Courtesy California Black Media-Shutterstock Questions about election security, voter access and public confidence in elections have become some of the most closely watched issues in American politics. This November, California voters will weigh in on those debates through Proposition 39, a ballot measure that would establish new voter identification requirements while expanding citizenship verification and election auditing procedures. If approved, Proposition 39 woul

Courtesy-CBM-Shutterstock California’s homelessness crisis is increasingly becoming an aging crisis, as a growing number of older adults experience housing instability at a stage of life when health challenges, fixed incomes and mobility limitations can make finding stability far more difficult. Nearly half — about 48% — of single adults experiencing homelessness in California in 2023 were at least 50 years old, according to a University of California, San Francisco report

Courtesy - CBM - Shutterstock The Supreme Court rejected President Trump's bid to end birthright citizenship by executive order, reaffirming the longstanding constitutional principle that almost all children born in the United States are U.S. citizens. In the executive order, Trump asserted that, “the Fourteenth Amendment has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States.” The order argues that children born in the Unite

Courtesy of California Black Media - Shutterstock Beginning July 1, several new California laws will take effect, bringing changes that affect workers, students, consumers, renters, and families across the state. While some of the new policies are administrative, others could have a direct impact on household finances, education, housing, and public safety.  Here are some of the most significant new laws Californians should know about: Healthcare Worker Minimum Wage (SB

Published June 30, 2026 - Updated as new information becomes available Editor's Note: EPA Today is publishing this notice to inform readers about fraudulent emails that falsely appeared to come from our organization and to explain the steps we have taken to protect our community. These emails were not sent by EPA Today. There is no evidence that EPA Today's email accounts or subscriber information were compromised. What happened? Several readers contacted EPA Today on June 30

East Palo Alto Today Volume 20 • No. 60 Featuring BANDALOOP's performance at EPACENTER, Eastside College Prep's 30th anniversary, Juneteenth celebrations, East Palo Alto City Council news, public opinion, and community features from East Palo Alto and Belle Haven. TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURE STORIES Judge halts USDA from tying SNAP funds to anti-DEI polices................................ Page 1 Eastside College Prep turns 30 years old .......................................

Doug Fort, standing with sunglasses on, is shown with his family members and his grandmother, who is sitting behind her walker. Photo - Courtesy Douglass J. Fort How East Palo Alto’s elders built generational wealth—and why we must protect it before it disappears. In the photograph accompanying this article, several generations of my family surround the woman at the center of our story. To some readers, it may look like an ordinary family picture. To me, it represents nearly

Dr. Andrew Koutnik I was 16 when I ended up in a hospital bed and heard three words that changed my life: type 1 diabetes. What I didn’t know then -- and what too few doctors acknowledge today -- is that dietary changes are often the best way to combat the disease. For decades, doctors have treated type 1 diabetes as if insulin alone could manage it. But despite billions poured into drugs and devices, most people with type 1 diabetes still don’t achieve recommended blood sug

Where is civility? We’ve probably all heard that you can disagree without being disagreeable. That being said, we seem to live in a space where some people seem to pride themselves, not only on disagreeing, but also on being disagreeable. Civility seems to have been lost. Our leader in chief has made it acceptable to call people names, to even create memes where feces is dumped on the heads of those who disagree with him. If our president isn’t civil to people, why sh

Summer 2026 From the Summer 2026 print edition of East Palo Alto Today *Read the complete Summer 2026 issue (PDF) The following comments appeared in the Summer 2026 print edition of East Palo Alto Today. They were selected from remarks made during the June 16, 2026, East Palo Alto City Council meeting regarding proposed amendments to the City's Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials. The comments are presented in the order they appeared in the newspape

Princess Sinaitakala Tukuʻaho stands with former East Palo Alto Mayors Sharifa, Wilson, Mayor Webster Lincoln, Mayor Martha Barragan and three other event attendees. Photo by Art Lim Traditional songs, dancing, laughter, and cultural pride filled Cooley Landing in East Palo Alto during Global Engagement Week as community members gathered to celebrate the historic Sister City partnership between the City of East Palo Alto and the Kolofoʻou District of Tonga. The week-long cele

The East Palo Alto City Council is shown in the city council chambers during its June 16, 2026 meeting. East Palo Alto Council debates new meeting conduct rules The East Palo Alto City Council debated a proposed resolution that would establish formal procedures for handling disruptions, public comment, and meeting conduct during council meetings. The proposal was presented by the city attorney’s office in response to Senate Bill 707, a state law requiring public agencies t

BANDALOOP dancers perform their stunning high wire acts that leave audiences in awe. Photo courtesy BANDALOOP. On Wednesday, May 20, students at EPACenter Arts looked up and saw something different: dancers suspended by ropes from the rooftop, practicing against the side of the building. The performers were from BANDALOOP, the internationally known vertical dance company based in West Oakland. They were in East Palo Alto preparing for a May 30 performance with legendary perc

Beware fake invitations that are now getting more plentiful. Know the steps you can take to protect yourself. Graphic-AI generated. It’s graduation and summer party season. The FTC is getting reports about unexpected “You’re invited” texts and emails that are actually phishing scams. These fake invitations ask for your email login credentials or a special pass code to open them, but don’t do it. Learn how these phishing scams work and how to protect yourself if you get one. S

https://www.ehpcares.org/ The Ecumenical Hunger Program put out a letter this week addressing the CBS News story that ran about their tax filings. I got a copy of it and wanted to share it with the community along with a little context from my own experience. For over 50 years EHP has been feeding and helping families in East Palo Alto. The CBS piece made it sound like they were just handing out money for personal stuff with no oversight. That’s not what happened. Back in 202

A school born at a picnic table now sends nearly every graduate to college It’s graduation time and Eastside Preparatory School graduates are simply beaming. Photos courtesy of eastside.org In 1976, East Palo Alto lost its only high school. Students were bused out to schools in wealthier neighboring cities, where they were quietly placed in non-college-track classes. By the numbers, the results were devastating: 65% of East Palo Alto students dropped out of high school. Fewer

Sister Annie Pearl Green peacefully transitioned from this life on May 29th, 2026, and was received by Jesus in that glorious city not made by man. A faithful servant of the Lord, she lived a life anchored in love, humility, and unwavering faith. Her gentle spirit and devotion to God and family touched all who knew her and leaves a legacy that will continue to inspire generations. Her favorite book in the Bible was John 14. Sister Annie Green was the matriarch of the family w

20 states, led by California and Massachusetts, are suing the USDA to remove provisions that tie SNAP food aid funding to the support of the Trump Administration’s anti-DEI policies, including “gender ideology,” and immigration enforcement. A woman at a farmer’s market. (USDA photo/Wikimedia Commons license) A federal court judge in Massachusetts June 5 issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump Administration from restricting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program