SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For the first time, the state's task force on inclusive education met in the Capitol. The topic of the meeting was how to diversify textbooks in California.

Thurmond called on publishing firms to pledge to diversify their textbooks and resources and to work with the task force. Thurmond said representatives from Benchmark Education, CPM Educational Programs, The College Board, and Studies Weekly provided examples of what their companies are doing to provide broader narratives and depictions that are inclusive of stories and histories of often-underrepresented groups.

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath was joined by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, Tony Valenzuela, Executive Director of the ONE Archives Foundation and Los Angeles County officials on Friday to celebrate and unveil Ginger Rogers Beach's newly painted Progress Flag lifeguard towers.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As a child growing up in a rural New Mexico, Assembly member Rick Chavez Zbur says he aspired to be in public service.

He would tag along with his dad as they campaigned for democratic officials every election cycle.

Congratulations! As the Assemblymember representing your district, it is my great pleasure to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of you on your graduation from Santa Monica High School. This is a momentous occasion that marks the culmination of a journey that has required you to overcome challenges and demonstrate strength and resilience and a commitment to your future.

California, like much of the country, is facing a catastrophic fentanyl crisis. The drug — which can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine — has become the fastest-growing cause of death for young people in our state.

Because of its extreme potency, fentanyl is frequently added to other drugs to make them cheaper and more powerful. Most victims consume it accidentally because the drug is odorless, tasteless, and colorless, making it incredibly difficult to detect and all the more dangerous to our young people.

Another six bills related to LGBTQ issues or health concerns are moving on this legislative session in the California Legislature. Lawmakers in the bills' houses of origin adopted them by their June 3 deadline to do so this year.

All 20 pieces of legislation the Bay Area Reporter is tracking this year are moving forward. Many build on LGBTQ laws previously enacted by state lawmakers that focused on issues impacting public schools and foster youth, with several others related to ending the HIV pandemic.

Sacramento — More than two dozen state lawmakers are calling on the Assembly and Senate budget committees to include a permanent funding stream of $3 billion annually in the state budget to help cities tackle two of the state’s top priorities, increasing the supply of affordable housing and reducing and preventing homelessness.

The bipartisan group of Assembly Members and Senators signed on to a letter authored by Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silva, who is championing the League of California Cities' budget ask for ongoing funding.