were prepared to submit the information they collected to the CDC in April so the agency’s statisticians could prepare the volumes of data for analysis.

Health officials and policymakers use the data to design HIV programs that more efficiently curb the spread of infections and save lives. For example, a 2023 survey revealed that about half of adults under age 30 who were living with HIV weren’t on treatment steadily enough to keep them healthy and prevent them from spreading the virus to others. Treatment rates were far higher for those over 50. As a result, health officials doubled down on outreach to younger generations.However, in April, state and local health officials found themselves cut off from their CDC counterparts after the layoffs. Emails from the Department of Health and Human Services told staff their roles were “either unnecessary or virtually identical to duties being performed elsewhere in the agency.”Marti Merritt, a project coordinator at the Illinois state health department, was flabbergasted that she and other

A sign outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta on Aug. 6, 2022. (NATHAN POSNER/ANADOLU AGENCY VIA GETTY IMAGES)

state employees had invested more than a year into the surveys only to have them go dark in the final phase. “It’s like the data has gone into a black hole,” she said. “How do you set priorities if you don’t have data?”Merritt worries that if the surveys don’t resume, limited budgets will be misspent — and that cases will rise. Data allows health departments to tailor their efforts to the populations at greatest risk of infection or disease progression.Evidence shows that preventing HIV is far cheaper than treating people once they’re infected. Preventing one HIV infection results in $466,000 in lifetime savings. Merritt was also dismayed to have wasted the time of thousands of people who opened up about intimate details of their lives in hopes of fighting the HIV epidemic.A doctor and HIV expert reinstated at the CDC this week said the late termination of the surveys would waste millions of taxpayer dollars that have already been spent on

data collection. Two large, long-standing efforts, the Medical Monitoring Project and the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance system, cost around $72 million, he said.“Two years’ worth of data from 30,000 participants will be unusable, and therefore wasted,” if the projects can’t be finished, he said.To resume the surveys, he and other CDC researchers would need a green light from higher up because the grants covering these surveys ended while they were on administrative leave in May.State health officials said they haven’t received the CDC notices that typically renew the surveys every June. Merritt has conducted interviews for the Medical Monitoring Project for about 20 years, she said, but the Illinois health department has now assigned her to other tasks. Other health departments have laid off or reassigned employees dedicated to HIV surveillance, too.If HHS allows the reinstated researchers to resume the projects, they could try to account for the 10-week gap in their analysis. But it would take time, further delaying the next round of surveys — if those begin at all.“These surveys aren’t lights that you turn on and off,” said John Brooks, a researcher who retired from the CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention last year. If the surveys resume, he said, “we can get some value out of all of the money spent.”However, the surveys would be further impaired by actions related to Trump’s executive orders targeting words such as “gender” that researchers use to learn who has HIV, who is at risk, and why.Experts at the CDC said they’ve already had to revise earlier surveys and recalculate results to not reference gender. This has meant altering data on two populations disproportionately affected by HIV: transgender people and men who have sex with men.“To erase people from our data harms them,” said the researcher and doctor now reinstated at the CDC. “I care about the transgender

patients I see, and it’s so hurtful to see them treated this way by the government.”The doctor said he has treated HIV patients since the beginning of the epidemic in the 1980s, and the sting he feels now is worse than under President Ronald Reagan, who never publicly mentioned HIV in his first term.“There was a lack of funding,” he said, “but they didn’t censor science or try to control science like they’re doing now.”Many HIV researchers have taken jobs outside the government or moved since the April layoffs. Some researchers returning to the agency called the reinstatements perplexing because the notices don’t say what they’ll be doing when they return and for how long.A terse email to CDC employees from Tom Nagy, chief human capital officer at the Department of Health and Human Services, reviewed by KFF Health News, simply refers to the notice regarding the reduction in force and says, “That notice is hereby revoked.”In an email response to queries, Andrew Nixon, HHS director of communications, wrote, “HHS is streamlining operations without compromising mission-critical work. Enhancing the health and well-being of all Americans remains our top priority.”“We’ve been getting paid this whole time even though we’ve not been allowed to work, and that doesn’t feel good when you’re a dedicated civil servant,” said one reinstated employee.We’d like to speak with current and former personnel from the Department of Health and Human Services or its component agencies who believe the public should understand the impact of what’s happening within the federal health bureaucracy. Please message KFF Health News on Signal at (415) 519-8778 or get in touch here.

In a Time of Discord, Dr. Weber Says Civic Engagement Is Our Lifelong Duty

By Antonio Ray Harvey and Regina Wilson

California Black Media

most severe in low-income and rural areas.

That morning, Americans woke to the shocking news that two state senators in another part of the country had been shot -- one fatally -- along with her husband in what has been reported as politically motivated violence.

“My heart is very heavy this morning,” Weber told the crowd. “At my age, I’ve seen so much -assassinations, uprisings, and civil unrest -- but I thought we had learned. I thought we had grown. And yet, here we are.”

On June 12, California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber participated in the Public Policy Institute of California’s (PPIC) 2025 Speaker Series in Sacramento, where she joined a panel of civic leaders to discuss how to build stronger civic education and engagement systems across the state. By week’s end -- on June 14 -- she stood before a hometown crowd in San Diego, launching her 2026 re-election campaign against a tense national backdrop: the violent murders of two Minnesota state officials, escalating political unrest, and a wave of coordinated protests across the country.

Despite the somber tone, the moment was also one of reflection and determination. Her remarks echoed themes she had emphasized on June 12 during the PPIC event in Sacramento, moderated by Tani Cantil-Sakauye, president and CEO of PPIC. Panelists included Mark Baldassare, PPIC’s survey director; Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio); and Presiding Justice Judith McConnell of California’s Fourth Appellate District.

“We’ve failed our young people,” Weber said. “This failure isn’t new. It’s generational. When people in their 40s and 50s don’t understand how their government works or why it matters, we see the results in today’s civic crisis.”

According to a June 2025 PPIC report, only 11% of California K–12 public schools rank civic engagement as a top educational priority -- well behind basic academic instruction, life skills, and college prep. Justice McConnell emphasized how that gap is

“We spend time with teachers and administrators across the state who are trying to teach civics with almost no support,” McConnell said. “We show up any time we’re asked -- because democracy depends on it.”

At the San Diego launch, Weber was introduced by former Assembly Speaker and Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins, who is currently running for Governor in 2026. Atkins delivered an impassioned endorsement that framed Weber’s campaign as a fight to preserve core democratic values.

“We’re not just here to support a campaign,” Atkins said. “We’re here to defend a principle -- one that is under threat like never before. In moments like these, we don’t retreat. We rise. And we rise with leaders like Dr. Shirley Weber.” Atkins praised Weber’s journey -- from the daughter of Arkansas sharecroppers to California’s first African American Secretary of State -- and her leadership in expanding voter access, protecting election integrity, and standing up to voter suppression.

“She is a trailblazer, a tireless public servant, and a fierce guardian of the ballot box,” Atkins said.

“Her life and her leadership are exactly what this moment demands -- principled, courageous, and unshakably committed to the people.”

Weber also shared deeply personal stories that shaped her civic identity, including how her parents -- denied the right to vote in the Jim Crow South -- opened their Los Angeles home as a polling place.

“My mother served pie and pound cake to voters in our living room,” she said. “That was her way of standing for democracy.”

Now, as Secretary of State, she said she’s fighting a constant stream of legal and political attacks aimed at undoing that legacy -- from attempts to restrict vote-by-mail access to efforts to purge voter rolls and shorten voting windows.

“We’re fighting lawsuits every day,” Weber said. “And we will not back down -- not when others gave so much to secure the rights we now have.” She also announced that her office will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with a year-long campaign to educate Californians on the law’s history and the ongoing threats against it.

“This isn’t just a commemoration. It’s a defense,” she said. “We must remind the next generation that people sacrificed everything for the right to vote. And that sacrifice must never be forgotten or undone.” Weber made it clear that her campaign is not just about re-election, but about preserving the integrity of California’s democracy.

“This is not a moment. This is our life,” she said. “Defending voting rights, protecting access, and empowering our communities isn’t something we do once every four years. It’s something we do every single day.”

ICE Police Officer (Photo by Douglas Rissing)

California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber speaks at the Public Policy Institute of California’s 2025 Speaker Series on June 12 in Sacramento. The panel focused on advancing civic education and engagement across the state. Photo by Antonio Ray Harvey CBM.

California Capitol News You Might Have Missed Political Playback

By Bo Tefu California Black Media

Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson

Applauds

Sen. Monique Limón’s Historic Rise as Senate Leader

Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego), chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), last week congratulated Sen. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) after she was named Pro Tem Designee of the California State Senate.

“Senator Limón’s selection as the first woman of color to be named Pro Tem is nothing short of historic,” Weber told California Black Media. Limón is Latina.

“Her leadership represents the voices of communities long underrepresented at the highest levels of state government,” Weber continued. “I look forward to working alongside Senator Limón to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for all Californians.”

On June 9, California Senate President pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) announced that the Senate Democratic Caucus had unanimously selected Limón as the Pro Tem Designee. The leadership transition is scheduled to take place in early 2026.

“Serving as the Leader of the State Senate is the honor of a lifetime,” McGuire said. “And today, the Senate unanimously elected Senator Limón as the Pro Tem Designee. Sen. Limón always puts people first, she’s a bridge builder and never stops fighting for progress. We are going to be well served under her leadership and the Golden State will be stronger thanks to Sen. Limón’s commitment to the communities of this great state.”

Limón currently represents California’s 21st Senate District, which includes communities such as Santa Barbara, Ventura, Oxnard, and Santa Maria. She serves as Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, Vice Chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, Vice Chair of the Central Coast Caucus, and Chair of the Senate Select Committee on the Nonprofit Sector.

“I am grateful to have the support of my colleagues to be the next President pro Tempore of the California State Senate,” Limón said. “At this critical time in our state, I am committed to working with my colleagues and remain dedicated to defending our California values and uplifting all of our communities. Together, we will build diverse coalitions and develop solutions to the most pressing issues of our time. I want to thank President pro Tempore Mike McGuire for his continuous steady leadership and unwavering commitment to Californians.”

McGuire has served as Senate President pro Tem since February 2024. He represents California’s North Coast, stretching from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border.

Trailblazers and Torchbearers: California

Think Thank Celebrates

the Power of Black Women

On June 13, the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute (CBWCEI) hosted its annual event honoring over two dozen women from across California at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles. Themed “The Power of Her: Honoring the Black Women’s Strength, Resilience, and Brilliance,” the evening

celebrated the extraordinary leadership of Black women making an impact in every corner of society -- from grassroots movements to state government and beyond.

This year’s event was co-chaired by hip-hop icon MC Lyte and nationally recognized financial empowerment strategist Dr. Lynn Richardson. Together, they helped create a space where Black women -- often the behind-the-scenes changemakers -- were placed squarely in the spotlight, celebrated for their brilliance, resilience, and unwavering dedication to community.

“This event is special because we are honoring our best and brightest,” said Kellie Todd Griffin, President and CEO of CBWCEI.

“We’re creating a safe space for Black women who work tirelessly behind the scenes to have their brilliance recognized and their impact felt—not only across our state but across the nation.”

The Power of Her was more than a theme -- it was a declaration of presence, excellence, and legacy.

MC Lyte offered a powerful reflection on the purpose of the gathering:

“This event doesn’t just honor greatness -- it nurtures it, documents it, and ensures it becomes a resource for generations to come. Every woman we celebrate tonight is a symbol of what’s possible when purpose meets opportunity.

From grassroots activism to corporate boardrooms, they lead with integrity and impact. These women are not just trailblazers -- they are torchbearers, lighting the way for future generations of Black girls and women.”

Dr. Richardson -- known for empowering women to build generational wealth through financial literacy and purpose-driven leadership -summed up the evening’s impact:

“This event lifts up Black women leaders shaping a better California for all.”

Rep. Maxine Waters Attends Funeral of “National Treasure” Charles B. Rangel in New York

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) joined former President Bill Clinton, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and other politicos at a funeral mass held to honor the life and contributions of former U.S. Congressman Charles B. Rangel.

The service was held on June 13 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

“This weekend, the country lays to rest a true giant, Congressman Charles B. Rangel,” said Waters of Rangel in a statement.

Rangel, who served in Congress for nearly five decades, was a decorated Korean War Vet and who became the first Black chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.

He died in Harlem on May 26 at 94.

“I offer my deepest condolences to his two children, Steven and Alicia, his grandchildren, and all those who loved him. Charles was a colleague, friend, and one of the most profound legislators this country has ever seen,” said Waters, who is the Ranking Member of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee.

Waters, a former California Assemblymember, also recognized Rangel for being a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus,

Honorees of the 2025

“The Congressional Black Caucus advocates for policy and legislation that ensures equal rights, opportunity, and access for Black Americans and other marginalized communities in America,” she added.

Remembering how Rangel’s leadership impacted the Black Press and Black economic empowerment in New York and around the country, Waters called her former colleague “a national treasure” who will be “dearly missed.”

‘Rangel combined his leadership with some of the most outstanding leaders of his generationDavid Dinkins, Basil Paterson, and Percy Sutton - to form ‘The Gang of Four,’ also known as the Harlem Clubhouse. This powerful coalition of Black men shaped political power, supported civic institutions, media outlets, and economic development in Harlem, provided backing for minority-owned businesses, and advocated for fair housing, labor rights, and equitable education,” Waters stated.

Sen. Alex Padilla Condemns

Homeland Security Dept. After Being Forcibly Removed, Handcuffed

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) strongly condemned the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on June 12 after federal agents shoved him to the ground and handcuffed him while he attempted to ask a question at a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles.

Padilla, who is California’s senior U.S. Senator and serves as the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, was in Los Angeles as part of his oversight responsibilities, according to his office.

An aide said the Senator had been listening to Secretary Noem’s remarks when he attempted to question the Secretary about the federal government’s immigration operations.

“If this is how the Department of Homeland Security responds to a senator with a question, you can only imagine what they’re doing to farmers, to cooks, to day-laborers throughout the Los Angeles community and throughout California and throughout the country,” Padilla said in a statement after his release.

Padilla was briefly detained after the incident but was released shortly afterward. His office emphasized that he was performing his duty of Congressional oversight at the time of the encounter.

The Department of Homeland Security defended its handling of the situation, accusing Padilla of “disrespectful political theater.” The agency said Secret Service officers mistook him for a potential threat because he was not wearing a U.S. Senate security pin.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Padilla “physically resisted law enforcement when confronted” and that agents acted appropriately.

The confrontation took place amid growing tension in Los Angeles over President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Protests have gripped the city for several days, and the White House has deployed National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to support federal immigration agents.

Padilla said he will continue to push for accountability regarding the federal government’s actions. “This incident underscores why we must keep demanding transparency and fairness in how our communities are treated,” he added.

Mayor Karen Bass, Other Southern California Mayors, Demand Immediate End to Federal Immigration Raids

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, joined by more than 20 regional mayors and local officials, called for an immediate end to federal immigration raids that have swept through Southern California communities in recent days.

The elected officials delivered the message on June 9 as protests and tension mounted over Pres. Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement actions, including the deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles.

“Mayors across the L.A. region and the country have spoken out unequivocally against these reckless raids and the Trump administration’s chaotic escalation here in Los Angeles,” said Bass. “When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you deploy troops to our streets, you’re not trying to keep anyone safe. You’re trying to cause fear and panic. These raids must stop.”

Mayor Peggy Lemons of Paramount echoed Bass’s concerns.

“Community members should not have to fear for their children who may be rounded up while in school, or for their grandparents who are elderly and may be picked up while out for an afternoon walk,” she said. “This shameful destruction of people’s lives who have been here for decades falls squarely on the shoulders of lawmakers whose polarized partisanship is destroying real people.” Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores called the military deployments an “alarming escalation

that undermines the values of our democracy.” He added, “Deploying military forces and conducting militarized ICE raids in immigrant neighborhoods is not about public safety — it is about political theater rooted in fear.”

Mayors from cities including Ventura, Vernon, South Gate, Bell Gardens, and Santa Monica joined the call, emphasizing a shared commitment to protecting immigrant families and rebuilding public trust.

Legislative Analyst’s Office Report: Retail Theft Up 11% Over a Decade

California has seen an 11% increase in reported retail theft from 2014 to 2023, according to a report released last week by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO).

The report, titled “Retail Theft in California: Looking Back at a Decade of Change” revealed that although rates dipped during the early COVID-19 pandemic -- thanks in part to stay-at-home orders and store closures -- the trend has since reversed, with a 32% spike between 2021 and 2023.

Despite the uptick, the state’s retail theft rate remains far below the historic highs of the 1980s. But lawmakers and voters have grown increasingly concerned, which led to the introduction of a number of new laws proposing tougher penalties to curb the problem.

“A combination of reduced consequences, fewer arrests, and evolving tactics by offenders has made retail theft more pervasive,” the LAO report found.

Proposition 47, passed in 2014, is cited in the report as a turning point. It reduced penalties for shoplifting and theft under $950 to misdemeanors, limiting law enforcement’s ability to arrest suspects. The report notes this shift, along with pandemic-era changes like early prison releases and reduced probation terms, likely reduced the odds of apprehension and incarceration -- two key deterrents to crime.

The report notes that retail theft declined in smaller counties during the pandemic -- measured as changes during the period after 2019. However, increases were concentrated in larger counties in the state, including Los Angeles, Alameda, San Mateo and Sacramento.

In 2024, Californians voted to approve Proposition 36, a ballot initiative, that now allows prosecutors to aggregate smaller thefts into felony charges, and AB 2943, authored by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur ( D-Los Angeles) gives officers broader authority to arrest suspected shoplifters, even without witnessing the crime firsthand.

“These changes are designed to close the gap in enforcement that Proposition 47 opened,” said Zbur when the law was passed. “We’re restoring balance.”

“Ultimately, we need to ask: Do the benefits outweigh the costs?” the report concludes. “And are we reducing crime without creating new disparities?”

While the LAO report includes a set of 10 guiding questions for lawmakers to assess the effectiveness and fairness of anti-retail theft legislation, it underscores a broader theme: that solutions must balance public safety with equity, ensuring new laws don’t deepen disparities while addressing community concerns

MC Lyte, Kellie Todd Griffin, and Dr. Lynn Richardson pictured during the 2025 California Black Women’s Trailblazer Hall of Fame celebration.

Photo by Leroy Hamilton

California Black Women’s Trailblazer Hall of Fame were celebrated for their exceptional leadership, innovation, and service to the community pictured with honorees LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and LA City Councilmember Heather Hutt. Recognized at the event were: 2025 Legacy Trailblazer Hall of Fame Honorees Tinisch Hollins, Adimika Meadows Arthur, Dana Sherrod, MPH, Lyndsey C. Wilson, MA, Hon. Cassandra James, Hon. Dr. Tonia Lediju, Hon. Courtney Welch, Shantay R. Davies-Balch, Dr. Arrickia McDaniel, Shaunelle Curry, Hon. Dr. Gwen Dowdy-Rodgers, Tige Charity, Veronica Gunn, Tiffany Nicole Massey, Kikanza Nuri Robins, Diane Robertson, Esq., Brittany Walker, Ernesta Banks Wright, Dedra “Dee” Sandford, and Cheryl Alethia Phelps. 2025 Legacy Trailblazer Hall of Fame Awardees: Wendy Calhoun, Bridgid Coulter Cheadle, Lisa Collins, Teri Holoman, Nichol Whiteman, and Dr. Lynn Richardson.

Interview: Former Sen. Steven Bradford Explains Why He’s Running for Insurance Commissioner -- Not Lieutenant Governor

By Edward Henderson California Black Media

Former California Sen. Steven Bradford (DInglewood) surprised some Sacramento political insiders late last Month when he withdrew his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor and announced his new campaign for State Insurance Commissioner.

A longtime public servant, Bradford previously served in the California State Senate for eight years. Bradford – former chair of the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee -authored and championed laws covering a range of issues, including healthcare, public safety, energy, communications, education, economic development and revitalization. While in the Legislature, Bradford also served on the Insurance Committee, writing and supporting legislation aimed at making California’s insurance more equitable, accountable and accessible.

Bradford’s bid for Insurance Commissioner is happening at a time when there is increasing instability in California’s insurance sector. A number of insurers – including major providers like State Farm and Allstate - have exited the state or scaled back their coverage, citing the high cost of doing business in the state and overregulation of the state’s insurance market. This trend has led to a shrinking private insurance market, particularly for homeowners in high-risk fire zones.

As a result, more Californians are signing up for the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan, the state’s safety net insurance program for homeowners who can’t find fire insurance elsewhere. Enrollment in the FAIR Plan has surged, placing additional strain on the system and raising concerns about long-term sustainability.

Bradford has positioned himself as a reformminded candidate focused on restoring stability to California’s insurance market. In a recent interview with California Black Media (CBM), he discussed

the factors that led to his decision to run for Insurance Commissioner, his plans to address high insurance prices and his advocacy for racial equity and reparations.

You have raised more than half a million dollars for your candidacy for Lt. Governor since you announced in 2024. Then, late last month, you announced that you are running for State Insurance Commissioner instead. What led you to make the switch?

It was a combination of things. The fire in Altadena and surrounding areas in Los Angeles and the Palisades was one. The number of calls that I’ve received from residents saying, “Hey, we’re in a crisis situation, Steve.” You have a skill set that we feel could bring folks together. You’ve demonstrated that as a utility chair, bringing in consumer groups, regulatory and the utilities companies themselves, having straight talk with these folks, and that’s what’s needed right now, trying to bring everybody together.’ I’m honored that they feel I have the skill set to do this.

It wasn’t an easy decision for me. It took a whole lot of conversation and even more prayer before I decided to go. If you win the race for Insurance Commissioner, what would be the first thing you do to improve the relationship between the state and insurers and what would you do to persuade insurance companies with plans to leave the state to stay?

First, bring everybody in the room. You’ve got to have a good dialogue. You’ve got to understand what those challenges are that are driving them out and preventing them from providing insurance, and at the same time, finding out what are those pinch points for consumers where they say, “Hey, I can’t no longer afford this.” And I’m not going to sit here and say I have all the answers because it’s going to require me to surround myself with experts that know more than me. And far too often, you hear

elected officials say what they’re going to do on day one. I’ve been elected long enough to know being elected does not come with a magic wand.

As more Insurance companies leave California, does the state have enough money to sustain the state-funded FAIR plan for homeowners?

It’s a challenge there; it’s about a billion dollars short right now. There was a piece of legislation that was going through last year and I think they brought it back this year by I think Assemblymember Calderon who is trying to allow the fair plan to bond and raise funds if there’s a shortage. So, if that piece of legislation passes, it will help greatly in being able to monetize and pay for the program.

California has the highest insurance rates in the country. A lot of people in the communities we serve complain that insurance rates are too high and information about coverage is not straightforward and accessible enough. Do you have plans to dress these concerns?

That’s part of the whole discussion of bringing consumers into a room and bringing the industry into a room, understanding what those costs are, what’s driving those costs. But we’ve got to be honest about it. California has some of the most expensive real estate in the country -- if not in the world. So, it’s going to cost more to insure it than it would, say, somewhere in Iowa.

When you were in the State Senate you served on the Reparations Task Force. In terms of policy, are you still engaged in advancing the recommendations the task force made to the Legislature?

Without a doubt. I’ve been talking to community groups. I just did an interview with a news agency last week. I’m constantly being asked what my opinion is and how I think things are going. There are some challenges there but we still have to keep moving forward and trying to stand up for some of those 115 recommendations in the reparations task force report. And one of the things

Senator Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) attends the inauguration of Tony Thurmond as California Superintendent of Public Instruction on January 8, 2023, in Los Angeles, CA.

Photo by Maxiam Elramisiy, California Black Media

I learned personally during that task force was what role insurance played after slavery and the fact that many Black folks couldn’t get insurance. So, it was part of the reparations discussion as well.

Black Leaders Are Standing with Immigrant Communities -- Even If Media Coverage Doesn’t Show It

By Joe W. Bowers Jr.

California Black Media

Last week, when Pres. Donald Trump sent federal troops into Los Angeles and escalated ICE raids across Southern California, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) didn’t stay silent. As chair of the Los Angeles County Legislative Delegation, she led more than 30 lawmakers in a Capitol press conference denouncing what she called “unconstitutional actions.”

“Mr. President, stop provoking fear and violence in L.A. County,” McKinnor said. “We are not your political punching bag. We are a strong people -- we are good people, and we will not be bullied.”

She urged calm, adding, “Remain peaceful. Peace is our power.”

Despite statements like these -- and others from Black elected officials across the state -- a narrative persists that Black leaders have been quiet. But California’s Black lawmakers are speaking out forcefully, even if media coverage hasn’t kept pace. Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights), co-chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), has been one of the most vocal critics of ICE operations. “I wasn’t just watching videos on the timeline. I was out in the streets,” Bryan said at a June 10 Capitol press conference organized by the Latino, Black, and Diversity caucuses. “They’re showing up at our elementary schools, and they’re taking children. They’re harassing our community members.” Bryan, who represents parts of South Los Angeles and Culver City, called out ICE activity at car washes in his district and condemned the use of federal force against protesters. “Los Angeles is the home of Black and Brown solidarity,” he said. “If you attack one vulnerable community in Los Angeles, you have attacked all communities in Los Angeles, and we stand up together.”

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, a member of both the CLBC and the California Latino legislative Caucus (CLLC), warned about the impact on students and families. “One in five of our students in this state has an immigrant parent,” Thurmond said. “Who sends ICE to a community to detain a nine-year-old? Never thought we’d see anything like this in our lifetime.”

Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), also a member of both caucuses, said families deserve to feel safe -- not targeted. “ICE raids and presence in our neighborhoods are threatening our safety in the workplace, schools, and places of worship,

breaking apart families and disrupting commerce,” she said. “We will not be silent.”

Assemblymember Sade Elhawary (D-Los Angeles), whose district includes part of downtown Los Angeles, also spoke at the press conference. Like Thurmond and Bonta, she’s a member of both the Black and Latino caucuses.

“When communities are demonized, when the humanity of our fellow human beings is questioned and denied … hope will never be silent,” Elhawary said.

She condemned the unapproved ICE operations near Exposition Park in her district.

“No one at the state level approved the recent ICE activity,” she said. “This was not a joint operation. This was abuse of power.”

State Controller Malia M. Cohen echoed that

sentiment. “What happened to David Huerta is a disgrace -- not just an attack on one man, but an attack on all of us who believe in justice, dignity, and the right to speak truth to power,” she said.

When U.S. Senator Alex Padilla was tackled and removed from a Los Angeles press conference led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Black leaders raised their voices again. Bryan posted, “Authoritarians and dictators arrest political dissent… this is not America.”

State Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego), chair of the CLBC, said, “What happened to Sen. Alex Padilla today is unacceptable… Silencing dissent through intimidation and force sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the very fabric of our democratic values.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom has emphasized that

California never requested federal troops and has challenged Trump’s deployment order in court. A federal judge sided with California in a preliminary ruling, but the Trump administration appealed. A hearing is scheduled for June 17.

From Inglewood to Oakland, Culver City to San Diego, Black leaders have been unified in denouncing the ICE raids, arrests, and Trump’s military interventions. But their voices haven’t gotten the media attention they deserve, leading some to wrongly assume they aren’t engaged. And it’s not just elected officials. Black labor organizers, clergy, and community leaders have also condemned the ICE raids and arrests, standing in coalition with immigrant rights groups on the ground.

That lack of visibility is fueling confusion. Some Black Californians have questioned whether this is “our issue.” But what’s happening isn’t only about immigration. It’s about militarizing neighborhoods, tearing families apart, bypassing due process, and weaponizing fear.

There’s a long history of Black and Latino communities in California joining together -- from United Farm Workers and Black labor alliances to the ethnic studies student protests in the 1960s and ‘70s, the fight against Prop 187 in the 1990s and the Black Lives Matters marches of the 2000s.

History shows that when civil rights are stripped from one group, others are rarely far behind. Black Californians know these patterns. We’ve lived them. That’s exactly why Black leaders are speaking out.

This is not just a Latino issue. It’s a human rights issue. It’s a civil rights issue. And it’s a California issue.

Let’s not let selective media coverage cloud the truth. Let’s not allow anyone to divide us. And let’s remember protecting each other’s rights is the surest way to protect our own.

Because if they can do this to Los Angeles, they can do it anywhere.

This commentary highlights just a few examples of the actions taken by Black leaders. Many others have also spoken out against the ICE raids, the treatment of Senator Padilla and lawful protesters, and the arrest of SEIU President David Huerta.

About the Author Joe W. Bowers Jr., a contributing editor at California Black Media, is a graduate of Stanford University.

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), Chair of the Los Angeles Legislative Delegation, speaks during a press conference at the State Capitol on June 9. She led her colleagues in the Legislature in response to actions by federal authorities to deploy the National Guard, following a wave of ICE raids and challenges to the authority of the Mayor of Los Angeles and Governor Newsom. Photo by Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media