For 24 years now, Samual Brown – who was convicted for attempted murder in Sacramento – has been serving time in California state prisons. Right now, he is at a correctional facility in Lancaster, a Los Angeles County town northeast of L.A.  While in prison, Brown says he has evolved. In addition to earning an associate degree, Brown will be awarded his B.A. from CSU Los Angeles in the Spring, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. ... read more »

As of press time, State Assembly member Sydney Kamlager-Dove was the projected winner for the 30th Senate District seat with 68% of the vote. The special election was called by Governor Gavin Newsom to fill the seat vacated by current L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell. Kamlager-Dove stands poised to join State Senator Steve Bradford at the State Capitol. ... read more »

A town hall held via telephone, provided vital information regarding pandemic policy changes, finances of community projects, as well as COVID-19 vaccination efforts and updates across Los Angeles. Director of Los Angeles Department of Public Health, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, and staff directors at the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, Charla Ouertatani and Kristofor Erickson, were among the participating speakers. ... read more »

Last week, philanthropic organizations and other funders joined hands to launch the California Black Freedom Fund (CBFF), a new $100 million initiative that will provide resources to Black-led organizations in the state of California over the next five years. ... read more »

Los Angeles County supervisors were briefed today on four legal options for removing Sheriff Alex Villaneuva from his elected post, but it was not clear if the board is ready to take action. Supervisor Hilda Solis, the board's current chair, noted that to date, the board has sued the sheriff, held back funding and granted subpoena power to watchdog dog agencies to strengthen oversight. ... read more »

At the end of the MLK holiday and Presidential Inauguration, some good news was waiting as the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has seen a decrease in COVID-19 positivity. At the end of last week, there was a decrease by 30 percent in a seven-day average of daily cases. Despite this, public health officials are still urging the public to continue with proactive measures: wear a face covering and maintain physical distance when venturing outside the house. ... read more »

Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner said he has asked state and county health officials to allow the district to provide COVID-19 vaccinations at schools to expedite administration of the shots and speed a return to in-person classes. ... read more »

Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl was sworn in as a member of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) Governing Board, replacing Supervisor Kathryn Barger as the representative for the County of Los Angeles. ... read more »

Assemblymember Mike Gipson introduced CEO of Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital, Dr. Elaine Batchlor, MD, MPH, and Vice President of Population Health at Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital (MLKCH), Dr. Jorge Reyno, MD, whom both shared new data regarding pandemic and their recommendations on getting the COVID-19 vaccine. ... read more »

Fesia Davenport was formally confirmed today as Los Angeles County's first Black chief executive officer, one of a host of diverse senior appointments made by the Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Hilda Solis, who currently chairs the board, welcomed the new executives in a series of statements. ... read more »

Last week, the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) elected Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) chair of the group comprised of African Americans serving in State Legislature. Bradford, 60, who is the longest serving member in the caucus and the only African American member in the California Senate, is succeeding the CLBC’s outgoing chair Dr. Shirley N. Weber (D-San Diego). ... read more »

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted today in favor of drafting an ordinance that would require national grocery and drug retailers operating in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County to pay frontline workers an additional $5 per hour in "hero pay.'' ... read more »

In a time of COVID-necessitated lockdowns, if you’re working, you’re essential. In Los Angeles County, no one should allow an employer to rob them of their wages or force them to work in unsafe conditions. But immigrant workers, both documented and not, are particularly vulnerable to such exploitations. ... read more »

The Vermont Slauson Economic Development (VSEDC) Corporation has planted many seeds throughout Southern Los Angeles. They grow into fields of abundance and harvested wealth within underrepresented communities. VSEDC has plowed many opportunities for first-time business owners with the mission to “expand the needs for economic and small business development solutions in South Los Angeles.”   ... read more »

For years, the members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors were known as “The Five Kings,” a title used to describe the powerful all-male Board of Supervisors, which remained that way until 1982 when Yvonne Brathwaite-Burke shattered the glass ceiling and became the first woman and the first African American to be elected to the Board of Supervisors. ... read more »