1-15-26 Informer Edition by The Washington Informer

Serving Our Community in the DMV

Vol 61 No 14

January 15 - 21, 2026

Hundredth Shutdown Further Recalibrates Local Medical Cannabis Ecosystem

Mayoral Community Walk Highlights Constituent Frustrations with Illicit Activity

Amid Trump Executive Order and Harris Rider, Cannabis Consultant Strives For Equity

Freshmen Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners Stand Up for Their Constituents

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Local Politics and Education Writer

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Writer D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and a cadre of District government personnel recently walked a little over a mile through a portion of Southeast in response to a community’s longtime concerns about violent crime, drug use and prostitution. More than a year ago, the wave of illicit activity compelled one community member to run for office to represent the Fairlawn community. Since clinching the advisory neigh-

WALK Page 36

5 D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser walks along a stretch of Minnesota Avenue on Jan. 12 in response to crime data and community members’ concerns about drug use and prostitution. (Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr./The Washington Informer)

Anwar Saleem, in his role as executive director of H Street Main Street, takes on several responsibilities, including coordination of the annual H Street Festival and allowing the use of the old AutoZone for summer youth employment activities and other events of cultural significance. Also on his list as of late is the closure of illegally operating cannabis shops along the H Street corridor. Those shops, Saleem said, have dampened the potential of what could be one of the District’s most vibrant arts and entertainment districts. “Look at [the 2022 shooting of the Commanders’] Brian

Faith, National Leaders Celebrate MLK’s Birthday Local Leaders Tout Generational Legacy of Humility, Admiration’

By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor In the days leading up to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK)’s birthday, Cliff Beckford, pastor of Living Word Church in Southwest, D.C., was among those reflecting on the legacy born January 15, 1929. During a Jan. 12 kick-off for MLK Holiday DC celebrations – the District’s historic tradition in honor of the late civil rights champion – 5 On what would have been his 97th birthday (Jan. 15), Beckford framed the day of celebration as both faith leaders and civic activists across the nation celebrate the life a remembrance and a charge for those carrying and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr., with a series of events and testaments to his influence. (WI File Photo)

Hot Topics Page 4

MLK Page 30

CANNABIS Page 36 3Advocates protest building a new data center in Landover, Maryland in September 2025. As data centers need large amounts of energy and water to function, some leaders note bringing more hyperscale facilities to Maryland may not be the most beneficial way to garner economic progress in the state, especially in a time when access to resources is limited. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

Prince George’s Leaders, Advocates Call for Transparency, Consideration in Data Center Developments Maryland Residents Could be At Risk if Data Center Developments Haphazardly Approved

well-being of the community and the environment when considering the construction of data centers in Prince George’s County leaders and advo- the area, as more proposals appear in cates are urging lawmakers and developers Maryland. to prioritize the needs and safeguard the OUR EARTH Page 18 Mya Trujillo WI Contributing Writer

Celebrating 61 years. Your credible and trusted source for Black news and information. JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026 1

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wi hot topics

SKYLAR NELSON, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER; STACY M. BROWN, WI SENIOR WRITER

Wizards Trade CJ McCollum To Hawks For Trae Young, What This Means For Washington With just one month remaining before the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 5, trade season is officially underway. The Atlanta Hawks made the league’s first major move of the year, trading star guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards in exchange for guard CJ McCollum and forward Corey Kispert. ESPN’s NBA Insider Shams

Charania broke the news on Wednesday night halfway through the Hawks-Pelicans game. The decision to part ways with the four-time All-Star comes midway through Young’s eighth season in Atlanta. The move signals a shift in direction for the Hawks as they pivot toward a younger core featuring Jalen

WIZARDS Page 28

3 Wizards versus Hawks game in March 2022. The Atlanta Hawks are trading star guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for guard CJ McCollum and forward Corey Kispert. (WI File Photo) In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark

PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes

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STAFF Micha Green, Managing Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, WIN-TV Producer Ra-Jah Kelly, Digital Asset Manager Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC Desmond Barnes, WIN Daily Editor Anthony Tilghman, Social Media Strategist ZebraDesigns.net, Graphic Design Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Angie Johnson, Office/Circulation Manager Jada Ingleton, Content Editor REPORTERS Stacy Brown, National Reporter Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr., Political/Education Reporter Brenda Siler, Lifestyle Reporter Ed Hill, Sports Reporter Richard Elliott, Reporter Skylar Nelson, Sports Reporter Mya Trujillo, Environmental and International Reporter PHOTOGRAPHERS Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Ja Mon Jackson, Asst. Photo Editor Roy Lewis, Jr. Robert R. Roberts Anthony Tilghman Abdullah Konte Cleveland Nelson INTERNS Keith Golden Jr., Fall Intern

4 JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026

Longtime Congressman Steny Hoyer Announces Retirement After Decades in Service Several Candidates File for Seat; More Expected to Join Race

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), one of the longest serving members of Congress in American history, has announced that this will be his final term serving on Capitol Hill. First elected in a 1981 special election, he is currently the most senior Democrat and third most senior individual currently serving in Congress. “I did not want to be one of those members who clearly stayed, outstayed his or her ability to do the job,” Hoyer told the Post in his announcement. Hoyer has served more than six decades in both state and federal politics, rising from: a staffer for

Sen. Daniel Brewster (D-Md.) where he worked in the early 1960s alongside now-Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.); to his tenure as the state Senate president; to eventually winning a special election in 1981 to replace Rep. Gladys Noon Spellman (DMd.), who tragically fell into a coma just before the 1980 election. During his time in Congress, Hoyer was a staunch supporter of the agendas of former Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and

HOYER Page 12

John Forté, Grammy-Nominated Fugees Collaborator, Dies at 50 John Forté, the Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and producer whose work helped shape one of hip-hop’s most consequential albums, died at 50, authorities confirmed. Forté reportedly was found dead Monday afternoon at his home in Chilmark, Massachusetts. Police said there were no immediate signs of foul play, and the state medical examiner is investigating the 5 Musicians and fans alike are remembering John Forté, cause of death. A Brooklyn native, Forté the Grammy-nominated singemerged in the mid-1990s as er, songwriter and producer, who was found dead Monday a key creative force alongside the Fugees, co-writing and at his home in Chilmark, producing two songs on “The Massachusetts. He was 50. Score,” the multi-platinum, (Courtesy Photo)

Grammy Award-winning album that became a landmark in hip-hop and global popular music. His anchor verse on “Cowboys” and his behind-the-scenes musical sensibility placed him among the era’s most respected collaborators. “‘The Score’ has been my favorite hip-hop album since I was a kid; the song ‘Family Business’ still gives me chills,” wrote social media user Kate Da Great on X, formerly known as Twitter. “John Forté’s work has been imprinted and his voice will remain.” He later released two solo albums, “PolySci” on Columbia Records and “I, John” on Transparent, projects that leaned into his strengths as a multi-instrumentalist and storyteller. His work extended beyond recording studios to film, television and live performance, where Forté developed a reputation for intimate, acoustic-driven shows that foregrounded reflection and social consciousness. In 2000, Forté’s career was interrupted when he was arrested at Newark International Airport and later sen-

FORTE Page 5

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Traffic Deaths Fall in D.C. in 2025, but Pedestrian Risk Remains High

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Pedestrians in Washington, D.C., remain at serious risk even as overall traffic deaths declined in 2025. New data show that 25 people were killed in traffic crashes in the District in 2025, down from 52 deaths in 2024, a sharp year-toyear drop. Even with that decline, pedestrians in the D.C. area were twice as likely to be killed in 2025 as they were a decade earlier, despite years of safety plans and repeated commitments to make streets safer. “We’ve made such big investments and the improvements are showing,” said Sharon Kershbaum, director of the District Department of Transportation. “We just need to continue on this path to get those numbers down across the board,” she said. The District’s decline followed similar movement across Maryland and Northern Virginia, where traffic deaths also moved closer to pre-pandemic levels in 2025. In Prince George’s County, fatalities fell from 140 in 2023 to 97 in 2025, while Northern Virginia recorded 88 traffic deaths in 2025, down from a peak of 125 in 2022, according to regional transportation data. Even with the improvement, traffic deaths across the region remain roughly as high as they were 1- years ago, when local govern-

FORTE from Page 4

tenced to 14 years in federal prison on drug trafficking charges. After serving seven years, his sentence was commuted in 2008 by President George W. Bush following advocacy from artists and supporters, including Carly Simon. Following his release, Forté rebuilt his life and career with steady purpose. Since late 2008, he recorded more than 60 songs, performed dozens of concerts, began work on a memoir and launched a successful public speaking career focused on accountability, resilience and creative renewal. In 2011, he founded Le Castle, a company created to manage his projects across music, film and other creative fields.

ments adopted Vision Zero goals aimed at eliminating roadway fatalities. In the District, long-term police data show that traffic deaths have risen and fallen over time rather than moving in a steady downward direction, with totals ranging from the mid-20s to more than 40 over the past two decades. Maryland’s crash data show similar challenges for people on foot. State records indicate that pedestrian fatalities climbed steadily in the years leading up to 2023, reaching 153 deaths statewide, before easing slightly. Injury crashes involving pedestrians also increased during that period, pointing to continued danger along major corridors in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. Northern Virginia officials reported that traffic deaths fell by about 15 percent in 2025, with state police pointing to expanded seat belt enforcement as one contributing factor. The figures remain preliminary, and authorities expect final totals to rise modestly as cases are finalized, though still below 2024 levels. National estimates place the District and Maryland among the jurisdictions with the steepest declines in traffic deaths during the first half of 2025. Preliminary figures from the National Safety Council show motor vehicle fatalities dropped by 67% in the District and 20% in Maryland during Forté also contributed music for film and documentary projects and wrote “Something to Lean On,” which became the inaugural theme song for the Brooklyn Nets. He lived in Chilmark for the past decade with his wife, photographer Lara Fuller, and their two children, and was regarded as an active presence in the local arts community. Throughout his later work, Forté spoke openly about transformation and responsibility, themes that shaped both his music and his public life. “I believe in my heart of hearts that there’s wellness along the way,” Forté said in a 2022 interview reflecting on his journey after prison. “And for that wellness, there’s also gratitude.” WI

that period, based on comparable reporting windows. Impaired driving also shifted during this period. A regional report found that alcohol- and drug-impaired traffic fatalities fell 26% between 2023 and 2024, though injury crashes linked to impairment increased slightly. For many residents, the statistics do not always match daily experience on city streets, particularly in neighborhoods with wide roadways, limited lighting, and heavy commuter traffic. “Do I feel safer hearing the latest statistics,” asked Rajon Landon, an Uber driver who lives in Ward 8. “The eye test tells me things are getting a little better, but this city is a long way from where it needs to be. But, it’s good to hear that the mayor, the council, the police, and even the people are trying to be better.” WI

5 New data reveals District pedestrians remain at risk, even as overall traffic deaths declined last year. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

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Martin Luther King (center)

Jan. 15

1908 – Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first Black Greek-letter sorority, is founded at Howard University. 1929 – Iconic civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. is born in Atlanta. 1998 – Civil rights activist James Farmer is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton.

Jan. 16

1871 – Jefferson Long becomes the first African American from Georgia to be elected to the United States House of Representatives. 1920 – Sorority Zeta Phi Beta is founded at Howard University. 1941 – The War Department announces the creation of an all-Black fighter squadron to train at an airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama. 1967 – Lucius D. Amerson, the first Black sheriff in the South in the 20th century, is sworn in at Tuskegee, Alabama.

Jan. 17

1759 – Quaker businessman and abolitionist Paul Cuffee is born in Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts. 1942 – Boxing legend and civil rights activist Muhammad Ali is born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky.

Jan. 18

1966 – Robert Weaver is sworn in as the first secretary of Housing and Urban Development, becoming the first African American to be appointed to a U.S. Cabinet-level position.

6 JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026

JAN.15 - 21, 2026

SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

Barack Obama (right)

Jan. 19

1918 – American businessman and publisher John H. Johnson, founder of the Johnson Publishing Company and the first African American to appear on the Forbes 400, is born in Arkansas City, Arkansas. 1961 – The PGA of America removes its "Caucasian-only clause," opening the door for all players to participate in professional golf tournaments.

Jan. 20

1870 – Hiram R. Revels is elected by the Mississippi legislature to fill the Senate seat once held by Jefferson Davis, the former president of the Confederacy. Revels is the first African American ever to sit in Congress. 1954 – Chicago advertiser W. Leonard Evans Jr. founds the National Negro Network, the first Blackowned radio network in the country. 1986 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed as a federal holiday for the first time. 2001 – Colin Powell is sworn in by President George W. Bush as U.S. secretary of state, becoming the first African American to hold the position. 2009 – Barack Obama is inaugurated as the first Black president of the United States.

Jan. 21

1913 – Fanny Jackson Coppin, a famed African American educator and missionary who was one of the first Black women to graduate from college, dies in Philadelphia at 75. 2013 – A public inauguration ceremony is held for Barack Obama's second presidential term coinciding with Martin Luther King Day. WI

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Local Prince Hall Grand Lodge Celebrates Installations of New Leaders The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Washington, D.C. and the Georgiana Thomas Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliation (PHA), Washington, D.C. held its 2026 Administration’s Joint Inaugural and Installation Program on Jan. 10. The event was held at the University of the District of Columbia Theatre of the Performing Arts. This year’s observance celebrated the 2026 newly elected leaders and included the inaugural addresses and installations of the Most Worshipful Grand Master the Honorable Alvin F. Smith Jr., accompanied by the Grand Worthy Matron Brenda G. Hardaway and Grand Worthy Patron Joseph N. Yearwood, III of the Georgiana Thomas

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Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, PHA., Washington, D.C. The event also featured musical entertainment, lighting of the Unity Candles and more. “I am honored to serve as Most Worshipful Grand Master,” said Smith in a statement, “and look forward to

leading the jurisdiction of the District of Columbia in unity, brotherly love relief, and truth.” WI

Phylicia Rashad Talks Life, Career, ‘Still Learning’ on Student Podcast

Eliot-Hine Middle School Honored to Work with Legend By Micha Green and Ja’Mon Jackson WI Managing Editor and WI Assistant Photo Editor Students at Eliot-Hine Middle School in Northeast, D.C. are learning a lot beyond the traditional math, science and language arts courses; many are becoming pub-

lished journalists, producers, and hosts with famous interviewees such as multi-hyphenate artist Phylicia Rashad. “Before the interview with Ms. Rashad I was nervous because she’s such a big deal, but I also had faith in myself because we practiced for such a long time,” said sixth-grader Kodi Debnam, after interviewing

Rashad on Eliot Hine Network Podcast. “I was so shocked I was going to breathe the same air as her. I was so excited.” Debnam, 11, wasn’t the only person excited. For Mandrell Birks, who has managed the radio and television curriculum at Eliot-Hine

RASHAD Page 19

5 Actor, director and arts educator Phlycia Rashad responds to questions asked by Eliot-Hine Middle School students part of Eliot-Hine Network. (Ja’Mon Jackson/ The Washington Informer)

8 JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026

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Washington Informer Photographer Fatally Struck in Police Chase Near the White House

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People around the D.C. area and beyond are remembering Aaron Marckell Williams, a photographer who once worked with The Washington Informer, not for the tragic accident that ended his life last week near the White House, but for his incredible talent, strong faith and beautiful soul. “Marckell was a go-getter,” said Shevry Lassiter, Washington Informer photo editor, who also attended Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church in Northeast, D.C. with Williams. “He had a creative eye…. and we were just grateful for the time he spent with The Informer.” Williams, 26, was killed in a crash that occurred on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at the intersection of 16th and L Streets in Northwest, D.C., shortly before 4 p.m., according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He was on his way to church when the incident occurred. The police said a Chevrolet Malibu was traveling southbound at a high rate of speed and entered the intersection of L Street, colliding with a Toyota Corolla that was traveling eastbound on L Street with a green light. The collision caused the Malibu to strike a pedestrian, Williams, and additional vehicles stopped at the red light northbound on 16th Street NW were also damaged. The sole occupant of the Malibu attempted to flee the scene on foot but was apprehended by responding officers, according to the MPD police report. D.C. Fire and EMS responded to the scene and after all lifesaving efforts failed, 26-year-old Williams of Southeast, D.C., was pronounced dead. The suspect, 20-year-old Santana Matthews, and two additional victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. As a result of the investigation, Matthews, of Northwest, D.C., was arrested and charged with: second degree murder while armed (vehicle), fleeing from law enforcement, no permit, and leaving after colliding. The two MPD officers who attempted that traffic stop have been placed on administrative leave pend-

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5 People around the DMV are remembering 26-year-old photographer Aaron Marckell Williams, who was fatally struck by a driver near the White House on Jan. 7. Williams once worked as a photographer for the Washington Informer. (Courtesy Photo)

ing an investigation by MPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau. Detectives from the MPD’s Major Crash Investigations Unit continue to investigate the fatal collision. “Yesterday, I learned that my former Washington Informer colleague Marckell Williams lost his life due to the actions of a reckless driver. Heartbroken doesn't even begin to sum up my emotions,” Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr., a longtime staff writer with The Informer, wrote in a statement posted to Instagram. “This young brother was a talented photographer who never hesitated to get his passport stamped. We went on several missions as a team as I wrote the articles and he took the photos.” Collins got to know Williams further than his work with The Informer. He was a recent college graduate and member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, a proud brother and son, whose mother died in 2004, a young man committed to his faith in God, and a lover of music and traveling. “Along the way, I learned about his upbringing and his vision. He was

solid, without question,” Collins explained. “A life gone way too soon.” As a fellow member of Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church, Lassiter got to see the photographer’s talents beyond his work behind the lens, as he sang in the choir and worked in the media ministry. This was a big week because this week the church co-hosted the 2026 New Year's Revival with First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Glenarden, Maryland. He was baptized at Mount Calvary in January 2025. “When I saw him get baptized, it was heartwarming,” Lassiter told The Informer. Lamar Ayers, communications director at Mount Calvary emphasized Williams’ contributions to the church community. “In the short time he was at the church he had a major impact,” said Lamar Ayers, communications director at Mt. Calvary. “He joined the church on January 19, 2025 and he was excited to be part of the church. He was also part of our communications team.” WI

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BUSINESS Moore Introduces Housing Agenda for Upcoming Legislative Session

Real Estate Director Celebrates Legislation as Start Toward Improving Housing Affordability, Addressing Challenges By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter With a goal of increasing affordability and real estate stock, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) has announced his housing agenda for the next legislative session, starting on Jan. 14, including: an end to minimum lot sizes, eliminating parking minimums for transit-oriented development, and promoting mixeduse development. The three bills his administration will support are the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act of 2026, the Housing Certainty Act of 2026, and the Starter and Silver Homes Act of 2026. “We know that outdated zoning laws and bureaucratic red tape – they will limit housing supply, that they will cause a lack of affordability,” Moore said on Jan. 6. “That’s why you will see on Jan. 14, our administration will continue to implement the most aggressive housing policies this state has seen in a generation,

and we will do it unapologetically.” Moore made his housing announcement during a press conference alongside Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Brabeboy (D), Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke, and Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development Jake Day to announce that Atlantic Pacific Companies will be adding roughly 300 homes and 10,000 square feet of retail near the Capitol Heights Metro. At least $17 million will be invested into this project. “For too long, we have seen how this has been acres of asphalt, a parking lot that just sits empty while the demand for housing skyrockets,” he said. The county executive welcomes the new economic and housing development to bolster Prince George’s long-term financial future. “The investment in housing and commercial development that will 3 Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy (left) welcomes Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s new economic and housing development to bolster the area’s long-term financial future. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

5 Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy (left) welcomes Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s new economic and housing development to bolster the area’s long-term financial future. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

be made here will help spur economic development all along the Blue Line Corridor inside the beltway – and that's important, to say inside the beltway – because inside the beltway, there's so much potential,” said Braveboy. Day emphasized the Housing Certainty Act of 2026 will also “remove unnecessary, government-created obstacles to building more housing.” “With fewer homes available and high interest rates locking out new generations of homebuyers, too many young families and seniors are left with few viable options to call Maryland home,” said Day. “The Starter and Silver Homes Act of 2026 would expand housing choices by enabling homes that are up to 30% less expensive than what’s currently available, unlocking homeownership for more Maryland families.”

Real Estate Director Says Legislation ‘Addresses Key Supply Constraints’

Phil Dawit, managing director of Quasar Real Estate, believes that Moore’s agenda is a start toward improving housing affordability and addressing other challenges. “In the context of broader conversations about Maryland’s growth, senior leaders within our firm have engaged with Gov. Moore and senior

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officials in his administration. Gov. Moore has a sharp team. The housing framework they have introduced addresses key supply constraints,” he told The Informer. “The legislation they’ve put forward addresses many of the right levers for creating new housing supply, such as unlocking government-owned land for development and increasing density.” Dawit explained what he views as necessary next steps to achieve affordable housing in Prince George’s County. “Affordability doesn’t improve if we only focus on new supply while allowing existing housing to collapse. Preservation, in many cases, can be faster, cheaper, and far less disruptive than replacement,” he said. “We need to pair strong supply-side state legislation with an equally strong county-level strategy to preserve and rehabilitate the housing we already have.” Dawit, managing operator for Marylander Condominiums, a 200unit complex in Hyattsville, has witnessed the challenges with local housing up close and personal. He explained and has reported a variety of issues, including an ongoing lawsuit against prior management and a wrought-iron fence on the site that was damaged. “Considering the large supply of aging communities in Prince George's County, the Marylander Condominiums crisis should be treated as a lesson, not a one-off,” he said. “The Marylander Condo-

“...on Jan. 14, our administration will continue to implement the most aggressive housing policies this state has seen in a generation, and we will do it unapologetically.” Gov. Wes Moore Maryland

miniums in Prince George's County, however, shows the other side of the housing crisis that often gets overlooked. The Marylander was naturally affordable housing. Instead of being stabilized with coordinated public support, access to capital, and public safety interventions, it was allowed to deteriorate to the point of its crisis.” Now residents of the condominiums are searching for answers, solutions, and safe housing. “Once half of the property was declared unfit for habitation,” Dawit told The Informer, “private financing became impossible, conditions worsened, and 100 families are now at risk of displacement.” WI

JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026 11

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY HOYER from Page 4 Joe Biden who secured tens of thousands of jobs and millions in federal investment for Southern Maryland. He was a strong advocate for legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Affordable Care Act, as well as secured federal funding to expand the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and to improve the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay and its many tributaries. Hoyer was a prodigious fundraiser who served as a candidate recruiter for the Democratic Party, visiting dozens of states each election cycle. “Hoyer visited 94 districts in 22 states this cycle, campaigning for at least 112 Democrats — 37 incumbents and 75 candidates, including everyone on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s red-to blue list — and raising or contributing nearly $9 million for the effort to retake the House,” according to his aides during the 2018 election. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) called Hoyer “a great benefactor, leader, and representative for the county.” “I think he’s been a great member of congress who has been there for 45 or so years. Probably the best majority leader we’ve had in decades. Most of the funding for the biggest projects that have happened in the county, he has had a big hand in. He has been front and center in pushing for the FBI HQ,” Ivey told The Informer. “The work he did in the ADA, a key piece of legislation, of relocating federal agencies and institutions to the county: the federal courthouse and expansions of Bowie State University and the University of Maryland- College Park.”

12 JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026

Celebrating Hoyer’s Leadership: ‘A Longtime Trailblazer’

Prior to the ascension of Hoyer and longtime State Senator Thomas V. “Mike” Miller Jr., Prince George’s was governed by the Sasscer political machine, a segregationist, rural political operation largely dominated by the descendants of plantation owners with surnames like Claggett, Baggett, and Sasscer. Hoyer and Miller gradually incorporated Black elected officials and voters into their coalition, beginning with the late Sen. Tommie Broadwater (D), the first African American senator elected outside of Baltimore City. “He’s been one of the real trailblazers on that front in Prince George’s. When he was elected, we didn’t have any Black officials. We eventually had Broadwater in the Senate, and Steny was helpful to Tommie in his races. Tommie was prosecuted and sent to jail; Steny stayed in touch with him when others stepped away, and that speaks volumes,” Ivey said. “As we made the transition and our county became predominantly African American, Alex Williams became the state's attorney. Wayne Curry was elected county executive in 1994 and Steny stayed strong on that front for the county, true the whole way through.” Hoyer’s legacy also includes being an early endorser and supporter of barrier-breakers such as Gov. Wes Moore and U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks. “He has certainly been helpful to me in my career and he was visibly pivotal in Angela and Wes’ campaigns,” Ivey said. Alsobrooks, who saw Hoyer as a mentor and adviser, holds the longtime congressman in high praise for his partnership and sage advice during her time as State’s Attorney, County Executive, and

4 Rep. Steny Hoyer speaks during his 23rd annual Women’s Luncheon. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

in the U.S. Senate. “To summarize the legacy of accomplishments that Congressman Steny Hoyer achieved would require an entire novel — his impact on the people of Maryland’s fifth district — and people across this nation — over his storied career is as profound as it is enduring,” Alsobrooks said. He is the consummate statesman. A political tactician of the first order. A savvy policymaker. And, most importantly, a man who put service to the people above all else.” The governor celebrated Hoyer’s contributions throughout his life and the state, noting “Maryland is a better state” because of the longtime legislator’s “legacy of service.” “When I was a paratrooper and officer in the United States Army, my unit received an American flag and a Maryland flag from Leader Hoyer. Those flags were a reminder that we were not forgotten. We were being thought about, that we were being prayed over,” Moore wrote in a statement on X. “Steny, your leadership meant the world to me then and as I stepped into public service myself. And it means the world to us now.” Moore touted Hoyer’s political achievements. “From securing critical federal investments and championing our federal workers to being a critical voice in fighting for health care and state investments, we’re forever indebted to you for your exemplary statesmanship and your legacy of delivering for Marylanders,” he said. “Congrats on your well-earned retirement.” Bowie State University (BSU) president Aminta Breaux thanked Hoyer for his dedication to the historically Black institution. “Congressman Hoyer was the very first elected official to welcome me to the district when I became president of Bowie State University, and, from that moment forward, he offered not only his support but his steadfast partnership. Because of his leadership and advocacy, our university has been able to grow, thrive and more fully serve our students and community,” said Breaux.“At a time when our laws are being tested and our democratic values

“Steny, your leadership meant the world to me then and as I stepped into public service myself. And it means the world to us now.” Gov. Wes Moore Maryland

are under strain, his unwavering commitment to public service, principled leadership and the rule of law stands as a powerful example for this generation and the next.” Several Candidates File For Fifth Congressional District, More Expected To Join Race Several candidates have lined up, and even more are rumored, to run for the fifth Congressional District, which includes all of Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s

County alongside rural portions of Prince George’s County and Anne Arundel County. The candidates include: Quincy Barabee, Elldwnia English, Terry Antonio Jackson, and Henry Jarin. Alexis Solis, who has not yet filed but intends to run for the seat, praised Hoyer’s record in office and cited him as an inspiration.

HOYER Page 13

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HOYER from Page 12 “I’m proud to be the first candidate to officially launch a campaign in Maryland’s 5th Congressional District in more than seven months. As Congressman Steny Hoyer officially retires, I am deeply grateful for his decades of service and leadership,” said Solis in an interview. “His legacy set a high standard, and I’m running to carry that torch serving Maryland with integrity, energy, and a commitment to earn the vote and support of our community as we represent our state and our country well.” Rumored candidates include: Bowie Mayor Tim Adams, Prince George’s County Councilmember Wala Blegay, Del. Adrian Boafo (D-District 23), Del. Nicole Williams (D- District 22), and Del. C.T. Wilson (D- District 28). Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman announced he is not running for the seat. Boafo, who worked with Hoyer

for years, lauded the legislator’s record in Congress. “Steny Hoyer has dedicated his life to delivering for Maryland families and made us all proud as he rose to be known among America’s most accomplished statesmen. As Leader Hoyer’s campaign manager, I saw up close his distinct warmth toward everyone he encountered, his dedication to fighting for what’s right, and inimitable ability to assess the toughest challenges and win for the people,” he said in a statement posted to Facebook.“Maryland and this country is better because of Steny Hoyer’s service. May God bless his well-earned retirement.” WI

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

4 Rep. Steny Hoyer poses alongside Donna Graves of Kaiser Permanente, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, and Chamber of Commerce CEO Alexander Austin during the 100th anniversary celebration of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

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JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026 13

NATIONAL Decisions Made in D.C., Damage Felt from City Streets, to Minneapolis, International Waters By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer Washington, D.C., is where power gathers, orders are written, and consequences are often felt far from the rooms where decisions are made. But in recent days, the fallout from actions directed out of the nation’s capital has landed with unmistakable force— from a Minneapolis street corner to the Caribbean Sea— revealing a country straining under the weight of unchecked authority. In south Minneapolis, Renee Nicole Good is dead after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fired three shots into her vehicle during a confrontation captured on video and viewed by millions. Federal officials said the agent acted in self-defense, claiming the

woman “weaponized her vehicle” and attempted to run over officers. Minneapolis leaders say the explanation does not match the video. Mayor Jacob Frey said the city’s priority was getting the victim to the hospital. The second was forcing ICE off the scene because, he said, federal agents were making an already volatile situation worse. “What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust,” Frey said. “They are ripping families apart, sowing chaos in the streets and, in this case, quite literally killing people.” Kierra Johnson, president of the National LGBTQ Task Force, identified Good, 37, and said her death was preventable and reprehensible. “This loss of life was preventable and reprehensible, particularly coming at the hands of federal

Claudette Colvin, the Teen Who Moved History Before It Had a Name, Dies at 86 By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

5 People are remembering Renee Nicole Good, a woman killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. (Courtesy Photo/Instagram)

agents,” Johnson said. “The fact that this killing occurred mere blocks from the murder of George Floyd should give us all pause and is a wake-up call to connect the dots. All marginalized communities are under threat as authoritarianism grows, and a police state is created in our streets by federal agencies like ICE.” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial and Urban League Twin Cities President and CEO Marquita Stephens said the killing represents a dangerous escalation of force that violates longstanding law enforcement standards. “ICE agents’ decision to ignore the prohibition on shooting at moving vehicles represents a dangerous and unacceptable escalation of force,” they said, calling for

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Claudette Colvin, whose refusal to surrender her seat on a segregated Montgomery bus in 1955 came months before the 382-day boycott that launched the Civil Rights Movement, died Tuesday at 86. Her death was confirmed by the Claudette Colvin Legacy Foundation, which said she died of natural causes in Texas. On March 2, 1955, Colvin was 15 years old and riding home from school when the bus driver ordered Black passengers to give up their seats to white riders. Three students stood. Colvin did not. Police arrested her, charged her under segregation laws, and placed her on probation. She later said she was thinking about the Constitution and the rights she believed belonged to her. Colvin’s arrest came at a time when Montgomery’s Black community was already pressing against the daily restraints of Jim Crow. Her stand— or choice to stay seated— did not ignite a boycott that day, but it did register. It landed in conversations, church meetings, and legal strategy sessions that would soon follow. “This nation lost a civil rights giant today,” Tafeni English-Relf, Alabama state director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, said. “Claudette Colvin’s courage lit the fire for a movement that would free all Alabamians and Americans from the woes of southern segregation.” Unlike others whose names became shorthand for the era, Colvin paid a quieter price. She was young, outspoken, and later judged by standards that did not apply to older leaders. She was never elevated as the public face of the movement. Her life unfolded mostly outside the spotlight she helped create. “History did not always give Claudette Colvin the credit she deserved, but her impact is undeniable,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. She became one of four plaintiffs in Browder v. Gayle, the federal lawsuit that reached the Supreme Court and ended bus segregation in Montgomery and across Alabama. The case dismantled the legal framework that

5 Political and justice leaders around the nation are remembering Claudette Colvin, who died on Jan. 13 at the age of 86. (Courtesy Photo/Claudette Colvin Legacy Foundation)

made her arrest possible. “At age 15, Ms. Colvin was arrested on March 2, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, for violating bus segregation ordinances, nine months before Rosa Parks,” Phillip Ensler wrote. “In 2021, it was the privilege of a lifetime to serve on the legal team that helped Ms. Colvin clear her record from the conviction… As we worked on the court motion, I had the honor of spending time with Ms. Colvin to hear her story and get to know her.” Sen. Raphael Warnock (D), pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, former pulpit of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., celebrated Colvin’s life and legacy. “Today we lost an unsung yet significant hero of the Civil Rights Movement,” Warnock said. “Her courage paved the way for Rosa Parks’ decision and the launching of a movement that would end segregation.” Bernice King, daughter of the fallen civil rights and faith leader, emphasized Colvin’s contributions and influence, which continues to inspire. “Her life reminds us that progress is shaped not only by moments,” she said, “but by sustained courage and truth.” WI

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5 Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is demanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers leave the city, noting they are making an already volatile situation worse. (Courtesy Photo/X)

DAMAGE from Page 14 the agent involved to be placed on administrative leave pending a full and transparent investigation. For District residents, the episode strikes a familiar tone. Washington has long lived with layered policing, federalized authority, and security decisions made in the name of national interest, often without meaningful input from the people who live closest to power. Organizations and protestors alike walked to the White House on Jan. 8 in protest of Good’s murder. Further he Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) in Washington, D.C. took to social media to speak out against the killing. “Renee was fatally shot by an ICE agent. Renee was a U.S. Citizen,” TJC wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “This is not what democracy looks like.”

Escalation in Force Abroad

As Minneapolis mourned in anger, Washington escalated force far beyond U.S. borders. On Jan. 7, U.S. forces seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela, including the Russian-flagged Marinera, formerly known as the Bella-1, during an operation in the North Atlantic. The Coast Guard

16 JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026

“The narrative that this was done in self-defense is a garbage narrative.” Jacob Frey Mayor, Minneapolis

and other military assets carried out the seizure as Russian military vessels were in the area. Russia’s Ministry of Transport condemned the action, saying U.S. forces boarded the vessel in international waters and warning that no state has the right to use force against ships registered under another nation’s jurisdiction. The tanker seizure followed the U.S.-led operation that removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife from Caracas and brought them to New York to face charges. Caribbean leaders and analysts were mostly outraged. In Trinidad and Tobago, journalist and political analyst José Luis Granados Ceja warned that Caribbean nations are being forced into dangerous calculations. “One of the strategies of the United States has been to divide Caribbean states from each other,” Granados Ceja said. “That is not a safe strategy. We’ve already seen

the lives of Trinidadians lost in this extrajudicial execution campaign that the U.S. carried out in the Caribbean.” Dr. Michał Pawiński, a lecturer in international relations at the University of the West Indies, said the removal of a sitting head of state violates established global norms and carries serious risks for neighboring countries. “Any kind of conflict, military targets are legitimate targets under international law,” Pawiński said. “It might increase the risk profile of Trinidad if there are military assets of the United States in Trinidad.” Even Congress has begun to push back. The Senate advanced a War Powers Resolution aimed at limiting military action in Venezuela, with bipartisan support. Former Rep. Max Rose (D) said the vote sent a clear message. “This is not his military,” Rose said. “It belongs to America.” WI

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HEALTH A Narrow Opening for ACA Subsidies Offers Hope for D.C. Residents, but the Path Remains Steep

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Washington, D.C. residents who rely on Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies received a sign of movement this week, as bipartisan talks in Congress edged closer to a possible compromise that could preserve financial assistance many families depend on to afford health coverage. With the House passing a bill to extend the all-important subsidies by a 230-196 vote, with 17 Republicans— ranging from moderates to conservatives, supporting it— the opening remains limited and uncertain. However, it has renewed atten-

tion on what is at stake for a city where more than one-third of residents rely on government-supported health programs. “This is an opportunity to take a meaningful step forward to lower the high cost of living for everyday Americans, particularly as it relates to health care,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. “It’s a battle that we will continue to wage on behalf of the American people.” Nationally, enrollment through Healthcare.gov has reportedly dipped slightly, adding to concerns that higher out-of-pocket costs following Congress’ failure to extend enhanced federal subsidies are prompting some consumers to forgo coverage.

5Many Americans are hopeful after Congress passed a bill to extend Affordable Care Act sub subsidies. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

5 House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says Congress has taken a meaningful step toward preserving Affordable Care Act subsidies, financial assistance many families depend on to afford health coverage. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

The New York Times noted that, as of Jan. 3, about 15.6 million people had selected plans on the Affordable Care Act’s federal marketplace. At the same point last year, enrollment stood at 16.7 million. In the District, roughly 227,900 residents use Medicare, Medicaid, or Veterans Affairs health benefits, while about 15,000 people purchased subsidized ACA marketplace plans in 2023 through DC Health Link. Those subsidies have helped blunt premium costs, but insurers are now preparing for 2026 rate increases as high as 20 percent, driven by rising medical costs and the lapse of enhanced federal assistance at the start of the year. District regulators have previously taken steps to soften the blow. Late last year, the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) approved 2026 health insurance rates after reducing several proposed increases, saving residents more than $1.2 million overall. Still, officials warn that local oversight cannot fully offset the impact of lost federal subsidies for families who depend on them to stay insured. “Thanks to Mayor Bowser’s leadership, DISB is laser-focused on protecting D.C. consumers from unfair pricing and discriminatory coverage,” said Karima Woods, DISB commissioner, during the rate approval announcement. “We rigorously reviewed health plans to ensure residents continue to have

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access to affordable, equitable coverage.” On Capitol Hill, the House passed a three-year extension of enhanced ACA subsidies, which is now expected to ramp up stalled Senate negotiations. The bill faces resistance in the upper chamber, where leaders continue to debate income caps, minimum premiums, and abortion-related provisions. For District residents, the out-

come could determine whether thousands remain insured or are forced to absorb sharp monthly increases. “Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one of his presidency,” Jeffries told reporters. “Costs aren’t going down, they’ve gone up, and so it’s an all-handson-deck effort that Democrats are committed to make sure we lower the high cost of living.” WI

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OUR

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OUR EARTH from Page 1 With the possibility of a hyperscale data center being built at the former Landover Mall site, the recent zoning approval in Frederick County that would allow for the construction of data centers across a 2,600-acre plot of land, and the suggestion to use the former Six Flags property in Bowie for these kinds of facilities, many hope that any approved proposals proceed responsibly and sustainably. “This isn’t an anti-technology fight,” Staci Hartwell, founding member of the South County Environmental Justice Coalition (SCEJC) and member of Prince George’s County’s Qualified Data Center Task Force, told The Informer. “It's a pro-people, pro-ratepayer, pro-public health fight.” Many residents, activists, and leaders were displeased with the proposed hyperscale data center at the former Landover Mall site, and the development was paused after an eruption of public objection to the development in September 2025. Two months later, the Qualified Data Center Task Force published the findings of the research it had conducted since April, exploring community input and how these structures would impact energy demand, the environment and residents’ quality of life. Lawmakers also voted in favor of increased research on the matter in December 2025, as they overturned Gov. Wes Moore’s veto on Maryland House Bill (HB) 0270, the Data Center Impact and Analysis Report. The bill requires the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Maryland Energy Administration and the University of Maryland School of Business to analyze data centers’ environmental, energy and economic implications in the state and submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by Sept. 1,

18 JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026

2026. “I think it is so important for communities to keep letting their legislators… know that this is something that they care about,” Angie McCarthy, the Maryland Conservation Advocate for environmental organization Nature Forward, told The Informer. “We're going to continue pushing for statewide legislation, and we hope that community members continue to stay involved because there's a big conversation that's happening at the state level that we need people to pay attention to.”

Safeguarding a Fragile Energy Grid

One of Prince George’s Councilmember Wala Blegay’s (D-Atlarge) biggest concerns about proposed data centers in the region– especially those that are hyperscale– is their high energy demand. These structures, which are usually 10,000 square feet or larger, require a power draw of more than 100 megawatts. One megawatt is equal to one million watts, which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission states is the amount of electricity annually consumed by 400 to 900 homes. On a greatly strained energy grid, which has caused utility bills to surge, such a tremendous energy requirement can pose a serious problem for consumers in the area. “We can’t have them get in on our power. They’ve got to bring their own generation,” Blegay, who is a Qualified Data Center Task Force member, told The Informer. “We want to make sure there’s a use of clean energy with data centers… [and] that any location is not close to people’s homes.” As a possible solution to the high power draw these facilities require, the Task Force’s November report suggests that the county could convince the Public Service Commission to implement a sur-

3 Prince George’s Councilmember Wala Blegay speaks at a Qualified Data Center Task Force meeting in September 2025. Blegay says many residents are against building a data center in the space that was once Landover Mall, and instead hope the site can be used for mixed development. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

charge on data centers that encourages the use of energy-efficient building guidelines and cooling technologies. This proposed solution would go hand in hand with HB 1035/ Senate Bill (SB) 937, the Next Generation Energy Act, which promotes the increase of power generation and battery energy storage within the state, while also protecting consumers by reducing costs through the limitation of how utilities can spend ratepayers’ money. The Task Force also suggests the country encourage an expansion of the bill to include that customers with consumption exceeding 100 megawatts pay their own transmission and distribution costs. “We just really have to end the practice of treating Black and brown communities as acceptable sacrifice zones,” Hartwell told The Informer. “There are smarter ways to move forward– ways that people can be proud of.”

Alternative Options for Economic Growth

Prince Geoge’s County is currently in the midst of a budget deficit of $130 to $170 million for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), which is why many in favor of expanded data center development say these structures are needed to bring in economic opportunity to the region. With projects that are so demanding of resources and are drivers of air, noise and light pollution, advocates wonder if this is

“Without transparency and without the data points, we don’t actually know how Maryland is going to economically benefit from data centers.”

the smartest path to go down. Northern Virginia holds the highest concentration of data centers in the world, as its lack of taxation on the structures is attractive to developers. In the Commonwealth’s 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), it was revealed that the amount of abated taxes in the state amounted to $1.6 billion. “Without transparency and without the data points, we don’t actually know how Maryland is going to economically benefit from data centers,” McCarthy told The Informer. “Every community is really different, so it's hard to brush all data center concerns over with one simple clause of… [making] so much money in taxes.” People like Tolson Banner, executive director of the Prince George’s County Community

Development Corporation (PGCCDC), believe that ideas like the proposed Medical Innovation Campus in the southern part of the county are more beneficial and sustainable ways to fuel economic growth. The campus, which would be located in Clinton, would be centered around the MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital. It would feature an expanded hospital and create a mixed-use area that includes access to retail, healthy food options, recreation, green spaces and housing opportunities. Such a campus could potentially create a multitude of jobs for residents while efficiently addressing their needs. “Everyone started believing that data centers would be the cure-all for their fiscal ills, when, in fact,.... It’s turning out not to be that,” Banner told The Informer. “Let’s take a step back and see how we can simultaneously deal with these ills and not just focus on… increasing the commercial tax base.” Since the Landover site was once a shopping center bustling with customers and offering job opportunities, many, including Blegay, believe that the plot of land has the potential to truly benefit the community. The council member, other Task Force members, advocates and residents alike, do not want to see a data center built there. “It’s a whole campus. We can do mixed development there,” Blegay told The Informer. “Instead of putting a data center there, I think there are other things we can do.”

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EDUCATION RASHAD from Page 8

since it was created in 2010, booking Rashad was a major milestone for the network, which he says is solely run by the middle school students. “We interview a large amount of celebrities and political figures,” Birks told The Informer, “but this was a huge figure in the entertainment industry.” During the podcast, Rashad, widely known for her role as Claire Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” (1984-1992), spoke to the students about her youth, inspiration behind her work, and goals for the future. “My mother, Vivian Ayers, was a poet, a scholar and a cultural activist. I watched my mother do things that no one taught her how to do. And what I learned from my mother was that my very being, my own self is my greatest resource. You have to be able to use your imagination,” she said during the podcast. “You have to be able to use your goodwill. Life is not a textbook exercise. Although textbooks do come in handy.” Like Rashad, Birks highlighted the benefits of hands-on learning, considering such opportunities like Eliot Hine Network. “I feel it's important to introduce them to this field so they know that… mass media can be an option,” he said. The actor, director, arts educator

During the podcast, Rashad, widely known for her role as Claire Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” (1984-1992), spoke to the students about her youth, inspiration behind her work, and goals for the future. and mother shared the inspiration behind her longtime career in the arts, and emphasized that success is about always working to evolve and grow. “I was learning all the time that money was never the goal. Money was never the goal. The goal was to be creative, to be authentic, and to share,” she said. “I'm still learning because I've become a director, and I've directed quite a few theatrical productions. And just this fall, I directed my first episodic television with an episode of ‘Grey's Anatomy.’ So I'm still learning and I'm still becoming.” WI

5 Students and Eliot Hine Network director Mandrell Birks, take a group photo with actor and director Phylicia Rashad at the conclusion of the interview inside of their studio at Eliot-Hine Middle School. (Ja’Mon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

Making a Financial Audit an Annual Event By DC Black MBA January is more than a symbolic fresh start. It is a strategic window. As professionals settle into a new year, financial clarity becomes essential, especially for those committed to long-term wealth building, career mobility, and family stability. For many this moment offers an opportunity to move from financial reaction to intentional planning. Financial strategist Nicole McDonald emphasized that many people underestimate what a true financial review requires. “A true financial au- 5 Financial strategist Nicole McDonald dit goes far beyond checking a bank balance; it’s a deep dive into every moving part of your financial life,” she shared. According to McDonald, a meaningful audit begins with understanding cash flow. “It starts with Cash Flow Analysis mapping out exactly how much is coming in versus going out,” she explained. For professionals managing salaries, bonuses, side businesses, or entrepreneurial income, this step reveals patterns that often go unnoticed. From there, individuals must look at their full financial snapshot. “You shift to the Balance Sheet to calculate your net worth by weighing what you own against what you owe,” McDonald said. That includes totals as well as the true cost of debt. “For those liabilities, an audit requires more than just the balance; you must also track interest rates to understand the true cost of your debt.” Credit health is another often-overlooked element. “A thorough audit includes Credit Verification,” she noted, encouraging individuals to review their free credit reports annually. “Once you have this complete ‘financial map,’ you can move from observation to strategy.” January is also the ideal time to examine whether income aligns with lifestyle and long-term goals. “Evaluating income alignment begins with pricing your lifestyle,” McDonald said. “Many people skip the vital step of defining exactly what they want their life to look like and more importantly, what that life actually costs.” She recommends identifying what she calls the “lifestyle gap.” “Calculate the annual cost of your ‘ideal’ life including housing, travel, and leisure, so you can then compare it to your current takehome pay,” she explained. Breaking expenses into monthly figures, along with accounting for onetime costs, makes the exercise both practical and revealing. Long-term goals require the same level of specificity. “Assign a specific dollar amount and deadline to goals like retirement or homeownership,” McDonald advised. “Then conduct a financial audit to see if your current surplus—income minus expenses—is enough to fund those goals.” If the numbers don’t align, clarity becomes empowering. “If the math doesn’t bridge the gap, you now have a roadmap to decide whether to adjust your lifestyle expectations or find ways to increase your income.” Even with a solid plan, consistency is key and that’s where automation comes in. “Automation is the secret sauce of sustainable finance because it removes the need for willpower,” McDonald said. In busy professional lives, saving is often the first thing sacrificed. “By automating transfers to savings, investments, and bill payments, you ensure your financial priorities happen before you have the chance to spend the money or talk yourself out of it.” She adds that automation quietly builds momentum. “It transforms saving from a conscious, difficult choice into a background process, allowing your wealth to grow even when you’re too busy to think about it.” The message is clear: January is less about financial resolutions and more about building systems that support long-term success. A true financial audit provides clarity. Income alignment creates direction. Automation ensures consistency. Together, they help professionals and families enter the year informed, empowered, and positioned to build lasting wealth.

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JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026 19

Families multiply. Your internet price won’t.

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Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Select plans only. After 5 years, regular rates apply. Actual internet speeds vary and not guaranteed. For factors affecting speed, visit xfinity.com/networkmanagement. For complete details, visit xfinity.com/deals. All devices must be returned when service ends. © 2025 Comcast. All rights reserved. NPA401362-0042

20 JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026

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EDITORIAL

A Nation Forced to Watch Itself Bleed

From George Floyd to Keith Porter, Jr., to Renee Nicole Good, America Confronts the Cost of Unchecked Power—and the Question of Whether Our Democracy Can Endure In a nation still grappling with the trauma of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, the recent killing of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent has once again shocked the American conscience and reverberated around the globe. Both incidents — captured on live video and widely circulated on social media and in the news — have reminded the world that systemic issues with law enforcement and the use of force remain urgently unresolved. Let us also not forget the killing of Keith Porter, Jr., by an off-duty ICE agent in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. Porter had been firing his rifle into the air to celebrate the holiday. An investigation is ongoing. Floyd and Porter were Black men, and Good was a white woman. Each was a parent of young children. Joy Reid recently said in an interview about the Good murder, “What’s partly so frightening about this is that white people aren’t safe either. These people are

willing to shoot white women in the face in front of everyone on camera. They don’t give a damn if you’re a white woman. They don’t care if you’re a mom. They don’t care if you’re affluent.” Floyd’s 2020 murder became a rallying cry for calls worldwide to reform policing and address racial injustice. Now, less than a mile from that site, the fatal shooting of Good — a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, wife, mother, and community member — has reignited those same anxieties. Bystander footage appears to show her vehicle moving away from federal agents during a massive enforcement operation when an ICE officer fired the shots that killed her. Municipal leaders, family members, and the public are demanding transparency as conflicting official narratives collide with what millions have seen with their own eyes. These three tragedies, separated by time but connected by place and circumstance, have shaken public confidence in law enforcement’s ability to protect all citizens

— regardless of race, immigration status, or political viewpoint. They underscore an uncomfortable truth: when citizens are killed in confrontations with agents of the state and communities feel ignored or misled, trust erodes. We must be better than this. A democratic society cannot function when its people live in fear of those sworn to uphold the law. While humane immigration enforcement, and laws in general, should not be dismissed, they should be applied lawfully, orderly, and dignified. Further, equating humane policy with the unrestrained undermines America’s ideals. Today’s pain should remind us that strength lies not in quotas or militarized tactics, but in accountability, restraint, and respect for human life. If America is to remain a democracy worthy of its name, leaders and citizens alike must recommit to justice for Floyd, Porter, Jr., Good, and all who seek safety within our borders WI

Kennedy’s Health Policies Increase ‘Danger,’ Health Disparities in Black Communities Not so long ago, Americans, particularly those raising young children, looked to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) for guidance for things like childhood inoculations and preventive measures for contagious viruses like influenza or COVID. Adults living with communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS, which was once a death sentence before medical breakthroughs occurred, routinely looked for and followed recommendations that allowed them to thrive and to live long, productive lives. Families also looked to HHS as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to help shape their diets and daily regimen of foods that would help ward off things like cancer, obesity, and heart disease. All that changed after President Donald Trump selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Congress confirmed

him as HHS secretary on February 13, 2025. Since Kennedy took the helm, several health-related trends and policy shifts have occurred which critics and medical experts identify as significant declines in public health. Even more troubling – Kennedy has thrown scientific evidence out the window, instead promoting a host of conspiracy theories and using them as justifications for many of his decisions while ignoring the recommendations of health experts. African Americans, whether young or old, with or without underage children, should be particularly alarmed, given the profound disparities in health challenges found in Black and white patients, including hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, asthma and maternal/infant mortality. Because of Kennedy’s ineptitude, since his tenure began and through early 2026, the following health-re-

lated declines and concerns have been documented. Rise in vaccine-preventable diseases like measles which, in 2025, experienced its worst year for outbreaks in over three decades. Weakened immunization schedules where in early 2026, the CDC reduced routine coverage for children from 17 diseases to 11, increasing confusion and lowering immunity rates. Eroding preventive services like screenings for cancer and other conditions which if detected early can often make the difference between life and death; and A controversial nutrition policy which reversed decades of medical advice which experts believe will increase the risks for cardiovascular disease because of the shift to promoting red meat and full-fat dairy consumption. Kennedy’s policies and inflammatory rhetoric on Black communities

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TO THE EDITOR “While I appreciate Director [Darryl] Barnes highlighting the importance of building healthier communities and encouraging resident participation in planning, I am concerned about a tension between those goals and ongoing support, from our electeds and appointeds, for data center development in Prince George’s County. Data centers have environmental and health impacts that disproportionately affect Black and Brown communities, already dealing with cumulative environmental and climate burdens. For a planning initiative focused on health and equity to be credible, we need clear commitments from leadership to limit or mitigate projects that undermine community well-being. I hope the county will take a holistic view of health and equity in all its planning decisions.” - S.R. Hartwell (In reference to the article: “Applications for the Neighborhood Planning Academy Open for Business.”) “I see almost no good ideas in either party. They have always both lied to the public, but it used to be easier for them to trick the people.” - John D. Noonan (In reference to the article: “Americans Lose Faith in Both Political Parties as Frustration Boils Over”)

serve as a reason public health advocates anticipate even more detrimental effects on health equity and outcomes, and why African Americans should look to other sources for advice on best health practices. During his Senate confirmation hearings, when Kennedy asserted, “We should not be giving Black people the same vaccine schedule that’s given to whites because their immune

system is better than ours,” U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) clapped back. “With all due respect, that is so dangerous,” she replied. African Americans should be wary of Kennedy’s policies and recommendations, advocate for themselves in medical spaces, and look for culturally competent practitioners when seeking care. WI

JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026 21

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnists

Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel

Don't Take the Bait: Venezuela Is a Distraction From Trump's Affordability Crisis

As families struggle with rent, groceries and health care costs, Donald Trump is once again trying to drag the national conversation off course — this time with the dramatic capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro has ruled Venezuela as an authoritarian dictator, rigging elections, imprisoning political opponents and driving millions of

Venezuelans into poverty and exile through corruption and economic mismanagement. His removal is undoubtedly welcomed by those who suffered under his regime. But Trump didn't work through Congress or international institutions — he acted unilaterally. As Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on ABC's "This Week," "Maduro's a horrible, horrible person, but you don't treat lawlessness with other lawlessness, and that's what's happened here." Yet for most Americans, Venezuela

Guest Columnist

is not the issue keeping them up at night. Affordability is. That's the reality Democrats must stay anchored in. We cannot allow ourselves to be pulled into Trump's Venezuela trap. Venezuela is a deliberate distraction from the affordability crisis Trump dismisses as a hoax, from his connections to Jeffrey Epstein and from a parade of scandals that have sent his approval ratings plummeting. He needs Americans focused anywhere but on the issues that actually affect their daily lives. Poll after poll shows working class

Americans are anxious about the cost of living. A recent Politico poll found 65% of U.S. households say the cost of living has gotten worse or much worse in the past year. They want to know why wages aren't keeping up, why housing feels out of reach and why basic necessities cost so much more than they did just a few years ago. These are concrete problems that need concrete solutions and Trump has failed to provide any. The political advantage for Democrats is staying focused on the affordability crisis. Trump understands this dynamic,

which is exactly why he's trying to change the subject. He'd rather talk about foreign enemies than explain how his tax cuts for the wealthy and tariffs on everyday goods have raised costs for working families. He'd rather stir fear and nationalism than defend policies that have left many Americans worse off. He'd rather talk about Venezuelan drug cartels than rising health care costs. Democrats should not help him by amplifying the distraction.

can, Latino, Asian American and other communities pushed to the margins — coming together to demand economic rights that democracy had long promised but rarely delivered. History reveals a pattern we are often reluctant to name.

ly.

HARRIS/MCDANIEL Page 37

Ben Jealous

We Must Finish the Work Dr. King Died Doing

This year, let's honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday by remembering his final mission — and by picking up the mantle he left behind. Every year, America remembers a dream. But the work that placed Dr. King in the greatest danger was not dreaming. It was organizing to make the dream real. Dr. King was assassinated in Mem-

phis in April 1968 while supporting striking sanitation workers and preparing to launch the Poor People's Campaign. He was there because he had come to understand something fundamental about American life: that racism and economic exploitation are intertwined, and that neither can be defeated without confronting both. He was not killed while leading a desegregation battle in a northern suburb. He was killed while trying to unite economically struggling Americans across racial lines around shared demands for dignity, wages and opportunity.

Guest Columnist

When that unity fails — when workers and the poor are kept divided — the consequences are not abstract. Wages stagnate. Health care becomes conditional. Food insecurity spreads quietly. People turn on one another while decisions that shape their lives are made far out of reach. Division does not just weaken movements; it deepens suffering. The Poor People's Campaign was designed to confront that reality directly. King envisioned a coalition of poor people drawn from many communities — Black and white, Native Ameri-

In the United States, one of the most dangerous roles a leader can take on is the work of uniting poor and working people across racial lines — especially when that unity threatens systems that depend on division to function. Fred Hampton understood that ear-

Most people remember Hampton only as a Black Panther, frozen in time at age 21, killed during a predawn police raid in Chicago in December 1969. But before joining the Panthers, Hampton first gained recognition as a teenage organizer in the NAACP. As a youth leader, he showed a rare ability to mobilize people, build coalitions and translate moral clarity into action. That instinct carried forward. As a Panther leader, Hampton

JEALOUS Page 37

Julianne Malveaux

When the Post Office Is Undermined, Democracy and Black Jobs Go With It

The United States Postal Service is under attack again — and this time, the damage threatens both Black livelihoods and Black votes. The Postal Service is not just how we send letters. It is democratic infrastructure. It is also one of the largest employers of Black workers in the nation. Roughly 29% of postal workers are Black, more than double Black

22 JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026

representation in the overall labor force. For generations shut out of private-sector opportunity, the post office offered union protection, civil-service hiring, pensions and a ladder into the middle class. That is not incidental, it is structural. So when the man who lives in the House that Enslaved People Built and his allies talk about "reforming," "controlling" or "privatizing" the Postal Service, they are not just talking about mail. They are talking about dismantling one of the few remaining feder-

al institutions that has reliably served Black people — as workers and as voters. Let's start with voting. Recent changes in postal operations and postmarking rules mean that ballots are increasingly postmarked when they are processed, not when they are dropped in the mailbox. That may sound like bureaucratic trivia. It is not. In many states, ballots must be postmarked by Election Day to count. Translation: a voter can do everything right — mail their ballot on time — and still have their vote thrown out

because the system moved too slowly. That is not voter error, it's system failure masquerading as neutrality. In the most recent election cycle, more than half a million mail ballots were rejected nationwide, and roughly one in five of those rejections were because ballots arrived "late." Late for whom? Late because of staffing shortages, route consolidation, processing delays and rigid deadlines that punish voters for problems they did not create. This is what voter suppression looks like in the 21st century: clean, quiet

and legally defensible — until you look at who it affects. Black voters, elderly voters, disabled voters, rural voters and working people juggling multiple jobs rely disproportionately on mail service. They are least able to take time off work to cure ballot errors, drive to election offices or stand in long lines. When mail slows, their voices disappear. No dogs. No firehoses. Just envelopes quietly discarded. Now connect that to employment.

MALVEAUX Page 37

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

E. Faye Williams

Standing with Minnesotans

Once Oprah asked Prince why he lived in Minnesota and talked about how cold it is there. He told her he would always live there. She asked why. He said, "It's so cold that it keeps the bad people out!" Well, obviously he had no idea bad ICE gangsters would bust in uninvited! I wonder what Prince would say now seeing the tragedy forced upon

the people of Minnesota. ICE saw a community servant helping many good causes, Renee Nicole Good, shot down by an ICE agent sent to Prince's city. They weren't welcome, but sent there by a man who refuses to accept laws. Trump and Noem teamed up and sent ICE there for no reason other than Minnesota's governor, Tim Walz, ran for vice president along with thenVice President Kamala Harris who had the audacity to run for president! They were not controlled by Trump or MAGA. Donald Trump and J.D. Vance

who had no positive qualifications — except being white and caring nothing about the rest of us — were put in charge of our country. Many other white people, too many Hispanics, unenlightened Black men who may have been looking for an easy pardon for something (and I will let you guess what too many white women did last election) voted for Trump. As usual, they preferred to vote white over voting right for the most qualified team of Harris and Walz, who ran circles around Trump and Vance in intelligence, qualifications, accomplish-

Guest Columnist

ments, truthfulness and compassion. For the rest of us, we've paid for their sins. As we often say in the Black community, "I'm So Glad Trouble Don't Last Always!" It's been one heck of a ride for many of us, including some of the MAGA people who now admit they were wrong. Even Marjorie Taylor Greene got religion, and a whole bunch of people in her party decided there's no need for them to run in the next election. While most of us who are suffering through this Republican takeover that was going to bring us better things

by erasing Obamacare (as the health care was known) while the other party keeps promising something better — but never comes up with anything, but a concept! Many of us are following in the footsteps of our beloved and brave ancestors. "We ain't gonna let nobody turn us around." They suffered too much for us to stand by doing nothing. Others behind them did the same thing. We've been on this path to racial justice too long to give up now.

WILLIAMS Page 38

Marc H. Morial

ICE Has Ushered in a New Era of Domestic Terror and Attacks on Civil Liberties

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - George Orwell, "1984" "Don't believe your lying eyes." The quote, which originated in the Marx Brothers' movie "Duck Soup" in 1933, has been deployed in a variety of contexts by comics, authors and

orators, leaning into irony for nearly a century. I never thought that I would see the day when the federal government would use it to defend the execution of an American citizen on American soil, in broad daylight, on camera. That is precisely what occurred on the morning of Jan. 7, when 37-year-old wife and mother Renee Nicole Good was shot at point-blank range by an immigration enforcement officer as she tried to leave the scene of a protest in Minneapolis. The shooting has ignited a firestorm

of controversy for a number of reasons. Since this administration has accelerated its ruthless immigration enforcement activities, sending masked, armed officers with minimal training and experience into major cities primarily led by political opponents, nine people have been shot by agents. But the driving factor behind this outrage was the federal government's response. Leaders from immigration enforcement to the office of the vice president took to social media and the airwaves to not only place blame on the deceased, but also to outright

Guest Columnists

lie by stating that the driver attempted to assault officers with her vehicle. An accusation that was clearly debunked by videos from multiple angles of the incident. Beyond the government's willingness to lie without compunction, perhaps the most chilling part of this story is the message it sends to the American people. A message that says that the state can do anything that it wants to you, including claiming your life, and not only will there be no effort to bring your assailant, in this case killer, to justice, but they will be justified.

For millions of Americans entering the new year emboldened to take a stand against a government that has seemingly gone rogue, Americans had just set down their New Year's Eve party hats when the news broke of the White House abandoning the balance of power that requires Congress to approve acts of war when it decided to take over Venezuela. Less than a week later, an American is killed, not by a foreign government or terror organization from abroad,

MORIAL Page 38

Rep. Oye Owolewa and Leah Bogan

Concrete Giants, Fragile Communities: Why D.C. Must Pay Attention to the Data Center Rush

Across the country, massive industrial complexes are quietly rewriting local politics, utility systems and neighborhood futures. They are called data centers. Most residents never see inside them, yet they power the internet, cloud storage and artificial intelligence systems that increasingly structure daily life. These buildings are not offices or community spaces. They are indus-

trial campuses packed with servers, cooling systems, backup generators and electrical substations. They consume extraordinary amounts of electricity and water, and wherever they land, they permanently alter what a community can become. Northern Virginia is now the largest data center hub in the United States. Federal contracting requirements, proximity to government agencies and decades of infrastructure investment made the region attractive to tech corporations. That region is also one of the wealthiest in the country. With

land prices rising and community resistance growing, corporate developers are looking elsewhere. They are targeting areas with less political power, fewer resources and governments under pressure to generate revenue quickly. Data centers are already shaping elections in Northern Virginia. Land use fights and utility expansion plans dominate local campaigns. Residents have been organizing against projects that threaten regional water supplies, property values and quality of life. Maryland has become the next major front. Prince George's County is now

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in a high-stakes struggle over proposed data center developments, including major projects near Landover. This is not happening by coincidence. Prince George's is majority-Black and thus historically underinvested, though they are positioned near critical infrastructure. It is exactly the kind of place large corporations target when expansion in wealthier jurisdictions becomes politically expensive. Washington is not immune either. Large parts of Wards 7 and 8 already live with disproportionate environmental burdens, chronic underin-

vestment and development decisions routinely made without community consent or rushed through short voting periods. These neighborhoods sit near major water systems, industrial corridors and publicly controlled land — conditions that consistently attract heavy industrial proposals dressed up as "economic development." When facilities like data centers move in, they industrialize entire zones. Land that could support housing, schools, clinics and neighborhood businesses

OWOLEWA/ BOGAN Page 38 JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026 23

LIFESTYLE Washington Informer Weekend Checklist WASHINGTON INFORMER'S

Things To Do, DMV! By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor The days ahead of the nationally recognized MLK Day (Jan. 19) – in honor of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – are packed with education, commemoration and a twist of laughter. Check out some of the many events happening this long weekend, including appearances from comedian Martin Lawrence and singer Keyshia Cole; creative tributes to civil rights leaders King and the late Georgia Rep. John Lewis; and can’t-miss exhibits all throughout the DMV. To keep up with all the fun, don’t forget to check out the Washington Informer Calendar.

Thursday, Jan. 15

Un/Bound Free Black Virginians, 1619-1865 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. | Free Fairfax Museum & Visitor Center, 10209 Main Street, Fairfax, VA 22030 “Un/Bound Free Black Virginians, 1619-1865” explores the lives of free Black Virginians from the arrival of the first captive Africans in 1619 to the abolition of slavery in 1865. Through powerful objects and first-person accounts, visitors will discover how Virginia’s communities of color achieved freedom and persevered within a legal system that recognized them as free but not equal.

Martin Lawrence: “Y'all STILL Know What It Is!” Tour 8 p.m. | $94.00+ The Theater at MGM National Harbor, 101 MGM National Avenue, Forest Heights, MD 20745 Actor, sitcom star and veteran stand-up comedian Martin Lawrence is back on the road in 2026, bringing the joy of laughter to his Maryland roots at the MGM National Harbor Jan. 15-16. Whether recognized for roles in movies like “Bad Boys” and “Big Momma's House,” his eponymous TV show “Martin,” or some standup specials of the last couple decades, Lawrence’s next performance promises new material and a renewed take on the comedic icon’s mark in entertainment.

Friday, Jan. 16

SPILT art exhibit 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Free SPILT art space, 2529 P Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20007 SPILT is pleased to present “SMOKE,” an inaugural exhibition of paintings by D.C.-based artist Russell Katz. Through stark monochromatic paintings depicting explosions, tangled trees in dormancy, and layered compositions, Katz reflects on the way human activities shape and unsettle the world. Featuring pieces such as “Smoke BW Large, 2025,” which draws on

4 DMV-raised actor and comedian Martin Lawrence brings the good vibes and laughter to The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland on Thursday, Jan. 15. (Courtesy Photo)

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5 The KanKouran West African Dance Company joins forces with Dance Place to celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., debuting the “Coming Together As One” Traditional African Dance Concert Jan. 17-18. (WI File Photo/Roy Lewis)

photographs from World War II, the creative has transformed these archival scenes into symbolic imagery of existence, destruction, and after the smoke dissipates, rebirth. MLK Shabbat @ WLC 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Free Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20016

Join the Washington Hebrew Congregation (WHC) in honoring the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King on this special Shabbat. In celebration of the civil rights leader, members of the interfaith community will gather in unity for worship and songs, food and drinks, along with Connect 4 and arts and crafts for the kids. Beyond serving as a tribute to King, Friday’s service preludes the MLK Day of Service 2026, set for Monday, Jan. 19.

Saturday, Jan. 17

Remembering John Lewis: Good Trouble & Black-Jewish Civil Rights Alliance 11:30 a.m. - 1: 30 p.m. | Free Adas Israel Congregation, 2850 Quebec Street NW Washington, D.C., 20008 From shabbat to the Sunday community day of service, Mosaic Theater Company and Adas Israel Congregation will share stories, challenges and musical inspirations from the late Georgia Rep. John Lewis’ exemplary life of social action and community building. Saturday will feature Mosaic Artistic Director Reginald L. Douglas addressing the ongoing need for “Good Trouble” – in the words of the late congressman and activist – across

cultural differences during a morning service at Adas Israel. A First Look: A Festival of New Plays Reading 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Free Ford's Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20004 Ford’s Theater presents a reading of “Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest” as part of its A First Look New Play Reading Festival. In this new musical, Mosaic Theater Company’s Playwright-in-Residence Psalmayene 24 honors the trailblazer many consider to be the legendary “conscience of Congress.” Focusing on his formative years of ages 18-28, “Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest” – coming to Washington on March 26 – reveals the humanity and heart of this mighty historic figure. The musical explores how the murder of Emmett Till motivated Lewis to pursue a life of service, including leading the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), fighting for civil rights with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and working for nearly two decades in Congress. A talkback with the creatives will follow the reading. “Coming Together As One” Traditional African Dance Concert 7 p.m. | $30.00+ Dance Place, 3225 8th Street NE, Washington, D.C., 20017 Join Dance Place and the KanKouran West African Dance Com-

THINGS TO DO Page 25

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THINGS TO DO from Page 24 pany to celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the “Coming Together As One” Traditional African Dance Concert. Featuring signature live drumming and powerful dance, the vibrant cultural ritual aims to honor ancestors and guide toward a brighter future. With a showing on Jan. 17 and 18, the KanKouran West African Dance Company will also commemorate a 42-year legacy preserving and uplifting West African culture – true to King’s vision of global community.

Sunday, Jan. 18

The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Free National Gallery of Art, 6th Street NW & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 20565 “The Stars We Do Not See,” drawn exclusively from the collection of Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria, offers a rare opportunity to experience some of the most significant examples of modern and contemporary Australian Indigenous art in all its forms. From ochre bark paintings and experimental weavings to immersive sound and video art and powerful photographs, this exhibition reveals a rich history of creativity that predates the arrival of the British.

LIFESTYLE

Keyshia Cole (21+ Event) 7 p.m. | $72.00+ The Hall at Live! Casino & Hotel Event Center, 7002 Arundel Mills Circle #7777, Hanover, MD 21076 Experience the magic of R&B icon Keyshia Cole as she brings her “The Way It Is 20th Anniversary Tour” to The HALL at Live! on Jan. 18. Relive the emotion, passion and powerhouse vocals that made her debut album a timeless classic!

Monday, Jan. 19

The MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk and Rally and Parade 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Free Firth Sterling Avenue and Sumner Road SE, Washington, D.C., 20020 The 21st Annual MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk, Rally and Parade returns for another year commemorating the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. – and after having to move indoors last year due to the inauguration, it’s back outside! The Peace Rally kicks things off at 9:30 a.m. on Firth Sterling Avenue and Sumner Road, leading the twomile trek along the avenue named in honor of the fallen civil rights leader that culminates in the historic MLK Holiday DC Parade at 11 a.m. Additional highlights for parade participants include the respective Seventh Annual Health & Wellness Fair and Community Clean-up Project, both hosted at PNC Parking Lot (next to Far Southeast) from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information and registration, visit MLK Holiday DC. WI

H O LY E U C H A R I S T Celebrating the Life of

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, January 18, 2026 11:15 AM

With Guest Preacher, Shavon Arline-Bradley President and CEO National Council of Negro Women

5 Advocates march to end gun violence in January 2024, joining more than 1000 participants in the annual MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk and Rally in Southeast, D.C., a two-mile trek, remembering the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., along the street named in his honor. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

Learn about worship services at the Cathedral at cathedral.org/worship

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JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026 25

World's Leading Violin Experts Offer Free Evaluations in D.C. Submitted by Tarisio Fine Instruments and Bows Tarisio, the leading international venue for fine instruments and bows, is coming to Washington, DC on February 2, 2026, offering complimentary evaluations of violins, violas, cellos and bows. These evaluations can lead to placement in Tarisio's year-round Private Sales or their record-breaking auctions. Benjamin Gagnon, a specialist from Tarisio's New York office, will be conducting the appointments. With strong expertise in assessing and authenticating rare string instruments and bows, Gagnon offers DMV-area string players, collectors and dealers a chance to get professional insights from one of the industry's most respected authorities—without the trip to New York. What can you expect during an evaluation? Gagnon will examine your instrument or

bow and discuss with you its origin, authenticity, condition and current market value. Whether you inherited a violin from a family member, bought an instrument years ago and are curious about its resale value, ready for an upgrade, or maybe you're just curious about what's been sitting in your attic. Whatever the situation, these evaluations give you the information you need to make informed decisions for the future. “There is nothing I love more than meeting clients and learning about the history and story behind their instrument, their career, or their journey to coming into possession of these cultural artifacts. Every instrument has its own unique story and it's rewarding to be able to connect one steward to the next through these trips,” shares Gagnon. Tarisio specialists have an unparalleled perspective on the market given the thousands of instruments and bows they examine every year. When they evaluate an instrument, they're considering the maker's identity and reputation, the condition and preser-

5 Photo of Benjamin Gagnon by Robert Bailey © Tarisio

vation, the provenance and historical significance and how similar instruments have been selling recently. When Tarisio was founded in 1999, it changed how the fine instrument

Interested in selling your instrument or bow? We’re here to help.

Complimentary DC evaluations Feb 2

world operates. The company brought together serious expertise, operational efficiency and a commitment to doing business ethically. Today, they run the world's largest online auction platform dedicated exclusively to fine string instruments and bows, holding 15 auctions annually across New York, London and Berlin. Over its 25-year history, Tarisio has handled some remarkable sales including Isaac Stern's estate collection, the 'Lady Blunt' Stradivarius of 1721, which sold for a world record $15.9 million, the 'da Vinci, ex-Seidel' Stradivarius of 1714 which sold for $15.3 million, the 'Molitor' Stradivarius of 1697 and the 'Maazel' Guadagnini of 1783. The list goes on. Why get an evaluation? “Sometimes people just want to know more. Learning about your instrument's history and maker can change how you think about the music you're making with it. Many musicians play on instruments that they might like to learn more about, and I am always thrilled to provide the people I meet with more information,” says Gagnon. Even if selling isn't on your mind,

understanding your instrument's value and authenticity is essential when you're making decisions about restoration, maintenance, insurance or upgrades. If you are thinking about selling, Tarisio's specialists can tell you about timing and strategy for bringing your instrument to market through their industry-leading auction platform or year-round, discrete and carefully curated Private Sales. Regardless of your reason for wanting an evaluation, it is free, confidential and comes with no obligation. To learn more about Tarisio's Washington DC visit or to schedule your evaluation with Benjamin Gagnon • email info@tarisio.com • or call (212) 307-7224 Tarisio also offers complimentary evaluations in other North American cities—contact them for details.

FOR APPOINTMENT CONTACT: (212) 307 7224 • info@tarisio.com

26 JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026

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wi book review "When It's Darkness on the Delta: How America's Richest Soil Became its Poorest Land" by W. Ralph Eubanks

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE JAN. 15 - 21, 2026

ARIES Professional momentum builds through strategic patience rather than impulsive action. Tuesday's collaboration opportunity requires sharing credit to maximize results. Physical energy peaks midweek— channel it toward meaningful projects instead of scattered activity. Someone's indirect communication Wednesday conceals offer worth investigating. Lucky Numbers: 7, 29, 54 TAURUS Unexpected change Thursday disrupts plans while creating better alternative. Long-term investment requires short-term sacrifice you've been avoiding. Someone's casual comment contains insight about pattern you haven't recognized. Comfort seeking becomes procrastination—distinguish between necessary rest and resistance. Lucky Numbers: 18, 41, 66

c.2025, Beacon Press $30 / 256 pages

GEMINI Communication clarity matters more than verbal quantity this week. Tuesday conversation demands listening over explaining. Multiple opportunities require choosing quality over collecting options. Mental restlessness signals need for learning rather than distraction. Someone misinterprets your intentions—direct clarification prevents escalating confusion. Lucky Numbers: 12, 36, 59

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

CANCER Emotional boundaries strengthen relationships rather than creating distance. Family expectation requires honest refusal Wednesday despite guilt anticipation. Past pattern recognition helps interrupt repetition before it solidifies. Someone needs space more than reassurance—respect the request. Home becomes creative sanctuary when you claim it intentionally. Lucky Numbers: 9, 34, 62

Where you from? That's perhaps one of the first questions somebody might ask you because the answer tells them a lot. Where did you grow up, where do you live now, what customs do you follow? Who are your people? Where are you from and, as in the new book, "When It's Darkness on the Delta" by W. Ralph Eubanks, what is that place like now? When President Lyndon Johnson launched his War on Poverty in 1964, "the public face of [it]… was white" and Appalachian. "Black poverty in the Mississippi Delta mirrored" that which poor white Appalachians experienced, says Eubanks, but policymakers' race influenced American perceptions of the "war" and, as often happens, little heed was paid to the Delta. With just over 7,100 square miles of land bordered by bluffs and river, the Delta "was firmly in the hands of the Choctaw Nation" in 1817, when Mississippi became a state. As settlers arrived, its soil became known for its fertility in growing crops, especially cotton. After Emancipation and Black flight to urban areas, Chinese and Italian sharecroppers were hired to work the land, but they didn't stay; Black sharecroppers did, and during the Great Depression, Herbert Hoover promised to "divide the land of bankrupt planters into small Black-owned farms if he won the presidency." He did win, but he went back on his word. Instead, Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" fulfilled Hoover's promise, ultimately creating Mileston Plantation, the state's only "resettlement community" on which 110 Black families moved and farmed until the Great Depression hit full-force and racism again became a factor in the then-present and future of the Delta. On Providence Farm — founded by white "theologians and Christian missionaries" some forty miles from where Emmett Till was murdered — a desegregated hospital was established. White leaders helped Black farm workers unionize. The Box Project to combat hunger came from the Delta, and so did the blues. Everything changed there, and nothing has. Poverty, says Eubanks, was born and still lies "buried deep in the Delta's soil." And yet, there's beauty, as evidenced in author W. Ralph Eubanks' words, his memories, and the stories he tells. Every sentence in this book is fat with meaning and his love of the land he grew up near — but that can be a trap. Just know that you can't race through "When It's Darkness on the Delta." No, it's going to demand your time and your full attention. Offer it, and you'll see a wide, but microcosmic, view of racism and decay. Eubanks walked the Delta's fields, looking for detritus of former farms; he drove past what's left of homes and storefronts on a tour through his memories. He reveals Mississippi's Delta through a historical lens and as somewhere ripe for the future, both of which will make readers understand why this biography of place is important reading. Just don't rush it. Savor what you'll find inside this book, and let yourself think about it. "When It's Darkness on the Delta," is worthwhile, no matter where you from. WI

LEO Authentic vulnerability attracts deeper connections than polished performance. Creative risk pays off when you share work despite imperfection fears. Recognition arrives for contribution you made without expectation. Social energy returns selectively—choose quality gatherings over obligatory appearances. Thursday spotlight moment tests comfort with visibility. Group project succeeds through collaboration rather than solo heroics. Lucky Numbers: 5, 28, 57 VIRGO Professional opportunity Thursday requires confidence in abilities you've been downplaying. Someone in authority recognizes competence you consider baseline expectation. Perfectionist standards relax when you witness others' appreciation of imperfect work. Delegation creates better results than solo control. Public speaking or presentation stretches comfort zone productively. Lucky Numbers: 22, 47, 73 LIBRA Philosophical question demands personal answer rather than consensus opinion. Learning opportunity requires committing despite uncertainty about outcomes. Belief examination reveals inherited assumptions needing personal verification. Tuesday conversation with outsider perspective shifts understanding significantly. Lucky Numbers: 11, 39, 64 SCORPIO Financial transparency Wednesday prevents future resentment despite vulnerability discomfort. Shared resource requires honest conversation about imbalanced contribution. Someone's unexpected openness transforms dynamic between you permanently. Investigation instinct uncovers explanation for recent confusion. Emotional intimacy deepens through calculated risk. Lucky Numbers: 16, 42, 69 SAGITTARIUS Partnership evaluation reveals necessary adjustment or natural conclusion. Commitment clarity emerges through behavior patterns rather than verbal promises. Collaboration improves when both contributions receive equal acknowledgment. Romantic development requires compromise maintaining individual authenticity. Thursday direct discussion clears accumulated tension you've been avoiding. Lucky Numbers: 8, 33, 60 CAPRICORN Workplace efficiency increases through elimination rather than optimization of broken processes. Health improvement manifests through sustainable modifications instead of dramatic changes. Daily structure becomes energizing when rigidity releases. Tuesday requesting help yields better results than solitary struggle. Lucky Numbers: 20, 48, 71 AQUARIUS Creative concept demands action beyond theoretical planning stages. Romantic possibility expands through emotional engagement over intellectual analysis. Younger perspective provides unexpected solution inspiration. Previously dismissed hobby suddenly feels essential for maintaining equilibrium. Friday social event exceeds expectations when you arrive without defensive skepticism. Lucky Numbers: 2, 30, 56 PISCES Home improvement through practical action or emotional conversation resolves Tuesday. Living space adjustment creates supportive sanctuary rather than energy drain. Real estate choice benefits from intuitive guidance combined with practical patience. Family pattern shifts when you prioritize healthy function over familiar dysfunction. Emotional foundation strengthens through boundary enforcement you've postponed. Relative demonstrates unexpected understanding you didn't anticipate. Lucky Numbers: 25, 50, 68

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JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026 27

SPORTS WIZARDS from Page 4 Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu and Zaccharie Risacher. Senior NBA Insider on NBA on Prime Chris Haynes shared closing remarks from McCollum regarding his trade to Atlanta on X. “Loved my time in D.C. Organization was great to my fami-

ly and I,” said McCollum. “Love the city and they’re doing things the right way over there. [Excited] to get to The A and get to work. Very familiar with their style of play. Love the ownership group and front office. Good group of players.” For Washington, this deal provides the remainder of this season and much of the 2026-27 campaign to assess how Young connects with a promising emerging young core that includes Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson and Bub Carrington. The Wizards are betting that Young’s offensive gravity will unlock efficiency and dynamic play-making that will arise within their young core. Since hiring Mi3 Guard CJ McCollum looks to make a play in the Wizards’ 120-112 win against Orlando Magic at Capital One Arena on Jan. 6. (Jonae Guest/The Washington Informer)

28 JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026

5 Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George and Atlanta Hawks forward Corey Kispert during team warm-ups before a home matchup against the Phoenix Suns on December 29, 2025. (Marcus Relacion/The Washington Informer)

chael Winger and Will Dawkins in 2023, the Wizards have taken a patient approach to the rebuilding of the franchise, acquiring young talent and avoiding shortcuts for immediate playoff contention. “Michael Winger and Will [Dawkins] did everything they said they would,” McCollum noted, “and kept their word from the very beginning.” Trading for Young represents a clear pivot, signaling that Washington is ready to move into the next phase of the franchise’s rebuild. Recent results may have put this trade into action. Although the Wizards have gone 9-10, including five wins in their last seven games, they started the season

with a 1-15 record. With their first-round draft pick heading to the Knicks if it falls outside of the top eight, simply tanking was no longer a secure option. Supporting the development of young starters Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr with an elite offensive engine became more appealing. Young does bring that – even if the fit isn’t seamless. He led the NBA with 11.6 assists last season and ranks 12th this year in points per chance as a pick-and-roll ball-handler. Washington, meanwhile, is 25th in pick-and-roll efficiency. Young’s ball dominance could possibly push others off the ball, particularly Bub Carrington. But it could ultimately unlock cleaner looks for the Wizards’ young core moving forward. Financially, the move for Young was low risk. Washington has ample cap space and three months to

“Michael Winger and Will [Dawkins] did everything they said they would,” McCollum noted, “and kept their word from the very beginning.”

evaluate whether he can anchor the team’s climb towards success and better the nucleus of the young core. Further, Head Coach Brian Keefe said the team needs to “keep building” and being “consistent.” “Keep making this something that we can do for longer and for better,” Keefe explained. “That’s the goal for us, those are the important things.” WI

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CAPTURE the moment

The Go-Go Museum and Café hosted the 2026 Go-Go Awards, on Jan. 6 at the Lincoln Theatre in Northwest, D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood, historically known as the District’s Black Broadway. Under the theme, “Returning to Our Roots and Embracing the Diaspora,” the event celebrated 50 years of go-go and honored several people who have supported the genre, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Cathy Hughes, founder and owner of Urban One. Hosted by comedians Joe Clair and Jay Cole, and featuring performances such as the Chuck Brown Band, Sugar Bear, and a tribute to Bounce Beat and Beet Your Feet, the awards show offered an unforgettable evening honoring the culture and legacy of Washington, D.C.’s official music. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

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JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026 29

RELIGION MLK from Page 1 King’s mantle forward. “Today we gather not merely to commemorate a birthday, but to confront a burden,” Beckford said at the Jan. 12 prayer service at Living Word Church. “Dr. Martin Luther King [Jr.] does not belong to history alone – he belongs to responsibility. They are often reduced to a moment of reflection without movement, admiration without imitation, memory without mandate.” While the church service launched the weeklong series leading to King’s official federal holiday (Monday, Jan. 19), much of the past week’s celebratory momentum was marked by what would have been the freedom fighter’s 97th birthday. Beyond honoring a generational moral compass, faith activists and community leaders across the nation are singing King’s legacy to the tune

PRINCIPAL from Page 5

30 JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026

of a roadmap for political and social liberation. “Times like these make me think of Dr. King's beloved community. From Southeast, D.C. to the Sudan and Valley Green to Venezuela, we are all connected for the same cause of justice and liberation,” the Rev. Tony Lee, pastor of Community Of Hope AME Church in Temple Hills, Maryland, told The Informer. What TV host and journalist Joy Reid once coined “the age of Don Crow” – a poignant reference to President Donald Trump and his administrative acts within less than a year in office – translates to a nearly 50-year parallel – arguably, a continuum – of threats to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Many of these GOP-backed policies even hold roots in the Civil Rights era, such as: attempts to rewrite historical narratives of African

5 Melanie Campbell, president of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, and the Rev. Tony Lee (center) with activists in front of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in May 2025. Ahead of his birthday on Jan. 15, both District leaders lauded the foundation of resistance laid by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

Americans; elimination of corporate and academic DEI standards, including the overturning of affirmative action in 2023; negligence among worker rights and protections; and, among the most recent, threats to Black voter representation, as a result of Republican redistricting efforts. For Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, upholding King’s legacy means emulating the dream that started with him. “This is the unfinished work of Dr. King,” Campbell told The Informer, particularly touting the importance of voting. “Continuing Dr. King’s legacy in today’s climate means protecting the very foundation of our democracy…and we will not stop until it is done.”

• A fearless advocate of all races and religions, who led a diverse crowd of thousands – alongside the late Georgia Rep. John Lewis and Durley himself – in the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Remembering A Leader of ‘Great Humility’

• A 1964 Nobel Peace Prize winner, who then donated all of his proceeds to the Civil Rights Movement.

While King is highly regarded for his moments in the movement, the Rev. Gerald Durley, an international civil rights activist, reflects on a legacy far greater than his biggest headlines. “I remember him as a man of great humility,” Durley, pastor emeritus of the Providence Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia, told The Informer. “See the humanity in the man. Dr King was a husband. [He] was a father…a Baptist preacher. And with all of those human characteristics, he used those to be a civil rights leader.” A graduate alumnus of Howard University, Durley implores others to see the selflessness in King’s myriad of accomplishments:

• The former president of the 382-day Montgomery Bus Boycott that led to the desegregation of public transportation. Durley noted that King, who at the time was a father to two young children, worked to uplift the formidable sheroes of resistance that laid the groundwork — the Women's Political Committee (WPC) of Montgomery, Rosa Parks, and a then 15-year-old Claudette Colvin, who died at the age of 86 on Jan. 13.

To top it all off, Durley highlighted that lifelong courage in the final moments of King’s life, which was spent championing rights for sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, just a day before he was fatally shot on a hotel balcony on April 4, 1968. “He never saw his four children do the things that many of us see now, but he gave up that for something that he believed in,” Durley told The Informer. “He was a man who didn't care who got the credit; he was willing to sacrifice. Can you imagine if we had people [who] have been framed to do that – what it would be?” That’s why, in honor of King’s

birthday, and especially given the current presidential administration, the civil rights pioneer is imploring all descendants of the Black American dream to look inwards and seek, what he calls, a “moral obligation” to uplift others of the diaspora. “We as a people must go back into ourselves again – as we did when they were…building their America, and used us as a people [paving] the roads,” he explained. “Dr. King would still be saying: ‘What are you willing to sacrifice, what are you willing to give? [What lines are you] willing to cross?’” As for the remaining slate of MLK Holiday DC, Washingtonians can look forward to basking in a holistic commemoration of King’s indelible legacy, including this Saturday’s Eighth Annual Prayer Breakfast at Covenant Baptist UCC Church in Southwest, D.C. Jan. 19 features: the respective Seventh Annual Health and Wellness Fair and Community CleanUp Project, all culminating in the 21st Annual MLK Peace Walk Rally and Parade marking its return to the streets of Southeast, D.C. “I pray that tonight will be a night of change, a night where we begin something new again…and when we sit down, and we plan, we will plan with a purpose,” Beckford told the room of Living Word Church on Jan. 12. “Dr. King looked through time, and he saw even a day like today. We do him a disservice if we do not champion the cause of his life up to this point.” WI

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RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT

The Miraculous Journey of Sarah Rector

This past weekend, I sat down to watch a film on Prime Video that deeply stirred my spirit. Entitled Sarah's Oil, this moving production is based on the incredible true story of Sarah Rector — a name we should all hold in high esteem. Historically known as Sarah Rector Campbell Crawford, she was a young girl who became one of our nation's first Black female millionaires, teaching us a profound lesson on how God can turn "worthless" situations into overflowing blessings. Sarah's journey began not with a silver spoon, but with a legal birthright rooted in a complex history. As a descendant of African people formerly enslaved by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Sarah was listed as a "Freedman" on the Dawes Rolls. This status entitled her to an allotment of 160 acres of land in Oklahoma. However, the world's intentions were not always kind. Under the Dawes Allotment Act, the government intentionally assigned Freedmen the least valuable parcels. Sarah's specific plot in Glenpool was considered "barren," rocky, and utterly unsuitable for farming. It was seen as such a burden that her father actually petitioned to sell the land to avoid the $30 annual property tax. That petition was denied — a moment we can now see as divine intervention. What man rejected, God protected. In 1913, the "worthless" land yielded a miracle: oil. Overnight, the young girl once overlooked by society became "The Richest Black Girl in America." Set against the harsh backdrop of the Jim Crow era and the Oklahoma oil boom, Sarah's Oil captures her navigation through sudden wealth and the systemic discrimination that sought to control it. Her story is a powerful testament to faith and resilience. It reminds us of the scripture in Psalm 118:22 KJV: "The stone which the builders refused

is become the head stone of the corner." Sarah Rector took the "barren" ground she was given and, through a providential turn of events, showed the world that our value is determined by the Creator, not by the quality of the soil we are standing on. If you are looking for an educational film that reinforces the power of perseverance and the truth that God has a plan for your inheritance, I highly recommend Sarah's Oil. It is more than a history lesson; it is a reminder that even when the world hands you dust, the Lord can find gold. For those seeking to learn more about this remarkable story, several books delve into the history of Sarah Rector and the complex history of the Creek Freedmen in Oklahoma, separating fact from fiction using primary documents. Below are some resources:

Delving Into Her Story

Several detailed books rely on historical records to piece together Sarah Rector's journey from a young girl in Indian Territory to a wealthy young woman. • Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America by Tonya Bolden is a meticulously researched, award-winning book that traces her life using archival illustrations, maps and legal documents. It is also the inspiration for an upcoming movie. • Sarah's Oil True Story: The Remarkable Journey of Sarah Rector (multiple editions by various authors) details her unexpected fortune and

triumph over the systemic odds she faced. • A Name Worth Millions: The Story of Sarah Rector and Her Family by Karen Carter Riffle was created in partnership with her nieces, offering authentic family insights.

Visiting History

Physical locations provide powerful historical context and specific exhibits on Sarah Rector and the history of African Americans in the region. • Rector Mansion (Kansas City, Missouri): Sarah Rector's former home in Kansas City still stands as a historical landmark and is part of the African American Heritage Trail of Kansas City. A local group, United Inner City Services, is exploring options to preserve and restore it. • Oklahoma Indian Territory Museum of Black Creek Freedmen History (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma): This museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of Creek Freedmen and their descendants, and has hosted events and exhibits related to Sarah Rector. • Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) (Washington, D.C.): While a permanent exhibit specifically on Sarah Rector is not mentioned, the NMAAHC has shared historical information and posts about her story online, recognizing her place in American history. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026 31

RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor 9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743 Phone: 301-350-2200 / Fax: 301-499-8724 Service and Times Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 AM 7 10:00 AM Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 PM Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”

Blessed Word

Pilgrim Baptist Church

Church of Living Waters

Third Street Church of God

Rev. Joel R. Limerick Pastor

Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor

Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor

700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849 Service and Times In Person Worship: Sunday @ 9:30 A.M. Streaming: Sunday @ 9:30 A.M. www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org Prayer & Study: Wednesday @ 12 Noon and 7:00 P.M. www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ

Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax

3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) / (202) 562-4219 (Fax)

Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion Service: First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study: Tuesday, 6:30 PM www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423 Service and Times Sunday Church School : 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:10 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00 PM Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00 PM Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10 AM themcbc.org

Services and Times Sundays: 10:00am Worship Services Bible Study: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays 12:00 Noon; 6:30 PM (dinner @ 5:30 PM) Sunday School: 9:00 AM – Hour of Power “An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantdc.org

Mount Olivet Lutheran Church

St. Stephen Baptist Church Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. / Senior Pastor 5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301.899.8885 – Fax 301.899.2555 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Worship 8:00 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 AM Tuesday: 7:00 PM – Kingdom Building Bible Institute Wednesday: 12:30 PM – Mid-Day Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00 PM – Evening Bible Study Baptism - 3rd Sunday – Communion 4th Sunday Free Food Giveaway – Every Tuesday, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm “We are One in the Spirit” www.ssbcmd.org | secretary@ssbcmd.org

Campbell AME Church

2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email: Campbell@mycame.org

Service and Times Divine Worship, Sunday 10:00 a.m. Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday “Friendliest Church in the City” Website: mountolivetdc.org Email: mtolivedc@gmail.com

Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness - Senior Pastor Rev. Ali Gail Holness-Roland Assistant & Youth Pastor

32 JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026

www.livingwatersmd.org

1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005

Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor

Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards

Service and Times Sunday Service: 8:30am& 11:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday

Rev. Terrance M. McKinley Senior Pastor

Adams Inspirational A.M.E. Church

Service and Times Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Christian Education / School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration

4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464

John F. Johnson Reverend Dr.

All Nations Baptist Church

2001 North Capitol St, N.E. - Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591

Harold Andrew Assistant Pastor

12801 Old Fort Road • Ft. Washington, MD 20744 Office (301) 292.6323 • FAX (301) 292.2164 Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:15 am Sunday Church School 11:00 am Youth Sunday every 4th Sunday Prayer Call @ Noon every Tuesday & Thursday 978.990.5166 code: 6166047# Virtual Bible Study Wednesday Facebook & Zoom 7:00 pm “A Growing Church for a Coming Christ” www.adamsinspirationalamec.org

Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 8:45 AM Bible Study: Wednesday: 12:00 Noon, Wednesday: 7:00 PM, Thursday: 7:00 PM “Reaching Up To Reach Out” Mailing Address : Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE - Washington, DC 20020

Emmanuel Baptist Church

1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661

Services and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM

Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday Church School: 9:20 AM Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 PM Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net

“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Reverend John W. Davis Pastor 5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays) Communion - 10 a.m. 4th Sunday Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.) Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m. “A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold” www.mtzbcdc.org

Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 PM Prayer Service Bible Study

Holy Trinity United Baptist Church Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor

2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office “Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . . 100% Forgiven!

4504 Gault Place, N.E. / Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184

www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org

Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor

1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office / 202-638-1803 fax

Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor

Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:00am & 12noon Noon Day Worship – Wednesdays at Noon Prayer Call – Tuesdays 6pm & Thursdays 6am Dial: 1-872-240-3212 Passcode: 164695965

Isle of Patmos Baptist Church

Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service : 11:00 AM The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Prayer & Praise Services: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: 7:30 PM Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries: 10:30 AM

Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr. Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax

Sunday Worship Service: 8:00 AM and 10:45 AM Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45 AM; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45 AM; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6:00 AM & 6:30 PM Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church / Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org / emailus@gmchc.org

Shiloh Church of God 7th Day Elder Jonathan M. Carson Senior Pastor

5701 Eastern Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Phone: 301 559-5262 Service and Times Sabbath Worship @ 1:00 pm in-person/FB/Zoom Tuesday - Prayer@ 7:30 pm on Zoom Wednesday - Bible Study@ 7:30 pm on Zoom Friday - Sabbath School@ 7:30 pm on Zoom Web: shiloh7thday.org Email: shiloh7thdaycomm@gmail.com "A culturally diverse church of edification, deliverance and transformation"

Place your church ad here! Contact Ron Burke rburke@washingtoninformer.com

A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

RELIGION Zion Baptist Church

Israel Baptist Church Rev. Lance Aubert Senior Pastor

Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor 4850 Blagdon Ave, NW - Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 - Fax (202) 291-3773 Service and Times 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School 10:15 a.m. – Worship Service Wed. Noon: Dea. Robert Owens Bible Study 7 PM Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Sunday, Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission: Zion shall: Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, And Exalt our Savior. (Acts 2: 41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org

St. Luke Baptist Church

1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM

Mount Moriah Baptist Church Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor

Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 PM Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon

Rehoboth Baptist Church

1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org Service and Times Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM Motto: "Faith On The Hill"

Eastern Community Baptist Church Damion M. Briggs Pastor

Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor 5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005

Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42

“Where God is Praised, Christ is Obeyed, and People are Loved”

New Commandment Baptist Church Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 AM and 10:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 AM & 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:30 AM Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon & 6:30 PM Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 PM Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 PM Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org

Service and Times Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM

Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11 AM Sunday School: 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM

The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest

621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032 P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112

Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958 Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist

www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.

Promised Land Baptist Church

Dr. Joseph D. Turner Senior Pastor

Service and Times Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 PM Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 PM Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 PM

13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560

“Real Worship for Real People” Website: www.easterncommunity.org Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 - Fax 202-678-3304 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 9:30 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 9:30 AM Sunday School: 8:15 AM Bible Study: Wednesdays at Noon Baptism: 4th Sunday 9:30 AM

8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240

Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor

Motto: “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”

Rev. Richard B. Black Interim Pastor

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 - Fax: 202-544-2964

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Service and Times Sunday Service: 10:00 AM Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 AM 1st Sunday Baptism: 10:00 AM 2nd Sunday Holy Communion:10:00 AM Tuesday: Bible Study: 6:30 PM Prayer Meeting: 7:45 PM

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church

“A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Website address: www.mmbcdc.org

Peace Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Prayer & Bible Study Class: 8:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Service: 12:00 PM “The Loving Church of the living lord “ Email Address: admin@pbc712.org

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor

Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor

401 Van Buren St., NW, Washington D.C. 20012 Office (202)-882-8331

602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 / Fax: (202) 289-4595

Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:30 am Zoom: zoom.us/;/2028828331 Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm Communion Every First Sunday

Service and Times Adult Sunday School: 8:00 AM Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM Youth/Young Adult Sunday School 12:00 PM Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM

2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 - Fax: (202) 529-7738 Service and Times Worship Service: 7:30 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 4th Sunday 7:30AM & 10:30 AM Prayer Services:Tuesday 7:30 PM. Wednesday 12 Noon

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

"Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ." Website: Theplbc.org Email: churchclerk@theplbc.org

Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “

Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180

Join us for our live broadcast every Friday at Noon!

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JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026 33

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 001387

2025 ADM 000970

2025 ADM 001321

2025 FEP 000159

Estate of Tamar Peli

Estate of Anna L. Jackson

Cecil Dunston Decedent

September 30, 2024 Date of Death

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Ben Peli for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Dena Jackson for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth.

Cory A. Larkin 1717 K Street NW, Suite 900 Washington, DC 20006 Attorney

Eric A. Gordon Name of Decedent

Admit to probate the will dated 5/11/2022 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise

Admit to probate the will dated September 24, 2024 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise

Date of first publication: 1/8/2026

In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate appoint an unsupervised personal representative

Gretchyn G. Meinken, Esq. 616 N Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314 Petitioner/Attorney: TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Devon Jackson 1411 Wynhurst Drive Waxhaw, NC 28173 Petitioner/Attorney:

Ashaki Dunston, Tabitha Mitchell and Danielle Dunston, whose addresses are 4302 10th St. NE, Washington DC 20017 & 1424 Clingmans Dome Dr., Frederick MD 21702, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Cecil Dunston who died on 5/25/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/8/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/8/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

TRUE TEST COPY

Date of first publication: 1/8/2026

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Ashaki Dunston Tabitha Mitchell Danielle Dunston Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 001278

2025 ADM 001173

Mary Louise Alston Decedent

Ernestina Wiseman Decedent

Tina Smith Nelson, Esq. Legal Counsel for the Elderly 601 E Street, NW Washington DC 20049 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Marilyn Alston, whose address is 642 Burns Street, SE, Washington DC, 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mary Louise Alston who died on 8/7/2008 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/8/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/8/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 1/8/2026 Marilyn Alston Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

34 JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Rachelle Wiseman, whose address is 149 58th Street SE, Washington DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ernestina Wiseman who died on September 28, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 7/15/2026. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 7/15/2026, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 1/15/2026 Rachelle Wiseman 149 58th St. SE Washington DC 20019 Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Debra L. Gordon, whose address is 11424 Waesche Dr., Bowie MD 20721 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Eric A. Gordon, deceased, by the Register of Wills Orphans Court for Prince Georges County, State of Maryland, on 11/15/2024. Service of process may be made upon Anjel Morris 3400 10th Place SE, Washington DC 20032 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned District of Columbia personal property. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice. Date of first publication: 1/8/2026 Debra L. Gordon Personal Representative Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026 35

CANNABIS from Page 1

Robinson,” Saleem told The Informer. “I think that has something to do with the attraction of the cash businesses on H Street. At the time, we had 37 [cannabis shops] and if you watch the businesses, you’re not going in and out with credit cards. You get criminals outside [as] they sit back and watch you. I think that was probably some of that.” On Jan. 8, Saleem stood alongside D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser as she announced the shutdown of the 100th illegally operating cannabis shop since the Fall of 2024, when the D.C. Council approved legislation strengthening the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration’s (ABCA) enforcement of the District’s medical cannabis laws. During the most recent closure on B Street SE, three miles from the H Street corridor, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) seized: more than 700 pounds of marijuana; more than 6,000 pounds of THC edibles; and more than 500 pounds of THC vape cartridges and pens. Officers also reportedly confiscated several pounds of THC oil, wax and lotion along with mushrooms and 12 illegal firearms. “This effort is about keeping our community safe and healthy, whether illegal narcotics are sold at licensed cannabis dispensaries or at unlicensed establishments,” Bowser said during her Jan. 8 press conference. “It's also about protecting the businesses that are doing the right thing. We have legal medical cannabis shops in D.C. The cannabis at those shops is tested and regulated.” During the summer of 2023, when Bowser championed the Safer, Stronger DC legislation as a tool of violence reduction, Saleem counted among those who identified illegally operating smoke shops as magnets of crime along the H Street corridor. He said that landlords, in response to advisory neighborhood commissions’ demands for building occupancy, hastily gave tenancy to illegally operating cannabis businesses. ABCA has since shut down eight illegal vendors operating along H Street NE. With ABCA reaching its latest milestone, Saleem said the work to create a safe and welcoming H Street can continue without interruption. Last year, the corridor attracted 25 new businesses, which Saleem said will continue to happen amid ABCA’s increased enforcement against illegal cannabis shops. “I think H Street could be a very strong jazz area,” Saleem said. “It could

36 JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026

5 Anwar Saleem, executive director of H Street Main Street is committed to closing illegally operating cannabis shops along the H Street corridor, which he says dampens the potential for the area to be one of D.C.’s most vibrant arts and entertainment districts. (WI File Photo/Mya Trujillo)

become that specialized arts entertainment district. It can spread throughout the corridor [with] intentional investment. We have to find a way to attract people from behind Union Station.”

The Work That’s Done, and Left To Be Done

Bowser’s announcement, which took place on the 300th block of the H Street corridor in Northeast, brought together Saleem, Interim Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffery Carroll, D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), and ABCA Director Fred Moosally. On the morning of Jan. 8, Moosally made remarks in recognition of Allen, who introduced the Medical Cannabis Program Enforcement Emergency Amendment Act in 2024. The legislation, among other things, solidified ABCA’s ability to issue cease-and-desist orders against illegally operating cannabis operations and conduct enforcement action against property owners. “The enactment of supporting legislation expanded ABCA’s enforcement jurisdiction to allow the District to serve as a model jurisdiction for combating and closing illegal cannabis establishments that operate outside the law and undermine our community safety,” Moosally said. In December, the District’s legal cannabis program generated more than $9 million in monthly sales, including $5.7 million in licensed retail sales. That happened as ABCA ramped up enforcement against illegally operating cannabis shops. ABCA’s latest shutdown operation

follows similar action taken in December against Benning Market & Dollar Plus on Benning Road NE, Best Price Liquors on Central Avenue SE, Cloud Liquor on H Street NE, Minnesota Avenue Exxon on Hunt Place NE, and Sherriff Market on Sherriff Road NE. In the days, weeks and months leading up to those shutdowns, ABCA padlocked other illegally operating cannabis shops across the District, including those located along the U Street corridor in Northwest, Florida Avenue in Northeast, and near Adams Morgan in Northwest. Moosally said that unlicensed retailers didn’t take the steps necessary for a legal transition. Shutting them down, he told reporters, became a matter of consumer safety. “Products sold in the unlicensed market are often untested, unregulated, and frequently mislabeled regarding potency and contaminants,” Moosally said. “In contrast, licensed retailers provide products that have undergone rigorous laboratory testing to ensure that they are free from harmful pesticides, heavy metals, and molds.” Of the 100 shops that faced ABCA’s wrath, 16 were located in Ward 6. Allen said complaints from residents compelled his introduction of the Medical Cannabis Program Enforcement Emergency Amendment Act. The bill, which also had an emergency version, went through the council’s Committee on Business and Economic Development, then chaired by former Council member Kenyan McDuffie, before getting approved by the entire legislative body. Allen too called the bill necessary to combat what eventually became the bane of various constituencies. “I know I was frustrated, my neighbors were frustrated, our businesses were frustrated,” Allen said. “But beyond just being annoyed, these illegal shops…were largely cash operations selling totally untested cannabis grown outside the District, sometimes laced with dangerous and even deadly drugs, and it was not uncommon to find weapons on the premises.” Amid celebration around the 100th cannabis shop closure, Allen highlighted discussions on the Hill that, once again, complicate local matters. Despite District voters’ overwhelming approval of Initiative 71 more than decade ago, a congressional spending bill rider by Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) prohibits the District from establishing a legal recreational cannabis ecosystem with its local funds. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

WALK from Page 1 borhood commissioner seat, she and other freshmen commissioners continue to demand solutions. “I felt like I needed a title so I can get in the room, so I can make my voice heard as well as my community’s voice,” said Andrea Davis, commissioner of ANC Single-Member District 8A03, which includes Boone Elementary School in Southeast. “Maybe someone would actually listen to us and come and see what our issues were. Now, we're having this walk [with] all these government agencies out here.” As Davis, a homeowner of 14 years, recounted to The Informer, conditions in Fairlawn took a turn for the worse at the height of the pandemic. That’s when she said homeless residents from other communities poured into Fairlawn to use narcotics and engage in sexual activity in front of children and elders at all times of the day. Davis said the last straw came in 2024, when she had to walk around her neighborhood with a bucket to pick up drug paraphernalia that accumulated in grass and on sidewalks. That milestone, she said, came well after she and other community members reached out to the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice, as well as other District offices and agencies. “We started trying to get people to pay attention, to come over here, to address these issues,” Davis told The Informer. “I sent letters, and they weren't the nicest worded letters because I was frustrated and I was angry with the inattention that our community was getting. Nobody was actually giving any real attention to Ward 8.” On Monday evening, Davis and dozens of community members circled Bowser as she walked along Minnesota Avenue, starting at Boone Elementary School and ending near the 1700 block of R Street SE. Along the way, the mayor acknowledged neighbors on the streets who expressed excitement to see her in the community. Bowser also spoke extensively with Davis and others who poured their hearts out about the conditions they’ve encountered. With budget season on the horizon, Davis said she and her ANC colleagues are demanding a bevy of investments, including in wraparound services, business development, and the creation of family-friendly parks. For Davis, time’s of the essence. “Up until today, nothing significant has happened to help address the issues in this community,” Davis told The Informer. “We have drug dealers

standing directly across the street as well as in front of Boone Elementary School. Prostitution happening directly in front of the school. People with mental health [issues] running up and down the middle of the intersection inside of the streets and directly in front of the school. When is enough going to be enough?”

The Tour To Kick Off Mayor Bowser’s Last-Ever Round of Tours

At the end of a more-than-an-hour tour, Bowser conferred with a team that included the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), D.C. Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), D.C. Department of Transportation, D.C. Department of Buildings (DOB), and the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services. Also on the tour was D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8). Items on Bowser’s list include: boosting MPD and DBH activity around Boone Elementary; increasing lighting on streets and around parks; checking for drug-free zone implementation, monitoring commercial properties alleged to be selling illicit substances; and exploring a policy package to address the presence of a 24-hour storefront. Bowser also mentioned the likely launch of a task force to eliminate prostitution and open-air drug markets. She set her sights on negligent landlords alleged to foment hotspots of crime and illegal dumping. In speaking about her plans, the mayor acknowledged that successful execution requires a deeper understanding of who’s participating in illicit activities and why. “Are the people that we are seeing… from the neighborhood [or] are they coming to the neighborhood?” Bowser told The Informer on Monday. “It was a mix of both, so that suggests to me that we want to try to make sure that our service deployment is happening in the right way. We have had persistent prostitution activity on some corridors and I think we do have tools to address it, so I'm going to make sure that they're being deployed here with the appropriate amount of resources.” As she’s done in year’s past, Bowser also called on community members to help the government. She said that combating the onslaught of illegal activity, in part, requires those of sound mind consistently doing the small things. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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HARRIS/MCDANIEL from Page 22 The right response to Venezuela is message discipline. Acknowledge Trump's Venezuela hypocrisy. Call out how Trump has said the quiet part out loud, admitting that securing Venezuela's oil for American companies was a driving factor in his decision, promising that U.S. oil giants would spend "billions of dollars" on Venezuela's infrastructure. At the same time, Americans get "reimbursed" for military action. And then pivot — again

JEALOUS from Page 22

helped build the original Rainbow Coalition — bringing together the Black Panthers, the Puerto Rican Young Lords and the Young Patriots Organization, made up largely of poor white Appalachian migrants. In one of his most consequential public moments, Hampton stood at a press conference alongside William "Preacherman" Fesperman, a leader of the Young Patriots, to declare that poor and working people had more in common with each other than with the forces exploiting them. That image — Black, brown and white organizers standing together, unapologetically — was the point. Less than a year later, Hampton was killed by Chicago police in a predawn raid. The same pattern appears, with devastating clarity, in the lives of Harry and Harriette Moore. Harry Moore was the founding president of the Florida NAACP and one of the most effective organizers the association ever produced. Under his leader-

MALVEAUX from Page 22 Donald Trump has openly floated placing the Postal Service under direct executive control and accelerating privatization. That is not a management tweak; it is a political power grab. Privatization means layoffs, weakened unions, lower wages, fewer benefits and less accountability. It means shrinking a workforce that has long been a bedrock of Black economic stability. We've walked down this road before. When public institutions are hollowed out, Black workers go first and suffer longest. When jobs disappear "through attrition," families lose mortgages, health care and retirement security — slowly, invisibly and without headlines. The same communities losing counted ballots are losing good jobs. It's not coincidence, it's design. Weakening the Postal Service does

and again — back to affordability. Our mantra should be: Democrats are for lowering costs, raising wages, affordable housing and protecting consumers from corporate price-gouging, while Trump is for higher prices and endless wars. Voters don't want theatrics. They want relief. If Democrats stay centered on the everyday economic pressures families feel in their bank accounts and monthly bills, they deny Trump the distraction he's seeking and speak directly to what matters

most. They put themselves in a position to actually regain some power in Washington and rein in Trump's power grabs. Democrats can't afford to chase Trump's latest distraction in Venezuela. We should double down on the affordability fight that actually improves people's lives here at home. Above all, Democrats must remember the great lesson from famed strategist James Carville — "it's the economy, stupid." WI

ship, Black voter registration in Florida surged despite poll taxes, intimidation and violence. He fought for equal pay for Black teachers and worked closely with labor and progressive allies, believing racial justice and economic justice could not be separated. Harriette Moore was not simply his wife. She was an organizer, educator and strategist who sustained the work under constant threat. Despite Harry Moore's effectiveness, he was never elevated into the national leadership of the NAACP. The historical record offers no single explanation. What it does show is that his work — rooted in voter power, labor solidarity and interracial organizing — placed him at extraordinary risk in the Jim Crow South. On Christmas night in 1951, a bomb exploded beneath their home in Mims, Florida. Both Harry and Harriette Moore would die from their injuries. Their crime was not extremism. It was effectiveness. Malcolm X's life followed a similar arc. After returning from Mecca in

1964, he spoke and wrote about encountering a brotherhood that crossed racial lines. His politics remained complex and uncompromising, but the direction was unmistakable: away from race as destiny and toward coalition as possibility. Within a year, he was assassinated. Dr. King came to the same conclusion. His final campaigns were not a departure from civil rights work. They were its fulfillment. He understood that rights without economic security are fragile — and that democracy without solidarity is easily divided against itself. That truth matters now. Today, millions of Americans are hurting in concrete ways. Just look at the news. Families lose health care when a job disappears. Parents skip meals so their children can eat. Seniors choose between prescriptions and groceries. Workers live one illness or one missed paycheck away from crisis. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

double duty: it narrows the electorate and destabilizes the Black middle class. One hand takes the ballot; the other takes the paycheck. And then we are told this is about efficiency. Let's be real. Private carriers do not deliver to every address. They do not maintain unprofitable routes. They do not guarantee equal access. And they certainly do not exist to protect voting rights. A privatized postal system would serve profit, not people — and profit has never been color-blind. This is why attacks on the post office should alarm anyone who cares about democracy or racial justice. The Postal Service sits at the crossroads of economic citizenship and political citizenship. Undermine it, and you undermine both. When Black parents once said, "you can always work at the post office," they were naming a rare promise

in an unequal economy: that there was still one place where the rules applied to us, too. If that institution is dismantled — if jobs are cut, unions weakened, mail slowed and ballots delayed — then that promise disappears. And so does a piece of democracy. That means a political movement that sabotages the mail to win elections is admitting it cannot win when everyone's vote — and everyone's labor — actually counts. Under the guise of efficiency, voter suppression is lurking in the background. Postal service hijinks are consistent with poll taxes, literacy tests and more. A country that cannot deliver mail fairly cannot deliver democracy. And a country willing to sacrifice Black workers and Black voters in the name of "reform" is telling us exactly who it values — and who it does not. WI

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This group Trump has brought together to destroy our will is not just hurting Black people. If you've been watching the response by Minnesotans to the injustices they are facing, I believe Minnesotans are ready to say with us, "Enough is Enough" and they don't plan to back down from the Trump/Vance/Rubio/Hegseth Mafia and other gangsters surrounding them. People all over the world saw how

MORIAL from Page 23 but by her own government. And not for breaking the law or even fully exercising her right to peacefully protest as protected by the First Amendment of our Constitution. But for simply being in the vicinity of one. In a time when efforts to ramp up immigrant enforcement are juxtaposed with a deepening erosion of privacy, we are entering uncharted waters. When immigration enforcement can track and target Americans without permission through cell towers and social media, we have entered a police state. A police state that can question you without cause, charge you with an increasingly broadening

OWOLEWA/BOGAN from Page 23

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becomes locked into single-use infrastructure that no one can live near. Industrial cooling systems run day and night. Stadium-level security lighting will flood residential and retail spaces. Diesel generators, chemical coolants and dense electrical compounds will be deployed in our air, soil and water. Wherever these massive industrial environments appear, so do rising respiratory illness, neurological stress and cancer rates and man-camp violence. Communities across the country are already reporting and organizing around these impacts. From Tennessee to Georgia to Arizona, residents are organizing against data center projects as electric bills climb and their neighborhoods are steadily remade into industrial sacrifice zones. The environmental footprint alone demands serious attention. A single large data center can consume as much electricity as tens of thousands of homes. Many use millions of gallons of water every year for cooling. As equipment becomes obsolete, enormous volumes of electronic waste follow that will compile annually. Servers and chips are replaced on rapid cycles, sending heavy metals and toxic components into global disposal streams

Ms. Good was murdered by ICE. It's time for more white people to speak up, too, because Trump doesn't even care about many of them. They must begin standing up for what is right for all of us. In addition to Americans, Trump is brutalizing people in other nations, and some of our leaders say nothing. Trump decided it was his job to kidnap the president of Venezuela, take their oil and threaten other nations for various unlawful reasons. He's now threatening the people

of Colombia regarding drugs when Trump recently pardoned one of their former presidents who allegedly was dealing in drugs. Well, he was just pardoned by Trump! I don't know for sure, but those with more knowledge on the matter than I have said something is not right about the way Trump has been sucking up to Russia's dictator while stringing along Ukraine's democratically elected president who gets little to no help! WI

definition of "domestic terrorism" under NSPM-7, and federal officers can take your life on camera simply because they want to. In African American communities, we are no strangers to surveillance and overpolicing. From the Jim Crow laws enacted during Reconstruction and the CIA-led tactics to suppress Civil Rights organizations in the 1960s to the countless deaths caused by officers and vigilantes who have been exonerated by simply stating they "feared for their lives," Black life in America is a cautionary tale for what is to come. It is also a blueprint for elected officials, community leaders and legal professionals to take a stand against the criminal activity of rogue officers

emboldened by corrupt leaders. As we mourn the death of Renee Good and hope for the speedy recovery of the two people shot just a day after her by ICE officers in Portland, Oregon, we denounce state-sanctioned violence in all forms. We stand by the First Amendment clauses that protect free speech and the right to protest peacefully. We stand by the Fourth Amendment's protection of American citizens from unreasonable search and seizure, where, as we saw in the disturbing videos in Minneapolis, far too often result in death and/ or serious injury. And we stand beside Americans fighting for justice against tyranny in all forms. WI

that disproportionately harm poor and nonwhite communities. When these facilities arrive, residents should expect rising utility infrastructure projects, grid strain, pressure on water systems and a landscape increasingly shaped around industrial needs rather than human ones. This pattern is familiar to Black and brown communities across the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area. Wealth is extracted and environmental risk is localized, but decision-making power often sits elsewhere. The same dynamics that shaped highway placement, stadium construction and industrial zoning are now driving digital infrastructure. Data centers become the newest form of environmental redlining. This doesn't mean technology itself is the enemy. Artificial intelligence and cloud computing hold real potential. The problem lies in how carelessly and inefficiently these systems are being deployed. Far more energy-efficient models already exist. Chinese researchers have built large language systems that operate with dramatically lower energy demands. Instead of requiring efficiency before expansion, corporate leaders are rushing to scale unfinished technologies and are forcing communities to absorb the environmental

cost. The result is a public subsidizing private experimentation. We have seen this story before. The United States once dismantled its rail systems under pressure from automobile interests, locking the country into car dependency. Today, more efficient transportation and energy systems are already operating in other parts of the world, while U.S. policy continues to protect entrenched corporate interests. As the climate crisis deepens globally, this model limits the options available to communities and forecloses more sustainable paths forward. Each time, communities pay the price for corporate convenience. D.C. still has time to choose differently. We can insist that technological development meet rigorous efficiency, water-use and environmental standards before it reshapes our neighborhoods. We can prioritize land for housing, neighborhood retail, health clinics, youth centers and cultural spaces. We can build mutual aid hubs, accessible transit nodes and community-owned infrastructure that strengthens daily life instead of isolating it. We can demand investment in people rather than permanent industrial footprints. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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