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 »

Criminal justice reform remains a pressing concern for American citizens regardless of political affiliations. A recent study conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of Justice Action Network, found that support for reform spans all sides of the political spectrum—with 68 percent of Republicans, 78 percent of Independents and 80 percent of Democrats supporting criminal justice system reform. With an issue so urgent to the nation, 2020 Democratic presidential candidates are being called upon to explain how they will fix the system in which more than 2.3 million people are incarcerated and where African-American citizens are disproportionately and excessively imprisoned and criminalized. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is speaking out with a solution to overhaul the severely flawed institution if she becomes president. ... read more »

Now, a new UCLA study finds, the state may be making progress on turning that goal into a reality. ... read more »

Indeed, “the slave trade began in the 15th century,” said Boniface Chidyausiku of Zimbabwe in 2007, when he was the acting president of the United Nations General Assembly. Chidyausiku made the remarks during the UN’s observance of the 200th anniversary of the end of the transatlantic slave trade. “It was driven by colonial expansion, emerging capitalist economies and the insatiable demand for commodities – with racism and discrimination serving to legitimize the trade,” said Chidyausiku. ... read more »

Over 100 Uber and Lyft drivers formed a caravan on August 25, embarking on a three day trip to Sacramento in support of AB5, a bill that would redefine independent contractor status in California.  Members of two unions, the Mobile Workers Alliance and Gig Workers Rising, joined the drivers; the group also stopping to rally at Uber headquarters in San Francisco and returning home on August 28. ... read more »

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California state lawmakers have just two weeks remaining in their session to sort through hundreds of bills, some addressing volatile topics such as vaccinating children and shootings by police. ... read more »

Then she saw three more patients at her Utah telehealth clinic with similar symptoms. They did not have infections, but all had been vaping. When Harris heard several teenagers in Wisconsin had been hospitalized in similar cases, she quickly alerted her state health department. ... read more »

For most people, life feels better when there is something to look forward to. Whether looking forward to graduation, the arrival of a new baby, or retirement that affords a few years to just enjoy life – these kinds of things make going through challenging times somehow more manageable. ... read more »

Since its inception in 2006, The Hale Foundation has donated tens of thousands of dollars to provide a helping hand to low-income families, children and young adults. In addition to providing money for educational scholarship donations, The Hale Foundation has donated to organizations that give assistance to children affected by homelessness and malnutrition.  Other beneficiaries of The Hale Foundation include: the United Negro College Fund, the L.A. Southwest College Education Foundation, Inner City Arts, Parents of Watts, St. Jude Children’s Hospital and L.A. Child Guidance Clinic. ... read more »