SB American News Week Ending 1/9

Vol. 49 No. 37

January 3, 2019 - January 9, 2019

This publication is a Certified DBE/ SBE / MBE in the State of California CUCP #43264 Metro File #7074 & State of Texas File #802505971 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 words or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they suppress. —Fredrick Douglass (1849)

First Member of Congress Calls for Trump’s Resignation Amid Month of Chaos

Editor in Chief’s Corner Email: sbamericannews@gmail.com Clifton Harris Publisher of The San Bernardino AMERICAN News

Gov. Jerry Brown orders new tests in quadruple-murder case of death row inmate Kevin Cooper ByALENETCHEKMEDYIAN

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor

Kevin Cooper, center, was convicted in 1985 of killing four people and sentenced to death. Years after the trial, experts and critics have raised doubts about whether authorities sent the right person to prison. (Associated Press)

Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) (Photo: YouTube) On Christmas Eve, Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore became the first sitting member of Congress to demand that President Donald Trump resign from the presidency. She made her comments as the Dow dove 500 points on December 24 in worst Christmas Eve trading day ever. As of Christmas, the market was on track to suffer its worst December since the Great Depression. “Some of this money for the doggone wall, I wish they would put into places like Flint and Milwaukee,” said Rep. Moore during the interview. The Congresswoman worked to secure millions of dollars to remove lead from America’s water infrastructure. During an interview on the Scott Dworkin report, Rep. Moore

said that President Trump “resigning is a dignified way for him to leave as opposed to being impeached or as opposed to being indicted or having the 25th amendment evoked. It’s really a very palliative approach to ask him to just go quietly and spare us all this pain.” December 2018 featured a turbulent series of events around the 45th President. His Secretary of Defense, retired Marine General James Mattis, resigned. The White House Chief of Staff, John Kelly, set a time for his departure. The federal government partly shut down as Trump reportedly became angry with a budget bill that didn’t include billions in funding for a wall at the U.S. and Mexican border. Two children died in U.S. custody as Trump Adminis-

tration policy on immigration was led by relative policy novice, Stephen Miller. Though many other members of Congress have been consistently critical of the President, Moore is now the first member of Congress to actually call for him to resign. Nine members of the House have either stated on the record that President Trump should be impeached or assisted in moving articles of impeachment to the floor of the U.S. House. The impeachment effort against Trump has been led by Rep. Al Green of Texas. In October 2017, Rep. Green drafted an impeachment resolution and articles of impeachment and attempted to have it considered on the House floor against the wishes of Demo-

cratic leadership. Rep. Green would be joined a year later by Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Marcia Fudge (DOhio). Non-CBC members Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), Steve Cohen (DTenn.), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and John Yarmuth (D-Ky.). Currently President Trump’s approval rating is only 40 percent. Democrats will take control of the U.S. House on January 3rd. Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist and writer for NNPA as well as a political analyst and strategist as Principal of Win Digital Media LLC. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

NAACP Joins Ferguson Activist in Demanding Answers in Alleged Hanging Death of Son NNPA Newswire FERGUSON, MO — As the nation moves into the Holiday season, it’s been a brutal eightweeks since that dreadful day when Ferguson-based activist Melissa McKinnies found her son Danye Jones hanging dead from a tree in her yard; eight weeks with no answer from the St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office regarding the cause of death. While reports from police say the death was reported as a “suicide,” McKinnies says no, it was a “lynching.” She believes that she and other activists who have protested police brutality, including the deaths of Michael Brown Jr., and Freddie Gray in Baltimore, have been targeted and monitored not only by racists and White Nationalists, but also agencies within the US government. She believes there was foul play in the death of her son and is calling on transparency by police. “My son was murdered, point blank,” said McKinnies. “We are demanding the Medical Examiner’s office to release its findings and demanding police investigate his death as a murder,”

Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday ordered new tests of physical evidence in the case of Kevin Cooper, whose high-profile quadruple-murder conviction three decades ago has come into question in recent years. Brown said in a statement that he was directing “limited retesting of certain physical evidence in the case and appointing a retired judge as a special master to oversee this testing, its scope and protocols.” Cooper has maintained his innocence throughout the case and has claimed that law enforcement planted evidence and ignored statements by witnesses that pointed to other possible suspects. He has lost more than a dozen appeals. Brown’s legal staff has been digging into Cooper’s 2016 clemency petition, discussing the case with both prosecutors and defense attorneys. In July, Brown said he would consider Cooper’s request to order additional forensic testing in the case. Cooper’s attorneys have said some key items recovered during the investigation were never properly tested and should be analyzed using more current DNA technology. The case dates to 1983, when three family members and an unrelated boy, 11-year-old Christopher Hughes, were found hacked and slashed to death in a Chino Hills home. The boy’s father discovered the bloodied bodies when he went to the hilltop home looking for Christopher, who had not returned from a sleepover in time for church one Sunday morning. Through the window, he discovered the bodies of Doug and Peggy Ryen, their 10-year-old daughter, Jessica, and Christopher. The victims had been stabbed a total of 143 times with an ice pick, an ax and a knife. The Ryens’ 8-year-old son, Joshua, was slashed across the throat but survived. News reports at the time said the case shook the community so powerfully that homeowners began locking their doors at night and parents no longer allowed

their children to attend sleepovers. Two days before the killings, Cooper had escaped from a prison in Chino, where he was serving a sentence for burglary. Police found ample evidence — cigarette butts, a button from a prison uniform, a leather hatchet sheath — that Cooper had spent two days in a house near the Ryens’ after his escape. He was arrested about seven weeks after the killings. At the trial, jurors heard the lone survivor give a videotaped statement that conflicted with what he had said when he was first interviewed by authorities. After Joshua Ryen was airlifted to a hospital, he told a sheriff’s deputy and a social worker that his attackers were three white men. An hour later, he said they were Latino. Later that month, the boy told a deputy that Cooper, who is black, was not the killer after he saw the man’s face on a wanted poster on television. Jurors heard him say that he saw just one man or maybe a shadow in his home. The clues at the Ryens’ unlocked home were scant: a bloody shoe print on a sheet in the master bedroom and a single drop of blood on a wall in the hallway. At his trial and throughout the appeals process, Cooper’s attorneys argued that the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department had destroyed or suppressed evidence suggesting the attackers were three white men, including a convicted contract killer. Meanwhile, Cooper repeatedly maintained his innocence. At one point, he told a prosecutor: “You’re trying to make me remember detail by detail. … I only know what I didn’t do.” Cooper was convicted and sentenced to death in 1985. In 2002, the attorney general’s office green-lighted additional DNA testing in the case. The results showed that Cooper’s DNA was on a bloody T-shirt found outside a bar near the Ryens’ home, on two cigarette butts inside the family’s stolen station wagon and in the blood droplet (continued on page 3)

Dayne Jones (Photo: Dayne Jones Facebook page) she added. The St. Louis County NAACP is joining the McKinnies family in the call for transparency and justice regarding the murder of Danye Jones. “There’s too many unanswered questions that we are demanding answers to,” said John Gaskin III, St. Louis County NAACP President. “We support Mrs. McKinnies call for justice and transparency in the death of her son.”

According to a report in the Washington Post several deaths of Ferguson Activists since 2014 have “inspired speculation that Ferguson protesters are being systematically murdered…” While the reports suggests there is no evidence yet regarding this, numerous media reports have confirmed the surveillance of Black activists by Federal agencies. Earlier this year groups Color of

Change and the Center for Constitutional Rights filed a lawsuit against DHS and the FBI regarding information on the government’s tracking of activists involved in the Movement for Black Lives. For McKinnies, the most pressing matter right now is justice regarding her son’s death. “This is about justice! All Black lives matter and so does the life of my son!”

Our Values, Mission, & Vision Statement Our Values: Treat all people with care, respect, honor, and dignity. Tell it as it is with love, truth and integrity. Promote the interests of advertisers and sponsors along their strategic interest for the betterment of the community and beyond. Speak truth to power. Our Mission: To continuously improve communication between all people of the world. Our Vision: To be the best community newspaper in our region and the nation. Provider of: A voice for the poor, the underserved, those that are marginalized, Positive and edifying news about people, places and businesses. Keep San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles Counties informed about global trends while retaining the consciousness of local events and processes. Memberships and Associations: The San Bernardino American Newspaper is a member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association, National Newspaper Association and addociated with California Black Media.

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 2

January 3, 2019

COMMUNITY/EDUCATION/ADVERTISING

Elderly Vietnam Veteran Earns Doctorate Degree By WI Web Staff

Johnnie Jones An 83-year-old man has proven it’s never too late to pursue one’s educational goals. After dropping out of school in the sixth grade, Vietnam War veteran Johnnie Jones was awarded a doctorate degree from Louisiana State University this month. But the Picayune, Miss., native won’t stop there, as he has already begun the admissions process to become an LSU law school student in the fall. “Age is an artificial constraint. There’s nothing magical about 65, 75, 95, 105,” Jones told The Advocate, a Louisiana daily. “Your behavior, your activities should be guided by your physical fitness and your mental fitness. We’ve been so socialized to believe that once you hit a certain age, I’ve done my thing, so I’m going to sit back and enjoy

life. OK, if that’s your thing, that’s your thing. But to me, age doesn’t mean that much. It’s whether or not I have the ability to be doing the things I need to be doing.” Jones’ latest achievement was also historic after he became the eldest student to receive a graduate degree during LSU’s fall commencement and the oldest Black person to ever receive an LSU degree. After retiring from the military in 1973, he earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Hawaii and went on to pursue his master’s degree at LSU. All along, he worked at a restaurant and later as a warden at the Louisiana Department of Corrections to support his family. This article originally appeared in the Washington Informer.

Beautillion Knights Season of Giving and Learning Community News

L/R: Newman Sneed, Jordan Dean-Reynoso, Zamir Subero

Bringing History Back...continued The university’s archive collection was founded in 1987 by Lester Sullivan who was the Senior Archivist at the Amistad Research Center and had come to Xavier’s campus in search of sheet music written by a slave and published in New Orleans in the year of 1880. This was first time a slave had anything published in their name, and therefore had ownership of. In 2017, Xavier University Associate Archivist, Irwin Lachoff, and Head of Collection Resources, Nancy Hampton, founded the Xavier University Archives Photographs Collection Exhibit. During the 2017 homecoming activities, this exhibit displayed photos collected over the years of unidentified people that had attended the university. Alumni that had attended were asked to identify peers from 30 to 40 photos over the course of two days. The projected amount of people they thought would be identified was 10 that year, more than 80 people had been identified. “It turned out to be a great success,” Lachoff said. “Everybody was very excited. Not only were the alumni excited about identifying their classmates, but, talking about them and reminiscing.” This year the exhibit continued and was called “Remembering and Reminiscing.” The photos on display were of images taken 20 to 30 years ago. After studying these photos, Lachoff determined that the images were taken some time in the 60s or 70s based off the clothing and hairstyles in the photos. The images also depicted images of the football team Xavier University had until 1960. “The photographs reflect Xavier at a simpler time. There are

a lot of photographs of the barn or the gymnasium where a lot of basketball games, convocation, and graduation ceremonies took place. “The yard is larger, I think, years ago at Xavier. [Here] you can see, gatherings of groups like sororities and fraternities,” said Nancy Hampton, Head of Collection Resources at Xavier’s library. This year over 100 alumni were identified from the photos displayed. Though alumni loved it, many felt that the exhibit should have more prominence in the events that showcase the institution’s history and legacy. “[I believe] the exhibit should definitely be promoted via the channels homecoming events are promoted,” said alumna, Risa Hall. The archives have now started to digitalize their collection and adding it to its website for the community to see. To date, 2400 photographs have already been added to the university library website, and about 50 percent of the collection has been arranged. In the future, current students will get to tell the story and moments that shape the history of the institution and the community. “Keep track of what you’re taking pictures of and who’s in those pictures, and why that day was significant, why you took pictures on that day,” Hampton said. “Everything is important. You don’t have to wait for a time to pass to get the information about the history of that time. You can start now collecting the information about what you’re doing and you’re creating history and living through it now,” she said. This article originally appeared in the New Orleans Data News Weekly.

L.A. Teachers’ Union Sets Jan. 10 Strike Date...continued But the union is also demanding contract language limiting class sizes; calling for more hiring of nurses, counselors and librarians; reductions in standardized testing; and accountability measures for charter schools. District officials previously said the union’s contract proposal would increase the district’s $500 million deficit during the current school year by another $813 million. In response, the union has criticized the district and Beutner, saying LAUSD has a “recordbreaking” reserve fund of about $1.8 billion that should be tapped to make improvements in school staffing. The fact-finder’s report recommended that the district allocate funds — estimated by the district at $30 million — to reduce class sizes and hire more nurses, librarians and counselors. It also calls for the creation of a working group so the district and UTLA can develop contract language relating to class sizes. “There is no doubt that the union’s demands at this point are expensive and the parties are not in agreement on how to cost this item, which will be key to its reso-

lution,” the fact-finder’s report said. “My recommendation for settlement involves the dedication of a percentage of money to be used for the employment of teachers and other staff to reduce class size and provide additional student access to the services of librarians, nurses and professional staff.” The district and UTLA have each accused the other of badfaith bargaining in recent months, with each filing complaints with the state Public Employment Relations Board. Caputo-Pearl said the union would be filing another one against the district stemming from the purported agreement on a 6 percent salary hike. On Dec. 17, the board issued a complaint against UTLA, saying the union had “failed and refused to bargain in good faith.” The complaint states that the union had repeatedly altered its positions — including once by withdrawing its acceptance of proposed language on “substitute and half-time leaves” and in other instances by adding new language on local school decisionmaking and bi-literacy programs. This article originally appeared in the Wave Newspapers.

African Americans Join MeWe, The #1 Trending Social Network, In Response To NAACP’s Facebook Boycott MeWe CEO Outraged at Facebook for Targeting Black Users to Suppress Their Votes Community Education News

L.A. Teachers’ Union Sets Jan. 10 Strike Date By Wave Wire Services

L/R: Zamir Subero Jordan Dean-Reynoso (Santa), Neuman Sneed and Marshon Smith (Not Featured: Syree RuckerSpears, Tynan Currie, and Joseph Mills) The Social Lites, Inc. Beautillion Knights spent Christmas Eve at a local mission in the city of San Bernardino volunteering their time in bringing good cheer to all. These young men were happy to lend a helping hand which included folding clothes, stacking shoes, organizing toys to be donated to the community and preparing food to be distributed to those with food insecurities. Beautillion Knights were spotted on December 22, 2018 helping with the community Christmas Party for kids of all ages at the American Legion Post 710. Volunteer work included distributing over 80 bikes, some bikes donated by the Social Lites, Inc. and other organizations. This annual Toy GiveAway sponsored by the San Bernardino American Legion Post 710 bought tears and cheers to so many children. Parents too! Complimentary lunch was provided to over 150 guests to put the bow on this annual event in bringing

community together. This holiday season for these young men included attending a Kwanzaa event at Carter High School in Rialto, California on December 14, 2018. It was an evening for these your men to learn the history of Kwanzaa and the seven principles or “Nguzo Saba” set of ideals created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 before they were born. Each day of Kwanzaa emphasizes a different principle. Great for these young men to experience the season of giving and learning in their community in which they live and serve. The Beautillion program will commence on March 30, 2019 at the National Orange Show of San Bernardino. For more information, please telephone chairperson, Mrs. Tina Darling at knight.beautillion@gmail.com or Ms. Joyce Smith, President at (909) 881-5841 or Ms. Bettye Brewster, Business Manager, (951) 204-0022.

Bringing History Back By La’Shance Perry

The University Center was filled to capacity with alumni and students eager to participate in homecoming activities. Set up in the middle of all the commotion, Xavier University’s library archives team had a rare treat. They displayed photos of unidentified individuals dating almost 30 years back. This special collection consisted of images from photographers taken over the years, the earliest photograph in the collection dates back to 1921, and the

collection has pre-Katrina images up until 2000. The first university photographer was Arthur P. Bedou and is best known for his work as a personal photographer to Booker T. Washington, where he documented campus life at the Tuskegee Institute. The collection currently contains 150 photographs of Bedou’s and 400 photographs of his time at Xavier. The archives hold almost 8,000 photos in total. (continued in next 2 columns)

LOS ANGELES — After nearly two years of failed negotiations, mediation and fact-finding sessions, the union representing 33,000 Los Angeles Unified School District teachers announced Dec. 19 it will go on strike Jan. 10 unless an 11th-hour labor deal is reached. United Teachers Los Angeles President Alex Caputo-Pearl said there has been no movement from the district on key issues for months, and the union has reached the point of “enough is enough.” He said the union has “not accepted the district’s offer to go back to the table.” “We’re not going to go back and do what we’ve already done for 20 months and sustain more disrespect,” he said. Caputo-Pearl said the union will strike “unless we see an addressing of the crucial issues that shape education,” such as class sizes, hiring of nurses and counselors, “common-sense regulation” on charter schools and reductions in standardized testing. If the union does walk out, it will be the first LAUSD teachers strike since 1989. The announcement came one day after the release of a factfinder’s report that sparked more verbal jawing between UTLA and the district. The fact-finding report recommended adoption of a 6 percent salary increase, with 3 percent retroactive to July 1, 2017, and the other 3 percent retroactive to July 1, 2018. The LAUSD issued a statement Dec. 18 saying the teachers’ union “has agreed to the 6 percent salary raise” and suggesting the agreement on that issue “can provide the basis for a reasonable settlement of the re-

maining items.” Later that afternoon, however, UTLA issued a response insisting “no agreement — salary or otherwise — has been reached between UTLA and LAUSD.” Caputo-Pearl reiterated that stance the next day, accusing LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner of engaging in “stunts.” “He continues to try to bargain through the media,” Caputo-Pearl said. “He claims offers were made that were never made. He even said we agreed on a salary that we didn’t.” According to the district, the union had twice communicated acceptance of the 6 percent salary offer included in the fact-finding report — once by a union representative on the fact-finding panel and again through a UTLA Facebook post saying that a massive union march in downtown Los Angeles Dec. 15 was held to demand, in part, “a 6 percent pay raise.” “Los Angeles Unified remains committed to bargaining with UTLA and believes the fact finder report can provide the basis for reasonable settlement of the remaining items and hopes UTLA will engage in good-faith bargaining to find an agreement,” the district’s statement said. “Los Angeles Unified does not want a strike — which only UTLA can authorize — as a strike would harm students, families and communities most in need.” UTLA officials have repeatedly stressed that salary is only one part of the contract dispute. The union had been pushing for a 6.5 percent pay increase retroactive to July 1, 2016. (continued in next 2 columns)

Los Angeles, CA -- Thousands of African Americans have left Facebook and joined MeWe, the Next-Gen Social Network. Your race, religion, politics and sexual orientation are none of MeWe's business. Unlike Facebook, MeWe does not share or sell its members' data, and members are never targeted. Facebook has shown a remarkable and egregious bias against African Americans by allowing political ads targeting African Americans aimed to suppress their votes. "I strongly support the NAACP's week-long Log Out Protest," says MeWe CEO, Mark Weinstein. "It's important that we all send a message to Facebook that their egregious practices and betrayal of African American users are unacceptable." In December, MeWe has ranked multiple days as the #1 Trending Social App in the Google Play Store. MeWe is adding over 30,000 new members daily, and its 400% annual growth is completely organic - the company is running no advertisements. MeWe has no ads, no spyware, no political bias, and no newsfeed manipulation. MeWe is advised by the inventor of the web, Sir Tim BernersLee, and CEO Weinstein is a leading privacy advocate and social

media pioneer. "African Americans and people from all walks of life worldwide are joining MeWe," says Weinstein, "because they've had enough BS from Facebook and the other current mainstream social media sites. MeWe has no racial bias, no political bias, no ads, no newsfeed manipulation, and no spyware. MeWe members are customers to serve, not data to sell and target. MeWe is a social network for the world that has a remarkable suite of features people love. MeWe's rapid growth reflects the demand people have for a social site and leadership team they can love and trust." MeWe has been awarded StartUp of the Year Finalist for Innovative World Technology at SXSW, and honored as one of the Best Entrepreneurial Companies In America by Entrepreneur Magazine. MeWe was recently listed the #1 Facebook Alternative on Zero Hedge. MeWe members are protected by the company's "Privacy Bill of Rights", which provides total control over what they share and full ownership of their content and data. MeWe's TOS reigns in any bad actors. MeWe is "free forever" with a robust freemium revenue model and generates enterprise revenue from MeWePRO.

The San Bernardino AMERICAN News Staff Samuel Martin Sr.-Founder Clifton Harris/Editor in Chief/Investigative Reporter Mary Martin-Harris/Editor Clifton B. Harris/Audio Engineering Editor Legal /Display Advertising & Sales (909) 889-7677 The San Bernardino American News was established May 8,1969. A legally adjudicated newspaper of general circulation on September 30, 1971, case number 153913 by the Superior Court, of San Bernardino County. The San Bernardino AMERICAN News, a division of Don Roberto Group, Inc. is published every Thursday by Mary Martin-Harris and Clifton Harris P.O. Box 837 Victorville, CA 92393, Telephone (909)889-7677, Emails: msbamericannews@gmail.com sbamericannews@gmail.com The San Bernardino AMERICAN News subscription rate is $58.00 per year. The San Bernardino AMERICAN New is committed to serving its readers by presenting news, unbiased and objective, trusting in the mature judgment of the readers and, in so doing strive to achieve a united community. 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.

Visit Us Online: www.SB-American.com

PAGE 3

January 3, 2019

WORLD GOVERNMENT/BUSINESS/ADVERTISING

Meet The Genius Whose Revolutionary Payroll System Could Prevent Future Government Shutdowns Retired postal employee, Larry Pinson Sr., sheds light on the complicated, ancient systems the government still practices today. Business/Consumer News

Larry Pinson, founder of the CHAPPS payroll system, with the legendary Jane Fonda Maywood, IL (BlackNews.com) -- The pay system used by the United States Postal Service and many other government agencies has become outdated in a sense that technological advancements of today is no longer compatible with the slow-paced practices from decades ago. Unfortunately, the postal system of America has seen no change in the processes they use in recording clockable

hours and converting this to employee income. Larry Pinson Sr. took the initiative to create an organized system that can be better understood by the ones who are using it. In his book CHAPPS: Clockable Hours Application Process and Pay System, he explains how postal employees are being paid unfairly in the current system, and it shouldn't be the case if

Race in America: 1968 - 2018, in 50 years, how far have we really come? Ceci Leonard ceciliae@vt.edu via prnewswire.com December 26, 2018 -- As 2018 comes to an end, we close out a 50 year period that began with the tumultuous 1968. This was the year Martin Luther King, Jr was assassinated; the year the Fair Housing Act passed; the year the Kerner Commision report revealed the cause of riots; and the same year John Carlos and Tommie Smith gave the Black Power salute at the Olympics. 50 year serves as a great opportunity to look back and see how far race in America has come and according to Race and Social Policy Research Center Director, Wornie Reed, “the bottom line is that we have not come very far, if at all, since 1968.” Reed notes “Unfortunately, the data show that with all of this progress on the electoral front there was little if any relative improvement in the lives of African Americans. In fact, with the gutting of the Voting Rights Act by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013, made 2018 one of the the worst years for voter suppression of African Americans and other minorities since 1968.” Quoting Reed Poverty: “This year marked the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s Poor People’s Campaign when MLK put his life on the line to start a very aggressive push to force the country to address the issue of poverty. He said, “I choose to identify with the underprivileged. I choose to identify with the poor. I choose to give my life for the hungry. I choose to give my life for those who have been left out…This is the way I’m going.” We called the rate of poverty an outrage then. It is worse now. The numbers and proportions of people in poverty in the United States have increased since 1968.” Housing: “In 2008 the National Commission on Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, co-chaired by former Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretaries, Democrat Henry Cisneros and Republican Jack Kemp, investigated the state of fair housing. To assess progress since the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the Commission held hearings for six months in five major cities. They concluded that ongoing discriminatory practices in the nation’s housing and lending markets continued to produce residential segregation.” “Despite this bipartisan assess-

ment, the current Administration is scaling back fair housing enforcement and moving to make it more difficult to find patterns of discriminatory or predatory lending. They have passed legislation to exempt banks from their obligation to collect and provide data routinely collected on their lending processes.” Economics: “The Great Recession of 2007-8 was far worse for African Americans. Black homeowners had a higher percentage of their wealth tied up in home equity, and they were much more likely to be victims of predatory lending during the housing boom. Blacks and Latinos were more than twice as likely as comparable whites to receive highcost loans. African-Americans have lost over half of their wealth since the beginning of the recession through falling homeownership rates and loss of jobs.” “African American families are continuing to fall behind whites in building wealth -- how much a family has in savings, investments, real estate, and cash, less any debts. White family wealth was seven times greater than black family wealth in 2016. Despite some fluctuations over the past five decades, this disparity is as high or higher than was in 1963.” “Further, there has been no reduction in labor market discrimination. At the Race and Social Policy Research Center at Virginia Tech, we analyzed the income of all black and white full-time workers in the United States between 1967 and 2005. Controlling for education, we found that for every dollar a white worker earned in 1967 a black worker earned 65 cents. In 2005 a black work earned 66 cents for every dollar that a white person earned, not a real increase.” Sports: “During the last 50 years African Americans have become even more prominent in sports, with four current stars arguably considered the best of all time in their respective sports: Simone Biles in gymnastics, Serena Williams in Tennis, Tiger Woods in golf, and Lebron James in Basketball. Nevertheless, just like in 1968 black athletes are protesting racial discrimination. Two years ago Colin Kaepernick took a knee to protest the disproportionate use of police force against African American males and related (continued in next 2 columns)

people are more aware of how each hour of their work is being commissioned. He also includes information and explanation on non-scheduled days, part-time flexis, overtimes, night differentials, leaves, holidays, and much more. The best part is that CHAPPS is not only limited to the US postal system. Government employees,

like city and county staff, teachers, police officers, firemen, public transportation employees, as well as private sector business could benefit with what Larry Pinson proposes in his instructional book. CHAPPS: Clockable Hours and Application Process and Pay System is available for purchase on Amazon and BarnesandNobl

Unpaid U.S. government workers advised to negotiate their bills "I would consider closing the southern border a 'profit-making operation,'" President Donald Trump said Friday in a tweet about the ongoing shutdown. By Nicholas Sakelaris

Unpaid U.S. government workers advised to negotiate their bills...continued Trump wants for a barrier wall along 500 miles of the U.S.Mexico border. The House approved a funding bill last week that included money for the wall, but the Senate did not. "We will be forced to close the Southern Border entirely if the Obstructionist Democrats do not give us the money to finish the Wall," Trump tweeted Friday. "I would consider closing the Southern Border a 'profit making operation,'" he continued. "We build a Wall or close the Southern Border. ... Either we build (finish) the Wall or we close the Border." "We arrived at this moment because President Trump has been on a remarkable two-week temper tantrum," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said this week. Congress met Thursday to try to broker a solution, but didn't reach an agreement. Lawmakers won't reconvene until Monday, the last day of 2018.

Some credit unions are offering loans for federal employees facing financial uncertainty. FedChoice Federal Credit Union is offering low-interest loans, skipped payments and waived fees. USAA Bank sent relief information to federal workers it believes are being affected, and Navy Federal Credit Union offers a relief program with zero-interest loans. "Our members deserve peace of mind during a government shutdown, and eligible members can register to get some relief," Navy Federal Senior Vice President Tynika Wilson said in a statement. "Public service is a defining characteristic of our membership and this is the right thing to do." Read more: https:// www.upi.com/Top_News/US/ 2018/12/28/Unpaid-US-government-workers-advised-to-negotiate-their-bills/9971545995636/ #ixzz5b1UtDXq8

#BFF More Than a Best Friend for Black Women Entrepreneurs in Tech By George Kevin Jordan

#BFF Founders Sibyl Edwards, Erin Horne McKinney and Melissa L. Bradley. The hashtag #BFF is widely known as “Best Friends Forever,” but now for many entrepreneurs it’s a ray of hope. According to information from “digitalundivided,” an organization that helps Black and Latinx women move their businesses from idea to execution, there are 6,691 women at the helm of funded startups. Black women made up less than 4% of that number in 2017, according to the data.

The Site explained that since 2009, Black women–led startups have raised $289MM in venture/ angel funding, with a significant portion of that raised in 2017. However that is only .0006% of the $424.7 billion in total tech venture funding raised since 2009. Black Female Founders, is an organization by and for Black women business leaders to help them navigate the amazing and (continued on page 6)

Gov. Jerry Brown orders new tests in quadruplemurder case of death row inmate Kevin Cooper...continued from page 1 A closed sign is seen in front of The National Archives Building due to the government shutdown on Friday in Washington, D.C. Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The federal government is advising employees who are not getting paid during the shutdown to negotiate their bills with their creditors. About 420,000 federal employees are required to work without pay during the shutdown, which is likely to continue into the new year next week. The remaining 380,000 will not work and won't get paid. Typically, these federal employees get back pay at the end of shutdowns, but the reimbursement doesn't help them cover expenses now. The Office of Personnel Man-

agement tweeted a sample letter Thursday as a guide for furloughed workers to negotiate lower payments during the shutdown, which started Saturday. "I am a federal employee who has recently been furloughed due to a lack of funding of my agency," the sample letter reads. "Because of this, my income has been severely cut and I am unable to pay the entire cost of my monthly payments, along with my other expenses." The impasse hinges on billions of dollars President Donald (continued in next 2 columns)

Race in America: 1968 - 2018, in 50 years, how far have we really come?...continued issues, That protest was joined by other African American athletes, in football and other sports. And some of it continues.” Kerner Commission Report: “One month before Martin Luther King was assassinated, the Kerner Commission released its report. This Presidential commission investigated the riots and disorders of the mid-1960s and reported what MLK called a “physician’s warning of approaching death, with a prescription for life.” The Commission offered the most forthright analysis and discussion of the racial situation in America that has ever been done by a high-level commission or committee.” “The Kerner Commission stated that “White racism is essentially responsible for the explosive mixture which has been accumulating in our cities since the end of World War II.” And they continued, “What white Americans have never fully understood but what the Negro can never forget—is that white society is deeply im-

plicated in the ghetto. White institutions created it, white institutions maintain it, and white society condones it.”” “The Kerner Commission concluded that the United States had three options for dealing with the situation. One was to do nothing, which was not acceptable. A second option was to work on improving black ghettoes, which was useful but not desirable. The third was to integrate cities, suburbs, and transportation to workplaces (factories and plants). Many Americans thought we would choose the third option and be on our way to a better America. However, one month later Martin Luther King was assassinated, blacks rioted all over America, and the narrative changed—from correcting what white society had wrought to blaming it all on the problematic culture of black folks. To this day we have not overcome the political and policy effects of that narrative.”

inside the home. But the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals intervened eight hours before Cooper’s execution in 2004 to order more tests on the T-shirt. Tests later revealed that Cooper’s blood stains on the Tshirt had a high concentration of the chemical EDTA, which is used to preserve blood samples in police labs. Cooper’s attorney argued that the blood was planted. The San Bernardino County district attorney’s office sent a 94page memo to Brown in May refuting Cooper’s arguments and vehemently opposing any grant of clemency. Also on Monday, Brown issued 143 pardons and 131 commutations as part of his traditional Christmas Eve act of clemency. Most of those granted clemency had been convicted of drug crimes or other nonviolent offenses. Among them is Dawn Heather Steels, now known as Heather Burnett, who in 1999 was convicted of possession of ephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. She served one year in prison and three years’ probation. Burnett went on to work as a health and addiction counselor in Butte County. She and her husband, Jason, lost their Paradise home in the Camp fire. The governor pardoned Jason Burnett for a drug conviction on the day before Thanksgiving. In recent years, Brown has issued pardons to individuals at risk of deportation under stricter immigration enforcement by the Trump administration. Monday’s pardons included four people whose convictions could lead to deportation, including Houth Chhang Taing, who has been a legal U.S. resident since he arrived as a refugee from Cambodia at the age of 5. Taing was convicted in 1996 on a number of charges after he and two others held up a charter bus. Taing served 19 years in prison and is on active parole. Since his release from prison, he

has volunteered with groups that aim to reduce recidivism by assisting people leaving prison. Two other pardons were issued earlier this month to individuals who were facing immediate deportation. Also receiving a pardon was Bill Honig, the former state schools chief who was known as an ambitious crusader for education reforms. Honig was convicted in 1993 of conflict of interest with a government contract, after a nonprofit group led by his wife received more than $300,000 in government contracts. The conviction forced Honig to step down, but he remained active in education organizations after serving one year in jail and nearly four years of probation. The California Supreme Court on Monday rejected Brown’s attempt to commute the sentence of Kenny Lee, who is serving a life sentence for the 1992 robbery and murder of a cab driver. Lee has been in prison for 19 years, where he earned his GED and participated in various self-help groups. The state Constitution requires that, in cases where an individual had committed more than one felony, a Supreme Court recommendation is necessary for a pardon or commutation. On Friday, the court declined to recommend three other commutations sought by Brown. A representative for the governor’s office declined to comment. Since Brown returned to the governor’s office in 2011, he has issued 1,332 pardons and 282 commutations, far surpassing his recent predecessors as well as outpacing the 405 acts of clemency during his first two terms as governor. Los Angeles Times staff writers Laura J. Nelson, Maya Lau and Melanie Mason contributed to this report.

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January 3, 2019

HEALTH/FITNESS/SENIOR NEWS

Male Caregivers Need More Support PTSD Drug May Do More Harm Than Good By Robert Preidt/Health Day Reporter Within the Industry This fall recognizes National Family Caregivers Month, an annual observance honoring family caregivers. This year’s awareness period is a potent one for young men By Joshua Garner

It’s an interesting time to be a man in America. While the progressive and evolving tone of gender equity has focused on women’s rights and empowerment in recent years, lost among the headlines about the Me Too Movement, women’s equity, and rights are the realities facing men in this country who are increasingly taking on more responsibilities within the family structure. This fall recognizes National Family Caregivers Month, an annual observance honoring family caregivers. This year’s awareness period is a potent one for young men like myself—a 30something male who has found myself a caregiver for an elderly parent while also in the prime of my life. And I’m not alone. Recent statistics on caregivers are quickly becoming out of sync with the image of caregiving. While current number suggest 65 percent of caregivers are female, with an average age of 69.2, younger caregivers are more likely to be male; 45 percent of them fall between 18-45, according to 2015 figures from the National Alliance For Caregiving. 2017 figures from AARP suggested an even greater pendulum shift toward males with 40 percent, roughly 40 million, of caregivers being men. And shifting currents in the U.S. population suggest the number of young male caregivers will only increase. By 2030, Baby Boomers will all be over the age of 65 and, for the first time in U.S. history, older people will outnumber children, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And by 2060, adults over the age of 65 will make up nearly 25 percent of the U.S. population. All of the above might seem far and away but for some men, it is very much in the here and now. I remember countless conversations with my male gym trainers about our fathers—both over the age of 65 that we care for who are

dealing with a deluge of health issues: Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, dementia, and heart disease to name a few. Our confessions to each other were always met with exhaustion and fear— not only for our fathers but for ourselves: who would take care of us when we’re of a certain age? But the troubles facing most male caregivers extend beyond just fear and exhaustion. Unlike myself, most caregivers don’t share responsibilities with a team of family members and nurses. And for many caregivers, caring for a loved one comes with a financial burden as well. Unlike women, men are less likely to alter their work lives and take less demanding jobs while caregiving, according to the AARP. For those that do alter their work schedule and leave their job, they’ll lose, on average, $304,000 in wages over their lifetime. In a society that places great value on intellect, performance, and self-sufficiency, the gradual loss of one’s physical and mental faculties is unsettling, particularly for the loved ones of the individual in decline. My experiences echo what many male caregiver face: watching a loved one’s slow and gradual decline. Men are already less likely to seek medical and mental health than women—the same is true when it comes to emotional support, particularly the kind of support that isn’t easy to talk about but can weigh heavy on one’s emotional and mental health. This fall and year-round it’s important to support all us who are caregivers for loved ones and acknowledge the changing face of caregiving in the U.S. Joshua Garner is the Director of Communications for Men’s Health Network, a Washington, D.C.-based international nonprofit organization that advocates for the health and wellness of men, boys, and families. This article originally appeared in the Hudson Valley Press.

Robotic breast reconstruction • Cancer remission • Virtual reality & opioids Penn News Service • Robotic breast reconstruction A robot makes it possible for breast reconstruction surgery to be less invasive and less painful. Women who undergo a mastectomy to remove cancerous tissue or as a preventive measure because of a heightened genetic risk of breast cancer may choose reconstructive surgery. One option is to use their own tissue for the reconstruction, which can achieve a more natural appearance and is a more permanent solution compared with implantbased reconstructive surgeries. Now, surgeons from the University of Pennsylvania are the first in the world to use a surgical robot to assist with a bilateral free flap breast reconstruction, a procedure in which tissue is taken from the lower abdomen, similar to a “tummy tuck,” and used to rebuild the breast. The technique enables surgeons to make a much smaller incision into the abdominal wall muscles, allowing patients to recover and be discharged more quickly and without the use of addictive narcotic painkillers. (EDITORS: Additional information) • Cancer remission Updated data from an international trial led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s

Abramson Cancer Center shows CAR T cell therapy can lead to long-lasting remission in patients with a certain type of nonHodgkin’s lymphoma. The study found the therapy can be life-saving for patients in whom previous therapies have failed. Earlier results from this trial led to approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Commission, Health Canada, and Swissmedic. (EDITORS: Additional information) • Virtual reality & opioids To address the opioid crisis, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing and Annenberg School for Communication have created a seven-minute virtual reality Narcan training session that a recent pilot study showed was as effective as in-person simulation training for health care providers. The FDA-approved nasal spray can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in less than five minutes. It’s available without a prescription, carried by most major pharmacy chains, and covered by many different types of insurance. But most people don’t know about it or, if they do, they’re unfamiliar with how to use it or what to do after it’s administered. With this new tool, the Penn researchers hope to change that.

THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- A drug used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may actually be harmful, a new study suggests. The high blood pressure drug prazosin is sometimes used to treat PTSD-related nightmares and insomnia that can increase suicide risk. But this small study suggests the drug may make nightmares and insomnia worse and not reduce suicidal thoughts in PTSD patients. "I think we have to view this as not the final word on this, but it raises questions," said study author Dr. W. Vaughn McCall. He's chairman of psychiatry and health behavior at the Medical College of Georgia. The study included 20 PTSD patients, including two military veterans and several civilian women who had been sexually assaulted. All had active suicidal thoughts, some had previously attempted suicide, and most were taking antidepressants and/or had them prescribed for the study. For eight weeks, participants took prazosin at bedtime with an aim of preventing nightmares and suicidal thoughts. They were assessed weekly for severity of suicidal thoughts, nightmares, insomnia, depression and PTSD. The drug "did not seem to do much for suicidal ideation and that was somewhat disappointing, but the thing what was mind-blowing was that it actually worsened nightmares," McCall said in a

university news release. "Maybe it's not for everybody." The unexpected increase in nightmares and insomnia might owe to the severity of a patient's PTSD or the once-a-day dose of prazosin, he said. PTSD patients' nightmares often focus on the trauma that caused their PTSD, he said. Two patients required emergency inpatient psychiatric care, but there were no suicide attempts or deaths during the study, which was published recently in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Prazosin may help some PSTD patients, but may not be a good choice when suicide is an active concern, according to McCall, who is now seeking input from PTSD experts across the United States Two larger studies in active and retired military personnel yielded mixed results as well, he noted. "We need to reconcile how is it that we had 10 years of data saying prazosin is good for nightmares in PTSD, a big study this February indicating it has essentially no [effect] and now a smaller study showing it can worsen some aspects," McCall said. "We need to know what it all means." The antidepressants sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil) are the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved PTSD drug therapies, he said, adding that neither is widely effective. WebMD News from HealthDay

FDA Approves Vaccine...continued

New

Children’s

require a series of three doses. Developed through a joint partnership of Sanofi and Merck, Vaxelis is not expected to be available in the United States before 2020. The six diseases covered by the new vaccine are part of the CDC’s “14 Diseases You Almost Forgot About (Thanks to Vaccines).”

Each is already covered by other established vaccines. Even though the vaccines are on hand, several of the diseases continue to infect children. The CDC says, for example, 15,000 to 50,000 cases of whooping cough have been reported each year since 2010.

Covered California Reminds Consumers to Enroll by Midnight for Jan. 1 Coverage Health/Fitness News

·

Consumers who sign up and select a plan by midnight on Dec. 21 will have their coverage start on Jan. 1, 2019. · Covered California’s open-enrollment period continues through Jan. 15. Customers who sign up between Dec. 21 and Jan. 15 will have their coverage start on Feb. 1.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California is announcing that the first key open-enrollment deadline is tonight. Consumers must sign up and select a plan by midnight in order to have their coverage begin on Jan. 1, 2019. In addition, while open enrollment has ended for most of the country, Covered California reminds consumers that they will be able to sign up for a quality health plan through Jan. 15, 2019. Consumers who sign up after

Dec. 21 and by Jan. 15 will have their health care coverage begin on Feb. 1. Consumers can easily find out if they are eligible for financial help and see which plans are available in their area by entering their ZIP code, household income and the ages of those who need coverage into Covered California’s Shop and Compare Tool.https:// a p p l y. c o v e r e d c a . c o m / l w shopandcompare/

Sonja Herbert Creates Sisterhood of Black Pilates Instructors By Nadine Matthews

Black Woman Who Could Have Been Released for $30 Dies After Spending 150 Days in Custody Health/Fitness News

Pilates Instructor, Sonja Herbert.

Janice Dotson-Stephens San Antonio, TX — Janice Dotson-Stephens, a 61-year old Black woman, died while in custody five months after being arrested for misdemeanor charges, in which she could have been released on bond for only $30. Her family, who didn’t know that she had been in jail until she died, is suing the authorities involved, claiming that Dotson-Stephens could not have been jailed in the first place because she is mentally ill. Dotson-Stephens was arrested on a criminal trespass charge after consistently telling the police that she wouldn’t leave the Mt. Zion elder community at San Antonio on July 17. According to a police report, she told the officers that the only place she would go is the jail. The officers did so and booked her into the Bexar County Jail. Her bail was set to $300, and because most bail bond companies would only require at least 10 percent payment to be bailed out, she could have been released for just $30. But she died five months after her arrest. The medical examiner’s office stated that she died of natural causes. “The question is, ‘What did you do to treat her?” said Les Sachanowicz, the attorney representing the family. “Did you give her the standard of health care

that the community would have?” Dotson-Stephens’ family has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Bexar County, Bexar County Pre-trial Services, and the University Health System. “We’re convinced that their mom was ignored to death, and what I mean by that is there is a culture of deliberate indifference for her and other inmates in the pre-trial system and at the Bexar County Jail,” Sachanowicz said. Brigette Lott, Dotson-Stephens daughter, said her mother suffered from a long history of mental illness including severe mood disorder and schizophrenia. She argued that her mother could have been brought to a mental health institution rather than the jail after the arrest. “It was absolutely normal that my mom would just leave and we might not hear from her for a long time,” Lott told San Antonio Express-News. “That was normal for us. We were under the assumption that it was a regular cycle. She’ll get in trouble, then she’ll get better, then we’ll start the cycle all over again.” Meanwhile, Bexar County officials claim that they weren’t informed of the mental health issues of Dotson-Stephens and said she was given proper care during her imprisonment.

FDA Approves New Children’s Vaccine By Aaron Gould Sheinin

Doctor vaccinating baby Dec. 28, 2018 -- The FDA has approved a new vaccine to immunize children against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (also known as whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio, and an invasive disease

caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b, sometimes known as Hib. The vaccine will be for children 6 weeks to 4 years old. All will (continued in next 2 columns)

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you should probably just make it yourself. That is the principle that Sonja Herbert was going by when she was looking for a community of Black women who were also Pilates enthusiasts and instructors. After teaching Pilates for 12 years and not seeing many Black women in that community, she decided to be the change she wanted to see. “I decided to start the group. I reached out to two friends of mine on Instagram. They gave me about fifty names,” she recalls. I started following them and then became Facebook friends.” Now that group has increased to over 300 people who live across the United States as well as abroad. Herbert explains, “They’re all over the world. We’ve got members from Nigeria, South Africa, Germany, Switzerland. All Black women.” Created by German fitness instructor Joseph Pilates, in the early twentieth century Pilates is an exercise system that according to Wikipedia, “Improves flexibility, builds strength and develops control and endurance in the entire body.” Popular for many years among dancers, it is particularly effective Herbert explains, “For overall core body strength. That means the trunk part of your body, like from your neck, down to your hips front and the back part of your neck, down your hips back. That’s your foundation and if the foundation is strong, then the rest of the body can move properly. Pilates will make everything else you do better. For instance it will help you do yoga better, but nothing but doing Pilates, will make you do Pilates better.” Pilates can be done as a series of exercises on the floor or using machines created specially for it. Herbert became hooked after one class when her daughter’s ballet instructor Cynthia Shipley, formerly of the Baltimore Dance Theater, convinced her to give it a try. Mainly through the use of Facebook and Instagram, Black Pilates instructors in Herbert’s community, network, mentor and provide each other with a source of support and inspiration. All instructors are either certified or are actively working toward certification. There are now two Facebook groups: one for instructors called Blackgirl Pilates (Instructors Only) and one for those looking

for instructors called Black Girl Pilates Tribe. “As Black women teaching Pilates you’re not going to run into a hell of a lot of us nor are you going to run into a hell of a lot of Black clients either. We are in very White spaces. It’s pulling together all of this amazing talent and expertise but also giving each other support as Black women.” Herbert and some of the members are now developing their own certification program. “Our certification will be classic exercises that Joseph taught himself, with modern components.” Their certification will also include knowledge of the impact of two women of color on the history of Pilates. “Kathy Grant, a Black woman and Lolita San Miguel, who’s Puerto Rican,” Herbert explains, “were certified by Joseph Pilates himself.” Herbert at one point had to defend herself and the group against charges of reverse racism, going so far as writing an essay in a national magazine addressing the issue. Herbert says she wasn’t exactly shocked. “I wasn’t really surprised. I’ve had some well-meaning White people try to join the group who just want to support us but I’m like, ‘This is a safe space and you being here would make it unsafe for us.’ I had a few conversations in the initial part of starting a group and then after, I decided that it wouldn’t be good to have those conversations.” The group meets annually in New York City for a huge mashup. In 2019, there will be an even bigger, international meeting taking place in Barcelona Spain. Excitedly Herbert shares, “I’ll be meeting a lot of women I’ve never met before.” Trying to create what she jokingly terms “Pilates Wakanda,” Herbert is coordinating a number of smaller local meetings that will take place throughout the year in locations such as New York City, Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Georgia and Texas. Herbert finds it hard to pinpoint just one great benefit she received from creating this community but said, “I’ve never really had the opportunity to have a lot of female friends and I consider this community, all of them, friends. I think for me, it’s a sisterhood and the feeling of safety that brings.” This article originally appeared in The Afro.

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PAGE 5 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20180013771 Date Filed: 12/05/2018 Filing Expires On: 12/05/2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): HOT MESS HEAT PRESS County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 15777 ROLLING RIDGE DRIVE CHINO HILLS, CA 91709 Name of Individual Registrant: KATIE M. MILETIC 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.: Residence Street Address: 15777 ROLLING RIDGE DRIVE CHINO HILLS, CA 91709 Name of Individual Registrant: STEPHANIE GALINDO Residence Street Address; 3859 YELLOWSTONE CIRCLE CHINO HILLS, CA 91710 This business is/was conducted by: Copartners Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 11/05/2018 Katie Miletic, Co-owner/Partner, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. 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 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. 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 3, 10, 17, 24, 2019. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20180014229 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 12/17/2018 Began Transacting Business: 11/19/2014 Filing Expires On: 12/17/2023 Business is Conducted By: An Individual Fictitious Business Name(s): S&D SERVICES Business Address: 11090 MOUNTAIN VIEW DR. RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Mailing Address: P.O. BOX 1695 RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91729 Registrant(s)Address: JOHN J. GARCIA 11090 MOUNTAIN VIEW DR. RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 Signature/Officer Title: John J. Garcia, Owner BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of 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 FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. 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 3, 10, 17, 24, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20180014013 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 12/11/2018 Began Transacting Business: 11/02/2006 Filing Expires On: 12/11/2023 Business is Conducted By: An Individual Fictitious Business Name(s): LAST CALL INSURANCE SERVICES Business Address: 621 E. MAIN ST. BARSTOW, CA 92311 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Registrant(s)Address: JULIE FUENTES 621 E. MAIN ST. BARSTOW, CA 92311 Signature/Officer Title: Julie Fuentes, Owner BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of 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 FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. 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 13, 20, 27, 2018, January 3, 2019. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20180013792 Date Filed: 12/05/2018 Filing Expires On: 12/05/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): ST. MARY HIGH DESERT IMAGING CENTER County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 12602 AMARGOSA RD., SUITE F VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 Mailing Address: 3345 MICHELSON DRIVE, SUITE 100 IRVINE, CA 92612 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: ST. JOSEPH HERITAGE HEALTHCARE State of Inc./ Org./Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No.: 1538558 Residence Street Address: 200 W. CENTER STREET PROMENADE, SUITE #800 ANAHEIM, CA 92805 This business is/was conducted by: A Corporation Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: May 15, 2018 Jim Watson, Secretary, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. 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 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. 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 3, 10, 17, 24, 2019. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20180013747 Date Filed: 12/04/2018 Filing Expires On: 12/04/2023 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): DRIVE NOW AUTO CENTER County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 333 SO. WATERMAN AVE. SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92408

January 3, 2019

LEGALS/CLASSIFIEDS/NEWS Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: DRIVE NOW AUTO CENTER INC. State of Inc./Org./ Reg.: CA Inc./Org./Reg. No.: C4215267 Residence Street Address: 333 SO. WATERMAN AVE. SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92408 This business is/was conducted by: A Corporation Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A George R. Hajjar, CFO, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. 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 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. 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 13, 20, 27, 2018, January 3, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FBN Number: 20180013143 Filing Type: FBN Filing Date Filed: 11/16/2018 Began Transacting Business: N/A Filing Expires On: 11/16/2023 Business is Conducted By: A Corporation Fictitious Business Name(s): POPBAR RANCHO CUCAMONGA Business Address: 8443 HAVEN AVENUE, UNIT 141 RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730 County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Mailing Address: 13275 JOSHUA AVENUE CHINO, CA 91710 Registrant(s)Address: DIPPIN POPS CORP. 13275 JOSHUA AVENUE CHINO, CA 91710 A1#: C4208364 State: CA Signature/Officer Title: Pranav Kumar P. Patel, CEO BY SIGNING, I DECLARE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE AND CORRECT. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of 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 FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. 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 13, 20, 27, 2018, January 3, 2019.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT ABANDONMENT 20180012986 Date Filed: 11/14/2018 Filing Expires On: 11/14/2023 County of Current Filing: SAN BERNARDINO Date of Current Filing: 10/01/2018 File No.: 20180004764 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.): FAMILY HOMESTYLE CAFE County of Principal Place of Business: SAN BERNARDINO Street Address of Principal Place of Business: 24735 REDLANDS BLVD. STE. F LOMA LINDA, CA 92354 Name of Individual Registrant: Name of corporation or limited liability company as shown in the Articles of Inc./Org./Reg.: JIH CORPORATION State of Inc./Org./Reg.: CA Inc./ Org./Reg. No.: C3378385 Residence Street Address: 24735 REDLANDS BLVD. STE. F LOMA LINDA, CA 92354 This business is/was conducted by: A Corporation Registrant has commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 2/14/2012 Maribel Santana Alvarez, CFO, declares that all information in this statement is true and correct. 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 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. 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 13, 20, 27, 2018, January 3, 2019.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVDS 1831243 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: MICHEL RABI filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. MICHEL RABI to Proposed name: MICHAEL RABI 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: 1/16/19 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: S16 Superior Court of California, County Of San Bernardino San Bernardino District CivilDivision 247 West Third St. 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: December 5, 2018 Michael A. Sachs Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 13, 20, 27, 2018, January 3, 2019.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CIVVS 1800682 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: ANTHONY BROWN filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. ANTHONY BROWN to Proposed name: ANTHONY DAVID-LEE ROBINSON 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: 1/18/19 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: V15 Superior Court of California, County Of San Bernardino 14455 Civic Dr. Victorville, CA 92392 Victorville Branch 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: November 29, 2018 Judge Of The Superior Court Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 13, 20, 27, 2018, January 3, 2019.

SUMMONS SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): CIVDS 1821284 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT(AVISO AL DEMANDADO):ISRAEL GARCIA JR YOU ARE BEING SUED BYPLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): Wells FargoBank, N.A. NOTICE! You have been sued.The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court's lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación. Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede lamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso. The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, 247 West Third St., San Bernardino, CA 92415-0210 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff's attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): REESE LAW GROUP, Harlan M. Reese, Esq., (Bar #118226), 3168 Lionshead Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92010; 760/8425850 (File No. 557536) DATE (Fecha): Aug 16, 2018 Clerk (Secretario), by Paula Rogers, Deputy (Adjunto) (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served as an individual defendant. 1/3, 1/10, 1/17, 1/24/19 CNS-3207247# THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN SUPPLEMENTAL SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL. DEMANDADO): IVAN DERKACH, an individual; OLJA SENKOVETS aka VOLHA SENKOVETS, an individual; MDMANAGEMENT, INC., a California corporation; OLATOKUNBO MORENIKE AYOOLA-ARCHIE, an individual; DOCMED EVALUATION SERVICES, INC., a California corporation; NABIL BAIG, an individual; and DOES 1 through 20, inclusive YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTA DEMANDADO EL DEMANDANTE): GINNY FERNANDEZ, on behalf of the Estate of HECTOR RENE FERNANDEZ, an individual; MEDICALEVAL CORP., a California corporation NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without you being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after

this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 dias, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su version. Lea la informacion a continuacion. Tiene 30 DIAS CALENDARIO despues de que le entreguen esta citacion y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefonica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y mas informacion en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/ espanol/), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede mas cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentacion, pida al secretario de la corte que le de un formulario de exencion de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podra quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin mas advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remision a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniendose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley la corte tiene derecho a reclamar los coutas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperacion de $10,000 o mas de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesion de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso. CASE NUMBER: CIVDS 1604624 (Numero del Caso) The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y direccion de la corte es): SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 247 WEST THIRD ST. SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92415 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): William L. Buus; Schiffer & Buus, APC; 959 So. Coast Dr.; Ste. 385, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (949) 8256140 Date: August 1, 2018 (Fecha) (Secretario)Clerk, by Samantha Neubauer, Deputy (Adjunto) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper December 27, 2018, January 3, 10, 17, 2019. SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL. DEMANDADO): DAVID ZEPEDA (TRUSTEE OF THE KEENETH GILBERT, FRAN GILBERT, TOM MEYER, TOM CHASE, MICHAEL CHASE, JACK CADMAN, LYDIA CADMAN TRUST), and any and all persons known or unknown claiming an interest in the property Does 1-10, inclusive YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: FRANCES D. LUNDY (LO ESTA DEMANDADO EL DEMANDANTE): NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without you being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in

a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 dias, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su version. Lea la informacion a continuacion. Tiene 30 DIAS CALENDARIO despues de que le entreguen esta citacion y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefonica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y mas informacion en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/ espanol/), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede mas cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentacion, pida al secretario de la corte que le de un formulario de exencion de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podra quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin mas advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remision a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniendose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley la corte tiene derecho a reclamar los coutas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperacion de $10,000 o mas de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesion de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso. CASE NUMBER: CIVDS 1804268 (Numero del Caso) The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y direccion de la corte es): SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO 247 WEST THIRD ST. SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92415-0210 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): In Pro Per: Frances D. Lundy 2657 Sunset Lane, San Bernardino, CA 92407 Date: February 22, 2018 (Fecha) (Secretario)Clerk, by Ashlee Bayless, Deputy (Adjunto) Published in the San Bernardino American Newspaper January 3, 10, 17, 24, 2019.

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NOTICE OF LIEN SALE PUBLIC AUCTION January 11, 2019 VIN #WDDDJ75X36A079914 PLATE # 5VFZ326 MAKE; 2006 BENZ CLS 500 1718 W. BASELINE ST. SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92411

1/03/2019

FAC, Media Coalition Oppose LastDitch Effort to Gut Landmark Police Transparency Law A coalition of media groups led by the First Amendment Coalition (FAC) today filed briefing in the California Supreme Court to oppose a police union’s effort to undermine the effectiveness of a new, landmark police transparency law. The law requires a wide range of records relating to police misconduct to be available to the public—a sweeping change in California law. Prior to the bill’s enactment in September, California was one of a handful of states to bar public access to records surrounding investigations into police shootings and accusations of police misconduct. The law brings California into the mainstream by allowing the public to see records relating to police shootings, instances of sexual misconduct, or acts of dishonesty, such as perjury by police officers. It takes effect on January 1, 2019. However, a San Bernardino County police union is making a last-ditch effort to weaken implementation of the law. On December 18, it filed papers in the California Supreme Court asking the high court to rule that the new law applies only to records created after January 1. If the court so ruled, records of past police misconduct would generally remain inaccessible to public scrutiny. “It’s clear this is not what the Legislature intended with this sweeping and landmark legislation,” said FAC Executive Director David Snyder. “Obviously, the Legislature wanted to open up police misconduct files, irrespective of when they were created. The police union’s rushed and last-minute effort should be promptly denied by the Supreme Court. The public deserves to see these records and has a legal right to do so as of January 1.” Joining FAC in the effort are the Los Angeles Times, KQED, and the California News Publishers Association. See the briefing filed by FAC here. See here for the petition filed by the police union. FAC and the media coalition are represented in this matter by James Chadwick and Tenaya Rodewald of the Sheppard Mullin law firm. For more information, contact: David Snyder Executive Director First Amendment Coalition 415-460-5060 dsnyder@firstamendmentcoalition.org James Chadwick Partner, Sheppard Mullin 650-815-2600 jchadwick@sheppardmullin.com

PETITION/PROBATE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE (Probate-Decedents’ Estates) NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: MARY

REED Case Number: PROPS 1800710 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of : MARY REED A Petition for Probate has been filed by: CHARLES REED in the Superior Court of California, County of: SAN BERNARDINO The Petition for Probate requests that CHARLES REED be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action). The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why, the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: January 16, 2019 Time:8:30 a.m. Dept: S-35p SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, County Of San Bernardino, 247 West Third Street San Bernardino, CA 92415-0212 San Bernardino Justice Center Probate Dept. 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 representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Petitioner: Charles Reed 780 Medical Center Drive San Bernardino, CA 92411 (909)884-6186 Published in The San Bernardino American Newspaper December 20, 27, 2018, January 3, 2019.

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January 3, 2019

LEGAL ADVERTISING/ LOCAL/NATIONAL NEWS

IN MEMORIAM: Cigars and Whiskey – America’s Oldest Veteran, Richard Arvin Overton, Dies at 112 By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor

Born on May 11, 1906, Richard Arvin Overton, a member of what is often called America’s “Greatest Generation,” died on December 27th in Austin, Texas. Born on May 11, 1906, Richard Arvin Overton, a member of what is often called America’s “Greatest Generation,” died on December 27th in Austin, Texas. At 112 years and 230 days, Overton was believed to be the oldest living man in the United States as well as America’s oldest veteran. He enlisted into the Army on September 3, 1940 at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. Overton then fought in World War II, serving in the all-black 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion. He fought in the South Pacific from 1940 through 1945, a time which included battle in Iwo Jima. He retired from the U.S. Army in October of 1945 as a technician fifth grade. He then worked at a furniture store and then took a job at the Texas Department of the Treasury. “He was there at Pearl Harbor, when the battleships were still smoldering. He was there at

Okinawa. He was there at Iwo Jima, where he said, ‘I only got out of there by the grace of God said former President Barack Obama in 2013 during a Veterans Day ceremony honoring Overton at Arlington National Cemetery. The second World War was the deadliest conflict in modern military history as over 70 million people lost their lives and the U.S. suffered over 407,000 deaths in battle. As the years went by Overton became a local and then national celebrity. In 2013, at the age of 107, Overton won widespread media attention after telling Fox News he would spend Memorial Day “smoking cigars and drinking whiskey-stiffened coffee.” He was later invited to the White House. Overton had been hospitalized with pneumonia but was released from the hospital on December 24,

President Barack Obama greets Richard Overton, with Earlene LoveKaro, in the Blue Room of the White House, Nov. 11, 2013. Mr. Overton, 107, is the oldest living World War II veteran and was attending the Veteran's Day Breakfast at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/ or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) Christmas Eve according to family member Shirley Overton. He had become known in his community for driving others to church well after turning 100 years old. “With his quick wit and kind spirit he touched the lives of so many, and I am deeply honored to have known him,” wrote Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a statement on December 27 after hearing the news of Overton’s death. The Governor added that Overton was, “an American icon and Texas legend. Richard

Overton made us proud to be Texans and proud to be Americans. We can never repay Richard Overton for his service to our nation and for his lasting impact on the Lone Star State.” Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist and writer for NNPA as well as a political analyst and strategist as Principal of Win Digital Media LLC. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

Feasibility Study Finds Public Cannabis Bank Too Risky for California Treasurer Chiang Vows to Find Alternate Way to Support California Businesses State/Government News

SACRAMENTO, CA – At a public hearing at the California State Capitol this afternoon, the Cannabis Banking Working Group (CBWG), chaired by California State Treasurer John Chiang, was presented with the results of an independent study that found that establishment of a public cannabis bank would pose too great of a legal and financial risk to the State of California. “While today’s announcement may not lay out the path some of us had hoped, it did reinforce the inconvenient reality that a definitive solution will remain elusive until the federal government takes action — they must either remove cannabis from its official list of banned narcotics or approve safe harbor legislation that protects banks serving cannabis businesses from prosecution,” Treasurer Chiang stated at today’s hearing. “Red, blue, and purple states — 33 so far — have legalized the adult use of recreational or medicinal cannabis. So it’s finally time that the slow, clunky machinery of the federal government work, in a bipartisan fashion, to change federal law to reflect the values and growing consensus of the people it serves.” Following the passage of Proposition 64 in 2016 and the subsequent legalization of the sale and distribution of recreational cannabis that began on January 1, 2018, many of California’s cannabis businesses were left in a legal limbo, where they were classified as legal by the State of California, but still illegal by the federal government, since federal law categorizes cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug. This stalemate created numerous banking issues for these businesses: by putting banks that might accept deposits from cannabis businesses at risk of losing

the federal authority to operate, as well as forcing cannabis businesses to deal in large amounts of cash — making them targets for violent crimes and putting the general public in danger. Security and procedural concerns about dealing with a cash-only industry also created a nightmare for state and local government revenue-collecting agencies. Treasurer Chiang added, “It is not only unfair, but a public safety risk to require a legal industry to haul duffle bags of cash to pay taxes, employees, and utility bills. The reliance on cash has painted a target on the backs of cannabis operators, and has made them and the general public vulnerable to violence and organized crime.” Treasurer Chiang subsequently created the CBWG — made up of 18 representatives that included law enforcement, regulators, banks, taxing authorities, local governments, and the cannabis industry — to find practical and timely ways to address the state-federal conflict. Based on one of the recommendations from a 2017 CBWG report, the State Treasurer’s Office commissioned San Diego-based Level 4 Ventures and the State Attorney General’s Office this past August to settle the lingering critical questions about whether a public cannabis bank would be possible. The 151-page feasibility report — prepared by Level 4 and released today — detailed virtually insurmountable “legal, schedule, mission and financial” risks the State of California would face if it were to move forward to create a public cannabis bank. Instead, Level 4 recommended the state establish a state project office to work towards improving access to banking by the cannabis industry through greater facilitation, communication, and coordination. The cannabis bank feasibility study also examined alternative approaches to creating a statebacked bank to handle the billions in annual revenues California’s year-old recreational cannabis industry is expected to generate. The alternatives included versions of a public bank that would

provide services: Exclusively to the industry, Primarily to the industry, but also to other individuals and businesses, and To other commercial banks through a state-run “correspondent bank.” The feasibility report noted that there is “a high probability” federal regulators will not issue the necessary master account for a public bank to operate, and if that happens after the state begins spending an anticipated $35 million on start-up costs for any of the three alternatives examined, all taxpayer funds expended to that date “would be wasted.” Similarly, the report finds that a public cannabis bank would require approximately $1 billion in initial capital investment, and that the bank could lose money for 12 years before it is able to begin repaying that capital. Furthermore, the State of California may not be able to begin receiving net dividends for 25 to 30 years after the bank opens, meaning the initial investment may go decades without producing any kind of return on investment. The report also found that the ambiguous path the cannabis industry faces only adds to the numerous issues at hand, noting “If federal regulations change during this time and cannabis banking becomes legal, the bank would most likely be closed at that point due to a decreased business demand for the bank and thereby incur a significant loss. If federal regulators begin to aggressively enforce federal laws the bank would be closed and deposits subject to confiscation…Even if federal regulators maintain the current ambiguous situation, commercial banks will offer competing services to the industry by the time a public bank could open.” Furthermore, the report found that a public bank would be hard pressed to work in California because of the hurdles public banks have faced across the country. During a 100 year period, between 1917 and 2017, approximately 29 public banks were chartered and operated in the United States, but “all public banks have ceased to

exist either by regulatory order, financial failure, or the state or municipality closing the public bank, with the sole exceptions of the Bank of North Dakota and the recently approved Territorial Bank of American Samoa.” Neither the Bank of North Dakota nor the Territorial Bank of American Samoa, however, were created with the intention to serve the cannabis industry. Other solutions examined and determined to be unfeasible, because they would still run afoul of current federal law, included a public credit union, the state purchase of a private bank, and various so-called FinTech solutions that would attempt to solve the problem by relying on such transactional tools as cryptocurrency. The feasibility study’s findings were echoed by a separate analysis produced for Treasurer Chiang by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the California Department of Justice, which looked into the legal hurdles such an institution would face. The Attorney General’s office concluded that a state-run financial institution “designed to provide financial services to cannabis-related businesses…would violate several federal criminal statutes...[that] carry severe potential penalties. The state is not immune under federal law.” While there may be ways to reduce risks to a public cannabis bank, there is no way to eliminate them, the report concludes. “In sum, a public cannabis financial institution would unavoidably incur a high risk of criminal penalties and face other legal impediments that cannot be eliminated,” adds a letter from the Attorney General’s office summarizing the obstacles to a public cannabis bank in California. Treasurer Chiang concluded, “In the two years since the passage of Prop 64, I have been proud to lead this fight and will continue to look for alternate ways to support our legal businesses, the will of our citizens, and stakeholders across this state. But today’s news makes it clearer than ever that the path forward must include action by the federal government.”

A Question Every American Must Confront: Apartheid Israel or US Democracy? By Ramzy Baroud | Dec 28, 2018 | News & Analysis, Palestine, Politics, US Foreign Policy Journal

Bahia Amawai is a US citizen and Texas-based language specialist who helps autistic and speech-impaired children overcome their impairment. Despite the essential and noble nature of her work, she was fired by the Pflugerville Independent School District, which serves the Austin area. Every year, Amawai signs an annual contract that allows her to carry on with her tasks uninterrupted. This year however, something changed. Shockingly, the school district has decided to add a clause to the contract that requires teachers and other employees to pledge not to boycott Israel 'during the term of their contract.' The 'oath' is now part of Section 2270.001 of the Texas Government Code, and it is stated in the contract with obvious elaboration so as those wishing to work, or keep their jobs with the Texan government find no loophole to avoid its penalties: "'Boycott Israel' means refusing to deal with, terminating business activities with, or otherwise taking any action that is intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or limit commercial relations specifically with Israel, or with a person or entity doing business in Israel or in Israeli-controlled territory..." The fact that Texas considers unacceptable even the boycott of businesses operating in the illegal Jewish settlements in the Occupied West Bank puts it at odds with international law, and, subsequently with the vast majority of the international community. But don't rush to judgement yet, condemning Texas for being the infamous and stereotypical 'wild west', as portrayed even in the United States' own media. Indeed, Texas is but a small facet in a massive American government campaign aimed at stifling freedom of speech as enshrined in its country's own constitution. 25 US states have already passed

Ariel, one of Israel's largest of Israel's illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank (Salonmor/Wikimedia Commons) Texas's requirement that state employees pledge not to boycott businesses operating in illegally built Israeli settlements is contrary to international law. anti-boycott of Israel legislation, or have issued executive orders targeting the boycott support networks, while other states are in the process of following suit. At a federal government level, the Congressional Israel Anti-boycott Act, which is being received with enthusiasm among US legislators, vows to fine and imprison those who boycott Israel. While there is strong civil society opposition to such obvious violations of the basic tenets of freedom of speech, the pro-Israel campaigners are unhinged. Texas - which has passed and enacted laws criminalizing support for the boycott of Israel, as championed by the Palestinian Civil Society Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) - continues to lead the way for other states. In the Texan town of Dickinson, which was devastated by hurricane Harvey last year, hurricane victims were asked to sign a pledge not to boycott Israel in exchange for life-saving humanitarian aid. It must have been a complete shock for displaced residents of the town to learn that the meager supplies they were about to receive hinged on their support of the far-right government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (continued on page 3)

#BFF More Than a Best Friend for Black Women Entrepreneurs in Tech...continued from page 3 complicated world of entrepreneurship. Started in 2015 in D.C., by Erin Horne McKinney, Melissa Bradley and Sibyl Edwards, Black Female Founders (#BFF) is a platform and community with the mission to provide awareness, promotion, support and resources for Black women led techbased* and tech-enabled* startups throughout the U.S. and Black Diaspora. #BFF is pounding on the tech industry’s door by providing the following for Black female founders: “business development/mentorship via the #BFF Labs pre-accelerator program; business creation and development via our BLASt bootcamps; quarterly events featuring subject matter experts and industry leaders and articles and podcasts featuring up-and-coming founders and funders. #BFF is also launching #BFF Match Sign Up form which will connect Black women tech founders with potential investors, accelerator and incubator programs, as well as peer-to-peer support. “We are really excited to expand our support of Black women founders,” said Edwards who serves as CEO of #BFF. “#BFF Match will allow us to showcase the extraordinary talent of women from all backgrounds and abilities. It will level the playing field for a hugely underserved population of entrepreneurs who often have great ideas but lack the capital to transform them into scalable products.” Edwards said the business is there to fill that knowledge gap between idea and funding. And funding is a huge deal for many Black female founders. “Probably the biggest issue is the funding,” Edwards said. “It’s probably even more important than exposure.” Another challenge, Edwards added, was decoding the tech talk. “We try to educate Black women founders about the things they can do, and what types of resources are out there and learn the language,” Edwards said.

“It’s one of those things.” “The Tech start-up space is a club just like any industry. They have their own language and way of doing things. A lot of women that start business and they don’t know the language that investors are going to look for.” Kimberley Moore, founder and CEO of “Carpool To School / Go Together,” a transportation app that helps parents, schools and teams, get their children safely to where they need to go met the #BFF team through the tech ecosystem in the city. “They saw and heard the need to create a community and program for female African American founders,” Moore said. “When they individually ask me what I thought of their idea and would I be interested, I immediately said yes.” Moore went on to participate in the #BFF Lab series. “It was one of the best investments of time building for Go Together, Inc.,” Moore told the AFRO. “The team designed a program that was rigorous, hit the targeted foundational areas to successfully build and scale your business and had expert facilitators that were committed to our success. The community and support from fellow founders and the team made the difference. I graduated equipped with action for my next steps, people and resources to help me achieve my goals.” While every entrepreneur faces an uphill battle, Edwards said she was optimistic about the Tech playing field in the District. “D.C. is really unique,” Edwards said. “It’s one of the highest per capita women entrepreneurs. We are in the top number of women entrepreneurs. “We have an extremely educated base on average most people have masters degrees or some sort of certification. We also have a higher income. It gives a number of women who want to start businesses an opportunity to do very well. And there are tons of resources.” This article originally appeared in The Afro.

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January 3, 2019

LIFESTYLE NEWS/ENTERTAINMENT/RELIGION

Michael Jackson’s Mother, Forest Whitaker Calls It Quits With Washington UCC church in on 'The Ground Floor,' supporting homeless Katherine Jackson, Reportedly Wife After 22 Years Tonya Pendleton, youth Gravely Ill By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Katherine Jackson (Photo source: Facebook.com) Katherine Jackson, the matriarch of the famed Jackson family, is reportedly gravely ill, with family members already fighting over her share of the late Michael Jackson’s estate. Outlets like Radar Online, the National Enquirer and even Atlanta Black Star have reported that Jackson, 88, is facing brain surgery. Previously, the outlets reported that Jackson has had several strokes and other ailments that have left her wheelchair-bound and dependent upon caretakers. The latest reports also suggest that several of Jackson’s children have engaged in a fierce battle to control their mother’s share of the late King of Pop’s vast estate – valued at more than $1 billion. “Now everybody in the family is jockeying for position!” a source told the National Enquirer. Although a rep denied it, two family insiders claimed the greatgrandmother has suffered from excruciating headaches, leading to a hospital visit in late summer, the tabloid reported. “Katherine is in dire condition,” another source told RadarOnline.com. “Now everybody in the family is jockeying for position.” “Her doctor thought she had a stroke,” another unnamed source – described as an insider – told Radar. According to another source, Katherine remained hospitalized for about a week. “More tests were conducted to see if her condition might be something even more serious – like a brain tumor,” the source said. The family insider said doctors discovered a golf ball-sized growth on Katherine’s brain and declared she must undergo surgery as soon as possible. While some doubt the veracity of unnamed sources, several members of the Jackson family are well-known for speaking off the record and requesting anonymity. Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, provided stories about himself and his family to the National Enquirer, according to his former publicist and others around the Jacksons. Earlier this year, family patriarch Joseph Jackson died at the age

of 89 after a bout with cancer. Multiple outlets had reported that Joseph had been alienated from the family after he publicly tried to cash in on Michael Jackson’s 2009 death by employing look-a-likes and holding press conferences to push new music and other material while the family mourned the “Thriller” singer. Battles over the King of Pop’s fortune reportedly began moments after he was pronounced dead, with Katherine, Latoya and others searching his Los Angeles home and beseeching Jackson’s former nanny to tell them where cash may have been stashed inside. Now, sources have told news outlets that Katherine’s children are elbowing each other to ensure they get their slice of the pie before — and after — Katherine dies. She currently pays out a combined $37,000 a month to daughters La Toya, 62, and Rebbie, 68, a source told Radar. Katherine also forks out $12,000 to son Jermaine, 64, and nearly $10,000 to pay the rent for some of Jermaine’s and Randy’s children. “Some of those people want her to live so they can stay on the gravy train,” a source told the tabloid. “Others would like to see her go, thinking they’ll get even more from her estate!” Born in Barbour County, Alabama, on May 4, 1930, Katherine and Joseph married in 1949 and had 10 children together including superstars Michael and Janet. A musician and singer, Katherine, along with Joseph, encouraged the family to pursue a career in music. She’s made very few recent public appearances – once at her grandson’s concert in Los Angeles; later at another show featuring one of her granddaughters and at Joseph Jackson’s funeral in August. Katherine and Joseph Jackson had nearly 30 grandchildren and, despite varying media reports, the two never divorced. On the latest news, a Jackson source told NNPA Newswire that “Katherine is in good hands. Don’t believe the hype.”

Entertainment Year in Review: Oprah rules out presidential run

Oprah Winfrey By ReShonda Tate Billingsley Oprah Winfrey made history as the first Black woman to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Golden Globes, but it was her impassioned call for “a brighter morning even in our darkest nights” that had the biggest impact.

Democratic activists began buzzing about a 2020 presidential run because of her speech about her humble upbringing and her civil rights heroes. Winfrey later said running for president “would kill me.” In November, while campaigning for Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, Winfrey reiterated that she wasn’t interested in the presidency. “I don’t want to run. I’m not trying to test any waters,” she said. This article originally appeared in the Defender News Network.

Keke Palmer Screens “PIMP” in Los Angeles By The Los Angeles Sentinel Palmer recently shared “PIMP” with an intimate audience of NAACP voting members at the SAG/AFTRA Offices in Los Angeles. Following the screening, there was a Q&A moderated by Patrick Riley and Sidra Smith. In the film, Keke portrays a struggling pimp named Wednesday whose fortune changes after her girlfriend hits the mean streets of New York. The film digs deep into the life

Keke Palmer speaking at San Diego Comic Con International of a woman hustling with Keke giving a powerful portrayal of a young woman involved in a dangerous game, with her dreams of ever escaping the life being put at risk. This article originally appeared in the Los Angeles Sentinel.

BlackAmericaWeb.com Tonya

Forest and Keisha Whitaker won’t go into 2019 as a couple. Oscar-winning actor Forest filed for divorce from his wife of 22 years last Thursday, according to The Daily Mail. The couple has two grown daughters Sonnet, 22 and True, 20. Each of them has a child from a previous relationship. The two met in 1994 on the set of the movie Blown Away. Neither Keisha nor Forest has publicly commented on the split, though Forest sent out a cheery Christmas message via his Twitter account. Forest Whitaker

Written by Barb Powell

PHOTO: PR Photos @ForestWhitaker Christmas is a celebration of solidarity - a time of the year when we are reminded that the bonds our families, friends, fellow citizens and beyond are based on sharing and bringing joy. #MerryChirstmas to you all!

Wendy Williams Issues Cease And Desist To Blogger On Alleged Mistress Story EURweb.com

Wendy Williams has responded to a report that her husband impregnated his mistress by sending the original source of the alleged rumor a legal warning. Blogger Love B. Scott was served with a cease & desist by the popular daytime talk show host after he first published quotes from a source who claimed Kevin Hunter’s alleged mistress might be pregnant. “She’s allegedly pregnant and still living just down the street from their house. Word around the show is that they’re going to divorce sometime now that little Kevin has gone off to college,” the insider spilled. Per Love B. Scott: Aside from that, her lawyer sent us a cease and desist letter the day after Christmas (with typos) demanding a retraction for our previous exclusive about her alleged self-medication and rumors her husband Kevin got his mistress pregnant. The letter states that both “Mrs. Wendy Williams-Hunter and Mr. Kevin Hunter categorically deny each and every allegation made by your “sources”, even if not specifically enumerated herein.” Williams has also denied in the past that her husband has a mistress — even though Daily Mail

conducted a year-long investigation and came back with photos of Kevin and his woman. Meanwhile, celebs such as 50 Cent and actress Cherie Johnson have taken to Instagram to mock Wendy’s rumored martial drama. “Hey Wendy, I heard that your husband got his mistress pregnant for the second time and you about to play step momma again,” Johnson wrote.” Now, it seems like Kevin got that super sperm, how come you ain’t getting pregnant. Oh, that’s right. How you doing, William? Karma’s a bitch. You need to leave people alone 2019. Find Jesus. Be a nicer person.” 50 also couldn’t resist adding his two cents to the controversy. “The world most famous side chick Wendy Williams,”he wrote. “Always in some body sh**, she never talk about this.” 50 may have gotten a cease and desist as well, as his post was deleted. As the show is currently on holiday hiatus, Williams’ only comment has been on Instagram, where she’s looking forward to the new year. Given all the alleged dirt that Wendy has dropped on celebrities over the years, should she be obligated to reveal the details of her personal life, even when they aren’t favorable?

Black-Owned Telecom Startup Receives $5.9 Million Dollar Valuation Lifestyle/Entertainment News

Nationwide (BlackNews.com) - Tesix Wireless, a telecommunications company announced its launching in summer 2018. It has since gandered the attention of interested customers and private investors with interest in the startup. With their interest, Tesix Wireless received investing and acquisition offers from investors taking the company to $5.9 million dollars in value. Although Tesix Wireless launch is set for January 2019, the company has managed to generate 3,000+ early wait list subscribers in under a 3-week time frame. They've further generated numerous pre-sales for their network's Sim Kits from enthusiastic customers looking to switch. Tesix Wireless was found by 24year old Alabamian entrepreneur Chaymeriyia Moncrief under her parent company Chaymeriyia Brands and Co. She started the telecom company because of her own bad experience with large carriers. "Dealing with bill unpredictability is something that we've all experienced; being locked in contracts with everchanging rates and unnecessary fees is one of the biggest issues consumers have with their carriers," she states. While it is remarkable that Tesix Wireless achieved the nearly $6 million dollar valuation, it is stepping into an ambitious space of MVNOs but this has not held founder back from seeing her own

Chaymeriyia Moncrief, Founder of Tesix Wireless

advantage in the market. "I know that I am stepping into a crowded market with other telecom companies to go up against but that doesn't set me back. We at Tesix Wireless find great advantage in being able to offer slightly less competitive rates, fee-less monthly bills, more wireless flexibility and connecting with our customers on a more personal and peer to peer level. "To be able to be in a moment where a company that I have started is valued at millions before it's even launched is just beyond me. If Tesix has gained this level of valuation now it is only more exciting to see where it's going. I've worked at this for 5 years and now that I am putting it into action, I plan to build an amazing company that makes its mark in the telecom space," she expresses. Tesix Wireless has no plans of opening any worldwide storefronts like many carriers. Wanting to keep their rates low and affordable, they believe eliminating excessive overhead is one way to achieve this. To learn more about Tesix Wireless, visit the network's website at www.tesixwireless.com

A shower. A decent meal. A place to do laundry. A place to feel less alone. All of this and more will be provided at The Ground Floor, a new day center for homeless youth opening in January in the basement of First Congregational UCC in Bellingham, Wash. The new center will be operated rent-free by Northwest Youth Services, a long-time partner of the church that has outgrown its current outreach space. "Our congregation has had a decades-long relationship with Northwest Youth Services," said the Rev. David C. R. Weasley, pastor for youth, young adults and mission, "so when the [mission and justice] board came across the space needs that their street outreach program had, it seemed like a natural fit for the partnership. The council and then the whole congregation affirmed the wisdom of this in their own conversations and votes." There was only one glitch: the basement of First Congregational was unfinished. But that didn't stop the board or the congregation. "This project arose from the energy and discernment of the whole congregation," Weasley said. "The church realized that our space could be super valuable to young people experiencing homelessness, but we also realized that our big, unfinished basement needed a lot of work in order to make it an effective and welcoming space." HomelessYouthTrenches.jpgSo the church got to work. The congregation has raised more than $1 million for the renovations, and some of the jobs — like digging plumbing trenches — have been done by volunteers. "The project has already brought a huge amount of passion and energy to the church. We are engaging new and long-time members in the work of raising funds, coordinating the renovations, and connecting with community members," Weasley added. "Other folks in town are learning about who we are as a congregation because of our work with The Ground Floor."

The Ground Floor will give youth up to age 24 a place to get out of the weather, do laundry, shower, cook meals, use computers, store their belongings, pick up mail, and access such services as case management, job seeking, and education. The new facility will take up nearly 3,500 square feet of First Congregational's basement. HomelessYouthSpace.jpgFirst Congregational UCC has a long history of service to and with homeless persons, and partners with the local Interfaith Coalition for the Homeless. Other ministries include providing basic supplies to people moving out of homelessness into new living spaces, and occasionally hosting homeless families in church classrooms. It also hosts local social justice and support group meetings. The church is known for its service to and with youth. "We have a vibrant youth program, and also work hard to be supportive of other youth in the community," said Weasley. And while First Congregational won't be participating in the dayto-day operations of the center, the presence of the outreach service agency in the church building will have ramifications for everyone. The program "will be a great opportunity for us to continue learning about the gifts and challenges of youth experiencing homelessness, and I think it will lead us to even more work on behalf of these neighbors." The effort to provide space for The Ground Floor also has had an impact on how church members regard their own ministry. "I wouldn't say that this project is reorienting our way of being church, but I would say it is a very clear articulation of the priorities of our congregation," Weasley said. "Relationships with our neighbors, building welcoming space, extending love in our community: all of these are the 'ground floor' of our faith. In this project, both our church and Northwest Youth Services are able to play to our strengths, and we are learning every day about how much more we can do when we work together."

Witness For Justice #925

May Your Days Be Merry and Bright Bentley deBardelaben Executive Associate, JLCM Tis the season for love, light, and wonder ... right? Most years, I am a huge fan of Christmastide. Like many, this enjoyment was formed in my childhood; particularly the year I believed that I saw Santa Claus traveling in his sleigh across the moonlit Ohio sky to deliver presents to good little boys and girls, such as my siblings and me. Truth be told, I’m not sure what I saw on that Christmas Eve night, but until an answer is exposed, it will always be Santa (at least in my seven year old mind)! When I became a parent, seeing the excitement and wonder of Christmas through the eyes of my children were some the best moments of my life. It renewed my enjoyment. Sadly, there came a time when Christmas was no longer joyful, but instead a season filled with trauma and remorse. After I separated from my wife, my ex and I would fight over who would spend Christmas with the kids. I often lost, and some of the light of the season dimmed. Today, my children are adults and my fractured relationship with my ex has been mended. However I can still stumble upon the painful emotions of yesteryear, sometimes triggered by a holiday song, a Christmas program on television, or even the smell of eggnog. When that occurs, I may begin feeling depressed. Thankfully there are 1-800 hotlines, in-person and online support groups, as well as religious services that cater to folk like me who need the reassurance that others understand our distress, our depression, and our struggles. No one is immune from experiencing a trauma or crisis, a

natural disaster or family strain, a death or a difficult change in life circumstances. According to healthline.com, “a distressing event may [cause a person to] feel threatened, anxious, or frightened as a result. In some cases, they may not know how to respond, or may be in denial about the effect such an event has had. The person will need support and time to recover from the traumatic event and regain emotional and mental stability.” If this is how you feel (not only but especially during the holidays), and if you do not know who to trust or where to start, contact someone at the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (800-2738255). I find that the National Alliance on Mental Illness is another great online resource. Additionally, I work alongside colleagues who partner with the United Church of Christ Mental Health Network. Each organization truly understands that every struggle is different, and they speak to people with dignity and respect in attempt to help us find our footing, as well as eventual hope and recovery. When I took the first step to find support, now many years ago, it was indeed the hardest. It was also a game-changer. It is my hope and prayer that those experiencing loss in this season of light, trauma in this season of love, or depression in this season of wonder might consider reaching out to others who understand. These organizations do not want anyone to feel alone or without support, in this season or at any time. In fact, it is a desire of caregivers that those who are troubled might find that their days become merry and bright, one step at a time.

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PAGE 8

January 3, 2019

NEWS/ AD VER TISING ADVER VERTISING

Kia Niro Touring: The Brand’s First All Dedicated Hybrid The Niro is the perfect vehicle for those seeking fuel economy, space, comfort, value and the latest tech advances, without sacrificing style. By Jeff Fortson of JeffCars.com Highlights: Brian Peterson was responsible for the interior layout of the Niro. This Niro is Peterson’s first major vehicle assignment. He’s one of two Black car designers working for the Korean automaker. Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $32,840 (Base Model: $23,785) Seating Capacity: 5 Standard Safety Features: ABS; airbags; automatic headlights; a tire pressure monitoring system; a vehicle stability system; a stability control system; a hill start assist control system; a rearview camera; and a tire mobility kit Standard Equipment (Base Model): 16-inch wheels; a 6speed automatic transmission; a hybrid system; rear spoiler; privacy glass; manually adjustable front seats; 60/40 rear seats; a manually operated tilt/ telescopic steering wheel; a dual zone automatic temperature control system; a UVO infotainment system with Android auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration; driver select modes; and an automatic stop-go ignition system

Standard Equipment (Touring): 18-inch wheels;rear a/c vents; USB charger in center console; a keyless ignition starter system; a keyless door opener (front doors only); an 8– speaker Harman Kardon sound

Kwanzaa 101: How to observe this annual holiday By Ann Hill-Bond

Kwanzaa, a yearlong celebration that focuses on seven life principles called Nguzo Saba, was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of Black Studies, in 1966 during a time of profound social change for African Americans. What Kwanzaa has become today is the actualization of Karenga’s vision of a celebration that would honor the values of African cultures and inspire African Americans who were working for/towards progress. Each of the seven days observed for Kwanzaa is a mark of distinction of a different life principle. The Nguzo Saba, are principles that are believed to be the foundation of building resilient, prolific families and communities on the content of Africa as well as in the Diaspora. The Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa) comes from the native language Swahili of the Bantu people in East Africa. Kwanzaa is observed during the last seven days (Dec. 26Jan. 1) of the year with a hope that communities intertwine the Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles) into the fabric of their lives: Knowing that without the foundation of unity, being committed to self-determination, understanding that with collective work and responsibility bring forth cooperative economics, therein as a movement we can gain our purpose, explore our creativity, all while standing together in faith throughout the next 365 days of the year. During Kwanzaa, celebrants greet each other using the Swahili greeting — “Habari gani,” meaning “What’s the news?” The principles of Kwanzaa (Nguzo Saba) form the answers. Celebrants also adorn their homes with red, black, and green as well as African-style textiles and art. It is also encouraged to display the seven

symbols to joins the community of people of color together. Nguzo Saba: The Principles of Kwanzaa Umoja (oo-MOH-ja) • Meaning: unity • Action: building a community that holds together Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chagoo-LEE-yah) • Meaning: self-determination • Action: speaking for yourself and making choices that benefit the community Ujima (oo-JEE-mah) • Meaning: collective work and responsibility • Action: helping others within the community Ujamaa (oo-JAH-ma) • Meaning: cooperative economics • Action: supporting businesses that care about the community

system; an 8-inch infotainment system; heated front seats; leather wrapped steering wheel with shift knob; ventilated front seats; a power driver’s seat with lumbar support; a two-position memory seating system; a

heated steering wheel; rear center armrest with cupholders; cargo cover; hidden storage tray in cargo area; deluxe scuff plates; roof rails; power folding heated mirrors with integrated turn lamps; front

Kwanzaa 101: How to observe this annual holiday...continued • Meaning: the candleholder, which holds seven candles • Action: It said to symbolize stalks of corn that branch off to form new stalks, much as the human family is created. mazao • Meaning: fruits, nuts, and vegetables • Action: These remind celebrants of the harvest fruits that nourished the people of Africa. mishumaa saba • Meaning: the seven candles that represent the seven principles • Action: A different candle is lit each day. Three candles on the left are green; three on the right are red; and, in the middle, is a black candle. mkeka • Meaning: mat • Action: The symbols of Kwanzaa are arranged on the mkeka, which may be made of straw or African cloth. It symbolizes the foundation upon which communities are built.

vibunzi (plural, muhindi) • Meaning: ear of corn • Action: Traditionally, one ear of corn is placed on the mkeka for each child present. zawadi • Meaning: gifts • Action: Traditionally, educational and cultural gifts are given to children on January 1, the last day of Kwanzaa. The Great Fest Dec. 31, is the day of Kuumba (Creativity). It is also the day that families/communities gather for the great feast of “karamu.” During, karamu enjoying traditional African dishes as well as those featuring ingredients our ancestors brought to the U.S., including sesame seeds (benne), peanuts (groundnuts), sweet potatoes, collard greens, and spicy sauces. This article originally appeared in the Atlanta Voice.

Congressional Black Caucus Issues Release on Russian Interference By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Nia (nee-AH) • Meaning: a sense of purpose • Action: setting goals that benefit the community Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) • Meaning: creativity • Action: making the community better and more beautiful Imani (ee-MAH-nee) • Meaning: faith. Action: believing that a better world can be created for communities now and in the future The Seven Symbols of Kwanzaa kikombe cha umoja • Meaning: the unity cup • Action: Celebrants drink from this cup in honor of their African ancestors. Before drinking, each person says, “Harambee!” or “let’s pull together.” kinara (continued in next 2 columns)

“This campaign of disinformation is extremely disconcerting because black voter turnout declined in 2016 – for the first time in 20 years…” — CBC Statement on Russian interference in the 2016 election Led by Chairman L. Cedric Richmond (D-LA-02), and Congressional Black Caucus Diversity Task Force Co-Chairs, Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) and G. K. Butterfield (D-NC-01) – The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) issued the following joint statement in response to a new report prepared for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which reveals Russia targeted African American voters in attempts to suppress the vote in the 2016 election: “During the 2016 presidential election cycle, hundreds of thousands of minority voters were dis-

enfranchised before they even had a chance to walk into the voting booth. As today’s report produced for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence makes clear – this was a carefully orchestrated effort by Russian actors to exploit social media platforms in order to suppress turnout among black voters. “This campaign of disinformation is extremely disconcerting because black voter turnout declined in 2016 – for the first time in 20 years. “While this next Congress gives both Democrats and Repub(continued in last 2 columns)

fog lights; power sunroof; glossy black grill trim; and a front and rear park assist system Options: snow white pearl paint; high intensity discharge headlamp; a forward collision

braking system; autonomous collision braking system; lane departure warning system; a radar activated cruise control system; and wireless phone charger

Congressional Black Caucus Issues Release on Russian Interference...continued licans an opportunity to address election security, we call upon the President to take the security of our elections seriously and work with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the FBI to stop foreign election meddling efforts. “The CBC would also like to hear directly from Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook, and CEOs of other

companies whose platforms were weaponized, about what they knew, and concrete steps they will implement to address future attempts at disinformation campaigns. “We cannot allow the deceit and misinformation that characterized the 2016 elections to be repeated in the future.”

A Question Every American Must Confront: Apartheid Israel or US Democracy?...continued from page 6 But this is the sad state of democracy in the US at the moment, where the interests of a relatively small, distant country are made the centerpiece of US government policies, at home or abroad. Israel's wealthy supporters are working hand in hand with Israel's influential lobby groups in Washington DC, but also at state, and even city levels to make the boycott of Israel punishable by law. Many US politicians are answering the unreasonable lobby call of criminalizing political dissent throughout the country. While in reality many of them could care less or even truly understand the nature of the debate concerning BDS, they are willing to go the extra mile (as in violating the sanctity of their own democratic system) to win lobby favors, or to, at least avoid their wrath. The anti-BDS campaign started in the US in earnest a few years ago, and, unlike BDS's own tactics, it avoided grassroot efforts, focusing instead on quickly creating an official body of legal work that places boycotters of Israel in the dock. Although the hastily composed legal language has been bravely challenged, and, at times, reversed altogether by civil society lawyers and organizations, the Israeli strategy has managed to place BDS supporters on the defensive. That limited success can be accredited to powerful friends of Israel who have generously and forcefully responded to Tel Aviv's war drums. Las Vegas gambling mogul, Sheldon Adelson, took the helm of leadership. He moved into action, establishing the "Maccabee Task Force", which raised millions of dollars to fight against what Israeli officials define as an existential threat to Israel and the delegitimization of the country as a "Jewish state." A major strategy that the Israeli camp has advanced in the discussion is the misleading notion that BDS calls for the boycott of Jews, as opposed to the boycott of Israel as a

state that violates international law and numerous United Nations resolutions. A country that practices racism as a matter of course, defends racial segregation and builds Apartheid walls deserves nothing but complete boycott. That is the minimal degree of moral, political and legal accountability considering that the US, as other countries are obligated to honor and respect international law in that regard. The US however, encouraged by the lack of accountability, continues to behave in the same manner as countries that Washington relentlessly attacks for their undemocratic behavior and violation of human rights. If such bizarre happenings-firing teachers and conditioning aid on taking a political stance-took place in China, for example, Washington would have lead an international campaign condemning Beijing's intransigence and violation of human rights. Many Americans are yet to fathom how the United States' submission to Israel's political will is affecting their everyday life. But with more and more such legal restrictions, even ordinary Americans will soon find themselves fighting for basic political rights that, like Bahia Amawai, they have always taken for granted. Sure, Israel may have succeeded in coercing some people not to openly vow support of BDS, but it will eventually lose this battle as well. Muffling the voices of civil society rarely works over long periods of time, and the anti-BDS campaign, now penetrating the very heart of US government, is bound to eventually resurrect a nationwide conversation. Is protecting Israeli Apartheid more important to Americans than preserving the fundamental nature of their own democracy? That is a question that every American, regardless how they feel about a supposedly distant Middle Eastern conflict, must answer, and urgently so. This article was originally published at RamzyBaroud.net on December 26, 2018.