Issuu

A Candid Conversation with

Paid by Joe Perkins for Circuit Judge.

Sandy Walker, Publisher

Dear God:

I know that no matter what we are experiencing on planet Earth You already know the outcome. You are an awesome and amazing God. You are the keeper of our dreams. As we are certainly living in trying times I remain encouraged and steadfast in the knowledge that You are still in charge. Through victory and tragedy You are there with us. As bad as it is or as it may become we are not alone. I take great joy in feeling Your presence during difficult times. You are my warm fuzzy blanket. You are my beautiful lake side stream. You are my fresh air and sunshine. Lord You are my comforter!

Father I pray for those families that have experienced great loss. I pray that You will fill their hearts with everlasting memories creating an eternal bond.

As humans we are but creations of Your imagination and love. We are who we are because You made us so. Thank You Father for staying with us through trying times. You are our past, present and future. Even today....all is well.

- Amen

PUBLISHER

Sandy Walker

Publisher’s Prayer

Sandy Walker

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Sommer W. Davis

EDITOR

Jamil Rivers

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Robert Walker

My Father, My God:

Father, in the Name of Jesus:

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Moderator Johnny L. Barber

Anika Madison

All is well with my soul as I focus my attention solely on You. I am thankful as I breathe the air You so graciously provide to me each day. How wonderful it is to be Your child. How wonderful it is to know that You are in charge. I am thankful Dear Lord for the blessings You continue to bestow. Father I know that I am in no way worthy of all that You give to me. You give me peace and love. You give me food to nourish my body. You give me all that I need to survive. Your blessings are so much appreciated as You place the right people in my life and in my path each day. I know Father that You are also placing me in the path of others so that I might do Your will in being a blessing as well. Keep my eyes open, Dear Lord, so that I might see those in need.

I am eternally grateful for the love You continue to bestow upon me. You love me unconditionally with all of my issues and all of my faults. You love me, Father, in spite of myself. I thank You for being with me always. I am comforted by the knowledge that You are with me every moment of my life.

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Lord as I navigate this wonderful journey called life I am eternally thankful for the love you continue to surround me with. I am thankful for the love and support of my amazing family. There is nothing I have done or could ever do to earn the blessings You continue to bestow upon me. Father I pray to be a blessing to others as you so generously bless me. You, my Lord are so worthy to be praised.

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Father I pray for all of Your children who are feeling

Father I pray for peace during these uncertain times. As much as we try to figure it all out, Lord You already know. When I find myself pondering the circumstances of the day I take comfort in the fact that You are in charge!

14707 S. Dixie Hwy, Suite 101

1. “This virus is creating new ways for everyone to think of how to keep your family and friends safe. We are in uncharted territory and we will all learn together. At one time I did not know how much time our family would have together. So I have gratitude now for every day that we get to be together.”

- Christin Gigstad

4. “Logan does fall into the high-risk category for COVID-19, but we are not living in fear. We are living in faith instead. In those ‘what if’ moments of fear, I ask everyone to think of a positive thought or action or something you can do for your family, a neighbor or a stranger. Maybe write letters to grandparents, or maybe just clean a closet. That is better than fear.”

- Natalie Bushaw

2. “If I could offer advice to any family today, it would be to stick by your faith. Know that your God is with you and will take care of you all the way through.”

- Juan Martinez

3.“You have to find a way to respect these new boundaries [related to Coronavirus, but still live the version of life you’re used to. That’s what life is, regardless of circumstance.”

- Caroline Wright

5. “You may not always have a comfortable life. And you will not always be able to solve all the world’s problems all at once. But don’t ever underestimate the impact you can have, because history has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own.”

- Michelle Obama

I was really happy when given the opportunity to interview Representative Kionne L. McGhee. He is someone I have wanted to interview because I always think it is important to hear from those working on the front lines of justice, humanity and fairness. Currently Representative McGhee represents Florida House of Representative’s 117th District and is working hard on many concerns that include three major issues: Teachers pay, affordable housing, and transportation.

Representative McGhee feels that we all can agree “teachers are the hardest working individuals yet their pay is dismal and doesn’t equate to their work.” He said, “These educators have built such an army of intelligent people to take on and lead the world.” Representative McGhee also feels that all of the school’s staff should receive better pay as well. That is why he worked hard in Tallahassee to create a plan that would not only award teachers, but custodians, teachers’ aides, bus drivers, crossing guards and cafeteria staff.

He believes county level funding should be in place to provide resources for children without internet access. And I quote, “The internet is a game changer and should be completely free for everyone. This will allow children the ability to log in and be exposed to worldwide education and excitement.”

When asked about students returning to school next month, McGhee said, “To place our children in an environment that is unpredictable, exposing them to viruses without the proper resources to protect them is not smart. If we cannot stop the spread in our community, how can we stop it in a classroom?”

A Candid Conversation with

He talked about the strong possibility of them bring viruses home to their families. His initiative to broaden internet accessibility is more important than ever when considering various ways to keep our children safe.

I asked about registered voters who are choosing not to vote because of various reasons that include their vote not counting or being stolen. McGhee believes they have every right to feel that way, “however not to do something is a default vote for what the voter doesn’t want.” He also said this is something that has played out before in the political world when people protest the vote.” McGhee explained the voter discovers the person they did not want wins. Then comes the realization if those who choose not to vote had just exercised that right, the increased number of votes could have changed the outcome and helped the candidate who represents their views win. This is something we need to all consider.

When asked what makes him feel he is the right candidate for the position of Commissioner for the 9th District, Representative McGhee said, “What makes me the person for the job is past successes as it relates to important issues like transportation and getting a rail that leads into the South Dade Community.” This is a project that has been promised to this community since 2002 and Rep McGhee has been fighting for this to come to fruition since 2012. Last year he was able to galvanize the entire South Dade community as a coalition to fight for this rail. Unfortunately, due to political issues a break in the coalition was created. However, he has been able to add funds to the state’s budget and will continue the fight.

Anika S. Madison Freelance Contributor for the Gospel Truth

Another major issue Rep McGhee is working on includes affordable and workforce housing. It is important for South Dade residents to not only have the ability to afford housing in general but also the housing closer to their places of employment. This is especially true for essential workers like educators, police and firemen.

Representative McGhee has been on the battle ground brokering a deal in the legislature that stopped the Republican Party which still held control at the time in the House of Representatives from sweeping the Sadowski Trust Fund. This fund was created for affordable housing. Prior to Rep McGhee’s work, the Republican Party was sweeping two to three hundred million dollars a year from the fund. McGhee has been leading the fight against this sweep so those who need the funding can have access to it. The fight against gentrification is the third major battle Rep McGhee has taken on. He said the county desires to build more rental units which disallows opportunities to build wealth. McGhee advises, “When you own land, you are creating wealth and this can stop the gentrification process. Therefore, even though “it is ok to rent, the county must institute a serious overhaul of the home ownership program that it has in order to stop the gentrification.”

When it comes to the fears of mail in votes, McGhee understands these fears. That is why he has called for Congress to institute a barcoding system for mail in ballots. He makes the point that if we can track Amazon purchases, we should be “tracking the most important single sheet of paper in all of democracy.” The barcode should be added to the ballot so it can be tracked through a system to ensure the vote reaches its destination and gets counted. He understands that every voice should be heard and works hard on the major issues facing the community he has called home since childhood.

Representative Kionne L McGhee was raised in the Naranja

Housing projects and attended Miami Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS). After growing up in South Dade public housing, Kionne went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Howard University and a Juris Doctorate from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He began serving in the 17th District of the Florida House of Representatives in 2012. So when he joined, he hit the ground running with his efforts in transportation. In 2018, he became Minority Leader and now with the encouragement of the current Commissioner, Dennis Moss, McGhee is running for his seat in the 9th District. He has always been encouraged to run for the offices he has held because the leaders saw something great in him.

McGhee is also the author of “A Mer[e] I CAN is AMERICAN” and the best-seller “Conquering Hope: The Life You Were Destined to Live” which are both available on Amazon. When asked how he feels about being a best seller he said all of us have best-selling books in us but we choose not to promote them. The greatest books that have never been written are in the graveyard.

When Representative McGhee spoke with Civil Rights Hero, the late Congressman John Lewis, he was told “the only thing you have to remember is that good trouble is good trouble”. From his conversation with Lewis, McGhee understood that the work is not for recognition but for purposes that are greater within you and you are doing the work as one of God’s soldiers. Some takeaways from my conversation with Representative McGhee are to never stop growing, make sure you are doing your part to help your community, when others see greatness in you it is a call to action and never give up on doing what is right. McGhee has done more than answer these calls, he has succeeded them. Go to https://kionnemcghee. com/ to get more information on his campaign, voter resources and his efforts towards creating a community that works for everyone.

the teachers’ choice

for school board

Dr. Nancy Lawther is a lifelong educator and the former President of the Miami-Dade County PTA/PTSA. She’s running for Miami-Dade School Board to fight for all children.

Nancy’s Priorities

election day: august 18th

High Quality Schools In Traditionally Underserved Communities

Ensure Children Do Not Suffer From Food Insecurity Through Expanded Food Programs

Institute A Curriculum of Diversity and Inclusion That Prepares Our Children For Higher Education

Enact a School/Community Safety Action Plan

“No candidate has more experience advocating for our children than Dr. Nancy Lawther. As a lifelong educator, parent, and former President of the Miami-Dade County PTA, that is why so many community leaders have endorsed Nancy Lawther.”

“Dr. Nancy Lawther would make an excellent school board member for district 9 because she knows the plight of those of us in the education trenches, has compassion for students and values all stakeholders.”

“Dr. Nancy Lawther is the most prepared and best qualified candidate for the school board. She will fight for working families and be a strong voice for our community.”

Tony White, First Vice President of the United Teachers of Dade

Tanika Bennett, Teacher, Board Member of United Teachers of Dade & District 9 Resident

Jeffery Mitchell, South Florida AFLCIO President & District 9 Resident

vote august 18th!

4 Ways To Cut Your Monthly Expenses in 15 Minutes

Pandemic has redefined what’s a worthwhile investment for you, me, and probably everyone who isn’t a billionaire. In fact, a recent Credit Karma survey of 1,043 Americans revealed what our postpandemic spending habits are, and shocker, nobody’s going to concerts or movies any time soon. But all seriousness aside, this has been a financially dark period for many—mass job layoffs following the first wave and a second still-to-be-negotiated stimulus package make that clear. One way to feel in control when everything is out of wack? Reduce monthly expenses.

The thing is, despite this definitely being tough times with two capital Ts, 34 percent of participants said they’ve yet to slice the cost of their monthly expenses. And there might be frighteningly new expenses to pay for during the pandemic, don’t get me wrong. But there are also new, simple opportunities to cut back on your day-to-day spendings, particularly if your day-to-day looks different now. Below, a few suggestions for the benefit of your bank account.

Easy Ways To Reduce Monthly Expenses

1. Auto Insurance

Morning commute? I don’t know her. Or maybe you’re still working out in the real world but long road trips or any semblance of a social life is far in the rearview mirror.

“Car insurance is always a monthly budget expense where you can negotiate,” says Financial Gym founder and CEO Shannon McLay. “Especially because of the pandemic with people driving less, car insurance companies have saved a ton of money on reduced accident claims. You should call and negotiate for more of that money in your pocket.”

2. Entertainment subscriptions

Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO Max—like what even is that last one? Why does HBO have no less than three streaming services. Suffice to say, you probably don’t need a trillion of them, and [stage whisper] can almost definitely password-swap with someone. Like I have a long standing deal with my family where I use my dad’s Netflix account, but the ‘rents use my Hulu account.

You can always look at your bank statements to spot which streaming service can go, or a service like Trim can investigate unwanted subscriptions and unsubscribe them for you.

3. Credit card and loan payments

If you haven’t looked into it yet, there are still active COVID-19 relief plans available. These can offer you deferred payments, waived late fees, a credit line increase, waived annual fee, whatever it might be.

“Because of the pandemic, lenders are also more inclined to assist their consumers,” says McLay. “So if you have debt like credit cards, personal loans or mortgages, call your lender and see about any kind of interest rate reductions you can get.”

4. Utilities

As I type this it is a fry-an-egg-on-theblacktop heatwave in New York City, and we have one air conditioning unit in the middle room of our railroad-style apartment. And yet I still insist that my roommate shuts the AC off if neither of us are in that room, because that’s money! I’m blowing away cash!

well. Be seen. Be safe.

This isn’t our first pandemic. In fact, Jackson was founded during the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918. And even back then, our doctors and nurses took extraordinary measures to protect and care for the people of this community. Just like we’re taking extraordinary measures to protect and care for you now. So rest assured that there is no reason to delay care for you or your loved ones due to safety concerns. We’re here for you — as we’ve always been — committed to keeping you safe. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety practices at SafeAtJackson.org

Eating an Early Dinner Can Help You Burn

Fat, Lower Your Blood Sugar

Conventional wisdom is that a calorie is a calorie, no matter when you eat it, and that weight gain is caused by eating more calories than you use. Nutritionists call this the calories in, calories out theory of weight control.

But it might not be as simple as that. New research discovers that what time you eat may play a significant role in gaining weight.

Eating late associated with weight gain According to a study published today in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, eating a late dinner is associated with weight gain and high blood sugar levels, regardless if the meal is the same that you would have eaten earlier.

“We were aware of other research that suggested that late eating is associated with obesity, and because association is not the same as causation, we wanted to look at this in a more rigorous way,” study author Dr. Jonathan C. Jun, associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University told Healthline.

Jun explained that the research team wanted to understand whether late eating actually changes metabolism in a way that promotes obesity.

“So that’s why we set out to do this randomized clinically controlled trial, taking healthy people and make them eat at two different times, control their food, control their diet, and control their sleep times as well,” he said.

Same meals, same sleep time Jun and team studied 20 healthy volunteers (10 men and 10 women) to find out how their bodies metabolized dinner eaten at 10 p.m. instead of 6 p.m.

All study participants went to sleep at the same time: 11 p.m.

Study findings show that blood sugar levels are higher, and the amount of fat

burned lower, when eating a late dinner, even when people ate the same meal.

“We weren’t surprised. Other researchers have done similar work looking at circadian rhythms and diet, and other labs have shown that if you eat out of phase with your body’s normal circadian rhythm, you don’t metabolize glucose the same way,” Jun said.

The study found that late eaters had peak blood sugar levels almost 20 percent higher and fat burning reduced by 10 percent, compared with those who ate dinner earlier.

“The effects we have seen in healthy volunteers might be more pronounced in people with obesity or diabetes, who already have a compromised metabolism,” said the study’s first author Chenjuan Gu, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at Johns Hopkins University, in a statement.

One of the most detailed studies of its kind

Jun pointed out that this study was much more detailed than previous research on the subject. Participants wore activity trackers, had their blood sampled, underwent sleep studies and body fat scans, and ate food containing nonradioactive markers to measure fat metabolism.

“The people got very intensive monitoring performed when they were in the lab. We drew blood every hour, we had their activities and sleep monitored for 2 weeks before they came to the lab,” said Jun. “We gave what’s called a stable isotope tracerTrusted Source, so when they consumed their food we could measure how much of the fat they ate was burned or oxidized.”

Asked if this study provides conclusive proof that it’s when and not necessarily what you eat that can cause weight

gain, Jun was confident.

“Yes, I think this at least shows that there’s biological plausibility or biological explanations for how food timing can affect the way your body handles those calories,” he said.

What to do?

Diewald recommended having a small, high protein snack such as Greek yogurt sprinkled with nuts in the late afternoon if you know you’ll be home late.

“Curbing appetite a bit so that if you have to eat later than anticipated, it can be a snack-size meal,” she said.

Choices could include eating a small salad with grilled chicken, half a sandwich and fruit, or a cup of vegetable soup and a glass of low fat milk.

“Aim to eat your largest meal at breakfast or lunch if possible,” said Diewald.

The bottom line

A recent study finds eating a late dinner can cause weight gain and high blood sugar levels regardless of calories.

Researchers found that not everyone reacts the same way, and people who were accustomed to earlier bedtimes had the most weight gain from a late dinner. Night owls were the least affected by a change in mealtime.

According to researchers, this is strong evidence that eating a late meal causes weight gain even if you don’t increase the calories consumed.

Experts say, when working long days it’s a good idea to eat a healthy snack in the afternoon to curb your appetite for a late dinner.