Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.
just what people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with words or blows or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance those of whom they suppress. —Fredrick Douglass (1849)
(NNPA Newswire) — Former President Donald Trump’s return to Capitol Hill on June 13 sparked significant backlash, with critics condemning his appearance at the site of the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack—a violent insurrection by his supporters. Trump has refused to take responsibility for his actions on that day or his conduct generally, even though a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony criminal charges last month in connection with paying hush money to cover up an extramarital affair with an adult film star.
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
In total, Trump faces nearly 90 felony charges in four jurisdictions, including Washington, D.C.
Outside the Capitol, several protesters gathered, carrying signs with messages such as “Failed Coup” and “No One is Above the Law,” displaying some of the public’s lingering outrage over Trump’s actions and his return to the scene of the insurrection.
Democratic leaders were particularly vocal about Trump’s visit. Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett expressed outrage, stating, “Three years after waging a continual war on our democracy, Donald Trump, a convicted criminal, returns to Capitol Hill to hang out with the very same MAGA extremists who acted as his proxies on January 6.”
She continued, “Trump and his cronies attacked our free and fair elections, they attacked our peaceful transition of power, and they attacked our Capitol – and the American people are fighting back at the ballot box to defend democracy.” Crockett also emphasized the importance of the upcoming elections, advocating for Hakeem
Jeffries as the next speaker to restore order in the House, and reaffirming support for President Joe Biden.
Former January 6 Select Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi echoed Crockett’s sentiments, expressing his dismay at Trump’s audacity to revisit the Capitol.
“After inciting a deadly insurrection that defiled the halls of Congress, how dare Trump show his face on these grounds?” Thompson said. He lambasted Congressional Republicans for allowing Trump’s visit and stressed that Trump remains a significant threat to democracy.
“Since January 6, Donald Trump, a twice-impeached convicted felon, has repeatedly doubled down on his disrespect for the rule of law and continues to sow hate and division,” Thompson said. “He still presents the same dire threat to our democracy that he did three years ago — and he’d be wise to head back to Mar-a-Lago and await his sentencing.”
California Democratic
Rep. Adam Schiff also decried Trump’s meeting with the “same MAGA Republicans who enabled his assault on democracy and supported his extremist policies and authoritarian agenda.”
“The American people can’t afford another four years of Trump and his allies destroying our democracy to maintain their grip on power,” Schiff protested.
“Every Republican meeting today with Donald Trump – who has promised to be a dictator on day one if he’s elected and prophesied a bloodbath if he’s not – should commit today to accept the results of November’s free and fair election, but of course, they will not. Nothing means more to them than power — not oath, not truth, not decency, not democracy. Nothing. We must hope and pray that they do not reap the despotic whirlwind they attempt to sow.”
Approximately 140 police officers were assaulted on Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol, including about 80 from the U.S. Capitol Police and 60 from the Metropolitan Police
Department. Five officers died after the attack.
Trump, whom a civil jury found responsible for sexually assaulting a writer and a separate court found liable for nearly $500 million in business fraud, still faces several serious charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. These include conspiracy to violate civil rights, conspiracy to defraud the government, corrupt obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.
“Today, arrived at the scene of the crime and continues to throw fuel on the flame,” added Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California.
“He inspired an angry mob to try to overturn our Constitution, and I wonder if the ex-president has even read the document himself. I learned during the January 6th investigation to take Mr. Trump at his word, and his unhinged comments about democracy and America’s future make it clear that he is a threat to our system of government.”
Opinion: The Dark Legacy of Slavery Still Impacts Our Black
As we celebrate the 159th anniversary of Juneteenth, I cannot help but think of how far we still have to go to reach a level of equity in America. The cornerstone of slavery was illiteracy among enslaved populations. Slave owners did everything they could to keep slaves ignorant and illiterate, often imposing severe penalties for literacy among slaves and those who taught them. They realized early that knowledge meant power, and maintaining slavery required policies and laws that promoted high rates of illiteracy among enslaved populations throughout America.
Current statistics continue to paint a stark picture of literacy proficiency among California's Black third-grade students.
Today, only 27% are meeting or exceeding the English language arts state standards. Even more disturbingly, since 2018, scores have plummeted by four percentage points. Clearly, the post-COVID era has exacerbated an already dire situation.
Reading develops essential skills necessary for participating in American society, democracy, and the capitalist system. It
enhances concentration, intellectual development, higher-order thinking, imagination, and creativity. Moreover, it helps individuals understand the world around them, allowing them to take advantage of available knowledge and opportunities. Those who read well tend to function more effectively in American society and advance more quickly. Systems of advancement are often centered around testing. For instance, students must take the SAT and compete with others to enter higher education. Those who cannot not read well, regardless of their true aptitude, perform poorly on the SAT. Their scores reinforce the false belief that the SAT determines inherent intelligence.
California Over The Weekend
State/Local News
Firefighters across California are working to extinguish blazes that broke out over the weekend and continued to grow on Monday, as the state contends with a mix of hot, dry weather and powerful, gusty winds.
The Post Fire, burning near Gorman, northwest of Los Angeles, spread to more than 14,600 acres, while the Point Fire, in Sonoma, covered 1,190 acres.
Officials have released a series of wildfire maps plotting their expansion. Eleven active wildfires of at least 10 acres or more were burning in California early Monday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire.
The agency registered 1,769 wildfires in total, which had burned more than 41,900 acres and destroyed at least six structures. No deaths have been reported in connection with the wildfires.
Firefighters were battling multiple wildfires
June 17, 2024 – The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) announced that the article “Recurrent Convolutional Deep Neural Networks for Modeling TimeResolved Wildfire Spread Behavior” was awarded the 2024 Harry C. Bigglestone Award. This prestigious award is given annually to the paper appearing in the journal Fire Technology that best represents excellence in communicating fire protection concepts. The award is accompanied by a $5,000 cash prize from NFPA.
The presentation of the Harry C. Bigglestone Award and recognition of the paper’s authors, John Burge, Matthew Bonanni, Lily Hu, and Matthias Ihme, took place at the NFPA Stars at Night awards ceremony during the annual NFPA Conference & Expo® (C&E) in Orlando on Sunday, June 16, 2024. The researchers' use of advanced machine learning techniques to create a model
that predicts wildfire spread with significant accuracy was highlighted as exemplifying the power of technology and science in solving real-world fire and life safety problems. The award recipients were honored for their dedication, curiosity, research advancing the field of fire science, and working to ensure that communities are better prepared to protect lives and property from the devastating impacts of wildfires.
Award Recipients:
John Burge works at Google Research, where he has dedicated his efforts to applying deep neural networks to predict wildfire dynamics and propagation. With Google since 2007, he has leveraged machine learning to address various challenges, including behavioral modeling of users engaged with mobile applications and weather forecasting.
Groundbreaking Research on Wildfire Spread Wins 2024 Harry C. Bigglestone Award...continued
Matthew Bonanni is a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering, advised by Professor Matthias Ihme. He is a NASA Fellow, and his PhD research focuses on the simulation of turbulent, reacting fluid flows.
Lily Hu is a researcher and engineer with Google Research. She conducted research in machine learning for engineering systems, physical sciences, and sustainability, drawing upon computer vision, decision analysis, and optimization.
Dr. Matthias Ihme is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at
Stanford and the Department of Photon Science at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. His research interests broadly focus on the computational modeling of reacting flows, developing numerical methods, and investigating advanced energy conversion concepts and molecular processes.
The 2024 NFPA Stars at Night Gala celebrated 14 individuals or organizations across seven award categories. You can learn more about this year's recipients by visiting the awards section of the NFPA website.
Asians are the fastest-growing racial group in the U.S. Yet most Americans can’t name a famous Asian American or a single event or policy related to them, according to a recent study by The Asian American Foundation.
More than 150 years after the first major wave of Asian immigration to the United States, knowledge of AAPI history across the country is severely lacking and needs to be addressed.
I have the privilege of being a
Firefighters Battling Multiple Fires In California Over The Weekend...continued
Update On Hesperia Fire
The Hesperia Fire in San Bernardino County has grown to over 1,100 acres in size. The fire is now 30% contained as of early this morning.
The fire was fire reported on Saturday at 6 p.m., in the area of HWY 173 and Arrowhead Lake Road.
Fire officials say fire crews are working to strengthen control lines and control hot spots.
Evacuations
An evacuation warning has been issued for Arrowhead Equestrian Estates.
Anyone under an evacuation warning should be prepared to leave.
Road closures
Chapter Leader and Legislative Action Committee lead of the student-led group, AAPI Youth Rising, which works to increase understanding of the AAPI community and combat rising hate and intolerance. Over the last few months, I have presented AAPI Youth Rising’s One Day of AAPI History lesson to several middle school classes.
Thanks to a partnership with Alliance for a Healthier
Firefighters Battling Multiple Fires In California Over The Weekend...continued from page 1 across California over the weekend that continued to spread on Monday, June 17, 2024.
Northwesterly winds of 10 or 15 miles per hour — and gustin up to 55 mph around some of the worst wildfires — overlapped with an overall dip in humidity over parts of California that together created the arid and blustery conditions that allow fires to rapidly spread, the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center warned in a fire weather outlook Monday morning. Meteorologists forecast elevated fire weather concerns for the Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, the western Transverse Ranges and the southern Sierra Nevada mountain range — areas of concern that collectively encompass a massive chunk of California.
A red flag warning was in effect Monday for a large section of the state, covering hundreds of square miles from the Sacramento Valley in Northern California down to Santa Barbara County and Antelope Valley in the south near Los Angeles.
The National Weather Service issues red flag warnings when the combined presence of warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds
fuel an elevated risk of fire danger. Their advisory was set to remain in place for most of the warning area through at least 8 a.m. PT on Tuesday.
There are smoke and haze conditions forecast for much of California and portions of other Western states, stretching across southern Nevada and large expanses of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado.
Post Fire
Of the 11 largest active wildfires reported Monday by Cal Fire, the Post Fire was the most massive by far. It erupted as a brushfire on Saturday and prompted evacuations in Gorman, a rural community in northwestern Los Angeles County. By Monday morning, officials said the Post Fire had enveloped more than 14,000 acres of land in both L.A. County and neighboring Ventura, as it swept over the grassland hills of Hungry Valley State Park and moved in a southeastern direction toward Lake Pyramid.
Crews have so far managed to contain 8% of the blaze, Cal Fire said. More than 1,100 personnel from 34 different crews had been assigned to respond to it, along with 14 water tankers, 11 bulldozers, seven helicopters and hundreds of additional
vehicles. Air tankers dispatched from around California were flying over the area to drop fire retardant as conditions allowed, according to Cal Fire, but the extent of the blaze was limiting visibility overhead.
The Post Fire in Los Angeles County was the largest active wildfire reported in California on June 17, 2024.
CAL FIRE
"Crews are working to establish perimeter fire lines around the fire's edges," wrote Cal Fire in its latest status update. "Firefighters will continue working overnight to reinforce the existing perimeter on the fire's east side, as wind is expected to push the fire further south towards Pyramid Lake."
The agency noted that 1,200 people had been evacuated from Hungry Valley Park due to the wildfire and Pyramid Lake was closed as the flames headed closer to it. Cal Fire reiterated warnings from the national Weather Service of oncoming winds even more powerful than those already recorded in the region, with forecasters anticipating gusts of up to 20 mph on Monday afternoon that could potentially reach 50 mph around mountain ridges.
Craig Little, of the Los
Angeles County Fire Department, told CBS Los Angeles that the wind "has been a major factor" in the fire's rapid spread "along with the terrain," which is already dry.
"That's all a recipe for a very quickly moving flame," he said.
A large brush fire broke out in Gorman, in northern Los Angeles County
Fire crews battle a hot spot at the Post Fire in northern Los Angeles County on Sunday, June 16, 2024 in Gorman, California.
Firefighters said some buildings in the area around the Post Fire were threatened Monday and two had sustained damage, but none were destroyed, CBS Los Angeles reported.
The Point Fire, burning through the wine country area of Sonoma, north of San Francisco, was 20% contained on Monday morning, according to Cal Fire. At the time, the blaze had spread over 1,190 acres of land extending southeast from the bottom of Lake Sonoma. Twelve crews including 400 firefighting personnel were responding to the fire on Monday, with 10 water tankers and four helicopters as well as air tankers conducting fire suppression as visibility permitted.
State Route 173 road closure is in place from the SR 138 junction to Lake Arrowhead Road.
Latest information
For the latest information straight from local emergency officials, check the following websites and social media accounts:
San Bernardino County Sheriff CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit
Air quality
Air quality officials from AQMD are alerting residents in Los Angeles, Southern Ventura County and Riverside of poor air quality due to wildfire smoke. Reduce your exposure to smoke by staying inside, running an air purifier or air conditioner indoors.
Asian American History is US History, So Why Don’t Schools Teach It?...continued
Generation, the lesson has already reached 52,000 schools across the country, exposing the untold stories of Asians in America.
Still, the last thing I expected when teaching this lesson was to learn a sobering lesson myself. I asked my middle school students to name as many Asian ethnicities as they could. After listening to several enthusiastic responses, one student raised his hand and, with all seriousness, said “Caucasian.” The student genuinely believed it was true. None of them had heard of the Chinese Exclusion Act or the annexation of Hawaii. The gap in what young people are learning—or not learning— when it comes to AAPI history is shocking, I realized.
Earlier this year, I conducted a survey on AAPI education at my high school in the San Francisco Bay Area. Of the 159 students surveyed, 87% of them did not understand the significance of the murder of Vincent Chin. Chin was an American of Chinese descent who was killed following a racially motivated assault, and his death was a turning point for Asian American civil rights engagement, sparking a movement that challenged systemic injustices and advocated for equality.
My study also showed that
74% of students at my school hadn’t heard of the 442nd Regiment Combat Team, the most decorated military unit in U.S. history. The bravery and sacrifices of the 442nd Regiment, made up of Japanese American soldiers during World War II, demonstrated the strength and loyalty of a dedicated group of Japanese Americans whose own country was incarcerating Americans of Japanese descent. The lack of AAPI recognition in school classrooms speaks directly to the wider underrepresentation of Asian Americans in society and to the recent rise in hate crimes targeting the community. During the pandemic, we witnessed an alarming increase in anti-Asian sentiment and violence, and the hate incidents continue. According to a 2023 AAPI Data/AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs), one in three reported experiencing some sort of hate incident in the last year. Educating young people can help combat the harmful stereotypes fueling this disturbing trend and build a culture of understanding across the nation. It’s a lesson I’ve learned first-hand. Growing up as an Asian
Joe Baca, Jr., Fifth District County Supervisor of San Bernardino Recognize League of Women Voters, San Bernardino Former Presidents
On Saturday, June 13, 2024, Joe Baca Jr., Fifth District County Supervisor of San Bernardino stopped by the League of Women Voters, San Bernardino (LWVSB) general meeting held at Le Rendezvous Café, Colton, CA, to recognize immediate past president Betsy Starbuck and former president Jill Vassilakos-Long for their years of dedicated service and hard work in support of the goals and mission of the organization. To learn more about the League of Women Voters, San Bernardino Area, including membership, please visit San Bernardino Area | MyLO (lwv. org)
(CBM) – On June 11, a heated debate ensued among lawmakers over reparations for Black Californians during an Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 1331, also known as The Fund for Reparations and Restorative Justice.
Assemblymember Kate Sanchez (R-Rancho Santa Margarita), a member of the Judiciary Committee, voted against SB 1331, commenting that the legislation is “fundamentally unfair” and “the pain of our past should not be paid by people of today.” She stated that California’s Asians and Latinos make up 55% of the state population and are not responsible for slavery, discrimination, or Jim Crow laws.
Heated Hearing on Reparations: Assemblymember Says Asians and Latinos Not Responsible for Slavery and Discrimination...continued
try to repair and heal that pain. And yes, we still benefit to this day from what happened to our brothers and sisters in the Black community so many generations ago.”
During a panel discussion held on June 15 in San Diego, organized by the Black Freedom Fund in partnership with the CLBC, Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) criticized some Republican colleagues in the Legislature who uniformly and consistently vote no on reparations-focused legislation.
“Some of our Republican colleagues have taken it upon themselves to make this a very political issue, voting no on all our bills,” said Gipson. Any bills that deal with reparations, they are voting no. “They are also casting lies on how much these bills are going to cost and talking about the immigrant status and how they are not a part of what happened in California. So, it’s our responsibility to educate our colleagues on what’s going on.”
SB 1331 was one of four reparations bills that the Senate and Assembly reviewed in various committees and voted to advance.
Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 8 made it out of the Senate Public Safety Committee on June 11 with a 4-1 vote. The legislation is on its way to the Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments.
Authored by Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), ACA 8 seeks to abolish the language “involuntary servitude” from the state’s constitution, effectively prohibiting slavery of any form in the prison system.
“We have an opportunity to step in the direction that ends that legacy (of slavery in California),” said Wilson, the chairperson of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC).
“This bill throughout its history has enjoyed no opposition on record or testifying against it,” said Wilson. “I believe it is really consistent with California’s value and it’s time we showed it in writing and not just within talks.”
The public safety community members who voted in favor of ACA 8 were Sens. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), Scott Weiner (D-San Francisco), Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), and CLBC member Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood). Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) voted no. If the bill passes out of the Senate, it will be sent to Gov. Newsom for his signature and placed on the general election ballot in November.
Wilson’s legislation is one of 14 reparations bills introduced by the CLBC earlier this year. The package addresses the
recommendations the California Reparations Task Force made last year in its 1,100-page final report.
ACA 8 is the legislative successor of ACA 3 – the California Abolition Act –aimed at removing slavery from California law.
It was first authored by thenSen. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) but the bill failed in 21-6 vote on the Senate floor in June 2023.
Kamlager-Dove was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives after Karen Bass vacated the seat to run for mayor of Los Angeles. She still monitors the bill that Wilson picked up when she left the State Senate.
Kamlager-Dove is currently working to remove similar language regarding voluntary servitude from the U.S. Constitution.
“The exceptions for slavery and involuntary servitude in both the California Constitution and the 13th Amendment are moral disgraces that need to be addressed at both federal and state levels,” Kamlager-Dove said in a written statement to California Black Media. “In Congress, I proudly reintroduced the Abolition Amendment to amend the U.S. Constitution and abolish slavery once and for all. We must sustain this momentum at the state level. I urge swift passage of ACA 8 to end prison labor in California.”
In addition to Wilson’s ACA 8 bill, a number of reparations bills authored by members of the CLBC are advancing in the Legislature.
In addition to SB 1331, the Assembly Judiciary Committee voted to pass three of Bradford’s reparations bills, as of June 12. The bills are Senate Bill (SB) 1403, that would establish the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency (CAFAA) and SB 1050, CAFAA’s required action to compensate families that lost property to eminent domain. SB 1403 and SB 1331 are not part of the CLBC reparations package.
Assemblymember Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin) voted no on SB 1403 and SB 1331, but voted yes gave SB 1050 his full based on his knowledge of property rights and the historical unfair use of eminent domain.
“I think eminent domain should be extremely limited,” said Patterson, the vice chair of the Assembly Housing Committee. “I am 100% for something where you say you have to be compensated for fairmarket value if the government is going to take your property. Because of that, I am going to support this measure.”
“Black in Action” Advocacy Day Empowering Change and Community Advancement on Juneteenth...continued
San Franciscans. But following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the coalition opted for a more comprehensive approach to action, centering on statewide reform, formulating a Black prosperity agenda that includes four key policy areas: health, wealth, housing, and education.
“The Black Leadership Council chose Juneteenth as our Black in Action Day because it signifies the proactive stance Black and African Americans have to continue to take as we educate ourselves and our elected representatives on the issues that are critically important to our community," said Brett Andrews, a co-chair of the coalition and Interim CEO of Bay Area housing nonprofit All Home. Andrews co-found the coalition during his time as CEO of San Francisco social service provider
PRC. Among the over 20 bills the BLC is supporting, they have co-sponsored two pieces of legislation, AB 2465 (Gipson) and AB 2250 (Weber). The first, introduced by Comptonarea Assemblymember Mike Gipson, would level the playing field by requiring specific state agencies to implement equity in a specific set of grant programs where people of color and diverse-led organizations are underrepresented or non-existent. The latter, introduced by San Diego-area Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber, would improve access to social determinants of health (SDOH) screenings and community navigation services by requiring health plans and insurers to pay for screening for
Opinion: The Dark Legacy of Slavery Still Impacts Our Black Children 161 Years After Emancipation....continued from page 1
Senate Judiciary Committee chair Ash Kalra (D-San José) disagreed with Sanchez’s perspective and pushed back with a persuasive counterargument explaining why America owes Black Americans. The Indian American lawmaker reminded Sanchez and other members of the committee that “the country became a superpower based on free labor” and “Black families over a generation “did not ask if it was okay to take their wealth, enslave them, or put their children in poverty,” Kalra said.
“We recognize it,” Kalra said, nearly breaking into tears. “I know it’s not going to be easy. It’s not supposed to be easy to actually admit what you’ve caused pain when you
The Black Leadership Council (BLC), a statewide coalition of leaders seeking to improve conditions for Black Californians and other vulnerable populations across our state, will gather in Sacramento on June 19th for their third annual legislative day of action. Together, leaders from across public and private sectors will engage with key policy makers in Sacramento to advance systemic solutions for the most pressing issues facing Black Californians. The group will also honor the following six leaders for their dedication to excellence and their vision for creating a just and equitable California, during a luncheon at the Sutter Club (1220 9th Street Sacramento):
Dr. Flo Cofer, Epidemiologist, Policy Director, Community Advocate
Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Shirley N. Weber, PhD., California Secretary of State
Tiyesha Watts, Legislative & Policy Analyst, California Academy of Family Physicians
Tomiquia Moss, Secretary, California Business, Consumer Services, Housing Agency
Malia Cohen, California State Controller
The BLC formed in 2019 in response to a SF Health Department Black/African American health report, which found stark health disparities, including the prevalence of chronic diseases, life expectancy rates, education levels, and homelessness rates for Black
Today, if high schools graduated highly literate Black students, graduation day would be a jubilant celebration akin to Juneteenth. Just as the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment provided access to civil rights, high literacy rates empower individuals to fully exercise these rights. Literacy opens doors to voting, fair trials, government employment, public facility access, housing, freedom of religion, and public education–transforming these rights from mere words into tangible opportunities. In this way, achieving high literacy rates is a modern emancipation, granting students the tools to realize the full promise of their civil rights. In 2000, the National Reading Panel, a governmentformed entity, conducted analysis to determine the most effective approach to teaching children how to read. Their findings–informed by rigorous, interdisciplinary scientific research from educators, psychologists, linguists, neuroscientists, and cognitive scientists–outlined five critical areas of reading instruction based on how a child best learns to read: (1) phonemic awareness, (2) phonics, (3) vocabulary, (4) fluency, and (5) comprehension. Moreover, the analysis advocates for the inclusion of evidence-based literacy instruction principles in teacher training programs to ensure educators are equipped to teach our children effectively. Across seventeen states (and counting), legislation has been introduced to embrace the principles supported by the National Reading Panel and other literacy experts. Now, California stands poised to follow suit. The Black Parallel School Board fully supported Assembly Bill 2222 (Rubio), which introduced legislation in February 2024 requiring all California public elementary schools use evidence-based reading
instructional materials and train educators on providing evidence-based early literacy instruction. Unfortunately, the 2024 version of the bill died in the Assembly without a hearing. We will again support the 2025 version of the bill because the cause is too important. Our children deserve nothing less. Learning to read is a civil right. Therefore, the movement to ensure that all students learn to read well can be seen as the catalyst to emancipate BIPOC people trapped at the lower rungs of the education ladder. Until we assure every parent/caregiver in California that their public education system can and will prioritize teaching their children to read, Black children will continue to experience high rates of illiteracy and inequity.
Just as the Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved individuals, evidence-based early literacy instruction will free BIPOC people from the historical and cultural enslavement of lower-class citizenship and liberate students from educational inequity, empowering them to fully participate in society and achieve their potential. The right to Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) is meaningless if an educational system created through civil rights fails to promote literacy, as it has then certainly failed to educate.
About the Author Darryl White Sr. has been a teacher, curriculum specialist, race/human relations/equity trainer, and inner-city elementary, middle, and high school administrator. As a middle school principal, he provided the leadership to move Vallejo’s lowest achieving middle school to the city’s best (includes charter schools) in only three years while improving the school’s Academic Performance Index (API) over 100 points.
With Alzheimer’s now the second-leading cause of death for people in California, barriers to treatment are more harmful than ever.
Although the number of Californians living with Alzheimer’s will nearly double to 1.1 million within twenty years, those in rural and remote areas face major challenges to accessing care.
Compared to urban communities, these rural Californians struggle to access preventative services, including screenings, diagnostic care, clinical visits, and appointments with specialists. Long wait times and a lack of public transportation are also common issues.
Alzheimer’s access in remote California
Dr. Rita Nguyen, Assistant Health Officer for the State of California and Director of Population Health, California Department of Public Health, discusses the barriers to health faced by disadvantaged ethnic and geographic communities and the role of public health in removing those barriers.
With Alzheimer’s now the second-leading cause of death for people in California—home to more adults aged 65 and over than any other state—barriers to treatment are more harmful than ever, said Dr. Rita Nguyen, assistant health officer for the state of California and population health director for the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
There were 660,000 Californians living with Alzheimer’s in 2019; that number is expected to more than double to nearly 1.5 million in 2040.
While rural California is home to just 6%—2.3 million residents—of the state’s overall population, residents in these areas are also older than their urban counterparts; more geographically isolated from clinics, caregivers and specialists; and more prone to Alzheimer’s risk factors like heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.
“The Surgeon General has highlighted the immense impact that loneliness has on health outcomes,” noted Nguyen, adding that stigma around Alzheimer’s adds to the isolation many experience, despite the fact that most Californians are “connected by one or two degrees” to someone with the disease.
In response, CDPH has launched Take on Alzheimer’s, the first-ever statewide campaign to reduce stigma around the disease and teach Californians how to detect it and what to do after a diagnosis.
“Our own research on access barriers to Medicaid, the largest payer of long-term U.S. care access, has involved over 40 focus groups and over 100 individual interviews,” said Hagar Dickman, senior attorney at Justice in Aging.
“We found, statewide, that low-income individuals with mid-to-late Alzheimer’s and dementia, particularly in rural areas, generally have no options to access community or personal care programs.”
For instance, California’s largest program for low-income adult home care—In-Home Support Services, serving 700,000 individuals—“is essential for keeping adults in the community and out of nursing homes, but it’s selfdirected. Users apply for, find, hire, supervise and fire their caregivers, and 70% of users have a family caregiver,” she explained. “But it doesn’t work for those who can’t direct their own care,” she added, suggesting an agency option, and integration of caregiving with social services like housing.
Other Medicaid programs like Assisted Living Waivers, available in only 15 of California’s 58 counties, can have 3,000-person waitlists.
(Medi-Cal is California’s version of the federal Medicaid program.) Community-Based
Adult Services, an adult day health program available in about 22 counties, closed many centers during the pandemic in rural counties which already have less alternatives like nursing homes, caregivers and specialty clinics.
“We found that those with neglected needs go into institutional care or die at home as providers … social workers and community organizations struggle to find support for those who come to them for help,” Dickman said. “Once the Alzheimer’s is mid-to-late, often in despair, they call Adult Protective Services, even though it can’t really assist.”
“What became clear from talking to rural participants is that many policy solutions that may work in urban areas really are not appropriate for rural areas, because of low density, lack of providers and lack of infrastructure,” she continued. “Any solution, to help individuals with Alzheimer’s who don’t have family caregivers, needs to address these issues.”
Alzheimer’s outreach in rural SoCal
Hagar Dickman, Senior Attorney, Justice in Aging, shares data from a research project on the accessibility of Alzheimer’s care in rural California.
“Our population is growing. In the Inland Empire alone, there’s a projected 685% increase in people 65 and over by 2060,” said Carmen Estrada, executive director of the Inland Caregiver Resource Center, a network of 11 free caregiver service centers in the San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo and Monroe counties of Southern California. “Our infrastructure is definitely not ready for that, but we’re hopeful we can implement what we found about reaching people.”
“First of all, we use word of mouth,” she continued. “It’s not just about dropping off brochures at a community center or church … individuals in rural communities are close-knit, and to foster trust we encourage current clients to tell others about how we can help them care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s” through services like counseling, caregiver referrals, caregiving training and respite care.
“Most importantly, we learn what the community needs,” Estrada continued, through listening sessions and focus groups, as well as what the best channels are for delivering information, whether it’s “flyers, TV, radio?” Language
accessibility is also critical.
One caregiver’s story
“I’ve been caring for my brother three years since he got diagnosed with frontal temporal dementia, and it’s been challenging,” said Maria Cortez, a Glenn County-based 66-year-old caregiver for Jerry, her 62 year old brother with Alzheimer’s.
She lived in Texas when he first showed abnormal symptoms, including losing his job, drinking frequently, being verbally abusive to siblings who’d visit him and blacking out while driving, totaling his car on one occasion.
“He was then living alone in our parents’ home and had four friends who saw what was going on, moved in, and took over the home and his bank account,” Cortez said. “They had him living worse than a dog, so I took him to Texas. He was upset, so after a few months we went back to remove his friends. It took three to four months to evict one … If we hadn’t intervened, my brother would be dead by now.”
“Since he had no money left, I spent a month and a half struggling with paperwork to get him on Medi-Cal,” she explained. Unable to get a neurologist in Chico, 10 minutes away, “he got one in Sacramento, early appointments two hours each way.”
“The symptoms progressed so fast, about every two months,” said Cortez. “It was memory loss, then anxiety, hallucinations, depression, losing empathy, personal hygiene and the ability to feed or dress himself. In the last month or two he can no longer bathe himself, which has been difficult for me, being his sister.”
She added that her brother has been able to join the Peg Taylor Center for Adult Day Health Care in nearby Chico, where he goes two to three times a week for up to four hours per visit, “They’re wonderful,” she said. “He’s now like a three year old in an adult body, and this is the only program I know of here that gives me time to catch up, go out, do what I want for a bit.”
Cortez said the most fulfilling part of caring for her brother despite these challenges “is that I helped him be alive, for however many years he’s got left. But we didn’t know what was happening for a few years, and that could have helped him … If you’re facing similar issues, learn the signs.”
blood, oxygen and nutrients are damaged or diseased, usually by cholesterol-containing plaque. Over time, CAD can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath and other symptoms. It can lead to heart attacks, which can necessitate interventions like stenting and drug-coated balloons.
Stent restenosis occurs after the placement of a stent, which is a tiny tube used to keep an artery open. Restenosis is a renarrowing of the artery at the stent site, typically caused by scar tissue and proliferation of the arterial wall cells, which leads to a reduction in blood flow.
"Historically, stent restenosis has posed a substantial challenge, often leading to severe lifestyle limitations for patients,” said Dr. Nyal Borges, an interventional cardiologist who performed the milestone surgery. “The introduction of drug-coated balloon therapy marks a significant breakthrough, offering symptomatic relief and reducing the rate of restenosis, thereby improving our patients’
daily activities with markedly improved heart function and significantly reduced symptoms.
quality of life substantially."
The new Boston Scientific Agent drug-coated balloon procedure delivers a dose of paclitaxel directly to the artery wall, which prevents the recurrence of ISR. The procedure has proven statistical superiority compared to conventional treatments in a year-long clinical trial involving 600 patients across 40 U.S. sites.
"Prior to advancements like this, options were limited to less effective therapies that did not adequately address the underlying issues of stent restenosis,” Borges said.
The procedure is performed in a cardiac catheterization lab. Patients can expect to return home the same day, a few hours post-operation. Following the procedure, patients are closely monitored in an outpatient setting to ensure sustained symptomatic relief. The post-treatment prognosis is promising, with many patients returning to their
"This initiative not only underscores our commitment to pioneering heart care but also positions Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute as Atrium Health pioneers heart disease treatment... continued
a leader in the Southeast for innovative cardiovascular therapies," said Borges. "Our ability to now offer this treatment provides a significant beacon of hope for our patients afflicted with coronary artery disease."
Feeding America Riverside| San Bernardino Celebrates Expansion with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Riverside Building
(Riverside, CA – June 18, 2024) Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) proudly celebrated its recent expansion into their new FARSB Hunger Resource Center in Riverside. The grand ribbon-cutting ceremony, held on Thursday, June 6th, marked a significant milestone in FARSB's ongoing mission to combat hunger and serve the community.
“Hunger is often called an ‘invisible crisis,’ yet it remains a critical issue nationwide, driven by complex social, economic, and geographical factors.”
Said Carolyn Fajardo, CEO at FARSB.
“Our new facility will be a cornerstone for efficient operations and a welcoming haven for those seeking help. This expansion will enable us to offer essential programs directly from our facility, significantly enhancing our presence and impact within the community,” said Fajardo.
Representatives from Mayor Lock Dawson and Senator
Richard D. Roth’s office, the California State Assembly, the City of Riverside, and Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce were in attendance and presented Fajardo with Certificates of Recognition signaling the official opening. The new office space will accommodate part of the administrative team and feature a small delivery warehouse for redistribution. Already, the facility has served as a SNAP (CalFresh) Resource Center and hosted SNAP training sessions. The Learning Center within the facility has been utilized for FARSB’s child education program, team-building events, and the Inside La Sierra Riverside Chambers of Commerce meeting. Later this year, The Fresh Start Pantry by Goodman will open, providing the community with a grocery store-like option for fresh food items. This initiative will allow individuals to personally select their items, prioritizing both choice and nutritional balance.
FARSB’s warehouse distribution and operations will continue at 2950-B Jefferson St., Riverside, CA 92504. The new resource center is located at 4035 Trail Creek Rd., Riverside, CA 92505.
To learn more about FARSB’s new Hunger Resource Center, please visit www.FeedingIE.org/ contact
Asian American History is US History, So Why Don’t Schools Teach It?...continued from page 2
American in a predominantly white community, I experience my share of bullying. Comments like, “Where are you really from?” “You speak English so well” and “You people are so good at math” were also a common refrain. And even if well-intentioned, they have a detrimental impact on youth, leading young Asian Americans like me to feel as though we don’t belong.
Studying AAPI history helped me flip the narrative. It has led to an increased sense of pride in my Asian American culture and a newfound confidence in my own ability to speak about issues facing AAPI youth. That, in turn, has given me the ability to stand up for the AAPI community as a whole.
The good news is that some states are starting to take notice.
In 2021, the Illinois State Board of Education passed the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History (TEAACH) Act. This ensures that within Illinois public schools, students are taught about Asian Americans’ contributions to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the U.S.
Recently, the governor of Wisconsin signed legislation mandating Asian American and Hmong history be taught in all K-12 public schools in the state. Additionally, the New York State Senate has passed a bill requiring the commissioner to establish AANHPI history and civic impact curriculum for school districts.
California is also expected to expand Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history in schools. This comes following the passage last year of
California Assembly Bill 1354, introduced by Assemblyman Mike Fong (D-Alhambra), which calls for the creation of curriculum frameworks for Asian American Studies in grades K-12. These actions can play a vital role in dismantling harmful myths involving the AAPI community, such as the “model minority” and “perpetual foreigner” myths. And they can lead to a broader understanding of Asian Americans’ experiences and acknowledgment of historical discrimination while building a culture of understanding across the nation.
Within the U.S., only 20 states have mandated the teaching of AAPI History; this is not nearly enough. At a national level, we must collectively fight anti-Asian hate by presenting a more equitable and accurate curriculum to students across America.
AAPI history is part of this country’s history. It’s time to ensure that AAPI history isn’t just a footnote, but an essential part of the narrative we teach future generations.
Matthew Sugiyama is a Bay Area high school student and Legislative Action Committee Co-Lead with AAPI Youth Rising.
This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.
(CALMATTERS) – After legislative leaders failed to reach an agreement with Gov. Gavin Newsom about how to close California’s projected multibillion-dollar deficit, the Legislature passed a placeholder state budget , just ahead of a mandatory deadline.
With only a few weeks left until the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, both sides refuse to publicly discuss what specific issues are holding up a deal.
Newsom’s office did not respond to an inquiry about remaining differences with the Legislature that still need to be worked out. Representatives for Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, who are in charge of negotiating with the governor, declined to make them available to the media after their members approved a spending plan that almost certainly will not be the actual budget.
“There’s a shared set of priorities,” Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, an Encino Democrat who leads the Assembly budget committee, told reporters following the vote. “It’s more about what are the most effective solutions, what are the programs and services that we think are the best way to go forward versus others.”
His counterpart on the Senate budget committee — Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat — did not respond to an interview request.
Newsom presented a plan last month to address what his administration estimates is a remaining funding shortfall of $56 billion over the next two years, including by dipping into reserve accounts, deferring school funding, eliminating government jobs and cutting or delaying money for infrastructure, health and climate programs. Democratic leaders in the Legislature, where the party holds supermajorities in both houses, released a counterproposal a few weeks later. Among the major discrepancies is a push for more substantial reductions to prison funding to reverse some of Newsom’s proposed cuts to college scholarships for middle-
income students, public health programs, subsidized child care slots and housing development.
The governor and the Legislature must also decide whether to repurpose billions of dollars that were earmarked to increase payments for health care providers who treat lowincome patients, as Newsom has suggested, and whether to further delay minimum wage increases for health care workers, which could potentially save the state billions of dollars but faces strong opposition from unions.
Gabriel defended the process as “exceptionally transparent,” pointing to dozens of legislative budget hearings in which he said “there’s been a very public vetting of these issues” and “opportunities for Californians to weigh in.” He said he did not think any of the final solutions would come as a surprise.
“I think Californians have a good understanding of what the major issues are that are at stake in this process,” he said.
Despite ongoing negotiations over undisclosed provisions, Democratic lawmakers voted to adopt their version of the spending plan because they must pass a balanced budget by midnight Saturday in order to get paid. The bill passed by a vote of 29-8 in the Senate and 59-14 in the Assembly, along largely partisan lines.
Republicans criticized the proposal as out of touch with Californians’ needs. They raised objections to provisions pausing some tax deductions for businesses to raise additional revenue and reversing previous commitments on expanded health care spending. Several members called out the inclusion of billions of dollars for the state’s troubled high-speed rail project and to expand health care access for undocumented immigrants while other programs are cut.
“This is a shameful budget,” Assemblymember Kate Sanchez, a Rancho Santa Margarita Republican, said during floor debate. “This budget is heartless, it’s divisive and it’s completely detached from the reality and the struggles that Californians are actually facing.”
California Pushes Insurers to Cover
By Levi Sumagaysay, Calmatters | Sacramento ObserverCalifornia Pushes Insurers to Cover More Homes in These Areas. Is Your ZIP Included?...continued
The department explains it this way: “If a company writes 20 out of 100 homes statewide, it must write 17 out of 100 homes in a distressed area.”
Achieve one-time 5% growth in the number of policies they write in high-risk areas.
Expand their number of policies 5% by taking people out of the FAIR Plan, which has been growing exponentially.
The department also released a map that shows where wildfire risk and FAIR Plan policies are concentrated, as well as a list of counties and ZIP codes of highrisk areas, that correspond with the requirements. Regulators will update these areas at least once a year.
The proposed options aren’t technically requirements, because the state cannot legally require insurers to write either homeowner or commercial property policies. But the state expects insurers to comply because failure to do so would mean insurers would not be able to take advantage of something they’ve lobbied for long and hard: catastrophe modeling.
Lara unveiled the first part of his plan to allow for catastrophe modeling in March; this is the second part of that plan. Catastrophe modeling takes into account historical data and
combines that with projected risk and losses — something insurers have been able to do in every other U.S. state but California. Insurers will be able to use it here once Lara’s overall plan takes effect as promised at the end of the year.
Today’s announcement made clear what the companies will have to do in return.
“Insurance companies need to commit to writing more policies and my department will need to verify those commitments and hold them accountable,” Lara told reporters this morning. When they submit rate reviews, insurers will state which of the pathways they choose. If they don’t fulfill the requirements of that pathway, “my department will use its law enforcement authority and reconsider rate reviews,” the commissioner said.
Lara’s staff said they established the requirements for minimum coverage in distressed areas after talking with different stakeholders, including insurance companies that said the requirements were achievable.
Insurance industry representatives and Consumer Watchdog said they were still looking over the details of the Insurance Department’s draft regulations.
“Black in Action” Advocacy Day Empowering Change and Community Advancement on Juneteenth... continued from page 3
SDOH, and to provide access to community health workers, promoters, representatives, peer support specialist, lay health workers, and social workers. Former California Deputy Secretary of State and BLC member Tamara Rasberry outlined the BLC’s legislative priorities stating, “Our vision is to move California out of a deficit mind-set for Black communities. Our legislative priorities encompass this belief: from outlawing discrimination of natural hairstyles and boosting
violence prevention efforts at the community level, to expanding Medi-Cal benefits and eradicating food deserts, we strive to create a prosperous California for all who have been historically left behind.”
Beyond this legislative day of action, the BLC is actively involved in advocacy, voter engagement, and other community-centric volunteering efforts that support Black, Indigenous, and communities of color throughout the state of California.
Direct Deposit is Now Available for Unemployment, Disability, and Paid Family Leave Benefit Payments
EDD customers can choose the most convenient payment option for their needs
Direct Deposit is Now Available for Unemployment, Disability, and Paid Family Leave Benefit Payments...continued
card as well as mailed checks for receiving benefit payments.
The new direct deposit option is available for workers who are accessing EDD’s services online starting June 17. In early July and again in August, EDD will be alerting these customers to the expanded benefit payment options through direct emails and text messages. Customers will also see online notifications when logging in to apply for benefits or manage their benefit claim.
For unemployment customers, notifications will be made available in the top eight languages, including English for those who have indicated a preference to receive translated communications.
Beware of Scammers
EDD will never email, text, or call to ask for login information or bank account details to enroll in direct deposit. Be cautious
of unsolicited emails or text messages that request personal or financial information with a sense of urgency. EDD emails only contain links to websites that include “edd.ca.gov.” Visit the Fight Fraud webpage for tips on how to avoid scams.
About EDDNext
EDDNext is an ongoing modernization effort to completely transform the EDD customer and employee experience. EDDNext efforts include updating online applications, contact centers, the claims process, policies, procedures, and forms, to make the EDD experience easier and faster. It involves working with customer service experts, such as Amazon Web Services and Salesforce, to ensure EDDNext is forward-thinking and embraces the best technology and practices.
new claimants to receive payments automatically into a personal bank account. In addition to prepaid debit card or mailed checks, benefit program customers can choose the payment option that best meets their individual needs.
SACRAMENTO – The Employment Development Department (EDD) is now offering its unemployment, disability, and Paid Family Leave benefit customers a direct deposit option to receive their payments. Direct deposit is a safe, fast, and convenient way for individuals to have their benefits automatically deposited into their personal checking or savings account. This enhancement follows the Department’s transition to Money Network for benefit payment services earlier this year which included issuing new prepaid debit cards.
“We have been focused on improving our benefit systems as part of our ongoing effort to modernize and improve the customer experience for all Californians,” said EDD Director Nancy Farias. “Direct deposit offers our customers the safest and most convenient means of receiving the benefit payments
that they need.”
EDD customers will need a myEDD account to select the best payment option to meet their needs. For help setting up a myEDD account, customers can view myEDD Registration and Overview (YouTube). Once logged in, customers can update their preferred payment option within UI Online for unemployment benefits or SDI Online for disability or Paid Family Leave benefits, after selecting Profile on the main menu.
EDD encourages customers to learn more about direct deposit and other payment options by visiting the Department’s Benefit Payment Options webpage. There are also videos available to assist existing customers with how to set up direct deposit if they so choose. New customers will make their selection when applying for benefits online.
The new direct deposit option is considered a secure, fast, and convenient way to receive payments for customers who have a bank account. Other options include a prepaid debit
en los 50 estados. Patriotic Hearts ofrece programas para ayudar a los veteranos a encontrar trabajo o iniciar su propio negocio. Llama ahora: 1-855-408-7368 (24/7) (Cal-SCAN)
Thursday, June 20, 2024
The IRS plans to broaden Direct File’s availability to make more taxpayers eligible by 2025 and beyond. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)
Overview:
The IRS announced that its Direct File program will become a permanent option for federal tax returns starting in the 2025 season.
The expansion will make more taxpayers eligible and include more tax situations, while maintaining user satisfaction and improving filing experience.
The Internal Revenue Service announced that its Direct File program will become a permanent option for federal tax returns starting in the 2025 tax season.
Biden-Harris administration officials said the move follows a successful pilot program and positive feedback from a broad range of stakeholders.
The IRS plans to broaden Direct File’s availability to make more taxpayers eligible by 2025 and beyond. Officials said the expansion includes examining ways to cover more tax situations and inviting all states to partner with the program. Further details on the expansion are expected ahead of 2025.
The decision stems from a highly successful pilot during the 2024 tax season, in which 140,803 taxpayers from 12 states used Direct File. The IRS collected and analyzed data from the pilot, held numerous meetings with stakeholders, and received feedback from users, state officials, and representatives across the tax landscape.
Hundreds of organizations, over a hundred members of Congress, and potential future users provided input. While some stakeholders said they believe current free electronic filing options from third-party vendors suffice, the IRS found substantial support for Direct File.
Based on initial post-pilot analysis, the IRS determined that making Direct File permanent was viable. Commissioner Danny Werfel recommended the move to Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen, who accepted. Werfel cited overwhelming user satisfaction and improved ease of filing taxes as critical reasons for the recommendation.
“The clear message is that
many taxpayers across the nation want the IRS to provide more than one no-cost option for filing electronically,” Werfel said. “Starting with the 2025 filing season, the IRS will make Direct File a permanent option for filing federal tax returns. Giving taxpayers additional options strengthens the tax filing system. Adding Direct File to the menu of filing options fits squarely into our effort to make taxes as easy as possible for Americans, including saving time and money.”
Building on the pilot’s success, which targeted taxpayers with relatively simple tax situations in 12 states, the IRS is exploring ways to expand eligibility nationwide. For the 2025 filing season, the IRS will work with all states wishing to partner with Direct File, with no limit on participating states. Several new states are expected to join the program.
The IRS also plans to gradually expand the range of tax situations supported by Direct File. Over the coming years, officials said the goal is to accommodate the most common tax scenarios, focusing on those affecting working families. Announcements about new state partners and expanded eligibility are expected soon.
“User experience—both within the product and integration with state tax systems—will continue to be the foundation for Direct File moving forward,” Werfel said. “Accuracy and comprehensive tax credit uptake will be paramount concerns to ensure taxpayers file a correct return and get the refund they’re entitled to. Improving the tax
filing experience and helping taxpayers meet their obligations as easily and quickly as possible will be our guiding principles.”
Officials stated that many taxpayers expressed a desire for no-cost filing options throughout the review process. Millions of taxpayers from non-pilot states visited the Direct File website or requested the service for their state.
Direct File will become a permanent option among the various filing methods available to taxpayers. The IRS said it’s not intended to replace other services offered by tax professionals or commercial software providers, who remain essential partners with the agency. The IRS said it also continues its commitment to Free File Inc., having recently signed a five-year extension with the industry.
As the IRS expands Direct File, other free filing options will be enhanced, including the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program (TCE).
Post-pilot analysis identified three key conclusions supporting Direct File’s permanent establishment, including, high user satisfaction, a simplified tax filing experience, and a catalyst for digital transformation.
“We’re mindful that the most important decision we made during the pilot was to focus on executional certainty,” Werfel said. “We took the time to get it right. We will apply that same critical lesson for next year as we take a strategic approach to expanding Direct File’s availability and capabilities.”
Have you ever found yourself waiting around for someone who constantly claims they are “too busy” to spend time with you? If I had a dollar for every time I heard that line, I’d be lounging on a tropical beach right now. Let’s cut through the noise and get real: people make time for what they truly want and make excuses for what they don’t. If they’re not prioritizing you, it’s time to stop making excuses!
Ericka Alston Buck gives advice on putting yourself first when looking to add others to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Photo: Courtesy photo
Let’s dive into why we should never settle for being anyone’s option when we deserve to be a priority.
As a single Black woman on the journey to find “her person,” I’ve heard it all. The “I’m swamped with work” line, the “I’m dealing with a lot right now” spiel, and my personal favorite, “I just need some space.” Enough is enough. We deserve to be treated as a
priority–not an option. So, let’s talk about recognizing when a potential partner is making excuses and how to respond.
Recognizing the excuses
1. “I’m Too Busy”
If you’re interested in someone who is always too busy to call, text, or spend time with you– just face it– they are just not that into you. People who are interested will find a way to connect, even if it’s a quick message during a busy day.
2. “I’m Not Ready for a Relationship”
If a potential partner tells you this after you’ve been seeing each other for a while, believe them. They are not ready for a relationship with you. Don’t waste your time waiting around for them to change their mind. They won’t. And please, let’s refrain from being friends with benefits. Have an all or nothing mentality or you’ll always be last on the list.
3. “I’m Going Through Something Right Now”
Life happens, and everyone has their struggles. However, if your potential significant other is using this as a constant excuse to keep you at arm’s length, they’re not serious about you. Give them all the space they need to go through that “something”–alone.
How to respond
1. Call it out: Don’t be afraid to address the excuses directly. Say something like, “I’ve noticed you’re often too busy to make plans. Are you really interested in pursuing something with me?”
2. Set boundaries: Let them know what you expect in a relationship. If they are not meeting those expectations, it’s time to reassess. For example, “I need to be with someone who makes time for me, even when life gets hectic.”
3. Don’t settle for less: If they are not treating you the way you deserve, walk away. There’s no reason to stay in a relationship where you’re not valued. Someone out there will see your worth and treat you like the royalty you are.
Prioritize yourself
1. Self-love: Focus on loving yourself first. When you know your worth, you’ll be less likely to tolerate being treated as an option. Engage in activities that make you happy and fulfilled, whether it’s pursuing a hobby, spending time with friends or
“Prophecies Concerning the End Time Are All Coming to Pass Now.”By Lou K. Coleman
Lou K. Coleman
Wake Up! Wake Up! Wake Up! When you see a man rise among a ten-nation union subduing three kings, watch closely and know that the time is near! [Revelation Chapter 13].
Prophecies Concerning the End Time – Coming to Pass Now –One World System where Satan will have absolute dominion over all the earth and people.
[Revelation 17-18] shows there are three components to the One World System of the Last Days. There’s a One World Religion, a One World Government, and a One World Commercial System. All which have been developing for longer than most people suspect and are rapidly coming to fulfillment. No longer just the realm of fanatical conspiracy theorists but coming to pass now. Wake Up!
The One World System will come to power by promising peace and safety in a time of chaos [Daniel 8:25]. Prophecies Concerning the End Time –Coming to Pass Now –In [2023] Cinema Modeoff Sudan and Israel set signed peace agreement. Condition effective upon ratification by both parties Abraham Accords Peace Agreement: Treaty of
Peace, Diplomatic Relations and Full Normalization Between the United Arab Emirates and the State of Israel.
Prophecies Concerning the End Time - Coming to Pass. Pay Attention. The signs are clear, and they serve as a warning from God. He is calling us to repentance and preparation. Time calls for immediate action. “Now is the accepted time; today is the day of salvation.” Every time your clock ticks, it’s saying, “Now, now, now, now, now, now, now.” If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, do it now, for He is your only escape from what is about to take place. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. [2 Corinthians 6:2]. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, if any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cop of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; And the smoke of their torment ascendants up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name. [Revelation 14: 9-12]. Wake Up! Wake Up! Wake Up!
I’ve spent a good portion of my life waiting in lines at the airport, and about six months ago, I noticed a change. When I approached the TSA agent for screening, they asked me to take off my hat and mask and look directly into a camera. As I turned, I noticed a sign with small lettering behind their desk.
advancing your career.
2. Communicate your needs: Be upfront about what you want and need from a relationship. Clear communication can prevent misunderstandings and ensure you’re both on the same page.
3. Keep your options open: Until a person steps up and shows you that they are serious, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Date other people, enjoy different experiences, and see what else is out there. Date ‘em ALL!
Remember, you are a priority
Ladies and gents, always remember that you are a priority, and you deserve to be treated as such. If someone isn’t making time for you, they are making room for someone else. Keep your standards high and don’t settle for less than you deserve.
As someone still navigating the single life and looking for “the one,” I’ve learned that the right person will make you feel valued and important. They’ll make time, not excuses. And until that person comes along, let’s keep our heads high and our hearts open, knowing that we are worth every bit of effort.
So, no more excuses. Let’s demand the love and respect we deserve. If they can’t see that, someone else surely will.
Stay fabulous! Stay strong! And keep believing in the amazing love story that awaits you while you’re single in the city!
But I couldn’t read it well, so I obeyed. Once past the agent, I read the sign and learned that the camera had captured my biometric data using “AI facial recognition technology.” This new, routine collection of my data has prompted me to consider how our right to privacy and our faith are intertwined.
Faith and surveillance came to the forefront of the American imagination after 9/11, when the FBI implemented the PATRIOT Act by spying on American Muslim community leaders under the guise of “national security.”
While this Act ultimately expired, its implementation sent a potent message: the federal government has the tools to surveil us and our faith communities.
Unfortunately, the government continues to spy on its citizens.
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was also enacted after 9/11 and is still in effect. This provision authorizes the government to collect the communications of non-Americans located abroad without a warrant.
This surveillance inevitably sweeps up Americans’ private phone calls, emails, and text messages. Once collected, federal agents can review the communications of American citizens without a warrant, in violation of our constitutional rights. Intelligence agencies conduct more than 200,000 of these warrantless “backdoor” searches for Americans’ private communications every year.
The new AI facial recognition devices used by TSA at airports also pose serious privacy concerns. TSA has refused to provide any information on how our data is collected, who has access to it, and what happens if our data is hacked. There’s also
concern surrounding bias in the facial recognition algorithm. And, as I personally experienced, TSA has failed to make it abundantly clear to passengers that we can opt out of using this technology.
Privacy is a prominent value upheld in the Bible. In many instances, Jesus enacts miracles, then asks the witnesses to not tell anyone what he just did. In the Gospel of Mark, for example, Jesus heals a man with leprosy and commands him, “See that you say nothing to anyone” (Mark 1:44). Jesus seems to require privacy to work miracles and act out his faith.
Losing our freedom to practice religion begins with losing our right to privacy. In almost every historical case of religious persecution by a government, privacy is the first right that is violated. It is critical that as a faith community we oppose all efforts to violate our privacy rights. As our Muslim brothers and sisters in the United States continue to disproportionately suffer from the unregulated surveillance state, it is our duty to fight alongside them and prevent governmental overreach. Luckily, we have allies. Fourteen Senators from both sides of the aisle sent a letter to Senate leadership in May urging restrictions on the use of facial recognition technology by TSA until rigorous Congressional oversight occurs. The House of Representatives recently voted to reform section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to require a warrant before intelligence officers could read communications by American citizens. While the reform was ultimately rejected in a tiebreaking vote by Speaker Johnson, 212 Democrats and Republicans united to fight for our right to privacy. As we move into the summer, I urge you to notice surveillance, and speak up when you feel your privacy is violated. And in the fall, vote for governmental leadership who takes your right to privacy seriously. We have work to do. Let’s do it together.
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Across all demographics, voters express dedicated support for solutions including increasing funding going to states to expand childcare options and modernizing the tax system to support childcare and early learning.
A new poll conducted on behalf of First Five Years Fund by the bipartisan research team of New Bridge Strategies (R) and Hart Research (D) found that, in this election year, voters by overwhelming margins want candidates to have a plan to address child care challenges in the United States. The poll finds that 89% agree; 80% of Republicans, 88% of Independents, and 99% of Democrats feel this way.
There’s dedicated support from Black voters for funding to make it happen:
They were asked, “Do you think that federal funding for quality early education from birth to age five—including childcare and preschool—should be increased, decreased, or kept about the same as it is today?” A majority (71%) of Black voters support an increase; this is the highest percentage of all groups surveyed. Overall, 56% of all voters support an increase. They also were asked, “There is also a federal tax credit to help families cover childcare costs. If this tax credit were increased from an average of $600 to an average of $4,000 per child to help more working middle-class families afford quality childcare and early learning programs,
Joyce Hickman, Worthy MatronFollowing In Mother’s Footsteps, A “ 50 year legacy
By Beverly Haynes
Worthy Matron, Joyce Hickman of Lily of the Valley Chapter #12, Order of the Eastern Star, accepted her leadership position in January 2024. Joyce Hickman has been a resident of the Inland Empire since her birth, and is a longtime member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church where she has worked in the Healthcare Ministry. She has long been active in the community. She is a member of Eta Phi Beta Sorority where she has served as Associate Membership Coordinator and Membership Coordinator respectively, and also worked with the Scholarship Committee. She was also active in the Christmas Toy Give Away serving the Inland Empire. Joyce Hickman has given many $500.00 Scholarships in her mother’s name, Mrs. Goldie Mae Black, “who was also a Worthy Matron in 1974.” Joyce Hickman is following in her mother’s footsteps. Ms. Hickman volunteered at San Gorgonio High School as a Liaison between students and teachers, she has been a continual contributor to The United Way. She was a Girl Scout in her early years and also was a member of Bea Mac Court and Guiding Light Court of Lily of the Valley. She has also Held an Electa Star Point position and was Associate Conductress, Conductress, and Associate Matron and now Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star, Lily of the Valley Chapter #12.
would you support or oppose this proposal?” The poll found 92% of Black voters said “yes.”
Overall, a large majority of voters (76%) support increasing the federal childcare tax credit.
Ninety-six percent of Black voters support expanding federal support for childcare. They were asked if they support the following: “Congress would provide more funding to states to expand their existing childcare programs so that lower-income and middle-income families who work or go to school could affordably send their child to a quality childcare, early learning or pre-kindergarten program of their choice. The amount that parents would pay would be based on their household income, with the lowest-income families paying low or no cost.”
The poll, which surveyed 1,000 registered voters nationwide and 530 registered voters in Senate swing states (Arizona, Maryland, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Nevada), finds voters make a strong connection between expanding access to quality
Ms. Hickman was employed as a Psychiatric Technician, at Patton State Hospital, and became an RN during her 35year tenure. She later returned from retirement and worked another 9 years as an RN Retired Annuitant.
The Lily of the Valley Chapter#12 events of this year include the welcome of three new members. The 2024 Annual Scholarship Banquet, held on March 17th. A visitation to The Dignity Health Subacute Children’s Hospital where 26 beautiful handmade Teddy Bears were donated. A church visitation on Palm Sunday at Hallelujah Temple in San Bernardino. The Socialites Beautillion, supporting Scholarships in March and a visitation to Sister Opal Hooks viewing to honor her dedication and appointment as Worthy Matron in years passed to Lily of the Valley Chapter #12. Also, Kay Walker a passed Worthy Matron’s Funeral was attended and a memorial ceremony by Lily of the Valley #12 was performed during that service at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Joyce Hickman’s Theme: “To emphasize serving others first and leading through empathy, humility, and selflessness.” Her Motto: “Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
Joyce Hickman is truly living up to her convictions and is honored for her dedicated service as 2024 Worthy Matron.
childcare and a strong economy. Across all demographics, voters express dedicated support for solutions including increasing funding going to states to expand childcare options and modernizing the tax system to support childcare and early learning. In addition, voters are just as likely now as they were during the height of the pandemic to say Congress and the White House should make expanding access to quality childcare a top or high priority. In September 2020, 51% of voters felt this way and in April 2024, 54% of voters felt this way.
Voters across the political spectrum make a strong connection between childcare and a strong economy, with 68% saying access to highquality, affordable childcare is “essential” or “very important” to strengthening the economy. There’s also dedicated support (84%) for expanding federal tax credits to employers to encourage them to provide childcare benefits; this percentage is the same nationally as it is for
As standardized student test scores plunge, some school districts are responding by masking student knowledge deficiencies through equity grading, which is little more than grade inflation dressed up in woke clothing.
There is little doubt that student learning across the country is at a dire level. On the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress, 69% of students taking the eighth-grade reading test failed to achieve at the proficient level, while 73% of eighth graders failed to score at the proficient mark on the math exam.
As their students are failing, school districts in California, New York, and other states are implementing equity grading, which eliminates penalties for late assignments, allows students to retake exams, and removes misbehavior as a grading factor.
Further, "zeroes" for failing to turn in homework and not taking tests are banned and, instead, students are given 50% scores.
Proponents of these changes justify them in the name of equity, which emphasizes the same outcomes for all students, regardless of merit-based factors such as punctuality and effort.
Education consultant and former teacher Joe Feldman, a top equity-grading advocate, claims, "Many traditional grading policies that seem innocuous on the surface can reinforce existing disparities, rewarding students who already have more resources and punishing students who come to the classroom with fewer resources."
Feldman points to a California school district that implemented equity grading and saw the number of D and F grades fall by almost a third.
However, that result is not evidence of increased student achievement. The reason that fewer low grades are given under equity-grading practices is because of simple grade inflation, not because students are learning more and performing better. Even more troubling than equity grading's mechanical inflation of grades is its misreading of student psychology.
Little Sunshine Foundation to Host Casino- Themed Fundraiser Saturday, June 22
When Janessa Tamayo, a New York City high school math teacher, switched to equity grading practices, fewer students did their homework. Also, fewer students participated in class, and many stopped taking tests seriously.
She said: "Grading for equity works fine for the small percentage of kids who are highly motivated. For the rest, it encouraged them to do the minimum."
Students themselves are often frustrated by equity-grading practices.
One California student said that teachers in his high school "offer retakes on tests, to the point where you could just flunk a first test and you don't have to study and then you could keep retaking it, and it's all in the name of equity."
Ill-prepared students who are not pushed to pursue perfection and avoid mistakes are being set up for failure in the job market.
According to a college math instructor in California, "When you're a software engineer you really have to drive towards perfection because every mistake that you make will show at some point and cost the company, so you're under a lot of stress to be perfect."
Unfortunately, "if you have an education system that is not encouraging that," and instead the system easily forgives mistakes, students will collide with reality in high tech because "that is not the way Silicon Valley works."
Rather than lowering grading standards, schools should implement higher grading practices that push students to try harder, which will lead to more learning. Despite its social-justice pretensions, equity grading is just another example of the soft bigotry of low expectations.
Lance Izumi is senior director of the Center for Education at the Pacific Research Institute and the author of the forthcoming book The Great Classroom Collapse: Teachers, Students, and Parents Expose the Collapse of Learning in America's Schools. This piece first appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Little Sunshine Foundation is hosting its sixth annual fundraising event on Saturday, June 22 at the Glendora Women's Club. This year's fundraiser has a casino theme which will include all of the popular casino table games including blackjack, roulette, craps, bingo, and more. Food, refreshments, and entertainment are also included in the $100 general admission cost.
The entertainment will include violinist Lila Hood, saxophonist J. Anton, and comedian Nick Alexander. Guests in attendance can also participate in a silent auction and win door prizes. Prizes include Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball tickets, autographed sports memorabilia, spa treatments, and massages. The grand prize is a one-night stay at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, which comes with a $250 food and beverage credit, a Venetian Resort gift basket in-suite checkin, and a certificate for a free private gondola ride for two.
Established in 2018, the Little Sunshine Foundation was created to give back to the community and provide low-income youth with resources to help improve their quality of life. The foundation assists with sports equipment and education needs.
The foundation also teaches youth and young adults how to give back to their community and help the less fortunate. The Little Sunshine Foundation was created by Monique Vobecky who was just 14 years old at the time. Young Vobecky comes from a loving two-parent household with an older brother. Including her extended family who lives nearby, she was always surrounded by love and wanted for nothing. She wanted other youth to feel loved as well. She started the foundation and named it the Little Sunshine Foundation because she believes every child deserves a little bit of sunshine. So with her foundation which is run on a strictly volunteer basis, she is doing her part to provide a little sunshine to kids in her community. The Little Sunshine Foundation is inviting the public out to have a good time for a great cause and help the community with its Casino Night Fundraiser. The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 22 at the Glendora Women's Club located at 424 N. Glendora Avenue in the City of Glendora Admission for the event is $ 100, doors open at 5:00 pm. For additional information call 626270-5971 or visit the website at www.sunshineroyale.org
Black Voters Strongly Support for Quality Early Childhood Education...continued
the swing states. FFYF says voters are concerned about the impacts a lack of access to affordable, quality childcare can have on children’s education and development as well as families’ economic prospects. Top messages in support of increasing federal funding for childcare and early learning include giving children a solid foundation, reducing financial strain on families paying for childcare, addressing low wages for childcare workers, and overcoming the limits placed on parents in the workplace when they cannot find quality, affordable care.
Sarah Rittling, FFYF’s executive director, says, “This poll clearly demonstrates that not only do voters want Congress to do more to address childcare challenges today, but they also want future lawmakers to have a plan for addressing childcare challenges tomorrow. Actions like improving childcare credits and increasing federal childcare funding for states are incredibly popular. Current lawmakers and candidates on the campaign trail have the opportunity now to leverage this clear bipartisan support to bring much-needed assistance to working families with young children.”