Dr. Irma Carson, a barrier-breaking public servant whose decades of work helped widen doors in local government, law enforcement, education, and community health, has died. Her passing marks the loss of a historic figure whose life of service reshaped civic leadership in Bakersfield and inspired generations within the Black community.
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For nearly three decades, the Rev. Wesley Crawford Sr., a longtime civil rights advocate and Kern County leader, has carried the torch of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy in Bakersfield, organizing annual MLK Day Breakfasts that serve as both celebration and call to action for the community.
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Let’s talk about real dollars and real opportunity in the new year. At OIC of America, we like to say, “Skills pay bills.” And in this moment — when employers across the country are scrambling for trained workers — the people who hold the right certifications are the ones writing their own ticket. If you’re trying to increase your income without the cost or time commitment of a four-year degree, skill-based certifications might be the smartest investment you can make.
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One of the biggest landlords in the region has been turning away people seeking apartments under the Section 8 housing assistance program in many of its buildings, in apparent violation of state law, a Capital & Main investigation found.
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Tom Brady stepped into the broadcast booth and, without saying a word, said everything. One glove. Not a gimmick. Not nostalgia cosplay. Just a quiet, unmistakable signal that even in a football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Buffalo Bills, the most famous silhouette in modern culture still casts a shadow. Seventeen years after his death at 50, Michael Jackson remains unavoidable.
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In December, incoming California Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) announced her leadership and committee appointments for the 2025–2026 legislative session, including several members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC).
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California Senate Bill (SB) 648, authored by Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D–Los Angeles), takes effect on Jan. 1. The law strengthens legal protections for workers against employee tip theft.
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Black pop culture in 2025 did not chase attention. It set terms. Across music, television, film, fashion, and sports, Black creators tightened control over narrative, ownership, and meaning at a moment when the country itself felt unmoored.
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Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) is entering his final year of service in the state Legislature due to term limits.
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Assemblymember Sade Elhawary — an educator, organizer, and lifelong advocate for social justice — represents California’s 57th Assembly District, representing communities in Los Angeles like Exposition Park, South L.A., and Downtown.
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Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2024 to represent the 79th District, which includes southeastern San Diego, El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies, a master’s in education with an emphasis in Multicultural Counseling, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University, where she later returned as an adjunct professor.
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Just days before Christmas, East Brundage Lane in Bakersfield was filled with laughter, music, and the unmistakable excitement of children clutching brightly colored Santa gift bags. But this time, Santa Claus came in the form of neighborhood mothers.
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