THE SAN BERNARDINO
AMERICAN
"If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best-colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you." ― Lyndon B. Johnson
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January 8, 2026 Thursday Edition December 5, 2024 Thursday Edition
Vol. 56 No. 39
Volume 55 No. 34 Mailing: P.O Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393
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Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with words or blows or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance those of whom they suppress. —Fredrick Douglass (1849)
Crime Drops in Downtown San Bernardino by Nearly 50% San Bernardino Community News
Crime in San Bernardino has dropped by 30 percent or more throughout the city. One reason is that there are more officers on the streets. The Police Department’s goal is to have 350 sworn officers. Current full-time staffing is reported at 295 sworn officers and 156 professional staff.
Mayor Tran said, “A major reason for the decrease in crime is the increased presence of law enforcement officers on the streets. She credits their success to proactive policing, intelligence-led strategies, and collaborative partnerships.” SAN BERNARDINO, CA. — “Crime rates in downtown San Bernardino have decreased by almost half over the past five years,” said Police Chief Darren L. Goodman. “This positive trend includes a decline in burglaries, aggravated assaults, and notably, there have been very few homicides this year.” Crime rates in the rest of the City have also declined by more than 30 percent. Further, San Bernardino’s downtown area is one of the first 30 communities in California to be designated a “Clean California Community” by Caltrans. This designation is part of a multiyear partnership among the City of San Bernardino, the Arts Connection/Arts Council of San Bernardino County, local businesses, Creative Grounds, and real estate company Realicore. Downtown serves as the City's government and business center, with 38,250 people working there and 50,567 residents
living there. It is home to 2,756 businesses that help sustain a lively economy, generating $6.7 billion in sales in 2024. SBPD statistics regarding the 1st Ward show that aggravated assaults declined from 399 in 2020 to 206 in 2025. Robberies decreased from 199 to 102 during the same period of time. Burglaries dropped from 237 in 2020 to 134 so far in 2025. Homicides fell from 15 in 2020 to 4 in 2025. “The Police Department’s records show that crime is going down in all parts of the City,” said 1st Ward San Bernardino City Councilmember Theodore Sanchez. The SBPD attributes the declining crime rates to a combination of proactive policing and community support. “San Bernardino has achieved significant progress,” said Chief Goodman. “Violent crime has decreased, and we are proud of
the efforts our officers and the community have made to reach this point. With new technology, including expanded crimecamera coverage downtown, we’re enhancing our ability to prevent violence and safeguard our neighborhoods.” Mayor Helen Tran supports Chief Goodman’s views. She believes that having more officers on the street, better data, and more awareness have combined to reduce crime in the downtown area; thus, making downtown San Bernardino more attractive. Mayor Tran said, “A major reason for the decrease in crime is the increased presence of law enforcement officers on the streets. She credits their success to proactive policing, intelligence-led strategies, and collaborative partnerships.” “Effective community outreach has also played a key role,” Mayor Tran stresses. “The program's success is attributed
“We emphasize career opportunities, upward mobility, and the chance to make a positive community impact as reasons to join our team, whether in uniform or in civilian positions,” said Chief Goodman. The Chief welcomes a new graduate from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Graduation Class 235. Left to right: SBSO Lieutenant Dave Mascetti, SBSO Captain Matthew Collins, SBPD Chief Darren L. Goodman, and SBPD Officer Micaiah Sandoval.
1st Ward, San Bernardino City Councilmember Sanchez credits “Targeted enforcement and closer partnerships with neighborhood groups” as having helped drive the decline in crime, particularly in and around downtown San Bernardino.” to credible messengers and trained outreach workers, often with shared life experiences, who build trust with high-risk individuals. They use direct, respectful engagement to discuss the consequences of violence and provide pathways to change.” Councilmember Sanchez credits “Targeted enforcement and closer partnerships with neighborhood groups” for helping drive the decline in crime, particularly in and around downtown San Bernardino. Chief Goodman points out that the SBPD has experienced recent recruiting successes driven by grants and a targeted approach, enabling them to hire new officers despite national challenges in law enforcement staffing. These include, Grant Funding Success: The department has been highly successful in securing external grants to fund new positions, a major factor in its ability to hire more police officers.
In late 2024, the SBPD, with the support of US Congressmember Pete Aguilar, secured a $625,000 federal grant to hire five new officers and expand community policing resources. Over three years, the department secured grants and external agreements to fund 32 new police officer positions and four professional staff positions. S t a ff i n g L e v e l s : T h e department aims to have 350 sworn officers. Current full-time staffing is reported at 295 sworn officers and 156 professional staff. Emphasis on Local Talent: The department places a high value on officers with personal ties to the community. Some officers are San Bernardino natives who chose to serve the City where they grew up, which the department highlights in its recruitment efforts. “The SBPD continues to actively recruit,” said Chief Goodman. “We emphasize career
opportunities, upward mobility, and the chance to make a positive community impact as reasons to join our team, whether in uniform or in civilian positions.” To view current opportunities, visit https://www.sanbernardino. gov/422/Careers. “Downtown San Bernardino is lively and thriving. On an average day, over 29,034 vehicles travel through downtown streets, showing that the area remains a vibrant and active part of our region, ready for ongoing business growth and expansion,” said Mayor Tran. “We extend our sincere appreciation to Chief Goodman and the San Bernardino Police Department for their dedication to public safety and for fostering strong community ties,” said San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca. “Their collaborative approach and genuine investment in our neighborhoods help create a safer, more connected San Bernardino.”
Thursday, January 8, 2026
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THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS - COMMUNITY/EDUCATION
Turns Away Section 8 Voucher Holders... Landlord Turns Away Section 8 Voucher Holders Landlord continued By Robin Urevich Contributing Writer, Los Angeles WAVE One of the biggest landlords in the region has been turning away people seeking apartments under the Section 8 housing assistance program in many of its buildings, in apparent violation of state law, a Capital & Main investigation found. Jamison, a group of familyrun real estate companies, has been lauded for its civically active executive and its efforts to turn underused office space into housing. But Jamison stands out among other large L.A.-area landlords for its near non-participation in the Section 8 program, the largest housing assistance program in the country, the investigation found. In a statement, a Jamison company spokesperson said “the management companies overseeing Jamison’s portfolio accept and welcome tenants utilizing Section 8 vouchers.” Section 8 is a powerful tool for fighting homelessness and the housing crisis across the nation. But it is especially needed in L.A. County, where wages haven’t kept pace with rising rents. Housing Choice Vouchers, as they’re officially known, subsidize rent for about 85,000 households in L.A. County that don’t earn enough to afford a market-rate rental. At its best, Section 8 and its federally funded assistance vouchers offer a way out of poverty for low-income residents — affordable rent in a community of their choice. But too often the program fails to deliver on its promises. Four in 10 voucher holders in the U.S. never find housing at all, even after years on Section 8 waiting lists, according to a 2021 study by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Terri Reynolds, who oversees programs at the nonprofit Asian
Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA American Drug Abuse Program to help clients in the L.A. area find housing, said they’re “so happy” to obtain rental assistance. But they are often disappointed, she said, “because landlords don’t want to mess with Section 8.” The reluctance of landlords to participate is one of the Section 8 program’s biggest problems, even though a state law bars them from rejecting tenants because they use vouchers. Dan Yukelson, executive director of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, said red tape and hardto-understand rules make Section 8 “an administrative nightmare” for some of his members, who are mostly mom-and-pop landlords. Capital & Main investigated seven of L.A. County’s largest landlords to determine whether they open their doors to Section 8 tenants. Unlike smaller landlords who might be unfamiliar with the rules, these multifamily real estate giants have abundant administrative resources to interpret and comply with state law. Capital & Main’s findings are based on data collected
by testers hired by the news organization to pose as Section 8 voucher holders. From late 2024 to early 2025 the testers contacted leasing agents to ask about available apartments in 65 buildings owned or operated by Jamison, Equity Residential, Essex Property Trust, AvalonBay Communities, G.H. Palmer Associates, Prime Residential and Greystar. The tests were limited to buildings where advertised rents were low enough for Section 8 recipients to be able to move in. Testers asked leasing staff at each building if they accepted Section 8 vouchers, and if so, what income and creditworthiness criteria each used to qualify applicants. Jamison buildings were the only ones where leasing agents said they could not rent to Section 8 tenants. Of 21 properties that testers contacted, agents at 15 said they could not accept vouchers. At one property, an agent described income requirements that would automatically exclude voucher holders. Agents initially said they would accept Section 8 at five of the properties, but
either described minimum credit scores that would exclude many voucher holders, or did not respond to follow-up inquiries. Capital & Main contacted Jamison with its key findings and a list of questions. In its statement earlier this month, the company spokesperson said many of the issues raised were “completely wrong and/or misleading” but did not comment on many of the specific problems the reporting found. Last fall, a tester called to inquire about an apartment at Jamison’s Atlas House in L.A.’s Koreatown with some attractive amenities, including state-of-theart appliances, a swimming pool and hot tub. But they were told the building was not accepting Section 8 vouchers. “We are actively seeking approval to begin accepting Section 8 vouchers, and when that approval goes through, we will publicly make an announcement,” the representative said. But the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles has
no such approval or inspection process, said its Section 8 director, Carlos Van Natter. “We would not inspect the whole building,” Van Natter said, adding that the agency only inspects individual apartments to ensure habitability after a landlord has accepted a tenant’s rental application. At the Sienna on Serrano and the Roya, both relatively new Koreatown buildings that offer features like modern kitchens, gyms, pool decks and even a karaoke room, leasing agents also said they were awaiting city approvals for their Section 8 participation, which they said they expected within a few months. Between 2021 and 2024, only one Section 8 tenant moved into a Jamison property, according to records Capital & Main obtained from the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles under the California Public Records Act. The Jamison spokesperson’s statement did not address the lack of Section 8 tenants in its properties, but said that the management companies overseeing its portfolio “take proactive steps, including engaging a broker and nonprofits, to help identify individuals and families who hold vouchers or qualify for income-restricted Affordable Housing units.”. But the findings raised concerns for L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, who, as a state senator, authored the
2020 state law that makes it illegal to reject tenants because they pay rent with government assistance. “It’s disappointing because the law is the law,” Mitchell said. Jamison’s three dozen or so residential buildings in the L.A. area were built since 2013, and thus too new to be covered by local rent control laws or the state’s maximum 10% per year limit on rent increases. Under the Section 8 program, however, the company would be required to get housing authority approval for annual rent hikes. Jay Lybik, a real estate expert who until recently was the CoStar Group’s national director of multifamily analytics, said that given state and local rent caps, Jamison may exclude voucher holders so that it can freely raise rents on its units. Lybik, who now directs market research for Continental Properties, said Jamison “most likely needs to hit certain return hurdles for their investors and will need to be squeezing every percentage of rent growth. Thus, they don’t want to be hampered by the lower yearly increases allowed.” Robin Urevich is a reporter for Capital & Main, a nonprofit publication focused on inequality. It is republished here with permission. Reporting for this series was supported by a grant from the Fund for Investigative Journalism. FacebookMastodonEmailShare
Submission Deadlines: Mondays By 5pm & Tuesdays by noon after a Monday Holiday
Head Start Success Story: Thomas Parker California Stress continued in next 2 columns
Borrow a Free State Parks Day-Use Pass with Map: Ranking Work, By Thomas Parker Your County Library Card Money, Health and Lifestyle Pressures
Education News
Allen White <allen.white@ connective3.com> California has ranked among the most stressed states in America, according to new research from health insurance comparison service iSelect. The study analyzed survey data from Americans alongside 28 national data sets, ranking each state from 1 (most stressed) to 50 (least stressed) across key stress categories. California stress rankings: Overall rank: 21st
With your free state parks day-use pass,explore in the diverse landscapes of California – canyons, mountains and winding trails await! San Bernardino County Library would like to remind residents that free day-use access to California State Parks is just a library card away. Through a continued partnership with the California State Library and California State Parks, cardholders can borrow a California State Library Parks Pass from participating County Library branches and enjoy some of the state’s most celebrated outdoor destinations at no cost. The California State Library Parks Pass program allows residents to check out a pass just as they would a book— granting entry to over 200 participating state parks for one vehicle and its occupants. Cardholders can borrow a pass from their local branch and enjoy scenic hiking trails, beaches, historic sites and nature preserves — all at no cost. “Our library card opens doors
not only to knowledge but also to unforgettable outdoor experiences,” said County Librarian Melanie Orosco. “We want to make sure every household in our community knows that these park passes are here for them — completely free and easy to use.” Residents are encouraged to make a visit to their local library as part of every outdoor adventure. Complement your park visit with materials from the library’s robust collections — nature guides, California history books, wildlife education and more — to enhance each trip with learning and discovery. How to borrow a parks dayuse pass: Visit your nearest County Library branch. Use your library card to check
out a State Library Parks Pass. Enjoy a day of exploration at participating California State Parks. Return the pass so others may enjoy our state’s natural wonders. The County Library is proud to support active lifestyles, environmental appreciation and equitable access to California’s rich natural heritage. For more information about the San Bernardino County Library system, visit library.sbcounty. gov, call 909-387-2220 or follow us on Facebook or Instagram. The San Bernardino County Library system is a dynamic network of 32 branch libraries that serve a diverse population over a vast geographic area. The County Library strives to provide equal access to information, technology, events and services for all people who call San Bernardino County home.
Overall stress score: 49.3 / 100 Work stress: 49th Financial stress: 7th Education stress: 1st Mental health stress: 38th Relationship stress: 43rd Health-related financial stress: 1st The findings align with national survey results showing financial stress as the leading cause of emotional strain for Americans (50%), followed by lifestyle pressures (29%), health concerns (27%), and work or school stress (22%). For more information and to view the full study, please visit: https://www.iselect.com. au/health-insurance/insights/ leading-causes-of-stressworldwide/
Thomas Parker as a Head Start student (left) and today (right). “We never talked about the definition of collective impact formally. It was a lived-out experience, and I grew up seeing the positive results,” says Thomas Parker. “My community exemplified it.” Thomas now has a formal definition for collective impact, which he shared as the opening plenary speaker during a recent National Head Start Association conference. In Thomas’ community, the shared vision was education. In his hometown of Tillatoba, Mississippi, a rural town with a population of less than 100, many of Thomas’ school teachers were fellow parishioners at church. Thomas’ parents were active members of the local chapter of the NAACP and established an educational opportunities program. “It is no surprise that I carry the ‘education drives success’ mindset with me as a leader,” says Parker. “Seeing it throughout my community growing up shaped how I see the world today. In my first role as a new teacher in Detroit Public Schools, it drove me to partner with parents and the community to build trust with students. It inspired me to elevate student achievement and end a budget deficit for Ecorse public
schools outside Detroit.” Now, after expanding and building new pathways to success as the first African-American superintendent for Allentown public schools in Allentown, Pennsylvania, he continues to use the guiding framework in his new role as Executive in Residence and Program Officer with the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. “My early experiences in my community, including Head Start, shaped and prepared me to be a force for systemic change,” says Parker.” During his plenary speech, Parker conveyed: “Equity as a word alone means nothing. Collective impact brings equity to life.” In other words, collective impact is the engine that can make equity a reality. For Thomas, it is the tool that brings generational change to children and families. Thomas holds an education specialist degree in educational leadership from Eastern Michigan University; a master’s degree in education foundation and policy from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; and a bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education from Howard University.
Thursday, January 8, 2026
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THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS - INLAND EMPIRE/COUNTY/GOVERNMENT/BUSINESS
New Postal Service Rule Could New Postal Service Rule Could Quietly Void Enhanced Rights and Protections for Ballots and Delay Healthcare...continued CA Workers in 2026 Quietly Void Ballots and Delay the account @cjnlegalnurse, The agency recommends that a health care advocate who customers with deadline- by Ellen Healthcare By Stacy M. Brown
AI image. NNPA. A quiet clarification by the United States Postal Service is drawing renewed scrutiny after health care advocates and voting rights observers warned that the change could carry serious consequences for millions of Americans who rely on postmarks to meet legal deadlines. Under new USPS guidance that took effect late last month, the date printed on a postmark no longer reflects when a letter or ballot is dropped into a mailbox. Instead, the postmark now reflects the date the mail is first processed at an automated sorting facility, which can occur days after the item is mailed. The Postal Service says the change is intended to clarify how postmarks are applied, particularly as transportation schedules and regional processing systems evolve. For voters in states that count mail-in ballots based on postmark deadlines, and for
patients navigating appeals, authorizations, and Medicare paperwork, the distinction is anything but academic. “In recognition of the importance that the election laws in some states place on postmarks, it has been the longstanding policy of the Postal Service to try to ensure that every return ballot mailed by voters receives a postmark, whether the return ballot is mailed with postage pre-paid by election officials or with a stamp affixed by the voter,” officials wrote in a release. “A voter can ensure that a postmark is applied to his or her return ballot by visiting a Postal Service retail office and requesting a postmark from a retail associate when dropping off the ballot.” The issue gained wider attention after a detailed explanation circulated to millions of viewers on social media from continued in next 2 columns
outlined how the rule shift moves risk away from institutions and onto individuals. “The postmark rule changed quietly, and it affects voting and health care. Let me explain what just happened at USPS because this is not minor and it’s not theoretical,” the user said. “So as of this week, the United States Postal Service clarified that a postmark date is no longer tied to when you drop your mail off. It’s tied to when that mail is first processed by an automated facility.” As the user explained, a letter placed in a mailbox on Monday may not reach a sorting center until Wednesday, making Wednesday the official postmark. For ballots and legal filings governed by strict deadlines, that delay can mean rejection despite timely mailing. “Many states say a mail-in ballot counts if it’s postmarked by election day,” the user said. “Under this rule, you can mail your ballot before election day and still have it postmarked after. So that’s not voter fraud, that’s logistics quietly overruling intent.” USPS guidance confirms that most postmarks are now applied at large processing plants rather than local post offices and that mail may sit before receiving a postmark due to updated transportation schedules.
sensitive mail bring items directly to a post office counter and request a manual local postmark. Health care advocates say the implications extend far beyond elections. “Health care runs on mail deadlines, appeals, prior authorizations, Medicare notices, and prescription paperwork,” the user said. “If an appeal has to be postmarked by a certain date and USPS processes days later, it looks late. So late appeals get denied. Denied appeals delay care.” The user said the shift places the burden squarely on individuals navigating already complex systems. “In nursing and health care advocacy, timing is everything,” the user said. “And this rule shifts the risk from the institution back to the patient. The system didn’t get faster, the rules just got tighter.” “So if you’re mailing anything time-sensitive now, ballots or health care documents, dropping it in a box is not enough,” the user said. “Go inside the post office for deadline mail. Ask for a manual postmark or receipt. Use certified mail for appeals and legal documents, and do not rely on blue mailboxes for last week’s deadlines. So, this isn’t panic; it’s adjustment.”
The San Bernardino
AMERICAN News
Submission Deadline Is On Mondays By 5 pm
COMMENTARY: Los Angeles Police Are Still Shooting Too Many People THE HUTCHINSON REPORT: By Earl Ofari Hutchinson, Contributing Columnist Los Angeles Wave
Los Angeles, California - April 29, 1992: LAPD officers advance along Temple Street, downtown, during the first day of the Rodney King riots. Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA. Mayor Karen Bass called the report “disturbing.” It was more, much more, than that. It was appalling. The Los Angeles Police Department continues to be the runaway leader among the nation’s police departments in the use of deadly force. Other reports show that of all the nation’s police departments the LAPD is the one that year in and year out leads all departments in the number of officer-involved shootings. This is not a statistical quirk or aberration in the excessive number of department shootings. It is a consistent pattern. A pattern that repeatedly is the subject of much hand wringing, and soul searching, at times within the department. But more vexing within the Los Angeles Police Commission, the Inspector General’s office, and Mayor Bass. All are tasked with monitoring the policies and practices of the LAPD. And no department action has been more closely scrutinized than officer-involved shootings. Still, they continue to occur with consistently high frequency. The recent report on LAPD shootings is graphic proof. There are still too many deaths of civilians at the hands of LAPD
officers that at the very least could be called dubious. They include the usual, a suspect armed with a sharp weapon, a suspect died after being tasered, a suspect who was charging at officers. The shootings and aggressive action may well have been unavoidable, but again they may have been avoided. At the very least they raise the usual questions about the LAPD’s continued reliance on deadly force in encounters. There have been countless reports, recommendations, rule changes, investigations, civilian checks and balances on the LAPD and its policy about when to use and not use deadly force. It often seems as if none of those things ever happened or meant little to nothing. Even when the LAPD shot fewer people, the death toll from the shootings remained high as the most recent report indicates. The killings continue to ram home the perennially troubling issue of what, when and how LAPD officers should use nonlethal force. What makes these slayings even more dubious is that they came in the wake of legislation the state Legislature passed that took effect Jan. 1, 2020.
That legislation mandated strict training, accountability and discipline procedures for the use of force by officers. Since the law was passed, however, the number of shootings has not dropped. The LAPD shooting sprees are a prime example. The one certainty in these killings is that they are not isolated cases of deadly force. So, the question is why? The stock answer is that whenever a suspect poses a direct threat to an officer, or an officer responds to a potentially life-threatening incident, he or she can use whatever force is necessary up to and including deadly force. In more cases than not, this is a strictly subjective, judgment call. And, in almost all cases, officers who use lethal force are shielded from prosecution in the absence of iron-clad proof of wrongdoing. No LAPD officer has been prosecuted for the use of deadly force on duty no matter how questionable in many years. Police departments have an array of non-lethal weapons that include bean bags, tasers, stun guns, rubber and wooden bullets, pepper spray, and of course, shouts, commands, and attempts to talk down a suspect. But, in the event of any sudden movement
toward an officer, all bets are off. The outcome is almost always predictable, namely the use of deadly force. Yet, there are many cases where officers have subdued a suspect who has directly confronted an officer with a knife or other potentially lethal weapon without firing a shot and without incurring injury to themselves or the suspect. A sweeping National Institute of Justice study in 2011 on the use of non-lethal force found that injuries to officers and suspects markedly decreased with the use of non-lethal devices from tasers to pepper spray. It also recommended that good policies and training requirements that officers evaluate the age, size, sex, apparent physical capabilities, and health concerns of a suspect in determining what level and type of force to be used. The answer to the question of whether the use of deadly force in many of these slayings is necessary should be beyond any doubt. It is a resounding no. That makes it even more compelling for LAPD Chief McDonnell, the Police Commission and Mayor Bass to take an even harder look at when, on whom and in what circumstances non-lethal force should be used. In fact, they should declare a total moratorium on the use of deadly force with the only exception being when there is a genuine life-threatening danger to an officer. That is not just a matter of life and death. It is a matter of good public and police policy. It’s also the message to Chief McDonnell: Your LAPD is shooting too many people. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is the host of the weekly The Hutchinson Report on KTYM Radio Wednesdays at 6 p.m. His political affairs commentaries can be found weekly on thehutchinsonreport.net. FacebookMastodonEmailShare
The California Labor and Workforce Development Agency stressed the importance of laws that became effective January 1, 2026, intended to reinforce California’s continued commitment to building a resilient and thriving economy for all. (blackworkerscenter.org) A number of key laws important to California workers became effective with the new year. The CA Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) stressed the importance of workers, employers, and community organizations being aware of and understanding these changes. LWDA stressed how the new laws are intended to reinforce California’s continued commitment to building a resilient and thriving economy for all. Following are some of the key changes that took effect January 1. More money for California workers California’s minimum wage increased to $16.90 per hour. The increase is intended to ensure that wages better reflect the rising cost of living and help lift workers toward greater financial stability. Service workers’ right to keep 100% of their tips is now further protected. Beginning this year, the Labor Commissioner now has the authority, through their existing citation process, to investigate and impose citations and fines against employers who unlawfully withhold gratuities (SB648). More power and protections for California workers For the first time, rideshare drivers now have the right to sectoral collective bargaining. This change allows drivers to unionize and collectively bargain for improved working conditions, including benefits and pay (AB 1340). New restrictions on employment contract terms now prohibit many forms of “stay-orpay” agreements that previously indebted working Californians to their employers by requiring employees to repay expenses, such as relocation costs and
training, if the employee leaves their employment before a specified time (AB 692). The California Workplace Outreach Program has expanded its existing education and outreach services to workers in industries that are vulnerable to labor violations as a way to help workers understand and assert their workplace rights (SB 578). Wo r k p l a c e , f a i r n e s s , accountability nd responsibility Newly enhanced enforcement authority will help workers recover lost wages by increasing employer accountability for unpaid wage judgments with new penalties. If not paid within 180 days, these enhanced penalties can be up to three times the amount of wages owed, Measures to prevent employer fraud make it easier for the state to collect from unscrupulous employers who fail to protect injured workers by not providing workers compensation coverage – ensuring all workers receive the benefits to which they are entitled (SB 847). Also, effective January 1, a 1976 statute was modernized to give the Labor Commissioner a more efficient enforcement mechanism to help farmworkers recover unpaid wages (SB 846). The role of LWDA is to ensure safe and fair workplaces, deliver critical worker benefits, and promote good jobs for all. LWDA oversees seven major departments, boards and panels that serve California workers and employers, including the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, Department of Industrial Relations, Employment Development Department, Employment Training Panel, Public Employment Relations Board, Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, and Workforce Development Board. Visit the LWDA website to learn more about the agency and its purpose.
MISSION STATEMENT Clifton Harris Editor in Chief Investigative Reporter sbamericannews@gmail.com Mary Martin-Harris Publisher mary@sb-american.com Clifton B. Harris / Audio Engineering Editor Rosa I. Evans /Writer/Marketing strategist and founder of Tridyn Creative Media, specializing in branding and digital marketing. Legal /Display Advertising (909) 889-7677 The San Bernardino American News was established May 6, 1969. A legally adjudicated newspaper of general circulation on September 30, 1971, case number 15313 by the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Our product is a local news publication, The San Bernardino American News, that is made available through both print and digital versions. We offer a wide range of content including local news, features, editorials, and columns that focus on the interests and concerns of the minority communities. Our mission at The San Bernardino American News is to provide accurate, compelling, and insightful content that speaks directly to the experiences and interests of minority communities in the County of San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles. We aim to be a trusted voice and platform for these communities, ensuring their stories are told and their issues brought to light. Our strategies involve a combination of robust content creation, digital and print media marketing, and a strong commitment to community engagement. By offering a range of monetization methods, we ensure our services remain accessible and valuable to our readership, while supporting the sustainability of our operations. News releases appearing in the San Bernardino AMERICAN News do not necessarily express the policy nor the opinion of the publishers. The San Bernardino AMERICAN News reserves the right to edit or rewrite all news releases.
Thursday, January 8, 2026
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THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS-WORLD/ENTERTAINMENT/RELIGION
COMMENTARY: In 2025 Black Culture Claimed Ownership The Power of a Click: Digital Literacy Is a Necessary Tool for Healthy Aging Not Permission By SweSwe Aye By Stacy M. Brown
AI-generated image by Stacy Brown / NNPA. Black pop culture in 2025 did not chase attention. It set terms. Across music, television, film, fashion, and sports, Black creators tightened control over narrative, ownership, and meaning at a moment when the country itself felt unmoored. Hip hop provided the year’s clearest line of separation. “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar did more than dominate playlists. It reset cultural boundaries. “They not like us” became shorthand for lineage, authorship, and accountability, repeated in crowds, locker rooms, and online spaces as a declaration rather than a slogan. The record carried the weight of history and the sharpness of confrontation, reinforcing hip hop’s original purpose as documentation and refusal. Kendrick’s presence in 2025 was not constant, but it was decisive. The work rejected false humility and cultural trespassing with lines that landed like verdicts. “I can’t fake humble just ’cause your ass is insecure” circulated as both lyric and posture, mirroring a broader
mood across Black creative spaces. Hip hop did not soften itself for comfort. It drew lines. Southern rap reinforced that authority without explanation. Future continued to shape the emotional architecture of the genre, his influence evident in pacing, tone, and restraint across new releases. The music carried detachment, survival, and repetition as reality rather than affectation. Killer Mike anchored Atlanta’s legacy in organizing and consequence, his words from earlier years still circulating with urgency: “I don’t believe in hope. I believe in action.” Megan Thee Stallion stood as one of 2025’s clearest examples of ownership without apology. Independent and visible, she rejected respectability politics while controlling her work outright. “I’m really just being myself, and that’s what people connect to” echoed across interviews and social media as both explanation and refusal. R&B moved with intention rather than excess. SZA remained central to the genre’s emotional vocabulary, her work continuing
to soundtrack contradiction, longing, and self-examination. Lyrics about uncertainty and self-worth circulated heavily, reflecting a collective fatigue that did not seek resolution on demand. Summer Walker leaned further into intimacy and boundary-setting, her work resisting polish in favor of truth. R&B in 2025 did not present healing as a finish line. It acknowledged the work was ongoing. Television reflected a similar confidence. Abbott Elementary continued to thrive by trusting Black specificity rather than flattening it. Its humor landed because it mirrored lived experience, not because it softened it. Lines about underfunded schools, burnout, and joy in the margins resonated widely without translation. Black audiences were not treated as a niche. They were treated as the center. Film followed that lead. Black directors increasingly controlled projects from development through release, telling stories rooted in history,
class, migration, and survival without requiring trauma as an entry fee. Black cinema in 2025 assumed its audience was informed, present, and deserving of complexity. Fashion delivered one of the year’s most visible cultural statements. The 2025 Met Gala, themed “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” centered Black dandyism, craftsmanship, and lineage. Co-chaired by Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, and A$AP Rocky, the night functioned as correction rather than costume. Tailoring, elegance, and experimentation were framed as inheritance, not exception. “Style is about intention,” a phrase long associated with Black designers, moved from subtext to thesis. Sports culture continued to blur the line between competition and cultural leadership. Angel Reese expanded her influence beyond the court, turning scrutiny into leverage and visibility into ownership. Her posture reflected a generational shift among Black women athletes who refused to shrink. Simone Biles remained one of the most influential figures in global sports, her insistence on self-preservation continuing to resonate. “I don’t owe anyone anything” circulated as both boundary and blueprint. Across platforms, Black pop culture in 2025 resisted dilution. Virality lost its grip. Ownership replaced access. Community replaced clicks. The work did not ask to be understood. It stood where it was. And through the year’s noise, pressure, and persistence, one refrain continued to carry weight, memory, and resolve: “We gon’ be alright.”
IN MEMORIAM: Black America’s Cultural Giants Lost in 2025
In Oakland, California, 102-year-old U Mya uses YouTube and Messenger to maintain spiritual and social connections. “When I talk to my friends online, I don’t feel lonely anymore.” he said. Within the US Burmese community, digital literacy has become a lifeline. “Digital literacy is necessary for easier, faster communication,” said retired architect Myo Sein. At the Gerontological Society of America 2025 symposium, University of Central Florida researchers Dr. Ladda Thiamwong and Chitra Banerjee highlighted how digital health’s portability and real-time feedback empower underserved seniors. “Integrating digital health technologies that offer reminders and progress tracking can motivate low-income older adults to stay active and enhance both physical function and mental health,” noted Dr. Thiamwong. Bridging the Gap in Health Equity Despite the benefits, social inequalities persist. Dr. Su-I Hou utilized data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) to expose a stark disparity: 93% of healthliterate seniors come from
financially secure backgrounds, compared to only 65% among those facing financial hardship. This data suggests that internet usage and digital skills are direct determinants of health literacy. To bridge this gap, experts argue that digitalization must prioritize human rights over pure technical advancement. “By bridging these digital gaps, we can lead our entire aging community toward healthier, more empowered lives.” Dr. Hou explained. Human-Centered Innovation and Dementia Prevention Digital literacy is also emerging as a powerful tool in reducing the risk of cognitive decline. Findings from the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability — FINGER — study indicates that multimodal lifestyle intervention including cognitive training via digital devices significantly support brain health. Anurag Ramchandran, cofounder of Kubo Care, advocates for a “human-centered” approach to this innovation. He believes technology should be built with seniors, not just for them. “Technology shouldn’t continued on page 6
WITNESS FOR JUSTICE Issue #1289
O Holy New Year
By Stacy M. Brown The losses came steadily in 2025, not as a single rupture but as a quiet procession. Voices that once filled sanctuaries, arenas, studios, television screens, and living rooms went still. The year closed with Black America taking inventory not only of who died, but of what each life carried into the culture and what now remains behind. From gospel and soul to film, television, activism, and sport, the deaths cut across generations. Some were expected after long lives. Others arrived with shocking speed. Together, they formed a ledger of Black excellence that shaped the country even when the country did not always return the favor. Among the first major losses was Sam Moore, one half of the legendary duo Sam and Dave, whose gospelrooted soul helped define an era. Moore died January 10 at 89, closing a chapter on a voice that powered songs still stitched into American music history Days later, Atlanta lost DJ Unk, whose club anthems “Walk It Out” and “2 Step” became cultural shorthand for an entire moment in Southern hip hop. He was 43. February brought a deeper reckoning. Roberta Flack died at 88, her voice measured, deliberate, and intimate in a way that reshaped R&B and pop. “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly” did not demand attention. They commanded it by restraint. Gwen McCrae, whose disco-infused soul powered dance floors for decades, died days earlier at 81. Roy Ayers, the vibraphonist behind “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” followed, leaving behind a catalog that bridged jazz, funk, and hip-hop sampling culture. The deaths were not confined to music. George Foreman, heavyweight champion, minister,
102-year-old U Mya uses his laptop to connect with friends. (Photo courtesy of the Myanmar Gazette)
Amy Johnson As we move into another new year, I find myself with an ear worm of lyrics from O Holy Night, hearing it more as a modern-day folk song for the whole year, rather than a Christmas carol. “Long lay the world, in sin and error pining….”
AI-generated image by Stacy Brown / NNPA. and businessman, died in March at 76. His life traced an arc from Olympic gold to redemption, faith, and entrepreneurship. Voletta Wallace, the mother and steward of The Notorious B.I.G.’s legacy, died at 72, having spent decades protecting her son’s memory while navigating the machinery of fame that followed his death. Spring brought another wave. Angie Stone died at 63 following a vehicle crash. Her voice carried the weight of lived experience, anchoring neo-soul with honesty rather than polish. D’Wayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Toné! died at 64, leaving behind a sound that defined Oakland R&B and a generation of Black romance songs that never apologized for vulnerability. By summer, the losses extended further into television and cultural memory. Ananda Lewis, the MTV VJ whose presence offered intelligence and warmth during the network’s most influential era, died at 52. Walter Scott, cofounder of The Whispers, died at 81, closing the book on one of the most consistent vocal groups in R&B history. Later in the year came deaths that carried historical weight beyond entertainment. Betty Reid Soskin, the nation’s oldest
National Park Service ranger, died at 104. She spent her final decades correcting the historical record, insisting that Black women’s labor and sacrifice during World War II be acknowledged by the country that benefited from it. Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest known survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, died at 111, taking with her a living link to one of the nation’s most suppressed atrocities. Actors who once defined Black television also left. Danielle Spencer, remembered as Dee on “What’s Happening,” died at 60 after a long battle with cancer. Malcolm-Jamal Warner, forever associated with Theo Huxtable yet far more expansive in his career, died at 54. He spent his later years directing, recording spoken word, and openly addressing mental health in Black communities. Music losses continued into the fall. Don Bryant, the Memphis soul songwriter behind “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” died at 83, leaving behind a body of work that centered Black love without spectacle. Jimmy Cliff, the reggae pioneer whose voice carried protest and hope across borders, died at 81, closing a career that introduced global audiences to Jamaican music and political conscience.
The year ended with the death of Richard Smallwood at 77, one of gospel music’s most influential composers. His songs, including “Total Praise,” were not merely performed but lived, sung in churches during moments of grief, gratitude, and survival. Other deaths documented in 2025 included Sly Stone, Michael Sumler, Kevin Arkadie, Carl Carlton, Phil Upchurch, Elden Campbell, Jamil Abdullah AlAmin (H. Rap Brown), Rodney Rogers, Garry “Jellybean” Johnson, Kenny Easley, Micheal Ray Richardson, Lenny Wilkens, Marshawn Kneeland, Young Bleed, Posta Boy, Mtulazaji Davis, known as P.E.A.C.E., D’Angelo, Ike Turner Jr., Kimberly Hébert Gregory, Arthur Jones, Joshua Allen, Lawrence Moten, Assata Shakur, and Vivian Ayers Allen. What unites these lives is not celebrity but consequence. Each shaped how Black people saw themselves and how the nation heard Black voices. Some fought for recognition. Others created space where none existed. All left evidence. As Betty Reid Soskin once said as she contemplated history, “What gets remembered depends on who is in the room doing the remembering.”
We are again and still in a world with power-hungry leaders who both ignore and intentionally desecrate the sacredness of humanity. Warmongering, lies, and cruelty are their playbook. Yes, the world is full of sin. We also acknowledge there are ways, both small and large, in which we err through complicity with unjust systems. And we are pining for justice. “Till He appeared, and the soul felt its worth.” I love this part: “The soul felt its worth.” Every time I hear those words-- every single time-I wonder at all the ways the world would be different if every soul truly felt their worth, knowing that for that to be true, we must truly and deeply believe no one soul is worth any more or less than any other. Imagine with me: every soul feeling our true worth. We witness glimpses of this when folks create community by refusing to give into fear. Behold folks refusing to let ICE take their neighbors and building underground networks of care for trans and nonbinary siblings and youth, reproductive justice, food justice, mental health needs, neurodivergent beloveds. Behold the kingdom that will not— cannot—be destroyed. “A thrill of hope…”
Every time I hear stories about resistance and resilience, I am simultaneously hopeful and humbled, as well as fatigued and frustrated at the ways systemic racism and oppression by governmental powers meticulously remove support for communities in need. The communities Jesus created and wanted for us are ones where we care for one another lovingly and communally, in spite of what empire tries to make us believe. “A weary word rejoices…” During this past year, the awareness that joy is an act of resistance has seeped more deeply into my bones. Even when we are weary beyond weary, finding pockets of joy is life-giving. This is not embracing joy to ignore pain, but rather embodying a joy that does not come from this white cis-heteronormative capitalistic patriarchal colonial world. When we find that internal joy that is not dependent on an external world, the kind of joy that makes no sense, we must rejoice. We need every ounce of that for ourselves and each other in our weary world. “And yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.” A new year is here. As we cross the threshold into all that may be, we hold together all the weariness of the year that is passing, as well as all the hope for what we might build together. May we be clear-eyed about how we show up, listen to our bodies and souls about when and how they need rest, connect with each other in tiny and substantial ways, and intentionally rejoice whenever we can.
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Page 5
THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS - LEGALS/CLASSIFIEDS/NEWS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250011856 Date Filed: 12/19/2025 Filing Expires On: 12/19/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): PROFESSIONAL IMAGE JANITORIAL SERVICES County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 9945 OLEANDER AVE FONTANA, CA 92335 Business Mailing Address: 9945 OLEANDER AVE FONTANA, CA 92335 Employees: 1 Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): MA GUADALUPE (Middle Initial only): (Last Name): VARELA SALGADO Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) Corporation or LLC Street Address: This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: (If registrant has not yet commenced to transact business, insert statement “Not Applicable.): Not Applicable /s/: Ma Guadalupe Varela Salgado, Owner, DECLARES THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper January 8, 15, 22, 29, 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250011589 Date Filed: 12/11/2025 Filing Expires On: 12/11/2030 ABANDONMENT County of Current Filing SAN BERNARDINO Date of Current Filing. 05/24/2022 File No.: FBN20220004948 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): JAGTAR TRUCKING County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 2284 KENDALL DR SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92407 Business Mailing Address: 2284 KENDALL DR SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92407 # of Employees: 1 Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): NAVTEJ (Middle Initial only): (Last Name): SINGH Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) Corporation or LLC Street Address: This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: (If registrant has not yet commenced to transact business, insert statement “Not Applicable.): Not Applicable /s/: Navtej Singh, Owner, DECLARES THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 25, 2025, January 1, 8, 15, 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250011403 Date Filed: 12/08/2025 Filing Expires On: 12/08/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): ACCURATE AUTOMOTIVE County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 1208 W. 9TH ST. UNIT B UPLAND, CA 91786 Business Mailing Address: 1208 W. 9TH ST. UNIT B UPLAND, CA 91786 Employees: Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): (Middle Initial only): (Last Name): Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg: M & J AUTOMOTIVE ENTERPRISES, INC. State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) 2237302 Corporation or LLC Street Address: 1208 W. 9TH ST. UNIT B UPLAND, CA 91786 This business is/was conducted by: A Corporation Registrant to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: (If registrant has not yet commenced to transact business, insert statement “Not Applicable.): Nov 25, 2025 /s/: Mario Canas, President, DECLARES THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 8, 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250011450 Date Filed: 12/09/2025 Filing Expires On: 12/09/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): HOMESTACKS REAL ESTATE SERVICES LLC County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 3618 SHANDIN CIRCLE SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92407 Business Mailing Address: 3618 SHANDIN CIRCLE SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92407 Employees: Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): (Middle Initial only): (Last Name): Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg: HOMESTACKS REAL ESTATE SERVICES LLC State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) 202357814971 Corporation or LLC Street Address: 3618 SHANDIN CIR SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92407 This business is/was conducted by: A Limited
Liability Company Registrant to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: (If registrant has not yet commenced to transact business, insert statement “Not Applicable.): Not Applicable /s/: Beverly Ann Gadlin-Hughes, CEO, DECLARES THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 8, 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250009994 Date Filed: 10/20/2025 Filing Expires On: 10/20/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): OPTOMETRIC EYE CARE ASSOCIATES OF SAN BERNARDINO County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 222 NORTH G STREET SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92410 Business Mailing Address222 NORTH G STREET SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92410 #of Employees: Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): (Middle Initial only): (Last Name): Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg: DR. MICHAEL K. MORTON O.D. OPTOMETRIC CORPORATION State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) 3284381 Corporation or LLC Street Address: 1425 LARSEN LN PLACENTIA, CA 92870 This business is/was conducted by: A Corporation Registrant to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: (If registrant has not yet commenced to transact business, insert statement “Not Applicable.): Mar 12, 2010 /s/: Micahel Morton, President, DECLARES THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper November 20, 27, December 4, 11, Correction December 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 8, 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250011886 Date Filed: 12/19/2025 Filing Expires On: 12/19/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): FOAM FACTORIE County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 11606 RECHE CANYON RD COLTON, CA 92324 Business Mailing Address: 11606 RECHE CANYON RD COLTON, CA 92324 Employees: 1 Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): (Middle Initial only): (Last Name): Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg: FOAM FACTORY ENTERTAINMENT LLC State of Inc./ Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) Corporation or LLC Street Address: 11606 RECHE CANYON RD COLTON, CA 92324 This business is/was conducted by: A Limited Liability Company Registrant to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: (If registrant has not yet commenced to transact business, insert statement “Not Applicable.): Not Applicable /s/: Ted J. Reyland, Managing Member, DECLARES THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper January 1, 8, 15, 22, 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250011587 Date Filed: 12/11/2025 Filing Expires On: 12/11/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): TUNDRATECH SOLUTIONS County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 2999 KENDALL DRIVE SUITE 204 UNIT #3233 SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92407 Business Mailing Address: 2999 KENDALL DRIVE SUITE 204 UNIT #3233 SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92407 Employees: 1 Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): JEREMY (Middle Initial only): I (Last Name): FRANCIS Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) Corporation or LLC Street Address: This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: (If registrant has not yet commenced to transact business, insert statement “Not Applicable.): Not Applicable /s/: Jeremy I. Francis, DECLARES THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE
FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 8, 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250011831 Date Filed: 12/18/2025 Filing Expires On: 12/18/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): BRIGHTSIDE JUNK REMOVAL County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 1797 OMALLEY AVE UPLAND, CA 91784 Business Mailing Address: 1797 OMALLEY AVE UPLAND, CA 91784 Employees: 0 Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): CHRISTOPHER (Middle Initial only): D (Last Name): BRYDEN Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) Corporation or LLC Street Address: This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: (If registrant has not yet commenced to transact business, insert statement “Not Applicable.): Dec 16, 2025 /s/: Christopher D. Bryden, DECLARES THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 25, 2025, January 1, 8, 15, 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250011716 Date Filed: 12/16/2025 Filing Expires On: 12/16/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): NIC & EL’S SHOP County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 550 YUCCA AVE APT 108 BARSTOW, CA 92311 Business Mailing Address: 550 YUCCA AVE APT 108 BARSTOW, CA 92311 Employees: 0 Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): PATRICIA (Middle Initial only): D (Last Name): AGUILAR Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) Corporation or LLC Street Address: This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: (If registrant has not yet commenced to transact business, insert statement “Not Applicable.): Not Applicable /s/: Patricia D. Aguilar, Owner, DECLARES THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 8, 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20260000041 Date Filed: 01/05/2026 Filing Expires On: 01/05/2031 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): ASPHALT SOLUTIONS County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 13940 RODEO DR VICTORVILLE, CA 92395 Business Mailing Address: 13940 RODEO DR VICTORVILLE, CA 92395 Employees: 2 Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): MA (Middle Initial only): G (Last Name): ORTIZ Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): CARLOS (Middle Initial only): E (Last Name): ORTIZ Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg: State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) Corporation or LLC Street Address: This business is/was conducted by: A Married Couple Registrant to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: (If registrant has not yet commenced to transact business, insert statement “Not Applicable.): May 20, 2013 /s/: Ma G. Ortiz, Owner, DECLARES THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper January 8, 15, 22, 29, 2026.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250011720 Date Filed: 12/16/2025 Filing Expires On: 12/16/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): MOST WANTED AUTO GLASS County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 7420 NAPA CT RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 Business Mailing Address: 7420 NAPA CT RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 Employees: Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): JOSEPH (Middle Initial only): M (Last Name): RODRIGUEZ CARRANZA Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg State of Inc./Org./Reg.: Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) Corporation or LLC Street Address:
This business is/was conducted by: An Individual Registrant to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: (If registrant has not yet commenced to transact business, insert statement “Not Applicable.): Jun 02, 2023 /s/: Joseph M. Rodriguez Carranza, Owner, DECLARES THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 25, 2025, January 1, 8 15, 2026. LEGAL AD PROOF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250011481 Date Filed: 12/10/2025 Filing Expires On: 12/10/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): 1. ROUND 1 BOWLING & ARCADE 2.YUU JAPANESE FOOD HALL County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 14420 BEAR VALLEY RD. VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 Business Mailing Address: 3070 SATURN ST., 200 BREA, CA 92821 Employees: Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): (Middle Initial only): (Last Name): Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./ Reg: ROUND ONE ENTERTAINMENT INC. State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) Corporation or LLC Street Address: 3070 SATURN ST. 200 BREA, CA 92821 This business is/was conducted by: A Corporation Registrant to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: (If registrant has not yet commenced to transact business, insert statement “Not Applicable.): Not Applicable /s/: Shinji Ogasawara, VP, DECLARES THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 8, 2026. Published in The San Bernardino American News December 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 8, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250011991 Date Filed: 12/26/2025 Filing Expires On: 12/26/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): HHX INSURANCE SERVICES County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 11740 CALABASH AVE FONTANA, CA 92337 Business Mailing Address: 11740 CALABASH AVE FONTANA, CA 92337 Employees: Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): (Middle Initial only): (Last Name): Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): (Middle Initial only): (Last Name): Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg: HHX INTERNATIONAL INC State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) Corporation or LLC Street Address: 11740 CALABASH AVE FONTANA, CA 92337 This business is/was conducted by: A Corporation Registrant to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: (If registrant has not yet commenced to transact business, insert statement “Not Applicable.): Dec 26, 2025 /s/: Huixiang Hu, CEO, DECLARES THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper January 8, 15, 22, 29, 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250011505 Date Filed: 12/10/2025 Filing Expires On: 12/10/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): COMPASSION CARE IN-HOME CARE County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 1551 MAJESTY STREET UPLAND, CA 91784 Business Mailing Address: 1551 MAJESTY STREET UPLAND, CA 91784 Employees: 15 Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): (Middle Initial only): I (Last Name): Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg: COMPASSION CARE IN-HOME HEALTH CARE, LLC State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./ Org./Reg. No: (Optional) Corporation or LLC Street Address: 1551 MAJESTY STREET UPLAND, CA 91784 This business is/was conducted by: A Limited Liability Company Registrant to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: (If registrant has not yet commenced to transact business, insert statement “Not Applicable.): Jul 01, 2025
/s/: Lakisha Jones, Managing Member, DECLARES THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). NOTICE- IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920. WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORT IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE.) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 8, 2026.
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVBA 2600001 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: GERALDINE QUIDACHAY MENDIOLA filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. GERALDINE QUIDACHAY MENDIOLA to Proposed name: JERRY MENDIOLA THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 3-31-26 Time 1:30 p.m. Dept.: B1 The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY 235 E. Mt. View Street Barstow, CA 92311 Barstow District A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: Jan 05, 2026 James R. Baxter Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper January 8, 15, 22, 29, 2026. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVSB 2534020 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: MELYNDA GEMINO filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. SKYLER LAWRENCE GEMINO to Proposed name: SKYLER LAWRENCE GODOY GEMINO THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 01/20/26 Time 9:00 a.m. Dept.: S23 The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 247 West 3rd Street San Bernardino District-Civil District San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: 12/08/25 Gilbert G. Ochoa Judge Of The Superior Court
the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: Jan 30, 2026 Time 8:30 a.m. Dept.: B1 The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY 235 E Mountain View Street Barstow, CA 92311 Barstow Superior Court A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: Dec 09, 2025 James R. Baxter Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 8, 2026. AMENDED ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVSB 2532553 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: HAM filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. HAM to Proposed name: VINCENT EUGENE NELSON SR. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 2/9/26 Time 8:30 a.m. Dept.: S28 The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 247 West Third Street San Bernardino Justice Center-Civil Division San Bernardino, CA 92415 A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393
Date: 12/08/25 Gilbert G. Ochoa Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper January 8, 15, 22, 29, 2026. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVBA 2500879 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: ROSA MONTERROZA, ESAU MONTERROZA filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. ANDREW MONTERROZA RODRIGUEZ to Proposed name: ANDREW MONTERROZA THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before
SALE DATE: 01/23/26 HADLEY TOW LOCATION: 15176 WHITTRAM AVE FONTANA CA 92335 2014 SUBA IMPRES VIN: JF1GPAC61EH330437 PLATE: 7GXF385 2021 KTM SCX 400 VIN: VBKMRC238MM095663 PLATE: BG7P88 2024 HYUND TUCSON VIN: 5NMJB3DEXRH319019 PLATE: NONE 2025 HONDA CBR 500 VIN: MLHPC7054S5100664 PLATE: NONE (lien for tow and storage together with costs of advertising an expenses of sale.) Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper January 8, 2026 SALE DATE: 01/02/26 (Notice is hereby given pursuant to section 3071 of the civil code of the State of California.) 2016 KIA RIO VIN: KNADM4A37G6675189 2022 TOYT MIRAI VIN: JTDAAAAA5NA006960 PLATE: 9MUP708 2020 HYUN TUCSON VIN# KM8J23A46LU097764 PLATE 9LWC084 ADDRESS: HADLEY TOW 15176 WHITTRAM AVE FONTANA CA 92335 (lien for tow and storage together with costs of advertising an expenses of sale.) Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper 12/25/25 Correction January 8, 2026. (Notice is hereby given pursuant to section 3071 of the civil code of the State of California.)
Date: 11/18/25 Gilbert G. Ochoa Judge Of The Superior Court
SALE DATE: 01/09/2026
Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper January 1, 8, 15, 22, 2026.
ADDRESS: KSL TOWING 26981 HWY 74 PERRIS CA 92570
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVSB 2534492 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: LATOSHA DENICE BLAN filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. LATOSHA DENICE BLAN to Proposed name: LATOSHA DENICE LOWERY THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 01/30/26 Time 8:30 a.m. Dept.: S37 The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 247 West Third Street San Bernardino District-Civil Division San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393 Date: 12/11/25 Gilbert G. Ochoa Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 8, 2026.
Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper January 8, 15, 22, 29, 2026. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVSB 2534002 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: MACARIA LIYDIA OREYEL filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. MACARIA LIYDIA OREYEL to Proposed name: LYDIA OCHOA OREYEL THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 02/09/26 Time 8:30 a.m. Dept.: S14 The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 247 West 3rd Street San Bernardino District-Civil District San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 A Copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The San Bernardino American Newspaper P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393
(Notice is hereby given pursuant to section 3071 of the civil code of the State of California.)
LIEN SALES (Notice is hereby given pursuant to section 3071 of the civil code of the State of California.) SALE DATE: 01/23/26 I- 10 TOWING 5391 BROOKS ST MONTCLAIR CA 91763 2024 HYUND TUCSON VIN: 5NMJF3DE5RH331518 PLATE: 9NDU745 (lien for tow and storage together with costs of advertising an expenses of sale.) Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper January 8, 2026. (Notice is hereby given pursuant to section 3071 of the civil code of the State of California.) SALE DATE: 01/23/26 TINOCO TOWING 2901 S RIVERSIDE AVE SPC L COLTON CA 92324 2019 BUICK ENCORE VIN: KL4CJESB9KB869199 PLATE: 9NJJ581 (lien for tow and storage together with costs of advertising an expenses of sale.) Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper January 8, 2026 Notice is hereby given pursuant to section 3071 and 3072 of the Civil Code of the State of California, This undersigned, City Towing, 530 W 10th St, San Bernardino, Ca 92410. Will sell at public sale on 01/08/26 at 10:00a m the following property, 2015 HINO 258A, Vin# 5PVNJ8JN4F4S52041. The lien holder has the right to bid at the sale: American Lien, P.O. Box 12254, San Bernardino, CA 92423 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper January 8, 2026.
(Notice is hereby given pursuant to section 3071 of the civil code of the State of California.) SALE DATE: 01/09/25 STAR CITY TOWING ADDRESS: 5925 PAYTON AVE RIVERSIDE CA 92504 2015 TOYT HIGHLANDER VIN: 5TDZARFH1FS012640 PLATE: NONE (lien for tow and storage together with costs of advertising an expenses of sale.) Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper January 1, 2026 Correction January 8, 2026 (Notice is hereby given pursuant to section 3071 of the civil code of the State of California.) SALE DATE: 01/09/25 10 AM ADDRESS: 15176 WHITTIER AVE FONTANA CA 2019 SUBARU WRX VIN: JF1VA1A68K9817765 PLATE: 8JCX285 2017 BMW VIN: WBA4R7C58HK895743 PLATE: 8XDZ912 (lien for tow and storage together with costs of advertising an expenses of sale.) Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper January 1, 2026 Correction January 8, 2026.
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2018 JEEP CHEROKEE VIN: 1C4PJLCBXJD615403 PLATE: DV28850 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper January 1, 2026. Correction January 8, 2026
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PETITION/PROBATE
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NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: ELIZABETH J. MCGANNON CASE NO: PROVV2500406
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To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of: ELIZABETH J.
MCGANNON
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by MICHELLE ANN MCGANNON-HERRINGTON in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that: MICHELLE ANN MCGANNON-HERRINGTON be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: 01/15/2026 Time: 9AM Dept: V12 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 14455 Civic Drive Suite 100 Victorville, CA 92392 Victorville District Probate Division IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Petitioner: Michelle Ann McGannon-Herrington, In Pro Per 18468 Catalpa Street Hesperia, California 92345 (760)265-6299 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper January 8, 15, 22, 2026.
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Thursday, January 8, 2026
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THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS - HEALTH/GOVERNMENT NEWS /CLASSIFIEDS/LEGALS
Diseases You Can Get From Not Getting Honoring the Life of Betty Reid Soskin, Nation’s Oldest 10 Enough Sleep...continued Park Ranger and Witness to Port Chicago Exoneration that help fight infections and reduce inflammation. Without adequate sleep, your body produces fewer of these protective molecules.
Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
Betty Reid Soskin. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
Betty Reid Soskin, left, attended the 80th commemoration of the Port Chicago disaster near Concord on July 20, 2024. Soskin and her husband were hosting a party in Berkeley on July 17, 1944, when an ammunition explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine killed 320 sailors, 202 of whom were African American. About eight Black sailors left the Soskins’ home to return to the naval base. She never saw them again. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey. Betty Reid Soskin, the nation’s oldest former active National Park Service ranger and a lifelong witness to and advocate for Black history, died peacefully on Dec. 21, 2025, at her home in Richmond, California. She was 104. Surrounded by family and friends, Soskin closed a life that spanned more than a century of American history -- one she helped document, challenge, and reinterpret for future generations. “Betty’s legacy will inspire future generations to share stories and recognize the influence individuals can have on how history is understood,” said K. Lynn Berry, superintendent of the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond. Soskin retired in 2022 at age 100, making her the oldest active ranger in United States history. She began her tenure with the National Park Service at age 85 at the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, a site honoring the estimated 18 million women and workers who supported the
U.S. World War II effort. Born in 1921, Soskin’s life was defined by public service, cultural preservation, and civil rights advocacy. During World War II, she worked as a clerk for the segregated Boilermakers Union A-36 in a Richmond shipyard, where she witnessed firsthand the racial discrimination faced by Black workers. She briefly worked for the U.S. Air Force but quit after discovering she had been hired under the mistaken assumption that she was White. In 1945, Soskin and her first husband, Mel Reid, founded Reid’s Records in Berkeley, one of the first Black-owned record stores in California. She later married William Soskin and continued her work as a civil rights activist, songwriter, and field representative for members of the California State Assembly. In 2018, she published her memoir, Sign My Name to Freedom. In 2021, a middle school in El Sobrante, Calif., was renamed in her honor. Soskin was also a primary witness to one of the most
devastating and consequential tragedies in U.S. military history — the Port Chicago disaster. On July 17, 1944, a massive ammunition explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine killed 320 men, most of whom were Black sailors. Soskin, then 22, was working as a clerk in a segregated union hall in nearby Richmond. Reflecting the racial policies of the U.S. military at the time, enlisted Black sailors were almost exclusively assigned to the dangerous, labor-intensive task of loading munitions onto ships, while all commissioned officers and Marine guards were White. That day, Soskin and her husband were hosting a party at their Berkeley home. Black members of the Navy were in attendance but had to return to the Port Chicago base later that evening. She never saw them again. Two ships were docked at the pier — the Liberty ship SS E. A. Bryan and the Victory ship SS Quinault Victory. The E. A. Bryan was heavily loaded with ammunition, while the Quinault Victory had just begun loading. Hundreds of tons of explosives were also staged on railcars along the pier. The explosion occurred at approximately 10:19 p.m., shaking the entire San Francisco Bay Area, including Soskin’s home in Berkeley. Reports later indicated the blast was felt as far away as Reno, Nev. Soskin later learned that one of the sailors at the party was just 16 years old, having altered his birth records to enlist. “I have never known whether he survived (the explosions). That image of that young man continues to come up to me,” Soskin said in a 2010 Port Chicago documentary produced by Rodney Speed. In total, about 320 people were killed in the explosion, including 202 Black sailors. Four hundred others were injured. Following the disaster, 256 Black sailors refused to return to work under the same unsafe conditions. While 206 eventually resumed their duties, the remaining men stood firm. They were convicted of mutiny and became known as the Port Chicago 50.
On June 20, 2024, at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial in Concord — now part of the Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) operated by the U.S. Army — Soskin, then 102, witnessed a moment eight decades in the making. Former U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro spoke at the 80th Anniversary Commemoration of the Port Chicago disaster, announcing the full exoneration of 256 Black sailors convicted of mutiny and related charges. Soskin sat quietly during the ceremony, listening as Del Toro called the exoneration a “landmark moment” that “clears their names, restores their honor and acknowledges the courage they displayed in the face of immense danger.” “This event marks a turning point in our nation’s history, a moment when we confront the ghosts of the past and embrace the promise of more justice,” Del Toro said. “For eight decades, the story of Port Chicago has been a stark reminder of a grave injustice. We as a nation will never be able to express our full gratitude to all deceased and their families for their dedication, service, and sacrifice.” Among her many contributions to Black California — particularly in the East Bay — Soskin lived to see justice acknowledged for the sailors whose lives were shattered by the Port Chicago explosion. “Betty Reid Soskin was among the best of rangers — those who create links between history and future generations,” Berry said. “Her voice enriched and expanded the Rosie story, presenting a broader view of the American home front.” Former President Barack Obama, whose inauguration Soskin attended, also recognized Soskin’s impact on American history and public service, citing her as a powerful example of civic engagement and historical truthtelling. Obama praised Soskin for her commitment to ensuring that the stories of Black Americans, particularly during World War II, were fully acknowledged and preserved, noting that her work helped broaden the nation’s understanding of its past and the people who shaped it.
10 Diseases You Can Get From Not Getting Enough Sleep By Gemma Greene, BDO Staff Writer | Published November 20, 2025
Raises nighttime and daytime blood pressure Promotes buildup of plaque in arteries Disrupts the balance of hormones controlling stress Increased risk for: Photo: iStockphoto “How did you sleep?” Whether you know it or not, the answer to that simple question is key your overall health nowadays. In a world driven by deadlines, side-hustles, and endless scrolling, sleep is often the first sacrifice we make. Yet skipping sleep isn’t just about feeling tired or unfocused the next day—chronic sleep deprivation can quietly set the stage for serious diseases. Your body uses sleep to repair cells, regulate hormones, strengthen immunity, and restore brain function. When those processes are repeatedly disrupted, the health risks rise sharply. Signs You’re Not Getting Enough Sleep You might be able to function, but there are some real signs of sleep deprivation that you should pay attention to.
Signs you’re not getting enough sleep include: Constant fatigue Cravings for sugar or caffeine Trouble focusing Irritability Falling asleep unintentionally Here are the major diseases and conditions linked to not getting an appropriate amount of sleep. 10 Diseases You Can Get from Not Getting Enough Sleep 1. Heart Disease & High Blood Pressure Lack of sleep has a direct impact on your cardiovascular system. When you sleep, your blood pressure naturally dips. If you sleep less than 6 hours regularly, that “dip” doesn’t happen—keeping your blood vessels under constant strain.
Hypertension Coronary artery disease Heart attack Stroke People who routinely sleep fewer than 5–6 hours per night have up to a 45% higher risk of heart disease. 2. Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome Sleep regulates two major hunger hormones—ghrelin (which makes you hungry) and leptin (which makes you feel full). When you’re sleepdeprived, ghrelin rises and leptin falls, sending your appetite into overdrive. Results of Chronic Sleep Deprivation Late-night cravings Heavy snacking Higher intake of sugary and salty foods
Slower metabolism
Reduced testosterone
Consequences More frequent colds
Lower fertility
Harder time fighting infections
Increased stress and fatigue
Higher susceptibility to viruses
8. Chronic Inflammation Poor sleep triggers the body’s inflammatory response, even when no infection is present. Over time, high inflammation becomes the foundation for multiple diseases.
Slower recovery One major study found that people sleeping less than 6 hours were four times more likely to catch a cold after being exposed to a virus. 5. Depression, Anxiety, and Mood Disorders Sleep and mental health are deeply interconnected. Chronic sleep loss disrupts brain chemicals that regulate mood, memory, and emotional stability. Symptoms Irritability and mood swings Heightened anxiety Difficulty concentrating Increased risk of depression Greater emotional sensitivity
6. Dementia and Cognitive Decline (Including Alzheimer’s Disease) During deep sleep, the brain clears out toxic proteins associated with dementia, including beta-amyloid. When sleep is disrupted or too short, these proteins accumulate, increasing the risk of cognitive diseases. Long-Term Effects Memory problems Faster brain aging Reduced focus and decisionmaking Increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease Sleep is essentially housekeeping for the brain—and without it, waste builds up. 7. Hormonal Imbalances Sleep helps regulate several hormones, including: Stress hormones (cortisol) Appetite hormones Growth hormones Reproductive hormones When sleep is insufficient, your hormone levels become unstable.
Over time, this combination increases the risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome, a dangerous cluster of risk factors that can lead to stroke and diabetes. 3. Type 2 Diabetes You don’t need to have years of poor sleep to see the effects— just a few nights of short sleep can already reduce the body’s ability to use insulin effectively. Why This Happens Poor sleep disrupts glucose metabolism The body becomes less sensitive to insulin Stress hormones like cortisol spike Appetite increases, especially for carbs People who consistently sleep less than 6 hours per night have a significantly elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes. 4. Weakened Immune System and More Infections When you sleep, your immune system releases cytokines—proteins
continued in next 2 columns
Diabetes Arthritis flare-ups Autoimmune disorders Certain cancers Chronic inflammation is considered one of the biggest hidden consequences of inadequate sleep.
Breast cancer Colorectal cancer Prostate cancer Other hormone-related cancers This may be due to disrupted hormone regulation, immune dysfunction, and inflammation. 10. Early Death Multiple large studies show a clear connection: people who consistently sleep less than 6 hours per night have a higher risk of early death from all causes—especially heart disease and stroke. How Much Sleep Do You Need at Your Age A g e G r o u p Recommended Hours of Sleep Newborns (0–3 months) 14–17 hours I n f a n t s ( 4 – 11 m o n t h s ) 12–16 hours (including naps) To d d l e r s ( 1 – 2 y e a r s ) 11–14 hours (including naps) Preschoolers (3–5 years) 10–13 hours (including naps) School-aged children (6–12 years) 9–12 hours Teenagers (13–18 years) 8–10 hours Young Adults (18–25 years) 7–9 hours Adults (26–64 years) 7–9 hours Older Adults (65+ years) 7–8 hours
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9. Increased Risk of Certain Cancers Research suggests long-term sleep deprivation may increase the risk of:
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The Power of a Click: Digital Literacy Is a Necessary Tool for Healthy Aging...continued from page 4 run ahead of older adults; it should take them forward,” Ramchandran stated. Cho Maung of the One Myanmar Community Center facilitates government-provided devices for low-income seniors. “Wearables now enable realtime health monitoring, making digital literacy a daily necessity,” said Aung Naing, CEO of Peti Senior Center in Elmhurst, New York. He noted that digital engagement stimulates the brain and combats isolation, leading the center to integrate device training into its programs. However, leaders stress that this education must prioritize scam awareness to ensure senior safety. Innovation vs. Legal Protection As seniors go online, they face risks of privacy breaches and financial abuse. Dr. Mike Cantor, a geriatrician, attorney,
and speaker at GSA, warned that the legal framework often lags behind the pace of innovation. He also pointed out modern companion tools like ElliQ that can be used to educate users against scams. ElliQ is a proactive AI companion robot designed to reduce loneliness in seniors by initiating daily conversations, providing health reminders, and offering social engagement. “Technology is evolving, but the law usually evolves more slowly,” Dr. Cantor said. “Technology isn’t positive or negative; it’s how you use it.” (This article is written with support from The Gerontological Society of America, The Journalists Network on Generations and The Silver Century Foundation. Read the original in Burmese at Myanmar Gazette.
Thursday, January 8, 2026
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THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS -LIFESTYLE/FINANCIAL NEWS
Is Congress Irrelevant? Trump Bombs His Seventh Country Physicians Slam Move by U.S. to Cut the Number of Vaccines in Less Than a Year Without Congressional Authority Recommended for Every Child
By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor
The national flags of the United States and Venezuela. Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA. President Donald Trump has ordered the bombing of seven countries in 2025. They are Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen. There has been no congressional authorization for any of the military action. Trump is also threatening Columbia and Cuba. On the afternoon of January 5, Trump’s Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe met meet with members of Congress on their latest military action. President Donald Trump has ordered the bombing of seven countries in 2025. They are Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen. There has been no congressional authorization for any of the military action. Trump is also threatening Columbia and Cuba. On the afternoon of January
5, Trump’s Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe met meet with members of Congress on their latest military action. But a growing question is haunting some members of Congress: Is Congress now irrelevant? Trump is ignoring Congress’ Constitutional authority on domestic and foreign military actions regarding the declaration of war. There are many critics pressing Democrats to “take action” but no one in Congress or out appears to have a definitive answer on how to stop Trump from ignoring the constitution and the legislative branch. During a January 4 emergency zoom call scheduled by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries with House Democrats, a senior Democrat “went there”
BY ALI SWENSON and LAURAN NEERGAARD | Associated Press on the question of Congress’ lack of power against a President who operates as if the legislative branch doesn’t exist. Though the emergency meeting was mostly focused on messaging, the larger question of congressional relevance in a nagging one. Congress returns to session after the Christmas break on January 6. Democrats expected to be focused on the rise in health care costs for millions of Americans after the Republican controlled House and Senate failed to pass an extension of tax credits for the Affordable Care Act. The other topic that exploded in the news over the Christmas break was the partial release of the Epstein files. The latest document drop has included hundreds of photographs along with thousands of lines of redactions that appear to conceal the involvement of Donald Trump. But when Trump bombed Venezuela on January 3 and abducted President Nicolás Maduro, the direction of the news cycle changed. Congressman Greg Meeks, who is the senior member on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, was a prominent voice on the emergency call. Questions about the U.S. becoming the “world police” emerged in general several times. “The U.S. military to attempt regime change in a sovereign foreign nation, without approval from Congress, without a defined
objective or plan for the day after, and without support from our allies, risks entangling the United States in an open-ended conflict in Venezuela that could destabilize the entire region,” Rep. Meeks declared in a statement on January 3. “There’s nothing “AmericaFirst” about deploying American sons and daughters to Latin America with no plan and no Congressional oversight,” said Senator Mark Warner, the senior Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee on January 4. Members were heard to agree that Trump believes that he can do whatever he wants in the same model as Vladimir Putin — with no explanation presented other than the existence of raw power. Democrats in Congress are expected to bring up the war powers resolution this week. When the Sunday emergency zoom call ended there was no stated conclusion as to what Democratic messaging will be this week. Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent investigative journalist and the founder of Black Virginia News. She is a political analyst who appears on #RolandMartinUnfiltered and hosts the show LAUREN L I V E o n Yo u Tu b e @ LaurenVictoriaBurke. She can be contacted at LBurke007@ gmail.com and on twitter at @ LVBurke
The U.S. has cut the number of vaccines it recommends for every child. (File)
WASHINGTON — The U.S. took the unprecedented step Monday of cutting the number of vaccines it recommends for every child — a move that leading medical groups said would undermine protections against a half-dozen diseases. The change is effective immediately, meaning that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will now recommend that all children get vaccinated against 11 diseases. What’s no longer broadly recommended is protection against flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis or RSV. Instead, protections against those diseases are only recommended for certain groups deemed high risk, or when doctors recommend them in what’s called “shared decision-making.” Trump administration officials said the overhaul, a move long sought by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., won’t result in families who want the
vaccines losing access to them, and said insurance will continue to pay. But medical experts said the decision creates confusion for parents and could increase preventable diseases. States, not the federal government, have the authority to require vaccinations for schoolchildren. While CDC requirements often influence those state regulations, some states have begun creating their own alliances to counter the Trump administration’s guidance on vaccines. The change comes as U.S. vaccination rates have been slipping and the share of children with exemptions has reached an all-time high, according to federal data. At the same time, rates of diseases that can be protected against with vaccines, such as measles and whooping cough, are rising across the country. Review came at the request of President Trump continued on page 8
Advertisements Promising Patients a ‘Dream Body’ With Minimal Risk Get Little Scrutiny by Kaiser Health News
Ste’Aira Ballard’s mother, Tamala Smith, died less than two weeks after having liposuction and a fat transfer procedure performed at a California cosmetic surgery clinic. (Nic Antaya for KFF Health News)
L e n i a Wa t s o n - B u r t o n , a 37-year-old U.S. Navy administrator, expected that cosmetic surgery would get rid of stubborn fat quickly and easily — just as the web advertising promised. Instead, she died three days after a liposuction-like procedure called AirSculpt at the San Diego office of Elite Body Sculpture, a cosmetic surgery chain with more than 30 offices across the U.S. and Canada, court records show. Cosmetic surgery chains setting up shop in multiple states depend heavily on advertising to attract customers: television, print, social media influencers, even texts hawking discounted holiday rates. The pitches typically promise patients life-changing body shaping with minimal pain and a quick recovery. Yet there’s no federal requirement that surgery companies post evidence supporting the truth and accuracy of these marketing claims. No agency tracks how frequently patients persuaded by sales pitches sustain painful complications such as infections, how effectively surgeons and nursing staff follow up and treat injuries, or whether companies selling new aesthetic devices and methods have adequately trained surgeons to use them safely. In 2023, Watson-Burton’s husband and six children and stepchildren sued Elite Body
Sculpture and plastic surgeon Heidi Regenass for medical malpractice, alleging that the thin cannula the surgeon used to remove fat perforated WatsonBurton’s bowel, causing her death. The suit also accused Elite Body Sculpture of posting false or misleading advertising on its website, such as describing the clinic’s branded procedure AirSculpt as “gentle on the body” and stating: “Our patients take the fewest possible risks and get back to their regular routine as soon as 24-48 hours post-operation.” Watson-Burton was one of three patients who died after having liposuction and fat transfer operations performed by Regenass from October 2022 to February 2023, court records state. Families of all three women sued the surgeon, who denied wrongdoing in legal filings. The parties settled the Watson-Burton family case in 2024. Two other wrongful death cases are pending, including a suit by an Ohio woman who alleges her mother relied on promises on Regenass’ website that the operation in California would be safe with a quick recovery. Neither Regenass nor her attorneys responded to repeated requests for comment. Emails and phone calls to Elite Body Sculpture’s Miami headquarters were State and federal authorities do
have the power to prohibit false or misleading medical advertising of all types, though enforcement is spotty, particularly when promotions pop up online. That means patients must do their own homework in evaluating cosmetic surgery marketing pitches. “While consumers should be able to trust that ad claims are substantiated because the law requires them to be, the reality is that it pays for consumers to bring a skeptical eye,” said Mary Engle, an executive vice president at BBB National Programs. ‘Up a Cup’ Founded by cosmetic surgeon Aaron Rollins, Elite Body Sculpture says in Securities and Exchange Commission filings that it offers a “premium patient experience and luxurious, spalike atmosphere” at its growing network of centers. The publicly traded company, based in Miami Beach and backed by private equity investors, markets AirSculpt as being “much less invasive than traditional liposuction” and providing “faster healing with superior results.” The ads say that AirSculpt “requires no scalpel, or stitches, and only leaves behind a freckle-sized scar!” and that patients “remain awake the whole time and can walk right out of their procedure, enjoying dramatic results!” Some risks are disclosed. Rollins, who recently made headlines for putting his Indian Creek mansion on the market for $200 million, did not respond to repeated requests for comment. A lawyer for Rollins, Robert Peal, responded to an email but didn’t comment. On Nov. 4, the company announced that Rollins had resigned as executive chairman of the board of directors of AirSculpt Technologies and as a member of the board. Many AirSculpt patients opt to have fat that is removed from their stomachs or other places injected
into their buttocks, often called a Brazilian butt lift. Others use the fat to enhance their breasts, a procedure the company brands as “Up a Cup.” Since March 2023, at least seven patients have filed lawsuits accusing Elite Body Sculpture of running misleading advertising or misrepresenting results, arguing, among other things, that they felt more pain or healed much more slowly than the ads led them to believe they would, court records show. One of the lawsuits has been dismissed, and the company has denied the allegations in others. The Watson-Burton family argued in their lawsuit that some marketing claims about AirSculpt were simply not true. For instance, Elite Body Sculpture’s website stated that AirSculpt has “automated technology” set to “turn off” before the cannula penetrates the body too deeply and possibly causes serious injury, according to the suit. That feature didn’t protect Watson-Burton, who paid $12,000 for the operation, hoping for a “quick and timely recovery” before a scheduled U.S. Navy deployment, according to the lawsuit. Rather than being gentle on the body, AirSculpt was “extremely painful, highly invasive, unsafe, required more than a short 24hour recovery period and could and did damage internal organs,” according to the suit. Watson-Burton called the San Diego center on Oct. 27, 2022, a day after the operation, to report “severe pain” in her upper abdomen, but staffers took no action to evaluate her, according to the suit. The next morning, an ambulance rushed her to a hospital, where emergency surgery confirmed the gravity of her injuries. Surgeons noted her injuries included three perforations of the small bowel and sepsis. Watson-Burton died on Oct. 29, 2022. An autopsy report cited complications of the cosmetic
surgery, ruling she died after becoming “septic following intraoperative small bowel perforation.” Her death certificate lists the cause as “complications of abdominoplasty.” In court filings, Elite Body Sculpture said Watson-Burton had “experienced an uncommon surgical complication.” The company denied that it made any “specific guarantee or representation that injury to organs could not occur.” It denied any liability or that its ads made misrepresentations. The dispute never played out fully in court. The parties settled the case in August 2024, when Elite Body Sculpture agreed to pay Watson-Burton’s family $2 million, the maximum under its insurance policy. Regenass, the surgeon, who did not carry liability insurance, agreed to pay $100,000 more, according to the settlement agreement. Promises Not Kept Social media pitches and web advertising also led Tamala Smith, 55, of Toledo, Ohio, to Regenass for liposuction and a fat transfer, court records state. Smith was dead less than two weeks later, one of two other women who died following elective operations Regenass performed from December 2022 to February 2023, court records show. The surgeon operated on the two women at Pacific Liposculpture, which runs three surgery centers in Southern California, court records state. The families of both women are suing Regenass, a board-certified plastic surgeon, and the surgery center. In both cases, which are pending in California courts, Regenass and the surgery center have denied the allegations and filed dismissal motions that deny responsibility for the deaths. Smith was a traveling registered nurse working the overnight shift at a hospital in Los Angeles. She chose Regenass after viewing
the doctor’s Instagram page, according to a lawsuit filed by Smith’s daughter, Ste’Aira Ballard, who lives in Toledo. The ads described the surgeon as an “awake liposuction and fat transfer specialist,” while her website assured patients they would feel minimal pain and be “back to work in 24-48 hours,” according to the suit. During the three-hour operation on Feb. 8, 2023, at Pacific Liposculpture’s Newport Beach office, Regenass removed fat from Smith’s abdomen and flanks and redistributed it to her buttocks, according to the suit. Smith called the office at least twice in subsequent days to report pain and swelling, but a staffer told her that was normal, according to the suit. Smith never spoke to the surgeon, according to the suit. When Ballard couldn’t reach her mother, she called the hospital only to learn Smith hadn’t turned up for her overnight shift for two days. The hospital called police and asked for a welfare check at the extended-stay hotel in Glendale, California, where Smith had been living. An officer discovered her body on the bed “surrounded by towels and sheets that are stained with brown and green fluids,” according to a coroner’s report in the court file. A countertop in the room was “covered in medical paperwork detailing post-operative instructions from a liposuction clinic,” according to the report. Ballard said she learned of her mother’s death when she called Smith’s cellphone; a police officer answered and delivered the devastating news. “Oh, my God, I fell to the floor,” Ballard said in an interview with KFF Health News and NBC News. Ballard said she still has not gotten over the shock and grief. “It bothers me because how does someone that dedicated their life to save other people’s lives end up deceased in a hotel, as if her life didn’t matter?” she asked.
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Page 8
THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS -LOCAL/NATIONAL NEWS/ADVERTISING Sade Elhawary Wrote Bill Extending the Work Op-Ed Submission: Don't Take the Bait: Venezuela Is Asm. of the Commission on the State of Hate ...continued a Distraction from Trump’s Affordability Crisis targeted by hate. It operates under the state. By Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel
(TriceEdneyWire.com) - As families struggle with rent, groceries, and health care costs, Donald Trump is once again trying to drag the national conversation off course - this time with the dramatic capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro has ruled Venezuela as an authoritarian dictator, rigging elections, imprisoning political opponents, and driving millions of Venezuelans into poverty and exile through corruption and economic mismanagement. His removal is undoubtedly welcomed by those who suffered under his regime. But Trump didn't work through Congress or international institutions—he acted unilaterally. As Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on ABC's "This Week," "Maduro's a horrible, horrible person, but you don't treat lawlessness with other lawlessness, and that's what's happened here." Yet for most Americans, Venezuela is not the issue
keeping them up at night. Affordability is. That’s the reality Democrats must stay anchored in. We cannot allow ourselves to be pulled into Trump’s Venezuela trap. Venezuela is a deliberate distraction from the affordability crisis Trump dismisses as a hoax, from his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, and from a parade of scandals that have sent his approval ratings plummeting. He needs Americans focused anywhere but on the issues that actually affect their daily lives. Poll after poll shows working class Americans are anxious about the cost of living. A recent Politico poll found 65% of U.S. households say the cost of living has gotten worse or much worse in the past year. They want to know why wages aren’t keeping up, why housing feels out of reach, and why basic necessities cost so much more than they did just a few years ago. These are concrete problems that need concrete solutions and Trump has failed to provide
Asm. Sade Elhawary Wrote Bill Extending the Work of the Commission on the State of Hate AntonioRayHarvey|CaliforniaBlackMedia
any. The political advantage for Democrats is staying focused on the affordability crisis. Trump understands this dynamic, which is exactly why he’s trying to change the subject. He'd rather talk about foreign enemies than explain how his tax cuts for the wealthy and tariffs on everyday goods have raised costs for working families. He'd rather stir fear and nationalism than defend policies that have left many Americans worse off. He'd rather talk about Venezuelan drug cartels than rising healthcare costs. Democrats should not help him by amplifying the distraction. The right response to Venezuela is message discipline. A c k n o w l e d g e Tr u m p ’s Venezuela hypocrisy. Call out how Trump has said the quiet part out loud, admitting that securing Venezuela's oil for American companies was a driving factor in his decision,
promising that U.S. oil giants would spend "billions of dollars" on Venezuela's infrastructure. At the same time, Americans get "reimbursed" for military action. And then pivot—again and again—back to affordability. Our mantra should be: Democrats are for lowering costs, raising wages, affordable housing, and protecting consumers from corporate price-gouging, while Trump is for higher prices and endless wars. Voters don’t want theatrics. They want relief. If Democrats stay centered on the everyday economic pressures families feel in their bank accounts and monthly bills, they deny Trump the distraction he’s seeking and speak directly to what matters most. They put themselves in a position to actually regain some power in Washington and rein in Trump's power grabs. Democrats can’t afford to chase Trump’s latest distraction in Venezuela. We should double down on the affordability fight that actually improves people’s lives here at home. Above all, Democrats must remember the great lesson from famed strategist James Carville “it’s the economy, stupid.” Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel are veteran Democratic strategists with over 100 political campaigns between them, including the past five presidential elections and several congressional races. They co-host “Maroon Bison Presents: The Southern Comfort Podcast.”
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Secret Service Expansion Accelerates as Global Tensions Rise By Stacy M. Brown
Photo: iStockphoto
AB 822, authored by Assemblymember Sade Elhawary (D–Los Angeles), extends the operating life of the California Commission on Hate Crimes by four years, allowing the commission to continue analyzing and addressing the rising incidence of hate crimes statewide through Jan. 1, 2031. A bill authored by Assemblymember Sade Elhawary (D-Los Angeles) and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom will extend the sunset (repeal) date of the California Commission on the State of Hate from Jan. 1, 2027, to Jan. 1, 2031. Assembly Bill (AB) 822 allows the California Commission on the State of Hate (CCSH) to continue its work, which includes analyzing the state of hate in California; developing recommendations for prevention and response; issuing an annual report; and creating policy recommendations. “We introduced AB 822 to make sure the State of Hate Commission can keep doing the work to protect our communities and stop the spread of hate. This fight isn’t over, and we need to keep showing up,” said
Elhawary, who is a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC). The bill passed both houses with broad bipartisan support, receiving a 65-3 approval in the Assembly on June 2, and a unanimous decision of 39-0 in the Senate on Sept. 8. Newsom signed the bill on Oct. 13 as part of a package aimed at combating the rise of hate crimes and rhetoric. AB 822 addresses various forms of discrimination and hate, including measures to protect LGBTQ+ communities and strengthen laws against specific threats of violence. The CCHS is a state-appointed public body established to strengthen California's efforts to monitor, prevent, and respond to hate activity and support those continued in last 2 columns
The U.S. Secret Service is preparing for one of the largest expansions in its history as officials confront what they describe as an unprecedented volume of credible threats, fueled by escalating global tensions and a series of aggressive U.S. actions overseas that have triggered unrest at home and abroad. The agency plans to hire roughly 4,000 new employees by 2028, a surge that would increase its workforce by about 20 percent, according to internal planning documents and senior officials familiar with the effort. The expansion comes as the United States faces heightened security demands following military operations in Venezuela and Nigeria, along with continued threats and warnings directed at Cuba, Greenland, Colombia, Mexico, and other sovereign nations. The strain on federal protection services became visible over the weekend as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was transported under heavy guard to federal court in Manhattan, prompting protests across the United States and overseas. Demonstrations erupted in Washington, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, and San Francisco, while crowds gathered in Bogotá, Caracas, and other cities to denounce the U.S. operation that removed Maduro from power.
Outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, protesters questioned the scope of American authority. “What’s stopping Trump from doing this to other countries?” said Zoe Alexandra of the ANSWER Coalition. The Secret Service has not publicly tied its expansion to any single event, but officials acknowledge that the protective mission has grown sharply. The agency is responsible for safeguarding the president, former presidents, visiting foreign leaders, major political candidates, and major public events, while responding to a surge in online and direct threats deemed credible by investigators. Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said the agency’s workload has outpaced its staffing levels. “Our numbers are low to meet those needs,” Quinn said. Internal projections show the Secret Service aiming to increase its special agent ranks from about 3,500 to roughly 5,000, while adding hundreds of officers to the Uniformed Division and expanding specialized units, including countersniper teams, emergency response units, and canine explosives detection teams. continued in last 2 columns
the umbrella of the California Civil Rights Department (CRD). The CRD focuses heavily on hate, operating the CA vs. Hate hotline for reporting hate incidents and crimes, connecting victims with support, tracking hate activity, and working to prevent violence through its Community Conflict Resolution Unit. The CRD enforces laws against discrimination and biasmotivated violence, aiming to protect Californians from various forms of hate. The Commission is tasked with a variety of duties to address hate in California, including research and fact-finding on the nature and prevalence of hate activity and related crimes across the state. It publishes annual reports that share a comprehensive accounting of hate activity and recommends policies to the governor and the Legislature. The commission also hosts community forums to raise awareness of the state of hate and to gather input from the public and community leaders. In 2024, there were 494 reported anti-Black hate crime events in California, a 4.6% decrease from 518 in 2023, according to the California Department of Justice(DOJ). In Los Angeles County, there were 345 anti-Black crimes recorded in 2024, the highest number ever recorded for the county since reporting began in 1980. “AB 822 ensures California continues to respond with care, urgency, and long-term solutions, not just reactive headlines,” Elhawary stated. “The fight against hate doesn't start somewhere else. It starts with us.” Days before Newsom approved AB 822, the CRD — in partnership with the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research’s California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) — released the results of a new representative survey on the experiences of Californians aged 12 and older with hate across
Based on a series of questions sponsored by CRD and the Commission on the State of Hate, the findings from CHIS revealed an estimated 3.1 million Californians directly experienced at least one act of hate over the course of a year between 2023 and 2024. “Official hate crime reports only capture a fraction of the picture,” CRD Director Kevin Kish. “This survey makes it absolutely clear that programs like California vs Hate are vital to help fill the gap. Whether it’s bullying in schools or verbal harassment on the street, we’re stronger when we come together in the face of hate.” AB 822 was supported by more than 20 organizations, including the California Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology(CALACAP), which argued that it was “alarmed by findings in the Commission’s latest report” and the increases in hate “targeting communities already experiencing marginalization and discrimination, such as Black, LGBTQ+, Latinx, and transgender populations.” “These realities emphasize the continued necessity of the Commission’s work in preventing and responding effectively to hate-based incidents,” the CALACAP stated in the California Senate Judiciary Committee’s Executive Summary on July 1. The CRD operates the CA vs. Hate hotline at 1-833-8NOHATE. It is a multilingual, anonymous opportunity to report hate incidents and crimes, connecting people with resources. How To Report A Hate Crime: CA vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hate crime and incident reporting hotline and online portal. Reports can be made anonymously by calling (833) 866-4283, or 833-8-NOHATE, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT or online at any time.
Secret Service Expansion Accelerates as Global Tensions Rise...continued To attract recruits, the agency is offering some of the largest bonuses in federal law enforcement, with incentives reaching up to $60,000 for certain roles, including counter assault, counter sniper, and hazardous response positions. The expansion effort unfolds during volatile international rumbles. The U.S. capture of Maduro has drawn condemnation from several world leaders, including Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who accused powerful interests of driving military escalation. “A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy,” Petro said. “To keep Epstein’s list from coming out, they send warships to kill fishermen and threaten our neighbor with invasion for their oil.” Inside the United States, lawmakers from both parties raised
questions about the legality of the action and the precedent it could set. Some warned that escalating confrontations abroad increase the risk of retaliation at home, placing additional pressure on already stretched security agencies. Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the agency faces steep obstacles. “They are going to have to turn headquarters into a hiring machine,” Napolitano said. As the Secret Service prepares for the 2028 presidential election cycle and the Los Angeles Olympics, officials acknowledge that even a successful expansion may not ease the pressure quickly. “No matter what,” Quinn said, “it’s still going to be a rough summer.”
Physicians Slam Move by U.S. to Cut the Number of Vaccines Recommended for Every Child...continued from page 7 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the overhaul was in response to a request from President Donald Trump in December. Trump asked the agency to review how peer nations approach vaccine recommendations and consider revising U.S. guidance accordingly. HHS said its comparison to 20 peer nations found that the U.S. was an “outlier” in both the number of vaccinations and the number of doses it recommended to all children. Officials with the agency framed the change as a way to increase public trust by recommending only the most important vaccinations for children to receive. “This decision protects
children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Kennedy said in a statement Monday. Trump, reacting to the news on his Truth Social platform, said the new schedule is “far more reasonable” and “finally aligns the United States with other Developed Nations around the World.” Among those left on the recommended-for-everyone list are vaccines against measles, whooping cough, polio, tetanus, chickenpox and human papillomavirus, or HPV. The guidance reduces the number of recommended vaccine doses against HPV from two or three shots depending on age to one for most children.