It’s that time of the year again! Days are longer, and the weather is cooler. Don’t try to explain this to Mother Nature. No one could ever imagine ushering in spring with sizzling weather.
Drug overdose deaths in Los Angeles County fell sharply last year, offering a rare sign of progress in a crisis that has devastated communities across the region. But health officials say the improvement has not reached everyone equally.
“Today is not just a reveal. Today is a restoration of stories and names of impact that deserve to be seen, honored, and remembered in a way that lives beyond this moment.”
-Dr. Arleana Waller, Founder & CEO, ShePower Leadership Academy
The morning of Feb. 24 felt more like a festival than a school day. Curran Middle School threw open its doors to celebrate Black History Month with a program that was part showcase, part history lesson, and entirely community-built. Under the theme “Celebrating 100 Years of Black History,” students, teachers, and local organizations filled the campus with performances, cultural activities, and a shared sense of purpose that extended well beyond the classroom.
Every day, we depend on our cars to get us places: to and from work, taking our kids to school, and more. But what many don’t realize is that millions of cars on U.S. roads have open safety recalls. These risks increase in the Black community because of higher rates of commonly held myths about open vehicle safety recalls among Black vehicle owners.
When California froze new Medi-Cal enrollment for undocumented adults, thousands of Kern County families were left in limbo. At Clinica Sierra Vista, staff members are racing to keep patients covered — and fighting fear with trust.
The rhythm of West African drums echoed through Bakersfield College’s Renegade Event Center as students, faculty, and community members gathered for the eighth annual Black History Month celebration hosted by Umoja Community.
By Anne To | Contributing Writer | California Local News Fellow Tiffany Duvernay-Smith went from “homelessness to homeowner” after she became a recipient of the
NBA All-Star Weekend cast a gigantic basketball net across Los Angeles and Inglewood from February 12 to 15, 2026.
To stabilize and strengthen local journalism across California, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) announced on Feb. 10 that it has launched an initiative called the Civic Media Program and appointed a diverse advisory board to steer the effort.
From the HBCU Classic and Rising Stars to a competitive All-Star Game and citywide events, Inglewood’s first time hosting NBA All-Star Weekend showcased Black culture, community pride, and the city’s growing national presence.
Dozens of people filled the pews of Inglewood First United Methodist Church’s (IFUMC) sanctuary on Saturday, Feb. 7. Applause and “amens” filled the room in celebration of the church’s groundbreaking event as the community became one of the first religious organizations to develop affordable housing in the city.
We are well into the New Year! There’s no turning back. 2026 promises to welcome millions of visitors to the City of Angels in the next few days and the months from now.
The City of Los Angeles marked the beginning of Black History Month on February 4, 2026. Guests heeded the invitation from the Los Angeles City Council, Mayor Karen Bass, and Lura Daniels-Ball, President, Our Authors Study Club, Inc. (OASC).
Kern County is often described as more affordable than coastal California, and in some ways, that’s true. Home prices are lower than in Los Angeles or the Bay Area. But the affordability gap for Black households remains one of the largest in the state. This means that they are less likely to have the income needed to buy a home.
The City of Los Angeles is two years away from hosting one of the biggest events for sports in the world, the LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Tiffany Duvernay-Smith went from knowing the harsh realities of homelessness to owning her first home – made possible by the California Housing Finance Agency’s (CalHFA) Dream For All program, which is reopening applications this month with up to $150,000 in down payment assistance for first-generation buyers.
The “City of Good Neighbors” is planning a food journey from January 25 to January 31, 2026. This will be the first official Restaurant Week in Hawthorne, aptly named Hawthorne Eats! Hawthorne Eats! It’s more than an event—it’s a citywide celebration of food, culture, flavor, and community. This initiative celebrates Hawthorne’s diverse culinary scene while supporting local restaurants, small businesses, and community pride.
For many pregnant people, pregnancy brings a mix of both joy and uncertainty. Alongside excitement, there are questions about finding the right doctor, understanding what care is covered, and knowing where to turn for support after the baby arrives. For Black families in Kern County those questions are often compounded by long-standing disparities in maternal health outcomes.
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