Bakersfield
Hostage Situation at Chase Bank Building Concludes After Officer-Involved Shooting
Bakersfield Police Department says all hostages were located unharmed; traffic closures remain in effect downtown.
Kathleen Untalan June 3, 2026
Bakersfield Police Department says all hostages were located unharmed; traffic closures remain in effect downtown.
Bakersfield police and the FBI confirm suspect neutralized early Wednesday morning following a 16-hour ordeal
Global action produces global results as Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical acknowledges the Church’s relationship to enslavement and offers an apology
Where do Black communities in Minnesota and across the country stand today, and where are they headed? The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder reached out to prominent Black academics to get their assessment. Looking back across the last several decades and forward to the next ten years, their responses were sobering, nuanced, and at times hopeful.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have faced a surge of threats across the country in recent years, resulting in lockdowns or closures and concerns among students, parents, faculty, and staff about their safety.
To close out Mental Health Awareness Month, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom hosted hundreds of families, youth athletes, coaches, educators, and mental health advocates at the Street Soccer USA facility in downtown Sacramento on May 29 for the fourth annual “Movement and Mindfulness: Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day” — a statewide event promoting physical activity, social connection, and emotional well-being.
U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), a member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) whose district spans parts of Los Angeles County, joined fellow CBC member U.S. Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA-2) for a May 21 briefing with Black media outlets in California.
A California bill that would prevent reparations payments from being taxed by the state is moving closer to becoming law after advancing out of the Assembly with bipartisan support.
In the continuing battle for political respect and inclusivity that Black folks in the U.S. have been immersed in since the end of the U.S. Civil War, a little bright bulb of hope and redemption just appeared in the southern sky.
In this op-ed, Saint Paul Public Schools assistant principal Richard D. Terrell reflects on the joy of educating Black boys, pushing back against narratives focused only on struggle, and calling on educators, parents, mentors, and community leaders to celebrate Black boys’ brilliance, build relationships rooted in care, and create environments where they can thrive.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is going through a FIFA World Cup transformation to welcome soccer fans arriving in the city next month.
Rob Base, born Robert Ginyard and one half of the legendary hip-hop duo Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2026, at age 59 after a private battle with cancer, leaving behind a legacy rooted in the 1988 anthem It Takes Two and a pioneering role in bringing hip-hop and house music to mainstream audiences.
Music, especially Black music, has the power to bring people together and provide a strong sense of community. It has positive effects on people’s moods, helping us to balance the ups and downs of daily life, and keeping us moving.
As California closes out Older Californians Month this May, the state recognizes that its senior population continues to grow at a historic pace.
Ancestry travel is emerging as one of the most meaningful travel trends of 2026, and for Black travelers, it carries a significance that extends far beyond leisure. More than simply visiting a new destination, these journeys offer an opportunity to reconnect with family history, cultural identity, and ancestral roots.
More than 80 survivors of the devastating January 2025 Eaton Fire from Pasadena and Altadena visited the California State Capitol on May 19 to advocate for more recovery support from Sacramento during what they describe as a slow rebuild.
Standing before an Amy Sherald painting is an exercise in aspiration. Her canvases, saturated with soft pastels and bold chromatic contrasts, construct an American landscape where Black subjects exist not at the margins of the imagination, but squarely at its center.
News You Might Have Missed
Homeowners are using solar panels for wealth building, and it is working well. By lowering their utility bills, increasing property value, and reducing taxes, they can turn their roofs into investments. For Black homeowners, solar energy offers a path toward greater economic stability and long-term financial freedom.
Black voters in California, like other voter groups, have been returning mail ballots at a slow pace as the state heads toward the June 2 primary election for governor, a race that has not yet generated the same level of voter excitement as some past statewide contests.