NEWS FROM OUR PUBLISHERS

It is no wonder that Los Angeles is a melting pot of various cultures. If I were a betting man, with someone else’s money, I would venture to say that the global community is represented in the City of Angels. I had the pleasure of taking a trip through the African diaspora on Sunday, June 29, 2025.

Summer is in full swing. This is also associated with warmer weather and many outdoor festivals. The cultural landscape of Los Angeles invites you to get out to enjoy the various events throughout out the city. The global jazz community is anxious in a healthy way. Locally, jazz aficionados and music lovers are excited that festival season is finally heated up.

In Connecticut, construction workers in the Local 478 union who complete addiction treatment are connected with a recovery coach who checks in daily, attends recovery meetings with them, and helps them navigate the return to work for a year.

Inside a bright new building in the heart of Skid Row, homeless people hung out in a canopy-covered courtyard — some waiting to take a shower, do laundry, or get medication for addiction treatment. Others relaxed on shaded grass and charged their phones as an intake line for housing grew more crowded.

In an unexpected turn of events yesterday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), supported by approximately 90 California National Guard troops, descended on downtown L.A.’s MacArthur Park in a heavily armed operation that left the community shaken.

Carla Hayden, the former Librarian of Congress ousted under the 47TH presidential administration, has been named a senior fellow at the Mellon Foundation, where she will advise on advancing public knowledge through libraries and archives. Her appointment marks a return to cultural leadership amid growing national debates over censorship, federal funding cuts, and access to information.
The post Ousted Librarian of Congress tapped by Mellon Foundation appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

A new apprenticeship program at the University of the District of Columbia’s Congress Heights campus is helping District residents launch careers in the rapidly growing cybersecurity industry.
The post UDC launches ‘Cybersecurity Tech Hub’ at Congress Heights campus appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS In a renewed push to protect Confederate monuments across Alabama, State Senator Gerald Allen has re-filed legislation that would drastically increase financial penalties for cities and counties that remove them. The […]

The Star of Alabama The Huntsville Police Department (HPD) proudly celebrated the graduation of its 72nd Police Academy Session on Thursday, July 3, recognizing a new generation of officers ready to serve and protect the Rocket City. […]

Did you know there’s a remarkable place in California dedicated to honoring the resilience and legacy of African Americans? Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, located in Earlimart, CA, was founded in 1908 by Colonel Allen Allensworth—a visionary and the highest-ranking Black officer of his time in the U.S. Army. This unique town symbolizes Black determination, self-sufficiency, and cultural pride.

Dr. John Warren of the San Diego Voice & Viewpoint made his mark at the 2025 National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) annual convention in Savannah, Georgia when he became the third person from the West Coast to lead the 85-year-old organization, whose members are mostly from the East Coast, South and Midwest.

Legislation could go into effect by the end of this year, changing the way Californians landscape their homes.

News You Might Have  Missed 

Union drive targets 220 Huntsville workers as part of national push to organize 40,000 Southern autoworkers by 2026. By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The United Auto Workers (UAW) has filed a formal petition with the National […]

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is hosting its 57th National Convention from July 8–13, 2025, in Washington, D.C., gathering over 20,000 members in person and 13,000 virtually to celebrate more than a century of sisterhood, service, and social action. Events include community service projects, scholarship awards, entrepreneurship competitions, and a keynote address by Senator Cory Booker at the Social Action Luncheon.
The post Power in Action: Delta Sigma Theta hosts 57th National Convention appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Prop 36, a law passed by California voters in November 2024, has led to a rise in arrests, disproportionately affecting Black communities, while also causing a burden for the largest county in the state.
The post Prop 36 Is Triggering an Arrest Surge in California, Hitting Black Communities Hard appeared first on Black Voice News.

Victoria Flores, a former Riverside County Sheriff Department employee, has filed a lawsuit against Sheriff Chad Bianco alleging wrongful termination, retaliation, and civil rights violations, including corruption, unconstitutional conduct, and a lack of accountability within the department.
The post Keeping it Real: Former RSD Captain Exposes Bianco–Alleges Corruption and Unconstitutional Conduct appeared first on Black Voice News.

By Martin Austermuhle It was five years ago that Mayor Muriel Bowser called D.C. a “proud sanctuary city,” but now she’s trying to scrub the designation and protections it offers some immigrants. As part of her proposed budget for 2026, Bowser is pushing to repeal a 2019 law that limits how and when city agencies […]
The post Bowser moves to formally repeal D.C.’s ‘sanctuary city’ status appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

By DaQuan LawrenceSpecial to the AFROdlawrence@afro.com According to a recent report issued by the Office of the District of Columbia Auditor (ODCA), the nation’s capital is overdue for a new jail. The extensive report, titled “Urgent Need for New D.C. Jail,” outlines deteriorating conditions at the current jail facility. Authors of the report say the […]
The post Report identifies need for new jail in the District of Columbia appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

birminghamal.gov The City of Birmingham on Monday began inviting proposals for its 2026-2027 Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (BOLD) funding program. Established in 2018, BOLD provides financial support to organizations dedicated to advancing economic development within the city through initiatives focused on five key focus areas, small businesses, workforce development, eliminating barriers, creative placemaking, and […]

By Jordyn Davis | For The Birmingham Times If you were to visit local fashion designer Kenya Buchanan’s website or Instagram, you’d be immediately greeted with adjectives like “custom,” “luxury,” “elegant,” and “intricate.” But if you were to strike up a 10-minute conversation with the visionary behind the wording, you would find more than just […]

The Birmingham Times The City of Birmingham and the law enforcement community are gearing up for the Restore Games July 11 at the Birmingham CrossPlex from Noon to 4 p.m. which will include a youth-focused resource fair, gaming zones led by business leaders, and a conflict resolution panel featuring Jefferson County Judge Kechia Davis, District […]

Black Americans are disproportionately affected by mental health issues and substance abuse, with untreated mental health struggles leading to substance use and the stigma surrounding mental health care making it difficult to seek help.
The post At the intersection of mental health and drug abuse appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.

Pregnancy is not a solo journey—it’s one that families can profoundly impact by offering emotional, structural and hands-on support. From helping navigate healthcare systems to simply showing up with a warm meal and open ears, loved ones play a vital role in a mother’s health before, during and after birth.
The post Supporting moms: The vital role families play before, during and after birth appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.