While Democrats scored some gains, the Mississippi governor's mansion is still in Republican hands. Mississippi has the largest concentration of Black people – 39 percent – of any state, but African Americans remain underrepresented among elected officials in Mississippi. ... read more »

A group of USA Today Network publications in California launched an investigation into how California deals with cops who commit crimes. ... read more »

Within the African American community, the conversation about the upcoming 2020 census ranges from “why bother” to “we’re all in.” ... read more »

U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) on Friday announced the Wildfire Defense Act, comprehensive legislation to help communities—especially in California—implement science-based methods for mitigating wildfire damage and defending life and property. Harris’ bill would provide local communities with up to $10 million dollars to implement a Community Wildfire Defense Plan to ensure they are resilient in the face of the growing wildfire threat before disaster strikes.   ... read more »

As California deals with raging wildfires and unprecedented power shut-offs, residents are grappling with the roller coaster of emotions that often come with personal loss and an uncertain future. The reality is many residents who have been displaced will need mental health and other support services as they try to piece their lives back together.  ... read more »

This month, my organization, the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools released its highly-anticipated report, “Identity and Charter School Leadership: Profiles of Leaders of Color Building an Effective Staff” which examined the ways that school leaders of color’s experiences and perspectives influence how they build school culture, parent and community relationships, and effective staff. ... read more »

Make no mistake: Kamala Harris has been committed to criminal justice reform her entire career. You don’t have to take her word for it - her actions speak for themselves. Here in California, we saw first hand how she fought with her whole heart to keep our families safe and out of the system. ... read more »

“The State knew Joshua Brown didn’t want to testify due to concerns for his safety. He flew to California when the trial began. They threatened him with jail if he didn’t return. He went straight from the airport to the court. Dallas County has a duty to protect him. They failed,” wrote Brown family Attorney Merritt on social media. ... read more »

Little, whom the FBI identified this month as the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history, produced startlingly detailed likenesses of dozens of women he says he strangled over the course of more than three decades. Now the FBI is publicizing his portraits— hoping that someone, somewhere, will recognize the face of a long-lost loved one in an image drawn by the killer himself. ... read more »

Each year as families beam with pride at seeing a son, daughter or another relative graduate from college, that achievement is nearly always the result of a family’s commitment to higher education.  And when these institutions are among the more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), that pride is magnified by the history of how our forefathers overcame what once seemed to be insurmountable challenges. ... read more »

“An impeachment process is a viable option for the current House of Representatives given that the hearings will force several people in or close to the Trump Administration to testify before Congress under oath,” said D. Gilson, a writer who has taught popular cultural studies. ... read more »

The award-winning journalist has brought audiences stories from global breaking news to entertainment red carpets. ... read more »

The September 18 state-by-state examination of the economic costs of gun violence, reveals numbers that the committee called "staggering." For instance, in 2017, for the first time, the rate of firearm deaths exceeded the death rate by motor vehicle accidents. Nearly 40,000 people were killed in the United States by a gun in 2017, including approximately 2,500 school-age children – or more than 100 people per day and more than five children murdered each day. Sixty percent of gun deaths each year are firearm suicides, researchers said. ... read more »

After Carl Maryland retired in 2009, he started playing for a team in the Sacramento Golden Seniors Softball Club league. ... read more »

In yet another twist for worried parents: Meet the vaping hoodie. This high school fashion mainstay — defined by a hood with drawstrings — is now available as a vaping device, ready to deliver a puff of nicotine (or marijuana) anywhere, anytime. Including in the classroom. ... read more »