The Washington Informr - December 18, 2025

Serving Our Community in the DMV

Vol 61 No 10

December 18 - 24, 2025

With No Bipartisan Support, ACA Subsidies are Set to Expire Dec. 31

The Collins Council Report

The Council Ends 2025 with a Bang

‘One of the Biggest Moral Failings of this Nation’

By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor

McDuffie’s Final Words, Pinto’s Take on MPD Data Manipulation, and More

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer This edition of The Collins D.C. Council Report comes at the end of a tumultuous year during which the Trump administration and congressional Republicans, as the oldheads say, turned the District every which way but loose.

As revealed during the council’s Dec. 16 legislative meeting, there’s much more to come with historic mayoral, congressional and down-ballot races in 2026.

During their nearly two hour meeting, council members approved ceremonial resolutions in recog-

COUNCIL Page 15

Sports Page 36

5 At-large Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie is resigning from the legislative body, effective Jan. 5. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

The Republican-controlled Senate’s vote to block the extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) funds has set a ticking clock on a plan for health care that seems all but impossible, and morally detrimental, to the coalition of faith leaders condemning the act.

Following a Dec. 11 hearing, in which two separate bills to address the expiring COVID-era subsidies 5 The Rev. Melanie Mullen, downtown misfailed in the Senate, the Rev. Dr. sioner of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in William Barber envisioned a health Richmond, Virginia, advocates for congressional system of skyrocketing insurance integrity and health equity during a Nov. 24 premiums, hundreds of hospital Moral Mondays Prayer Protest, held in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Northeast, D.C.

ACA Page 20 (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

NAACP Hosts Summit to Combat Negative Impacts of Data Centers

Prince George’s Political Update

Del. Joselyn PeñaMelnyk is Maryland Speaker of the House in Barrier- Breaking Election

Leaders, Advocates Commit to Holding Tech Companies, Policymakers Accountable as Data Centers Expand

By Mya Trujillo WI Contributing Writer

The Delegate’s Historic Rise in Politics, Committee Vice Chairs Move Up

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter Following a brief contest for leadership of the Maryland General Assembly’s lower chamber, Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D- District 21) was unanimously elected speaker of Maryland’s House of Delegates during a special

ELECTION Page 12

5 In a barrier-breaking election, Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk is speaker of Maryland's House of Delegates. After garnering bipartisan support, she was elected during a special session on Dec. 16. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

5 Experts, activists and NAACP leaders are working toward minimizing the negative implications data centers have on the nation’s environment, economy and public health. (Courtesy Photo/Leon W Russell via Instagram)

As the construction of data centers expands— with more being built in Black, brown and low-income communities and harming the environments where they’re located— the NAACP hosted a summit from Dec. 12 to 13, with the goal of addressing growing environmental justice concerns and calling for greater transparency from policymakers and technology companies.

Under the theme “Stop Dirty Data,” the two-day conference fea-

Celebrating 61 years. Your credible and trusted source for Black news and information.

NAACP Page 21

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wi hot topics

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

Commanders End Eight-Game Skid With 29-21 Win Over Giants

After an eight-game losing streak that stretched more than two months, the Washington Commanders finally found relief Sunday, leaving MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with a 29-21 victory over longtime division rival New York Giants.

“It feels amazing to win a football game, especially against your division opponent,” said wide receiver Terry McLaurin. “I think that adds a little icing on the cake for that.”

The Commanders now advance to a 4-10 overall record, while the Giants drop to a 2-12 record on the season. The 29-point performance marked Washington’s highest output since Week Three versus the Raiders.

“Unbelievable, there’s nothing like a winning locker room,” said quarterback Marcus Mariota.

“All three phases found a way to make big plays toIn 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 P.K. Collins, Political/Education Reporter Brenda Siler, Lifestyle Reporter Ed Hill, Sports Reporter Richard Elliott, Reporter James Wright, Business 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 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

day and just a credit to those guys. Like we talked about all week, it’s never easy at this point in time, with what’s going on in our season. But those guys continued to fight, continued to battle, and I truly appreciate who this group is and we’ll just keep finding ways to get better.”

Washington entered the matchup with nothing at stake in the playoff picture. Both the Commanders and Giants had already been eliminated from playoff contention as draft positioning looms as the only tangible incentive.

However, Head Coach Dan Quinn stressed the importance of competing and finishing strong regardless of the season’s outcome, a mindset he has instilled since his arrival in Washington.

SPORTS Page 36

Carl Carlton, R&B Singer Behind “Everlasting Love,” Dies at 72 Carl Carlton, the Detroit-born singer whose voice powered enduring R&B classics including “Everlasting Love” (1970) and “She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked)” (1981) has died.

He was 72.

“I’m afraid people don’t realize the level of greatness we just lost in Carl Carlton,” social media user Jonathan, wrote on X, for5 People are remembering singer Carl Carlton, the Detroit-born artist merly known as Twitter.

“His self-titled album is less known for hits such as the 1981 song “She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s than an hour long and it’s probably better than whatBuilt, She’s Stacked),” who died at ever you’ve been listening the age of 72. (Courtesy Photo)

to. Give it a shot.”

Carlton’s death was confirmed by family members on Sunday. No cause of death was announced, though he had faced significant health challenges in recent years following a stroke he suffered in 2019.

Reports circulating online listed varying ages at the time of his death, but biographical records confirm Carlton was born on May 21, 1953.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Carlton began performing professionally as a child, recording under the name “Little Carl” Carlton by the age of 11. His early singles in the mid-1960s made him a recognizable figure on the Detroit music scene, with regional hits including 1965’s “So What” and “Don’t You Need a Boy Like Me.” His talent soon drew wider attention, leading to a deal with BackBeat Records in Houston, where he released “Competition Ain’t Nothing” in 1968, a song that found

CARLTON Page 5

National Leaders, Organizations Remember Rob Reiner and Wife Michele Singer Reiner Rob Reiner, the acclaimed filmmaker whose work reshaped American film and television across five decades, and his wife, producer, actor and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead Sunday at their home in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles. He was 78. She was 67.

Authorities said the 5 Rob Reiner (Courtesy photo) Los Angeles Police De-

partment is investigating the deaths as an apparent homicide.

Police said officers responded to a death investigation at the Reiners’ residence shortly before 3:40 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, after a family member discovered two people dead inside the home. LAPD officials said no suspects were being sought as of late Sunday and emphasized that the investigation remains in its early stages.

In a statement released through a family spokesperson, relatives confirmed the deaths and asked for privacy.

“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy

ROB REINER Page 13

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By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

AROUND THE REGION

Senators Warn Trump is Building a Federal Police Force in D.C.

The District is confronting a sweeping enlargement of federal policing authority as the Trump administration pushes forward with an aggressive expansion of the U.S. Park Police.

What had long been a force dedicated to the protection of monuments, parkland, and federal icons is being rebuilt into something far larger, and Democratic senators say the plan is neither subtle nor benign.

“The administration is on a deliberate hiring spree to exploit the U.S. Park Police’s jurisdiction and turn it into a tool of the president for him and his ideological extremists to impose their will on the streets of D.C.,” Sen. Jeff Merkley (D) of Oregon, along with Sens. Chris Van Hollen (DMd.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Ron

Wyden (D-Ore.), wrote in a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

Their warning followed revelations from internal records that reportedly outline a strategy to transform the Park Police from a specialized agency into a much larger force with expanded presence and purpose in the nation’s capital. The documents described a goal to “establish the U.S. Park Police as the premier law enforcement agency in D.C., capable of keeping D.C. safe regardless of inaction by [the Metropolitan Police Department] (MPD) or inaction by the D.C. City Council.”

The senators detailed far more than a staffing dispute. Their letter listed 21 separate inquiries, demanding explanations on revised hiring standards, the removal of physical and psychological testing, changes in pursuit policy, the authority under which a federal police force could expand its footprint

in local policing, and what oversight structures would govern a force that is about to double in size.

They asked whether Park Police officers would begin performing general law enforcement across Washington or remain restricted to National Park Service property.

The senators sought to understand what contracts were being issued, what funds were being used to fuel the surge, which standards had been eliminated, and whether the department intends to expand the force outside Washington in places like San Francisco and New York. The letter pressed for documentation of interagency agreements, use-of-force policies, disciplinary procedures, and the legal justification for creating what they describe as a second police force in the capital.

“There is no psychological testing or physical fitness testing,” the senators wrote. “In fact, applicants are allowed

to submit a ‘self-attestation’ in place of an in-person physical fitness test.”

Before Trump returned to power, the ACLU had warned that a second Trump presidency could lead to a dramatic expansion of federal law enforcement power nationwide. Their analysis predicted that the administration would pursue aggressive policing policies, encourage militarized enforcement, roll back oversight, and empower federal agencies to take on expanded roles in major cities. They warned that Trump would seek to strengthen federal policing units and align them more directly with presidential priorities, creating what the organization described as a potential “shorthand message promising repression of the Black community” through expanded federal policing authority.

The Park Police expansion matches those forecasts. It has been accompanied by a rollback of pursuit restrictions, closer structural alignment with the White House, and a hiring model that removes long-standing safeguards in favor of speed and volume.

ASALH

Interior officials have responded to criticism with combative language of their own.

“It is disgraceful, though not surprising, that the next evolution of the Defund the Police movement is coming from sitting Democrat Senators who are seeking to cut our U.S. Park Police force and risk rising crime in D.C.,” a department spokesperson said in a statement.

However, the senators insist the administration has failed to provide a foundation for its claims of necessity.

Their letter noted that there is no evidence of increased crime on National Park Service land and no documented threat to national monuments that would justify a hiring wave of this magnitude.

“There is no evidence of an uptick in crime on park service land or increased threats to national monuments,” the senators wrote. “This haste in both a hiring spree and waiving of critical testing and standards are clear signs that the administration is hijacking this federal police force for its own authoritarian purposes.” WI

THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE AND HISTORY ®

THE FOUNDERS OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 5 Democratic senators are warning about the Trump administration’s efforts to expand the U.S. Park Police’s jurisdiction in the nation’s capital. (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)

CARLTON from Page 4 unexpected success in the United Kingdom despite modest chart performance in the United States.

Carlton’s career reached a defining moment in 1974 with his recording of “Everlasting Love.” The song, a cover of Robert Knight’s original, became the version most closely associated with the title, climbing to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and establishing Carlton as a national star. Royalty disputes with record labels stalled his momentum in the years that followed, limiting his recording output during the mid-1970s.

He reemerged in 1981 with the album “Carl Carlton,” released on 20th Century Fox Records. The project went gold and produced his second signature hit, “She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked),” written

by Leon Haywood. The single rose to No. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart and earned Carlton a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male. The song later became a staple of hip-hop sampling and popular film soundtracks, extending Carlton’s influence well beyond its original era.

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Samuel L. Jackson (left)

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1865 – The 13th Amendment, which outlawed slavery in the U.S., is ratified.

1946 – Stephen Biko, anti-apartheid activist, is born in Ginsberg Township, South Africa.

1971 – Rev. Jesse Jackson announces the founding of Operation PUSH. 1996 – The Oakland Unified School District school board passes a resolution recognizing Ebonics — or African American Vernacular English — as an African language.

2002 – BET founder Robert Johnson is announced as owner of the NBA's Charlotte expansion franchise, making him the first African American majority owner in major professional sports.

Dec. 19

1875 – Historian, author and journalist Carter G. Woodson, known as the "father of black history," is born in Canton, Virginia.

1924 – Famed actress Cicely Tyson is born in New York City.

Dec. 20

1860 – South Carolina becomes the first slave state in the South to secede from the Union, setting in motion the events leading to the Civil War. 1956 – The Montgomery bus boycott, which began Dec. 5, 1955, ends after the Supreme Court declares the Alabama and Montgomery laws requiring segregated buses to be unconstitutional.

1988 – Max Robinson, the first African American broadcast network news anchor in the United States, dies in Washington, D.C., from complications of AIDS at 49.

Dec. 21

1911 – Negro league baseball legend Josh Gibson is born in Buena Vista, Georgia.

6 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

DEC. 18 - 24, 2025

SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

Jean-Michel Basquait (right)

1948 – Acclaimed actor Samuel L. Jackson is born in Washington, D.C. 1959 – Track legend and three-time Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner, considered the fastest woman of all time, is born in Los Angeles.

1976 – Patricia Roberts Harris is announced by President Jimmy Carter as his appointment for secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, becoming the first black woman to hold a Cabinet position.

Dec. 22

1883 – Arthur Wergs Mitchell, the first African American to be elected to the U.S. Congress as a Democrat, is born near Lafayette, Alabama.

1893 – African American writer and historian Chancellor Williams, author of 'The Destruction of Black Civilization," is born in Bennetsville, South Carolina.

1939 – Award-winning children's book illustrator Jerry Pinkney is born in Philadelphia.

1960 – Famed artist Jean-Michel Basquiat is born in New York City.

Dec. 23

1867 – African American entrepreneur, philanthropist and activist Madam C.J. Walker, considered the first black woman millionaire in America, is born in Delta, Louisiana.

1919 – Inventor Alice H. Parker patents the gas heating furnace.

1935 – R&B singer Esther Phillips is born in Galveston, Texas.

Dec. 24

1832 – The Georgia Infirmary, the first hospital established for Blacks in America, is chartered in Savannah.

1898 – Irwin C. Molllison, the first Black to receive a federal judgeship in the U.S., is born in Vicksburg, Miss.

1951 – North African country Libya declares its independence as the United Kingdom of Libya.

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Consumer Alert Issued for D.C. Residents Over Gift Card Scams

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Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb issued a consumer alert warning District residents about a growing wave of gift card scams targeting holiday shoppers, describing schemes that allow thieves to drain cards of their value without ever contacting the buyer or accessing personal information.

The alert outlines how so-called gift card “draining” scams work, what consumers should look for at stores, and how victims can report suspected fraud to District authorities.

“This holiday season, District residents should watch out for sophisticated gift card ‘draining’ scams that prey on shoppers who like to give gift cards as holiday presents,” Schwalb said. “Unlike traditional scams that focus on manipulating victims into revealing personal information, these scams involve draining the gift cards of the funds loaded on to them without the scammers even having to contact their victims.”

Schwalb urged anyone who believes they have been targeted to act quickly and notify authorities.

“Anyone who believes they have been scammed should immediately reach out to local law enforcement,” he said.

According to the Office of the Attorney General, gift card drain-

5 District residents should be careful after D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb issued a consumer alert warning Washingtonians about a growing wave of gift card scams targeting holiday shoppers. (WI File Photo)

ing scams often begin before a card is ever purchased. In some cases, thieves remove unpurchased cards from store racks, scratch off the protective covering on the back to expose the PIN, record the information, and then reseal the card. Once a consumer buys and activates the card, the scammer monitors the balance online and empties it within minutes.

Other schemes involve replacing a card’s barcode with one that has already been activated. When the unsuspecting customer loads money onto the card, the funds are diverted to the scammer’s account.

In still other cases, scammers scan card numbers while the cards remain on display and wait for them to be activated.

District officials warn that even cards that appear untouched may be compromised.

“Gift cards may seem like a safe and simple solution to gift giving, but scammers are finding new ways to drain their value before they’re even used,” said Karima Woods, commissioner of the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking. “We urge District residents to inspect cards carefully and report suspicious activity to DISB or the OAG.”

Consumer protection officials recommend buying gift cards only from retailers that keep them secured, such as behind the register or in locked displays. Some stores reduce risk by displaying cards without barcodes and adding them only at the point of sale.

Paying by credit card can also provide an added layer of protection, since card issuers may be able to investigate and reverse fraudulent charges. Residents are also encouraged to register gift cards with the retailer when possible, keep receipts, and check balances directly through the business’s official website or in person.

District residents who believe they have fallen victim to a gift card draining scam are advised to retain the card and any purchase receipts and report the incident to the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking at 202727-8000 and the Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Office at 202-442-9828 or through oag.dc.gov.

“Scammers are adapting quickly, and consumers must do the same by staying alert and taking precautions before purchasing gift cards,” Woods said.

WI

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Leniqua’dominique Jenkins: An At-large Candidate Who Aims to Fill a Void

By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

By the time that D.C. Councilmember Anita Bonds (D-At large) announced she wouldn’t seek re-election, her former staffer Leniqua’dominqiue Jenkins had already been in the throes of a campaign to succeed her former employer.

For Jenkins however, this campaign isn’t about making comparisons. As Jenkins explained to The Informer, she’s eager to expand the collective imagination of the D.C. Council about what’s possible for all District residents, especially those living on the margins.

“It's time for new choices, forward-thinking legislation,” Jenkins said. “It's time for creative ideas married with the ability to do it and the experience to do it.”

Jenkins, a former Ward 7 civic leader, teacher, children’s book author, entrepreneur and internationalist, launched her At-large D.C. Council campaign on Nov. 15 at Denny’s on Benning Road in Northeast. That afternoon, more than 60 supporters showed up at the very spot where Jenkins often tutors young people and hosts readings of her children’s book, “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall.”

During the latter part of Council Period 25, as Jenkins continued to promote her book as an engine of childhood literacy, she worked as a staffer in Bonds’ office. That’s when she authored ceremonial resolutions.

Those resolutions include the commemoration of the Mt. Zion-Female Union Band Society Cemetery, along with the recognition of D.C.-born actress-singer-dancer Chita Rivera, late drag performer Dustin Michael Schaad, the National Women Democratic Club, and D.C. Public Schools alumnus Bill Nye. After her transition from Bonds’ office, Jenkins continued in her advocacy around environmental sustainability, standing as a supporter of the “bottle bill” currently making its way through the council. She also maintained a presence as an East of the River Magazine columnist, through which she promoted D.C. historic and cultural landmarks, documented her grassroots organizing in Kenya,

5 Leniqua’dominique Jenkins launched her at-large D.C. Council bid on Nov. 15 with the goal of representing marginalized voices. (Courtesy Photo)

and recounted experiences she shared with neighbors working on their finances.

Jenkins said she wants to bring those experiences to the D.C. Council, telling The Informer that the legislative body, as it currently stands, doesn’t work on behalf of a population much like the woman she encountered at a financial literacy workshop she references in East of the River Magazine.

“People that work to pay bills every day are being squeezed and pushed out and they're tired of it,” Jenkins told The Informer. “They're tired of being overlooked. They're tired of being ignored. And they want to be represented and see themselves in the policies that are being created and directly impacting their lives.”

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A People-Centered Platform: A Deeper Look

If elected, Jenkins would continue a political journey that not only includes a stint in the John A. Wilson Building, but experience as an advisory neighborhood commissioner in Deanwood, and a staffer in former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson’s office.

Phillip E. Ford, a local personal trainer-coach, told The Informer that

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During the June 16 Democratic primary, District voters will participate in ranked-choice voting for the first time. Other candidates for the Atlarge D.C. Council seat include U.S. Rep. Oye Owolewa and Candace Tiana Nelson, former president of the Ward 4 Democrats.

There’s also speculation that Kevin Chavous, Bonds’ chief of staff and son of the former D.C. council member of the same name, will throw his hat in the ring. Regardless of the make-up of the field, Jenkins said that her message, more so than others, reverberates across the District.

“People could box me in as a Ward 7 candidate, but… I have a heart for every part of the city,” Jenkins told The Informer. “And my legislation reflects that. Just from doing work in every single part of the city, I've had an ear close to the ground about what's needed and what people want, and I think that's what folks are really resonating with.”

Ward 7 resident Graham McLaughlin echoed those sentiments, telling The Informer that D.C. Council need a bit more of a reminder about its constituency east of the Anacostia River. He noted that the other 12 members of the council could get that type of education with Jenkins as an at-large colleague. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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Jenkins has the track record necessary to ensure that the least of District residents get heard on the council.

“She’s been consistent with how she cares for the community,” Ford, a Ward 7 homeowner who lives in Ward 4, said about Jenkins.

As Ford recounted, he and Jenkins crossed paths nearly seven years ago in Deanwood. He said that, in their first encounter, Jenkins insisted that he, and everyone else who meets her, recognizes the entirety of her unique first name, not just the part they deem most convenient to pronounce.

Ford said Jenkins has exhibited a similar tenacity in her advocacy.

“If there was something wrong with the playground, she was posting [online] and trying to get that fixed or a stop sign,” Ford told The Informer.

“No matter how big or small, she was consistent about trying to make sure the neighborhood was getting what it needed.”

Jenkins also touts her political and nonprofit experience in Louisiana, and even as far as Kenya, Spain, and India, as foundational in her approach to local politics.

“My global experience is really robust,” Jenkins told The Informer. “I think that the District of Columbia is supposed to be just a mecca of thought leaders and innovation and creativity, and we see that falling short. We see a diluting of creativity, massaging of culture, a diluting of flavor and the things that make D.C. have its razzle dazzle.”

Jenkins said her platform centers on: literacy, environmentalism, mental health supports, community policing, safe, affordable housing, and caregiver support. When it comes to literacy, she expressed a desire to embolden teachers to take the reins on their students’ education.

“You see a lot of teaching to the standards in hopes of helping kids to pass the test— and that's not what's happening,” Jenkins told The Informer. “You can't just teach to a standard.

You have to be able to give teachers the autonomy to be able to respond to their students appropriately in the classroom. Making sure we're not just teaching to [the] curriculum, but making sure we're teaching to make sure we have thought leaders in our nation.”

One strategy in realizing that goal, Jenkins said, involves a pen-pal program where students living in one of the most political cities in the world,

AROUND THE REGION

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JENKINS from Page 9

connect with peers in other countries.

“It's something that I created with other states, with the school and the orphanage that I had in Africa,” Jenkins said. “You see an uptick in literacy, an uptick in academic performance.

You see an uptick in creativity and a place that has a large Black and brown community. You see a heightened level of awareness, self affirmation, which is needed.”

Despite recent gains in citywide reading scores, Jenkins said there’s more to be done, especially for young people living east of the Anacostia River.

“It speaks to the volume of attention that needs to be given to critical skills like reading and writing,” she told The Informer. “Because literacy isn't just a skill. It's a path to opportunity. It's a path to self-determination and it's a path to freedom.”

When it comes to public safety, Jenkins said she wants to expand youth programs, mental health resources and community-based violence prevention strategies. She also expressed a desire for increasing transparency and collaboration between local law enforcement and the community, while strengthening crisis and response models.

Jenkins’ vision for affordable housing includes investment in affordable housing development, tenant protections, and the expansion of homelessness prevention resources. As a caregiver to her mother and niece, Jenkins said she wants to partner with D.C. Office on Aging and Community Living to increase respite care funding, allow workplace flexibility for caregivers working in D.C. government, and expand senior aging-in-place programs.

On the federal level, Jenkins said she will advocate for the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, a law supporting social and nutrition services for elders 60 years and older.

She called this part, and other parts, of her platform an effort to fully ensure that the government recognizes the struggles of all D.C. residents.

“If you look at the makeup of the council outside of our ward representative, who lives east of the river?” she said. “The legislation doesn't reflect [a viewpoint] that's compassionate and thoughtful and people centered. Unfortunately, that's the theme when it comes to poverty and oppression: the voice of people that are being impacted is not present.”

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PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY ELECTION from Page 1 session on Dec. 16.

Maryland’s first Afro-Latina speaker of the House, Peña-Melnyk has been a key voice in Annapolis on progressive issues and a mentor for other legislators. She plans to build upon the legislative efforts that former Speaker Adrienne Jones, a District 10 delegate, worked towards.

“It's a profound responsibility to honor speaker Jones’ legacy and to continue to move Maryland forward,” Peña-Melnyk told The Informer. “I want to lead with respect, dignity and inclusion.”

She will be replacing Jones, the first African-American and first woman to serve as speaker of Maryland’s House of Delegates.

During Jones’ five sessions as presiding officer, a lengthy list of progressive achievements became state law, including: policing reform, cannabis legalization, enshrining reproductive rights into the state constitution, and securing hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding for Maryland’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Peña-Melnyk, born in the Dominican Republic, will only be the second Latina presiding officer in American history.

She moved to New York City when she was six, graduated from Buffalo State College, and received her law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She served as a defense attorney in both Philadelphia and the Washington metropolitan area, and as a federal prosecutor from 1996 to 1999.

Peña-Melnyk was first elected to the College Park city council in 2003 and then the House of Delegates in 2006. Her legislative career has garnered countless awards including the Maryland Association of Counties’ (MACo) 2023 Legislator of the Year and several certificates of appreciation from the Maryland Municipal League (MML).

She has been a major driver of health policy in Annapolis, including legislation to cap prescription costs, requiring implicit bias training for health professionals, and to address health disparities.

The District 21 delegate has also been outspoken in support of protecting immigrants from the Trump administration’s escalated enforcement tactics, including advocating to free Kilmar AbregoGarcía from his illegal deportation.

Rep. Glenn Ivey (D- Md.) is excited to partner with the incoming speaker.

“We look forward to working with State Delegate Pena-Melnyk in her new role,” he told The Informer. “I know she will work hard for Prince George’s and the entire state.”

Del. Ben Barnes (D- District 21), originally one of the several candidates for speaker, withdrew and endorsed his longtime colleague for the role, citing her strong determination as a legislator.

“She has the grit that it takes. She has the intelligence that it takes. She has the experience that it takes. She has the empathy that it takes,” he said in an interview with The Baltimore Banner. “That combination of skills is rare and will just make her a tremendous speaker.”

During the contentious debate to replace former Speaker Mike Busch in 2019, Peña-Melnyk was deemed a compromise candidate.

She declined the opportunity, and endorsed Jones.

“We needed to come together and be strong,” Peña-Melnyk said shortly after Jones was first elected as speaker. “Because Speaker Busch would have wanted that.”

The Dec. 16 election coincided with a special session called by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and legislators used the opportunity to override several vetoes, including a bill authorizing a 24-member volunteer commission to study reparations for the descendants of the

12 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

3 Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D- District 21) is the newest speaker of Maryland’s House of Delegates. (WI File Photo/Anthony Tilghman)

formerly enslaved and a bill to study the impact of data centers.

“I really don’t have enough words to express how I feel about my colleagues trusting me with this enormous responsibility to lead,” said Peña-Melnyk to gathered reporters as she emerged from the Democratic caucus meeting. “I’m an inclusive leader, and I’m going to lead with my colleagues. This House belongs to all of us.”

Peña-Melnyk Garners Diverse and Bipartisan Supporters

Marylanders spanning the ideological divide— from progressive Del. Gabriel Acevero (D- District 39), who dubbed the speaker-elect “La Madrina,” to conservative Del. Kathy Szeliga (R- District 7A)— have praised the speaker-elect’s knowledge, integrity, and respect for her colleagues regardless of their political affiliation.

“She's very honest and really is perhaps the hardest-working delegate in Annapolis,” said Szeliga in an interview with WBFF Fox45 Baltimore.

“While we may not agree on some issues, she always wants to make sure that all opinions are brought to the table.”

Jill P. Carter, a former senator who served alongside Peña-Melnyk in the House of Delegates, holds strong optimism for the speaker-elect.

“I’ve known Joseline Peña-Melnyk since our early days serving together, and even then her work ethic, her integrity, and her fierce, people-centered advocacy were undeniable,” Carter told The Informer. “To watch her evolve into the principled, unshakable leader she’s become has been one of

the true privileges of my public life.”

Carter strongly believes that the new speaker will be a transformative leader.

“Under her leadership, the Maryland House of Delegates will be a House of Integrity where hard work, honesty, and service to everyday Marylanders are the guiding lights,” she continued. “The beneficiaries will be the members, yes—but even more so, the people of Maryland.”

Brentwood Mayor Rocio Treminio-Lopez, the first Latina mayor ever elected in Maryland’s history, lauds Peña-Melnyk’s expertise as a legislator and the historic nature of her ascension.

“For many years, Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk has demonstrated a deep understanding of the needs of working families, immigrants, and underserved communities in Maryland. Her leadership has always centered on access, inclusion, and equity,” Treminio-Lopez told The Informer.

“Being considered for speaker of the House reflects not only her qualifications, but also the progress our state continues to make toward fair representation for all communities.”

Lobbyist Darrell Carrington called the speaker-elect “one of the smartest and most principled public servants” he has ever partnered with in Annapolis.

"Joseline Peña-Melnyk has been the moral compass of the House for years, and now she will be its North Star. Maryland could not ask for a steadier or kinder hand to guide the chamber. There is not a major piece of progressive legislation in modern Maryland history that does not have her fingerprints on it. She has been the driving force behind so much of

the good done for working families, vulnerable communities, and people who needed government to show up for them,” he said. "Anyone who has ever testified before her committee knows what real leadership looks like.

She listens, she respects every voice in the room, and she never forgets the people she serves."

Multiple Committee Vice Chairs Move Up

With Peña-Melnyk’s presumed ascension, it is likely that Del. Bonnie Cullison (D- District 19) will serve as chair of the Health and Government Operations (HGO) committee that Peña-Melnyk has helmed since 2022.

Del. Vanessa Atterbeary (D- District 13), who chairs the House’s ways and means committee, has announced she is resigning from the General Assembly, effective Jan. 14.

“My county executive race requires that of me now,” Atterbeary said in a press release on Dec. 11. “With a heavy heart and tremendous pride, I will be resigning from the Maryland General Assembly effective January 14, 2026 to focus on my race for Howard County executive.”

It is likely that Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D- District 20) will serve as the chair of that committee in the upcoming session.

Numerous legislators have posted their optimism and positive feelings towards the speaker, and Lt. Governor Aruna Miller (D), the second woman and first Asian-American to serve in her role, is one of the many Maryland leaders looking forward to the new speaker.

WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Business Briefs

Venture X to Launch College Park Office in January

By Richard Elliott WI Contributing Reporter Venture X, a shared workspace and flexible office community, is opening a new space in College Park’s Discovery District this January to provide additional working opportunities for local businesses and workers.

The location will feature two conference rooms, one training room, a cafe, free parking, electric vehicle charging stations, and close proximity to food trucks and abundant dining options.

Moniesha Jackson Shorter, who also serves on the University of Maryland Alumni Association Board of Governors, will operate the space.

“Opening these doors is about more than providing desks and meeting rooms. It’s our way of

ROB REINER from Page 4 during this unbelievably difficult time,” the spokesperson said.

Reiner was one of the most influential directors of his generation, with a body of work that ranged from satire to courtroom drama to romantic comedy. His films included “This Is Spinal Tap” (1984), “Stand by Me” (1986), “The Princess Bride” (1987), “When Harry Met Sally” (1989), “Misery” (1990) and “A Few Good Men” (1992).

He was also widely known for his earlier acting role as Mike Stivic on the groundbreaking television series “All in the Family,” which earned him two Emmy Awards.

Born March 6, 1947, in the Bronx, Reiner was the son of legendary comedian and writer Carl Reiner and actress Estelle Reiner.

He studied film at UCLA and later founded Castle Rock Entertainment, which became one of Hollywood’s most successful production companies.

Singer Reiner built her own career in Hollywood as a producer, photographer, and occasional actor. She collaborated closely with her husband on several projects, including “Misery,” “Shock and Awe” (2017), and “Spinal Tap

stepping into the future of coworking while doubling down on a larger purpose: helping entrepreneurs take what they’ve imagined and build something real and lasting,” Shorter told The Informer.

“Venture X College Park is meant for people with talent and hustle who are in need of support to scale their businesses, access to the right circles, and workspace they can actually afford. Those gaps can decide whether a business survives, especially for minority business owners.”

Tonya Sweat, a lawyer who lives in Accokeek, welcomes the option of new remote work spaces in Prince George’s.

“This is a great opportunity for remote workers and entrepreneurs.

Venture X has a concept that is appreciated by 21st century workers and businesses,” she told The In-

former. “While I am glad Venture X is coming to Prince George’s County, I just wish it would add a location in another area of the county as well.”

Shorter, who had decades of experience in technology sales before her start with Venture X, is excited to offer a critical support system to develop minority-owned businesses.

“My goal with Venture X College Park is to create the kind of support system I wish existed when I first became an entrepreneur,” she said. “We’re here for professionals who are talented and driven but often face barriers like limited access to mentorship, networks and affordable infrastructure, all key factors that improve survivability for minority-owned businesses.” WI

II: The End Continues,” which was released earlier this year. She was also nominated for an Emmy Award for producing the documentary “Albert Brooks: Defending My Life” (2023).

The couple met while working on “When Harry Met Sally” and married in 1989. They were prominent advocates for marriage equality, early childhood development, and civil rights causes, including co-founding the American Foundation for Equal Rights.

Tributes poured in from across politics, entertainment, and labor organizations.

The Screen Actors Guild said Reiner was “one of the most significant figures in the history of film and television,” while California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the deaths “a tragic loss for California and for American culture.”

Former President Barack Obama said Reiner’s work reflected “a deep belief in the goodness of people and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action.”

Reiner is survived by his children Tracy, Jake, Nick, and Romy.

He and Michele Singer Reiner shared three children together. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

5 Moniesha Jackson Shorter is looking forward to operating the new Venture X lounge in College Park. She believes that the co-working space offers a unique opportunity for minority-owned businesses. (Courtesy Photo/Moniesha Shorter)

December 2025 Message from President & CEO

By Alexander K. Austin, President & CEO, Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce This season is a powerful reminder that giving is more than an act—it’s an intention. As entrepreneurs, we pour so much into our work, yet the true strength of our journey comes from how we give back: to our communities, to our ecosystem, and to ourselves.

Investing in our communities fuels the very environment that supports our growth. Sharing with our ecosystem—our partners, peers, and collaborators—builds resilience and collective progress. But perhaps most importantly, giving ourselves grace is essential as we navigate an increasingly complex and unpredictable business climate.

Grace allows us to regroup. Intention keeps us aligned.

Generosity keeps us connected.

As we move forward, may we choose to lead with purpose, to give with meaning, and to honor the humanity in our entrepreneurial journey. When we give intentionally, we don’t just help others—we strengthen our foundation to rise, rebuild, and thrive.

Not a member of our chamber? Please visit our website, www.pgcoc.org to get started! Membership is good for a full calendar year, so it’s always a good time to join*

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025 13

BUSINESS D.C. Chamber Signals Stronger, More Unified Push for Local Business Growth in 2026

By D.R. Barnes WI Publisher The District’s economic growth in 2026 will depend on a bolder, stronger, and more unified commitment to championing local businesses— a message echoed by political, administration, and business leaders at the DC Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting and chairman’s inaugural breakfast, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest on Dec. 11.

DC Chamber President Chinyere Hubbard, who is 10 months into her leadership role at the city’s preeminent business organization, proudly shared how the chamber has grown and the significant impact the organization is having on public policy and local business development.

“While we have certainly navigated headwinds, we have found opportunities for growth and impact together,” Hubbard said.

“We have transformed the DC Chamber into a bolder, stronger, more unified champion for business. And the proof is everywhere.

We've recruited a record 176 new members, an unprecedented increase in Chamber of Commerce's renewed membership.”

More than 200 small and large business owners attended and joined in celebrating the Chamber’s growth and impact over the past year, and they focused on the organization’s plans to increase from 50 to 100 events in 2026 including in-person and virtual events and town halls, according to Chamber Chair Earle “Chico” Horton, III. The featured speaker at the Thursday morning event was Mar-

la Blow, president and CEO of the Skoll Foundation.

Founded in 1999 by its namesake Jeff Skoll, the foundation’s mission is to “build a sustainable world of peace and prosperity for all” according to its website, “by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators who together advance bold and equitable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.”

Hubbard and other leaders celebrated Skoll’s recent move of its headquarters from California to D.C., and welcomed Blow to the business community.

Other speakers included D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, At-Large Councilmember Kenyon McDuffie, chair of the Committee

5 DC Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and leadership pose for an official photo at the Annual Meeting and Chairman’s Inaugural Breakfast at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest on Dec. 11. (Courtesy Photo/ Ron Thomas Images)

on Business and Economic Development; Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto, and Nina Albert, deputy mayor for Planning and Economic Development.

McDuffie emphasized the importance of public safety and economic growth. He urged local leadership to “clearly identify the sectors where we are poised to lead, whether it's revitalizing downtown, strengthening our sports economy, advancing hospitality and tourism, or building new neighborhood-based economic hubs like the St Elizabeth's campus.

“We must continue to make

smart, targeted investments that support business retention and business growth,” Mc Duffie said.

Pinto also acknowledged how inspiring the business community is “especially in moments of fear, which a lot of us have right now, appropriately, given the overreach that we're seeing from the federal government.

“The best way we can fight back is by action,” Pinto said, “and you all are the cinder block of that action every single day. So thank you for all you do.”

She highlighted her introduction of Prosper DC, a 25-bill package that focuses on expanding economic opportunities for residents, positive youth development mechanisms to support and attract new business and new industries and efforts for affordable, accessible and healthy communities.

“Just like in public safety,” Pinto said, “it's not going to be one intervention that turns everything around. It's going to be a lot of intervention and a lot of action to help make the impacts I know we all want to see in D.C.”

Chamber Celebrates Mayor Bowser, Local Leaders

5 DC Chamber President and CEO Chinyere Hubbard delivers remarks at the Annual Meeting and Chairman’s Inaugural Breakfast held recently at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest. (Courtesy Photo/ Ron Thomas Images)

14 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

With an intense local political season on the horizon in 2026, speakers also took time to praise D.C. Mayor Murial Bowser, who announced she will not run for a fourth term.

“I just want to take a moment

to commend Mayor Bowser’s phenomenal leadership, calm and grace under fire, and decisive guidance at every turn,” Hubbard said. “She has been the District's strongest champion for D.C.based businesses, economic, demographic, and cultural equity.

We are a better city because of her leadership.”

At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds, who was also present among the past and present local elected officials, was lauded for her service. Bond announced she will not run for reelection, for which Pinto said, “I think she [Bond] really embodies the reality that this work is not a job, it is a calling, it is a purpose, and it really is a way of life. Thank you so much for all you have given to me, and to the District of Columbia.”

Hubbard expressed the commitment to local small businesses and urged the business community to hold the DC Chamber accountable.

“We are going to build deeper partnerships. We're going to amplify our goals at every level of government. We are going to champion businesses of all sizes with greater intensity. We are going to lead with vision, fearlessly, in shaping the economic future of the city” Hubbard promised.

“D.C. is a world class city, and the DC Chamber will continue to be a world-class champion for businesses, driving opportunity and ensuring our city flourishes for generations to come.” WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

COUNCIL from Page 1 nition of the Coolidge Colts’ 2025 Turkey Bowl victory, Riggs Park centenarian Fannie Robinson, and the late educator-church leader known as Joan A.T. Kelley. The council also tackled several serious matters, including: the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, rankedchoice voting, and Ward 8 recreation centers.

This report includes information about those issues. Other elements of this write-up include D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto’s (D-Ward 2) take on the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) alleged crime statistic manipulation, and D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie’s exit from council chambers.

D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie Exits the Council as a Champion for the Black Male D.C. Native

Shortly before the start of the council's final legislative meeting of 2025, D.C. Councilmember Kenyan Mc-

Duffie (I-At large) announced his resignation, effective Jan. 5, 2026. Later, in his last ever remarks on the dais, McDuffie reflected on his more-than13-year journey.

“If there's one thing I've tried to model during my time on this council is this: We owe residents seriousness,” McDuffie said. “We owe them preparation. We owe them honesty in what [the] government can do, and we owe them the urgency to do it better.”

Not long after, McDuffie made what some would consider a confirmation of his ambitions for higher office.

“While this is my last legislative meeting, I am not done serving the residents of the District of Columbia,” McDuffie said. “I love this city. I believe in this city, and I believe that our best days are still ahead. If we're willing to do the hard work, if we're willing to tell the truth, and if we're willing to bring people together around a shared commitment for our city's progress.”

McDuffie, a former council and mayoral staffer and civic association leader, acquired his bachelor’s degree and juris doctorate after a stint as a

BUSINESS

“While this is my last legislative meeting, I am not done serving the residents of the District of Columbia.”

Kenyan McDuffie D.C. Councilmember U.S. postal worker. He came onto the council in 2012 as a Democratic Ward 5 representative, replacing Harry Thomas, Jr. in a special election in the aftermath of his resignation and federal prison conviction.

Throughout much of his tenure on the council, McDuffie garnered a reputation as a champion for economic development, racial equity, and violence interruption. In 2022, after an unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the D.C. attorney general election, McDuffie changed his party affiliation to Independent and defeated then-D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silverman in a race that brought to light questions about race and class.

During Council Period 25 and this portion of 26, McDuffie continued to weigh in on matters involving public safety, economic development, and more recently, the District’s designation as a sports capital.

In the weeks leading up to his announcement, rumors circulated about McDuffie’s jump into the 2026 D.C. mayoral race. That race currently includes his council colleague Janeese Lewis George, and a hodge-podge of other candidates. While he has yet to officially announce his mayoral run, McDuffie took his time on the dais to address the yet-to-be-done work in making the District that, long before the second Trump administration,

faced a unique set of challenges.

“Residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. The federal administration and Congress have together posed the greatest threat to our autonomy since the establishment of home rule 50 years ago,” McDuffie said. “Families are worried about their safety, not just from criminals, but from the deployment of federal…officers and militaries from other states. Small and local businesses are navigating uncertainty and we're competing for investments in our city's growth against other jurisdictions in the most challenging of economic times.”

All 12 of McDuffie’s colleagues sang his praises on Dec. 16 as they recounted his penchant for mentoring freshman council members, bringing levity to the dais, and acknowledging other council members’ staffers. As Ward 5 resident Silas Grant pointed out, a common thread in all the accolades was McDuffie’s passion for uplifting Black male native Washingtonians.

“As we look back at his broader legacy, I think it's just always reminding

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DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025 15

NATIONAL

3 President Donald Trump has named and shamed Black women for mortgage fraud, such as New York Attorney General Letitia James. However, a new report reveals Trump signed two Florida loans in the 1990s pledging each property would be his principal residence, even though his real estate agent said both homes were always intended to be rentals.

(Courtesy Photo)

Trump Targets Black Women While His Own Mortgages Raise Questions

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Black women were the first to be named and shamed by President Donald Trump’s allegations of mortgage fraud.

New York Attorney General Letitia James was accused of crimes a federal grand jury refused to accept, and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook was pushed into a criminal investigation that her attorneys called politically driven and unsupported by evidence.

James has been one of Trump’s most prominent critics. A judge dismissed an earlier indictment after ruling that the federal prosecutor involved had been unlawfully appointed, and a grand jury then declined to

revive the case.

The attorney general called the allegations “baseless” and said she wanted “the unchecked weaponisation of our justice system to stop.”

Her lawyer Abbe Lowell said any continued effort to prosecute her would be “a shocking assault on the rule of law and a devastating blow to the integrity of our justice system.”

Cook has faced similar treatment.

The Justice Department began examining her mortgages after a referral that her attorneys described as rooted in a “fundamental misconception and purposeful omission.”

They told Attorney General Pam Bondi in writing that the claims were “baseless” and that the inquiry represented a partisan attempt to damage a

Federal Reserve governor the administration wanted removed. They said the investigation appeared to come from a “partisan use of the criminal referral process” and from a coordinated effort to target the president’s perceived opponents.

While Black women in public office were being accused of fraud, ProPublica’s reporting revealed that Trump and several members of his Cabinet engaged in the same conduct and in some cases behavior that exceeded what the administration called fraudulent.

Mortgage records show Trump signed two Florida loans in the 1990s in which he pledged that each property would be his principal residence, even though his real estate agent said both homes were always intended to be rentals.

The agent’s wife and

business partner said:“They were rentals from the beginning,” adding “President Trump never lived there.”

Advertisements from the period offered each house for rent, confirming their use as investment properties even as Trump certified them as his primary homes.

Mortgage law expert Kathleen Engel reviewed the documents and responded to ProPublica’s findings.

“Given Trump’s position on situations like this,” she said, “he is going to either need to fire himself or refer himself to the Department of Justice.”

The accusations against James rested on claims that she obtained a second-home mortgage in Virginia and used the property as an investment.

Federal prosecutors have tried twice to bring a case against her and failed both times. She has denied the allegations, and the courts have blocked further action, though prosecutors

have pushed for another attempt despite the grand jury’s refusal.

Cook’s situation mirrors Trump’s Florida conduct even more directly.

Pulte, the administration official who initiated the referrals, pointed out that Cook signed two primary-residence mortgages within weeks. Those are the same circumstances documented in Trump’s 1990s filings, which show he certified two adjacent Florida houses as his principal residence while using them strictly as rentals.

Cook has denied wrongdoing and continues to fight Trump’s attempt to remove her from the Federal Reserve Board.

Engel said the reporting raised a basic question of consistency.

“Trump has deemed that this type of misrepresentation is sufficient to preclude someone from serving the country,” she said.

WI

Barbara Rose Johns Statue Unveiled at U.S. Capitol Emancipation Hall A statue honoring the 16-year-old Barbara Rose Johns, who organized a walkout of her “inadequate and overcrowded” Farmville, Virginia high school in 1951, was unveiled in the U.S. Capitol Emancipation Hall on Dec. 16. The statue replaces that of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in the Crypt under the Capitol Rotunda. The resulting case led by Johns’ legal team was one of 12 discrimination lawsuits included in the landmark 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which ended school segregation in the U.S. (D.R. Barnes/The Washington Informer)

16 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

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Congress Moves to Extend AGOA Through 2028, African Leaders Celebrate House Vote

By D.R. Barnes WI Publisher

Members of the African diplomatic community and advocates for Africa met on Capitol Hill last week to celebrate the House Ways and Means Committee’s vote on Dec. 10 to retroactively extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through December 2028.

Signed into law in 2000 under the Clinton administration, AGOA defines the economic relationship between Sub-Saharan African nations and the United States, providing duty-free access to the U.S. market for more than 6,500 eligible products. Renewed in 2015, AGOA expired on September 30, 2015.

Members of the AGOA Alliance, who met at the Capitol Visitor’s Center on Dec. 11, included Kenya Ambassador David Kerich, co-chair of the African Union Sub-Committee on AGOA. Kerich told the gathering of ambassadors, members of the Congressional Black Caucus and business leaders that, “This time last month, we almost lost hope.”

“Everybody I met in town was saying, ‘forget about AGOA. In fact, you should think about something else,’” he continued. “And I was personally very discouraged, because in Kenya, we really have benefited from AGOA.” Madagascar's Ambassador to the U.S. H.E. Lantosoa Rakotomala-

la, co-chair of the African Union Sub-Committee on AGOA, called the gathering a “celebration.”

“The world is celebrating today the step yesterday made with [the] House Ways and Means Committee,” she said. “We are looking forward to the next step to the finish line.”

Speaking on behalf of one of the top three countries exporting to the U.S., Rakotomalala added, “We know that the benefit [of AGOA] is mutual for Africa and for America.”

Advocates acknowledge there is no guarantee that AGOA will be extended, and the future of duty-free access to the U.S. is not guaranteed.

The full House and the Senate must approve the extension. Then it must be signed into law by President Donald Trump, who has frequently made disparaging remarks and issued policies that negatively impact African countries.

Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.)

Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, said in his opening statement at the Dec. 10 hearing, that “AGOA has been the cornerstone of America’s partnership with Africa for nearly 25 years.

“At a moment when the White House is actively undermining that relationship, while fueling chaos across the continent, leveling [In-

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5 Kenya Ambassador David Kerich and Madagascar Ambassador H.E. Lantosoa Rakotomalal, at a Dec. 11 event celebrating the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act through December 2028, strengthening U.S.–Africa trade and economic ties. (D.R. Barnes/The Washington Informer)

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AGOA from Page 16 ternational Emergency Economic Powers Act] (IEEPA) tariffs on the world’s poorest countries, and trafficking in dangerous rhetoric that demeans African people, it is more important than ever that Congress show we remain committed to our allies,” Neal added.

Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.), acknowledged in his opening statement that “AGOA is a key part of how America protects our [U.S.] interest in a region important to our future.”

“Not only does the program strengthen relationships with key economic partners, it also opens the door to more customers for American farmers and producers in some of the world’s fastest-growing economies,” Smith continued. “As China continues to grow its presence around the globe, America must provide an alternative path to nations looking to tie their economic prosperity to the United States and not our adversaries.”

Kenya and Madagascar are among the top exporting African countries benefiting from AGOA. Others include South Africa, Nigeria, Lesotho, Ghana, Mauritius, Angola, and Cote d’Ivoire.

Up to 32 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have been eligible to participate in AGOA, but over time, some were excluded due to stringent and unmet requirements addressing the rule of law or human rights standards.

African countries export a wide range of African-produced products to the U.S., including crude oil, textiles, agricultural products, cut flowers, nuts, chocolate, and apparel, to name a few.

Fred Oladeinde, president, Africa Trade Development Center, thanked members of the Ways and Means Committee, as well as Adrian Smith (R-NJ), chair of the Africa Subcommittee, for their leadership in advancing the AGOA extension through December 2028, which he called “a first step in the right direction.”

“Civil society organizations have consistently advocated for its renewal, because we see firsthand how it supports economic growth, job creation and democratic development across the continent,” he said. “By extending AGOA through 2028, Congress has sent a strong

signal of confidence in Africa's potential and in the enduring partnership between the American and the African people.”

Encouraging Next Steps, Offering Calls to Action

Last week’s event celebrated the extension of AGOA, honored those who helped get the legislation from an idea to an essential program, and offered a call to action for the future.

The celebration also highlighted Rosa Whitaker Duncan-Williams, former trade negotiator, who helped write AGOA while serving as the first assistant U.S. trade representative for Africa under the Clinton administration.

Founder of The Whitaker Group— based in Northern Virginia and Accra, Ghana— Duncan-Williams continues to advocate for Africa and was responsible for organizing the gathering held on Capitol Hill. She said she was genuinely optimistic that the AGOA extension would happen.

Despite the extension, Kendra Gaither, president of the U.S.-Africa Business Center at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, emphasized: “We know that the fight is not over.”

“So our call to action is to continue to be vocal about the priority that we place on the reauthorization of AGOA and the initiative that we have through the AGOA Extension Act,” Gaither said.

She also encouraged guests to further their support for a country on the Island of Hispaniola– particularly considering the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement/Haiti Economic Lift Program (HOPE/ HELP) Act. “I would be remiss, as we have also supported the extension of the HOPE/HELP Act,” she continued, “if I didn't also encourage you to include advocacy for Haiti in your ongoing conversations with Congress.”

Introduced by Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC), the bipartisan legislation extends the HOPE/ HELP Act to trade programs with Haiti for 10 years, bolsters the U.S. nearshore supply chains, and improves stability in the Caribbean.

As president of the U.S.-Africa Business Center, Gaither empha-

5 Fred O. Oladeinde, president, Africa Trade Development Center at an event on Capitol Hill Dec. 11, celebrating the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Oladeinde says the extension is a step in the right direction.

(D.R. Barnes/The Washington Informer)

sized her commitment to the work happening across the African continent.

“In the strategic effort that we have made together in partnership, we’ll continue to ensure that AGOA and relations between Africa and the United States remain a bipartisan priority, and that there is bicameral support for this,” she said.

Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.) delivered fiery remarks to alliance members, stressing his belief that “Africa's greatest wealth is not beneath its soil.”

“It's above its soil. It's in the people that have to be continually invested in,” he continued. “America must learn to respect Africa not as a region of problems to be solved, but as a chorus of sovereign nations with voices and culture and visions and victories of their own. If America wishes to lead in the century ahead of us, it must walk alongside Africa, not in front of her, not behind her, but alongside of her.”

Jackson ended with a charge for all.

“As we march towards 2050,” he concluded, “we have to ask and demand a renewed respect and focus for the continent of Africa.” WI

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DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025 19

HEALTH ACA from Page 1

closures, and millions of Americans to forgo access to health care in 2026.

“People will literally die,” Barber, president and senior lecturer of Repairers of the Breach, told The Informer. “This is not just people losing their subsidies. And to end [ACA funds] so they can give tax cuts to the greedy… when in fact we should be talking about universal health care, is one of the great moral failings of this nation.”

With Congress set to depart for holiday break this week, the partisan stalemate on health care affordability seems to reflect Oct. 1, when the issue of enhanced tax credit served as the crux of a 43-day federal government shutdown— the longest in history.

House Republicans, including

Speaker Mike Johnson, shelved amendments to extend expiring health subsidies in a heated House Rules Committee meeting on Tuesday. The move was one of several lastditch bipartisan efforts to prevent the likelihood of premium costs skyrocketing and millions of Americans' health insurance expiring at the end of the month.

In response, some Moderate GOP leaders are pushing a pair of bipartisan discharge petitions from Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) to compel Johnson to vote on their health-care bills extending the credits with other reforms.

If successful, Fitzpatrick’s amendment would prolong the subsidies two years.

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3 The Rev. Dr. William Barber, president of Repairers of the Breach and founder of the nationwide Moral Mondays Movement, during a Moral Mondays demonstration in North Carolina last month. The Nov. 24 activation saw nearly two dozen states deliver eulogies and caskets representing the 150,000 lives at risk due to health care slashes in the Trump-led One Big Beautiful Bill Act. (Courtesy Photo/Screenshot)

“I think the only thing worse than a clean extension without any income limits and any reforms— because it’s not a perfect system— the only thing worse than that would be expiration,” Fitzpatrick said on Tuesday.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has yet to back either of the bipartisan options, instead opting to push his own discharge petition that has earned the signatures of all 214 House Democrats, and would force a vote on a three-year extension for ACA subsidies with no changes.

As of Wednesday morning, only four Republicans need to break ranks and sign his petition.

“Our message is simple,” said Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), chair of the centrist New Democrats. “Republicans have created a health care crisis for American families who are seeing their health insurance rise by 100% to 300%, and the solution has been in front of us for a while.”

Given the fact that the Senate blocked the Democratic plan in a 5148 vote last Thursday, if passed by the House, it is unlikely the bill would advance through the upper chamber.

Faith Leaders Weigh In On ‘The Biggest Gamble the District Has Ever Had’

Coupled with the impact of the Republican and President Donald Trump-led One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), Barber, founder of the Morals Monday Movement likened the state of health equity to a national moral crisis that began with the legislation’s passing in July.

“We're not talking about people not receiving health care— we're talking about them losing health care that they had access to,” Barber explained.

“On top of the 87 million people who are already underinsured right now, on

top of 800 people dying from poverty every day. This legislation is deadly and it's destructive.”

The dire effects of the controversial law, set to implement in full next year, include: deadly cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and other life-saving programs; a whopping $1 million loss in health care spending; drastic changes to eligibility and benefits for critical patient services; and a launchpad to the monthslong gridlock on enhanced tax credits that make health insurance coverage affordable.

For Barber, it’s not a political argument, but rather a matter of life and death.

“When we ignore in our public policy things like poverty, health care, systemic racism, it's not just merely a partisan issue,” said the founder of the Moral Mondays Movement. “This bill… could cause 51,000 preventable deaths. That's what's at stake in 2026.”

Addressing the future of health care affordability in the District, the Rev. Anthony Evans – president of the D.C.-based National Black Church Initiative (NBCI)– did not mince his words on what’s at stake nor who’s to blame.

“Instead of the District ensuring its citizens have an economic delivery health care system for its citizens, they took a gamble on economic development with the [forthcoming Washington Commanders stadium],” he told The Informer. “And given the fact that the [OBBB] is cutting rural hospitals and kicking 10 million people [off health insurance], there is no way that there's going to be a safety net for health equity and access to care in the future. The District is a done deal.”

The faith leader pointed to the fact that local officials had the means and opportunity to get ahead of the health strain by establishing a reputable city

hospital some 20 years ago, before the regional debacle eventually fruitified with the opening of Ward 8’s Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center earlier this year.

In addition to expanding patient care much sooner, some of the benefits of federal and state subsidies, private insurance, and building a platform with multiple streams of revenue, could have fared well against modern threats to affordable health care.

For the reportedly more than 682,000 people in the DMV and West Virginia supported through the ACA exchange, he notes the realities of a dysfunctional economic structure that prioritizes real estate and development over the functionality of its most vulnerable populations – including low-income and communities of color.

“In other words, they don't have the economic structure to serve its own citizens,” Evans said candidly. “If Trump just gave the District a billion dollars for health care, that would not help them – largely because the District has the inability of planning and having strategy – [but] in addition to that, there's insufficient data to determine what is the best use for that… in terms of health care spending. The District does not have a health care delivery structure for the poor.”

With Barber seconding the “ripple effects” of OBBB on the economy, both faith leaders touted a need for an emergency session— across all states— to realign political strategy with the well-being and wealth of the people.

While the bishop said he hopes to see the controversial law repealed, Evans emphasizes that Washingtonians in particular would benefit from a transparent strategy on how tax money from the revitalized RFK stadium site– home to the returning Commanders by 2030– will be divided.

WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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OUR

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NAACP from Page 1 tured conversations from NAACP leaders, partners and advocates exploring the effects data centers have on surrounding communities and what needs to be done to mitigate any further harm to people and access to resources.

“We recognize… these AI data centers, that are hyper-scaled and are showing up in our communities, are nothing new when it comes to where they’re placing them and citing pollution,” said Abre’ Conner, director of the NAACP’s Center for Environmental and Climate Justice (ECJ).

“There are still some people who are not connecting their ChatGPT requests or the AI mode that shows up with Google to actually being an infrastructure that lives in a community.”

Excess amount of water needed to cool down these centers’ servers, the large amount of energy needed to power them, negative health impacts caused by increased carbon emissions and the noise pollution brought by the computers’ never-ending humming are some of the environmental concerns surrounding the increase in AI usage and the expansion of data centers worldwide.

As environmental incentives are continuously being rolled back by the current presidential administration, the creation of these structures poses more of a threat to communities and sustainability across the nation. While leaders and technology giants in the United States strive to dominate the AI market, such a desire endangers the possibility of a greener Earth.

“Tech executives cannot claim that this is climate innovation and the use of renewable resources while building infrastructure that locks us all into fossil fuel dependence, ... drains public water systems, and [closes] frontline communities [is] not collateral damage,” said Amon Alex, ECJ chair for the NAACP’s Corpus Christi branch, during one of the summit’s sessions.

As AI Surges, So Do Environmental Risks

According to Data Center Map,

there are currently 4,296 data centers in the United States, and almost a third are located in three states: Virginia with 668, Texas with 429 and California with 326.

Virginia has the highest concentration of data centers in the world.

Its flat terrain; proximity to a reliable water supply; by-right ordinances that don’t require special permits for developments; and the fact that data centers are exempt from the state’s sales and use tax make Northern Virginia an attractive location for technology companies and these facilities. The servers move an estimated 70% of the world’s internet traffic.

Such a high concentration of buildings that consume such substantial amounts of energy can likely threaten the quality of air in the region and negatively affect residents’ health, but Karen Campblin, the ECJ Chair for the NAACP’s Virginia branch, said the state’s air monitoring system is skeletal. Without efficient technology or opportunities for cumulative assessments, there isn’t enough data to show how toxic these facilities and the greenhouse gases they emit are affecting the public.

“There’s little protection for the communities to be able to have really intentional public engagement,” Campblin noted during the summit.

She also criticized the lack of transparency with the public, stating that residents don’t know where the water the data centers consume, especially in coastal Newport News, is being released. Inability to access this information can be the result of non-disclosure agreements between localities and those running the data centers— something that Campblin said is common practice.

“So it's very hard for our communities to really find out: what's happening, what are the impacts, and how it's impacting their families, their kids and themselves,” she continued.

People in states like Texas already suffer greatly from the impacts of fossil fuel emissions due to the presence of refineries and petrochemical facilities, which may be worsened by the growing number of data centers in the state.

3Activists gather at a September protest against data centers in Landover, Maryland. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

While experts cannot directly link cancer rates to the state’s refining and chemistry industries, different studies have found that communities in closer proximity to toxin-heavy sites and pollutant facilities have higher cancer rates than those farther away.

A study from the Texas Department of State Health Services found that people living in Harris County, where a Superfund site is located, experience higher-than-expected rates of cervix uteri cancer, leukemia, lung and bronchus cancer and lymphoma.

Another study that analyzed Corpus Christi’s Refinery Row found that people living closer to the 10-mile strip of petrochemical facilities experience higher rates of asthma, birth defects and cancers of the male rectum, bladder, kidney and liver.

“AI accelerates emissions at a moment when our region in Corpus Christi, [and] across the globe, is already vulnerable to extreme heat to stronger hurricanes on our coasts, flooding and drought,” Alex said.

“They want us to believe that these projects are inevitable, but we know that's a lie.”

In certain communities, like Memphis, some technology companies are prioritizing getting their data centers online as quickly as possible, circumventing the law and environmental regulations instead of waiting for the energy supply needed. Elon Musk's AI facility in the predominantly Black city uses a vast amount of methane gas turbines without permit, emitting toxins like formaldehyde that can contribute to increased rates of asthma, heart disease and cancer.

While organizations such as the NAACP is working to combat environment injustices, the ECJ director said such problems have become commonplace.

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“These are some of the same tactics that we saw with fracking: the promise of jobs, the promise of a different future, the promise that somehow using fossil fuels is not going to lead to more environmental and climate injustices in the same communities that they've been polluting in for decades,” Conner said.

Because each community housing a data center can differ— from population, to pollution, to resource availability— many advocates see a need for regulations specific to each state in order to ensure transparency and sustainability, but President Donald Trump (R) and his administration disagree.

The NAACP summit occurred one

day after Trump signed an executive order that would block states from creating their own AI regulations and instead implement a singular national framework. Within the document, state-specific policies surrounding AI are deemed “burdensome,” referring to the proposed national framework as a way to ensure the U.S. will win the AI race against other nations.

Despite the government’s pushback against environmentally conscious practices and mandates, leaders at the NAACP are still determined to stop the harm caused by the increase in AI and its data centers.

“Stop letting AI be framed as progress because it's not being held accountable,” said Alex. “Jobs without transparency are not justice, tax revenue without public benefit is not development and innovation that requires secrecy, that requires displacement and environmental harm, is not innovation.”

WI

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DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025 21

EDUCATION High School and Middle School Football Roundup

By Ed Hill WI Contributing Writer

Eastern Caps Off Season with First DCSAA Title

Eastern High School Ramblers defeated the Calvin Coolidge Colts, securing a 19-8 victory in the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) Class AA Championship at Howard University’s Greene Stadium on Saturday Dec. 6.

The Ramblers, the top seed of the District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletics Association (DCIAA), had been upset by the Coolidge Colts in the semifinals but rebounded in the state playoffs by edging Friendship Collegiate, 14-12 to earn a rematch with the Colts.

Eastern struck first in the title game, converting a Coolidge turnover into a 27-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jeremiah Hubbard to junior wide receiver and

cornerback Zion Hubbard.

A second interception was set up by a 15-yard scoring run by senior running back William Simmons Jr. giving Eastern a 13-0 halftime lead.

The Colts, known for second-half rallies, opened the third quarter with a 92-yard drive, but the Ramblers’ defense held their own at the goal line.

"We are a bend-but-don't break defense," declared Eastern head coach Roman Morris. "I called a timeout and told them that this was the most important stop that they had to make if they wanted this championship. Without question, that was the turning point in the game."

Eastern extended their lead with another Simmons touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Coolidge responded with a touchdown to cut the deficit to 19-8, which was recovered by an onside kick but the Ramblers stayed strong yet again.

The Eastern defense ended the day recording four interceptions and four

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22 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

5 Eastern High School football team poses with the trophy after defeating Coolidge 13-7 in overtime at Howard University for the DCSAA Class AA State Championship on Dec. 6. (Cory Royster/DCSAA)

sacks to close out the game. The victory delivered the Ramblers its first state championship and marked the first title-game appearance for both programs.

DeMatha Edges Gonzaga for WCAC Title

Tristan Webb of DeMatha High School scored on a 1-yard plunge on a fourth-and-goal with a minute remaining to pull out the 20-13 thrilling win over Gonzaga College High School in the Washington Catholic Athletic Association (WCAC) championship at the Naval Academy.

The Gonzaga Eagles gave the No. 1 ranked Dematha Stags all they could handle as the game was played close to the vest. The Stags (11-0) took the lead, 6-0, before Gonzaga (7-5) would come back to take the 7-6 advantage.

The Stags regained the lead, 13-7, in the third quarter, but the Eagles tied the score, 13-13, in the fourth quarter. Then, Webb made the play that decided the outcome.

It was the 21st straight win for DeMatha, who finished the season ranked No. 2 in the DMV area and No. 14 in the country.

Bell (10-3), which was unranked, closes out the season with a 10-game win streak.

Brookland Repeats as DCIAA Middle School Champions

In the DCIAA middle school division, it was the Breeze of Brookland Middle School defeating Johnson Middle School for the second straight year. Johnson has dominated local middle school football for over a decade and is regarded annually as one of the top programs in the country, once ranking as high as No. 1.

But Brookland showed that their 2024 title was not a fluke.

"I think that the team was especially motivated by the challenge,"

noted Brookland Head Coach Osiris Walcott. "Johnson had long been the standard by which we all were measured until we came away with last year's championship. They had beaten us last year in the regular season, so I think we surprised them in the championship. So, they beat us again, 27-6, in the regular season and people were looking at us as a fluke so we had something to prove."

Brookland went on to win their second straight championship, this time 12-0.

"I think that we have laid a foundation here for success," Walcott observed. "We now have former players who go on to play high school and college football. That has been a major plus for our program."

WI

Bell Posts Upset Win Over Digital Pioneers in Class A Title

In what was another major upset, Bell Multicultural School defeated DC Digital Pioneers, 28-20, in the DCIAA Class A Division.

Digital Pioneers (11-2) came into the game ranked Top 20 in the area and riding a 10-game win streak.

5 DeMatha High School senior wide receiver Joshua Parker with a deep reception in the Stags 20-13 win against the Gonzaga Eagles for the WCAC Championship on Nov. 23. (Marcus Relacion/The Washington Informer)

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

EDUCATION

After Brown Shooting, Police Reset Investigation as Community Grieves

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

The search continued Monday for the gunman who killed two Brown University students and wounded nine others, as investigators acknowledged early missteps and the campus began confronting the aftermath of the deadliest shooting in the school’s history.

“We are continuing this investigation with urgency and care,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said. “There is no one in custody, and there is no basis to consider the individual previously detained as a person of interest.”

Providence police confirmed the man briefly held Sunday, Dec. 14 was released after evidence pointed elsewhere. Authorities resumed a wide-ranging manhunt, canvassing neighborhoods near campus and urging residents and businesses to review security footage that could help identify the suspect, who was last seen walking away from the university shortly after the attack.

The shooting occurred on Saturday afternoon inside the Barus and Holley engineering building during an economics review session ahead of final exams. A masked gunman entered the lecture hall, shouted something witnesses could not recall, and opened fire. Students ducked beneath desks, scrambled for exits, or were struck as they tried to escape.

By the time the campus lockdown was lifted early Sunday morning, two students were dead and nine others were hospitalized, one in critical condition.

The victims were identified as Muhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, a first-year student originally from Uzbekistan, and Ella Cook, a sophomore from Mountain Brook, Alabama. University officials said families were being supported as classmates and faculty gathered at vigils across Providence.

Surveillance video released by police shows a figure dressed in dark clothing walking away from campus, but investigators said the footage does not reveal the suspect’s face or a visible weapon. Officials confirmed

Open to all DMV area high school seniors for a chance to win a scholarship of $5,000.

DR. E.B. HENDERSON

Submit by February 1, 2026 to be eligible.

5 Students, staff, and members of the Brown University community are still seeking answers as the search continues for the gunman who killed two Brown University students and wounded nine others Saturday, Dec. 13. (Courtesy Photo/ Brown University, Facebook)

the engineering building had unlocked exterior doors at the time of the shooting, though classrooms used for exams typically require badge access. Investigators said they are still determining how the gunman entered the lecture hall.

The decision to announce a person of interest and later reverse course deepened anxiety among students and parents. University leaders acknowledged the confusion but said communication would continue as authorities move forward with the investigation.

Brown University canceled all remaining in-person exams and classes for the semester and increased security patrols with assistance from local, state, and federal agencies.

About 2,000 students were relocated overnight during the lockdown, and many left campus once transportation resumed. Nearby colleges and schools across New England also tightened security or canceled classes as a precaution.

WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

Dr. E.B. Henderson, known as the “grandfather of Black basketball”, was the first to introduce the game of basketball to African Americans in Washington, D.C. on a large, organized basis. Henderson’s contributions and impact have reached beyond sports and his legacy resonates with us to this day.

To celebrate and honor Dr. E.B.’s legacy, write a 350–500-word essay to explore how your personal interests—whether it's art, sports, coding, music, or social media—can be used to educate and uplift others in your community.

The Washington Wizards will award the top ten winning essays: • Two (2) complimentary tickets to a select Wizards home game • Recognition during a Washington Wizards home game • Recognition on the Washington Wizards digital and social media channels - In partnership with INROADS, the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation (MSEF) and the Leonsis family, the Washington Wizards will award the ten (10) finalists a monetary scholarship going towards their continued education route or college of their choice.

• Grand Prize: $5,000 • 2nd Place: $4,000 • 3rd Place: $3,500 • Other 7 Finalists: $2,500 All students who submit an essay fitting the criteria will receive two (2) complimentary tickets to a select Wizards home game. (Subject to eligibility restrictions and additional terms and conditions) DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: FEBRUARY 1ST, 2026 • www.nba.com/wizards/essaycontest

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025 23

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THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

EDITORIAL

When the President Attacks the Press, Democracy Suffers Exhibiting Immaturity Through Attacks on the Fourth Estate

A free and independent press is neither a nuisance to be controlled nor a tool for political spectacle.

It is the Fourth Estate—protected by the Constitution, essential to democracy, and tasked with holding the most powerful office in the country accountable.

When a president responds to tough questions with personal insults and public humiliation, it does not demonstrate strength.

Instead, it exposes unprofessionalism that undermines democratic norms.

President Donald J. Trump’s (R) long-standing pattern of verbally attacking journalists—especially women and journalists of color— represents a dangerous departure from appropriate presidential conduct. Disagreeing with the press is normal, but hostility toward the press as an institution, expressed through personal insults, is not.

During his first term, Trump regularly singled out April Ryan, a veteran White House correspondent, dismissing her as “a loser” and ordering her to “sit down” during a press briefing. He later

accused her, without evidence, of asking racist questions. Ryan was not heckling; she was doing her job—pressing the administration for answers on behalf of the public.

Yamiche Alcindor was also targeted after asking about white nationalism, with Trump calling her question “racist” instead of addressing its substance. CNN’s Abby Phillip was told she asked a “stupid question,” while NBC’s Megyn Kelly faced a crude and notorious attack implying she was emotionally unstable because of her biology.

Recently, during an Oval Office exchange, Trump escalated this pattern by responding to a reporter’s legitimate question with a personal insult—asking whether she was “stupid.” The setting alone highlighted the seriousness of the moment: the seat of American power being used as a platform for public belittlement.

In early November, Trump told Bloomberg White House correspondent Catherine Lucey: “Quiet, piggy,” as she asked him a ques-

tion about the Jeffrey Epstein Files as the president spoke to reporters on Air Force One. These aren't isolated incidents.

They establish a pattern in which journalists are demeaned, delegitimized, and viewed as enemies.

The consequences extend beyond hurt feelings. When the president mocks and vilifies the press, it signals to supporters that journalists can be harassed and threatened. It discourages investigation and silences honest reporting.

Never before in modern American history has the press faced such a persistent, personal, and presidentially approved verbal assault. Presidents are scrutinized precisely because of the power they hold. Journalists are not the opposition; they are the conduit through which the public demands accountability.

A president who cannot handle tough questions misunderstands the role. Attacking the messenger does not improve leadership. Instead, it weakens the democracy that leadership exists to serve.

WI

As Gunfire Erupts and Innocent Lives are Lost, Collaboration Undergirded by Compassion Appears Lost in the Crossfire As sundown approached on Sunday, Dec. 14, in Australia, members of the Jewish community prepared for worship, lighting the first candle on the menorah and celebrating the start of the eight-day festival of Hanukkah. Then, as approximately 1,000 Jews celebrated “Chanukah by the Sea” at Bondi Beach, two gunmen, a father and son, spearheaded what has been described as Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in a targeted attack.

Once proclaimed as a model to prevent mass shootings, it appears that the threat of gun violence still exists and can be dangerous in Australia, with 15 dead and more than 40 still hospitalized.

Meanwhile, on Saturday night, Dec. 13, in Brooklyn, six teenagers were shot outside of a venue following a Sweet 16 celebration. Police continue to search for the gunmen and reportedly believe the incident to be gang related.

And then, in the quiet town of Providence, Rhode Island, a still unidentified gunman killed two students and wounded nine others, also on Dec. 13, in what has become a fartoo-common occurrence in America – another mass shooting, this time on the campus of Brown University.

Now, while federal law enforcement officials in the U.S. release inaccurate information about “a person of interest,” which may have allowed the real shooter to escape and confounded the efforts of local police, one must wonder what’s more important: being first to solve the crime or working collaboratively to ensure that the real perpetrator is captured?

During a press conference on Sunday evening, the mayor of Providence noted that while visiting several injured students in the hospital, one attributed practice drills for mass shootings in which they participated as a minor as the reason they were still alive.

Two other Brown students, one from California and the other from Florida, acknowledged that they both survived shootings while in high school and must now relive the horror as collegiates.

It’s ironic that American leaders profess to have a game plan for stopping the alleged flow of drugs from Venezuela, blowing up boats in international waters without provocation, and vowing to go ashore if necessary. And after two servicemen were recently killed in Syria, our president has already promised swift retaliation.

But when it comes to ending the scourge of guns, whether legal or ghost guns, and the loss of innocent lives over and over again, our leaders seem unable to agree on a solution.

Or maybe the answer, which is as clear as the nose on one’s face, would put too much of a dent in certain Americans’ pockets.

WI

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

TO THE EDITOR Last week’s issue was awesome. Full of good news, stories, and photos. The Informer crew is working hard. Keep it up.

Sean Braxton Washington, D.C.

I can’t believe I read that the Park Service is erasing civil rights holidays under Trump. Wait, on second thought, I can believe it.

The only bright spot is that a lot of these “errors” will be corrected with the next administration, hopefully.

Teena Garrison Washington, D.C.

Readers’ Mailbox The Washington Informer

welcomes letters to the editor about articles we publish or issues affecting the community. Write to news@ washingtoninformer.com. or send to: 3117 Martin Luther King Jr Ave., SE, Washington, D.C. 20032.

Please note that we are unable to publish letters that do not include a full name, address and phone number. We look forward to hearing from you.

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025 25

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

A. Peter Bailey

Both Kwanzaa and Christmas Empower Black People

Those people, who for whatever reason, are nervous about or hostile toward the celebration of Kwanzaa (Dec. 26-Jan. 1) among an increasing number of Black people, need to chill.

They are way off the mark.

Christmas, as celebrated by Christians is — or at least is supposed to be — a religious celebration, whereas Kwanzaa is a cultural celebration.

Both have a strong spiritual element.

It is not the fault of Kwanzaa celebrants that too many people treat Christmas more like a cultural celebration than a religious one. That is something that Christians have to deal with, the retaking of their religious celebration from the merchants who regard it as an opportunity for dollar bills to be rained upon them.

The mission of the seven-day Kwanzaa celebration is to encourage Black people, no matter what their personal religious beliefs, their personal political beliefs, their nationality or

their ethnicity, to strive for individual and group achievement and excellence.

The seven principles of Kwanzaa pertain to the family, the community, the nation, and the race. They are unity (Umoja); self-determination (Kujichagulia); collective work and responsibility (Ujima); cooperative economics (Ujamaa); purpose (Nia); creativity (Kuumba); and faith (Imani).

Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 as a call for both reflection and action. It has remained just that for the past 59 years. As more

Guest Columnist

and more of us commit ourselves to its principles, there will be a much-needed psychological change among significant numbers of our people. After a while, the major holdouts will not be those people who have religious concerns about Kwanzaa, but those pathetic secular types who are vehemently opposed to anything that has a Black perspective. Many of them prefer to remain exotic pets of white folks.

This is fine because such accommodationists are irrelevant to Kwanzaa's overall mission.

Happy Kwanzaa! WI

Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 as a call for both reflection and action.

It has remained just that for the past 59 years.

Ben Jealous

When Big Tech's Thirst Threatens Our Health, We Must Demand Better

In Morrow County, Oregon, families are living through a crisis.

According to a Rolling Stone investigation, mothers have suffered miscarriages. Neighbors are battling rare cancers.

Local officials have raised concerns about dangerously elevated nitrate levels in the community's drinking water following the siting

of a nearby Amazon data center.

The investigation reports that the facility's massive water consumption — up to 5 million gallons per day — may have accelerated nitrogen migration into the aquifer faster than natural filtration can occur. Amazon strongly denies any connection between its operations and these health problems.

Whatever the ultimate cause of the health crisis in Oregon, the broader concern is undeniable: when data centers consume enormous amounts of water, commu-

nities can face real risks. And now, similar pressures are emerging in Ohio.

Central Ohio already hosts about 130 data centers, representing more than half the state's total.

In Marysville, just two facilities consume roughly 10% of the city's entire daily water supply. Amazon operates dozens of data center facilities and campuses across the New Albany, Hilliard, and Dublin region. Residents are watching water demand surge as new facilities are proposed.

Guest Columnists

Here is what should concern every Ohioan. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued a draft General National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit governing wastewater discharges from data center facilities into state waters, including non-contact cooling water, cooling tower blowdown, and associated stormwater. The publicly released draft does not specify nitrate limits among the listed regulated pollutants.

The draft permit also relies on

existing antidegradation standards that allow a lowering of water quality when deemed necessary to accommodate important social or economic development. In plain terms, regulators are signaling that some degradation of water quality may be acceptable to support data center growth.

This is not just about water.

Modeling by researchers affiliated with the California Institute of Technology suggests that air pol-

JEALOUS Page 45

Justin Nalley, Kayla Elliott and Gabrielle Smith Finnie

Five Principles to Support Black Workers and Learners in Pathways to Non-Degree Credentials

The Joint Center's issue brief, “Five Principles to Support Black Workers and Learners in Pathways to Non-Degree Credentials,” offers guidance on how non-degree credential programs — such as certificates, industry certifications, professional licenses, and apprenticeships — can serve as equitable pathways to economic mobility

for Black workers and learners as federal investments are reshaping high-growth industries including advanced manufacturing, energy and technology.

Interest and investment in non-degree credentials are growing due to substantial public and private investments in high-growth industries such as advanced manufacturing, technology and energy. As historic federal investments flow into these emerging industries, stakeholders face a critical

26 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

choice: replicate old patterns of racial exclusion or build new pathways toward equitable economic mobility. Non-degree credential programs — or more specifically, postsecondary education programs that lead to credentials such as certificates, industry certifications, professional licenses, and apprenticeships — can play an integral role in advancing economic mobility.

To identify how non-degree credentials can be effective pathways to good jobs and economic mo-

bility for Black workers and learners, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies convened a Non-Degree Credentials Advisory Board of workforce leaders, researchers and students. The board helped develop five principles to support Black workers and learners when creating non-degree credentials programs and pathways. This brief elevates insights from the advisory board, presents five key principles to center Black workers and learners in non-degree credential programs and pathways, and

underscores how these principles can help non-degree credentials translate into sustained economic mobility for Black workers and learners.

Five Principles to Support Black Workers in Non-Degree Credentials Pathways

• Advancing Employer Investments in Training and Cre-

NALLEY... Page 45

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

By Lorelie S. Masters, Karen Barker Marcou, Kemry Hughes, Austin Ownbey, Jamal Holtz, Johnny Allem, Franklin Garcia, Thorn Pozen and Markus Batchelor

Guest Columnists

D.C.'s Limited Democracy is in Critical Danger

The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are working hard to carry out their threats to "take over" the District of Columbia. They are furiously trying to eliminate D.C.'s self-rule by repealing the Home Rule Act and imposing martial law on the people of District using the National Guard and our own police force.

They are currently considering stripping the District of its ability to elect its own attorney general and have voice in the selection of judges in our own courts (or, worse, take them over). All who value American ideals would do well to consider that, if democracy in the District falls, then your rights and elected representation are also at risk.

These Republican attacks on the District are an outright nullification of our country's founding principles. The Declaration of In-

dependence made clear that governments only derive "their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed." Indeed, we fought the Revolution to defeat a tyrant who tried to exercise unlimited power and send the military into local communities. Our Founders, as exemplified by James Madison in Federalist No. 43, expected that, regardless of what place was chosen for the nation's capital, the residents "will have had their voice in the election of the government which is to exercise authority over

Guest Columnist

them." Republicans led the fight for democracy in the District in the 1950s and early 1960s, first under the leadership of President Eisenhower and later under President Nixon who signed the Home Rule Act into law on Christmas Eve 1973.

The House has now passed a succession of bills mocking Madison and the other Founders, by destroying local democracy and diverting their attention from their core job of supporting the country's national security and en-

suring a sound national economy.

If representatives in the House are so concerned about safety in the District and driving down crime below its current 30-year low, they should ensure our D.C. courts have the judges they need, judges who understand and will be responsive to our communities in the District; with the recent past in particular as prologue, it is fair to say Republicans clearly have no intention of doing that.

GUESTS Page 46

Anthony Tilghman

A Dad's Perspective: Why the IEP System Must Do Better for Our Children

When my daughter was diagnosed with autism, I believed the hardest part would be understanding her diagnosis.

I was wrong.

The hardest part has been navigating the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process in Prince George's County Public Schools — a process that

has taught me far more than I expected about how families experience special education.

I write this as a father who entered the IEP process with trust.

I believed that a system designed to support children with disabilities would guide families with clarity, consistency and care. Instead, I learned how confusing timelines, dense paperwork and inconsistent communication can turn what should be a collaborative process into an exhausting one.

IEP meetings are filled with acronyms and technical language that are rarely explained in plain terms. Parents are handed lengthy documents and expected to make quick decisions, often without full context. Over time, I realized that parents are frequently placed in the position of having to prove — repeatedly — why their child needs support, rather than being met with a system designed to proactively provide it.

For many Black fathers and working parents in Prince

Guest Columnists

George's County, these challenges are magnified. Meetings are often scheduled during work hours. Notices arrive late.

Follow-ups can take weeks or months. Families without legal knowledge or outside advocates are left to navigate a complex process on their own, and children lose valuable instructional time in the process.

This is not an indictment of teachers or school staff. Many educators care deeply about their students and are doing their best

under significant constraints, including staff shortages and heavy caseloads. The challenge is structural. The system itself is overburdened and not consistently designed around the realities families face.

An IEP is more than a document. It is access to speech therapy, behavioral supports, classroom accommodations, and the opportunity for a child to learn and thrive. When evaluations are

TILGHMAN Page 46

Rep. Oye Owolewa and Leah Bogan

A Reckoning is Coming: D.C. Must Not Bow to Trump's Takeover

Washingtonians, hear me!

We've watched D.C.'s elected officials sidle up to Trump's GOP agenda for almost a whole year now. They have practically rolled out the red carpet for National Guard and ICE on our streets, facial recognition on every corner, billionaire developers with stadiums instead of subway stops. They

kidnap neighbors while in masks and wearing guns; let luxury condos loom empty while 6,000 souls suffer this winter in shelters. But order will be restored. The Guard will march out, ICE will slink away, and there will be a reckoning for those who broke the law. Corporate news may forget, but we won't. We'll remember who capitulated without a fight, and we will hold them to account.

Too many elected officials aren't doing enough; we can't just sit qui-

etly until this nightmare ends. We hold the power in our masses; if we organize, if you let me lead, we can forge real change for D.C. Dems in Congress squandered their best shot: They could've ended the filibuster during the shutdown, securing absolutely zero gains instead. They let our people ride the government's longest shutdown for nothing. If they had held out for just a little longer, given up one Thanksgiving for the people, they could've delivered D.C. statehood.

Chuck Schumer and establishment

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Dems fumbled our best chance in a long time, and they have no strategy for the people. I won't let such missed opportunities happen under my watch, with your trust.

Trump stymies our state's rights, guts AI regulations, unleashes data center monstrosities in our neighborhoods. These bourgeois behemoths guzzle our water, spike electric bills, steal our data to train job-killing AI, all while developers feast and our health care is stripped away. No more! Mutual aid is our shield — my team works hard to

deliver, and as your Council member, we'll scale it up, leveraging every resource particularly for Wards 7 and 8, as well as all wards. We will fight these bloodthirsty developers waiting like vultures to descend on our riverbanks, to push us back again.

Our children deserve fully resourced schools in the wealthiest nation's capital, no excuses for a tiered system. Every kid gets an equal shot: safe streets with free

OWOLEWA/BOGAN Page 46

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025 27

LIFESTYLE

3Comedian Jess Hilarious headlines a stand-up performance at DC Improv on Dec. 18, bringing her high-energy, unfiltered humor to downtown Washington.

The Baltimore native is known for her appearances on “Wild ’N Out” and as a co-host of “The Breakfast Club.” (Courtesy Photo)

Washington Informer Weekend Checklist WASHINGTON INFORMER'S

Things To Do, DMV!

By Keith Golden Jr. WI Intern The DMV comes alive this weekend with a variety of festive and community-focused events that celebrate the season in style.

From laugh-out-loud comedy and immersive ice attractions to holiday markets, live theater, and family-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy across the District To learn more about all the happenings around town and keep your social life lit, don’t forget to check out the Washington Informer Calendar.

Thursday, Dec. 18

Everlasting Light: The Story of the Humble King 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. | $9.87 Museum of the Bible, 400 4th Street SW Washington, D.C. 20024 “Everlasting Light: The Story of the Humble King” returns to the Museum of the Bible this week, offering a live theatrical retelling of the Christmas story through music, narration and visual storytelling.

The production centers on the birth of Jesus, emphasizing themes of humility, hope and light in a contemporary stage format. Presented inside the museum’s World Stage Theater, the performance blends scripture with artistic elements designed to engage audiences of all ages during the holiday season.

Jess Hilarious @ DC Improv 7:30 p.m. | $51.00+ DC Improv, 1140 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20036

Jess Hilarious headlines a standup comedy engagement at DC Improv beginning Dec. 18 and going through the weekend, bringing her high-energy, unfiltered humor to downtown Washington.

The Baltimore native is known for blending personal stories with sharp social observations, a style that has earned her national recognition through appearances on “Wild ’N Out” and Comedy Central. She also co-hosts the popular radio show “The Breakfast Club.”

The show is presented by DC Improv, a longstanding comedy venue that regularly hosts nationally touring comedians.

Checking out Jess Hilarious at DC Improv offers local audiences the opportunity to see a nationally recognized comedian in an intimate club setting, adding to the District’s live entertainment and comedy scene.

All performances are 18 and older and the venue enforces a two-item minimum per guest.

Doors typically open about 75 minutes before showtime.

Friday, Dec. 19

Main Hall Holiday Market 11 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Free Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE Washington, D.C. 20002 The Holiday Market will transform Union Station into a seasonal marketplace filled with local vendors, artisans and holiday-themed goods.

The market features a rotating selection of small businesses offering handmade crafts, gifts, artwork and specialty items, creating a festive shopping experience for

28 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

Sunday, Dec. 21

Holiday Bricktacular at LEGO Discovery Center Washington, D.C 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | $24.99 LEGO® Discovery Center, 6563 Springfield Mall Suite 12004 Springfield, VA 22150

commuters, residents and visitors passing through one of Washington’s busiest transit hubs.

Ugly Sweater Party 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Free The Stacks, 101 V Street SW Washington, D.C. 20024 The Holiday Collective: Ugly Sweater Party is inviting guests to celebrate the season with festive attire, music and a high-energy social atmosphere.

The event encourages attendees to don their most creative or outrageous holiday sweaters while enjoying a night centered on community, dancing and seasonal celebration. The party features a curated soundtrack and a casual, late-evening vibe designed to bring together young professionals and creatives for a holiday send-off.

Saturday, Dec. 20

Discover Holiday Magic at ICE! 9 a.m. - 8:45 p.m. | $48.00 Gaylord National Resort, 201 Waterfront Street National Harbor, MD 20745 “ICE!” transforms the resort into a winter attraction carved entirely from ice.

The seasonal exhibition features walk-through scenes made from thousands of hand-carved ice

blocks, illuminated with colorful lighting and kept at subfreezing temperatures. Visitors explore immersive displays inspired by holiday themes while wearing provided parkas to stay warm inside the attraction.

Timed-entry tickets are required and available in advance, and guests should plan to arrive early for check-in and coat distribution.

Poetry Open Mic 11:00 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Free New Deal Cafe, 113 Centerway Roosevelt Center Greenbelt, MD 20770 The Poetry Open Mic offers a welcoming space for writers, listeners and literary enthusiasts to gather around the spoken word.

The event invites participants to share original poetry, read other people’s work or simply connect with fellow creatives in an informal, community-centered setting.

Open to all experience levels, the night emphasizes expression, experimentation and conversation through poetry.

This open mic features Barbara DeCesare as the evening’s guest poet. Based in York, Pennsylvania, DeCesare writes poetry, fiction and short plays, with work published in numerous journals and performed widely.

Check out a festive twist to the indoor attraction through holiday-themed LEGO builds and seasonal activities.

The experience invites families to explore decorated displays, participate in hands-on building stations and enjoy a winter-inspired atmosphere designed to blend creativity with holiday cheer.

Best of The DMV 2025 Winners Celebration and Fundraiser 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. | $61.00 Busboys and Poets Anacostia, 2004 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE Washington, D.C. 20020 Join The Washington Informer for an evening celebrating this year’s Best of The DMV winners and supporting local journalism.

Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, live music from Elijah Jamal Balbed and The JoGo Project, sets from Best of the DMV finalist DJ Lance Reynolds, and a community-focused program recognizing standout businesses, creators, and organizations across the region.

Tickets include two drink vouchers and access to the full program, including winner announcements and the introduction of the James Wright Memorial Scholarship.

As the year winds down, come connect with finalists, supporters, Informer staff, and the community at-large for an evening celebrating the Black Press and DMV excellence. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Netflix Revives ‘Star Search,’ and The DMV’s Own Legends Echo Through the Reboot

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer For years, before YouTube feeds and viral clips took over the talent game, there was a stage that felt like a cross between a proving ground and a national confession booth.

It was polished, it was loud, and it was the place where unknowns chased the kind of spotlight that could change a life overnight. “Star Search” was its name, and in January 2026, Netflix will try to bring that electricity back.

Anthony Anderson will serve as the new ringmaster, guiding performers through a revamped live format where fan votes come in as fast as the nerves rise.

Anderson said he is “super excited to host this new chapter of ‘Star Search’ and to introduce such an iconic format to a whole new generation,” noting that the

talent will “blow you away.”

The reboot leans into immediacy. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Live cameras. No time to recover from a missed note or a shaky punchline.

The audience decides in real time who stays and who leaves.

For the District and its surrounding streets, boulevards, and suburban margins, “Star Search” is not just a show returning. It is a reminder of the pipeline of Black talent that came out of the DMV long before the city marketed itself as a creative hub.

Take Martin Lawrence, who sharpened his voice in D.C. comedy clubs that smelled of sweat, cigarette smoke, and possibility. Before sitcom fame and the film roles, there was a young comic grinding in a city where humor is survival. He went on “Star Search” hungry enough to reach the final round. He did not win, but someone in the control room or the executive suites was paying attention.

LIFESTYLE

Columbia Television offered him a role on “What’s Happening Now!!”

His climb started right there.

Or consider Kellie Shanygne Williams, whose D.C. roots are stamped into her biography. Long before America knew her as Laura Winslow on “Family Matters,” she appeared on “Star Search” as one of the city’s gifted young performers. Her early steps on that stage put her in conversation with the culture she would later grow into.

The region also watched from close range as artists from outside its borders used “Star Search” as a launchpad. Usher came through in 1991. He won best teen vocalist and landed on the radar of L.A. Reid.

The decision that followed changed R&B for an entire generation.

And once the camera lights hit, the national roll call grew. Beyoncé,

NETFLIX Page 30

5 “Star Search” returns to audiences, coming to Netflix in January 2026 and hosted by Anthony Anderson. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

*YOU HAVE

THE POWER TO DEFEAT OPIOID ADDICTION

KNOWYOURPATHDC.COM WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025 29

LIFESTYLE

COUNCIL from Page 15 his colleagues and other people he works with that we are a city that can produce people from in-house, people that deserve opportunities just like anyone else that comes here looking for opportunity,” said Grant, a former council staffer and advisory neighborhood commissioner. “And I think he's been a champion of that.”

3 The D.C. Council is preparing for 2026, after concluding the final legislative meeting of the year on Dec. 16. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

In 2016, the D.C. Council approved the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results (NEAR) Act, a slew of measures representing a pivot from punitive anti-crime measures to a public health approach. The legislation, which McDuffie shaped in collaboration with Grant and several other residents, established the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, through which the District operates its violence interrupter programming.

In thinking about the meetings at Busboys and Poets in Brookland that birthed the NEAR Act, Grant called McDuffie a pioneer in a space that, for decades, has vilified Black male native Washingtonians for the violence they’ve experienced in what was once Chocolate City.

“In some instances, people don't understand the progress,” Grant said.

“Some of it may not be documented. Some of it may not be able to be told, but the relationship building, the truces, the squashing of beefs, those things have happened. I've seen it firsthand. And I think a lot of that is due to [Councilmember McDuffie] reinforcing the importance of bringing violence interruption into the 21st century with the NEAR model, and I think a lot of people have benefitted from it.”

D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto Weighs in on MPD Crime Statistics Controversy

Not long after Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith announced her resignation, the U.S. Department of Justice and House Committee on

NETFLIX from Page 29

EVEN THOUGH WE’RE WORKING,

TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET,

IT JUST ISN’T ENOUGH.

– SHAUNA

Washington, DC

30 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

Meet the 1 in 3 of our DMV neighbors currently facing hunger.

HungerIsHere.org

Kelly Rowland, Aaliyah, Billy Porter, Countess Vaughn, Sinbad, Dave Chappelle, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears all passed through the earlier versions of the show. Some won. Some lost. All stepped onto a platform that had a way of turning raw talent into something recognizable.

Netflix wants to bottle that feeling again. Anderson said the live voting will draw viewers into the tension, explaining that fans everywhere can cast votes in real time and shape what happens next.

The first episode arrives January 13, 2026, and a new generation will step into the same space where so

Oversight on Government Reform released reports alleging that the MPD leader compelled subordinates to manipulate local crime data to fuel the narrative that crime has been falling in the District.

As the federal government and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) play tug-of-war in the control over the crime narrative, Councilmember Pinto calls local crime statistics a matter that she’s— in her capacity as chair of the council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety— often addressed with the Metropolitan Police Department.

“There is a public dashboard that reports crime statistics every single day,” Pinto told The Informer. “There are reporters who come to crime scenes.

There are dozens of eyeballs on all of these issues, and it's something that we ask about in performance oversight and in regular conversations with the chief.”

Even so, Pinto, who’s gearing up for an agency oversight hearing in February, acknowledged the work to be done in assessing the data.

“We do need to have a deeper understanding into how all decisions are made around what gets classified as what,” she told The Informer, “and we'll be following up with MPD around that so the public can understand that too.”

Earlier this year, President Donald J. Trump (R) federalized MPD, despite what members of the local public safety ecosystem heralded as a 30-year decline in crime. By that time, an MPD senior official had been on leave for what was alleged as manipulation

COUNCIL Page 43 many DMV-connected performers once stood.

The lights will hit. The crowd will wait. And somewhere in Washington or Prince George’s County or across the river in Virginia, someone watching may recognize themselves as they watch a young singer or comedian looking straight into the camera, searching for the moment that sets the future in motion.

“Star Search doesn’t get nearly enough credit,” one social media user and music lover wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “That show quietly introduced half the industry before the world even knew they were legends in the making—a true pipeline for icons.”

WI

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LIFESTYLE

Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park Brings the Holiday Spirit to D.C.

By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor

5 The first-ever Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park in Southeast, D.C., promises a one-of-a-kind holiday adventure for visitors and residents of all ages, featuring six-lane snow tubing, a hidden Aprés-ski speakeasy, and more winter-themed fun through Dec. 30.

(Courtesy Photo/Magic Ice)

healthy food

‘Tis the season for family and holiday fun in the nation’s capital, and the Washington Nationals are celebrating with the first-ever Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park.

Presented by Events DC, the spirited destination— open select dates through Dec. 30— blends the joy of the holidays with the best of Washington, immersing residents and visitors in a winter frosted land designed for all ages.

“When you think about going downtown on these clear, beautiful nights, and the way the monuments are lit, it's incredibly special— it's our nation's capital,” said Jonathan Stahl, vice president of Nationals Park Events. “And Winter Wonder Fest combined with all of those elements…makes Washington this incredible destination for the winter.”

From racing down a six-lane snow tubing slide, to scenic train rides, illuminated LED seesaws, and local business exposure, the Washington Nationals’ Southeast headquarters has turned into a holiday hub reflecting the heart of the city.

Creativity and collaboration meet in the midst of art installations, hands-on building, and a Northern-lights inspired light show, tailored to the kids – and kids-at-heart – who can also flaunt their best moves on the LED dance floor.

Meanwhile, sports enthusiasts can go head-to-head with winterized-thrills such as curling, snowball speedthrow, and a 9-course putt-putt mini-golf challenge, decked in white turf to resemble snow.

“We brought two little ones with us and they had a great time,”

WONDERFEST Page 33

for all

healthycorners.org This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

32 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

5 The first-ever Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park in Southeast, D.C., promises a one-of-a-kind holiday adventure for visitors and residents of all ages, featuring six-lane snow tubing, a hidden Aprés-ski speakeasy, and more winter-themed fun through Dec. 30. (Courtesy Photo/Magic Ice)

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LIFESTYLE DC Black MBA Chapter Honors Excellence, Leadership, and Community Impact at Annual Awards and Scholarship Ceremony

By DC Black MBA

5 One popular feature of Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park is the hidden speakeasy in the Washington Nationals’ infield, where adults ages 21 and up can enjoy crafted cocktails, seasonal sweets and other winterized delights. (Courtesy Photo)

WONDERFEST from Page 32 commented one user on TikTok, who posted a recap video after attending the festival Nov. 28. “The perfect family friendly activity in D.C. this winter!”

An additional feature serving at the pleasure of the people is an exclusive “Après-ski” experience for the 21+ crowd, hosting fire pits, roasted marshmallows, and a hidden speakeasy in the Nationals batting cages with crafted cocktails and seasonal treats.

For Stahl, the bottom line is striving beyond local tradition to immerse visitors in a multisensory experience that honors various aspects of the season right from home.

“You don't have to go out west to enjoy fire pits and s’mores and raquelette–you can do that on the infield,” he explained. “We've geared the entire theme of the

event, from the activations to the food, to really embody that winter spirit,” Stahl beamed. “You’re truly walking into a winter wonderland.”

More than that, the organization leader hopes people walk away with a taste of the economic engine that thrives in Southeast, D.C. Coupled with an opportunity to increase foot-traffic and revenue for local eateries and businesses, he highlights the festival for showcasing the vibrance of “a true yearround community destination” boundless to one unique element. “[It] really is an exciting opportunity to showcase Nationals Park outside of baseball–more people create more excitement and more energy,” Stahl said, “and you can't see that anywhere else in the world, but you can see it here in Washington, D.C.” WI

The DC Chapter of the National Black MBA Association (DC Black MBA) gathered members, partners, students, and community leaders for an inspiring evening celebrating excellence, service, and achievement at its annual Chapter Awards and Scholarship Ceremony. The event highlighted the chapter’s ongoing commitment to advancing educational attainment, professional development, and economic empowerment within the Black community.

The central theme of the evening was intentional community engagement. Iris Drayton-Spann, Managing Director of Stanton Chase and a scholarship sponsor, underscored the importance of corporate partnership and presence. “I show up with purpose and intentionality,” Drayton-Spann shared.

“It’s important to me and Stanton Chase to remain connected to the community and show up when needed for the greatest impact.”

Her words reflected the spirit of the evening, and the role corporate partners play in supporting pathways to leadership and opportunity. Her corporate partnership was further highlighted with Stanton Chase receiving Corporate Partner of the Year honors, presented to Drayton-Spann.

One of the night’s most meaningful moments came with the presentation of the President’s Award to Chante Bender, Vice President of Membership for the DC Black MBA Chapter. The award, selected

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

5President, Dr. Carletta S. Hurt, and Honoree and Board Member, Chante Bender

5Board Members, Kendrick Tilghman and Chante Bender, Honoree and Sponsor, Iris Drayton Spann, and President Dr. Carletta S. Hurt

5A

5Double Honoree, Zainab Yahaya and Board Member, Shadae Perry.

Photo Credit - Lauren Fletcher

by Chapter President Dr. Carletta S. Hurt, recognizes exceptional dedication and service to the organization and its members. Bender’s journey with the chapter includes being named a Raymond James Scholar in 2023 and serving on the National Conference Volunteer Leadership Team in 2024.

“It was a natural progression for her to serve on the board after displaying such outstanding leadership,” said Dr. Hurt, noting Bender’s

consistent commitment to showing up for members and strengthening the chapter’s community impact.

Student achievement was also a focal point of the evening. Zainab Yahaya emerged as a double honoree, receiving both the Student Member of the Year Award and the Economic Hardship Scholarship.

Yahaya was visibly surprised and expressed gratitude for the recognition, which acknowledged both her academic excellence and perseverance.

In addition to the aforementioned awards, the ceremony celebrated excellence across multiple sectors.

Howard University, represented by Dr. Carson, was named Academic Partner of the Year; Paris Henderson received the Community Service Award for outstanding dedication to service; Microsoft – BAM was honored as Collaborative Partner of the Year for its strategic engagement with the chapter; entrepreneurial leadership was recognized through the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, presented to Nicole McDonald; and Islindy Merius received the Distinguished Service Award for sustained contributions to the organization.

Monica Arrington was named Member of the Year, reflecting her consistent engagement and presence at events and activities. “Monica was the first person that came to mind,” shared Bender. “Her smile and positive energy and a welcome edition to our events.”

Altogether, the DC Black MBA Chapter presented ten-chapter awards and awarded more than $10,000 in scholarships, uplifting its dedication and commitment to leadership, education, and economic mobility. As the chapter continues with its work, the ceremony served as both a celebration and a call-toaction affirming that when leaders, students, and partners come together with purpose, the impact extends far beyond a single evening.

For more information about DC Black MBA, visit www.dcblackmbaa. org.

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025 33

34 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

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wi book review "Let Me Be Real With You"

by Arshay Cooper c.2025, HarperOne $26 240 pages

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer The hole you're in is a deep one.

You can see the clouds above, and they look like a storm; you sense the wind, and it's a cold one. It's dark down there, and lonesome, too. You feel like you were born there — but how do you get out of the deep hole you're in? You read the new book "Let Me Be Real With You" by Arshay Cooper, you find a hand-up, and bring someone with you.

In the months after his first book was published, Arshay Cooper received a lot of requests to speak to youth about his life growing up on the West Side of Chicago, his struggles, and his many accomplishments. He was poor, bullied and belittled, but he knew that if he could escape those things, he would succeed. He focused on doing what was best, and right. He looked for mentors and strove to understand when opportunities presented themselves.

Still, his early life left him with trauma. Here, he shows how it's overcome-able ...

We must always have hope, Cooper says, but hope is "merely the catalyst for action. The hope we receive must transform into the hope we give."

Learn to tell your own story, as honestly as you know it. Be open to suggestions, and don't dismiss them without great thought. Know that masculinity doesn't equal stoicism; we are hard-wired to need other people, and sharing "pain and relatability can dissipate shame and foster empathy in powerful ways."

Remember that trauma is intergenerational and can be passed down from parent to child. Let your mentors see your potential. Get therapy, if you need it; there's no shame in it, and it will help, if you learn to trust it. Enjoy the outdoors when you can.

Learn self-control. Give back to your community. Respect your financial wellness.

Embrace your intelligence. Pick your friends and relationships wisely. "Do it afraid."

And finally, remember that "You were born to soar to great heights and rule the sky."

You just needed someone to tell you that.

At first look, this book might seem like just any other self-help offering. It's inspirational for casual reader and business reader, both, just like most books in this genre. Dig a little deeper, though, and you'll spot what makes "Let Me Be Real With You" stand out.

With a willingness to discuss the struggles he tackled in the past, author Arshay Cooper writes with a solidly honest voice that's exceptionally believable, and not one bit dramatic. You won't find unnecessarily embellished stories or tall tales here, either; Cooper instead uses his real experiences to help readers understand that there are few things that are truly insurmountable. He then explains how one's past can shape one's future, and how today's actions can change the future of the world.

"Let Me Be Real With You" is full of motivation, and instruction that's doable for adults and teens. If you need that, or if you've vowed to do better this coming year, it might help make you whole.

WI

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE DEC. 18 - 24, 2025

ARIES Momentum shifts from external achievements to internal clarity. Tuesday's conversation reveals motivations behind recent behavior, changing your perspective. Competition eases as you measure against better benchmarks. A financial decision requires patience despite impulses pushing for action. Romance complications untangle when you trust what feels natural. Lucky Numbers: 8, 34, 55 TAURUS Security comes from unexpected sources as rigid plans give way to opportunities. A professional connection leads somewhere promising by Thursday. Your relationship with control shifts when letting go doesn't mean losing. Someone offers advice that irritates initially but proves valuable. Material concerns ease through perspective adjustments. Comfort zones expand when you stop equating familiarity with safety. Lucky Numbers: 12, 47, 62 GEMINI Communication skills get tested navigating difficult truths kindly. Wednesday's exchange requires balancing honesty with compassion. A creative outlet becomes surprisingly essential for mental health.

Leadership emerges naturally. Someone younger seeks your guidance; sharing experience connects you both. Lucky Numbers: 18, 42, 73 CANCER Emotional processing reaches completion on something carried for months. Dreams offer insights worth noting upon waking. Solitude serves healing, but isolation becomes counterproductive by Friday. A relationship deepens through unplanned vulnerability. Past patterns surface to show how far you've traveled. Someone's repeated presence in thoughts signals unfinished business. Lucky Numbers: 5, 29, 68 LEO Social landscapes rearrange as authentic connections strengthen while superficial ones fade. Someone unexpected becomes important through shared values rather than circumstances. Community involvement brings satisfaction individual achievements haven't lately. Tuesday's networking connects you with exactly the perspective needed. Lucky Numbers: 16, 39, 71 VIRGO Professional validation arrives quietly but significantly. A contribution made without fanfare gets noticed by someone whose opinion matters. Perfectionism loosens when you realize competence doesn't require flawlessness. Public-facing opportunities increase; visibility feels uncomfortable but serves growth.

Wednesday positions you as the authority figure despite imposter syndrome. Lucky Numbers: 7, 36, 64 LIBRA Restlessness signals growth rather than dissatisfaction. Educational pursuits call louder; that course or certification moves from consideration to commitment. Belief systems evolve as you question assumptions carried unexamined. Someone from outside your circles teaches through perspective. Knowledge sharing reaches audiences beyond expectations Thursday. Lucky Numbers: 22, 51, 70 SCORPIO Depth intensifies around shared resources and emotional investments. A financial arrangement requires transparency or reveals unsustainability. Someone's revelation shifts understanding of recent dynamics. Investigative instincts uncover information explaining confusing patterns. Intimacy deepens when vulnerability feels riskier than protection. Lucky Numbers: 11, 44, 67 SAGITTARIUS Partnerships reveal true balance as dynamics become crystal clear. Someone either matches your energy or demonstrates why continuation isn't viable. Collaboration thrives when contributions get valued equally. A commitment requires thorough consideration; enthusiasm shouldn't override diligence.

Romantic connections intensify through compromise Lucky Numbers: 26, 53, 69 CAPRICORN Daily structures transform from drudgery into sustainable rhythms. Health improvements come through incremental adjustments rather than dramatic reinventions. Work efficiency increases by eliminating rather than optimizing. Coworkers offer unexpected support when you ask instead of shouldering everything independently. Lucky Numbers: 9, 41, 72 AQUARIUS Creative expression demands manifestation beyond mental rehearsal. That project existing only in outline needs execution. Romantic possibilities improve through genuine engagement instead of detachment. Children or younger perspectives inspire unexpected delight. Hobbies previously dismissed suddenly feel essential. Lucky Numbers: 20, 45, 66 PISCES Home and family ground you in comforting rather than confining ways. A living situation improves through practical modifications or emotional breakthroughs. Real estate decisions benefit from patience over urgency. Emotional foundations strengthen when you stop accepting dysfunction and insist on peace. A family member offers unexpected understanding Tuesday. Lucky Numbers: 2, 33, 59

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DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025 35

SPORTS SPORTS from Page 4 The win wasn’t pretty or stressfree, but at this point in a long injury-filled season, the Commanders gladly welcomed the victory.

In another game without star quarterback Jayden Daniels— in his second year with the team— Washington leaned on veteran quarterback Mariota who delivered steady leadership and key plays. Mariota finished the day completing 10-of-19 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown. He guided an offense that didn’t trail at any point throughout the game and held a double-digit lead for the first time since Week Five against the Chargers.

“It’s hard to go two months without winning a football game and for our guys to be able to put that aside, fight all week knowing that it was gonna be a division opponent on the road, games like this are never easy,” said Mariota.

“The weather was tough, windy, cold, snowy— it’s so many reasons, so many things for guys to not to show up and play— and our guys found a way today.”

The offense rushed for 145 yards, led by rookie running back

Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt who carried the ball 18 times for 96 yards, and even scored a 16 yard touchdown in the second quarter. McLaurin added 69 receiving yards, highlighted by a 51 yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Washington’s special teams also had a momentum-shifting performance. Wide receiver Jaylin Lane returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, helping Washington build a 22-7 lead by halftime.

This marked Lane’s second return score of the season and he became the second player in team history to have at least two punt return touchdowns in a rookie season.

“It’s all God, man,” said Lane.

“Just glory to him for putting me in this position and giving me the abilities. And my teammates, they just breathe life into me and they have all the confidence in the world. I have confidence in them, and we’re going to make it happen.”

Clinching the Victory, Commanders Remain Positive Despite a Tough Season

“It’s hard to go two months without winning a football game and for our guys to be able to put that aside, fight all week knowing that it was gonna be a division opponent on the road, games like this are never easy.”

Marcus Mariota Veteran Quarterback

Defensively, Washington bent

5 Wide receiver Terry McLaurin dodges Giants’ defenders as he looks to make a play in the Commanders’ 29-21 victory at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14. (Marcus Relacion/The Washington Informer)

36 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

5 Running back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt makes a play as Giants’ defenders try to bring him down in the Commanders’ 29-21 victory at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14. (Marcus Relacion/The Washington Informer)

but didn’t break. The Giants recorded 384 yards on offense, but the Commanders made crucial stops when it mattered most.

Cornerback Mike Sainristil intercepted quarterback Jaxson Dart’s pass late in the first half, setting up a field goal before halftime. on the NFL’s all-time leaderboard.

New York made several late pushes, aided by four Washington fumbles, two of them in the final six minutes, and pulled within just eight points twice. Dart threw two touchdown passes and the Giants offense rushed for 146 yards.

After halftime, the Giants struck quickly with a thrilling 82-yard touchdown drive, briefly swinging momentum in the game. Despite

back-to-back turnovers that gave the Giants late life, Washington’s defense remained firm in the closing moments. The Giants turned away on downs as Washington forced incompletions on third and fourth down, running out the clock and securing the win.

There have been years where the Washington franchise has had long losing streaks, but McLaurin emphasized how different this year’s group is from previously built teams who experienced it.

“Like the locker room we have is really close,” McLaurin said as an example. “I’ve been on quite a few teams here where the season hasn’t gone how you want to. With this team it’s so unique. I think we come in each and every day and

love coming to work together. You still see guys playing cards in the locker room, you still see them hanging out together after workouts, getting together in the cold tub and in the training room… there’s never been an emotional let down like ‘our season is over, let’s just hang it up.’ I’ve never felt that from this locker room and it’s a testament to the leaders we have.”

With a victory in hand, the Commanders now shift their focus to one of their toughest tests yet: a Week 16 NFC East divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The hope is that Sunday’s win represents more than just a successful moment, but rather a meaningful step forward that signals a strong finish to offset the challenges they have faced throughout the season.

“It’s been a long season, but you come out here and you get a win, [and] you really appreciate that feeling in the locker room.

So we’re definitely going to enjoy it together,” said McLaurin. “We kind of have a short week this week playing on Saturday, so we’ll be back early next week, get better from the film, and get ready for the Eagles.”

The Commanders will be back at Northwest Stadium to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday, Dec. 20. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.

WI

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CAPTURE the moment

Guests flocked to the Organization of American States in Northwest, D.C. on Dec. 13, for the Fifth Annual Gatsby Showcase Foundation Awards Gala. A popular, sold-out event hosted by The Gatsby Showcase Foundation, actress Vivica A. Fox served as the emcee for this year’s star-studded event, which also celebrated artists, entrepreneurs and leaders and featured performances, including from D.C.’s own Kenny Latimore. This year’s honorees included: D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser; media mogul and award-winning journalist Armstrong Williams; Grammy-nominated singer Johnny Gill; D.C. Film Commissioner LaToya Foster, director of the D.C. Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment; entrepreneur and local restaurateur Paul J. Cohn; and media strategist and public relations executive Raymone K. Bain. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

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DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025 37

RELIGION Hanukkah Celebration Turns Tragic in Sydney

Faith Leaders Denounce Antisemitism

By Stacy M. Brown and Micha Green WI Senior Writer and WI Managing Editor During a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, at least 16 people were killed and 40 others hospitalized in a coordinated shooting, marking Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly 30 years.

Authorities said the attack was declared a terrorist incident and targeted Jewish Australians, shaking a nation long cited as a global model for gun reform.

The victims ranged in age from 10 to 87. Among the dead was a Holocaust survivor who was killed while shielding his wife from gunfire.

Rabbi Levi Shemtov, a leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in D.C., told WUSA9 that multiple members of his family were at the Hanukkah celebration, adding that his great-nephew was shot and is currently in the ICU. “My nephew said he was literally hiding in fear with his daughter as bullets were whizzing by,” Shemtov said.

“He survived miraculously.”

Another figure has emerged as a symbol of courage amid the carnage: Ahmed al Ahmed. The son of Syrian refugees, Ahmed was identified by police as a bystander who wrestled a gun away from one of the attackers, likely preventing further bloodshed.

Australian media identified the suspects as a father and son: 50-year-old

5 An advocate holds a sign during an event in Bowie denouncing antisemitism in 2022. Faith leaders in D.C. and nationwide are denouncing antisemitism and spreading love after a shooting at Bondi Beach that killed 16 people and injured dozens of others at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Dec. 14. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

Sajid Akram and 24-year-old Naveed Akram. The younger Akram was born in Australia. His father immigrated to the country in 1998 and was killed at

ning,” according to a statement from the New South Wales government.

Faith Leaders Remember Victims in Bondi Beach Attack

In D.C. and worldwide, politicians, faith leaders and residents alike expressed condolences, denounced antisemitism, and emphasized love and light in the face of hatred and darkness.

“The Jewish message can never be fear. Shemtov, one of the organizers of the National Menorah Lighting on the Ellipse– which was held Sunday evening— told WUSA9. “But we must always show strength and resolve and faith in God. That is what has carried us through the toughest moments of previous times, it's what is going to carry us forward now.”

Imam Talib M. Shareef of Masjid Muhammad, also known as The Nation’s Mosque, said he stands “in full solidarity,” with the Jewish community across the world.

WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

In Memory of the Rt. Rev. Reginald T. Jackson

Faith Leaders, Activists Celebrate ‘A Fallen Drum Major for Justice’

By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor Held at St. Philip AME Church in Atlanta, Georgia, Dec. 12 was a moment of tribute and celebration for the hundreds of loved ones gathered in honor of the late Rt. Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, formerly presiding prelate of the Second Episcopal District, who died on Nov. 25.

The 132nd elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), Jackson’s unshakable impact was celebrated through various tributes and testimonies that all but immoralized the religious leader as a global steward of faith and changemaking.“[Jackson] was a fearless, resilient political giant who was not afraid to speak truth to power, not afraid to confront injustices, not afraid to stand against dark rulers in high places,” said Dr. Deborah Taylor King, international president of the Connectional Women's Missionary Society, during a tribute on Dec. 12. “Whether it was at the church house, mission house, courthouse or White House, this ecclesiastical giant served as an unapologetic and unshakable force…anchored by the requirements of God.”

38 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

the scene, authorities said. Investigators have not disclosed whether the younger suspect was taken into custody or remains under investigation.

The attack has reopened deep national wounds in a country that believed it had largely consigned mass shootings to history.

After the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, Australia banned semi-automatic weapons, launched a mandatory national gun buyback, and tightened firearm licensing. Hundreds of thousands of guns were removed from circulation. Mass shootings nearly vanished.

Gun deaths fell sharply.

In the aftermath of the Bondi Beach attack, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced new steps to strengthen Australia’s already strict gun laws, including tighter restrictions on who can obtain a firearms license. The announcement followed an emergency Cabinet meeting earlier today.

“The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) has commenced an investigation into a mass casualty public place shooting that resulted in 16 people dying and 40 people being injured in Sydney’s east yesterday eve-

5 The late Rt. Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, formerly presiding prelate of the Second Episcopal District, at a June 2021 event in Washington, D.C. Jackson died on Nov. 25.

(WI File Photo/Roy Lewis)

Jackson faithfully served several assignments such as: Ecumenical and Urban Affairs Officer of the AME Church and bishops of the bishop of the Twentieth Episcopal District (Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Uganda), Sixth Episcopal District (Georgia); and most recently, the Second Episcopal District, where he presided over Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia until his death.

In his final year, among a sea of influential actions, Jackson is credited with spearheading the local call for the nationwide “Target Target” boycott.

Beyond the pulpit, the faith leader’s memory lives in the name of a trailblazer, father and dear friend poised to be

a lifelong servant of God, “who never lost the common touch,” added Bishop Michael Mitchell, presiding prelate of the Sixth Episcopal District.

In a social media tribute, the Rev. Al Sharpton, president and founder of the National Action Network, applauded “a friend and brother in the struggle” for his towering devotion to justice, service “and the empowerment of our people.”

Jackson is succeeded by his two children Regina Victoria Jackson and Seth Joshua Jackson.

The Rev. Dr. Harry L. Seawright will return to the Second Episcopal District, vacating his episcopal assignment in the Thirteenth Episcopal District.

Reflecting on a rich life and powerful legacy, King offered her parting words to someone she considers far more than a pivotal voice of ministry, but “a fallen drum major for justice.”

“Thank you, Bishop Jackson, for leading the charge through sanctuaries and political arenas….for challenging us to rise up, to speak up, and to act for such a time as this,” she said.

A full profile on The Rev. Dr. Harry L. Seawright will be published in the Dec. 25 edition of The Washington Informer.

WI

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RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Kimmie Awards Celebrate Resilience and Faith in Action

The Kimmie Awards, presented during the Queen's Brunch hosted

by Dr. Alethia Tucker as Ms. Corporate America Maryland state director, honor women leaders for their service and purpose. The awards are presented during events such as the Queen's Brunch, hosted by Dr. Tucker in her capacity as Ms. Corporate America Maryland state director. Proceeds from associated events sometimes benefit the Kim's Girls College Fund and the organization Women Giving Back.

Recipients are often women leaders in various fields who demonstrate leadership through service and purpose. Past recipients of the Kimmie Awards portion of the program include women from various professions, chosen by Dr. Tucker through her Ms. Corporate America Maryland events. This is a combined event, which includes the honorees who were recognized for their significant community impact as "Everyday Queens." Each of these honorees embodies the strength, character and perseverance of Kimberly McCormick, the woman for whom the award is named.

Who is Kimberly McCormick, you ask? Let me share a bit more of her life story.

Kim was truly one of a kind — admired for her wit, sassy spirit, creativity and contagious zest for life.

A devoted wife and loving mother of two daughters, she brought that same energy to every area of her life, from her work at both the state and federal government levels to her thriving catering business, where she was especially known for her exceptional cupcakes and pound cakes.

Despite living for years with polycystic kidney disease and later mul-

tiple sclerosis, Kim faced life with unwavering positivity, strength and perseverance, always encouraging her family and refusing to be defined by her challenges. Though her immunocompromised body could not withstand COVID and she passed away shortly after her 50th birthday, her legacy endures as a powerful example of resilience, character and courage for her family and all who knew her.

The 2025 honorees recognized for their community impact include — along with yours truly — Monica LaPenta, Sharon Anderson and Diane McDuffie.

Monica LaPenta is visionary executive director and CEO of The BIT Center, a Baltimore nonprofit transforming community health through food education, arts and youth empowerment. A social entrepreneur and children's author, she builds pathways where culture, compassion and innovation nourish both people and place. Her personal motto: "I rise with purpose, turning every challenge into a table of possibility."

Sharon Anderson is CEO and founder of GirlSpeak Inc. She leads initiatives that celebrate, educate, empower and unite young women ages 11-24. With more than 20 years of youth mentorship, she has developed impactful programs and conferences, including the organization's signature life skills program, How's Your S.E.L.F.I.E. Game, implemented in various schools

throughout Prince George's County. Her personal motto: "I Believe. I Can. I Do." Diane McDuffie is a community liaison and retired civil servant who has devoted her life to service and community uplift. With 30 years in the federal government and more than two decades of volunteer leadership, she continues to champion youth development and provide resources to families and schools where support makes all the difference. Her favorite quote: "Helping others fills me with purpose and strengthens the world around me."

As for myself, I am a nationally recognized keynote speaker, radio show host, syndicated newspaper columnist and author. I have presented and served as keynote speaker at hundreds of engagements, am a motivational speaker and received the President's Lifetime Achievement Award. I am the author of three books: "Destiny's Door, Turning Milestones Into Stepping Stones"; "The Sharecropper's Daughter, It Doesn't Matter Where You Begin, But Where You End That Counts"; and "Reinvented to Rise Vol. II." My favorite quote is from the Bible, Romans 8:28, which says, "And I know that all things work together for good, to them who love God and are the called according to His purpose."

WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com

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DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025 39

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

40 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

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!

facebook.com/WashingtonInformer youtube.com/WashingtonInformerTV • X: @WashInformer Hosted by Denise Rolark Barnes - Publisher of The Washington Informer WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025 41

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

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

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

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

2025 ADM 548

2023 ADM 001303

2025 ADM 001149

2025 FEP 000139

2025 ADM 001202

Franklin Keys Decedent

Estate of James E. Proctor aka James Proctor

J’Kai Anthony Lewis Decedent

December 3, 2023 Date of Death

Nana Traore Sidibe Decedent

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

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

Suren G. Adams, Esq. Adams Law Offices, LLC 4201 Mitchellville Rd., Suite 500 Bowie MD 20715 Attorney

Patricia Geraldine Caldwell Name of Decedent

Lynee C. Murchison, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Northview Drive, Suite 401 Bowie, MD 20716 Attorney

J. Anthony Concino III, Esq., whose address is 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Franklin Keys who died on November 23, 2024 without a Will. 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 6/4/2026. 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 6/4/2026, 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.

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Lori M. Willingham 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 OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Date of first publication: 12/4/2025

Deborah Caldwell Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 12/4/2025

LaKeysha Lewis Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Djeneba Sidibe Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Washington Informer

TRUE TEST COPY

J. Anthony Concino III, Esq. Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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 001227 Rena Jones Decedent Lynee C. Murchison, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Mitchellville Road, Suite 500 Bowie, MD 20716 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Vannessa M. Corley, whose address is 308 F Street, NE, Washington DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Rena Jones who died on August 16, 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 6/4/2026. 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 6/4/2026, 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: 12/4/2025 Vannessa M. Corley Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Copyright Notice for Publication Copyright Notice: All rights reserved regarding common-law copyright of trade-names/trade-marks, not excluding any and all derivatives and variations in spelling of any of said names.

DERRICK BRYAN MARSEILLE©; Derrick Bryan Marseille©; derrick bryan marseille©; DERRICK MARSEILLE©; Derrick Marseille©; derrick marseille©; MARSEILLE, DERRICK B.©; Marseille, Derrick B.©; marseille, derrick b.©; MARSEILLE, DERRICK BRYAN©; Marseille, Derrick Bryan©; marseille, derrick bryan©; D. BRYAN MARSEILLE©; D. Bryan Marseille©; d. bryan marseille©; MARSEILLE, D.B©; Marseille, D.B.©; marseille, d.b.©; DERRICK B MARSEILLE©; DERRICK B. MARSEILLE©; derrick b marseille©; derrick b. marseille©; Derrick B. Marseille©; Derrick B Marseille©; D.B. MARSEILLE©; d.b. marseille©; D.B. Marseille©; D.B.M.©; d.b.m.©; MR. DERRICK MARSEILLE©; MR. DERRICK BRYAN MARSEILLE©; MR. DERRICK B. MARSEILLE©; and M. Gordon Kennedy© ; Michael G. Kennedy© ; Michael G Kennedy© ; Michael Kennedy© ; Gordon Kennedy© ; M. Kennedy© ; Michael G. K.© ; M. G. Kennedy© ; Kennedy, Michael Gordon© ; Michael Gordon Kennedy© ; Michael G Kennedy© ; M. GORDON KENNEDY© ; MICHAEL G. KENNEDY© ; MICHAEL G KENNEDY© ; MICHAEL KENNEDY© ; GORDON KENNEDY© ; M. KENNEDY© ; MICHAEL G. K.© ; M. G. KENNEDY© ; KENNEDY, MICHAEL GORDON© ; MICHAEL GORDON KENNEDY© ; MICHAEL G KENNEDY© ; and CARL ISAAC DAVIS©; Carl Isaac Davis©; carl isaac davis©; CARL I. DAVIS©; Carl I. Davis©; carl i. davis©; C.I. DAVIS©; C. I. Davis©; ci davis©; CARLISAACDAVIS©; CarlIsaacDavis©; carlisaacdavis©; CARL-ISAAC-DAVIS©; Carl-Isaac-Davis©; carl-isaac-davis©; CARL_ISAAC_DAVIS©; Carl Isaac Davis©; carl_isaac_davis©; CARL•ISAAC•DAVIS©; Carl•Isaac•Davis©; carl•isaac•davis©; CARL ISAAC D.©; Carl Isaac D.©; carl isaac d.©; C. ISAAC DAVIS©; C. Isaac Davis©; c. isaac davis©; C. I. D.©; C.I.D.©; cid©; CARLISAAC D.©; CarlIsaac D.©; carlisaac d.©; CARL D.©; Carl D.©; carl d.©; C. DAVIS©; C. Davis©; c. davis©; Carl I. Davis ©; CARL ISAAC-DAVIS©; Carl Isaac-Davis©; carl isaac-davis©; CARL I DAVIS©; Carl I Davis©; Carl Davis©; carl i davis©; C I DAVIS©; C I. Davis©; ci davis©; CARL ISAAC DAVÍS©; Carl Isaac Davís©; carl isaac davís©;Davis.C. I©; Carl-Isaac: Davis©; C-I.:Davis©; 0and Raleigh L. Burch©; Raleigh l. burch©; Burch, Raleigh L.©; BURCH, RALEIGH L.©; Raleigh l.burch©; Burch Raleigh L.©; RALEIGH BURCH©; respectively-Common Law Copyright© 1973, 1985, and 1990, respectively, by Derrick Bryan Marseille©; and Michael G. Kennedy©; and Carl Isaac Davis©; and Raleigh L. Burch©; and as well as any and all derivatives and variations in the spelling of said tradename/trademarks.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

42 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

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

Date of first publication: 12/4/2025

Date of first publication: 12/4/2025

Lori M. Willingham 757 Conisburgh Court Stone Mountain, GA 30087 Petitioner/Attorney:

Date of first publication: December 4, 2025

Deborah Caldwell whose address is 3444 Flat River Drive, Durham, NC 27703 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Patricia Geraldine Caldwell, deceased, by the General Court for Durham County, State of North Carolina, on February 23, 2024.

Service of process may be made upon John Willie Caldwell, Jr. 3344 5th Street SE Washington, DC 20032 whose designation as District of Columbia agent has been filed with the Register of Wills, D.C. The decedent owned the following District of Columbia real property: 510 Trenton Street SE, Washington, DC 20032 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.

Djeneba Sidibe, whose address is 13124 Wornington Court, Houston, TX 77077, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Nana Traore Sidibe who died on 4/10/2024 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 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 6/4/2026. 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 6/4/2026, 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.

LaKeysha Lewis, whose address is 5508 Central Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of J’Kai Anthony Lewis who died on 1/7/2005 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 6/4/2026. 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 6/4/2026, 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.

Admit to probate the will dated September 12, 2017 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIVIL DIVISION Case Number: 2025-CAB-004547 Judge: Maribeth Raffinan ESTATE OF THEODORE R. BROWN v.

LILLIAN MAE BROWN ORDER Before the Court is Plaintiffs’ Consent Motion to Authorize Service by Publication, filed on October 30, 2025. Upon consideration of the Motion and the entire record herein, it is this 24th day of November 2025, hereby: ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ Consent Motion to Authorize Service

by Publication is GRANTED; and it is further, ORDERED that the Plaintiffs are authorized to publish the following notice in the Daily Washington Law Reporter and the Washington Informer twice a month for three successive months, which notice shall include the caption of this case: The object of this action is to establish title to 4854 Brooks St NE Washington DC 20019, known for assessment and taxation purposes as Square 5141, Lots 12 and 13, in the name of the Theodore R. Brown. The purpose of this publication is to ensure that there are no unknown heirs or devisees of Lillian Mae Brown, who is listed as a tenant by the entirety of this property.

The complaint alleges that Lillian Mae Brown was born on or around 1910, and that she died on or around 1980; and it is further, ORDERED that any person claiming an interest in this property or in this action must cause their appearance to be entered herein on or before the fortieth day, exclusive of Sundays and legal holidays, occurring after the day of the first publication of this Order; otherwise this cause will be proceeded with as in case of default. SO ORDERED. /s/ Judge Maribeth Raffinan, Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Pub Dates: Dec 4, 11, 2025; Jan 1,8; Feb 5, 12, 2026

NOTICE OF AN UNREGISTERED CLAIM Notice is hereby given that Nicole–Star: Williams, a living woman and the Executrix and Beneficiary of the NICOLE STAR WILLIAMS ESTATE, publishes this Notice of an Unregistered Claim for the purpose of giving public constructive notice of her equitable title, right of reversion, and first-priority claim in the property described herein.

The property subject to this Claim is the birth and estate record of “NICOLE STAR WILLIAMS,” documenting the birth of a female child on May 26, 1983, registered with Los Angeles County Vital Records on June 13, 1983, including the original and amended records reflecting the corrected name Nicole–Star: Williams, and all commercial, fiscal, and administrative estates, accounts, securities, credits, book-entries, and proceeds created through or arising from such registration. All beneficial rights in this property revert to the living woman and are held through the NICOLE S WILLIAMS LIVING REVOCABLE TRUST. The Claimant has never abandoned, transferred, conveyed, waived, or otherwise alienated her beneficial interest in the above-referenced property. She maintains continuous identity, ownership, and right of reversion. No superior equitable claim has ever been produced.

Abstract of Title: Original Source: The life and private estate of the living woman Nicole–Star: Williams.

First Public Entry: Registration of the estate record titled “NICOLE STAR WILLIAMS” on June 13, 1983.

Custodial Holding: Administrative and fiscal custody under federal authorities, including the Secretary of the Treasury, the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and the Custodian of Alien Property.

Reversion and Priority Claim: All rights, titles, interests, credits, securities, and derivative proceeds revert to the living woman and are presently held through the NICOLE S WILLIAMS LIVING REVOCABLE TRUST. Notice to Agent is Notice to Principal. Notice to Principal is Notice to Agent.

This Notice is directed to all fundholders and fiscal agents, including the Secretary of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Custodian of Alien Property, and all administrative or commercial custodians of the registered estate.

A true copy of this Notice is concurrently served by United States Postal Service Registered Mail, establishing the Claim as a Registered Security under Universal Postal Union regulations.

Any party asserting an adverse or superior claim must submit a written objection within thirty (30) days of first publication of this Notice to: Nicole–Star: Williams c/o Post Office Box 322 Corona, California 92878 Failure to rebut shall constitute agreement, estoppel by acquiescence, and final perfection of this Unregistered Claim as uncontested and binding.

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2025 ADM 001105 Charles E. Saul aka Charles Edward Saul Decedent Lynee C. Murchison, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Mitchellville Rd., Suite 500 Bowie, MD 20716 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Stacy Anita Saul, whose address is 1249 Kearney Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Charles E. Saul aka Charles Edward Saul who died on 2/11/2025 with 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 6/11/2026. 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 6/11/2026, 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: 12/11/2025 Stacy Anita Saul Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

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

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

2023 ADM 000849

2025 ADM 001231

2025 ADM 001257

Annie Marby Decedent

Cassandra Satterfield Decedent

Daniel Andre Haufler Decedent

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

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

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

James Woodard & Acquanda Woodard, whose addresses are 324 55th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20019 & 2810 Shipley Terr., SE, Apt. 102, Washington, DC 20020, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Annie Marby who died on May 13, 2021 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 6/18/2026. 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 6/18/2026, 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.

Kenneth D’Wayne Tinch, whose address is 24 35th Street NE, Washington DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Cassandra Satterfield who died on 9/2/2024 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 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 6/18/2026. 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 6/18/2026, 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.

Kai-Uwe Hilger Spicher, whose address is 4645 Reservoir Rd., NW, Washington, DC 20007, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Daniel Andre Haufler who died on 2/27/2023 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 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 6/18/2026. 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 6/18/2026, 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: 12/18/2025

Date of first publication: 12/18/2025

Kenneth D’Wayne Tinch Personal Representative

Kai-Uwe Hilger Spicher 4645 Reservoir Rd, NW Washington, DC 20007 Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 12/18/2025 James Woodard Acquanda Woodard Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Washington Informer

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

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

2025 ADM 001247

2022 ADM 000938

2025 ADM 000844

Henry T. Holmes Decedent

Nathaniel Carl Cannon Decedent

Taye Bezuneh Tessema Decedent

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

Samuel C. Hamilton, Esq. 8601 Georgia Ave. #504 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Attorney

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Naionnda J. Dorsey, whose address is 1702 M Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Henry T. Holmes who died on 10/25/2025 with 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 6/18/2026. 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 6/18/2026, 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: 12/18/2025 Naionnda J. Dorsey Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Kevin Judd, Esq., whose address is 601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 900, South Building, Washington, DC 20004, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Nathaniel Carl Cannon who died on 12/17/2014 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 6/18/2026. 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 6/18/2026, 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: 12/18/2025 Kevin Judd, Esq. Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Alem Taye, whose address is 5058 Gaither’s Chance Dr., Clarksville MD 21029, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Taye Bezuneh Tessema who died on 4/3/2025 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 6/18/2026. 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 6/18/2026, 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: 12/18/2025 Alem Taye Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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LEGAL NOTICES Copyright Notice for Publication Copyright Notice: All rights reserved regarding common-law copyright of trade-names/trade-marks, not excluding any and all derivatives and variations in spelling of any of said names, HENRY NATHANIEL MCLUCAS, JR, ©: HENRY N. MCLUCAS, JR, ©; Henry N. McLucas, Jr©; HENRY MCLUCAS, JR ©; Henry McLucas, Jr ©; HENRY NATHANIEL MCLUCAS, JR. ©; HENRY N. MCLUCAS, JR. ©; Henry N. McLucas, Jr. ©; HENRY MCLUCAS, JR. ©; Henry McLucas, Jr. ©; HENRY NATHANIEL MCLUCAS©; HENRY N. MCLUCAS©; Henry N. McLucas ©; Henry McLucas© and TISHA TRIVONA PINKARD©; Tisha Trivona Pinkard©; tisha trivona pinkard©; TISHA T.PINKARD©; Tisha T. Pinkard©; tisha t. pinkard©; T.T. PINKARD©; T.T. Pinkard©; t.t. pinkard©; TISHA PINKARD©; Tisha Pinkard©; tisha pinkard©; PINKARD, TISHA TRIVONA©; Pinkard, Tisha Trivona©; pinkard, tisha trivona©; PINKARD, TISHA T.©; Pinkard, Tisha T.©; pinkard, tisha t.©; PINKARD, T.T.©; Pinkard, T.T.©; pinkard, t.t.©; T. TRIVONA PINKARD©; T. Trivona Pinkard©; t. trivona pinkard©; Ms.TISHA PINKARD©; Ms.TISHA T. PINKARD©; Ms.Tisha Pinkard©; Ms.Tisha T. Pinkard©; Ms. T.T.PINKARD©; Ms.T.T. Pinkard©; Ms. TISHA TRIVONA PINKARD©; Ms. Tisha Trivona Pinkard©; ms.tisha pinkard©; ms.tisha trivona pinkard©; ms. tisha t. pinkard©; ms. t.t.pinkard©; ms. t.pinkard©; Ms. T. Pinkard©; Ms. T. PINKARD© and Vergina Johnson©; VERGINA JOHNSON©; Vergina V. Johnson©; VERGINA V. JOHNSON©; Vergina Valencia Johnson©; VERGINA VALENCIA JOHNSON©; V. Valencia Johnson©; V. VALENCIA JOHNSON©; V. JOHNSON©; V. JOHNSON©; V.V. Johnson©; V.V. JOHNSON©; V.V.J.©; VV.J.©; v.v.j.©; v.j©; Johnson, Vergina©; JOHNSON, VERGINA©; Johnson, Vergina V©; JOHNSON, VERGINA V©; Johnson, V©; JOHNSON, V.©; Johnson, Vergina Valencia©; JOHNSON, VERGINA VALENCIA©; Johnson,V.V.©; JOHNSON,V.V.©; Johnson, V. Valencia©; JOHNSON, V. VALENCIA©; Ms. Vergina Johnson©; MS. VERGINA VALENCIA©; Ms. Vergina V. Johnson©; MS. VERGINA V. JOHNSON©; Ms.Vergina Valencia Johnson©; MS. VERGINA VALENCIA JOHNSON©; Ms. V. Valencia Johnson©; MS. V. VALENCIA JOHNSON©; Ms. V. Johnson©; MS. V. JOHNSON©; Ms. V.V. Johnson©; MS. V.V. JOHNSON©; MS. V.V.J.©; Ms. V.J.©; ms.v.v.j.©; ms.v.j.©; Ms. Johnson, Vergina©; MS. JOHNSON, VERGINA©; Ms. Johnson, Vergina V.©; MS. JOHNSON, VERGINA V.©; Ms. Johnson, V©; MS. JOHNSON, V.©; Ms. Johnson, Vergina Valencia©; MS. JOHNSON, VERGINA VALENICA©; Ms. Johnson, V. V.©; MS. JOHNSON, V.V.©; Ms. Johnson, V. Valencia©; JOHNSON, V. VALENCIA©; and LACHEZ MONTENISE MCLUCAS©; Lachez M. Mclucas©; lachez m. mclucas©; LACHEZ M. MCLUCAS©; Lachez Montenise Mclucas©; lachez montenise mclucas©; L.M. MCLUCAS ©; L.M. Mclucas©; L.M. McLucas©; LACHEZ MCLUCAS©; Lachez Mclucas©; lachez mclucas©; MCLUCAS, LACHEZ MONTENISE©; Mclucas, Lachez Montenise ©; mclucas, lachez montenise ©; LACHEZ M. MCLUCAS©; MCLUCAS, LACHEZ M. ©; mclucas, lachez m.©; No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the copyright owners in red ink, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

of crime statistics, including: frequent use of lesser charges and requirements that certain crimes be reviewed by her office.

The House committee report, compiled with the use of interviews with commanders of all seven patrol districts and a former commander who’s currently suspended, said that Smith used “fear, intimidation, threats and retaliation” in her crusade, all while lowering officer morale.

Earlier in the week, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), who’s currently in the midst of selecting Smith’s replacement, blasted congressional and federal officials for their accusations. In a letter, she pointed out that the House committee didn’t reach out to neither her nor Smith. She also hinted at what she called an overarching motive in release of the House committee report.

“Rather than letting the investigation proceed and risk losing the opportunity for attention grabbing headlines if it were released after Chief Smith’s retirement after nearly three decades of law enforcement service,” Bowser’s letter read, “the Committee stooped to ad hominem attacks using cherry-picked quotes without providing additional relevant context.”

The Work Beings on the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget

In adherence to the D.C. Home Rule Act, the council unanimously approved the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Submission Requirements Resolution of 2025 on Dec. 16. This legislation, which includes an amendment correcting two technical errors in the original language, mandates that D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser submits her Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal no later than April 1, 2026.

As D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) explained to his colleagues, he and City Administrator Kevin Donahue will conduct regular meetings between January and April 1 to track the progress of the budget compilation.

Also on Mendelson’s radar is the D.C. Office of the Chief Financial Officer’s February 2026 revenue estimates, which the council and Bowser administration would need to guide them in budgetary matters. For him, fidelity to the budget deliberation timeline is a matter of addressing yetto-be-reconciled problems.

WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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JEALOUS from Page 26 lution associated with data center growth could contribute to approximately 1,300 premature deaths annually nationwide by 2030, with an estimated public health burden approaching $20 billion.

But it does not have to be this way.

We can build data centers today that eliminate operational water consumption entirely — and with the right policy reforms, they can be built at lower total cost than conventional designs.

The solution is zero-water cooling through immersion systems with dry heat rejection. Instead of water, servers are cooled using specialized dielectric fluids. Instead of evaporative cooling towers, heat is rejected through air-cooled radiators or geothermal systems. In these configurations, operational water use is eliminated.

Some raise concerns about the safety of dielectric cooling fluids.

Modern formulations are engineered to be non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe for humans and wildlife. The answer is not avoiding zero-water systems, but requiring the safest available fluids rather

NALLEY from Page 26

dentialing: Increasing employer investment in training and credential programs can improve transparency and establish direct pathways into employment for Black workers and learners.

• Addressing Learner Needs and Financial Realities: Providing learners with holistic financial support can remove obstacles that impact Black learners' access, persistence and completion.

• Fostering Successful Work-

than the cheapest.

Industry representatives argue that zero-water cooling is too expensive. That claim does not withstand scrutiny.

Multiple industry analyses, pilot deployments, and academic studies indicate that zero-water data center systems increase upfront capital costs by roughly 35% to 45%. However, analyses synthesizing findings across these studies suggest that targeted policy and procurement reforms can more than offset those added costs.

These reforms include streamlined permitting for zero-water systems, public sharing of facility designs tied to development incentives, competitive bidding requirements, bulk purchasing cooperatives, standardized modular systems, antitrust enforcement in cooling equipment markets, and shared geothermal infrastructure where appropriate.

Taken together, these measures could reduce total project costs by more than 10% while eliminating operational water consumption altogether. In other words, we can build cheaper data centers without draining aquifers or compromising drinking water.

Strong safeguards must accom-

pany any expansion. Communities deserve meaningful input on whether data centers locate nearby. Facilities should be confined to industrial zones, with enforceable buffers for noise, heat, and air quality. Homes and schools should be off limits.

Jerome Township has already enacted a moratorium on new data centers, citing utility and safety concerns. Other communities across Ohio are paying close attention.

The technology exists. The economics can work. What remains is political will.

Big Tech will complain. Some companies may threaten to locate elsewhere. But no community should accept development that requires sacrificing clean water or public health.

Whatever ultimately caused the health crisis in Oregon, Ohio communities are already feeling the strain of unchecked data center growth. We know how to prevent similar harm. We know it can save money.

The only remaining question is whether our leaders will act in time — or wait until the damage is done.

WI

force Development Collaborations: Collaborating with workforce, education and industry stakeholders can ensure the inclusion of diverse perspectives, strengthen relationships and streamline cohesion when implementing new workforce development initiatives.

• Navigating Data Challenges and Accountability: Advancing data infrastructure and publicly available data can help identify disparities more effectively, exam-

ine labor market trends and aid Black learners in making informed decisions about their futures.

• Implementing Race-Conscious Strategies in a Challenging Climate: Implementing intentional, race-conscious workforce development strategies is integral to promoting the participation of Black workers and learners, increasing Black worker power and building a diverse advanced manufacturing, technology and energy workforce. WI

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Those currently attacking the District would have you believe that we never had self-government. They are right that there was a Dark Age, from 1874 to 1973, when D.C.'s right to an elected mayor and legislature were denied, and the District was ruled by fiat through presidentially appointed "commissioners." Unelected and often with no connection to or interest in the District, these "commissioners" were D.C.'s rulers for almost 100 years. In the aftermath of World War II, in which so many Americans — including D.C. residents and Blacks from across the U.S. — fought valiantly for democracy, President Eisenhower led the fight to do away with outsiders ruling over the District and bring elected government back. In his 1954 State of the Union address, President Eisenhower said, "the time is long overdue for granting national suffrage to [D.C.'s] citizens and also applying the principle of local self-government to the nation's capital."

Do not believe the lies that the president and Republicans in Congress tell about the District. We in

TILGHMAN from Page 27

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delayed or services are inconsistent, the effects on a child's development can be long-lasting.

As a father, this experience has been a powerful lesson in the importance of advocacy. I've learned to ask questions, seek clarity and push for accountability, not out of confrontation, but out of necessity. No parent should feel like they have to master bureaucracy just to ensure their child receives appropriate support.

Prince George's County has an opportunity to improve how families experience special education. That means clearer communication, timely evaluations,

the District are proud to call the District home. Yes, we have problems, just like any other place.

Those problems will become drastically worse if people like us, longtime citizens of the District, need to beg — literally, beg — members of Congress to fix potholes, ensure our streets are cleaned, and the garbage is collected. Indeed, Congress enacted the D.C. Home Rule Act to get Congress out of local government in the District and train its focus on its core missions on national (not local) legislation. A federal court recently found that, "the District has a right to govern itself and to determine how to enforce laws in the District." District residents by citizen referendum have voted repeatedly, and overwhelmingly, in support of the right to govern ourselves and the right to elect our own attorney general.

Republicans once argued that local problems are best addressed by the government closest to the people they govern. Those of us who call the District home know that solutions to D.C.'s challenges will not come from senators and representatives or other unelected officials from far-flung places including South Carolina, West Virginia,

Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Ohio, Georgia, Alabama and South Dakota who do not know the neighborhoods or the people of this great city (but are happy to uproot their citizens to mill often aimlessly on our streets, the Mall and other public spaces). The solutions to our challenges will come from within, from D.C.'s elected officials, from our community leaders, and from our neighbors.

D.C.'s residents deserve the same rights that all other Americans have. Congress should focus on issues facing the entire nation and stop the illegal and anti-American efforts to strip the District of its right to self-governance. We in the District have fought hard for our limited democracy; Congress should not destroy it. The Senate should reject all of the bills that House of Representatives has passed to overturn our locally passed criminal justice reforms and strip the District of limited autonomy it currently enjoys. We are determined to continue our fight for the same rights to self-government supported by the Founders and enjoyed by the citizens of the 50 states.

WI

adequate staffing and a process that treats parents as partners from the start. IEP meetings should feel collaborative, not transactional.

Our children are not paper-

work. They are learners with unique needs, talents and potential. The systems built to support them should reflect that truth, consistently and without unnecessary struggle. WI

Prince George's County has an opportunity to improve how families experience special education. That means clearer communication, timely evaluations, adequate staffing and a process that treats parents as partners from the start.

Discover

OWOLEWA/BOGAN from Page 27 activities, communal spaces alive with joy, made for them. Resilient drug programs to fight the heroin and cocaine funneled into Black and brown communities for generations making arms dealers and Big Pharma rich. Fill those empty, city-owned buildings with af-

fordable apartments, not hollow promises.

If they ticket us with corner cameras but deny Metro stops, they're not for us. If they wage war on the poor and addicted here while bombing nations gasping for freedom abroad, they're not for us.

The swamp has become an ocean of greed and corruption. But D.C.

has endured darker nights, and we've never had more resources to resist, and we've never had more power.

Join the resistance. Get in the fight — this old game with new fire. Start in our neighborhoods; let elites take a seat until we're satisfied. This is our city. Let's take it back — for you! WI

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DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025 47

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48 DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025

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