Farm Workers Day becomes law. Design AI-generated Last week, members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), through their voices and votes, supported Assembly Bill (AB) 2156, which proposed renaming César Chávez Day to Farm Workers Day. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on March 26, allowing it to take effect immediately before the March 31 observance. Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson),

AI generated With global attention focused on the conflict in Iran, it’s no surprise scammers have already added that situation to their story lines. Some recent reports to the FTC about imposter, romance, and fake charity scams include an Iran twist. The details change, but the scammer’s goal is always to trick you into paying or sharing your personal information. Here are some examples of these scams — and how to protect yourself. Scammers contact you unexpectedly about a

Graphic AI generated The East Palo Alto City Council approved a new Residential Permit Parking Program (RPP), with one dissenting vote. The program addresses the longstanding concerns community members expressed at previous council meetings. The newly approved RPP lays out the guidelines for where and how RPP areas can be established, the authority of the director of the Department of Public Works, the issuance of residential permits and guest parking permits, the display of

Graphic- courtesy California Black Media 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. The report, Pathways and Priorities in California’s Healthcare Workforce: Insig

Screenshot of tiny homes courtesy of https://wicks.asmdc.org/videos Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), the keynote speaker at “A Conference on Housing” in Sacramento on Feb. 24, 2026 said solving California’s housing crisis at all levels -- and providing affordable, environmentally responsible homes for low-income families and communities of color -- can go hand in hand. Wicks, widely recognized as a leading legislative champion for housing production and affordability

Screenshot of the opening section of CA Assembly House Resolution (84) Both houses of the California State Legislature voted last week to pass two separate resolutions condemning President Donald Trump’s social media post depicting the Obamas as apes. Authored by members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), the resolutions passed respectively in the California State Assembly and Senate on Feb. 9. Assembly House Resolution (HR 84), introduced by Assemblymembe

A sharp rise in hate crimes alongside the Trump Administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies are fueling chronic anxiety and social withdrawal in immigrant and immigrant-descended communities of color. A new national survey of Pacific Islander communities finds that sense of fear is widening the health gap in what experts are calling a public health crisis. “What Pacific Islanders are experiencing is not just emotional harm. It directly affects their overall h

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M ore than 260 East Palo Alto youth participated in a project to create both a youth commission and a youth task force in their city. The project, which took place during the last five months of 2025, included listening sessions, workshops and surveys. The proposal that resulted was called the Youth Engagement Program Development Plan and it was presented to the East Palo Alto City Council at its first meeting of 2026 on January 6. The energy and excitement generated by the y

Babies from East and South Asian American communities and African immigrants are most vulnerable to hepatitis B infections. Minnie Zhou photo via Unsplash (copyright free) Health News Exchange For decades, U.S. public health policy has treated hepatitis B vaccination at birth as non-negotiable: every newborn, regardless of maternal risk factors, receives a first dose within 24 hours of life. The approach mirrors global guidance from the World Health Organization and has been

Make your donation now The East Palo Alto Center for Community Media would like to thank you for all of the support you have given us as we’ve striven to provide relevant, critical community news. As a nonprofit news organization, we need your help—now more than ever. As we count down the final hours of this year, we ask that you make a tax-deductible contribution to enable us to serve you better in the coming year. Your donation today provides the revenue we need to pay our

East Palo Alto seniors celebrate the holiday season at the the breakfast given in their honor by the East Palo Alto Police Department. Photo credits-David Rages The East Palo Alto Senior Center was full of laughter, music, and the smell of hot food at the annual holiday breakfast presented by the East Palo Alto Police Department, where more than 100 seniors and their families gathered to celebrate the season. City Manager Melvin Gaines opened the program by acknowledging the

Graphic- AI generated If you’re looking to get insurance from the Health Insurance Marketplace, you have until January 15 th to sign up. But dishonest companies sometimes advertise comprehensive health insurance when it’s really a medical discount plan or a health plan with limited insurance benefits. And, sometimes, an insurance “offer” is just a scam. As you compare your options, here are some things to consider: Know some warning signs. If ads for the so-called insuran

East Palo Alto city officials and regional leaders pose for photos before cutting the ribbon to the city's new pedestrian bridge East Palo Alto residents, civic leaders and regional partners celebrated the long-awaited opening of the University Avenue Pedestrian Bridge, a project many described as both practical and symbolic for the community. “This is a joyous celebration… celebrating safety and community and connectability,” City Manager Melvin Gaines said as he welcomed th

With the federal government shutdown now in its second month, Covered California officials are warning that nearly two million residents who rely on federal tax credits to keep their coverage affordable could face steep premium increases—or lose insurance—if Congress fails to act during open enrollment. Speaking during a virtual media briefing hosted Oct. 23 by California Black Media (CBM)Executive Director Regina Wilson, Dr. Monica Soni, Chief Medical Officer for Covered Ca

Community college student seeking assistance Image created by HJB using Gemini It might come as a surprise to some that California provides many resources for undocumented individuals and their family members. Many of these resources are funded by the California Department of Social Services(CDSS) Immigration Services Bureau (ISB) through a program called Higher Education Legal Services Project. Information about these programs can be found within a website call

On September 10th, the U.S Education Department announced the end of $350 million in discretionary funding for MSI grant programs. Feature image via Flickr . Published under CC License 2.0 David Lee spent the summer working on a grant application for the Asian Pacific American Student Success program (APASS) at Oakland’s Laney College, which he has directed for eight years. The program is sustained by federal funding that for decades has been committed to Minority Servin

UCLA Mapping Project At a recent national briefing titled, “A History of Bias: Who Gets Deported in the United States?,” three UCLA researchers presented data, stretching back more than a century, which showed that the U.S.’ immigration policies in the 1890’s still determine which immigrants get to stay in the U.S. today. The project, called Mapping Deportations, is the result of five years of combing through immigration records going back to 1895. The UCLA researchers turned

Medi-Cal continued coverage - Courtesy health/consumer.org California's Medi-Cal program, the state's version of Medicaid, is set to undergo sweeping eligibility and benefit changes beginning in January 2026. State officials confirmed in a fact-filled briefing that the changes affecting the program will extend through 2028 and consist of a combination of federal requirements and state budget adjustments. Medi-Cal currently covers over 14 million Californians and the upcoming

The federal government formally entered a shutdown Oct. 1, with a vicious debate over the extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits fueling the bi-partisan stand-off.