By Bo Tefu, California Black Media | L.A. Focus

Health officials say a respiratory virus spreading in parts of the United States is not new, and most people should not panic, even as cases increase in California and other states.

Human metapneumovirus, known as HMPV, is circulating this season with rising cases reported in California and New Jersey. The virus has no vaccine and no specific antiviral treatment, but experts say most infections are mild and resolve on their own.

Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows HMPV has been increasing since November 2025. The virus accounted for more than 5% of positive respiratory virus tests during the week of Feb. 14 through Feb. 21, according to the agency’s respiratory surveillance dashboard.

The uptick is part of a broader seasonal pattern of respiratory illnesses, including Respiratory Syncytial Virus, COVID-19, and seasonal flu.

Wastewater monitoring data also shows elevated levels of the virus in Northern California, including in Sacramento, San Francisco, Davis, and Vallejo.

“HMPV causes symptoms very similar to RSV,” said Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Health. “This includes upper respiratory symptoms that sometimes progress to pneumonia or bronchiolitis and wheezing.”

HMPV was first identified in 2001 and belongs to the same viral family as RSV. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, close personal contact, and touching contaminated surfaces before touching the mouth, nose, or eyes.

Common symptoms include cough, fever, nasal congestion, and sore throat. Most cases last four to five days, though some patients can develop bronchitis or pneumonia.

Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of serious illness.

Health experts say prevention measures are similar to those used for other respiratory viruses. People should wash their hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home when sick to limit the spread.

By Bo Tofu, California Black Media | L.A. Focus

California’s public health programs could lose billions of dollars due to recent federal budget cuts, state health officials told lawmakers during a joint committee hearing on March 10.

The hearing, held at the State Capitol, focused on the impacts of reductions to programs such as Medi-Cal, the Affordable Care Act, and Covered California. Officials said regulatory changes and funding rollbacks could reduce the quality and availability of health coverage for many Californians.

“The rollback of federal policies risks reversing hard-won progress,” said Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland).

“For many Californians, accessibility and affordability were already in question,” Bonta continued. “More than half of Californians are worried about out-of-pocket expenses, long-term care and monthly premiums, concerns that now surpass anxiety about housing, groceries, transportation and utilities.”

Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) expressed frustration over the potential impact on vulnerable populations.

“When I see some of the people who come into our offices, our elderly, our disabled, primary care doctors, we’re all very, very concerned,” she said. “This is not affordable. It’s not taking care of our most vulnerable. I’m just very frustrated.”

Dawn Joyce presented research showing that Medi-Cal alone faces $30 billion in annual cuts. California’s Health and Human Services Agency estimate that federal reductions could result in 2 million residents losing Medi-Cal coverage, costing the state between $2.3 billion and $5.1 billion each year. In fiscal year 2024-25, the federal government paid for 62% of Medi-Cal’s budget, with 22% from the California general fund and 16% from other state and local sources.

“There’s just a broader effort currently to dismantle, remove federal funding that we’ve relied on, and it will lead to vast coverage losses,” Joyce testified.

Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) also highlighted the human impact of the cuts on social media, writing on Facebook: “Most Medi-Cal recipients already work. More than 1 million Black Californians rely on Medi-Cal and could lose coverage under these harmful federal cuts. Working families should not pay the price when too many communities have already suffered lost lives, lost health, and years of disinvestment.”

LA Focus News

Laila Edwards made history in Milan, Italy, becoming the first Black woman to score an Olympic goal for Team USA after sealing a dominant group-stage win over Canada with the final shot in a four-goal surge, a milestone that helped propel the Americans into the medal round as tournament leaders.

The 22-year-old Northeast Ohio native, who joined the U.S. National Team in 2023, said the moment represents both personal achievement and possibility for others. “You know, I get to be the first of something and a role model for others,” Edwards told CBS Mornings.

A former figure skater who transitioned to hockey as a child, Edwards calls the sport her “safe space,” even when she was often the only girl on the ice. Now in her Olympic debut, she hopes to continue inspiring young women to pursue their passions while chasing gold for her family, community and country, with Team USA three wins away from the top of the podium.

By Niele Anderson, BPUSA Contributor
Multimedia Journalist / Culture Curator

Black women are disproportionately impacted by healthcare due to systemic inequities, resulting in higher maternal mortality rates, disparities in accessing care, and negative experiences with providers.

This is why the California-based Black Women for Wellness Action Project (BWWAP) exists. The organization’s commitment to understanding and elevating the health needs of Black women has earned it a reputation as a policy expert in California.

Each year, they sponsor several pieces of state legislation and collaborate with activists and elected allies to secure the passage of these bills into law. They hold elected leaders accountable for addressing the health needs of Black women while also advocating for equity and representation.

The organization’s website states, “Systemic racism and sexism have deep roots, showing up in the policies that influence Black women’s health. BWWAP challenges these systems of oppression by shifting the power dynamics that routinely disadvantage women and Black people.”

BWWAP’s goal is simple, to use policy, electoral advocacy, and the power of narrative to reimagine a just new future where Black women and girls thrive.

This is why BWWAP supports California Governor Gavin Newsom’s endorsement of ‘yes’ on Prop 50. The proposition is a response to what the state claims is Donald Trump and Texas Republicans’ attempt at an unprecedented power grab to steal congressional seats and rig the 2026 election before voting even begins.

“California is acting in a moment of urgency,” according to BWWAP leadership. “A time when the rules of engagement have changed and our court systems are compromised by lawsuits that should never have been our only recourse. The United States is in a moment where the federal government is being dismantled from public health, education, and justice departments to experienced public servants being sidelined in favor of loyalists to a person who has not earned that loyalty.”

Prop 50 proposes new lines for many of California’s 52 congressional districts, which would negate the five Republican seats drawn by Texas. Democrats could gain up to five additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives under the proposed lines. With a majority in the House, Democrats can effectively oppose Trump and the MAGA agenda of the Republicans.

The current government shutdown is a direct result of Donald Trump and the Republican-led Congress. A major reason for the shutdown is the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Republicans aim to dismantle it, and Democrats seek to preserve what many affectionately call Obamacare.

The ACA is former President Obama’s historic legislation, and it helps Black women by expanding insurance coverage, increasing access to no-cost preventive services, and protecting against pre-existing conditions.

It has led to a significant decrease in the uninsured rate for Black women, a reduction in cost-related barriers to care, and improved access to essential services like cancer screenings and contraception. Between 2010 and 2014, the uninsured rate for Black women dropped by 36 percent.

This is why BWWAP says yes on Prop 50. Over the weekend, the organization is intensifying its efforts to educate and engage voters to ensure that California is fully informed about the measure and has a voting plan for Nov 4.

Bo Tefu and Atonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media | LA Focus

On Aug. 27, the State Legislature passed Assembly Bill (AB) 1815, a law that bans hair-based discrimination related to race, making its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for a final signature. This bill seeks to expand the state’s civil rights laws to include protections based on hairstyles and hair texture such as locks, braids, and twists, and protective hairstyles that are popular among Black people. California was one of the first states to enact laws that protect people from discrimination in schools and employment under the CROWN Act in 2019.  According to the Economic Policy Institute, Black women’s hairstyles are 2.5 times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional as compared to those of White women.

The CROWN Workplace Research Study revealed last year that 66% of Black women change their hair for a job interviews — most of them from curly to straight to appear more professional.

AB 1815 is one of 14 reparations bills introduced by the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC). The bills were based on recommendations in the final report published by the California Reparations Task Force in 2023.

The task force recommended more than 100 policy proposals that promote racial justice and justify reparations.

Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), the newly elected chair of the CLBC, authored AB 1815.

“We have changed a harm that has been given to people for generations that stated that beauty only occurs if you look a certain way if your hair is only a certain way,” said Weber. “This particular bill repairs that harm.”

Weber acknowledged that AB 1815 was one of the least controversial in the 14-bill package. Although the bill was amended a few times, it faced minimal opposition from lawmakers.

By Bo Tefu and Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media | LA Focus

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that state law enforcement authorities seized 5.8 million pills containing fentanyl across the state since the beginning of the year.

The California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force partnered with local and federal law enforcement to seize illegal fentanyl off the streets and at ports of entry along the Southern border, according to Newsom.

Two weeks ago, the State Senate passed the bipartisan Safer California Plan to address the fentanyl crisis and reduce crime in communities statewide.

Senate President pro-Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) has coauthored 15 bills focusing on crime prevention in local communities. Ten of the bills focus on evidence-based prevention and treatment solutions that address substance abuse and the fentanyl crisis.

Pro Tem McGuire said the bills, “will help curb the deadly fentanyl epidemic,” and reduce community-based crimes that impact people across the state.

CalGuard Major General Matthew Beevers worked alongside law enforcement partners to tackle the fentanyl crisis in the state.

“The volume of seizures we’re enabling and supporting demonstrates our commitment to denying operating capital to drug cartels and making California safer,” said Beevers.

Before the Senate’s package of bills passed, Gov. Newsom compiled a master plan designed to tackle the growing fentanyl and opioid crisis in California. The master plan provided a framework that addresses drug trafficking, supports overdose prevention efforts, and holds the pharmaceutical industry accountable.

“Illegal fentanyl has no place in our neighborhoods. California is tackling this problem head-on by holding drug traffickers accountable and increasing seizures while at the same time expanding access to substance abuse treatment options and providing lifesaving, affordable reversal medicine to Californians statewide,” said Newsom.

The Newsom administration has also launched an online resource and tools for residents seeking help with prevention and treatment methods for fentanyl and opioid-related substance abuse at opioids.ca.gov.