Obama Fills the Void in a Fading Democratic Party
By Stacy M. Brown
Former President Barack Obama has stepped back into the political arena, delivering some of his sharpest critiques yet of President Donald Trump as the Democratic Party struggles through one of its weakest moments in modern history. With the party’s leadership approval at historic lows and its ties to Blackowned media nearly nonexistent, Obama’s renewed visibility has exposed both the vacuum and the disillusionment threatening to fracture the Democratic coalition.
In recent weeks, Obama has spoken out against Trump’s authoritarian-style intimidation of universities and the administration’s crackdown on the press, declaring that America must “resist being intimidated” and warning that protecting democratic values may require “sacrifice.” At Hamilton College, he admonished Trump’s White House for suspending security clearances and canceling contracts with law firms and schools tied to perceived political rivals. “That kind of behavior is contrary to the basic compact we have as Americans,” Obama said. “Imagine if I had done any of this.” Days later, he took to social media to denounce media companies for capitulating to Trump’s threats. “After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level,” Obama wrote, urging journalists and networks to “get a spine” and stand up for free speech.
Late in September at London’s O2 Arena, Obama expanded his message beyond immediate politics, telling a packed crowd that true leadership means constant vigilance and the courage to “show up and speak out even when it’s uncomfortable.” He
cautioned against complacency, arguing that progressives had grown “smug” and unprepared for the rise of authoritarianism.
“True democracy is a project much bigger than any one of us,” he said. “It’s a job for all of us.” Obama’s renewed activism comes at a time when his party’s base has grown increasingly restless. A Pew Research survey found that 59 percent of Democrats disapprove of their party’s leadership—the highest level of dissatisfaction since the question was first asked more than a decade ago.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s approval among Democrats has collapsed to 35 percent, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries remains little known to nearly four in ten Democratic voters. That lack of visibility and engagement has been felt most acutely within the Black community. At the Black Press of America’s annual Leadership Awards, where Jeffries and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke were to be honored, anticipation filled a packed ballroom. But neither showed up.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump had just pledged $50,000
to support the struggling Black Press, urging others to follow suit. “Typical of Democrats,” one attendee said afterward. “They don’t spend money with us. They don’t show up. And then they expect us to deliver their message for free.” The snub, just 18 months before the Black Press’s bicentennial, struck a nerve among publishers who have covered every chapter of America’s freedom struggle— from emancipation to civil rights—without the financial support they deserve. “Our ancestors built this press through every trial in this country,” said one Black publisher after the event. “The least Hakeem Jeffries could do was show up.”
Obama’s reemergence has not gone unnoticed by voters— or by Trump. During a recent Navy celebration in Virginia, Trump attempted to incite the crowd to boo Obama, but the attempt backfired. As he invoked “Barack Hussein Obama,” the crowd met him with dead silence. Meanwhile, polls show that Obama remains the most admired living president. A Marquette Law School survey found Obama with a +17 net favorability, compared with Trump’s -15 and Joe Biden’s
The Shutdown Standoff
-24. Even so, Obama’s return to the spotlight underscores a sobering truth: the Democratic Party, battered by infighting and a failure to connect with its own base, still lacks a clear, trusted voice. Obama’s critiques of Trump’s policies—whether over healthcare rollbacks or media suppression—stand in contrast to the muted response from current Democratic leaders, who have failed to mobilize voters around issues that once defined their moral compass.
Trump’s efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act have revived Obama’s signature policy as the centerpiece of a national political showdown. Democrats, scrambling to extend ACA subsidies that prevent premiums from skyrocketing, have tried to make healthcare their rallying cry again—but without strong, unified leadership, the message has struggled to resonate. For all his measured tone, Obama’s message has sharpened into something closer to alarm. He warns that complacency, even within his own party, has opened the door to authoritarianism.
“Progressives assumed our trajectory would bend inevitably toward progress,” he told the audience at the O2. “That complacency left us unprepared.”
As Trump wields federal power to punish dissent, the former president’s words carry the weight of both warning and legacy. But even as Obama reasserts his influence, the party he once led remains uncertain and divided—still ignoring the independent Black media that carried it through generations, and still searching for leadership that matches the gravity of this moment. Obama may have left office eight years ago, but in 2025, he appears to be the last Democrat still leading.
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Republicans need five Democratic senators to vote for the House-passed continuing resolution, which makes drastic cuts to health care. Jefferies vows Democrats will not support a “partisan spending bill that guts healthcare.
By April Ryan
“We are not going to back down,” demanded House Minority Leader Congressman Hakeem Jeffries regarding healthcare for Americans. The Affordable Care Act is one of the key issues that created a stalemate between Democrats and Republicans, which resulted in the government shutdown. The New York Congressman says he is open to meeting with the president, the vice president, and others in the Republican Party to end the government shutdown that began on October 1st. However, he is adamant about not caving on the
healthcare issue. On the Hill today, House Speaker Mike Johnson calls on Democrats to reopen the government so that negotiations can continue. Republicans need five Democratic senators to vote for the House-passed continuing resolution, which makes drastic cuts to health care. Jefferies vows Democrats will not support a “partisan spending bill that guts healthcare.” Adding to the Republican pressure on Democrats, President Donald Trump said over the weekend, furthering a verbal sparring match, “Democrats are causing the loss of a lot of jobs with a shutdown.
However, Jeffries says those in charge are to blame, explaining, “The extremists have complete control over the government. What are we missing here?” Republicans are in charge of the White House, the House, the Senate, and the Supreme Court.
Jefferies made these comments on The Tea With April: “They [Republicans] would rather shut the government down than provide healthcare.”The shutdown could last at least two weeks, creating layoffs and firings. Republicans are refusing to extend the tax credits for the Affordable Care Act for working-class Americans. Jeffries also contradicts the GOP narrative, “a Republican lie that we are trying to provide healthcare
to undocumented workers.” Democrats emphasize that more than 24 million Americans rely on the Affordable Care Act tax credits to afford and access healthcare in this nation. In a related note, the government shutdown is also to blame for the delayed meeting between Jeffries and the Democratic New York Mayoral front-runner, Zohran Mamdani. Jeffries has not endorsed a New York mayoral candidate yet.
The Fragile Thread: Trust in Personal and Professional Relationships
By Mary Harris/Publisher of The San Bernardino American News
In an era where connections span continents and conversations happen at the speed of light, one timeless element remains at the heart of every meaningful relationship—trust. Whether in the quiet intimacy of personal bonds or the calculated structures of professional environments, trust is the invisible thread that holds relationships together. Once broken, it is painstaking to mend; once earned, it must be carefully preserved.
Trust in Personal Relationships: The Emotional Currency
In our personal lives, trust is the foundation on which love, friendship, and family stand. It’s built over time through consistency, vulnerability, and empathy. We open up to those we trust, revealing our fears, failures, and dreams. Without this emotional security, relationships become performative and fragile—like houses built on sand.
But trust is not blind. It is strengthened by transparency and mutual respect. When one partner lies, even about small things, the betrayal can ripple far beyond the initial transgression. Rebuilding that trust requires honesty, remorse, and patience— often more than we realize.
More importantly, trust demands a two-way street. It’s not just about being trustworthy, but also about choosing to trust others. Insecurity and fear can erode relationships just as quickly as dishonesty can. Sometimes, the hardest part is letting go of control and choosing to believe in someone else’s integrity.
Professional Trust: The Engine
of Collaboration
In the workplace, trust is just as vital—though often less discussed. We tend to focus on performance, productivity, and strategy, but ignore the cultural glue that holds teams together. Trust allows teams to innovate, take risks, and admit mistakes without fear of humiliation. It creates psychological safety—a rare and precious asset in competitive environments. Leaders who micromanage or withhold information undermine trust. On the flip side, employees who fail to meet expectations or act without accountability erode confidence from the bottom up. Trust in professional settings is not about personal closeness but about reliability, competence, and integrity. Crucially, organizations that invest in building trust—through clear communication, consistent values, and fair practices—see stronger retention, better morale, and higher performance. Distrust, by contrast, breeds toxicity, gossip, and silent resignation. The Common Thread Whether personal or professional, trust requires time to build, moments to test, and just seconds to destroy. The challenge lies in its intangibility—there are no metrics to measure trust, no shortcuts to create it, and no guarantees that it will last. And yet, it’s the most critical investment we can make in our relationships.
We must begin by being trustworthy ourselves. That means honoring our commitments, being honest even when it's uncomfortable, and owning our mistakes. In both spheres of life, trust is not a given—it is a gift, renewed with every action and word. In the end, it’s not the contracts we sign or the vows we take that sustain our bonds. It’s the quiet, everyday choices that say: You can rely on me. Published only in The San Bernardino American Newspaper
Comments? Please share your thoughts on this topic with us at mary@sb-american.com
clients to trials in Edelman’s Children’s
California. As a result, each year, 28 Judges order foster care for 35,000 children with no evidence of maltreatment, no due process, and no trials in violation of their civil rights. This is Legal Slavery that will never end unless we join forces and protect our civil rights to a fair trial.
IF YOU HAVE AN OPEN DEPENDENCY CASE AND WANT TO FIGHT FOR YOUR CHILDREN’S RETURN AND WIN JOIN OUR HISTORIC CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT 2025
CONTACT: 213-334-5596
National Coalition of Families
Official photographic portrait of US President Barack Obama (born 4
Lot of people shadows against USA flagged fence, shutdown concept
University of Redlands Partnership Opens High-Tech Mapping Career
Pathways for
Arroyo Valley High Students
Community/Education News
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—
San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) entered into a remarkable partnership with the University of Redlands that will allow qualifying Arroyo Valley High School (AVHS) scholars to enroll in the University of Redlands Dual Credit Program, with all associated academic privileges, at no cost to them and with the ability to take geographic information system (GIS)related college courses during their regular school day.
SBCUSD, AVHS, University of Redlands and Esri representatives participated in the signing ceremony on Oct. 1, 2025, in the AVHS gym, which included demonstrations highlighting hands-on student
learning and outcomes that can translate to college and career success.
“This is yet another avenue for AVHS scholars to be SBCUSD strong and be prepared for both college and career when they graduate high school,” said SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano after the event. “Part of our Vision 2030 is to build strong partnerships with local educational and business leaders to prepare our students to positively contribute to their community. This is another step—a big step—in that vision.” According to AVHS Principal Manuel Gonzalez, a University of Redlands graduate, the idea for the partnership began when AVHS Linked Learning Program Specialist Dimitri Chronopoulos
Defense Secretary Hegseth’s ‘No Beardos’ Mandate Weakens US Military Strength
By Sunita Sohrabji
The new Defense Department grooming policies, which ban beards, will adversely impact Sikh, Jewish, Muslim, and Black soldiers.
Lt. Colonel Dr. Kamal Kalsi, who received the Bronze Star for his service as an emergency physician in Helmand, Afghanistan.
Beards, turbans, yarmulke, and hijabs may no longer be acceptable in the US Military, according to a new policy memo, which rolls back several decades of religious and medical accommodations.
Facial hair waivers will generally not be given, noted the Defense Department in its Sept. 30 memo. Those who do receive them will serve in nondeployable roles, it clarified.
“Uniform grooming standards are not about appearance: they are about survivability, interoperability, and mission execution. Consistent enforcement ensures personnel can operate protective equipment, meet deployment requirements, and support combat and emergency operations,” noted the Defense Department.
Sikhs That policy impacts hundreds of Sikh American servicemen who have fought since 2008 to serve in the US military with their articles of faith. This includes uncut hair which must at all times be covered by a turban.
The policy memo was unclear as to whether head coverings — which are also currently allowed via religious accommodation — would be banned. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated he wants a more “professionally groomed” military force, suggesting head coverings would also no longer be acceptable.
At press time Oct. 4, the Defense Department had not responded to an ACoM request for clarification on whether the policy would be applied retroactively and if it would also ban turbans.
Short-Sighted Policy
Lt. Colonel Dr. Kamal Kalsi, who has spent 2 1/12 decades in the US Army with his turban and beard intact, says the new policy is shortsighted. Kalsi was awarded a Bronze Star for his work as an emergency physician on the front lines in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan, one of the deadliest regions in the country.
In an Oct. 4 interview with American Community Media, Kalsi noted that his turban and beard have never impacted his ability to serve the US.
“We have at least a few hundred Sikhs across multiple branches of the military, men and women. But we have tens of thousands of Jewish and Muslim soldiers that also rely on these religious accommodations,” said Kalsi.
“More than that, though, it’s our African-American brothers that will really be affected by this beard ban,” said Kalsi. Many Black men have a skin condition known as Pseudophiliculitis barbae, which causes an itchy skin irritation and pus-filled bumps. Over 60% of military medical accommodations are
and SBCUSD Workforce Development Coordinator
Chelsea Ramirez visited Esri. It grew through participation in the Esri Education Conference in the summer of 2024, many conversations with the University of Redlands and support from Superintendent Arellano.
“Today, we are here to take another step forward,” said University of Redlands President Krista Newkirk. “The Inland Empire is home to Esri, the global leader in GIS technology, and the University of Redlands has long been recognized as a national leader in GIS education. Now, together, we are extending that expertise into high school classrooms through the very first dual credit course in the AniVation Tech Academy here
at Arroyo Valley.”
“We’re excited to partner with you to make this and future dual credit opportunities as meaningful as possible,” Esri’s Senior Account Manager, Higher Education Andrew Haglund, also a University of Redlands graduate, said. “Students, I hope you are encouraged and excited about the opportunity that this partnership will make possible.”
During the kick-off to the event, Gonzalez also made a special point to address the students, saying, “You are the reason we are here today, and you are the reason this program will thrive. Your curiosity, drive and willingness to embrace new opportunities make everything possible.”
Defense Secretary Hegseth’s ‘No Beardos’ Mandate Weakens US Military Strength...continued Submission Deadline Is Mondays By 5pm & Tuesdays by noon after a Monday Holiday
currently given to Black men with Pseudophiliculitis barbae.
Manpower Shortage
Black men currently make up more than 25% of the military force. “In these times when the military is struggling to meet their manpower mandate, meaning they just don’t have enough people to fill all the slots, you’re going to push good people away, people that are willing to fight and die and serve their country just because just because you can’t give them a beard accommodation,” said Kalsi. “I think that that’s sort of short-sighted.”
Religious and medical accommodations for facial hair are currently allocated on a case by case basis, with a strict review process.
Religious Freedom
When Kalsi first joined the US Army in 2001, he was not questioned about his turban and beard as he prepared to become a physician. But when he went on to active duty, there was concern about his ability to fit a helmet over his turban and to get a tight seal on a gas mask because of his beard.
With the help of the Sikh Coalition, Kalsi fought and received bipartisan support. “The Republicans seemed to be more concerned about religious freedom and our democratic politicians were more concerned about diversity, equity, inclusion.” In 2010, he was the first Sikh service member to receive religious accommodation. Since then, numerous others have also been granted religious accommodation to serve with their articles of faith intact.
Adhering to Standards
The policy memo was released
By Mary Harris Email: mary@sb-american.com
Dr. Bill Releford
Acton, CA— [October 9, 2025] — On a stretch of fertile land where the soil tells stories of resilience, Bloom Ranch stands as a vibrant reminder of what it means to cultivate both food and community. A proudly Blackowned farm, Bloom Ranch is redefining agriculture by blending sustainability, heritage, and hope into every harvest.
For Dr. Bill Releford, Bloom Ranch is more than a business— it’s a homecoming. “Farming is in our history,” Bill Releford shares. “Our ancestors knew how to work the land, and we are honoring that legacy while creating new opportunities for the next generation. Bloom Ranch is a place where culture and cultivation grow side by side.”
At Bloom Ranch, rows of fresh produce are planted with care, destined for local families, farmers’ markets, and restaurants that value both quality and community. But the farm’s mission stretches far beyond the soil. Through youth mentorship programs, educational workshops, and volunteer days, Bloom Ranch has become a gathering space where neighbors learn not only how to grow food, but how to nourish connections.
The ranch also partners with local organizations to deliver
Sept. 30, on the heels of Hegseth’s speech to joint chiefs, generals, admirals, commanders, officers at Quantico, Virginia. “This administration has done a great deal from day one to remove the social justice, politically correct, and toxic ideological garbage that had infected our department, to rip out the politics.”
“No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship. No more division, distraction or gender delusions. No more debris,” stated the Defense Secretary, as his audience looked on stoically.
“No more beards, long hair, superficial individual expression. We’re going to cut our hair, shave our beards, and adhere to standards,” said Hegseth, who has rebranded his agency as the “Department of War.”
C-Span clip.
In 2024, the British Army lifted its century-old ban on beards in the military, and also allowed turbans. Even before the ban was lifted, turbans were allowed for Sikhs, Muslims, and Rastafarians.
Canada has allowed turbans in the military since 1986. Thousands of Sikh soldiers have served in World Wars 1 and 2, with turbans and beards.
“This beard ban will do nothing more other than to undermine our operational effectiveness. It’s going to reduce the number of troops that are available to fight. And ultimately it’s gonna make us weaker as a nation. It’s going to put us at risk,” said Kalsi.
Kalsi is the founder of the Sikh American Veteran’s Alliance. He also served on the White House Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders Commission in the Biden Administration.
fresh fruits and vegetables to underserved neighborhoods, directly addressing inequities in food access. In doing so, Bloom Ranch is part of a growing movement of Black-owned farms reclaiming land as a source of empowerment, sustainability, and healing.
“Our farm is proof that agriculture is not only about feeding people—it’s about feeding dreams,” says Bill “We want people to come here and see possibility. We want young people to know that farming can be their future, too.”
With every season, Bloom Ranch continues to bloom into more than a farm—it is a living story of perseverance, purpose, and promise. As the demand for fresh, sustainable, and equitable food systems grows, Bloom Ranch invites the community to join in building a future where everyone has a seat at the table. Bloom Ranch welcomes you for occasional Saturday Evening Jazz & Wine from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm with light bites on and on occasional Sunday Jazz & Champagne Brunch, at 10:30 am. Check in advance for dates and ticket purchases.
About Bloom Ranch Bloom Ranch is a Black-owned farm dedicated to sustainable agriculture, food equity, and cultural heritage. Committed to nourishing both people and community, Bloom Ranch grows fresh produce, provides educational opportunities, and uplifts future generations of farmers through mentorship and outreach. Our location: 31880 Aliso Canyon Rd., Acton, CA 93510 Email: info@bloomranchofacton.com +1(323)388-4828.
BMO Offers a Wealth of Information During Homeownership Workshop in Partnership With Sapphire Marketing Inc
Sapphire Marketing Inc. and BMO recently partnered to host a two-part homeownership workshop series in the High Desert. The first workshop was held over the weekend in Hesperia and was very well attended by interested homebuyers and those looking for a second home or invest-ment properties. The second workshop of the two-part series will be held on Saturday, October 11, at 10232 I Avenue, Suite 17, in Hesperia, CA 92345. The workshop is scheduled from 11:30am to 1:00pm.
David Betancourt, Community Reinvestment Outreach Regional Manag-er, Southern California at BMO, was on hand to answer questions the at-tendees had about BMO products and services. Betancourt also dis-cussed the role BMO wants to play in the community in helping them achieve their financial goals. Ernesto Miranda, Mortgage Banker expert at BMO, delivered an exceptional presentation. Miranda touched on a number of key points that were beneficial to those in attendance. He ex-plained the BMO down payment assistance program and how to qualify. He also discussed the importance and benefits of buying a home and how it contributes to building generational wealth. Lastly, Miranda dis-cussed the process of qualifying to buy a home.
After the presentation, Betancourt and Miranda held a detailed Q&A ses-sion to answer many of the
questions for the attendees. It was a back-and-forth conversation that provided a wealth of information that was ap-preciated by both BMO and those in attendance. The attendees, many of whom were residents of the High Desert, were most impressed by how the presentation included properties in the High Desert area. During the Q&A session, Victor Malone, President of Real Property Real Estate, also provided his expertise on the topic.
“These types of workshops are great for both the community and BMO. It allows BMO to connect directly with the community, and it also gives the community direct access to the industry experts they wouldn’t have ac-cess to otherwise,” said Willie Ellison, CEO of Sapphire Marketing Inc. The attendees left the workshop with a wealth of knowledge and were educated on home buying information they were not aware of before-hand. It goes to show how important these types of corporate/ community connections really are. “I enjoy doing these types of community workshops. The information real-ly resonates with the audience,” said Betancourt. By the end of the workshop, many attendees were surprised to learn that they are already in a position to buy a home, a fact that they were una-ware of when they arrived.
With its $30 billion investment in the California market and communities of color, BMO is taking a proactive approach in attempting to close the ra-cial homeownership gap. They are actively working with communities of color to discuss and host homeownership workshops and other financial literacy workshops. The second workshop of the twopart series is scheduled for Saturday, October 11.
Photos by The San Bernardino American News
The Esri Globi mascot; Esri Senior Account Manager, Higher Education Andrew Haglund; University of Redlands President Krista Newkirk, AVHS teacher Dimitri Chronopoulos, University of Redlands Bulldog mascot, AVHS Hawk mascot, AVHS Principal Manuel Gonzalez, SBCUSD Board Member Michael Santos and SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano celebrate the official signing of an agreement that will prepare AVHS scholars for college and careers in global information systems. (Photo by Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD)
(l-r) Esri Senior Account Manager, Higher Education Andrew Haglund; University of Redlands President Krista Newkirk, AVHS Principal Manuel Gonzalez and SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano sign four copies of the ceremonial agreement that officially launched the high-tech mapping career pathway for Arroyo Valley High School scholars. (Photo provided courtesy of SBCUSD)
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Pew Finds Just 6% of Journalists Are Black as Crisis Grows with Recent Firings
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — the Black voice is too often invited in only to be pushed out when it dares to speak of the nation’s truths. Attiah, the Post’s only Black female opinion writer, said she was terminated after more than a decade at the paper for posts she wrote on social media addressing violence and the dangers of white extremism.
By Stacy M. Brown
The dismissal of Karen Attiah from the Washington Post has become more than a personnel decision. It is a scarlet warning, a reminder of what has long haunted the American press: the Black voice is too often invited in only to be pushed out when it dares to speak of the nation’s truths. Attiah, the Post’s only Black female opinion writer, said she was terminated after more than a decade at the paper for posts she wrote on social media addressing violence and the dangers of white extremism.
“Being pushed out of the Washington Post for expressing myself, for not even expressing myself, for doing my job as a journalist, is really a deep, sort of cruel 180,” she told the Associated Press.
Her removal comes at a time when Black journalists already stand on fragile ground in an industry that continues to exclude them. According to the Pew Research Center’s most recent survey of American newsrooms, only 6 percent of reporting journalists in 2022 were Black, though Black people make up 12 percent of the population. White journalists accounted for 76 percent of reporters, even though the white population stands at 61 percent. The National Association of Black Journalists said Attiah’s firing had “raised an alarm about the erosion of Black voices across the media.” “The absence of Black journalists doesn’t just harm us, it impoverishes the entire profession,” NABJ
President Errin Haines declared.
“When our voices are missing, stories go untold, perspectives go unchallenged, and the truth remains incomplete.”
For diversity advocates, the danger is not confined to one journalist. It sets a precedent that ripples across the profession. Media 2070, a group dedicated to racial equity in journalism, called the firing “a dangerous and deliberate act of erasure by media owners.” Philip Lewis, president of the Washington Association of Black Journalists, called it a chilling moment. “This firing sends a message to other Black journalists and writers that our perspectives aren’t valued unless we align with the status quo.” Attiah has refused to go silent. At the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, she spoke during a panel on Black women in media and warned that the campaign against truth would not stop with her. “I hate to be Debbie Dark Cloud, but if you think things are really bad, they can and they will, and they’re trying to make it worse,” she said.
Experts caution that the absence of diverse voices has real consequences. “When you disappear people from spaces, you lose those valuable
discussions that help our nation really process who we are and what kind of country we want to be,” Khadijah Costley White, a professor of journalism and media studies at Rutgers University, said. Eric Deggans, the Knight Chair in Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University, questioned the Post’s judgment. “I don’t understand why the most extreme punishment is the first punishment,” Deggans said. “I don’t understand why there’s not an attempt to sort of talk with the employee and let them know what they did wrong.”
The Pew study found that Black journalists are most visible in coverage of social issues and policy, where they make up 15 percent of those reporters, but remain scarce across politics, the economy, science, and technology. This clustering leaves most national conversations filtered through a white lens, even as the country grows more diverse. Despite her firing, Attiah has insisted there is still a possibility in this moment. “I think this is also a time for profound creativity,” she said, “being like water rising and like water moving around the cracks and actually, over time, eroding and undoing.”
‘107 Days’: Kamala Harris’ book rockets off the shelves in first week
By Lauren Burke
Publisher Simon & Schuster announced that the campaign memoir of former Vice President Kamala Harris, 107 Days, has sold 350,000 copies in one week.
The sales total includes print, ebooks, and audiobooks.
The numbers released by the publisher reflect that Harris’ book will be the top political book of 2025. The book goes into the details of Harris’ unexpected 107day 2024 presidential campaign.
The former Vice President became a famous nominee after President Biden dropped out of the race for The White House on July 21, 2024. Biden dropped out after a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27, 2024. Biden appeared confused and was slow to answer many questions and many attributed his issues to his age.
Shortly before Biden’s withdrawal there was internal debate on whether there should be a hastily put together Democratic primary. But with only a short
the Democratic Party pushing back against what Harris relays in her book, the strong interest and response by the public in the form of strong book sales and packed appearances is evidence of strong public interest.
According to Simon & Schuster, the book has already been ordered for a 5th printing. A 5th printing of “107 Days” will bring the number of hardcover copies in print to 500,000. Harris’ book has a chance to be a historic best seller. Michelle Obama’s memoir “Becoming” is widely considered the most-read political memoir of all time. The 2018 book sold over 8 million copies globally and discussed issues of identity, race, ambition, family, and public service.
Male Journalist Preparing Questions For Press Conference (Photo by Aleksandar Georgie)
107 Days by Kamala Harris cover (Photo by Simon & Shuster)
High Desert Black Workers Center and San Bernardino County Public Defender Bring Mobile Court and Community Resource Fair to Adelanto, October 8, 2025
Adelanto, CA — October 3, 2025 — The High Desert Black Workers Center (HDBWC), in partnership with the San Bernardino County Public Defender Mobile Defense Program and the San Bernardino County Superior Court, will host a groundbreaking Mobile Court and Community Resource Fair on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM at the Adelanto Plaza and Event Center, 11800 Air Expressway Blvd., Adelanto, CA.
This free event will unite legal services, court support, and community resources under one roof, giving residents direct access to justice and opportunity.
Mobile Court: Legal Relief & Record Clearing
Through the Public Defender’s Mobile Defense Program, residents can:
Clear Bench Warrants
Modify Misdemeanor
Summary Probation
Re-enroll in Court-Required
Classes
Resolve Outstanding Fines
Access Record Clearing
Services
⚠⚠ Pre-registration is required for Mobile Court services via Eventbrite:
⚠ Registe r Here: Sa n
Bernardino County Public Defender Mobile Defense Event - Adelanto Tickets, Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM | Eventbrite
Superior Court Self-Help Services
The San Bernardino County Superior Court will also be on-site, providing Self-Help Services covering Family Law, Child Support, Guardianship, Landlord/Tenant issues, and Small Claims procedures.
Resource Fair: Building Stability
County departments and local nonprofits will provide information and services in employment, health, housing, and education, making the event a one-stop hub for families and workers.
“As the lead community organization on this project, HDBWC is proud to bring lifechanging resources directly to the people of the High Desert,” said Phyllis K Morris-Green, Advisory Team chair. “This event gives residents the chance to resolve past challenges, strengthen their future, and open doors to new opportunities.”
Event Details
⚠ Date: Wednesday October 8, 2025 ⚠ Time: 12: 30 PM – 4 00 PM
⚠ Location: Adelanto Plaza and Event Center, 11800 Air Expressway Blvd., Adelanto, CA ⚠ Mobil e Cour t PreRegistration (Required) Eventbrite Registration Link
Black Cultural Influence is the Blueprint and Brand Trust is the Key — Urban One Conducts Landmark ‘Cultural ROI’ Study, Urges Brands: Get Real or Get Left Behind 79% of U.S. consumers believe Black Americans are influential, with majority sharing that impact is felt across music, fashion, sports, beauty, and more
Gen Z & Millennials are driving this sentiment with 80%+ stating they personally benefit when Black culture is well-represented, and 1 in 2 saying they trust brands more when Black consumers are authentically reflected
Silver Spring, MD, September 30, 2025— A new, proprietary large-scale research study commissioned by Urban One, the largest Black-owned and only fully integrated multimedia company in the country, has uncovered compelling evidence that Black culture is not only shaping mainstream U.S. culture — it is defining it. The Cultural ROI Study, titled "Influence to Impact: Black Culture’s Role in Brand Growth," quantifies just how deep that influence runs and demonstrates that brands failing to authentically engage with Black consumers risk missing out on exponential opportunities for growth in relevance, trust, and revenue. Visit https:// culturalroi.urban1.com/ for more information.
“Cultural ROI is the vehicle for us at Urban One to further our mission to help educate the industry and brand partners alike on the importance that intentions must be rooted in strategy, and this new economy requires development of total market plans that are inclusive and representative of authentic experiences, ” said Jeff Meza, EVP, Head of Branded Entertainment & Integrated Marketing for Urban One.
“I am incredibly proud of the work we’ve done to quantify the
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Black Cultural Influence is the Blueprint and Brand Trust is the Key — Urban One Conducts Landmark ‘Cultural ROI’ Study, Urges Brands: Get Real or Get Left Behind... continued
how Black culture impacts daily decision-making.
Mini-focus groups with participants and their close circles conducted before and after the 2024 U.S. election, capturing perspectives on future influence and political context.
Expert interviews with Pepper Miller, Black consumer market researcher, and Autumn McDonald, sociocultural anthropologist.
The data cannot be ignored:
79% of U.S. consumers believe Black Americans have influence, with 1 in 2 feeling that Black culture is present in all aspects of American life.
50%+ of consumers recognize Black cultural impact in music, fashion, food, politics, sports, and beauty.
76% of U.S consumers, and 80%+ of Gen Z and Millennials say they personally benefit when Black culture is well-represented, with 51% of consumers trusting brands more when Black consumers are consistently represented.
Deadline Approaching for Borderline Bar and Grill Victims to Receive Financial Help
undeniable impact that Black consumers have on U.S. culture. This study not only demonstrates their impact and influence on broader consumer behavior but also underscores the value of authentically connecting with this segment—and the business risks of failing to do so,” shared Audrey Cochran, VP, Television and Digital Research at Urban One.
Urban One enlisted Tapestry and Screen Engine/ASI to execute Cultural ROI Study, which conducted a multi-method research approach designed to measure African American impact via influence across various segments of the U.S. population and with respect to categories such as: music, entertainment, fitness/sports, fashion/beauty, automotive, food, travel, politics, social impact and culture. Survey methods included:
Quantitatively Surveyed 3,044 nationally representative U.S. consumers — plus 658 Black consumers — across generations and racial groups.
Mobile ethnographies with 20 diverse 18 – 40-year-olds, tracking real-time behavior over several days to understand
Key Takeaways:
Black culture sets trends. What begins in Black communities sparks global influence as currency — from music and fashion to lifestyle. Brands that ignore the origin of these trends miss opportunities to connect authentically and tap into the momentum of these cultural waves.
Serving Black consumers fuels trust, loyalty and growth. Authentic, intentional and sustained engagement drives repeat business, grows marketing share and brand affinity — while performative efforts quickly fade. Representation drives trust — especially with Gen Z and Millennials. These consumers expect diversity and reward brands who deliver on that expectation with loyalty, advocacy, and long-term growth.
In summary: Cultural ROI is no longer optional — it’s a competitive advantage. For more information about Cultural ROI, visit https://culturalroi.urban1. com/.
Americans Are Sleeping Longer — but Not Necessarily Better
Americans may be spending more time asleep, but new research shows that quality sleep remains out of reach for millions.
By Stacy M. Brown
Happy young woman sleeping on white sheets in bed
room with a plant. Resting asleep.
A ValuePenguin analysis released this month found that U.S. adults now average nine hours of sleep per day, up from eight hours and 28 minutes two decades ago. That adds up to more than eight extra days of sleep each year. Older adults and women tend to rest the longest, with those 65 and older averaging nine hours and nine minutes daily. Nebraska residents sleep the most at nearly 10 hours a day, while North Dakotans sleep the least at just over eight hours. But the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) warns that more time in bed doesn’t mean better rest. The 2025 Sleep in America Poll found that six in ten adults don’t get the recommended seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night, and nearly four in ten struggle to fall asleep at least three nights a week. Almost half wake up often during the night. The same study revealed that adults with good sleep satisfaction are nearly twice as likely to flourish in life compared to those dissatisfied with their sleep. “Poor sleep health is a major risk factor for lower well-being across multiple areas of life,” said Dr. Joseph Dzierzewski, the NSF’s senior vice president of research. “Prioritizing sleep health can improve mental health, workplace efficiency, and stronger personal relationships.” A related National Sleep Foundation report found that 88 percent of adults who are satisfied with their sleep are thriving in areas like happiness, productivity, goal achievement, and social connections. Fewer than half of those with poor sleep satisfaction experience the same well-being.
Meanwhile, an earlier study published in JAMA Network
Lifestyle News
SACRAMENTO — Victims of the 2018 Borderline Bar and Grill mass shooting may be eligible for financial compensation to address their trauma, but they need to apply by Nov. 7 to qualify.
Twelve people died and dozens more were injured during the 2018 shooting in Thousand Oaks. The victims and their families have one more month to apply for up to $70,000 in benefits from the California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB).
As of Sept. 15, 2025, CalVCB has approved 288 applications, and victims have received nearly $268,000 in compensation. The money has helped cover mental health treatment, medical bills, income loss, home security, and funeral and burial expenses.
“The victims of the Borderline Bar and Grill mass shooting can still get the help they are entitled to,” said CalVCB Executive Officer Lynda Gledhill. “CalVCB can help cover bills they’ve already paid or will need to pay in the future, but only if they apply before the deadline.” All crime victims have seven years from the date of the crime to apply for benefits. At the time of the Borderline Bar and Grill shooting, the deadline to apply was three years. As of Jan. 1, 2020, the deadline was extended. Victims can get help with an application through a Victim Witness Assistance Center (VWAC) in their county. Victims can also apply online. Additional information is available on CalVCB’s website.
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WITNESS FOR JUSTICE Issue #1276
The Invisible Price of War
Cassandra Saunders
Content warning: This piece contains mentions of rape and suicide. Please prioritize your well-being when deciding whether or not to read.
Open warned that irregular sleep patterns — sleeping too little or too much — can shorten life expectancy. Researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that about twothirds of Americans are not getting the right amount of sleep, leading to a 29 percent higher risk of premature death. “Maintaining healthy sleep over time is crucial,” wrote Dr. Dayna Johnson of Emory University in an editorial accompanying the study. Children aren’t immune to the crisis. A Brown University study found that only 14 percent of elementary-aged children met national sleep guidelines, with Latino children logging the least amount of rest. On average, kids get just eight hours and 20 minutes of actual sleep each night, far less than the recommended nine to twelve hours. Parents often overestimate their children’s rest by more than an hour.
The problem extends beyond technology and late-night scrolling. A national survey by Talker Research found that the top reason Americans stay up late isn’t TikTok or television — it’s chores and personal responsibilities. Twenty-nine percent said they delay sleep to handle unfinished tasks, while one in five said nighttime is their favorite time of day. The National Sleep Foundation stresses that healthy rest requires consistency and environment, not just time. “Sleep is fundamental to thriving across many aspects of life,” said John Lopos, CEO of the foundation. “These results reinforce how crucial positive sleep health is to basic achievements that go beyond physical health.”
In the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, women and girls pay the invisible price of war. Gender-based violence is being perpetrated against hundreds of thousands of civilians. While rape as a weapon of war is nothing new, it is unconscionable. Silence is complicity: we must not allow them to suffer in silence. We owe it to these women and children to elevate their voices and stories and bear witness to the atrocities being committed.
In April of this year, a child was raped every 30 minutes in eastern DRC.1 The youngest survivors are toddlers. In the winter months of 2025, children made up an estimated 35% to 45% of victims of gender-based violence. Gang rapes perpetrated by members of warring factions and militias are common.2 Many survivors end up pregnant in the midst of displacement and war, forced to mother a child “while still being a child themselves.”3 Since fighting began in 1996 in the DRC, hundreds of thousands have been sexually assaulted, cementing the country’s reputation as “the worst place” to be a woman or a child. The number of assaults is also likely much higher than available estimates due to underreporting.
In Sudan, gender-based violence is also being perpetrated by armed militias and fighters. Chillingly, some Sudanese women are choosing to die by suicide to escape a fate of rape. More than 130 women died in a mass suicide last year.4 Imagine being so certain you will be raped that you choose to die rather than be violated. A Sudanese woman poignantly asks: “Where is the world? Why don’t you help us?”5 US funding cuts have only made the situations in these two African countries more dire. Without adequate funding, resources such as post-rape kits, HIV prevention, and mental health support are lacking. There just isn’t enough to go around.
Women and girls everywhere are taught from an early age to be hyper-vigilant. Almost every woman has a story about being sexually harassed and/or assaulted. In the United States, that number is 81% of women.6 It’s always a dangerous time to be a woman: We can never fully let our guard down, even for a second. As a woman living in the United States who already fears gender-based violence, I can’t imagine being subject to the sexual violence that Congolese and Sudanese women and children are enduring. Their trauma stems not only from the war, but from violence against their bodies and souls. For each woman, “sexual violence looms over her head like a sword waiting to drop. The bodies of women become battlegrounds.”7 As I prepared to write on this issue, I asked myself: why does sexual violence skyrocket during wartime? I learned that sexual violence is a calculated act of cruelty because perpetrators know it will cost the victims everything.8 Beyond harming a woman’s physical and mental health, surviving rape carries the weight of ostracization. In many communities, women who survive rape are blamed and disowned by their families and partners. Unmarried women face men unwilling to marry them due to the sexual violence they experienced. Without women, communities fall apart, regardless of whether or not the war ends. In this way, perpetrators ensure the people they are waging war against are shattered. The United Church of Christ observes Thursdays in Black, a movement to raise awareness about gender-based violence.9 As you take the time to learn more about the gender-based violence crisis, I offer these resources as a starting point.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Cassandra Saunders serves as the Justice and Peace Policy Fellow for the Office of Public Policy and Advocacy in the national setting of the United Church of Christ.
in a
Thursday, October 9, 2025
WATCH: Padilla Warns of Politicization of DOJ During Oversight Hearing With Attorney General Bondi
WASHINGTON, D.C. —
Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sharply criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi for the extreme politicization and weaponization of the Department of Justice (DOJ) during an oversight hearing. Padilla condemned Bondi for placing loyalty to President Trump over the rule of law and for fundamentally reshaping the Department’s mission and priorities, eroding public trust and fairness.
Attorney General Bondi has repeatedly undermined DOJ’s independence, pressuring career prosecutors to manipulate politically sensitive cases, shuttering key offices, and dismantling essential programs.
Padilla warned that Bondi’s actions have jeopardized public safety by diverting resources away from organized crime, counterterrorism, and civil rights cases to prioritize immigration enforcement. Padilla also denounced the creation of internal
“working groups,” including a socalled “Weaponization Working Group,” tasked with revisiting investigations involving the President and his allies.
During the hearing, Bondi repeatedly refused to answer Senator Padilla’s questions regarding the abrupt dismissal of the investigation into former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Tom Homan and allegations that he accepted a $50,000 payment from undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents posing as business executives looking to secure contracts with a future Trump Administration. Bondi also evaded questions about the firing of DOJ prosecutor Michele Beckwith, who was reportedly terminated six hours after reminding Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino that he was obligated to comply with a court order and the Constitution.
Video of Padilla’s opening remarks and questions at today’s hearing is available here.
U.S. Latinos hit new population and labor force records
Key takeaways
The total U.S. Latino population in the United States is estimated to be over 68 million, with one out of every five people being Latino for the first time in history.
The researchers found that the nation’s Latino labor force grew 5.5% in 2024, to 35.1 million workers. The labor force participation rate for Latinos also reached an all-time high of 69% last year. For the first time in history, one out of every five people in the U.S. is Latino, according to a new data analysis by the Latino GDP Project from UCLA and Cal Lutheran. Using 2024 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, which was released in June, researchers discovered an increase of 2 million persons in this demographic compared to the updated 2023 population estimates. The total U.S. Latino population is estimated to be more than 68 million, they found.
“In 1988, lacking the sophisticated data we now have, we projected that Latinos might grow to 58.8 million by now,” said David Hayes-Bautista, distinguished professor of medicine at UCLA and coauthor of the report, “but obviously we were too conservative.”
The population growth is even more striking when analyzed
Kali9/Istock
alongside the U.S. Census Bureau’s recent American Community Survey, which showed the Latino labor force grew 5.5% last year, the single strongest growth recorded by the researchers, and 4.2 percentage points stronger than the non-Latino labor force. From 2010 to 2024, the Latino component of the U.S. labor force grew 7.2 times faster than the non-Latino labor force and now sits at 35.1 million workers.
“Time and time again, we find that hard work, self-sufficiency, optimism and perseverance are the characteristics that underly the strength and resilience of U.S. Latinos,” said Matthew Fienup, executive director of the Center for Economic Research & Forecasting at Cal Lutheran.
The Latino labor force participation rate also reached an all-time high of 69%. The Latino labor force participation premium — the difference between Latino and non-Latino participation rates — hit a record of 6.2 percentage points in 2024.
“More people working harder leads to greater Latino GDP growth,” Hayes-Bautista added. “These new data indicate that the U.S. Latino labor force is shattering records for economic vibrancy.”
These findings build upon
The Department of Justice is supposed to be the nation’s guardian of fairness and the rule of law. The power of the Department of Justice is built on public trust and a belief that prosecutions are based on facts and law, not on politics or personal loyalty. And I call that out, Mr. Chairman, because when that breaks down, when the public trust breaks down, then justice itself is at risk.
But under this Trump Administration and the leadership of Attorney General Bondi, I believe the independence of the Department of Justice has come under attack. The department has been reorganized, it’s been realigned, and repurposed in ways that we’ve never seen before. Important offices have been closed, key programs dismantled, and agents diverted, all without congressional authorization or transparent justification. Now these are not minor bureaucratic changes. They represent a fundamental
shift in the Department of Justice’s missions and priorities, its policies, and its practices.
The American people expect a Department of Justice to pursue violent crime, as do I, to pursue corruption and threats to national security, not to serve as an arm of immigration policy, and in so doing, underresource other critical missions.
Now the Justice Department’s credibility depends on the public’s faith in justice, and that the justice will be applied equally to every person and not reserved for the powerful or the connected, and that faith must be protected. And so it’s in that spirit that this Committee has a duty to ensure the department’s work remains lawful, remains transparent, and remains true to its highest duty, the fair and impartial administration of justice.
Senator Padilla has long warned against the Trump Administration’s attacks on the rule of law and has fought to hold Trump’s DOJ accountable. Padilla opposed advancing Bondi’s nomination after she refused to affirm the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship and declined to disavow false claims that the 2020 election was stolen during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing. Last month, Padilla joined Senate Judiciary Democrats in demanding answers from Bondi about the continued weaponization of the DOJ following the forced resignation of Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Erik Seibert and the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey.
U.S. Latinos hit new population and labor force records...continued
April’s 2025 U.S. Latino GDP Report, which revealed that the U.S. Latino GDP hit $4.1 trillion, making it the world’s fifth-largest GDP, larger than the entire economy of India. The nation’s Latino GDP is also the single fastest-growing among major economies, growing faster than China’s GDP since 2019.
The Latino GDP Project, a multidisciplinary research initiative, provides in-depth and timely documentation of the economic powerhouse represented by U.S. Latinos. Eight consecutive annual reports demonstrate that the vitality of the overall U.S. economy is tied to the growth, labor and economic activity of U.S. Latinos.
“By supporting this population, we believe these same characteristics will continue to drive growth in the overall U.S. economy for years to come,” Fineup said.
Additional findings:
The population growth of Latinos is currently 5.8 times faster than the non-Latino population. This means that the difference between Latino and non-Latino one-year growth rates, known as the Latino population growth premium, reached a high of 2.4 percentage points in 2024.
Latino natural population change (the number of births minus deaths) remained positive throughout the pandemic, despite Latinos suffering higher COVID19-related mortality. From 2020 through 2024, the cumulative Latino natural population increase was 3.2 million, compared to a decline of 1.3 million for nonLatinos.
The Latino labor force grew 5.5 % from 2023 to 2024, an explosion from the 3.8% growth of 2023 which, at the time, was the strongest on record.
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USPS is Hiring for the Holidays
Seeking Holiday Clerk Assistants throughout Southern California
The holidays are not far away, and the Postal Service is looking for holiday assistants to help sort mail and packages.
We are looking to fill about 120 temporary holiday positions with eager elves in post offices from San Bernardino to San Diego and eastward to the desert communities.
We have two periods of temporary elf assignments available which will run from Nov. 1 to Dec 12 and Nov. 15 to Dec. 26. Duties include sorting and distributing mail and packages within a post office.
Pay is $20.59 per hour.
We have positions available in Apple Valley, Hesperia, Victorville, and other locations in the region. Positions will be posted between Friday and Tuesday until they are filled. See below for how to search for them.
USPS is hosting special hiring events to provide information and application assistance to interested candidates. Stop by to meet with our friendly staff to learn about the job position, how to set up your hiring profile, and how to apply.
Join a fast-paced, exciting team in your area during the busiest time of the year for Santa and the Postal Service.
Thursday, October 9 and 23, 2025; 10 am – 12 pm at the following locations:
Carlsbad 1700 Aviara PKWY Carlsbad 92009
Applications are also accepted online at www.usps.com/careers. To search: go to usps.com/ careers, select “How to apply” in the upper right corner, scroll to the new application section (with the assistant and PSE positions listed) and click “apply on USPS Careers,” select “United States” and “California”, then enter keyword “holiday” to see available positions and locations of the posting. Positions are posted on Fridays and online until the following Tuesday. Other job postings, with requirements, are also available and updated weekly, so check back frequently for additional opportunities (see the application system screen for application paths).
The United States Postal Service is an equal opportunity employer offering a fast-paced, rewarding work environment with competitive compensation packages, on-the-job training, and opportunities for advancement.
Governor Signs AB 385, Expanding Access to Public Parkland in San Bernardino County
National /Political News
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (October 6, 2025) — Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) and San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman Dawn Rowe announced today that Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed AB 385, legislation authored by Ramos and sponsored by the County, allowing a land exchange that will expand public access to recreational space near Glen Helen Regional Park.
AB 385 addresses longstanding restrictions on a 4.2-acre portion of Glen Helen Regional Park purchased decades ago with state grant funds. Under current law, the County could not repurpose or exchange the parcels without legislative approval. The new law authorizes the County to dispose of the restricted land, provided it is replaced with new parkland of equal or greater size and recreational value.
“My bill grants state authorization for the County to move forward with a major project to enhance the region’s quality of life and boost the local economy,” Ramos said. “The proposed multiuse project will bring new amenities, including expanded recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. This is an important local-state collaboration that I welcome.”
Rowe emphasized the County’s focus on ensuring the replacement property benefits residents.
“Glen Helen Regional Park is a cherished destination, but some of its acreage is isolated from the rest of the park by steep terrain and a major arterial road,” Rowe said. “With AB 385, San Bernardino County can provide new, accessible parkland in underserved areas while advancing a mixed-use development that brings jobs and economic vitality to the region. This is a win-win for our residents.”
The County noted that AB 385 strikes a balance between community investment and preservation of open space. The replacement property will expand recreational opportunities for families, ensuring that future generations can enjoy safe and accessible outdoor spaces close to home.
"This law shows what we can accomplish when we work together—protecting open space, improving opportunities, and investing in our community. AB 385 is a victory for the residents of San Bernardino County, and for that we thank the partnership with Assemblymember Ramos,” said Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. AB 385 takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Key Excerpts:
How SCOTUS Sanctioned a ‘National Assault on Community’
By Edward Kissam
With 1 in 6 people in the U.S. an immigrant, SCOTUS' ruling green lighting racial profiling in immigration stops is nothing short of a national assault on community life.
On the night of September 30, residents of a Chicago apartment building woke to the sounds of federal agents storming the building, some allegedly landing on the roof from a Blackhawk helicopter whirring above. Doors were kicked in, homes tossed, whole families—including citizens and babies—were zip tied and marched to buses waiting outside.
One eyewitness described the scene to CNN:
“They was terrified. The kids was crying. People was screaming. They looked very distraught. I was out there crying when I seen the little girl come around the corner, because they was bringing the kids down, too, had them zip tied to each other…”
The Administration, which has already deployed National Guard troops to the city, alleges without sharing any evidence that the building was a known hangout for members of the Tren de Aragua criminal group.
Whatever the pretext, the operation makes clear that agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)— both under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and involved in the Chicago raid—now believe they can act with near total impunity, as an armed and unchecked wing of the Administration’s mass
San Bernardino, CA — San Bernardino County families welcoming a new baby can also celebrate another milestone: their child’s very first scholarship. Through the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS), every child born in the state on or after July 1, 2022, automatically has a CalKIDS Scholarship Account waiting in their name — including more than $5 million in scholarship funds set aside for children in San Bernardino County alone. CalKIDS is the nation’s largest children’s development account program, designed to support college and career training. For newborns and young children, the state invests up to $175 in a CalKIDS Scholarship Account: ● $100 for being born in California (babies born July 1, 2023 or later; $25 for those born
deportation agenda. Worse yet, these tactics, first deployed in Los Angeles, have been sanctioned by the highest court in the land.
On September 9th, in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo, the Supreme Court green lighted the detention of individuals whenever CBP agents allege they have a “reasonable suspicion” that the person is an unauthorized immigrant.
The ruling means anyone, regardless of their citizenship status, is at risk if they fit the profile. Whether in time that profile extends to anyone who falls afoul of Trump’s priorities is anyone’s guess.
The immediate consequences, meanwhile, mean virtual occupation of communities with immigrants anywhere in the country, threatening widespread sweeps, workplace raids, and the ongoing detention of community residents at bus stops, flea markets, Sunday picnics in the park.
It is nothing short of a national assault on community life, not just Los Angeles, or Portland, or Chicago, or Memphis, or Washington, DC; about one out of six people in the U.S. is an immigrant.
As White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller recently proclaimed in Memphis, ICE agents are now “unleashed.”
What did the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision authorize? It overturned a federal
between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023)
● $25 extra when parents claim the account online
● $50 extra for linking the account to a ScholarShare 529 College Savings Plan
That’s up to $175 already invested in a child’s future, long before applications, admissions essays, or financial aid forms come into play.
“At First 5 California, we recognize that supporting healthy development begins with a commitment to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive,” said Jackie Thu-Huong Wong, Executive Director of First 5 California. “CalKIDS is a powerful way to show families that their child’s future matters from the very beginning.”
With August, September, and October among the most common birth months in
District Court’s stay blocking indiscriminate detentions based on apparent ethnicity, language, place of employment, and occupation in Los Angeles, and several other Southern California counties.
In practice, as Justice Sotomayor argued in her widely reported dissent, the ruling establishes a “second-class citizenship status for Latinos.”
Writing in defense of the ruling, issued through the court’s shadow docket—which dispenses with the usual process for hearing cases, including, for example, oral arguments, while releasing often terse, unsigned decisions—Justice Kavanaugh notes:
U.S. immigration officers have prioritized immigration enforcement in the Los Angeles area…If the officers learn that the individual they stopped is a U.S. citizen or otherwise lawfully in the United States, they promptly let the individual go. Wrong.
One of the U.S. citizen plaintiffs in the Los Angeles case, Jason Brian Gavidia, testified that he had been stopped by a masked agent, asked if he was a U.S. citizen by another agent and after answering yes, was pushed up against a metal gated fence, had his hands put behind his back and phone confiscated, because he didn’t remember which hospital he was born in. After he showed
California, thousands of families are becoming newly eligible for a CalKIDS Scholarship. It’s a timely opportunity for parents to take an easy first step that can grow into a lifelong advantage for their child’s education. How to Claim Your Baby’s Scholarship Claiming is quick, easy, and free at CalKIDS.org. Parents and guardians just need three pieces of information:
● The county where their child was born
● Their child’s date of birth
● The 13-digit Local Registration Number (LRN) on the birth certificate, or the unique CalKIDS code mailed to their home
Once claimed, families can log in anytime to view balances, link a ScholarShare 529 Account, and learn how funds can be
the agents his Real ID, they kept it for 20 minutes, finally released him, and never returned it to him.
According to Mr. Gavidia, it was one of the worst experiences in his life.
Another plaintiff, Jorge Hernandez Viramontes, asked if agents in unmarked vehicles had a warrant to search the carwash where he worked. The reply that came back from the officers: “Shut the f#@k up.” Viramontes, a citizen, was taken to a warehouse and detained by the agents for several hours.
Kavanaugh goes on to argue that the citizen plaintiffs in the Los Angeles case had no basis to believe that they would be stopped again. Whether ignorance or expediency, the logic here is once again belied by facts on the ground.
Leonardo Garcia Venegas, a U.S.-born Latino citizen living in Alabama, had already been arrested twice in May in ICE sweeps of construction sites, just one of scores of reports of unlawful detentions of US citizens across the country.
Community trust in government is plummeting. Uncontrolled roving patrols of masked ICE agents in camouflage and unmarked cars, and unfounded declarations that politically targeted communities are war-torn and crime-infested are inevitably eroding public trust still further.
While the Trump Administration argued before the court that it faced an emergency and would suffer irreparable harm if ICE was restrained, the real emergency is a Supreme Court ruling making immigrant communities—and anyone who looks like an immigrant—open targets for combat-style arrest, detention, and worse.
Feature image published under CC License 1.0
This story is part of “Aquí Estamos/Here We Stand,” a collaborative reporting project of American Community Media and community news outlets statewide.
For Immediate Release: Every Baby Born in San Bernardino County Has A Scholarship Waiting in Their Name, Worth Up to $175...continued
to dream big, and that starts from the moment they are born.
CalKIDS is helping families of newborns begin saving for education and career training right away. United Ways of California is proud to support this effort, which aligns with our work to expand economic mobility and opportunity across the state,” said Mandy Nand, Associate Director of Economic Mobility, United Ways of California. “United Ways of California is thrilled to support CalKIDS. By providing funds to every newborn, California is giving families peace of mind and an important financial foundation for their child’s future. This effort reflects our mission to help families build stability and opportunity from the very start of life.” Since its launch in 2022, CalKIDS has become the largest child development account program in the country. In addition to newborns, CalKIDS also created accounts for over 4 million public school students, accounting for more than 5 million children total with CalKIDS Scholarship Accounts and $2 billion invested. More than 700,000 families have claimed their scholarships, turning possibility into action. Families can learn more and claim their baby’s first scholarship today at CalKIDS. org.
New California Law, Authored by Asm. McKinnor, Expands Workers’ Protections
On Oct. 3, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 288, a new law designed to strengthen labor protections and give workers an alternative path to defend their rights when the federal government does not act.
The law, authored by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), allows employees to bring cases to the state’s Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) if the National Labor Relations Board fails to address unfair labor practices. Supporters say the measure is a direct response to what they see as a weakening of worker protections at the federal level.
“California is a proud labor state, and we will continue standing up for the workers that keep our state running and our economy booming,” said Newsom. McKinnor called the law an essential safeguard for workers.
“The current President is attempting to take a wrecking ball to public and private sector employees’ fundamental right
to join a union and collectively bargain for fair wages, benefits and safe working conditions. This is unacceptable and frankly, unAmerican,” she said. The measure also establishes a PERB Enforcement Fund, which will be supported by civil penalties collected from employers found to have violated labor laws. Backers say the fund ensures the board has the resources to enforce the law and hold employers accountable. Labor leaders praised the move as historic. “We commend Governor Gavin Newsom for standing up for California workers and our fundamental right to collectively bargain,” said Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO, which represents 1,300 unions with 2.3 million members. “This is the most significant labor law reform in nearly a century. California workers will no longer be forced to rely on a failing federal agency when they join together to unionize.”
used. Eligible expenses include tuition and fees, required books and supplies, and computer equipment at accredited higher education institutions nationwide.
Small Actions Make a Big Difference
Research shows that children with even small savings for higher education are three times more likely to attend college and four times more likely to graduate. Education is also one of the most powerful tools to break the cycle of poverty — a college degree can nearly double lifetime earnings. By giving every child in California a first scholarship, CalKIDS brings that opportunity to families from day one and makes the path to higher education more attainable for millions.
Across California, CalKIDS is working with hospitals, county offices, and community partners like United Ways of California to ensure families know about this opportunity from the very beginning.
“Every child deserves the chance
By Bo Tefu | California Black Media
Thursday, October 9, 2025 THE SAN
BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS - LOCAL/COUNTY