The Washington Informer - October 27, 2022

Advocates and Elected Officials Clash on Revised D.C. Criminal Code

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

The D.C. Council Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety is gearing up for a vote on the Revised Criminal Code Act. If passed when the committee meets on Wednesday, this legislation will update the District’s more-than-a-cen tury old criminal code.

Much to the chagrin of racial justice advocates, committee members have since taken out portions of legislation authored by the District’s independent Criminal Code Reform Commission (CCRC), including a provision that elim inates mandatory minimums for criminal offenses.

Other parts of the Revised Criminal Code Act on the chopping block include those that secure jury trials for misdemeanors and reduce the District’s most extreme penalties.

D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), chair of the D.C. Coun cil Committee on the Judiciary, introduced an amendment extending the wait

New

Reveals Black Voters Mood is Tempered by

and Racism

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Amid Court Battle, Biden Administration Encourages Borrowers to Apply for Debt Relief

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

For the time being, a legal battle between the Biden administration and six conservative states has paused a recently launched student loan forgiveness program. Even so, administration officials remain adamant about encouraging Americans from different walks to submit applications online.

On Monday evening, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona attempted to lay to rest any notion that some segments of the population wouldn’t be able to benefit from the Biden administration’s latest advancement in student loan debt relief.

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Russian Court Upholds Brittney Griner Conviction

WNBA star Brittney Griner will remain in a Russian prison and serve the bulk of her nine-year sentence following the Moscow Regional Court’s decision on Tuesday to uphold her earlier conviction and sentence for drug possession. The court credited Griner, who has been in custody since Feb. 17, with 1.5 days of time served Tuesday’s outcome only hastened fears that Griner would now be sent to one of Russia’s brutal prison colonies, where abuse and even torture reportedly occur routinely.

“We are aware of the news out of Russia that Brittney Griner will continue to be wrongfully detained under intol erable circumstances after having to undergo another sham judicial proceeding today,” U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan Sullivan told reporters. “President Biden has been very clear that Brittney should be released immediately.” Griner, 32, pleaded guilty in July to drug smuggling but maintains she didn’t intend to commit a crime, but rather accidentally carried a small amount of cannabis oil in her rush to pack her luggage. WI

Pepco Offers Customers Access to Grants to Help Pay Their Energy Bills

Pepco is encouraging residential customers to apply for energy assistance and take advantage of tens of millions of dollars that are now available through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which began accepting applications for the current program year in the District of Columbia on October 1, 2022. The LIHEAP year began in Maryland in July. LIHEAP is a federally fund ed program that helps limited-income households with their home energy bills on a first come, first served basis and is only available until money runs out.

LIHEAP provides grants in varying amounts (up to $1,800 in the District of Columbia and $2,213 in Mary land), with no payback required, based on a household's income, type of fuel and type of dwelling. Homeowners, renters, roomers, and subsidized housing tenants may be eligible. Customers do not have to be behind on their bills to receive a grant.

Maryland Delegation Announces Nearly $3 Million to Combat Illegal Drugs

Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Con gressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sar banes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $2,782,058 to support the Maryland State Police in curbing the use of il legal and dangerous drugs statewide. This federal funding comes through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) An ti-Methamphetamine Program (CAMP) and Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF). Both programs help state law enforce ment agencies investigate and shut down laboratories and illicit distribution networks related to the sale of metham phetamine, heroin, fentanyl and carfentanil.

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is pub lished weekly on each Thursday. Periodi cals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and ad vertising deadline is Monday prior to pub lication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Inform er, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $55 per year, two years $70. Papers will be received not more than a week after pub lication. Make checks payable to:

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PUBLISHER

Denise Rolark Barnes

STAFF

Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director

Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor

Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC

Jamila Bey, Digital Content Editor

Austin Cooper, Our House Editor

Desmond Barnes, Social Media Stategist ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout

Mable Neville, Bookkeeper

Angie Johnson, Office Mgr./Circulation Angel Johnson, Admin. Asst.

REPORTERS

Kayla Benjamin, (Environmental Justice Reporter) Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Will Ford (Prince George’s County Editor), Curtis Knowles, Brenda Siler, Lindiwe Vilakazi, Sarafina Wright, James Wright

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor, Roy Lewis, Jr., Robert R. Roberts, Anthony Tilghman, Abdula Konte, Ja'Mon Jackson

Maryland customers can review eligibility requirements and apply for LIHEAP (also referred to as the Maryland En ergy Assistance Program, or MEAP) through the Depart ment of Human Services website or by calling the Maryland Department of Human Services Office of Home Energy Programs at 800-332-6347. District of Columbia residents can review eligibility requirements and apply for assistance online though the Department of Energy and the Environ ment (DOEE) website or by calling 3-1-1. As a reminder, District residents who have received LIHEAP assistance in the past must recertify their need for assistance this year. En rollment will not roll over automatically.

Customers can contact Pepco at 202-833-7500 to dis cuss payment arrangements or visit pepco.com/EnergyAs sistance to learn more about energy assistance options. WI

“No corner of our state has been left untouched by il licit drug use. So, it is as important as ever to invest in re sources that take life-threatening, illegal substances out of circulation,” said the lawmakers. “This federal funding will support our fight against the drug and opioid crisis that has unfortunately taken the lives of far too many Marylanders and devastated far too many families. Team Maryland is committed to securing funding for public safety programs that help keep our communities safe and healthy.”

The COPS Office advances public safety through the practice of community policing and building stronger bonds between law enforcement and the communities served. Nationally, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including through grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 136,000 officers.

DC DMV Introduces Virtual Knowledge Test Option for New Drivers

The DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) announced that District residents seeking to obtain their driver license now have the option to take the driver knowledge test virtually, from the comfort of their own home. An appointment is required to take the virtual knowledge test and may be scheduled at takemydrivingtest.com/dc.

The knowledge test is the first exam DC DMV administers to beginning drivers and tests their knowledge of traffic laws, road signs, driving safety rules, and determines whether they are prepared to operate a vehicle in accordance with DC law. Virtual testing is only available specifically for the Standard and GRAD (16-20 years old) knowledge tests. All individuals taking the virtual knowledge test must pay a fee, regardless if they pass or fail the test.

In preparation for the knowledge test, residents are strongly encouraged to thoroughly review the DC DMV Driver Manual. An online practice knowledge test is also available.

The practice knowledge test is for informational purposes only and does not contain actual questions from the DC DMV knowledge test. WI

In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark

BY WI STAFF WRITER

SAM P.K. COLLINS

D.C.’s ‘Hat Lady’ Dies at 103 Vanilla Beane Was a Legendary Entrepreneur

James Wright WI Staff Writer

Known widely in the District as “the Hat Lady,” Vanilla Powell Beane, the owner of a millinery store that catered mainly to Afri can American women and who celebrated her 103rd birthday in September, died on Oct. 23.

A relative said she died from complications of an aortic tear in a D.C. area hospital.

Beane’s store, Bene Millinery & Bridal Supplies, in Northwest opened in 1979. Famous custom ers included the late Dr. Dorothy Heights, longtime leader of the National Council of Negro Wom en and adviser to U.S. presidents and noted poet-author Maya An gelou. A 2017 Forever Stamp has an image of Height wearing one of Beane’s purple hats.

Beane received induction into the National Association of Fash ion and Accessory Designed in 1975 and the Academy of Distin guished Entrepreneurs in 2020. Beane’s hats have been exhibited at the National Museum of Amer ican History, the National Muse um of African American History and Culture, the Black Fashion Museum in Harlem, New York City and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Beane came into the world as Vanilla Powell in Wilson, N.C. on Sept. 13, 1919. Beane was the youngest of seven children.

She moved to the District in 1942 where she met her husband, Willie Beane. She worked at the Washington Millinery Supply in Northwest as a seamstress in the 1950s. After she left the company, she worked as a mail clerk for the General Services Administration and continued to make hats as a side gig.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who knew Beane for years, praised her as a talented leader and trail blazer. On her 100th birthday in 2019, Bowser proclaimed “Vanilla Beane Day” in the District.

“Combining grace, elegance and longevity, Ms. Vanilla Beane em bodied Black excellence,” Bowser said. “Her talents have been on

display in our city since I was just a little girl. No matter the occa sion or the outfit, whether she was designing for a neighbor or a civil rights icon like Dorothy Height, Ms. Beane always knew how to make the perfect hat. I was hon ored to celebrate her at this year’s Mayor’s Arts Awards, and now her story is a part of D.C.’s story.”

The mayor said “she was D.C.’s Hat Lady.”

“She was a mother, a grand mother, and a great grandmother,” Bowser said. “She was an inspi ration for generations of Black women and for anyone who ever thought about turning their tal ent into a business that you love so much you stay at it into your hundreds.”

Bowser, speaking spiritually to Beane said “rest in heaven.”

“We will miss your beautiful soul and the beauty you brought to this world,” she said. “Today, we send out love and prayers to Ms. Beane’s family and all who will miss her.”

L. KeShawn Harris served in the Bowser administration as a Ward 4 MOCR (Mayor’s Office of Community Relations) employer. Through working as a MOCR, he got to know Beane.

“During my time in the Mayor Bowser’s Office, one of my favorite things to do was engaging our love ly seniors,” Harris said. “Through that engagement, I now have many adopted grandparents—in cluding Ms. Vanilla Powell Beane. While she may have had interna tional fame, she was humble and family-focused. She inspired many to keep pursuing their dreams, and she loved to crack a joke or two.

“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from her and to have served her,” Harris added. “Now she joins the ranks of angels and ancestors and she will truly be missed.”

Beane leaves two children, sev en grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Her husband died in 1993 and her eldest child, Wil lie Beane Jr., died in 1980.

Funeral plans had not been made public by Informer press time. WI

@JamesWrightJr10

THE REGION

5 Milliner Vanilla Beane received the Mayor’s Arts Award for Distinguished Honor last month. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

0CT. 27

1891 – Black inventor Philip B. Downing receives pat ent for the street letter box, a precursor of the modern-day mailbox.

1922 – Famed actress and civil rights activist Ruby Dee is born in Cleveland.

OCT. 28

1798 – Abolitionist Levi Coffin, known as the "President of the Underground Railroad," is born in Guilford Coun ty, North Carolina.

1914 – The Omega Psi Phi fraternity, founded at How ard University, is incorporated under the laws of the Dis trict of Columbia.

1981 – Edward M. McIntyre is elected the first African American mayor of Augusta, Georgia.

OCT. 29

1945 – Tony Award-winning actress and singer Melba Moore is born in New York City.

1949 – Alonzo G. Moron is inaugurated as the first Black president of Hampton Institute, later known as Hampton University.

1969 – The Supreme Court orders the immediate end of school segregation.

1981 – William O. Walker, publisher of the Cleve land Call Post, dies in Cleveland at age 85.

OCT. 30

1974 – Muhammad Ali regains the world heavy weight championship by knocking out George

Foreman in the 8th round of the "The Rumble in the The Defense Department announces the elim ination of all segregated regiments in the armed forces. BET Holdings, Inc. the parent company of Black Entertainment Television, sells 4.2 million shares of stock in an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, becoming the first African American company listed on the exchange.

1893 – William Henry Lewis, the first Black All-American collegiate football player, makes the team for the second consecutive season while playing for Harvard.

Early 20th-century actress and , the first African American woman to be nominated for an Emmy Award, is born

receives patent for the railway

becomes the first African American

1945 – John H. Johnson publishes the first issue of Ebony magazine.

1946 – Charles S. Johnson becomes the first Black president of Fisk University.

1951 – Jet magazine publishes its first issue.

1991 – Clarence Thomas is sworn in as the 106th as sociate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

NOV. 2

1930 – Haile Selassie is coronated as emperor of Ethi opia.

1983 – President Reagan signs a law designating the third Monday in January as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

MUHAMMAD ALI

BY SARAFINA WRIGHT

AROUND THE

VERÓNICA NELSON /

NEW YORK, N.Y.

With them not being in school, it was bound to happen. But let’s hope it’s just a lull. Moreover, a study will be done on younger kids not affected by the shutdown.

DOWDY JACKSON / GERMANTOWN, MARYLAND

There are several reasons for this. One is that most parents aren’t good teachers. Teaching is a profession where teach ers are trained. Not everyone is going to be a good teacher. Access to high-speed Wi-Fi is also an issue. Some house holds are noisy with a ton of distractions. How do you address the needs of kids who need extra help? Some kids rely on school meals. The list goes on and on.

PAMELA VELEZ /

WASHINGTON, DC

It’s probably because kids were kept inside for an entire year, made to stare at screens, and penalized when they couldn’t sit still like adults in a 9-to-5.

SHAWN SANFORD / CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

We’re definitely seeing this live. I’m on it. We can’t depend on schools to close this gap for our kids.

REBECCA WALLER / ATHENS, GEORGIA

I was expecting this to happen. And as a matter of fact, most of our students are also bothered about guns now. The envi ronment is not safe enough to learn anymore.

The first “Nation’s Report Card” by the National Assessment of Educational Progress since the outset of the coronavirus pandemic shows that students’ math and reading scores have hit lows not seen in more than two decades. What are your thoughts?

D. BODDIE GRI, Broker Probate Specialist

AROUND THE REGION

National Park Service Seeks to Redo Parkland in Congress Heights

James Wright WI Staff Writer

The National Park Service has announced plans to remake Park land in Ward 8’s Congress Heights neighborhood and residents ex pressed their willingness to see changes take place.

“I think it is good that the Na tional Park Service wants to revi talize the park,” said Salim Adofo, the chairman of advisory neigh borhood commission 8C which encompasses Parkland. “Changes there are long overdue.”

Parkland, a part of the Shepherd Parkway, subsists as a 1.25-acre section of public land between Malcolm X Avenue SE, Parkland Place SE, and west of Martin Lu ther King Jr. Ave. SE. The parklike area has a small playground, benches and shaded grass areas. The National Park Service (NPS) has devised two concepts on up grading the park. One involves a large playground, a fitness loop, a redone bus shelter and community space that could involve a garden. The other concept would have a smaller playground also but a new nature play area designed to accommodate people who wish to enjoy a more natural environment. Both concepts include picnic space, group gathering areas and an entry plaza.

On Oct. 20, officials with the

National Park Service held a virtu al meeting to discuss their propos als with the general public. Tara D. Morrison, the superintendent for National Capital Parks-East, stressed the importance of public input on Parkland’s future.

“It is extremely important that we have participation and engage ment,” Morrison said. “The Park land has been a concern for many years.”

Vanessa Farmer shared her con cerns about those who frequent Parkland on a consistent basis.

“It seems to me that there are a number of non-community peo ple there,” Farmer said.

In response to Farmer, Morrison said the NPS works with District government agencies and social service programs to aid those at Parkland appearing to need assis tance. She said Parkland should not become an exclusive area.

“The park is welcoming to all people,” Morrison said.

Eric F. Johnson said more resi dents should be interested in the park’s appearance and how people utilize it.

“The people who run the Pop eye’s and the owners of the liquor store and gas station should take more interest in it,” Johnson said. “Perhaps a dog park could be lo cated there, too. I also feel the park should be renamed, perhaps to

Malcolm X-Martin Luther King Jr. Park.”

Adofo expressed interest in Parkland recognizing the two civil rights icons in an official manner, also.

“It would be great for the park to have a memorial to Dr. King and Malcolm X,” Adofo said. “The avenues that bear their names intersect literally and figurately. There are few statutes or memo rials to Black people in this city. Most statutes are of dead white men.”

Morrison said any changes in Parkland, whether a memorial or renaming the park, would have to be instigated by D.C. Del. Elea nor Holmes Norton, the District’s lawmaker in the U.S. Congress be cause it is a federal entity. She re jected Johnson’s idea of a dog park in Parkland, saying the NPS has no interest in that type of usage.

The official timeline of Park land’s redoing consists of the pub lic comment period closing on Nov. 20, followed by examining the input in the winter and spring and coming up with a final con cept. In the summer of 2023, a second public session will be held to inform residents of the final concept. After that, construction on Parkland changes starts during the summer of 2025.

5 The Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE side of Parkland in Congress Heights. (Courtesy Photo)

School Librarians Fight the Clock on “Students’ Right to Read Amendment Act”

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

In less than a month, legislation that secures full-time librarians for each District public school will ex pire, threatening an ongoing move ment to ensure the continuity of school-based literacy programming.

If passed, the Students’ Right to Read Amendment Act permanently funds full-time librarians in each Dis trict public school. However, some school librarians, like Milea Pickett, said the D.C. Council has been slow to approve the legislation.

"A lot of council members have students who matriculated through DCPS, had the support of librarians and even came into renovated librar ies," said Pickett, president of the DC Library Association.

"They personally understand the experience and importance of librari ans in our system and they're holding this bill hostage."

Last fall, not long after the council secured two years of funding for fulltime public school librarians, D.C. Council Chairperson Phil Mendel son (D) and Councilmembers Anita Bonds (D-At large), Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1), Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2), Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), Janeese Lewis George (D-Ward 4), Charles

Allen (D-Ward 6) and Trayon White (D-Ward 8) introduced the Students’ Right to Read Amendment Act.

By November 23 of last year, the D.C. Council Committee of the Whole had hosted a public hear ing on the Students’ Right to Read Amendment Act. There has since been no movement. As the clock winds down to November 23rd once again, the bill faces further risk of ex tinction.

On Saturday, Pickett, who’s also a librarian at Randle Highlands Ele mentary School in Southeast, count ed among dozens of school librari ans, parents and young people who converged on the Wilson Building in Northwest for a public “read-in” where participants read their favorite books and explained the importance of the pending legislation.

The two-hour event attracted several passersby, including At-large D.C. Councilmember Elissa Silver man (I) who reportedly said there’s been some miscommunication among council members about the Students’ Right to Read Amendment Act.

In recent months, Mendelson has set his sights on increasing transpar ency in the realm of government

5 School librarians, parents and students armed with their favorite books par ticipated in a public “read-in” at the Wilson Building in Northwest on Saturday, October 22. (Photo courtesy of K.C. Boyd)

The Greater Washington Ur ban League (GWUL) hosted its Courage Under Fire Awards at the Martin Luther King Jr. Me morial Library in Northwest on Oct. 24. Denise Rolark Barnes, publisher of the Washington Informer received the GWUL Legacy Award and Virginia Ali, owner of Ben’s Chili Bowl received the GWUL Humanitari an Award. Included in the photo are (L-R) GWUL Board Chair Dawn C. Hendricks, GWUL Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Kimberly Corbin, and GWUL President & CEO George H. Lambert, Jr.

Moonshot with First Lady

Eddie Robinson reads the Washington Informer. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

“I've dedicated a great deal of my time to increasing awareness of the importance of preventative screenings, reminding people that their health is your

and urging them to make it a priority.”

Older Black Men and Women Climb of Mount Kilimanjaro

DC Woman Sets Record

ry as the oldest group of Black men and women to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak. The eleven men and women ranging in age from 47 to 73 made the seven-day trek up the Machame route, guided by the premiere mountain outfitters, Tusker Trail.

Training for nearly 10 months to prepare for the expedition, the members worked diligently to get in shape. Meeting Sundays for five-mile treks in local parks, climbing local mountains and working out regularly became the norm.

None are athletes and many made lifestyle changes and hired personal trainers to prepare for this journey.

“I had hip replacement surgery in January. So, over the past ten months, I worked with a physical therapist, climbed two mountains and regular ly did 5-mile treks to prepare for the climb,” said Winona Lake.

“By summit morning, we had been trekking through arid, rocky and difficult terrain for five solid days on Mount Kilimanjaro, often at 45-degree angles and we were tired,” recalled Maynard McAlpin, who made the trek with his wife, Dr. Nneka Davis.

“Beginning our ascent at 1:30 am in the dark was challenging and with decreasing oxygen levels the higher we climbed. We relied on prayer and one another to push forward. So, many of us achieved our personal summit before Uhuru’s peak. None theless, the tremendous effort each person put forth was phenomenal,” McAlpin added.

Organized by D.C.-based busi ness owner and certified yoga in structor, Sharon Goods, the Wisdom Walkers are working to inspire Afri can Americans to age responsibly and to choose health at every phase of life. The group consists of real estate de velopers, diversity and inclusion pro

fessionals, attorneys, business owners, an oral surgeon, and former military officers.

“Mount Kilimanjaro became a focal point for our effort to encour age Blacks to choose adventure and heath in addressing the prevalence of impaired mobility, hypertension, and diabetes in our race, as we age. We are navigating stress and it requires us to be deliberate with our health. We can choose either to gaze at the mountain or challenge ourselves physically and spiritually to trek it,” Goods said.

On October 2, 2022, Sharon Goods became one of the oldest Af rican American women to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. WI

4 The group seasoned African Americans pose for a photo after making the seven-day trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. (Courtesy photo)

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Prince George’s Councilman Turner Resigns Office, Seeks County Appointment

Richard D. Elliott WI Contributing Writer

County Councilman Todd Turner resigned his office Sat., October. 22nd, after County Ex

ecutive Angela Alsobrooks selected him out of 37 candidates to lead the Prince George’s County Of fice of Ethics and Accountability, pending a public hearing on the 24th. A majority of the current

County Council supports Turner’s appointment. Turner’s Council term would have ended on De cember 5th, as he was term-limit ed, and Bowie Councilwoman At Large Ingrid Harrison is unchal

lenged in the general election for the County Council seat.

The Office of Ethics and Ac countability was created following pay to play scandals that result ed in the conviction of former County Executive Jack Johnson. According to county code, the re sponsibilities of the office include overseeing the investigation and identification of all fraud, abuse and illegal activities of the county government.

Two council members voted against his appointment and two abstained, while Councilman Der noga questioned Turner about his relationship with Jobs 1st PAC, a developer-funded campaign ac count that sent mail and distrib uted literature during the July primary. Turner denied any direct involvement or coordination with the PAC.

His appointment has led grass roots activists to encourage state ments of opposition during the hearing, particularly because this appointment is coming before the newly-elected councilmembers are sworn in.

Prince George’s County Young Democrats President Rudy Antho ny said, after hearing of Turner’s appointment, “I plan to testify so that these officials know that we’re paying attention to corruption.”

In his resignation letter, Turner wrote, “It has been my proud hon or to serve with you and each of my Council colleagues, past and present, over the last eight years. I am grateful and truly humbled to have also served as Council Chair for two consecutive years, and as a member of the Legislative Branch for nearly 20 years.”

Prince George’s County Young Democrats President Rudy Anthony said, after hearing of Turner’s appointment, “I plan to testify so that these officials know that we’re paying attention to corruption.”

5 Prince George's County Councilmember Todd Turner at a hybrid session earlier this year to adopt the County's fiscal year 2023 budget. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Proposed School Consolidations Anger Parents

Richard D. Elliott WI Contributing Reporter

The Prince George’s County Board of Education is considering boundary changes that will move some students to new schools and close other schools, including Point er Ridge and White Hall Elementary School. The plan, available online, would affect over 100 students at 14 different schools during the 2023-2024 school year.

Those who testified in opposition to the school closings included residents who are within 200 feet of Pointer Ridge and three minutes away from Perrywood. They would have to travel more than 15 minutes to school. Community engagement and strong academic ranking were present at each school was emphasized in the testimony of many, particularly from the parents of Pointer Ridge students.

Among the reasons chosen to oppose the closures were to ensure students remain with their current cohort, protecting the mental health of the students, and over crowding that would affect the consolidated schools.

One Bowie parent noted that all class sizes already exceed the recommended class to staff ratios without consolidation or considering recent developments, something that would be considerably worsened by closing Pointer Ridge and White Hall Elemen tary. During community conversations held by the Board of Education, these topics were also frequently mentioned.

A rally was held on Monday by parents and students who oppose the closure of Pointer Ridge, and an online petition has garnered over 2,700 signatures thus far. The next Board of Education meetings will be held on October 27th and November 10th. WI

Maryland life Expectancy Data Highlights Racial Disparities

By Nene Narh-Mensah Capital News Service

National life expectancy has de creased for the second year in a row, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Pre vention. Maryland’s life expectancy also fell, according to 2020 statistics from the state, which is the latest available data.

In 2021, the national life expec tancy in the United States dropped to 76.1 years from 77 years in 2020. This, combined with a decrease from 2019 to 2020 when life expectancy declined by 1.8 years, was the biggest two-year decline in life expectancy since the early 1920s, according to the CDC. The health organization attributed most of the decline to the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 deaths made up nearly 74% of the decline from 2019 to 2020, and half of the decrease from 2020 to 2021, according to the CDC. The next highest cause was death by accident or injury, making up about 16% of the decrease in life expectancy from 2020 to 2021. Drug overdoses made up nearly half of that number.

In Maryland, life expectancy fell from 79.3 years in 2019 to 78.6 in

2020. The leading cause of death in the state was heart disease, followed by malignant neoplasms— also known as tumors– then COVID-19, according to the CDC. Heart disease was the third leading cause of death nationally. The last time life expec tancy in Maryland dropped was in 2016, when it fell from 79.5 the year before to 79.1.

The latest available data from the Maryland Department of Health and the Census Bureau show large dispar ities in life expectancy correlated with race, gender and income inequality across the state.

Life expectancy isn’t distributed evenly across Maryland. There are pockets where life expectancy is high er than the state average of 78.6 years, particularly in Montgomery, How ard, and Frederick counties. Mont gomery and Howard counties had the highest life expectancies, 84.2 and 82.7 years respectively. Baltimore City and Cecil County had the low est, 71.8 and 75.1 years respectively.

White women in Montgomery County have the highest life expec tancy of any demographic group measured in this report, 86.2 years. Black men in Baltimore City have the lowest life expectancy at 63.9. This

is 0.8 years fewer than the average retirement age for men in 2021 ac cording to the Center for Retirement Research and represents a difference of 22.3 years in life expectancy for people born in jurisdictions a little more than an hour drive away.

Life expectancy for Black men re mains the lowest of the demograph ic groups measured in Maryland at 71.8 years compared to that of their white male counterparts, 77.1 years.

Only three counties had popu lations where the life expectancy of white women fell below the state average of 78.6 years (Allegany, Som erset, and Cecil). The life expectancy of Black women was below the state average in 11 counties.

The 2020 edition of the Vital Statistics report from the Maryland Department of Health, which has the most recent data, didn’t include life expectancy statistics for Asian or Pacific Islander, American Indian, or Hispanic populations.

Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institute Andre M. Perry said that the differences in life expectancies can be explain partially by racist historical policy and work by counties to im prove quality of life (Photo courtesy of Perry)

The Brookings Institution released the Black Progress Index on Sept. 27, 2022, a model of data from U.S. counties to identify measures “that predict long and healthy lives for

Black Americans,” according to an article by the organization.

“We highlight the areas where Black people have been living the longest because it may provide in sight into the local civic actions that have produced those outcomes— actions that other places may take,” wrote the creators of the project, An dre M. Perry and Jonathan Rothwell.

The factors that had the most influence on life expectancy were “wealth, human and social capital (e.g., education, social networks, re ligion), environmental quality, safety, and family,” according to Perry and Rothwell’s article.

The Black Progress Index score es timates the life expectancy of a Black person based on 13 predictors in cluding median household income, homeownership rate and educational attainment. Each factor either added to or subtracted from the estimated index score.

The Black Progress Index showed that in Baltimore City, gun violence decreased the life expectancy of Black residents by three years.

To Perry, the struggles the city is facing are a reflection of racist histori cal policies such as redlining.

Data from the Maryland De partment of Health and the Census Bureau shows that higher median income often equates to a higher life expectancy for both Black and white people, however the correlation is

stronger for white people.

The data about Black residents isn’t all bleak.

Black residents in Montgomery County had a higher life expectan cy, 81.9 years, than the state average, according to data from the Maryland Department of Health from 2018 to 2020.

There are multiple counties where the life expectancy for Black people is high, Perry said.

“If there’s a Wakanda, it’s in the DMV,” Perry said.

Montgomery County ranked 17th among the top 20 U.S. coun ties with the highest Black Progress Index score. Factors that influenced this score included high levels of in come, education rate and business ownership.

Perry and Rothwell said the great est contributor to Montgomery County’s high life expectancy for Black residents is the large share of foreign-born Black adults. This factor surprised Perry during his research and is a topic that needs to be ex plored further.

“We don't talk about the positive contributions of black immigrants enough,” the Brookings fellow said. “What I would like to see is more about how black immigrants are in teracting with black native-born folks and how that is having a positive im pact on the community overall”

5 Pointer Ridge PTA President Darius Hyman at the recent Point er Ridge rally. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

5 Pointer Ridge parents rallied this week to show their opposition to school closures. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

MOORE’S

Any

VOTE

or

October 27, 2022

3, 2022. Each

from 7 am to

Election Day is November 8, 2022. Anyone in line at

will be allowed to vote.

James Wright WI Staff Writer

‘MAMA’ DURANT AMONG THOSE HONORED AT D.C. CHAMBER EVENT

Wanda “Mama” Durant, mother of NBA superstar Kevin Durant and an author, philan thropist and entrepreneur, will be honored along with oth ers at the D.C. Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Chamber Choice Awards on Nov. 11 at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Northwest.

Durant, a Prince George’s County native who raised Kev in and her other son, Tony, mainly as a single parent, will receive the Economic Impact Award.

“The chamber is excited to celebrate local trailblazers with the Chamber’s Choice Awards at our annual gala,” said Angela Franco, Commerce president and CEO. “We will celebrate individuals and companies who have found in novative solutions to issues and are making an impact to create a more cohesive community in the District.”

Durant has worked to provide mentoring and scholarships to underprivileged children in the D.C. area through her foundation Hope, Dream, Believe and Achieve and her son’s nonprofit, the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation. The Chamber’s Choice Award and Chairman’s Choice Award will also be announced during the gala, which is sponsored by Verizon.

GATES TAPPED AS PRESIDENT OF EVENTS DC

The board of Directors of Events DC on Oct. 13 named Angie M. Gates president and chief executive officer of the Events DC, the District’s official convention and sports authority following a comprehensive national search. Gates most re cently served as the District’s director of the Office of Cable, Television, Film, Music and Entertain ment.

“On behalf of Events DC’s board of directors, I am thrilled to welcome Angie M. Gates as our new president and CEO,” said Max Brown, chairman, Events DC board of directors. “Following a rigorous selection process by our search committee and search firm, we are confident in our decision to name Angie as Events DC’s newest leader. With decades of experience in the venue manage ment and entertainment industries and a deep understanding of D.C., Angie will work tirelessly with staff, our customers, and other stakeholders to guide our organization through an extraordinary time in the District.”

Gates succeeds Samuel R. Thomas, CEO, who served as interim president and CEO following the resignation of Gregory A. O’Dell in March 2022. Gates said she looks forward to her new job.

“When I look toward the future, I’m inspired by the work of my predecessors and the commitment of the Events DC team to foster community across all

Corey Arnez Griffin

As a longtime champion of mi nority rights, I have grave concerns about a new piece of legislation that will deepen the rift of one of the most significant issues impacting racial dis parities today — the accessibility of capital and credit.

If passed, the bill in question, the Credit Card Competition Act, will expand a counterproductive 2010 congressional measure that imposed price caps on debit swipe fees to the credit card industry. That is troubling considering how destructive the first iteration was to the African American community.

Congress passed the debit measure, which the National Black Chamber of Commerce vocally opposed and is still “committed to fighting,” with the intention of lowering prices for Main Street. They believed that by decreasing the amount banks could charge businesses for debit swipes, they would effectively reduce the price of goods and services for con sumers because companies, they rea soned, would pass the cost savings onto them. That never happened. In a whopping $90 billion wealth transfer from Main Street, major corporations like Amazon and Wal-Mart made

windfall profits and expressed no in terest in sharing their gains.

Will Congress Exacerbate America’s Racial Disparities in Credit Access? Briefs

Consumers received harms, not benefits. To make up for the funding shortfalls this policy created, banks had no choice but to cut free checking accounts and limit rewards programs.

A George Mason University study found that this corporate giveaway increased the number of unbanked populations by one million Ameri cans, with minority and low-income communities unsurprisingly facing the brunt of the impacts.

No one suffered more than the African American community. Near ly half of Black households are un banked or underbanked, and Black adults experience the nation's highest unbanked and underbanked rates. This policy only made things worse. In fact, since 2010 — the year the debit price cap passed — the number of banks in majority-Black areas has decreased by nearly 15%.

Access to credit is directly correlat ed with racial disparities in business funding, development, and growth, as well as familial cycles of poverty that impede educational, profession al, and personal opportunities for generations of Americans that live in underserved communities.

Throughout their financial life times, unbanked and underbanked Americans can amass nearly $40,000 in fees. That startling number in and of itself is enough to prevent hard working families from ever having

the opportunity to obtain economic peace and security. That is precisely why International Monetary Fund Deputy Managing Director Mitsuhi ro Furusawa says, “Financial inclu sion is the bridge between economic opportunity and outcomes.”

Misguided government policies of years’ past have created and widened this egregious racial credit access dis parity. It would be a shame if Con gress passed yet another bill to exacer bate the problem instead of solving it.

And that is exactly what the mis named Credit Card Competition Act will do. It will double down on a past congressional measure that has been statistically and empirically proven to make the issue worse.

Congress would be wise to shelve The Credit Card Competition Act and instead redouble its efforts to provide more credit opportunities to minority communities because the reality is that the credit access crisis is not going anywhere any time soon.

In their recent paper, economists El lora Derenoncourt, Chi Hyun Kim, Moritz Kuhn, and Moritz Schularick made this clear. They wrote, “In the absence of policy interventions or other forces leading to improvements in the relative wealth-accumulat ing conditions of Black Americans, wealth convergence is not only a dis tant scenario, but an impossible one.”

Let’s address this problem head on. The nation will be better off as a re sult. WI

eight wards and continue to bring in conventions and meetings all across the country and indeed, the work,” she said. “I will continue to further Events DC’s initiatives such as our 9th Street retail project, booking events at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Ward 8, and importantly, supporting our customers and partners who rely on us every day at the con vention center.”

Gates will start her duties at Events DC on Nov. 14.

AMAZON PICKS UDC AS EDUCATIONAL PARTNER

The University of the District of Columbia has been selected as an educational partner for Amazon’s Career Choice program.

The program provides more than 5,000 Amazon hourly employees access to the university's associate and bachelor’s degree programs.

“As the only public, exclusively urban land-grant and historically Black university in the United States, the University of the District of Columbia is proud to become an educational partner with Amazon’s Career Choice Program,” said UDC’s Chief Academic Officer Lawrence T. Potter Jr. “This strategic partnership allows UDC to further its mission by expanding learning pathway opportunities to adult learners through our associate and bachelor’s degree programs, optimally leading to high-paying in-demand careers in D.C., the District-Maryland-Virginia region, and beyond.”

In the U.S., the company plans to invest $1.2 billion to upscale its more than 300,000 employees by 2025. In a state ment, Tammy Thieman, Global Program Lead of Amazon’s Career Choice program, welcomed UDC as an educational partner, adding “we’re committed to empowering more than 5,000 of Amazon’s hourly employees within the DMV region by providing them access to the education and training they need to grow their careers, whether that’s with us or elsewhere.”

WI @JamesWrightJr10

5 Wanda Durant is an entrepreneur, author and philanthropist in the Washington, D.C. area. (Courtesy Photo)

Biden-Harris Administration Continues Push to Protect Reproductive Rights Ahead of Midterms

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

With reproductive health a pri mary concern and only heightened

with the Supreme Court’s contro versial overturning of Roe v. Wade in June, former Atlanta Mayor and Senior Advisor to President Biden, Keisha Lance Bottoms, has hit the campaign trail of sorts.

Lance Bottoms has provided re minders of what President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are doing to protect women’s rights.

“The Administration is support ing women’s access to reproductive healthcare services, including their ability to travel to seek abortion care in states where it is legal,” Lance Bottoms insisted.

She noted that Biden had di rected administration heads to take further action to protect access to reproductive healthcare services and to address the crisis facing wom en’s health and public health more broadly.

“We know that people have dif ficult decisions facing them each and every day, and so sometimes people are only concerned about the things that are just before them, and rightfully so, but we must remind people that elections matter,” Lance Bottoms stated as voters head to the polls for the Nov. 8 midterm elec tions.

“It matters if you have a Con gress supporting a woman’s right to choose. So, we have to remind peo ple, and we must keep reminding people how far backward the Su preme Court has taken us with the Dobbs decision,” Bottoms asserted.

She added that reminders are necessary because “the fundamental right to make decisions about our bodies remains at stake.”

Among other actions, Biden has ordered the secretary of Health and Human Services to consider efforts

to advance access to reproductive healthcare services, including, to the extent permitted by federal law, through Medicaid for patients trav eling across state lines for medical care.

Lance Bottoms said the admin istration also continues to promote compliance with non-discrimina tion laws for those obtaining med ical care.

She said federal law still ensures that individuals are not denied necessary healthcare because of any ground, including current pregnan cy, past pregnancy, potential or in tended pregnancy, or other medical conditions.

Vice President Kamala Harris has been vocal about protecting wom en’s reproductive rights even be fore the Supreme Court’s decision, which she called unthinkable during a discussion earlier this month.

“But it’s — really, it’s — it was unthinkable, I think, for so many of us,” Harris demanded.

“We knew it might happen, but let — I mean, let’s just pause for a moment. The highest court in our land, the United States Supreme Court, just took a constitutional right that had been recognized from the people of America, from the women of America,” she said.

Harris noted that HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra has remained active on several fronts to ensure “clarity amid the confusion.”

“One of the things that HHS did that I think is very significant is sent out to pharmacies information

about their legal requirement to ad minister medication as prescribed,” Harris stated.

“And — and I also applaud that agency for having announced that they will investigate where there are any violations of the rules of con duct on that issue.”

Harris and Lance Bottoms said that the Department of Education, the Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Communications Commission have all been part of the administration’s push to protect women’s rights.

“The Department of Education has been extraordinary. Secretary Cardona has been doing some im portant work around ensuring that we protect students and their repro ductive rights, including their ability to take leave from school for what ever reproductive healthcare they need, and make sure that there’s no discrimination in that regard,” the vice president said.

“The Department of Justice has been coordinating with a number of agencies as appropriate but has also set up, for example, a process of elic iting pro bono hours because there are going to be so many folks who are on the ground doing the work who are not sure of the legal risks that they are taking in these various states.”

Harris concluded, “So, that is the kind of work that’s happening through our administration. The President has signed two executive orders relating to making a very clear statement that we intend to protect and defend people’s right to travel and emergency healthcare.”

“It matters if you have a Congress supporting a woman’s right to choose. So, we have to remind people, and we must keep reminding people how far backward the Supreme Court has taken us with the Dobbs decision."

5 Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is helping lead the Biden administration’s push to protect women’s reproductive rights (Official Photo)

'Our Lives are at Stake': Protesters from Louisiana's Cancer Alley March to the White House

Advocates demand President Biden declare a climate emergency to stop more polluting plants from being built in their communities.

More than 100 black-clad pro testers, many of whom had flown in from across the country, marched in a traditional Louisiana funeral proces sion from Freedom Plaza to the White House Tuesday. They held signs with the names of loved ones lost to illness due to the industrial pollution that runs rampant in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley.

Debra Ramirez walked about half a block behind the rest of the march, occasionally stopping to rest. A great-grandmother from Mossville, Louisiana, Ramirez struggles with knee problems and had a heart attack just last year.

“I’m determined to make it, I don’t care if I’m the last one,” Ramirez said to a woman marching beside her. “This might be my last march, but I’m going to make it.”

As she walked, Ramirez held an or nate black umbrella and a sign that fea tured a “death tree” with more than a dozen names of those who had passed on its branches. She’s been involved with the fight for environmental justice in the region since the 1980s.

When she did arrive at the march’s

4 Debra Ramirez raises a sign during the People vs. Fossil Fuels Campaign rally on Oct. 25, referring to the chemicals produced in her community that she believes are contaminating the water and air.

endpoint in front of the White House, Ramirez spoke alongside other ad vocates to a crowd of protesters that included Louisianans, Texans and oth ers from out of town alongside many DMV locals. The group gathered behind a fake coffin reading simply “R.I.P.”

“I was the last one to get here, but I’m going to be the last one standing,” she said over a megaphone. “All the governmental entities, all the presi dents, everybody knew that we were being poisoned. They knew that our people were dying. They knew that they were killing our children.”

The protesters held huge banners de manding President Joe Biden declare a climate emergency and stop approving all fossil fuel projects. Pollution from oil and gas production, as well other indus tries like plastics production, dispropor tionately harms Black communities. Cancer Alley, a stretch of land between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, in cludes more than 150 of these polluting facilities.

Last month, a Louisiana judge blocked a new, huge plastics plant from being built. That victory came after years of organizing from the faith-

based environmental justice group Rise St. James, which co-led Tuesday’s D.C. protest alongside the People vs. Fossil Fuels coalition. Shamell Lavigne recalled how that fight began in her mother Sharon Lavigne’s den in 2018.

“Louisiana Governor John Bel Ed wards basically greenlit that plastics plant, and we know from the other plants already located in St. James Par ish, that it was going to basically kill us,” Shamell Lavigne said. “We were like, ‘we have to do something. And we can not allow this $9.4-billion plastics plant

to come into our community.’”

Rise St. James has grown since then, and attracted support through out environmental and climate justice communities. Rise St. James regularly partners with groups all along the Gulf in Louisiana and Texas impacted by industrial pollution. These areas, like Cancer Alley, have been called “sacrifice zones” because of the high levels of pol lution-related illness.

“Our lives are at stake,” Lois Booker Malvo, a resident of Lake Charles, Lou isiana and a two-time cancer survivor,

said to the crowd. “Stop using us to make money and destroying our lives! We are sick and tired of being killed by industry.”

In spite of the exhaustion and anger, the protest found room for joy—a ne cessity in continuing the fight. After the speakers finished, the D.C.-based band Too Much Talent played as the crowd sang.

“Victory is mine,” they sang, led by Rise St. James’ Sharon Lavigne. “Joy is mine.”

(Marckell Williams/ The Washington Informer)

BY OSWALD T. BROWN, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Togo’s Flag Raised to Mark Entry Into Commonwealth

Togo’s flag was raised on October 20 at the Commonwealth head quarters to mark its formal entry into the 56-member family of nations, The New Times (Rwanda) reported on Friday, October 21, 2022.

Togo became the 56th member of the Commonwealth following ap proval from the association’s leaders during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda on June 25.

Arjoon Suddhoo, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, said Togo’s journey into the Commonwealth had been a long time in the making.

“Togo has shown commitment to meeting institutional and gover nance reforms. The Government of Togo has demonstrated clear action in developing its economy and infrastructure and in providing a conducive business climate and stability to attract tourism and investment,” he added.

In his remarks, President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo said that stepping into the Commonwealth family is “an incredible booster towards progressing together and leaving no one behind.”

“As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, I would like to solemnly ask each one of you to bear witness to Togo’s renewed pledge to the values of peace, democracy, and development, which are the core values of the family we are joining,” he cited.

“It is my wish that the new dawn we are setting today will unveil an era of fruitful cooperation, economic growth, and sustainable development as well as social and cultural fulfillment for all of us.”

The Commonwealth is an institution uniting 2.5 billion people from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific. It is headed by King Charles III and chaired by President Paul Kagame for two years.

Togo will now be part of extensive discussions and a mutually supportive community of 56 independent and sovereign states, aided by more than 80 accredited organizations and more than 50 strategic partnerships with orga nizations such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, and the World Health Organisation.

Investment by HUAWEI

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has welcomed the $300-million investment by Chinese technology company Huawei, with the inauguration of its new office space, located at 97 Hope Road, Kingston 6.

The complex has 9,000 sq. ft. of space with digital low-carbon solutions and a modern work environment for staff.

In his address at the ceremony held on Thursday, October 21, Prime Minister Holness said the new space signals further local ex pansion of the company’s footprint. He lauded the company’s signif icant investments and contributions to the sector, which have aided Jamaica's digital transformation.

“The company provides cutting-edge connectivity technology and has played an essential role in the growth from GSM to UMTS wireless technology and continues to improve Jamaica’s data penetration with LTE de ployments,” Prime Minister Holness said, adding that the company’s investments signal strong confidence in Jamaica.

“The investment will be of benefit to both Jamaica and the region. We welcome this investment and com mend Huawei for taking this decision and look forward to their continued growth in Jamaica and in the re gion,” the Prime Minister added.

He cited the company’s commitment to protecting the Jamaican environment by ensuring that the building has a low-carbon footprint and utilizes renewable energy sources.

Hailing Huawei as a crucial partner in Jamaica’s digital transformation, the Prime Minister said the company provides indirect ICT jobs for more than 300 persons in Jamaica.

“Huawei provides support to customers both locally and regionally and has continued to support the Gov ernment and our economy in our ongoing quest to digitize Jamaica,” he said. WI

Disrupting Health Disparities in the District

By AARP Staff

Many older, Black District residents face hurdles to re ceiving high-quality, accessible, and timely healthcare, which is why disrupting health dispari ties is a high priority for AARP.

In the spring of 2021, AARP DC and Georgetown Universi ty’s Department of Health Sys tems Administration released a comprehensive study on health disparities among Black older adults living in the District of Columbia. The study entitled, A Review of Health and Socio economic Disparities Among Black Older Adults in the Dis trict of Columbia, highlighted the role that structural racism and lack of access to affordable, high-quality food, transporta tion, and health care provid ers play in creating and com pounding health disparities.

KEY FINDINGS

FROM THE STUDY

SHOW THAT:

• Preventable hospital ad missions for Black Medicare enrollees are more than 2x higher than non-Hispanic white residents.

• Only 50% of Black resi dents age 65 and older receive a flu shot and deaths from flu/ pneumonia are 1.5x higher.

• The number of Black Medicare enrollees treated for hypertension is 1.5x higher, and 2x higher for heart failure.

• The number of Black Medicare enrollees treated for diabetes is close to 3x higher.

• Black residents are less likely to receive an early col orectal cancer diagnosis, and colorectal death rates are 3x higher.

“By highlighting health dis parities here in the District, our aim is to spur local leaders in

the public, private and nonprofit sectors to act to drastically reduce health disparities and improve health care access for all Black res idents in the District,” said Louis Davis Jr., AARP DC Director. “Not doing so significantly in hibits equitable access to quality health care, housing, employment and education for older Black res idents.”

To better advocate for the qual ity and accessible healthcare Dis trict residents need, AARP DC wants to hear from residents them selves. AARP DC developed a sur vey to gather information on the thoughts and experiences of Black men and women living in the Dis trict. The brief confidential survey is designed to collect information and guide advocacy and outreach.

The survey is available by visit ing the link or scanning the QR code on the page below. AARP DC wants you to share with us your experience on accessing health care, the quality of the healthcare in your community, and obstacles to accessing healthcare. The survey will not ask information such as Social Security Number, phone, email or address.

If you would like to take the survey in-person, join AARP DC at Busboys and Poets, located at 2004 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Washington, DC. There, AARP DC will provide folks with a guide to resources that are available in the District and help them complete the survey. Every one who takes the survey at one of these events will receive a coupon for $10 off their meal. If you are in the area, join us on the following dates (while supplies of the cou pon last):

• Friday, November 4, 9:00am-11:00am

• Friday, November 11, 6:00pm-8:00pm

• Sunday, November 13, 9:00am-Noon

Disrupting health disparities takes a lot of information and involvement from the communi ty. AARP DC has been working to connect community members with their elected officials and pro vide feedback about the quality of the health services in their com munity.

Please stop by any of the events, visit the link, or scan the QR code below to take the confidential sur vey. It's important that we hear from you regarding the state of healthcare in the District of Co lumbia.

Take the Survey: https://bit.ly/ AARPDCHealthSurvey

lence of dementia and

nicity, gender and race,

report ed.

According to the study, 15% of people who identified as Black tested positive for dementia while 22% had a mild cognitive decline. Ten percent of people who identified as Hispanic suffers from dementia and 28% per cent tested positive for mild cognitive

In contrast, 9% of whites had de mentia, while 21% suffered mild cog nitive impairment.

“Dementia research, in general, has largely focused on college-educated people who are racialized as white,” said Jennifer Manly, the study’s lead, CNN reported. “This study is rep

resentative of the population of older adults that have been historically ex cluded from dementia research but are at a higher risk of developing cog nitive impairment because of struc tural racism and income inequality. If we’re interested in increasing brain health equity later in life, we need to know where we stand now and where

to direct our resources.”

The study analyzed data from indepth neuropsychological tests and interviews with almost 3,500 people over the age of 65 enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study, a longterm research project sponsored by the National Institute on Aging and the Social Security Administration. WI

Reclaim Your Rhythm:

for Women Reception

Featured speakers include

Lelsi Foster Anchor WUSA9

Jessica Melton President Suburban Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine

Ruth Williams Brinkley Regional President Kaiser Permanente Mid Atlantic

Biden Administration Announces Millions for Mental Health Crisis

$15 Million in New Grants Available Due to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

By Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) an nounced a new funding oppor tunity for states to develop and transform Certified Commu nity Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) to address the coun try’s mental health crisis.

In addition to the nearly $300 million awarded in September for new and existing CCBHCs, $15 million in additional funding was announced on Oct. 18 for CCBHC planning.

CCBHCs provide crisis services that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and serve any one who requests care for mental health or substance use, regardless of their ability to pay.

“With these additional funds, we’re delivering on President Biden’s commitment to strengthen mental and behavioral health for all Americans, including people living in our nation’s most vulner able communities,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said.

“Behavioral health is health. Pe riod. There should be no distinc tion. This investment will bring us closer to that reality.”

The HHS said the announce ment builds on the progress Pres ident Biden has made in his com mitment to tackling the country’s mental health crisis by expanding access to mental and behavioral health supports and services.

Additionally, The Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act in 2014, led by Sen ators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), trans formed the way mental health and addiction services are funded.

The law created CCBHCs, which receive reimbursement

through Medicaid for the total cost of services they provide at high er, more competitive rates than community mental health centers currently receive, according to the HHS.

“For too long, emergency rooms and law enforcement have served as the de facto mental health care delivery system in our country,” Sen. Blunt said. “Certified Com munity Behavioral Health Clinics are changing that, helping people get the comprehensive behavioral health care they need, when they need it.”

Ten states, Michigan, Missou ri, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, were selected from among 24 states that received one-year planning grants from the HHS.

The remaining 40 U.S. states and the District of Columbia are eligible to submit applications for planning grants to develop CCBHCs in their states.

In early 2023, 15 states will be awarded up to $1 million for one-year planning grants. Then, from those that submit a success ful demonstration application, ten will be selected to be in the actual CCBHC demonstration, starting in 2024, said the HHS.

“Our mental health care and addiction initiative is a proven suc cess story and is transforming men tal health and addiction treatment across our country. Now, every state will be able to join and make

sure health care above the neck is funded the same way as health care below the neck,” Sen. Stabenow said.

“Senator Blunt was a great part ner with me in passing the Bipar

tisan Safer Communities Act, and together with the Biden-Harris Ad ministration, our highly successful clinics will begin to reach people in every corner of our country.”

Rising Rates of Influenza Hit Again Has The Flu Returned With Greater Impact?

Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Staff Writer

Influenza season is back and na tional health officials are becoming increasingly concerned about the respiratory illness hitting Ameri cans more severely than in previ ous years.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Weekly Influenza Surveil lance Report, the District of Co lumbia ranks as a hotbed of flu infections, with 16 reported cases of influenza as in the second week of October. The total number of positive cases increased by seven diagnoses just from the beginning of the month.

The presence of seasonal influen za in conjunction with coronavirus infections is creating a potentially strong cocktail of rising illnesses across the nation. Medical expert, Dr. Valda Crowder, MD, MBA, predicts this coming season to bring a host of respiratory issues to the District and beyond.

“I think it is going to be a really bad virus season. Whether or not it will be Influenza A, Influenza B, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), or one of the other major viruses, I think in general it will be a bad viral season,” Dr. Crowder said.

The flu became a secondary concern over the past two years as variants of the COVID-19 virus spread and evolved into a pandem ic. Influenza cases, on the other hand, became a noticeably increas

ing threat and raised concerns over how impactful a full return of the airborne infection might be.

When examining the estimated flu-related illnesses, medical vis its, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States reported by the CDC, the seasonal flu showed a significant increase in the severity of cases when comparing hospital izations by flu between 2018-19, versus 2019-20, with the US doc umenting a total of 375,126 hos pitalizations, and 27,619 deaths in the 2018-19 year. Comparatively in the year 2019-2020 (2020 oc curring simultaneously with the coronavirus outbreak), health professionals saw an estimat ed 389,498 hospitalizations and 25,079 deaths nationwide.

Threats of an oncoming “twin demic” of both covid, and rising influenza occurrences have further pushed health officials’ urgent plea for citizens to take appropriate dos ages of both covid-19, and season al flu inoculations. Dr. Crowder makes certain to emphasize the importance of people verifying the specific booster they have received walking into this season.

“I noticed people seem to be very confused about whether or not they got the Bivalent covid booster,” said Dr. Crowder. “It is really important for them to get the Bivalent covid booster because the XBB variant of the covid that

EARTH

Advocates Tap Institutional Knowledge in Renewed Fight for Poplar Point

Kayla Benjamin WI Staff Writer

Almost three decades ago, eco-feminist Brenda Richardson and some colleagues with the Earth Conservation Corps stumbled upon a fenced-off, forested area be hind Howard Road in Southeast. It turned out to be a very well-hidden gem.

“There was a break in the fence, and there was a little path, so we went through,” Richardson said. “And we came upon these stun ningly beautiful rose bushes.”

Poplar Point, an approximately 100-acre site across the Anacos tia from Nationals Park, remains fenced-off today—more than 25 years later. After discovering the site, Richardson became part of a years-long effort to open the eco logically and historically significant piece of land for the public.

“It was clearly abandoned, but all these beautiful rose bushes were still growing back there; it was just an incredible thing to see. And we were like, ‘Why aren't people com ing back here to see this?’” Richard son said.

The answer, it turned out, is a complicated web of chemical con tamination and land ownership challenges. As the longtime site of two now-closed tree nurseries, the western portion of Poplar Point is polluted with pesticides, metals, and volatile organic compounds, among other things.

Now, a group of concerned cit izens are once again working to keep Poplar Point on the D.C. government’s radar. Richardson and co-leader Doug Siglin formed the Citizen’s Poplar Point Working Group last year to seek out input from anyone interested in the site’s future.

And as it turns out, there are quite a few people interested in sharing their thoughts: the Work ing Group’s listening sessions, held every other month, have sometimes attracted upwards of 30 partici pants, Richardson said.

“For those of us who consider ourselves environmentalists, ev erything that we can do in terms preserving the environment, en suring that we have green space, that we have tree canopy—all of

these kinds of things come together in what we're looking at in Pop lar Point,” said Absalom Jordan, a Ward 8 Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and a fierce advo cate for preserving nearby Oxon Run Park.

Jordan, like Richardson and Siglin, has witnessed the fight for Poplar Point drag on over the years. The federal government owns the land but agreed in 2006 to hand it over to the District when certain conditions were met. Those include finalizing official plans for clean up and land use as well as finding space to relocate the government buildings that remain on the east ern portion of the site.

City agencies have held many meetings and even drafted several plans in the early 2000s, including one that would have placed a D.C. United soccer stadium on the site.

Richardson and others spent two years organizing buses for Ward 8 residents to see every single soccer game in order to build communi ty support for that plan. Then, the plan fell apart.

The contamination cleanup process is expensive and slow, and more than 20 years later, nothing has materialized. Jordan said the government doesn’t even seem to have documentation of some of those initial plans.

“They don't say what they mean and mean what they say, the people who are in charge,” Reverend An thony Motley said at the Working Group’s listening session in Au gust. That meeting took place in person at Anacostia Park, which sits adjacent to Poplar Point, and focused on capturing the voices of those who have been involved for decades.

“The government and developers don’t keep their word. It’s stressful,” Rev. Motley said. He shared with the group of about 20 that he hadn’t at first wanted to join the meeting because the process around Poplar Point had been so frustrating and difficult in the past.

But Richardson emphasized that community elders like Rev. Motley and Jordan provide institutional knowledge that serves a vital pur pose as the new Working Group seeks to honor that struggle. After holding more listening sessions,

she and Siglin aim to create a “citizen’s report” based on the feedback while chron icling the process on their website, poplarpointdc.org.

“All that institutional knowledge, all that time that the community invest ed—we want to honor that by hearing their stories and documenting it for the re cord,” Richardson said. “At the end of the day, it's just about honoring and remem bering those that came be fore us.”

“Too often in this city, new people come in, they don't know and they don't bother to check the history,” Richardson added. “”And all of a sudden, what they want happens, with no rec ognition or appreciation for those that laid the ground work.”

THESE FLOWERS HAVE A LOT OF FIGHT IN THEM.

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is full of flowers, each carried by someone committed to ending this disease. Because like flowers, our participants don’t stop when something’s in their way. They keep raising funds and awareness for a breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. It’s time to add your flower to the fight.

photo/DMPED.dc.gov)

EDUCATION

Development and Legacy at Center of Frederick's Address to HU Alumni

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

With a substantial increase in phil anthropic giving, enrollment and student retention, along with an im proved bottom line for its hospital, Howard University (HU)’s financial standing has improved, which HU President Wayne A.I. Frederick said continues to pave the way for expan sion and advancement.

On Friday, Frederick delved into various aspects of HU operations during a State of the University (SOTU) address that attracted legions of HU students and alumni who flooded campus for homecoming.

For nearly an hour, Frederick out lined ongoing development projects, the influx of federal grants and alumni gifts received, and research awards giv en to students and faculty.

Frederick also addressed concerns about what he described as miscon ceptions about the sale of campus buildings.

In his presentation, Frederick said that long-term leases of Meridian Hall, Slowe Hall, Carver Hall and

other buildings allowed the university to tap into outside funds for building upgrades. They’ve also put HU of ficials in a position to purchase said buildings in the future, a situation Frederick said he’s willing to explore.

“There’s a dialogue to be had,” Fred erick said on Friday in the auditorium of HU’s business school.

“We have a real estate committee. The ownership of long-term leases is still with us and we can obtain build ings that were modernized that we couldn’t modernize on our own. It’s a robust discussion that must be had but one I don’t shy away from.”

Frederick’s SOTU address, one of his last as HU president, happened on the day university officials announced surpassing their milestone $100 mil lion for research contracts and grants. It also took place amid engagement sessions with students, faculty and staff, alumni and community mem bers about Frederick's successor.

In months past, Frederick alluded to the possibility of a woman taking his place shortly after the launch of a campaign centered on that goal. Be fore starting his SOTU address, Fred

erick recognized Dr. Lori L. Wilson, a Black female cancer surgeon at HU Hospital who recently transitioned.

He later painted a picture of cam pus life in which nearly three out of four students are women and 61 per cent of students graduate within four years. These figures, he said, have been inching closer toward the goals out lined in HU’s strategic plan.

To meet those goals, advisors flag atrisk students and scaffold the award ing of degrees in situations where students have enrolled in dual-degree programs.

In regard to university expansion, HU will take $785 million of real estate investments to construct a multidisciplinary academic building for students in communications, fine arts and health sciences. Other con struction projects include a new HU Hospital and a bevy of residential halls to be turned into apartment--style dwellings.

In the future, students will most likely be able to converge on a newly renovated Greene Stadium that’s able to host track meets.

Meanwhile, HU has achieved new milestones in philanthropy with more than $171 million collected during the last fiscal year. This happened at a time when the university received 20,000 alumni gifts. The $40 million gift from MacKenzie Scott has been allocated toward endowments named for Toni Morrison and George Floyd, as well as grants for students.

Anthea Francis, class of 1985 HU graduate and current HU employee, applauded Frederick for his transpar ency, clarity and focus on answering alumni questions.

“President Frederick needs more of these [so] people are able to hear.. the reasoning and justification behind decisions,” said Francis, who works in the Office of Continuing Education in HU College of Pharmacy.

“It filled me up with pride of ad dressing where we are and where we want to be. The strategy of how we’re going to get there is a story to be told.”

In the afternoon, hundreds of stu dents and alumni converged on Uni versity Yard for Yardfest. The smell of Caribbean and Southern cuisine filled the air as alumni reunited with long time friends. Younger alumni and stu dents bopped their heads and danced to the music of up-and-coming musi cians and a DJ.

Peter Lashley, a 2000 HU graduate and graphic designer, took in these moments while sipping sorrel. He said attending homecoming took him back to his undergraduate experience as an artist finding his calling. Lashley went on to wish current students bless ings in achieving that feat.

“I want students to understand that this is a rite of passage and [when they graduate] they must urge people to support HBCUs and be good cit izens,” said Lashley, a New York resi dent.

“It’s good to see how things are still processing. Howard is still paving the way for people to come through and see what it means to experience Black excellence, even if it’s for four years.”

HU alumna Patricia France relished in the sights and sounds of homecom ing with her husband, an HU alum nus. She also marveled at the develop ments on a campus she hasn’t visited for several years.

“It feels good to see the expansion and modern advancements,” said France, a 1986 HU graduate who lives in New Jersey.

“They’re bringing the best resources to see the university grow. I hope that students feel connected to the univer sity and its mission to understand their role as leaders so they’re connected to HU and the bigger community.”

@SamPKCollins

5 Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick delivers the Statue of the University address to alumni on Oct. 21. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)

KIPP DC College Preparatory Students to Compete in "It's Academic" in First-Ever Appearance

It's Academic to Air 62nd Season Moves to WETA

Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer

For the time being, a legal bat tle between the Biden adminis tration and six conservative states has paused a recently launched student loan forgiveness program. Even so, administration officials remain adamant about encour aging Americans from different walks to submit applications on line.

On Monday evening, U.S. Ed ucation Secretary Miguel Cardo na attempted to lay to rest any notion that some segments of the population wouldn’t be able to benefit from the Biden admin istration’s latest advancement in student loan debt relief.

He said that borrowers, regard less of whether they’ve finished college, defaulted on their loans, took out Pell grants or received Parent PLUS loans, remain eli gible to secure up to $20,000 in student loan debt relief.

Since the Biden administration made this announcement last week, more than half of 40 mil lion eligible borrowers have ap plied. Qualified applicants must make less than $125,000 individ ually or $250,000 as a household.

The Biden administration’s latest offensive play comes amid contentious midterm races and recent court battles in which a group of conservative states -- Ar kansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina -have called the administration’s student loan relief program an ex ample of executive overreach.

After a federal court judge in Missouri dismissed the case, the group turned to the Eighth Cir cuit Court of Appeals, which then granted a stay.

The Biden administration has since released a statement say ing that the states have failed to prove they would be adversely af fected by student loan debt relief.

During an appearance before the

Democratic National Committee event on Monday, President Joe Biden (D) doubled down on this message.

This ongoing lawsuit counts among several that have been filed against the federal govern ment. Over the last few weeks, other conserevative groups have targeted the Federal Family Ed ucation Loan, commercially-held loans backed by the federal gov ernment. Up until September 29, when the Biden administration discontinued the practice, FFEL borrowers were able to consol idate those loans into balances owed to the U.S. Department of Education.

The states currently embroiled in the lawsuit have a substan tial number of FFEL borrowers. They’ve argued that the Biden administration’s move would en courage borrowers to look exclu sively at federal loans. The federal government has denied that no tion, saying it amended portions of the plan so borrowers in the six states wouldn’t ditch FFEL.

The Biden administration es timates that nearly 2.8 million borrowers live in the six states involved in the lawsuit. With the ongoing lawsuit, neither they or millions of other eligible borrow ers will be able to start the loan forgiveness process.

As Cardona said on Monday evening however, that shouldn’t stop people from putting in their bid for debt relief.

“It was a big deal for the Biden administration and Department of Education last week,” Cardona said.

“Forty million borrowers are now eligible for up to $20,000 in debt relief. As we wait for things to play out in the courts, we have to focus on what matters. Anyone with student loans of less than $125,000 should apply. Let’s make sure [people] know help is finally here.” WI

@SamPKCollins

4 (Left to right): Jasiyah Jones, Chris tina Bryant and Kaleb Fitzgerald will represent KIPP DC College Preparatory in Northeast during the 62nd season of It’s Academic (Photo by Sam P.K. Collins)

Addressing Declining College Enrollment

The recent State of the University message delivered by Howard University President Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick was chocked full of good news that the administration, faculty, students and alumni can and should celebrate. One of the nation’s most prestigious universities, which also happens to be a historically Black institution is stronger today than it has ever been, according to Frederick, as it is experiencing increased student enrollment, record-breaking philanthropic giving, new construction projects, and an expectation that its first female president will be appointed.

It couldn’t be a better time for Frederick, who announced last April his plans to retire in June 2024. He has overcome challenges to his leadership of nine years from students and faculty, but it is evident that the university is thriving and he deserves much of the credit.

Still, despite all of the good news, Frederick warned of the challenges ahead.

For one, Frederick acknowledged that HU reached its undergraduate enrollment goal of nearly 13,000 students this fall, proving that the demand for higher education has never been higher. But, he warned, there are those that believe there is an HBCU renaissance and more students are selecting to attend an HBCU, which he vehemently declared “a false narrative.”

“Actually, I’m here to tell you that enrollment for all HBCUs is down, and I am worried that if we continue that narrative, it will be a challenge for the smaller HBCUs,” he said.

Morgan State University in Baltimore also reported an increase in undergraduate enrollment while acknowledging undergraduate enrollment at universities across the country is declining.

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reported that public institutions suffered the brunt of enrollment declines this spring, losing 604,000 students (-5.0% from a year ago). Community colleges accounted for more than half of these losses this spring (351,000 students) and have lost over 827,000 students since the start of the pandemic.

Granted, not every high school graduate plans to go to college, but there is and should be concern over the reasons, besides the pandemic, that have students walking away from higher education. There is the cost, of course, and the Biden Administration’s efforts to address college affordability and reduce student debt could have an impact if politicians will make a way.

More conversations are needed to explore where higher ed is headed and what needs to be done to keep the doors of opportunity open for all students that must lead the nation and the world forward. WI

Another School Shooting; When Will it Stop?

Another school shooting has occurred, and this time two innocent people, a female teacher and a 15-year-old student were killed by the gunman who also died of injuries received during an encounter with police. This time, the incident occurred at a performing arts school in St. Louis, Mo. The gunman, reportedly a Black male, age 19, entered the school carrying an AR-15-style rifle, 600 rounds of ammunition, and a note saying “I don’t have any friends. I don’t have any family.”

According to reports, this is the 40th school shooting this year, and they all come in the wake of the Valdez, Texas school shooting where police officers have since been fired for not doing enough, soon enough to protect the 19 students killed by the 18-year-old attacker.

The situation is daunting in light of statistics by Education Week confirming that a total of 40 school shootings occurred in 2022 resulting in injuries and death. There have been 122 people killed or injured, 34 killed, 28 students or other children killed, and six school employees or other adults killed.

In most cases, the gunman was a young male, with some sort of emotional or psy chological problem, and with access to high-powered weapons and a whole lot of ammunition. This is definitely a recipe for death and mayhem, and sadly the targets are also children.

Once again, Americans want solutions to stop the killing, especially in schools, and we all are searching for answers as to why kids are so angry that they want to kill and are willing to be killed, themselves. What will it take to make schools safe and havens for children that deserved to be protected?

Let’s just see what the politicians and gun advocates have to say this time. It’s time to stop talking and commit to making schools safe again for all children and adults that sup port them.

Coming Home

I’m glad that Howard University’s Homecoming has returned in full force. Just two years ago, none of us alum ni were sure if such would ever be the case again. So special thank you to all involved for ensuring we can safely par ty, fellowship and see each other on the Hilltop.

Roger Franklin Washington, D.C.

TO THE EDITOR

Get Out the Vote

A special shoutout to the young African American lawyers working hard this elec tion season to fight voter suppression and other forms of misinformation intended to keep our people from the polls. Let’s all re member to vote this November. Freedom is absolutely on the line. And let’s remem ber elections have consequences.

Brenda Rembert Washington, D.C.

Readers' Mailbox

The Washington Informer welcomes letters to the editor about articles we publish or issues affecting the community. Write to: lsax ton@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.

In most cases, the gunman was a young male, with some sort of emotional or psychological problem, and with access to high-powered weapons and a whole lot of ammunition.

Olive Wright Covington: Sister, Teacher

especially grateful for her service laying the foundation for the flagship CDF Freedom Schools program.

"If one word describes me, it would be 'teacher.'" — Olive Wright Covington

This summer, my big sister Olive Wright Covington passed away. Olive was a beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, church and com munity leader, mentor and friend, and throughout her life she was respected and loved as a gifted and passionate ed ucator. The Children's Defense Fund is

Olive left our hometown of Ben nettsville, South Carolina, to attend Fisk University in Nashville, and after graduation returned to South Caroli na, where she began her professional life teaching in schools at every level. She then moved to Washington, D.C., with her husband and two daughters, Joy and Maggie, where she taught in the D.C. Public Schools for eight years. Alongside her work in the classroom,

Guest Columnist

she began developing and leading teacher training programs. After she re tired she moved back to Bennettsville, and there she began a new phase of "re tirement" supporting CDF Freedom Schools' early development.

The CDF Freedom Schools move ment has its roots in the Civil Rights Movement and the Freedom Schools founded by Student Nonviolent Coor dinating Committee (SNCC) volun teers during the 1964 Mississippi Free dom Summer project. Olive helped design the vision for the new genera

Georgia is Ground Zero for Democracy

tion of Freedom Schools programming that would serve children's needs 30 years later. The church parsonage in Bennettsville, where I was born and raised, became the incubator and cur riculum laboratory for the CDF Free dom Schools pilot program. Marlboro County, South Carolina, along with Kansas City, Missouri, and seven other sponsors, hosted the first official CDF Freedom Schools sites in the summer of 1995.

Olive understood the deep need for opportunities like this in commu

nities like ours. Many local children had nothing to do between May and August when school was not in session. Elementary school students wound up babysitting younger siblings, teen age pregnancy rates were high, and children who were eligible for nutri tious breakfasts and lunches from the federal school meals program during the school year were going hungry. Meanwhile, many local students who'd gone on to college were not coming

Like so many of us right now, I've got Georgia on my mind.

As I write this, I've just gotten back from meeting with Black ministers who are working nonstop to get out the vote across the state. And with good reason, because there's just no other way to say it — Georgia is ground zero for the future of our democracy in this midterm election.

Control of the Senate could hinge on whether Rev. Raphael Warnock can

keep his Senate seat or is defeated by Herschel Walker, a familiar former ath lete who has become a far-right extrem ist. Depending on who gains a Senate majority, the rest of the Biden-Harris administration agenda is either on track or dead on arrival in Congress.

The governor's race features an incumbent MAGA diehard, Brian Kemp, versus Stacey Abrams. I have written about Stacey and our decade slong friendship before. No one is more committed to civil rights and greater opportunity for Georgians than Stacey. Reelecting Kemp would be a disas ter — not just for Georgians, but for

a country in which MAGA schemers are looking to capture as many states as possible to advance their reactionary agenda.

Kemp's record is appalling. In a state with a large share of uninsured Black Americans, including high numbers of Black children, Kemp has refused to ex pand Medicaid so that more Georgians could have health care. He signed a law making it easier for just about anybody, including dangerous white suprema cists, to carry concealed weapons. His administration has cut state contracts with Black businesses, and is responsible for denying unemployment claims for

twice as many Black workers as white workers. Kemp recently signed an an ti-choice law so extreme that women who have miscarriages could be arrest ed. Women who terminate pregnancies could be charged with murder.

The MAGA folks in Georgia know the coalition of Black voters and young voters who made history in 2020 won't vote for this agenda. Those voters changed the course of the nation when they went for Joe Biden and Senate candidates Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. The MAGA far right went crazy, and they made Georgia the home of some of the worst voter-suppression

laws in the country since the original Jim Crow. One of those even made it illegal to give snacks and water to vot ers waiting in long lines. All of that was for one reason: to stop people, mostly Black people, from voting in the next big election. And that election is now. We can't stand by and let that hap pen. Black voters have the power to decide the election in Georgia, which will probably decide the future of our country in some ways we can predict and others we can't. This is especially true for Black men, who still don't vote

On Sept. 28, two of the nation's largest and most influential business groups filed a lawsuit against the Con sumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and its director, Rohit Chopra. The action aims to prevent the CFPB from using its existing authority to protect consumers from racial discrim ination when seeking mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, bank accounts or

other financial services.

Leading the lawsuit are the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a lobby group for more than three million businesses across the country, and the American Bankers Association's more than 4,000 banks and trust companies. Addition al co-plaintiffs include the Consumer Bankers Association, Texas Associa tion of Business, and the Independent Bankers Association of Texas.

The lawsuit argues that when the CFPB conducts its regular exams of big banks and other financial institutions,

it does not have the authority to look for discrimination — based on race, re ligion and other personal characteristics — that is illegal under the prohibition on unfair, deceptive and abusive prac tices.

"The CFPB is pursuing an ideologi cal agenda that goes well beyond what is authorized by law and the Chamber will not hesitate to hold them account able," U.S. Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley said in a statement.

But federal laws — not ideology —

are the framework for the CFPB's an ti-discrimination work.

Discrimination in housing and lending more broadly were outlawed by 1968's Fair Housing Act and 1974's Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). Enforcing these laws is essen tial for financial fairness.

At the same time, illegal financial discrimination is pervasive, and some exists beyond the parameters of these fair lending laws that have traditionally been the focus of regulators. For exam ple, the Student Borrower Protection

Center has pointed to debt collection, predatory for-profit colleges, reporting credit information, and financial advice scams as markets where discriminatory acts or practices may not be covered by laws focused on the extension of credit but constitute unlawful financial dis crimination nonetheless.

"When a person is denied access to a bank account because of their religion or race, this is unambiguously unfair," Chopra said in a statement announc

Ben Jealous

Marian Wright Edelman

Columnist

Charlene Crowell

E. Faye Williams

It's In Their Nature

why. The scorpion said, "You know who I am! It's just in my nature."

In this campaign season, I am re minded of the fable of the scorpion and the frog. For those unfamiliar, a scorpion asks a frog to carry him across a river on his back. The frog fears being stung, but the scorpion argues that if it did so, both would sink and drown. The frog agrees, but midway, the scorpion does in deed sting the frog, dooming them both. Before they drowned, the frog laments the treachery and asks

One of Maya Angelou's most famous quotes is, "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." As Republi cans anxiously prepare to regain control of Congress, voters of sound mind and good conscience should consider what a Republi can majority in even one of the two houses would mean. From my vantage, I can only predict turmoil and misfortune. Hopefully, better voter judgment and choices will

Guest Columnist

prevail.

For years, the Republican Party has shown that its primary concern is in the interests of the privileged, wealthy, big business and, under any and every circumstance, the raw excess of retaining power and control. Its acceptance and defense of the criminal excesses of the dis graced, twice-impeached ex-presi dent is itself criminal and disrupts the design of social equilibrium inherent in a system of democracy. Moreover, those who support the criminality increasingly accept its

profitability and enhancements as perks to which they are also enti tled.

Violating constitutional emolu ment provisions, The Trump Or ganization grossly overcharged the government for services provided to Secret Service protective details for Trump and members of his family. Trump properties became a hub for foreign influence and resulted in a source of personal en richment.

Taking a cue from their leader,

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.

Oppose Kroger and Albertsons Merger

Think the cost of food is high?

Just wait.

Last week, Kroger announced plans to acquire Albertsons in a staggering $24.6 billion deal. If the deal goes through, it will merge the number one and number two stand-alone grocery chains, which together operate nearly 5,000 stores around the country and generate more than $200 billion in revenue each year.

If you think this doesn't affect you, think again. Kroger and Al bertsons are holding companies as well as brands. Kroger brands include Ralphs, Dillons, Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter, King Soop ers and several more. Albertsons operates under the names of Safe way, Haggen, Jewel-Osco, Shaws, Pavilions, Vons and several others.

Well versed by their financial advisers, the companies' CEOs are saying all the right things. The merger, they maintain, will allow major savings and efficiencies, some of which they will reinvest,

much of which they will return to consumers in lower prices. And if you believe that, there is a bridge in the Utah desert that they'd like to sell you.

In reality, the merger will further consolidate the grocery store mar ket. Right now, before the merger, according to the National Grocers Association, five companies con trol a stunning 60% of all U.S. grocery sales. After the merger, the combined company plus Walmart, by far the largest food seller, would control nearly 50% of the market.

That kind of concentration will

lead to the loss of jobs for workers, rising prices for consumers and monopoly profits for the compa nies. Working families are already stretching to meet their food needs, as food prices are rising rapidly. Eggs are up over 30% for the year; chicken over 17%, and coffee over 15%. As the American Economic Liberties Project sum marized, this merger "would be disastrous for market competition, small businesses, and especially consumers' pockets."

There are a lot of factors hit ting food prices these days — the

the current threat to our futures comes from the Republican Con gress. While claiming alarm at the rising inflation, Republicans are planning to extend the $1.5 tril lion Trump tax cut to the benefit of the 1 percent. In order to offset the loss of this tax revenue, prominent Republican senators are proposing to require reauthorization of the Social Security system every five years. Even more radically, Johnson of Wisconsin advocates an annual

Ukraine war, drought in large por tions of the U.S. and in China, an avian flu epidemic, and more. But, as David Dayan of the American Prospect reports, one contributing factor is that consolidated compa nies take advantage of the moment to raise their own prices and prof its even more. Dayan quotes Kro ger CEO Rodney McMullen, who will head the merged company, saying that "a little bit of inflation is always good in our business" because "customers don't overly

Marc H. Morial

House Committee's Revelations Just the Tip of Trump's Iceberg of Graft

"The exorbitant rates charged to the Secret Service and agents' frequent stays at Trump-owned properties raise significant concerns about the former president's self-dealing and may have resulted in a taxpayer-funded wind fall for former President Trump's struggling businesses." — House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney

It's not clear whether the op

portunity to funnel taxpayer funds into his private business was Don ald Trump's primary motivation for seeking the presidency. What is crystal clear, however, is that he took every opportunity to do just that — and lied about it along the way.

The House Oversight Com mittee this week revealed that the Trump Organization charged the Secret Service up to $1,185 per night for hotel rooms used by agents protecting Trump family members. That's five times the gov

ernment rate and nearly 24 times the $50-a-night rate the Trump Org claimed to be charging.

Trump visited his own properties more than 500 times during his presidency, and the Trump Orga nization has continued to bill the Secret Service since he left office and began living in his properties full-time.

The records released by the Over sight Committee, which cover more than $1.4 million in self-deal ing, are merely the tip of Trump's iceberg of graft. The cost to the

taxpayer of tax dodges, deceit and self-dealing by Trump's family and companies reaches into the hun dreds of millions.

A Washington Post investigation found that Trump's company raked in at least $2.5 million in taxpayer money and $5.6 million in cam paign funds during his presidency — an incomplete accounting, as several federal agencies refused to turn over records to The Post. The Trumps' illicit taxpayer-funded windfall included exorbitant over charges like $2,600 per night for a

house at Mar-a-Lago, $50 per palm for decorative palm trees, $7,700 for a catered dinner for 30 — more than $250 a plate — and more than $1,000 in liquor for a White House staff meeting.

Eric Trump, Executive Vice Pres ident of the Trump Organization, falsely claimed the business was required by law to charge the fed eral government, and that govern ment employees were charged only "like 50 bucks" per night for hotel

or Nay: Should We Continue to be Bothered with Kanye West?

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

troversial superstar.

many continue to exam ine

complexities of hate speech

free speech and the role of Black media in taking Kanye West to task, a younger – and perhaps more influential – generation ap pears at a crossroads with the con

“Many millennials viewed West as an older brother — losing hope in him can feel like losing hope in ourselves, like we’re looking at what’s waiting for us after a few more suc cesses after we find out that white validation is gold-plated and some thing green and corrosive waits for us beneath it,” Minda Honey, a

Louisville, Kentucky based writer and founder of TAUNT, wrote in an earlier editorial.

“If West can’t be Black and bril liant in America, someone like me can’t survive it either. So, we’re resis tant to giving up on him,” Honey assessed.

Then there’s Damon Young, a Pittsburgh-based writer and the author of “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker: A Memoir in Essays.”

Following his baseless and false attack on George Floyd and a slew of anti-Semitic remarks on Drink Champs, West, who prefers the name “Ye,” finds himself at a cross roads in his career and life.

Young said he’s “still working and thinking and writing my way through the ambivalence I possess about the relationship people like me — terminally online, 40-ish and once stans of Kanye West — have with Kanye West today.”

Young’s Kanye dilemma? “Is he a zeitgeist-steering demagogue?”

“Or do we largely overstate his present-day influence because we know that a pithy tweet about why Kanye sucks is guaranteed social cap ital? I lean toward the latter,” Young decided.

Black Twitter, particularly millen nials and Gen Zers, have expressed an outright willingness to cancel West or an ambivalence to his con tinued relevance.

“Honestly, Kanye is just a micro cosm of the Black cishet men whose

‘revolutionary ideas’ only exist within the framework of white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism,” Cleve land blogger Lex wrote on Twitter.

“They don’t want to upend the system. They want an equal ex change of power with their white counterparts,” Lex concluded.

Ernest Owens, an award-winning journalist and author of “The Case for Cancel Culture,” argued that West’s behavior explains what Black women mean when they say that straight black men are the white men of the community.

“There are a lot of individuals in our families, offices, and networks who think just like [West],” Owens declared.

“They are protecting Kanye West because they think like him.”

Known recently as much for his unfiltered rants than his creativity, West has begun to feel the backlash

5 Kanye West’s search for white ac ceptance may have shut the door to his faithful African American following.

in his billion-dollar pockets.

The Balenciaga fashion house, which has a relationship with Kim Kardashian, became the latest to cut ties with West.

“Balenciaga has no longer any re lationship nor any plans for future projects related to this artist,” parent company Kering said this week.

Adidas reportedly has continued to re-evaluate its ties to the icon.

Influencer Tony Posnanski de cried those who point to West’s al leged mental illness as an excuse for his behavior.

“He is a racist a-hole,” Posnanski concluded. “There is no amount of medication or therapy that will help resolve that.”

Added Tim Black, the host, and founder of “Coffee with Tim Black,” “Many people defending Kanye say he was just exercising free speech. I wonder why they didn’t feel that way about Colin Kaepernick exercising his.”

Finally, Bishop Talbert Swan said West, like several others, deserved cancelation.

“Kanye West, Candace Owens, Jason Whitlock, Brandon Tatum, and any Black person out here par roting the false narrative that white men in America are oppressed are willing tools of white supremacy and sycophantic, bootlicking, traitors, that deserve to be shunned by the culture,” Swan asserted. WI

“Balenciaga has no longer any relationship nor any plans for future projects related to this artist,” parent company Kering said this week.

Terence Blanchard Honors Wayne

Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

Terence Blanchard

his interpretation of what sax ophonist/composer Wayne Short

to music. Blanchard’s

E-Collective and the all-strings group Turtle Island Quartet, merged their talents to give Shorter’s compositions ma jor props during a recent perfor mance at the Kennedy Center.

addition to Shorter’s composi tions, the two groups added their own compositions to present “Ab sence,” a tribute concert based on the album honoring Shorter.

decades, Shorter has been a big influence on Blanchard and other jazz talents. Both are highly respected, multi-genre, award-winning artists. They have poured their hearts into com posing deeply meaningful and soul-tugging sounds.

“I know Wayne has been a huge

inspiration to so many of us,” Blanchard said in a pre-perfor mance interview with the Wash ington Informer. “I wanted to make sure it is understood what he meant to everybody now, as opposed to waiting later.”

“ABSENCE” COMES TOGETHER

Playing with Blanchard on trumpet and synthesizer in the E-Collective were guitarist Charles Altura, keyboardist Tay lor Eigsti, electric bassist Da vid Ginyard, Jr., and drummer Mark Whitfield, Jr. This was the E-Collective group. The Turtle Island Quartet consisted of Da vid Balakrishnan and Gabriel Terracciano on violin, Benjamin von Gutzeit on viola, and Na seem Alatrash on cello. The twogroup concept was reminiscent of drummer Max Roach’s Double Quartet. The 1980s collaboration joined Roach’s quartet with the

Uptown String Quartet founded by his daughter Maxine Roach.

“Absence” the title song com posed by bassist Ginyard, opened the concert. That was the foun dation for bringing the audience into Shorter’s world. Next was “The Elders” a Shorter composi tion recorded by Weather Report, the group Shorter co-founded with Joe Zawinul, in 1970. “The

Second Wave” was a dynamic all-strings showcase by Turtle Is land Quartet violinist and leader Balakrishnan. The quartet played hard, moving seamlessly between rapid strumming, changing rhythms, plucking strings, then laying back in focused drifting.

The “Absence” concert was a brief but intense tutorial on the genius of Wayne Shorter.

“We didn’t want to just do his material; we wanted to show how much he influenced us,” Blanchard said about the song selections for the concert and al bum. “The day before we started the session, we went to his house and hung out with him. That real ly inspired some of the guys in the

Participation in the FAME Jazz Band Program (FJBP) is

&

in

school students who are eager to

expression, as well as maintain high

standards in the classroom. All Jazz Band

are invited. This is a tuition Free program.

5 Trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard

Ginyard,

Jazzy Blues Vocalist Catherine Russell Performs Hits Notes and Fun at Blues Alley

Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

Blues Alley, the District’s iconic jazz and blues club, recently pre sented Catherine Russell for a twonight gig. Russell described her music as “capturing Black blues women” during a Tiny Desk Con cert this past February. A versatile singer is what she really is.

Russell has recorded several albums as a solo artist. With her range, she has performed with Steely Dan, David Bowie, Cyn di Lauper, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, Toshi Reagon, Rosanne Cash and many others. Discovering some of Rus sell’s blues-slanted sound reminds one of ragtime-infused arrange ments.

“I love that genre of music. We are also into the Black America songbook,” Russell said in a con versation before coming to DC.

For the D.C. performance, Rus sell had to try something a little different. The singer had severe lar yngitis on the last day of her stint at Blues Alley. Singing was dicey at best. Making it to the stage backed by her talented trio, Russell deliv ered “Black-blues-woman-spokenword” music, taking suggestive lyrics to a well-received sultry lev el. It worked because the audience showed her abundant love.

The “spoken” playlist included “Ain’t No Fault of Mine,” “Make It Do,” a calypso-tinged tune, and “Aged and Mellow Blues,” an Es ther Phillips classic that contained the lyric “I like my men, like I like my whiskey.” The set ended with “One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer,” a song made famous by Jim my Witherspoon. A lot of innuen does, spiced with voice inflections, delivered a fun evening.

Major props go to Russell’s trio, led by guitarist/vocalist Matt Munisteri and acoustic bassist Tal Ronen, and pianist Sean Mason. Munisteri has performed with Russell for 15 years, Ronen for ten years, and Mason is the new est member. The group excelled in making things work for their star vocalist. The trio opened with

their own 40-minute set with tra ditional and American Songbook songs. Mason was a pleasant sur prise, at age 24, he has an “old soul,” as revealed by a solo piano rendition of “Someone to Watch

Over Me.”

When their set ended, Russell and the trio mingled with the crowd like old friends. It was an impressive first-time visit to the historic Blues Alley despite the circumstances. Hopefully, there is a return visit scheduled for this “blues woman.”

Russell has distinguished mu sical roots. Her father was Luis Russell, a legendary pianist/ composer/bandleader, and Louis Armstrong's long-time musical director. Her mother, Carline Ray, was a pioneering vocalist/guitarist/ bassist who performed with Inter national Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams, and Sy Oli ver. High-quality family influences played into Russell's overcoming a challenge with her D.C. engage ment.

Connect with Russell through her website at https://www.cather inerussell.net. WI

@bcscomm

5 New York-based blues/jazz singer Catherine Russell recently performed at the iconic DC club Blues Alley.

Gas Prices are Rising. Manage Your Bill and Optimize Your Energy Consumption

Submitted by Washington Gas

With the cold weather season approaching, you may start to use your natural gas appliances more. Because natural gas prices are rising, this could impact your gas utility bills in the coming months.

Even as we increase our use of natural gas this winter—from the furnaces that heat our homes to other appliance usages—the U.S. Energy Information Administra tion reports that multiple factors have led to national natural gas price increases.* These include storms, fluctuations in imports/ex ports volumes, changes in natural gas inventory levels and other sud den changes in demand.**

These factors can directly im pact your gas bill. Read more to learn how gas prices are set and how Washington Gas charges our customers for gas. We also offer tips and recommendations to help manage your bill.

HOW ARE NATURAL GAS PRICES SET?

Like most energy sources, natu ral gas is generally subject to sup ply-and-demand forces. Natural gas market prices are higher this year based on many factors, in cluding economic recovery from COVID-19, increased natural gas demand from last winter, and low er-than-anticipated production.

The chart below underscores the volatility of natural gas prices this year:

HOW DOES WASHINGTON GAS CHARGE FOR NATURAL GAS?

Washington Gas charges our customers based on what we pay for natural gas; we do not prof it from the sale of gas. While the recent global surge in natural gas prices has influenced our custom ers’ bills, the amount that we charge for gas is reviewed monthly by our regulators. We only pass on cost increases that are approved by our regulators.

In short, our customers pay the same price that we do for the pur chase of natural gas.

TIPS AND RECOMMEN DATIONS FOR MANAG ING YOUR BILL

Before the winter chill sets in, start your savings now with these tips:

1. Enroll in the Budget Plan to spread the cost of heating throughout the year.

With the Budget Plan, customers pay the same amount every month, so there are no surprises. Because home and water heating can be among the highest utility costs, spreading these natural gas charges throughout the year can help ease expenses and provide budgeting re lief. The Budget Plan helps you do just that—budget. You can plan more easily for other expenses with a predictable utility bill each month. Enroll at: https://www.washington gas.com/budgetplan.

2. Save on your energy con sumption by implementing energy efficiency measures.

By preparing your furnacing for winter, taking an online home energy assessment or upgrading to high-effi ciency appliances with rebates, you’re taking the first steps toward becoming more energy efficient. From replacing your water heater to adding weath er stripping, even small changes can make a big difference in optimizing your energy, lowering your energy consumption and managing your bills. For up-to-date energy-saving solutions in your area, visit https://wg smartsavings.com/.

3. Apply for energy assistance.

Do you or someone you know need help with energy bills? Income-eligi ble customers may qualify for energy assistance programs that help offset costs and provide relief for utility bills. These programs are available through out our service territory in Maryland, DC and Virginia. You have many op tions, and we are here to help! Learn more at https://www.washingtongas cares.com/.

4. Sign up for the Installment Plan.

If you still need assistance, the In

stallment Plan may also be the right fit for you. Eligible customers may be able to sign up for 12-month or 24-month payment plans to help manage their energy bills. To find out more, visit https://www.washington gas.com/paymentplan.

As we adjust to changing weather and increasing gas prices, Washington Gas is here to help. Through our pro grams, energy efficiency solutions and customer experience expertise, we are committed to helping you navigate the evolving energy landscape and manage your energy bills.

For more energy-saving tips for the winter season, visit: https://www. washingtongas.com/safety-education/ education/winter-preparedness

*https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/ detail.php?id=53579

**https://bit.ly/ngpricesexplained

Renewing Our Rivers

In conjunction with Anacostia Riverkeeper, Washington Gas is proud to sponsor high school student volunteers as part of an ongoing initiative to clean up the Anacostia River. Our Community Engagement department initiated this effort and spearheads the activities of this enthusiastic alliance.

Volunteers have removed more than 12,000 pounds of waste from the river and surrounding areas in less than a year! Those 6+ tons of trash include plastic and glass bottles, bulk trash, litter and discarded tires, and single-use plastic bottles comprise about 60% of river and shoreline litter.* The next clean-up is scheduled for Oct. 26.

These Washington Gas-sponsored clean-ups from the river and surrounding watershed help remove trash from the River and help to keep trash from entering the Chesapeake Bay and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean. Removing large plastic items like bottles and other litter can help reduce microplastics that can harm fish and other animals that consume them.**

*Statistics courtesy of Anacostia Riverkeeper / **https://bit.ly/CCSmicroplastics

•

• Capital City

•

Coolidge

•

• McKinley Technology

•

• Benjamin Banneker

(Ward

LIBRARIANS from Page 9

spending. While some advocates expressed appreciation for that focus, they said Mendelson and others must take more of a direct approach when it comes to permanently funding fulltime librarians.

In response to an inquiry about the likelihood of that happening, Mendelson said the onus remains on DC Public Schools (DCPS) to allo cate funds in its budget for full-time librarians.

“The chancellor has indicated re peatedly that DCPS requires every school to have a librarian,” Mendel son said. “As a result, we have not scheduled action on this bill that purports to implement a policy that is already in place.”

Last weekend’s act of civil disobe dience followed the delivery of letters and public testimony by librarians over the last few months. Those who’ve flooded council hearings con tinue to stress that they are needed at a time when public school and public charter school officials attempt to in crease students’ reading fluency.

At the beginning of the school year, PARCC scores hinted at the effects of pandemic-related learning loss. This week, data from National Assessment of Educational Progress showed no statistically significant gains in the average scores of DCPS 4th and 8th graders over the last three years.

Even so, the District counts among the top urban school districts in the U.S. showing signs of improvement,

what some school librarians describe as a testament to online tools and reading resources they provided at the height of the pandemic.

Over the last couple of years, ef forts have centered on integrating the latest research about dyslexia and other reading disorders into class room instruction. All the while, pub lic school librarians continue to argue that they too serve as an invaluable resource for students in need of addi tional support.

In the hours before she was sched uled to testify on teacher and princi pal retention before the D.C. Coun cil on Tuesday, K.C. Boyd stressed the need for permanent funding for school librarians. She said DCPS has been given too much latitude to cut positions essential to developing wellread, emotionally stable students.

That’s why Boyd said she remains committed to seeing that the D.C. Council approves the Students’ Right to Read Amendment Act.

“We have to be laser focused with the language to ensure that DCPS will include school library programs and full-time school librarians in the budget,” said Boyd, a librarian at Jef ferson Middle School Academy in Southwest.

“The council had this bill going up for a year and they can push it through. Why they’re not doing it, I don’t know. Who helps motivate students to read and they’re trained to do so? Librarians insert that love of reading.” WI

@SamPKCollins is coming our way is susceptible to the Bivalent [booster]. You have protection with the Bivalent, [but] you don’t have so much protection with the booster that is not Biva lent.”

Covid vaccine recipients can confirm the status of their received booster shots by checking their booster cards which should indi cate the specific type of booster ad ministered to them, as it is heavily recommended to receive before the winter season. Likewise, health of ficials have reformulated this year’s flu shots, preparing the dosage to sustain the potential threat we could experience as we close out the year.

Particularly with the holiday season approaching, family gather

ings, airports, and planes are major spaces to yield with heavy caution in how people are operating this time of the year.

Mayor Bowser additionally en courages District residents to be alert to the health challenges be lieved to come this upcoming sea son and the importance of staying protected.

“It’s not just COVID we have to be thinking about because now we’re also in [the] flu sea son. Whether you need your first, second, or third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you can get it done at the same time as your flu shot,” said Mayor Bowser in a statement encouraging residents to seek inoculations during the flu season.

Now Is The Time To Protect Your Family And Community For The Holiday Season

Gigi El-Bayoumi M.D. Melissa Clarke M.D. Yolandra Hancock M.D. Reed Tuckson M.D.

As we prepare for the holiday season, let’s be sure to prioritize getting our COVID Booster and Flu vaccine shots alongside planning for festive deco rations and preparing gift lists. If you get your shots now, they will be maximal ly effective in time for that visit to grandma’s house or to family members whose weakened immune systems make them especially vul nerable to COVID’s devastating effects. It’s the right thing to do for them, and yourself!

We are pleased to see the decreasing hospitalization and death rates from COVID, even as we mourn the more than 1,390 friends and neighbors in DC that we have lost to this pandemic. Unfortunately, the coming months threaten a new winter surge resulting from several new variants of concern that are appearing around the world and that are making their way to the DC area. We know that many of us are worn out by the pandemic, but, the COVID virus is definitely not tired of killing humans as evidenced by the new BQ.1, BQ.1.1, BF.7, BA.4.6, BA.2.75 and BA.2.75.2 variants that are being tracked in the United States. The CDC recently estimated that BQ.1 and closely related BQ.1.1 currently make up 16.6% of the total circulating coronavirus variants in the United States, nearly doubling in one week.

The good news is that the new Bi-Valent Booster seems to be effective against these new strains. More good news is that after approximately 1,840,485 COVID vaccine doses administered in Washington DC alone, and billions more worldwide, the vaccines have proven to be extraordinarily safe and are estimated to have saved more than 20 million lives worldwide in just their first year of use! We also see that those protected by vaccines and boosters have not just lower rates of death, but get milder illness and way lower occurrence of Long COVID if exposed to the virus!

Studies show us that the immune protection from prior vaccinations, and prior infection, decrease over time. As children return to school and have more exposure to COVID, it’s important that you increase your protection, and that of your children, with the new vaccine that protects from previous and current strains that are still with us, as well as those rapidly making their way to our country.

If you contracted COVID more than three months ago or received a previous booster or primary COVID vaccine more than two months ago, the time is NOW to get the bivalent vaccine dose. And, just in time for the holidays, authorization has recently been given for children 5-11 to also receive the new booster, so check with your pediatrician.

The bivalent booster is FREE and you can get the shot at local pharmacies, some physician offices and hospitals, and at DC Health’s COVID Service Centers. The Ward 8 location is 3640 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, and the Ward 7 location is 3929 Minnesota Avenue NE. We strongly suggest that while you are get ting your COVID booster, roll up the other sleeve and get your flu shot at the same time!

For more information, go to coronavirus.dc.gov. Let’s work together to protect ourselves, our vulnera ble family members and our beloved community. Let’s make a pledge not to give the gift of COVID this year!

AN URGENT MESSAGE FROM THE BLACK COALITION AGAINST COVID

With a friend,

that

Can’t vote? Start a “Don’t Forget to Vote” Campaign Here’s how:

Cut out the “Don’t Forget to Vote” badge on this page and wear it proudly!

On Election Day, ask every person you see who is over 18 if he or she has voted yet Ask your teacher, your parents, the school secretary, and clerks at stores. Ask them all!

Standards

Decide whether each of these people can vote. Then follow each path in the maze to find out if you are right.

Standards

is a U.S. citizen is 79 years old retired 10 years ago has not registered to vote

is 30 years old is a U.S. citizen has registered to vote does not read English

Unscramble each election word on the hats. Then look for an article in the newspaper that uses one of these terms. Read the article and then use your own words to explain what you think the word means.

words

in a star. Can you fill them all?

make with the

Complete this evening another

1. People government be good learning words in that describe

You must be at least 18 years old.

You must be a citizen of the United States.

In order to vote, you must qualif three ways: You must be registered (signe up) to vote in the state where you live.

is an Air Force pilot based in Germany is 22 years old is a U.S. citizen has registered to vote

turns 18 on Nov 1, 2022 is a U.S. citizen does not have a job

registered to

Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recongize identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

Read Between the Lines

People often use both fact and opinion to persuade others about their way of thinking. Look at a letter to the editor. Underline the facts in red and the opinions in blue. Does the writer use more fact or opinion?

Standards

Look through the newspaper for 10 words about the coming election. Cut them out and glue them onto a piece of paper in alphabetical order

Bonus Challenge: Can you find an election word for each letter of the alphabet?

Standards Link: Spelling: Arrange words in

information.

2. Write the alphabetical

Look through the newspaper for words and pictures that show why it is important to vote. Make a Don’t Forget to Vote Poster and find a place in town to put it up!

3. Discuss your learning On the you write you think good leader. Your reasons: Your learning

LIFESTYLE

reviewwi book

horoscopes

ARIES In the beginning of the week, you might clash with a higher-up, requiring you to reflect on how to best handle power struggles. Later, you might crave time reconnecting with loved ones you haven't had the opportunity to bond with recently. Whether you're simply catching up over a quick call or enjoying one another's company during a weekend walk around a favorite lake, fostering your nearest and dearest relationships can feel especially comforting during this time. Lucky Numbers: 10, 17, 47

By Brian Martin

ECW Press

Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer

It looks like your ticket was purchased the day you were born. Your destination was unknown and the journey takes a lifetime, but a seat was reserved for you that no one can take away. And yet, you could change courses any time you wished, for greener pastures or safer homes. In the new book "From Underground Railroad to Rebel Refuge" by Brian Martin, your fellow travelers are good with that.

Even in the earliest days, there were slaves.

In 1501, says Martin, a Portuguese explorer came to the easternmost shores of what's now Canada with at least one slave. An unnamed Black person, probably a slave, died in Port Royal in 1606; another fell in Acadia two years later. There weren't a lot of slaves when those lands were controlled by the French, but after Great Britain took over in 1763, slavery surged and the number of Black people grew. Numbers jumped again during the Revolutionary War, when the Brits eagerly invited slaves to taste freedom by fleeing their American owners.

Immediately after the war, Britain realized how much its public disliked slavery, and they "inched" to abolish it with the Act on the Abolition of the Slave Trade in the British Empire of 1807. By then, runaway slaves from all over America had been seeking freedom in Canada. By the 1830s, running north had a name — the Underground Railroad — and it had several lead ers to lead slaves away from bondage.

But Canada wasn't just a safe haven for former slaves or freedmen hop ing for more tolerance or a better life. Bounty hunters came north across a border that was easy to ignore. Abolitionists crossed over, as did politicians and journalists eager to tell a tale or two. Canadians crossed south, to fight mostly with the Union.

Our northern neighbor was always welcoming and willing to shelter any one who needed it. Even if, says Martin, they were once plantation owners.

Even if they were white supremacists and Klan leaders …

At this point in your life, you've probably heard your fair share of 19th-century American history. You know quite a bit about the Civil War and slave history, too, but "From Underground Railroad to Rebel Refuge" will open your eyes even wider.

Remember high school history class? It probably left you frustrated with vague information, when it came to slavery in America and Canada's role in it, but author Brian Martin gets specific here, regaling readers with excit ing, surprising, astonishing stories of individuals whose lives and experiences made a mark on both countries' attitudes and laws. These are tales you didn't get in high school — and though this book can feel somewhat text-bookish sometimes, you won't mind too much. The stories are the strength here.

This book will make a historian head for the easy chair tonight. "From Underground Railroad to Rebel Refuge" will introduce you to a new set of heroes and villains. And if your goal is to learn more about American history this winter, this book about Canada will get you right on track.

TAURUS You might find yourself yearning to get out of your comfort zone and experience something out of the ordinary at the start of the week. Shaking things up by applying for new work, experimenting with your personal style, or sharing deep emotions with a loved one could feel liberating and empow ering. Lucky Numbers: 3, 31, 56

GEMINI Going back to the drawing board on a moneymaking idea might be a smart bet when the week begins. What's old can be new again, and, once you pour newfound perspective and energy into it, can deliver well deserved rewards. Lucky Numbers: 2, 12, 28

CANCER It could feel more challenging and slower going when you need to speak your truth at the start of the week. On the bright side, this is an opportunity to research, revise, and perfect how you present yourself in the world. It could be time to overhaul those business cards or your professional website or even your ideal career trajectory. Lucky Numbers: 4, 20, 22

LEO You might feel like you need to go underground in a way in the beginning of the week. Spend time meditating, journaling, ahd talking through your goals with your closest friends and loved ones. Taking definitive action might feel tougher than usual, and your thinking could be murky. You'll do well to allow yourself to just be and feel, giving your intuition the upper hand over your mind. Lucky Numbers: 7, 15, 59

VIRGO In the beginning of the week, the cosmos urges you to sign up for a class or jump into a project you might otherwise pass on. Give your gut the benefit of the doubt now. Later, if you feel like you've been giving your time and energy to friends or colleagues and not getting much back in return, you'll have the perfect opportunity to reassess these situations. Lucky Numbers: 7, 8, 40

LIBRA You can trust your heart to lead the way to a fulfilling, eye-opening moment with loved ones or a significant other as the week starts. A new way of seeing or experiencing the world together can serve to bolster your bonds all around. Lucky Numbers: 13, 17, 54

SCORPIO Pinpointing existing skills you'd like to brush up on is among one of the best ways to take advantage of the beginning of the week. Whether they're related to your personal aspirations or pro fessional goals, you'll want to give yourself the time and space to learn and grow in a way that serves your purpose and long-term aims. You might even gain clarity around your ultimate endgame. Lucky Numbers: 9, 34, 39

SAGITTARIUS You might find it more challenging to share deep-seated feelings and desires as the week begins. But this struggle might inspire you to work even harder to speak your truth in a genuine, heartfelt way. Prioritizing your physical needs while healing old emotional wounds can be truly trans formative. Lucky Numbers: 26, 43, 55

CAPRICORN At the beginning of the week, you might be frustrated if it feels like you're speaking a different language than your significant other, dearest friend, or closest colleague. Confusion reigns supreme. But so can opportunities to go back to previously unresolved business. Consider airing out that emotional issue you've had on the back burner or revising your game plan for hitting a shared goal. Lucky Numbers: 17, 23, 57

AQUARIUS At the start of the week, you might be inspired to revise your approach to fitness and healthy eating or simply strike a better balance between work and personal life. Research and discussions with loved ones and friends might prove particularly useful as you suss out your options. Lucky Numbers: 2, 21, 44

PISCES In the beginning of the week, the cosmos could possibly throw a wrench in or delay sponta neous, playful plans with loved ones and friends. Thankfully, remaining creative and open to last-min ute changes can help you go with the flow and make room for plenty of joy. Later, you're urged to own your artistic voice and bring it to your relationships and work shamelessly and confidently. By doing so, you'll be better able to step into your power and forge the path toward your ideal future. Lucky Numbers: 5, 32, 46

"From Underground Railroad to Rebel Refuge: Canada and the Civil War"

5 Cam Sims (89) breaks away after a catch during a win over the Green Bay Packers 23-21 at FedEx Field in Landover on Oct. 23. (Ab dullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

3 Amari Rodgers (88) runs through a defender in a win over the Green Bay Packers 23-21 at FedEx Field in Landover on Oct. 23. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

4 Terry McLaurin (17) catches a touchdown pass during a win over the Green Bay Packers 23-21 at FedEx Field in Landover on Oct. 23. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

3 Kristaps Porzingas (6) double teamed during a Washing ton Wizards win over the Chicago Bulls 102 - 100 at Capital One Arena on Oct. 21. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

6 Bradley Beal (3) drives the lane during a Washington Wizards win over the Chicago Bulls 102 - 100 at Capital One Arena on Oct. 21. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

5 Bradley Beal (3) tries to find the open man during a Washington Wizards win over the Chicago Bulls 102 - 100 at Capital One Arena on Oct. 21. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

5

5

3

5

(TOP)

Williams/The

(Marckell Williams/The

BLACK VOTERS from Page 1

year, they are higher among older Black voters (58% of those ages 50 and older say they are more motivated to vote) and those who approve of President Biden (58%).

Researchers reported that sim ilar shares of those who identify as or lean Democrat (55%) and who identify as or lean Republican (54%) say they are more motivat ed this year.

The project found that Black voters are greatly concerned about the economy, inflation, health care, and housing affordability.

At the same time, those voters also rank some non-economic issues necessary to their vote, in cluding voter rights, gun violence,

DEBT RELIEF from Page 1

He said that borrowers, regardless of whether they’ve finished college, defaulted on their loans, took out Pell grants or received Parent PLUS loans, remain eligible to secure up to $20,000 in student loan debt relief.

Since the Biden administration made this announcement last week, more than half of 40 million eligi ble borrowers have applied. Quali fied applicants must make less than $125,000 individually or $250,000 as a household.

The Biden administration’s latest offensive play comes amid conten tious midterm races and recent court battles in which a group of conserva tive states -- Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Car olina -- have called the administra tion’s student loan relief program an example of executive overreach.

After a federal court judge in Mis souri dismissed the case, the group turned to the Eighth Circuit Court

criminal justice, and policing.

Election integrity, housing costs, and partisan identification were among the survey’s recurring factors.

Seven in ten Black voters said they’re worried about voter sup pression interfering with a fair and accurate election in their state.

Nearly half – 46% – said they have had to wait in long lines at their polling places in the past.

About 20% said they either had their voter registration questioned or were told they were not regis tered to vote, requested a mail-in ballot that never arrived or arrived too late, had their mail-in ballot rejected, or were told they didn’t have the correct identification.

Meanwhile, 31% of Black voters

said the cost of housing is the eco nomic issue that they most want President Joe Biden and Congress to address, more than those who said the same about the cost of food (24%), health care (23%), gasoline (10%), or student debt (12%).

Also, three-quarters of Black voters said the issue of housing af fordability counts as very import ant to their vote, including even higher shares of lower-income Black voters (84% of those with annual incomes under $40,000).

While about three-quarters of

among several that have been filed against the federal government.

Over the last few weeks, other con serevative groups have targeted the Federal Family Education Loan, commercially-held loans backed by the federal government. Up until September 29, when the Biden ad ministration discontinued the prac tice, FFEL borrowers were able to consolidate those loans into balanc es owed to the U.S. Department of Education.

Black voters identify as a Dem ocrat (61%) or lean Democratic (13%), about one in ten identify as Republican (7%) or lean Re publican (4%).

A further 13% identify as inde pendents or something else and do not lean toward either the Demo cratic or Republican party.

“These groups hold vastly dif ferent views than the Democratic majority, especially on recent Su preme Court decisions and gen der and sexual identity issues,” researchers determined.

The researchers concluded that widespread unfavorable views of Biden among Black voters might temper their turnout.

They found that 70% of those who approve of Biden’s perfor mance are “absolutely certain” they’ll vote, compared to 51% among those who disapprove of Biden.

“There’s a similar pattern in those who said they were ‘more motivated' to vote in this elec tion than in previous elections, 58% among those who approve of Biden versus 37% among those who disapprove of him,” the re searchers noted.

of Appeals, which then granted a stay.

The Biden administration has since released a statement saying that the states have failed to prove they would be adversely affected by

student loan debt relief. During an appearance before the Democrat ic National Committee event on Monday, President Joe Biden (D) doubled down on this message. This ongoing lawsuit counts

The states currently embroiled in the lawsuit have a substantial num ber of FFEL borrowers. They’ve ar gued that the Biden administration’s move would encourage borrowers to look exclusively at federal loans. The federal government has denied that notion, saying it amended portions of the plan so borrowers in the six states wouldn’t ditch FFEL.

The Biden administration esti mates that nearly 2.8 million bor rowers live in the six states involved in the lawsuit. With the ongoing lawsuit, neither they or millions of other eligible borrowers will be able to start the loan forgiveness process.

As Cardona said on Monday eve ning however, that shouldn’t stop people from putting in their bid for debt relief.

“It was a big deal for the Biden administration and Department of Education last week,” Cardona said.

“Forty million borrowers are now eligible for up to $20,000 in debt relief. As we wait for things to play out in the courts, we have to focus on what matters. Anyone with stu dent loans of less than $125,000 should apply. Let’s make sure [peo ple] know help is finally here.” WI

@SamPKCollins

They asserted that younger vot ers’ motivations to show up at the polls may also be “tamped by current social and economic issues that are more likely to affect them, or affect them more directly, like a difficult housing market and stu dent debt.” WI

The project found that Black voters are greatly concerned about the economy, inflation, health care, and housing affordability.

There is a parable of the Chi nese Bamboo Tree, a true story that teaches us lessons about patience, faith, perseverance, growth, devel opment, and, most importantly, hu man potential.

This tree grows in various coun tries, especially China, but I saw some in Puerto Rico when I was given an all-expense paid trip there. As the driver drove our group to our next stop, I remember looking out at the forest of Bamboo Trees, wonder ing if they were the real thing. They were!

I read an online article entitled “What I Learned from the Chinese Bamboo Tree” - about how plentiful Bamboo Tree forests are in Puerto Rico. I saw them with my own eyes during my trip.

Like any plant, the Chinese Bam boo Tree requires nurturing – water, fertile soil, sunshine- to flourish. In the first year, there are no visible signs of activity or development. In the second year, again, no growth above the soil. And the third and fourth, still no signs. Patience is test ed, and we begin to wonder if our efforts will ever be rewarded.

Finally, in the fifth year – voila! There is growth, and what growth it is! The Chinese Bamboo Tree grows 80-90 feet tall (nearly 30m) in just six weeks! Those of you who become impatient and want things right now simply don’t believe and trust that God is working underground, doing things you don’t even know

religion corner

Bamboo Tree Truths & Metaphors

about; you will miss out on tremen dous blessings.

Thoughts you hold create your belief. Your actions create your re sults. Take a pen and paper and cre ate your destiny. Build an image of the life you want. See yourself in that image. There will be some gaps, but do your very best to see the life you wish to live. That’s called ‘walking by faith and not by sight.’

We must see, feel and believe that we can have whatever we see in our thoughts. The clearer your vision be comes, the more likely you will be able to make your dream come true. See every single step you must take. Just walk in the direction of your dream. Know why and what your purpose is.

It is never too late to change your life. Ask yourself, ‘Where do I really want to go from here?” What you focus on becomes the strongest as long as you have the faith of a mus tard seed. What is something I could do? What is something I should do? And if I do this, will it get me closer to my goal?

Let me share an example of a young woman who did exactly what I’m saying and made her dreams come true. During my speaker training, Les Brown talked about Tawaunna Jones, born without arms, and she wrote a book called unarmed and dangerous! She be came a tremendous success story.

There are unlimited possibilities of things we can do to put us in the right state of mind. Fall in love with what you want to be, do or have, and keep our Heavenly Father in your heart.

This bamboo metaphor resonates deeper for me as a religious columnist and radio show host, sharing wisdom and knowledge with readers and listeners. There are times we can all feel as though we have

been honing our skills and talents, the way the farmers do when they are watering, tilling, and nurtur ing the Bamboo Tree, and nothing seems to be sprouting. However, reading this story of how the Bam boo Tree reminded me why we should be patient and consistent long after we come out of this pan demic.

We must know that things are happening even if we can’t see them “on the surface.” Working towards our goals even a little bit every day will not show immediate results, but it will in the long term if we just stay the course.

Each day we are all learning, stor ing knowledge, building networks, creating friendships, giving and receiving love, and nurturing our bodies, minds, and future growth, both professionally and personally. Nothing we do is a waste of time if we keep that in mind. When we invest in that process, invest in our selves, stay consistent, and don’t give up nor expect immediate payback, we will wake up one day and realize we are exactly where we need to be … staring up at a forest of 80 and 90 feet tall bamboo trees that are there because of our care.

So keep watering your seeds. Your work matters. Your care mat ters. Your experience matters. Your investment matters. It will be worth it in the long run. WI

Bishop

9161

301-350-2200

Communion:

Pilgrim Baptist Church

Rev. Louis B.

700 Street, N.E. Washington, D.C.

(202) 547-8849

Service

5th

Church of Living Waters

Rev. Paul Carrette

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

9:00

Bible Study: Wednesday, 12

Study

Tuesday 7:00 PM

3rd

Service and Times

Service: 8:30am& 11:00 AM

Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church

Crusader Baptist Church Isle of Patmos Baptist Church

Rev.

Rev. Dr.

800 Street, NE - Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 - Fax No. 202-548-0703

Service and Times

Sunday Morning

Holy Communion: 1st

School: 9:45 AM

Men’s Monday

Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews

1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018

Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661

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

&

www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

Covenant Baptist United Church  of Christ

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM

Communion Service: First Sunday www.livingwatersmd.org

St. Stephen Baptist Church

Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor

Third Street Church of God

Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D.

Pastor

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

Times

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00 AM

Communion

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

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

5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555

Services and Times

Sunday Early Morning Worship: 7:45 AM

Church School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45 AM

Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute

Wednesday , 12:30 PM Mid-Day Bible Study

Wednesday: Prayer/Praise/Bible Study-7:30 PM

Baptism & Communion Service: 4th Sunday – 10:30 AM

“We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org / E-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net

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

Services and Times

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM

Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM “Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org

Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org

Study: 7:00

Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00

Women’s Ministry Bible Study: 3rd Friday -7:00

Computer Classes:

and

E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org / “God

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

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

St Marks Baptist Come Worship with us...

Dr. Raymond T. Matthews Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews

St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011

Services and Times

Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:00 AM

Wed. Noon Day prayer service

Thur. Prayer service: 6:45 PM

Thur. Bible Study: 7:15 PM

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

All

Baptist Church

Rev.

Emmanuel Baptist Church

Reverend

2409 Ainger Pl.,SE

678-0884

Perfect

Service

7:00 PM

Christian Education / School

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM,

Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com

All

Zion Baptist Church

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

Israel Baptist Church

Rev. Lance Aubert Imterim Pastor

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

Baptismal

Prayer

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church

Rev. Richard B. Black Interim Pastor

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"

WDC 20020

(202) 678-0885

Sunday Worship: 8:00 AM & 10:45 AM

Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday

Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30 PM

Prayer Service: Tuesdays – 8:00 PM www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor

5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005

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

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

Florida Avenue Baptist Church Holy Trinity United Baptist Church

Dr. Earl

623 Florida Ave.. NW - WDC. 20001

Church (202) 667-3409 / Study (202) 265-0836

Home Study (301) 464-8211 / Fax (202) 483-4009

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 AM

Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 AM

Holy Communion: Every First Sunday

Intercessory Prayer: Monday – 7:00-8:00 PM

Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday –7:45 PM

Midweek Prayer: Wednesday – 7:00 PM

Noonday Prayer Every Thursday

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

Dr. Joseph D. Turner / Senior Pastor

2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020

Office 202-889-3709 Fax 202-678-3304

Service and Times

Early Worship Service: 8:00 AM

Worship Service: 11:00 AM

New Member’s Class: 9:45 AM

Holy Communion: 1st Sunday, 11:00 AM

Church School: 9:45 AM

Wednesday 12:00pm Bible Study

Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Saturday Bible Study: 11:00 AM

Baptism 4th Sunday: 11:00 AM

“Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”

Rev. Dr. George C.

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

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

Study: 7:30 PM

Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries: 10:30 AM

A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net

Kelechi Ajieren Coordinator

6839 Eastern Avenue, R1 Takoma Park, MD 20912 (202) 556-7065

Service and Times

Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM

Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 PM

Friday Evening Service: 7:00 PM ; Last Friday

“…Giving Your Life a Meaning” www.Christembassydc.org Christ.embassy.dc@hotmail.com

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

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

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

Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org

For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.

Christ Embassy DC

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

Death

Date

Shirley M. Archie aka Shirley Mae Archie

Name of Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESEN TATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Pamla Archie whose address is 622 Jefferson Street NW Washington DC 20011 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Shirley M. Archie aka Shirley Mae Archie, deceased, by the Superior Court for Beaufort County, State of North Carolina.

Service of process may be made upon Donna Burriss 4133 Lee Street, NE Washington DC 20019 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 estate.

622 Jefferson Street NW Washington DC 20011. Claims against the decedent may be presented to the undersigned and filed with the Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, 515 5th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001 within 6 months from the date of first publication of this notice.

Date of first publication: 10/13/2022

Pamla Archie Personal Representative

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2022 ADM 1079

William L. Banks Decedent

Andre O. McDonald, Esquire 10500 Little Patuxent Parkway Suite 420 Columbia, Maryland 21044 Attorney

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

Mary K. Perry, whose address is 6833 Nashville Road, Lanham, Maryland 20706, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of William L. Perry who died on 10/24/2008 without a Will, and will serve with 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 4/13/2023. 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 4/13/2023, 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: 10/13/2022

Mary K. Perry

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

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

2020 ADM 000211

Nellie Johnson Decedent

Caren M. Webb, Esq. 1308 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20001 Attorney

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

John W. Johnson, Jr., whose address is 12715 Bar Oak Drive Waldorf, Maryland 20601, was appointed Personal Represen tative of the estate of Nellie Johnson who died on 5/30/2018 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 4/13/2023. 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 4/13/2023, 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: 10/13/2022

John W. Johnson, Jr. Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 000917

Beulah Mae Davis aka Beulah Mae Prince Decedent

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

Carleta Cheryl Powell, whose address is 10 Danbury Street, SW Washington DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Beulah Mae Davis aka Beulah Mae Prince who died on May 29, 2022 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 4/13/2023. 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 4/13/2023, 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: 10/13/2022

Carleta Cheryl Powell Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2022 ADM 001027

Bertha Olivia Harrison Decedent

Suren G. Adams, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Northview Dr., Suite 401 Bowie, MD 20716 Attorney

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

Nicole Vernell Murray, whose address is 3453 Regency Parkway, District Heights, MD 20747, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Bertha Olivia Harrison who died on May 24, 2022 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 4/13/2023. 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 4/13/2023, 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: 10/13/2022

Nicole Vernell Murray Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2022 ADM 001000

Juanita B. Brown Decedent

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

Anthony C. Brown, whose address is 1703 Pepper Tree Court, Bowie Maryland 20721, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Juanita B. Brown who died on 2/9/2008 without a Will, and will serve with 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 4/13/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Reg ister of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/13/2023, 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: 10/13/2022

Anthony C. Brown

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

LEGAL NOTICES

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender.

Informer

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender. Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: " ashley alexis wilson ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ ASHLEY ALEXIS WILSON ", corp.sole Dba.: " ASHLEY A WILSON. As natural can mother, and guardian of: " Jayonni Jaylin Payne, the beneficiary and heir of: “ JAYONNI JAYLIN PAYNE ”, corp.sole Dba.: " JAYONNI J PAYNE ". Having reached the age of ma jority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal inten tion to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Estados al-Mari kanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " Ashley Alexis Wilson ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " ahshael ashmil zohar ". My beloved son, " Jayonni Jaylin Payne ", from this day forward, in harmony with our Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " shiloh bosci zohar ".

Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH : STATE FILE NUMBER, 2013157439: " JAYONNI JAYLIN PAYNE ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " paradipity ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact , as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor Principal / Creditor / Guardian: " ahshael ashmil zohar ", nom deguerre: " Ashley Alexis Wilson ", is as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " paradiptiy ", both Trust being, Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trusts. These deposits are not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee /donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender.

Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: " ashley alexis wilson ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ ASHLEY ALEXIS WILSON ", corp.sole Dba.: " ASHLEY A WILSON. As nat ural can mother, and guardian of: " Ariasha Rosaliz Payne, the beneficiary and heir of: “ ARIASHA ROSALIZ PAYNE ”, corp.sole Dba.: " ARIASHA R PAYNE ". Having reached the age of ma jority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal inten tion to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Estados al-Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Sec tion 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " Ashley Alexis Wilson ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " ahshael ashmil zohar ". My beloved daughter, " Ariasha Rosaliz Payne ", from this day forward, in harmony with our Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " ashirra bea zohar ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title , and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH : STATE FILE NUMBER, 2012019337: " ARIASHA ROSALIZ PAYNE ", & is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " paradipity ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor / Guardian: " ahshael ashmil zohar ", nom deguerre: " Ashley Alexis Wilson ", is as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " paradiptiy ", both Trust being, Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trusts. These deposits are not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee /donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: “ Clifford William Broughton ”, in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ BROUGHTON, CLIFFORD WILLIAM ”, corp. sole Dba.: “ BROUGHTON, CLIFFORD WILLIAM ”, corp.sole Dba.: “ CLIFFORD WILLIAM BROUGHTON© ”, “ BROUGHTON, CLIFFORD WILLIAM© ” , “ CLIFFORD WILLIAM BROUGHTON© ”, “ CLIFFORD BROUGHTON© ”, “ CLIFFORD W BROUGHTON© ”, “ CLIFFORD BROUGHTON SR© ”, “ CLIFFORD W BROUGHTON SR© ”, “ CLIFFORD WILLIAM BROUGHTON SR© ”, “ CLIFF EL© ”, “MTL PROPERTIES©”. As natural father, and guardian of: “ Olivia Denise Broughton ”, the beneficiary and heir of: “ BROUGHTON, OLIVIA DENISE ”, corp.sole Dba.: “ OLIVIA DENISE BROUGH TON© ”, “ OLIVIA D BROUGHTON©”, “ OLIVIA BROUGHTON© ”, “ OLIVIA EL©”, &, “Clifford William Broughton Jr”, the beneficiary and heir of: “BROUGHTON JR, CLIFFORD WILLIAM”, corp.sole Dba.: “ CLIFFORD WILLIAM BROUGHTON JR©”, “CLIFFORD W BROUGHTON JR©”, “CLIFFORD BROUGHTON JR©”, “CJ BROUGHTON© “CJ EL©”. Having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare our tribal intention to be as our pedigree subscribes, as: Aniyunwiya Moorish American Moslem Nationals, but not citizens of the United States. We declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Estados al-Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ Unit ed Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim our nationality in good faith as: Aniyunwiya Moorish American Moslem Nationals. am that I am: “ Clifford William Broughton ”, from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “ cliff el ”. My beloved daughter, “ Olivia Denise Broughton ”, from this day forward, in harmony with our Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “ olivia el ”. ”. My beloved son, “Clifford William Broughton Jr”, from this day forward, in harmony with our Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “ cj el ”. Notice of White Flag Surrender: as “ hors de combat ”, pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as ministers of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Persons. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: “ South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control ”, DBA: STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA: STATE FILE NUMBER, 139-1982-024832: “ BROUGHTON, CLIFFORD WILLIAM ”, corp.sole Dba.: “ CLIFFORD WILLIAM BROUGHTON© ”, “ BROUGHTON, CLIFFORD WILLIAM ” , “ CLIFFORD W BROUGHTON© ”, “ CLIFFORD BROUGHTON© ”, “ CLIFFORD WILLIAM BROUGHTON SR© ”, “ CLIFFORD W BROUGHTON SR© ”, “ CLIFFORD BROUGHTON SR© ”, “ CLIFF EL© ”, “ North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services ”, DBA: STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA: CERTIFICATE NUMBER, 201518079 : As well as “ OLIVIA D BROUGHTON© ”, “ OLIVIA DENISE BROUGHTON© ”, “ OLIVIA BROUGHTON© ”, “ OLIVIA EL© ”, all aforementioned entities are as a special deposit order, conveyed to “Olive Branch Trust ”, &, “North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services”, DBA: STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA: VOLUME NUMBER, 00092, PAGE NUMBER, 2465 : As well as “ CLIFFORD W BROUGHTON JR© ”, “ CLIFFORD WILLIAM BROUGHTON JR© ”, “ CLIFFORD BROUGH TON JR© ”, “ CJ EL© ” all aforementioned entities are as a special deposit order, conveyed to “ Humble Trust ”. All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor / Guardian: “ cliff el ”, nom deguerre: “ clifford william broughton ”, as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : “ CWBII Trust ” an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente. Notice of Reference: 0112358-13

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender.

Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: " Ashley Alexis Wilson© ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ ASHLEY ALEXIS WILSON ", corp.sole Dba.: " ASHLEY A WILSON© ", having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Al Maghreb Al Aqsa, Estados al Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " Ashley Alexis Wilson© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nation ality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " ahshael ashmil zohar© ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH : STATE FILE NUMBER, 1990050636 : " ASHLEY ALEXIS WILSON© ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " paradipity© ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: " ahshael ashmil zohar© ", nom deguerre: " Ashley Alexis Wilson© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " paradipity© ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender.

Notice of Special Appearance : am that I am: " ashley alexis wilson ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ ASHLEY ALEXIS WILSON ", corp.sole Dba.: " ASHLEY A WILSON. As natural can mother, and guardian of: " Sampson E'Lonnie Payne, the beneficiary and heir of: “ SAMPSON E'LONNIE PAYNE ”, corp.sole Dba.: " SAMPSON E PAYNE ". Having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continen tal Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. declare per manent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Estados al-Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Arti cle III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws gov erning moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " Ashley Alexis Wilson ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " ahshael ashmil zohar ". My beloved son, " Sampson E'Lonnie Payne ", from this day forward, in harmony with our Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: " sampson ellion zohar ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person.

Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND ( HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title , and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH : STATE FILE NUMBER, 2015155458: " SAMPSON E'LONNIE PAYNE ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " paradipity ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact , as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor / Guardian: " ahshael ashmil zohar ", nom deguerre: " Ashley Alexis Wilson ", is as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " paradiptiy ", both Trust being, Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trusts. These deposits are not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee /donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

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

2022 ADM 001119

Estate of Robert H. Faulkner

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE

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

Patreese E. Lunsford, whose address is 1171 Bayview Vista Annapolis Maryland 21409, was appointed Personal Represen tative of the estate of Leon David Tyler Jr. who died on July 30, 2022 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 4/20/2023. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Reg ister of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/20/2023, 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: 10/20/2022

Patreese E. Lunsford

Personal Representative

TRUE

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2022 ADM 001044

Ndubuisi Ahaghotu aka Vincent Ahaghotu Decedent

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

Mmiriaku Ahaghotu, whose address is 6113 7th Place, NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Ndubuisi Ahaghotu aka Vincent Ahaghotu who died on April 20, 2022 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 4/20/2023. 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 4/20/2023, 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: 10/20/2022

Mmiriaku Ahaghotu 6113 7th Place, NW Washington, DC 20011 Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2022 ADM 1070

Wade H. Skinner aka Wade Skinner Decedent

Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Robyn Faulkner Barnes for standard probate, includ ing 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.

Admit to probate the will dated September 2007 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise Appoint an unsupervised personal representative

Date of first publication: 10/20/2022

Joan M. Wilbon 1629 K Street NW, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20006

Petitioner/Attorney:

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES

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

2022 ADM 400

Jacqueline Yvette Fuller Banks aka Jacqueline F. Banks Decedent

Joan M. Wilbon 1629 K Street NW, Ste. 300 Washington, DC 20006 Attorney

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

Smith T. Banks, III, whose address is 1516 Mississippi Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jacqueline Yvette Fuller Banks aka Jacqueline F. Banks who died on 12/11/2021 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 4/20/2023. 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 4/20/2023, 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: 10/20/2022

Smith T. Banks, II Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

2022 ADM 001066

Theresa Lasal Banks Decedent

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

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

2022 ADM 1086

Lydia Priscilla Maynard Decedent

Kathy Brissette-Minus, Esq. Law Office of Kathy Brissette-Minus, LLC 9701 Apollo Dr., Suite 230 Largo, MD 20774

Attorney

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

James Worthen, whose address is 5722 Perrie Lane, Camp Springs, MD 20748, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lydia Priscilla Maynard who died on July 2, 2022 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 4/20/2023. 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 4/20/2023, 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: 10/20/2022

James Worthen Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

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

Sheila E. Skinner, whose address is 4122 Fairfax St., Landover Hills, Md 20784, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Wade H. Skinner aka Wade Skinner who died on December 12, 2021 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 April 20, 2023. 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 April 20, 2023, 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 with in 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: October 20, 2022

Sheila E. Skinner

Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Barbara E. Johnson, Michelle A. Banks and Andrew Banks, whose addresses are 3213 Beaumont St., Temple Hills, Md 20748, 1739 Irving St., NW, Washington, DC 20016 & 6307 Crestwood Dr., Alexandria VA 22312, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Theresa Lasal Banks who died on 1/18/2022 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 4/20/2023. 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 4/20/2023, 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: 10/20/2022

Barbara E. Johnson Michelle A. Banks

Andrew Banks Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender.

Notice of Special Appearance : I am that am: "Jeremy Dylan Creager©", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “JEREMY DYLAN CREAGER©", corp. sole Dba.: "JEREMY D CREAGER©", “JEREMY CREAGER©”, “CREAGER, JEREMY DYLAN©” having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Californian American, but not a citizen of the United States. declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, and all natural laws governing American Citizens, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Californian American. am that I am: "Jeremy Dylan Creager©", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: "jeremy dylan creager©". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of yhwh's covenant, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND (HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: Office of Vital Records/ STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH: STATE FILE NUMBER: 80-393644: "JEREMY DYLAN CREAGER©", "JEREMY D CREAGER©", “JEREMY CREAGER©”, “CREAGER, JEREMY DYLAN©” is as a special deposit order, conveyed to "Divine Core Legacy Trust©". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal Creditor: "jeremy dylan creager©", nom deguerre: "Jeremy Dylan Creager©", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of: "Divine Core Legacy Trust©", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division

Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2022 ADM 001103

Joan H. Bishop aka Joan Helene Bishop Decedent

Stephen J. O’Connor, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW Suite 700

Washington, DC 20015

Attorney

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

Robyn M. Bishop, whose address is 1544 Northgate Road, NW, Washington, DC 20012, was appointed Personal Rep resentative of the estate of Joan H. Bishop aka Joan Helene Bishop who died on 5/20/2022 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 4/27/2023. 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 4/27/2023, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the dece dent 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: 10/27/2022

Robyn M. Bishop

NOTICES

IN God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender.

Notice of Special appearance: I am that I am: “Derrick Mahoney©”, in full life, in propia persona, sui juris, in solo propio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ DERRICK MAHONEY”, corp.sole Dba.: “DERRICK MAHONEY©”, having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and unalienable, alle giance to The Moorish Empire, Estados al-Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [United Nations Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby declare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a Moorish American. am that am: “Derrick Mahoney©”, from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality/ Status/ Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “cyrus ghaalib micah el©”. Notice of White Flag Surrender: as “hors de combat”, pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND (HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II,Sec. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title and interest, in the property: STATE FILE NUMBER, South Carolina 139-1959-038823: DER RICK MAHONEY, MAHONEY, DERRICK©”, is as a special deposit order, conveyed to “ Destan Michael Trust©”. All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be re turned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor/ Beneficiary/ Bailor/ Donor/ Principle/ Creditor: ” cyrus ghaalib micah el©”, nom deguerre: “DERRICK MAHONEY©”, as a spe cial deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : “ Destan Michael Trust©”, an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Devine Grantor Trust. This depos it is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary/ trustee/ agent/ bailee/ donee/ debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente

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

2022 ADM 000975

Hazel W. Banks

Decedent

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

James R. Banks, Jr., whose address is 207 Anacostia Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representa tive of the estate of Hazel W. Banks who died on 5/28/2022 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 4/27/2023. 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 4/27/2023, 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: 10/27/2022

James R. Banks, Jr. Personal Representative

Stevens

of Wills

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2021 ADM 000593

Lolita Charlene Hackerson Decedent

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

Thomas Hackerson, whose address is 5201 Hayes Street, Apt. 118, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Lolita Charlene Hackerson who died on September 18, 2020 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 4/27/2023. 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 4/27/2023, 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: 10/27/2022

Thomas Hackerson Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2019 ADM 001290

Geraldine Wilson Decedent

Deborah D. Boddie, Esquire Probate Law DC 1308 Ninth Street, NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001 Attorney

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

Lawrence W. Buck, Jr., whose address is 1112 Chaplin Street, SE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Geraldine Wilson who died on 11/28/2018 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 4/27/2023. 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 4/27/2023, 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: 10/27/2022

Lawrence W. Buck, Jr. Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

In God We Trust. Declaration of Nationality. Notice of White Flag Surrender.

Notice of Special Appearance : am that I am: " Mack Daniel Mims Jr © ", in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, Haqdar by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: “ MACK DANIEL MIMS JR ", corp.sole Dba.: " MACK D MIIMS © ", MACK MIMS, MACK DANIEL MIMS , MACK MIMS JR, MACK D MIMS JR, MACK D. MIMS, JR, MACK MIMS ETAL, MACK MIMS ET AL, MIMS, MACK DANIEL, MACK DANIEL MIMS JR AND CRYSTAL NICOLE MIMS, MACK MIMS MIMS AND SON CONSTRUCTION,MACK MIMS I GOT DA HOOKAH having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwest ern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly certified, hereby affirms to declare my tribal intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as a: Moorish American, but not a citizen of the United States. declare permanent, and unalienable, allegiance to The Moorish Empire, Al Maghreb Al Aqsa, Estados al Marikanos, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Lieber Code, Hague Conventions of 1899 & 1907, The Geneva Conventions, [ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ], and all natural laws governing moors, and hereby de clare and proclaim my nationality in good faith as a: Moorish American. I am that I am: " Mack Daniel Mims Jr© ", from this day forward, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Juris diction, shall be known as: " maat shujaa shabazz© ". Notice of White Flag Surrender: as "hors de combat", pursuant to The Geneva Conventions, Article III, as a minister of The Moorish Empire, and Internationally Protected Person. Notice of: LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF WAR ON LAND HAGUE, IV), ARTICLE: 32, 45, 46, & 47. Notice of Claim pursuant to Public Law 87-846, TITLE II, SEC. 203. Notice of Bailment Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title , and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: STATE OF FLORIDA BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTIS : STATE FILE NUMBER, 109- 1979-065532: " MACK DANIEL MIMS JR© ", is as a special deposit order, conveyed to " BMSM TRUST© ". All property of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: " maat shujaa shabazz © ", nom deguerre: " Mack Daniel Mims Jr© ", as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : " BMSM Trust© ", an Inter Vivos Unincorporated Divine Grantor Trust. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank, nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfac tion. Inter alia enact fuit. All Rights Reserved. Deo volente.

Superior Court of the District of Columbia Civil Division

Edon v. James, et al., 2022 CA 002874 R(RP)

PAUL S. SCHLEIFMAN, Plaintiff Attorney 2300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 700 Arlington, VA 22201

NOTICE OF FILING OF COMPLAINT

Notice is hereby given that a Complaint for Partition has been filed in this Court by Alvin Edon for partition of real property located at 3216 8th Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20017. Defendants, LaFaye O’Neal, Andrea O’Neal and Ricardo O’Neal, are hereby given notice that unless they respond to the Complaint a default may be entered against them. A Scheduling Conference is set for November 4, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 212.

LEGAL NOTICES

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

2022 ADM 000983

Joe Louis Koonce aka Joe Lewis Koonce Decedent

Suren G Adams, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Northview Drive, Suite 401 Bowie, MD 20716

Attorney

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

Sharri C. Koonce, whose address is 2 Lakeside Drive, Marlton, NJ 08053, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Joe Louis Koonce aka Joe Lewis Koonce who died on July 22, 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 4/27/2023.

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 4/27/2023, 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: 10/27/2022

Sharri C. Koonce Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

TRUE

CODE from

period for youth offenders petitioning for resentencing under the Second Look Act by five years. The markedup bill also penalizes rioting and loud noises at night.

Over the last several days, a coali tion composed of Black-led commu nity abolitionist defense hub Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, DC Justice Lab and the National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens, has orga nized to pressure council members to reintegrate the original portions of the Revised Criminal Code Act and eliminate some of the more punitive additions.

In the days and hours leading up to the October 26 vote, these advocates continue to demand that District of ficials change course on matters affect ing Black residents.

“Years and time was put into write a new criminal code proposal [but] the D.C. Council Committee on the Ju diciary and Public Safety took out the pieces they didn’t want,” said Makia Green, a member of Harriet’s Wildest Dreams.

“We know the original proposal to revise the criminal code included these four provisions,” she added. “They

CROWELL from Page 28

ing the bureau would start looking for unlawful non-credit financial discrimi nation.

In a blog post, CFPB officials in charge of supervision and enforcement wrote, "[w]hen people of color suffer racist conduct in the financial market place, it can cause substantial monetary and non-monetary harms."

Consumer groups had strong reac

were put there on purpose by people who spend day in and day out with people in the system and see where our people slip through the cracks.”

During the Mayor-Council Break fast on Tuesday, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) expressed her apprehension about passing the Revised Criminal Code Act without direct community input. She also decried aspects of the legis lation, such as jury trials for misde meanors and the decriminalization of “public nuisances,’ as threats to public safety.

In regard to the latter, Bowser said that citations, and nothing more, for public drinking, public urination and noise at night do little to prevent vi olence in heavily populated nightlife areas.

If approved by the D.C. Council, the Revised Criminal Code will take effect in October 2025 with some aspects of the law falling in place by 2030. The D.C. Council Commit tee on the Judiciary and Public Safety postponed a committee vote sched uled for October 21 to allow for the acquisition of documents from the D.C. Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

On Wednesday afternoon, the committee is scheduled to vote on the

tions to the business groups' lawsuit, saying it ignored the impetus for cre ating a federal financial watchdog: to ensure that financial services firms no longer prey upon unsuspecting con sumers — particularly Black and Lati no consumers who often were targeted for financial exploitation.

"It is outrageous these trade associa tions could suggest that discrimination in any financial service is not unfair or abusive or that the CFPB should not

marked-up legislation. More informa tion about the outcome can be found on The Informer’s site.

Last year, the D.C. Council received the proposed legislation, composed of recommendations by the CCRC, which came into existence in 2016, a decade after council legislation kicked off the criminal code revision process.

CCRC includes an advisory group representing the Office of the Attorney General, the Public Defender Service and local law school professors. For years, this entity analyzed elements of crime and compared language, opera tions and laws in the District to other jurisdictions while collecting feedback.

Findings suggested that the Dis trict’s laws lacked consistency, clarity and completeness when compared to at least 40 states.

That’s why advocates, including Patrice Sulton, have worked around the clock to dispel what she described as the myths about the Revised Crim inal Code Act.

Flyers that have been circulated by the DC Justice Lab challenge the notion that people wouldn’t be penal ized for spitting on others, urinating in public or carjacking. Meanwhile, Sulton, executive director of DC Jus tice Lab, continues to write members of the D.C. Council Committee of the Judiciary and Public Safety in the hopes that they take heed to what the experts propose.

“It is unfortunate that experts and concerned citizens who have had the proposed bill since March 31, 2021, were given only 24 hours to read and weigh in on such consequential chang es,” Sulton said in a letter on Tuesday.

“Some of the proposed amend ments were not even mentioned during the press conference 10 days ago, including the complete removal of the revised rioting statute and the insertion of new public order offens es,” she added.

“These major changes undermine more than 16 years of research, deval ue the express[ed] desires and interests of District residents, and make a mess of the revised statutes.” WI

@SamPKCollins

be monitoring the financial industry for discrimination wherever it occurs," said Rich Dubois, executive director of the National Consumer Law Cen ter. "People of color are more likely to be unbanked, to suffer unexplained disparities in credit scores and reports used for purposes beyond credit, and to experience discrimination in multiple areas throughout their financial lives."

group because they had never met Wayne before.”

JUGGLING BALLS OF MUSIC PROJECTS

Trumpeter/composer Blanchard and Shorter are kin dred spirits as their careers show extensive range and similarities. They each have won numerous Grammys and other awards. Both played in Art Blakey’s Jazz Mes sengers and have been in bands with Herbie Hancock. Shorter and Hancock were in Miles Da vis’s second great quintet. Along with trumpeter Davis, Shorter, and Hancock, the quintet includ ed bassist Ron Carter and drum mer Tony Williams.

Last year Shorter and Blanchard had operas receiving critical ac claim. Shorter’s composition Ip higenia, with librettist bassist/ composer Esperanza Spalding, was presented last December at

the Kennedy Center. In Septem ber 2021, Blanchard’s second op era “Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” with a libretto by Kasi Lemmons, opened the Metropolitan Opera season. That opera was based on journalist Charles Blow’s autobi ography.

Blanchard is much sought-af ter for composing film scores. He has more than 40 film scores to his credit. Most recently, he composed the music for “Wom an King” and a remake of “Father of the Bride.” Further, he has two Academy Awards nominations for “BlacKKKlansman” and “Da 5 Bloods.”

Shorter and Blanchard’s musi cal talent is undeniable. Whether or not you attended the Kennedy Center concert, get “Absence,” Blanchard’s salute to Shorter filled with love.

Follow Terence Blanchard on In stagram: @terence_blanchard and Twitter: @T_Blanchard WI

@bcscomm

5 Terence Blanchard’s E-Collective and the Turtle Island Quartet recently performed at the Kennedy Center. The two groups blended a jazz quintet with a string quartet to produce a tribute album and concert recognizing the influence of saxophonist/composer Wayne Shorter. (Courtesy photo/Jati)

5 Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (at podium), chair of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson, DC Attorney General Karl Racine, Executive Director of the Criminal Code Reform Commis sion Jinwoo Park, and Heather Pinckney, director, Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia when they announced the next steps for the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 earlier this month. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)

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home during the summer because there weren't enough work opportuni ties, so younger children were missing the chance to get to know those older students from their neighborhood and church communities as mentors or role models. Olive was able to help make the connections between those needs and the potential of the CDF Freedom Schools program, which is staffed by trained college-aged "servant leaders" and in some cases teachers and serves children in communities across the country where quality academic summer and after-school enrichment programming is limited, too expensive, or non-existent. Since 1995, more than 150,000 children in grades K-12 have had the CDF Freedom Schools expe rience.

Olive's work formed the basis for the Integrated Reading Curriculum, the research-based, multicultural cur riculum at the center of the CDF Free dom Schools Experience that supports children and their families through the five key components of high-quality academic enrichment, parent and fam ily development, civic engagement and social action, intergenerational servant leadership development, and nutrition, health, and mental health. She also helped develop rituals like the program finale that are still a key part of the CDF Freedom Schools experience be cause she understood how meaningful it would be for families and the larger

JEALOUS from Page 28

in the high percentages Black women do. Black men in Georgia have to come out to the polls this year.

It doesn't surprise me that once again, Georgia is so central to Black

from Page 47

Elyse Hicks, consumer policy coun sel at Americans for Financial Reform, a broad-based advocacy coalition that includes civil rights and racial justice advocates, also spoke out.

"With this lawsuit, the bank lobby has joined the disgraceful campaign of many groups and politicians that ex ploit racial grievance to stop the United States from facing up to the very real effects of persistent discrimination," Hicks said in a statement. "The goal of big banks is simply to avoid having to face up to their own role in the histor ic wrong of structural racism, and the costs of that to their own bottom lines.

"The CFPB has clear authority, as the top consumer watchdog, to watch

community to be able to come togeth er to see and celebrate the children's accomplishments.

Olive emphasized parent involve ment from the very beginning. She understood that some of the opportu nities CDF Freedom Schools programs provided for scholars, like field trips to local museums and landmarks and the wide range of culturally diverse books used in the classrooms, were also new to the children's parents and the col lege-aged servant leaders. She embraced the chance to share this education with all three generations. In Bennettsville, she was well-known for encouraging individual parents, complementing them for finding ways to stay involved in their children's education, and tell ing them that they were doing a good job and she was proud of them. Some of those parents report today that they were inspired to go back to school themselves and even to find jobs in the local school system because of the sup port and encouragement they received from my sister.

These parents sensed something many people felt about Olive. She loved people, poured every ounce of herself into the people around her, and made every person feel important. She led by example as she taught young ser vant leaders that if they wanted more out of their students, they needed to give more, and they rose to the chal lenge. She loved the theologian How ard Thurman and quoted his teachings at many ceremonies, sharing principles

American history. It has been that way for as long as we've had a history. Every time I visit, I'm moved by it. That sense of a momentous past is everywhere, mixed with the New South energy that makes the state such a unique place. Meeting with Georgians this time, I

out for discrimination of all kinds in consumer finance, penalize offenders, and correct bank practices," Hicks con cluded.

A multi-agency initiative begun nearly a year ago that included CFPB and the Department of Justice took a similar approach in response to dis crimination in financial services.

That effort resulted in a nearly $9 million settlement with Trustmark Na tional Bank, headquartered in Jackson, Miss., for redlining in majority-Black and -Latino neighborhoods in the Memphis-Mississippi-Arkansas Metro politan Statistical Area. The settlement found that Trustmark violated ECOA, the Consumer Financial Protection Act, and the Fair Housing Act.

The settlement included a $5.5

"If we love a child, and the

from our relationship with others that we love them, he will get a concept of love that all the subsequent hatred in the world will never be quite able to destroy."

Olive helped make sure the trainings for the servant leaders went beyond lesson planning. She encouraged them to focus on discerning their calling and purpose and asking themselves what they could do for the students in their care that no one else could do. During exit interviews, she asked people to tell her what they had learned from their experience and how they would affect children's lives positively going for ward. It was little surprise that many of those she mentored went into edu cation, the ministry and other ways of serving and caring for others.

After Olive passed away, some of the many people whose lives she had touched remembered how she would not take no for an answer when it came to getting things done, and how she embodied the philosophy of "passing it on," constantly reminding others that it only takes one spark to keep a flame going. Others remembered her gracious elegance, and how she again taught by example that you should al ways give others your very best. I am so grateful to know how many other people looked up to my sister as I al ways did, and I hope her example will keep inspiring others to follow in her footsteps, too.

WI

could feel the deep commitment to moving the state forward instead of back. That fills me with hope.

The eyes of the country — and even the world — are on Georgia this fall, and I believe Georgia will make us proud. WI

million civil penalty payable to CFPB and the OCC, the creation of a $3.85 million loan fund targeted to Black and Latino communities, and an addition al $600,000 earmarked to underwrite community partnership activities and advertising in underserved communi ties.

"Trustmark purposely excluded and discriminated against Black and His panic communities," Chopra said in a statement. "The federal government will be working to rid the market of rac ist business practices, including those by discriminatory algorithms."

After 50 years, it is as unfortunate as it is unjust that leading business groups, with this lawsuit, are standing in opposi tion to fair lending and civil rights.

reauthorization

Republicans have already prom ised to repeal the Inflation Re duction Act. This would end the infrastructure construction/revi talization provisions of the act, as well as the provisions protecting consumers from the burdensome excesses of pharmaceutical pur chases. This course of action would mean that caps on out-of-pocket expenses for medical treatment and $35 per month cap on insulin would disappear.

The Republican success in the coming election not only poses a physical threat to the under

JACKSON from Page 29

react" — that is, blame the com panies

increases in prices.

Happily, Joe Biden has chosen anti-monopoly advocates to lead the agencies that police mergers, like the Federal Trade Commission that oversees grocery chains. The FTC head Lisa Kahn will surely challenge this merger. What the companies are counting on is that conservative judges will overturn the agencies and give the merger a pass. No question with billions at stake, they will have the best law yers in the world to wage the legal war.

served and people of color, but it also threatens the psyche, self-es teem and critical thinking skills of generations of our children. We have already witnessed a revision ist whitewashing of ethnic history in public schools to appease those made uncomfortable about the TRUTH of our nation's history. They would have you erase the truth of the historical brutality of human enslavement, the slaughter of Native Americans, the immigra tion exclusion of Asians, the gen eralized "otherization" of people of color, and the continuing legacy of hatred spawned by these acts. Like Nazi Germany, book-banning is becoming increasingly popular,

industries dominated by a small number of companies — pocket record profits.

Reacting to inflation, the Feder al Reserve is doing what it always does to lower prices — hike in terest rates to slow the economy, throw millions out of work, and force wages down.

and humans of all ages are shamed and victimized for their gender ori entation.

In the face of increasing violence, Republicans have pledged to pro tect unfettered access to guns.

They have stripped the right of women to make independent re productive health decisions.

Like the scorpion, Republicans have shown their true colors. They have announced their intentions — intentions which can only have a malevolent impact upon those they consider dispensable. It's in their nature! Will intelligent voters choose to yield to the Republican "nature" or will they vote to protect our collective futures? WI

ignore large mergers. And a lot of money goes into grooming conser vative judges to frustrate efforts to police mergers. Sen. Bernie Sand ers has called the proposed merger an "absolute disaster," but few pol iticians are sufficiently indepen dent to challenge the big money behind the proposed deal.

So, it is vital that this not be left to the politicians and the judges. Leaders of communities — par ticularly rural and urban commu nities with poor and lower wage families — should demand to meet with the CEOs of Kroger and Albertsons to express opposi tion to the merger.

This is part of a bigger story. To day, American wages aren't keep ing up with rising prices, while corporations

But workers' wages aren't driv ing inflation. What's needed instead is a concerted effort to straighten out supply chains (and bring more manufacturing home), rebates to consumers paid for by taxes on oil and drug companies that are driving prices up, and an aggressive anti-trust effort to chal lenge the excess profits exacted by CEOs in concentrated industries.

particularly in

MORIAL from Page 29

rooms.

But Trump's fleecing of the American taxpayer did not begin with his presidency. According to The New York Times:

"He and his siblings set up a sham corporation to disguise millions of dollars in gifts from their par ents, records, and interviews show. Records indicate that Mr. Trump helped his father take improp er tax deductions worth millions more. He also helped formulate a strategy to undervalue his parents' real estate holdings by hundreds of millions of dollars on tax returns, sharply reducing the tax bill when those properties were transferred to him and his siblings."

Ironically, the fortune Trump in herited — and largely squandered — was built on taxpayer-funded subsidies and loans of the very kind

Not surprisingly, a lot of money goes into convincing politicians to

he sought to eliminate as president. Shortly after President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Federal Housing Administration in 1934, Trump's father, Fred Trump, used FHA loans to build apartment buildings. During World War II, he built more than 1,000 apartments for the Navy at taxpayer expense. After the war, he sold apartments to returning veterans, funded by the G.I. Bill. The elder Trump's taxpay er-bolstered wealth backed the ma jor real-estate project that launched Donald Trump's own career.

As president, Trump proposed the largest retrenchment of federal housing aid since the U.S. Housing Act was enacted in 1937.

Trump has not been accused of breaking any laws with the brazen bilking of the taxpayers revealed this week. But presidents — even ex-presidents — should be held to a

standard

This merger will end with more parents unable to afford the food their children need. It must be stopped. WI

ly legal" and the House Oversight Committee's work should result in safeguards to prevent future presi dents from abusing the power of the office for personal gain. WI

Records indicate that Mr. Trump helped his father take improper tax deductions worth millions more.

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