By Edward Henderson  Contributing Writer SACRAMENTO — Medi-Cal, California’s version of Medicaid, is currently transforming to expand coverage for unhoused and at-risk individuals across the state. The rollout for these changes began two years ago. New programs include rental and deposit aid, recuperative housing, rehabilitation and sobering centers during the day and the provision of street medicine mobile units that bring care to unhoused individuals. To be eligible, individuals must be enrolled in the Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan and are currently experiencing or deemed at risk of homele ..read more

By Scout Jacobs Contributing Writer WESTCHESTER — At a time when several area college campuses are experiencing unrest due to protests about the Palestinian crisis, singer John Legend delivered a message of love as he spoke at commencement exercises at Loyola Marymount University May 4. “Love rooted in the protection and uplifting of humanity” was the message Legend gave to students. He also emphasized the importance of education in creating change within the world.  “From your time here, you learn that the power of an education lies not in just acing the test or landing a fancy cons ..read more

By Shirley Hawkins Contributing Writer LOS ANGELES — Jimmy Yu knows what its like to spend time in a juvenile detention facility. He spent most of his teen years incarcerated.  “When I was a youth on the streets, I made some bad choices by hanging around the wrong crowd,” Wu said. While in one of the Los Angeles County facilities, Wu was introduced to the InsideOut Writers program, a program that seeks to help juvenile offenders escape recidivism by writing about their feelings while empowering them with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully re-integrate into their communitie ..read more

By Ray Richardson Contributing Writer WESTCHESTER — Public and private donations totaling $150 million have cleared the way for construction of a multi-dimensional youth sports complex that will serve the Westchester and Playa Del Rey communities. Groundbreaking ceremonies on May 8 unveiled plans for Lulu’s Place, a 31-acre site that will feature tennis courts, soccer fields, volleyball courts, basketball courts and space for a variety of academic and athletic activities. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined more than 150 dignitaries and residents at the construction site for near the intersect ..read more

By Antonio Ray Harvey  Contributing Writer SACRAMENTO — Assemblywoman Lori Wilson, D-Suisun City, addressed a group of advocates and activists, including formerly incarcerated men and women at the State Capitol last week, saying she is determined to place Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8 on the November ballot this year. Wilson, chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, was speaking at an April 29 rally at the State Capitol organized to promote “The End Slavery in California Act,” a measure Wilson authored that would abolish involuntary servitude in prisons across the state. “F ..read more

By John Grace Contributing Columnist In the same decade, the securities industry failed investors twice, in 2000-02 and 2008-09. It happened again in 2022. As a 15-year-old Boy Scout working as a summer camp counselor living in the forest at Lake Arrowhead Scout Camps determined to attain the rank of Eagle Scout, I well remember learning from the U.S. Forest Service foresters about the substantial dangers of fire suppression. The Fed’s monetary policy intervention reminds me of forest fire suppression. When you suppress fire too much, any fire can become too big and intense to control. Similar ..read more

By Earl Ofari Hutchinson Contributing Columnist The instant the protests at UCLA, USC and other local campuses began, the protesters were hit with one charge. They and their protests were antisemitic.  No matter how many times protest organizers swore that their protests and encampments were not aimed at Jews or the destruction of Israel, it mattered little. Many conservatives and established Jewish organization, the Republican Party, and many in the media still lambasted the protests as fueling antisemitism. They were right and wrong.  The major protest group leaders scrupulously ha ..read more

Wave Wire Services LOS ANGELES — Mayor Karen Bass celebrated the first Foster Youth Shadow Day in Los Angeles May 7, where former and current foster youth delegates worked with local leaders to present policy changes intended to improve the child welfare system. Bass previously led the annual Foster Youth Shadow Day program as a member of Congress in Washington, D.C., which her office says led to landmark legislative change. During a presentation in the City Council Chambers, Bass highlighted the work by a youth group from the National Foster Youth Institute, along with Wendy Smith Meyer and C ..read more

By Joe W. Bowers Jr.  Guest Columnist In recent weeks, California’s mostly tranquil college quads have erupted into epicenters of pro-Palestine and anti-Israel activism. At Stanford’s White Plaza, dozens of tents have sprung up, while UCLA’s Royce Hall was tagged with the graffiti message “Free Gaza.”  Students are demanding divestment from companies linked to Israel and calling for a U.S. government-brokered ceasefire in the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict. This wave of protests and student encampments reflects a surge of support for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, which has ignited t ..read more

By: Emilie St. John Contributing Writer CARSON — Assemblyman Mike Gipson has introduced a bill to address unsolved homicide cases, particularly those in his district.  “Spurred in part by a number of high-profile violent incidents that have taken place the last few months in the harbor area of our Assembly district, we are announcing the introduction of Assembly Bill 2913, related to bringing justice to victims of violent crimes and homicides,” his office said in a statement. Gipson said the bill is necessary because more could be done. “California needs to do more to solve homicides, esp ..read more