News Observer Weekly

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The top five stories of the week for Black California, from the Bakersfield News Observer, the Los Angeles News Observer, and the Valley's News Observer. Every week, Marcus and Nia break down the five stories that matter most to our readers — housing, education, health, politics and culture — with the reporting behind them and one thing you can actually do about it. Read everything at ognsc.com.

1 day ago

September 2, 2026 — Top 5 Stories of the Week

Eleven and a quarter percent. Lancaster and Palmdale. The highest sales tax in the United States. On October first it goes higher. Marcus and Nia break down the week's five biggest stories for our readers. ONE THING THIS WEEK Kern County parents: children under five can get a free book in the mail every month through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, administered locally by the Kern Literacy Council. No income requirement. Enroll at kernliteracy.org/dolly-partons-imagination-library.html And before October 1, look up the sales tax rate for your own address at cdtfa.ca.gov. Groceries and prescription medicine are exempt from the increase. 0:00 Cold open 0:33 Your Money: America's Highest Sales Tax Is About to Go Higher 2:51 The Vote: California Black Civil Rights Leaders Mobilize to Defend Voting Rights 5:27 Sports: Aaron Donald Comes Out of Retirement to Rejoin Rams 7:08 Culture: Why Kern County and Black Americans Love Dolly 9:46 Bakersfield: He Learned to Believe in Himself. Then He Built a Legacy 12:36 What to do this week Full stories: 1. America's Highest Sales Tax Is About to Go Higher https://ognsc.com/americas-highest-sales-tax-is-about-to-go-higher/ 2. California Black Civil Rights Leaders Mobilize to Defend Voting Rights https://ognsc.com/california-black-civil-rights-leaders-mobilize-to-defend-voting-rights/ 3. Aaron Donald Comes Out of Retirement to Rejoin Rams https://ognsc.com/aaron-donald-comes-out-of-retirement-to-rejoin-rams/ 4. Why Kern County and Black Americans Love Dolly https://ognsc.com/why-kern-county-and-black-americans-love-dolly/ 5. He Learned to Believe in Himself. Then He Built a Legacy https://ognsc.com/he-learned-to-believe-in-himself-then-he-built-a-legacy/ Observer Group Newspapers — ognsc.com
26 Aug

August 26, 2026 — Top 5 Stories of the Week

Your ballot lands in your mailbox the first week of October. Three of the five stories in this show get decided by it. Marcus and Nia break down the week's five biggest stories for our readers. 0:00 Cold open 0:34 The Vote: Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber Urges Californians to Vote Early as Voter ID Battle Intensifies 2:55 Education: Inglewood Unified Enters New School Year With Local Control In Sight, But Questions Linger 5:06 The Bench: Gov. Newsom Nominates 3 Black Women Judges to Serve on State Courts of Appeal 7:02 Bakersfield: Bakersfield's Nigerian Community Eyes a Role in Growing California-Nigeria Ties 9:11 Culture: The Vision Theatre Performing Arts Center Reopened in South L.A. 11:08 What to do this week Full stories: 1. Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber Urges Californians to Vote Early as Voter ID Battle Intensifies https://ognsc.com/secretary-of-state-shirley-n-weber-urges-californians-to-vote-early-as-voter-id-battle-intensifies/ 2. Inglewood Unified Enters New School Year With Local Control In Sight, But Questions Linger https://ognsc.com/inglewood-unified-enters-new-school-year-with-local-control-in-sight-but-questions-linger/ 3. Gov. Newsom Nominates 3 Black Women Judges to Serve on State Courts of Appeal https://ognsc.com/gov-newsom-nominates-3-black-women-judges-to-serve-on-state-courts-of-appeal/ 4. Bakersfield's Nigerian Community Eyes a Role in Growing California-Nigeria Ties https://ognsc.com/bakersfields-nigerian-community-eyes-a-role-in-growing-california-nigeria-ties/ 5. The Vision Theatre Performing Arts Center Reopened in South L.A. https://ognsc.com/the-vision-theatre-performing-arts-center-reopened-in-south-l-a/ Observer Group Newspapers — ognsc.com
19 Aug

August 19, 2026 — Top 5 Stories of the Week

Two weeks ago we told you twenty-nine thousand people sleep outside in the city of Los Angeles. This week the countywide count tells us who is going without a home across the region. Black Angelenos are under ten percent of this county. They're thirty-one point eight percent of everyone in it without a home. Marcus and Nia break down the week's five biggest stories for our readers. 0:00 Cold open 0:58 Housing: Black Angelenos Disproportionately Unhoused in 2026 Greater LA Homeless Count 3:31 Ballot: On Your November Ballot: Prop 37 Would Assist Middle-Income Californians to Take Out Second Mortgages to Buy New Homes 5:58 Reparations: Asm. Isaac Bryan's Corporate Reparations Bill, Other Black Caucus Measures Advance From Suspense File 8:13 Health: "Sickle Cell Warriors" Urge Gov. Newsom to Sustain Critical Patient-Care Funding 10:29 Politics: Poll: One in Four Young Black Men Uncommitted to Voting in 2026 12:10 What to do this week Full stories: 1. Black Angelenos Disproportionately Unhoused in 2026 Greater LA Homeless Count https://ognsc.com/black-angelenos-disproportionately-unhoused-in-2026-greater-la-homeless-count/ 2. On Your November Ballot: Prop 37 Would Assist Middle-Income Californians to Take Out Second Mortgages to Buy New Homes https://ognsc.com/on-your-november-ballot-prop-37-would-assist-middle-income-californians-to-take-out-second-mortgages-to-buy-new-homes/ 3. Asm. Isaac Bryan's Corporate Reparations Bill, Other Black Caucus Measures Advance From Suspense File https://ognsc.com/asm-isaac-bryans-corporate-reparations-bill-other-black-caucus-measures-advance-from-suspense-file/ 4. "Sickle Cell Warriors" Urge Gov. Newsom to Sustain Critical Patient-Care Funding https://ognsc.com/sickle-cell-warriors-urge-gov-newsom-to-sustain-critical-patient-care-funding/ 5. Poll: One in Four Young Black Men Uncommitted to Voting in 2026 https://ognsc.com/poll-one-in-four-young-black-men-uncommitted-to-voting-in-2026/ Observer Group Newspapers — ognsc.com
12 Aug

August 12, 2026 — Top 5 Stories of the Week

Seventy-five to nothing. That's how the California Assembly voted Friday on a bill about this newspaper. And it is sitting on Gavin Newsom's desk right now, waiting on one signature. Marcus and Nia break down the week's five biggest stories for our readers. 0:00 Cold open 0:41 Media: Bill Requiring Public Notices to Be Published in Newspapers' Print Editions Heads to Gov. Newsom's Desk 3:19 Ballot: On Your November Ballot: Prop 42 Would Ban New Taxes on Retirement Savings and Personal Assets 5:36 Health: Five Tips for Understanding Your Health Coverage When Aging Out of a Parent's Health Insurance Plan 7:32 Money Matters: Money Matters: The State of Black Media - and Why Its Future Matters to Business 9:11 Bakersfield: Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for Bakersfield Senior Center Affordable Housing Facility 11:08 What to do this week Full stories: 1. Bill Requiring Public Notices to Be Published in Newspapers' Print Editions Heads to Gov. Newsom's Desk https://ognsc.com/bill-requiring-public-notices-to-be-published-in-newspapers-print-editions-heads-to-gov-newsoms-desk/ 2. On Your November Ballot: Prop 42 Would Ban New Taxes on Retirement Savings and Personal Assets https://ognsc.com/on-your-november-ballot-prop-42-would-ban-new-taxes-on-retirement-savings-and-personal-assets/ 3. Five Tips for Understanding Your Health Coverage When Aging Out of a Parent's Health Insurance Plan https://ognsc.com/five-tips-for-understanding-your-health-coverage-when-aging-out-of-a-parents-health-insurance-plan/ 4. Money Matters: The State of Black Media - and Why Its Future Matters to Business https://ognsc.com/money-matters-the-state-of-black-media-and-why-its-future-matters-to-business/ 5. Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for Bakersfield Senior Center Affordable Housing Facility https://ognsc.com/groundbreaking-ceremony-held-for-bakersfield-senior-center-affordable-housing-facility/ Observer Group Newspapers — ognsc.com
6 Aug

August 5, 2026 — Top 5 Stories of the Week

Twenty-nine thousand, one hundred fifteen people sleep outside in Los Angeles on any given night. And inside a tent, it runs ten to fifteen degrees hotter than the air around it. Marcus and Nia break down the week's five biggest stories for our readers. 0:00 Cold open 0:42 Heat: Extreme heat bakes L.A. County as 29,000 unsheltered Angelenos are directly impacted 2:23 Voting Rights: California lawmakers and advocates push voter protection measures ahead of November 5:08 Money: Predatory auto lending exploits Black consumers 7:03 Education: Newsom reverses on long-sought paid leave benefit for teachers in California 8:45 Opinion: OP-ED: The AI industry is overlooking its greatest untapped workforce 10:29 What to do this week Full stories: 1. Extreme heat bakes L.A. County as 29,000 unsheltered Angelenos are directly impacted https://ognsc.com/extreme-heat-bakes-l-a-county-as-29000-unsheltered-angelenos-are-directly-impacted/ 2. California lawmakers and advocates push voter protection measures ahead of November https://ognsc.com/california-lawmakers-and-advocates-push-voter-protection-measures-ahead-of-november-election/ 3. Predatory auto lending exploits Black consumers https://ognsc.com/predatory-auto-lending-exploits-black-consumers/ 4. Newsom reverses on long-sought paid leave benefit for teachers in California https://ognsc.com/newsom-reverses-on-long-sought-paid-leave-benefit-for-teachers-in-california/ 5. OP-ED: The AI industry is overlooking its greatest untapped workforce https://ognsc.com/op-ed-the-ai-industry-is-overlooking-its-greatest-untapped-workforce/ Observer Group Newspapers — ognsc.com
29 Jul

July 29, 2026 — Top 5 Stories of the Week

More than a year later, the nursery is still exactly how they left it. White crib. A mobile hanging over it. Mickey and Minnie leaning against the rails. Black infants in California die at nearly three times the rate of white babies. In Kern County, the same three to one. Marcus and Nia break down the week's five biggest stories for our readers. 0:00 Cold open 0:47 Health: Silent Cry: The Unseen Toll of Infant Loss on Black Families in California 3:58 Voting Rights: Homeland Security demands Secretary of State Shirley Weber scrub the voter rolls 6:56 Housing: Bakersfield lands $14.1 million to turn a motel into 30 supportive homes 9:27 Culture: Sixth annual Afro Mujeres Fest reclaims heritage, healing and culture in South Central LA 11:55 Entertainment: Watts' own Tyrese packs Burton Chace Park for the Marina del Rey Summer Concert Series 13:43 What to do this week Full stories: 1. Silent Cry: The Unseen Toll of Infant Loss on Black Families in California https://ognsc.com/silent-cry-the-unseen-toll-of-infant-loss-on-black-families-in-california/ 2. Homeland Security demands Secretary of State Shirley Weber scrub the voter rolls https://ognsc.com/department-of-homeland-security-demands-california-secretary-of-state-shirley-n-weber-scrub-voter-rolls/ 3. Bakersfield lands $14.1 million to turn a motel into 30 supportive homes https://ognsc.com/bakersfield-lands-14-1-million-in-state-homekey-money-to-turn-a-motel-into-30-supportive-homes-15-reserved-for-veterans/ 4. Sixth annual Afro Mujeres Fest reclaims heritage, healing and culture in South Central LA https://ognsc.com/sixth-annual-afro-mujeres-fest-reclaims-heritage-healing-and-culture-in-south-central-la/ 5. Watts' own Tyrese packs Burton Chace Park for the Marina del Rey Summer Concert Series https://ognsc.com/watts-own-tyrese-packs-burton-chace-park-for-marina-del-rey-summer-concert-series/ If you are navigating pregnancy or infant loss: the Noel Alexandria Foundation in Bakersfield offers grief support, comfort kits and its Silent Cry support group. There is no time limit on when you can reach out. If you are in crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free and available 24 hours a day, by call or text. Observer Group Newspapers — ognsc.com
27 Jul

July 22, 2026 — Top 5 Stories of the Week

Two hundred twenty-one thousand dollars. That is what you now need to earn, in California, to buy a median-priced house. And the median Black household in this state makes about seventy thousand. Marcus and Nia break down the week's five biggest stories for our readers. 0:00 Cold open 0:41 Voting Rights: Sharpton and King III announce March on Washington 2026 2:25 Housing: Bonta's AB 801 targets lending bias and the homeownership gap 5:16 Health: 'It Hurts to Heal': Bakersfield men break the silence 7:31 Community: Everybody loved the 2026 FIFA World Cup 9:02 Education: At 104, Mary Louise Reeves is still teaching us how to fight 11:05 What to do this week Full stories: 1. Sharpton and King III announce March on Washington 2026 https://ognsc.com/coalition-featuring-rev-al-sharpton-martin-luther-king-iii-announces-march-on-washington-2026/ 2. Bonta's AB 801 targets lending bias and the homeownership gap https://ognsc.com/asm-mia-bontas-ab-801-targets-lending-bias-and-californias-persistent-racial-homeownership-gap/ 3. 'It Hurts to Heal': Bakersfield men break the silence https://ognsc.com/it-hurts-to-heal-bakersfield-men-gather-to-break-the-silence-around-masculinity-and-mental-health/ 4. Everybody loved the 2026 FIFA World Cup https://ognsc.com/everybody-loved-the-2026-fifa-world-cup/ 5. At 104, Mary Louise Reeves is still teaching us how to fight https://ognsc.com/104-year-old-mary-louise-reeves-and-the-fight-for-black-education-in-los-angeles/ If you or someone you know is struggling: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988, free, 24 hours a day. Observer Group Newspapers — ognsc.com

7 Episodes

The top five stories of the week for Black California, from the Bakersfield News Observer, the Los Angeles News Observer, and the Valley's News Observer. Every week, Marcus and Nia break down the five stories that matter most to our readers — housing, education, health, politics and culture — with the reporting behind them and one thing you can actually do about it. Read everything at ognsc.com.

Creator

OGNSC
Years Active

2026
Episodes

7
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© OGNSC
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News Observer Weekly