Valley's News Observer 5.23.24

House Oversight Committee Meeting Erupts in Personal Attacks and Partisan Disputes

Sean

Combs Admits Beating Ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura

California Moves Closer to Formal Apology for Slavery

By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

California is moving towards officially apologizing for the horrors African Americans endured during chattel slavery after the State Assembly voted unanimously to approve Assembly Bill (AB) 3089 on May 16.

Authored by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), the “California Apology Act for the Perpetration of Gross Human Rights Violations” sailed through the Assembly with a 64-0 floor vote.

AB 3089 is one of 14 reparations bills supported by the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) this legislative session.

“Not only is the apology letter important, but it’s also what we do after it becomes law,” Jones-Sawyer said of AB 3089 after the legislation passed.

“It’s whether or not we go ahead and fulfill the dream of what my ancestors wanted, which is fully to make us part of the American dream. And most importantly, get rid of the river of racism that has been running through our communities for so many decades and centuries.”

Assemblymembers Mia Bonta (D-Alameda), Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), and Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) – all members of the CLBC -- spoke on the Assembly floor before the historic vote.

Former Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) spoke in support of the legislation.

“This is a statement of our values, this is a statement of who we are and what we think at this moment and that’s why it is so important to all of us,” Rendon said of the legislation.

The liftoff from Blue Origin’s

More Californians Can Tap Into Behavioral Health Care

By Edward Henderson California Black Media

As the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) continues to transform Medi-Cal, the state is expanding coverage to include behavioral health needs, like mental health care and substance use disorder services.

Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, provides coverage for one in three — or 15 million — Californians. About 40% of California youth is also covered by the program.Paula Wilhelm, Interim Deputy Director of Behavioral Health Services at DHCS recently spoke at a digital press conference hosted by Ethnic Media Services to discuss some of the expanded services.

“As a department, we know that mental health is just as important as physical health, and all of our health outcomes are intertwined. DHCS has been working hard to partner with our medical managed care plans and care providers to transform the way behavioral health services are delivered to Medi-Cal members.” Some expanded services include prevention and

wellness, screening and assessment, outpatient and community-based treatment, and group/family therapy. More intensive services are covered as well: crisis care, residential treatment, inpatient, mental health, and substance use medication.

Individuals dealing with postpartum depression, anxiety, and stress due to school or work, drug or alcohol addiction can also receive services.

“We want to improve the quality of care that we offer in Medi-Cal and create a more person-centered delivery system,” said Wilhelm. “Our overarching goal is to make it easier for Medi-Cal members to access behavioral healthcare and all the services they need to live healthier lives.”

Recent changes to the Behavioral Health Services Act, which voters approved as Proposition 1 in March, will reform behavioral healthcare funding and prioritize care for people with serious conditions. The new law also focuses on adding diversity to the behavioral healthcare workforce to promote equity. Culturally responsive services and a workforce that reflects the diverse communities served

under the plan will be prioritized.

Wilhelm also mentioned the state’s “No Wrong Door Approach” to mental health care in her briefing. This initiative focuses on behavioral health payment reform that aligns payment models that reward quality. This allows more providers to get into the Medi-Care system and increases the diversity of providers to make patients feel seen.

Medi-Cal is also expanding services for children and youth in California. Gov. Newsom’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative is a $4 billion investment into strengthening existing mental health services.

Autumn Boylan, Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships for DHCS also spoke at the digital conference. She focused on the expansion of services to meet the growing mental health needs of youth.

“Half of all lifetime cases of diagnosable mental illnesses emerge for our young people by the age of 14 and 75% of diagnosable mental illnesses begin by the age of 24. Focusing on children and youth from ages 0-25 is critically important to ensure that we are providing preventative

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HUD Announces $40 Million Boost for Housing Counseling

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Ten California and seven Washington, D.C., agencies are set to receive a substantial boost in funding totaling nearly $11 million, aimed at expanding housing counseling services for underserved communities. Among the beneficiaries in California are A-1 Community Housing Services in Hayward, the Rural Community Assistance Corporation in Sacramento, and the San Francisco Housing Development Corporation in the Bay Area. Those in D.C., are Housing Counseling Services, Lydia’s House in Southeast, the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp., dba NeighborWorks America, and

needs of homebuyers, homeowners, and renters across America.

UnidosUS. Agencies in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, and other states will also receive millions in funds as Vice President Kamala Harris and HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman announced that the Biden-Harris Administration will allocate almost $40 million to broaden comprehensive housing counseling services nationwide. The funds, administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Housing Counseling, will facilitate counseling services catering to the needs of homebuyers, homeowners, and renters across America.

During a stop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which marked the third leg of the Vice President’s nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour, Harris emphasized the significance of homeownership beyond mere shelter. “Homeownership represents more than just a roof over our heads,” she stated.

“It represents financial security, the opportunity to build wealth and equity, and a foundation for a better future for ourselves, our children, and future generations.”

Todman echoed Harris’s comments, highlighting the administration’s commitment to addressing housing barriers and closing the racial homeownership gap.

Todman emphasized the pivotal role of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, which served nearly one million Americans last year alone, providing crucial advice on financial literacy, home maintenance, and foreclosure prevention.

“This past year, HUD-approved housing counseling agencies reached almost one million Americans, providing them with invaluable advice on important topics like financial literacy, maintaining a home, and avoiding foreclosure,” Todman asserted.

The awarded grants are poised to benefit more than 165 housing counseling agencies and intermediary organizations. Notably, fourteen grantees will collaborate

with 60 historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions to support new homeowners of color and other marginalized communities.

The White House said the allocated funds will bolster counseling services covering various topics, including financial management, homeownership, and affordable rental housing. For instance, UnidosUS aims to pave pathways for Latino homebuyers to enhance credit, access down payment assistance programs, and secure sustainable mortgage loans.

In Wisconsin alone, HUD estimates that over $300,000 of the new funding will aid consumers, with nearly 35,000 Americans already assisted by the program, 19,000 of whom reside in Milwaukee.

Officials said those counseling services, currently serving nearly 12,000 families in Wisconsin, including 40 percent Black families, play a crucial role in navigating housing challenges amid rising costs and limited inventory.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing Counseling, David Berenbaum, emphasized the essential role of HUD-certified housing counselors as the first point of contact for those seeking housing support.

He said since 2020, HUD has been at the forefront of supporting housing counseling initiatives, aiding over 3 million individuals and families to obtain, sustain, and retain their homes. Berenbaum added that HUD’s ongoing initiatives, such as the introduction of programs aimed at historically underserved communities and the distribution of grants to bolster housing counseling services nationwide, underscore its commitment to extending housing counseling.

“Given the rising costs of housing, coupled with limited available inventory, housing counseling is a critical resource for homebuyers and renters seeking to navigate challenging processes and decisions,” he said.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA

the rocket ascended over 347,000 feet, crossing the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. After a few moments of weightlessness, the New Shepard booster landed smoothly near the launch site, with the crew capsule following under two of its three parachutes. Emerging from the capsule, Dwight expressed his elation, shaking his fists in triumph. “Fantastic! A lifechanging experience. Everyone needs to do this!” he exclaimed. Reflecting on the experience, he added, “I didn’t know I needed this in my life, but now I need it in my life.” In the 1960s, Dwight, then an Air Force captain, was fast-tracked for space flight following President John F. Kennedy’s call for a Black astronaut. Despite his top-half graduation from a prestigious test pilot school, he was passed over for astronaut selection. His autobiography, “Soaring On The Wings Of A Dream: The Untold Story of America’s First Black Astronaut Candidate,” recounts that challenging period. Following his Air Force tenure, Dwight became a celebrated sculptor, specializing in depictions of historic African American figures.

“I’ve got bragging rights now,” Dwight told NPR post-launch. “All these years, I’ve been called an astronaut, but now I have a little [astronaut] pin, which is a totally different matter.”

Recalling the flight, Dwight remarked on the pronounced curvature of the Earth at their altitude. “That line between the atmosphere and space—it was like somebody pulled the curtains down over the windows.”

The cost of Dwight’s ticket was shared among Blue Origin, Space for Humanity, and the Jaison and Jamie Robinson Family Foundation. Reflecting on his achievement, Dwight expressed his eagerness for further space exploration. “I want to go into orbit. I want to go around the Earth and see the whole Earth. That’s what I want to do now,” he said.

Born in 1933 on the outskirts of Kansas City, Kansas, Dwight grew up under the guidance of his mother, Georgia Baker Dwight, who instilled in him the belief that he could achieve anything. An avid reader and talented artist, Dwight pursued an aviation career, joining the United States Air Force in 1953 and earning a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Arizona State University. Selected as the first Negro astronaut trainee in 1962, Dwight’s journey was marred by discrimination and political setbacks, leading to his resignation in 1966. Transitioning to a career in art, Dwight received a Master of Fine Arts and established himself as a renowned sculptor. His works, including monuments to the Underground Railroad and memorials to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and George Washington Williams, have earned a permanent place in American cultural history. When asked what he’d like to do for an encore, Dwight told NPR he’d like a second trip into space. “I want to go around the Earth and see the whole Earth,” he proclaimed. “That’s what I want to do now.”

Screenshot of Asm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer on the floor of the California State Assembly asking member of the Assembly to support AB 3089.

Biden Amplifies Civil Rights Legacy in NAACP Speech

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

President Joe Biden delivered a stirring speech at the National Museum of African American History and Culture on Friday to help commemorate the 70th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. That ruling struck down the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision that institutionalized racial segregation under the doctrine of “separate but equal.”

“My name’s Joe Biden and I’m a lifetime member of the NAACP,” injecting a moment of levity by adding, “When I said that a little earlier to the president, he said, ’Are your dues paid up?’ I got to check.” Biden noted that, “together, the NAACP and this museum are monuments to the power of Black history. And Black history is American history. We have a whole group of people out there trying to rewrite history, trying to erase history.”

He called the historic museum a “tribute to heroes known and unknown who pursued our nation’s North Star.” The president also drew historical parallels between the civil rights struggles of the past and contemporary efforts to dismantle affirmative action and diversity initiatives.

He would later join Vice President Kamala Harris in a meeting with leaders of the Divine Nine, a coalition of historically Black sororities and fraternities, reinforcing his commitment to civil rights and equity. But during his address, he evoked the courage of the Little Rock Nine, who faced violent opposition in 1957 while integrating Central High School, linking their bravery to modern-day challenges against equality.

“The Little Rock Nine were met with vitriol and violence,” Biden remarked. “Today the vitriol comes in other insidious forms—an extreme movement led by my predecessor and his MAGA Republican allies.”

He also criticized the Supreme Court’s recent decision to limit affirmative action in college admissions. “They want a country for some — not for all.” And turning his attention back to the plight of American schools since the Brown v. Board of Education decision, the president declared that “because of the nation’s legacy of discrimination, Black children start school with an average of seven months behind their white peers in reading.”

“But one year of universal, high-quality pre-K could eliminate 98 percent of that gap.  Just one year,” Biden insisted. “And children who go to preschool are nearly 50 percent more likely to finish high school and go on to earn a two-year or four-year degree, no matter what their background is. That’s why my administration is working to support Black children.”

The president continued:

“And as soon as I came into office, I signed the American Rescue Plan.  And I’m going to be political by just saying this, because we’re having problems—not one Republican voted for it—not one.  But the American

Rescue Plan expanded Childcare Tax Credits, that delivered monthly checks to working families that cut Black child poverty in half. My Republican friends let it expire.

“Well, I’m going to keep fighting to reestablish it.  We’re going to get it reestablished. And I’m going to keep fighting to make sure preschool is universal for every threeand four-year-old in America.  We can afford to do this.  It’s not hard. Instead of giving multibillion-dollar breaks to the super wealthy, let’s make the wealthy begin to pay their fair share of taxes.  We can afford all this.”

The president’s remarks were part of a broader effort to shore up support among Black voters, a crucial

House Oversight Committee Meeting Erupts in Personal Attacks and Partisan Disputes

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By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA

Newswire

Senior National Correspondent

A nighttime session of the House Oversight Committee intended to discuss a resolution recommending Attorney General Merrick Garland be held in contempt of Congress, descended into chaos amid personal attacks and partisan bickering.

The rare evening session took a contentious turn when MAGA Republican and rabid Donald Trump supporter Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia responded to a question from Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) with a personal remark. “I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you’re reading,” Greene incredulously lashed out. Democrats immediately reacted negatively to the remark, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) leading the charge. She demanded that the unhinged Greene retract her comments and offer Crockett an apology. “That is absolutely unacceptable,” Ocasio-Cortez declared amid the crosstalk. “How dare you attack the physical appearance of another person?” Greene, undeterred, taunted Ocasio-Cortez, asking, “Are your feelings hurt?” Ocasio-Cortez responded sharply, “Oh, girl? Baby girl, don’t even play.” Just minutes later, Greene, of all members, attacked Ocasio-Cortez’s intelligence, challenging her to a debate and asserting, “You don’t have enough intelligence.” This prompted audible groans from other members.

During the contentious exchange, political pundits and others couldn’t help but to note the difference between Crockett and Greene, whom many on social media allege is a staunch racist. The Texas Democrat has routinely demonstrated her passion for justice and the protection of rights and has platformed criminal justice reform. Meanwhile, Greene remains a lighting rod for what’s plaguing government servants. In March of 2022, numerous Georgia voters filed legal challenges to her reelection campaign, alleging that she was disqualified from

public office because she helped to facilitate the January 6, 2021, insurrection.

“The way she represents herself … seems unhinged to Republicans, but Greene is twice as destructive,” USA Today opinion columnist Nicole Russell wrote. “Greene has a history of incendiary behavior, banned from Twitter and stripped of committee assignments in 2021, she even adopted QAnon conspiracy theories and used violent rhetoric against political foes.”

Despite agreeing to strike her comments toward Crockett, Greene refused to apologize for her remarks.

“You will never get an apology out of me,” she declared. Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) ruled that Greene’s insult did not violate House rules, which led to further disputes. When Democratic ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) attempted to appeal this ruling, Republicans moved to table his appeal.

Following the vote, Crockett sought clarification on the committee’s standards regarding personal attacks.

“If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody’s bleach blond, bad-built butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?” she asked, causing another uproar.

The controversy moved Comer to admit, “I have two hearing aids. I’m very deaf. I’m not understanding — everybody’s yelling. I’m doing the best I can.”

Comer later agreed to strike Greene’s insult of OcasioCortez from the record, and Democrats pushed to enforce rules that would prevent Greene from speaking for the remainder of the hearing. However, Republicans voted to allow her to continue speaking. After a short recess, Comer reminded members to adhere to the House’s standard of decorum.

Greene was ultimately recognized to speak for over four minutes, reiterating her refusal to apologize. “I will not apologize for my words, and I will not change them,” she said.

demographic that was instrumental in his 2020 victory. According to polling by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, there is a widespread sense of disappointment in Biden’s performance among some of his staunchest supporters, including Black adults. On Sunday, May 19, Biden delivered the commencement address at Morehouse College, a prestigious historically Black institution in Atlanta, where he noted that an HBCU student, Vice President Kamala Harris, will eventually be president. His appearance, however, sparked peaceful protests on campus over his administration’s handling of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Despite the unrest, Biden highlighted the significant contributions of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to American society. “I’ve got more Morehouse men in my Administration than Morehouse,” Biden quipped, noting that HBCUs have educated 70% of Black doctors and dentists and 80% of Black judges in the U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised Biden’s efforts to advance school desegregation. “Under the leadership of President Biden and Education Secretary Cardona, we’ve made important progress toward school desegregation efforts across the nation, though we still have a long way to go,” Jeffries stated. “Equal access to high-quality education should not be a partisan issue. It’s a problem we must confront together as Americans.”

The president’s recent speeches and meetings underscore his administration’s focus on combating the rising tide of right-wing extremism and protecting the civil rights advances of previous decades. “My predecessor and his MAGA friends are responsible for taking away other freedoms, from the freedom to vote to the freedom to choose,” Biden declared. “But I’ve always believed the promise of America is big enough for everyone to succeed.” Biden’s efforts come as he faces a challenging reelection campaign, with a need to galvanize the Black electorate, that was pivotal in his defeat of Donald Trump. His administration’s emphasis on defending civil rights and promoting equality aims to rekindle the support that proved crucial in his ascent to the presidency.

Nearly an hour after the disruptions began, the committee returned to the original agenda of debating whether Garland should be held in contempt of Congress for not providing audio recordings of President Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur regarding classified documents. The session had been moved from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. to accommodate members who attended former President Donald Trump’s trial in New York. Despite the turmoil, the committee voted 24-20 along party lines to recommend holding Garland in contempt. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office has yet to announce when the resolution will be presented to the full House.

Behavioral Health Care

services and intervening early when symptoms of mental health/substance abuse conditions begin to emerge as our young people are developing.” In California, almost 300,000 youth are coping with major depression and 66% of those young people do not get treatment access in the way they should. To combat this, the act focuses on strengthening the network of support for youth through county offices

of education, and school districts throughout the state to increase care at school settings. Funding will bring more school counselors, psychologists, well-being and mindfulness programs, social and emotional learning, and support.

and

be

Formal Apology for Slavery

Current Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas shared his thoughts about the historical bill. Rivas invoked the words of Dr. Martin Luther King from a letter he wrote commending the sacrifice and success of Cesar Chavez after he staged a 300-mile walk from Delano to the State Capitol in 1966.  “As we know that it is undeniable that our systems of government have been complicit in the oppression of African Americans,” Rivas said. “Our courts, our schools (and) even this Legislature, California history is tarnished by the subjugation of Black people.”

3089 mandates California to recognize and accept responsibility for “all of the harms and atrocities committed by the state, its representatives thereof, and entities under its jurisdiction who promoted, facilitated, enforced, and permitted the institution of chattel slavery,” as stated in the bill’s language. It also addresses the enduring legacy of “ongoing badges and incidents from which the systemic structures of discrimination.”

AB 3089 would require a plaque memorializing the apology and “publicly and conspicuously installed and maintained” in the confines of State Capitol.

“AB 3089 recognizes the harm that slavery had and continues to have on Black Californians and takes the important step of acknowledging and formally apologizing for the state’s role in harming the descendants of enslaved

people slavery,” McKinnor said.

On the Senate side, three of Sen. Steven Bradford’s reparations bills were approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee last week and are expected to get a full vote on the Senate floor.

SB 1403 (formerly SB 490) passed with a 5-2 vote. It would create a new state agency called the California American Freedman Affairs Agency. The agency would oversee the administration of reparations as determined by the Legislature and Governor.

“This bill was a recommendation of the California Reparations Task Force, which I spent two years of my life being a part of,” Bradford said. “It’s one of the most essential of the (task force) report’s 115 recommendations.”  Another bill, SB 1050 – Reparations: Restitution for Property Taking – was approved with a 5-2 vote. It establishes a process for the state to review and investigate public complaints from individuals who claim their property was taken without just compensation or as an outcome of racially motivated eminent domain procedure. SB 1050 establishes a process for providing compensation to the rightful owner of the property.  SB 1331 received a 5-2 vote as well. Titled “Fund for Reparations,” the bill creates a specific fund for Reparations and Restorative Justice in

I’m grateful to be in the Legislature at this time when we are positioning our state for a different and brighter future for the next generation.”

Biden noted that, “together, the NAACP and this museum are monuments to the power of Black history. And Black history is American history. We have a whole group of people out there trying to rewrite history, trying to erase history.”

The rare evening session took a contentious turn when MAGA Republican and rabid Donald Trump supporter Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia responded to a question from Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) with a personal remark.

Diddy Admits Beating Ex-girlfriend Cassie

Says He’s Sorry, Calls His Actions ‘Inexcusable’

By ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs admitted that he beat his ex-girlfriend Cassie in a hotel hallway in 2016 after CNN released video of the attack, saying in a video apology he was “truly sorry” and his actions were “inexcusable.”

“I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now,” the music mogul said in a video statement posted Sunday to Instagram and Facebook. The security video aired Friday shows Combs, wearing only a white towel, punching and kicking Cassie, an R&B singer who was his protege and longtime girlfriend at the time. The footage also shows Combs shoving and dragging Cassie, and throwing a vase in her direction. Cassie, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, sued Combs in November over what she said was years of sexual, physical and emotional abuse. The suit was settled the next day, but spurred intense scrutiny of Combs, with several more lawsuits filed in the following months, along with a federal criminal sex-trafficking investigation that led authorities to raid Combs’ mansions in Los Angeles and Miami. He had denied the allegations in the lawsuits, but neither he nor his representatives had responded to the newly emerged video until Sunday.

“It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that," Diddy says on the video. He adds, "I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry. But I’m committed to be a better man each and every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”

Combs is looking somber and wearing a T-shirt in the selfie-style apology video, and appears to be on a patio. It is the hip-hop mogul's most direct response and first apology after six months of allegations that have threatened his reputation and career.

Meredith Firetog, who represents Ventura and other women who have sued Combs, said the apology was “more about himself than the many people he has hurt.

“When Cassie and multiple other women came forward, he denied everything and suggested that his victims were looking for a payday,” the lawyer said in a statement. “That he was only compelled to ‘apologize’ once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation, and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words.”

The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly as Ventura has done.

In December, after Ventura and at least three other women had filed lawsuits against him, Combs posted a statement on Instagram broadly denying the truth of all of them.

“Let me absolutely clear. I did not do any of the awful things being alleged," that post said.

The security camera video, dated March 5, 2016, closely resembles the description of an incident at an InterContinental Hotel in the Century City area of Los Angeles described in Ventura' lawsuit.

The suit alleges that Combs paid the hotel $50,000 for the security video immediately after the incident. Neither he or his representatives have addressed that specific allegation. CNN did not say how it obtained the footage.

The suit said Ventura had been trying to get away from a sleeping Combs, who had already punched her in the face before the video began.

Combs is not in danger of being criminally prosecuted for the beating. The statutes of limitations for the assault and battery charges he would be likely to face expired years ago.

The same is true of many of the allegations in the lawsuits, but the federal investigators following Combs are likely looking for potential crimes they can bring under the law.

Ventura signed to Diddy's label in 2005. The two had an

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Abuse Allegations A Timeline

of Key Events

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs has apologized after newly released video showed him beating his former singing protege and girlfriend Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.

The video was aired by CNN Friday six months after the R&B singer filed a lawsuit that set off a wave of similar cases and public allegations against one of the most influential music moguls of the past three decades. Here is a look at the key events that have unfolded since late last year.

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

Cassie says in a lawsuit that Combs subjected her to years of abuse, including beatings and rape. Cassie, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, signed to Combs' label in 2005, and the two were on-again-off-again romantic partners for more than a decade starting in 2007. The lawsuit filed in federal court says Combs was “prone to uncontrollable rage” and subjected her to “savage” beatings. It says he plied her with drugs, forced her to have sex with other men, and raped her in her home as she was trying to end the relationship in 2018. Combs, through his attorney, “vehemently denies” the accusations.

NOVEMBER 17, 2023

With staggering speed, Ventura's lawsuit is settled the day after it is filed. The terms of the agreement are kept confidential. “We have decided to resolve this matter amicably," Combs says in a statement. "I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love.”

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

Two more women accuse Combs of sexual abuse in lawsuits filed on the eve of the expiration of the Adult Survivors Act, a New York law permitting victims of sexual abuse a one-year window to file civil action regardless of the

statute of limitations. The lawsuits, filed by Joi Dickerson and another woman who was not named, allege acts of sexual assault, beatings and forced drugging in the early 1990s by Combs, then a talent director, party promoter and rising figure in New York City’s hip-hop community. Combs' attorneys called the allegations false.

NOVEMBER 28, 2023

Combs temporarily steps down as chairman of his cable television network, Revolt, because of the wave of sexual abuse allegations. It would be one of several business setbacks for Combs brought on by the lawsuits.

DECEMBER 6, 2023

A woman alleges in another lawsuit that in 2003 when she was 17, Combs and two other men raped her.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan says she was living in a Detroit suburb and was flown to a New York studio, where she was given drugs and alcohol that made her incapable of consenting to sex, and the men took turns raping her.

The same day, Combs posts a statement on Instagram broadly denying all the allegations in the mounting series of lawsuits. “I did not do any of the awful things being alleged,” the post says. "I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

FEBRUARY 26, 2024

A music producer files a lawsuit alleging Combs sexually assaulted him and forced him to have sex with prostitutes. The lawsuit gives a long list of potentially illegal activities dealing with drugs and sex that the producer says he witnessed. A lawyer for Combs calls the allegations “pure fiction.” March 25, 2024

Homeland Security Investigations serves search

warrants in early morning raids on Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami in what officials tell The Associated Press is a sex-trafficking investigation. Combs was at one of his homes in Miami at the time. His two sons, at his home in Los Angeles, were handcuffed during the search, Combs' attorneys said. Officials did not say whether the raids were prompted by the civil lawsuits, but Combs' attorneys said they believed they were.

MARCH 26, 2024

Combs’ lawyer calls the raids “a gross use of militarylevel force” and says Combs is “innocent and will continue to fight” to clear his name. The attorney, Aaron Dyer, says there is "no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated.”

APRIL 4, 2024

A lawsuit that names Combs as a co-defendant alleges that his son Christian “King” Combs sexually assaulted a woman working on a yacht chartered by his father. The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court says Sean Combs created the circumstances that led to the assault and paid to cover it up afterward. An attorney for the two men calls the allegations “outrageous.”

APRIL 26, 2024

In the first major piece of legal pushback from Combs and his team, they file a motion to dismiss several elements of Dickerson's lawsuit because they were not illegal in 1991 when the alleged incidents occurred. While the legal objections are procedural, the filing also slams the “numerous false, offensive, and salacious accusations” in the lawsuit.

MAY 10, 2024

Combs asks a federal judge to dismiss the Dec. 6

lawsuit that alleged he and two co-defendants raped a 17-year-old girl from Michigan in a New York recording studio. Again, the objections are procedural — alleging the lawsuit was filed too late under the law — but the court document calls its claims “false and hideous.” May 17, 2024 CNN airs video that shows Combs attacking Ventura in hotel hallway in 2016. The video closely mirrors an assault described in her lawsuit, which said Combs had already punched her that night, and she was trying to leave the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles when he woke and came after her. In the footage, a man who appears to be Diddy, wearing only a towel, punches Ventura, kicks her, and throws her on to the floor. The lawsuit alleges Combs paid $50,000 to take away the video at the time. Combs' representatives had no immediate comment. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office said it hadn’t been presented with a case in the attack depicted in the video. And that even if law enforcement presented a case to prosecutors, the statute of limitations would apply, preventing them from charging Combs, the office said in a statement posted on social media. MAY 19, 2024 Combs posts a video on Instagram and Facebook apologizing for the assault on Ventura. It's his first real acknowledgement of wrongdoing since the recent stream of allegations began. “My behavior on that video is inexcusable," Combs says. “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now. I went and I sought out professional help. I got into going to therapy, going to rehab. I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry.”

Drake Leads the 2024 BET Awards Nominations with 7

Followed closely by Nicki Minaj

By MARIA SHERMAN

AP Music Writer Drake is the leading nominee for next month's BET Awards, followed closely by Nicki Minaj. The Canadian rapper received seven nominations Thursday, including an album of the year nod for his eighth studio album, “For All the Dogs.” One of the awards he's up for is the music video for “First Person Shooter,” his collaboration with J. Cole that may have been the catalyst for his recent beef with rapper Kendrick Lamar. Minaj received six nominations, including for album of the year for her highly anticipated “Pink Friday 2” release. Two of her nominations were for her song with Ice Spice, “Barbie World,” part of the blockbuster “Barbie” soundtrack.

Victoria Monét, one of several artists to receive five nominations, is scheduled to perform at the show, which will be held June 30 in Los Angeles.

Beyoncé, received four nominations, including for best female R&B/pop artist as well as recognition for two “Cowboy Carter” tracks, “Texas Hold 'Em” and “16 Carriages.” Her collaboration with Lamar, “America Has a Problem (Remix),” is competing against songs by Minaj, Usher, Cardi B and Drake.

Drake's “Rich Baby Daddy,” which features SZA and Sexyy Red, is competing for the best collaboration and two other awards.

The BET Awards extend beyond music with honors for film, acting and sports figures.

“Renaissance,” the Beyoncé tour film that was released in theaters late last year, is also nominated for best movie. Super Bowl headliner Usher is among the artists vying for four awards, along with 21 Savage, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat and Tyla, who won the inaugural best African music performance honor at the Grammy Awards.

Joining Monét, the best new artist Grammy winner, with five nominations apiece are J. Cole, Sexyy Red and SZA. Sexyy Red will also perform during the show, as will Muni Long, Latto, Glorilla and Shaboozey.

The film nominees this year are: “American Fiction”; “Bob Marley: One Love”; “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé"; “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”; “The Book of Clarence”; “The Color Purple”; “The Equalizer 3” and “The Little Mermaid.” Simone Biles, Naomi Asaka, Steph Curry, Lebron James and Patrick Mahomes are among the sports stars competing for awards.

Biden-Harris Administration Propels

Historically Black Colleges and Universities with Record $16 Billion Investment

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a historic milestone in federal funding and investments for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), surpassing a monumental $16 billion mark from fiscal year 2021 through current data available for FY 2024.

First reported by HBCU Buzz, the unprecedented financial commitment represents a substantial increase from the previously reported over $7 billion, encompassing significant additional actions already undertaken. The total exceeds $16 billion, inclusive of over $11.4 billion allocated between FY2021 and FY2023 through Federal grants, contracting awards, and debt relief tailored specifically for HBCUs.

“President Biden and I have delivered an unprecedented $16 billion to our Nation’s HBCUs. We know that when we invest in the success of our HBCUs, we are investing in the strength of our nation—today and for generations to come,” Vice President Kamala Harris told HBCU Buzz.

President Biden echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the administration’s unwavering commitment to sustaining robust investment efforts in HBCUs throughout the remainder of FY 2024.

Officials said the administration’s dedication to HBCUs underscores their vital role in fostering upward economic mobility in the United States. “For generations, these anchors of our communities have played a pivotal role in building and contributing to America’s leadership at home and abroad,” Vice President Harris remarked, noting her personal experience as a graduate of historically Black Howard University in Northwest, D.C.

First reported by HBCU Buzz, the unprecedented financial commitment represents a substantial increase from the previously reported over $7 billion, encompassing

President Biden and Vice President Harris said they’ve long recognized the profound impact of HBCUs, and the administration has prioritized furnishing these institutions with the resources necessary to deliver high-quality postsecondary education. With a legacy spanning over 180 years, HBCUs have been instrumental in advancing intergenerational economic mobility for Black families and communities. According to HBCU Buzz, despite comprising only 3% of colleges and universities nationwide, HBCUs play an outsized role in supporting the economic advancement of African Americans. In addition to over $11 billion provided to HBCUs, the Biden-Harris Administration has provided over $4

Happy Birthday Head Start!

By National Head Start Association

Head Start is an important cornerstone of the social and educational investment the United States has undertaken for children, families, and communities. It is the national commitment to provide children, ages 0-5 years old, with the foundation they need to thrive and set them up for a lifetime of learning and growth in school and the wider world. “Project Head Start” was launched in 1965 as a comprehensive child development program. Over the last six decades, it has served more than 39 million children and families. On May 18, Head Start turned 59 years old. Happy Birthday, Head Start! The Head Start community across the country will be celebrating Head Start’s birthday! NHSA appreciates your dedication to ensuring every child can succeed— and we hope that you will join us on social media in celebrating the history and continuing importance of Head Start. In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson asked Sargent Shriver to convene an interdisciplinary panel of experts to design a program to help communities meet the needs of preschool children – in and beyond

the classroom. The committee’s “Cooke Report,” named after its chair Dr. Robert Cooke, became the blueprint for Project Head Start. Designed to help break the cycle of poverty, Project Head Start provided preschool children from lowincome families with a comprehensive program to meet their educational, health, and nutritional needs as well as offer support and resources to their parents. Over the years, numerous studies have shown that Head Start students and graduates have improved life circumstances, including better health and a greater likelihood of graduating high school and earning a college degree or post-secondary certificate or license. Head Start is rooted in the unwavering philosophy that where you come from shouldn’t stand in the way of where you’re going. The program now serves more than 800,000 children from income-eligible families each year in urban and rural areas in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and all U.S. territories, as well as American Indian and Alaska Native and migrant and seasonal communities.

Every Head Start classroom takes the same rigorous approach to learning, and our dedication extends far beyond the classroom as we focus on the development of the whole child. Parents and caregivers are treated as partners in their child’s education; Head Start provides support related to their child’s health, nutrition, and developmental needs. Head Start families have varying levels of experience navigating the educational system –we meet them where they are, treat them with respect, and support them to become a part of the community.

This approach has long demonstrated success –kindergarten teachers notice that Head Start graduates are more likely to demonstrate the skills needed for success in elementary school, such as raising their hands and waiting their turn patiently. The Office of Head Start is part of the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

The National Head Start Association’s mission is to coalesce, inspire, and support the Head Start field as a leader in early childhood development and education.

Further, the Department of Defense U.S. Air Force established the first-ever HBCU-led University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). The focus of efforts will be on advancing the deployment of autonomous technologies for Air Force missions, with Howard University serving as the project leader and seven other HBCUs providing $90 million in funding over five years. Participating schools include Jackson State University, Tuskegee University, Hampton University, Bowie State University, Norfolk State University, Delaware State University, Florida Memorial University, and Tougaloo College.

Also, the Department of Commerce established the first-ever Connecting-Minority-Communities program delivering funding for 43 HBCUs to purchase broadband internet, purchase equipment, and hire IT personnel to tackle the digital divide impacting HBCUs. Several HBCUs also recently launched an HBCU CHIPS Network in collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology to increase the coordination of the resources at the colleges and universities and jointly contribute to the workforce development needs of the semiconductor industry. Administration officials noted that Chips are critical in powering consumer electronics, automobiles, data centers, critical infrastructure, and virtually all military systems.

“HBCUs produce 40% of all Black engineers in America, 50% of all Black lawyers, 70% of all Black doctors and dentists, and 80% of all Black judges,” President Biden asserted last fall. “And HBCUs are engineers of economic mobility, helping to increase the Black middle class. When the middle class does well, everybody does well. The poor have a road up, and the wealthy still do well, although they’ve got to start paying their taxes. That’s why it’s critical we invest in these universities.”

billion to support the success of HBCU-enrolled students through: $2.8 billion in need-based grants and other Federal programs, including Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study, and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, to assist HBCU students in affording a postsecondary education; and Nearly $1.3 billion to support Veterans attending HBCUs through the GI bill and other college, graduate school, and training programs delivered through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Bill Addressing Cyberbullying, School Fight Pages Advances to Senate Floor for Vote

By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

On May 16, the Senate Appropriations Committee

voted 5-0 to advance legislation that would require social media platforms to report cyberbullying incidents and remove posts depicting youth violence online.

Senate Bill (SB) 1504, titled “Cyberbullying Reporting and Accountability,” “addresses the online safety for youth,” said the bill’s author Sen. Henry Stern (D-Calabasas).

“We must do everything in our power to protect our children from the dangers of social media,” Stern said. “By establishing a mandatory process for removing and blocking cyberbullying material and providing transparency to survivors and parents, we aim to create a safer online environment for all.”

Senators Brian Jones (R-San Diego) and Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) abstained from voting. California Legislative Vice Chair Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) was one of five Democrats who voted for the bill. It now moves to the Senate floor for a full vote.

SB 1504 is designed to make social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and others “respond compassionately and predictably” to reports of cyberbullying or they must explain why the content is “aligned with their platform’s policies,” Sen. Stern said at a May 14 news conference in front of the State Capitol.

Another child safety focused bill, SB 1444 -- titled the “Parents Choose Protection Act of 2024” -- died in committee on May 16 “due to fiscal implications,” Stern stated. This bill would have required companies to issue alerts to parents about potentially harmful content.

Two fathers, Samuel P. Chapman and Chris Didier, who lost their young sons to Snapchat drug dealers came to the Capitol to support the child safety bills.

“Social media has become a super-highway of illegal and nefarious activity that is bringing harm to our youth,” Didier said. “It is time for new legislation to bring needed and appropriate safeguards to protect our communities.”

According to Stern’s office, 56% of teens have reported being cyberbullied, and that youth are likely to struggle with depression and substance abuse due to online intimidation.

Black or Hispanic teens are more likely than their White counterparts to be targets of cyberbullying, according to the California Department of Justice (DOJ). Black teens are about twice as likely as Hispanic or White teens to express that their race or ethnicity made them a target of online mistreatment, according to a 2002 survey by the Pew Research Center.

Cyberbullying has been associated with suicide or the newly termed “cyberbullicide,” according to a February 2023 report by the Journal of the Academy Psychiatry and the Law (JAPL).

The phenomena of cyberbullying and teen suicide are

becoming more common. Data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the JAPL report states that 14% of adolescents have been cyberbullied and 13.6% percent of teens have made suicide attempts. If passed, SB 1504 would “authorize any person,” including, “a parent or legal guardian of a minor,” who bring forth a report of cyberbullying to the “social media platform, a city attorney, a district attorney, or a county counsel to bring an action to enforce the act.”

Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa-Bogh (R-Yucaipa), the first Republican Latina to serve in the Senate, is the co-author of SB 1504.

“I’m happy to co-author SB 1504 to help safeguard our youth and empower families to pursue legal action against platforms that fail to remove cyberbullying content, providing much-needed recourse in the face of online harassment,” Ochoa-Bogh said at the May 14 news conference.

Stern said the legislation will help combat the growing popularity of “fight pages” created by adolescents and uploaded to social media platforms.

Those fight pages feature videos of elementary, middle school and high school youth physically fighting in bathrooms, classrooms, lunchrooms, playgrounds and other places. In many cases, campus violence happens in unsupervised spaces and in the presence of adults.

The popularity of the videos caught the attention of Stern. He shared the story about a teen from a local high school in his area who was paralyzed after three of his peers approached him “out of the blue” while he was walking down a street, Stern said. The aggressors were members of a “knockout club.”

“It was three kids. One with a camera and one got their phone on,” Stern said. “They cold clocked him. Not just knocked him out but paralyzed him and put him in a life of trauma that he can never recover from.”

Stern said the fight pages are “proliferating everywhere.”

Earlier this year, a report stated that 14 schools within the Fresno Unified School District were identified as having social media pages promoting school fights.

The social media accounts were not administered by the schools, but the fight pages did display schools’ logos, and mascots and urged other students to contribute videos of fights for viewership.

“Incidentally, there are also pages around sexual content of students rating people using artificial intelligence to generate nude images. (SB 1504) covers all bad behaviors,” Stern said. “That kind of bullying, we nip it in the bud before it starts. When those fight pages emerge, anyone observing it can report it to that platform. They would have to respond to it within a matter of days and actually in a matter of hours.”

Celebrating 59 Years of Head Start

We hold the belief that every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, can succeed in life. We are the voice for more than 1 million children, 275,000 staff,

Sen. Henry Stern (D-Calabasas) held a news conference in at the State Capitol on May 14 to discuss bills he authored that address online safety for children. (CBM photo by Antonio

Sen. Steve Bradford: “The Time is Right” to Run for Lieutenant Gov.

By Antonio Ray Harvey

California Black Media

California State Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood), 64, says the “time is right” and he is “up to the challenge” of becoming the next Lieutenant Governor of California. Bradford, who serves as the Vice Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), announced his bid for the second highest office in the state on April 22. The election will be held in 2026.

“I think it’s time we need someone in that office who is committed to doing the work. It’s not a glamorous job. It’s an in-the-weeds job but it’s a job that impacts us every day,” Bradford told California Black Media (CBM).

“I want to do the work that is in front of me,” said Bradford, who has served in the Legislature for 15 years as an Assemblymember and State Senator and will be term out at the end of this year.

“That’s what my career has been about: doing the work of the position I’ve been elected to do.”

In the Legislature, Bradford represents Senate District 35. It is home to nearly one million residents, and it includes the communities of Inglewood, Compton, Gardena, Torrance, Carson, Harbor Gateway, San Pedro, Hawthorne, and Lawndale in Los Angeles County. Under California’s Constitution, the Lieutenant Governor serves as Acting Governor whenever the Governor is absent from the state, and automatically becomes Governor if a vacancy occurs. The Lieutenant Governor is the President of the California Senate and votes in case of a tie. Currently, Eleni Kounalakis is the current Lieutenant Governor. However, her term in office is set to expire in 2026 due to term limits.

California State Treasurer Fiona Ma has also declared

her candidacy for the Lieutenant Governor’s office and has launched her campaign.

Bradford told CBM that he intends to visit every corner of the state to make the case that he is the person for the job.

“I have two years to touch all 58 counties. It’s not going to be an easy task, but I am up for it,” Bradford said. “We have to let the people know what I’ve done and what I plan to do as Lt. Governor. I am excited about the opportunity.”

Bradford said he is following in the footsteps of Mervyn M. Dymally, his mentor. Dymally was a trailblazing federal and state elected official representing Southern California. In 1974, Dymally made history by becoming California’s first Black Lieutenant Governor.

A member of the Democratic party and the CLBC, Dymally served in the U.S. House of Representatives and both houses of the State Legislature. He passed away in October 2021 at the age of 86.

“More importantly, that’s why I am running,” Bradford said of Dymally. “I want the challenge and I want to pay homage to the individual who got me involved in politics — that’s the state’s first and only African American Lt. Governor, Mervyn Dymally,” Bradford said.

Over the years, Bradford has championed legislation aimed at addressing racial disparities and advocated for justice in housing and property rights, police reform, as well as making the case for reparations for the descendants of enslaved Black Americans.

In 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 796 authored by Bradford. It authorized the County of Los Angeles to return the beachfront property known as Bruce’s Beach to the family of the African American couple Willa

and Charles Bruce, who purchased the Manhattan Beach site in 1912. However, the property was confiscated in the late 1920s through eminent domain. Newsom also signed Bradford’s SB 2 into law. Also known as the Kenneth Ross Jr. Police Decertification Act

of 2021, SB 2 was designed to increase law enforcement’s accountability that corrodes public respect and enforcement officers who commit serious misconduct and illegally violate a person’s civil rights.

SB 2 created a statewide decertification system to withdraw the certification of a peace officer in California following the conviction of serious crimes or termination from employment due to misconduct.

Bradford served two years on the first-in-the-nation Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans.

Bradford and eight other members of the task force analyzed the institution of slavery and its continuous effects on the Black Americans.

Another bill Bradford authored, SB 1403 (formerly SB 490), proposes the establishment of a new state agency called the California American Freedman Affairs Agency (CAFAA). The agency, a direct recommendation of the reparations task force, would be responsible for setting up the infrastructure required to manage reparations activities as directed by the Legislature and Governor.

On May 16, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 5-2 to approve the SB 1403. It now moves to the Senate Floor for a consideration.

“Our state is experiencing a significant economic downturn. People across California are struggling. Housing costs are out of reach, homelessness is at crisis levels, the global threat of climate change, underfunded schools, and debt-inducing higher education costs,” Bradford said in an April 15 statement announcing his candidacy for lieutenant governor. “While California has led the nation on enacting smart, forward-thinking policies, the reality is that we must do more to solve our many challenges.”

Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed

Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

Asm. Cory Jackson: Gov’s Budget Cuts Must Be “Rooted in Justice”

Asm. Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) attended a rally at the State Capitol on May 15 to express his opposition to cuts in the state budget. Jackson said some of the Governor’s proposed cuts affect low-income communities and social programs. (CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey)

At a rally held by the Service Employees International Union California (SEIU) at the State Capitol on May 15, Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) expressed his concerns about budget cuts proposed by Gov. Newsom.

The rally was a response to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised budget, which he presented last week. Newsom proposes spending delays and making cuts to existing programs to address the state’s budget shortfall, which the Governor’s office estimates at $27.6 billion.

“To make sure that we are clear, and I am clear: these cuts to our social safety net are simply not acceptable. We are not going to repeat the mistakes of the Great Recession,” Jackson said. “We are not going to balance the budget on the backs of our marginalized, poorest residents, neighbors, and brothers and sisters.”

California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and Sen. Susan Rubio (D-West Covina) also spoke at the rally. Rubio told the audience that she aims to protect domestic violence programs from being on the chopping block.

SEIU members and youth advocates at the rally voiced their opinions about proposed cuts to CalWorks, childcare programs, CalFresh, child welfare programs, and in-home support services.

In addition, proposed cuts are expected to impact public health, behavioral health, homelessness and affordable housing programs, and delayed expansion of the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP).

Newsom’s revised proposal to balance the state budget cuts one-time spending by $19.1 billion and ongoing spending by $13.7 billion for fiscal years 2024-2025 and 2025-26.  Jackson emphasized, “This budget process and this budget must be rooted in justice, which means we are not

going to just look at the numbers and say that ‘this will be cut and that will be cut.’ We will make sure that we consider the harm that is being done with each cut.”

Legislative Analyst Office: California’s “Budget Problem” Is Bigger Than Governor’s Estimate

In a report released May 17, California’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) released a report stating that the state’s budget problem is $55 billion. That figure is nearly double the estimate of $27.6 billion that the Governor announced in his May revision of the state budget last week.

“Based on the administration’s revenue estimates and proposals, we estimate the Governor addressed a larger deficit than this -- $55 billion,” read a statement from the LAO.

According to the LAO, although it’s calculation of the deficit is significantly higher, “these scoring differences do not reflect substantive differences in our views of the state’s fiscal position.”

“The difference is attributable to what our offices consider to be current law, particularly for school and community college spending,” the LAO statement continued.

A number of California officials, including Treasurer Fiona Ma and Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, as well as several advocate groups, agree that the state remains on strong economic footing.

This is a serious plan to address a difficult situation and I commend Governor Newsom for tackling it headon, said Ma. “His budget provides a practical path forward that doesn’t sacrifice California’s commitment to critical policy agendas like climate change and housing. Unlike deficits of the past, the state’s underlying fundamentals are solid. The economy is strong, the agreed-upon early actions were real and significant, and the state has ample reserves and available cash to draw on if needed.”

According to the LAO, the structure of the Governor’s spending plan will strengthen the state’s economy in several ways.

“First, by proposing the state use less in reserves, the Governor preserves an important tool to address budget problems, which are likely to continue to emerge,” the LAO statement continued. “Second, by further reducing one-time and temporary spending, the Governor leverages a “use it or lose it” tool that improves budget resilience. Finally, the Governor proposes new statutory language that would temporarily set aside anticipated surplus revenues for at least a year.”

The LAO also offered advice to the Legislature as it enters deliberation before presenting a final draft of the 2024-25 state budget to the Governor for approval.

“The Legislature will need to decide how to address prior-year funding for schools and community colleges,” the LAO warned lawmakers about cutting or delaying spending on education.

The LAO also urged policymakers to consider reducing spending on some long-standing programs instead of primarily focusing on new spending and to also be mindful that its estimates on revenue generation or more modest than the Governor office’s projections.

“Treatment

Not Tenements”: Gov. Newsom Updates State on Mental Health, Homelessness Efforts

On May 14, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that his office

measure in March amends California’s Mental Health Services Act by authorizing of up to $6.8 billion in bonds to build mental health treatment facilities to support people struggling with substance use disorder and mental illness. Under Prop 1, developers can build up to 4,350 housing units and counties are required to spend twothirds of revenue collected from taxes on millionaires to develop housing and behavioral health programs.

Visiting a behavioral health treatment center undergoing renovations in San Mateo County on May 14, Newsom announced his plans to fast track the funding.

“People are demanding more accountability, with real results,” Newsom said.

“The state will provide counties and cities with resources and tools to foster safer and healthier communities across the state,” Newsom added.

“It’s time to do your job. It’s time to get things done,” Newsom said. “You asked for these reforms, we’ve provided them. Now it’s time to deliver.”

However, some community and local government leaders opposed to Prop 1 argue that the new funding structure to tax millionaires jeopardizes housing programs that exclude drug or mental illness treatment. Advocates for disability rights also argue that more people will be held in these state facilities against their will.

The Newsom Administration insists that the state will monitor programs based on gaps in local services.

Counties, cities, and developers with project proposals can apply for funding when applications open in July this year.

On Visit to Italy, Vatican Gov. Newsom Strengthens Climate Partnerships

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom visited Italy and Vatican City to discuss climate resilience and help develop an international protocol that countries and cities can implement to address the global climate crisis. Newsom and other high-profile Democrats –including Governors Kathy Hochul of New York and Maura Healey of Massachusetts --visited a 16th-century villa in the Vatican Gardens, alongside Pope Francis, to attend a three-day Vatican Climate Summit hosted by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Social Sciences.

“This year holds unprecedented significance for democracy and the climate, two intertwined issues which will define our future,” Newsom said. “With half the

world’s population poised to elect their leaders amidst a backdrop of escalating political extremism, and global temperatures hurtling towards alarming new heights, the stakes could not be higher.”

Pope Francis is the first pope to prioritize climate change during his papacy. He has published an encyclical based on scientific facts on the harmful impact of climate change. He also released the Laudate Deum, a decree that stressed the need to end the use of fossil fuels.

“The refusal to act quickly to protect the most vulnerable who are exposed to climate change caused by human activity is a serious offense and a grave violation of human rights,” the Pope said at the conference.

In Bologna on May 17, Newsom signed a Memorandum o of Understanding establishing a partnership between California and the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

“In an increasingly hotter and drier world, the partnership we’re forming today will accelerate efforts to protect communities across the world – all while harnessing the innovative spirit necessary to move away from fossil fuels,” Newsom said at the signing.

Emilia-Romagna President Stefano Bonaccini thanked Newsom for signing the agreement.

“This agreement with the government of the State of California, the fifth largest economy in the world, further strengthens the international dimension of our region, confirming our commitment to develop and share common policies with the most advanced territories in the world on key issues such as combating climate change, ecological transition and environmental protection,” Bonaccini said.

Is Gov. Newsom Running for President? Calif. Republican Slams Governor

Republican Congressmember Kevin Kiley (D-CA-3) blasted Gov. Gavin Newsom in a blog post he published last week.

Once again calling up the lingering speculation that Newsom will either run for president --- or eventually be selected as the Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential candidate -- Kiley argued that the Governor is problematic choice. He cited the Newsom administration’s track record on resolving the housing crisis, lowering taxes, and settling the state’s $68 billion debt.

“Having our taxpayers fund free healthcare for everyone here illegally, amidst an unprecedented budget deficit and border crisis – while cutting support for foster kids and other vulnerable groups – is not who we should be as a state or country,” Kiley said in the blog post.

Kiley also said Newsom’s visit to the Vatican last week to discuss climate change was a strategy to avoid addressing California’s economic state.

“The latest example: we’ve gone from a $98 billion ‘surplus’ to a $73 billion deficit, while enduring the nation’s highest taxes. To escape his own mess, Newsom is now jetting off to the Vatican to talk ‘climate,’” Kiley wrote. Kiley also recalled a feud with the governor in his effort to overturn Proposition 47, an amendment that reclassified some felonies to misdemeanors for non-violent crimes. Kiley said Newsom filed a complaint filed against him “through a crony” but it was rejected by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission. When asked about four weeks ago about running for president, Newsom reiterated his support for President Biden and his confidence in his ability to govern.

Senator Steve Bradford

(Shutterstock Photo)

Congressman Kevin Kiley (R- Rocklin)

(Shutterstock Photo)

California Superintendent of Public Instruc-

tion Tony Thurmond meets with members of SEIU at the rally held at the State Capitol. (CBM

photo by Antonio Ray Harvey)

California vs. Hate

One Year Anniversary Celebrated with Continued Commitment to Combat Hate

In a recent press conference held by the California Civil Rights Department, significant milestones and ongoing efforts in the fight against hate crimes and incidents across California were celebrated. The event marked the oneyear anniversary of the launch of California vs. Hate, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at providing support, resources, and a reporting hotline for individuals and communities targeted by hate.

The press conference commenced with Kevin Kish, Director of the California Civil Rights Department, expressing gratitude for the partners’ support and highlighting the achievements of California vs. Hate in its inaugural year. The program, which created a statewide hotline for reporting hate incidents and crimes, has directly supported over 1,000 individuals and received more than 2,000 contacts from the public seeking assistance. Notably,

the hotline is not merely a reporting tool but a resource network connecting individuals with critical services such as legal aid, mental health support, and counseling.

“Nearly 80% of California’s counties have been represented in the reports that we’ve received, including all 10 of the state’s most populated counties. And in our first year, we’ve connected the folks who reported to more than 100 different types of services, including legal services, financial services, mental health support, care counseling, and many others,” Kish stated.

Reports to the hotline revealed alarming trends, with discriminatory treatment, verbal harassment, and derogatory slurs being the most common reasons cited.

The majority of incidents occurred in residential areas, workplaces, and public facilities. Race and ethnicity emerged as the primary motivations behind reported hate

incidents, with anti-Black bias being the most prevalent, followed by anti-Latino and anti-Asian biases.

Mina Fedor, founder of AAPI Youth Rising, shared a poignant personal journey, illustrating the urgent need for resources like California vs. Hate. Fedor recounted instances of anti-Asian hate during the pandemic and underscored the program’s role in empowering youth to address hate-based bullying and discrimination.

Eliana Kamowitz, acting director of the Office of Equity at the California Department of Social Services, highlighted the Stop the Hate program’s impact in funding critical services for hate crime victims. Kamowitz emphasized the program’s focus on prevention, intervention, and community empowerment, noting its role in reaching thousands of Californians through direct and indirect services.

Ariel Bustamante, Senior Manager of Capacity Building at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, reiterated the importance of California vs. Hate in supporting LGBTQ+ individuals facing hate-motivated incidents. Bustamante emphasized the center’s commitment to providing culturally responsive resources and services to LGBTQ+ communities across California.

Linda Gledhill, Executive Officer for the California Victim Compensation Board, highlighted the board’s role in aiding victims of violent crime, including hate crimes, by covering expenses such as medical treatment, mental health services, and relocation. Last year, the board processed 39,000 applications and paid nearly $47 million to victims.

Gledhill emphasized the board’s partnership with state and community organizations to provide comprehensive support to victims, ensuring they have access to necessary services through any state department. She urged victims of hate crimes to utilize the California vs. Hate hotline for

support.

Rebecca Wendt, Deputy State Librarian, also spoke, emphasizing the State Library’s commitment to preserving community stories and supporting victims of hate crimes. She highlighted the State Library’s ethnic media outreach grants, which raise awareness about available resources and reduce stigma around reporting hate incidents. The grants target California’s diverse communities, including Asian, Latino, Black, Native American, and LGBTQ+ populations, ensuring they know about and can access essential services.

Regina Brown Wilson, the Executive Director of California Black Media, expressed gratitude to state and community partners for their collaborative efforts in addressing rising hate in California. Highlighting the pivotal role of organizations like California Black Media in reaching diverse communities, Wilson underscored the immeasurable impact of their work in combating hate crimes.

Wilson emphasized the strategic utilization of federal and state resources, including support from the California Department of Civil Rights and the California State Library Ethic Media Grants, in advancing the common goal of reporting and reducing hate crimes. She credited the California vs. Hate initiative as a national model in this regard.

The initiative, funded through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, supports the Hate Line Resource Hotline and Resource Center, enabling expanded outreach efforts and the production of impactful content. Brown Wilson highlighted the initiative’s focus on crosscultural engagement and collaboration among ethnic media outlets to improve communications and build a pan-ethnic communications infrastructure.

Russell Roybal, Chair of the Commission on the State of Hate, underscored the commission’s role in monitoring hate activity, developing policy recommendations, and supporting targeted communities. Roybal emphasized the importance of California vs. Hate as a vital resource for individuals and communities targeted for hate, providing essential support beyond law enforcement reporting channels.

Becky Monroe, Deputy Director of the California Department of Civil Rights, addressed concerns about the effectiveness of the initiative in reaching diverse communities and combating hate speech targeting marginalized groups. Monroe emphasized the collaborative efforts with ethnic media outlets, highlighting their role as trusted messengers in reaching communities often overlooked by mainstream media.

Monroe outlined the initiative’s care coordination services, which provide follow-up support for individuals reporting hate incidents, including connections to counseling, legal aid, and other resources. She acknowledged the challenges in accurately identifying hotspots of hate activity but emphasized ongoing efforts to improve data collection and analysis.

The press conference concluded with a call to action for Californians to stand united against hate and extremism, reaffirming the state’s commitment to creating a more inclusive and compassionate society for all residents.

(Photo Credit: Instagram @calcivilrights)

Bruins to Host Super Regionals

most importantly, for the seniors, we get to extend our season and we get to play another weekend. I’m proud that we get to do that in our house.”

UCLA Softball had a good weekend claiming the NCAA tournament’s  Los Angeles Region. The No. 6 seeded BRUINS advanced to the NCAA Super Regional after a 9-1 five-inning victory over Grand Canyon.

The Bruins (40-10) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after Maya Brady was hit by the first pitch of the game. Jaydelyn Allchin followed with a singled That’s when Sharlize Palacios then went “UPTOWN” on the second pitch of her at-bat with a shot off the scoreboard.

“I’m repeating myself, but our goal is to be the best at the end,” said UCLA Head Softball coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. “Today was just absolute execution. We said we wanted to be prepared for one shot in that first inning, and that set the tone right there. I’m just going to say I’m proud of my Bruins, I’m proud of Taylor (Tinsley), I’m proud of Kaitlyn Terry for getting us to this point. Sharlize  has been the quarterback. She’s behind the plate, but

Palacios homered three times off Grand Canyon pitching in the Regional. She leads the Pac-12 Conference with 18 this season.

“We were just focusing on coming out, and there was kind of a killer mentality,” Palacios said. “We had to go out, make a statement, and do it for the team. That started with Maya took the dose (hit by pitch, but she took it like a dog. And then Jadelyn came up with a bunt, and we just showed that we were ready to play.”

In the third inning, Allchin welcomed GCU reliever Hailey Hudson to the game by crushing a leadoff home run. Allchin finished the game 3-for-3 with a career-high-tying three runs scored. Savanah Pola added an RBI double to increase UCLA’s lead to 5-0.

The Lopes (50-13) got one run back on a Tinley Lucas solo home run in the bottom of the third, but the Bruins added three more runs  in the top of the fourth after a wild pitch with the bases loaded and a pair of groundouts.   Brady hit an infield chopper in the top of the fifth put UCLA ahead 9-1 and set the Bruins up for an early ending to the game via run rule. Taylor Tinsley made quick work of The Lopes in the bottom of the fifth, to earn the victory. Brady the PAC12 Player of the Year showed her defensive side for  the second out in the fifth, fielding a high chopper and making an on-the-run throw. Tinsley allowed just two hits and one run while striking out six in her outing, running her record to 16-8.

UCLA was dominant offensively in the Regional- scoring seven or more runs in each of its three victories and run-ruling Grand Canyon twice. Palacios totaled four RBI in the clinching game and nine in the tourney. The Redshirt Senior from Chula Vista now has homers in six of her last 12 games. Her performance tonight marked the 21st multi-homer game in UCLA softball postseason history. The BRUINS totaled 10 hits, as  five that  went for extra

bases, and chased out Grand Canyon’s first three pitchers. No Lopes pitcher lasted more than 1.2 of an innings.

ADD BRUINS: With her fifth inning single Brady joined the top ten in UCLA all-time hits. The Bruins will host No. 11 seed Georgia in the Super Regionals next week. This marks the 14th NCAA Super Regional appearance for the UCLA softball program since the NCAA Tournament was reformatted in 2005. The Bulldogs (43-17,12-12 SEC) earned it way after winning three straight games out of the elimination bracket to take the NCAA Athens Regional. They are led by Dallis Goodnight an All SEC second teamer who started 43 games batted .349 scored 47 runs

Big Names Throw Out First Pitch for Dodgers

6-4 win over the Arizona D-Backs at Dodger Stadium, in front of many of their new fans. They both are part of a growing WNBA. “For them to even want to bring us out, this means a lot,” Jackson said.

“The support we’ve gotten from L.A., we’re just grateful to be here.”

Miguel Vargas caught Brink’s first pitch, which turned out to be right over the plate. Jackson, on the other hand, went wide to Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller.

Leinart at Dodger Stadium a few days earlier to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Bush walked up to the mound in a No. 5 Dodgers jersey. He was paying homage to his number with the Trojans.

As for Leinart, he came out of the dugout with catcher’s gear on ready to haul in Bush’s pitch.

Leinart also wore a Dodgers jersey for the first pitch.

view of their new home in Los Angeles. They were both invited to throw out the first pitch prior to the DODGERS

“She needs to be on the team,” Jackson joked about Brink’s first pitch. In the previous games, the Heisman trophy winner Reggie Bush did the honors. The USC standout and Walter Camp All-American was joined by his former QB Matt

The former left-handed gunslinger was wearing No. 11, which was also his number in college.

Last month, Bush received his Heisman Trophy back. As you’d expect, he was thrilled to get it back in his possession.

“Personally, I’m thrilled to reunite with my fellow Heisman winners and be a part of the storied legacy of the Heisman Trophy, and I’m honored to return to the Heisman family,” Bush said in a statement to ESPN “I also look forward to working together with the Heisman Trust to advance the values and mission of the organization.”

Two Possible Bright Stars Chargers

Earl Heath

Contributing Sports Writer

Maya Brady PAC-12 Player of the Year is ready to lead UCLA in the Super Regionals against

Georgia at Easton Field (Photo by Ross Turteltaub-UCLA Athletics)

Bulldogs have Jaiden Fields (3)- OF, First Base who has batted 309 with 26 hits and 17 RBI’s. She’s

sister of NFL QB Justin Fields (Photo Courtesy: U of Georgia Athletics)

LA Sparks’ (L) Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink, before throwing out first pitch throw first pitches at Dodger Stadium (Photo: Dodgers)

Matt Leinart and Bush reunite as battery mates at Dodger Stadium (Photo Fox sports)

Heath

Sports Writer

After a Child’s Death, California Weighs Rules for Phys Ed During Extreme Weather

Yahushua Robinson’s friends sent cards, drawings, and messages after the 12-year-old died last August with heat and physical exertion as contributing factors. (Samantha

News)

By Samantha Young KFF Health News

LAKE ELSINORE — Yahushua Robinson was an energetic boy who jumped and danced his way through life. Then, a physical education teacher instructed the 12-year-old to run outside on a day when the temperature climbed to 107 degrees.

“We lose loved ones all the time, but he was taken in a horrific way,” his mother, Janee Robinson, said from the family’s Inland Empire home, about 80 miles southeast of Los Angeles. “I would never want nobody to go through what I’m going through.”

The day her son died, Robinson, who teaches phys ed, kept her elementary school students inside, and she had hoped her children’s teachers would do the same.

The Riverside County Coroner’s Bureau ruled that Yahushua died on Aug. 29 of a heart defect, with heat and physical exertion as contributing factors. His death at Canyon Lake Middle School came on the second day of an excessive heat warning, when people were advised to avoid strenuous activities and limit their time outdoors.

Yahushua’s family is supporting a bill in California that would require the state Department of Education to create guidelines that govern physical activity at public schools during extreme weather, including setting threshold temperatures for when it’s too hot or too cold for students to exercise or play sports outside. If the measure becomes law, the guidelines will have to be in place by Jan. 1, 2026. Many states have adopted protocols to protect student athletes from extreme heat during practices. But the California bill is broader and would require educators to consider all students throughout the school day and in any extreme weather, whether they’re doing jumping jacks in fourth period or playing tag during recess. It’s unclear if the bill will clear a critical committee vote scheduled for May 16. “Yahushua’s story, it’s very touching. It’s very moving.

I think it could have been prevented had we had the right safeguards in place,” said state Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield), one of the bill’s authors. “Climate change is impacting everyone, but it’s especially impacting vulnerable communities, especially our children.”

Last year marked the planet’s warmest on record, and extreme weather is becoming more frequent and severe, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Even though most heat deaths and illnesses are preventable, about 1,220 people in the United States are killed by extreme heat every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Young children are especially susceptible to heat illness because their bodies have more trouble regulating temperature, and they rely on adults to protect them from overheating. A person can go from feeling dizzy or experiencing a headache to passing out, having a seizure, or going into a coma, said Chad Vercio, a physician and the division chief of general pediatrics at Loma Linda University Health.

“It can be a really dangerous thing,” Vercio said of heat illness. “It is something that we should take seriously and figure out what we can do to avoid that.”

It’s unclear how many children have died at school from heat exposure. Eric Robinson, 15, had been sitting in his sports medicine class learning about heatstroke when his sister arrived at his high school unexpectedly the day their brother died.

“They said, ‘OK, go home, Eric. Go home early.’ I walked to the car and my sister’s crying. I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I can’t believe that my little brother’s gone. That I won’t be able to see him again. And he’d always bugged me, and I would say, ‘Leave me alone.’”

That morning, Eric had done Yahushua’s hair and loaned him his hat and chain necklace to wear to school.

As temperatures climbed into the 90s that morning, a physical education teacher instructed Yahushua to run

and

on the blacktop. His friends told the family that the sixth grader had repeatedly asked the teacher for water but was denied, his parents said.

The school district has refused to release video footage to the family showing the moment Yahushua collapsed on the blacktop. He died later that day at the hospital.

Melissa Valdez, a Lake Elsinore Unified School District spokesperson, did not respond to calls seeking comment.

Schoolyards can reach dangerously high temperatures on hot days, with asphalt sizzling up to 145 degrees, according to findings by researchers at the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation. Some school districts, such as San Diego Unified and Santa Ana Unified, have hot weather plans or guidelines that call for limiting physical activity and providing water to kids. But there are no statewide standards that K-12 schools must implement to protect students from heat illness.

Under the bill, the California Department of Education must set temperature thresholds requiring schools to modify students’ physical activities during extreme weather, such as heat waves, wildfires, excessive rain, and flooding. Schools would also be required to come up with plans for alternative indoor activities, and staff must be trained to recognize and respond to weatherrelated distress.

California has had heat rules on the books for outdoor workers since 2005, but it was a latecomer to protecting student athletes, according to the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut, which is named after a Minnesota Vikings football player who died from heatstroke in 2001. By comparison, Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, this spring signed a law preventing cities and counties from creating their own heat protections for outdoor workers, has the best protections for student athletes, according to the institute.

Douglas Casa, a professor of kinesiology and the chief executive officer of the institute, said state regulations can

establish consistency about how to respond to heat distress and save lives.

“The problem is that each high school doesn’t have a cardiologist and doesn’t have a thermal physiologist and doesn’t have a sickling expert,” Casa said of the medical specialties for heat illness. In 2022, California released an Extreme Action Heat Plan that recommended state agencies “explore implementation of indoor and outdoor heat exposure rules for schools,” but neither the administration of Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, nor lawmakers have adopted standards.

Lawmakers last year failed to pass legislation that would have required schools to implement a heat plan and replace hot surfaces, such as cement and rubber, with lower-heat surfaces, such as grass and cool pavement. That bill, which drew opposition from school administrators, stalled in committee, in part over cost concerns. Naj Alikhan, a spokesperson for the Association of California School Administrators, said the new bill takes a different approach and would not require structural and physical changes to schools. The association has not taken a position on the measure, and no other organization has registered opposition.

The Robinson family said children’s lives ought to outweigh any costs that might come with preparing schools to deal with the growing threat of extreme weather. Yahushua‘s death, they say, could save others. “I really miss him. I cry every day,” said Yahushua’s father, Eric Robinson. “There’s no one day that go by that I don’t cry about my boy.”

The Robinson family looks at photos of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old boy who loved to sing, dance, and give everyone a smile. (Samantha Young/KFF Health News)

Janee Robinson says the cards

messages given to the family after Yahushua Robinson died last August are mementos of the 12-year-old’s spirit and warmth.(Samantha Young/KFF Health News)

Young/KFF Health