Genoa Barrow

Black Americans face the highest burden of avoidable premature deaths in every state, the Commonwealth Fund’s 2026 State Health Disparities Report reveals.

Dr. Phuong Luu is appointed as Sacramento County’s new health officer, succeeding the retiring Dr. Olivia Kasirye. Dr. Luu officially takes over Monday, June 1.

World traveler, social worker and yogi Christine Sullivan, who championed children and community from Stockton to Sacramento, dies at 83

Reparations advocate, chef and longtime Sacramento fire battalion chief Jonathan Burgess, half of the Burgess Brothers, dies at 52 after four-year ALS battle.

Dr. Eugene Spencer Jr., a Sacramento dentist, veteran and civil rights leader, leaves a 94-year legacy of service, mentoring Black professionals and youth.

Marilyn Hays, a civil-rights-era community organizer and advocate for Black families in Yolo and Sacramento counties, dies at 79.

Pastor Sylvester Howard, Sacramento “Community Legend” who led Trinity Missionary Baptist Church for 42 years and grew it from 50 to 1,500 members, dies at 93.

Cynthia West McDaniel, a longtime state employee and beloved community presence, is remembered for her strength, service and gift for uplifting others.

Pediatric emergency physician Dr. Tiffani Johnson studies how racism and inequities shape child health while mentoring the next generation of advocates.

Black patients describe ER visits marked by dismissal, bias and fear, while advocates point to broader inequities in emergency care.