07.23.2026_Defender-e-FULL

To thePOINT DN

LamineYamal (19)ofSpain celebrates afterthe

betweenSpain andArgentina. Credit:GettyImages

Message from the Reporter

TheWorldCupisover.Whatcanwe learn?

Spainliftedits second WorldCup trophy, beatingArgentina1-0 in extratimeona goal fromFerranTorrres,closingoutatournament inwhichtheU.S.men’steamcouldnotgetout ofitsownway.BelgiumendedtheAmericans’ runinthe roundof16onJuly6witha 4-1 blowoutinSeattle,thefourthtimeinfiveWorld CupstheUShasexitedatthatsamestage.

To builda world-classfootballsystem like Spain, anationrequiresa unifiedsportingculture,microscopic tactical education, anda seamless youth-to-seniordevelopment pipeline.Despite significant advancementsinphysicalfitnessandathleticism,theUSstill lacksthe institutionalized, clinical identity of Spain’ssystem. TheUSTeamreliesheavily on thestars whoplayinEurope. Spainprovedthatultimateglorybelongstothestrongest,most tacticalcollective

MillionsofpotentialplayersareexcludedfromtheAmericanyouthsoccersystembecauseitisbasedona“pay-to-play” model,inwhichachild’sabilitytoplayisdeterminedbytheir family’sfinances.Top-tier,low-incometalentiseffectivelyfilteredoutbythisfee-basedsystem,whichfavorschildrenwhose families canaffordcoachingand travel abovethose with the greatest naturalskill.Ifthiscountry wantsa soccerprogram thatmatchesitssizeanditsmoney,itneedstostopchasingstar powerandstartbuildingthestructureSpainhasspentdecades perfecting,fromcoachingstandards to howearly it trusts its teenagerswithrealminutesontheseniorstage

Trump’spodiummomentovershadowedSpain’s night

PresidentDonaldTrump joined FIFAPresident Gianni Infantinoonthe fieldatMetLife Stadiumtopresent Spain with thetrophy, then lingerednexttothe playersastheycelebrated, promptingInfantino to usherhim asidesothe team couldhaveits moment.Boosrangout when Trumpwalked ontothepitch,anditwasthecrazyfacepalmmomentthatI’ve seeninthetournament.

Whateverapersonthinksofthepresident, aWorld Cupfinal belongstothe team that wonit.Spainworkedafullmonthtoreach that stage, andthe country’sbiggest sports moment in over adecadebriefly became a storyaboutwhetherTrumpwouldleavethe frame.Thatinstincttostayineveryshot,at everyceremony,oneveryworldstage,isvery tellingofhis lack of situationalawareness andhumilityhe’shad.Yes,theUSisthehost country, butthere is atimeand place. Give Spainitstimetoshine.Hopefully,inthenext fouryears,theUSwillbestandingonthosepodiums

Houston’sWorldCupbetispayingoff,unevenly

Thecity’sWorld CupHostCommittee projectedroughly 500,000visitorsanda$1.5billioneconomicimpactfromtheseven matchesplayedatNRGStadium,figurescityofficialshavecomparedtohostingsevenSuperBowlsback-to-back.Hotelbookings jumpedsharplyduringthetournamentwindow,andthe39-day FIFAFanFestivalinEastDowntown(EaDo)drewdrewthousandsoffansadaytowatchmatchesongiantscreensforfree. However,theboostwasn’tequitable.BusinessownersinEaDo describedamixedrealityduringthetournament:somerestaurantsneartheFanFestivalsawrealspikesintraffic,whileothers saidroadclosuresandreroutedfoottrafficactuallyhurtbusiness inthetournament’searlyweeks.

That splitmatters most forBlack-owned andindependent businesses in andaroundThird Ward,EaDo, anddowntown, theoneswithoutthemarketingbudgetorbrandrecognitionto pullinvisitorswhoneverwanderpastthefestivalfootprint.A $1.5billionheadlinenumberisreal,butsoistheneighborhood businessthatwatchedthecrowdspassitby.Houstonshouldbe askingnowwhatitdoesdifferentlythenexttimeamegaevent landsinitslap.

OnTheWeb •OWN’sHeart&HustleHoustonstarstalkrealbusiness. •Radicalself-love:Antidoteforanti-Blackness •BlackartexhibitionsworthyourtimeinHouston

News DN

Blacks dominate Houston homeless

By Tannistha Sinha

Black residents continue to bear the greatest burden of homelessness across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, according to newly released data from the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/ HarrisCounty.

Overall,homelessnessremainedvirtually unchangedin2026,withtheannualPoint-inTimeCountidentifying3,321peopleexperiencing homelessness in these counties, just fourfewerthanlastyear

Black people ‘overrepresented’ in count

Black individuals remain disproportionately represented among those experiencing homelessness, accounting for 57% of the total population White individuals represent 25%, and Hispanic individuals account for 14%.

“The African American population is experiencing homelessness quite a bit,” said Jeremy Sanders, an outreach worker at the coalition. “Some come from incarceration, then try to reestablish their lives and don’t have the same fortunate opportunity to do so as quickly as others. Drugs play a part; some are already dealing with addiction.”

What do the numbers say?

Ofthosecountedthisyear,2,051people were staying in shelters, while 1,270 were living unsheltered. The sheltered populationincreasedslightlywhilethenumberof unshelteredindividualsdeclinedcompared with 2025

“Thispatternreflectsapositivedevelopment in system capacity, driven in part by the opening of two new emergency shelter programs serving survivors of domestic violence,” the report states “These additional resources have expanded access to safe shelter for individuals and families in crisis.”

The annual count, conducted by hundreds of volunteers and outreach workers, serves as the region’s primary measure of homelessness and helps guide policy decisions and federal funding allocations.

“ThePoint-in-TimeCountislikeaphotograph,” said Renee Cavazos-Benavides, vice president of the homeless response system at CFTH “It captures an importantmoment,butthereisalwaysmorehappening outside the frame. That’s why this year’sreportincludesadditionalindicators that help us understand how people move intohomelessness,howtheymovebackinto housing, and where we need to focus our efforts as a community.”

Houston-area leaders argue that the region’s coordinated approach has helped prevent the dramatic increases seen elsewhere. The local Continuum of Care, known as The Way Home, coordinates

outreach, shelter, housing, and supportive services across the three-county region through dozens of nonprofit and healthcare partners.

The report

The new State of Homelessness report expands beyond the annual count to examine how people move through the homelessnessresponsesystemthroughout the year

The report found that roughly 36,000 people received services through The Way Homeprogramin2025,whilepartneragencieshelpedhousearound2,100households

Additionally, 85% of people who exited homelessnessremainedstablyhousedover a two-year period

But there are also growing pressures entering the system

The report found that more than 7,100 people entered homelessness for the first time during 2025

Kelly Young, president and CEO of CFTH, says funding plays a key role in addressing homelessness.

“The additional data shows our system is doing a great job maintaining our progress,inspiteofadditionaleconomicstressors and pandemic funding having been exhausted,” Young said “Further progress will depend not only on additional investments in housing and services but also on our ability to expand new interventions to resolve homelessness more quickly.”

Surveydatafromthisyear’scountshows domestic violence, exit from jail or foster care,familyconflict,jobloss,risinghousing costs, loss of caregiver, medical or mental health crisis, and substance use as some of the most commonly reported pathways into homelessness.

Beyond housing challenges, homelessness continues to carry serious health consequences. A 2024 Harris County

HomelessnessMortalityReportfoundthat 305peoplediedwhileexperiencinghomelessness that year.

Gina Hinojosa makes her case

By Tannistha Sinha

As Texans inch toward the November general election, the gubernatorial race is shaping up to be one of the state’s most closely watched political contests.

VoterswilldecidewhethertogiveincumbentGov.GregAbbottanothertermorelect a Democrat to the governor’s mansion for the first time in more than three decades Fordecades,Republicanshavedominated statewide elections. The race remains an uphillclimbforDemocratsinthestate,asno Democrat has won the Texas governorship sinceAnnRichards,whosetermlastedfrom 1991to1995.Abbotthasheldthegovernor’s office since 2015, and a win in November wouldputhimontracktobecomethelongest-serving governor in Texas history.

Hinojosa says voter frustration has created an opening in a state long viewed as politically out of reach for Democrats.

“WearealmostinatiewithGregAbbott atthispoint,”Hinojosasaidinaninterview with the Defender “Everybody knows

Greg Abbott, and that’s his problem, really They’ve known him for 12 years, and they do not like him.”

WhileAbbottseeksafourthterm,entering the race with the advantages of name recognition and a political machine built over more than a decade in office, Hinojosasayspollsindicateaclosecompetition.

While a Texas Public Opinion Research poll says the governor’s race is within five points, 48% (Abbott) to 43% (Hinojosa), a University of Houston poll shows a 49%42% margin in favor of Abbott

Whyshouldanyonevotefor Hinojosa?

WhenaskedwhatweaknessesinAbbott’s campaign Democrats have failed to capitalize on, Hinojosa rattled off a list, which includes Texasschoolsshuttingdown,high electricityrates,peoplewithouthealthinsurance, and the city of Corpus Christi potentially running out of water.

“This is Greg Abbott’s record,” she said

“Connecting those facts with the lived experience that people are feeling in Texas, the struggle people are feeling, is essential to help remind people why they’re in the situation.”

Her top three policy priorities, she said, are saving Texas public schools, holding down utility costs by making industry pay itsfairshare,andensuringeveryTexaschild has affordable health care

“We will ensure every Texas child has adequate, affordable healthcare We can do that by expanding Medicaid and pulling down those federal funds to ensure every Texaschildandweneedtoreininthehealth insurance companies that are charging us moreandmakingithardertoseethedoctors we need and get the medication we need,” she said

Public schools, in particular, have emerged as a defining issue in the race Hinojosa frequently ties Abbott’s record to school closures, teacher shortages, and funding pressures.

AmessageforBlackHouston

Hinojosa said, “There is no electability withoutBlackvoters,”inHoustonandHarris County,acommunitythatwillbecentralto any Democratic path to victory.

SheframedBlackvotersascentraltoher campaign success, emphasizing outreach to Black leaders and civic organizations throughout Texas. During a recent stop in Houston,shemetwithDivineNineleadershipandcommunitystakeholderstodiscuss priorities and expectations.

“Thatthisisyourcampaigntoo,”shesaid On Black maternal mortality, Hinojosa noted that the Abbott administration stopped collecting data on disparities in maternal outcomes, a decision she called “cruel” and linked Texas’s abortion restrictions directly to women’s deaths

“Women are dying in Texas,” she said “The vast majority of people do not support that kind of extreme consequence for doctors…thatisnotapopularposition,and there is space there to save women’s lives.”

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JamesTalaricopushesfor Blackvoters

By ReShondaTate

Withjust15weeksbefore Election Day, Dem-

ocraticU.S. Senate nomineeJames Talarico is facingperhaps hisbiggest politicalchallenge:Convincing skepticalBlack voters that Democrats have learnedfromyearsoftakingthemforgranted ForTalarico, thepathtovictory in Texas runsthroughanelectoratethathaslongserved astheDemocraticParty’smostreliablevoting bloc whileincreasinglyquestioning whether that loyaltyhas been reciprocated No Democrat has wonstatewide office in Texassince1994.TodefeatRepublicannominee KenPaxton in November,Talaricowill needoverwhelmingsupportfromBlackTexans, whileenergizingvoterswho have grown frustratedwithbothpartiesanddisillusioned by apolitical systemtheybelieve toooften overlookstheir concerns

Rather than relyingonlast-minutechurch visits andcampaignstops just before early voting,Talaricohas spentmonthsmaking appearancesathistoricallyBlackcollegesand universities,churches, communityorganizations, andBlack-owned mediaacrossTexas Hismessage is simple:Support should never be assumed. It must be earned

“Idon’twantanyonetovoteformebecause there’sa‘D’ by my name,” Talarico said in a Defender interview. “I want folkstovotefor mebecauseofmyrecordfightingforworking people andfighting forBlack Texans.”

The trustgap

ThestrategycomesafteraDemocraticprimary that exposedlingering divisionswithin theparty

Pollingthroughoutthe primaryshowed DallasCongresswomanJasmineCrockettwith commandingsupportamongBlackvoters.She carriedthe10Texascountieswiththehighest percentagesofBlack residentsby an average of 24%, includingJeffersonCounty, where she defeatedTalaricobynearly60points. FormanyDemocrats, theracebecameabout more than policy.Itreopenedlong-standing

Join theconversationatDefenderNetwork.com

frustrations that theparty establishmenthad onceagainralliedbehindayoungwhitecandidateoverarisingBlackwomanwithstatewide appeal.

Talarico does notshy away from those concerns

“The DemocraticParty hasa troubling historyoftakingBlackvotersforgranted,”he said.“We’veseenthe resultsofthatinrecent elections,where BlackTexans, youngBlack Texansinparticular, have startedtomove away from theDemocraticParty

“Thefastestwaytoloseanelectionistotake people forgranted.Wecannotjustassume Blackvotersaregoingtoshowupandvotefor theDemocratiftheDemocratdoesn’tactively competefortheirvotes,earntheirtrust,earn theirrespect,and speaktotheir needs.”

Idon’t want anyone to vote formebecause there’sa ‘D’bymyname. Iwant folksto vote formebecause of my record fightingfor workingpeopleand fightingfor BlackTexans.”

JAMESTALARICO in aDefenderinterview

Whetherthose wordsresonateenoughto unitethe partyremains oneofthe defining questionsofthe generalelection.

Followingthe primary, Harris County CommissionerRodneyEllis,one of Houston’smostinfluential Blackpolitical leaders andanoutspoken Crockett supporter, urged Democratstomoveforward “That wasthen, this is now,”Ellis told supporters.“There’stoomuchatstaketobepetty.”

Earning Blackvoters, not expecting them

Still, unityhas notcomeautomatically Although Crockett publicly endorsed the Democraticticketafterthe primary, she has yettocampaignalongside Talarico.Through spokesperson Karrol Rimal, hercampaign signaled that Democratscannotrelyonconventionaloutreach, noting that theparty’s statewideticketisdominatedbyAustin-based candidateswhomustprovetheycanconnect with communitiesacrossTexas

“They’llhavetodoalotofworkoutsideof CentralTexasandresonatewithconstituencies across ourstate,” thestatement said Talarico insiststhatworkisalready underway.

“Asthecandidateatthetopoftheticket,it’s on me to earn thetrust andsupport of Black votersthathavebeentakenforgrantedforfar toolong,”hesaid.

Hiscampaignpointstomonthsofsustained outreach as evidence

Sincelastfall, Talarico hasvisited Black churches,participatedincommunity roundtables,attendedleadershipbrunches, spoken withstudentsatPrairieViewA&MUniversity deliveredthecommencementaddressatPaul QuinnCollege,metwithJuneteenthiconDr OpalLee,andworkedalongsidelocalorganizersinhistoricallyunderserved communities, includingSandBranchinDallasCounty.

Insteadofconcentrating campaign resourcesduringelectionseason,Talaricosays thosevisitsreflectaphilosophyofshowingup long before votesare cast.

Earlypollingsuggeststhe strategy may be gainingtraction. The TexasPoliticsProjectfound Talarico receivingapproximately 67% supportamong Blackvotersearly in the generalelectioncampaign,givingDemocrats optimism whileunderscoringthatsignificant work remainstoincreaseenthusiasm andturnout

Running on his record

Talarico arguesthathis appeal extends beyond campaign promises to hislegislative record

Aformermiddle school Englishteacher on SanAntonio’s West Side,hefrequently pointstotheissueshehaschampionedinthe TexasHouse as evidenceofhis commitment

tocommunities of color.

Amongthose accomplishmentsislegislation cappinginsulin copays at $25 perprescriptioninTexas,ameasureinformedbyhis ownexperiencelivingwithType1diabetes.

He also joined fellow Democrats in breakingquorumtoopposeRepublican-backed voting legislationand became oneofthe Legislature’smostoutspokencriticsofprivate schoolvouchers,arguingthatvouchersystems have historical ties to efforts to circumvent school integrationfollowing Brownv.Board

of Education.

Perhapsthe issuehediscusses most passionatelyisJavierAmbler’s Law.

Ambler,anunarmed Blackman,died during aWilliamson County Sheriff’s Office pursuitwhile deputies were beingfilmed for thetelevisionshowLivePD.Talaricoworked alongside Ambler’s family to pass legislation prohibitinglaw enforcementagenciesfrom participatinginrealitytelevisionproductions.

“Whenanunarmed Blackman,Javier Ambler,waskilledinmycommunity,Iworked

with hisfamily, particularly hissisterKimberly, to pass Javier Ambler’s Law,”Talarico said.“Those realityTVpolicingprograms increase thenumberofviolent interactions betweenlaw enforcementand theirconstituents,particularlytheirBlackconstituents.We passed that bill,and that will save livesinthe yearsand decadestocome.”

Policypriorities forBlack Texans

Looking toward Washington,Talarico says oneofhis highestprioritieswould be

addressing thenation’smaternalhealthcrisis,particularlythedisproportionatemortality ratesexperiencedbyBlack women.

“HarrisCountyisthe deadliestplace for aBlack womantogivebirth in theentire country,”hesaid. “That is shameful.That is unacceptable.”

Workingalongside stateRep.ToniRose, Talarico says he wantstopursuefederal investmentsand protectionsaimed at reducingmaternaldeathsand expandingaccessto reproductive andmaternalhealthcare.

Representation within hisown campaign he argues,isalsopartofthatcommitment. Rather than bringing Blackadvisersinto thecampaignlateintheprocess,Talaricosays Blackstaffmembersoccupyseniorleadership positionswithdecision-making authority. “Thesearethefolkswhoareactuallymakingdecisions aboutwhere we invest money, wherewespendtime,whatpoliciesandissues we’retalking about,”hesaid. “That’s exactly what we’regoing to do in theU.S. Senate.”

The campaign also says it is preparingfor whatitbelieveswillbeanaggressivelegalfight over voting access this fall Callingrecentvotingrestrictions“thelargestandmostaggressiveattackonBlackpolitical powersince JimCrow,”Talaricosayshis campaignhasassembledastatewidenetwork of volunteerattorneys prepared to respond quicklytoreportsofvoterintimidation,ballot access issues,and election-related litigation

TheroadtoNovember Ultimately,however,Talaricoacknowledgesthatpoliciesand campaign infrastructure alonewill notdetermine theoutcome in November

The greatest obstacle maybeconvincing voterswhohavesimplystoppedbelievingthat politics canimprove theirlives Askedwhathewould saytosomeone whohas become so disillusionedthatthey areconsidering stayinghomeonElection Day, Talarico returned to theimportanceof participation.

“They wouldn’t be trying so hard to stop youfromvotingifyourvotewasn’tpowerful,” he said.“The only waytotransform this broken,corruptpoliticalsystemisforallofusto take that powerbackfromthe people at the topwhostoleitfromus.Weareextendingan openhandtoTexansandinvitingthemtojoin this movement.Ifwedothat, Ifeelitinmy bonesthatwecanwinthisraceandtransform thepoliticsofthisstate.”

Whetherthatmessageisenoughtorebuild trustamong skepticalBlack voters mayultimatelydeterminenotonlyTalarico’spolitica future,but whetherTexas Democrats can finallyendastatewidedroughtthathaslasted more than threedecades

Feature DN

JaniceS McNair 1936-2026

APersonal Tribute to Janice McNair

By SonnyMessiahJiles

There arethose whocomeintoyour life fora reason,a season,ora lifetime. JaniceMcNairenteredmylifeasthewife ofBobMcNair,abusinessmanandfriend of my husbandJodie.Overthe years, Igrewtoknowher –the gentle spirit, thekindword, andthe commitmentto helping others

Although she movedinaquiet manner,herimpactwasmagnifiedbytheprograms,projects,andpeoplesheinvested in. TheDefenderdid storiesonher heartfeltinvestmentintheHoustonTexansYMCAinThirdWard, Pro-Vision IncinSunnyside,SunnysideSolarFarm, KIPPTexas,Texas Southern University, anda host of otherventures. Butone of thebest-keptsecrets Imustshare (one I putinour95thAnniversarybook,which Iplanned to give to her) is herinvestmentsinthe HoustonDefender

When COVIDhit theDefender, the

worldstopped,assomanyother businessesdid. Advertiserswerenotplacing or paying foradvertising runs,our distributionlocations shut down,and our businessbeganoperatingonourreserves. By Summertime,Idecided to reachout tofamilyandfriends,andJaniceMcNair answered my call.Therewas no reason forhertostopandsupporttheDefender. TheTexanshadneveradvertised,butshe heardmycryandanswered. Sheunderstoodthe valueofthe Defender to the community,andasabusinesswoman,she knew thechallengesbusinessesface. I thankedherrepeatedly,butwordscould nevertrulyexpressthevalueofhersupport,which helped us surviveCOVID

Itellyou this storysoyou will know thattherewassomuchmoretothislady of gracethanmanywill neverknow. I thankGODforJaniceMcNairinmylife. GowithGOD,myfriend,asyougraduatetobewiththe Lord

CLASSIFIED

BID NOTICE

The HarrisCenterfor Mental Health andIDD will be acceptingproposalsfor thefollowing: FacilitiesSpecialty ServiceProviders Electrical,Painting, Plumbing, Flooring, Door Hardware/Locksmith, Paving/Striping, Doors, FenceInstallation/Repair,Restoration/Waterproofing, Roofing, HVAC, GeneralContractor,EnvironmentalServices, andEventEquipmentRental

Specifications maybesecured from TheHarrisCenterwebsitewww.theharriscenter.org beginning Tuesday,July28, 2026. TheHarrisCenterutilizes Bonfire fortheir solicitations https://theharriscenter bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities .A non-mandatoryvendor conferencemeetingwill be held in person at 9401 SouthwestFreeway,Houston, TX 77074 at 10:30a.m., on Thursday,August6,2026. Deadlinefor prospectivevendorstosubmit questions to this RFPis Thursday,August6,2026 .Proposals must be submitted by 10:00a.m., Thursday,August20, 2026. TheHarrisCenter reserves allrightsto reject any and/orall proposals,towaive formalitiesand reasonableirregularitiesinsubmitteddocuments as it deemstobeinits best interestsand is notobligated to accept thelowestproposal

Notice of Class Action Settlement

Authorized by the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of NewYork Notice of Class Action Settlement

Sidesea leer este aviso en español, llámenoso visitenuestrositioweb

TO: Allmerchantsinthe U.S. whoaccepted Visa or Mastercard creditordebitcards at anytimesince December 18, 2020.

Thisnotice(“Notice”) is authorized by theCourttoinformyou aboutanagreementtosettlethe equitable relief claims in aclass action lawsuit, called In re Payment CardInterchange Feeand MerchantDiscount Antitrust Litigation,No. 05-md-01720 (BMC)(JAM)(E.D.N.Y.). The lawsuitclaims that Visa and Mastercard,separately, and together with certain banks, violated antitrust laws and caused merchants to pay excessive fees for accepting Visa andMastercardcredit and debit cards, including by adopting interchangerules and rates, and other network rules, which thelawsuit has claimed constituted unlawful price fixing,unreasonable restraintsoftrade, andmonopolization.

The defendantssay they didnothing wrong. Theymaintainthat their business practices are legal, justified, and theresultofindependentcompetition,and have benefitted both merchants and consumers.The Courthas not decided whoisrightbecause theparties agreed to asettlement, which waspreliminarilyapproved by theCourt on June 9, 2026

A. What MerchantsWillGet from theSettlement During thelawsuit,the Court previously certified an Equitable Relief Class under Federal Ruleof Civil Procedure 23(b)(2) and has nowpreliminarily approvedasettlement of the Class claims (the “Rule 23(b)(2) ClassSettlement” or “Settlement”).

Under theSettlement, Visa andMastercard have agreed to substantivechanges to theVisa and Mastercard rules applicable to merchantswho accepttheircardsasa form of payment.

TheClass includes all persons, businesses,and entities that acceptany Visa-Branded Cardsand/or Mastercard-Branded Cards in theUnited States at any timeduringthe periodbetween December 18, 2020 and thedateofpreliminarysettlementapproval, or June9,2026. The Courthas set November 16, 2026 as thedatefor afinal approvaland fairnesshearing (the “Fairness Hearing”) in connection with theSettlement, after membersofthe Class have had the opportunity to evaluate theSettlement and exercise their rights, as set forthinthe Notice. Further information regarding the Settlement and theFairness Hearingwill be posted on www.InterchangeEquitableReliefSettlement.com

Under theRule23(b)(2) ClassSettlement, Mastercard and Visa will modify certain rules to preserve, establish, or expand thecircumstances in which merchants can, amongother things, do thefollowing:

• Decline acceptanceofVisa- or Mastercard-Branded Commercial CreditCards and/or Premium Consumer CreditCards.

•Surcharge customersa feefor theuse of anyVisaor Mastercard-Branded Credit Cards, including based on the type of cardused (e.g.,adifferent surcharge forrewards and non-rewardscards).

•Offer discounts to customers whodonot pay with Visa or Mastercard-Branded Credit Cards, or based on thefinancial institution that issued the Visa or Mastercard-Branded CreditCard

• DeclineacceptanceofVisaorMastercard-Branded Cards at all outlets that operateunder thesame trade name or banner,evenifthat merchant accepts those same cards at outlets that operate under adifferenttrade nameorbanner

•Engage in PilotProgramswhereby they accept Visa or Mastercard-Branded CreditCardsatsome but notall outlets operatingunder thesame trade name or banner fora limited duration or testout variousacceptance, surcharging and discounting options at some butnot all outletsoperating under thesame trade name or banner,including notacceptingCommercial or Premium Consumer CreditCards, fora limited duration.

•Accept some digital wallets at brick-and-mortar locations butdeclineothersand enable some digital wallets foron-line transactions butnot enable others, and“steer” among the cardswithin adigital wallet under thesame rules that govern steering among traditional cards.

•Receive thebenefit of credit interchange rate reductions:Visa and Mastercard will reduce published and negotiated CreditCard interchange rates forU.S.merchants.

•Receive thebenefit of CreditCard interchange rate caps: The Settlement Agreement reduces and caps“Standard” Consumer Credit Card rates at aspecified leveland otherwise caps Credit Cardinterchange rates, such that neither Visa nor Mastercardwillincreaseany of itspublished CreditCardinterchange rates above therates effective as of March 31,2025and each will reduce itsnetwork-wideaverage Credit Card interchange rate to or below thespecifiedlevel.

•FormMerchantBuyingGroupsthat meet certain criteria to negotiate with Visa andMastercard

• Receive access to aMerchantEducationProgram, establishedand administered underthe Settlement Agreement, to helpunderstandand maximize thebenefits of therule changes,includinghow to effectively “steer”inStates that restrict surcharging.

B. Monetary Aspects of theRule23(b)(2) Class Settlement

There is no monetarypaymenttomembers of theClass in this Settlement. ThisRule23(b)(2) Class Settlement concerns only theEquitable Relief Claims set forth in thelawsuit. Claims formonetarydamages arising outofthe defendants’ alleged antitrust violations arethe subject of aseparate settlementfor the Rule 23(b)(3) Class. Forinformationconcerning the separate Rule 23(b)(3) Cash SettlementClass, please visitthe website: www.PaymentCardSettlement.com

The Settlement does providefor Visa and Mastercard to makecertain payments into theRule23(b)(2)Class Settlement Escrow Account, which moneywillbeused to pay:

•The costofsettlement administrationand notice, as approvedbythe Court,

•The costofMerchantEducationProgram expenses,asapprovedbythe Court,

•The cost of an Independent Auditor whowill ensure thatVisa and Mastercard complywith the creditcard interchange-rate reduction commitments, and

• Attorneys’fees and expenses,including any named Class Representativeservice awards, as approved by theCourt

The moneyinthisfundwillbedistributed only if the Courtgrantsfinalapproval of theSettlement, andthe moneyfor attorneys’ fees and expenses, and service awards to Class Representatives, will be distributed only if the Settlement has become final and all appealsare exhausted, and the Court approvesthe application for attorneys’ fees and expenses, and Class Representatives’ service awards.

Attorneys’fees and expenses,and service awards to theClassRepresentatives: Forwork donethrough final approval of theSettlementbythe Court, as well as anywork they will be required to do in thefuture, Class Counsel will ask theCourtfor attorneys’fees and reimbursement of reasonableand necessarylitigation expenses,and anyservice awardstothe named Class Representatives that theCourtmay award,inan amount not to exceed $206,000,000. The Settlement Agreement requires Visa and Mastercard to pay these fees and expenses separatelyfromthe other Settlement financial obligationsand they will not reduce anyother benefits of theSettlement; members of theClasswill not be required to pay anyamount toward these fees and expenses

C. LegalRights andOptions

Merchants who are included in this lawsuithavethe legalright to Object to theSettlement. The deadlineto object is: September 14, 2026.Tolearn howtoobject, visit: www.InterchangeEquitableReliefSettlement.com or call toll-free: 877-318-7713

Note: Youcannot elect to be excluded from the Rule 23(b)(2) ClassSettlement. Formore information aboutthese rightsand options, visit: www.InterchangeEquitableReliefSettlement.com or call toll-free: 877-318-7713

D. If theCourt Grants Final Approval of theSettlement

If theCourtgrants final approval to theSettlement, members of theRule23(b)(2)Classwillbebound by theterms of theSettlementand will release all claims against all releasedparties listed in theSettlement Agreement. The Settlementwillresolveand release anyclaims by paymentcard acceptorsagainst Visa, Mastercard and other defendants that wereorcould have been alleged in thelawsuit, including anyclaims based on interchangeorother fees,no-surcharge rules, no-discounting rules,honor-all-cardsrules,and any other network rules.The Settlementwillalsoresolve anypaymentcard acceptor claims based uponthe futureeffect of anyVisaorMastercard rules as they wereorare in place on December 18, 2020and up to theSettlementFinal Date(as defined in theSettlement Agreement), themodified rules provided for in the Settlement, or anyother rules substantially similar to those rules.The release will not bar claims involving certain specifiedstandard commercial disputesarising in theordinary course of business.

Formore information on therelease,see theSuperseding andAmended Rule 23(b)(2) Class SettlementAgreement at:www.InterchangeEquitableReliefSettlement.com.

E. The Court Hearing AboutThisSettlement On November 16, 2026at11:00 am ET,the Court will holdahearing to decide whether to approvethe proposed Settlement, Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’fees and expenses,and service awardsfor thenamed Class Representatives. The hearing will take place at:

United States DistrictCourtfor the Eastern District of NewYork U.S.DistrictJudge Brian M. Cogan 225 Cadman PlazaEast Brooklyn, NY 11201

Youdonot have to attendthe Courthearing or hire an attorney, though you may do either at yourown expense. The Courtappointed thelaw firms of Hilliard Shadowen LLP; Grant &Eisenhofer P.A.; Freed Kanner London &Millen LLC; and Nussbaum Law Group,P.C. to representthe Class (“ClassCounsel”).

F. Questions?

Formore information aboutthiscase (InrePayment CardInterchange Feeand MerchantDiscount Antitrust Litigation, MDL1720), you may: Call toll-free: 877-318-7713

Visit: www.InterchangeEquitableReliefSettlement.com

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Keyatta Crews

Creates Tubi success with family empire

By Laura Onyeneho

Keyatta Crews had no Hollywood connections and launched her first TV series with no budget to speak of

Today, Season 1 of her drama “Bordersville” has surpassed 60 million views on Tubi, making her the first Black woman in Houston to create an original streaming series on the platform She did that in Houston, without a network deal, and with her husbandandchildrenby her side

That story of grit, ownership,andbuilding something from nothing is exactly the kind Crewshasalwaysbeen drawn to tell

“Acting is my first love,” Crews said duringarecentinterviewwiththeDefender Network. “That’s what I wanted to do since Iwasakid.Iwasinfatuatedwithtelevision, infatuatedwithmovies Butlookingaround, IhadnocluehowIwouldgetthere.Ididn’t knowanybodywholookedlikeme,anybody that had anything to do with movies.”

Crews grew up in Houston and pursued herpassionthroughformaltraining,earning a major in business and a minor in theater. By2015,shewashittingauditionsacrossthe city and had briefly secured representation throughatalentagent.Butopportunitiesin Houston’sdevelopingfilmscenewerescarce, and the ones that did exist rarely paid

In 2018 or 2019, she made a move that many aspiring Houston filmmakers before her had considered: She drove to Atlanta, convinced that Tyler Perry would discover her. She was not prepared for what she found.

“I was going to move. I was going to work for Tyler Perry. Baby, I was destined,” she said, laughing at the memory “Got to Atlanta. Couldn’t find [anywhere] to live, couldn’t find [anything]. I called my

husband boohooing and crying.”

Her husband gave her some advice that would redirect the entire course of her career. He told her to come home and become her own Tyler Perry.

“I was like, what? How am I going to do that?” she recalled

From Atlanta to Houston

She did it anyway Back in Houston, Crewssatdownandwrotethefirstepisodes ofwhatwouldbecome“Bordersville,”araw, community-grounded drama inspired by realexperiences,teenagepregnancy,domestic hardship, family dysfunction, and the secrets that fester inside households that look normal from the outside. When she shared the pages with family and friends, the reaction floored her.

“They were like, ‘You wrote this? Like, thisisgood,”Crewssaid “ButI’mlike,what am I going to do with it? I don’t have any money. I don’t know the first thing about a production.”

She figured it out. Crews reached out to trusted contacts, borrowed resources, and, in the process, discovered an ability she had not fully claimed before, and then directed She realized that if she had the vision for these characters, she was also best equipped to translate them.

“I didn’t realize that I was really good at training people with acting I was really good at molding people,” she said “Going in headfirst, honestly,

liketeachingmyself.

And that’s when I wrote my book.”

That book, “Tubi or Not Tubi: Filmmaking on a Dime in 10 Days,” captures the philosophy she developed out of necessity. It startswithwhatyou have, protect what you build, and get it done

She launched “Bordersville” in 2020 on YouTube in short episodes released every Saturday Initially slow to gain traction, the storytelling eventually resonated, leading to interest from Tubi, the ad-supported streaming service owned by Fox Entertainment.

Crews combined her short installments into five full-length episodes for Season 1. It took years, but the series eventually blew up Shenowhasthreeseasonsstreamingand a fourth she funded entirely on her own, investing $50,000 out of pocket

The road was not without its challenges After Season 1 found its footing, Crews secured a $35,000 production deal for Season 2, completing it in 10 days with six episodes When a dispute with the investor threatenedtoburytheseasonpermanently, shemadeamovethathassincebecomethe cornerstone of her business philosophy

“Hesentmeanemailsaying, ‘Giveme$30,000in10days,’” she said “I reached out to my distributors Two days later, I told him, `Meet me at Navy Federal.’ I gave him a $30,000 cashier’s check. Sign this contract, and give me everything you have of my footage. We’re done.”

Sports DN DarrellGreen Football doesn’t begin to tell the full story

By Terrance Harris

Darrell Green is known for so much

The Houston native is a Pro Football Hall of Famer, arguably the fastest man to ever wear a football uniform, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Washington Redskins, and the player who played the most games during an NFL career that spanned 20 years.

But let Green tell it, none of that comes close to defining the man he is. His true measure lies in being a man of God, a husband, a father of four, a grandfather of 17, and a man committed to charitable work and giving back

“These are the spoils of my career, but these don’t tell the whole story about Darrell Green,” he said recently while in town for Texas Southern’s football camp “This is just some stuff that I got from working at this company called the Redskins that I played cornerback. But they don’t tell my whole story.

“Thisain’tnothing.Mykids,mywife,my friends,theyarewhatmakemesomething. Whenyougetthatrevelation,thatisthebiggest victory of my life.”

Truth be told, everything about Green’s lifeisavictory.RaisedintheCuneyHomes Projects,acrossthestreetfromTSUinThird Ward,wereitnotforsomedecisionsGreen made back when he was in seventh grade, he might not have ascended to the heights he has

ThereisnootherwaytodescribeGreen’s path than to say it was simply a blessing. How else do you explain how a young man,knowinghehadspeedatanearlyage, decidedinmiddleschoolthatin10thgrade, he would go out for track, and then in 11th grade, he would give football a shot?

Wrap your mind around that

But even more miraculous is that he did what he planned from way back in seventh grade – almost He did go out for track at Jones High School in 10th grade, and then addedfootballin11thgrade Theonlyhitch wasthatsincehehadneverplayedorganized footballinastatewherelittleboysareborn with a football in their hands, Green was relegated to junior varsity.

He didn’t get his shot at varsity until

senior year, where his athletic gifts were obvious from the get-go. But Green was smallandinexperienced,soplayingfootball in college wasn’t necessarily a given.

“I had one year to make varsity,” Green said “I wasn’t going to go to college or the NFL. I just wanted to play.”

Green jokes that he grew up right across the street from TSU, and the Tigers never lookedhisway.Nobodydid Heendedupas awalk-onatNAIATexasA&I(nowknown as Texas A&M-Kingsville), where he was a standout, but even that program never offered Green a scholarship.

Still, this man was impressive enough to be drafted with the final pick in the first round(28thoverall)inthe1983NFLDraft by the Washington Redskins Intoday’scollegefootballworld,it’slikely Green and his enormous talent and speed would have kept elevating to bigger programsandgarneredNILandrevenue-sharing riches. But none of that existed during histime Allhehadwasthe$20hismother sent him to school with, and his coach had to confiscate it in order to prevent him from buying a one-way bus ticket back to Houston.

What happened once Green reached the NFL, of course, was more mind-boggling

than his journey to get there.

•Played20seasonsforonlyonefranchise.

• Played in 295 games.

• Finishedhiscareerasarguablythebest cornerback to do it

• Rana4.43secondsinthe40-yarddash on the record, but rumors persist of a 4.06timein1986attheRedskinstraining camp

• A 10-time All-Pro

• Made the 100th Anniversary All-Decade Team.

• The Commanders (formerly the Redskins) retired his No 28 jersey

Those are just some of the highlights of an enduring career that lasted well into his 40swhenhewasstilllockingdownreceivers half his age.

But for Green, this was all about God’s plan

“Thereain’tnoDarrellGreenwithoutmy faith,”saidGreen,now66.“I’mnotgoingto stay faithful to this girl if I ain’t right. Ain’t no way. Not from where I came from, the way I used to be No way.

“My faith is everything. My kids, and everything they’ve got; it ain’t got nothing to do with football It’s because I became a born-again Christian. That’s their victory, that’s my victory because I knew God.”

Sports DN

Summerrecruiting College camps offer training, visibility

ByJimmieAggison

More than 50 offensive and defensive linemen took part in two summer football campsessionsatTexasSouthernUniversity’s DurleyFieldComplex,eachhopingtocatch the attention of head coach Cris Dishman and his staff.

But for many athletes, the camp was simply another stop in a summer of travel, evaluations, and competition as they chase thesamegoal:Acollegefootballscholarship.

The Dishman Camp, named after Texas Southern head football coach, featured two days of coaching and evaluation Each day was split into two sessions, with a morning session for offensive and defensive linemen and an afternoon session for skill players.

Today’s high school football players can’t relystrictlyongamefilm.Manyspendtheir summers traveling from camp to camp to gain exposure and put themselves in front of college coaches.

“Camps are an important part of the recruiting process today because coaches around the country get a lot of film, but attending camps allows coaches to evaluate you in person,” said Dishman. “I think all high school kids, whether you’re interested intheschoolornot,shouldgetoutthereand attendcampssocoachescanseehowtallyou are,howmuchyouweigh,howfastyouare, your shuttle time, and see you in person.”

Beyond evaluating a player’s size, speed, andathleticability,Dishmansaidin-person campsallowcoachestoassesstheintangibles that often set recruits apart.

“Wecanlearnalotfromseeingaprospect at a camp,” said Dishman. “You can learn how their attitude is and whether they are a leader Film has a tendency to hide things from you because you can’t see or hear a player motivating their team.”

For several players, Texas Southern offered another opportunity in a summer that has become anything but a break.

LeoBarbour,anupcoming6-foot-3,235poundjuniordefensiveendfromJerseyVillage High School, attended the camp after participating in camps at SMU, Texas, Baylor,TCU,HCU,TexasA&M,SamHouston, Texas Tech, UTSA, and Texas State.

“I’veattended13campsthissummer,”said Barbour. “Consistent attendance is important because each camp is another opportunity to compete, improve, and get in front of coaches. I’ve learned that recruiting is all about relationships, consistency, and hard work Coaches pay far more attention to thosequalitiesthantoathleticabilityalone.”

David Okunoye, an upcoming 6-foot3, 290-pound senior offensive guard from

Every time I come up, my foot is all on the gas. ”

Camps are an important part of the recruiting process today because coaches around the country get a lot of film, but attending camps allows coaches to evaluate you in person.”

CRIS DISHMAN

GeorgeBushHighSchool,alsoparticipated after attending camps at the University of Houston, Midwestern State University, and Howard Payne University, where he received a scholarship offer.

“AlthoughIreceivedanofferfromHoward Payne University, I continue attending campstoshowcasemyabilitiesasanathlete forcoachestoseeandwant,”saidOkunoye.

“This summer has changed my approach torecruiting,makingmemoreintentional.

Jerrell Hinnant, an upcoming 6-foot-3, 280-pound senior offensive lineman from Eisenhower High School, also attended afterparticipatingincampsatHCU,North Texas, and Stephen F. Austin.

“Every camp opportunity is important to me this year because I know I haven’t beenrecruitedorrecognizedforwhatIcan do,” said Hinnant. “Every time I touch the turf, whether coaches are watching or not, I know to give it 100% because my college isn’t guaranteed! When college coaches evaluateme,Ihopetheyseemytwitchand quicknessoutofmystance.Ihopetheysee my base staying wide and my feet moving nonstop while blocking.”

Thecampalsodrewathletesfromacross Texas and beyond, including Travarous Scott, a senior defensive lineman from Broadmoor High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.HeattendedtheGridironFootballEliteCampatLouisianaChristianUniversity,andKadenWiltz,ajuniortightend/ defensiveendfromWestbrookHighSchool inBeaumont,attendedcampsatStephenF. Austin and Lamar.

Whileexposureistheprimarygoal,camps alsooffervaluableinstructionthatcanbenefit athletes long after the final drill ends “Beyond size and athleticism, the athletes who leave the biggest impression are

the ones who always want to be first in line,” said Dishman. “The ones who motivate the other athletes, ‘Hey, let’s keep it moving Let’s keep going.’ That leaves a bigger impression on me. That tells me he’s a leader.”

For athletes pursuing a scholarship, Dishman advises them to invest time in maintaining relationships.

“Keep in contact with the position coaches because they can get you on the board,” said Dishman. “Tweet him, follow him, and send him messages The position coachesbringplayerstotheheadcoach,and then we sit and watch as a staff. We watch everyone,fromoffensetodefensetospecial teams, not as individuals but as a staff.”

Coachability, effort, competitiveness, attitude, and attention to detail are the qualities coaches value most, and players hopetocarrytheselessonsastheyprepare for the upcoming high school season

Although the whistles eventually fell silent and the camp came to an end, the recruiting journey continues. For players like David Okunoye, Jerrell Hinnant, and LeoBarbour,eachcampisanotherchance toimprove,benoticed,andmoveonestep closer to playing college football

“I hope my hard work has established relationshipswithcoachesandsetmeupto be evaluated properly for my senior year’s highlights that I drop,” said Hinnant.