State Rep. La'Tasha D. Mayes was adamant about getting legislation passed to end race-based hair discrimination. She spoke about the right that people, particularly Black women and men, had to wear their hair as they please, with no blowback from employers or others.
The Pennsylvania "CROWN” Act was born, and on Nov. 25, 2025, the "CROWN” Act was officially signed into Pennsylvania law.
"It's a win for Black Pennsylvanians," Rep. Mayes told the New Pittsburgh Courier, Dec. 9, "and it's a win for the entire commonwealth because we now have a more fair, just and free state in which we live, and I'm proud to have been the prime sponsor of the Pennsylvania ‘CROWN’ Act."
"CROWN" stands for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair." Signed into law by Pa. Governor Josh Shapiro, the legislation amends the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) to expand the definition of “race” to include traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, protective hairstyles, and religious creed.
In a news release announcing the new leg-
islation, Pennsylvania became the 28th state in the nation to prohibit discrimination based on hair texture and protective hairstyles historically associated with race, ensuring that all Pennsylvanians can live and work without fear of racial bias in their hair or appearance. According to a 2022 Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) report, 916 complaints were filed that year alone related to racial discrimination involving hair texture and protective hairstyles. Representative Mayes,
whose 24th House District includes many East End neighborhoods, told the Courier that the legislation is among the "likes of which we have not seen in a very, very long time." She called it a "landmark civil rights legislation." Speaking at Island Design Natural Hair Studio in Philadelphia, Nov. 25, Governor Shapiro was joined by business owner Lorraine Ruley, House Speaker Joanna McClinton, Rep. Mayes, and "CROWN" Act champion
by Rob Taylor Jr.
Courier Staff Writer
Anyone who has had the displeasure of making a right turn from Frankstown Road onto East Hills Drive knows the meaning of a "bumpy ride."
If you were trying to get to Petra International Ministries church, or the East Hills apartment community along Wilner Drive, you couldn't dodge those potholes even if you were a professional driver. After a while, it seemed as if there was no hope. The road would stay that way forever.
But according to people like Bishop Donald O. Clay and Elder Jim Balthrop, God stepped in. Today, the road is like
new. Completely repaved, so smooth you could roll a bowling ball on it. Tuesday morning, Dec. 9, 2025, was the morning that elected officials and other community members officially cut the ribbon on the newly paved street. Boy, it was a long time coming. More than 15 years.
"All of my political friends, without you guys this would not be possible," Elder Balthrop of Petra International Ministries said at the morning ceremony. "I thank God that this has happened. All the contractors that were involved put in extra effort into what they were doing to make this happen for the church."
‘CROWN’ ACT SIGNED
Pa. law prohibits hair discrimination
CROWN FROM A1
and advocate Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah.
“This is going to help people by making sure that, wherever you work, or wherever you're applying for a job, they can't look at your hair and size you up—not based on your qualifications and all of the professional development you have and all of your education,” said House Speaker McClinton, in a release. “They will not look at your hair and decide you can't work here. They will not look at your hair and decide you don't belong in this C-suite. They will not look at your hair and say, ‘you can't be in the boardroom.’”
The “CROWN” Act prohibits employers from discriminating against employees or applicants based on hairstyles such as locs, braids, twists, coils, Bantu knots, afros, and extensions, while still allowing businesses to enforce valid health and safety policies that apply equally to all employees.
The legislation was introduced by Representative Mayes and passed the General Assembly with strong bipartisan support.
“I want to thank Speaker McClinton for her tireless efforts — long before I ever became a member of the PA House of Representatives — to see this bill pass out of the House and Senate and now signed into law,” said Representative Mayes, in the release.
“I also want to thank my staff; the statewide PA ‘CROWN’ Act coalition of over 100 organizations, businesses, unions, municipalities, and entities that have
garnered public support for House Bill 439 all across this Commonwealth; and Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah, the ‘CROWN’ Act champion who has led this fight for years at the federal level; the national ‘CROWN’ Act Coalition; and so many more.”
Since taking office, Gov. Shapiro has advanced numerous measures to expand opportunity for historically disadvantaged businesses, including eliminating licensing requirements for natural hair braiders and increasing access to state contracts for Black- and Latino-owned businesses, read the statement. Under the Governor’s leadership, the Commonwealth has: Cut business filing processing times from weeks to same-day processing for small business and cosmetology licenses; Increased spending with Black- and Latino-owned businesses by 45 percent, reaching $150 million in fiscal year 2023-24; Surpassed $1 billion in contracts with small businesses, small diverse businesses, and veteran-owned enterprises for two consecutive years; and secured $20 million annually for the Historically Disadvantaged Business Program, supporting small business growth statewide.
“As a child growing up in the Virgin Islands with natural hair, wearing my natural hair has been all that I know,” said Lorraine Ruley, owner of Island Design Natural Hair Studio.
“But as I opened my salon and spoke to different clients, clients that wear braids are telling me, ‘Lorraine, I have to take these braids out. I
This Week In Black History A Courier Staple
• DECEMBER 10
1846—Norbert Rillieux invents the “multiple effect pan evaporator” which revolutionizes the sugar industry and makes the work much less hazardous for the workers. Rillieux was born “quadroon libre” in New Orleans, La. His father was a wealthy French plantation owner and his mother a former slave. He was sent to Paris, France, to be educated in engineering. He also researched Egyptian hieroglyphics. There is no record that he ever returned to the U.S. after the 1850s. He died in Paris in 1894.
2025.
have a job interview,’ or ‘Lorraine, I have to cut my locs down because my job says they’re too long.’ The experience has been really heartbreaking… so, the ‘CROWN’ Act is very important to me.”
“Too many Black children have been suspended and missed what should be valuable instruction time because their hair, worn in ways that are aligned with their racial identity, have been deemed a violation of school rules. Too many Black adults have been passed over for promotions, had offers of employment rescinded, and even been fired for showing up authentically,” said Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah, the ‘CROWN’ Act champion. “And with an undeniable correlation between the use of chemical relaxers and the increased likelihood of developing uterine fibroids and cancer—the cost of conformity is simply too expensive.”
“The ‘CROWN’ Act protects dignity and affirms the freedom to honor our cultural roots.
I'm incredibly proud to see Pennsylvania adopt this essential anti-discrimination legislation," said Senator Vincent Hughes. "Discrimination is unacceptable. This legislation makes clear that in Pennsylvania, we celebrate people for who they are and protect their right to fully embrace their identity.”
For Rep. Mayes, she talked to the Courier openly about her 2-yearold daughter, Charlotte, and how much this legislation will positively affect her.
"Without this bill, she would have faced hair discrimination by the time she was 5 years old," Rep. Mayes told the Courier. "The 'CROWN' Act now puts us in a position to change that, not only for my daughter, but for the Black children all across this commonwealth."
1854—Edwin C. Berry is born in Oberlin, Ohio. In Athens, Ohio, he cofounds the City Restaurant and builds the Hotel Berry which was to become one of the most elegant hotels in the entire state. By the time he retired in 1921, he was one of the most successful Black businessmen in America. He dies in 1931.
1950—Ralph Bunche becomes the first African American awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Bunch was born in Detroit, Mich. But his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and then Los Angeles, Calif., where he showed academic genius and won a scholarship to Harvard. His fame came when he worked out a temporary settlement between the Palestinians and the Jews after the state of Israel was established in 1948 on Palestinian lands. It was that work which won him the Nobel Peace Prize.
• DECEMBER 11
1917—Thirteen Black soldiers were hanged for their participation in the socalled Houston riot. The “riot” had occurred in August of 1917 when Whites objected to the presence of Black soldiers in the city. Racist insults and mistreatment began. Then a Black soldier intervenes in the arrest of a Black woman. A Black corporal inquires with the police about the arrest of the soldier. A fight breaks out between the corporal and the police. A rumor spreads that a White mob was marching on the Black camp. Roughly 100 Black soldiers grabbed rifles and marched onto downtown Houston. Within two hours they had killed 15 Whites including four police officers. They returned to camp but military officials pressured seven soldiers to snitch on the others. Their snitching resulted in the convictions and hangings of 13 Black soldiers.
1917—The Great Jazz Migration begins when noted musician Joe “King” Oliver leaves New Orleans, La., and settles in Chicago, Ill. He is soon joined by other early Jazz greats. Their presence in Chicago laid the foundation for the Southern Black music genre (with heavy sexual overtones) to become a national obsession. Actually, the “migration” may not have been quite so romantic. Instead of being forced by the closing of the New Orleans Storyville district, Jazz greats probably left New Orleans for Chicago for the same reason other Blacks left the South—failing crops forced the disappearance of jobs while Northern factories recruited Blacks for work to produce arms and other goods for World War I. Nevertheless, many historians view Oliver’s relocation to Chicago as the start of New Orleans Jazz migrating to the rest of the nation.
• DECEMBER 12
1911—Josh Gibson, legend of the Negro Baseball League, is born in Buena Vista, Ga. Standing 6’2” and weighing between 205 and 215, Gibson was a near perfect physical specimen who became the league’s home run king. He is credited with up to 932 home runs and a lifetime batting average of more than .350. The only Negro League baseball player better known than Gibson was the great pitcher Satchel Paige. The tremendous talent of the Negro League players was summed up by Washington Post sports writer Shirley Povich in a 1941 column, “The only thing keeping them out of the big leagues is the pigmentation of their skin.”
1941—Three-time Grammy winning singer Dionne Warwick is born on this day. She is a woman of many accomplishments including leading Hollywood’s anti-AIDS campaign and having her own skin care line. Her career was tainted a bit by her latter day association with the so-called Psychic Friends Network.
1963—The east African nation of Kenya is proclaimed independent from colonial rule. The first president is the charismatic Jomo Kenyatta. Despite many of the same problems which beset most other African nations, Kenya has remained one of the most politically stable countries on the continent. This is despite its beginnings which saw the brutal British repression of the Mau Mau movement–a secret insurgency of Kikuyu tribesmen, which had risen up to, drive out the White settlers.
• DECEMBER 13
1903—Another one of the great unsung heroines of the Civil Rights Movement Ella Baker is born in Norfolk, Va. She directed the New York branch of the NAACP; became executive director of the Martin Luther King Jr. founded
Southern Christian Leadership Conference during the turbulent 1960s; and played a key role in the founding of the “Black Power” oriented Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. In addition, she was a mentor to Rosa Parks and helped to lead the Mississippi voter registration drive. She frequently found herself as the only woman in the usually all male leadership structure of civil rights organizations and often had to battle sexism. Even more than Rosa Parks, Baker deserves to be called the “mother of the civil rights movement.” Baker, a teacher, mentor and organizer, died in 1986 on her 83rd birthday. 1913—Archie Moore is born Archibald Lee White in Benoit, Miss. He becomes light heavyweight champion in 1952. 1981—Old-style Black comedian Dewey “Pigmeat” Markham dies. His standup comedy routine was a major attraction at many Black-oriented events and shows during the 1950s and 1960s. He also achieved some national fame among Whites with his “here comes the judge” routine on the 1970s TV series “Laugh In.”
• DECEMBER 14
1799—The first President of the United States George Washington dies. In his will the “founding father” stipulated that his slaves shall be freed upon the death of his wife Martha. Washington was a wealthy Virginian who supported slavery but did not want to see it expanded. In this regard, he signed the notorious Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 but also signed legislation barring the expansion of slavery into the Northwest Territories. Upon her death, Martha Washington also freed the slaves she owned. One Washington slave is known to have escaped and was never recaptured. His name was Ona Judge Staines.
1915—Jack Johnson, perhaps the most controversial Black boxer in American history, wins the heavy weight championship. He fought at least 114 matches winning most of them. One biographer described Johnson as a man who “lived life his way.” But his outspokenness and affairs with White women ran him afoul of the racist authorities of the day. He was jailed for nearly a year in 1913 on trumped up charges. He fought his last match in 1928. After boxing he became a sensation on Broadway in the play “Great White Hope.” Born in Galveston, Texas, Johnson (full name Arthur John Johnson) died in Raleigh, N.C., as a result of an automobile accident. For reasons which remain unclear, President Obama has delayed granting Johnson a pardon on his 1913 conviction even though the measure has little opposition.
• DECEMBER 15
1864—One of the most decisive battles of the Civil War begins on this day with Black troops helping to crush one of the South’s finest armies at the Battle of Nashville. In a bid to stop the advances of the Union Army under Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, rebel Gen. John Bell Hood led the powerful Army of Tennessee to Nashville to cut off Sherman’s supply lines. After two weeks of positioning and waiting for a break in the cold weather, the Union side finally decided to hurl the 13th United States Colored Troops at the Army of Tennessee. Although suffering massive casualties, the Black troops broke through the Confederate lines in a matter of hours. The victory helped to seal the South’s fate and bring an end to the Civil War the very next year.
1934—Maggie Lena Walker dies on this day at age 69. She had become perhaps the most powerful Black female businesswoman and social activist in America. Born to former slaves who themselves became activists for Black betterment, Walker at the tender age of 14 joined the Independent Grand United Order of St. Luke in Richmond, Va. She would help transform the Order and led it to become a premier Black self-help group. At its height, the Order had 50,000 members, 1500 local chapters, and a multi-purpose financial complex. Under Walker, the Order started a newspaper–the St. Luke Herald and a bank—the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank. Indeed, the bank was the only Black Richmond bank to survive the Great Depression bringing other banks under its wing and becoming the Consolidated Bank and Trust Company.
• DECEMBER
16
1859—The last known slave ship, The Clotilde, lands in Mobile, Ala., with a cargo of 110 to 160 Africans. The importation of Africans as slaves had been illegal in America since 1808. But the law was poorly enforced. However, fearing possible arrest by federal authorities, owners burned the Clotilde and attempted to scatter the slaves. But a group managed to escape and succeeded in establishing a village near Mobile known as “Africatown.” The last known survivor of this group was Cudjo Lewis (African name Kossula).
GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO SIGNS THE “CROWN” ACT INTO LAW, NOV. 25,
John Ciccolella President, Bank
'Mission Possible'
AGI honors area Veterans for their service
by Bill Neal
For New Pittsburgh Courier
It goes without saying, I don’t have to tell you about the merits and values that identify the American soldier.
As a matter of fact, the words on the monument that salute the Veterans living at “Veterans Place” on Washington Boulevard in East Liberty says it all. “All Gave Some...Some Gave All!!!”
Duly noted and understood as we went “behind friendly lines” at Veterans Place, one of the area’s most important and impressive facilities dedicated to maintaining a quality, top-level and significant way of life for the special people among us who “choose” to protect and serve: the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy, and National Guard!
This blessed opportunity came to be as Achieving Greatness Inc. (AGI), presented the Veterans with an annual Thanksgiving Dinner (2025) salute and celebration.
This being the third consecutive year the dinner has been presented to the military and the second in a row delivered to the residents at Veterans Place.
With “delivered” being the quintessential word, AGI teamed up with state Senator Jay Costa, UPMC, Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale Co., Diversified Municipal Services, and state-acclaimed attorneys Bill and Jack Goodrich, all united with the great folks at Eat’n Park restaurants (most especially the tireless
effort put forth by “The Unit” at the Penn Hills location where Charles St. Julien and Erin Trees put a “48 hour D-Day” operation in effect facilitating, maneuvering and quite simply buying out all the turkeys in the Penn Hills area to package 100 hot meals for the Vets).
Yes, that’s the good news. But it gets even better. Upon arriving, we were welcomed and greeted by the resident veterans who included all branches of the military service, and I have to tell you, they were really glad to see us come “over the hill.” We immediately delivered the complete Thanksgiving dinners to “the mess hall” (that’s cafeteria to you civilians).
Then, to our good fortune, we were treated to the privilege of meeting U.S. Army Sgt. Derrick Dennis, the proud recipient of “two purple hearts,” along with other residents who have been honored for service above and beyond the call of duty, just to name a few. Of course, neither time nor space will allow us to share how very much we appreciate these men and women for their sacrifices.
Following an hourlong visit that included numerous heartfelt photos we proudly took with the veterans, and a tremendous interview by KDKA-TV, we loaded up “The Briggs Bus” knowing that our mission was completed and more than ever before understanding what is meant by...“Heroes make the sun rise in the morning,
Heroes make the moon shine bright at night!”
Special Note: If you have not done so, take time to salute and truly thank a veteran from anywhere at any time and know that these proud and exceptional men and women welcome your heart and your spirit and have no need or desire for “your regrets!!!”
A STRONG SHOW OF FORCE—ACHIEVING GREATNESS AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF VETERANS PLACE.
A RED, WHITE AND BLUE SALUTE TO OUR VETERANS...
Frances S. Diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Breast Cancer
Take Charge Of Your Health Today. Be Informed. Be Involved.
Urban League initiatives boost nutrition and build local ties
As we head into Christmas and Kwanzaa, Take Charge of Your Health Today is focusing on Pitt research led by Dr. Jing Luo. Dr. Luo studies GLP-1 drugs and how they’re improving health outcomes for people with diabetes. According to Esther, M. Bush, Interim President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, helping people live healthier lives has always been one of the organization’s top priorities.
Q: Esther, Dr. Luo highlights how GLP-1 drugs don’t always have a significant impact on weight for people with diabetes. Instead, changing other things like diet may be more effective. But for many people, healthy food doesn’t fit into their budget.
How does the Urban League help to ease their financial burdens, so they can afford more nutritious food?
Esther: We know that long-term health and weight management depend on access to nutritious, affordable food. For many families, financial strain — not lack of knowledge — creates barriers to maintaining healthier eating habits. To ease that burden, our Family Support Centers and Housing Stabilization programs help families cover essential expenses during moments of crisis. By reducing financial stress in areas like rent, utilities, and transportation, families can redirect more of their budget toward food and health needs.
ESTHER L. BUSH
We also collaborate with community organizations, food banks, and local distribution sites to connect families with free or low-
cost fresh foods. Through referrals and community outreach, we help ensure residents, particularly those in food deserts, have
reliable access to groceries that support healthier diets.
Q: Excellent! When people are trying to break old habits and create new ones to improve their health, a support network can help them stick to their goals. How does the Urban League assist with that?
Esther: Healthy lifestyle changes are more successful when people feel supported, not isolated. We create those networks through programs designed to strengthen community ties, build confidence, and promote long-term well-being. Our Family Support Centers offer group workshops, peer circles, parenting groups, and community
events that help residents form strong, ongoing relationships with others who share similar goals. The collaborative environment fosters accountability, encouragement, and mutual learning. Participants in our employment, training, and youth programs often form lasting support networks. The peer-to-peer model helps individuals stay motivated, exchange strategies, and celebrate progress together. Through civic engagement, community organizing, and leadership develop, the Urban League creates spaces for residents to connect, strengthen their sense of belonging, and meet their personal goals, including health-related ones.
For Type 2 diabetics, GLP-1 drugs target blood sugar — not weight
For millions of Americans living with Type 2 diabetes, the newest drugs to help lower blood sugar (glucose) are GLP-1 receptor agonists GLP stands for glucagon-like peptide.
The drugs include injectable brands like Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy. A new brand, Rybelsus, comes in pill form. The drugs are expensive and are often covered by private insurance only when other older blood sugar-lowering drugs like Metformin and Glucotrol don’t work.
Regulating blood sugar is important to a diabetic’s health and quality of life. Ideally, the regulation happens through a combination of diet, exercise, and medicine. When it doesn’t, uncontrolled high blood sugar can lead to blindness, heart attacks, kidney failure, neuropathy, and strokes.
Many people are familiar with GLP-1 drugs for weight loss thanks to television and social media. Celebrities like Oprah, Serena Williams, and Whoopie Goldberg, have been candid about losing significant amounts of weight using the drugs, something they weren’t able to do with lifestyle changes alone.
Using GLP-1s for weight loss came about because of the drug’s clinical trials for diabetes. During that process, researchers discovered a common side effect of GLP-1s was reduced appetite and a feeling of being full longer. Eventually, this led to FDA approval for using the drugs at a higher dose for general weight loss.
Most private insurance companies and state-run Medicaid programs do not cover this use, so people must pay out-of-pocket costs that can be more than a $1,000 per month. (Pennsylvania is one of 16 states with a Medicaid program that currently covers GLP-1 drugs for weight loss if patients meet certain requirements.)
University of Pittsburgh’s Dr. Jing Luo, Associate Professor of Medicine and board-certified general internist, studies pre-
scription drug use, pricing, and policy, especially for medicines that treat chronic diseases like diabetes.
Dr. Luo cautions that for diabetic patients, using GLP-1 drugs can be effective for lowering blood sugar, but weight loss may not be as dramatic as what has been reported by some media outlets.
In one real-world study that lasted about 16 months, Dr. Luo and other Pitt researchers followed data for about 2,400 overweight or obese Type 2 diabetes patients who were using GLP-1 drugs to lower blood sugar. The individuals did not
receive any outside support on making healthy lifestyle changes to their diet, exercise routine, or sleep habits. “What we found is that weight loss for this group was modest at best,” says Dr. Luo. “Over 72 weeks, they lost about 2% of their body weight on average, which was less than 6 pounds.”
About a 1/3 of the patients in the group lost more than 5% of their baseline body weight, some didn’t lose any weight, and some gained weight.
“For patients with diabetes who take GLP-1s, it’s important to manage weight-loss expectations and shift their focus away from a number on a scale,” says Dr. Luo. “Instead, they should work with their healthcare provider to monitor how well they’re tolerating the GLP-1 drug and how it’s helping them meet their desired clinical outcomes.”
While many people tolerate the drugs well, some do not. Common side effects include GI issues like feeling sick, vomiting, and diarrhea. For some, the side effects are so uncomfortable, they may decide to stop taking the drugs. Because GLP-1s are new, researchers are still learning about long-term side effects.
“That’s why it’s important to check in regularly with your healthcare provider whether you’re taking the drug for diabetes or obesity,” says Dr. Luo.
If you stop taking the drug because of side effects, or if your insurance changes and you can’t afford the cost, studies show that within a year, you’re likely to gain back a lot of the weight you lost. “This shows us how GLP-1 is really one element of a bigger health plan that should also include a healthy diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep,” Dr. Luo explains.
With that in mind, Dr. Luo recommends that Type 2 diabetes patients consider GLP-1 drugs differently than what’s presented in the media, including: Remembering the medicine’s purpose: The medicine’s goal is to help people living with diabetes maintain safer blood sugar levels for better long-term health. While many patients may experience a substantial amount of weight loss if they’re overweight or obese, actual results may be significantly less than the hype surrounding the drug’s use for weight loss.
Make a health plan you can follow over time: If you must stop using a GLP-1 drug and you’re maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you may not gain back as much weight as you lost.
Speak up: Ask your healthcare provider about GLP-1 side effects, including what researchers already know and what they continue to learn over time. Pay special attention to and report any health changes that happen once you begin taking the drug — even if you don’t think the change is related. You may also consider participating in GLP-1 research to advance the knowledge.
“A good care plan for managing any chronic disease, including diabetes, includes different elements, like medicine, lifestyle changes, and support from healthcare providers,” says Dr. Luo “The combination is greater than the sum of its parts and ultimately helps people have healthier outcomes as they age.”
Obesity Action Coalition elevates the way we think about weight and health
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization with more than 85,000 members. One of our country’s leading voices on obesity, the group is dedicated to supporting people who are affected by the disease throughout their journey toward better health. Using a four-step approach of advocacy, awareness, education, and support, OAC members are helping to create a society where all individuals are treated with
ple-first language, they promote conversations about weight and its impact on health. They offer a community of support for people who are affected by obesity.
To learn more about the OAC, visit the organization’s website at obesityaction.org. There you’ll find information about childhood obesity, expanding access to obesity medications, how to understand and fight weight bias from childhood to adulthood in healthcare, employment, education, and the media, as well as OAC events, support tools, and more.
DR. JING LUO
'Fuel the Future: Take Center Stage!' electrifies the AWAACC
15 years in existence for the Downtown gem
Celebrating the legacy of August Wilson, and the "bright future of Black arts and culture," the August Wilson African American Cultural Center presented "Fuel the Future: Take Center Stage!" on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. The event featured a presentation of Luminary Awards to Tamara Tunie, Antoine Fuqua and Lamman Rucker, three nationally renowned artists with Pittsburgh roots. Trailblazer Award winners were Ayisha A. Morgan-Lee, Ed.D., Monica Malik, Tenel Dorsey and Marlon Gist. The event also featured the unveiling of the their Grant Staircase, a visual journey created by acclaimed artist Lavett Ballard. Also at the event, there were live performances by 2025 BUILD Artist-in-Residence Dan Wilson, returning to AWAACC with selected highlights from his sold-out George Benson tribute concert, and music from the Pittsburgh
International Jazz Festival All Stars Student Band, who made their debut at this year’s festival. Guests also enjoyed guided gallery tours featuring the highly anticipated return of Peju Alatise’s Flying Girls sculpture installation. The gala dinner menu took its inspiration from Dr. Jessica B. Harris, the celebrated culinary historian recently featured in the AWAACC's A Seat at Our Table series, honoring the traditions and creativity that shape Black cuisine.
“We are pleased to honor these seven cultural visionaries whose achievements embody Pittsburgh’s enduring legacy of innovation while serving as inspiration to future generations of artists,” said Janis Burley, AWAACC President/CEO and Artistic Director, in a statement. “We present amazing artists on our stages, incredible art in our galleries and outstanding programs and events throughout the
The entire evening also served as a fundraiser to keep the events, pro -
grams, art installations and curations alive and well at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, which is celebrating 15 years in existence. The evening's presenting
sponsor was UPMC and UPMC Health Plan.
MONICA MALIK, WITH HER FATHER, IFTIKHAR MALIK. (PHOTOS BY MARLON MARTIN)
ERIC A. SMITH, WITH HIS WIFE, AYISHA MORGAN LEE, ED.D.
PITTSBURGH MAYOR ED GAINEY, WITH HIS WIFE, FIRST LADY MICHELLE GAINEY (PHOTOS BY MARLON MARTIN)
TENEL DORSEY, JASON RIVERS
STATE REP. AERION ABNEY, WITH HIS WIFE, TAMARA ABNEY
TERRELL THOMAS, FELICITY WILLIAMS
COURIER CHURCH DIRECTORY
BAPTIST TEMPLE CHURCH
Sunday Worship: 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
7241 Race Street Pittsburgh, Pa., 15208
EBENEZER MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Sunday Worship Service: 11 a.m.
Pastor—Rev. Dr. Rodney Adam Lyde
Reverend A. Marie Walker’s Weekly Inspiration
“If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” - 2 Chronicles 7:14
REV. WALKER SAYS: Let’s focus on the first word, “IF,” meaning, we have a choice to do the following: humble ourselves, pray, seek the Lord, turn from our wicked ways; Second, two words, “My people,” which are called by the Lord. We are the children of the Lord, we will do the above. Then God will hear us, forgive our sin and heal our land. LET’S DO IT!!!
Vitalant asking for blood donors
Sr. Pastor—Rev. Dr. Vincent K. Campbell 2001 Wylie Avenue Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 www.baptisttemple.church www.ebenezerbaptistpgh.org
This December, the non-profit Vitalant asks all who are eligible to schedule a blood donation appointment and help save lives. As an extra thank you for donating at this critical time of year, Vitalant is thanking December 2025 donors with the chance to win the Big $20,000 Giveaway. One donor’s name will be drawn to win a prepaid giftcard of their choice. Plus, those who donate from Dec. 14, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026, and opt-in to Vitalant Donor Rewards, will get a $15 giftcard and a mystery item from the Rewards store.
Donors of all blood types are needed this December, especially type O and platelet donors. Type O
can help the most patients because of its compatibility. Make an appointment by visiting vitalant.org or call 1877-258-4825.
Some upcoming blood drives will be held on Friday, Dec. 12 at UPMC Shadyside, Room 201A, 5230 Centre Ave., 7:30 a.m. to noon; and Monday, Dec. 22 at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 3122 Lebanon Church Road, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Call Vitalant for more times and locations.
Pastor—
Nathaniel Pennybaker
East Hills Drive finally repaved
Elder Balthrop added that it had to have been God who oversaw this, "because it's too many moving parts for me." No case study is needed: Petra International Ministries had the worst road path to get to for a Black church in all of Pittsburgh because of the poor conditions of
East Hills Drive. What were the church members saying over the years? "That you lose your car, you lose your bumper," said Bishop Clay, senior pastor of the church. "It was really, really bad. It really spoke to a neglect, a lack of consideration for the people that live in East Hills. It was debilitating, not only
physically, but it was debilitating mentally to come up this road. It set a tone for what you were coming into, so today really does mark a revitalization."
Technically, the road starts in Penn Hills from Frankstown Road. But most people recognize that road as a City of Pittsburgh road leading to East Hills. In fact,
that's partially why it took so long for it to get repaired. It wasn't a city road, and it wasn’t fully a Penn Hills road. Some of the road was privately owned. So where would the money come to fix it? A state grant of $250,000 was finally "granted" to get the job done. Bishop Clay spoke about a scripture that
speaks on the whole earth declaring the glory of God. "This street, this road is actually speaking today," he told the crowd. "It's saying something, and what it's saying is, it's a new entrance into East Hills, which is prophetically saying, 'it's time for a new East Hills.'"
Twanda Carlisle, representing state Sen. Jay Costa, added: "I live in the East Hills community. I am here to see this today as we connect our community together, so that we can once again join in and love one another, and be a part of the whole community at-large."
Tomlin's critics are silenced in big win over Baltimore Sets up MNF showdown with Dolphins
"I think he's a great leader. Just the way that he carries himself in and out of the building, how he motivates me and gets me to follow his lead. I think he's done a heck of a job sitting in there, listening to his team meetings. Anything that he has to say or his point of view about things. He’s coached some great players in his past, and I’m just trying to add to that list with the way that I play." (Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver D.K. Metcalf) Hear ye, hear ye, boys and girls. The “Yinzer” firing squad arrived in
Baltimore a day prior to the game between the Ravens and the Steelers on Dec. 7, 2025, with their favorite undertakers, preparing to embalm and escort the Steelers' playoff hopes back to Pittsburgh in a hoopty hearse, with three flat tires and a leaky transmission that was about to blow. The Mike Tomlin character assassins were also armed and loaded for lions, tigers and bears, oh my. However, a strange thing happened on the way to the Coliseum. The game officials kicked Caesar to the curb and gave a collective thumbs up to
the Black and Gold and exhumed the bones of Edgar Allen Poe, the “King of the Ouija Board” and his pet Raven, "Harbaugh Hank."
this team. We're just going to keep fighting and keep stacking wins.'"
The following is an excerpt from "Steelers ignore noise, back Mike Tomlin in win vs. Ravens," an article written by Brooke Pryor and posted on espn.com.
“Not only did the win significantly improve the Steelers' playoff odds, which sat at just 32% entering the game, but it also gave Tomlin a 2217 head-to-head record, including the playoffs, against Ravens coach John Harbaugh, the most wins by one coach over another coach in the Super Bowl era, according to ESPN Research. 'I'm grateful for how calm he stayed throughout the process, ups and downs,' edge rusher Alex Highsmith said of Tomlin's demeanor this week. 'He continues to come in and be the same coach that he is day in and day out.... I love playing for him. I love playing for
Now, this is the same Brooke Pryor that, until recently, may have been more comfortable with Coach Tomlin returning to the collegiate coaching ranks. Tyler Maher wrote a postgame article on msn.com: "What’s Steelers’ secret to beating Ravens despite glaring disparity"...
“By most metrics, the Pittsburgh Steelers should not have beaten the Baltimore Ravens 27-22 on Sunday. Not only are the Ravens the better team, but they also finished with more first downs, fewer penalties, more total yards and more time of possession. And yet, it was the Steelers who scored more points and won the game.”
He continued, saying: ”It wasn’t the first time the Steelers have won a game like that, either. They’ve won only three games since World War II where they were outrushed by at least 170 yards, but all three have come against the Ravens in the last six seasons.”
I have said in the past, a team may have a great running attack, but if they don’t score enough points, their running game only aids the opposition as far as controlling the clock is concerned.
If the Baltimore Ravens had conserved just two or three additional minutes by getting one or two extra first downs through the air, they could’ve easily scored a touchdown. In the end, the running game ate up the clock and ate up their chance for victory.
Mike Tomlin has not always been as benevolent as he is today when it comes to player loyalty. He wasn’t so fiercely loyal when it came to ex-Steelers’ Super Bowl-winning running back Willie Parker and ex-Steelers’ wide receiver Antonio Brown. As a matter of fact, some folks even suggested that former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger sat behind the wheel of the "bus of extinction" preparing to use Antonio Brown as a speed bump as Brown was preparing to exit the North Shore. The silence of Tomlin regarding the false narrative leaping from the mouth of Roethlisberger regarding Antonio Brown provided a full tank of gas for the "B.O.E" to get rolling. I am also a bit disturbed about the current narrative regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receivers undertaking a pilgrimage to study under the Steelers’ current "griot in residence," Aaron Rodgers. When Rodgers was overthrowing wide open receivers, who did Rodg-
ers seek for guidance to straighten out that problem? Did he pull out the old Ouija board, burn a few sticks of incense and sit down with John Madden or George Blanda? And finally, did he pull out Ouija board number two to resurrect the rigor mortis-like playbook of the Steelers’ Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith?
It wasn’t the coaching or the performance of Steelers’ Alex Highsmith, who sacked Ravens QB Lamar Jackson to end the game; no, that could not have been a factor, right? I wonder if Highsmith was part of the Steelers who studied with Aaron Rodgers to receive extra credit. It took Aaron Rodgers' direction to quiet the firestorm, or at the very least pour water instead of gasoline on the out-of-control tempest to fire Mike Tomlin, right? Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five once said: “It’s like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder, how I keep from going under.” Are there days that Mike Tomlin shares that same sentiment? I can’t speculate for Coach T, but as far as I am concerned, I am certainly trying to come up for a breath or two.
STATE REP. JOE MCANDREW, EAST HILLS CONSENSUS GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DIANE DANIELS, STATE REP. LA’TASHA D. MAYES AND PITTSBURGH COUNCILMAN KHARI MOSLEY CUT THE RIBBON AS EAST HILLS DRIVE IS NOW FULLY PAVED, DEC. 9, 2025. (PHOTO BY ROB TAYLOR JR.)
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Property is Power!
Thanksgiving is more than a holiday. For our community, it is a moment of reflection, a sacred pause to honor where we’ve been, acknowledge where we stand, and envision where we are determined to go. As Black Americans, our story in this country has always been intertwined with land, opportunity, and the ongoing pursuit of freedom. In this season of gratitude, there’s no greater truth worth lifting up. Property is still power. Ownership is still the gateway. And right now is one of the most important times in our lifetime to claim our place in the land of opportunity. America markets itself as the land of opportunity, but historically, those opportunities were systematically denied to Black people. From Reconstruction to Jim Crow, from redlining to predatory lending, the playing field was never level. Yet despite every barrier, our resilience has allowed us
to rise, to learn the system, to build wealth in new ways, and to claim ownership with strategy and purpose. Today, even with economic uncertainty and shifting political winds, the opportunity to own property remains one of the most powerful tools we have to protect our families, secure our future, and strengthen our legacy. Land remains the foundation of wealth in America. Homeownership remains the leading driver of generational stability. And property remains the one asset that can’t be outsourced, downloaded, or replaced. Some will tell you to wait—wait for the election, wait for the rates to fall, wait for the market to “settle.” But history shows us something very different—opportunity rarely waits. It always favors the prepared. Home values continue to rise, Black homeownership is still nearly 30 points behind White homeownership, and closing that gap requires action, not hesitation. Political and economic uncertainty makes ownership even more important as a stabilizing force for families. Resources, grant programs, down payment assistance, and specialized lending products are more available than they have been in years, yet too few in our community take advantage of them. And while rents rise every single year, fixed mortgage payments protect you from the increasing cost of living. If we sit still, the gap widens. If we move, we shift generational outcomes. Ownership is not about timing the market, it’s about timing your future
This season, as we gather around tables with our families educated, informed, accomplished, and rising, we must also gather our courage to step
by Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE
—Odell Beckham Jr. did not spark controversy on purpose. He sat on The Pivot Podcast and tried to explain the math behind a deal that looks limitless from the outside but shrinks fast once the system takes its cut. He looked into the camera and tried to offer a truth most fans never hear. “You give somebody a five-year $100 million contract, right? What is it really? It is five years for sixty. You are getting taxed. Do the math. That is twelve million a year that you have to spend, use, save, invest, flaunt,” said Beckham. He added that buying a car, buying his mother a house, and covering the costs of life all chip away at what people assume lasts forever.
The reaction was instant. Many heard entitlement. Many heard a millionaire complaining. What they missed was a glimpse into a professional world built on big numbers up front and a quiet erasing of those numbers behind the scenes.
The tax data in Beckham’s world is not speculation. SmartAsset’s research shows that top NFL players often lose close to half their income to federal taxes, state taxes, and lo-
cal taxes. The analysis explains that athletes in California face a state rate of 13.3 percent and that players are also taxed in every state where they play road games, a structure widely known as the jock tax. For many players, that means filing up to ten separate returns and facing a combined tax burden that reaches or exceeds 50 percent.
A look across the league paints the same picture. The research lists star players in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland, all giving up between 43 and 47 percent of their football income before they ever touch a dollar. Star quarterback Phillip Rivers, at one point, was projected to lose half of his playing income to taxes alone.
A second financial breakdown from MGO CPA shows that the problem does not only affect the highest earners. A $1 million salary falls to about $529,000 after federal taxes, state and city taxes, an agent fee, and a contract deduction. According to that analysis, professional athletes typically take home around half of their contract value, and that is before rent, meals, training, travel, and support obligations are counted.
The structure of professional sports contracts adds another layer. A study
The holiday season often brings a surge in spending as individuals strive to express their love and appreciation through gift-giving. However, this well-intentioned generosity can lead to financial strain, especially when it involves skipping essential bill payments or accruing significant credit card debt. While gifts are a cherished tradition, it’s crucial to approach holiday spending responsibly to avoid long-term financial repercussions. Understanding the statistics behind these behaviors and exploring alternative, affordable gift options can help maintain financial stability during this festive season.
The Financial Impact of Holiday Spending
payments to free up money for Christmas gifts. These bills often include utilities, rent, or even credit card minimum payments, which can result in late fees, disconnection notices, or damage to credit scores.
For many, the holiday season brings excitement, but it also comes with added pressure to spend. This pressure can lead individuals to make unwise financial decisions, including skipping bills or relying on credit cards to finance holiday shopping. Here are some startling statistics to consider:
Skipping Bills for Gifts: Roughly 1 of 10 shoppers skips bills to buy gifts. Yep! Approximately 9 percent of holiday shoppers admit to skipping or delaying bill
Credit Card Usage: Roughly 3 of 4 shoppers plan to use credit cards to purchase gifts. According to Nerdwallet, about 74 percent of holiday shoppers plan to use credit cards for their gift purchases. The average amount charged to these cards during the holiday season is $1,180, with some individuals exceeding this average significantly.
Buy Now, Pay Later Loans: Roughly 1 of 3 shoppers plan to use BNPL loans to purchase Christmas gifts. For individual shoppers, BNPL users commonly spread a few hundred dollars to roughly $1,000+ of their holiday budget over installments instead of paying upfront.
Lingering Debt: Nearly 31 percent of people who used credit cards for holiday shopping the previous year report still carrying balances from those purchases nearly a year later. This means their
holiday gifts end up costing significantly more due to compounding interest, which averages upwards of 20 percent for most credit cards.
Consequences of Financial Strain
The repercussions of these financial decisions extend far beyond the holiday season. While the joy of giving may feel worth it at the moment, the long-term impact can cause stress and financial instability. Consider these potential outcomes:
Accumulating Interest: Credit card debt and Buy Now, Pay Later loans often come with high-interest rates. Carrying a balance from holiday spending into the new year can snowball into larger debt, making repayment much harder.
Damage to Credit Scores: Skipping bill payments to fund holiday shopping can hurt credit scores. A single late payment on a loan, utility bill, or credit card can remain on your credit report for up to seven years, affecting future loan approvals and interest rates.
Increased Financial Stress: The financial strain caused by holiday overspending often leads to stress and anxiety. Many individuals start the new year feeling overwhelmed by bills and debts, which detracts from the holiday joy they sought to create.
Relationship Strain: Money problems are a leading cause of tension in relationships. Overspending during the holidays can cause friction among fam-
of major deals across MLB, the NBA, and the NFL notes that long-term agreements lose value over time because the dollar today has more power than the dollar paid in the future. Even the largest deals shrink once adjusted for time. The study explains that contract size alone does not guarantee financial success and that structure and timing play a crucial role in a player’s long-term outcomes. Beckham has also faced headlines claiming he is “on the brink of bankruptcy despite earning over one hundred million” in his career. Those reports repeated his statement that “after taxes, it is only sixty million” and captured the disbelief from fans who could not understand how money at that level could ever tighten. Other reactions lacked nuance. One article wrote that no one could relate to any struggle on eight million dollars a year. Another described his approach as “the definition of a new-money move” and argued that it signaled poor financial choices and inflated spending. But the underlying truth reaches far beyond Beckham. Professional athletes enter sudden wealth with-
Odell Beckham has also faced headlines claiming he is “on the brink of bankruptcy despite earning over one hundred million” dollars in his career.
ily members and partners, especially if debts remain unpaid for months. Strategies for Financially Responsible Gift-Giving
To avoid falling into these financial traps, it’s essential to plan your holiday spending carefully. With thoughtful strategies, you can enjoy the season without sacrificing your financial health:
Set a Realistic Budget: Create a holiday spending plan that fits within your means. Be honest about how much you can afford to spend after accounting for bills, savings goals, and other obligations. Track Spending: Use a budgeting app or spreadsheet to monitor your holiday expenses. Tracking each purchase in real-time can help ensure you don’t exceed your budget. Prioritize Essential Bills: Before buying any gifts, ensure that all your necessary bills—like rent, utilities, and minimum debt payments—are covered. These expenses should always take precedence over discretionary spending. Pay with Cash or Debit Cards: Avoid using credit cards for holiday shopping whenever possible. Paying with cash or debit cards ensures you’re only spending money you already have, reducing the risk of accumulating debt.
Save in Advance: Consider starting a holiday savings fund at the beginning of
In a significant moment for the labor movement, Roxanne Brown, set to become the first African American woman elected as President of the United Steelworkers (USW), North America’s largest industrial union, joins Make It Plain with Rev. Mark Thompson. With the official transition happening in March, Brown’s ascent is more than just a personal achievement; it represents a shift in the labor movement’s leadership reflecting the demographics of today’s workforce. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, she moved to New York at the age of two and was raised by what she affectionately refers to as “the Amazons”—a family of strong, single women who were deeply involved in healthcare and unions. Her first exposure to the labor movement came through the nurses union and AFSCME’s CSEA in New York. This early in -
by Stacy M. Brown
Press USA Senior
Federal tax refunds are positioned for a sharp rise next year, with new projections showing that the average payment could increase by about $1,000 for millions of Americans.
Analysts expect the typical refund to reach roughly $4,151 for the 2026 filing season, a major jump from the $3,151 average refund taxpayers received
fluence clearly set the stage for what would be a lifelong commitment to labor rights and leadership.
Reflecting on her path to this esteemed position, Brown shared, “I cut my teeth in our policy shop, and I had to learn about our core issues and our core values. I literally spent my entire career fighting on behalf of our members across so many sectors.” 04:24
The USW under Brown’s leadership will be setting the tone with what she believes is a much-needed representation change. Brown emphasized, “We are the most diverse union in North America…we’re cradle to grave and have everything in between.”
With a membership boasting varied backgrounds, Brown’s leadership is a reflection of this diversity, as the board she is set to lead will be its most diverse in the union’s history. Leading a predomi -
nantly male union presents its unique set of challenges. Brown noted, “When people think about our union, there’s an image that comes to mind that does not look like me. But…we are the most diverse union in
North America, in terms of our sectors and membership.”
She recognizes the importance of transcending stereotypes and advocated for a more inclusive image representing the diversity within the
union. Amidst the intricate challenges of tariffs and economic pressures, uncertainty remains a theme. Brown explains, “This current environment of tariffs is not strategic and creates uncertainty…not just for sectors but for our ability to use the tools we’ve relied on for survival.”
Brown is poised to take on these challenges head-on with strategies rooted in education, engagement, and advocacy at all governmental levels. She affirmed the union’s commitment by saying, “Engage, engage, engage—because we are charged to do that on behalf of our membership.”
In discussing the broader significance of her leadership and that of fellow African American union leaders, Brown reflects, “Leadership should always reflect who is being led… I’m opening the door so that others know what is possible.”
“It is not about us
alone; it is about what we represent and showing what is possible to our members who look like us,” she said. Brown listed some of the products USW members produce: Goodyear, Bridgestone Firestone, and Michelin tires
Libby glassware
Starbucks cups
Paper towels
Amazon boxes
Wine bottles and beer cans
Bourbon bottles
Car components, including glass and steel Glass on iPhones and Android devices
Fiber optic cables used for 5G systems
Oil for powering vehicles
Cement used in construction
Various pharmaceutical products, including some COVID-19 drugs School buses and taxi services in certain areas
Baskerville coffins and caskets
during the 2025 season. CBS News reported that IRS filing data has revealed that the average direct deposit refund for 2025 stands at $3,151, up from $3,092 the prior year. “When people go to file, they’ll be surprised by really, really large refunds,” Don Schneider, deputy head of U.S. policy at Piper Sandler and one of the report’s authors, said in a recent podcast about the analysis. “In a typical year, we might have about $270 billion in tax
IS
into the next chapter of our economic empowerment. We have more access than our grandparents ever imagined. More knowledge than our parents ever had. More opportunities than our ancestors were ever allowed. But access without action means nothing. This Thanksgiving, let us give thanks for the sacrifices that made our degrees, careers, and mobility possible, but let us honor those sacrifices by doing what they could not
out preparation. They carry the weight of family support. They navigate teams, agents, advisors, and expectations from every direction. Their earning window is
refunds, and it’ll be that plus another $90 billion.”
Analysts expected a spike to come after the Trump administration’s sweeping tax and spending law was signed in July. The law eliminates federal taxes on some overtime and tipped income and lifts the state and local tax deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000. All changes were made retroactive to 2025, setting up larger refunds when taxpayers file in early 2026. Because most Ameri-
always do: Own. Build. Expand. Protect. Transform. This is legacy work. When Black families own homes, everything changes. Children gain stability. Parents gain security. Communities gain power. Wealth stops leaking out and starts flowing forward. This Thanksgiving, remember you are not just buying a home, you are planting a flag. You are claiming territory. You are rewriting history. You are walking in the footsteps of ancestors who dreamed of this moment. This is the land of opportunity. It may be
brief. Their career can end in a moment. Their income is fragmented, taxed, and carved up before the public ever sees the real number. The math is unflinching. Twenty million dollars becomes something closer to
the year. Putting away a small amount each month can significantly ease the financial burden when the holidays arrive.
Communicate with Loved Ones: If finances are tight, discuss alternative gift-giving approaches with family and friends. Suggest setting spending limits, drawing names for gift exchanges, or focusing on experiences rather than material gifts.
Affordable Gift Alternatives
Holiday gifts don’t have to break the bank to be meaningful. In fact, some of the most cherished presents come from the heart rather than the wallet.
Consider these affordable options: Handmade Gifts: Crafting your own gifts is a thoughtful way to show you care. Ideas include baking cookies, knitting scarves, creating photo albums, or writing personalized letters. Handmade gifts often carry more sentimental value than store-bought items. Experience-Based Gifts: Offer your time and energy instead of a material gift. Plan a picnic, host a movie night, or cook a special dinner for your loved ones. These experiences often create more lasting memories than physical presents.
Thoughtful Gestures: Small but meaningful gestures, such as creating a playlist of someone’s favorite songs or compiling a scrapbook of shared memories, can leave a lasting impression without costing much.
Regifting: If you’ve received items in the past that you haven’t used but are still in great condition, consider regifting them to someone who would appreciate them more.
Don’t bank on your tax refund bailing you out A refund is not a rescue mission. It’s not guaranteed, it might be smaller than expected, and the IRS could delay it. If you
cans receive their refunds within about 21 days of filing, the size of those payments often carries significant weight in household budgets. Next year could bring one of the biggest refund seasons on record. The benefits will not be evenly shared. Piper Sandler’s analysis shows middle and upper-middle income households, those earning between $60,000 and $400,000, stand to gain the most. That finding matches a Tax Policy Center review that esti-
mated that people earning more than $217,000 receive six of every ten dollars in new tax breaks created by the July law.
High earners will see some limits. The expanded $40,000 SALT deduction begins to phase out for households earning more than $500,000. Lower-income filers are also unlikely to benefit because the higher SALT cap only helps people whose state and local tax bills exceed the standard deduction. Filers must
imperfect, complicated, and still evolving, but it is ours to shape, if we choose to own it. Let this Thanksgiving be more than gratitude. Let it be strategy. Let it be action. Let it be the moment we say: The future belongs to those who own it. And we will not be renters of our own destiny. We will be owners of our land, our legacy, and our story. Property is Power. And the time is now.
(Dr. Anthony O. Kellum—CEO of Kellum Mort-
itemize to claim it, which tax experts note is less common among lower-income households. Schneider said the impact falls primarily on households in the middle of the income distribution rather than those at the lowest or highest ends.
“This isn’t going to the very bottom of the distribution. It isn’t going to the very top of the distribution either,” Scheider said.
$8 million after federal taxes, state taxes, jock taxes, agent fees, training costs, and family responsibilities. Over five years, that is about $40 million of real, spendable income. It is transformative money, but not infinite. Not guaranteed. Not protected. Beckham offered a question at the heart of this entire debate. “Can you make that last forever?”
ROXANNE BROWN
PROPERTY
POWER FROM B1
The rise of women
Historically, women have usually gotten the short end of the sociological stick, and this is true in the United States. For years, women were not able to vote, own property, or otherwise function as independent, free human beings.
This situation has created problems. In the African American community, the deficits have manifested as broken homes. For various reasons, there is a dearth of active fathers in the Black community. Divorce rates are higher in the Black community than in other American groups. This is partially due to disenfranchisement. For example, when women are raising their children after a separation or divorce, they often face discrimination, which is one of the factors that hinders Black economic progress. Women are frequently paid less than men for the same work, sometimes denied property rights, and face restrictions in other arenas of American life.
Women have also been restricted from participation in higher education, which limits access to professional opportunities. As a result of current political machinations, women have been denied control over their own bodies and are excluded from certain professions. Essentially, women have come under increasing scrutiny and are experiencing setbacks in women’s autonomy.
The winds of change are sweeping the world at this time, and the oppression that women have traditionally experienced is morphing into something new. Violence of various kinds has been used to keep women under control, but this is changing and is accompanied by the awakening of women everywhere. The Jeffrey Epstein debacle is a catalyst in this regard. If we look at things objectively, we would recognize that women around the world are ascending. There is also opposition to this awakening. It is manifesting in the oppression of women in the armed forces, abortion restrictions, birth control limitations, and a number of other hot-button issues taking women back to an oppressive past.
The truth of the matter is that women, especially Black women, have had “to make a way out of no way” in an attempt to manage their lives. In spite of hardship, they have persevered, and many have ascended to high positions and garnered great success as they made the proverbial lemonade with the lemons they were given.
Some of the women who have achieved success in America include Oprah Winfrey, the first African American woman to become a billionaire and the first Black woman to own her own production company; Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, serving from 1969 to 1983; Ida B. Wells, a civil rights leader, journalist, and educator who fought for women’s rights; Kamala Harris, the first woman, Black woman, and South Asian American to serve as Vice President of the United States; and Rosa Parks, the civil rights activist who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger and became known as the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.”
Other great Black women include Harriet Tubman, a leader of the Underground Railroad who was the first African American woman to serve in the military; Sojourner Truth, an African American abolitionist and women’s rights activist; Tarana Burke, civil rights activist and founder of the “Me Too” movement; Katherine Johnson, one of the first African American women to work as a NASA scientist; Misty Copeland, the first African American to become a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre; Simone Biles, the first African American to win the World All-Around title, the first female gymnast to win three consecutive World All-Around titles, and the first U.S. gymnast to win a World medal in every event; and Serena Williams, often called the “Greatest Athlete of All Time.”
This is an extremely limited list of successful and influential Black women who have paved the way to success for women—especially Black women—in America and around the world. They are role models who have demonstrated strategies for reaching success in spite of obstacles. Aluta continua.
(Reprinted from the Chicago Crusader)
I was
crowned Queen Mother in Ghana
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—A few days ago, I was crowned Queen Mother for my “Global Vision and Lifetime of Service, Leadership and Love for Humanity”.
I landed in Ghana to much appreciation and respect for my work. I’ve had the joy of working with so many throughout the world! I’ve dedicated my soul to bettering the lives of my people.
In a historic and joy-filled ceremony that blended centuries of royal African tradition with the honor of modern-day achievement, I was officially crowned Queen Mother. The event was a resplendent moment, not only for me, but for all who’ve witnessed my decades of leadership, advocacy, and devotion to building bridges across continents and communities.
Under the golden Ghanaian sun, drums beat softly as many from around the world gathered to celebrate this honor with me. Dignitaries from the World Conference of Mayors in Ghana, President Francis Tetteh, Queen Mother Wakeelah Martinez of Wichita, Kansas, Bishop Antoine Jasmine of St. John Parish, LA, LTC Tyrone Bost of Baltimore, MD, Thaia Grace of WDC and others who gave witness to the fact that my work has touched generations and continents.
Having lived through a rugged last few years, I was honored to accept this title for which I am filled with gratitude. This is not just a recognition of my work, but of the collective efforts of those with whom I’ve served. Together, we will continue to strive for prog-
Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.
ress, unity, and empowerment. I am so excited to be able to work with my brothers and sisters in Ghana, as well as in The Gambia on the 2for2Challenge.org for keeping girls in school.
Ghanaian music filled the air, dancers performed in my honor, and prayers of thanksgiving rose as I was crowned, adorned in ceremonial regalia that reflects the beauty of my roots and the strength of my journey.
I appreciate my hosts recognizing I’ve led a journey of purpose and their recognition of my life as a testament to purpose in action. For nearly two decades, I served as President of the National Congress of Black Women, leading with a fearless heart and unwavering devotion to justice and equality. I’ve been blessed to have my voice echoing across the halls of power and the pages of history—not as an observer, but as a participant in shaping change and helping others. I’m an author and journalist. I pray that my words and actions are vessels for awakening. My books include The Peace Terrorists, which chronicles my 40-day peace mission in the Middle East.
My book, Dick Gregory: Wake Up and Stay Woke, reflects not only
our friendship, but also our shared passion for awakening consciousness through humor and truth. I continue to preserve and promote his legacy of justice, health awareness, and laughter as a means of healing. I host Wake Up and Stay Woke on WPFW-FM 89.3 Wednesdays at 10:00 AM (est) in Washington, D.C., in honor of the wit, wisdom, and achievements of Mr. Gregory. As a columnist for the Trice-Edney Wire Service, I use my voice to inform, uplift, and inspire my people. My work has earned many accolades: NAACP Presidential Legacy Award, United Churches Global Human Rights Award, Ebony Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Black Americans, HistoryMakers, Grambling University Hall of Fame, Ford Motor Company’s Freedom Sisters, and Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Other honors include the “I Rise” Award for my work on domestic violence awareness (as a survivor myself), Woman of Courage Award from the National Women’s Political Caucus, Visionary Leadership Award from the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Congress of Black Women, Charles Evers Justice Award. Stepping into a new chapter of service, my vision includes water system development in Kyoko. This moment is about connection between nations, generations, and all of God’s children as we use our gifts to build, to heal, and to lead with love.
(Dr. E. Faye Williams, President of The Dick Gregory Society.)
We’re fresh off some local, state and national wins in elections, education, and environmental justice. These are significant victories, and we should take the time to celebrate and reflect on them. However, I have seen people quickly move on to the next issue or “ism” to address. I want to caution against this, especially for the Black community and other non-White people, who are often expected to always be in the fight. Before I continue, I want to emphasize that yes, we should fight and resist. But that is not all we should do. Approaching organizing and advocacy in a linear way can lead to mental and physical issues, as we carry the trauma of this work in our bodies. Instead, we should develop an abolitionist framework with our organizing. Abolition is not just about burning things down or ending something; it also represents community care, love, healing, accountability and mutual aid. Moreover, reimagining the systems and institutions that have caused harm. Since people make up these systems, it’s crucial to challenge their thinking and engage in ways that will elevate their consciousness. Utilizing this framework, which is rooted in community care, mutual aid, and healing, is essential to conducting community organizing that will result in genuine transformation. Community care is about not pushing capitalist views of labor
Fawn Walker Montgomery Commentary
and productivity onto people.
Seeing individuals as more than means to meet grant goals. This approach seeks to shift from transactional community organizing and forming connections based on trauma bonds. Instead, it promotes creating community solutions to prevent, interrupt, and heal from harm caused by oppressive institutions.
Another key element to this is mutual aid, a community-based support not connected to institutions or nonprofits. You generally see this done in response to a lack of aid from a government or in crisis situations. However, this is something that we should be doing routinely as a collective. We can learn a lot from prison abolitionists in this context, specifically with their ability to practice “radical revisioning” that is at times required to survive within the prison system (Davis 2003). This is centered on the ability to form relationships. Due to the formal rules that enforce punishment for minor infractions and the hierarchical structure involving those in “trustee” positions, much of this occurs informal-
ly and goes underground, despite the risks of misconduct charges (Weil & Fayter, 2020). They show up as acts of resistance by creating care packages with low resources, cooking, providing mentorship, and lending supplies, etc. Truly building safety through relationships and community. This belief that there are various ways to create safety is directly connected to abolition. With healing, abolitionists push the need to accept that there are other forms of healing, not connected to traditional Western practices of therapy. It makes space for us to go back to our ancestral ways of healing by using water, root workers, and herbs. Developing rest practices that involve stillness, meditation, and intentional breathing that leads to healthy resistance. We can’t lose this in our movement work, and now more than ever, with the uncertainty with leadership, it’s time to reclaim these practices!
To fully implement an abolitionist framework, we must unlearn the ways in which we have internalized whiteness, such as the ideas of urgency and individualism. It’s important to acknowledge the contradictions we live with and remain open to principled struggles and continuous learning. Furthermore, engage in collective reading and studying, take time to rest, and foster community connections with others.
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—“New Orleans is a city with a soul. Our culture, our neighborhoods, our traditions, and our deep sense of community shape how we live and how we keep each other safe. Any law enforcement activity in our city, including federal operations, must honor that reality. It must reflect an understanding of our local laws, our norms, and our people.”
Of all the cities in the nation, New Orleans perhaps best exemplifies the virtues of the American melting pot. Just as our signature dish, gumbo, depends upon the many distinct ingredients and culinary styles that come together to create something rich, flavorful, and unsurpassed, New Orlean’s beauty and strength comes from the interwoven cultures and traditions of its diverse population. Any federal law enforcement operation in New Orleans, especially one focused on immigration, must respect those cultures and traditions.
This week, I was proud to stand with Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr., New Orleans Mayor-Elect Helena Moreno, New Orleans City Councilmembers, advocates from civil and immigration rights groups, and faith and other community leaders to demand transparency, safeguards against discriminatory enforcement, and humanitarian protections during the ongoing federal immigration
sweep of Operation Catahoula Crunch.
Immigrant communities power New Orleans’ hospitality industry, our restaurants, our music, and our traditions. When they suffer, the entire city suffers. Local hotel operators and restaurateurs are already worried about staffing shortages due to fear of raids, which could impact tourism and Mardi Gras celebrations. Immigration enforcement in New Orleans already has created fear and uncertainty among thousands of families in New Orleans. People are staying home, businesses are closing, and workers are afraid to show up— even those with legal status.
This is not just an immigrant issue—it’s an economic issue. When immigrant workers disappear, restaurants close, hotels struggle, and tourism declines. That hurts every New Orleanian. Families are terrified of being torn apart. Many immigrants cannot “go
back” because their countries are plagued by violence or instability. Deportation is not just relocation—it’s a life-threatening risk for many. Community organizations like Familias Unidas en Acción are stepping up to provide food and support, but they are no substitute for fair and humane policies. These raids are part of a larger national trend of aggressive immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which has sparked protests and unrest in cities across the country. I join Rep. Carter in requesting a full field hearing to be held in New Orleans so that local leaders can directly address and assess these pressing issues openly, among the people who are most affected. Immigration is not a threat—it is a strength. America’s greatness comes from its diversity and its ability to welcome those seeking a better life. We must reject fear-based policies and embrace solutions that keep families together, protect workers, and strengthen our economy. Immigration reform should reflect our values: fairness, opportunity, and respect for human dignity. New Orleans thrives when immigrants thrive. Protecting them protects the soul of our city— and the promise of our nation.
‘All Skinfolk Ain’t Kinfolk’
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—It was during the 1930s when renowned author Zora Neale Hurston popularized the African American proverb, “all skinfolk ain’t kinfolk.” While she didn’t invent the phrase, it highlights the unfortunate reality that a shared racial identity among people does not automatically translate into racial loyalty and shared community commitment. Malcolm X would later use the phrase. It is a powerful reminder of the challenge of maintaining racial solidarity when justice, fairness, and human dignity are under attack. Just because people share the same color and ethnicity does not mean they share the same desire or concern to support one another. Ideally, the community needs to become a unified village where its members bond together when resisting any form of external oppression. Therefore, the community needs to become a “family.” And like any family, the internal differences should be put aside when there are multiple external threats to its members. But when you have “skinfolk” who are not kinfolk, their sense of alignment is more with the external threat, even when the threat is White supremacy. The word betrayal comes to mind when someone considered dependable violates trust, confidence, or loyalty. Betrayal comes in different forms.
In July of last year, Salman Fiqy stood in the front row behind President Trump during a campaign rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Fiqy, who first immigrated to the United States from Somalia in 2009, said he was proud to campaign for Trump. Now, things are different, and Fiqy’s support for the Republican Party is over. After threatening to end the Temporary Protected Status for Somalis in Minnesota, President Trump has called Somali immigrants living in the United States “garbage” and wants them to leave, claiming that “they contribute nothing.” CBS News is reporting that ICE is now targeting Somali people with final deportation orders in Minneapolis and St. Paul. “We felt betrayal by the president, the one we organized for and did an outreach for,” Fiqy said. Imam Tawakal Ismail, a self-described religious leader in Minnesota, is joining Fiqy in disavowing his connection to the GOP at both the local and national levels. “We expected leadership that stands up for truth and justice. That did not happen.” Ismail said.
Donald Trump has always shown who he is as a man and president. This is his second term; therefore, Fiqy and Ismail should have already known what Trump stood for. It should be no surprise to them that Trump is not a man of character. It is not only Trump who betrayed the Somalis, but Fiqy and Ismail when they fol-
David W. Marshall
Commentary
H. Rap Brown, Assata Shakur, and revolutionary suicide
H. Rap Brown, a significant figure in the Black Power Movement and the Black Panther Party, died recently. Brown was 82. Assata Shakur died a few months back. Shakur was a Black Panther who joined its offshoot, the Black Liberation Army. She was 78.
The Black Power movement arose in the mid-1960s as a response to the mainstream Civil Rights movement’s incremental approach to racial progress. Inspired by Malcolm X’s advocacy for Black self-defense, Black power supporters began to abandon nonviolence, but there was a lot of misunderstanding about what “Black power” actually meant.
In 1967, H. Rap Brown became chairman of the Student Non-Violent Coordination Committee (SNCC), but he changed the organization’s name to the Student National Coordination Committee. SNCC was prominent for its nonviolent direct-action campaigns and voter registration drives. Removing the word “non-violent” from the SNCC’s name reflected Brown’s determination to lead the organization into confrontations with the White power structure. However, the Black Panther Party, founded in 1966 to carry out Malcolm X’s beliefs, became the embodiment of the Black Power movement.
Bayard Rustin, a civil rights leader and pacifist, criticized “Black power” as an empty slogan that had the same emotional appeal as previous slogans like “back to Africa” and “buy Black” but was born out of frustration and hopelessness. It’s difficult to disagree with Rustin when Don Cox, Field Marshall of the Black Panther Party, said, “Black people have no power within the system, and Black people will never have any power within the system. Black people only have the power to destroy and disrupt.”
Huey Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, transformed Cox’s frustration, hopelessness, and desire to destroy into the concept of “revolutionary suicide.” This meant that a person was willing to risk death for the sake of social justice and liberation or, put simply, “to die for the people.”
lowed through on an opportunity for the GOP to gain further ground in the Somali community.
Ismail has released a statement expressing disappointment that Minnesota Republicans did not come out in support of the Somali people after the president’s derogatory remarks. What did they expect when Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans campaigned on the issue of mass deportation? Did Fiqy and Ismail feel comfortable in thinking that anti-immigrant and dehumanizing rhetoric targeted toward Hispanics wouldn’t catch up and apply to the Somali community? As Fiqy and Ismail aligned themselves with White supremacy, being labeled as garbage was the outcome. The Somalian people, like all human beings, regardless of their ethnicity, were created in the image of God, and God doesn’t create garbage. The internal betrayal is not limited to the Somali community. As the African American community produced its share of Clarence Thomas’s, Ben Carsons, and Tim Scotts, the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was supported by Black MAGA despite its long-term damage to the upward mobility of the Black middle class. The short-lived initiative was effectively dissolved in less than one year. DOGE’s institutionalized changes have systematically harmed Black communities by attacking federal jobs, DEI, and civil-rights infrastructure, and the flow of grants that disproportionately support Black workers, institutions, and neighborhoods. Black workers, compared with other segments of the population, are significantly overrepresented throughout the federal workforce. As a result, federal jobs have become a pipeline into the middle class and Black earning power. Thousands of positions in agencies such as Education, HUD, Social Security, Treasury, and the Veterans Administration, where Black employment is concentrated, were targeted for thousands of job eliminations. Many Black families relied on these federal positions to sustain homeownership and intergenerational stability. The same is true with federal programs designed to support Black businesses. The Department of Education’s recent reclassification and downgrading of degrees will disproportionally harm Black women. The holders of professional degrees related to education, social work, counseling, public administration, criminal justice, and health administration are “community-building” and “caregiving” individuals who are Black women in large numbers. The long-term impact is cruel. Not only will this hurt Black economic mobility, but the long-term service to the most vulnerable people within Black and Brown communities may never recover. At least Salman Fiqy and Tawakal Ismail eventually woke up and spoke in defense of their kinfolk.
(David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body and the author of the book “God Bless Our Divided America.”)
J. Pharoah Doss Check It Out
Newton specified that it was not a death wish but a call to action, but it was self-destruction under the guise of revolutionary action for Black liberation. Brown established himself as a national figure by giving speeches across the country calling for open rebellion against the United States government. Brown pushed for inner-city Black Americans to wage guerilla warfare in all major American cities. Over 150 riots broke out in 1967 as a result of racial tensions, police violence, and poor social conditions. Brown praised the violence, describing it as a “dress rehearsal for revolution.”
In July 1967, Brown gave a speech in Cambridge, Maryland; he stated, “If America doesn’t come around, we’re going to burn it down.” Following the speech, Brown was shot by a police officer, but Brown was charged with inciting a riot and carrying a firearm across state lines. Brown didn’t appear for trial, becoming a fugitive. Then, in 1971, he was wounded in a police shootout in New York and convicted of robbery and assault.
He spent five years in Attica. While in prison, he converted to Islam, changed his name to Jamil Abdullah al-Amin, and later became a Muslim minister after being released. In 2002, Al-Amin was sentenced to life for the murder of a Georgia sheriff’s deputy, and he died in a prison hospital.
Assata Shakur’s Black Liberation Army was an underground group inspired by the Vietcong to declare war on the US government. They carried out robberies for funds, bombings, and hijacked a plane. The Fraternal Order of Police accused them of murdering 13 police officers.
Shakur was charged with two bank robberies, kidnapping, and attempted
murder of two New York police officers between 1973 and 1977; however, she was either acquitted, had a mistrial, or the jury was deadlocked. She was later found guilty of murdering a New Jersey state policeman in 1977, but she escaped from prison in 1979. She was granted political asylum in Cuba, where she spent the remainder of her life. Both became “revolutionary” legends and were honored as freedom fighters after their deaths, yet fighting for Black liberation was not their true legacy. It’s the following:
Ismaaiyl Brinseley, 28, drove from Baltimore to New York in 2014. He announced on Instagram that he intended to avenge the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, both Black men killed by police officers. Brinsley fatally shot two officers in their squad car before fleeing to the subway, where he committed suicide.
In 2016, police killed two more Black men. Alton Sterling died on July 5 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, while Philando Castile died on July 6 in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. On July 7, a demonstration was held in Dallas, Texas, in response to the police killings. There were 800 participants, and 100 police officers were assigned to monitor the event. Micah Xavier Johnson, 25, shot and killed five police officers at the Dallas rally because he was enraged by the police killings of Sterling and Castile and sought retribution. Johnson retreated into a building, and after a standoff, he was killed by the police.
A police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, killed another Black man, George Floyd, on May 5, 2020. This time, rioting erupted throughout the country. On June 2, the AP reported, “Protests that began peacefully over the death of George Floyd turned violent in the St. Louis area, where four police officers were shot and wounded, and a retired St. Louis police captain was killed.”
The mainstream media labeled Brinseley mentally ill, Johnson delusional, and the looters as thugs, but what the mainstream media failed to understand was that these were acts of “revolutionary suicide.”
Surprised by the headlines about White men and college? Time for a reality check
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—The headlines this month about White men, college admissions, and the fallout from ending affirmative action startled a lot of people. Stories of declining enrollment and shrinking opportunity for young White men were treated as if they had materialized out of nowhere.
Many found it surprising.
I didn’t.
It reminded me of a conversation I had a little over a decade ago on a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta to Memphis— one of those brief moments in transit that stays with you because it tells the truth long before the data catches up.
A White man in a bright red shirt with a Confederate flag over his heart sat down next to me. He stuck out his hand and said, “Hi, I’m Bill.” As he introduced himself, I looked more closely at his shirt and realized that under the flag it said “Ole Miss Football.” It was a booster shirt. We chatted. He asked what I did. I told him I led the NAACP. He blinked, then leaned in with a sincerity I recognized.
“Ben,” he asked, “what’s the purpose of affirmative action?”
I told him the truth: its purpose is to help dismantle nepotism as the operating system of this country. He slapped his knee. “Sign me up for that. But tell me this—what good does that do for the boys in my family?”
Then he told me what he meant. The men in his family had been, as he put it, “in and out of prison since we came here on the wrong side of the Georgia penal colony.” He was the lone exception—a gifted high school football player who earned a scholarship to Ole Miss. A coach introduced him to business leaders in Memphis. That was his way out. The booster shirt wasn’t a provocation. It was a keepsake from the only open door his family ever had.
Bill’s story is not the one America tells about White men. But it is the story millions are living. And it mirrors something larger happening across this country.
For years now, researchers have documented serious headwinds facing working-class American men: wages that stagnate or fall, especially for men without college degrees; fewer men in college even as women’s enrollment rises; more men detached from the labor force; rising suicide and overdose deaths in many hard-hit communities; and marriage becoming less common and less stable for men with the weakest economic prospects.
White working-class men feel this acutely. But they are not alone.
White men may have made the headlines, but similar trends are affecting Black, Latino, Native, and Asian men—especially those from poor and working-class backgrounds. In today’s economy, class and education now do as much work as race in deciding whether a man will be seen as “marriageable,”
Ben Jealous Commentary
employable, and likely to climb beyond the station of his birth.
So if you’re wondering why a Black civil rights leader cares about the struggles of White men, the answer is simple: In a democracy, you cannot fix poverty for anyone unless you fix it for everyone. Every major leap forward in opportunity in this country has depended on multiracial coalitions. Progress comes when we face the full truth—not when we ignore parts of it.
Which brings us to the conversation we are actually having.
Or rather, not having.
It’s time to readjust our thinking about White men, college admissions, and DEI. The left and the right have both turned this into a culture war when what we really need is a reality check.
On the right, the headlines became a grievance weapon—proof, some claim, that diversity efforts were out to “replace” White men. On the left, the reaction was defensive, as if acknowledging hardship among White families would somehow undermine the fight for racial justice. Neither response had much to do with the truth.
And if we’re wondering why we can’t seem to have a real conversation about opportunity, we should start where political scientist Martin Gilens warned us decades ago. By portraying poverty disproportionately with Black faces, American media helped make the White poor—and much of the working class—invisible. That distortion robbed
us of the ability to see the full picture of suffering and the full map of shared struggle.
When entire communities are invisible, their pain doesn’t get counted. Their boys don’t get counted. Their decline doesn’t make the front page until it shows up as a political shock. That invisibility hurts everyone. It hurts White families like Bill’s. It hurts Black and brown families navigating the same broken ladders. It hurts the communities trying to build stable futures for their children.
Before we talk solutions, we need full visibility—a willingness to see all who are struggling, not just the ones who fit our old narratives.
And yes, part of that conversation may involve something like affirmative action for working-class families—including White men. Not the caricatured version people argue about on cable news, but the real kind colleges have long used: giving a boost to students from low-income families, high-poverty neighborhoods, under-resourced schools, and overlooked rural counties—from Appalachia to the Mississippi Delta to remote parts of Alaska. Race-based affirmative action sat alongside these classand place-based efforts; it never replaced them. And even after the Supreme Court’s decision, colleges can still use class-based affirmative action because it recognizes a basic truth: A child’s chances in life are shaped powerfully by zip code, wealth, and opportunity. The headlines surprised many because they showed only one part of the story. It’s time we tell the whole one. Only then can we rebuild opportunity—for Bill, for the boys in his family, and for every family fighting for a fair shot.
(Ben Jealous is a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and a former national president and CEO of the NAACP. His latest book is Never Forget Our People Were Always Free.)
ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings
RFP REQUEST
PPG Industries, Inc., headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, has work-at-home Supply Chain Database Administrator, Senior position (w/ability to telecommute w/approp. telecommuting sys.) responsible for leading integration & maintenance of company’s data sources as well as driving all facets of database integration & mgmt. Apply online at careers.ppg.com.
ADVERTISING
Notices Petition for Determination of Title to 515 Seagirt Street Pittsburgh, PA 15221. (0232-A00321-0000-00) Estate of Daisy L. Roach deceased, filed by Ladonna Yates, No. 2520 of 2018, Orphans Court. Quinntarra Morant, Esq. Morant Law Offices, PO Box 10946, Pittsburgh, PA 15236.
Estate of BEVERLY HOWARD, A/K/A BEVERLY D. HOWARD AND BEVERLY DIANE HOWARD Case No. 5322 of 2023. Quentin Joseph Howard appointed Executrix by Order dated December 3, 2025. Peter B. Lewis, Neighborhood Legal Services, 928 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Counsel.
Estate of BEVERLY S. VENTURELLA, Deceased, of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No. 02-25-07518 , Emilio Venturella, Administrator, 129 Sherwood Drive, Canonsburg, PA 15317 or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC., 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017
Estate of BETTE S. HUTTON, Deceased of Sewickley, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No. 02-25-07520, Katherine B. Ohleger, Executor, 524 Bocktown Cork Road, Clinton, PA 15026 or to TODD A. FULLER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017
LEGAL ADVERTISING Name Change
“In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-25-009623.
In re petition of SHARON RENEE MCGEE for change of name to SHARON RENEE STOWERS.
To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 13th day of December, 2025, 9:30 A.M., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.”
LEGAL ADVERTISING Articles of Incorporation
FIRST PUBLISHED
MJ Community Services, Inc. filed a Foreign Registration Statement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The address of its principal office under the law of its jurisdiction is 1286 University Avenue #530, San Diego, CA, 92103. The Commercial Registered Office Provider is in the care of Legalinc Corporate Services Inc., in Allegheny County. The Corporation is filed in compliance with the requirements of applicable provision of 15 Pa. C.S. § 412.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings
The City of Pittsburgh Equal Opportunity Review Commission will host a regular meeting on Thursday, December 18th from 12-1pm. It will take place in the Learning Lab on the sixth floor of the City-County Building; 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh PA 15219.
On the Agenda:
• Introduction: Roll Call
• Approval of November 2025 Minutes
• Public Comment • December 2025 Plans (Review and Action)
• ITQ Contracts (Notice Only)
• Contract Alerts & Violations (Notice Only)
• Commissioner Comments
• Office of Business Diversity Comments
For more information email EORC@pittsburghpa.gov.
OFFICIAL NOTICE
BOROUGH OF THORNBURG
2026 MEETING SCHEDULE
Notice is hereby given that the regular meetings of the Council of the Borough of Thornburg during the year 2026 will be held on the first Monday of each month, except for the September meeting. Due to the Federal holiday of Labor Day falling on the first Monday of the month, the regular meeting of September 2026 will be held on Tuesday, September 8th, 2026. Meetings will be held at 7:00 p.m., prevailing time, in the Community Building, 545 Hamilton Road, Thornburg, Pennsylvania 15205.
Kristina Szmul Secretary/Treasurer Borough of Thornburg
NOTICE: Baldwin Township’s Board of Commissioners will be hold its 2026 monthly Regular Meetings at 10 Community Park Dr., at 6:30 PM, on the first Tuesday of each Month, unless otherwise noted, as follows: January 6, February 3, March 3, April 8, May 5, June 2, July 7, August 4, September 1, October 6, November 4 (Wed.), and December 8, 2026. The Board of Commissioners will hold its 2026 monthly Pre-agenda Meetings at 10 Community Park Dr., at 6:00 PM, on the last Monday of each Month, unless otherwise noted, as follows: January 26, February 23, March 30, April 27, May 26 (Tue.), June 29, July 27, August 24, September 28, October 26, November 30, and December 28, 2026
Charla Pfeil, Baldwin Township Manager
Tennis Court Reconstruction & Pickleball Installation Kaufmann Family Park – Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh seeks proposals from qualified contractors for the reconstruction of approx. 1,500 SY of tennis courts at Kaufmann Family Park in Monroeville, PA. Work includes removal of existing asphalt and footers, base preparation, new asphalt paving, acrylic color coating, tennis and pickleball striping, installation of posts and nets, and limited fence adjustments. Interested contractors may request the full scope of work and schedule a site visit.
COURIER
CLASSIFIEDS… THE ONLY WAY TO GO!
BID ADVERTISEMENT CONTRACT NUMBER: 47-19-15
HAMILTON ROAD SIDEWALK STABILIZATION
Sealed Bids are requested by the Borough of Thornburg. Bids will be received by the Borough’s Consulting Engineer, NIRA Consulting Engineers, Inc. at 950 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA 15108, until 4:00 P.M. prevailing time, Friday, January 23, 2026, for the Hamilton Road Sidewalk Stabilization. Bids will be opened publicly and read aloud immediately after the closing time for receipt of Bids.
Interested parties may view the Profile and Bid Schedule for this Project on the internet at: www.niraengineers.com.
All Bid Documents are available via email request to bids@niraengineers.com.
Electronic bid documents are available for a $25.00 fee and printed bid documents are available for a $100.00 fee with an additional charge of $15.00 when shipping is requested. Checks are to be made payable to NIRA Consulting Engineers, Inc. Each Bid must be accompanied by a Bid Bond, in the form of a Certified Check or Corporate Surety Bid Bond, in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the Bid Proposal made in the favor of the Borough of Thornburg. Only bids from Contractors who have obtained documents directly from NIRA Consulting Engineers, Inc. will be accepted at bid opening. A Performance Bond, Labor and Material Payment Bond, and Maintenance Bond in the amounts specified within the Contract Documents will be required of the successful Bidder.
Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the Provisions of the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act 442. The Prevailing Wage Scale is included in these Specifications.
Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the Provisions of the Public Works Employment Verification Act (PWEVA).
Adherence to Instructions to Bidders is required.
No Bid or any part thereof shall be withdrawn by Bidder for a period of sixty (60) days subsequent to the Bid Opening.
The right is reserved by the Owner to reject any or all Bids or parts of bids and to waive technical defects in any Bid. LEGAL
PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY D.B.A. PRT
Electronic Proposals will be received online at PRT’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org).
Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on January 14, 2026, and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)
Bid Name
Bid Number
1 B25-11-76 TWC Antennas - LRV
2
B25-11-79 115LB Rail
3 B25-11-81 Gillig Bus - Allison Transmission Coolers
To join the bid opening through Microsoft Teams meeting on your computer, mobile app or room device
Meeting ID: 256 377 516 686 07
Passcode: : 5J9h6HF2
Or call in (audio only)
412-927-0245
Phone Conference ID: 764 938 506#
No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids.
A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on each of the above items at 10:00 AM on December 18, 2025, , through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing. Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged.
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Meeting ID: 239 051 898 897 35
Passcode: Tk7oo6ci
Or call in (audio only) 412-927-0245 Phone Conference ID: 390 464 812#
Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the PRT within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening. These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County d.b.a. PRT and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations. Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing.
Port Authority of Allegheny County d.b.a. PRT hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.
The Board of PRT reserves the right to reject any or all bids.
LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals
NOTICE TO BIDDERS INVITATION TO BID
Radon TESTING AND Mitigation PROJECT FOR Multi-Family Housing –various site locations
MITIGATION CONTRACT –
PA18.26.1.1
Westmoreland County Housing Authority is requesting radon final testing and mitigation system construction bids for the referenced project through sealed bids which will be received by the Westmoreland County Housing Authority, until January 12, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. (eastern standard time).
A Pre-Bid Meeting is scheduled for December 17, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. (eastern standard time) at the office of Westmoreland County Housing Authority – 167 South Greengate Road - Greensburg, PA 15601
Electronic Bid Documents are available for downloading at www.wchaonline.com. Bidders are required to register online at the www.wchaonline.com to view bid documents. Plan holders proposing to bid shall also register their intent to submit a bid with Westmoreland County Housing Authority via email to lindam@wchaonline.com and eriks@wchaonline.com in accordance with the bid requirements.
Westmoreland County Housing Authority, Michael L. Washowich, Executive Director / Contracting Officer
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER Beaver, Pennsylvania INVITATION TO BID
The HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEAVER will receive sealed bids, in duplicate, until 9:00 AM. (local time) on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at the office of the Housing Authority of the County of Beaver, 300 State Ave, Beaver, Pennsylvania at which time bids will be publicly opened and read aloud for the following:
Contract #1 – Exterior Painting at Pulaski Homes Market Rate Apartments Contact #2 – Exterior Painting at Stephen Phillips & Pulaski Homes Apartments
A fifteen percent (15 %) bid bond is required for this project. Proposed forms of contract documents, including Plans and Specifications, are being distributed, by Accu-Copy Reprographics, Inc., 302 Thomson Park Drive, Cranberry Twp, PA 16066, phone (724) 935-7055. All bidders are REQUIRED to buy the full set of plans and specifications. DEPOSITS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE Contact Accu-Copy for cost of plans and specifications. Documents will be available on January 9, 2026.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY, Section 3 and Build America, Buy America (BABA) Compliance are required. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at Pulaski Homes, 50th Street, New Brighton, PA 15066
OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on 1/13/26, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: STAIR TREAD REPLACEMENT PHASE 2 At PITTSBURGH WESTINGHOUSE ACADEMY 6-12 Pittsburgh, Pa.
Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on 12/8/25, at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable.
Project details and dates are described in each project manual.
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR MOBILE FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOR VARIOUS PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITIES RFP #800-39-25 REBID
The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s):
MOBILE FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOR VARIOUS PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITIES REBID
The documents will be available no later than December 1, 2025 and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 11:00 a.m. on December 19, 2025. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only accept physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until 11:00 a.m. on December 19, 2025, in the lobby of One Stop Shop at 412 Boulevard of the Allies Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Proposals may be uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site; the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 412 Boulevard of the Allies, 6th Floor - Procurement, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org. Questions or inquiries should be directed to:
Brandon Havranek Associate Director of Procurement/Contracting Officer 412 Boulevard of the Allies 6th Floor - Procurement Department Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-643-2890
A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on December 11, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Please see the meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting : Meeting ID: 827 1298 8864 Passcode: 991964 Dial by your location: +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.
Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh HACP conducts business in accordance with
ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice
ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice
NOTICE IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Notice is hereby given to the following persons, their heirs, successors or assigns, and to all persons whatsoever, that the City of Pittsburgh, by John Miller, Assistant City Solicitor, 328 City County Building has petitioned the Court of Orders quieting title to the following tax acquired real estate, pursuant to Act No. 171, approved December 11, 1984.
–GD-25-011057
CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs PWSA; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.
Concerning the Following Property: 3228 McClure Avenue. Block & Lot 75-M-286. 27th Ward, Pittsburgh. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. Aqua 10.
–GD-25-011245 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Edward Blon and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Edward Blon; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.
Concerning the Following Property: 203 Kingsboro Street. Block & Lot 15-D-83-A. 18th Ward, Pittsburgh. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. Rain 8.
–GD-25-011072 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Jerome S. Bonnett, Jr. and the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns, of Jerome S. Bonnett, Jr.; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 3508 Ridgeway Street. Block & Lot 26-K-131. 5th Ward, Pittsburgh. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. Spring 5.
–GD-25-011065 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Ann A. Kolesar , PWSA and the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of Ann A. Kolesar; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 5 Tecumseh Street. Block & Lot 56-J-172. 15th Ward, Pittsburgh. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. Heart 10.
–GD-25-011071 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Alfred S. Thompson, Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of Alfred S. Thompson.; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.
Concerning the Following Property: 2003 Wyandotte Street & 2007 DeRuad Street. Block & Lot 11-F-188 / 11-F-186. 4th Ward, Pittsburgh. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. Spring 12.
–GD-25-011060 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs John L. Vecchio, Alvera E. Vecchio, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of John L. Vecchio, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of Alvera E. Vecchio; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 295 W. Elizabeth Street. Block & Lot 56-J-225. 15th Ward, Pittsburgh. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. Cloud 7.
–GD-25-011066 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Thelma Lovette, A. Scott Williams aka Arletta Scott Williams, the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Thelma Lovette, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of A. Scott Williams aka Arletta Scott Williams; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 913 N. Murtland Street. Block & Lot 125-H118. 12th Ward, Pittsburgh. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. Heart 15.
–GD-25-011067
CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs PWSA, F & R Realty it sccessors and assigns, Commonwealth of PA Dept. of Revenue, United States of America, Wachovia Bank, N.A., its successors and assigns.; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 5436 Rosetta Street. Block & Lot 50-M-241. 11th Ward, Pittsburgh. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. Neon 11.
–GD-25-011073 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Floyd Clawson, Nancy Clawson, GLS Capital INC., Jordan Tax Service INC., the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of Floyd Clawson, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of Nancy Clawson; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents.
Concerning the Following Property: 126 Mansion Street 15207. Block & Lot 57-B13. 15th Ward, Pittsburgh. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. Turkey 4.
–GD-25-011070
CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Julius Wilson, Sylvia C. Wilson, ALCOSAN, PWSA, Caulis Negris LLC., the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of Julius Wilson and Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of Sylvia C. Wilson; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 306 Millvale Avenue. Block & Lot 50-K-69. 10th Ward, Pittsburgh. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. Rain 20.
–GD-25-011068 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Estate of Robert A. Eldridge aka Robert Alexander Eldridge, Mary A. Eldridge, Moses W. Eldridge, Administrator, ALCOSAN, PWSA, GLS Capital, Inc., the Unknown Heirs, Successors, and Assigns of Robert A. Eldridge aka Robert Alexander Eldridge, the Unknown; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 914-916 Gerritt Street. Block & Lot 125-H-101 / 125-H-99. 12th Ward, Pittsburgh. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. Heart 16.
–GD-25-011101 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs PWSA, ALCOSAN, Commonwealth of PA: Dept. of Revenue, Pennsylvania Attorney General-Financial Enforcement Section, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, US Attorney-Western District of PA, National Tax Funding, LP, its successors and assigns, GLS; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 3300 Fleming Avenue / 3302 Fleming Avenue. Block & Lot 75-L-292 / 75-L-291. 27th Ward, Pittsburgh. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. Neon9 & 10.
–GD-25-012420 CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Paul L. Young Jr., Patsy S. Young, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of Paul L. Young Jr., and the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of Patsy S. Young, PWSA, ALCOSAN, P.N.C Bank, N.A., its successors and assigns, Leasing Management Assoc; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 1109 Brabec Street & 521 Kendall Street. Block & Lot 24-F-372 / 120-N-62. 24th / 10th Ward, Pittsburgh. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. Neon 12.
–GD-25-012532
CITY OF PITTSBURGH Vs Robert G. Schmitt, PWSA, Century Home Equity Corp, its successors and assigns, and the Unknown Heirs, Successors and Assigns of Robert G. Schmitt; their heirs, successors, assigns and respondents. Concerning the Following Property: 0 McClure Avenue & 3300 Fleming Street. Block & Lot 75-H-30 / 75-L-292. 27th Ward Ward, Pittsburgh. SUBJECT TO ALL ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS, ENCROACHMENTS, AGREEMENTS, ETC. OF RECORD. Neon 15.
WHEREUPON the Court granted a rule on the aforesaid persons, and all persons, whatsoever, to appear and show cause within thirty days from this notice why the title of the CITY OF PITTSBURGH to the aforesaid real estate should not be adjudicated and decreed valid and indefeasible as against all mortgages, ground-rents, rights, title, interest in or claims against the aforesaid real estate, and to further show cause why the sale of the said real estate should not be made free and clear of all the aforesaid claims whatsoever.
JOHN MILLER ASSISTANT CITY SOLICITOR CITY OF PITTSBURGH
LOGS LEGAL GROUP LLP
BY: CHRISTOPHER A. DeNARDO, PA I.D. NO. 78447
SAMANTHA GABLE, PA I.D. NO. 320695
STEVEN PALMER, PA I.D. NO. 334553
LESLIE J. RASE, PA I.D. NO. 58365
HEATHER RILOFF, PA I.D. NO. 309906
KEVIN T. TONCZYCZYN, PA I.D. NO. 332616
ELIZABETH L. WASSALL, PA I.D. NO. 77788
JOSEPH L. LoCASTRO, IV, PA I.D. NO. 314973 985 OLD EAGLE SCHOOL ROAD, SUITE 514 WAYNE, PA 19087
TELEPHONE: (610) 278-6800
E-MAIL: PAHELP@LOGS.COM
LLG FILE NO. CEV 24-071375
Carrington Mortgage Services LLC PLAINTIFF vs.
David J. Fosbrink, known Heir of Angela Fosbrink, deceased
Unknown Heirs, Successors, Assigns and All Persons, Firms or Associations Claiming Right, Title or Interest from or under Angela Fosbrink, deceased
DEFENDANTS COURT OF COMMON PLEAS ALLEGHENY COUNTY CASE NO. MG-24-000932
NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE OF REAL PROPERTY
TO: Unknown Heirs, Successors, Assigns and All Persons, Firms or Associations Claiming Right, Title or Interest from or under Angela Fosbrink, deceased 5921 Rodgers Street Pittsburgh, PA 15207
THIS FIRM IS A DEBT
COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. IF YOU HAVE PREVIOSULY RECEIVED A DISCHARGE IN BANKRUPTCY, THIS IS NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED TO BE AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT, BUT ONLY ENFORCEMENT OF A LIEN AGAINST PROPERTY.
Your house (real estate) at: 5921 Rodgers St. Ext. & Rodgers St. Ext., Pittsburgh, PA 15207 is scheduled to be sold at Sheriff’s Sale on February 2, 2026 at 9:00AM, in Allegheny County, Fourth Floor, Gold Room, Courthouse, Pittsburgh, PA to enforce the court judgment of $101,336.27 obtained by Carrington Mortgage Services LLC (the mortgagee) against you. As a result, a writ of execution has been issued in the amount of $106,083.80.
NOTICE OF OWNER’S RIGHTS
YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PREVENT THIS SHERIFF’S SALE
To prevent this Sheriff’s Sale you must take immediate action: The sale will be cancelled if you pay back to the mortgagee the back payments, late charges,costs, and reasonable attorneys fees due. To find out how much you must pay, you may call: (610) 278-6800.
PLEASE NOTE a Schedule of Distribution will be filed by the Sheriff on a date specified by the Sheriff not later than thirty (30) days after sale. Distribution will be made in accordance with the schedule unless exceptions are filed thereto within 20 days after the filing of the schedule
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE NOTICE OF U.S. MARSHAL’S SALE ADVERTISING FORM
Property
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA vs. ANTHONY M. FARBACHER Civil #2:24-cv-00370
Public notice is hereby given, that by virtue of an Order dated May 23, 2025, issued out of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on a judgment rendered in Court on May 23, 2025, in the amount of $187,574.70 plus interest from 5/23/2025 in favor of The United States of America and against ANTHONY M. FARBACHER, the following described real estate, located at 23 Simon Road Cheswick, PA 15024, shall be offered for sale. To obtain a complete legal description please contact Jillian Hill at 215-825-6305.
PROPERTY LOCATION: 23 Simon Road Cheswick, PA 15024
Parcel/Folio # 1217-A-00209-0000-00
The above-mentioned properties offered up for sale on December 19, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Gold Room on the 4th floor located at the Allegheny County Courthouse located at 436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, at public auction, to the highest and best bidder by the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Pennsylvania. I will be advertising, the Marshal’s Sale of real estate situated in the Western District of Pennsylvania, on the following dates: 11/19/2025; 11/26/2025; 12/3/2025; 12/10/2025
And I will, accordingly offer the real estate for sale to the highest and best bidder, for cashier’s check or teller’s check.
The following terms of sale apply to all of the above listed properties. Terms of Sale: Ten percent (10%) of the highest sum bid must be deposited by the highest bidder in cashier’s check or certified check with the Marshal upon the property being struck down to such bidder. Upon failure to make such deposit, the bidder shall lose the benefit of this bid and the property may be immediately put up again and sold unless a deposit of the sum required be made by a second bidder willing to take the property at the highest price bid. The balance of the purchase price shall be paid in cashier’s check or certified check within ten (10) days after confirmation of the sale by Court Order without any demand being made by the Marshal. Otherwise, the Marshal may settle with a second bidder who has made the required deposit at the Marshal’s Sale and thereby registered their willingness to take the property at the highest price bid, provided such second bidder deposits the balance of the purchase price within 10 days after notice from the Marshal of the first bidder’s default. If no second bid be registered, the property may be sold again at the risk of the defaulting bidder, and in case of any deficiency in such resale, the defaulting bidder shall make good the same to the person injured thereby and the deposit shall be forfeited and distributed with the other funds created by the sale.
Bidder must have proceeds immediately available and on his person in order to bid, bidder will not be permitted to leave the sale and return with proceeds. The successful bidder takes the real estate subject to, and shall pay all taxes, water rents, sewer charges, municipal claims, and other charges and liens not divested by the sale and must also pay all state and local realty transfer taxes or stamps, to the extent the fund created by the sale is insufficient to pay such transfer taxes.
Distribution of Proceeds: A Schedule of Proposed Distribution of the proceeds of sale will be filed with the Marshal within ten (10) days of confirmation by Court Order of the sale. No Schedule of Distribution will be filed if the property is sold to the Plaintiff for costs only. The Marshal shall distribute the proceeds of sale in accordance with the proposed Schedule of Distribution unless written exceptions are filed with the Marshal not later than ten (10) days after the filing of the proposed schedule.
For information concerning the amount that Plaintiff intends to bid, for information regarding the status if this sale, the exact location of the sale in the courthouse, or for other information you may contact: Jillian Hill at 215-825-6305 or JHill@kmllawgroup.com.
For a complete list of all properties offered for sale by the Department of Agriculture go to: http://www.resales.usda.gov/ The sale may be postponed in accordance with Pa. R.C.P. 3129.1 et seq. for up to 100 days. Please contact Jillian Hill, Paralegal, with KML Law Group, P.C., at the above phone numbers prior to the scheduled sale date to confirm that the sale will proceed.
ACTION TO QUIET TITLE In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Civil Division GD-25-009226 Saloam Bey, Plaintiff vs. Jerome Meyers, and The Unknown heirs of Zemmie Stribling, Deceased, claiming Right, Title, or Interest From or Under Defendants. Case No. GD-25-00-009226. Quiet Title Action regarding that certain parcel of real property situated in Pittsburgh, County of Allegheny and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania having an address of 7335 Hermitage Street Pittsburgh, Pa. 15208 (Allegheny County Parcel ID (0174-F-00026-0000-00). To Defendants.
NOTICE
You have been sued in Court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the following pages, you must take action within twenty (20) days after this Complaint and Notice are served, by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and filing in writing with the Court your defenses or objections to the claims set forth against you. You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you by the Court without further notice for any money claimed in the Complaint or for any other claim or relief requested by the plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you. YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER OR CANNOT AFFORD ONE, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GET LEGAL HELP.
Allegheny County Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service 400 Koppers Building 436 7th Avenue 4th floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Telephone: (412) 261 5555 Plaintiff’s Attorney: QUINNTARRA MORANT, ESQ MORANT LAW OFFICES, PO BOX 10946, Pittsburgh, PA 15236. (412) 888-6795
