WINNER OF THREE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS D.C. AWARDS Advocates Push for COVID-19 Memorial Day Page 20
B-Ball Pro ‘Mo’ Creek Finally Back Home in Md., Escapes War in Ukraine
Vol. 57, No. 22 • March 17 - 23, 2022
Family, Friends Say Faith in God and Prayers Served as Basis of Their Hopes D. Kevin McNeir WI Senior Writer After President Putin and Russia launched the military invasion of Ukraine in early March, Maryland’s own Maurice ‘Mo’ Creek, who had been living and playing professional basketball there, found himself thrust in the midst of a war zone. Back in the U.S., while Americans led protests on Capitol Hill and politicians argued over what President Joe Biden should do to provide assistance to the besieged nation, Creek’s family and friends urgently looked for ways to
secure his safe return back home. For the last three years and just months into his contact with MBC Mykolaiv of the Ukrainian Basketball Super League, Creek, 31, a former standout at Indiana University and Georgetown Washington University, faced the unenviable task of navigating the unfamiliar terrain of international politics while attempting to avoid being injured or killed. Just days ago, Creek finally made his way out of Ukraine, dodging bombs and bullets, first traveling to Romania
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5 Maurice 'Mo' Creek, professional international basketball player in Ukraine, had a welcome home party sponsored by Council Members Calvin Hawkins and organized by Council Member Jocelyn Route. Creek escaped during the start of the war in Ukraine. Pictured: Council Member Jocelyn Route, 'Mo' Creek and Micheline Bowman. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)
DCPS Lifts Indoor Mask Mandate
Legislation to Honor Tuskegee Airmen Proposed in Maryland
Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer
William J. Ford WI Staff Writer ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Maryland Sen. Obie Patterson enjoys a good history lesson but his excitement level increases when the topic focuses on the Tuskegee Airmen. The lawmaker from Fort Washington has pushed for the past several years for the state to mark the fourth Thursday in March as “Tuskegee Airmen 5 Military veterans and members of the Tuskegee Airmen nonprofit organization talk about advocating for the state of Maryland to mark the fourth Thursday in March as “Tuskegee AirCommemoration Day.” During the last two years amidst the coronavirus men Commemoration Day.” the men inside Sen. Obie Patterson’s office in Annapolis from left to right: Edward Harbison, Curtis W. Lindsay, Jerry “Hawk” Burton and Frank Killebrew.
TUSKEGEE Page 13 (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)
DC Public Schools [DCPS] recently followed its counterparts in surrounding jurisdictions by ending the indoor mask mandate. The decision, announced by Chancellor Dr. Lewis Ferebee on March 11, angered parents who said the mask mandate provided an extra layer of protection to immunocompromised children and elementary students unable to take the COVID-19 vaccination. While many teachers had similar sentiments, Washington Teachers’ Union [WTU] President Jacqueline Pogue-Lyons said health and safety standards outlined in the Memorandum of Agreement [MOA] signed by WTU and DCPS will ensure that public school officials
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SPELLING BEE Page 12 Celebrating 57 Years of Service / Serving More Than 50,000 Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area
