SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The University of Southern California canceled a gubernatorial debate planned for Tuesday after candidates of color, who would have
FILE - California gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa speaks at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco, Feb. 21, 2026. SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The University of Southern California canceled a gubernatorial debate planned for Tuesday after candidates of color, who would have been excluded, accused the school of discrimination.
Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, and Democrats Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, Eric Swalwell and Matt Mahan, who are all white, were slated to participate in the debate hosted by the University of Southern California and KABC-TV. But four established Democratic candidates of color, Antonio Villaraigosa, Xavier Becerra, Betty Yee and Tony Thurmond, didn’t meet the criteria to participate.The university has defended a formula used to select the participants and denied allegations of bias. A public policy professor independently developed the criteria based on candidates’ polling and fundraising, the university said in a statement Friday. But the university reversed course Monday night, saying that the debate co-hosts couldn’t agree on a solution. The “data-driven candidate viability formula is based on extensive research and enjoys broad academic support,” it said in a statement. “At the same time, we recognize that concerns about the selection criteria for tomorrow’s gubernatorial debate have created a significant distraction from the issues that matter to voters.” The controversy escalated Monday when legislative leaders, including chairs of the Black and Latino caucuses, called on organizers to open the debate to the other established candidates. “If USC does not do the right thing, we call on California voters to boycott this debate,” they wrote. “If the university will not give voters a fair shot at evaluating everyone running for governor, voters should find other ways to learn about the candidates.” Villaraigosa, a former Los Angeles mayor who is Latino, celebrated the university’s decision to cancel the debate.SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The University of Southern California canceled a gubernatorial debate planned for Tuesday after candidates of color, who would have been excluded, accused the school of discrimination. Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, and Democrats Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, Eric Swalwell and Matt Mahan, who are all white, were slated to participate Jeff Webb, the founder of Varsity Spirit who helped transform cheerleading into an International Olympic Committee-recognized sport and mentored late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, has died. He was 76. A family spokesperson said Webb died Thursday in Memphis, Tennessee, following a “tragic accident.” The family has declined to comment on specifics. Webb founded the Universal WASHINGTON — The jump in gas prices stemming from the war in Iran has had another impact that may also affect many Americans’ finances: Higher interest rates. Longer-term interest rates have risen quickly since the war began Feb. 28, pushing up the cost of mortgage loans, auto loans, and business borrowing. And with inflation UTICA, N.Y. — A former upstate New York prison guard on trial for murder repeatedly stomped on the head of a 22-year-old inmate during a brutal beating by a group of guards, a prosecutor told jurors Tuesday. Jonah Levi was the first guard to go on trial after 10 were indicted last April in Ford is recalling 254,640 SUVs nationwide due to a software issue that can disable the vehicle's rearview camera and key driver-assistance safety features.Minnesota officials filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday accusing the Trump administration of withholding evidence related to three shootings by federal officers, including the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. The lawsuit claims that the federal government reneged on its promise to cooperate with state investigations after Operation Metro Surge, asking the court to WSECU Community Champion: Chrystal Ortega’s mission to feed Spokane Chrystal Ortega's tireless dedication recently earned her the WSECU Community Champions Award and a $1,000 grant to further the mission.When Shawn Tibbitts opened Tibbitts FernHill, he was just trying to survive. The small Tacoma restaurant has since earned culinary awards and praise.Wilcox Family Farms is continuing its cherished holiday tradition of giving back by donating nearly one million eggs to food banks across the South Sound region this season.Matthew Ballantyne has transformed that early awareness into action, embodying the organization's mission:"No Kid Sleeps On The Floor In Our Town."
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