Category: Valleys

African Americans
Stefi Mar

Black Student Loan Default Rate Five Times Higher than Whites

On behalf of the nearly 9 million people who are now in default on their student loans, a coalition of advocates from consumer, civil rights, and education organizations is appealing to the federal Education Department to halt its plans to begin garnishing borrowers’ wages this month. Default status connotes borrowers are 270 days or more behind on their payments.

African Americans
Stefi Mar

NNPA Fund Hosts Black Press Day 2026 At Howard University, Celebrating the Past and Looking Ahead to the Future 

Nearly 100 members of the Black Press – some still honing their skills as journalists in college classrooms along with seasoned veterans representing Black publications from across the U.S.; and both friends of and corporate sponsors of the Black Press, gathered on the campus of Howard University (HU) on March, 18 for this year’s Black Press Week Reception.

African Americans
Stefi Mar

OP-ED: When Media Attention Depends on Who Is Missing

The nation is right to hope and pray for the safe return of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of journalist Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor on NBC’s “Today.” Any disappearance is terrifying. Any family thrust into uncertainty deserves compassion, urgency, and relentless attention. But compassion should never be selective — and that is precisely where the media’s response exposes a troubling, long-standing inconsistency.

Los Angeles
Kathleen Untalan

Bruins Roll Early in NCAA Tournament Run

The UCLA women’s basketball team got off to a thunderous start in this year’s NCAA Tournament, delivering convincing wins over its first two opponents.

Los Angeles
Kathleen Untalan

Racing World Loses a Giant: Jim Michaelian Dies at 83

The racing world lost one of its most influential figures this past week with the passing of Jim Michaelian, longtime President and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. He was 83.

African Americans
Stefi Mar

Ed. Dept. Dismissed 90% of Discrimination Cases, Report Says

The Education Department office responsible for protecting the rights of marginalized and minority students in the nation’s K-12 public schools dismissed nearly every discrimination complaint it received last year, due to the Trump administration’s massive reduction in force, according to a new government watchdog report.

Los Angeles
Kathleen Untalan

Bruins Embrace Underdog Role as UCLA Eyes Tournament Run

The UCLA Bruins are heading into the NCAA Tournament with a quiet confidence — and head coach Mick Cronin is making sure the message is clear: no excuses, no complaints, just basketball.

Los Angeles
Kathleen Untalan

USC Women Earn NCAA Tournament Berth, Face Tough Road as No. 9 Seed

LOS ANGELES — The USC women’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA Tournament, earning an at-large bid announced Sunday. However, a 17-13 regular-season record placed the Trojans as a No. 9 seed, setting up a challenging path in March Madness.

African Americans
Kathleen Untalan

Stay Healthy with Free Preventive Care Services

Maintaining health coverage plays a critical role in protecting your long-term health and your family’s well-being. Preventive care — including routine screenings, wellness visits, and age-appropriate checkups — can detect health issues early, support chronic disease management, and help you stay healthier year-round. Covered California health plans include preventive services that are available at no additional cost when you see an in-network provider, even before you meet a deductible. Taking advantage of these benefits and keeping your coverage active are important steps in staying healthy.

Bakersfield
Stefi Mar

Barbados – PM Mia Mottley Sweeps to Victory in Elections, Third Time

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley became the second Caribbean politician to win all the seats in a national Parliament on three occasions as she led the Barbados Labor Party (BLP) to yet another whitewash of her opponents in the Barbados general election.

African Americans
Stefi Mar

New Report Calls for More On-Ramps for Black and Latina Women in California’s Health Workforce


A new report released by Black Women Organized for Political Action through its Training Institute for Leadership Enrichment (BWOPA-TILE) and Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) is shedding new light on the barriers Black women and Latinas face in California’s health care workforce — and the steps advocates say are needed to close those gaps.

African Americans
Stefi Mar

Food Pyramid Blind Spots: What Supermarket Civil Rights Teaches Us 

The recent release of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poses a challenge for communities and individuals struggling with food insecurity. The new guidelines flip the traditional food pyramid on its head, recommending increased intake of costly red meat, whole dairy products, healthy fats, and whole grains.