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SB American News Week Ending 1/7/26

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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 1, 2026 Thursday Edition December 5, 2024 Thursday Edition

Vol. 56 No. 38

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)

Epstein Pressure Mounts As Trump Turns To Nigeria Strikes By Stacy M. Brown

As questions mounted over the heavily redacted release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and new material placing President Donald Trump closer to the late sex trafficker than previously acknowledged, the White House shifted abruptly to a familiar tactic. The president turned outward, announcing U.S. military strikes in Nigeria and framing the action as a defense of Christianity, while critics said the move functioned as a political diversion that again placed Black people and Black nations in the crosshairs. Trump claimed the United States carried out “powerful and deadly” strikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria, accusing them of “slaughtering” Christians. The announcement arrived as Trump faced renewed scrutiny over Epstein records that include photographs, internal Justice Department emails, and flight data that raise questions about the administration’s handling

of disclosures mandated by Congress. “The United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding a Christmas message that included, “MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.” The Pentagon released video showing at least one projectile launched from a U.S. warship, though officials did not specify the precise target. U.S. Africa Command later said the strikes were conducted “in coordination with Nigerian authorities” in Sokoto State. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked Nigeria for its cooperation, even as Trump publicly criticized Nigerian leaders. Nigerian officials

rejected the religious framing. Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC the strike was a joint operation against terrorists and “has nothing to do with a particular religion.” Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reiterated that position in a Christmas Eve post, writing that Nigeria remains committed to protecting Christians, Muslims, and all citizens and opposing religious persecution. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with roughly 240 million people, has faced years of violence from extremist groups, criminal gangs, and insurgents that have killed people across religious lines. Just days before Trump’s statement, a blast at a mosque in northeastern Nigeria killed five people and injured dozens. Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom mocked the Justice Department’s release with a video highlighting extensive redactions and past footage of Trump with

Epstein. The clip included a headline noting the DOJ’s defense of removing a Trump photograph from the records. Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia said the administration failed to comply with the law governing the release. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the disclosure incomplete and misleading, pointing to pages entirely blacked out. Rep. Ro Khanna, who coauthored the Epstein Files Transparency Act, said the release failed both the spirit and letter of the law, while Rep. Thomas Massie said it “grossly fails to comply.” The documents do not place former President Barack Obama in the Epstein files and contain no evidence tying him to Epstein. They also do not reveal wrongdoing by Hillary Clinton. Former President Bill Clinton appears in social photographs, though reporting notes no indication of misconduct

and Clinton has denied any. By contrast, the release includes material that places Trump in closer proximity to Epstein than the administration has publicly acknowledged, including a photograph of Epstein holding a novelty check bearing Trump’s signature and internal emails referencing Trump’s travel on Epstein’s jet. The Justice Department has offered no explanation for why those materials were released while others remain obscured. Critics argue the timing of the Nigeria strikes fits a long-established pattern. For decades, Trump has faced allegations of racial discrimination, from the 1973 Justice Department lawsuit over housing practices to his 1989 newspaper ads calling for the death penalty during the Central Park Five case, a stance he revived during the 2024 presidential debate. In recent months, Trump has attacked diversity initiatives, defended

Confederate symbols, and advanced policies that disproportionately affected Black communities, including mass deportations and federal workforce cuts that heavily impacted Black women. Commentators have noted the administration’s willingness to portray itself as a defender of Christianity and Western identity while stoking grievance politics at home. As Nigeria faces new travel restrictions and renewed placement on U.S. religious freedom watchlists, Nigerian leaders continue to reject Trump’s depiction of their country. Tinubu said earlier this fall that labeling Nigeria as religiously intolerant “does not reflect our national reality.” “I stand committed to doing everything within my power to enshrine religious freedom in Nigeria and to protect Christians, Muslims, and all Nigerians from violence,” Tinubu wrote.


Thursday, January 1, 2026

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THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS - COMMUNITY/EDUCATION

School Outpaces CA by A year of cuts and court orders for California’s Fortune Closing the Achievement Gap for colleges and universities: 2025 in review Black Students by alyssah by Adam Echelman December 25, 2025 Money is power. If California’s public colleges and universities didn’t already know that, they certainly learned it this year. Though the U.S. Department of Justice launched numerous high-profile complaints against California schools — allegations of antisemitism at University of California campuses and concerns about a transgender athlete at San Jose State, to name a few — the most punishing consequences came from federal funding cuts. In its crusade to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the Trump administration cut funding for UC campuses, including research into dementia, coronavirus vaccines and HIV prevention. UCLA bore the brunt of Trump’s ire. The Trump administration withheld over $500 million in UCLA research grants this year because of allegations that the campus wasn’t addressing antisemitism related to protests over the war in Gaza. The administration then demanded that UCLA pay a $1.2 billion settlement and forego certain academic freedoms in order to get the money back. In separate lawsuits, a U.S. district judge ordered the Trump administration to stop withholding funds and later said the proposed settlement was “coercive and retaliatory.” It’s just one of several court rulings ordering the Trump administration to return research

The Fortune School network includes nine schools based in Sacramento and one in San Bernardino, the Hardy Brown College Prep School for scholars from preschool to eighth grade. The Hardy Brown school originated from the advocacy of Black parents and grandparents in San Bernardino. (HardyBrownCollegePrep.org)

Students walk by the Geisel Library at UC San Diego on Sept. 22, 2025. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters money to UCLA or other UC campuses. But the bulk of funding for California’s public colleges and universities comes from the state, not the federal government. After years where the state’s higher education system benefitted from a state surplus or was spared from budget cuts, 2025 proved different. Both the UC and the California State University system saw 3% reductions in funding this year, though the community college system emerged largely unscathed. Facing particularly severe cuts, Sonoma State tried

My Head Start Success Story By Josalyn Brown Robinson BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — My career has given me opportunities to build essential partnerships and relationships with staff, families, community leaders, and schools - these relationships have been key in identifying critical resources that enable children to successfully transition in their educational journey and help families find their way to self-sufficiency.

Josalyn Brown Robinson as a Head Start student and today Josalyn Brown Robinson shared her Head Start experience with the National Head Start Association: I never drifted far from Head Start. As a child, I attended North Tangipahoa (North Tangi) Head Start in Roseland, Louisiana, where I vividly remember participating in a pageant and being crowned ‘Queen’ as part of an annual fundraiser. Today, I am the Executive Director of Regina Coeli Child Development Center (RCCDC), which covers all the Head Start programs in five parishes in Southeast Louisiana , including that very program. Like so many alumni, I am service-oriented. After earning my master’s degree and Ph.D. in Human Services from Capella University, I worked in the healthcare and mental health field. Over the years, I maintained close contact with the center manager from my time at North Tangi. She is a part of my community, so it was just a natural connection. After a multifaceted career in healthcare, I was looking for a

meaningful way to give back to others. I took a deep look at my community, my core values, my experiences, and my knowledge base, and Head Start emerged as the obvious consideration. I started my professional chapter with Head Start as a family advocate, and have taken on various roles since, including center manager and program director. My career has given me opportunities to build essential partnerships and relationships with staff, families, community leaders, and schools - these relationships have been key in identifying critical resources that enable children to successfully transition in their educational journey and help families find their way to self-sufficiency. My vision is to build an inclusive culture in which all staff, families, and community members feel a part and experience the benefits. Head Start gives a foundation with lifelong effects on children. We see the benefits every day. Head Start benefits the family, which in turn benefits the entire community.

to cut majors, such as economics and physics, and to slash its competitive athletic programs, only for a judge to halt many of the cuts. Looking ahead Many of the court rulings issued this year were preliminary injunctions, meaning they’re temporary decisions until a final ruling occurs. That means many of the research grants could once again disappear. The Trump administration is also going after students without legal status, who have for decades been able to receive state

financial aid and to pay in-state tuition at public universities. A November lawsuit could put an end to those financial aid programs, affecting as many as 100,000 students across the state. For the community college system, which educates the majority of students in California, the economy is often a key indicator in enrollment. If tariffs, a bursting tech bubble or other economic headwinds hit the state, students could return to college en masse, just like they did during the 2008 financial crisis.

Fortune Schools, a unique network of TK-12 tuitionfree public charter schools, is outperforming state averages in narrowing the academic achievement gap for African American scholars, according to the California Department of Education’s 2025 California School Dashboard. Fortune Schools in Sacramento and San Bernardino serve predominantly Black students (63%) and 20% Latino students. They are dedicated to closing the Black achievement gap by preparing scholars for college from preschool to 12th grade. “We are looking at the data for individual students and their student achievement every week, twice a week in math, English, language, arts and science…,” said Dr. Margaret Fortune, president and CEO of Fortune. “This year, our growth has outpaced the state, having grown by six percentage points in English, language arts and math and nine percentage points in science. We feel like we’ve gotten our mojo back post pandemic, and we really

just have to give our scholars and our teachers and our families a big pat on the back for a lot of hard work that’s showing up in this high academic achievement,” she continued. The Fortune School of Education was established in 1989 in Sacramento as a Teacher’s College and still offers a masters program, and credentials teachers and administrators online. They are also starting a new cohort for the teacher credentialing program in Jan. 2026. So far, the Fortune School network includes nine schools based in Sacramento and one in San Bernardino, the Hardy Brown College Prep School for scholars from preschool to eighth grade. The Hardy Brown school originated from the advocacy of Black parents and grandparents in San Bernardino. One of the original grandparent advocates is Joette Spencer Campbell, who is the chair of education for the NAACP. She still sits on the board of the Fortune School. The school is named for Black

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OP-ED: By Disappearing Districts: How Racial Gerrymandering is Hollowing Out the Black Electorate By: Jaidyn McKinnie, Joint Center Research Intern and UCLA Student American democracy is entering a dangerous stage of decline. While coverage focuses largely on the most recognizable signs of democratic backsliding, such as attacks on free speech and the use of state force against peaceful protesters, a quieter crisis is reshaping the foundation of representation itself. The s e c o n d Tr u m p administration is advancing a national policy infrastructure aimed at reshaping the democratic system from within, not by suppressing votes directly, but by manipulating the structures that determine who gets represented at all. Across the country, redistricting battles are being used to minimize the influence of Black voters and weaken the power and electability of Black legislators who represent them. These maps fracture diverse districts, erase majority-Black constituencies, and recast racial gerrymandering as a partisan strategy. Gerrymandering is the process of drawing legislative maps to favor one group over another. Partisan gerrymandering exists in both parties, but the distinction between partisan and racial gerrymandering is crucial. The latter targets voters based on race, undermining equal protection and silencing political voices that have historically been excluded. Today, partisan gerrymandering often serves as a facade for racial redistricting, allowing maps that weaken Black and brown representation while appearing procedurally neutral. The result is a democracy that technically counts every vote, but ensures that some count for less. These efforts to reshape representation operate through coordinated pressure on state and

reflect a broader effort to weaken the institutions that sustain equitable representation and to undermine the legitimacy of a multiracial democracy.

Voting federal institutions. Republicancontrolled legislatures in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and Florida have advanced or are seeking to advance maps that fracture diverse districts and erase Black-performing seats to manufacture partisan strongholds. In Texas, the 2021 maps, already among the most gerrymandered in the nation, were challenged by the Department of Justice and civil rights groups for intentionally weakening minority voting power, marginalizing the very communities largely responsible for Texas’s growth. The latest maps, under Trump’s order, have only deepened the imbalance, entrenching partisan and racial control. This September, Governor Kehoe of Missouri approved new maps that work to unseat Representative Emanuel Cleaver, one of the state’s two Black congressmembers. His district, once a Black stronghold centered in Kansas City, is being divided among three predominantly white districts, reducing the concentration of Black voters and weakening their collective influence. Similar redistricting patterns in Florida and Texas, where the districts of Representatives Al Lawson, Marc Veasey, and Al Green were

dismantled, follow the same logic. These efforts reveal a shift from engaging voters to reshaping the systems that define their representation. Now, all eyes are on California, where the passage of Proposition 50 has become the first major test of how far states can go in countering gerrymandered maps. The measure introduces new electoral mechanisms for redrawing maps and is expected to offer an example of how other states approach redistricting and opposition efforts ahead of the Midterms. While Black-centered organizations such as the NAACP have invested heavily in the measure, its potential impact on Black voting power remains uncertain, though analysts suggest it may strengthen Latino representation. Still, its outcome will shape national discourse on representation and determine whether state-level reforms can meaningfully alter the balance of power. While some states experiment with expanding representation, the federal landscape is moving in the opposite direction by dismantling DEI programs, eliminating race-conscious hiring, and purging staff in agencies that oversee civil rights enforcement. These measures

Despite this, the Congressional Black Caucus is the largest it has ever been, reflecting decades of organizing and civic engagement that expanded voting access. But this progress is increasingly fragile. Gerrymandered maps that fracture Black communities and eliminate majority-Black districts weaken not only the ability of Black legislators to hold their seats but also the capacity of Black voters to shape outcomes. When predominantly Black constituencies are divided across multiple districts, disguised as routine political realignment, it functions as a racialized control that suppresses minority ballot strength. Voting power determines not just who wins elections, but whose communities receive investment, whose schools are funded, and whose voices are heard in policy debates that shape everyday life. When Black voters are packed into a few districts or split among many, their concerted voting strength is diluted, muting the political voice that has driven social and economic advancement for generations. The threat facing the United States is not only that democracy could fail, but that it could survive in form while dying in function. Ongoing efforts to manipulate representation risk creating a government that looks democratic but operates as a controlled system of exclusion. To protect multiracial democracy, the nation must confront not only the authoritarianism of power, but the quiet redrawing of the lines that decide who holds it.


Thursday, January 1, 2026

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THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS - INLAND EMPIRE/COUNTY/GOVERNMENT/BUSINESS

OUR BLACK HISTORY

Watch Night: How Black Americans welcomed freedom with prayer by The Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware

“Waiting for the Hour.” Carte-de-visite of an emancipation watch night meeting on Dec. 31, 1863, where African American men, women and children gathered around a man with a watch, waiting for the Emancipation Proclamation. Credit: Photo courtesy Library of Congress On the night of Dec. 31, 1862, under cover of darkness and winter cold, groups of Americans of African descent — some free, others still enslaved — gathered quietly across the country. As the Civil War raged and their fate hung in the balance, Black men, women and children came together to observe Watch Night, a religious tradition rooted in Christian worship and collective reflection. But this night was different. Instead of somber reflection on past sins and prayers to God for obedience and grace, however, the Black men, women and children who huddled in dank cellars, in ramshackle slave quarters or outdoors under the stars, waited anxiously as midnight slowly approached, when the Emancipation Proclamation would take effect — marking what they hoped would be freedom for themselves and their loved ones. What is Watch Night? Most people in the Black community are familiar with Watch Night, one of the oldest cultural traditions of New Year’s Eve. Marked with late-night

worship services in church, the event is usually followed by a fellowship meal or a love feast. The great demonstrations of faith do not belie the remnants of superstition imported along with the ancestors. One is that a man had to walk through the entire house before any residents, especially women, to ward off any bad luck for the incoming year. Another is the selection of particular foods to accentuate the meals: collard greens to assure the influx of money and blackeyed peas with rice — hoppin’ John— also for good luck. But the history of Watch Night is one of contradictions. The roots of Watch Night Even in 1862, celebrated in secret, Watch Night was a time of celebration of the faithfulness of God, his goodness and his grace — a strange sentiment for people stolen from their homeland and held against their will in chattel slavery. Although some elements have been altered by time and necessity, the tradition prevails in the Black community, regardless of war or hard times. Modeled after the New

Year’s Eve service begun by the Moravians, an 18th-century religious sect, and incorporated into Protestant worship by Methodist theologian Rev. John Wesley, Black people adopted Watch Night and made it their own. Along with religious gratitude, they transformed it into an expression of gratitude, overlaid with anticipation of freedom and high hopes for their future. Freedom’s Eve and the Emancipation Proclamation According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the first Watch Night took place during the height of the Civil War. “On the night of December 31, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered, many in secret, to ring in the new year and await news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect,” according to the museum’s website. “Just a few months earlier, on September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the executive order that declared enslaved people in the rebelling Confederate States legally free. However, the decree would not take effect until the clock

struck midnight at the start of the new year,” according to the NMAAHC. “The occasion, known as Watch Night or ‘Freedom’s Eve,’ marks when African Americans across the country watched and waited for the news of freedom.” How Watch Night is observed today The nature of Watch Night services hasn’t changed much except for the specified religious litanies designated by various denominations. Safety concerns have influenced the timing of services; some are as early as noon on New Year’s Eve, while others take place at 9 p.m. or later. As congregants bow in prayer minutes before midnight, someone sings, “Watchman, watchman, please tell me the hour of the night.” The minister replies, counting down the time: “It is three minutes to midnight.” “It is one minute before the new year.” Then, finally, he calls out, “It is now midnight — freedom has come!”

Blacks vets share mixed views as Department of Defense eliminates shaving waivers By D. Kevin McNeir/Special to the AFRO

Black military veterans across generations are weighing in on the Department of Defense’s newly enforced grooming standards, with some citing military tradition and others raising concerns about racial and medical impacts on service members. (Photo Credit: Unsplash)

Members of the armed forces, both active duty and reserve personnel, recently learned that effective immediately, they must be clean-shaven when in uniform or on duty. In addition, the new policy severely limits medical shaving waivers, with the Army, for example, reducing exemptions to a temporary 12-month period and requiring a treatment plan.

In a memorandum dated Aug. 20, Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Pete Hegseth instructed the military services to strictly enforce facial hair grooming standards across the force, citing reasons for the change in policy. “The grooming standard set by the U.S. military is to be cleanshaven and neat in presentation for a proper military appearance,”

he said. “Service members with certain medical conditions, such as pseudofolliculitis barbae or eczema, for instance, are eligible to apply for medical waivers that allow them to abstain from shaving.” Hegseth further noted that while the DOD realizes that certain medical conditions may lead to challenges for those who shave daily, waivers can no longer be approved for an indefinite period. “Some of those medical waivers were issued on a longterm basis, meaning that some service members could go for years without having to meet the standard of being clean-shaven,” he said. “That is no longer the case. Now, service members who have medical waivers for shaving will have one year to address the underlying medical issues that keep them from meeting the standard.” The new direction from the secretary does not affect shaving waivers related to religious accommodations, nor does it

impact growing mustaches if the military departments permit their service members to do so, according to a Pentagon official. However, those who find it impossible to comply with grooming standards may be administratively separated. “Each individual case will require an individual review by the service member’s medical provider and commander before the initiation of separation takes place. Commanders are charged with determining if retention is appropriate based upon the service member’s progress, or if separation is in the best interest of the service and the member,” the official said. Black vets debate ramifications of new policy Rip Preston, a native of Washington, D.C., who reported to bootcamp in 1968 and retired from the Army and National Guard as a command sergeant in continued in next 2 columns

Blacks vets share mixed views as Department of Defense eliminates shaving waivers...continued 2000 after 32 years of both active and reserve duty, said members of the armed forces understand that they must adhere to uniform codes and that policy changes are inevitable as societal norms shift or evolve. “During my years in service, most Blacks soldiers could get a shaving waiver and really needed it because they suffered from pseudofolliculitis barbae,” he said. “But I’ve noticed that today they’re allowed to wear much longer beards than we were. “For me, joining the military was a good decision and I believe it still is for young Blacks. But it depends on your interests and if the skills you possess line up with the kinds of military occupation skills required today. If you’re looking for guidance in shaping your future it’s still a great career.” Larry Rentz 56, who began service in the ROTC and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in August 1987, retired in September 2020. Rentz, who also counts as the first and only African American to hold the position of Professor of Military Science at the University of Maryland, said he believes there are several factors at play with the newly enforced grooming standards. “I think it’s about placing a greater emphasis on conformity and uniformity within the armed forces,” he said. “However, I can’t rule out race as a possible factor since the policy disproportionately impacts Black men. But I do believe that more people have taken advantage of shaving waivers than we did in the past. “We were trained to shave our mustaches and shine our boots –

things like that. From my vantage point, those who were granted shaving waivers were rarely, if ever, promoted to leadership positions. Your appearance, including being overweight, had a lot to do with your chances of moving up the ranks. It wasn’t an official policy, but it was pretty apparent,” said Rentz, who added that he would not be surprised if new policies are announced in the future about tattoos. As for Staff Sgt. Eugene Groves, USMC retired, a proud member of the Montford Point Marine Association Inc., Washington, D.C., Chapter 6, he expressed disdain of the new policy. “I started bootcamp at Montford Point in 1946 and served for 30 years, active and reserve, and I simply do not agree with what the president and the secretary are doing,” said Groves, 96, who was married for 46 years and now, as a widower, lives with his niece in Upper Marlboro, Md. “Being in the Marines helped me become a man and taught me responsibility,” he said. “I was able to earn my high school degree, and I did something positive with my life. But this policy brings back memories of what life was like after we returned from the battlefield overseas. “Soldiers we once fought with reverted to using the ‘N’ word. Even worse, we were treated like second class citizens. I’m just not convinced that eliminating shaving waivers doesn’t have something to do with race because it’s Black men who, because of their health, may be forced to leave the military.”

County Library Adult Literacy Program Offers Free One-On-One Tutoring for Adults San Bernardino County News The San Bernardino County Library invites adults across the county to improve their reading skills through its free Adult Literacy Program, a confidential, one-on-one tutoring initiative designed to help adult learners build confidence and achieve personal literacy goals. The Adult Literacy Program pairs adult learners with trained volunteer tutors for individualized instruction. Through weekly tutoring sessions held at local library branches, learners receive personalized support to strengthen reading and writing skills in a welcoming and respectful environment. The program also relies on dedicated community members who volunteer as adult literacy tutors. Volunteer tutors, also known as reading coaches, receive training through the library before being matched

with an adult learner. Tutors commit to meeting in the library for two hours per week over a minimum of six months and play a critical role in helping learners progress at their own pace. Prospective tutors must be at least 18 years old, speak English fluently, possess strong reading skills, and hold a high school diploma or GED. In addition to completing training and orientation, volunteers must demonstrate patience, a willingness to teach basic literacy skills and an interest in making a meaningful difference in someone’s life. Adult learners interested in the program must be at least 17 years old, not currently enrolled in school, speak basic English and read or write below a seventhgrade level. Participants commit to regular tutoring sessions and continued on page 6

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.


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THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS-WORLD/ENTERTAINMENT/RELIGION

of Boxing Champ More Than a Biopic: “Michael” and Video Anthony Joshua in Fatal Car Crash Leaks the Power of a Global Icon By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

World News

Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Seattle. Goes without saying - As worn by Michael Jackson!, John Seb Barber from Leeds, UK Tom Brady stepped into the broadcast booth and, without saying a word, said everything. One glove. Not a gimmick. Not nostalgia cosplay. Just a quiet, unmistakable signal that even in a football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Buffalo Bills, the most famous silhouette in modern culture still casts a shadow. Seventeen years after his death at 50, Michael Jackson remains unavoidable. That is the strange gravity pulling audiences toward “Michael,” the biopic arriving April 24, 2026, still months away yet already moving like a global event. Posters are up from Tokyo to São Paulo. Trailers are breaking records. The marketing machine is humming, but the fascination is older than marketing. Jackson was not merely famous. He was

universal. The Beatles conquered an era and a hemisphere. Elvis owned America. Jackson belonged to the planet. His face, his glove, his lean-forward stance before the beat dropped were recognized in villages without electricity and cities that never slept. Only Muhammad Ali matched that level of global recognition, and even Ali did not moonwalk into living rooms every night. What “Michael” understands, and what many previous attempts to frame Jackson never did, is that the story cannot be reduced to a ledger of controversy. Those chapters exist. They have been litigated, televised, replayed, monetized. This film chooses another lane. It treats Jackson’s life as a cultural force, not a courtroom transcript.

That choice matters because of who is involved. Prince Jackson, Michael’s eldest son and an executive producer, carries the responsibility of legacy without being forced to relive the ugliest moments of his childhood. Paris and Bigi are allowed distance from spectacle. This is not a public autopsy. It is a familysanctioned remembrance. Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s nephew, steps into the role with something no actor auditioning from the outside could ever possess. Muscle memory. Blood memory. The physicality is not imitation; it is inheritance. The way he tilts his head, holds a pause, lets silence work before sound arrives. These are not learned tricks. They are lived gestures. Directed by Antoine Fuqua

and written by John Logan, the film tracks Jackson from Gary, Indiana, to global isolation, without turning him into a saint or a spectacle. Quincy Jones appears. Motown appears. The grind appears. The joy appears. The loneliness appears. The point is not balance. The point is truth through artistry. Lionsgate has openly acknowledged that Jackson’s story may not fit into a single film. Studio chief Adam Fogelson has floated the idea of more “Michael” beyond the first release, a notion that would sound indulgent for any other subject. For Jackson, it sounds almost conservative. What separates Jackson from today’s megastars is not talent alone. It is reach through time. His audience includes people who were not alive when “Thriller” rewrote the rules, when “Bad” redefined spectacle, when “Dangerous” fused pop with global rhythm. The film’s final power lies in restraint. It does not ask viewers to forget anything. It asks them to remember something else first. The music. The precision. The audacity. The way one man made the world move in unison. “I never got the chance to see Michael Jackson live, and I’m not letting this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away,” one viewer wrote under the trailer. “Buying this ticket feels like finally reaching out to the King of Pop himself — something I’ve dreamed of for years.”

Fresh after a historic boxing victory against YouTuber Jake Paul, British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua was reportedly involved in a car crash which killed two people. The former heavyweight world champion had been celebrating his victory against Paul when tragedy struck. Police in Nigeria confirmed that Joshua’s vehicle smashed into another on Monday (Dec. 29). The athlete walked away with minor injuries, but two of his longtime associates– coaches Sina Ghami and Kevin “Latz” Ayodele– were pronounced dead, according to the Daily Mail. The two men were inside of Joshua’s car at the time of the crash. A total of five people were in The 36-year-old gained international attention after his boxing match with Paul. He won the Dec. 19 battle with a sixth-round knockout. Joshua’s promoter, a man named Eddie Hearn, spoke to the Daily Mail after learning about the Monday accident. As of 10:00 a.m. EST, he was still trying to get in co “I am away on a family holiday and awoke to the news of this incident,” Hearn said. “We are trying to contact Anthony and in the meantime we don’t want to speculate on how he is but thankfully he appears OK from what I have seen in the images. We are awaiting more information on what has

happened and will update in due course.” Ogun State Police Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo told ESPN a tire on Joshua’s vehicle burst while driving on a highway. The driver– not Joshua– allegedly lost control before crashing head first into a stationary truck. Footage taken from the scene has been quickly making its rounds online. In one of the clips, a dazed Joshua is seen with his shirt off in the back seat. He was later spotted speaking to officials inside an emergency vehicle, according to reports. Eyewitnesses confirmed Joshua is “okay but badly shaken up,” the Daily Mail also reported. The 36-year-old won a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics before becoming a multipletime heavyweight champion– once in March 2018 and again in December 2019, according to his ESPN bio. Just hours before the crash, the athlete posted online in good spirits with some of his close friends. He was spending time in the African nation after making a quick stop in Britain following the win against Paul. Joshua is still scheduled to fight in Saudi Arabia in February. This is all leading up to another highly anticipated battle against boxer Tyson Fury later next year.

WITNESS FOR JUSTICE Issue #1288

Resisting the Temptation of Acclaimed Artist & Philanthropist Kwanza Numbness

Jones Expands Access to Education and Strengthens Cultural Institutions Through Strategic Investment

Long-term commitments across education and culture reflect a unique approach to enduring impact. Entertainment News LOS ANGELES, Dec. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Acclaimed artist, investor, philanthropist, and SUPERCHARGED® CEO, Kwanza Jones, advances access to education and elevates culture through landmark institutional commitments over the past year, reinforcing a long-term approach to impact across education, culture, and community. An upcoming Year In Review video will reflect on the work behind these efforts and the vision that shaped them. Throughout 2025, Jones' work was guided by the Impact Multiplier™ model, a philanthropic approach that combines financial investment with strategic guidance, creative support, operational expertise, and access to a powerful ecosystem of knowledge and networks. By intentionally integrating capital with culture, community, and capacitybuilding, the approach is designed to amplify outcomes and extend the reach of each investment. Advancing access to education remained a central focus throughout the year. Among the most significant commitments was a $6 million investment in Cardozo School of Law by Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano, her partner in life and business, supporting clinical education and expanding access to real-world legal training. Designed to connect more students directly to

SOURCE SUPERCHARGED

community-centered practice, the commitment reflects a focus on building long-term pathways that prepare future leaders through experience, rather than theory alone. That commitment to educational access and institutional resilience extended to Bennett College with a philanthropic investment of $1.5 million, supporting the college's mission to educate and empower women leaders while preserving the legacy of historically significant institutions. For Jones, 2025 marked a significant expansion of cultural leadership through the launch of the Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Initiative's Producing Partners Program, an initiative

designed to deepen collaboration with select cultural institutions by pairing capital with creative partnership, strategic support, and long-term engagement. The Apollo was selected as the Producing Partner for 2025, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing culture as a force for access, influence, and belonging. The partnership between Jones and The Apollo led to the announcement of Culture In Motion™ on December 2, a new National Roadshow launching in January 2026 that expands The Apollo's nearly 100-year legacy into communities across the United States. The initiative brings creativity, community, and cultural stewardship into a broader national conversation.

More details at https://boostbus. com Throughout 2025, strategic guidance, creative collaboration, and long-term partnership were woven into every commitment, reflecting an approach rooted in alignment and sustainability. The upcoming Year In Review video will offer a closer look at how Jones approaches leadership and impact, capturing a year shaped by resilience, disciplined commitment, and the belief that enduring change is built through design, not urgency. To get notified and watch the video on launch, subscribe to Jones' YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/ kwanzajones.

Hannah Santos

2025 was a long year. For many of us, looking back over the past months repeatedly prompts the question, “that happened this year too?” The pace has been relentless and when the world keeps moving without pause, numbness becomes tempting. We scroll through headlines of injustice, go through the motions, and learn how to function on autopilot. Some days we may feel too tired to be outraged. Other days we may convince ourselves that distancing our own emotions makes us more rational, effective advocates. I know I am not immune to this. I was soberly reminded of how deeply that numbness can set in after hearing of the recent shootings in Sydney, Australia and Providence, Rhode Island. These acts of violence are horrifying, needless tragedies. The murders in Sydney were particularly abhorrent examples of antisemitism, and I lament and condemn the harm perpetuated on our Jewish siblings, especially on a holy day. Yet, it was the shooting in Providence the struck close to home for me, as it occurred in a community that shaped me and a place where many of my loved ones still live and work. I was born and raised in Rhode Island and attended Brown University as an undergraduate. The city of Providence shaped me during my most formative years. As news reports unfolded the night of the shooting, I recognized the street names, the familiar landmarks, and the places that hold memories of friendship and growth. And still, what startled me most that night was not my grief, but my numbness. Even during a crisis in the city that raised me, I recognize the degree to

which desensitization to gun violence had dulled my response. Acknowledging this reality is perplexing, frightening, and, if I am honest, somewhat shameful. It is unsettling to feel out of touch with your own humanity amidst horrific headlines. And yet, I suspect many of us know this feeling well. How many shootings have we witnessed this year? How many lives reduced to statistics? Even beyond gun violence, how many times this year have we read a devastating headline, sighed, and quietly set our phones down? Numbness can feel like a survival strategy. At times, it may help us endure. But ultimately it does not serve our pursuit of justice, nor does it reflect who we are called to be. In the United Church of Christ, we are continually called toward deeper compassion and bolder action. Apathy stands in direct opposition to that call. We must remind ourselves and our communities over and over and over again—every statistic has a face. Every number has a name. Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook were not abstract ideas, they were individuals with full lives who were beloved by their communities. In the face of systemic injustice, we are called to witness, to remember, and— mostly importantly—to act. As we enter 2026, I encourage all to remember that the antidote to numbness is not perfection or overwhelm, but action. Faithful action can be small: learning names, telling stories, showing up, calling legislators, praying with intention, and refusing to look away. Each step we take to stay engaged and resist the temptation of numbness is a step closer to our vision for just world for all.


Thursday, January 1, 2026

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THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS - LEGALS/CLASSIFIEDS/NEWS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME 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 20250010945 Date Filed: 11/24/2025 Filing Expires On: 11/24/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): 1. FOOTHILL BATH AND WINDOW CORP 2. FOOTHILL BATH, KITCHEN, WINDOW CORP. County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 9239 ARCHIBALD AVE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 Business Mailing Address: 9239 ARCHIBALD AVE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 Employees: 2 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: FOOTHILL BATH CORPORATION State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional): 2387944 Corporation or LLC Street Address: 9239 ARCHIBALD AVE RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 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.): Oct 20, 1995 /s/: Jon Widney, 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 11, 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250010321 Date Filed: 10/29/2025 Filing Expires On: 10/29/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): 1. HILL TOP SERVICES 2. COVER TO COVER MANAGEMENT 3. OPEN DOOR SERVICES County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 15437 ANACAPA RD VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 Business Mailing Address: PO BOX 837 VICTORVILLE, CA 92393 #of Employees: 3 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:

PRAYER WARRIOR FOR THE LORD INC. State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) 4121052 Corporation or LLC Street Address: 15437 ANACAPA RD VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 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.): Oct 01, 2025 /s/: Clifton Harris, Secretary, Printed Name of: Clifton Harris, 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 6, 13, 20, 27, Correction December 11, 18, 25, 2025., January 1, 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 20250011303 Date Filed: 12/04/2025 Filing Expires On: 12/04/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): MANDOS MEXICAN FOOD County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 13738 BEAR VALLEY RD, SUITE, B03 VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 Business Mailing Address: 13738 BEAR VALLEY RD, SUITE, B03 VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 Employees: 4 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: MANDOS BEAR VALLEY INC State of Inc./ Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) Corporation or LLC Street Address: 13738 BEAR VALLEY RD, SUITE, B03 VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 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 04, 2025 /s/: Patricia Hernandez Lopez, 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 11, 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250010056 Date Filed: 10/21/2025 Filing Expires On: 10/21/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): OUMI SUSHI County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 3630 GRAND AVE CHINO HILLS, CA 91709 Business Mailing Address: 3623 LAZY HAWK ROAD SUITE 101 ROCK HILL, SC 29730 #of Employees: 0 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: LWIN FAMILY CO, LLC State of Inc./Org./Reg.: DE Inc./Org./Reg. No: (Optional) 201721010145 Corporation or LLC Street Address: 3623 LAZY HAWK ROAD SUITE 101 ROCK HILL, SC 29730 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.): Mar 08, 2024 /s/: Mathew Jon Wilken, 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 November 6, 13, 20, 27, Correction December 11, 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 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 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 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. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN 20250011350 Date Filed: 12/05/2025 Filing Expires On: 12/05/2030 LIST FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME BELOW (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg): PLAYFUL PLEASURES County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: (P.O. Box or PMB address NOT acceptable): 21116 PAHUTE ROAD APPLE VALLEY, CA 92308 Business Mailing Address: 21116 PAHUTE ROAD APPLE VALLEY, CA 92308 Employees: Name of Individual Registrant (First Name): KARINA (Middle Initial only): (Last Name): LAMPITT 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/: Karina Lampitt, Individual, 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 11, 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 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 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.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVBA 2500869 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: MARTIN ANTHONY REYES, SARAH ELAINE DESORMIERS filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. MARTIN ANTHONY REYES to Proposed name: MARTIN ANTHONY PRIVETT Present name: SCARLETT BRAY REYES to Proposed name: SCARLETT BRAY PRIVETT 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: 1-6-26 Time 1:30 p.m. Dept.: B1 The address of the court is: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY 235 East Mountain 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: Dec 04, 2025 James R. Baxter Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 11, 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 2026. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVBA 2500873 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: ALLEN HUGO TELLEZ filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. ALLEN HUGO TELLEZ to Proposed name: ALLEN HUGO BROWN 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: 1-16-26 Time 8:00 a.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: Dec 05, 2025 James R. Baxter Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 11, 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 2026.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVBA 2500874 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: BRANDON MICHAEL TELLEZ filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. BRANDON MICHAEL TELLEZ to Proposed name: JORDAN MICHAEL BROWN 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: Jan 16, 2026 Time 8:30 a.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: Dec 05, 2025 James R. Baxter Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 11, 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 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: 11/18/25 Gilbert G. Ochoa Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper January 1, 8, 15, 22, 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 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.

PETITION/PROBATE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: JANET KRUSER CASE NO: PROVA2500953

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of: JANET

KRUSER

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by LARRY BEBBER in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that: LARRY BEBBER be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court 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: 01/21/2026 Time: 9:00AM Dept: F2 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 17780 Arrow Blvd Fontana, CA 92335 Fontana District 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. Attorney for Petitioner: Don M. Ross II 57382 29 Palms Hwy Yucca Valley, California 92284 (760)999-2095 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper December 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 2026.

LIEN SALES SALE DATE: 01/09/2026 ADDRESS: KSL TOWING 26981 HWY 74 PERRIS CA 92570 2018 JEEP CHEROKEE VIN: 1C4PJLCBXJD615403 PLATE: DV28850 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper January 1, 2026. SALE DATE: 01/09/25 STAR CITY TOWING ADDRESS: 5925 PAYTON AVE RIVERSIDE CA 92504 2015 TOYT HIGHLANDER VIN: 5TDZARFH1FS012640 PLATE: NONE Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper January 1, 2026. 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 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper January 1, 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 10:00am the following property, 2022 Volk Taos , Vin# 3VVDX7B27NM050422. 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 1, 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 10:00am the following property, 2015 FRHT Cascadia , Vin# 3AKJGLD51FSGB8096. 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 1, 2026

L E G A L S / C L A S S I F I E D S G O H E R E


Thursday, January 1, 2026

Page 6

THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS - HEALTH/GOVERNMENT NEWS /CLASSIFIEDS/LEGALS

Ways to manage grief, stress L during the holidays by Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer Amid the holiday cheer, many Americans are juggling financial stress or navigating grief, whether from the loss of loved ones, strained relationships or broader social and communal challenges. And, the uncertainty and divisiveness of the current sociopolitical environmental climate have likely only exacerbated those feelings. An online survey of 1,023 U.S. adults by LifeStance Health found 51 percent of people reported feeling lonely during the holidays, even when with loved ones, and 57 percent said they find the holiday season stressful. The survey was conducted Oct. 16-21 and published Nov. 5. LifeStance Health is a mental healthcare company. A study by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) found around 48 percent of respondents were struggling with grief or missing loved ones. This study was derived from an APA Healthy Minds Poll conducted Nov. 4-5 with 2,203 U.S. adults. “Grief and stress can often intensify during the holidays because this season is constantly portrayed as a time of togetherness, love and family,” said Ashley Edwards, a mental health coach. “When your real life doesn’t match that image because of loss, strained relationships, financial stress or simply being in a different place than you hoped, the contrast can feel painful and isolating.”

coloring books, meditation apps, childhood board games or computer games, self-help books on grief, and getting at least 30 minutes of sunlight or “under the sky time.”

Mental health experts say that emotional wellness support is essential for managing stress, grief and overall wellbeing during challenging times. Photo Credit: Unsplash/Total Shape Mental health experts emphasize that grief during the holidays is normal and encourage self-care, seeking support, and using coping strategies to manage emotional strain. “Representation of the full human experience matters,” Edwards said. “If the way you celebrate or don’t celebrate looks different from others, it doesn’t mean something is wrong with you.” For grief in particular, psychotherapist Domenique Harrison challenges the notion that it must be faced alone. “We believe we cannot process the depths of sorrow with others, but when done with flexibility, care and intention, grieving in community can be some of the most liberating actions we can take,” she said. Harrison noted people

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County Library Adult Literacy Program Offers Free One-On-One Tutoring for Adults...continued from page 3 benefit from individualized goal setting, skill development and increased confidence in daily reading tasks. Adult Literacy services are offered at the following library locations throughout San Bernardino County: Adelanto Branch 11497 Bartlett Ave., Adelanto Apple Valley Branch 14901 Dale Evans Parkway, Apple Valley

Lake Arrowhead Branch 27235 Highway 189, Blue Jay Loma Linda Branch 25581 Barton Road, Loma Linda Rialto Branch 251 West 1st St., Rialto Twentynine Palms Branch 6078 Adobe Road, Twentynine Palms Yucaipa Branch 12040 5th St., Yucaipa

Barstow Branch 304 E. Buena Vista St., Barstow

Yucca Valley Branch 57271 29 Palms Highway, Yucca Valley

Big Bear Lake Branch 41930 Garstin Drive, Big Bear Lake

In addition to in-person services, learners and tutors can access online literacy resources, including Literacy.org, LINCS (Literacy Information and Communication System), and tools to help locate literacy programs nearby. 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.

Chino Branch 13180 Central Ave., Chino Chino Hills Branch 14020 City Center Drive, Chino Hills Fontana Lewis Library and Technology Center 8437 Sierra Ave., Fontana Grand Terrace Branch 22795 Barton Road, Grand Terrace Hesperia Branch 9650 7th Ave., Hesperia Highland Branch 7863 Central Ave., Highland

experience grief for many reasons during the holidays, including the loss of safety and future possibilities caused by racism, affecting them emotionally, mentally and physically. “We are also navigating seasonal depression, adjusting to seasonal changes, environmental disasters related to global warming and the loss of daylight or sunlight, which can lead us to withdraw from the outside world, intensifying feelings of isolation,” she said. “It is very important to understand these experiences and intentionally seek ways to stay connected with friends and family explore opportunities to be vulnerable with people we trust,” added Harrison. She recommended tools for managing mental health during the holidays, including adult

Harrison also uses Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping. “Tapping is one of my favorite practices to connect with our minds and bodies, but it also leads to immediate regulation and helps reduce anxiety and depression symptoms,” she said. Edwards encourages seeking mental health support. “If you have everyday support in place now, that means if or when you go through rough seasons, you’re not starting from scratch,” he said. “That said, when you experience feelings and emotions that overwhelm your ability to cope, that’s a sign to seek additional support.” For Black families in particular, Edwards emphasized giving space to process emotions. “It’s hard to process joy when we don’t give space to process pain,” he said. “My hope for our communities is that we resist the urge to invalidate someone’s feelings or experiences, even when we don’t agree or when generational differences shape how we see the world. Emotional wellbeing starts with being heard through healthy communication.”

Fortune School Outpaces CA by Closing the Achievement Gap for Black Students...continued from page 2 Voice News publisher emeritus Hardy Brown Sr., who also served on the San Bernardino City Unified School District Board of Education in the 1980s – 1990s. Hardy Brown College Prep in San Bernardino achieved 47% proficiency in English Language Arts, notably above state averages for Black and Latino students. According to the 2024-25 California Statewide Assessment Results, the percentage of all students meeting or exceeding standard for ELA was 48.8% for all students, 32.8% for Black/African American students and 38.8% for Hispanic/Latino students. “We do very intensive small group instruction with our scholars, with master teachers. So, these are veteran teachers who really know their craft and really know their content. We have a longer school day and a longer school year.,” Fortune explained. We have them practice where they have academic gaps, and we use pre- and posttesting in the same week to be able to zero in on what the learning gap is, so that we can re-teach.” The Fortune School emphasizes narrowing the academic achievement gap for Black scholars because Black scholars remain the lowest performing subgroup of students outside of students with special needs, according to Fortune. Fortune shared that the state of California has not actively tried to fix this gap because they will not take action on the basis of a student’s race, even though the majority of the academic data has shown that Black students are academically behind. “It’s important that local schools pay close attention to the achievement of African American students, in order for our students to excel, and our students and families deserve that attention,” Fortune expressed. “We feel really proud of our students. For example, fifth graders at Hardy Brown College Prep have 47% proficiency in English language arts and 50% proficiency in mathematics. Hats off to the students and their fantastic teacher. Hardy Brown College Prep was recognized as a top performing

school by US News and World Report, so we are really feeling proud and also eager to invite more families to join us,” Fortune stated. The Fortune School approaches gap-closing in a multifaceted way that includes STEAM-focused curricula, partnerships with institutions such as Cosumnes River College for concurrent enrollment and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for college scholarships, and hands-on engineering and science experiences starting in fifth grade. Fortune’s results put it in the top three of California’s Best Public Schools Serving Black Students, offering scalable models for equity in the midst of broader stagnation. Recent engineering graduate Sierra Hollinsworth, a Fortune School alumna who earned an engineering degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in June 2025, credits the school’s early exposure to STEM and scholarship support for her success. Hollinsworth graduated from Fortune Early College High School in Sacramento. She is now beginning a career in sustainable design. Fortune stressed how more than a third of their students graduate with an associate’s degree compared to the typical 1% of students in the state overall, regardless of race. “If our kids get into Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, competitively, they get a full ride scholarship,” Fortune stated. Currently there are 37 ‘Fortune’ scholars attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Fortune students are introduced to Cal Poly in the fifth grade by doing overnight stay at campus and doing hands-on science,” said Fortune. “Our high school is truly a model of high academic achievement. It shows you what you can accomplish if you start with kids early, because most of the kids that graduate from our high school now, have been with us since kindergarten. So, this work of closing the Black achievement gap takes consistency, persistence and that has to happen over a long period of time, from the time the child is in early childhood education to and through college,” Fortune continued.

E G A L S / C L A S S I F I E D S G O H E R E

PETITION/PROBATE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: CHARLES EDWARD MCPHERSON DECEDENT CASE NO: PROVV2500398

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of CHARLES

EDWARD MCPHERSON

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by DENNIS MCPHERSON in the Superior Court of California, County of VICTORVILLE THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that: DENNIS MCPHERSON be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. 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: 1/5/2026 Time: 9:00AM Dept: V12 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 14455 Civic Drive Victorville, CA 92392 Victorville District 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. Attorney for Petitioner: DANIEL V. GOODSELL 10155 W. Twain Ave., Ste. 100 Las Vegas, NV 89147 (702)869-6261 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper December 18, 25, 2025, January 1, 2026. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME 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.

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Thursday, January 1, 2026

Page 7

THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS -LIFESTYLE/FINANCIAL NEWS

CEO reflects on 2025: A year of resilience Get Ready to Honor America’s Birthday by AFRO and relevance in Black journalism...continued Fighting for Freedom, Again By Ben Jealous still protected Black communities in the South. Much would change months later. But on the nation’s birthday, Black America was living in an era defined by hardwon freedom. That pattern would repeat a century later.

Ben Jealous America has a big birthday this year. Here’s a hint: The celebration will not feel much like the last big one in 1976. I still believe our nation’s best days are ahead. But our history— and our headlines—suggest we are facing a familiar test. Another fraught fight for freedom and democracy is already upon us. That, too, is part of a pattern. How America marks century anniversaries has looked different from how we mark the halfway points. The difference is not in the fireworks. It is whether we are expanding the idea of who belongs—or shrinking it. In 1776, the colonies declared independence from a monarchy and made a radical claim: that all men are created equal. By 1826, that promise had

narrowed, not widened. Slavery was more entrenched and brutal than at the founding. Congress outlawed the transatlantic slave trade in 1807, effective in 1808. But it did not weaken slavery. It intensified it. A vast internal slave trade tore families apart as enslaved people were sold further south to fuel cotton’s explosive growth. The nation celebrated independence while perfecting a domestic machinery of human trafficking. Another fifty years brought a different moment. In July 1876, the centennial told a more hopeful story. The party of Lincoln remained in power. The constitutional amendments guaranteeing citizenship and voting rights were part of the national narrative. Federal troops

In 1976, the Bicentennial arrived in the midst of desegregation. The mood was reflective. Protest was understood as American. Reconstruction was no longer erased. The country celebrated what many called a second Reconstruction. But in 1926—America’s 150th birthday—the pattern broke the other way. The nation was in the grip of xenophobic, antisemitic, and racist backlash. White supremacist organizations wielded real political power. Racial violence and intimidation were facts of daily life. Antisemitic conspiracy theories were mass-produced. AntiCatholic campaigns targeted Irish, Italian, and eastern European immigrants. All of it was wrapped in the language of “100 percent Americanism.” Let me be clear how far this rot went. Henry Ford spread antisemitic conspiracies through the newspaper he owned. Black veterans feared wearing their uniforms in public. The Klan was ascendant on anti-immigrant hate. Mainstream newspapers depicted Catholic immigrants as inherently criminal and dangerous to American society.

rise, antisemitic tropes revived, Islamophobia inflamed. All in parallel. All dressed up as patriotism. But history offers more than warning. It offers instruction. In 1926, the civil rights movement did something harder and more powerful than protest alone. It organized the nation’s conscience. Leaders claimed the ideals of the American Revolution not as nostalgia, but as goals the country was obligated to reach. They defined American patriotism as expanding freedom. They warned that those who would turn Americans into subjects— through violence, exclusion, or fear—were the real threat to the founding ideals. They called on their neighbors to build America up, not tear her down. That was not naïveté. It was strategy. It worked. Not overnight. But over time. Fifty years after 1926 came 1976. Fifty years hence, if the pattern holds, America can be in a better place. The question is not whether history bends. It is who does the bending.

The sesquicentennial did not create these forces. It amplified them. Which brings us to now.

America’s great birthdays do not measure how free we think we are. They measure how seriously we take the work undone. If we honor this birthday by recommitting to the fight for freedom—by widening democracy, not shrinking it; by confronting hate, not tolerating it—this celebration can become a hinge, not a warning. Because realizing America’s promise is always the mission.

If history is a guide, America’s 250th birthday will feel more like 1926 than 1976. The same currents are visible: immigrants from historically Catholic nations cast as threats, racism on the

Ben Jealous is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, former president of the NAACP, and a direct descendant of the youngest combatant at the Battle of Lexington and Concord.

AFRO CEO reflects on 2025: A year of resilience and relevance in Black journalism by Frances Toni Draper AFRO Publisher

Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper is CEO and publisher of AFRO News. This week, she reflects on the challenges and triumphs of 2025. Credit: Photo courtesy of Johns Hopkins University / Will Kirk

As we close the pages on 2025, we do so clear-eyed about the moment we are living in and grounded in the responsibility we carry. Journalism, especially Black journalism, is not simply about recounting events. It is about memory, witness and insisting that what happens in our communities is neither disposable nor distortable. This year, we wrote about what was happening to us and around us, locally and nationally, urgently and thoughtfully. We wrote about symbols and stories—coins and monuments, museums and memory—and the quiet but consequential decisions about whose history is preserved and whose is questioned. We defended Black institutions, including the African American Museum of History and Culture, because history is not a luxury

item. It is infrastructure. We wrote about violence in places that should be sacred and safe: shootings on college campuses, in schools and in sanctuaries. We wrote not to sensationalize pain, but to refuse its normalization. We insisted that safety, dignity and peace are not unreasonable expectations. We wrote about children, not only their protection but their preparation—about teaching financial literacy early, and about Black health, because freedom and wellness are inseparable. We examined disparities in maternal health, chronic disease, mental health, access to care and environmental conditions, understanding that health is a policy issue, an economic issue and a community issue. We wrote about elders, honoring them and listening to them, and

about Black cemeteries and the fight for recognition and dignity in death, because respect does not expire when life ends. We wrote about Black businesses, lifting them up and naming economic realities plainly. Ownership still matters. Circulation of dollars still matters. Community economics remain community survival. We wrote about culture and conduct—about joy and accountability—not to police Blackness, but to affirm that how we show up still carries meaning, especially for the next generation watching closely. And yes, we wrote about sports, because community is also built through shared pride. We reflected on the longevity of LeBron James’ career, celebrated progress in sports where representation has lagged, including a milestone NHL Draft with 10 Black players selected. We marked defining cultural moments—from Beyoncé’s Album of the Year win at the Grammy Awards to Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance— affirming that Black creativity continues to set the standard. We wrote close to home, because Baltimore and Washington are not footnotes to the national story; they are often where it becomes real first. We carefully covered Baltimore City and Washington, D.C. government, including the leadership of Brandon M. Scott and Muriel Bowser, as well as

the work of Gov. Wes Moore, the only sitting Black governor in the nation. We reported honestly on public safety while acknowledging progress. Baltimore’s crime rates moved in the right direction this year, reminding us that accountability, community effort and smart policy matter. We covered hundreds of social, civic, faith-based and community events and organizations, because everyday people doing faithful work rarely make headlines, yet they are the backbone of our cities. And we did not only report on our community—we gathered with it. We paraded at our annual High Tea, recognized veterans and Department of Public Works employees, convened Who’s Who in Black Baltimore, hosted our Juneteenth Breakfast, Salute to Veterans and Black Business Matters Expo events and marked moments that strengthened community ties. We also celebrated legacy in distinctive ways, producing a 24-page commemorative ebook honoring the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes and the inaugural Preakness Festival, capturing not only a historic sporting moment, but Baltimore’s place within it. 2025 was a consequential year for journalism and the free press, particularly for the Black Press, as independence, truth and trust were

continued in next 2 columns

tested in new and familiar ways. We wrote about voting rights under renewed attack, about the rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion, and about how a threeletter acronym was deliberately turned into a four-letter word. We wrote about the damage done when leadership traffics in cruelty, especially toward women, and how language from the top shapes culture below. We encountered a moment that crystallized much of this: a potential advertiser suggested that our name—standing for Black truth and self-definition for more than a century—might need to change to earn their support. We declined. Survival without integrity is not sustainability. We also paused to mark loss, reflecting on elders like Viola Fletcher, Assata Shakur and H. Rap Brown. We also took time to honor the passing of cultural icons such as Angie Stone and Sly Stone. Throughout the year, we shared glimpses from our extensive archives, work continuing through AFRO Charities, which is preserving and expanding access to irreplaceable Black history. Preservation is resistance. We also continued to build forward technologically. We expanded our digital footprint across Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Nextdoor, and Apple News. We extended video coverage, deepened audio storytelling through podcasts such as The Chicken Boxx, and for many stories on AFRO.com, readers can now listen as well as read. As we embrace responsible uses of artificial intelligence, we are enhancing storytelling, accessibility, archiving, audience engagement and efficiency— without compromising accuracy or

trust. Technology is not replacing journalism at the AFRO, it is strengthening it. That work did not go unnoticed. This year, our journalists, photographers, editors, designers and digital teams earned multiple local and national journalism awards, and the AFRO was named among the nation’s top Black news outlets on Feedspot’s curated lists—affirmation of the excellence our staff brings to this work every day. Above all, we are grateful to God. We have come this far by faith, sustained by purpose and perseverance. None of this happens without people.

We thank our writers, columnists, photographers, editors, designers, social media, video, digital, sales, business and administrative teams; our board members and shareholders; our advertisers and sponsors; and our partners, including the National Newspaper Publishers Association and Word In Black. And to our readers and subscribers, thank you. You are not passive consumers. You are partners. 2025 marked our 133rd year of publication, and our 133 for 133 campaign reflects that milestone—133 years of uninterrupted Black-owned journalism—and what it will take to sustain this work for generations to come. It is not about nostalgia. It is about necessity. If this year affirmed anything, it is that journalism still matters. Local journalism matters. Black journalism matters. Still here. Still writing. Still standing.

OP-ED: The 50-Year Mortgage Is a Trap, not a Path to Black Wealth By Constance Carter/Wealth Advocate

Einstein called compound interest the eighth wonder of the world. Those who understand it earn it. Those who do not pay it. That is why the Trump administration is floating a 50-year mortgage. They are betting that we will not see the true cost. He, him, and they are framing this as a path to affordability. But let me show you what it really is. 30-year mortgage: Payment: $2,792 per month Total interest: $586,332 50-year mortgage: Payment: $2,527 per month Total interest: $1,095,029 You save about $265 a month but pay an extra $508,697 in interest. Half a million dollars. That’s not a discount. It is a trap. Stretching a loan across five decades hands banks hundreds of thousands of dollars that will never circulate through our families or build our wealth. The numbers don’t lie. The median age of a first-time homebuyer in 2025 is 40, according to the National Association of Realtors. If a 40-year-old signs a 50-year mortgage, they will not own their home until they are 90. Ninety years old. You will be renting from a bank for half a century. This is not what the 30-year mortgage was designed to do. When the 30-year mortgage gained popularity in the 1950s, the average home was priced

around $7,354, and the typical interest rate was about 4 percent. One income could support a family and pay a mortgage. The mortgage system we are being asked to trust today was never designed with our interests in mind. From 1934 to the 1960s, the Federal Housing Administration refused to insure mortgages for Black families, calling it an “economically sound” policy. This helped establish the red lines on maps that labeled Black neighborhoods as “too risky.” Even Black veterans who served in World War II were denied access to GI Bill home loans that helped white families build generational wealth. Black families were just as qualified to buy those affordable homes but were denied access. White families purchased homes for $7,000 in the 1950s that are now worth $300,000 to $400,000. That appreciation built the white middle class. Black families were locked out by design. If they move forward with the 50-year mortgage plan, workingclass Black families in particular will feel the impact first, depleting the wealth we have accumulated despite all the barriers we’ve faced. Prices are high. Rates are high. Affordability is at its lowest point in decades. We need two incomes, side hustles, credit stacking, and divine intervention to compete with institutional investors and inflated housing prices. A 50-year mortgage does not solve this. It expands the burden by creating the illusion of affordability and traps people in a cycle of debt for life.

continued on page 8


Thursday, January 1, 2026

Page 8

THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS -LOCAL/NATIONAL NEWS/ADVERTISING

MacKenzie Scott: A Philanthropy of the Spirit in an Age of Abandonment By Stacy M. Brown

There are moments in history when a single act of generosity reveals the moral decay of an entire nation. MacKenzie Scott’s $38 million gift to Alabama State University, the largest in its 158year history, is such a moment. It is not merely a financial transaction, nor the casual benevolence of the wealthy. It is a moral indictment against a society that has grown indifferent to the suffering of its Black citizens, against a government that starves their schools, and against a class of newly rich who have forgotten the communal obligations of success. Dr. Quinton T. Ross Jr., the university’s president, called it a defining moment for Alabama State, and indeed it is. His words ring with the gratitude of those who have built excellence in the face of deprivation. “Ms. Scott’s generosity affirms Alabama State University’s reputation as a catalyst for excellence and innovation in higher education,” he said. But her act is more than affirmation. It is a resurrection, and a call to remember that Black institutions remain the crucibles of America’s moral and intellectual power. In recent weeks, Scott has dispersed her fortune with quiet conviction. Seventy million to the United Negro College Fund to strengthen endowments across thirty-seven member schools; sixty-three million to Morgan State University, her second gift to that campus in less than five years; and one hundred and one million combined to Morgan

The 1st AACTA Awards were presented at the Sydney Opera House on 31 January 2012. The ceremony was preceded by a luncheon at the Westin Hotel in Sydney on 15 January 2012. (Wikimedia Commons / Photo by Eva Rinaldi) State and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in a span of days. Her giving, unshackled by stipulations or vanity, stands in luminous contrast to an era defined by greed and indifference. The plutocracy that dominates modern life often extracts from the many to enrich the few. Scott reverses that equation. She does not donate to dominate. She gives to repair. Her wealth, born of corporate conquest, has become the instrument of restoration. It stands as a redemption, perhaps, of what

New Math By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Everton Blair Jr. says the first place he learned how power works was not in Washington, but inside the classrooms where he grew up. Those same schools, Blair says, once labeled him a problem child. Later, he was labeled gifted. “Same kid, same brain, different labels,” Blair said during his appearance on “Let It Be Known.” “And I watched how those labels determined who got investments and who got written off.” Now, as Blair launches his bid for Congress in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, that lived experience is colliding with new national momentum. Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has endorsed Blair, giving the 32-year-old educator a high-profile boost as he challenges long-serving Rep. David Scott in a safe Democratic seat. “Everton Blair is a deeply caring servant leader with big ideas and a record of getting things done,” Patrick said. “I had the privilege of getting to know Everton as a graduate student of mine at Harvard and am excited for the fresh leadership he brings. As an educator, problem-solver, and public servant, Everton understands that politics is about expanding opportunity and dignity for everyone, not just the

powerful or those who already agree with him.” Blair said the endorsement reinforces the central question of his campaign. In a district where Democrats dominate general elections, he argues, voters are deciding what kind of leadership they want, not which party controls the seat. Blair’s campaign is anchored in education, affordability, and generational accountability. He often points to his journey, returning home to teach high school math to students who distrusted systems but trusted him. “They pushed themselves because for once the system was working with them, not against them,” Blair said. Still, Blair says classrooms alone cannot counter federal policies that drain resources from public education. He has criticized President Donald Trump’s push to dismantle the Department of Education and reduce funding for already underresourced schools. “That doesn’t just hurt some office in Washington,” Blair said. “It hurts the kid in the back of the classroom in this district who just needs one chance and one adult to succeed.” Blair has expanded that continued in next 2 columns

that very system has broken. One cannot ignore the symbolism of her actions. At a time when the federal government withholds support from historically Black institutions, when affirmative action has been dismantled, and when diversity programs are vilified, a white woman from the highest ranks of privilege has become the single most consistent benefactor of Black education in the nation. It is as though she has seen, from her rarefied vantage point, what America refuses to see: that the progress of its Black citizens is

not a charity, but the measure of its own civilization. Yet even as she gives, others remain silent. The silence of Black wealth resounds across the land. It is a silence that mocks the very principles of uplift once preached from our pulpits and classrooms. Attorney Benjamin Crump’s call to the wealthy—“If you’ve been blessed, you got to pass the blessing on”—echoes unanswered. The great sons and daughters of our race who have ascended to fortune, those who built empires on the faith of our people, turn their eyes away from

New Math...continued argument to housing and cost-ofliving pressures reshaping Metro Atlanta. Standing in downtown Snellville, where $140 million is being poured into redevelopment, Blair questioned who benefits. “If you’re a teacher, a nurse, or an Uber driver, after groceries, gas, and childcare, how much is really left at the end of the month?” Blair said. “Affordability is about whether you can pay the rent and still afford one meal with friends.” Blair is running against Scott, who has represented the district since 2003 and is now in his 12th term. Scott has not said whether he will seek reelection and did not respond to requests for comments. He has faced questions about his health and attendance, missing weeks of votes last year during treatment for back issues.

during the COVID pandemic. He also served as a White House fellow under President Barack Obama, focusing on expanding educational opportunities for Black Americans. He holds a PhD in education from Harvard and a master’s degree from Stanford. In a recent op-ed, Blair argued that leadership renewal strengthens democracy rather than weakens it. Districts, he wrote, are changing faster than Congress, and representation must keep pace with economic, technological, and social realities. Patrick echoed that view, saying voters in Georgia’s 13th District deserve a representative who is present and prepared. “In a moment when our classrooms, our economy, and our democracy are under real

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the institutions that birthed them. They forget the hands that lifted them from obscurity. They forget that their wealth is not solely their own, but part of the moral economy of a people who have suffered together and triumphed together. The Black Press, like the HBCUs, stands as an unbroken monument to endurance. It has spoken truth through lynchings, wars, and betrayals. Yet it now faces extinction not from white suppression alone, but from the neglect of its own. “If the Black Press falls,” Crump warned, “so

does the record of our struggle, our triumph, and our faith.” Scott’s philanthropy, then, is not simply about money. It is about memory. The moral memory of a nation that has forgotten the debt it owes to those it once enslaved and now ignores. In her giving, she restores something elemental, the belief that one’s prosperity is meaningless if it does not lift others. W.E.B. Du Bois wrote of the “double consciousness” that afflicts the Negro in America, the struggle to see oneself through the eyes of a world that despises you. Today, the irony is reversed. America must learn to see itself through the eyes of those it has wronged. MacKenzie Scott, for all her privilege, seems to have glimpsed that truth. She gives the impression that she has looked into the soul of the republic and found it wanting. Her actions do not absolve the sins of this nation. They reveal them. And in revealing them, they offer a path, not of atonement, but of accountability. For every dollar she gives to rebuild a school, there are a thousand more that others with power might give but will not. One woman has chosen conscience over complacency. The question that remains is whether the rest of America—Black and white alike—will choose to follow her example or remain comfortable in the quiet decay of its own moral poverty.

OP-ED: The 50-Year Mortgage Is a Trap, not a Path to Black Wealth...continued from page 7 Think about retirement. The average Social Security check is about $1,900 a month. Even if the program still exists in its current form by the time today’s buyers reach retirement age, how will they manage a $2,500 to $3,000 mortgage and still afford food, medicine, and basic living costs? A 50-year mortgage pushes Black homeowners into a future where retirement is impossible, which is its own form of bondage. Bondage is debt you cannot escape. Bondage is owing a bank money until the day you die. The data on Black wealth is already alarming. A report from Prosperity Now and the Institute for Policy Studies predicts that by 2053, the median wealth of Black Americans will fall to zero if trends do not change. A 50-year mortgage moves us closer to that outcome. The legacy of housing discrimination still shapes today’s wealth divide. What we need is access, not more years added to a loan.

The real solutions are clear: Affordable housing construction. Lower interest rates. Higher wages. Down payment assistance. Regulation on hedge funds buying entire neighborhoods. Stronger consumer protections against products disguised as opportunities. A 50-year mortgage solves none of this. It solves one thing for banks. Profit. Family, do not make decisions today that will bankrupt your future. Before you sign a 50-year mortgage, ask yourself: Will I still be paying this when I am supposed to be retired? Will this help me build equity or delay it? Will this protect or drain my family’s wealth? A mortgage should be a path to ownership. We cannot build generational wealth on a foundation of generational debt.

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Blair says those concerns, combined with redistricting that brought more of Gwinnett County into the 13th District, have created an opening for new leadership. Other challengers include Jonathan Bonner, Army veteran Simeon Nunnally, and Georgia State Sen. Emanuel Jones. Blair brings a resume rooted in education and public service. In 2018, he became the youngest and first Black member elected to the Gwinnett County Board of Education, later serving as board chair

strain, America needs leaders who will show up, listen closely, and work hard to make their constituents’ lives better,” Patrick said. “The people of Georgia’s 13th District would be fortunate to have him fighting for them in the United States Congress.” Blair said the endorsement is less about titles than about accountability. “This campaign has always been about our neighbors,” Blair said. “In a district like this, the real question is whether we choose leadership that shows up and does the work.”

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