Central Valley Voice

12/22/2025

Is Christmas a Pagan Holiday?

by Dr. Eric N. Haley December 15, 2025 The short answer to this question is yes and no. Let me explain. From the time of when Babylon ruled the ancient world even until the Roman empire people worshipped the sun god Semiramis and her son, Tammuz. Semiramis was the mother of Tammuz in ancient mythology. December 25 was usually the shortest day of the year for daylight hours....

by Dr. Eric N. Haley December 15, 2025 The short answer to this question is yes and no. Let me explain. From the time of when Babylon ruled the ancient world even until the Roman empire people wors…

12/22/2025

Essay: The Hidden Toll — Federal Rollbacks Threaten Black Women’s Health in California

By Kellie Todd Griffin l Special to California Black Media Partners November 16, 2025 If recent proposals in Congress to cut funding for federal social programs succeed, the downstream effects will not be abstract or distant. They will be immediate and blunt — and felt in every clinic, every hospital, and most homes where Black women are struggling to maintain our health, care for her children, and stay afloat....

By Kellie Todd Griffin l Special to California Black Media Partners November 16, 2025 If recent proposals in Congress to cut funding for federal social programs succeed, the downstream effects wil…

12/22/2025

Downtown Merced named one of state’s new cultural districts. Local artists say it’s ‘a big deal’

by Alma Villegas/The Merced Focus December 19, 2025 California’s top arts ambassadors identified downtown Merced as a notable cultural hub, one of the first two counties in the San Joaquin Valley to receive such a recognition. The announcement by the California Arts Council last week designated the “Downtown Merced Cultural District” as one of 10 new cultural districts across the state, alongside other enclaves in Modesto, Los Angeles and San Francisco....

by Alma Villegas/The Merced Focus December 19, 2025 California’s top arts ambassadors identified downtown Merced as a notable cultural hub, one of the first two counties in the San Joaquin Valley t…

12/19/2025

12/13/2025

What’s behind the Medicare Advantage Care Gap for California’s Black Seniors

December 8, 2025 Charlene Muhammad | California Black Media Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 or older, and some people under 65 with certain disabilities or conditions. Medicare Advantage is a localized Medicare option offering insurance services that vary by county or Zip Code. The cost of premiums, coverage, and benefits also differ by location. Advocates say Medicare Advantage plans simplify health coverage for older adults, typically offering comprehensive plans with low or no premiums and deductibles....

December 8, 2025 Charlene Muhammad | California Black Media Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 or older, and some people under 65 with certain disabilities or conditions. …

12/12/2025

How Charles R. Drew University Navigated More Than $20 Million in Fed Cuts – Still Protecting Students and Community Health

Charlene Muhammad |California Black Media Earlier this year, when the federal government slashed more than $20 million in grants to Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), the leadership of California’s only historically Black medical school scrambled to stabilize its finances -- while protecting its staff and students. Named after the pioneering physician Dr. Charles R. Drew, famous for his work in blood preservation, CDU’s mission is to cultivate “diverse health professional leaders dedicated to social justice and health equity for underserved populations through education, research, clinical service, and, above all, community engagement.”...

Charlene Muhammad |California Black Media Earlier this year, when the federal government slashed more than $20 million in grants to Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), the lea…