A. Philip Randolph: The organizer of Black labor who left a blueprint for leaders of the future
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO
A. Philip Randolph, president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, cuts a cake at the organization’s 1950 anniversary dinner, held in N.Y. as the Brotherhood held its 25th convention in the area. The dinner was sponsored by the Dining Car Employees Union. Shown here, B.F. McLaurin (left); Charles Burton, from Chicago; Randolph and Ashley Totten. (Photo: AFRO Archives)
In 1925, labor organizer and civil rights activist A. Philip Randolph was invited to be the first president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and Maids. It was the first Black union to receive a charter in the American Federation of Labor.
Many scholars cite the important role that the Pullman porters played in the early 20th century. The porters provided one of the first viable means by which Black workers could ascend to the middle class.
Now, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Pullman porters, the nation’s premier organization for the study of Black life and history, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), has chosen as its 2025 theme, “African Americans and Labor.”
As noted on ASALH’s website, the theme is intended “to encourage broad reflections on intersections between Black people’s work and their workplaces in all their iterations and key moments in Black history and culture.”
For Randolph, who was a member of the Socialist Party, securing economic justice and full and equal rights for Black Americans remained a priority.
The Pullman porters often served as the voice of reason and criticism. As unions increased in size and power, many maintained discriminatory practices and policies.
Dr. Lionel Kimble Jr., associate professor of history and Africana studies at Chicago State University, believes Black Americans have yet to recognize the full scope of Randolph’s intellectual prowess and contributions to improving their economic status.
“We tend to underestimate his abilities, his ingenuity and the important role he played throughout the 20th century in our [Black people’s] fight against discrimination in all of its many forms,” Kimble said. “Randolph often criticized the Black middle class and chose to give his voice and support to the Black working class and their interests.
“He was successful in numerous negotiations on behalf of the Pullman porters because he was not a porter but rather the leader. He did not have to be concerned with supporting views that the white owners held. But it took several efforts before the Pullman porters were formally established because the owners sent out spies who reported back to management. In most cases, Pullman porters who had been identified as leaders of their cause were terminated,” Kimble said.
Pullman porters wore many hats
In a collection of essays that chronicles the development of the Black Press, “The African American Newspaper: Voices of Freedom” by Patrick S. Washburn, another historian, Martin Terrell, notes that the Pullman porters not only traveled across America, seeing things that most African Americans could not even imagine or hope to experience, but their wages were higher than those of other working-class Black workers.
Kimble said the Pullman porters became a force to be reckoned with.
“During the 1930s, a lot of the progressive, left-leaning unions removed themselves from the AFL, but the Brotherhood remained,” Kimble said.
“Randolph believed that to effectively fight discrimination, they needed to stay and hold them accountable for the discriminatory practices lodged against Blacks.”
Kimble agrees with Terrell when considering the economic power that the Pullman porters eventually achieved.
“The porters provided access to and the foundation for the development of the Black middle class,” Kimble said. “So, while they were working-class individuals, they could do more in support of their communities because their wages were higher than their contemporaries.”
Randolph would later use his organizing tactics while developing a blueprint for the first March on Washington. The march began to take shape around 1940. It was slated for 1941 but was eventually aborted. However, Randolph secured several concessions from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. These included changes in policies and the expansion of government agencies that secured greater employment opportunities for Black workers.
Lessons we can learn and follow
Kimble said there are at least three lessons that can be taken from Randolph. With only slight revisions, the lessons of the past can be used by today’s grassroots organizations as they continue the decades-old battle against discrimination.
“First, we have to go back to organizing at the community level.The March on Washington was successful because Randolph galvanized people from across the country. They then returned
to their own communities, where they continued to advocate for real changes,” said Kimble.“Second, Blacks should take an unbiased look at organized labor and consider forging alliances between union workers and civil rights activists.”
Kimble said “third, Blacks must be vigilant against buying into news sources that allow news to be disseminated without requiring that information be verified for truth and accuracy.
The Pullman porters distributed the AFRO and other Black press to tens of thousands of people in the South, many of whom were illiterate. This ensured people knew what was happening to Blacks all along the various routes some would travel during the Great Migration.”
While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is routinely referred to as the father of the modern civil rights movement, Kimble said Randolph deserves that title.
“Randolph was there leading the charge in the ’20s and ’30s and ’40s,” Kimble said.
“He introduced Americans to Dr. King during the March on Washington. He laid the foundation for Black organized labor. I would even go so far as to say that if there had never been Randolph at the helm, I doubt that Dr. King would have been as successful as he was.”
Lucander took a different perspective in summarizing Randolph’s contributions to the civil rights movement.
“Randolph envisioned the 1963 March—it quite literally was his idea,” Lucander said. “And while he canceled a march planned for 1941, he did three smaller marches in the 1950s. By smaller, I mean 10,000-plus people came out, including leaders like Jackie Robinson and Dr. King. But the media didn’t give it much attention. However, Randolph’s idea that an interest group marches on Washington to express its views is totally normal now, and that traces back to Randolph.”
Still, the question remains: Why isn’t Randolph better known and celebrated within the Black community?
Lucander believes he has an answer.
“Randolph was once a household name for generations of African Americans, but he has fallen out of most people’s consciousness,” Lucander said.
“Part of it is persona—he had a stuffy, formal demeanor, and times have changed. Part of it is politics—he’s a democratic socialist, and this country has a tough time wrapping its head around that concept. And part of it is the times—he’s a union man to the core, and the labor movement isn’t what it used to be.”
Robert
Kennedy and Healthcare. Is There Trust?
“When you erode trust you lose your democracy because it is based on trust,” according to Black Obama Administration Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. She is responding to the United States Senate’s confirmation of Robert Kennedy Jr. as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy, an anti-vaxxer is the new face of healthcare in America. He was confirmed by the US Senate in a vote split along party lines, 52-48. Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell voted with Democrats opposing the nomination. The Alabamabased former Surgeon General declares, “We’ve had antivaxxers for years, but they became prominent during COVID,” creating “new” trust issues.
From Benjamin’s professional understanding, “that’s when we started to see people not trust science,” loudly. Her position is that as health matters changed over time so did the medical responses. Controversy swirls around Kennedy’s antivaccination stance, however, he is lauded for his posture on preventative medicine. Benjamin is hopeful Kennedy will focus on prevention as she denotes it is “the key to solving many problems in our healthcare system.” When
Benjamin was the nation’s top doctor from 2009 to 2013, the Obama administration released a national prevention strategy, which she deemed “a roadmap.” During that job, she worked to move Americans “from sickness and disease to one of health and wellness.” Benjamin is hopeful that this new administration will “focus more on prevention.” One of the pressing issues Secretary Kennedy will face is the shortage of healthcare professionals. “We’ve had workforce issues for a long time. The number of doctors, the number of nurses and we don’t have enough to cover everyone.” Benjamin points out there are regional issues with a lack of healthcare professionals. “You see those decreases particularly in rural areas.” There is a shortterm fix according to Benjamin, “We have to turn to telemedicine because we don’t have [enough] doctors.” She cautions, ” It will get worse before it gets better.” With February being American Heart Month, Benjamin recommends particularly for those in the Black community to “be as healthy as you can…so you can be resilient and respond to things.” She acknowledges that overall when it comes to our health and wellbeing, “we have to train ourselves where to go for trusted information.”
California Flu Rates are Highest in 4 Years: Here Is how to Protect Yourself
Edward Henderson | California Black Media
Flu cases in California have surged to the highest levels the state has seen in years.
By the end of January, 26% of tests sent to state laboratories had come back positive for influenza. This is a significant increase compared to flu season peaks over the past 4 years, according to the most recent data captured by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on respiratory viruses.
Flu-related deaths in California are also on the rise.
As of Jan. 25, 2.4% of deaths in the state (484 people) were attributed to influenza this season, compared to 1.6% last season.
California Black Media (CBM) spoke with Dr. Jerry
P. Abraham, a Los Angelesbased Physician and Public Health advocate who currently serves as the Director & Chief Vaccinologist of the CDUKEDREN Mobile Street Medicine program in Los Angeles. He explained why cases of the flu may be increasing and preventative measures people can take to protect themselves until the flu season ends next month.
“Be fully vaccinated. It's not too late to get the flu shot for this flu season. We stop giving it out about March every year,” said Abraham.
“Be fully boosted with COVID-19 vaccines as well. This is a very tenuous time because people are not fully vaccinated,” he continued.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that “everyone 6 months or older get a flu shot — ideally by the end
By April Ryan
Robert F. Kennedy Jr (Photo credit by Gage Skidmore)
From the Classroom to the Living Room: Three Ways Families Can Help Children Build Early Literacy Skills
By Nicol Russell, Ed.D.
As a young child, I’d help my dad comb through coupons in the Sunday newspaper each week. With his guidance, I’d find familiar pictures and letters and pieces together to recognize words, connecting the text with meaningful ideas and objects from my life before I could even read. I didn’t know it then, but this weekly activity not only created fond memories with my father, but it helped build a foundation of important pre-reading skills that would support my journey to literacy. Today, just one in three fourth graders are reading on grade level, signaling an urgent need to ensure all children can build reading and writing skills even before they enter kindergarten.
State lawmakers have responded to the nation’s call for action. Most states have adopted policies to transform classroom instruction to teach young children to become competent, confident emerging readers through evidencebased pedagogy aligned with the science of reading. Now,
it’s time to turn those policies into strong practice — from the classroom to the living room. As an early childhood curriculum leader who started her career in the classroom, I’ve seen first-hand the importance of ensuring educators — including those who teach children in the critical year before kindergarten — have access to high-quality curriculum, assessments to measure learning progress over time, and meaningful training on how to best use those tools with their unique students. I’ve also seen, in my work and as the parent of a young reader, the importance of building a strong home-school connection. In a recent survey, 91% of early childhood educators underscored the importance of parent/caregiver engagement for developing early literacy skills in young students. This echoes a wide body of research that shows the positive links between involved families and student achievement. So, how can families help young children build a strong foundation for reading and writing? Here are some suggestions that are both fun and free.
Read.
It seems like an obvious suggestion, but the power of reading — as families and independently — cannot be overstated. Research shows the number of different types of
HillmanTok University: The Digital HBCU Revolutionizing Online Education
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Hinton and her team are actively exploring partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities to expand opportunities and solidify HillmanTok’s place in the educational landscape.
By
A snow day in Georgia and a viral TikTok video unexpectedly set the foundation for what is now HillmanTok University, a virtual learning institution that has captured the attention of millions. It all started when Dr. Leah Barlow, a professor at North Carolina A&T, posted a welcome video for her African American Studies class. What she intended for just 36 students reached nearly 4 million viewers, sparking a movement that sixthgrade teacher Cierra Hinton helped shape into something much bigger. “I was scrolling, and I saw ‘Ms. Shannon’s Screenwriting 101 class,’ then Dr. Christie’s video, and I thought, ‘Is this an HBCU? Or did we just happen to have all Black professors?’” Hinton said during an interview on Let It Be Known. “If I’m going to be in these fabulous courses with all these highly qualified professors, what school am I in? What are our colors? What’s our mascot? Because I want to represent my school.” That curiosity led Hinton,
literacy materials in the home, the amount of home reading, and the opportunity to discuss reading are all related to reading proficiency. Families can start their literacy journey together by taking a trip to the public library together. At the library, children can engage in storytime events and explore the stacks for books and magazines that catch their attention. Adults, too, should pick titles they are interested in reading independently, as modeling good reading habits is also beneficial. Back at home, families are encouraged to set aside time each day to read together. Families can make storytime more engaging for children by pausing throughout the story to ask questions about the plot or about how certain themes in the story make their child feel; using different voices for the different characters; or even acting out the story with toys.
Incorporate literacy skills into everyday activities.
Families don’t have to spend a lot of money on activities or programs to help their children on their journey to literacy. There are many ways to incorporate reading and writing skills into everyday life that are both free and fun.
Try, for example, simply making a list. Lists are an easy way to get your child to write. Consider:
Making a grocery list. Ask your child about their favorite meal or treat and work together to write down all of the ingredients you’ll need to make it. For younger children, you can read your grocery list aloud, playfully emphasizing the letter sounds and showing them the ingredients at the market to keep them engaged.
Writing the steps of an everyday chore. Invite your child
to write and illustrate the steps in an everyday chore, like doing laundry. Then use that list for your child’s future reference.
Taking an order. Role play you are dining in a restaurant, and encourage your child to write down your order.
At the end of the day, ask specific questions.
It can be difficult for young children to remember what they did during the day so asking, “What did you do today?” may not generate a lot of conversation. So, ask different, more specific questions to help them recall some events, such as:
“What story did you hear or book you read today? What was it about?” Retelling stories encourages comprehension, sequencing, and use of narrative language, which are essential for literacy.
“What was the best song you sang or heard today?” Songs and rhymes strengthen phonological awareness and help children recognize sound patterns in words.
“What new word did you hear today? Help me learn what it means.” Discussing or introducing new vocabulary enhances a child’s language skills and comprehension. The nation is grappling with a literacy crisis that has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. We have an opportunity to reverse course — but a new law, curriculum, or literacy coach alone won’t bring about the real change our children need. Policymakers, educators, advocates, and families alike must unite to support our young readers. And even simple actions, like combing through the Sunday newspaper for coupons, can have a lasting impact.
Dr. Nicol Russell is the Chief Academic Officer at Teaching Strategies.
HillmanTok University: The Digital HBCU Revolutionizing Online Education...continued
raising kids with autism, health care courses, and even ones on how to lock hair or cook.
The goal is to make education accessible and relevant.”
who was joined on Let It Be Known News by Coach WestB, an official staff member and community leader at HillmanTok. But Hinton coined the name HillmanTok University, inspired by Hillman College, the fictional HBCU from The Cosby Show spinoff, A Different World. What began as a TikTok trend has since evolved into a structured educational platform that now includes a website with an extensive course catalog for Spring 2025. HillmanTok offers over 400 courses spanning a wide range of topics. Traditional classes like Spanish 101 and law sit alongside culturally relevant subjects such as Black beauty culture, ethical issues in the criminal justice system, and even Spades 101—where students break down the hierarchy of suits on a “molecular level.”
“We have courses that you would traditionally find in a university, but also courses that are unique to us,” Hinton explained. “We have parenting courses for those
Unlike traditional universities, HillmanTok does not charge tuition. Some instructors may ask for optional contributions to cover resources, especially when their classes unexpectedly attract hundreds or even thousands of students. “No one expected their class to blow up the way it did,” Hinton said. “Some thought they’d have 10 or 15 students, and suddenly, they have 500. That’s when they might need tools like Google Classroom to manage everything, and sometimes that requires a little extra help.” HillmanTok has rapidly expanded, but not without obstacles as the movement gained traction, multiple unauthorized accounts claiming to be HillmanTok surfaced across social media, leading to confusion among followers. “If it doesn’t say The HillmanTok University, then it’s not us,” Coach West stated. “People have been scammed into paying for things we don’t charge
for, like IDs. Our services are free.”
Additionally, the original HillmanTok TikTok account was hacked when Hinton attempted to secure verification, forcing the team to rebuild from scratch. Today, the official account has over 100,000 followers, but concerns remain about the platform’s future. With TikTok’s uncertain fate in the U.S.—where the app is currently available only to existing users under an extension granted by former President Donald Trump— HillmanTok is preparing for potential disruptions. “We have contingencies upon contingencies,” Hinton said. “HillmanTok is so important to us that we are worried about all kinds of things.” Hinton and her team are actively exploring partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities to expand opportunities and solidify HillmanTok’s place in the educational landscape. “For everybody who ever wanted to be part of an HBCU but couldn’t, we’re fulfilling that dream,” Hinton said.
Ontario International Airport now offers 1LoveIE’s unique local brands to travelers and guests
(Ontario, California – February 18, 2025) – Over its 13 years in business, 1LoveIE has spread the word of the Inland Empire far and wide through its unique IE-branded product lines. Now, in partnership with Ontario International Airport (ONT) and Evolve by Hudson, the boutique retailer has the opportunity to
Ontario International Airport now offers 1LoveIE’s unique local brands to travelers and guests...continued
believe adds to the strong sense of place we’re building as we proudly serve one of the most dynamic population and economic centers in the United States,” said Elisa Grey, chief revenue management officer for the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA).
1LoveIE, which stands for both “One Love Inland Empire” and “One Love in Everything,” sells its merchandise at Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga, the Galleria at Tyler in Riverside, Redlands and Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel. Products include headwear, shirts, tote bags and more.
“We are all about providing a local brand that can actually speak to our region, while promoting peace, love and unity throughout the region” said 1LoveIE founder Justin Hudson, who came up with the idea while traveling in France.
“People would ask, ‘where are you from,’ and I would always say, ‘L.A.’ I realized that we needed to find a better way to brand the Inland Empire."
For ONT, whose mission is to “boldly seize every opportunity to connect the Inland Empire to the world,” the partnership is welltimed. The airport is riding the wave of 46 consecutive months of year-over-year passenger growth, due in part to record-setting growth across the IE – now the 12th largest metropolitan area in the U.S. ONT itself is an economic driver for the region, contributing nearly $4 billion per year in economic impact.
“We see our broader role in the region as a significant one, and adding more Inland Empire and Southern California brands to our retail and dining options is a big part of our strategy moving forward,” Grey said. Evolve by Hudson said it is proud to Partner with 1 love IE: "They are the pulse of the community that we serve, and now you can take a piece with you when you fly to your next destination. Local vendors are the key to bringing a diverse mix of products that can speak to everyone.”
California Flu Rates are Highest in 4 Years: Here Is how to Protect Yourself...continued from page 1 of October to boost protection against the disease during highcirculation winter months.
Dr. Scott Flinn, regional medical director for Provider Partnerships at Blue Shield of California, says people should be aware of flu symptoms and be able to recognize them.
“These symptoms can come on suddenly and hit hard,” says Flinn. “If you start feeling unwell, it’s important to rest and monitor your condition closely, especially if you are in a higherrisk group, including elderly individuals, pregnant women, young children, or those with chronic health conditions.”
Typically, those symptoms include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue and, for some people – especially children –may experience vomiting and diarrhea.
Flu symptoms typically last five and to seven days, though fatigue and cough can persist for two weeks or longer in some cases.
If contracted, Flinn recommends getting plenty of rest, using over-the-counter meds, and taking steps to not spread the flu like staying home for 24-hours after avoiding close contact with others. He also advises that people fighting the flu should get plenty of rest; use over-the-counter medication; and consult a healthcare professional.
Abraham also recommends wearing masks when out in public if you are exhibiting flu symptoms. He also urges individuals who have insurance
to schedule appointments with their primary physician as emergency rooms and urgent cares have become overcrowded.
While the cause of the spike in flu cases is still unknown, Abraham attributes some of the causation to changes in climate and rising temperatures across the state.
“That is why these bugs, these viruses, these bacteria are behaving in these new novel ways because we're just not used to living amongst them like this; living in these warmer temperatures, getting more infected. There's more of us too, and we're interacting in different ways. We're interacting with animals in different ways, industry, all those things. They're all coming together and so we've got a perfect storm,” he said.
The Bay Area is reporting the highest rates of flu-related hospital admissions in the state at 9.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.1 in Southern California, 7.5 in Los Angeles, 7.3 in the Greater Sierra-Sacramento region, 5 in Central California and 2.8 in the rural northern part of the state, according to the California Department of Public Health.
“It really is incumbent upon us and each other to do what we did during COVID when no one came for the Black community to help us. We need to look after each other. If you're sick, stay home,” Abraham said. “Remember, there are elders and there are cancer patients and people living with all sorts of conditions that they cannot afford to get sick.”
expand its reach to the more than 7 million passengers a year who travel through the popular Southern California gateway.
“We are delighted that travelers and guests will be able to buy 1LoveIE’s locally-branded clothing and accessories in our two main terminals, a partnership we
Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
A loving father sits on the couch at home and reads a storybook to his preschool age daughter.
CA Republicans Call on Trump Admin to Help Beat Back State’s Natural Gas Restrictions
McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media
California Republican leaders are pushing back against state and local initiatives across the Golden State aimed at preventing Californians from buying or installing gas appliances in their homes.
On Feb. 10, they asked the administration of President Donald Trump to intervene.
In a letter, the 28 Republican members of the State Assembly and State Senate urged U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Christopher Wright to evaluate the policies and stop gas appliance restrictions wherever possible.
“As executive orders issued by the new Trump/Vance administration recognize, America’s prosperity and national security depend on an affordable, reliable, and sufficient energy supply,” the letter reads. “Recent efforts to restrict natural gas use limit consumer choice and deny vulnerable communities access to an affordable and reliable energy source. Such efforts have created a difficult-to-navigate patchwork of local rules and impose costs on consumers, manufacturers, workers, and businesses, contributing to California’s affordability crisis.”
In a statement Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) said energy policies initiated by Democrats are hurting family budgets and escalating the state’s cost-of-living crisis.
“Working Californians already face some of the highest electric
rates in the country - they can’t afford to have out-of-touch bureaucrats ban more affordable energy sources,” Gallagher said. “If California’s leaders won’t stand up for consumers, the federal government should.”
There has been an ongoing effort to decrease the use of natural gas appliances in California in recent years to improve indoor air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The California Air Resources Board approved a plan three years ago requiring homes and businesses to transition to zero-emission alternatives like electric heat pumps instead of gas-powered water and space heaters by 2023.
According to the Building Decarbonization Coalition, a group focused on eliminating fossil fuels in buildings to improve health and make communities more resilient to the climate change, 74 California jurisdictions have policies that seek to end the use of natural gas in new buildings.
However, many of these efforts are facing resistance and legal challenges from homebuilders, restaurants, and the gas industry.
The National Association of Home Builders and other housing groups and businesses filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in December against the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s ban on certain gas appliances.
The lawsuit came seven
NAACP Sues Trump Administration Over Dismantling of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
The NAACP has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the legality of the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The civil rights organization argues that the move undermines protections for Black, elderly, and vulnerable consumers, leaving them exposed to financial exploitation.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson condemned the administration’s actions, calling them a reckless assault on consumer protections.
“Once again, we are witnessing the dangerous impacts of an overreaching executive office.
The Trump Administration’s decision to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau opens the floodgates for unethical and predatory practices to run rampant,” Johnson stated.
“We refuse to stand idly by as our most vulnerable communities are left unprotected due to irresponsible leaders. From seniors and retirees, disabled people, and victims of disaster
months after the city of Berkeley agreed to roll back a landmark climate rule that would have prohibited natural gas hookups in new homes. The 2019 gas ban was challenged by the California Restaurant Association and struck down in 2023 by a threejudge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
In the letter, Republicans said the gas bans and all-electric mandates have a negative impact because the state’s electricity rates are 92% higher than the national average and natural gas prices are 30% higher.
Republican Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-Santee) called the energy policies “government overreach” and said Californians don’t need to be dictated to regarding what appliances they can purchase.
“Electricity rates in California are the highest in the nation, and we barely have enough supply to keep the lights on,” he said. “Now, Democrats want to push consumers away from the only more affordable alternative.”
Jones, who represents most of inland San Diego County, told California Black Media (CBM) in an email that the cities of San Diego and Encinitas have passed natural gas bans. He hopes the U.S. Department of Energy will “step in where appropriate and overturn these overreaching policies.”
“The new administration has committed to recognizing that America’s prosperity and national security depend on an affordable, reliable, and sufficient energy supply,” he said. “That starts with ensuring all energy options remain available to consumers.”
Last month, in Grand Terrace, a city in San Bernardino County, over 100 residents in a senior living facility were left in the dark for nine days when Southern California Edison implemented a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa), whose district includes Grand Terrace, said
the power outage made it clear that Californians need energy options.
“Families relying solely on electric heating face severe hardships. Until the state strengthens its power grid, eliminating natural gas appliances is both irresponsible and out of touch with the needs of everyday people,” she said.
Republican legislators wrote in the five-page letter that gas bans hurt economic development and that a variety of domestic energy is needed to avoid dependence on foreign energy sources and to protect against vulnerabilities.
The efforts to reduce or eliminate natural gas use have taken several forms and raise legal and political concerns, the GOP lawmakers added.
After listing some of the antinatural gas efforts, Republicans asked the Department of Energy to legally challenge any California authority that violates the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, which establishes nationally uniform energy conservation standards for many commercial and residential appliances. They said the department should query the lawfulness of the initiatives in the wake of the California Restaurant Association’s win in Berkeley’s recent Supreme Court rulings -- such as the overruling of the Chevron deference -- and the Trump administration’s executive orders.
At press time, Jim Stanley, a spokesperson for Gallagher, said the California Republicans had not yet received a response from the Department of Energy
“We’ve seen in recent years that California has enough trouble as it is keeping the lights on in the summer,” he said. “Forcing people to go all electric would be a challenge and strain the grid. Its economics and it is choice. If someone decides electric is the way to go for them, they are certainly welcome to. But we don’t want to mandate that.”
Federal Workers Sue Over Mass Firings as Trump Faces Legal Battles
NNPA NEWSWIRE — The filing follows a directive from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management instructing agencies to identify employees without full civil service protections and conduct mass terminations.
A coalition of civil servants across nine federal agencies has filed a formal complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, alleging the Trump administration terminated them solely because of their probationary status rather than their performance or conduct. The complaint, the first of its kind, was brought before Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger, who was reinstated to his position by a federal court after Trump attempted to remove him. The filing follows a directive from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management instructing agencies to identify employees without full civil service protections and conduct mass terminations. The complaint states that the suit will eventually cover additional agencies.
“The vast majority of the American people—more than 90%—believe that civil servants should be promoted based on their merit, not on loyalty. Yet, the Trump administration is seeking to undermine that value by purging non-partisan career civil servants and prioritizing partisan loyalists,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, which is representing the terminated employees. “Our civil servants do everything from keeping our food and medicine safe to securing our borders to improving our communities. We will use all legal tools available to protect them from arbitrary firings designed to politicize our government.” Michelle Bercovici, a partner at the Alden Law Group, which joined Democracy Forward in filing the complaint, called the terminations an “unprecedented and grossly unfair circumvention of the merit principles upon which our civil service is based.”
leave voluntarily, and large-scale reductions in force that violate federal statutes. “The Trump administration’s executive actions to gut the federal workforce are not only illegal but will also have damaging consequences for federal employees and the public services they provide,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “The courts must intervene and hold this administration accountable for violating federal laws before it is too late. Federal workers are your friends and neighbors who have dedicated their careers to serving our country. We cannot let the president disrupt their lives and dismantle critical services relied upon by the American people.” The lawsuit also accuses the administration of unlawfully undermining Congress’s authority by eliminating federal agencies and positions authorized by the legislative branch. It calls for a ruling declaring the mass terminations and deferred resignation program unlawful.
“If this administration and Elon Musk truly wanted to make our government more efficient, they would have taken the time to understand that these actions will only lead to chaos and poor service for the American people,” Erwin said. “Instead, they are illegally targeting federal agencies, their missions, and workers to pay for proposed tax cuts for the wealthy. These efforts hurt middle-class Americans who chose to work in service to the public as federal employees. It is unpatriotic and unacceptable.” New Mexico Rep. Melanie Stansbury added, “We stand with our federal workers and are fighting back.”
to so many more, our nation stands to face immense financial hardship and adversity as a result of the elimination of the CFPB. If our President refuses to put people over profit, the NAACP will use every tool possible to put Americans first.”
The lawsuit comes after a series of drastic actions following the ouster of CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. President Trump replaced Chopra with Russell Vought, who immediately instructed staff not to perform any work tasks and ordered the closure of the agency’s headquarters, taking steps to cancel its lease. Vought also suspended all investigations, rulemaking, public communications, and enforcement actions. Keisha D. Bross, NAACP Director of Opportunity, Race, and Justice, said the organization maintains its commitment to restoring the bureau’s critical role in protecting consumers. “The CFPB is an agency of the people. From the
The lawsuit, filed alongside the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), the National Consumer Law Center, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, and the CFPB Employee Association, argues that the administration’s actions violate the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act. According to the complaint, the Trump administration has taken deliberate steps to dismantle the CFPB, including firing 70 employees via form email, canceling over $100 million in vendor contracts, and shutting down the agency’s consumer complaint system, which processes hundreds of thousands of cases monthly. The plaintiffs warn that these actions will leave millions of Americans defenseless against financial fraud and predatory lending practices. The lawsuit details the harm already inflicted by the agency’s closure. Among those affected is Rev. Eva Steege, an 83-year-old pastor with a terminal illness who was seeking student loan forgiveness through a CFPB-facilitated program. Her
meeting with CFPB staff was abruptly canceled, leaving her without recourse to resolve her debt before passing.
The NAACP and other plaintiffs seek an immediate injunction to halt the administration’s actions and restore the CFPB’s operations.
NAACP Sues Trump Administration Over Dismantling of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau...continued protection from junk fees to fighting excessive overdraft fees, providing assistance to impacted victims of natural disasters, and holding predatory practices accountable, the NAACP stands firm in bringing back the CFPB,” Bross said. “The NAACP will fight to hold financial entities responsible for the years of inequitable practices from big banks and lenders.”
The legal challenge argues that the President has no unilateral authority to dismantle an agency created by Congress and that Vought’s appointment as acting director is unlawful. President Trump has made no secret of his desire to eliminate the CFPB, confirming last week that his administration was working to “totally eliminate” the agency.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, a key player in Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” celebrated the move with a social media post reading “CFPB RIP.” If successful, the lawsuit could force the administration to reinstate the agency and resume its enforcement actions against financial institutions accused of predatory practices.
“Neither the President nor the head of the CFPB has the power to dismantle an agency that Congress established,” the plaintiffs argue. “With each day the agency remains shut down, financial institutions that seek to prey on consumers are emboldened—harming their law-abiding competitors and the consumers who fall victim to them.”
“These hard-working employees should have the opportunity to let their work speak for itself,” Bercovici said. Two days before the filing of that complaint, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) and a coalition of labor unions sued the Trump administration, challenging the legality of the mass firings.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, contests the dismissal of probationary employees, a deferred resignation strategy aimed at pressuring workers to
The legal challenges against the administration’s actions extend beyond mass firings. A group of federal employees is suing the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for allegedly using an unauthorized server to send mass email blasts across the federal government. The plaintiffs argue the system stores sensitive information, including data on individuals outside the federal executive branch. The lawsuit follows a ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss, who denied the plaintiffs’ request for a temporary restraining order to halt the operation of the server while the case proceeds. The initial complaint alleged that OPM sidestepped federal law by failing to conduct a privacy impact assessment before launching the Government-Wide Email System (GWES). The agency later issued an assessment but argued it was unnecessary since the system contained only federal employee
or email: mary@ sb-american.com
by Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
Business lady giving advices to black colleague with papers
Thursday, February 20, 2025
5 Diseases You Can Get if You Skip Breakfast
Whether you’re too busy, trying to lose weight or are just not genuinely hungry, there’s really no good reason to skip breakfast. In fact, new research has found that not eating breakfast may actually increase a person’s risk of contracting a disease.
“The study shows that, on the one hand, fasting reduces the number of circulating monocytes, which one might think is a good thing, as these cells are important components of inflammation. On the other hand, reintroduction of food creates a surge of monocytes flooding back to the blood, which can be problematic. Fasting, therefore regulates this pool in ways that are not always beneficial to the body’s capacity to respond to a challenge such as an infection,” explains Dr. Filip Swirski, Lead Author, Director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at Icahn Mount Sinai.
With that said, here are some diseases that you may be more prone to if you skip breakfast.
5. Diabetes When women skipped the morning meal, they experienced insulin resistance, a condition in which a person requires more
insulin to bring their blood sugar into a normal range, explained lead researcher Dr. Elizabeth Thomas, an instructor of medicine at the University of Colorado.
This insulin resistance was short-term in the new study, but when the condition is chronic, it is a risk factor for diabetes.
“Eating a healthy breakfast is probably beneficial,” Thomas said. “It may not only help you control your weight but avoid diabetes.”
The study included only women. Their average age was 29, and all were overweight or obese. Thomas measured their levels of insulin and blood sugar on two different days after the women ate lunch. On one day, they had eaten breakfast; on the other day, they had skipped it.
The women’s insulin and glucose levels after lunch were much higher on the day they skipped breakfast than on the day they ate it. On the day they did not eat breakfast, Thomas explained, “they required a higher level of insulin to handle the same meal.”
Without the intake of nutrients from a healthy, well-balanced breakfast, it can also leave you tired, irritable, and unable to focus.
Federal Workers Sue Over Mass Firings as Trump Faces Legal Battles...continued from page 3
data. The plaintiffs countered that individuals outside the executive branch received OPM’s mass emails, raising concerns about improperly storing their information. The amended complaint adds five additional plaintiffs, including individuals affiliated with a National Resources Conservation District, a California state program partnering with the federal government, and a Library of Congress employee.
In another case, a broad coalition of higher education leaders, restaurant workers, and the City of Baltimore has filed for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to block Trump’s executive orders dismantling diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs. The lawsuit, brought by the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE), the American Association of University Professors, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC), and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, argues that the orders have already led to grant freezes, job losses, and forced self-censorship. “The president’s executive orders are unconstitutional and seek to bring extreme harm and devastation to anybody or anything that does not share his exact values,” Scott said. “That kind of thinking within itself is un-American, as we are supposed to be in a melting pot where all beliefs and values are respected.”
NADOHE President and CEO Paulette Granberry Russell called Trump’s actions “an affront to the values that define our nation.”
“Our fight for diversity, equity, and inclusion is a fight for justice, and we will not waver,” Russell said.
ROC Interim President Teófilo L. Reyes warned that Trump’s efforts to dismantle workplace protections and DEIA programs are unlawful.
“The president seeks to create barriers and perpetuate fear rather than promote diverse talent and a stronger workforce,” Reyes said.
“But Trump cannot override
“Since you’re fasting all night while sleeping, your blood sugar is already naturally dipping [after waking],” says Caroline Young, RD, a registered dietitian and owner of Whole Self Nutrition. “If you don’t bring it back up by eating a well-balanced breakfast, your blood sugar will continue to drop throughout the morning. Over time, this can lead to large blood sugar swings and instability, which, of course, can lead to prediabetes or diabetes.
There wasn’t any good news for men who skipped breakfast either.
4. Cancer A study of 34,128 men and 49,282 women aged 40–79 years was conducted, to explore the association between lifestyle and cancer in Japan. Participants completed a baseline survey during 1988 to 1990 and were followed until the end of 2009. We classified participants into two groups according to dietary habits with respect to eating or skipping breakfast and carried out intergroup comparisons of lifestyle. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard regression model.
There were 5,768 deaths from cancer and 5,133 cases of death owing to circulatory diseases and 17,112 cases for all causes of mortality during the median 19.4 years follow-up. Skipping breakfast was related to unhealthy lifestyle habits. After adjusting for confounding factors, skipping breakfast significantly increased the risk of mortality from circulatory diseases
3. Heart Disease
decades of legal precedent. The Restaurant Opportunities Centers United and our worker members— the majority of whom are women, people of color, and immigrants— will continue to stand together against this unconstitutional political manipulation.”
Democracy Forward, representing the plaintiffs, called on the courts to intervene. “The president’s executive orders punish millions of Americans simply because the president does not believe in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility,” said John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice –AAJC. “These executive orders penalize not only academic institutions, workplaces, and the various organizations that advocate on their behalf; they will hurt everyone. Terminating funds for federal grantees will have immediate effects by halting critical research and withholding economic support for programs that make our country stronger and more competitive.”
Separately, FBI agents who investigated Trump have sued the Justice Department, seeking an immediate halt to the administration’s efforts to compile a list of employees involved in probes of the Jan. 6 attack and Trump’s classified documents case. The agents argue that the list is an act of retaliation meant to intimidate personnel and deter future investigations into Trump’s conduct. “The very act of compiling lists of persons who worked on matters that upset Donald Trump is retaliatory in nature, intended to intimidate FBI agents and other personnel and to discourage them from reporting any future malfeasance by Donald Trump and his agents,” the lawsuit states. The complaint cites the Justice Department’s recent firing of prosecutors on special counsel Jack Smith’s team as evidence that Trump’s administration targets those involved in investigations against him.
Researchers analyzed food frequency questionnaire data and tracked health outcomes for 16 years (1992-2008) on 26,902 male health professionals ages 45-82. They found that men who reported they skipped breakfast had a nearly 30 percent higher risk of heart attack or death from coronary heart disease than those who reported they didn’t.
According to another study published in JAMA, men who skip breakfast have about 37% more chances of sustaining a heart attack when compared to those who eat breakfast. Dr. Leah Cahill, who led the research, tells that the rate of risk is not so worrisome. But she also supports the fact that indulging in a healthy breakfast could actually curb the risk of heart attacks.
Fast Food Breakfast
Is this breakfast healthy or not?
2. Digestive Disorders and Heartburn
If you think that skipping meals would actually help with heartburn, you’d be wrong. When we skip meals our stomach continues to produce digestive juices and without any intake of food for a very long time it will cause an erosion of our stomach lining leading to stomach ulcers, gastritis, severe pain in the stomach, stomach acid and in more serious cases even cancer. When we load ourselves with unhealthy calories after skipping meals we tend to prefer foods which are high in fat content to control our hunger and too much food causes an expansion of the muscle rings of our stomachs thereby raising the stomach acids to our throats which leads to heartburn. Surveys have shown that 74 percent of Americans are
continued on page 6
“Get Going… Walk if You Have to But Finish the Damned Race.”
By: Lou K Coleman
Lou K Coleman
“Destiny demands that you dig deep and finish strong. You didn’t come this far to only come this far. Dig deep, finish strong, and make yourself proud! Get going. Walk if you have to but finish the damned race.” [Gary Ryan Blair ― Ron Hill] and get under the Umbrella of the Almighty God NOW! There is no time to waste.
Bible prophecy is quickly being fulfilled in rapid succession. One after another. The progression and convergence of all the fulfilled end time prophecies in our current generation is not by coincidence. This fast progression and convergence of fulfilled prophecy is revealing to us that we can appropriately say that we are extremely close to the Mark of the Beast crisis, Intense Persecution of the True Remnant, the Loud Cry, and the Latter Rain experience. [Isaiah 58:1-9; James 5; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12; Matthew 5:13-20; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:16-18].
We are being plunged into a period of time which the Bible talks about more than any other period in history, including the time when Jesus walked the shores of Galilee and climbed the mountains of Judea. [Matthew 15:29]. The Bible says that the end of this age will have distinct signs, telling us what would be taking place. [Matthew 24 and Luke 21].
I tell you; the proverbial writing is on the wall, and it is telling us that the end of the Age of Grace is at hand and that the pause in Daniel’s timeline that occurred at the 69th week is about to end.
“Get Going… Walk if You Have to But Finish the Damned Race.”...continued
Fulfillment/Pending: The great falling away from the faith, known as the apostasy, is already occurring in many parts of the world, where churches embrace false teachings. This prophecy is currently being fulfilled, with more to come as the end approaches. While there’s no definitive timeline for when all this will occur, we are urged to discern the times and stay spiritually vigilant. [Matthew 24:42; 1 Peter 5:8]. Why? Because Bible prophecy has been fulfilled and continues to be fulfilled, and every prophetic sign seems to point to an imminent rapture. [1 Thessalonians 4:1318; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54]. If you want to be saved, get under the Umbrella of the Almighty God NOW! For the Bible tells us that once the entire world "sighs" and says finally, we have “peace and safety,” that is when total destruction comes.
The Bible also tells us that there will be a final world battle, the battle of Armageddon, with the East. There will be a 200-millionman army in which it is said that [China or India are the only countries who have or could do this] that will rise up against the global world order and that nearly three quarters of the world population will perish in this horrific war.
We now have this undeniable convergence of prophesied events in the natural realm, in the political
realm, and in the economic realm, yet – so many do not know and are not paying attention. Jesus said, when you see all these things happen, “Look up!”
Jesus is urgently letting His people know how soon His coming will be. Even though it is impossible to know the exact day and hour of Jesus coming at this time, we are instructed by Jesus that we need to carefully “watch and pray” and know His coming is “even at the doors.” [Luke 21:35; Matthew 24:33].
Get Going… Walk if You Have to But Finish the Damned Race – [Gary Ryan Blair]. The time is short!
But they say, “When I have a convenient season, I will call for you.” [Acts 24:25]. The same presumption that condemned Felix and will condemn many.
[Acts 24:27] reveals that Felix never received Christ. Felix made three tragic assumptions: that convenience will come, that conviction from the Holy Spirit would continue, and that conflicts would cease, but he forgot as many of us do… tomorrow may never come. [James 4:14].
So I say again, “Get Going… Walk if You Have to But Finish the Damned Race.” [Quote by Gary Ryan Blair].
I Hope Everyone Can Live. I Will Help.
Seth Wispelwey
“Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” - The Gospel According to Mark, 10:15 (NRSVUE)
The stage has been set, and the actors are in place.
What Prophecies Reveal ─
(1) The Unification of Europe
Scripture Reference: “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.” [Revelation 13:1-7; Revelation 13:5-7]. A turning point in human history that will dramatically change the course of world events. [Daniel 2:40–45; Daniel 7:8-24].
Fulfillment/Pending: The full unification under a single authority, which will affect the whole world as described in Revelation, is still pending. [Revelation 13:16; Revelation 17:12].
(2) The Rise of a Global Government and Economy
Scripture Reference: "He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead." [Revelation 13:16].
Fulfillment/Pending: The rise of a global government and economy, along with the implementation of a mark for buying and selling, has not yet occurred. However, the increasing push toward globalism and digital currencies suggests that this prophecy is nearing fulfillment.
(3) The Great Apostasy
Scripture Reference: "Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction." [2 Thessalonians 2:3].
Twenty years ago, I received a letter from a six-year-old in Abilene, Texas. I will forever cherish it, faded as it is now. But first, where’s Abilene?! That was my first thought when a big box arrived at my office. I was a recent arrival to Austin, beginning my organizing career in a state that exploded my east-coast frame of reference for size and distance.
I was a bright-eyed addition to the regional Bread for the World office, helping launch the nascent ONE Campaign “to make poverty history.” My role was to engage and mobilize campuses, congregations, and communities in lifting their civic voices to the halls of power, with a goal of prioritizing and increasing poverty-focused development assistance in our federal budget. Then and now, this type of life-sustaining foreign aid comprises less than 1% of our tax-funded expenditures, yet its impact is profound. I preached the power of what a swelling ocean of phone calls, letters, inperson visits, and petitions to our ostensible representatives could do to amplify and increase these impacts.
And in 2005, a global movement grew to try and eradicate the odious debt levied on impoverished countries (Jubilee) and prioritize spending on advancing equity and health worldwide. A first grader in west Texas saw a TV special about it with her mom, and pleaded to do something about the kids she saw who yearned for opportunities like hers, but were shackled by a global system designed to extract and oppress their means. Within their own limited means, Katherine and her mom far outpaced my grownup groups of advocates around the state: in that box they sent to my office were hundreds of petitions to pass on to Washington, DC, with that letter on top:
“Dear Seth, I hope everyone can live. I will help. Love, Katherine.”
There it is: God’s dreams for humanity distilled into the simplest prayer of a child, with a commitment God and our human siblings yearn to hear. I was undone. Needless to say, I found
Abilene on the map and planned my visit. A year later, Katherine got on her first plane (and escalator, subway…). She and her mom joined advocates from around the country on Capitol Hill to bring this message to Congress in person. On her seventh birthday, after a positive meeting with her representative, on her follow-up form for my DC-based colleagues she wrote: “We have to make sure he does what he says he’s going to do.” Do we ever.
As of this writing, much remains unknown about the state of much in our federal government, particularly the future of povertyfocused programs here and abroad. What’s been clear for some time now, however, is that those elected to legislate and lead serve interests that prioritize a vanishingly small minority of (already wealthy, powerful, malignant) people. It’s also clear that more people are awake to this reality. We are recognizing that traditional forms of exercising civic influence are ignored when it matters most (e.g. genocide), and that injustices we seek to address have their origins in the systems we are appealing to (e.g. racial capitalism). We need a wholesale reckoning with how our money is spent. This is our money, and our significant people power needs to rise up in new ways so it’s spent in new, life-sustaining ways. We recognize more than ever that our societies are woven together in an inextricable web of intersections and mutuality. There are no incomes without outcomes somewhere else. Right now, most of those outcomes do not help everyone live, but a new world is possible, if we have the faith and tenacity of a child. If those who govern us won’t align and meaningfully fight for the present and future we all need, they must be jettisoned, regardless of which “side” they represent.
In the words of poet Martín Espada, I challenge us all to read and “Imagine the Angels of Bread.” This is the year, beloved ones. This is always the year. We will help. May it be so.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Rev. Seth Wispelwey serves as the Minister for Economic Justice in the National Setting of the United Church of Christ.
“I don’t have time for breakfast”
U.S. Hits New Low in Global Corruption Index as Trump Halts Anti-Bribery Law
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
The United States has fallen to its lowest ranking ever on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Transparency International reported. The index comes as President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting the enforcement of a long-standing anti-bribery law. The law, in place for nearly five decades, prohibits U.S. businesses from bribing foreign officials to secure or retain contracts. The White House framed Trump’s decision to suspend enforcement of the measure, which has historically been a cornerstone of America’s anti-corruption framework, as a move to bolster business interests. “It’s going to mean a lot more business for America,” Trump said as he signed the order, effectively dismantling a key safeguard against corporate misconduct.
Transparency International’s
latest CPI report ranks 180 countries and territories based on perceived levels of public-sector corruption. The index relies on independent data sources and a scale of zero to 100, where zero is highly corrupt, and 100 is very clean. Denmark remains the least corrupt country for the seventh consecutive year, scoring 90, followed closely by Finland (88) and Singapore (84). Meanwhile, nations plagued by political instability and weak governance—such as South Sudan (8), Somalia (9), and Venezuela (10)—sit at the bottom of the index. The United States, once among the least corrupt nations, has suffered a steady decline. Falling to a score of 65, it now ranks below several European and Asia-Pacific nations that have strengthened their anti-corruption efforts.
HUD Job Cuts Equal a Housing Implosion
NNPA NEWSWIRE — One of the many DOGE targets is the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Elon Musk and DOGE are expected to reduce HUD staff by 50%. According to a source close to the department, those cuts would “hollow out the agency.”
By April Ryan
Large-scale protests in major cities across the nation and Washington D.C. continue to grow in number and discontent against the drastic Trump administration job cuts. The mass demonstrations have not moved President Trump and Elon Musk to change course to make the US government leaner. Recently, Black Press USA spoke with Black Republican and media mogul Armstrong Williams. “Trump is in charge, and no one is stopping him,” according to Williams.
One of the many DOGE targets is the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Elon Musk and DOGE are expected to reduce HUD staff by 50%. According to a source close to the department, those cuts would “hollow out the agency.” That same former official confirms HUD senior staff have already been eliminated. The DOGE anticipated next step in the elimination process targets job cuts of four to five thousand people [HUD employees] across
the country.” These cuts would create a work slowdown and a backlog for the “8 million” people serviced monthly by HUD, said the former official who wishes to remain anonymous. Meanwhile, one of the first cuts in the Trump HUD agency was the program to halt discrimination in housing appraisals that targeted Black homeowners. On a related note, the Black homeownership rate in 2025 is lower than that of 1968, the year the Fair Housing Act was implemented. Sources have said the HUD job cuts will create a negative jolt for some cities that depend on block grants, funding for public housing, housing vouchers, monies for housing the homeless, housing counseling, remediation of lead pipes, FHA loans, Fair Housing programs along with down payment assistance that helps first time home buyers. As we count the numbers, hundreds of thousands of people receive home loans from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Viewing the current state of the housing market, there is “a slowdown in the Housing Market” as there is inventory for higher priced homes but those houses are “staying on the market longer” according to Marvetta Bozeman the President of the Empire Board of Realtists. When asked about affordable housing, Bozeman says, “The affordability is gone.”
5 Diseases You Can Get if You Skip Breakfast... continued from page 4 living with digestive disorders.
1. Obesity
Skipping breakfast when your body is conditioned to receiving calories in the morning can have a counterproductive effect on your metabolism. Studies suggest your body may adjust by slowing down its metabolic rate, potentially resulting in weight gain and obesity.
According to the report, a lack of strong institutions and unchecked political influence is eroding democratic safeguards.
The report also details how corruption fuels the climate crisis by diverting critical resources, weakening environmental protections, and allowing industries with vested interests to influence policy decisions.
Transparency International’s CEO, Maíra Martini, called for urgent action to prevent corruption from obstructing climate initiatives. “It is imperative that urgent action is taken to root out corruption so that meaningful climate action is not undermined by undue influence, theft, and misuse of funds. Governments and multilateral organizations must integrate anti-corruption measures into climate efforts to safeguard climate finance and reestablish trust in climate initiatives,” Martini said.
The CPI findings reveal that corruption-driven mismanagement of climate funds is widespread. A recent audit found that millions of dollars meant for climate mitigation in Russia were misappropriated, leading to the failure of emissions-reduction projects. Libya, one of the world’s lowestscoring countries on the index,
saw deadly consequences of corruption last year when poorly maintained dams collapsed during Storm Daniel, killing over 11,000 people. In the U.S., a major energy company orchestrated a $60 million bribery scheme to secure a bailout for nuclear plants, shielding them from competition with renewable energy sources.
Transparency International warns that such corruption undermines environmental policy and slows the transition to clean energy. Corruption is also a growing threat to those advocating for climate action. More than 1,000 environmental defenders have been murdered in the past five years, with many of these killings occurring in countries with low CPI scores, such as Brazil (34) and the Philippines (33). “Corruption is an evolving global threat that does far more than undermine development— it is a key cause of declining democracy, instability, and human rights violations. The international community and every nation must make tackling corruption a top and long-term priority. This is crucial to pushing back against authoritarianism and securing a peaceful, free, and sustainable world,” said François Valérian, chair of Transparency International.
5 Diseases You Can Get if You Skip Breakfast...continued no! In fact, the diet consumed by the morning big-eaters, while effective for weight loss, leaves something to be desired. Certainly, it’s better balanced than the pastries-with-coffee option, which offers essentially no nutrients, no protein, and plenty of health-destroying bad fats and sugar. But the diet that led to weight loss contained no fruit or vegetables in the morning (although afternoon and evening meals had these elements), and also contained lots of dairy.
There are better ways to get a well-balanced morning slam without loading up on mucousproducing, allergy-inducing, immune-destroying, hormoneladen milk, cheese, nitrate-spiked breakfast meats, and buttered toast. Weight loss is important, but so is taking in foods that support your health. Diabetes is only one way to die. The good news is that diabetes is often preventable, even once it has begun to take effect. Therefore, anyone who
is overweight should begin exercising and eating a more nutritious, healthy balanced diet and exercising daily to shed excess pounds and remove two of the major diabetes risk factors right off the bat. And based on what can be taken away from the study, make sure to start each day with a healthy breakfast–that is a complete balanced meal that combines with the other meals that you eat during the day to provide 100% of your nutritional needs (protein, essential fatty acids, fiber, vitamins/minerals, phytochemicals, etc.). That means you want to consume approximately 33% of your requirements for everything at breakfast.
Where diseases such as diabetes are concerned, it is important to not be our own worst enemy. Other ways to reduce diabetes risk, according to the American Diabetes Association, are to control weight, blood pressure and cholesterol and to be physically active.
Lowell Milken Surprises Alta Loma Teacher with $25,000 Milken Educator Award for California
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA
“Regular meals, including breakfast, play a role in maintaining a balanced metabolism,” Best explains. “Skipping breakfast may disrupt this balance, potentially affecting the body’s ability to use efficiently and store energy.” So does this mean that you should stuff your face with pasta or donuts at 7 am? No, no,
– American Sign Language (ASL) teacher Danyel Smith wasn’t quite sure why most of the student body, fellow faculty and staff were asked to gather in the gymnasium at Alta Loma High School Tuesday morning: “We were told it was a special assembly recognizing our school. But ultimately we didn’t know what today was about.” She would soon find out – and what a surprise it was.
Smith, who also serves as World Language Department Chair for Alta Loma, was announced as California’s sole Milken Educator
Award recipient for 2024-25. Along with the Award’s national recognition and membership to the Milken Educator Network, Smith received a $25,000 cash prize she can use however she chooses. She is the first recipient awarded in the Chaffey Joint Union High School District.
The crowd of more than 1,500 erupted in cheers as Awards Founder Lowell Milken announced Smith’s name.
“Exemplary educators like Danyel Smith have the important
L E G A L S & C L A S S I F I E D S
From left: Milken Educator Awards Founder Lowell Milken; Kirk Brown (CA ‘99); Alta Loma High School Principal Jason Kaylor; recipient Danyel Smith (CA '24); Chaffey Joint Union High School District Superintendent Dr. Mathew Holton; and Alexis Arias (CA ‘23).
Thursday, February 20, 2025
BLACK & MISSING
Banks Cash in as Republicans Move to Kill Consumer Protections
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
The Biden administration’s effort to rein in excessive overdraft fees is now under direct attack from congressional Republicans, who have launched a campaign to repeal the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule that would cap overdraft charges at $5. The move comes as the banking industry—one of Washington’s most powerful lobbying forces—pushes to preserve the estimated $8 billion in annual revenue it collects from these fees. Republicans introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval on Wednesday, a legislative maneuver that cannot be filibustered and, if passed and signed into law, would wipe out the CFPB rule. The rule, finalized in December, was designed to prevent banks from exploiting consumers through excessive fees, a practice the agency found to be rife with deceptive tactics, including manipulating transaction orders to maximize overdraft charges.
“Republicans have introduced legislation to increase your bank fees,” former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wrote on X. “Seriously, they are doing this. And it sounds like the Trump administration supports it.” The American Prospect reported that Republicans in Congress have clarified who will gain from eliminating the rule. “The CRA has the support of key stakeholders, including the Consumer Bankers Association, Independent Community
Bankers of America, American Bankers Association, and America’s Credit Unions,” Emma Janssen wrote for The American Prospect. These organizations are deeply entrenched in the banking industry, advocating for financial institutions rather than consumers—the Consumer Bankers Association lobbies on behalf of banks with more than $10 billion in assets. The Independent Community Bankers of America represents 5,000 smaller banks nationwide. The American Bankers Association, one of the largest lobbying groups in the country, has made preserving overdraft fees a key legislative priority. America’s Credit Unions, which claims to represent credit unions, has also sided with the banks in opposing the CFPB rule.
“It is extremely telling that the main stakeholders who want to get rid of the CFPB rule are bankers rather than regular Americans who use banks,” Janssen noted. The lawmakers leading the charge—House Financial Services Committee
Chairman French Hill (R-AR) and Senate Banking Committee
continued on page 8
Lowell Milken Surprises Alta Loma Teacher with $25,000 Milken Educator Award for California...continued from page 6
role of preparing students to advance successfully in learning and life,” Milken said. “Danyel’s positive impact is reflected in the tremendous popularity of the American Sign Language program at Alta Loma, her compassion for her students, and her dedication to her colleagues, school and broader community. We commend Danyel for choosing teaching as a profession and welcome her into the Milken Educator Network, where she will have powerful opportunities to broaden her reach.
Congratulations.”
Smith joins a national network of over 3,000 Milken Educators spanning the Awards’ 37-year history as the nation’s preeminent teacher-recognition program.
Hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching,” the Milken Educator Awards inspire educators, students and entire communities to “Celebrate, Elevate and Activate” the K-12 teaching profession and encourage young, capable people to pursue teaching as a career. More than $75 million in individual financial prizes and more than $145 million have been invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall.
“I think I have finally stopped shaking,” Smith said “I don’t think it has settled in yet. I don’t think I’ve processed it all. I feel that as a teacher we kind of keep composure in front of students, but I am feeling all of the feelings. I’m unbelievably flattered.”
Outstanding educators such as Smith are not aware of their candidacy for the Award.
Recipients are sought out while early- to mid-career for what they have achieved — and for the promise of what they will accomplish given the resources and opportunities afforded by the Award.
Smith has been instrumental in the growth of the school’s ASL program. She ignites students’ passion for ASL early, developing relationships with nearby elementary and middle schools through events such as “Sprouting Signers,” which allows her students to teach ASL to visiting elementary schoolers.
Smith’s students enact their signing skills through Christmas caroling with the choir, signing the national anthem at school assemblies, and providing ASL translation for school events. Smith’s ASL level one (beginning) class has a 98% pass rate – with over 55% of incoming ALHS students choosing to take ASL year after year to fulfil their world language credit.
“We are incredibly proud of Danyel and so appreciative of the important work she does, not just on behalf of our students but the community at large. It’s unusual for a high school to offer ASL, so this kind of recognition helps uplift the importance of being able to offer this to our students,” said Dr. Mathew Holton, Superintendent of the Chaffey District. “It also reflects the outstanding work that is done day in and day out across our District by teachers who are dedicated to their profession and the students we serve.”
“It’s such an honor to be able to celebrate this distinguished recognition with Danyel and our entire campus community. She embodies what great teaching is all about – caring for our students, and preparing them not just for the next step in their educational journey, but for life,” said Jason Kaylor, Alta Loma’s Principal. Smith’s students wholeheartedly agree.
“She’s like a mother. She’s very engaging, attentive and engaging. She puts her whole heart into everything she does and everyone she communicated with,” said Sabrina Tepper, a junior at Alta Loma.
“I came (to Alta Loma) during my first year and I was kind of far behind. She got me caught up. She’s just very special. Very inspiring,” said Luke Foreman, a senior.
“Mrs. Smith teaches me in a way that just makes me understand. I love her. She always there for me,” said Mya Moya, a junior. For more on information, please visit MilkenEducatorAwards. org or call the Milken Family Foundation at (310) 570-4772 .
Thursday, February 20, 2025
White House escalates racist, dictatorial assault on education with crackdown on DEI and civil rights protections
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
The 47th president is now threatening to strip federal funding from schools that offer race-conscious programs, scholarships and student resources in a move that hails back to the days of Jim Crow. (Photo Credit: Unsplash/ Kenny Eliason
(NNPA Newswire) – The Trump administration has launched a full-scale and racist assault on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in education, threatening to strip federal funding from schools that offer race-conscious programs, scholarships and student resources. Inside Higher Ed first reported that the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) declared these programs illegal late Feb. 14, giving institutions just 14 days to comply or face a federal investigation. In a definitive move to erase decades of civil rights progress, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor issued a sweeping Dear Colleague letter, wildly expanding the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. That decision struck down affirmative action in college admissions, but the Trump administration is weaponizing it to eliminate all race-conscious policies across universities—an attack that directly targets Black and other marginalized students.
“In recent years, American educational institutions have discriminated against students on the basis of race, including white and Asian students,” Trainor claimed, pushing the right-wing narrative that White students are somehow victims of systemic racism. He went further, calling DEI efforts “pervasive and repugnant race-based preferences,” effectively criminalizing programs that promote equity and access to higher education. The letter outlines a draconian crackdown on everything from race-conscious hiring and financial aid to student housing, graduation ceremonies, and campus life. Universities that so much as consider race in their policies could face immediate scrutiny and funding cuts. The administration also moved to ban universities from factoring in a student’s racial identity through personal essays or extracurriculars, attempting to close any remaining pathways for schools to acknowledge systemic barriers facing Black, Latino, Indigenous, and other
underrepresented students.
Backlash Against Trump’s Power Grab
The move was met with immediate outrage from lawmakers, civil rights groups, and education leaders.
“This threat to rip away federal funding from public schools and colleges flies in the face of the law,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). “While it’s anyone’s guess what falls under the Trump administration’s definition of ‘DEI,’ there is simply no authority or basis for Trump to impose such a mandate.”
Brian Rosenberg, former president of Macalester College and a visiting professor at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, called the directive “truly dystopian.”
“It goes well beyond the Supreme Court ruling on admissions and declares illegal a wide range of common practices,” he told Inside Higher Ed. “In my career, I’ve never seen language of this kind from any government agency in the United States.”
The administration’s letter also targets university programs that acknowledge racial inequities, warning schools that even discussing systemic racism could violate federal law. Trainor outrageously compared modern diversity initiatives—such as cultural centers and graduation ceremonies honoring Black and Latino students—to Jim Crow-era segregation, a false and inflammatory claim meant to justify dismantling programs designed to support students of color.
“A lot of these diversity programs and multicultural centers were founded to support
students who had been historically shut out of higher education for centuries,” said Adam Harris, a senior fellow at New America who studies racial discrimination on college campuses. “To penalize institutions for taking those steps to help students is actually very much an echo of the segregation era.”
A chilling attack on higher education
While the directive is expected to face legal challenges, its immediate impact could devastate diversity efforts in universities nationwide.
Harris pointed out that in red states like Texas and Missouri, colleges have already begun dismantling DEI initiatives in response to rightwing crackdowns.
“In Texas, colleges first renamed centers for marginalized students, then shut them down entirely,” he said. “Scholarships were frozen or eliminated. In Missouri, raceconscious scholarships were systematically erased.”
If enforced, Trump’s latest power grab would represent an unprecedented escalation of federal control over universities, dictating not just admissions policies but the full spectrum of student life.
Even Edward Blum, the man behind the Students for Fair Admissions case, admitted the ruling does not apply to scholarships and student programs.
“The SFFA opinion didn’t change the law for those policies,” Blum told Inside Higher Ed before the OCR letter was issued.
Despite that, Trump’s administration has pressed forward with a unilateral purge of DEI initiatives, circumventing Congress and ignoring the courts to force its radical, racist agenda onto the nation’s education system.
Keeping it Real: Chad Bianco is as Wrong for California as Donald Trump is Wrong for America
By S.E. Williams
Overview: Riverside County’s Constitutional Sheriff, Chad Bianco, is running for governor of California, despite his controversial history and questionable policies. Bianco has been criticized for his tough-on-crime stance, which targets Black people disproportionately, and his support for Donald Trump, who has been found guilty of multiple felonies. Bianco’s campaign is seen as a continuation of his partisan blathering on Fox News, which has garnered him national attention and the support of the Republican Party. However, many are skeptical of Bianco’s ability to win a statewide election and question his suitability for the role
Many were not surprised to learn that Riverside County’s Constitutional Sheriff, Chad Bianco, was entering the 2026 race for governor of California. Afterall, Bianco has left a trail of dots for folks to connect regarding his ambition that some believe actually began with his bombastic resistance to CA Governor Gavin Newsom during the COVID-19 crisis.
This, coupled with Bianco’s continuing partisan blathering on Fox News that garnered him national attention and made him a media darling of the Republican Party, must certainly have caught the attention of his hero, Donald J. Trump. Some might even go so far as to describe Bianco as one of Trump’s “many-mini-me’s” (no reference to Bianco’s height, of course). Bianco can’t seem to find enough opportunities to express his support for the man. In addition, although Bianco is constantly championing his own tough on crime bonafides, he obviously doesn’t think ‘being tough on crime” should be applied to his guy, the Trumpster. He is always blowing his horn for, and singing the praises of the president who was found guilty of multiple felonious acts. When it comes to crime as it related to his privileged idol during the 2024 Presidential Campaign, Bianco saw felony convictions as something funny–a joke. He even went so far as to post on Instagram, “I think it’s time we put a felon in the White House.” Despite claims that it was “tongue in cheek,” joking about electing a felon president was no joking matter for those of us who believe that no one is above the law. I guess for Trump’s sake, it’s a good thing he isn’t Black, because he would certainly not have the support of the tough-on-Blackcrime Sheriff, Chad Bianco. I say this because the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD), led by Bianco, has proven it perceives Black people as criminals
more often than others. A 2023
assessment by the ACLU based on 2019 data from the Racial & Identity Profiling Act, noted, “The Riverside Sheriff’s Department wastes millions of dollars harassing county residents—especially Black people—via deputy-initiated traffic stops.”
Just imagine if Bianco were given the keys to the state house?
Although he professes to be tough on crime it is obvious that he has blinders on as it relates to the criminal activity of some . . . like Trump and all his minions associated with the January 6, 2020, insurrection. But, when it comes to Black folks, Bianco feels his team is fully justified in stopping innocent Black people on mere suspicion.
“The hardest thing about any political campaign is how to win without proving that you are unworthy of winning.”
Adlai Stevenson Yes, Bianco claims to be tough on crime but as noted by Eva Bitran, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Southern California.
“Contrary to the popular narrative that law enforcement keeps communities safe from violent crime, RCSD overwhelmingly targets community members on suspicion of, at most, traffic violations or infractions and misdemeanors.”
Bianco’s team stops a lot of Blacks on suspicion and yet, “less than one percent of people stopped for traffic violations in Riverside County are arrested.”
Why is Bianco, based on the performance of his deputies, so suspicious of Black people as potential criminals, while he celebrates the criminal antics of the felon in chief, Trump? It is laughable to think that Bianco actually accuses Democrats of coddling criminals.
This alone should provide some perspective on Bianco’s good ole
propagated was a clear violation of public trust–but, none of that seems to matter in the age of Trump. Despite Bianco’s heated rhetoric, crime in California in 2023, actually decreased in relation to both homicides and rapes by 13.7% and 3.0%, respectively.
While there were nominal increases in thefts (3.8%) and aggravated assaults (1.7%), and while crimes in these areas have shown a slight up-tick since 2021, they were still lower than crime levels previous to the COVID-19 pandemic. In truth, robberies remain 3.1% below prepandemic levels.
Many in the community are saying, “Slow your roll, Chad.”
pandemic. We witnessed how he “carried water” for Presidential candidate Donald Trump by falsely claiming his deputies stopped an assassination attempt on Trump’s life; and how he took boastful credit for the passage of Prop. 36, while knowing full well the fear mongering he did about rising crime was unsupported and intentionally misleading.
boy attitude toward people of color.
Meanwhile, being elected to high office as a convicted felon worked out so well for Trump, it may be why Bianco obviously has no concern about running for governor even as the Riverside Sheriff’s Department he oversees remains under a Civil Rights patterns and practices investigation by CA State Attorney General Rob Bonta. As many of you may recall, Bonta is seeking to determine whether the sheriff’s office–under Bianco’s leadership–has engaged in a pattern and/or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing.
With the financial heft of the Republican Party behind him; the support of police unions beside him; the Riverside Sheriffs Association holding his hand; and FOX News providing near unending campaign access to their audiences, Bianco has probably already measured the drapes in the governor’s office.
Bianco is also hoping to leverage the successful passage of Prop 36 by voters last year which authorized felony charges and increased sentences for certain theft and drug crimes, to his advantage. The passage of this proposition was a stunning example of California’s schizophrenic relationship with criminal justice.
Bianco gave the proposition his full-throated support and is taking a lot of credit for its successful passage, while criticizing those who opposed it.
Bianco, like Trump, knows that there are a lot of low information voters who cast ballots in every election. This usually makes it easy for those with enough money to spread false and/or misleading information about important ballot issues. In truth, Prop 36 was a red herring.
All the fear mongering Bianco
Since Bianco took office the community has watched as he let inmates die on his watch–it took a court order for him to implement the mandates required to protect them during COVID and since then the number of deaths in his jails have continued to rise. The community watched as he fought against other protections implemented by Governor Newsom to keep local residents safe during the
Although Bianco was twice elected sheriff, to his good fortune, those elections happened in offcycle election years amid low voter turnout. It is doubtful he will have such success in a statewide election in 2026. In addition, his term as sheriff was extended for two years to 2028, by the state to get sheriff election cycles in both Riverside and San Bernardino Counties aligned with presidential elections. As a result, when he loses his bid for governor in 2026, the county will still be stuck with him as sheriff until 2028.
Just as Bianco’s idol, Donald Trump, is wrong for America. Chad Bianco is wrong for California. Of course, this is just my opinion. I’m keeping it real.
Banks Cash in as Republicans Move to Kill Consumer Protections...continued from page 7
Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC)— both have deep financial ties to the banking industry. Hill’s top campaign donor last year was the Bank of New York Mellon, the 13th-largest bank in the country. Scott’s biggest contributor was Goldman Sachs. Hill, a former CEO of an Arkansas community bank, has a direct financial interest in preserving overdraft fees. At the same time, Scott has taken more than $5.3 million in campaign contributions from the financial services industry over his career, according to The Lever. “It’s up to Republicans to decide whether they will follow Hill and Scott and reveal themselves as objectively pro–junk fee by passing the resolution,” Janssen declared. Republicans defending their move claim that removing the rule is about protecting “consumer choice.” Hill, in announcing the resolution of disapproval, said that the CFPB rule “[hurts] consumers who deserve financial protections and greater choice.” But as Janssen asserted, “What they call ‘choice’ is actually taking money away from consumers and giving it over to the banks, and it represents the dubious position that banks simply have to rip off their customers, or they cannot survive.” Lindsey Johnson, president and CEO of the Consumer Bankers Association, also tried to frame overdraft fees as a necessary tool for working-class Americans. “Millions of hardworking Americans, including the one in five without access to credit, rely on overdraft services as a valuable financial lifeline, yet the Biden-Chopra CFPB’s overdraft rule threatens to cut off their access to this essential bank product,” Johnson said. Janssen countered: “Hundreds of dollars in fees per family per year is far from a ‘valuable financial lifeline.’ If you’re going to sell out consumers to hand bankers billions of dollars, you might as well be honest about it.”
Credit: Chris Allen, BVN
Keeping it Real: Chad Bianco is as Wrong for California as Donald Trump is Wrong for America..continued