The Westside Gazette

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14, 2026

PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33310

PERMIT NO. 1179

PAGE 3

BROWARD HEALTH

WELCOMES FIRST

BABY OF 2026

Iris is the second child

of her parents, Fridline

Merone and Berno Derilus

of Coral Springs born at

Broward Health Medical

Center at 7:26 a.m. on

January 1, 2026.

VOL. 54 NO. 49 $1.00

Broward Schools COO

turns in resignation

letter amid uproar over

district management

A MESSAGE FROM

THE PUBLISHER

Broward Schools Chief

Operations Officer Wanda Paul

(Broward Schools)

(Cont’d on page 2)

By Jesse Scheckner,

Florida Politics

(Source: Miami Times)

One day after a school

board member called for

her to step down amid

mounting District turmoil,

Broward Public Schools

Chief Operations Officer

Wanda Paul has tendered her

resignation.

She’s officially leaving

June 5. But she plans for

her last day in office to be on

April 3 “to allow for an orderly

transition and continuity of

operations.”

“I believe it is time for

me to transition to the next

chapter of my life,” Paul said

in a short letter to Superintendent Howard Hepburn that

included a list of projects she said were completed under

her leadership.

Since Paul came on as Broward COO in early 2024, she

said, the district completed 199 projects, “strengthened

processes and advanced key initiatives that support safe,

efficient, and high-quality learning environments.”

“While there is no doubt that important work remains,

I am confident the district is on a stronger path because of

the dedication and professionalism of this team,” she said.

Events that led to Paul’s pending departure suggest

otherwise. In recent weeks, audits and media reports have

detailed breakdowns in how staff under Paul mishandled

a major construction oversight procurement tied to the

district’s $125 million capital program. An audit found

procedures were bypassed, required evaluations were

skipped and the school board was not properly informed,

OP-ED: Kemet Immigration

PSA Debuts at National Press Club,

Earns Congressional Honor and NNPA

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The National

Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), whose

Black Press USA network carries the Kemet Youth

Activity Sheets weekly to member publications

nationwide, spotlighted a significant milestone for

the youth-centered franchise this weekend.

By Robenia McKinley, Special Correspondent/JYE

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA),

whose Black Press USA network carries the Kemet Youth

Activity Sheets weekly to member publications nationwide,

spotlighted a significant milestone for the youth-centered

franchise this weekend. Supported in part by Washington

Informer executive and NNPA leader Ron Burke, creator

and executive producer Joe Young premiered his new PSA,

Kemet: One Nation, Many Journeys, at the National Press

Club on Saturday, December 9.

The event brought

together human rights


The Westside Gazette News-

Composite featuring U.S. President Donald Trump and scenes of crisis in Nigeria.

Trump Says He Is Saving

Nigerian Christians.

History Knows This Story Well

NNPA NEWSWIRE — From 2020

through 2025, more Muslims than

Christians were killed in religiously

targeted attacks. Armed groups such

as Boko Haram and ISIS–West Africa

primarily kill Muslims who resist them,

alongside Christians and others. The

deadliest Christian losses have largely

occurred in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, not

in the northern regions struck by U.S.

bombs.

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National

Correspondent

Donald Trump says U.S. bombs fell

on Nigeria to protect Christians. That

explanation does not survive memory,

geography, or fact.

On Christmas Day, American missiles

struck northern Nigeria. The administration

said the targets were terrorists killing

Christians. But the same administration had

already stripped away humanitarian aid,

dismantled U.S. Agency for International

Development (USAID) programs, shut

asylum doors, and blocked visas for

Nigerians fleeing violence. The hand that

claimed salvation had already withdrawn

food, medicine, and refuge.

Nigeria is not a parable. It is a place

where Muslims and Christians live side by

side, where violence grows from drought,

The political divide

over January 6 is only

deepening five years

after the deadly US

Capitol attack

By Annie Grayer & Marshall Cohen

(Source: CNN)

Five years after the January 6, 2021,

insurrection at the US Capitol, the

fundamental facts of that day continue

to fuel deep divisions that have created

dueling political realities.

On Tuesday, members of the former

January 6 select committee – whose final

report concluded that President Donald

Trump incited the violence at the Capitol

that day – will convene a hearing to

reexamine their findings.

land loss, criminal networks, and borders

carved by European powers to guarantee

friction long after independence. The

bloodshed there is not governed by scripture.

It is governed by scarcity and power.

Professor Uju Anya named the

contradiction without decoration. “Trump

says he’s protecting Nigerian Christians,”

Anya said. “Trump shuts down USAID

and kills Nigerian Christians. Trump bans

asylum for Nigerian Christians. Trump bans

visas for Nigerian Christians. Trump bombs

Nigeria, causing more misery, insecurity,

and instability for Nigerian Christians.”

That misery was predictable.

When USAID was dismantled, clinics

closed and food support vanished. More than

a quarter-million people in Nigeria relied

directly on U.S.-backed assistance. Those

lives were weighed and dismissed before the

first missile was launched.

Then came the strikes.

Witnesses described missiles tearing into

farmland and open fields. Anti-war journalist

Dave DeCamp reported that multiple U.S.

missiles failed to detonate, sinking into

the ground. The operation cost nearly $30

million. No evidence was released tying the

bombed areas to the killings Trump cited.


Supporters of President Donald Trump cover their faces

to protect from tear gas during a clash with police officers

in front of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. (Leah Millis/

Reuters/File

As that hearing is underway, members of

the far-right Proud Boys – including its former

leader Enrique Tarrio, who was serving a 22-

year prison term for seditious conspiracy before

getting pardoned by Trump last year – are

expected to hold a march to the Capitol that they

say will be “patriotic and peaceful.”


@TheWestsideGazetteNews-

A Blueprint

was created on

January 6, 2021

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.

What we witnessed

on January 6, 2021, was

not a momentary lapse in

judgment, nor was it simply

the actions of an unruly

crowd whipped into a frenzy.

On the 6 th of January, 2021

was a rehearsal. A test run.

A public stress test of how far

power could be pushed before

the guardrails cracked.

And today, as I watch the

recent actions and proposals

of Donald Trump, I am

convinced more than ever that

January 6 was never about a

single election. It was about

establishing permission,

permission to ignore laws,

undermine institutions, and

normalize the seizure of

power by force, intimidation,

or decree.

On January 6, 2021, the

target was the U.S. Capitol.

Today, the targets are

broader, courts, federal

agencies, independent

prosecutors, the press,

international norms, and

even sovereign nations

spoken of as if they are chess

pieces to be taken, traded, or

controlled.

The connecting theme is

unmistakable.

On January 6, 2021, the

goal was to overturn the will

of the people by pressure,

threats, and spectacle. The

crowd was the weapon; lies

were the fuel; and power was

the prize. Today, the methods

may appear more polished,

but the mindset is the same.

When a leader speaks openly

about “taking” countries,

disregarding alliances, using

Thursday

Jan 8 th

Partly Cloudy

Sunrise: 7:10am

Fri

79°

68°


80°

70°

80°

70°

74°

65°

79°

68°

Sunset: 5:43pm

Sat Sun Mon Tues

73°

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WESTSIDE GAZETTE IS A MEMBER:

National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)

Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA)

Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)

aries

PAGE 2 • JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14, 2026

an repayment structure

hile providing life-changing

upport to students and their

milies.

“Today, By Renada my Toyer administration

pproved debt cancellation

r another 74,000 student

an borrowers across the

of life.

ountry, bringing the total

umber of people who have

ad their debt canceled under

y administration to over 3.7

illion Americans through

arious actions,” Biden said

a statement on Jan. 19.

he beneficiaries of the latest

ound of relief include nearly

4,000 teachers, nurses,

refighters, and other public

ervice professionals who

Ujima Within Us

List compiled by Kamar Jackson, a junior at Dillard High School

Depot’s prestigious “Retool Your

School” competition and receiving a

www.thewestsidegazette.com

substantial $60,000 grant dedicated

to campus enhancement.

advocates, educators, community leaders, and media

professionals for an advance screening ahead of the PSA’s

Despite cooler OP-ED: temperatures Kemet and Immigration PSA national broadcast premiere on major TV affiliates and

across social media platforms on Human Rights Day,

overcast skies, Earns the Congressional collective spirit Honor and NNPA Support

December 10.

prevailed as almost 135 participants, from Front Page

The PSA can be viewed on major social media platforms

@kemetcomic.

led by Home Depot Daytona Beach

Filmed at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with support from

the National Park Service, the PSA blends live-action scenes, archival

Store Manager Therese Watson-

immigration footage, and comic-style animation featuring Kemet the

Time Traveler. The film traces the shared stories of immigrants whose

Murray, joined forces in yesterday’s participated resilience in and the hope vote have shaped for B-CU. the United These States. enhancements

successful effort. Their mission will help Please create see the more KONMJ vibrant YOUTUBE and LINK at engaging https://www.youtube.com/ spaces for

watch?v=UfbsU1uAXT0.

was ambitious, involving projects our students to retreat on campus for a brain break or

Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com

ranging from assembling bookcases find inspiration through the downtime.”

and indoor-outdoor dining sets to Home Depot’s Broward “Retool Schools Your School” COO program,

constructing arcade games, foosball established in turns 2009, has in been resignation a beacon for positive letter change,

tables, basketball hoops, hockey providing over amid $9.25 uproar million in over campus district improvement

sets, and table tennis tables. Even grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities

management from Front Page

adverse weather conditions couldn’t (HBCUs). Beyond the competition, the Office of Alumni

leading to a rushed and

deter their dedication, with the only Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com

legally questionable

The unified spirit filled the park lot of the Westside Gazette Office as the community gathered to celebrate the

third day of Kwanzaa, Ujima—Collective Work and Responsibility--hosted by the one and only Bobby R. Henry. This

event was more than a celebration, but a unification of individuals from different walks of life. This gathering became

a safe space for reflection, learning, and connection, reminding everyone that Ujima is not only a principle, but a way

“Ujima,” derived from Swahili, translates to Collective Work and Responsibility. This principle plays a crucial role

in the celebration of Kwanzaa, symbolizing the importance of community, collaboration, and accountability with one

another. During this event, speakers and community members broke down what Ujima meant in their lives—taking

responsibility for not only our own lives, but for the welfare of our families, neighbors, and generations to come.

The event created a welcoming environment

have

for

earned

people of all

forgiveness

ages to gain a deeper

after

understanding and perspective

on the third day of Kwanzaa. Stories were told, and in-depth conversations were held. The older generations within the

community spoke about the importance of a relying decade on one of another dedicated during tough service. times, while voices of youth reflected

on how unity can create in schools, social groups, and neighborhoods. During those moments, bonds were nourished;

connections were formed, and the community Additionally, united. close to 30,000

Ujima was not discussed as an idea, but as a daily practice throughout our lives. Reminding us that collective

individuals who have been

work occurs when neighbors check on one another, when coworkers work together to create a better work environment,

and when community members take their in time to repayment uplift others. It’s evident for when at we least support Black-owned businesses,

organize change, mentor the youth, or even lend a helping hand without expecting reciprocated actions.

The Westside Gazette’s celebration made 20 it clear years that Ujima lives in action. receiving

It is choosing to solve problems together

instead of being alone. We must recognize that individual success is connected to collective progress. Being in a world

relief through income-driven

that advocates isolation and competition, Ujima stands as a reminder that unity is our superpower.

As the evening came to a closing, one repayment message remained: plans Ujima does will not now end with see the lighting of the candle. It

continues in our lives—in how we represent ourselves, how we show up, how we care for one another, and how we take

responsibility for building stronger communities. their debts The celebration forgiven. wasn’t just about honoring tradition; it was about

recommitting to each other. Ujima must stay alive.

Biden credited the success

of these relief efforts to the

corrective measures taken

to address broken student

loan programs. He asserted

that these fixes have removed

barriers preventing borrowers

from accessing the relief they

were entitled to under the law.

College

Prep

juxtapose

adjective

(verb)

Word of

the Week

being definition: at place rest; or deal inactive with close together or

or contrasting effect

motionless; quiet; still: a

HOW TO USE IN A SENTENCE:

“Black quiescent and white photos mind. of slums were

starkly juxtaposed with color images”

Broward School Board member

Adam Cervera (Source: Florida Politics)

process now facing

collapse.

The controversy

The president followed outlined an earlier the

firestorm over a sinceterminated

$2.6 million of his

broader achievements

office lease that drew a

administration lawsuit in from supporting

the district’s

former landlord.

students and borrowers,

Hepburn, who

including achieving took office the last year most

amid lingering fallout

significant increases from past in Broward Pell

Schools debacles, has

Grants in over acknowledged a decade, aimed the

district’s struggles but

Continue reading largely urged online patience at: as

thewestsidegazette.com

reviews continue.

Enrollment has dropped by roughly 10,000 students in the past year,

contributing to an $85 million budget shortfall. District leaders are

also weighing 34 school closures, staff reductions and

program cuts.

Citing those quandaries, the lease issue and the

construction procurement fiasco — described by board

members

quiescent

Jeff Holness and Allen Zeman, respectively,

as an “existential threat” and “five-alarm fire” — board

member Adam Cervera publicly demanded that Paul

step down on Sunday.

“This is not about politics or blame,” said Cervera,

whom Gov. [ kwee-es-uhnt, Ron DeSantis appointed kwahy- to the ] board in

April. “It is about restoring trust.”

Paul acquiesced Monday, promising to support “a

smooth transition in any way that is helpful.”

A University of St. Thomas graduate with a master’s

HOW TO USE QUIESCENT IN A

SENTENCE

degree in business administration, Paul took over in

May 2024 as Broward Public Schools COO, a post in

which she earns an annual salary of about $221,500.

She came to the job following COO positions from

May It’s 2017 possible to January that 2024 other at volcanoes Palm Beach County with

School District and the Houston Independent School

District long quiescentperiods Foundation. She resigned may from also the have latter

job subtle after the but Texas protracted Education warning Agency took periods over the

district due to what the Texas Tribune described as

as well.

“years of poor academic outcomes at a single campus

and allegations of leadership misconduct” that led

to “extraordinary staff turnover and plummeting

enrollment.”

According to the Houston Chronicle, which first

reported on the takeover, Paul announced on LinkedIn

that after her resignation from the Houston Independent

School District Foundation became effective, she

planned to work as an education consultant at Paul

Consulting Group LLC.

Paul registered an identically named company with

the Florida Division of Corporations in March 2021.

It was administratively dissolved in September 2022.

Whether she resurrects it remains to be seen.

Florida Politics contacted Paul for comment but

received no response.

Word Search

List Compiled

by Kamar

Jackson,

Freshmen

at Dillard

High School


JANUARY 8 - JANUARY 14, 2026 • PAGE 3

Ain’t That A VHIT

When Paper

Prevents

Production

By Von C. Howard

There’s a certain irony in working in

spaces designed to serve people yet finding

ourselves trapped by the very processes that

were meant to protect them. It’s that moment

when compassion meets compliance, and

compliance wins. When the urgency to act is

stalled by the need to authorize, to verify, to

sign off. And so, we wait. Not because we don’t

care, but because “the paper” hasn’t cleared.

You see, paper, whether literal or digital,

has become both our shield and our shackle.

It’s how we document, justify, and, let’s be

honest, CYA (cover your “a..”ctions). Policies,

approvals, and procurement pathways

are supposed to safeguard fairness and

accountability. But sometimes, they strangle

momentum, leaving good people stuck in

the thick of red tape while the people we’re

supposed to help continue waiting.

It’s a frustrating place to be, when your

heart says move, but the system says wait.

When you have a solution in hand, but a

signature stands in the way. And what

makes it worse is that the intention behind

the rules isn’t wrong. Accountability matters.

Documentation matters. But when the process

becomes so burdensome that it paralyzes

progress, it forces you to ask: who are we really

protecting?

We’ve all seen it happen: a community

in need, a family waiting for relief, a project

delayed over one missing form or an unclear

approval chain. Sometimes it feels like the

machine that was built to serve the people

has forgotten that the people come first. And

in that gap between paperwork and purpose,

frustration festers.

Yet even in that frustration, there is hope.

Because frustration is often the birthplace of

reform. It forces us to rethink how we work,

not just what we do. It challenges leaders to

streamline, to trust, and to remember that

while the paper may record our actions, people

record our impact.

So yes, paper prevents production, until

we decide that efficiency and empathy can

coexist. Until we choose to be brave enough to

ask, “How can we do this better?”

Maybe the next authorization won’t just be

a signature on a form, but a sign that we’ve

learned to balance order with urgency, and

policy with purpose.

Because at the end of the day, the true

measure of service isn’t how perfect the

paperwork is, it’s how many lives we were

able to touch while the ink was still drying.

“Let all things be done decently

and in order.” — 1 Corinthians 14:40

But let them also be done in time.

Continue reading online at:



New Postal Service Rule Could Quietly

Void Ballots and Delay Healthcare

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The Postal

Service says the change is intended

to clarify how postmarks are applied,

particularly as transportation

schedules and regional processing

systems evolve.

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Corresp.

A quiet clarification by the United

States Postal Service is drawing renewed

scrutiny after health care advocates and

voting rights observers warned that the

change could carry serious consequences

for millions of Americans who rely on

postmarks to meet legal deadlines.

Under new USPS guidance that took

effect late last month, the date printed

on a postmark no longer reflects when a

letter or ballot is dropped into a mailbox.

Instead, the postmark now reflects the

date the mail is first processed at an

automated sorting facility, which can

occur days after the item is mailed. The

Postal Service says the change is intended

to clarify how postmarks are applied,

particularly as transportation schedules

and regional processing systems evolve.

For voters in states that count mailin

ballots based on postmark deadlines,

(Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News / Getty

Images)

and for patients navigating appeals,

authorizations, and Medicare paperwork,

the distinction is anything but academic.

“In recognition of the importance that

the election laws in some states place on

postmarks, it has been the longstanding

policy of the Postal Service to try to ensure

that every return ballot mailed by voters

receives a postmark, whether the return

ballot is mailed with postage pre-paid by

election officials or with a stamp affixed

by the voter,” officials wrote in a release.

“A voter can ensure that a postmark

is applied to his or her return ballot by

visiting a Postal Service retail office

and requesting a postmark from a retail

associate when dropping off the ballot.”

The issue gained wider attention

after a detailed explanation circulated to

millions of viewers on social media from

the account @cjnlegalnurse, a health care

advocate who outlined how the rule shift

moves risk away from institutions and

onto individuals.

“The postmark rule changed quietly,

and it affects voting and health care. Let

me explain what just happened at USPS

because this is not minor and it’s not

theoretical,” the user said. “So as of this



Trump Suggests Takeover

Of Greenland, Colombia,

Cuba After Maduro Ouster

By BIN

President Donald Trump is threatening an

American takeover of Greenland, Colombia, and

Cuba, just a day after a U.S. military operation

in Venezuela that led to the ouster of President

Nicolás Maduro, per HuffPost.

The remarks from Trump and his administration mark an aggressive push to expand

U.S. influence across the Western Hemisphere. Last month, Trump’s administration

released the National Security Strategy, calling for the restoration of “American

preeminence in the Western Hemisphere.” Trump has repeatedly cited the Monroe

Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary to justify a more forceful regional posture, joking

that some now call it the “Don-roe Doctrine.”

Asked whether the Venezuela operation could foreshadow action elsewhere, Trump

said Sunday (January 4) of Greenland, “They are going to have to view it themselves.

I really don’t know.”

“It’s so strategic right now. Greenland

is covered with Russian and Chinese ships

all over the place,” he told reporters aboard

Air Force One. “We need Greenland from

the standpoint of national security, and

Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”

Danish Prime Minister Mette

Frederiksen pushed back against

Trump’s comments, saying the president

has “no right to annex” the territory and

noting that Denmark already grants the

U.S. broad access through NATO security

agreements.

The political divide/US Capitol attack from Front Page

The day’s split-screen highlights how the

January 6 attack has left a political schism

in its wake. Many Democrats insist the day

is a painful reminder of Trump’s past and

ongoing threat to democracy and fair elections,

while the president and most Republicans

either ignore it or recast the day’s events and

diminish the level of violence.

The lawmakers who dedicated 18 months

of their careers to the comprehensive House

investigation are grappling with how the truth

about Trump’s role in January 6 can break

through in this current political moment –

where Trump continues to claim that he won

the 2020 election and has taken significant

steps to reward rioters and deflect blame for

the attack.

“He has people who support him – they

have a right to vote for whoever they want,”

Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren, who served on

the committee, told CNN. “I can’t change that

reality. What I can do, is release the actual

reality. And this is an occasion for us to reissue

some of the documentation, especially the

video documentation.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson has still

not hung a plaque honoring the heroism of

the Capitol Police officers who defended the

complex on January 6, even though federal

law required it to be installed by 2023. Instead,

many Democrats have poster copies hanging

outside their congressional offices.

The speaker’s office told CNN that the law

authorizing the January 6 commemorative

plaque “is not implementable,” but did not

elaborate on what they view as the shortfalls

of the statute in a statement.

“If Democrats are serious about

commemorating the work of USCP

officers, they are free to work with the

appropriate committees of jurisdiction to

develop a framework for proper vetting and

consideration,” a spokesperson for the speaker

said.

“We hold these truths to be MARTIN

self-evident, that all men LUTHER

KING, JR.

are created equal.”

AUGUST 28, 1963

Tamarac.gov

When Betty and Audrey met

National Parks Indict

Illegal War, Show

Ancient Truths

Happy Year 2,026 after the birth of

Jesus, the Christ! If He was on Earth

today, he’d be 2,026 years old, as

A.D. time is measured from His birth.

By Audrey Peterman

I’m a 74-year-old Black Jamaican American

woman that has spent literally 30 years “in the

wilderness” with my American husband. What

I am seeing from the natural side is entirely

different from the artificial emergencies of our

present society. It emphasizes the need for us to

live close with Nature or risk going crazy.

We’re on the verge of crazy now, with a unilateral

war being pursued by an unstable regime. The

avalanche of issues and emergencies being hurled

at us are designed to keep us feeling destabilized

and powerless. I’m grateful that I know we still

have time to course correct, because the message

in the natural areas that we’ve been protecting

since 1864 “for the benefit of this and future

generations” is quite different. It speaks of the

long term and the responsibility “ to this and

future generations.”

The regime wants to smash and grab this legacy

along with everything else.

The passing of our friend Ranger Betty Reid

Soskin at 104 years old just before Christmas,

on the Winter Solstice has renewed my vigor to

press for truth and justice as she did. I took it as

a big sign that when the sun paused for just that

moment, her spirit got onboard.

She was part of the WWII production factories

for ships and planes at Rosie the Riveter WWII

Homefront National Historical Park in Richmond

California, that helped win WWII. So, I’m almost

glad she’s not around to see our beloved Democracy

sidestep the constitution and strike another

sovereign nation, unprovoked. Not even Congress

was consulted. (Continued on page 9)

THE CITY OF TAMARAC PRESENTS

RHYTHM OF A DREAM:

AN MLK PERFORMING ARTS CELEBRATION

Tamarac Community Center • 8601 W. Commercial Blvd.

Friday, January 16

6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

“My country ’tis of thee,

sweet land of liberty, of thee

I sing. Land where my

father’s died, land of the

Pilgrim’s pride, from

every mountainside, let

freedom ring!”

I HAVE A

DREAM

Join us for an evening honoring the life, legacy, and

vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through spoken

word, poetry, music, and live performances that

celebrate unity, justice, and peace.

Food and refreshments available for purchase.


Westside Gazette

Calendar of Events

Deeply Rooted

LOCAL HAPPENINGS IN

BROWARD MIAMI-DADE

AND PALM BEACH

COUNTIES

HAVE YOUR COMMUNITY EVENTS

PLACED ON THIS PAGE

email:wgproof@thewestsidegazette.com

Call -- (954) 525-1489

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Discussion with Levoyd Williams

Thursday, January 22 from

6 to 7:30 p.m., at Lauderdale

Lakes Branch Library/

Educational and

Cultural Center

Multipurpose Room

Please join us as former

Lauderdale Lakes city

commissioner Levoyd Willams

educates

attendees regarding the

contents of the letter.

Light Refreshments provided

by the Friends of the

Lauderdale

Lakes Library.


The Connector Project Public

Kickoff Meeting

- Participate in Broward County's signature transportation

initiatives -

BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Broward County Transit (BCT)

will host a hybrid public kickoff meeting for the advancement

of The Connector, Project Development and Environmental

(PD&E) Study. The in-person and online meetings

will take place simultaneously on Thursday, January

15, 2026.

Broward County Transit (BCT)

What: Public Kickoff Meeting for The Connector PD&E

Study, Thursday, January 15, 2026 - 6 - 8 p.m.

In-Person: Broward County Convention Center, East

Building - Room 154, 1950 Eisenhower Boulevard, Fort

Lauderdale, FL, 33316. Free parking on the first level of

the parking garage

Online Option: GoToWebinar - Scan the QR code to

register. Attendees can also participate by dialing + 1

(914) 614-3221; Access Code: 625-424-440.

If you require further information,

please contact Anna Bielawska, BCT

Project Manager, at TheConnector@

broward.org or (954) 357-8344.

To register for the online meeting, scan

the QR Code Below:

Name:

Address:

City:

State/Zip:

Follow @TheWestsideGazette Newspaper on Social Media +

WATCH episodes of the 2-Minute Warning via YT or FB

STAY

CONNECTED --



A MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER

from Front Page

force as leverage, or ruling by loyalty instead of law, that is

not strength; that is authoritarian muscle memory.

6th of January 2021 taught us something chilling: if

you say it loudly enough, long enough, and with enough

confidence, some will follow even when democracy itself is

the casualty.

The rhetoric we hear now about dominance, retribution,

conquest, and unchecked authority, mirrors the logic that

justified an assault on our own democracy. It is the same

worldview that sees rules as obstacles, constitutions as

inconveniences, and dissent as disloyalty.

Let’s be clear: democracies do not collapse all at once.

They erode. Slowly. Intentionally. With applause from those

who mistake bravado for leadership.

When a president or any would-be leader suggests that

power should be seized rather than earned, enforced rather

than entrusted, the lesson of the 6th of January 2021 looms

large. That day showed us what happens when ambition

is unrestrained by accountability. Today’s proposals show

us what happens when that same ambition is allowed to

regroup, rebrand, and return emboldened.

For Black America, for marginalized communities, and

for anyone who has ever had to fight to be counted, believed,

or protected by the law, this is not imaginary. We know what

unchecked power looks like. We know how quickly rights can

be rolled back, voices silenced, and truth buried.

January 6, 2021, was not the end of a crisis.

It was the warning shot.

And if we fail to connect the dots—between then and

now, between domestic insurrection and global strong-man

fantasies—we risk pretending that history is not repeating

itself simply because the language has changed.

Democracy does not defend itself.

It requires courage, memory, and a refusal to normalize

the abnormal.

We ignore that lesson at our own liability.

aAAA

Starting the New Year

Healthy?

Here’s the

Checklist You

Actually Need

By BlackDoctor.org.

The New Year is

approaching fast. Like, really

fast.

As we close out the year,

this is the perfect moment to

take a proactive approach to

our health and wellness.

Chances are, your New

Year’s resolutions include

things like “get back in the

gym” or “eat healthier.”

But what about “schedule a

diabetes screening” or “get

up to date on my routine

vaccinations”? If those didn’t

make the list, don’t worry.

You’re not alone, and we’ve

got you covered.

Why Preventive Care Matters

for Black Communities

Preventive care is

especially important for Black

individuals. Long-standing

health disparities, systemic

barriers, and racial inequities

in healthcare increase our

risk for chronic and lifethreatening

conditions like

heart disease, diabetes,

cancer, and high blood

pressure.

By taking an active role

in preventive healthcare

through routine screenings,

vaccinations, and exams, we

can:

*Catch health concerns

earlier

*Better manage existing

conditions

*Improve quality of life and

long-term outcomes

Preventive care isn’t just

about avoiding illness. It’s

about protecting our future.

Below is a breakdown of

January 5, 2026

This Week in Health: Flu Prevention

Westside Health Brief

Marsha Mullings, MPH

Avoid Close Contact When Possible

Flu viruses spread mainly through droplets

released when people cough, sneeze, or talk.

Steering clear of those who are visibly ill —

and keeping your distance when you feel sick

— helps break the chain of transmission.

Deeply Rooted

key screenings, vaccinations,

and exams every Black

individual should consider as

we head into the new year.

Screenings for High-Risk

Conditions

Heart Disease and

Cardiovascular Disease

Heart disease affects the

heart and blood vessels and

remains a leading cause of

death in Black communities.

Screenings may include

checking blood pressure,

cholesterol, blood sugar, vital

signs, electrocardiograms

(ECGs), stress tests, or

imaging of the heart. Black

individuals face higher risk

due to stress, food access

issues, unequal healthcare

US cuts the number of

vaccines recommended for

every child,

a move

slammed by

physicians

By Ali Swenson and Lauran

Neergaard

WASHINGTON (AP)

— The U.S. took the

unprecedented step Monday

of cutting the number of

vaccines it recommends for

every child — a move that

leading medical groups said

would undermine protections

against a half-dozen diseases.

The change is effective

immediately, meaning that

the U.S. Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention

will now recommend that

all children get vaccinated

against 11 diseases.

What’s no longer broadly

recommended is protection

against flu, rotavirus,

hepatitis A, hepatitis B,

some forms of meningitis or

RSV. Instead, protections

against those diseases are

only recommended for certain

groups deemed high risk, or

when doctors recommend

them in what’s called “shared

decision-making.”

Trump administration

officials said the overhaul, a

move long sought by Health

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy

Jr., won’t result in families

who want the vaccines losing

access to them, and said

insurance will continue to

pay. But medical experts said

the decision creates confusion

for parents and could increase

preventable diseases.

States, not the

federal government,

have the authority to

require vaccinations for

schoolchildren. While CDC

requirements often influence

those state regulations, some

states have begun creating

their own alliances to counter

the Trump administration’s

guidance on vaccines.

The change comes as

U.S. vaccination rates have

been slipping and the share

of children with exemptions

has reached an all-time high,

according to federal data.

At the same time, rates of

diseases that can be protected

against with vaccines, such as

measles and whooping cough,

are rising across the country.

Review came at the request of

President Trump

The U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services

said the overhaul was in

Watch a Conversations on Cannabis virtual

forum to hear the potential benefits and risks

of using medical cannabis to manage

seasonal affective disorder and

holiday-related mood changes.


access, and systemic

inequities.

Diabetes

Diabetes occurs when blood

Managing The

Holiday Blues

what experts say about using

medical cannabis to cope

sugar levels are consistently

too high. Screening typically

involves a blood test to

measure glucose levels. Black

individuals are at higher risk

due to social determinants of

health such as food deserts,

economic stress, systemic

discrimination, genetics, and

limited access to consistent

care.

Hypertension (High Blood

Pressure)

Hypertension happens

when blood pressure stays

elevated over time, forcing

the heart to work harder.

Screening involves a blood

pressure cuff placed on the

arm to measure systolic and

diastolic pressure. Black

individuals are more likely to

develop hypertension due to



The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services building

is seen, April 5, 2009, in Washington. (FILE)

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

response to a request from

President Donald Trump

in December. Trump asked

the agency to review how

peer nations approach

vaccine recommendations

and consider revising U.S.

guidance accordingly.

HHS said its comparison to

20 peer nations found that the

U.S. was an “outlier” in both

the number of vaccinations

and the number of doses it

recommended to all children.

Officials with the agency

framed the change as a way

to increase public trust by

recommending only the most

important vaccinations for

children to receive.

“This decision protects

children, respects families,

and rebuilds trust in public

health,” Kennedy said in a

statement Monday.

Trump, reacting to the news

on his Truth Social platform,

said the new schedule is “far

more reasonable” and “finally

aligns the United States with

other Developed Nations

around the World.”

Among those left on the





Simple Steps to Reducing Flu Risk

Flu season has arrived, but getting sick

doesn’t have to be inevitable. With a few

practical habits, you can significantly reduce

your risk and help protect the people around

you. Public health experts emphasize that

prevention is not about one single action —

it’s about smart behaviors that work together

to keep you well.

Get Vaccinated Each Year

The annual flu vaccine is the most effective

way to lower your chances of getting the flu

or developing serious complications. The

Centers for Disease Prevention and Control

(CDC) notes that vaccination is the single best

way to reduce risk, especially for older adults

and people with chronic conditions. Immunity

fades over time, so getting a new shot each

season is essential.

Wash Your Hands Often

Handwashing is a simple but powerful

defense. Soap and water remove germs you

may pick up from surfaces, and alcohol-based

sanitizers are a good backup when you’re on

the go.

Cover Coughs and Consider Masking

Covering your mouth and nose when you

cough or sneeze protects others. Masks can

also reduce the spread of respiratory

droplets, especially in crowded indoor spaces

or when you’re recovering from illness.

Stay Home When You’re Sick

If you develop symptoms, staying home helps

prevent spreading the virus. The CDC advises

returning to normal activities only after

symptoms improve and you’ve been feverfree

for at least 24 hours without medication.

Improve Air Quality

Cleaner air reduces the concentration of

airborne viruses. Opening windows, using air

purifiers, or spending time outdoors can help

lower your exposure risk.

Source: CDC; www.cdc.gov

Watch Now

Follow ‘Conversations on Cannabis’ on

@MMERIForumRadio


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beieves that American

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fromracial and national

antagonisms when it

accords to every person,

regarless of race, color or

creed, full human and legal

rights. Hating no person,

feaing no person, the Black

Press strives to help every

person in the firmbelief

that all are hurt as long as

anyone is held back.

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the public. Letters must be

signed with a clearly

legible name along witha

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letters. Letters should be

500 words or less.

Don’t Take the Bait: Venezuela

Is a Distraction from Trump’s

Affordability Crisis

Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel

By Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - As families struggle with rent,

groceries, and health care costs, Donald Trump is once again

trying to drag the national conversation off course - this time

with the dramatic capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás

Maduro. Maduro has ruled Venezuela as an authoritarian

dictator, rigging elections, imprisoning political opponents, and

driving millions of Venezuelans into poverty and exile through

corruption and economic mismanagement. His removal is

undoubtedly welcomed by those who suffered under his regime.

But Trump didn’t work through Congress or international

institutions—he acted unilaterally. As Senate Minority Leader

Chuck Schumer said on ABC’s “This Week,” “Maduro’s a

horrible, horrible person, but you don’t treat lawlessness with

other lawlessness, and that’s what’s happened here.”

Yet for most Americans, Venezuela is not the issue keeping

them up at night. Affordability is. That’s the reality Democrats

must stay anchored in. We cannot allow ourselves to be

pulled into Trump’s Venezuela trap. Venezuela is a deliberate

distraction from the affordability crisis Trump dismisses as a

hoax, from his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, and from a parade


By Robert C. Koehler

In the Donald Trump era — praise be!

— so much is possible that previously

no one had ever even imagined. For

instance, not only has “the late,

great Hannibal Lecter” come back to

life, he might even join Trump’s cabinet.

Well, that’s just a guess, but why not?

I think he’d fit right in. All of which is

to say: “There’s something happening

here. What it is ain’t exactly clear . .

.” It’s not simply that Trump is unique

(i.e., uniquely crazy). He definitely is, but he’s also American to

the core. Under his leadership, our political structure is naked

and exposed, stripped of its political correctness. The emperor

has no clothes! Suddenly we can’t avoid seeing this.

Indeed, we can’t avoid seeing ourselves. As psychologist John

Gartner has pointed out, Trump is not only a malignant

narcissist, but — as has been clear in his second term — he’s

slithering ever more deeply into dementia. Yet people still

support him — enough people to let him win elections. Why?

Because, Gartner notes:

“He’s beating up on their shared enemies. There’s a psychological

appeal that a Hitler-like character has. Someone who feels

disempowered feels re-empowered by someone who, in a punitive

way, is attacking their shadow enemies and making them feel

powerful and entitled to dominate.”

I would add that these “enemies” may simply be pulled out of

the blue . . . a group his supporters weren’t even aware of. But

the strongman has declared them to be the enemy: in effect,

creating the enemy. What matters is not that a long-despised



Deeply Rooted

The Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-ADs, Inc., reserves

the right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers that

may not necessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of

The Westside Gazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the

responsible individual(s) who submit comments published in this

REPUBLICAN CONGRESS

SUFFERS POLITICAL

PSYCHOSIS

“The antidote for political psychosis is prudence.”

John Johnson II 01/07 26

By John Johnson II

Trump lets us see who we are

By Ben Jealous

From Minarets to City Hall: Zohran

Mamdani, Islam, and the American

Conscience against war

by George Cassidy Payne

“If there is no struggle, there is no

progress.” —Frederick Douglass

America likes to tell its story as a

procession of wars won and enemies

defeated. But its deeper moral history,

the one that actually bends toward

justice, has been written by those who

resisted domination: slavery, empire, and

the dangerous fiction that violence is the

engine of progress.

On a cold January afternoon outside

City Hall, Zohran Mamdani stepped into that unfinished

struggle. As he raised his right hand and took the oath of office

as mayor of New York City—the first Muslim ever to do so—

he embodied a quieter American tradition: the insistence that

conscience belongs in public life.

The headlines captured the spectacle. But Mamdani’s

inauguration matters less as pageantry than as moral signal.

It arrives at the crossroads of a long American argument—

about power and belonging, yes, but also about whether a

nation repeatedly shaped by war can ever learn to govern itself

through restraint.

That argument predates the republic itself.

When North Carolina debated ratifying the Constitution in

1788, Anti-Federalist William Lancaster warned that abolishing

religious tests might allow Muslims to hold office. “Papists may

occupy that chair,” he cautioned, “and Mahometans may take

it.” What he framed as alarm now reads as reluctant foresight.

Political psychosis is not a recognized

medical condition. Psychology Today

reports that social scientists view it as a

societal phenomenon of shared delusions.

Furthermore, it describes a sustained

detachment from shared reality/norms,

marked by irrational behavior, the

spread of misinformation, vindictive

thinking, and the collapse of effective

governance. Today, this condition is

most clearly visible in the Republican

Congress, where ideology has eclipsed

reason, loyalty has displaced law, and constitutional duty

traded for political survival.

The first symptom is the rejection of factual and scientific

evidence. On health care, affordability, tariffs, and economic

security, Republican lawmakers abandon data provided by

experienced economists in favor of misinformation. Health

care now is framed as a culture-war battleground rather than

a human necessity. Tariffs become patriotic tools. Economic

pain is dismissed, denied, or perversely justified as collateral

damage in an ideological crusade.

Paranoia follows close behind. Democratic institutions face

labeling as enemies. Elections are legitimate only when

Republicans prevail. Courts maintained respect only when they

comply. The press becomes “the opposition.” Federal agencies

face labeling as conspirators. This persecutory worldview

defends Congress from responsibility.

A dangerous expression of political psychosis is congressional

silence, fear, and surrender. Any congressperson—or group

of congresspersons—who concedes their constitutional powers

to the Executive Branch violates their Constitutional Oath.


You Were Always Enough

When New York City Public Advocate

Jumaane Williams spoke directly to Black

boys at a recent inauguration, his words

spread quickly. Clips ricocheted across

phones and timelines far beyond City Hall.

Not because they were clever. But

because they were rare.

“Little Black boy,” Williams said, “you were worth it, and

you always were. Without any titles, you were enough. You

were always enough. You deserve to accept love, and you

deserve to be protected.”

No charts. No statistics. No list of disparities. Just a sentence

we almost never hear spoken by people with power, in public,

about Black boys.

It landed because it broke an unspoken rule most leaders

follow without realizing it: the rule that says Black boys must

always be spoken about in the conditional tense. If they behave.

If they comply. If they survive. If they overcome.

Williams did none of that. He asserted worth. Full stop.

There is a name for that choice. Years ago, Trabian Shorters

gave it one: asset framing.

Asset framing is not optimism. It is not denial. It does not

pretend hardship is imaginary. It simply refuses to define

people by their wounds. Deficit framing leads with problems.


Venezuela won’t be the end.

You’re naive if you think so

By Jared O. Bell

Late Friday night into early

Saturday, I watched the news and

scrolled through social media as reports

of explosions in Caracas began to

spread. I went to sleep unaware of what

the morning would bring. Hours later,

bleary-eyed and half-blind without my

glasses, I woke to headlines announcing

that the Trump administration

had captured and arrested Venezuelan

President Nicolás Maduro in what it

called “Operation Absolute Resolve,”

transporting him to New York to face

narco-trafficking charges. Maduro’s

sudden removal is being celebrated by Venezuelans abroad and

met with a mix of relief and unease inside the country. But

beyond those reactions lies a far more troubling implication:

Venezuela will not be the end.

And I mean that in multiple senses, domestic and

international alike. Donald Trump has made it abundantly

clear that he intends to operate above the law. Under U.S. law,

Congress authorizes war, not the president acting unilaterally.

For those who insist that Saturday’s operation was not an act of

war, international law is far less forgiving. The forcible capture

of the head of another state constitutes a use of force prohibited

under Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which bars

the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or

political independence of any state. Recognition disputes

do not create legal loopholes. Even if the administration

claims Maduro was not the legitimate president, customary

international law, the principle of sovereign equality, and

the doctrine of non-intervention make clear that sovereignty

cannot be violated absent self-defense or explicit authorization

by the UN Security Council, neither of which applies here.

The United States has a long and troubled history of

interventions abroad, but this action is unprecedented,



$1776

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By Kary Love

Julius Caesar crossing

the Rubicon and marching

his legion on Rome did not

destroy the Roman Republic

all by himself. The erosion

of the republic and rise of

the Empire occurred over

decades, if not centuries, and

built upon many little cuts

and changes, often touted as

necessary and proper, needed

and good, that all added up

to ending “government by

the people” and replacing it

with one Ruler above the law.

These folks were later known

as Caesars, who pretended

(fake news) to rule with a

Senate of the people’s choice

but really ruled as dictators.

But the infrastructure of the

“highway to hell” or Empire

erected on the death of the

Republic was built inch by

inch.

Arguably the final nail in

the coffin of the Republic was

hammered in by Julius’ uncle,

Gaius Marius. Marius himself

was a tremendously successful

politician of the Republic. He

was elected Counsel by the

people a record five times.

Clearly Marius was a clever

politician and beneficiary of

having a Republic. In fact,

Marius arguably viewed

himself as a savior of the

Republic while creating the

situation that ended it.

The Roman Republic

had been very successful

militarily, expanding its

borders and seizing the riches

of other peoples, often making

those people slaves to serve

the Republic. As life became

easier for Romans, as the

hard work of farming and

other occupations essential to

life became swamped with the

number of slaves imported,

life also became disrupted.

Former small farmers could

not compete with huge slave

plantations and were gobbled

up by the aristocracy. Though

provided by the state with

“bread and circuses,” to

keep the displaced people

entertained and compliant,

the loss of landed citizens

decayed the armed forces of

the Republic. For hundreds

of years the Roman Army

was made of land-owning

farmers who provided their

own weapons and responded

when the Republic needed

an armed force. In fact, only

landed men could be part of

the army originally. As this

backbone of the Republic

disappeared, Rome suffered

from a dearth of soldiers.

Marius made a radical

decision in about 107 BC

to recruit landless citizens

(proletarii) and pay them

himself, rather than relying

on property owners. This

“professionalized” the

formerly citizen-soldier

Roman army but fatally

shifted soldiers’ loyalty

from the Senate to their

generals, creating personal

armies. This led to civil wars

between generals competing

for power. Ultimately this

led to the Roman Republic’s

collapse and the rise of an

empire by enabling ambitious

commanders with forces loyal

to their paymaster first and




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Deeply Rooted

The Historic Roosevelt High

School site in West Palm

Beach, future home of the

African American Museum

and Research Library, will

benefit from a $1 million

Palm Beach County grant

supporting planning and

development efforts.

Building Roosevelt High School Site.

Palm Beach County

Invests $1 Million in African

American Museum and

Research Library

“This investment

reflects our commitment

to advancing economic

opportunity and cultural

understanding across the

communities we serve,”

said Commissioner Bobby

Powell.

The Palm Beach County

Commission has approved

a $1 million grant to

support the planning and

development of the African

American Museum and

Research Library (AAMRL)

at the historic Roosevelt

High School site in West

Palm Beach. The funding

marks a major step toward

establishing a permanent

home dedicated to preserving,

researching, and celebrating

African American history

throughout the region.

The investment

underscores the County’s

commitment to cultural

preservation, community

investment, and honoring

the legacy of African

American contributions in

Palm Beach County.

WANTED OLD

COPIES OF

THE

WESTSIDE

GAZETTE

Seeking

Westside Gazette

editions from the 1970s

–1990s

for digitizing.

All borrowed copies

will be returned after

scanning.

Call (954) 525-1489

or email

wgazette@thewestsidegazette.com.

Commissioner Bobby

Powell, a longtime

advocate for cultural

preservation and

economic opportunity,

celebrates the County

Commission’s approval

of $1 million to

advance the African

American Museum

and Research

Library project.


Pascale Achille Sworn In as

Broward Circuit Court Judge

The Westside Gazette

extends congratulations to

Broward Assistant State

Attorney Pascale Achille,

who is being formally sworn

in today as a Broward

Circuit Court Judge.

Governor Ron DeSantis

recently appointed Judge

Achille to the bench of

Florida’s 17th Judicial

Circuit, marking a

significant milestone in a

career defined by public

service and dedication to

justice.

On her final day with the

Broward State Attorney’s

Office, family, friends, and

colleagues gathered to

celebrate her appointment.

Broward State Attorney

Harold F. Pryor honored

Judge Achille with a plaque

recognizing her years of

committed service to the

community.

Judge Achille devoted 12

years as an assistant state

attorney, most recently

serving as a prosecutor in the

Homicide Trial Unit since

2018. During her tenure, she

also worked in the sexual

battery and career criminal

units. Prior to joining the

State Attorney’s Office,

Judge Achille spent eight

years practicing as a civil

Broward State Attorney

Harold F. Pryor (left)

presents a plaque to

Pascale Achille in

recognition of her service,

as she is sworn in as a

Broward Circuit

Court Judge.

attorney, bringing a broad

and well-rounded legal perspective

to the bench.

Her appointment reflects

a strong record of integrity,

professionalism, and commitment

to justice. The

Westside Gazette thanks

Judge Achille for her service

and wishes her continued

success and a long, impactful,

and fulfilling judgeship.

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Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Church Website: www.fbcpineygrove.org

Dr. Ezra Tillman, Jr. Senior Pastor

WORSHIP SERVICES

Sunday ..... 8:00 AM & 11:00 AM In Person Virtual

Sunday School.......9:30 AM In Person

Bible Study on Wednesday.......11:30 AM & 7:00 PM In Person & Virtual

"Winning the World for Jesus"

Harris Chapel Church, Inc.

Rev. Stanley Melek, M.Div

e-mail: harrischapelinc@gmail.com

2351 N.W. 26th Street

Oakland Park, Florida 33311

Church Telephone: (954) 731-0520

SERVICES

Sunday Worship........................10:30 AM

Church School................................................9:00 AM

Wednesday (Bible Study).........11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Living Waters Christian Fellowship

Meeting at Central Charter School Building #5

4515 N. St. Rd. 7 (US 441)

(954) 295-6894

SUNDAY SERVICE: 10 AM

Iwcf2019@gmail.com (Church)

lerrub13@gamil.com (Pastor)

Rev. Anthony & Virgina Burrell

Jesus said, ‘‘let anyone who is thristy come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37)

Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church

Reverend Henry E. Green, III, Pastor

401 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Phone: (954) 463-6309 Fax: (954) 522-4113

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Email info@mthermonftl.com

SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES

Worship Service....................................9:00 AM

In person/www.mounthermonftl.or/YouTube Live/FaceBook

Church School.............................9:30 AM

BIBLE STUDY: Wednesday........................10:00 AM

Bible Study Wednesday ...............7:00 PM via Zoom

Meeting ID: 826 2716 8390 access code 55568988#

Daily Prayer Line.............................6:00 AM

(716) 427-1407 Access Code 296233#

(712) 432-1500 Access Code 296233#

New Mount Olive Baptist Church

Dr. Marcus D. Davidson, Senior Pastor

400 N.W. 9th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Office (954) 463-5126 - Fax: (954) 525-9454

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday- Thursday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

WORSHIP SERVICES & BIBLE STUDY

Sunday Services: In Person

8:00 AM and 10:45 AM

Virtual..................9:00 AM

Sunday School....................9:30 AM

Wednesday Encountering Truth

Noonday Bible Study...........12:00 PM to 12:30 PM

Where the Kingdom of God is Increased through:

Fellowship, Ledership, Ownership and Worship

As we F.L.O.W. To Greatness!

Mount Nebo Missionary Baptist Church

Rev. Danny L. McKenzie, Sr., Senior Pastor

2251 N.W. 22nd St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

P.O. Box 122256, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Church: (954) 733-3285 - Office: (954) 733-3606

Email: mountnebobaptist@bellsouth.net

Website: www.mountnebaptist.org

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

Sunday School ..........................8:30 A.M.

Sunday Worship ....................10:00 A.M.

Tuesday Night Bible Study..............7:00 P.M.

"A Great Place To Worship"

Celebrating 100 Years of Blessing!! 1925-2025

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church

Dr. James B. Darling, Jr., Pastor/Teacher

1161 NW 29th Terrace; Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33310

(954) 581-0455 - (FAX) 581-4350

mzbc2011@gmail.com - www.mtzionmbc1161.com

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday - Friday 11:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.

WORSHIP SERVICES

Sunday Worship...................................................10:15 A.M.

Communion Service (1st Sunday) .........................10:15 A.M.

2nd & 4th Tuesday Night Prayer Workshop/Bible Study................7:00 P.M

Wednesday Night Prayer Service.......................6:30 P.M.

Wednesday Night Church School ............7:00 P.M.

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength"

New Birth Baptist Church

Catheral of Faith International

Bishop Victor T. Curry, M. Min., D. Div. Senior Pastor/Teacher

ORDER OF SERVICES

Sunday Worship.............................9:30 AM

Sunday School ..............................8:30 AM

Tuesday Bible Study...................7:00 PM

Wednsday Bible Study..................10:30 AM

(305) 685-3700 (0) * (305) 685-0705 (f)

www.nbbcmiami.org

St. Ruth Missionsary Baptist Church

145 NW 5th Avenue

Dania Beach, FL 33004

(954) 922-2529

WORSHIP SERVICES

Wednesday (NOON DAY PRAYER.......................12- 1 PM

Sunday Worship Service ...................................10:00 AM

Website: www.struthmbc.org

"Celebrating 115 Years of Service"

Victory Baptist Church Independent

Pastor Keith Cunningham

2241 Davie Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Church: (954) 284-9413

Sunday School .................................................9:45 AM

Worship Service Sunday Morning..................................11:00 AM

Sunday Evening Service.........................................6:00 PM

Bible Study...................................................7:30 PM

Wednesday Evening Bible Study & Prayer ........................7:00 PM

Saturday Morning Soul Winning/Visitation..............10:00 AM

Men’s Fellowship (Every 2nd & last Tuesdays)................6:00 PM

Ladies Fellowship (the last Saturday of each month)..........................5:00 PM

Youth Fellowship (Every Friday)...............6:30 PM

Discover GOD Let Us Help You Find The Way To Jesus Christ

We STRIVE to PROVIDE Ministries that matter Today to Whole Body of Christ,

not only the Believers, but also for those stranded on the “Jericho Road”!

“Celebrating over 85 Years of FAITH and FAVOR!

Come to the WILL.....We’ll show You the WAY: Jesus the Christ”

The New Beginning

Embassy of Praise

The Most Reverend

John H. Taylor, Bishop, Sr. Pastor

Dr. ML Taylor, Executive Pastor

4035 SW 18th Street, West Park, FL 33023

Sunday Worship Service ..................... 11:00 a.m.

Conference Line - 848-220-3300 ID: 33023

Bible Study - Tuesdays......................... 7:30 p.m.

Noonday Prayer Wednesdays..........- 12:00 noon

Come Worship With Us For Your New Begnning!

Bethel A.M.E. Church

Dr. Micah C. T. Sims, Senior Pastor & Servant Leader

RD

405 NW ESTHER ROLLE (3 ) AVENUE

POMPANO BEACH, FL 33060

(954) 943.6220

email: bethelamepompano@gmail.com

Church Office Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 10am to 4pm

SUNDAY WORSHIP......10AM

TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY........7PM

Zoom ID: 7066533918

bethelpompano.org

Pastor David E. Deal, Jr.

Every Christian's Church

SUNDAY @11:00 am

Phone (313) 209-8800 Conference ID 1948-1949

Bible Trivia

‘Test Your Bible Knowledge'

1) Who were Adam’s 1st three sons?

2) Name two species of birds Noah sent from the ark?

3) What language was the Old Testament written?

4) Who was the only female Judge of Israel?

5) What city mentioned in the Book of Revelation is

also the name of an America city?

6) Which King of Judah was enthroned at 8 years old?

7) What are some names for the ‘Sea of Galilee’?

8) Was the ‘Sea of Galilee’ fresh or salt water?

9) Did Jesus have any brothers?

***Biblical Fact*** Prophetess Judge Deborah was of

African-Shemite decent. Her headquarters was under

a palm tree. There she consulted Israelites from various

tribes to have their disputes settled.

Answers – 1) Genesis 4:1-2 & 25; 2) Genesis 8:7-8; 3)

Hebrew; 4) Judges 4:4; 5) Revelation 1:11; 6) 2nd

Kings 22:1-2; 7) Luke 5:1 & John 21:1; 8) Fresh water;

9) Matthew 13:55

SPADY MUSEUM CELEBRATES

25 YEARS OF HONORING DR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AT

2026 BRUNCH, JAN. 19

Special Keynote From Local King Family

Friend, Fellow Morehouse Man Bill Nix

Submitted by Michelle Brown

DELRAY BEACH,

FL -- Celebrating the

25 th anniversary of The

Spady Museum and the

100 th anniversary of the

construction of The Spady

House, the 2026 Dr. Martin

Luther King Jr. Brunch

will be a Silver Jubilee,

featuring the theatrical

talents of CORE Ensemble

and a keynote address by

guest speaker William “Bill”

Nix.

An established advocate

for arts, culture, and history,

William Nix

Nix served as Vice President of Marketing and Government

Affairs for the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County for

more than 15 years. Now president of Nix Communications

Group, he is a staunch ally of The Spady Museum and offered

to share his personal connections to Dr. King’s legacy for the

anniversary celebration. Dr. King and Nix are Atlanta natives,

Morehouse College alum, as well as brothers of Alpha Phi

Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Additionally, the families go back as

friends to the 1920’s.

“I have a very unique story, as I was there that night during

my senior year at Morehouse when the word came that he was

assassinated. I stood over his casket as an honor guard that

week, as part of the Alphas that helped with the service,” Nix

said. “I went to Morehouse because ‘Daddy’ King would stay at

my grandparents’ house in Pittsburgh, and he convinced them

to send my father and uncle to Morehouse. He said he would

take care of them. My father worked at Morehouse for 37 years,

and our family lived on campus.”

Nix’s keynote address will share his memories of how Martin

Luther King became Rev. Dr. King by the Lord’s providence,

entitled, “HIStory from the

Mountaintop - For such a

time as this!”

“My presentation has a

section dedicated to Dr.

King, which seeks to answer

several questions, such as

WHY was Martin Luther

King Jr. chosen? HOW did

he become the ‘Moses’ of his

people? WHO took part in his

transformation into becoming

a ‘Servant of the Lord,’ and

finally, WHAT message did

he leave us with?”

Nix believes that in today’s

charged political climate,

we need to be reminded of

our responsibility to one

other to heed the divine call,

which Dr. King espoused, to

demonstrate respect, civility,

strength and faith in the face

of hate, divisiveness, violence




Deeply Rooted

Obituaries

Death and Funeral Notices

A Good Sheperd's Funeral

Home & Cremation

Services Central


VIEW OBITUARIES ONLINE


Announcements:

*In Memoriam *Death Notices *Happy Birthdays

*Card of Thanks *Remembrances

(954) 525-1489

Roy Mizell & Kurtz

Funeral Home

Thomas Banks - Memorial

service will be held January

10th.

National Parks Indict Illegal War,

Show Ancient Truths from Page 3

Ranger Betty did more to protect and promote the

history and integrity of our country in the National

Park System than anyone else I know - except for

former Director Robert Stanton, the only African

American ever to lead the National Park Service

which will be 110 years old August 25. We need

millions more Bettys and Roberts!

Going into the new year each of us has to become

ACTIVE with a GROUP or ORGANIZATION.

We must take our self-palliating tirades OFF

SOCIAL MEDIA AND INTO THE OFFICES OF

THE PEOPLE WE ELECT TO REPRESENT

US. We must be ORGANIZED, UNITED AND

VISIBLE, because posting on social media DOES

NOTHING except GIVE US A FALSE SENSE OF

INVOLVEMENT. The tech bros have given us a

“pacifier” and shunted us off to the side while they

try to rob and pillage even the very Earth that

supports life.

The National Parks contain the place where the

first shot was fired in the Revolutionary War and

the Civil War; the place where the Constitution

was debated and signed; the place where the

Emancipation Proclamation was issued; the place

where Grant surrendered the confederacy to Union

General Ulysses S Grant, ending the Civil War and

the National Mall in Washington, DC, is “home to

iconic monuments including the Lincoln Memorial

and the Washington Monument. At the eastern end

is the domed U.S. Capitol, and the White House is

SERVICE ANNOUCEMENT

to the north,” all part of the National Park

System.

This year when the regime removed Dr.

Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth

from among those days when entrance to

every single one of the national

parks offer free entrance, the joke is on

them because 327 of them, including Dr

King’s Birth Home Sweet Auburn District

and Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church

ARE FREE ALL YEAR ROUND.

THIS YEAR we can use our freedom

and make a statement by flocking to the

national parks and learning the history

they contain, including the homes of Mary

McLeod Bethune; Dr. Carter G. Woodson;

Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and

many other icons. A visit to Independence

National Historical Park in Philadelphia

will acquaint you with the tumultuous

times when the constitution was being

debated; the call to freedom still echoes

from the cracked Liberty Bell outside,

and the story of Africans enslaved at

this monument to freedom tells us the

complexity of the American Story.

One thing is unequivocal about: elected

leaders swear an oath to uphold the

constitution and defend the nation. We all

need to use these facts to decide whether

“WE THE PEOPLE” will

accept the assault on our

democracy taking place

right now or reject it with

everything we’ve got. The

truth is in our National Park

System of natural, cultural

and historic treasures dating

back to antiquity.

(Audrey Peterman is a

longtime activist for national

parks and connecting them

with the public. Audrey@

AudreyPeterman.com)

Everton Dixon - Funeral Service

will be held January

10th at the Chapel.

Troy Griggs - Celebration of

Life, January 10 at Word of

the Living God Ministries

Deloria Turner Funeral service

was held January 3rd

At AGS Multipurpose Cen-

Casey Myers Love And

Grace Funeral And

Cremation Service

Carrell Taylor - Funeral service


10th

Stefon Young Funeral service


10th .

My Help

Comes From

The Lord,The

Maker Of

Heaven And Earth

Psalm 121:2

Linda Darnell Christie – 70-

Funeral Service was held

January 3rd at Roy Mizell &

Kurtz Worship Center.

Quincy Kirkland – 80 Funeral

Service was held January

3rd at Brown’s Funeral

Home Chapel.

Monica Rollerson – 59- Funeral

Service was held

January 3rd at Roy Mizell &

Kurtz Worship Center.

Hildred Bradshaw Brown,

a cherished former

resident of Fort Lauderdale (Bass Park) and a

dedicated retired school bus driver for Broward

County Schools, peacefully passed away in

Pelham, Georgia on January 4, 2026. She was an

active member of the House of God Church, Keith

Dominion. Hildred will be deeply missed by all

who had the privilege of knowing and loving her.

Funeral services are scheduled to take place in

Pelham, Georgia on January 10, 2026, organized

by Nathaniel Thomas And Sons Funeral Home.

For more information, please contact

Gloria Foster-Talton at (954) 610-8561.


FORT LAUDERALE,

FL — December 27, 2025:

The Old Dillard Foundation

brought culture, unity,

and rhythm to the heart of

Fort Lauderdale with its

annual Kwanzaa Soirée,

held at MOV Fusion Bar &

Grill Restaurant. Sponsored

by Cigna Health Care,

the Broward Cultural Arts

Division, and The Westside

Deeply Rooted


Old Dillard Foundation Hosts Vibrant Kwanzaa Soirée

Celebrating Culture, Community, and Connection

Gazette, the event was

an inspiring celebration of

African heritage, community

values, and the collective

spirit of Kwanzaa.

The evening opened with

a warm welcome from Old

Dillard Foundation

President

Randy

Corinthian, followed by

a powerful reflection on

the history and meaning of

Kwanzaa delivered by Vice

Series of Earthquakes Rattle

Caribbean in first days of

2026 Earthquake

By Caribbean National

Weekly

Several Caribbean

countries were shaken by

a series of earthquakes

during the first two days of

the new year, according to

the Trinidad-based Seismic

Research Centre (SRC) at the

St Augustine campus of the

University of the West Indies

(UWI).

The latest tremor

occurred early Friday

morning, 38 minutes into

the day, when a magnitude

3.5 earthquake struck at a

depth of 10 kilometres. The

SRC said the quake was

felt 102 kilometres eastsoutheast

of Point-à-Pitre,

the capital of Guadeloupe,

109 kilometres northeast of

Roseau in Dominica, and 158

kilometres north-northeast of

Fort-de-France, the capital of

Martinique.

On New Year’s Day,

residents in Trinidad also felt

seismic activity. A magnitude

3.7 earthquake was recorded

at 12:11 p.m. (local time),

rattling Port of Spain as well

as San Fernando to the south

and Arima to the east. That

quake occurred at a shallow

depth of one kilometre.



President Bishop Melvin

Dawson Jr. Their messages

set a tone of unity and

cultural pride that resonated

throughout the night.

The celebration continued

with a moving Kwanzaa

presentation by Kreative

Uprising, under the artistic

direction of Alana DaCosta.

captivated the audience with

her heartfelt reading of a poem

titled “Kujichagulia (Self-

Pepsi National Battle of the Bands

Marches Into Palm Beaches in 2026

Deltas on the Run 5K

Returns to Hollywood

Beach for 9th Year

Canade Rivers, Sylvester Robinson, Sonia Henry Robinson, Randy Corinthian, Berth Henry and Bobby Henry, Sr.

BOCA RATON, FL — The

powerful sound of tradition,

excellence, and HBCU pride

will echo across The Palm

Beaches as the 2026 Pepsi

National Battle of the Bands

(NBOTB) takes center stage at

Flagler Credit Union Stadium

on Saturday, January 17,

2026, beginning at 4 p.m.

Billed as “Where Culture

Meets the Coast,” the

nationally acclaimed event

brings together some of the

country’s most electrifying

Historically Black Colleges

and Universities (HBCU)

marching bands for a highenergy

showcase of music,

precision, and legacy. The

Palm Beaches will serve as

the backdrop for a celebration

that blends cultural heritage

with world-class performance.

Founded by Derek

Webber, the National Battle

of the Bands was created to

honor the rich contributions

of HBCUs to American

music, leadership, and



BROWARD COUNTY,

FLA. The South Broward

Alumnae Chapter of Delta

Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., in

partnership with the L.I.F.E.

Foundation, Inc., will host the

9th Annual Deltas on the Run

5K Run/Walk on Saturday,

February 7, 2026, at Charnow

Park in Hollywood.

The community-centered

wellness event promotes

physical fitness, cancer

awareness, and collective

action, drawing runners,

walkers, families, and

supporters of all fitness levels

for a morning of purpose and

movement along the scenic

beachfront. Proceeds from the

event benefit the American

Cancer Society and support

local community initiatives

led by the South Broward

Alumnae Chapter.

Now a signature South

Florida event, Deltas on the

Run continues to grow each

year. “I genuinely love the

Deltas 5K Run,” said repeat

participant Taryn Cox.



Determination)”, followed

by an expressive dance

performance embodying the

principles of empowerment

and creativity.

Music soon filled the air with

an energetic set by Cande

Rivers, performing crowd

favorites including “Rock

With You” and “Remember

The Time.” Guests also

participated in a lively silent

auction, supporting local

cultural and educational

initiatives.



NEW SERVICE CHANGES

COMING SOON

STARTING SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2026

BETTER BUSES, BETTER BROWARD

ROUTE CHANGES

4

As the evening transitioned

into the DJ takeover, the

beats transformed MOV

Fusion into a dance floor of

joy and connection. The music

stirred the crowd—inviting

guests to move, sway, and

dance the night away in the

true spirit of celebration and

community.

The Old Dillard

Foundation’s Kwanzaa

Soirée 2025 was more than

an event—it was a cultural

experience that honored

New

4

29-foot Buses

7

6

tradition, uplifted artistry,

and strengthened the

bonds throughout the local

community.

About the Old Dillard

Foundation:

The Old Dillard

Foundation is dedicated to

preserving and promoting the

rich cultural heritage of the

African American experience

through education, music,

and the arts. Its programs

48

For schedules: Broward.org/BCT/Schedules

or call Customer Service at 954-357-8400

• TTY 954-357-8302, Florida Relay: 711


SPORTS

Deeply Rooted


Nunnie on the Sideline

Photo: ABC

By Nunnie Robinson, WGS Editor

Last week, I promised a deep dive

into the Miami Dolphins’ long-running

futility since the glory days of

the early 1970s, including the undefeated

season. Instead of reopening

that familiar nightmare, I decided

to narrow the focus to recently fired

General Manager Chris Grier and his

ultimately failed allegiance to quarterback

Tua Tagovailoa.

Before assessing Grier’s tenure,

let me establish what I believe is essential

to sustained success in today’s NFL: the general

manager and head coach must be completely aligned

on personnel decisions. Hip to hip. For that reason alone,

Mike McDaniel should have been dismissed alongside

Grier.

Equally important is this modern NFL truth—quarterback

mobility is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity. If you accept

that premise, we’ll get along just fine. Every consistently

effective quarterback today can extend plays with his

legs: Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott, Josh

Allen, Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield. Yes, there are exceptions—quarterbacks

protected by elite offensive lines and

precision schemes built on pre-snap reads, quick releases,

timing, and accuracy.

To be fair, the Dolphins enjoyed success during McDaniel’s

first two seasons, at least until defenses adjusted. But

concussions, mounting pressure, and the infamous Baltimore

collapse marked the beginning of the end for Tua’s

viability in Miami—and possibly McDaniel’s as well.

One glaring issue remained constant throughout: Grier

and McDaniel relied on a band-aid approach to the offensive

line, never fully addressing one of football’s most

critical units.

Grier’s tenure wasn’t without highlights. His first draft pick

as general manager was Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy

Tunsil in 2016. Tunsil’s draft stock plummeted due to

the infamous bong video, yet he developed into a Pro

Bowl tackle and was later traded to Houston for a haul

of draft picks. Those assets helped Miami land stars like

Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Bradley Chubb.

Other strong draft selections included Pro Bowl cornerback

Xavien Howard, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, defensive

tackle Christian Wilkins, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

On the surface, that résumé looks impressive. But with

hindsight, several decisions warrant scrutiny.

The Tyreek Hill trade raises questions, both financially and

behaviorally—his trajectory increasingly resembles Antonio

Brown’s. Fitzpatrick was traded to Pittsburgh, only for

Miami to later move assets again to acquire Jalen Ramsey.

And then there’s Tua: an athletically limited quarterback

whose $50 million-per-year contract has become a

financial anchor. His latest public stance—that a restart

elsewhere would be “dope”—says plenty.

Finally, I’d be committing a cardinal sin if I gave owner

Stephen Ross a pass. Firing Brian Flores was damaging

enough, but Ross also passed on proven leaders like

Detroit’s Dan Campbell and Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles.

There were even allegations—prior to Ross’s ownership—

that Mike Tomlin was bypassed due to age before landing

in Pittsburgh.

Ted White targeted to lead

Howard football program

What Michael Strahan said about Myles

Garrett breaking NFL sack record

By Kendrick Marshall

Myles Garrett etched his name into NFL history Sunday,

breaking the league’s single-season sack record during the

Cleveland Browns’ matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Garrett’s record-breaking moment came in the fourth quarter

when he brought down Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow for

a five-yard loss — his 23rd sack of the season. The milestone

surpassed the mark of 22.5 sacks set by New York Giants

legend Michael Strahan in 2001, a record later matched by

Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt in 2021.

Strahan, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who played college

football at Texas Southern and is currently an analyst on Fox

NFL Sunday, reacted live as Garrett’s record-breaking sack was

broadcast. While playfully noting the modern era’s expanded

17-game schedule, Strahan tipped his cap to the Browns’

defensive cornerstone.

“I mean, I hold the record

for a 16-game season — they

hold the record for a 17-game

season,” Strahan said with a

grin, drawing laughs from his

colleagues on set. “That’s the

way it works out! You can’t

compare 12-game seasons to

16-game seasons.”

Despite the lighthearted jab,

Strahan praised Garrett’s

dominance and longevity.

“This young man is amazing,”

Strahan said. “I know he’s got

a lot of sacks left, and he’s

only 30. I think I had more

sacks after 30 — as did Bruce

Smith and Reggie White. I

think he’s just getting going.”

Garrett’s historic afternoon

not only punctuated another

strong Browns season but

also cemented his standing

among the greatest defensive

players of his generation.

Dr. Martin

Luther King,

Jr.

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By Chris Stevens

(Source: HBCU Sports)

One of the top quarterbacks in HBCU history could be returning

as Howard’s football coach.

Ted White, who still owns much of the MEAC’s passing records,

was offered the Bison’s head coaching position by interim

president Wayne Frederick Friday afternoon.

White would replace Larry Scott, who resigned to take the

tight ends’ coaching position at Auburn last month.

White, 49, passed for 9,808 yards and 92 touchdowns as the

Bison’s signal caller, earning the MEAC Offensive Player of the

Year Award in 1996.

After a professional career in NFL Europe and the CFL, White

turned to coaching, where he has served in various capacities

at HBCUs such as Texas Southern, Southern, Arkansas-Pine

Bluff, Prairie View A&M, and Howard as offensive coordinator

and assistant head coach under Gary “Flea” Harrell and Rayford

Petty.

White is currently offensive analyst at Maryland before and

was quarterbacks coach at UCLA in 2024.

Read Full Stories on


* Allen women dominate Fort Valley State in first

win of calendar year.

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New York Swears In First

Black Woman Sheriff

According to reports, New

York has sworn in Democrat

Jackie Salvatore as the state’s

first Black woman sheriff. A

lifelong resident of Columbia

County and a 28-year veteran

of the New York State Police,

Salvatore brings decades of

law enforcement experience

to the role. She has pledged to

strengthen crime prevention

efforts, enhance officer training

and readiness, and confront

the ongoing opioid crisis, while

advancing fairness and equity

within the justice system.

Calling her victory “humbling,”

Salvatore begins her tenure as

a historic figure and a symbol

of progress, diversity, and

dedicated community service.

Jackie Salvatore

(Photo by Worldstar.com)

Trump Says He Is Saving

Nigerian Christians.

History Knows This Story Well

from Front Page

At the same time, the administration also bombed Somalia.

By DeCamp’s count, U.S. Africa Command has carried out

at least 127 airstrikes in Somalia this year alone, more than

double the previous annual record. AFRICOM has largely

stopped responding to press inquiries.

The facts on Nigeria further unravel the

story being told.

From 2020 through 2025, more Muslims than Christians

were killed in religiously targeted attacks. Armed groups such

as Boko Haram and ISIS–West Africa primarily kill Muslims

who resist them, alongside Christians and others. The

deadliest Christian losses have largely occurred in Nigeria’s

Middle Belt, not in the northern regions struck by U.S. bombs.

If the goal were protection, the map

would not look like this.

Northern Nigeria sits beneath Niger and alongside Mali

and Burkina Faso, members of the Sahel alliance that expelled

Western military forces and reclaimed control over gold, gas,

uranium, and other strategic minerals. Niger is one of the

world’s leading suppliers of uranium. Mali and Burkina Faso

Deeply Rooted

Black Women Begin 2026 Making History As Mayors In Major U.S. Cities

By BIN

Thursday (January 1)

marked a historic milestone

for local governance as three

Black women were sworn in

as mayors of major cities, per

Shine My Crown.

In Detroit, Mary Sheffield,

38, took the oath of office in

a private ceremony at the

Coleman A. Young Municipal

Center, becoming the city’s

first woman and first Black

woman mayor in its 324-

year history. Sheffield, the

daughter of civil rights

activist and pastor Horace

Sheffield III, first won election

to the Detroit City Council in

2014 at age 26, becoming its

youngest member. Sheffield

won the 2025 mayoral

election by a decisive margin

and succeeds longtime Mayor

Mike Duggan.

Sharon Owens, 62, was

sworn in as the mayor of

Syracuse during a private

ceremony on Wednesday

(December 31), with her

term officially beginning on

Thursday. Owens becomes

the first Black woman and

the second woman overall to

serve as mayor in the city’s

177-year history.

In Albany, Dorcey Applyrs,

44, was sworn in as mayor,

becoming the first Black

woman and the first person of

color to hold the office in the

city’s history. Applyrs’ public

service includes terms on

sit atop vast gold reserves. Nigeria remains Africa’s largest oil

producer and holds significant rare earth deposits.

This pattern is not new.

In a social media post, human rights lawyer Chief Malcolm

Emokiniovon Omirhobo described the strikes as part of a

broader design. “The United States of America is not interested

in the lives of Black Christians in Northern Nigeria,” Omirhobo

said. “The real interest of the U.S. is geostrategic control.”

He said Nigeria is being positioned as a military launchpad

for pressure and potential regime-change operations against

Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. “This has nothing to do with

Christianity,” Omirhobo said. “This has everything to do with

resources, power, and influence.”

The selective outrage has been noticed.

Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann questioned why

Trump claimed moral urgency over Christians in Nigeria while

remaining silent about Christians killed during Russia’s war in


the Albany Common Council

representing the 1st Ward

and service as city auditor

beginning in 2020. She

won the 2025 mayoral race

after campaigning on fiscal

accountability, public health,

and inclusive growth.

The inaugurations of

Photo: Getty Images

Sheffield, Owens, and Applyrs

represent a significant

moment for Michigan and

New York, highlighting

the growing representation

of Black women in local

governance and signaling

broader shifts in politics.

Ukraine.

Members of Congress have also raised alarms. Texas

Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett warned against normalizing

evidence-free violence. “None of this should be normalized,”

Crockett said, noting that Trump has bombed Iran, Iraq, Syria,

Somalia, Nigeria, Yemen, and targets in the Caribbean and

Eastern Pacific this year alone.

Nigeria is left with the consequences.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu now governs a country pulled

deeper into proxy conflict, religious polarization, and regional

instability. History offers no reassurance. From Libya to Iraq

to Afghanistan, U.S. bombs have never stayed to rebuild what

they destroyed.

“When the dust settles,” Omirhobo warned. “The U.S. will

leave just as it left Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, and Nigeria

will be left to deal with the blowback: deeper insecurity, ethnic

tension, religious polarization, and a weakened sovereignty.”

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9/13/24 4:08 PM

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