Policymakers, Advocates and Worried Californians Join Forces to Save Medi-Cal
recipients are women.
The SSA is the country’s primary income security agency. It services the federal retirement, survivors, and disability insurance programs. It also manages the program of supplemental security income (SSI) for seniors, blind and disabled.
people with disabilities and Social Security beneficiaries also attended the event.
federal spending. Those conversations are causing alarm among some Californians – particularly the elderly, disabled individuals and people enrolled in Medi-Cal, California’s version of Medicaid. What could those cuts mean for their health care and day-today life?
Diana Madoshi, a community activist from Placer County, is one of many people in the state who are voicing their concerns about the pending cuts and how they would affect Medi-Cal.
“Today, I am frightened — as are many seniors, persons on disability, and social security recipients — by the threats of the Trump Administration and his henchman Elon Musk to defund and dismantle Social Security, and Medicaid-slash-Medical,” Madoshi said at a rally and news conference held in front of the State Capitol on March 4.
The event was organized by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo (D-Santa Clarita) and Jasmeet Bains (D-Bakersfield) to discuss protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medi-Cal.
“As long as I have a breath in me, I’m going to stand up and fight,” Madoshi, a member of the California Alliance for Retired Americans, promised.
A number of senior adults,
Madoshi, 74, who is from Rocklin, said she started working at 17. She supported herself through college and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Her 36-year nursing career enabled her to start an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) that helped purchase her home.
However, Madoshi added, that she was affected by a medical condition and was unable to work. Treating the illness was expensive and the cost drained her IRA account, but she still had a “social safety net” that sustained her livelihood.
“My savings were eradicated by my illness,” she said. “So, all I had left from my retirement was my social security benefits. The Social Security safety net caught me. It underscores the program’s fundamental humanity.”
The Trump Administration and the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have referred to Social Security as a “Ponzi scheme,” an investment fraud plan that pays existing investors with funds collected from new clients.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) reports that 71.6 million people received Medicare in 2023, and 5.8 million people were newly awarded Social Security benefits in 2023. The SSA says that 55% of the
On Feb. 25, SSA announced the closing of a component within the agency, the Office of Transformation. Employees in the office were put on administrative leave.
“President Trump has mandated the federal government eliminate wasteful and inefficient offices and the Office of Transformation was a prime example,” stated Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “This redundant office was created under the previous administration, and we are righting that wrong.”
On March 11, the Trump administration issued a press release titled “Fact Check: Trump Will Always Protect Social Security.” The White House statement said the administration “will not cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits.” Instead, it added, Trump and Musk are focused on “waste and fraud in entitlement spending.”
The U.S. Government Accountability Office reports that taxpayers lose as much as $521 billion annually to fraud — and most of that is within entitlement programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, the press release stated.
“What kind of a person doesn’t support eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending that ultimately costs taxpayers more?,” the White House statement continues. According to the Department
of Home Care Services (HCS), Medi-Cal pays for a variety of medical services for children and adults with limited income and resources. It is funded by both federal and state dollars.
Schiavo urged the federal government to wall up funding for Social Security, Medicare, and Medi-Cal and called on her colleagues to support legislation she authored, Assembly Joint Resolution 3 (AJR 3).
The measure urges California’s representatives in Congress to vote against cuts to — and proposals to privatize — Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. AJR3 also asks Trump to veto any legislation to cut or privatize these programs.
Schiavo said there could be up to $880 billion or more in Medicaid cuts, and they may affect trauma centers and urgent care facilities in urban and rural areas.
“These cuts are not an option in our communities,” Schiavo said.
Schiavo attended the news conference in Sacramento joined by Bains, advocates, patients, family members, service providers and other supporters from across the state.
At the conference, Schiavo mentioned that she lost her father the day before. He was a veteran, she said, who relied on Social Security benefits.
“We are here to fight in honor of my dad and every other veteran who is going to be hurt by Congress and the federal administration,” she said. “We know that if cuts are made to these vital programs that millions of people in our state depend on that our taxpayers and tax dollars go to pay for it will be devastating to communities across California.”
Tensions Boil Over: Middle School Fight Sparks Debate on Student Conflict and Discipline
A press conference was held outside the San Bernardino County Courthouse following a controversial incident at Jehue Middle School in Rialto, where a fight between two students resulted in serious legal consequences. The altercation, which took place between a Black female student and a Latino male student, has sparked heated discussions regarding student discipline, racial dynamics, and the role of school officials in maintaining safety.
The fight escalated to a violent level, with objects being thrown and the male student slamming the female student to the ground. According to witnesses, the young man was seen smiling afterward, while onlookers directed racial slurs toward the Black student. The incident, captured on video, quickly gained traction online and in the community, leading to widespread concern and outrage.
However, what has truly ignited controversy is the response from law enforcement.
The Black female student, despite being knocked unconscious during the altercation, has been charged with a felony, while the male student faces only a misdemeanor charge.
Many community members, activists, and local leaders argue that the charges are unjust and disproportionately severe.
At the press conference, activists, parents, and community leaders gathered to demand accountability from both the school district and law enforcement.
“The felony charge against this young girl will impact her for the rest of her life,” said a community activist. “If you watch the video, it’s clear that she was defending herself. Yet, she is being labeled as the aggressor. Where were the teachers? Where were the on-campus officers? This fight should never have lasted as long as it did.”
Community Leader, Najee Ali puts out a passionate statement to the press outside the San Bernardino District’s Attorney’s Office.
Longtime civil rights advocate Najee Ali echoed these concerns, stating, “Colton Police investigated and decided to charge a 13-year-old girl who was knocked unconscious. How is she the bully? The real failure
Sculptor Edmonia Lewis
By Don Valentine
Edmonia Lewis is inarguably the most renowned mixed-race artist in American history. Her father was a free West Indian and her mother was part Chippewa and an artist in her own right.
Edmonia’s groundbreaking sculpture was the gargantuan 3,000-pound work, The Death of Cleopatra. She devoted four years of her life to this marvel. This led her to Rome to rid the shackles of being a creative Black and a woman in the Reconstruction Era. Named “Wildfire” at birth, she had an older half-brother named “Sunrise” (née Samuel) who led a very robust life as a participant in the California Gold Rush. He literally struck gold in the
Rush and became comfortably wealthy. The Bozeman Magazine wrote, “Samuel oversaw her life and education from afar, making sure she was adequately cared for during his time in the west.” He paid for her to attend Oberlin College, the first college in the United States to accept Black women, and Natives. Racist attacks on Edmonia, including an assault by a white mob, forced her to flee to Boston where she began studying with the renowned sculptor Edward Brackett. From Boston, she studied in London, and Paris, before starting her masterwork in Rome
Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
Asm. Pilar Schiavo (D-Santa Clarita), at the podium, urges the federal government to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medi-Cal during a news conference held in front of the California State Capitol on March 4. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.
Diana Madoshi, a member of the California Alliance for Retired Americans, said Social Security benefits were her only resource when an illness depleted her IRA account. Madoshi was rallying against federal cuts to the program at a news conference held March 4 at the Capitol in Sacramento. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides monthly payments to individuals with disabilities and older adults. Californians are concerned about federal cuts to the program. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.
BVN Staff
San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. (Courtesy photo)
Community Demands Justice
SBTA President Ashley Bettas-Alcalá Named Woman Of
Distinction By state Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes
of Distinction by Eloise Gómez Reyes, representing Senate District 29.
(Photo by Steven Moore and provided courtesy of SBCUSD)
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—
The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) proudly celebrates Ashley Bettas-Alcalá, the president of the San Bernardino Teachers Association (SBTA), who has been recognized as a Woman of Distinction by California State Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes. This honor, presented at a special luncheon on March 7,
acknowledges Bettas-Alcalá’s unwavering dedication to educators, students and the community throughout her 18year career with SBCUSD.
“I am incredibly honored. This recognition is not just a reflection of my work, but of the collective dedication of the educators, students and families in our community,” Bettas-Alcalá said. “Education is a calling, and I am
Recently Approved Budget Plan Favors Wealthy, Slashes Aid to Low-Income Americans
By
Budget planing with calculator and pie charts.
The new budget framework approved by Congress may result in sweeping changes to the federal safety net and tax code.
The most significant benefits would flow to the highest earners while millions of low-income families face cuts. A new analysis from Yale University’s Budget Lab shows the proposals in the House’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Resolution would lead to a drop in after-tax-and-transfer income for the poorest households while significantly boosting revenue for the wealthiest Americans.
Last month, Congress passed its Concurrent Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2025 (H. Con. Res. 14), setting revenue and spending targets for the next decade. The resolution outlines $1.5 trillion in gross spending cuts and $4.5 trillion in tax reductions between FY2025 and FY2034, along with $500 billion in unspecified deficit reduction. Congressional Committees have now been instructed to identify policy changes that align with these goals. Three of the most impactful committees— Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means—have been tasked with proposing major changes. The Agriculture Committee is charged with finding $230 billion in savings, likely through changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. Energy and Commerce
proud to work alongside so many passionate teachers who work tirelessly to uplift and inspire the next generation. Together, we will continue to advocate for equity, opportunity and excellence in our schools.”
She has served as President of the San Bernardino Teachers Association, the union that represents about 3,000 District teachers, for more than a decade, guiding the District’s educators through some of the most challenging times in recent history. Her leadership was instrumental during the North Park Elementary School shooting, a Districtwide cyber attack and the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that teachers and students had the support they needed in challenging times.
“This well-deserved recognition highlights the importance of strong educators as she has helped drive lasting and meaningful change in our District,” Superintendent Mauricio Arellano said. “She exemplifies the highest levels of leadership and collaboration and we are so grateful for her partnership and proud to see her recognized as a Woman of Distinction.”
A National Board Certified Teacher, Bettas-Alcalá’s commitment to education goes beyond advocacy. She began her career in 2001 with Tacoma Public Schools before joining SBCUSD in 2006 as a teacher at Riley College Prep Academy,
then known as Riley Elementary School. With a bachelor’s degree in education from Washington State University and a Master’s degree from the University of California, Riverside, she has dedicated her life to the empowerment of fellow educators.
Her passion for education is deeply rooted in her upbringing. Raised in Pullman, Washington, she comes from a family of lifelong educators—her mother was an elementary school teacher for more than 30 years, her father worked in administration at Washington State University, and her sister works with the early childhood education program at the University of Idaho. BettasAlcalá is a devout follower of all things Washington State University.
“Her recognition as a Woman of Distinction is a testament to her leadership and dedication to the educators and students of San Bernardino and Highland,” said SBTA Vice President Barbara Pastuchek-Cox, who nominated her for this recognition. “Her advocacy, both in and out of the classroom, has left a lasting impact on SBCUSD and the broader educational community.”
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Bettas-Alcalá is a devoted wife and mother. She and her husband, Jose Alcalá, who teaches in the Moreno Valley Unified School District, are proud parents to their 9-yearold daughter, Kennedy.
Recently Approved Budget Plan Favors Wealthy, Slashes Aid to Low-Income Americans...continued
percent in the calendar year 2026. Households in the middle would see a modest 0.6 percent gain. However, the top five percent of earners would experience a 3 percent increase in their aftertax-and-transfer income.
must deliver $880 billion in savings, likely through Medicaid reductions. Meanwhile, the Ways and Means Committee must craft tax changes totaling no more than $4.5 trillion in new deficits, most likely through extending provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Although the resolution does not specify precise changes, reports suggest lawmakers are eyeing steep cuts to SNAP and Medicaid benefits while seeking to make permanent tax provisions that primarily benefit high-income individuals and corporations.
To examine the potential realworld impact, Yale’s Budget Lab modeled four policy changes that align with the resolution’s goals:
A 30 percent across-the-board cut in SNAP funding. A 15 percent cut in Medicaid funding.
Permanent extension of the individual and estate tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Permanent extension of business tax provisions including 100% bonus depreciation, expense of R&D, and relaxed limits on interest deductions.
Yale researchers determined that the combined effect of these policies would reduce the aftertax-and-transfer income of the bottom 20 percent of earners by 5
Moreover, the analysis concluded that more than 100 percent of the net fiscal benefit from these changes would go to households in the top 20 percent of the income distribution. This happens because lower-income groups would lose more in government benefits than they would gain from any tax cuts. At the same time, high-income households would enjoy significant tax reductions with little or no loss in benefits.
“These results indicate a shift
in resources away from lowincome tax units toward those with higher incomes,” the Budget Lab report states. “In particular, making the TCJA provisions permanent for high earners while reducing spending on SNAP and Medicaid leads to a regressive overall effect.” The report notes that policymakers have floated a range of options to reduce SNAP and Medicaid outlays, such as lowering per-beneficiary benefits or tightening eligibility rules. While the Budget Lab did not assess each proposal individually, the modeling assumes legislation consistent with the resolution’s instructions. “The burden of deficit reduction would fall largely on those least able to bear it,” the report concluded.
Riverside County News Release: RUHS’ Whole Person Health Score Validated by Harvard-affiliated Research Group
caption:
MORENO VALLEY, CA (March 20, 2025) - The Whole Person Health Score, an innovative and holistic patient assessment tool developed by Riverside University Health System (RUHS), was independently validated by a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital.
The Whole Person Health Score (WPHS) goes beyond examining a person’s physical
“A Night To Remember”
The Miss Black Awareness Scholarship Pageant Reunion Gala
By Ellen Turner
Miss Black Awareness Scholarship Pageant Reunion Gala Saturday March 22nd was a truly special and elegant event! With First Lady Kimberly Morrow, Ms. California 2000, as the MC, was a night to remember. The Unity Dance was a powerful moment, symbolizing the strength and connection of the sisterhood. This performance was beautifully coordinated by Ricki Marshall.
Hearing each Queen share how the Miss Black Awareness Scholarship Pageant impacted their lives was incredibly moving. It’s amazing to see how this experience continues to uplift and empower them. Girls participating in this event were from 2019 Chalarra L. Dixon, Jhala Angelique, Monica
Summers. From 2020 Chadonna Dixon, 2023 Khaleena Brown, Pharrah Gray and Kalani Gray. Collaboration between the Miss Black Awareness Pageant Committee, pageant executive director Deborah Lindsey and pageant director Charlene Dixon, Concerned Citizens for the Development of North Fontana, and corporate sponsor of the event Fontana Kiwanis Club made the Reunion Gala a success. Such partnerships play a vital role in strengthening community bonds and supporting meaningful events. If you're interested in learning more about these organizations or how to get involved, email concernedcitizens4nofontana@ gmail.com for additional information.
Tensions Boil Over: Middle School Fight Sparks Debate on Student Conflict and Discipline...continued from page 1
here is on the part of the school staff, who did nothing to prevent or stop the assault.”
Marvin J. Stovall, a 70-yearold community member who traveled from Los Angeles to attend the press conference, expressed his frustration. “I saw this story online and couldn’t believe my eyes. Incidents like this happened when I was young, and it’s heartbreaking to see that little has changed. This young lady needs our support, and we need to hold the school district and its board members accountable.”
A Call for Change
The incident has reignited concerns over racial disparities in school discipline. Community leaders emphasized that this should not be framed as a Black versus Latino issue but rather as a failure of the school system to protect all students equally.
“The community must come
together,” one speaker urged. “This is not about division—it’s about justice. The school system has failed these students, and they should be held accountable, not the kids.”
Many are now calling for an independent investigation into how the fight was handled and demanding that the felony charge against the young girl be dropped. Parents and activists are also urging school officials to implement stronger measures to prevent student violence and ensure fair disciplinary actions. Najee Ali continues to answer questions from the news reporters and media outlets.
As tensions continue to rise, the case serves as a stark reminder of the broader issues surrounding school discipline, racial bias, and the need for systemic change. The community now awaits a response from school officials and law enforcement, as calls for justice grow louder by the day.
Riverside County News Release: RUHS’ Whole Person Health Score Validated by Harvard-affiliated Research Group
and Women’s Hospital in Boston, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The center issued its validation in February 2025, finding that the tool is a reliable method for assessing factors that impact health.
The evaluation was funded by RUHS – Behavioral Health.
“To truly understand a person’s health challenges, we realized we needed to ask the right questions. And that’s what the Whole Person Health Score does,” said Dr. Mahbuba Khan, Medical Director of RUHS Community Health Centers. “The validation by the PROVE Center is a powerful testament to the value of this tool that allows us to tailor health services to a person’s specific needs.”
health; it strives to understand their emotional well-being, socioeconomic circumstances and use of available resources with a series of 28 targeted questions that paint a holistic health picture. Over the last year, the assessment was rigorously evaluated by the PROVE (Patient Reported Outcomes, Value and Experience) Center at Brigham
Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Ashley Bettas-Alcalá, the president of the San Bernardino Teachers Association, was recognized as a Woman
Photo
Pooja Bhojak, MD, Physician in Charge at the Jurupa Valley Community Health Center, answers a patient’s questions as they fill out the Whole Person Health Score together on an iPad Monday, March 17, 2025.
Mahmoud Khalil Deportation Revives Century of Citizen Rights Violations
By Christopher Alam
For student activists, visa-holders and immigrants, history is repeating itself.
For student activists, visaholders and immigrants, history is repeating itself.
The Trump administration’s latest moves to deport Mahmoud Khalil over first amendmentprotected speech — and more recently, Brown University professor Dr. Rasha Alawieh and Georgetown graduate student Badar Khan Suri — has imperiled the rights and legal status of communities nationwide.
The administration contends that Khalil can be deported according to Section 237(a) (4)(C)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which gives the Secretary of State the authority to deport non-citizens when they have “reasonable ground to believe that their presence or activities in the United States would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”
The Columbia University graduate student and permanent U.S. resident, who played a major role in campus protests against Israel, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entering his apartment the night of Saturday, March 8.
Khalil’s deportation notice did not mention any crimes that the federal government believes he may have committed; there are still no criminal charges against him.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said as much on CBS on March 16th, before vowing to “keep doing it.”
Commentators across the political spectrum — including pro-Palestinian voices, liberal Jewish groups like J Street and members of Congress — have criticized the move as an assault on free speech.
President Trump, Rubio and ICE Director Tom Homan have all stated openly they are willfully defying the courts on this and future deportation decisions, as Khalil was detained and relocated
from New York to Louisiana without any charges, hearings or immigration violation.
Zahra Billoo, executive director of the San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on Arab-Islamic Relations, said the level of alarm over deportation threats in citizen and noncitizen immigrant communities nationwide is unprecedented.
Lately, she has been going to multiple Bay Area mosques nightly to update attendees on news and resources.
Almost everywhere, people have approached her panicking about themselves or their parents; one visa-holder she spoke with has delayed her wedding abroad, fearing that she can’t return to the U.S. Billoo detailed how unpredictable the situation has been.
“On March 6, I did a training for interfaith leaders about how to protect their congregations in case of an ICE raid,” said Billoo. “I told them U.S. citizens and green card holders were among the safest people, that they should not worry, and we need to prioritize protecting people who don’t have those statuses.”
“Two days later, Khalil was abducted at his house,” she continued. “One week later, I stood before the leaders and told them the things I said may no longer hold true. The law hasn’t changed, but the Trump administration has demonstrated its increasing disregard for it.”
Student activists nationwide are undeterred, despite Khalil being arrested for involvement in campus protests.
At UC Berkeley, the weeks since Khalil’s arrest have seen multiple protests in his defense, drawing a broader coalition of support from student organization and faculty than past pro-Palestine demonstrations.
Since Khalil’s arrest, student mobilization at Berkeley has had a second wind.
A November walkout for
Palestine saw about 200 to 300 people, while an early March walkout for Khalil saw nearly double that.
Most recently, a petition statement protesting the deportation of students is circulating amongst Jewish faculty and staff.
Zaid Yousef, an activist and law school student at Berkeley, said that while student organizers are not afraid to continue demonstrating, they have taken greater risk assessment measures.
“A lot of the messaging has been: be cautious, don’t do anything crazy, don’t make yourself more of a target, don’t go into panic mode, don’t spread news without verifying it, don’t freeze up in fear. Don’t stop organizing,” he said. “But if you are an international student, or you’re here on a visa, really gauge your risk.”
“We are entering into uncharted waters,” he continued. “It’s now the time to choose where one stands in terms of history. Do you stand on the side of McCarthyist, Patriot Act-style repression, or do you think that the First Amendment has value?”
This recent spate of deportations has also led many experts to draw comparisons to when the US violated citizen and resident rights in the years leading up to the mass internment of Japanese Americans in the 1940s.
That period saw over 100,000 Japanese, including citizens, relocated and disenfranchised.
Japanese Americans have been organizing in response to this issue for decades.
The National Coalition for Redress Reparations (NCRR), for instance, successfully organized throughout the 1980s to get reparations for imprisoned Japanese Americans, in accordance with a list of goals they named Principles of Unity — one of which was a pledge to support the struggles of other oppressed peoples.
In 1988, after years of activism by groups like the NCRR, Congress passed the Civil Liberties Act, providing a formal apology to interned Japanese Americans who were interned, acknowledging that the government’s actions were motivated largely by “racial prejudice” and “a failure of political leadership”; $20,000 to each surviving internee; and a public education fund to prevent similar injustices in the future.
Susan Hayase and her husband Tom Izu, who were part of that movement, are now co-
founders of The San Jose Nikkei Resistors, a Japanese grassroots community organization that formed in 2018 to respond to Trump’s immigration policies, particularly the “Muslim Ban.”
“The model minority story tries to split off the Japanese American incarceration story as exceptional, but we know that it wasn’t exceptional,” said Hayase.
“The smearing of Japanese Americans is identical to what is happening now with Khalil,” she continued, adding that the current targeting of community leaders also echoes the government’s targeting Japanese Americans as national security threats.
“The people picked up under the Alien Enemies Act were community leaders, spokespeople, teachers, publishers, religious leaders,” explained Hayase. “Khalil was a leader. He was not dangerous, except to the idea that the government should be able to squash all political speech.”
This comes as President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 for the first time since the 1940s to deport Venezuelan nationals alleged to be members of the criminal organization Tren de Aragua.
What’s unique this time around is that Trump invoked a wartime power authorization outside of a war, and the detainees were deported despite a federal court order block.
The ‘Issei,’ too — the first generation of immigrants born in Japan — were imprisoned through the Alien Enemies Act and barred from citizenship.
Reflecting on the present government’s failure to live up to past victories for civil rights violation reparations, Hayase said “The United Nations has a definition of reparations and one of the requirements for it is a guarantee of non-repetition. You could say you’re sorry for oppressing people, but if you go right back and start doing it again, there’s no point. That’s not true reparations. You have to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.”
“Everybody in this country, according to the Bill of Rights, has individual due process rights,” said Tom Izu.
“Once you start taking that away, you’re basically allowing the executive branch to do whatever it wants. They could declare anybody an enemy of the state,” he added. “And then if people believe it, then democracy is really in danger.”
Americans Want Congress and the White House to Act on Child Care, According to New Poll
election, voters made it clear that childcare challenges were causing a serious strain on family finances, workplace productivity, and the economy. They want candidates to have a plan to address these challenges, and now, with the Trump White House and the Republican-led 119th Congress underway, they want action.
A new national poll conducted by the Republican polling firm UpONE Insights on behalf of First Five Years Fund and First Five Action shows childcare expenses continue to be a major financial burden on working families. The poll, which surveyed more than 1,000 registered voters nationwide as well as an oversample of Republican primary voters, also found an overwhelming majority of Republicans want the White House and Congress to act.
The following are key takeaways from the poll. Voters say childcare costs are straining family budgets. Nine in ten Republicans (91%)
think it’s a problem or crisis that Americans can’t afford childcare, along with 91% of Independents, and 97% of Democrats.
36% of parents across the country say they are not able to save money or get ahead financially due to childcare costs And the cost of childcare is causing two-thirds of younger Republicans to delay having children.
Nearly two-thirds (61%) of Republican voters under age 34 say either they or someone they know have put off or delayed having children due to childcare costs.
Voters want President Trump and the GOP-led Congress to act.
79% of Republicans say they want President Trump and Republicans in Congress to do more to help working parents afford quality childcare.
Voters also say improving access to affordable childcare will both help lower costs for working
families (85%) and improve the overall economy (71%).
A majority (55%) of Republican voters say increasing funding for and access to quality childcare is as important for families as securing the border and stopping the increase in crime.
The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) is the most popular childcare-related tax credit.
The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) is the only federal tax credit that specifically allows working parents to keep more of what they earn to pay for child care. It is the most popular childcare-related tax credit, with 86% saying they support increasing the CDCTC, including 83% of Republicans, 83% of Independents, and 91% of Democrats.
63% of voters would be less likely to vote for a candidate who voted to eliminate an existing tax
Americans Want Congress and the White House to Act on Child Care, According to New Poll...continued credit for childcare expenses for working families, including 50% of GOP primary voters and 59% of independent women.
Republicans also support increasing federal investments in childcare.
A wide majority of Republican voters (72%) say increasing federal funding for childcare is an important priority and a good use of tax dollars, as do 70% of Independents and 90% of Democrats.
Nearly two-thirds of Republican voters (62%) say that, even with concerns over the growing national debt and deficit, President Trump and Republicans in Congress should prioritize increased federal funding to support quality childcare programs.
Decreasing federal funding for programs is incredibly unpopular; 90% of voters agree that federal funding shouldn’t be decreased, including 84% of Republican voters.
There is especially strong support for the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG).
The Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which sends money to the states so they can best decide how to increase access to affordable, quality child care, is very popular (67%) across a wide selection of voters, including 69% of Republicans.
Taking action would increase childcare options for families.
Most voters (75%) believe these proposals will increase quality childcare options for families, who
currently don’t have the choices they need. This includes 71% Republicans, 75% Independents, and 80% Democrats.
Nearly three out of four Republicans (71%) say increasing funding for childcare programs will increase options for rural families who are having trouble finding childcare in their communities, along with 75% of Independents, and 85% of Democrats. This support reaches across geographic demographics, including 84% of Rural Americans, 86% in the Farm Belt, and 72% in the Deep South.
Early childhood development is a practical, non-partisan issue. Access to reliable, affordable, quality early learning and childcare programs can dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security. FFYF works to protect, prioritize, and build support for early learning and childcare programs at the federal level. FFYF works with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to identify federal solutions that work for children, families, and taxpayers, as well as states and communities. FFYF also works with policy makers to identify and advance new and innovative ways to increase access to highquality childcare and early learning programs for children from lowincome families. And supporters collaborate with advocacy groups to help align best practices with the best possible policies.
Sculptor Edmonia Lewis...continued from page 1
in 1866. She told The Crystal Bridges Museum of Art, “I was practically driven to Rome in order to obtain the opportunities for art culture, and to find a social atmosphere where I was not constantly reminded of my color. The land of liberty had no room for a colored sculptor.”
Her first major work, Forever Free (Morning of Liberty), depicts a Black man and woman kneeling at the moment of Emancipation. She also produced Old Arrow Maker, which represents a portion of the story from Longfellow’s "The Song of Hiawatha"—a poem that inspired several of her works. While most White artists characterized Native Americans as violent and uncivilized, Edmonia showed deep respect for her heritage. This sculpture, along with the magnificent Death of Cleopatra, resides in the Smithsonian. Museum curator Karen Lemmey described the piece as a "masterful marble sculpture…" The sculpture portrays Cleopatra in the aftermath of her death, as depicted in Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra." Black Press: Preserving Our Past, One Chapter at a Time.
Protests in Thomas Paine Park against the detention of Palestinian activist and Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil. (Via Wikimedia Commons)
Ballot box with national flag on background United States of America (Photo by Serhej Calka)
By BlackPress of America
4
Thursday, March 27, 2025
THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS - HEALTH/LIFESTYLE/FINANCIAL/RELIGION
Women’s History Month: California Black Health Network Launches Conscious Black Movement
BY GREG BEACHAM | Associated Press
Throughout history, Black women have been pioneers in the beauty and fashion industry, redefining standards, creating groundbreaking products, and advocating for safer, more inclusive practices.
In honor of Women’s History Month, the California Black Health Network (CBHN) is launching the Conscious Black Beauty Movement (CBBM) to continue this legacy. The effort aims to empower all Black women and girls to lead healthy lives, free from the harmful effects of toxic chemicals in beauty and personal care products.
According to CBHN, the average woman uses 12 different beauty and personal care products every day, exposing her to 168 toxic chemicals. Many of these chemicals are hormone disruptors that have been linked to health conditions including diabetes, endometriosis, infertility, obesity, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine fibroids. Even products that claim to be natural or organic can contain these dangerous chemicals.
“Current beauty standards often celebrate light/white skin and European features, creating an unhealthy image for Black women and girls,” said CBHN in a release. “Beauty
George
products marketed to Black women frequently contain the most harmful ingredients in the cosmetics industry. Black women, who use more beauty products per capita than any other demographic, are particularly vulnerable to these toxic exposures.”
Black women purchase $7.5 billion of beauty products each year, which represents 9 times more than any other demographic. Additionally, Black women who regularly dye their hair with permanent hair dyes have a 45-77% higher risk of breast cancer and those who use chemical hair straighteners are 30% more likely to develop breast cancer.
“The goal is to ignite a movement across California to engage Black women and girls to amplify their voices and drive change,” said CBHN. “We hope that providing Black women with educational resources about the toxic chemicals in their products will provide them with the information they need to make more informed and safer purchases.”
The CBBM addresses the impact of toxic beauty products marketed to Black women and girls, driving informed choices, policy changes, and community
continued on page 6
Foreman, the Fearsome Heavyweight Who Became a Beloved Champion, Dies at 76
George Foreman, the fearsome heavyweight who lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali before his inspiring second act as a 45-year-old champion and a successful businessman, died Friday night. He was 76. Foreman’s family announced his death on social media, not saying how or where he died.
“A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand- and greatgrandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility and purpose,” his family wrote. “A humanitarian, an Olympian and two-time heavyweight champion of the world, he was deeply respected. A force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name— for his family.”
A native Texan, Foreman began his boxing career as an Olympic gold medalist who inspired fear as he climbed to the peak of the heavyweight division by stopping Joe Frazier in 1973. His formidable aura evaporated only a year later when Ali pulled off one of the most audacious victories in boxing history in Zaire, baiting and taunting Foreman into losing his belt in one of the greatest fights ever staged. Foreman left the sport a few years later, but returned after a 10-
George Foreman, the Fearsome Heavyweight Who Became a Beloved Champion, Dies at 76... continued
through his demeanor and through the skewed racial lenses of the time. He stopped Frazier in an upset in Jamaica in January 1973 to win the belt, with his knockout inspiring Howard Cosell’s iconic call: “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!”
Foreman defended his belt against Ken Norton before accepting the fight with Ali in the now-immortal bout staged in Africa by promoter Don King. Ali put on a tactical masterclass against Foreman, showing off the “rope-adope” strategy that frustrated and infuriated the champion. Foreman was eventually knocked down for the first time in his career, and the fight was stopped in the eighth round.
Foreman told the BBC in 2014 that he took the fight almost out of charity to Ali, who he suspected to be broke.
“I said I was going to go out there and kill him, and people said, ‘Please, don’t say you’re going to kill Muhammad,’” Foreman said. “So I said, ‘OK, I’ll just beat him down to the ground.’ That’s how easy I thought the fight would be.”
Return To Boxing
Exhausted and disillusioned, Foreman stopped fighting in 1977 and largely spent the next decade preaching and working with kids in Houston after his religious awakening. He returned to boxing in 1987 in his late 30s with a plan to defy time through frequent ring appearances, and he racked up a
lengthy series of victories before losing to Evander Holyfield in a surprisingly competitive title fight in 1991.
Three years later, Foreman got in the ring with Moorer in Las Vegas, more for his celebrity than for his perceived ability to beat Moorer. The champion appeared to win the first nine rounds rather comfortably, with Foreman unable to land his slower punches. But Foreman came alive in the 10th, hurting Moorer before slipping in the short right hand that sent Moorer to the canvas in spectacular fashion.
Foreman quit the ring for good in 1997, although he occasionally discussed a comeback. He settled into a life as a boxing analyst for HBO and as a pitchman for the grills that grew his fame and fortune. He briefly starred in a sitcom called “George” in the 1990s, and he even appeared on the reality singing competition “The Masked Singer” in 2022. A biographical movie based on his life was released in 2023.
Foreman had 12 children, including five sons who are all famously named George Edward Foreman.
“Legendary boxing champion, life-changing preacher, husband, father, grand- and great-grandfather and the best friend you could have,” WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman wrote on social media. “His memory is now eternal, may Big George rest in peace.”
“When God Repeats Himself Over and Over I Tell You, We Better Listen!” [1 Samuel 3:10]
By: Lou K Coleman
year absence and a self-described religious awakening.
The 45-year-old then pulled off one of the most spectacular knockouts in boxing history in 1994, flooring Michael Moorer — 19 years his junior — with one perfect combination to claim Moorer’s two heavyweight belts.
Foreman’s transformation into an inspirational figure was complete, and he fought only four more times before moving onto his next career as a genial businessman, pitchman and occasional actor.
The George Foreman Grill
He was best known as the face of the George Foreman Grill, which launched in the same year as his victory over Moorer. The simple cooking machine sold more than 100 million units and made him much wealthier than his sport ever did.
“George was a great friend to not only myself, but to my entire family,” Top Rank president Bob Arum said. “We’ve lost a family member and are absolutely devastated.”
In the first chapter of his boxing career, Foreman was nothing like the smiling grandfather who hawked his grills on television to great success.
Foreman dabbled in petty crime while growing up in Houston’s Fifth Ward, but changed his life through boxing. He made the U.S. Olympic team in 1968 and won gold in Mexico City as a teenager, stopping a 29-year-old opponent in a star-making performance.
Foreman rose to the pinnacle of the pro game over the next five years, but was also perceived as an aloof, unfriendly athlete, both
continued in next 2 columns
Because the repetition of "listen" and "hear" underscores the urgency and necessity of heeding divine guidance. Give ear and hear My voice, listen and hear My words you deaf; and look, you blind, that you may see. Heed, instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. If you do your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying; This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. – [Isaiah 28:23; Isaiah 30:21; Isaiah 42:18; Proverbs 8:33]. For when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come [John 16:13]. So, watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
[Luke 21:34-36]. For the water is boiling, and the pot is about to explode. You have got to choose and choose NOW! It is the last hour! Receive the saving grace of God. Waiting any longer is like playing with fire while soaked in gasoline because you never know when your time in this world is up. The day is near; It will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. [Ezekiel 30:3]. No more procrastination, you have got to choose and choose NOW! For the trumpets are sounding; the mountain is engulfed and smoking; the earth is quaking; thunders are clapping; lightning is flashing; people are trembling [Exodus 19:19–20].
O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord! [Jeremiah 22:29]. Listen to God’s warnings and instructions [Isaiah 28:23].
“When God Repeats Himself Over and Over I Tell You, We Better Listen!”
[1 Samuel 3:10]...continued
Cain cries again and again, “My punishment is greater than I can bear” [Genesis 4:13].
The people in Noah’s day crying, “Let us in! Let us in!” But it was too late for them to enter in! [Genesis 7:16].
Judas screaming over and over, “I have betrayed...innocent blood” [Matthew 27:4].
King Agrippa crying, “He cries out, “Almost! Almost! Almost thou persuadest me!” The Apostle Paul witnessed to him, but he rejected Christ. He was almost converted, but he waited too long. [Acts 26:28].
You too have been almost persuaded. You say in your heart, “Someday” but there is great danger in saying, “Someday.” Satan has told you to wait a little longer. The Devil knows that he will get you if you keep waiting and putting off your salvation. But one of these days death will slip up on you. You won’t be ready, and it will be too late forever.
These people had resisted the call of God too long. They fiddled and played and procrastinated. They put off their salvation too long. They forgot that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” [Hebrews 9:27].
Oh, if God grows impatient, the sweet Spirit offended, if no longer He calls you, doom is yours when He’s gone. Then how sad facing judgment you’ll
recall with no mercy, that you tarried and lingered till the Spirit was gone; what reproaches and mourning, if when death finds you hopeless, you have tarried and lingered and have waited too long. [If You Linger Too Long" by Dr. John R. Rice ─18951980].
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision [Joel 3:14].
“Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps [Amos 5:3].
And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen,” says the Lord of hosts [Zechariah 7:13]. So awful and terrifying was the [phenomenal] sight that Moses said, I am terrified, aghast and trembling with fear [Hebrews 12:21].
They refused to listen. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might [2 Thessalonians 1:9]. Throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [Matthew 13:50]. For they refused to listen to the Lord their God and obey Him [2 Kings 18:12]. I Tell You, When God Repeats Himself Over and Over, We Better Listen!
FOR JUSTICE Issue #1248
“What is Wrong with You
Donna Bollinger
Why do you play so loose with your life? Not this physical life but the one coming after – the eternal life. Consider today with some urgency your eternal life. Choose Christ NOW, for NOW is the acceptable time, NOW is the day of salvation [2 Corinthians 6:2].
Understand the value of time. The brevity and uncertainty of life: [James 4:14]. The importance of making the most of every opportunity: [Ephesians 5:16]. The consequences of wasted time and missed opportunities: [Proverbs 10:5]. The danger of procrastination: [Proverbs 27:1]. The eternal implications of temporal decisions: [2 Corinthians 4:18]. Turn to God before it’s too late [Hebrews 9:27] because God is about to turn up the heat. He has sent an eagle to fly above the earth and send out one last warning before a period of unexampled warfare, distress and suffering come upon this troubled world. Give your life to Christ NOW before the Rapture to avoid the horrible tribulation period, which includes the Antichrist, Armageddon, and the Final Judgment. For the tribulation period will be the most horrible, horrible time for those who are not saved.
Understand, Jesus said something really tough for us to hear. He said, "you can be sure that if you don’t turn back to God, every one of you will die." [Luke 13:5]. Choose Christ NOW! Don’t wait until it’s TOO LATE! The matter is URGENT! NOW is the time for repentance! When God Repeats Himself Over and Over ─We Better Listen!
Five Cries from Hell –The Rich Man - “In Hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried... I am in agony in this fire” [Luke 16:23-24].
continued in next 2 columns
I am writing this article from New York City as I engage with CSW, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. The annual Commission is the world’s largest conference on women and meets to address widespread inequalities, violence, and discrimination against women. This 2025 CSW marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, which was held in China in 1995, and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
The Beijing Declaration is considered the key global policy document on gender equality and the advancement of women. The Declaration addresses twelve critical areas of concern by setting strategic objectives and actions for achieving gender equality. The focus of CSW this year is the Beijing Declaration thirty-year review to ascertain the attainment of objectives and to evaluate progress.
The meeting is in full swing and we’re less than halfway through the two-week session.
It is also Lent… and Ramadan, and the Jewish holiday Purim.
There are many voices filling the space, not only here in New York but across the country and world, as we speak of women’s rights and their intersection with economic development, climate change and global disasters, armed conflicts, gender-based violence, food insecurity, refugees and displaced persons— including large numbers of children and families— current policies on immigration, tensions in political agendas, and conflicts at home and abroad.
The common consensus… we have a long way to go. The UN Women’s Review 30 Years After Beijing provides a detailed analysis.
I hear the cacophony of voices, the current crises, the movement for women’s rights that in many places, including the US, seems to be moving backwards rather than forward as we:
Revoke the White House Gender Policy Council.
Slash global funding for maternal health.
Halt PEPFAR, the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, suspending
People?"
global treatment and prevention services. There is one voice that I hear loudly and distinctly. It will not leave my mind.
The voice doesn’t come from the UN webinars, sessions, and side events but from a ten-yearold boy who I met in the early days of my ministry, more than three decades ago.
As a young mission intern in south Florida, I was responsible for running a camp for children, all of whom had been referred by local support and service agencies. They came from troubled and traumatic backgrounds. Benjamin was no exception.
The last night of camp, Benjamin was especially disruptive, and I invited him to take a walk around camp during the evening program. We walked in silence, the air around us heavy with heat and mosquitos. Finally, Benjamin broke the silence with a bit of a snort and the question that has lived with me over the decades. Benjamin asked, “What is wrong with you people?” I braced myself for a scathing diatribe as I said, “what do you mean, Benjamin?”
I wasn’t prepared for his reply: “I’ve been mean all week, didn’t listen to anyone… and you knoooowww those names I called those male counselors. I didn’t do what anyone told me to do…” He paused before continuing, “Nobody hit me. All week. No one even yelled at me. You people even say you like me. I don’t understand people like you. What is wrong with you people?”
It’s Benjamin’s voice that is loudest in my head these days. The work of justice in the world requires an unusual type of love. A Jesus kind of love— radical, inclusive, welcoming, and unwavering. A kind of love that people don’t understand. A kind of love that accepts nothing less than justice. A steadfast love. A love that doesn’t give tit for tat but loves beyond understanding. A love that unwaveringly demands justice. A Love that overcomes evil with good. A kind of love that makes people ask… What is wrong with you people?
WITNESS
Lou K Coleman
George Foreman, former world heavyweight boxing champion, died Friday at the age of 76, his family said. (Wikimedia)
Edward Henderson | California Black Media
U.S. Surgeon General declares parental stress a public health issue as Black parents continue to face challenges
by D. Kevin McNeir
In August 2024 former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued an advisory declaring parental stress a public health issue in a report entitled, “Parents Under Pressure.”
In the advisory, Murthy called for a fundamental shift in American values and recommended that we prioritize the mental health and well-being of parents and advocate for more policies, programs, and individual actions that support parents and caregivers.
“Raising children is sacred work and the well-being of parents and caregivers is crucial for the well-being of children and future generations,” he wrote.
Murthy further acknowledged the stressors most often faced by parents including financial strain, time demands, children’s health and safety concerns and parental isolation and loneliness.
And while he did not specifically single out Black parents, Dr. Murthy did indicate that “mental health conditions disproportionately affect some parents and caregivers, including those facing racism and discrimination.”
Murthy’s research focused on parents with children 18 years old and younger. But does parental stress continue to impact parents even after their children become adults?
In an article published in The AFRO, May 19, 2024, three Black men, all recent recipients of undergraduate or graduate degrees, were asked if they experienced stress in their educational pursuits because of racism and discrimination and what tools they used to achieve their goals. This week, parents were asked if they have struggled with parental stress or faced mental illness in their efforts to guide and protect their sons, both during their childhood and beyond those formative years.
Single father worries less these
days, but still worries Duane Sedgwick, 44, a maintenance engineer in Rockville, Md., said when it came to his son, Duane, he was determined to “keep him close.”
“I learned carpentry, plumbing and similar skills – even fixing bikes, cars and other things around the house – by trial and error,” he said. “I’ve always been a handson kind of person, and my son inherited that trait. That’s what has allowed us to spend so much time together, but my son has taken it to greater levels. He’s more talented than me.”
Sedgwick said he’ll never forget the joy he felt when his son received his mechanical engineering degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.
“His life and what he does with it is up to him now, but when he graduated, I felt like it was the biggest accomplishment of my life. He’s the first in our family to graduate from college,” he said. “What makes it even more special for me is that I didn’t even graduate from high school–I learned trades. I made money honestly using my hands.”
Sedgwick admits that he, at times, has been overwhelmed with the effort it took to keep his son on the straight and narrow.
“I drove my son and his friends to D.C. and Baltimore, to basketball practices and after school events because I wanted to know who he was spending time with and to make sure he was safe,” he said. “I know the statistics about Black boys–and I was not going to let the streets influence him or take him away from me.”
Still, Sedgwick said parents can only do so much. The parental stress hasn’t gone away, even though his son is now fending for himself in Minneapolis, Minn., as a structural engineer.
Women’s History Month: California Black Health Network Launches Conscious Black Movement... continued from page 4
empowerment in California and beyond and will catalyze manufacturers to remove toxic ingredients from these products.
The Campaign’s Non-Toxic Black Beauty Project also created a list of safer Black Beauty products in order to help consumers make more informed purchases and guide the efforts of manufacturers and retailers to make and sell safer products. Working with their partner, Clearya, CBHN screened the Black Beauty Product Database against Tier 1 Red List chemicals. Brands that did not have any of the Tier 1 chemicals in their products were placed on a list of Non-Toxic Black Beauty Products, which includes 78 brands and 696 products. These brands and their products will be listed on the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) website in a searchable database by name and product type.
The CSC has also created a database of Black-owned beauty brands whose product
ingredients were vetted for safety by the campaign and their advisory committee of scientists and NGO’s working to improve Black women’s health.
“The companies we’re showcasing are making safer Black beauty products that won’t harm the health of Black women and girls,” said Janet Nudelman, CSC Director in a release.
“We hope that more and more companies will follow their lead and help grow the clean Black beauty industry by selling nontoxic makeup and personal care products that Black women can trust.”
CBHN is asking community members to get involved with their campaign by staying informed, spreading the word about the information from the campaign, supporting the Black owned brands cleared by the CSC and continuing to advocate for change within the beauty industry by collaborating with them.
PETITION/PROBATE
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:
GAROLD J. WIESSEMAN aka GAROLD JOHN WIESSEMAN
aka GAROLD WIESSEMAN
DECEDENT CASE NO: PROVA2500211
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of:
GAROLD J. WIESSEMAN aka GAROLD JOHN WIESSEMAN aka GAROLD WIESSEMAN
E G A L S / C L A S S I F I E D S
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by: RUTH L. HENRICKS in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that: RUTH L. HENRICKS be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows:
Date: April 17, 2025 Time: 9:00 a.m.
Dept: F-2
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 17780 Arrow Boulevard Fontana, CA 92335 Fontana District
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Petitioner: Bryan C. Hartnell HARTNELL LAW GROUP 25757 Redlands Blvd. Redlands, CA 92373-8453 (909)796-6881 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper March 27, April 3,10, 2025.
PETITION FOR PROBATE (Probate-Decedents Estates)
ESTATE OF: CAROLYN K. GILHAM: DECEDENT
PETITION FOR: Letters of Administration. Authorization to Administer Under the Independent Administration of Estates Act
FILED:
e. (3) All heirs at law are adults and have waived bond. (Affix waiver as Attachment 3e(3).) f. (1) Decedent died intestate. (2) Appointment of administrator: (a) Petitioner is a person entitled to Letters (If necessary, explain priority in attachment 3g(2)(a).) (c) Petitioner is related to the decedent as: SON (h) Proposed personal representative is a (1) resident of California. (3) resident of the United States
4. a. Decedent was survived by (check items (1) or (2), and (3) or (4), and (5) or (6), and (7) or (8) (2) no spouse as follows: (b) spouse deceased. (4) no registered domestic partner. (See Fam. Code, § 297.5(c); Prob. Code, §§ 37(b), 6401 (c), and 6402.) (5) child as follows: (a) natural or adopted. (7) issue of a predeceased child. b. Decedent was not survived by a stepchild or foster child or children who would have been adopted by decedent but for a legal barrier. (See Prob. Code, § 6454.)
7. b. Decedent had a predeceased spouse who (3) neither apply.
8.
CA 92277
RAYMOND HATKINS 80 DECEASED 2015 FATHER LYLIAN LADIKER 92 DECEASED 2021 MOTHER HENRY ROY GILHAM 84 DECEASED 5-13-2013 SPOUSE
JOSEPH WILLIAM ORICK SR. FORMER SPOUSE 84 403 EMPORIA AVE. HAVILAND, KANSAS 67059
Date: IN PRO PER SCOTT A. ORICK Date: Dec 5, 2024 Signature Of Petitioner Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper March 27, April 3, 10, 2025.
PETITION FOR PROBATE (Probate-Decedents Estates) ESTATE OF: DARREN KENNETH MARTIN DECEDENT
SPOUSE 79 9127 CLOUD VIEW AVENNUE, HESPERIA, CA 92344 KARIN MARTIN-DANIEL. DAUGHTER 55 9551 RIGGINS ROAD, PHELAN, CA 92371
DARREN ALAN MARTIN SON DECEASED DECEASED 02/23/2009
JULIE ANN MARTIN-STONE DAUGHTER 61 9127 CLOUD VIEW AVENUE, HESPERIA, CA 92344
JEFFERY WARREN MARTIN. SON 59 9127 CLOUD VIEW AVENUE, HESPERIA, CA 92344
Date: FEBRUARY 20, 2025 IN PRO PER KARIN MARTIN-DANIEL
Date: FEBRUARY 20, 2025 Signature Of Petitioner Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper March 27, April 3, 10, 2025.
1. Publication will be in The San Bernardino American Newspaper b. Publication to be arranged 2. Petitioner: KARIN MARTINDANIEL requests that a. decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate b. KAREN MARTIN-DANIEL be appointed (1) executor and Letters issue upon qualification c. full authority be granted to administer under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. d. (1) bond not be required for the reasons stated in item 3e. 3. a. Decedent died on 2/27/2024 at PROVIDENCE ST MARY MEDICAL CENTER, APPLE VALLEY (1) a resident of the county named above c. Street address city, and county of decedent’s residence at time of death: 9127 CLOUD VIEW AVENUE, HESPERIA, CA 92344 3. d. Character and estimated value of the property of the estate:
The Sedgwick men, Duane Jr. (left), 23, and his father, Duane, celebrate during college commencement services at Texas Christian University. Credit: Courtesy photo)
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Three steps to consider this spring to help you live a healthier lifestyle
Dr. John Chang, West Region Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare of California
Spring into health this season by refreshing your well-being routine and building healthier habits for the rest of the year.
While many Americans make health a primary focus of their New Year’s resolutions, 57% of recent survey respondents said they take up healthier lifestyle choices only after having a medical concern.
As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, it’s a great time to get moving and focus on living a healthier lifestyle. There’s no better time to get started than today.
Here are three steps you may start taking right away:
Choose a primary care provider and access preventive screenings.
A primary care provider can help guide you on your health journey, and studies suggest that access to primary care providers may help people live longer. Yet more than 30% of American adults don’t have a primary care
provider.
One important item to check off your health care checklist each year is an annual wellness visit with a primary care provider – even if you feel healthy. A preventive care visit may help you better understand your health and detect any problems early. If you don’t currently have a primary care provider, check with your health plan for in-network doctors in your area or other options for accessing care like virtual care options. Health plans usually cover preventive care, which means you may pay $0 out of pocket for certain covered preventive services if you go to an in-network provider.
You may also be eligible to earn rewards through your health plan for activities like your annual wellness visit, getting certain preventive screenings or completing a health survey. Some health plans also offer coverage for certain health screenings like those for breast cancer and colorectal cancer. Check with your health plan to understand your coverage
and eligibility and talk to your employer about benefits and wellness programs that may be available to you.
Walk 15 to 30 minutes each day.
Getting outside during the day and enjoying the sunshine may be an important source of Vitamin D, boost your mood and help you sleep better.
Taking regular walks, even for 15 to 30 minutes, may be a simple way to get some sun and fresh air, get your steps in and keep your body moving. In fact, a recent study found that walking more may help extend life expectancy by up to 11 years. Ideally, adults should aim each week for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity like a brisk walk, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity like jogging or running.
Some employers now offer wellness programs as part of the health benefits available to their employees. Some employersponsored health plans offer
eligible members access to programs that allow employees to earn financial incentives for meeting certain health goals like walking 5,000 steps a day, tracking 14 days of sleep or completing a health survey.
Track and improve your sleep.
Many people struggle with their sleeping habits, with more than one-third of adults in the U.S. reporting regularly not getting enough sleep. Experts recommend adults get 7 or more hours of sleep a night.
Maintaining healthy sleeping habits may be beneficial for both your physical and mental wellbeing, from helping to reduce stress and improve your mood to lowering risk for some chronic conditions.
To help improve your sleep, consider avoiding alcohol, caffeine and too much screen time before going to bed, and try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.
Adding these tips into your daily routine may be a great way to boost your overall health and well-being this spring.
You Can View
The Thursday
E-Edition of The San Bernardino AMERICAN NEWS Weekly on our website: sb-american.com
Riverside County News Release: RUHS’ Whole Person Health Score Validated by Harvard-affiliated Research Group...continued from page 2
The WPHS measures an individual’s health in six dimensions:
Physical health
Emotional health
Resource utilization (e.g., how often someone sees their doctor or takes medication)
Socioeconomics
Ownership/Activation (e.g., understanding your health to manage conditions)
Nutrition/Lifestyle
The PROVE Center analyzed metrics from a sample of 58,055 patients who took the survey between August 2019 and February 2024 and found the WPHS to be a highly effective measure for determining a person’s needs.
Individuals who complete the assessment show higher levels of engagement and improved satisfaction compared to nonassessed individuals. Data from May 2022 show that individuals who took the WPHS had a 1% no-show rate for follow-up appointments, compared to a 19% no-show rate for those who did not take the assessment.
“As a team, we are encouraged to know we are on the right track, and we are honored to have the PROVE Center acknowledge the potential for the WPHS assessment to provide quality care,” said Dr. Geoffrey Leung, former Riverside County Public Health Officer and one of the doctors behind the assessment.
The WPHS was piloted at RUHS’ Jurupa Valley Community Health Center in 2016 and has been rolled out across the system and Riverside County. The digital assessment takes 10-15 minutes to complete, and the results are immediately available to a patient’s care team
or support team. The responses and results of the assessment are confidential.
The assessment, part of Riverside County’s RivCo ONE integration effort, is also used by other county departments such as Community Action Partnership, Office on Aging, Housing and Workforce Solutions, First 5, and the Department of Public Social Services to bring health and well-being to residents. The collaboration connects patients to much-needed resources, such as behavioral health services, veterans benefits, and food and utility assistance.
“To meet our residents’ needs, we take a no-wrongdoor approach,” said Jennifer Claar, Integrated Health and Human Services Director for Riverside County. “Whether they’re coming in for a checkup at a Community Health Center or seeking resources for their child from First 5, we can assess and help them using the Whole Person Health Score as a comprehensive tool to identify all areas of need.”
The WPHS is available to adults 18 and older. An adolescent version is used in schools through RUHS – Behavioral Health’s Transforming our Partnerships for Student Success (TOPSS) program. Work on the Whole Person Health Score was published in the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst in August 2022 and the assessment was copyrighted in 2024. The RUHS team is working toward publishing peer-reviewed metrics and data as it continues to grow the WPHS model.
To watch a video about the WPHS, visit this link. Learn more: www.ruhealth. org.
Sierra High School Holds Ribbon Cutting for New Student Wellness Center
SBCUSD News
U.S. Surgeon General declares parental stress a public health issue as Black parents continue to face challenges...continued from page 6
“One of my son’s best friends was shot and killed while they were attending a house party back in high school,” he said. “They were sitting next to each other on a couch. The bullet wasn’t meant for my son, but it could have hit him. It could have ended his life. He’s had to deal with that ever since, but so have I.”
Keeping his son busy has been Alan Wilson II’s strategy
Alan Wilson II, 64, who lives in St. Louis, Missouri, said he bonded with his son, Alan III, now 26 by cutting down on idle time.
“I got him into sports when he was very young and like me, he took to it quickly,” said “That was my way of keeping him busy –occupied in positive situations and keeping an eye on him, too.”
Wilson said because St. Louis reflected his hometown of Detroit in many ways, he and his wife moved out of the city and into the suburbs shortly after they began to raise a family.
“Environment has a major impact on the opportunities your children experience, and we wanted to remove some of the dangers and temptations as much as possible,” he said. “Sure, he does the social things that young men his age do, but I’m not worried that he’s going to get involved in the wrong kinds of things or get involved with negative kinds of people.”
Wilson said he’s proud that his son, who graduated from Quincy
University in Illinois where he studied computer science and criminal justice, has found his niche after a few years pursuing his dream to become a professional football player.
“He’s a football coach and trainer for youth, college athletes and pro athletes and he’s good with people,” Wilson said. “And he’s gained a reputation for being honest, trustworthy and likeable. And he’s used to dealing with people of all races and backgrounds. So, I don’t worry about him – not much, anyway.”
Still, Wilson acknowledged that because of his son’s size and stature – at six feet, six inches tall and about 300 pounds – he sometimes worries others will view him as a threat.
“He’s a big, Black man and my biggest concern has been that he’ll face a situation with a policeman who looks at his size and immediately stereotypes him,” Wilson said. “Another fear that I can’t shake is if he’ll run into another Black male who wants to prove himself and take on the big guy. I guess I just have to have faith that my son will know how to handle himself in those kinds of situations.”
Candace Jenkins always wanted a son, but she knew she could never be ‘dad’ After her divorce, Candace Jenkins, 64, a native of Detroit, Michigan, said she knew it would not be easy to raise her two
children alone. So, she looked for other positive males to lend their guidance when her former husband, who lived in another state, was unavailable.
“I knew what it was like to be a little girl, so raising my daughter was easy. But when I had my son, as excited as I was, I had no misconceptions that I could play the role of his father,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins said she watched a lot of her peers get caught up in the stereotype of feeling the pressure of becoming “supermom.” She refused to go down that path.
“My children have learned a lot about life from me and they’ve learned a lot from their father,” she said. “And I think we must be honest: children need both parents. We both have our roles to play. Even after our children are adults, like mine are now, we continue to worry about them. The parental stress– especially for those of us with Black boys– never ends. It doesn’t end if we have daughters. That’s part of what it means to be a responsible parent,” she said.
Jenkins said her job as an attorney in Detroit’s juvenile court system helped her see the world in a very different light.
“My son Jared has an MBA and is now out on his own in Chicago,” she said. “He’s thriving and I am very proud of him. But my parenting style changed a lot after I saw the kinds of challenges that a lot of other families face because of
their environment. When I looked at the cases that came across my desk and realized how important parental influence, or the lack thereof can be, I put even more time into my children’s lives.”
Jenkins recalls cases where children stayed out all night, fought their parents or got involved in illegal activity. She said she’s grateful she’s never had to face similar events.
“I can say that my children have both done all the things that society expects of youth,” she said. “But more important, they’ve done everything that I have hoped and expected them to do. They’ve finished school, they’re Christians with spiritual beliefs and values and they’re making their way on their own.”
Jenkins said her biggest advice to other parents is to remember that their children are unique individuals and have their own lives to live.
“We can share our experiences with our children, but we can’t expect them to follow in our footsteps,” she said. “They have to make their own mistakes and choices. But as a Black parent with adult children, I emphasize that we are not equals.”
I’m an advocate of the old ways of parenting, she said. “I make sure I do things that are worthy of their respect. And then I demand and expect their respect.”
SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino City Unified School District’s (SBCUSD) Sierra High School held the ribbon cutting ceremony for its new student Wellness Center Feb. 21.
“This new center represents a promise to our students that their well-being matters just as much as their academic success,” said Superintendent Mauricio Arellano, during the ceremony. “We know that when students are healthy, when they feel supported and cared for, they’re better able to focus, learn and thrive. And that’s exactly what we want for each of our more than 45,000 students.”
The building serves as a schoolbased health center providing a full range of services that will allow for both individual and small group therapy sessions. There are calming spaces and tools for students to use and self-regulate. A larger wellness classroom is available as a meeting space for peer-to-peer counseling, academic counseling and health and wellness workshops.
“In an era where the pressures of daily life can feel overwhelming, this center will provide a safe space for rejuvenation, support, and
growth,” said Sierra High School Principal Hector Murrieta. “It embodies our vision of nurturing a healthy, balanced student and community where every individual has the resources to shine.” The Wellness Center will also house the school nurse; school psychologist; family therapists; four Loma Linda University doctoral child psychology practicum students; Healthy Teeth for Kids, which conducts bi-annual dental screenings and cleanings; technology for students to access Hazel Health telehealth services; and Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) health navigators to support students and their families in navigating the healthcare system. The Wellness Center ribbon cutting is just one of the reasons Sierra was celebrating. The alternative high school was recently awarded a $540,805 grant from The Children’s Partnership (TCP) to launch a new pilot program to support youth mental health. Sierra is one of only eight high schools across California to receive the grant and the only one
Sierra Principal Hector Murrieta and SBCUSD Board member Abigail RosalesMedina (center) prepare to cut the ribbon on the continuation high school’s brand new Wellness Center. They are joined by Board member Michael Santos, SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Dr. Sandra Rodriguez, Associate Superintendent of Business, Facilities and Operations Terry Comnick, Director of Communications/Community Relations MaryRone Goodwin, Sierra Vice Principal
8 Infectious Diseases On The Rise Right Now
Diseases readily passed from one person to another are contagious, communicable, or infectious. It’s possible that some infections may spread via casual contact. For instance, the measles virus may remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person’s cough. The measles virus may spread via the air and infect everyone who breathes it in. Protect yourself against the growing number of communicable illnesses by learning about new dangers, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the possibility of a global flu pandemic.
What Are Reemerging Diseases and Why You Should Care?
Reemerging diseases are those that come back after they have been on a major decline. This may happen because of problems in public health actions for diseases that were once under control. They can also happen when new strains of known diseases occur. People’s behavior can cause diseases to reemerge. For example, declines in immunization rates and maintaining correct vaccine temperatures during storage and handling to preserve potency has caused measles to happen again in some areas. The overuse of antibiotics has also caused some bacteria and viruses to adapt to medicines. This means they can’t be killed easily. This has caused diseases that once were controlled and treatable to infect more people.
Who is at risk for emerging infectious diseases?
Traveling to other countries can put you at risk for infectious diseases that are not common in the U.S. Travelers who get ill in a country where treatment for these diseases may be limited are even more at risk. All people planning travel should learn about the health risks of the countries they are traveling to. Learn how to reduce your risk of getting these diseases.
8 Infectious Diseases You Need to Pay Attention to Right Now
8. Clostridioides Difficile
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now rank C. diff infections as their top public health priority. The C. diff bacteria is very contagious and may cause fatal infections in certain people.
Diarrhea and intestinal inflammation (colitis) are symptoms of this illness. Most cases of C. diff are linked to hospital stays and antibiotic use.
To prevent spreading the potentially dangerous C. diff germs, anybody with a suspected case (and any household members or caretakers) should wear gloves when handling feces and wash their hands well with warm, soapy water.
7. Drug-Resistant Bacteria In recent decades, antibiotic resistance has emerged in many bacterial species. These are some of the most typical. Carbapenemresistant E. coli is an example of a bacterium that may develop resistance to even the strongest antibiotics on the market today.
People with multi-drug resistant organisms or compromised immune systems are at greater risk from Acinetobacter. Drugresistant, undercooked chicken may be a vector for the spread of campylobacter.
Pneumococcal illness caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is resistant to many antibiotics. Drug-resistant Salmonella may be contracted by eating food not properly prepared or handled.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial disease that primarily affects the lungs. In the United States, TB is relatively rare, with most cases occurring in people born outside the country, where the disease is more common. Lungs are the common site of infection for tuberculosis. While it is not a major concern for most Americans, staying informed about TB and its risks is important for maintaining public health.
To prevent drug-resistant TB, it’s essential to complete all prescribed treatments, as stopping early can lead to resistance. Directly observed
Sierra High School Holds Ribbon Cutting for New Student Wellness Center ...continued from page 7
in San Bernardino County. According to Sierra Wellness Counselor Yesenia Ceballos, the Sunshine Crew has been leading mental health and wellness advocacy on the campus for more than two years, empowering peers to support one another through open discussions, mental health campaigns and community events. The grant will help them to expand their efforts.
therapy (DOT) ensures proper medication use, reducing risks. Avoid close contact with untreated individuals and encourage them to seek care. High-risk groups should undergo regular screenings for early detection. In healthcare settings, infection control measures like masks and isolation help prevent spread. Public education on treatment adherence and vaccinating at-risk populations in high-prevalence areas also play key roles in controlling TB and preventing resistance.
and doesn’t need any kind of physical touch for transmission. The flu may spread in several ways, including via the air around an infected person or by touching an infected surface and then contacting your eye. Seasonal flu poses a greater risk to public health than a pandemic flu outbreak, which happens when a novel flu virus appears anywhere in the globe and quickly infects huge numbers of people. Getting a flu vaccine every year is the best way to prevent getting the flu (or at least lessen the severity of your symptoms if you do get it).
3. Ebola Virus
The Ebola virus illness is not a big health risk in the United States. However, the virus recently reappeared in Africa. Infected people may have lethal bleeding due to this illness.
6. Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea
Drug-resistant gonorrhea occurs as a result of infertility and pelvic inflammatory illness due to untreated gonorrhea. The CDC claims that gonorrhea has become resistant to all but one kind of antibiotic used to treat this sexually transmitted illness and that the incidence of gonorrhea infections in the United States has been climbing quickly since 2009.
You can prevent gonorrhea by always using a condom, limiting your number of partners, avoiding unprotected oral intercourse, and getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases once a year.
5. Measles
Since 2010, the number of measles cases in the United States has increased almost every year, with a significant increase between 2018 and 2019. Complications from measles infection include death or developmental delays, including deafness and learning disabilities in young children.
Measles cannot be cured, but it is preventable with vaccination. There is no risk of getting measles from getting the vaccination. Consult your child’s pediatrician on the immunization schedule, and consult your own physician regarding the need for a booster vaccine, particularly in the case of overseas travel.
4. Influenza
The influenza virus travels quickly from person to person
While there is currently no widespread global risk of Ebola transmission, a medical assessment for Ebola should be sought by anybody who has recently been in touch with someone who has returned from an overseas trip and is showing symptoms (such as fever, diarrhea, and bleeding).
2. MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was one of the first antibiotic-resistant germs to gain widespread notice many years ago. MRSA is still a major problem in modern medicine. These microorganisms are linked to surgical site infections, pneumonia, and bloodstream infections.
MRSA is lethal if left untreated. Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly (particularly after being in public), use gloves when cleaning a wound or changing a bandage, and don’t share personal care products like razors that may irritate the skin and spread MRSA.
1. COVID-19
Even though you may be tired of hearing about it and might have thought it was gone, SARSCoV-2, a contagious virus that causes COVID-19, is responsible for the biggest epidemic since the H1N1 flu pandemic of 2009. COVID-19. The 2019 coronavirus illness causes many symptoms, including high body temperature, difficulty breathing, muscle pains, and a diminished sense of smell.
The virus is transmitted by inhalation and droplet contact with an infected individual. There is optimism that the epidemic can be stopped thanks to new COVID-19 vaccinations.
Reckless Messaging Breach Alarms Oversight Group
By Stacy M. Brown
Chioma Chukwu, executive director of American Oversight, issued a sharp rebuke of the current administration’s handling of sensitive national security matters following recent reports that high-level officials used encrypted messaging apps to discuss active military operations.
“If what is reported is true, it certainly suggests they are engaged in outright, recklessly irresponsible behaviors,” Chukwu said in a telephone interview with BlackPressUSA. com. “This could be a direct threat to our national security.”
American Oversight, a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog dedicated to transparency and accountability, is monitoring the situation closely. Chukwu expressed serious concern over the administration’s apparent lack of oversight and protocols in protecting classified information, particularly the use of encrypted messaging apps like Signal to communicate sensitive war plans.
that certainly compromises our national security. Their secrecy does nothing to protect our country—it endangers us by keeping critical and sensitive decisions off the record and out of reach from oversight.”
Chukwu also criticized what she called a broader erosion of oversight mechanisms. “We have a Congress that refuses to act. We have an administration that has done everything in its power to gut all oversight mechanisms,” she said. “That’s why organizations like American Oversight are more important than ever. Without transparency, there can be no accountability.” She connected the current administration’s behavior to previous failures related to national security, referencing the ongoing legal battle over access to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents during his first term.
“This should never have happened in the first instance,” Chukwu said. “They’re using encrypted messaging apps in a way to conceal information from the public, and the only reason we even know about it is because they accidentally included a journalist—who thankfully did the right thing by informing the public.”
The TCP grant is not the first time Sierra High School has been recognized for its efforts to provide above-and-beyond wellness support for students. In 2021, Sierra was recognized by the American School Counselor Association for its school counseling program. In 2024, Sierra was named one of America’s Healthiest Schools by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, marking the second year in a row the SBCUSD campus has earned the honor. Sierra was specifically recognized both years for strengthening socialemotional health and learning and for implementing a local school wellness policy, among other health and wellness focus areas.
In addition to the grant funding, Sierra will be part of a peer-to-peer
The Sunshine Crew, named in honor of Sierra’s mascot the Suns, is a group of Sierra students who volunteer as health and wellness ambassadors. As part of the program, Sunshine Crew students develop leadership and communication skills while building a positive school climate, improving school and community health and leading wellness initiatives. The Sunshine Crew is also actively involved in promoting the resources offered at the Sierra Counseling and Wellness Center and reducing the stigma sometimes associated with seeking out mental health resources.
Sierra High School Holds Ribbon Cutting for New Student Wellness Center ...continued
learning community consisting of other TCP grantees, national peer-to-peer experts and mental health policy professionals. The peer learning network will share ideas and resources to help develop plans and make recommendations regarding youth mental health.
The grant and pilot program are part of an $8 million investment by TCP in youth-driven approaches to addressing mental health and
well-being.
According to Ceballos, the reason the Sierra model works is that it provides integrated health and wellness services based on best practices that address the whole student.
“Our center is a comprehensive student wellness destination,” Ceballos said, “ensuring that every student receives the support they need to thrive academically, emotionally and physically.”
Earlier, Democratic U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York told BlackPressUSA.com’s April Ryan that he too was appalled over the leak.
Chukwu noted that as many as 18 senior officials were reportedly involved in these discussions, which she described as “incredibly unusual, highly unusual, unprecedented.”
She warned that the misuse of encrypted platforms for high-level national security conversations creates a vulnerability that foreign actors could exploit.
“There have been statebacked hackers who are trying to access information,” Chukwu explained. “If a single bad actor is able to get access,
“Right now, American Oversight has a lawsuit seeking records related to Volume Two of the Jack Smith special counsel report,” Chukwu said. “We’ve been blocked from accessing those records because Judge Aileen Cannon refuses to lift her order. The Trump-era DOJ has made it clear that they never wanted that report to see the light of day.” She said that transparency in that report could help illuminate a pattern of disregard for national security protocols, both past and present.
Finally, Chukwu addressed a lingering question sparked by the most recent breach: If a journalist can be accidentally looped into discussions about war planning, can the public trust this administration to safeguard national security?
“That is a question Americans should be very concerned about,” Chukwu said. “The reckless disregard and the lack of concern that was shown by adding a journalist to a message chain containing highly sensitive, potentially classified information suggest that Americans should not trust this administration with highly classified information.”
Medically Reviewed By: Lisa Fitzpatrick
Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick is a boardcertified infectious diseases physician and medical epidemiologist with a background in public health. She is the founder and CEO of Grapevine Health, a digital health media company focused on improving patient engagement among Medicaid patients through culturally relevant health information.