This Week's Edition : 10-15-26

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Vol 62 No 1

Interim DCPS Chancellor Dr. Kim Jackson Meets Parents in Ward 4 Parents Tout Power of Community, Express Concerns about Safety at Middle and High School Level

A New Understanding of ’The Change’: Menopause May Begin Much Earlier Than Many Women Realize By Dr. Patrise Holden WI Contributing Writer

these changes often signal hormonal transitions that begin years before menopause. For some women, hormonal “First and foremost, I want changes begin quietly: a night spent women to understand that having staring at the ceiling, a sudden wave symptoms related to their hormones of anxiety, changing moods, or ex- changing is not a sign of failure,” haustion that sleep cannot seem to said Dr. LaKeischa McMillan. fix. The international hormone speMany blame stress, aging, or, shamefully, themselves. However, MENOPAUSE Page 20

By Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr. WI Senior Staff Writer Whittier Elementary School’s modernization is taking place amid a transition in D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) leadership, and what will eventually become the start of a new mayoral administration. For parent and former DCPS employee, Charon P.W. Hines, any future moves made on behalf of District families must build upon what she’s called the foundation built by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and DCPS central office administrators. “We've been very pleased with school leadership, with the instructional delivery of the teachers, communication about upcoming events, check-ins on your child's progress, and a very active and engaged parent-teacher

DCPS Page 22

Ethiopian Airlines Celebrates 80 Years with a Special Trip to ‘the Land of Origin’ 5 Interim D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Dr. Kim Jackson speaks with parents during an Oct. 8 meet-and-greet at La Coop Coffee in Northwest. (Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr./The Washington Informer)

District Leaders Celebrate Life of Talib Shakir After Fatal E-Scooter Accident

Mayor Says Office on Returning Citizen Affairs Director ‘Made Most of His Second Chance’ By Micha Green and Jada Ingleton WI Managing Editor and WI Content Editor 5 People across the District are remembering the work and legacy of Talib Shakir, director of the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA), who died after a fatal e-scooter accident on Oct. 9. (Courtesy Photo/MORCA)

October 15 - 21, 2026

Capture the Moment Page 37

As District politicians and residents are remembering the life and legacy of Talib Shakir, a longtime community leader, who died in an Oct. 9 fatal e-scooter accident, they are also working to continue his

SHAKIR Page 9

DMV Residents Reflect on Power of Traveling to Ethiopia During New Year and Meskel Celebrations

By Micha Green WI Managing Editor

While their slogan is the “New Spirit of Africa,” for 80 years Ethiopian Airlines has served as a longtime, loyal lifeline for people to travel to and from Addis Ababa and across the world. Since 1946, the airline— founded by then Emperor Haile Salassie and still owned by the Ethiopian government— has offered flights that, even in coach, feature hearty meals, care packages with eye masks and toothbrushes, pillows and blankets. Plus, now there are modern amenities such as seats with televisions and chargers, as well as Internet for purchase or that

ETHIOPIA Page 18

5 Tourists from across the United States at the second palace of former Emperor Haile Selassie in Addis Ababa, during a trip sponsored by Ethiopian Airlines Sept. 24-27. (Courtesy Photo)

Celebrating 62 years. Your credible and trusted source for Black news and information. OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026 1

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CONTENTS

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SKYLAR NELSON, WI CONTRIBUTING WRITER; STACY M. BROWN, WI SENIOR WRITER

Commanders’ Clock Management Error Costly In Frustrating Overtime Tie Against Giants The New York Giants may have left the DMV on Sunday with a tie against Washington, but the draw was undoubtedly frustrating for the Commanders. “With the team, I thought this was a hard fought game to the wire,” said Head Coach Dan Quinn. “Leaving tonight, with a tie feels like a loss.” Despite holding a 14-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, Washington failed to close out the game with a costly clock-management decision that ultimately prevented the team from securing a game-winning field goal in overtime. The Commanders appeared to be in control entering the final quarter, but the Giants mounted a late comeback, scoring two touchdowns to erase the deficit and force an overtime. Giants quarterback Jameis Winston sparked the rally In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark

PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $96 per year, two years $168. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to:

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STAFF Micha Green, Managing Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, WIN-TV Producer Ra-Jah Kelly, Digital Asset Manager Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC Desmond Barnes, WIN Daily Editor Anthony Tilghman, Social Media Strategist ZebraDesigns.net, Graphic Design Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Angie Johnson, Office/Circulation Manager Jada Ingleton, Content Editor REPORTERS Stacy Brown, National Reporter Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr., Political/Education Reporter Brenda Siler, Lifestyle Reporter Ed Hill, Sports Reporter Richard Elliott, Reporter Skylar Nelson, Sports Reporter Mya Trujillo, Multimedia Reporter PHOTOGRAPHERS Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Ja Mon Jackson, Asst. Photo Editor Roy Lewis, Jr. Robert R. Roberts Anthony Tilghman Abdullah Konte Cleveland Nelson

COMMANDERS Page 36

Wizards Give D.C. Families One of NBA’s Cheaper Nights Out Four tickets are only the beginning of an expensive game night outing. Add parking, hot dogs, sodas and maybe a couple of beers, and taking a family to an NBA game can drain hundreds of dollars from the household budget before anyone sees the tipoff. However, D.C. remains one of the cheaper places to do it. A new Action Network analysis of family costs for the 2026-27 NBA season examined ticket prices, food, drinks and parking across the league, along with local incomes and how much of a household’s earnings a game can consume. Tickets remain the biggest expense, and the cost of the same basic family outing varies sharply from city to city. The lower cost of seeing the Wizards comes at a time when interest in the team appears to be climbing. Kevin Miles, a 52-year-old fan from Arlington, arrived at Capital One Arena with his 18-year-old son, McKinley, three-and-a-half hours before the doors opened for the

Wizards’ free Oct. 2 practice. “I have great optimism right now because of the mixture of the veterans with the young core,” Miles said. “I’m expecting great things from this Wizards team.” The Miles family had plenty of company. Tickets for the free practice were claimed within days after they became available Sept. 25. Fans filled nearly 85% of Capital One Arena’s lower bowl, with hundreds more scattered through the middle level. Wizards coach Brian Keefe, who has spent nearly two decades in the NBA, said he had not witnessed anything comparable at an open practice. “That’s by far the most I’ve ever seen in an open practice,” Keefe said.

The Cost of Getting Through the Door

Action Network published its new NBA affordability

WIZARDS Page 14

Federal Agents Search Ilhan Omar’s Home Just 22 Days Before Election

FALL INTERNS Jumana Alsaadoon Kree Anderson Isabella Johnson Draia Shelton

5Advocates and advocacy organizations are speaking out after federal agents searched the D.C.-area home of Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

4 OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026

with a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely on fourth-and-eight. Winston struck again moments later, connecting with wide receiver Malik Nabers for another 17-yard touchdown on first-and-10 to tie the game, with less than two minutes remaining. “We have dug in hard on the response, and there was a number early on, a penalty or something that took us out to go answer on the response,” said Quinn. “And as it got more into they’re down two and hurrying up, that’s the spot that we’ve got to go close it out. It wasn’t the early half of first, second-down run play passes. So having the ability to not allow them to scramble, to make the plays, that’s a big deal. And at tight end and receiver, they’ve

Federal agents searched the D.C.-area home of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) on Monday, taking the extraordinary step of executing a criminal search warrant against a sitting member of Congress just 22 days before Election Day, as the Trump administration investigates allegations involving her family’s immigration records. The search immediately drew accusations of political intimidation from Omar’s supporters, who pointed to President Donald Trump’s repeated attacks on the Minnesota congresswoman and questioned the timing of an investigation targeting one of his most outspoken critics. “Representative Omar is a dedicated public servant and a true ally for working families, and Donald Trump has done nothing but use racist tropes and stereotypes to attack her,” said Joel Payne, MoveOn’s chief communications officer. “Now, he’s abusing his power to physically intimidate and harass her.” A Justice Department spokeswoman acknowledged that Homeland Security Investigations agents, part of Immigration and Customs Enforce-

OMAR Page 34

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ICE Crackdown Sweeps Up U.S. Citizens as D.C. Region Faces Intensified Enforcement By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer Federal immigration agents have arrested nearly 20,000 people across Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia since President Donald Trump returned to office, flooded the region with enforcement operations and faced a federal judge’s order restricting warrantless arrests in the District. The dragnet has also caught American citizens. A Maryland-born woman was held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for 25 days and moved through detention facilities in four states despite her lawyers producing a U.S. birth certificate and hospital records. A U.S. citizen leaving a coffee shop in Annapolis was handcuffed, denied a phone call, and held for nearly two hours in June. Two more citizens were detained in Norfolk, Virginia, in August. Those cases are part of a much larger national picture documented in a new ProPublica investigation published Oct. 6. Reporters identified 506 U.S. citizens detained by immigration agents since January 2025, including children, people filming enforcement operations and Americans who spent days in custody without access to lawyers or relatives. “I’ve never seen so many U.S. citizen encounters in all my years,” Darius Reeves, who previously oversaw ICE’s Baltimore office, told ProPublica. “It’s an embarrassment.” ICE made more than 19,500 arrests in D.C., Maryland and Virginia between the beginning of Trump’s second term and the first three months of this year. Nearly 60% of those arrested had no prior criminal record. During the final full year of the Biden administration, ICE recorded fewer than 3,800 arrests across the same region. Federal authorities followed that with “Operation Safe Community — Washington, D.C.,” a two-week sweep from Aug. 1 through Aug. 14 that resulted in 1,328 arrests in Maryland and Virginia. The

Department of Homeland Security had claimed that nearly 400 of those arrested had been convicted of or charged with crimes in the United States, including some accused of murder, kidnapping, identity theft and hit-and-run offenses. The administration has portrayed such operations as targeted public-safety campaigns aimed at people who are in the country illegally, particularly those with criminal records. But enforcement practices in the District have already collided with a federal court. U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell issued a preliminary injunction last year restricting warrantless civil immigration arrests in D.C. unless agents make an individualized determination that a person is likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained. In May, Howell found that guidance given to federal immigration officers did not satisfy that requirement and ordered the administration to comply. Court records found at least 10 D.C.-area immigration arrests involving U.S. Park Police, including traffic stops that ended with ICE taking people into custody. “Once again, our officers are out in the streets arresting and removing criminal alien offenders from American communities - this time in the Washington, D.C. area,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Acting Assistant Director Patricia Hyde in an Aug. 24 DHS statement.

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dren, were deported, according to the investigation. Additionally, more than 300 Americans were detained after agents accused them of assaulting or obstructing officers. Fewer than half were ultimately charged in federal court, according to the investigation, and many of those cases were later dismissed or dropped. Researchers said the count is almost certainly low because the federal government does not maintain a public tally of citizens detained during immigration enforcement. ProPublica said it reviewed social media posts, court records, local news reports, and other material and generally required at least two sources before adding an incident to its database. DHS rejected the characterization of its operations. “DHS enforcement operations

5 An activist holds a sign protesting the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in October 2025. (WI File Photo)

are highly targeted. We do our due diligence,” the department claimed, adding that people who obstruct federal agents can face arrest.

Arrests, Broken Windows, and Children

Dulce Consuelo Diaz Morales, 22, was arrested in Baltimore on Dec. 14, 2025, and held for 25 days while her attorneys insisted she was born in Maryland and therefore an American citizen. Her lawyers provided a Mary-

ICE Page 8

Americans Caught in the Dragnet

ProPublica identified more than 100 Americans who were held after immigration agents questioned their citizenship. Nearly all were people of color. At least 70 children and teenagers who are U.S. citizens were detained, including about 20 who were handcuffed or zip-tied. At least 63 citizens were detained while recording immigration activity. Thirty-six were held for a day or longer without being able to contact their families or attorneys. Roughly a dozen U.S. citizens, mostly chil-

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Wyomia Tyus (left)

Peter Tosh (center)

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1883 – The Civil Rights Act of 1875 — which guaranteed African Americans equal treatment in public accommodations, public transportation and jury service — is ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. 1968 – Track star Wyomia Tyus becomes the first person to win a gold medal in the 100-meter race in consecutive Olympic Games.

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1859 – White abolitionist John Brown leads a raid on a federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in an attempt to start an armed slave revolt. He is later tried, convicted and executed by hanging for his role. 1968 – African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise black-gloved fists during their medal ceremony at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. 1984 – Desmond Tutu is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his ant-apartheid work in South Africa. 1995 – The Million Man March, called by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, is held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Oct. 17

1711 – Poet Jupiter Hammon, the first African American writer to be published in the present-day United States, is born in Long Island, New York. 1888 – Capital Savings Bank of Washington D.C. — one of the nation's first Black-owned banks — is opened. 1956 – Physician and astronaut Mae Jamison, the first African American woman to travel in space, is born in Decatur, Alabama. 1969 – Clifton R. Wharton is elected president of Michigan State University, becoming the first African American president of a major U.S. university.

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OCT. 15 - 21, 2026

SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB

Ntozake Shange (right)

Oct. 18

1926 – Pioneering guitarist and rock 'n' roll icon Chuck Berry is born in St. Louis. 1948 – Poet and playwright Ntozake Shange, author of "For Colored Girls…," is born in Trenton, New Jersey. 1951 – "Waiting to Exhale" author Terry McMillan is born in Port Huron, Michigan. 1968 – Athlete Bob Beamon sets the world record for the long jump — 29'2½" — a mark that would stand for decades.

Oct. 19

1936 – Johnnetta B. Cole, director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and the first African American female president of Spelman College, is born in Jacksonville, Florida. 1944 – The U.S. Navy begins accepting Black women for military service. 1944 – Reggae music legend Peter Tosh is born in Grange Hill, Jamaica.

Oct. 20

1898 – North Carolina Mutual and Provident Insurance Company is founded by John Merrick and associates in Durham as the first African American-owned insurance company. 1904 – Civil rights activist Enolia McMillan, the first female president of the NAACP, is born in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.

Oct. 21

1917 – Iconic jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie is born in Cheraw, South Carolina. WI

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land birth certificate, hospital records, and other documentation. DHS disputed her citizenship and maintained that she was a Mexican national. Diaz Morales was eventually released in January. Months later, the federal government issued her a U.S. passport, and removal proceedings against her were halted. Another encounter occurred June 7 in Annapolis. A citizen leaving a coffee shop was handcuffed, denied permission to make a phone call, and held for nearly two hours. DHS said agents moved the person elsewhere for questioning because “agitators” had gathered at the location. On Aug. 7, two U.S. citizens were detained during immigration enforcement in Norfolk, and the cases put the national findings much closer to D.C. residents than distant raids in California, Texas or the Midwest. The incidents cataloged by ProPublica describe encounters at homes, workplaces, protests, parking lots, sidewalks and inside vehicles. Some citizens said agents smashed car windows. Others were tackled or forced to the pavement. Several were held at gunpoint. In Oregon, a 17-year-old on his lunch break was detained after agents broke his car window. Video reviewed by ProPublica captured the teenager telling an agent he was a U.S. citizen. “I don’t care,” the agent responded.

5Activists protest funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a September 2022 protest. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

In Minnesota, 20-year-old U.S. citizen Jeyli Salguero said armed federal agents broke into her family’s home while searching for her brother, who did not live there. “The first thing I yelled when I stepped out of my room was that I was a U.S. citizen and I had the right to record,” Salguero remarked. “That’s when they snatched my phone.” DHS has said ICE does not restrain children or separate families. However, the latest investigation documented American children who were handcuffed or zip-tied, including a 15-year-old with disabilities whom agents said they mistook for an alleged gang member. “This is Un-American. Period,” one social media user said in response to Oversight Dems, which reposted the ProPublica report. “It's disgusting that there are so many cruel, hateful people gleefully treating humans like garbage.”

Pressure Builds in Congress

Democratic Reps. Delia Ramirez of Illinois and Andrea Salinas of Oregon introduced the ICE Shootings Transparency Act, legislation that would require DHS and the Justice Department to provide state and local law enforcement agencies access to evidence involving ICE and Customs and Border Protection shootings and other use-of-force incidents that cause injury or death. District of Columbia Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) is among

8 OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026

the bill’s cosponsors. “When an ICE or CBP agent kills or injures someone in our community, transparency needs to be the bare minimum,” Salinas said. The legislation was introduced as ICE prepares another major expansion. The agency is seeking 5,000 additional hires in coming months after hiring roughly 11,400 people since Trump returned to office, although retirements, resignations and dismissals have reduced the net workforce increase to about 6,400. ICE also issued new internal guidance restricting vehicle pursuits and traffic stops following shootings and other encounters around the country. The directive prohibits high-speed pursuits and limits certain vehicle-stop tactics to specially trained officers, according to reporting on the memorandum. The Supreme Court has now agreed to examine another central piece of the administration’s immigration campaign, its policy requiring detention without bond hearings for many immigrants while their cases proceed. Numerous lower courts have rejected the government’s interpretation of federal immigration law. Willy Wender Aceituno, a naturalized citizen who said he voted for Trump twice, added that Border Patrol agents broke his truck window last year, pulled him out and forced him onto the pavement. His U.S.-born daughter now carries her passport at college. “She has a Latino face,” Aceituno said. “My daughter’s white friends aren’t carrying their passports.” WI

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SHAKIR from Page 1 commitment to providing pathways for all District residents to thrive. “Through his work in public service, most recently leading the Mayor's Office on Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA), Talib was committed to creating opportunity for D.C. residents,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement. “In Talib's own words, his mission at MORCA was clear: ensure returning citizens feel connected, valued, and included in D.C.'s future. We are so grateful for the energy and love he poured into doing just that for the city where he was born, raised, and served.” Shakir, 50, spent more than two decades of his adulthood in prison after pleading guilty to fatally shooting a store clerk in 1993. However, while incarcerated and after serving nearly 26 years, the native Washingtonian dedicated his career to uplifting his hometown and particularly a community for which he knew and cared about deeply: returning citizens. “Talib made the most of his second chance and dedicated himself to helping others do the same,” Bowser continued. “He loved to mentor young people and to prove to them that their city believes in them.” Activist and author Tony Lewis Jr., said he witnessed Shakir’s dedication to empowering others in action from the moment he met him. The two first connected in 2016, when his father, Tony Lewis Sr., was a resident of the Federal Correctional Institute in Cumberland, Maryland. When Lewis was tasked to co-coordinate a public service announcement for the D.C. mayor’s office, offering advice to youth and young adults, he tapped his father and Shakir to serve as spokesmen. “I interviewed my father, and I interviewed Talib— they both were

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inmates in federal prison at the time,” Lewis, author of “Slugg: A Boy's Life in the Age of Mass Incarceration,” told The Informer. “The mayor's office was able to cut that down into sort of a mini documentary or PSA, aimed at young people that were adjudicated and justice involved for the hopes of getting them to make different choices and not find themselves with these elongated sentences like my father and Talib had at the time.” The video, Lewis said, was just one of many ways Shakir, a certified life coach, worked to mentor others while incarcerated. “He and my dad also participated together in a program at Cumberland called YMI (Young Men Incorporated)... It was really about the older inmates mentoring the younger inmates, particularly those that were serving long times, and were going to be returning to the community. They focused on education, and financial literacy and fatherhood, and things of that nature,” the activist continued. “He was definitely active inside, and so, when he came home, I think it was just natural for him to continue in that same vein.”

Exemplifying Possibility, Embracing Community

While Shakir spent more than 25 years in prison, he worked hard to make a difference in others' lives throughout his 50 years on earth. “His father was a very respected imam in the Muslim community, and so I think he got a chance to observe mentorship and community service. And he was a very, very intelligent guy,” Lewis, a native Washingtonian, told The Informer. “I think he had the passion to help those younger than him not make some of the mistakes that he had made.” WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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HungerIsHere.org 5 Talib Shakir and Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes on an April episode of the publication’s digital show, “Let’s Talk,” recognizing Returning Citizens Month. (WI File Photo)

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Nikole Hannah-Jones, founder of the Center for Journalism & Democracy; Mary McCord, executive director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection; Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists; and Georgia Fort, Emmy Award-winning journalist, at the Democracy Summit at Howard University on Oct. 6. The fourth annual summit, hosted by the Center for Journalism & Democracy, brought together students and journalists from around the world for a variety of panels related to protecting, uplifting and preserving the press. (Clelveland Nelson/The Washington Informer)

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Pianist and composer Luther S. Allison reads The Washington Informer after winning the Jazz Prix during the 2026 DC JazzFest. (JaMon Jackson/The Washington Informer)

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Annual Anacostia Boat Ride Salutes Mayor Muriel Bowser

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Your local marketing experts with UNLIMITED REACH. Kevin Berrier 443-508-1936 KBerrier@MDDCPress.com 5 Mayor Muriel Bowser (left standing), who will end her tenure in January, poses with veteran District Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, who is retiring after more than three decades in Congress. (Kree Anderson/The Washington Informer)

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“The overwhelming majority of residents that I’ve talked to think that the city needs to do more in this community. We need a full service grocery store. We still need better services at the hospital that came,” Ward 8 ANC Commissioner Salim Adofo, a member of the ACC board, told The Informer. “We still need some more improvement on infrastructure, we have slumlords that are still able to function. So, there’s still some investment that needs to happen.” While she has a few months left in office, the mayor emphasized her work in the District will continue beyond her mayoral tenure. “Just know this– Washington, D.C. is my home. This is where I’m born and raised, and this is where I will always invest my talents and treasures and always be watching,” Bowser said. “So count me as taxpayer number one.” WI

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As Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) prepares to pass the baton to the District’s next mayor in January, organizations like the Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC) are honoring her footprint across the nation’s capital. With food and drinks flowing and go-go music cranking, District political, business and community leaders sailed along the Potomac River for ACC’s 33rd Annual Luncheon Cruise on Oct. 3, an event that particularly highlighted Bowser’s contributions east of t “We’ve endeavored to do all that we can do to change people’s lives, to provide opportunity, and to make sure that our residents are equipped and ready for the opportunity our city creates,” Bowser told the crowd. As residents brace for new leadership across the District, the event

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(above left) Three students from Anacostia High School at the Anacostia boat ride on Oct. 3. (Kree Anderson/The Washington Informer) 3 Mayor Muriel Bowser and Anacostia Coordinating Council Chairman Lamont Mitchell pose in front of the honorary art piece commissioned by the Council. (Kree Anderson/The Washington Informer)

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OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026 11

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

3 Maryland Democratic congressional leaders, including Rep. Steny Hoyer and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, are seeking $11 million for mental health care inside U.S. Cyber Command, after five suicides in five weeks at Fort Meade. (WI File Photo/ Robert R. Roberts)

Similar programs are used in special operations, remotely piloted aircraft units and dedicated intelligence commands. Cyber Command has warned that without the funding, “burnout and force degradation will increase,” according to the letter.

Five Suicides in Five Weeks Spur $11 Million Push for Fort Meade Cyber Force By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer Five suicides in five weeks among people supporting the nation’s cyber operations are driving Maryland’s congressional delegation to seek $11 million for mental health care inside U.S. Cyber Command, where classified missions can leave workers carrying pressures they cannot fully discuss outside secure doors. “One loss of life is one too many,” the lawmakers, led by Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen, wrote

in an Oct. 5 letter to House and Senate appropriations leaders. “We must do everything we can to make sure our service members and everyone at the Fort has the full mental health support and resources they need, so that a tragedy like this does not occur again.” Van Hollen and Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), joined by Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Maryland Democratic Reps. Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, April McClain Delaney and Johnny Olszewski Jr., asked congressional appropriators to preserve the money for

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An $11 Million Request to Congress Cyber Command’s High-Performance Team Training program as Congress completes the fiscal 2027 defense spending bill. Their letter cites recent public reporting of several deaths by suicide among personnel in cyber operations and the Fort George G. Meade community over a short period. Recent reporting identified five deaths in five weeks in June and July among people supporting Cyber Command and the National Security Agency. “The concentration of these tragedies within a small, highly specialized workforce demands sustained attention and an institutional response proportionate to the operational strain these personnel bear,” the lawmakers wrote. Fort Meade houses U.S. Cyber Command, the NSA, military cyber components and other national security organizations. Some people working there can spend two or three years on assignments the delegation described as effectively “deployed in place.” They conduct real-world operations against capable adversaries without the clear beginning and end of a conventional deployment, protected recovery periods or the time for units to regroup between missions. Much of the work is classified, and personnel may be unable to fully discuss what is troubling them with their families or medical professionals who lack the required security clearances or access to secure facilities. “These conditions can isolate personnel, delay appropriate care, and ultimately weaken readiness, retention, and operational effectiveness,” the lawmakers wrote.

Five Deaths in Five Weeks

Among those publicly identified was Air Force Technical Sgt. Kevin Stallings, a digital network intelligence analyst stationed at Fort Meade. His family allowed his name to be made public as questions grew about the deaths and the pressures confronting the cyber workforce. Stallings, who had served for nearly two decades, died June 22. Maryland has military, federal and civilian health resources, but the delegation said cyber personnel do not always have timely access to cleared professionals inside their workplaces. Congress previously ordered a review of the psychological and occupational demands placed on cyber operators, and the Defense Department later acknowledged that existing resources did not fully meet Cyber Command’s needs, according to the letter. The fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act expanded mental health services to meet Cyber Command’s specific needs by integrating behavioral health professionals with security clearances into cyber units. Dedicated support teams and embedded care, the lawmakers said, have not been implemented consistently across the force. “Embedded support would improve access to care for service members inside secure facilities, give providers a better understanding of the mission and its operational tempo, identify concerns earlier, and help commanders establish sustainable training, recovery, and resilience practices,” the lawmakers wrote.

The delegation asked House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.), ranking member Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to retain the $11 million under Cyberspace Operations in the final fiscal 2027 Department of Defense Appropriations Act. They called the amount modest compared with Cyber Command’s annual budget and the value of a workforce that takes years to recruit, clear and develop. “Losing experienced personnel harms Maryland families, disrupts operational teams, increases replacement and training costs, and reduces the Nation’s ability to defend critical systems and conduct cyber missions,” they wrote. At Fort Meade, the distance between a military operation and home can be a secure door. A cyber operator can spend the day engaged in a real-world operation against a foreign adversary, leave a classified facility and go home unable to fully explain what happened inside. The delegation is asking Congress to make sure appropriately cleared mental health professionals can meet those workers where the work is being done. “Preserving this funding would demonstrate Congress’s commitment to the health and readiness of the cyber workforce at Fort Meade, Maryland, and across the Nation,” the lawmakers wrote. “It would also help ensure that the Department establishes an enduring system of prevention, care, and operational resilience rather than relying solely on short-term interventions following a tragedy.” WI

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Van Hollen Bill Would Create Federally Backed Jobs For Long-Term Unemployed Workers By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer Nearly 2 million Americans have been looking for work for at least six months, and U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) wants the federal government to help put them directly into jobs rather than leave them waiting for the labor market to take them back. The Maryland Democrat has introduced the Ready to Work Act of 2026, legislation that would use federal money to help local workforce boards and community organizations create temporary paid positions designed to lead to permanent employment. The bill would also pay for training and services that address obstacles including child care, transportation and job readiness. “Every American who wants to work should be able to find a job,” Van Hollen said. “But with AI as a looming threat to our workforce — and nearly two million Americans already unemployed for six months or longer — it’s clear that we need to do more.” The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 1.93 million people had been unemployed for 27 weeks or longer in August, accounting for 27% of the nation’s unemployed. The average duration of unemployment had climbed to 26.3 weeks. The legislation would establish the jobs initiative within the Department of Labor and operate it through local workforce development boards, which could partner with community-based organizations. Workers generally would have to be at least 18, legally authorized to work, out of work or school for at least 27 weeks and actively seeking employment for at least four weeks. The jobs would not be unpaid placements or simply training programs, as participants would

receive wages and benefits, with the federal government reimbursing participating employers for a share of those costs. Eligible employers could include government agencies, nonprofits, businesses and employment social enterprises. The bill notes that workers could be placed in transitional jobs, apprenticeships or national service positions, with career services, training and other assistance intended to help them move into lasting employment. The wage provisions set a floor because Van Hollen noted that participants could not be paid less than the applicable minimum wage or the amount needed for a family of four to remain above the federal poverty line. The bill’s section-by-section summary places the minimum salary at $15.87 an hour in 2026. Employers also would have to provide participants with wages, benefits and advancement opportunities comparable to those received by similarly situated employees doing the same work. Federal reimbursement for wages and compensation generally could last up to 12 months and as long as 24 months for positions involving training that leads to a recognized credential. Employers would contribute toward the cost, with their share tied in part to local unemployment. In areas with unemployment of 5% or less, employers would pay 33% of eligible wage and compensation costs. That share would fall as local unemployment rises and could reach zero in areas with sufficiently high unemployment. The bill includes restrictions intended to keep employers from replacing their existing workforce with federally subsidized workers. Participants could not be used to lay off or reduce the hours, wages or benefits of existing employees, take the work of striking employ-

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

ees or interfere with promotion opportunities. Employers also generally could not fill more than 100 positions through the program or allow program workers to make up more than 10% of their workforce. Government agencies could not use the program to replace civil service positions. Van Hollen’s legislation also makes artificial intelligence part of the government’s effort to understand why people are losing jobs and what they encounter while trying to find new ones. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy of Connecticut joined Van Hollen in introducing the legislation. “With the looming threat of massive job losses from AI, we have to find new ways to protect Americans from long periods of unemployment and connect them to good-paying, stable jobs,” Murphy said. Before applying for a program

VAN HOLLEN BILL Page 14

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5 Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen is proposing the Ready to Work Act of 2026 to help the nearly 2 million Americans who have been looking for work for at least six months. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

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BUSINESS VAN HOLLEN BILL from Page 13 job, participants would report information about their most recent employment, why it ended and any AI used in that job. They also would report AI encountered during their job search, including its use in hiring, résumé screening or interviews. The bill cites polling showing that 70% of Americans surveyed in March believed AI was likely to reduce the number of job opportunities, up from 56% in April 2025. It does not assume, however, that AI caused an individual worker’s unemployment. The reporting requirement would give the Labor Department information that could be used to track its role in employment and hiring. “This bill reimagines and modernizes our unemployment system, creating a wider range of support resources, so that everyone looking for work can find work,” Murphy continued.

Areas with persistent poverty and low employment would be eligible for additional competitive grants. The bill defines a high-poverty area as one where the poverty rate has remained at least 20% for three years. Those grants could give local programs greater latitude to accept people who have been unemployed for shorter periods, extend subsidized employment, increase spending on training and support services or reduce employers’ required contribution. The main jobs program would receive mandatory federal funding beginning in fiscal 2026. The legislation does not establish a fixed dollar amount, instead appropriating “such sums as may be necessary” for fiscal 2026 and subsequent years. The separate grants for high-poverty and chronically low-employment areas would depend on congressional appropriations beginning in fiscal 2027. Workforce and community or-

5 People attend a March 2025 job fair in Prince George’s County. Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland introduced the Ready to Work Act of 2026, legislation that would use federal money to help local workforce boards and community organizations create temporary paid positions designed to lead to permanent employment. (WI File Photo/Anthony Tilghman)

ganizations such as the National Urban League, Service Employees International Union, National Association of Workforce Boards, Center for Employment Opportunities, Employ Prince George’s are supporting the proposed legislation. For people who have already spent months submitting applica-

tions and waiting for an employer to say yes, supporters argue that the program would treat paid work itself as part of the route back into the labor force. “Long-term unemployment doesn’t just scar the worker who loses income and skills — it destabilizes families and hollows out communities, and the market has

proven it cannot fix this on its own,” said Mark Paul, an associate professor of economics at Rutgers University’s Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. “The Ready to Work Act steps in where the market has failed, guaranteeing real job opportunities for anyone locked out of the workforce.” WI

WIZARDS from Page 4

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study Oct. 1, examining what families face when they decide to attend games across the league. The researchers looked beyond ticket prices to food, drinks and parking and compared those costs with household incomes in each market. The study also examined how ticket prices have changed since last season, an important part of the calculation because admission accounts for the largest share of what most families spend. Washington had already ranked near the inexpensive end of the NBA in Action Network’s previous family-cost analysis. That study estimated four Wizards tickets at $490, food and drinks at $52 and parking at $13. It also included $545 in merchandise, pushing the full family calculation to $1,100. The merchandise component made that earlier total much larger than the price of simply getting a family inside,

WIZARDS Page 15

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WIZARDS from Page 14 feeding everyone and getting home. The gap between Washington and some other NBA markets can be enormous. Still, for a D.C. family, the final bill still depends heavily on the opponent, seat location, demand and resale prices, all of which can quickly erase some of the savings associated with attending a Wizards game. Buying jerseys or other merchandise can add hundreds more. The Wizards play their first preseason home game Oct. 10 against the Detroit Pistons at Capital One Arena, followed by an Oct. 12 game against Brooklyn. Washington opens the regular-season home schedule Oct. 21 against Milwaukee. The first 15,000 fans at the opener are scheduled to receive a rally towel. In the meantime, fans are gearing up for what they hope will be a successful season. “I’ve seen less people at a regular season game,” one person said in reaction to the pre-season game on Oct. 2. “So lit seeing the city be excited for basketball again. D.C. deserves this.”

A Billion-Dollar Makeover Downtown

Families walking into Capital One Arena this season are also entering a building in the middle of a massive reconstruction. The District committed $515 million toward the project after Monumental Sports & Entertainment considered moving the Wizards and Capitals to Northern Virginia. The agreement keeps both franchises in Washington through 2050. The arena project, initially projected at about $800 million, has since grown into a transformation valued at more than $1 billion. Construction is underway, with completion planned before the 2027-28 NBA and NHL seasons. Plans include expanded entrances, redesigned concourses, new gathering spaces and extensive changes to food, beverage and hospitality areas. The District reported spending $170 million of its $515 million commitment during fiscal 2025. City officials estimate the construction will generate about 4,900 jobs. Since 2015, D.C. has committed more than $1.6 billion to major

sports venues, including $515 million for Capital One Arena, $150 million for Audi Field, $23 million for CareFirst Arena and $877 million toward the Commanders stadium project at the RFK campus. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) called the Capital One Arena agreement a victory for the city, the teams and their supporters when the deal was announced. “We are going to have a state-ofthe-art urban arena in Downtown D.C. and that’s a great deal for D.C., for the teams, and for the fans,” Bowser said. For Monumental, the rebuilt arena is being sold as more than new seats and fresh concourses. Plans call for approximately 250 events annually, with the Wizards, Capitals and Georgetown men’s basketball among the regular tenants and Mystics games, concerts and other events filling the calendar. The arena renovation also promises a “premium culinary and beverage program for every guest,” along with new bars and upgraded hospitality throughout the building. Whether those improvements eventually change what an ordinary

BUSINESS

5 A new Action Network analysis of family costs for the 2026-27 NBA season reveals D.C.’s Capital One Arena is one of the cheaper places to attend a professional basketball game in the nation. (WI FIle Photo/Marcus Relacion)

family pays for a night at a Wizards game will be worth watching. For now, the District occupies an uncommon position among major sports cities – taxpayers are helping finance one of the country’s most expensive arena renovations while Wizards fans can still find an NBA night that costs considerably less than one in many competing markets.

Monumental CEO Ted Leonsis said the city's investment was intended to change what fans experience when they arrive downtown. “This is more than an investment from the city,” Leonsis said earlier. “It’s a true partnership demonstrated by all of these investments which the city has committed to for our fans to have an exceptional gameday experience.” WI

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OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026 15

NATIONAL Democracy Summit Examines Journalism’s Role Ahead of Midterms

‘Firewalls of Democracy’ Face a Midterm Test By Kree Anderson WI Intern With midterm elections just over three weeks away, questions about the role of the press in protecting democracy and holding power accountable took center stage at the Fourth Annual Center for Journalism and Democracy Summit on Oct. 6. A day filled with introspection, connection and collective learning, the event gathered newsroom executives, American and international

journalists, legal scholars, and democracy practitioners to reflect, learn from one another, formulate meaningful approaches, and prepare to address threats facing the press. “I do not have to tell you that, without hyperbole, this will be among, if not the most consequential election of our lifetime because we do not know if our democracy will hold, as the nation faces unprecedented threats from the executive office,” said Nikole Hannah-Jones, investigative journalist and founder of the Center

5Carolyn Ryan, managing editor of The New York Times, Leroy Chapman Jr., editor-in-chief of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jelani Cobb, dean of the Columbia Journalism School and panel moderator during the discussion “Are You Ready? Preparing Your Newsroom for High-Stakes Elections,” as part of the Fourth Annual Democracy Summit at Howard University on Oct. 6. (Cleveland Nelson/The Washington Informer)

for Journalism and Democracy. For students like Anna Hill, learning how to ensure reporting is factual and insightful, not only as she prepares for a career in public relations, but before she and approximately 50 million

Generation Z Americans place their ballots. “Just educating us, trying to keep information as accurate as possible [is important],” said Hill, “but then also informing us on how different positions that are up for election impact our communities.” Throughout the event, Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, urged the current and future reporters present to champion freedom and transparency. “We are the fourth estate,” Hannah Jones, creator of the 1619 Project, said. “We are the firewall of democracy, and we have tremendous power to protect it.”

tion is gearing up for the elections. On Sept. 23, the news organization simulated election night with its usual 70-person team responsible for operations such as scraping election data and map-building. She said the publication ultimately helps readers by explaining how votes are cast, counted and verified. “What we think of it is, it’s almost like a civics lesson to walk readers through what’s happening and to explain the process of [voting],” she said, “and why the integrity of that process is so important.”

The Midterms: Stakes and Strategy

While newsrooms prepare to inform voters, journalists also face safety risks. Georgia Fort, a three-time Midwest Emmy Award-winning journalist, who was arrested in January and currently facing two federal court counts for her reporting in Minnesota, is one example of the personal toll that reporting can take on journalists. Fort, who claims she was arrested for covering stories within her community, recalled the early-yearan encounter with federal agents that was traumatizing to her whole family. The reporter said since those officers infiltrated her home, she has had to console her 8-year-old daughter over fears they might return. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

Setting the tone for the event, Howard University Interim President Wayne A.I. Frederick asked attendees to address the challenges facing journalists with “clear thinking and practical readiness.” During the panel, “Are You Ready? Preparing Your Newsroom for HighStakes Elections,” Carolyn Ryan, managing editor of the New York Times, said it takes proactivity to ensure voters understand the importance of midterms and exercise their civic duty by voting. “We can’t really ask ourselves, ‘Are we ready?’ We have to get ready, and the way that we do it is serious investment of time,” said Ryan. The managing editor shared examples of how the 175-year-old publica-

16 OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026

The Challenges Facing Election Coverage

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PJM, DOE Declare Energy Grid Emergency Amid RecordBreaking Warm Temperatures

Routine Maintenance and Upgrade Outages Recalled; Emergency Effective Through Oct. 16 By Mya Trujillo WI Multimedia Reporter Due to unusually high autumn temperatures causing an increase in energy demand, PJM Interconnection, the largest energy grid operator in the United States, issued a Capacity Advisory, Maximum Generation Alert and Load Management Alert for Oct. 13. In light of this, the organization requested and received a combined emergency order from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) effective through Oct. 16. Usually, the rest of the year following mid-September is considered the fall shoulder period, when mild temperatures call for lower energy usage compared to peak winter and summer periods. During this time, generation and transmission owners can schedule outages for maintenance and upgrades, but due to the recently issued alerts, PJM issued a recall for these disruptions, effective at noon on Oct. 14, so that energy would still be available during this time of strain. “The conditions we have seen in both September and October reflect the reality that PJM and other grid operators are facing: increased baseload electricity demand is growing faster than new capacity can come onto the system; and unpredictable weather patterns are providing fewer days to perform important maintenance or construction on the generation and transmission equipment serving our footprint,” PJM wrote in a statement to The Informer. September 2026 was the warmest recorded to date in the U.S. since 1895, averaging 69.4°F, which is 1.5°F higher than September 2025. It is the fourth month in 2026 to be the warmest on record alongside March, July and August. According to the August 2026 Market Monitor Report presented

to PJM Members, average peak consumption increased by 2.2% in the first seven months of 2026 compared to the same window in 2025. “This is the new reality that grid operators are facing, but PJM is confident that our procedures, along with the DOE orders, gives us additional tools to maintain our reserve margins and allow us to operate reliably,” the grid operator’s statement continued. Even though announcements of an energy grid emergency could cause anxiety about potential future widespread blackouts, the measures taken by PJM and DOE have been put in place to prevent such drastic events. For example, the Capacity Advisory is the first of its kind under new emergency procedures endorsed by PJM Members in June 2026. It was implemented for times when projected and operating conditions reveal an imminent capacity shortfall, providing advance notice to Members of times when generation is anticipated to reach its maximum demand requirement. It also authorizes PJM to use backup generation as a last resort before declaring an Energy Emergency Alert 3, which is when available supply reaches critically low levels. DOE estimates approximately 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation are available nationwide. “This order will help ensure millions of American families and businesses across the mid-Atlantic have access to affordable, reliable and secure electricity by making additional power generation, including backup power, available to use as needed,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.

fied by increased data center construction, is raising the supply costs for energy distributors, which affects utility prices for everyday consumers. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s October Short-Term Energy Outlook, wholesale prices in PJM territory are predicted to increase by 41% in 2026 compared to 2025. Households in the District saw a 7% increase in utility bill rates at the beginning of July 2026, per the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (DCPSC). To combat surging rates and prevent outages, corporations like Exelon have come up with incentives like the Exelon Promise to provide customers of their utilities with aid and relief. The corporation owns the following natural gas transmission and utility distribution companies: Atlantic City Electric (ACE) in southern New Jersey, Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) in northern Illinois, Delmarva Power and Light (DPL) in Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Delaware, PECO Energy Company (PECO) in southeastern Pennsylvania, and Potomac Electric

Power Company (PEPCO) in Washington and parts of Maryland. Affordability is at the beginning and end of every conversation we have.“Affordability can’t be in the conversation by itself. It has to be affordability, reliability [and] economic development... but I know customers don’t care about any of that if they can’t afford to pay that bill, so it has to be an all-of-theabove approach.” For the time being, PJM and its collaborators are working to deal with the emergency at hand by using mitigation protocols that will keep as much energy available on the grid as possible. However, as the planet warms and causes unprecedented circumstances, experts note that innovation and collaboration are crucial to the grid’s reliability and longevity. “Planned maintenance season will continue to present risks that we formerly faced only in summer and winter,” PJM wrote in a statement to The Informer. “PJM is working with state and federal policymakers to address these conditions by increasing supply on multiple fronts, including speeding the connection of new electricity supply

5 A technician with GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic installs no-cost solar for a District household in July 2023. As the planet warms and causes unprecedented circumstances, experts note that innovation and collaboration are crucial to the energy grid’s reliability and longevity. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

and removing state permitting barriers that are outside of PJM’s jurisdiction.” WI

Protecting Customers, Calling for Change

High demand on the grid, intensi-

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OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026 17

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comes free with a business class ticket. Even now with such comforts with, for people like Thomas Woldemariam and many other travelers, the airline’s value goes beyond its cozy perks. It creates opportunities to connect, convene and celebrate. “I have never used another airline to travel to Ethiopia, but Ethiopian Airlines,” said Woldemariam, a local business owner, who was born in Ethiopia and moved to the Washington region in 2004. “I travel three or four times a year. I only use Ethiopian Airlines and I've been traveling frequently to Ethiopia for many years. And so it would be very inconvenient for me to use another airline, especially traveling from Washington to Ethiopia. I don't know that many direct flights.” The entrepreneur who now lives in Woodbridge, Virginia, took a trip to Addis Ababa in late September, a festive time for Ethiopia’s capital. Although the main reason for the trip was a family wedding in Addis Ababa, he was also excited to be there right after the Ethiopian New Year, which is celebrated on Sept. 11, and for Meskel, a religious holiday on Sept. 27. “[The wedding] landed on the week of the holiday, which I usually travel every other year for… So it worked out,” Woldemariam told The Informer. “I think that holiday season makes it special to travel and to see your family at that time.” However, even for travelers without familial connections to the East African country, visiting Ethiopia, particularly in September, can be special. “Ethiopia was nothing short of magical,” said Charlotte Thompson, who went to Addis Ababa as part of an Ethiopian Airlines and Ethiopian Holidays sponsored FAM trip Sept. 24-27. With the seasonal, yellow adey abe-

ba flower decorating the city for new year festivities and observances, visiting Ethiopia in the fall allows all people to learn history, witness important commemorations and dive into the country’s culture. “I think it's exciting for the city and the country,” Woldemariam said, “and gives it a colorful vibe to the whole country.”

The History of Addis Ababa: Born From a ‘New Flower’

Ethiopia recently celebrated 2019, as the country follows a 13-month calendar that falls about seven years behind the standard Gregorian calendar. “In Ethiopia, we have four different calendars, depending on the tribes… and so there are indigenous calendars, as well,” said Firew Fisaha during a tour given to FAM trip participants on Sept. 25. “And then instead of changing the calendar at midnight, we

change the calendar at 6 a.m., because that's when the sun rises. So that's the beginning of the new day.” While the new year celebration is an exciting time, it also perfectly aligns with a great opportunity to learn about Addis Ababa, including the city’s name. The name itself relates to adey abeba, a yellow flower that blooms and flourishes in September and October and can be spotted on a variety of things during that time of year: from a pin on a person’s lapel, to a table setting, a massive design on a building, and even on the printed tickets for Ethiopian Airlines. While the flower is pretty, it’s famous beyond its beauty. For many, the story starts with Empress Taytu Betel, the wife of celebrated Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II— who ruled from 1889–1913 and famously led military forces to defeat Italian colonizers at the Battle of Adwa in 1896. “She saw this unique flower,” Fisaha told the group of tourists, who visited Addis Ababa on direct flights from Washington Dulles International Airport, as well as from New York, Newark, Atlanta and Chicago. “Since she came from a higher altitude, she never witnessed, in her lifetime, this kind of flower. And then she asked for the name of the flower, and at the time, the slaves didn't recognize the name of the flower, and they could not say, ‘I don't know,’ to the queen. So they decided to say, ‘This is just a new flower.”

ETHIOPIA Page 31

5Washington Informer Managing Editor Micha Green and Charlotte Thompson (third and fourth from left) pose with participants of the FAM trip, hosted by Ethiopian Airlines Sept. 24-27 in Addis Ababa. (Courtesy Photo)

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HEALTH MENOPAUSE from Page 1 cialist emphasizes that one of the key components of treating menopause— often called “the change”— is claiming the power to discuss these very personal changes openly. “We have to take the shame out of it,” McMillan told The Washington Informer in a May interview on the digital show “Let’s Talk.” “Due to shame and lack of understanding, our mother’s and grandmother’s generation didn’t talk about ‘the change,’ and to our detriment, many of us are still not having open conversations about our symptoms, even with ourselves.”

3Integrative gynecologist and hormone specialist Dr. LaKeischa McMillan explains how to reframe midlife health, encouraging women to see menopause as a time of self-mastery rather than an ending. (Courtesy Photo/Dr. LaKeischa McMillan)

Subtle Changes Women May Not Always Recognize

Dr. Monica Sood clinically describes menopause as 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. However, she stresses that the transition leading up to menopause, known as perimenopause, can start as early as four to 10 years before full menopause. “Symptoms may emerge as early as a woman’s 30s, even while menstrual cycles continue,” said Sood, 51, ahead of World Menopause Day on Oct. 18. “Sleep disturbances, brain fog, mood swings, weight

gain, anxiety and low energy can be easy to dismiss, particularly in communities where the complexities of menopause, especially for younger women, historically have not been widely understood.”

Recognizing the isolation and disconnect many women feel while navigating changing hormones, the physician founded Sood 4 Thought, an online community platform that helps women over 40 reconnect with their health, identity, and purpose through natural mind-body practices. “We tend to think that these biological changes are isolated to our reproductive system,” Sood said. “Really, they affect the functioning of the entire body.” For many women, these layered symptoms can be destabilizing. “Hormonal shifts can affect sleep, concentration, mood, bone health,

and even how we feel about ourselves as women,” emphasized McMillan. “These changes are a disruption to the body's internal rhythm and the symptoms vary in number and severity from woman to woman.” Both clinicians advocate that recognizing subtle changes is imperative to seeking education and treatment before symptoms begin to feel overwhelming. “This is a physiological process,” McMillan said. “There is true chemistry happening in your body that shows up as actual symptoms.” For women who have spent years caring for families, managing careers and meeting others’ needs, those changes can also bring uncertainty about their own identities. Without education and treatment, women may feel isolated or question their mental well-being even though their bodies are undergoing a genuine biological transition. “These changes are very real,” related Sood. “Women often say to me, ‘I feel like I’m going crazy.’ They feel like they are alone.”

MENOPAUSE Page 21

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5Dr. Monica Sood counsels women to adopt simple daily habits, such as prayer, sunlight, and fulfilling hobbies, to focus thoughts and calm the nervous system, even decades before menopause. (Courtesy Photo/ Dr. Monica Sood)

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MENOPAUSE from Page 20

Reclaiming Hormonal Health, One Habit at a Time

Both physicians emphasize that education and individualized support are critical to help women navigate hormonal changes at both early and later ages. Passionate about ensuring that women have relatable information, McMillian authored “Your Survival Guide to Perimenopause and Menopause: The Other Side of PMS.” The book is intentionally written in accessible, conversational language which feels more like old friends talking as opposed to a medical journal. “It is my ministry to help women understand what is happening to them so that they not only feel validated but have the resources and support to take back the reins of their lives,” McMillan said. Sood counsels women on establishing new habits for their changing bodies, including developing a sleep routine, making different nutritional choices, and replenishing diminishing vitamin and hormonal levels. She encourages women to seek medical guidance and to advocate for testing for hormonal and vitamin deficiencies. She also offers practical advice that can be easily layered into one's daily routine. “Incorporate protein and healthy

fats into your diet, reduce or eliminate processed foods, get sunlight, and make time for practices that calm the nervous system, such as breathing exercises or prayer,” advised Sood. McMillian, who sees this work as her calling, believes that contrary to popular belief, menopause is not the ending of something, but the birth of what she counsels could be one of the most fulfilling stages of life. “I believe it’s my job to educate women for generations that balanced hormones actually equal a whole person, and to understand that they don’t just have to accept that this is the way that they move through the world now,” the author stated. Sood also sees menopause as an invitation to reinvention. “What we don’t realize is that we have spent our entire lives doing and taking care of everyone else,” she said. “One of the practices that I teach to women is that menopause and perimenopause are the times that we take care of ourselves.” Both clinicians encourage women to see this stage of life as an opportunity to reconsider what they want for themselves and urge them to take the time to actually build it. “Taking care of your hormonal health opens the doors of possibility,” Sood emphasized. “That may mean the travel you never got to explore, returning to school, pursuing a meaningful hobby, or making

room for interests that have long taken a back seat to caring for others.” Culturally, McMillian sees opportunity to reshape what has generationally been referred to in quiet whispers as “the change.” “The most sustainable way to take care of others is to take care of ourselves. Let’s redefine ‘the change' into something beautiful that we speak about openly, that builds, creates, and empowers,” she said. “Imagine the power that this single act of self-caregiving would ultimately have on us now, and our generations to come.” WI

HEALTH

3Dr. LaKeischa McMillan, victorious after a swim fundraiser for the American Cancer Society in September 2025, believes accomplishing simple goals can be key to hormonal regulation. (Courtesy Photo/Dr. LaKeischa McMillan)

5Standing fully in her purpose, Dr. LaKeischa McMillan prepares to pour into hundreds of attendees at the National Menopause Show in October 2025. (Courtesy Photo/Dr. LaKeischa McMillan)

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OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026 21

EDUCATION DCPS from Page 1 organization community,” said Hines, a third-generation Washingtonian and mother of a Pre-K4 Whittier student. Hines, director of D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living, previously served as senior advisor to then-DCPS Chancellor Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee. She recently counted among several DCPS parents who attended a meet-and-greet that interim DPCS Chancellor Dr. Kim Jackson hosted for Ward 1 and 4 parents at La Coop Coffee on Kennedy Street in Northwest. In June, Bowser appointed Jackson as interim DCPS chancellor, not long after Ferebee resigned to take a job in the private sector. By that time, Jackson had 14 years under her belt as an award-winning principal, instructional superintendent, and chief of schools. In DCPS central office, she facilitated the launch of the annual Literacy Institute, Building Blocks curriculum, and other literacy projects. Speaking in her role as a parent, Hines told The Informer that Jackson has the experience needed to take DCPS to the next level. “She has a strong background in school leadership, instructional content and delivery,” Hines said. “I'm excited to hear about her vision as…her leadership trajectory is taking her to the top at this point.”

During a school modernization process that has relegated Whittier students, faculty and staff to a nearby modular campus, Hines has leveraged her experience to help parents navigate the transition from the school building to the temporary accommodations. She called it part of her obligation to ensure that her child and others enjoy their neighborhood school. Hines said that Jackson, if appointed and approved as the next chancellor, can curate that type of environment across all District public schools by sticking to the basics. “[There’s] parent engagement, attendance, wraparound services for students, also making sure that our students are prepared for college and career, whichever track that they choose is the best fit,” Hines told The Informer. “What I would like to see is of course continuing those successful investments and interventions that Mayor Bowser has worked on throughout her public service career, especially… when we think about modernizing schools, increasing enrollment, engaging more with the labor leaders that make sure DCPS operates on a day-to-day basis.”

A Choice for the Next Mayor, and a Parent’s Stress about Middle School

The next District mayor, to be de-

5D.C. Public Schools Chief External Affairs Officer Kera Tyler and Interim Chancellor Dr. Kim Jackson speak with parents during a meet-and-greet at La Coop Coffee in Northwest on Oct. 8. (Sam Plo Kwia Collins, Jr./The Washington Informer)

22 OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026

5 District Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks to D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) students in March 2023. DCPS is in the fourth year of a five-year strategic plan grounded in academic success, school connectivity and preparation for life after high school. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)

cided during the Nov. 3 general election, will have the responsibility of appointing the next DCPS chancellor. The mayoral candidates are: Democratic mayoral nominee and Ward 4 D.C. council member Janeese Lewis George, D.C. Statehood Green Party nominee Robert L. Gross, and independent nominee Dr. Rhonda Hamilton. At the end of her Oct. 8 meet-andgreet at La Coop Coffee, Jackson said she hadn’t spoken with Lewis George, the presumptive winner in a majority-Democratic city. “No word yet,” Jackson told The Informer, “but I am here, and I'm going to do everything I need to do for the children of DCPS.” Amanda Michelle Gomez, communications director for the Lewis George campaign, confirmed just as much. "The campaign has no news to announce right now, especially as transition has not yet begun,” Gomez said in an email. “What I can say is that Janeese Lewis George will conduct a professional and transparent search to attract the absolute best talent possible to help lead this city and address the challenges we face. We are confident that we will get the best person for the job, based on their experience and approach. Any decision will be rooted in measurable outcomes for our students in all [eight] wards." In a statement, Hamilton told The Informer that she’s been working with her Commission on Educational Excellence to develop a comprehensive approach to engage stakeholders in her decision to appoint the next chancellor, if elected.

“Central to this effort is my commitment to ensuring that DCPS educators, students, school personnel, parents, and community leaders have an opportunity to provide meaningful input into the selection process,” Hamilton’s statement read. “I believe their perspectives are essential to identifying the leadership qualities, educational priorities, and institutional reforms necessary to strengthen our public education system.” Hamilton touted Jackson’s experience, familiarity with DCPS, and focus on chronic absenteeism, improving students’ academic outcomes, and teacher professional development. Even so, she said she would make a decision with transparency and accountability as her North Star, and in collaboration with the community. “I remain open to her permanent appointment, but my decision will be guided by demonstrated performance, meaningful stakeholder input, and what is in the best interests of DCPS students, families, and educators,” Hamilton said. “Our children and educators deserve more than promises. They deserve educational leadership that delivers measurable results, restores confidence in our schools, and prepares every student and educator for a successful future.” Gross didn't immediately respond to requests for comment about Jackson. Jackson’s Ward 1 and 4 meetand-greet represents what a DCPS spokesperson calls more of an effort to be front-facing. This event preceded what’s scheduled to be a Ward 7 and 8 meet-and-greet at Grounded:

Plant Shop, Cafe, & Wellness Studio on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue in Southeast; a Ward 2 and 3 meet-andgreet at Bread Furst on Connecticut Avenue in Northwest; and a Ward 6 meet-and-greet at Ebenezers Coffeehouse in Northeast. Throughout much of the morning of Oct. 8, staff and parents from Barnard Elementary School, Whittier Elementary School, Truesdell Elementary School, Shepherd Elementary School, John Lewis Elementary School, Powell Bilingual Elementary School, and Ida B. Wells Middle School sipped coffee, spoke among one another and engaged in conversation with Jackson. DCPS’ Community Action Team assisted in this effort, which included provision of language access resources. A Petworth parent who asked to be identified as Marylin R. expressed her gratitude for what they called a strong Pre-K program within walking distance of their home. Marylin made note of the teachers and tight-knit community that’s fostered their child’s academic and socioemotional growth. “It's the fact that as we're walking down the street… [we’re] saying hi to 10 different kids that live in the neighborhood,” Marylin told The Informer. “I think that that's just magical. You don't expect that from an urban setting, and to get that here is incredible.” In the same vein, Marylin acknowledged feeling anxious about the road ahead as their young one stays in the D.C. public school system. “Not all kids have safe and stable homes, and that makes it challenging

DCPS Page 23

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DCPS from Page 22 because then a lot of people are feeling like they're questioning, ‘Should we stay in an urban environment?’” Marylin said. “I want to hear where the conversation is going about making our schools better all the way through because I know a lot of parents are feeling good about where they're sending their kids for primary school, but they lose the confidence as middle school and high schools come up, and that breaks my heart.”

A Father’s Fight for Accountability

Ward 4 father Kisembe Namusyule told The Informer that, as a former

told him about the alleged incident when they later met outside of Ida B. Wells Middle School on Oct. 5. Though she walked away physically unharmed, Namusyule told The Informer that the honor student’s attitude toward school has soured. He went as far as to mention her choice to skip the Oct. 7 football game in which her alleged aggressor was participating, and stay home on Oct. 8. “The toughest part for her was [that when] a child harms another child, then the expectation is that the child will be disciplined,” Namusyule said. “What has been disheartening to my daughter has been [that] a teacher saw her in danger and did nothing. She's thinking these are people she can trust.

From that point, as Namusyule recounted, the football player swung at her face with a fist, and his daughter ducked that punch before a teacher standing nearby in the hallway told them “cut it out.” parent-teacher association president and local coach, he’s been able to meet many of the neighborhood youth who attend Ida B. Wells Middle School with his daughter. “A lot of them are well behaved and are doing the best they can,” Namusyule said. “But they're also struggling with the systemic violence that's accepted.” On the morning of Oct. 8, Namusyule and his daughter, a sixth grader, attended the meet-and-greet at La Coop Coffee to speak with Jackson about what Namusyule recounted as an ordeal that started with a football player’s coercion of his daughter and another female student to smell him. In his account, Namusyule said that, after Namusyule’s daughter walked away, the football player yanked the collar of her hoodie before she broke away and punched him. From that point, as Namusyule recounted, the football player swung at her face with a fist, and his daughter ducked that punch before a teacher standing nearby in the hallway told them “cut it out.” As Namusyule noted, it was his daughter, not school personnel, who

She said the school is basically a system and the school just wants to protect the school.” On the morning following the alleged incident, Namusyule visited Ida B. Wells Middle School and met with a restorative justice coordinator who, according to him, said “dad, they’re fifth graders for real,” and dismissed his daughter’s experience as “play fighting.” Namusyule also said the coordinator never followed through on her pledge to accompany his daughter to her classes. A day later, Namusyule submitted a legal grievance to Ida B. Wells principal William B. Lyles III, the D.C. Office of the General Counsel (OGC) and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. He said he did so upon learning about his rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and while discovering that Ida B. Wells Middle School didn’t have a Title IX coordinator who’s tasked with investigating complaints about gender-based violence. WI Read more on washingtoninformer..com.

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Fannie Lou Hamer Didn’t Wait for Permission. Neither Can We

EDITORIAL

From the Census to the Voter Rolls, the Trump Administration is Redrawing Who Counts.

Fannie Lou Hamer would have turned 109 last week. Born Oct. 6, 1917, in the Mississippi Delta, she walked into the Sunflower County courthouse in 1962 to register to vote. She failed a rigged literacy test, was thrown off the plantation where she had worked for 18 years, and was later beaten nearly to death in a Winona jail. However, she kept going back. Once she registered, she spent the rest of her life getting others on the rolls, through Freedom Summer and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Her lesson is plain: people who want a smaller electorate are counting on the rest of us to give up. The Trump administration is testing that bet again. Last month the Census Bureau proposed counting only citizens and greencard holders toward each state’s share of House seats, and dropping questions about race and ethnicity

from the census form. The 14th Awwmendment requires counting “the whole number of persons in each State.” Change who is counted and you change who is represented, and where federal dollars go. Public comments closed Oct. 13. The census is one front in a greater effort. Trump’s first election order tried to require documentary proof of citizenship to register and to reject mail ballots arriving after Election Day, even when postmarked on time. A federal judge permanently blocked most of it in June. A second order seeks a national voter list and limits on mail voting. The Justice Department has sued 30 states and D.C. over unredacted voter rolls and keeps losing; one judge appointed by George W. Bush openly questioned the department’s real aim. We know what these schemes do. Kansas’s proof-of-citizenship law blocked the registration of

more than 31,000 eligible Americans. The goal isn’t stopping fraud, which is vanishingly rare. It’s adding friction until enough people stay home. Courts have slowed much of this. Courts cannot finish the job. Only voters can. On Nov. 3, Democrats can win back the House, the Senate, or both, and with them the power to investigate, to control spending, and to say no. But majorities aren’t inherited. They’re built one registration at a time. So check your registration today; many states’ deadlines fall this month. Help a neighbor, a coworker, or a first-time voter check theirs. Plan to vote early or on Election Day, and if you vote by mail, send it back early. Hamer said she was sick and tired of being sick and tired. Then she went back to that courthouse. We owe her the same persistence. WI

The Washington Informer at 62: Rooted in Legacy, Sustained by Community Friday, Oct. 16 marks The Washington Informer’s 62nd anniversary, a significant milestone for a small, local, Black and woman-owned community media company that still produces a weekly newspaper in print and continues to be distributed to readers across the DMV. It’s inexplicable to some that The Informer hasn’t followed the path of so many other media companies, locally and throughout the U.S., whose doors have shuttered over the past decade. To be exact, more than 1,000 newspapers have discontinued publishing over the past 10 years, and, according to Northwestern University's Medill Local News Initiative’s State of Local News 2025 study, the country lost nearly 3,500 local newspapers between 2005 and 2025, including more than 130 in the most recent year. In 1964, D.C. was flush with news outlets that included The Washington Post, The Evening Star, and The Washington Daily

News, not to mention the host of publications that served the surrounding counties in Maryland and Virginia. Among the Black newspapers, there were The Washington Afro, The New Observer, and The Capital Spotlight, to which Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. introduced The Washington Informer. 1964 was an exciting time for many Americans, but for Black Americans it marked a period of heated fights for civil rights in which strong voices on the streets, in the courtrooms, the pulpits, and the media needed to be heard and amplified. Locally, the fight for Home Rule in this majority-Black city was raging, and advocates who won the fight for D.C. residents to vote for president intensified their fight for a locally elected city government and to free local affairs from Congress's control. It wasn’t easy back then for Dr. Rolark to keep the doors open to ensure the voices of Black folks

were heard, and it certainly isn’t easy today. National policies, including anti-DEI and other factors, have had a severe impact on revenue while the perpetuation of negative attitudes about media has harmed the trust of readers who once relied on national and local news to make important decisions. Like generations of Black journalists and publishers before them, the staff of The Washington Informer continues to cover and report on the local community with determination and an unwavering commitment to its readers. The Washington Informer team celebrates the legacy of those who came before and remains committed to telling our stories, amplifying our voices and preserving our history. As long as the community has stories to tell, The Washington Informer will continue to tell them, with the hope and confidence that the community’s support will remain strong for generations to come. WI

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TO THE EDITOR “Thank you for sharing this impactful article with us. It’s so important for us all to hear the lived experiences of our amazing warriors. Thanks for all you do for the SCD community. Praying God will continue to guide you all as you fight this daily battle. This nurse advocate will always be praying for the SCD community!” -Stephanie Bankston (In reference to the article: “For Those Battling Sickle Cell Disease, the Strongest Prescription is Hope.”)

“LaTalya Palmer your journey is a beautiful reminder of how much strength, courage, and faith the human spirit can hold. Continue to share your radiant spirit with others!” -Tisha Lockett (In reference to the article: “‘The Softest Thing I Ever Did Was Survive’: Breast Cancer Survivors and Clinicians Reframe the Meaning of Fight.”)

The Washington Informer team celebrates the legacy of those who came before and remains committed to telling our stories, amplifying our voices and preserving our history.

OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026 25

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

ReShonda Tate

Battling Black Voter Distrust

Black voters have been among the Democratic Party's most dependable supporters for generations. But loyalty and trust are not the same thing. With less than a month to go before the midterm elections, Black voters and political strategists say years of inconsistent engagement and unmet expectations have left some voters questioning whether the party has earned

their continued support. The challenge now is bigger than winning votes. It's convincing distrustful voters that staying politically engaged is worth it. Communications strategist Ashley Etienne argues that Democrats have spent years taking one of their most reliable voting blocs for granted, creating a widening trust gap that threatens the party's long-term prospects in Texas and nationally. "Trust is the currency of persuasion," she said. "We're seeing distrust at an alltime high, especially with Black voters ... distrust of the media, institutions,

Guest Columnist

continue to hold a substantial advantage among Black voters heading into November, but that support isn't universal. A July 2026 Pew Research Center survey found that 68% of Black registered voters said they would support the Democratic candidate for U.S. House in their district, compared with 8% who favored the Republican. Another 25% said they were either unsure or would support another candidate. That uncertainty follows some erosion in Democratic support among Black voters in the 2024 presidential

the Democratic Party, self-agreement. Campaigns don't lose because they fail to talk to voters. They lose because they fail to listen." Etienne, who served as a senior adviser to Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris, said repairing that relationship requires something considerably more difficult than another campaign advertisement. It requires listening. Black support remains strong, but not absolute Recent polling suggests Democrats

election. A Pew analysis of validated voters found that 83% of Black voters supported Kamala Harris in 2024, compared with 92% who supported Joe Biden in 2020. Pew found that the shift was driven less by individual voters switching from one party to another than by differences in who turned out to vote. The findings don't suggest Black voters have abandoned Democrats. They do raise questions about whether longstanding party loyalty is enough to

TATE Page 45

A.R. Shaw

Why LeBron James and Jaylen Brown Will Make 76ers Bigger Than Basketball

LeBron James' decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers instantly made his new team a title contender on the court. But with Jaylen Brown as his teammate, it will be a win for Black initiatives off the court. After several weeks of contemplating his new destination, James bypassed the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers to finish

his illustrious career in Philly, a city with a significant Black community and culture. James, 41, will join a 76ers team that features former MVP Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Brown, who made his way to Philly one month earlier via a trade from the Boston Celtics. If Embiid can minimize his days missed due to injuries, the 76ers will be in prime position to challenge for an NBA championship. Beyond the basketball court, James and Brown have both embraced lead-

Guest Columnist

ership roles. In an era when many athletes are encouraged to "shut up and dribble" rather than speak out against injustice or invest in their communities, James and Brown have taken the opposite path, dedicating themselves to empowering the communities they represent. To this generation, James and Brown are what Muhammad Ali and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were to theirs. Since 2004, James and the LeBron James Family Foundation have created tangible initiatives that continue to serve the community. The I PROM-

ISE School, located in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, provides education and mentorship for students. James also opened a Starbucks Community Store blocks away from the I PROMISE School, where workers earn a salary and job-training certificates for the hospitality industry. And in 2017, the NAACP awarded James the Jackie Robinson Sports Award for his "contributions in the pursuit of social justice, civil rights and community involvement." Through his 7uice Foundation, Brown launched The Bridge Program, an initiative that equips young people

with skills in science, technology and innovation. Hosted at MIT's Media Lab, the weeklong program immerses students in hands-on learning focused on robotics, artificial intelligence, climate change, food insecurity and data visualization. "There's fascinating research in early childhood development showing that exposing children to new sounds and experiences helps strengthen brain development," Brown shared during a recent keynote speech at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta. "Those new experienc-

SHAW Page 45

Rev. J. Loren Russell

But God!

Ephesians 2:1-10 (CEV): "In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God. Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds.

We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else. But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much he made us alive with Christ, and God's gift of undeserved grace is what saves you. God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven. God did this so in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. You were saved by faith in God, who treats us

26 OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026

much better than we deserve. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about. God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. This is why he sent Christ to make us what we are." If it were not for the love of God, none of us would be worth anything. In fact, we would be walking dead, looking for a grave to lie down in. These are not my words. Paul tells

the Ephesian church that we were all dead because of our sins. But God brought us to life through His undeserved grace. In other words, we did not then, and we do not now, deserve His grace. The reason we were then, and are now, eligible to be made alive is not because we deserve it, but because the Lord is truly good and kind to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. Notice the conjunction, or antithesis, "but." It serves as a directional signal. It changes the direction of the conversation and points us toward

unmerited favor. We were dead — but God! We were sinners — but God! We were undeserving — but God! We were headed in the wrong direction — but God! Although we do not deserve God's grace, He extends it to us anyway. The Apostle John told us, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish ..." And here we go again — "but" has everlasting life.

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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist

Hazel Trice Edney

While Black Families Pay More for Power, Some Attorneys General Fight to Save High-Cost Coal

Families across the country are opening their monthly utility bills with a growing sense of dread. Groceries cost more. Rent costs more. Now electricity has become one more expense pushing household budgets to the breaking point, and for many in the Black community — as usual — the squeeze is being felt hardest of all. Residential electricity prices are ex-

pected to average more than 18 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2026, about 5% higher than last year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. At the same time, demand for power is climbing fast as the nation adds data centers, factories and other large energy users. And consumers remain exposed to a market rattled by global conflict and swings in fuel prices. These costs do not land on everyone equally. For a family with little left over at the end of the month, even a modest jump in the light bill means

Guest Columnist

less for food, transportation or medicine. Low-income households spend three times more of their income on energy than other households, and Black households spend 43% more than white households, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The question every public official should be asking, then, is simple: How does America add the reliable electricity it needs while keeping costs down for the families least able to absorb them? Instead, a group of state attorneys

general has chosen a very different fight. In November 2024, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued three of the nation's largest asset managers — BlackRock, State Street and Vanguard — and was joined by a coalition of other states. The lawsuit claims the firms bought up large stakes in major coal producers and then used their influence as shareholders to pressure those companies to cut production in pursuit of climate goals. The attorneys general argue this restricted coal supply, raised coal prices and, in the end,

raised electricity prices for consumers. Paxton and his colleagues have presented the case as a way to bring down power bills. But when Paxton's office announced its settlement with Vanguard, it billed the deal as an agreement "to protect the coal industry." That wording tells us a great deal about whose interests are really at the center of this case. Attorneys general have only so much time, staff and money. Every hour spent on litigation against in-

EDNEY Page 46

Paul Cobb

Proposition 40: It's Time to Play Chess, Not Checkers

I understand the frustration driving Proposition 40. I share our labor partners' concerns about protecting healthcare and essential services at a time when working families are already under enormous pressure. But labor itself is divided over Proposition 40, and there is good reason to look carefully at what this measure could mean beyond the

money it promises to raise. Proposition 40 would impose a one-time 5% tax on the wealth of Californians with more than $1 billion in assets. Most of that money would go toward healthcare, with the remainder supporting food assistance and education-related programs. Those are worthy investments. The question is whether this is the right way to pay for them. California's independent Legislative Analyst says the measure could raise tens of billions of dollars in the short term. But that same analysis

Guest Columnist

warns that California could eventually lose hundreds of millions of dollars a year in ongoing income-tax revenue if some wealthy taxpayers leave the state or change their financial behavior. That matters because those dollars help support the General Fund and the broader system of programs and services Californians rely on. So let's be clear: This is not about feeling sorry for billionaires. Billionaires will be fine. This is about protecting the people who will not be fine if we get the pol-

icy wrong. For decades, those of us in Black media have watched public policy debates move from crisis to crisis. We have also watched Black communities deal with the consequences when decisions made in Sacramento or Washington did not fully consider what would happen two, three or four moves later. We know what happens when funding disappears. Community organizations struggle. Small businesses lose support. Programs serving young people are squeezed. Schools and lo-

cal governments are asked to do more with less. The people with the fewest resources are usually the first to feel the consequences. That history should make us cautious about making major changes to California's tax system without considering the entire board. If California believes billionaires should contribute more, then let's have that conversation. There is nothing unreasonable about asking whether people who have benefited

COBB Page 46

Marc H. Morial

It's Time for The Department of Education to Stop Destroying the Dreams of the Next Generation

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." — Nelson Mandela In a video that garnered nearly 2 million views across social platforms, Howard University College of Dentistry student Darian Bogie told his followers how the Big Beautiful Bill, and its new caps on graduate school

loans, pushed him out of his dental program. Due to the reach of his story, Bogie was able to surpass his $66,000 fundraising goal on GoFundMe. But for millions of others, the decision is more dire. On July 1, just over a year after the Big Ugly Bill gutted key government programs to fund tax cuts for the richest among us, the Department of Education's new student loan rules took effect. Under the changes, the Graduate PLUS loan program, which provided higher loan limits to

help students pursuing graduate and professional degrees, was phased out for most new borrowers. New student loan caps also took effect, and in many cases, they do not cover the cost of attendance for students. The result is that more students may be forced to drop out of college or may be unable to attend at all. It's no secret that Black students rely on student loans more than their peers from white families. It's also no secret that the fastest-growing population of young people attending college is Black. And make no mistake, it is no

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coincidence that under this administration, education is becoming further out of reach. Critics of higher education have blamed universities for raising tuition and fees to levels that leave millions burdened with debt they may never be able to repay. But the solution to skyrocketing student debt shouldn't be to punish students pursuing a better life. Nor is threatening to strip schools of much-needed federal dollars for having diversity pipeline initiatives, as this administration is actively trying to do,

the answer. Such actions follow cuts to NIH research funding that universities, from Harvard to Stanford, have sued to stop. No student should have their dreams deferred because the government would rather finance the dreams of the rich than support them on their educational journey. And the federal government should not be allowed to tell someone the value of their dream by denying access to higher loan limits because of their

MORIAL Page 46

OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026 27

LIFESTYLE

3 The Roost in Northwest, D.C. will host a walkaround tasting of 30 wines from ancient growing regions, with bottles available to buy for anyone who finds a favorite. (WI File Photo)

Washington Informer Weekend Checklist WASHINGTON INFORMER'S

Things To Do, DMV! By Jada Ingleton WI Content Editor Check out a handful of the many events happening in the DMV this weekend. To keep up with all the fun, don’t forget to check out the Washington Informer Calendar. Keep your outlook vibrant and remember, there’s always something happening in the DMV to keep your spirit— and social life— lit.

Thursday, Oct. 15

Soul Therapy Wellness Mixer 5 p.m. | $74.20 Busboys & Poets, 2021 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20009 Resilience isn't just about pushing through. Sometimes resilience is knowing when to keep going; sometimes it's recognizing that something

has to change. As businesses navigate heightened economic uncertainty, leaders do more with less, and many people rethink what success and wellbeing really mean, this event is a chance to step out of the noise and reconnect with self and community. Join Soul Therapy Media and The Washington Informer as a media partner for an intimate evening exploring what resilience looks like when life and work start asking something different. Discussions will include exploring what it takes to stay grounded through change— whether building a business, leading an organization, or trying to create a life and career that can offer sustainability and bring fulfillment. Conversations with our Candidates

Is This Vehicle Yours? 2015 Lexus ES 350 Crafted Line 54,836 mi Sedan 4 DR I 3.SL V6 F DOHC 24V Gasoline I Front wheel drive VIN: JTHBK1 GG2F2153812 If this is your vehicle, please claim it by providing proof of ownership and you will have to pay for the repair that was done, as well as storage, and bill fees. Please reach out to us within 2 weeks of this posting, otherwise the car will be auctioned. C&W Auto Repair And Body Shop 2626 Evarts Street N.E. Washington D.C. 20018 202-330-9084

28 OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026

7 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Free registration required The People's Community Baptist Church, Norwood Center, 31 Norwood Road, Silver Spring, MD 20905 On Thursday, Oct. 15, the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) Potomac Valley Section and Montgomery County Section, in partnership with community partners, will host “Conversations with Our Candidates… Our Voices Matter,” an in-person, nonpartisan candidate forum featuring candidates for Montgomery County Council At-Large. The event will bring Montgomery County voters and candidates together for a community-centered conversation about issues affecting residents, families, and neighborhoods throughout the county. Through a moderated discussion, attendees will have an opportunity to hear directly from participating candidates about their perspectives, priorities, and approaches to serving Montgomery County. In addition to the candidate conversation, attendees will have access to nonpartisan voter education information and community resources designed to support informed participation in the upcoming election.

Friday, Oct. 16

American Music Festival 2 p.m. | Free Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center Theater, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20001 Presented by the Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute, the American Music Festival unites thought lead-

ers, students, and musicians for three days of performances and conversation. From spotlighting the Baltimore Jazz Collective on Oct. 16 to Saturday’s hip-hop honors and the culminating Peabody Chamber Orchestra on Oct. 18, this festival highlights the diverse sounds that shaped a nation. Visit the event website for a detailed agenda.

Saturday, Oct. 17

Flying V Presents: THE ROYALE by Marco Ramirez 8 p.m. | $15.00+ Silver Spring Black Box Theatre, 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Jay “The Sport” Jackson dreams of being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. But it’s 1905, and in the racially segregated world of boxing, his chances are as good as knocked out. When a crooked boxing promoter hatches a plan for “the fight of the century,” “The Sport” just might land a place in the ring with the reigning white heavyweight champion. This fall, Flying V brings a theatrical exploration of the rise — and the cost — of a sports legend with “The Royale” by Marco Ramirez. After winning Obie, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama Desk Awards off-Broadway, The Royale will bring Flying V audiences some intense theatricality–– with stylized combat reflecting its fighters’ internal journeys–– as well as historical drama that packs an all-too-relevant punch.

Sunday, Oct. 18

SunriseWALKS 2026: Benefiting Kids with Cancer 8 a.m. | Free National Harbor, 165 Waterfront Street Oxon Hill, MD 20745 It’s time for the Fifth Annual SunriseWALKS, benefiting Sunrise Day Camp–Greater Washington, the region's only free six-week summer day camp for children with cancer and their siblings. Funds raised also support yearround family programs and Sunrise on Wheels, which brings fun and engaging activities directly to children receiving treatment at Inova L.J. Murphy Children's Hospital and Children's National Hospital. Whether registering as an individual, creating a team, joining an existing team, or donating, every participant and every dollar raised helps ensure these life-changing programs remain free of charge for local families. The Roost Ancient World Wine Fest Noon | $52.86 The Roost, 1215 U Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20009 Join The Roost for a walk-around tasting and bottle sale of 30 of the company’s wines from ancient growing regions. An expansion of the “Old World vs. New World” wine industry debate, this event brings some of the District’s top local wine distributors to share favorite wines that were made in incredibly historic wine regions, using old traditional methods and modern innovative winemaking techniques. WI

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

Jamie Foxx Brings Laughs to His Healing

By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer

Jamie Foxx continues his healing trek by bringing the audience along with him in his new comedy special filmed at the Fox Theater in Oakland, California. In “Take Care of Yourself,” which began airing on Hulu Oct. 7, the multi-talented storyteller brings his spot-on impersonations, comical family chats, cultural observances, and sly glances that ask the question, “Do you feel me?” Foxx is back with responses to fellow comics Katt Williams, Cedric the Entertainer and others about “What Had Happened Was…,” his 2024 Netflix stand-up special, following a stroke in April 2023. He can take a joke, but his lines also make him seem a little cautious. “They said my last special wasn’t funny,” Foxx says, “especially all of the comedians.”

in, feeling slightly unsure because he was still managing some health issues and an NBA player who admires him stepped in to help. Foxx jokes around, but his reality checks and the love of his family keep him humble.. Toward the end of the special, Foxx sits at a piano as his daughter, Anelise Bishop, plays her two guitars. Their joy in playing together was a great way for Foxx to wrap up with laughs, sprinkled with some serious talk for the audience. “[Jamie Foxx], I loved your stand-up special! I have watched you since ‘In Living Color,’ throughout your amazing TV, movie, and music career, and on ‘[Beat] Shazam’ with your daughter! You are such an amazing talent to watch!!! Thank you,” social media user Baily wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, in a message to the actor. “I love how much you support your kids!!!” WI

Family Lands Best Jokes

Family is at the heart of “Take Care of Yourself,” such as the comedian’s father, who has been living with him for 20 years. Through the years, he’s tried to get his dad to stop eating so much fried food, try gluten-free, and eat more vegetables. So while Foxx was healing from his stroke, his dad couldn’t wait to dig in. “See, you could have been eating bacon the whole time,” Foxx says his dad told him. “ Get you some fried chicken and some hog maw.” However, his father isn’t the only family member mentioned. He tells the audience a story about when he decided to go out to a “young” club and got a rude awakening before leaving the house. When he put on a mock turtleneck, his sister cracked a joke.. “You look older than old,” she said. While he replied, “Oh no, I look presentable,” the age issue became clear when he pulled up to the club, driving up in his older Rolls-Royce, right next to newer sports cars. He strolled

5“Take Care of Yourself ” is Jamie Foxx's latest stand-up special, airing on Hulu. (Courtesy Photo/Susie Sitzer)

LIFESTYLE

Beyond the Job Search: DC Black MBA Invests in Helping Black Women Reclaim Their Next Chapter By DC Black MBA For Black women across the Washington metropolitan region, the changing employment landscape is about more than a paycheck. It can mean reassessing a career, redefining success and deciding what comes next. The numbers underscore the challenge. Revised employment data show that approximately 251,000 Black women lost jobs between January and August 2025, accounting for more than half of the employment losses among women during that period, despite Black women representing just 14.1% of the female workforce. By the end of 2025, there were 113,000 fewer Black women employed than at the beginning of the year. The impact has been particularly significant in the DMV, where federal employment has long provided economic stability and career opportunities for Black professionals. Maryland alone lost approximately 25,000 federal jobs in 2025, according to state employment data. For DC Black MBA, those realities call for support that extends beyond helping women find their next job. “I am focused on doing more and providing as many opportunities as possible for Black women to invest in themselves both professionally and personally,” said Dr. Carletta S. Hurt, president of the DC Black MBA. “We know that when Black women proceed and prosper, everyone benefits.” That commitment is behind Leading with Intention by Investing in Self, a three-part, in-person workshop series hosted by DC Black MBA in partnership with Blu Topaz Inc. Educational Consulting. The series builds on the chapter’s August Women’s Symposium, MastHERpiece: Designing a Life with Intention, which challenged women to see themselves as architects of their careers, wealth, wellness and impact. The new workshops take that conversation a step further, asking women to consider where they can work next and who they want to become next. The series opens Oct. 22 with “Recalibrating Your Compass,” led by Geraldine P. White, Founder and CEO of Identity & Impact. White will guide participants through questions of identity, direction and purpose. “You can be proud of what you’ve built and ready for something different. Both can be true,” White said. “Investing in yourself includes giving yourself permission to revisit an earlier definition of success and consider what you want your next chapter to make possible.” On Oct. 29, Tonya Camille, creator of Me in the Making and Unstuck & Inspired, will lead “Successful, But Stuck: How High-Achieving Professionals Reconnect, Realign & Move Forward.” Her interactive workshop will help women identify fears, limiting beliefs and recurring patterns that may prevent them from moving forward,

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5 Geraldine P. White

5 Tonya Camille

5 Tokiwa T. Smith

while developing a concrete next step. “You can’t change what you won’t acknowledge, and you can’t transform what you’re unwilling to confront,” Camille said. The series concludes Nov. 5 with nonprofit leader, author and consultant Tokiwa T. Smith leading “Rest is Revolutionary.” Her session challenges a familiar expectation placed upon Black women: that achievement and service to others must come at the expense of themselves. Smith said Black women must recognize that prioritizing themselves, setting boundaries and making room for joy are not signs of diminished ambition. “I believe we thrive when we engage in self-care and community care,” Smith said. For Hurt, the goal is to create space for Black women to move beyond reacting to an uncertain economy and begin intentionally determining what comes next. A job loss can require a new résumé. A changing workplace may demand new skills. However, a life transition can also become an invitation to reconsider purpose, boundaries, entrepreneurship, leadership, rest and the meaning of success itself. For more information, visit the DC Black MBA website (www.dcblackmbaa.org)/.

OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026 29

LIFESTYLE

Leslie Jones Keeps It Raw at University of Maryland Performance By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer Leslie Jones pulled out all the stops for her Oct. 7 performance of her “I’m Hot Tour” at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on the campus of University of Maryland College Park. The comedian, actress, author, and HGTV show host covered everything from her

Jones yelled about every aspect of her menopause journey. Plus, she kept wiping the sweat off her face with a towel, before hilariously removing her false eyelashes.

30 OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026

career trajectory to traveling to voting–– and her funny stories received non-stop laughter from the audience every time. At one point, Jones recalled a visit to a museum in Italy, where she was excited to see the marble sculpture of “David” by Michelangelo. Instead, the former Saturday Night Live (SNL) performer called the artist Michael D’Angelo. Half the audience got it, but that was more than enough. As the museum tour continued, Jones had a lot of comments for the tour guide about David’s anatomy. “I’m not getting paid enough for this,” Jones was sure the tour guide was thinking. But Jones felt, “I’m into this.” Throughout the show, Jones would go to the edge of the stage where the American Sign Lan-

guage (ASL) interpreters were signing and ask them questions like: “How do you say,” usually asking for them to interpret a curse word, always making the audience crack up. She also had a bit about menopause, taking a different approach than many comediennes. Jones yelled about every aspect of her menopause journey. Plus, she kept wiping the sweat off her face with a towel, before hilariously removing her false eyelashes. The amusing atmosphere reached the peak when Jones said: “My hair feels like a possum is on top of my head,” causing the audience to erupt in booming laughter.

Finally Getting Noticed LESLIE Page 31

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LESLIE from Page 30 On and off stage, Jones, who has admitted she got a late start in her career, has been on a roll. “I was like, finally,” Jones said in an interview with The Washington Informer, “I always knew I was talented. It was just a matter of when and who was gonna finally see it.” Before SNL happened, Jones worried she might be one of those for whom it would never happen. Jones resolved that would be ok, because she was still a comedian. But when SNL did happen for Jones at age 47, it was a different feeling than expected.

ETHIOPIA from Page 18

heir quick thinking went a long way. Interested in more than just the flower, the empress often sought to visit the area where it grows to this day for its natural resources. “Whenever she wanted to come to this hot spring, she used to say, ‘Let's go to the new flower,’ which remained the common name, and resulted in the name of the city,” Fisaha added. “So Addis Ababa means ‘new flower.’” Since its official founding in 1886, Ethiopia’s capital city has been a meeting place for the country’s government as well as cultural gatherings, such as the Ethiopian Christian Orthodox holiday Meskel. “Addis Ababa was basically founded for the sake of looking for a central place for the sake of the taxation system back in that time. Before 1881, the king used to travel to different local regions of Ethiopia. Back in that time, we used to be 96

“I thought that it was going to be like I imagined when I was young, you know, on TV every week and getting the good gigs,” Jones said. Jones is still on the road with her “I’m Hot Tour,” which continues through Jan. 31. In addition, the HGTV show “Roast My Rental,”,where Jones and renovation expert Jasminee Roth find the worst short-term rentals, then try to flip them in 72 hours, has been renewed for a second season. “People are appreciating me for what I do,” Jones told The Informer, “and all the hard work is paying off. WI tribes, but we are now currently 89, after we lost Eritrea,” Fisaha explained. “Sometimes they ended up having a conflict with the local kings, because they always fought for the position of king of kings.” Menelik II, then king of Shewa, a northern part of Addis Ababa, was one of the local leaders to show his ultimate power. “He became the king of kings,” the tour guide continued. ”But instead of going to different regions, to collect tax, he decided to build the grand palace, at this high point of Ethiopia, and then force the locals to come and pay him in taxes. So the plan goes well, and then he situated his grand palace at the top of the peak mountain in the city, called Mount Entoto.” To this day, Menelik II’s palace remains a historic site for tourists and Ethiopian natives alike to visit at Unity

ETHIOPIA Page 34

LIFESTYLE “an excavation” “a revelation” PbS

“a milestone exhibition” Wbur

OctOber 24, 2026-January 24, 2027 PhillipsCollection.org Milton Avery, Black Sea, 1959, Oil on canvas, 50 x 67 3/4 in., The Phillips Collection, Acquired 1965; © 2026 Milton Avery Trust/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

This exhibition is organized by the Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester, Massachusetts, in partnership with The Phillips Collection.

Additional support is provided by Barbara and Bob Hall.

Curated by Eliza Rathbone, Guest Curator. The exhibition’s coordinating curator at The Phillips Collection is Renée Maurer, Associate Curator.

This exhibition and accompanying catalog have been generously supported by the Wyeth Foundation for American Art.

With critical support from The Phillips Collection’s Exhibitions Endowment Fund.

Essential support for the Washington, DC presentation of Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea is provided by Martha R. Johnston and the Linda Lichtenberg Kaplan Exhibition Fund. This exhibition is also made possible by Chevy Chase Trust; Stephanie and Greg Guyett; Daniel W. Hamilton; Paul W. Killian and Carole Goodson; and Alexi and Jeff Whitaker.

5Ethiopian Airlines, which has a direct flight from Washington Dulles Airport to Addis Ababa, is celebrating 80 years. (Micha Green/The Washington Informer)

Support The Washington Informer as we Celebrate 62 Years.

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This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

Donate online today at wicharities.org Purchase an ad to support our education programs. Email rburke@washingtoninformer.com OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026 31

ROADMAP TO A

HEALTHIER FUTURE SATURDAY, OCT 24 | 11 AM - 2 PM A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION, HEALTH FAIR, AND FUN FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES

Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health invites local leaders, families and organizations for an event focused on the health and wellness of our community.

FREE FOOD

FAMILY FUN

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION

HEALTH RESOURCES

LIVE DJ

BOUNCE HOUSE

SCAN CODE TO RSVP 1200 Pecan Street SE Washington, DC 20032

cedarhillregional.com

Free onsite parking on a first come, first served basis.

Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website. 266424192-6639201 10/26

32 OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026

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wi book review "For Customers Only: Public Bathrooms and the Making of American Inequality" by Bryant Simon c.2026, University of Chicago Press / $32.50 Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer That fourth cup of coffee this morning was a really bad idea. It smelled great and tasted even better but now, two hours later, you have regrets. You'll need to deal with that liquid, and soon, and there are facilities for that somewhere nearby. But as you'll see in "For Customers Only" by Bryant Simon, getting there wasn't always a "go." Ever since America's first public restroom was built in the mid-1800s, someone has tried to use restrooms for power grabs. Before then, says Simon, relieving one's self was a matter of finding a place outdoors. As cities grew, however, elimination as such was perceived as uncouth, so taverns, bars and other places men might frequent added rooms for bodily functions. Women, conversely, were often out of luck until a few decades later when stores that catered to ladies established formal restrooms. By then, women had more freedom to leave their homes and to shop alone. And that was what public restrooms were all about: freedom, and because of racial laws then, Black citizens, shoppers or travelers were not free to use the facilities. Men who were perceived to be effeminate were also policed, lest they use a restroom for something it wasn't originally intended for. At various times in history, in fact, having someone monitoring a restroom was common, and sometimes humiliating. Post-World War II, Black travelers literally needed a book to find permissible restrooms and they "mapped" where facilities could be found, which was more humiliation; Simon quotes singer Smokey Robinson as saying, "They would just as soon kill us as let us use a bathroom." The Civil Rights Movement saw some movement on the issue, but in many instances, sneaking into a "Whites Only" restroom was the only viable (and dangerous) solution. And as time passed, doing the same with a gendered restroom could be similarly dangerous for trans users, personally and, in modern times, politically … Chances are, the only time you think of a toilet is when you need to clean one or use one. You probably even know the closest one right now, but you'll see it differently when you read "For Customers Only," a unique history of freedom and facilities. While it's true that this book may sometimes make you cringe with harsh language and there are anecdotes that you'll agree are very definitely in the Absolutely-Didn't-Need-to-Know-That zone, author Bryant Simon peers through decades and into stalls and outhouses to bring readers a mostly fascinating peek at the politics of potties. Those who walk into bathrooms blithely and without a thought today will be astounded at what they'll find here and some facts are frustrating, once you learn them. Readers who pay attention may be even more angry that bathroom issues are far from over in modern America. Just be warned about the profanity in this book, and prepare to be uncomfortable sometimes. If you steel yourself for it, "For Customers Only" is a intriguing book that niche-history lovers will want to read — and if that's you, find it. Go on, go. WI

horoscopes

LIFESTYLE OCT. 15 - 21, 2026

ARIES A little competition can be useful this week, provided you remember what you're actually trying to accomplish. Someone else's progress may stir up your ambition, but comparison won't tell you whether your own choices are right. Pick a challenge that matters to you and give it your full attention. A decision involving shared plans may require you to be more flexible than usual. The result could be better than the arrangement you originally pictured. Lucky Numbers: 2, 31, 66 TAURUS You may feel drawn to revisit a skill you haven't used in a while. Don't worry if you're rusty; the pleasure is in getting back into it, not proving anything. A conversation about a household or family matter could reveal that everyone has been making different assumptions. Spell out the details before they become a source of frustration. Lucky Numbers: 17, 40, 62 GEMINI Your attention is pulled in several directions, but one subject keeps winning you back. Follow that thread instead of trying to give every new idea equal time. You could find an unexpected use for information that once seemed irrelevant. A friend may also ask you to weigh in on a dilemma; offer your perspective, but let them own the final decision. Lucky Numbers: 6, 29, 53 CANCER You may be more protective of your time than usual, and there's a good reason for that. A crowded stretch of obligations has left little room to notice what you need. Before agreeing to another request, check your actual capacity rather than your desire to be helpful. A meaningful exchange with someone close could remind you that care goes both ways. Make one plan this weekend that is entirely for your own enjoyment. Lucky Numbers: 13, 36, 71 LEO A chance to take the lead may arrive without much fanfare. You don't need to dominate the room; simply be clear about what you can contribute and what you need from others. Your confidence will be most persuasive when paired with curiosity. In a personal relationship, consider whether you have been waiting for someone to guess what you want. Lucky Numbers: 10, 42, 59 VIRGO An imperfect first attempt could teach you more than another hour of preparation. This week favors trying, reviewing, and adjusting instead of waiting until every detail is settled. You may also notice that a recurring expense or routine no longer serves its original purpose. A small revision can free up resources without requiring a major life overhaul. Give yourself credit for progress that isn't dramatic but makes daily life work better. Lucky Numbers: 5, 24, 68 LIBRA You might be ready to bring a little more honesty into a situation you've kept pleasant on the surface. That doesn't mean picking a fight; it means being specific about what works for you and what doesn't. The response may surprise you, especially if you've been assuming the other person would resist. A cultural outing, performance, or creative project could provide a welcome change of perspective. Let enjoyment be enough of a reason to go. Lucky Numbers: 19, 34, 57 SCORPIO Your instincts are sharp, but this week asks you to separate a strong hunch from a confirmed fact. Before drawing conclusions, check what you know and what you're filling in yourself. This is especially useful in a workplace or group setting, where a partial story can travel quickly. On a lighter note, an interest you've kept private may connect you with someone who shares it. Lucky Numbers: 8, 27, 64 SAGITTARIUS A practical detail could determine whether an appealing plan stays a daydream or becomes real. Check the schedule, price, distance, or other fine print before you commit. The extra preparation won't diminish the adventure; it will make it easier to enjoy. You may also feel ready to speak up about a subject you've usually approached with humor or deflection. Lucky Numbers: 15, 38, 70 CAPRICORN You have a chance to rethink what responsibility means in one part of your life. Being dependable doesn't require you to handle every task yourself, and accepting support is not the same as losing control. A colleague or relative may be more willing to help than you expect, if you give them a clear role. Later, make time to enjoy something that has no measurable outcome. Not everything worthwhile needs to advance a larger plan. Lucky Numbers: 3, 26, 51 AQUARIUS A disagreement may turn out to be less about opposing values than different assumptions. Ask a few questions before deciding that you and another person are on separate sides. The exchange could sharpen your own thinking, even if neither of you changes position. This is also a promising week to test a new method for something you do often. Lucky Numbers: 12, 45, 63 PISCES Your sensitivity to atmosphere is heightened, so be thoughtful about the places and people you choose to spend time with. A noisy setting may drain you faster than usual, while a quiet activity helps restore your focus. Don't mistake the need for space as a reason to disappear from everyone. Lucky Numbers: 9, 33, 56

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of sugarcane that serves as a torch to light the night sky during the ceremonial burning of the tree. As a devout Christian, who even attended a Sunday church service while in Ethiopia, getting to participate in Saturday’s Meskel festivities was the highlight of an already exciting trip for Thompson. “I may not have been able to understand the singing and prayers, but I could feel the connection,” she continued. “That’s the power of faith– being able to connect and feel the spirit moving even among different tribes and tongues.”

ETHIOPIA from Page 31

Park. There, people can also learn the history of the country and region and see animals such as lions, cheetahs, primates, various birds and friendly giraffes at the zoo. Further, guests can tour Emperor Selassie’s Jubilee Palace, which he built in honor of his 25th anniversary as king in 1955 (before being imprisoned in the basement of the building in 1974 and allegedly murdered there the following year). Still adorned with Lion of Judah statues and door handles, the palace features a wax figure of the historic emperor— who ruled from 1930-1974— sitting on his throne, and an exhibit called: “Ethiopia: Faith, Legend and Governments.” “Unity park was fascinating to me watching the history unfold of all the former leaders. Yes, it is a beautiful park and I especially loved seeing many of the 519 species of birds native to Ethiopia, but I also really enjoyed learning about the history of the leaders that is told throughout the park,” Thompson, a D.C.-based content creator with a focus on traveling, told The Informer.

Celebrating Meskel: Experiencing ‘The Power of Faith’

Beyond getting to witness the seasonal adey abeba in the fall, visiting Ethiopia during Meskel allows for a unique experience in itself. A holiday celebrated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), witnessing Meskel in person offers a transformative experience, even for those who

OMAR from Page 4 ment, searched a District residence as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation. The spokeswoman declined to provide additional information or publicly identify the person under investigation. According to published reports, the warrant identified possible violations involving false statements, immigration document fraud and conspiracy. Federal investigators have also examined questions concerning Omar’s finances, campaign funds and interactions with foreign citizens. No criminal charges against the congresswoman were identified, but Monday’s search occurred less than four weeks before voters decided whether to return Omar to Congress. The investigation follows months of public accusations from senior Trump administration officials, in-

Digging Deeper Into Human Roots, Connecting Across Cultures

do not come from the ancient faith tradition. “As a non-denominational American Christian,” Thompson said, “it was fascinating for me to learn about Meskel and the Ethiopian Christian Orthodox Church as a whole.” Hundreds of thousands gather in Meskel Square in Addis Ababa on the eve of the holiday, wearing primarily white traditional Ethiopian clothes with bright adornments to celebrate the holiday that recognizes the discovery of the cross used for the crucifixion of Jesus in 326 AD. For many it’s a moment

for faith leaders, congregations, family, friends and more to celebrate the sacrifice of Christ’s crucifixion, the miracle of the resurrection, and to encourage a life led by God. “We being Orthodox Christians, that’s one of the big holidays we celebrate,” said Woldemariam. During the Meskel Eve or Demera celebration— this year on Sept. 26— thousands of faith leaders process, sing and pray as onlookers watch the ceremony, conducted in Amharic. As prayers and acknowledgements begin to conclude, people pass around a rope

One of the most remarkable pieces about visiting Ethiopia for many tourists is the depth of history rooted in the soil across the East African country. In many ways and for all people, Ethiopia truly is the motherland: from learning about early human ancestry, to migration patterns and how coffee became so beloved across the world. “I hope you've been observing that some of us look Indian, and some of us look deep African, some of us look European. We have a variety of faces. But it doesn't mean we are descendants of Europeans. The origin was here. That's why we have a variety of faces,” Fisaha said, before explaining migration patterns from Ethiopia, to Northern India 75,000 years ago, all the way to today.

cluding Vice President JD Vance, who previously claimed that Omar committed immigration fraud. In an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, Vance asserted, without publicly presenting evidence, that the administration believed Omar had broken immigration laws. He also said he and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller had discussed how to pursue the allegations. “What are the legal remedies now that we know that she’s committed immigration fraud?” Vance asked during the interview. “How do you go after her? How do you investigate her?” Omar has repeatedly rejected the accusations, including claims that she married her brother to facilitate immigration fraud. Her office dismissed Vance’s allegations in March as fabricated and defamatory. Questions about the investigation

intensified in August when Immigration and Customs Enforcement refused to release records sought under the Freedom of Information Act concerning allegations surrounding Omar’s 2009 marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. The agency cited an exemption allowing law enforcement authorities to withhold records when disclosure could interfere with enforcement proceedings. The refusal did not establish that Omar committed fraud or, at the time, confirmed that she was personally under investigation. Omar, who came to the United States as a refugee from Somalia, was elected to Congress in 2018 and became one of the first two Muslim women to serve in the House. She represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, which includes Minneapolis, and has frequently challenged Trump over immigration enforcement, civil rights, and his

administration's treatment of immigrant communities. Her confrontations with the administration have made her a recurring target of the president's political attacks. The criminal investigation also follows a frightening incident earlier this year in which Omar was physically attacked during a public appearance. On Jan. 27, a man attacked Omar during a town hall meeting at the National Urban League’s Twin Cities headquarters in Minneapolis. The incident prompted condemnation from the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and its Black Women’s Roundtable, which demanded accountability and warned against political violence. “We are shocked and extremely disturbed by the attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar yesterday while she attempted to address the critical issues and chaos swirling around in Minneapolis,”

5 Faith leaders process and hundreds of thousands onlookers celebrate Meskel Eve, the holiday that marks the finding of the true cross used for Jesus’ crucifixion, according to Christian Orthodox beliefs. (Micha Green/The Washington Informer)

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While in Addis Ababa, people can visit the National Museum of Ethiopia, which features Lucy (also known by her Ethiopian name Dinknesh), whose skeletal remains go back 3. 2 million years. Through discovering Lucy in 1974, researchers learned early hominids walked upright on two feet even before brain size and cognition increased. Fisaha also explained the coffee arabica plant originated in the highlands of Ethiopia, leading to the caffeinated drink being a key part of the Ethiopian culture that is traditionally served with popcorn and now a major tourist attraction at venues all across Addis Ababa. Still, even beyond the coffee plant and the beginning of human history, the people of Ethiopia work to make all people feel at home— whether native to the land like Woldemariam or visiting for the first time like Thompson. “This was my first time truly experiencing African hospitality at its core. Ethiopians were so hospitable and welcoming. Quick to share food, coffee, and quality time,” said the travelista, who marked visiting 60 countries with her September trip to Ethiopia. “I was told before the trip to be on the lookout for how Ethiopia is a people first kind of culture, it’s all about relationships. Coffee was discovered in Ethiopia so it’s no surprise that coffee culture of sitting around and sharing good conversation over a good cup of coffee is a core piece of daily life there.” Washington Informer Managing Editor Micha Green was a participant on the FAM trip, sponsored by Ethiopian Airlines and Ethiopian Holidays. WI Melanie L. Campbell, president and CEO of the coalition and national convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable, said in a Jan. 28 statement. Campbell praised Omar for continuing to speak out despite threats against her. “We believe that NO public official should be threatened or physically attacked, especially when they are serving in the best interests of their constituents,” Campbell said. “Political violence and intimidation have no place in our democracy.” MoveOn, the progressive advocacy organization, accused Trump of using federal law enforcement to intimidate a political opponent and urged voters to respond at the ballot box. “On Nov. 3rd, we get our chance to fight back and hold him and his corrupt administration accountable,” Payne said. WI

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SPORTS COMMANDERS from Page 4 got premium players, but we have to be able to go to answer and shut that down. No question about it.” Washington struggled to respond offensively. Two incompletions and a sack on quarterback Jayden Daniels forced the Commanders to punt in the final minute. After Tress Way sent the ball 52 yards back to New York, Winston took a knee with six seconds remaining, sending the game into overtime. The Giants controlled much of the overtime period before the Commanders’ defense delivered a crucial turnover. With approximately two minutes remaining, defensive tackle Daron Payne forced a fumble on Giants’ running back Cameron Skattebo.

Defensive tackle Shy Tuttle recovered the ball at Washington's 23-yard line, giving the Commanders a valuable opportunity to steal the victory. Daniels capitalized on the turnover, completing two passes for 29 yards and adding a 16-yard run to move Washington into scoring position at the New York 24-yard line in the final minute. With a potential game-winning field goal within reach, the Commanders had an opportunity to stop the clock with a spike and give their kicker, Drew Stevens, a chance to seal the win. Instead, Daniels took the snap and scrambled before being stopped for no gain. The decision proved costly as the clock continued to run, leaving Washington without another opportunity to snap the ball before time expired.

5 Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels rushes to gain more yardage in Washington’s 27-27 overtime tie against the New York Giants at Northwest Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 11. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

“Feels like a loss. It’s probably been tied before, especially against them, and it felt like the same,” said wide receiver Terry McLaurin. “I think this one stings a little bit more because we had it right in the position to have a chance to win the game. So, we did not get it done, and that falls on all of us. Ties are never good enough, but especially when we have a chance to give Drew [Stevens] a chance to get us a win, so that’s a hard one.”

A Disappointing Ending, Working to ‘Dig In and Keep Rolling’

5 Washington Commanders tight end Chig Okonkwo notches a reception and works to gain yardage against the New York Giants at Northwest Stadium on Oct. 11. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

5 Commanders linebacker Austin Keys celebrates after a defensive stop against the Giants on Sunday, Oct. 11. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

36 OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026

As the game clock hit zero, the weight of the moment came crashing down on Washington. Emotions boiled over, with Quinn slamming his headset into the turf, while guard Sam Cosmi, visibly frustrated and in disbelief leaving the field as he spiked his helmet to the ground and kicked the goal-line pylon in anger. But beyond the raw emotion, a series of critical questions emerged. Did Daniels and his teammates realize how much time was left on the clock? Was Coach Quinn aware that the Commanders had no timeouts left? Was there miscommunication between Daniels and the coaching staff? And perhaps the biggest question of all: Why didn’t Washington choose to spike the ball to set up a field goal attempt? Following the tied result, Quinn and Daniels both took accountability publicly for the critical clock management error at the end of overtime. “That falls on me,”said Quinn. “I’ve got to make sure, as much as we hit it,

we’ve got to hit more. And, knowing exactly how we’re going to go finish a game.” Daniels explained where he could have stepped up more as a leader to prevent the 27-27 result. “We have to stop the clock. We have to know the situation. We have to relay that as an offense. It starts with everyone, top down. Ultimately, it’s on me,” said Daniels. “We just got to communicate that. That’s the whole thing. As I said, it starts with me communicating to the whole offense in the huddle, and I think everyone will say that top down.” What could have been a dramatic overtime victory instead ended in a disappointing 27-27 tie to an NFC

East division rival. The result leaves the Commanders at 1-3-1 on the season. Washington will now look to regroup ahead of a significant road test against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 19 as part of Monday Night Football. “[This Washington Commanders team] have been through a lot already in five games,” said Quinn. “This is a tough team. And so having gone through adversity in these games, it doesn’t make it any better, but they are equipped to absolutely… dig in and get rolling…They’ve shown a lot of resilience and those are the ones we’ve had to lean into our roster a good bit so far in this first part of the season and we’ll continue to do that.” WI

5 Commanders cornerback Rasul Douglas (left) and safety Jeremy Reaves (right) work to bring down Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (middle). (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

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CAPTURE the moment

Prince George's County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy and the Office of Community Relations, hosted the fourth annual “Men Who Cook in Pink” event on Oct. 10. A charity fundraiser, the occasion brought together local culinary amateurs and celebrity chefs to raise awareness, foster community support, and emphasize early detection in the fight against breast cancer. (Courtesy Photos/Bowie State University)

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RELIGION From Faith to the Ballot Box: ‘The People’s Revival’ Builds a Movement for Civic Engagement By Jada Ingleton and Hamil Harris WI Content Editor and WI Contributing Writer Following a historic campaign launch in September, faith leaders, organized laborers and civil rights activists are joining forces to make a clear stance on democratic values ahead of Nov. 4 midterm elections. In collaboration with the AFLCIO and Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC) is hosting a multistage “Get Out the Vote” campaign that includes stops in Georgia, Texas,

North Carolina and South Carolina throughout October. While the ethos focuses on voter education, mobilization, and protection, the Rev. George C. Gilbert Jr., an organizer of the multi-state tour, said the long-term goal is to strengthen the “how” and “why” of votership for Americans nationwide. “We live in a time that I never thought that I would see,” Gilbert, chief of mobilization for the PNBC Social Action Commission, told The Informer, “a time where our president is more concerned about daylight saving time than he is about homeless

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5The Progressive National Baptist Convention, in partnership with the AFL-CIO and Rainbow PUSH Coalition, is tackling voter education and election integrity with a multistate campaign –– “The People’s Revival” –– hitting states in the South throughout October. (WI File Photo)

people getting help, or single mothers being able to get groceries… Without your vote, things will not get better. It will only get worse.” The Rev. Dr. Keith W. Byrd, PNBC president and Northwest D.C. pastor, officially announced “The People’s Revival” campaign at his congregation on Sept. 22, where dozens gathered at the historic Zion Baptist Church to reconnect movements with a long history of collaboration. What Byrd called a “reflection of the DNA of the denomination,” the monthlong initiative emulates the goals of the Civil Rights Movement with an approach that’s more centered around the “five touches” that can shape civic engagement. “We believe that five touches can get someone off the couch and to a ballot box, and so that's what we're trying to provide: some of those touches,” Gilbert explained. “We have labor, we have civil rights, and we have the Black church working simultaneously under the same umbrella to do this work, but we are asking for folks all over the country to mail to these states.” Efforts on the ground in the four states look like campaign organizers and volunteers visiting historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and working with local churches –– including Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church and Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina –– to boost social events, Souls to the Polls training and educate folks from early voting and registration to volunteer recruitment. Featuring rallies, seminars, and nightly revival services, the tour aims to trump the reality that nearly 90 million people failed to vote in the

2024 general elections, with a whopping majority hailing from the same Southern states under scrutiny due to GOP-led policy violence. “On the first day of President Trump's [second term], [the amount of] executive orders he passed that directly impacted those in the South, those who are the least, the lost, and the left out. We look at the actions of Project 2025…that directly impacted SNAP, directly impacted healthcare, directly impacted Latino immigrants, brothers and sisters…the prices of gas, of groceries, of the essential things of life,” Gilbert emphasized. “There was a time that you could tell, specifically, African Americans that they had to vote because ‘folks died for your right to.’ That is still the case, but we now have more tangible evidence of the reason why.” Thus, while the campaign starts within the three-pronged partnership, the work can take form anywhere, including spanning faith institutions under PNBC leadership and beyond. “We are 2,500,000 members strong across the United States, and in portions of the Caribbean, and we are grateful to be leading the effort known as the People's Revival,” said the PNBC president. “We have targeted four states…and through October, we will be hitting these particular states hard. Our goal is to…bring the community together under the banner of Jesus' love expressed through justice.”

A Campaign of Faith, Legacy, and Being ‘In Action’

One couldn’t ignore the symbolism of the moment on Sept. 22, as Byrd

stood in a pulpit a few miles north of the White House, flanked by the son and junior namesake to the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, alongside other ministers from the PNBC–– the very organization that once served as a spiritual home to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In a nod to the traditions that birthed civic protections–– from the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to the since-gutted Voting Rights Act –– the People’s Revival thrives on the waning presence of one unshakable principle: faith. “We must understand as people of faith: faith without works is dead, and so the first thing that we are challenging people to do across the country is to do something–– get up, move, be in action,” Gilbert told The Informer. “The other thing about faith is that faith is the substance of things not seen, and so it is not about whether to quantify results, but we work in a way that our actions make moves; our actions create change.” The Holy Trinity United Baptist Church assistant pastor credited faith-led resistance that paved the way for “world-changing” progress during the Civil Rights Era, namely pointing to the rallying cry heard across Edmund Pettus Bridge circa 1965–– when a then 25-year-old theologian and later Congressman John Lewis (D-Ga.) led more than 600 protestors in a fight for racial justice in Selma, Alabama. Other historic accounts of African Americans finding solace in faith included living through chattel slavery and Jim Crow, the prison-industrial complex, generational economic suppression, and navigating an education system that denies the truths of Black people in the nation’s history. “Through all of those stumbling blocks, all of those walls of exploitation, we find a way to continue–– to not just survive, but to be on top, and all it takes is for good men to do nothing for Satan to succeed,” Gilbert continued. “When good men and women are active, as the Black community has always been, there's nothing that's going to hold us back.” As faith leaders, laborers and community organizations arrive in Georgia, Texas, and both the Carolinas, the goal is that the work will be steadfast across the nation. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT

Unmasking the Devastating Twists of Domestic Violence

As we continue our crucial conversation on domestic violence, we dedicate this edition of The Religion Corner for The Washington Informer to a truth that our sanctuaries too often ignore: Abuse within relationships is a quiet epidemic. We must remember that domestic abuse does not always announce itself with a loud argument or a physical blow; it frequently weaves through psychological torture, isolation and calculated coercive control. True strength protects; it does not crush. God's design for your life is peace, yet so many of our sisters are trapped in a war zone within their own homes. One of the most terrifying realities of this epidemic is that there are many faces to the perpetrators. Abusers are rarely monsters 24 hours a day; instead, they are master chameleons. One minute, they are laughing, happy and having fun, acting as the absolute life of the party. But a single wrong word, an innocent comment or a misinterpreted glance can and will change everything in a heartbeat. Sometimes this terrifying shift happens publicly, embarrassing the victim in front of family and friends. Other times, it is a silent, chilling shift. Personally, I have experienced both. The woman will see a sudden, dark change of expression in his eyes, a tightening of the jaw. His eyes have a different look that no one else notices, and she instantly knows she is in for trouble once they leave the company they are keeping. Her heart drops because she knows an evening of horror is ahead the moment the car doors slam shut and they are alone. On my radio talk show, "Think on These Things," which airs on Radio One's WYCB AM 1340, I had the profound privilege of interviewing Dr. Mildred Muhammad, the former wife of D.C. sniper John Allen Muhammad. Mildred shared a chilling reality with listeners that every reader must hear. Her ex-husband's terrifying 2002 random shooting spree, which claimed 10 innocent lives, was actually an elaborate, anonymous plot designed to culminate in her murder. He intended

to kill her under the guise of a chaotic external threat so he could reclaim custody of their children without raising suspicion. His ultimate objective was to eliminate her completely. Today, Dr. Mildred Muhammad stands as a powerful, globally recognized survivor and advocate, transforming her painful past into a testimony of resilience. As an award-winning keynote speaker and certified consultant, she travels the world educating audiences through powerful workshops on crisis recognition and trauma. John Allen Muhammad was executed by lethal injection on Nov. 10, 2009. Dr. Muhammad has authored deeply moving memoirs and guides, including her bestselling book "Scared Silent: The Mildred Muhammad Story," "I'm Still Standing" and practical survivor tools like "Planning My Escape: Safety Plan for Victims/Survivors of Domestic Violence." She teaches women that true survival requires healing from the inside out, aligning with the truth that you must value who you are. As Oscar Wilde beautifully wrote, "To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance." Buddha also reminded us, "You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." My sisters, you cannot fully embrace the life God has for you until you love yourself enough to say, "No more." Domestic violence takes many devastating twists and turns, often hiding behind closed doors in affluent neighborhoods or within prominent, highly respected families. No one is immune. We were tragically reminded on April 16, 2026, when former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shot his estranged wife, Dr. Cerina Fairfax, before taking his own life inside their home. They were enduring a complicated divorce while still cohabiting under the same roof, a precarious situation that ended in an unspeakable tragedy witnessed by their two children, who were at home at the time. God's word stands explicitly against such violence. In Malachi 2:16, the Lord God of Israel states that He hates divorce, but also that "He hates a man

covering his garment with violence." Furthermore, Psalm 11:5 tells us clearly, "The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence." This epidemic strikes our community with disproportionate, lethal force. According to data from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and resource centers like Ujima Inc., more than 40% of Black women experience intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence or stalking in their lifetimes. Even more heartbreaking, over 50% of homicides against Black women are directly related to intimate partner violence. Though Black women make up only a small fraction of the population, they account for a massive percentage of women murdered by men. As people of faith, we cannot just pray; we must act. God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). To every woman reading this who feels unsafe: You must have a plan to get away. Leaving an abuser is the most dangerous time, and a structured safety plan can save your life. A very close friend of mine was once married to a preacher/ pastor. He was abusive and threw her into a glass coffee table. She had to be hospitalized several times as a result of the abuse by her preacher/pastor. Years later, she was blessed with a good husband, and they have been happily married for 16 years. Here are essential tips to safely escape an abusive situation: • Document everything secretly: Keep a hidden log of dates, times and threats. You do not need physical scars to build a case or establish a timeline of control. • Establish a safety network: Identify trusted friends, neighbors or relatives who know your reality and can offer a safe haven. • Pack an emergency bag: Stash a hidden bag containing essential documents (birth certificates, IDs, financial records), spare keys, necessary medications and emergency cash. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com

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RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor 9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743 Phone: 301-350-2200 / Fax: 301-499-8724 Service and Times Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 AM 7 10:00 AM Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 PM Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”

Blessed Word

Pilgrim Baptist Church Rev. Joel R. Limerick Pastor

Rev. Dr. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor

700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849

4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464

Service and Times In Person Worship: Sunday @ 9:30 A.M. Streaming: Sunday @ 9:30 A.M. www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org Prayer & Study: Wednesday @ 12 Noon and 7:00 P.M.

Service and Times Sunday Service: 10:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday

www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org

Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ

Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors

Reverend William Young IV Pastor

4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax

3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) / (202) 562-4219 (Fax)

Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion Service: First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study: Tuesday, 6:30 PM www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org

Mount Carmel Baptist Church

Church of Living Waters

Services and Times Sundays: 10:00am Worship Services Bible Study: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays 12:00 Noon; 6:30 PM (dinner @ 5:30 PM) Sunday School: 9:00 AM – Hour of Power “An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantdc.org

Mount Olivet Lutheran Church

www.livingwatersmd.org

St. Stephen Baptist Church Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. / Senior Pastor 5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301.899.8885 – Fax 301.899.2555 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Worship 8:00 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 AM Tuesday: 7:00 PM – Kingdom Building Bible Institute Wednesday: 12:30 PM – Mid-Day Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00 PM – Evening Bible Study Baptism - 3rd Sunday – Communion 4th Sunday Free Food Giveaway – Every Tuesday, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm “We are One in the Spirit” www.ssbcmd.org | secretary@ssbcmd.org

Campbell AME Church

Rev. Dr. T. Ashby Banister, III Senior Pastor

John F. Johnson Reverend Dr.

Rev. Terrance M. McKinley Senior Pastor

901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423

1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005

2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email: Campbell@mycame.org

Service and Times Sunday Church School : 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:00 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 7: 00 PM Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10 AM themcbc.org

Service and Times Divine Worship, Sunday 10:00 a.m. Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday “Friendliest Church in the City” Website: mountolivetdc.org Email: mtolivedc@gmail.com

All Nations Baptist Church

Adams Inspirational A.M.E. Church

Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor

Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness - Senior Pastor Rev. Ali Gail Holness-Roland Assistant & Youth Pastor

2001 North Capitol St, N.E. - Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591 Service and Times Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Christian Education / School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards

40 OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026

12801 Old Fort Road • Ft. Washington, MD 20744 Office (301) 292.6323 • FAX (301) 292.2164 Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:15 am Sunday Church School 11:00 am Youth Sunday every 4th Sunday Prayer Call @ Noon every Tuesday & Thursday 978.990.5166 code: 6166047# Virtual Bible Study Wednesday Facebook & Zoom 7:00 pm “A Growing Church for a Coming Christ” www.adamsinspirationalamec.org

Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 8:45 AM Bible Study: Wednesday: 12:00 Noon, Wednesday: 7:00 PM, Thursday: 7:00 PM “Reaching Up To Reach Out” Mailing Address : Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE - Washington, DC 20020

Emmanuel Baptist Church Rev. Christopher L. Nichols Pastor 2409 Ainger Place SE Washington, DC 20020 / Office: (202) 678-0884 “Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . . 100% Forgiven! Service and Times Sunday: Worship Service – 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM 3rd Sunday: Unity Service – 11:00 AM (Only One Service) Sunday School: 10:00 AM Monday: Unity Bible Study – 5:00 PM Call-In Number: (646) 749-3112/ Access Code: 971155757 Tuesday: Prayer Service – 6:00 PM & Family Bible Study – 7:00 PM Call-In Number: (872) 240-3212/Access Code: 164695965 Wednesday: Noonday Worship – 12:00 PM Thursday: Adult Bible Study – 7:00 PM Call-In Number: (646) 749-3112/Access Code: 843069541 Friday: Impact Focus (Online) – 7:30 PM Saturday: Children's Church (Online) – 6:00 PM Website: www.ebcwdc.org

Third Street Church of God Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor

Isle of Patmos Baptist Church Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor

1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office / 202-638-1803 fax

1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661

Services and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM

Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday Church School: 9:20 AM Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 PM Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net

“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Reverend John W. Davis Pastor 5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays) Communion - 10 a.m. 4th Sunday Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.) Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m. “A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold” www.mtzbcdc.org

Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 PM Prayer Service Bible Study

Holy Trinity United Baptist Church Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor 4504 Gault Place, N.E. / Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service : 11:00 AM The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Prayer & Praise Services: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: 7:30 PM Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries: 10:30 AM

Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr. Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax

Sunday Worship Service: 8:00 AM and 10:45 AM Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45 AM; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45 AM; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6:00 AM & 6:30 PM Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church / Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org / emailus@gmchc.org

Shiloh Church of God 7th Day Elder Jonathan M. Carson Senior Pastor

5701 Eastern Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20782 Phone: 301 559-5262 Service and Times Sabbath Worship @ 1:00 pm in-person/FB/Zoom Tuesday - Prayer@ 7:30 pm on Zoom Wednesday - Bible Study@ 7:30 pm on Zoom Friday - Sabbath School@ 7:30 pm on Zoom Web: shiloh7thday.org Email: shiloh7thdaycomm@gmail.com "A culturally diverse church of edification, deliverance and transformation"

Place your church ad here! Contact Ron Burke rburke@washingtoninformer.com

A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

RELIGION Zion Baptist Church

Israel Baptist Church Rev. Lance Aubert Senior Pastor

Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor 4850 Blagdon Ave, NW - Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 - Fax (202) 291-3773 Service and Times 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School 10:15 a.m. – Worship Service Wed. Noon: Dea. Robert Owens Bible Study 7 PM Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Sunday, Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission: Zion shall: Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, And Exalt our Savior. (Acts 2: 41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org

St. Luke Baptist Church

1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM

Mount Moriah Baptist Church Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor

Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 PM Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon

Rehoboth Baptist Church

1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org Service and Times Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM Motto: "Faith On The Hill"

Eastern Community Baptist Church Damion M. Briggs Pastor

Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor 5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005

Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42

“Where God is Praised, Christ is Obeyed, and People are Loved”

New Commandment Baptist Church Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor

Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 AM and 10:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 AM & 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:30 AM Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon & 6:30 PM Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 PM Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 PM Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org

Service and Times Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM

Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11 AM Sunday School: 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM

The Reverend Canon Michele Hagans Priest

621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032 P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112

Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958 Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist

www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.

Promised Land Baptist Church

Dr. Joseph D. Turner Senior Pastor

Service and Times Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 PM Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 PM Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 PM

13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560

“Real Worship for Real People” Website: www.easterncommunity.org Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org

Matthews Memorial Baptist Church

2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 - Fax 202-678-3304 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 9:30 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 9:30 AM Sunday School: 8:15 AM Bible Study: Wednesdays at Noon Baptism: 4th Sunday 9:30 AM

8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240

Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor

Motto: “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”

Rev. Richard B. Black Interim Pastor

Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith

1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 - Fax: 202-544-2964

Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Service and Times Sunday Service: 10:00 AM Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 AM 1st Sunday Baptism: 10:00 AM 2nd Sunday Holy Communion:10:00 AM Tuesday: Bible Study: 6:30 PM Prayer Meeting: 7:45 PM

Lincoln Park United Methodist Church

“A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”

First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Website address: www.mmbcdc.org

Peace Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Prayer & Bible Study Class: 8:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Service: 12:00 PM “The Loving Church of the living lord “ Email Address: admin@pbc712.org

Mt. Horeb Baptist Church

Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor

Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor

401 Van Buren St., NW, Washington D.C. 20012 Office (202)-882-8331

602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 / Fax: (202) 289-4595

Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:30 am Zoom: zoom.us/;/2028828331 Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm Communion Every First Sunday

Service and Times Adult Sunday School: 8:00 AM Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM Youth/Young Adult Sunday School 12:00 PM Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM

2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 - Fax: (202) 529-7738 Service and Times Worship Service: 7:30 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 4th Sunday 7:30AM & 10:30 AM Prayer Services:Tuesday 7:30 PM. Wednesday 12 Noon

Rev Kevin A. O'Bryant Pastor

"Serve, teach and Live by precept and example the saving grace of Jesus Christ." Website: Theplbc.org Email: churchclerk@theplbc.org

Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “

Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180

Join us for our live broadcast every Friday at Noon!

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Denise Rolark Barnes - Publisher of The Washington Informer WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026 41

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 001365

2026 ADM 000933

2026 ADM 000953

2026 ADM 000938

2026 ADM 001004

Shirley M. Phillips Decedent

Bernice Marie Lee Decedent

Robert Lee Stewart Decedent

Estate of Annie Pearl Bates

Darrel S. Parker 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW #440 Washington DC 20015 Attorney

Evelene Ellis aka Evelyn Patrick Ellis Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Darrel S. Parker, whose address is 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, #440, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Shirley M. Phillips who died on January 16, 2025 without a Will and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/1/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/1/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/1/2026 Darrel S. Parker Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Deirdre J. Payne, whose address is 8 Fordham Hill Oval, Apt. 16F, Bronx, NY 10468, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Evelene Ellis aka Evelyn Patrick Ellis who died on 9/29/2019 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/1/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/1/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Derrick L. Tobias, whose address is 1340 Barnaby Terrace SE, Washington DC 20032, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Robert Lee Stewart who died on March 30, 2021 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/1/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/1/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Date of first publication: 10/1/2026

Date of first publication: 10/1/2026

Date of first publication: 10/1/2026

Marcus Eugene Lee Personal Representative

Deirdre J. Payne Personal Representative

Derrick L. Tobias Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Washington Informer

Marcus Eugene Lee, whose address is 3332 Croffut Place, SE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Bernice Marie Lee who died on 11/13/2020 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/1/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/1/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Brian Bates for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth. In the absence of a will or proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution, enter an order determining that the decedent died intestate appoint an unsupervised personal representative Date of first publication: 9/24/2026 Brian Bates 5119 Shamrocks Delight Drive Bowie MD 20720 Petitioner/Attorney: TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Washington Informer SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 ADM 000610

2026 ADM 000960

2026 ADM 000965

2026 ADM 000966

2026 ADM 000507

Louise Elizabeth Stewart aka Louise E. Stewart Decedent

Nadine Ruth Akers-Mitchell Decedent

Maurice Johnson Decedent

Angela Maria Cordoso de Vilhena Decedent

Lynee C. Murchison, Esq. Adams Law Office, LLC 4201 Mitchellville Road, Suite 500 Bowie MD 20716 Attorney

Edward M. Biggin 200A Monroe Street, Suite 110 Rockville, MD 20850 Attorney

Edward W. Brooks aka Edward Wendel Brooks Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Jeffrey Louis Stewart Sr., whose address is 1812 Billings Ave., Capitol Heights, MD 20743, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Louise Elizabeth Stewart aka Louise E. Stewart who died on 11/30/2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/8/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/8/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Date of first publication: 10/8/2026

Carl Mitchell, whose address is 5706 7th Street, NW, Washington DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Nadine Ruth Akers-Mitchell who died on December 1, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/8/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/8/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

Jeffrey Louis Stewart Sr. Personal Representative

Date of first publication: 10/8/2026

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Carl Mitchell Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

42 OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Marshay Dubose, whose address is 301 Tingey Street, SE, Apt., 420, Washington, DC 20003, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Maurice Johnson who died on 12/25/2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/8/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/8/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/8/2026 Marshay Dubose Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Mark L. Brooks, whose address is 6506 Quentin CT, New Carrollton, MD 20784, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Edward W. Brooks aka Edward Wendel Brooks who died on March 13, 2026 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/8/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/8/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/8/2026 Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Darrel S. Parker, Esq. 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW #440 Washington, DC 20015 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Darrel S. Parker, Esq., whose address is 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, #440, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Angela Maria Cordoso de Vilhena who died on May 22, 2025 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/8/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/8/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/8/2027 Darrel S. Parker, Esq. Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2026 ADM 000986

2026 ADM 000964

2025 ADM 001028

2026 ADM 000996

2026 ADM 546

Bernard Levi aka Bernard Richard Levi Decedent

Charles Emory Johnson Decedent

Deborah W. Boyce Decedent

James Edward Williams Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

Julius P. Terrell 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 400 Washington DC 20004 Attorney

Edith Ceaser aka Edith M. Ceaser Decedent

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Adrienne Linder, whose address is 4644 Minnesota Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20019, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Bernard Levi aka Bernard Richard Levi who died on July 30, 2018 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/8/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/8/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/8/2026

Nereka Wilson and Dearie Johnson, whose addresses are 1435 Montello Ave., NE Washington DC 20002 & 4502 Payne Dr., Fort Washington, MD 20744, were appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of Charles Emory Johnson who died on June 11, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/8/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/8/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/8/2026 Nereka Wilson Dearie Johnson Personal Representative

Adrienne Linder Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Washington Informer

Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Julius P. Terrell, whose address is 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20004, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Deborah W. Boyce who died on 2/2/2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/8/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/8/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Alleyah Ceaser, whose address is 11278 Laurelwalk Dr. Laurel, MD 20708, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Edith Ceaser aka Edith M. Ceaser who died on June 9, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/8/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/8/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/8/2026

Date of first publication: 10/8/2026

Alleyah Ceaser Personal Representative

Julius P. Terrell Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY

TRUE TEST COPY

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS J. Anthony Concino III, Esq., whose adadress is 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20015, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of James Edward Williams who died on 1/24/2026 without a Will. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/8/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/8/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/8/2026 J. Anthony Concino III, Esq. Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Washington Informer

Washington Informer

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131

2025 ADM 000847

2026 ADM 001017

2026 ADM 000983

2026 ADM 000976

2026 ADM 000974

Shirlene Wood-Walker aka Shirlene Wood Walker Decedent

Jean L. Craig Decedent

Bettye M. Young aka Bettye Maureen Young Decedent

Mary F. Henson Decedent

Edward Matthew Warren aka Edward Warren Decedent

Mahsa Alaeian Legal Counsel for the Elderly 601 E Street, NW Washington DC 20049 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS David Walker, whose address is 2809 31st Place, NE, Washington DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Shirlene Wood-Walker aka Shirlene Wood Walker who died on 2/12/2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/8/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/8/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/8/2026 David Walker Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Michelle Lanchester, Esq. 9701 Apollo Drive, Suite 297 Largo, MD 20774 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Timothy A. Craig, whose address is 23007 138th Ave., Laurelton, NY 11413, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Jean L. Craig who died on July 20, 2026 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/15/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/15/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/15/2026 Timothy A. Craig Personal Representative

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Tev Antonette Hatcher, whose address is 8702 Greens Lane, Randallstown, MD 21133, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Bettye M. Young aka Bettye Maureen Young who died on July 21, 2026 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment (or to the probate of decedent’s Will) shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/15/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/15/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/15/2026 Tev Antonette Hatcher Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills

Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

Washington Informer

WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER

Donata Edwards 1629 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington DC 20006 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Cheryl Henson-Everson, whose address is 5506 Yorkshire Drive, Camp Springs MD 20748, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Mary F. Henson who died on August 5, 2021 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/15/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/15/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/15/2026 Cheryl Henson-Everson Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Shelia Warren, whose address is 1904 M Street NE, #3, Washington DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Edward Matthew Warren aka Edward Warren who died on 4/14/2016 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., 515 5th Street, N.W., Building A, Third Floor Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 4/15/2027. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 4/15/2027, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 10/15/2026 Shelia Warren Personal Representative

TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer

OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2026 43

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TATE from Page 26

ment from the political process altogether? What happens when voters stay home? The answer can become particularly consequential in local elections, where races can be decided by hundreds of votes rather than thousands. Harris County Democratic Party Chair Traci Gibson has pointed to several 2024 judicial races decided by narrow margins. District judge candidate Elaine Palmer lost by 304 votes, while Jeralynn Manor lost by 647 votes. Gibson also warned about voters who begin Harris County's lengthy ballot but don't finish it. "If you go into these polls and you vote for the first five people and then you leave, that's how we get Elaine Palmer losing by about 300 votes," Gibson said. The larger issue extends beyond any candidate or political party. Judges are elected. School boards make decisions

affecting students and families. City and county officials determine how public dollars are spent. State lawmakers decide which bills become state law. Those decisions are made regardless of how many eligible voters participate. For voters distrustful of political parties or government institutions, political participation also doesn't have to mean unquestioning loyalty to either party. Voters can research candidates individually, compare their positions, attend or watch candidate forums and examine an incumbent's record against previous campaign promises. They can also learn what the often-overlooked offices farther down the ballot actually control. In that sense, distrust can become a reason for greater scrutiny rather than disengagement. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

SHAW from Page 26

care. Sometimes it's because speaking honestly could cost them their career, their endorsements, or their income." Brown and James have remained vocal on social issues, disregarding any pushback that may follow. In an effort to mobilize Black voters and fight voter suppression, James helped establish More Than a Vote and was a staunch supporter of President Barack Obama. He also took a stand following the deaths of Eric Garner and Trayvon Martin, leading teammates to wear "I can't breathe" shirts in honor of Garner and hoodies for Martin. During the 2020 protests following the murder of George Floyd, Brown drove 15 hours from Boston to his hometown of Atlanta to participate in a march. "I drove 15 hours to get to Georgia, my community," Brown shared during a livestream at the march. "This is a peaceful protest. Being a celebrity, being an NBA player don't exclude me from no conversations at all. First and foremost, I'm a Black man and I'm a member of this community. ... We're raising awareness for some of the injustices that we've been seeing. It's not OK." Brown has also spoken out about

environmental justice. While speaking at MIT, Brown said, "We're here to talk about something that affects us all, climate change. Today marks a very pivotal moment in time. The decisions that we make now will have an impact on future generations. Climate change isn't just an environmental issue. It's a social justice issue. It's an economic issue, and it's also a moral imperative. As someone who prides himself on influence and responsibility, what an honor it is to talk about this topic." James and Brown will put in hours of work on the court in an effort to lead the 76ers to an NBA championship. But once they get an opportunity to sit down together, share resources and implement plans to improve Black communities, their impact will be immense. "No matter where my career goes, my integrity has to walk through the door before I do," Brown shared during his recent keynote in Atlanta. "So when opportunities come along, I ask one question: 'Will this allow me to remain authentic?' If the answer is no, then I respectfully walk away. Because I'd rather keep my voice than sell it." WI

both our unworthiness and the Lord's sovereignty over all things — including us. The truth is that we cannot take credit for what only God could do. We didn't save ourselves, and we didn't earn His grace. We didn't deserve His mercy. But God! I don't know about you, but I thank God every day for the oppor-

tunity to look at my own life and say: "BUT GOD!" If God has ever stepped into your situation and changed the direction of your story, you ought to be able to say it with me: BUT GOD! Be Blessed! WI

guarantee participation. "We've been making that same argument decade after decade," Etienne said. "Those are becoming less persuasive arguments." Why is trust disappearing? The distrust isn't necessarily about one candidate or one election. For some Black voters, frustration comes from feeling heavily courted during election season without seeing enough progress afterward on the issues affecting their daily lives. Housing costs remain a concern. So do education, economic opportunity, neighborhood investment and the cost of everyday necessities. That creates a difficult dynamic for campaigns: asking voters to participate in a political system that some believe has not delivered enough for them. It also raises a separate question. What happens when frustration with political parties becomes disengage-

es stimulate neuroplasticity, strengthen neural pathways, and support cognitive development during the years when the brain is growing most rapidly. ... For me, that's community. It's investing in the next generation." During his keynote address, Brown also discussed the importance of integrity and revealed why so many prominent figures are incapable of speaking out against injustices. "I've turned down opportunities worth millions of dollars — not because I don't like money or don't need it, but because I understood what came attached to those deals," Brown shared. "A lot of people only look at the number; I look at the fine print. Many contracts with major corporations don't just pay you. They also dictate what you can say, how you use your platform, and what opinions you're allowed to express. Sometimes there's language that says if you say something considered controversial — or something that could affect the company's image — they can terminate the agreement. That's why so many public figures stay silent. It's not always because they don't

RUSSELL from Page 26 That "but" symbolizes God's grace, God's favor and God's love for undeserving people who, by no merit of their own, are pardoned in this life and given a place in the Lord's Kingdom yet to come. When we see or say "But God," it should force us to recognize

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EDNEY from Page 27

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vestment firms is an hour not spent on the problems that actually drive up household energy costs: transmission bottlenecks, permitting delays, an aging grid, energy efficiency and the shortage of new power generation. There is actually an even deeper problem with making coal the centerpiece of an affordability strategy. Coal has been losing ground in the marketplace for decades. Around 1990, coal supplied more than half of the nation's electricity. By 2025, its share had fallen to about 17%. Most of that decline came from competition, chiefly cheaper natural gas, along with the growth of renewable energy and tougher environmental rules. In the first three months of 2026 alone, coal plant output fell 11% from a year earlier, while renewable generation grew. And this summer, Lazard's annual analysis found renewables remain the lowest-cost option for new power plants, even as existing plants have become more competitive and continue to provide real value to the grid. Coal's decline did not begin with

COBB from Page 27

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enormously from California's economy should contribute more to sustaining it. But we should build tax policy that is thoughtful, sustainable and difficult to avoid. We should not create a temporary solution that could leave us confronting another revenue problem down the road. This is also why I respect those in labor who support Proposition 40, even though I have reached a different conclusion. They are responding to very real concerns about healthcare and the people who depend on it. Those concerns should not be dismissed. But neither should legitimate

MORIAL from Page 27 major. In the latest slap in the face to America, the Department of Education released a list of college majors that it proposes cutting student loans for, deeming them degrees that "don't pay off." One of those fields is social work, a growing profession that addresses the fallout of growing wealth inequality in our country and the spiking mental health crisis. In short, the Department of Education not only believes solving

Wall Street, investment policies or the climate movement. It is the result of decades of change in America's energy economy. Where a coal plant remains affordable and necessary to keep the lights on, utilities should keep running it. But keeping a useful plant open is very different from treating the survival of an entire industry as public policy. If other sources can provide power more cheaply, government has no business shielding coal from that competition. For Black communities, the cost of coal does not stop at the utility bill. Burning coal produces air pollution and coal ash that must be managed, and the Environmental Protection Agency notes that coal ash contains contaminants like mercury, cadmium and arsenic. A landmark NAACP study found that the roughly 6 million people living near coal plants had lower average incomes than the nation as a whole, and that people of color made up a majority of those living near the worst polluters. Too many of our neighborhoods carry both burdens at once: high energy bills and a greater share of the pollution. Any policy that claims to help consumers should ac-

count for both sides of that ledger.

questions about Proposition 40. Too often our politics tells us that if we agree with the goal, we must agree with the proposed solution. That is not how responsible public policy works. You can believe healthcare must be protected and still question the mechanism being proposed to protect it. You can believe billionaires should pay more and still ask whether this particular tax is the smartest way to accomplish that. And you can stand with working people while insisting that California consider the long-term consequences for all of the public programs working people depend upon.

We need to stop treating complicated economic decisions like a game of checkers, where we look only at the move directly in front of us. We need to play chess. Look at the whole board. Think several moves ahead. Understand what happens after the first check is collected and spent. The question before Californians is not whether billionaires can afford to pay more. They can. The question is whether Proposition 40 is the right way to do it and whether we are confident enough in the consequences to make this kind of change. Our communities cannot afford for us to discover the answer too late. WI

our greatest social and societal issues doesn't pay off, but by limiting access to higher loan amounts for students pursuing these fields, it's also creating an environment that contributes to those issues. If education is our tool to change the world, then we need it more than ever in this rapidly changing economy, ecosystem and geopolitical climate. And it is clear that the Department of Education under this administration is either blithely unaware of that fact or intentionally playing a role in limiting the earning potential and econom-

ic freedom of millions of Americans. The National Urban League makes a commitment through its programs, like Project Ready, to ensure that all students have an education that prepares them for college, work and life. Now we're pushing for the Department of Education to do the same by removing these discriminatory caps on student loans, restoring funding to institutions of higher learning, including historically Black colleges and universities, and letting students decide what field of study is "worth it." WI

The truth is that families do not much care whether the power running their refrigerator comes from a coal plant, a natural gas facility or a wind farm. They care that it is there when they need it and that they can afford to pay for it. Critics of environmental policy often complain that government should not pick winners and losers in energy markets. That principle should apply evenly. Financial firms should not be allowed to break antitrust laws in pursuit of climate goals. But government should be just as cautious about using its power to guarantee coal a permanent place in the market. Coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind, solar, battery storage and new technologies should all compete on cost, reliability and what the grid needs. The real challenge before the nation is building enough reliable power, and building it quickly. Clinging to coal's past, especially through the courts, does nothing to solve that. WI Read more on washingtoninformer.com.

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THE

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GOES.

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Your vote. Your power. Our future. Know when, where, and how to vote. If you want to make sure your voice is heard, it's more important than ever to know when, where, and how to vote. That's why AARP has the latest information on key voting deadlines, where to register, and how to vote. Because when Americans 50 and over show up, we decide elections and can force action on the issues that matter most to us. Stay informed so you can make your voice heard in the upcoming election. Log on at aarp.org/DCVotes to learn more.

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