The Westside Gazette

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15 - JANUARY 21, 2026

BLACK PRESS UNDER FIRE

— AND STANDING TALL

A viral NFL moment reminds

America why the NNPA and the

Black Press remain essential

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.

JACKSONVILLE, FL — What

began as a moment of humanity in

a post-game press conference has

erupted into a national media debate

and in the process, has reminded

America why the National Newspaper

Publishers Association (NNPA) and

the Black Press of America remain

indispensable guardians of truth,

culture, and community.

Following the Jacksonville Jaguars’

season-ending playoff loss, veteran

Black journalist Lynn Jones-Turpin,

a respected local reporter with

deep roots in the African American

community, offered words of

encouragement to head coach Liam

Coen acknowledging a hard-fought

season and urging resilience.

Continue reading online at:

thewestsidegazette.com

Here’s the latest

verified news on

the ICE shooting

in Minnesota

involving the fatal

shooting of Renee

Nicole Good

PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33310

PERMIT NO. 1179

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded on January

13, 1913. It was established at Howard University in

Washington, D.C., with a mission centered on public service,

scholarship, social activism and community empowerment.

MLK speaking at a protest

The Westside Gazette Newspaper

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy

is rooted in courage, faith, and an

unwavering commitment to justice and

equality. Through principled, nonviolent

leadership, he helped transform a nation

and challenged America to live up to its

promise of freedom and dignity for all.

VOL. 54 NO. 50 $1.00

For Dr. King, the nation’s lengthy and violent outrage was a clear signal that Black America would no longer

tolerate its history of racial resentments and economic injustices. Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com

Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com

Dr. King’s

Poor People’s

Campaign

Foretold America’s

Affordability Crisis

By Charlene Crowell

As 2026 unfolds, affordability, which emerged as a critical

issue last year, will become a more pressing concern for most

people in America. A comment by a respondent to a recent

student loan borrower survey by The Institute for College Access & Support (TICAS) summarized the complexity

of the affordability problem for striving workers:

“With how the economy is, I can barely afford to live. I have to choose between rent, loans, or putting food on

the table. There’s no help and it feels like [the] government doesn’t care,” said the consumer.

The feeling that economic realities are suffocating the aspirations of hard-working people provides a poignant

backdrop leading to the January 19 official celebrations to honor the life, leadership and contributions of Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

This year’s observance of the MLK holiday begs a key question: What would Dr. King do about an unsustainable

economic crisis?

After riots in many urban areas in the summer of 1967, MLK planned the Poor People’s Campaign, a multiracial

effort to use mass civil disobedience as a constructive, rather than destructive, force.

On December 7, 1967, Dr. King announced the economic justice effort at a news conference at Atlanta’s Ebenezer

Baptist Church. Although the cities of Detroit and Newark are often noted as the worst hotbeds of the nation’s

summer riots in 1967, 158 riots erupted across America that year, resulting in 83 deaths and 17,000 arrests,

according to a 2007 analysis of the landmark Kerner Commission

report by The Journal of Economic History.

In the wake of King’s April 1968 assassination, plans proceeded

under the joint leadership of his widow, Coretta and the Southern

Christian Leadership Conference’s Ralph Abernathy. Their

collaborative efforts led to weeks of demonstrations on the National

Mall and meetings with policymakers in Washington, DC. The

organizers demanded economic justice and inclusion for Americans

of all backgrounds, including well-paying jobs with living wages, as

well as financial rights and fairness, full employment, guaranteed

annual income, and more housing affordable to low-income people.

“All of our cities are potentially powder kegs,” King said in a People marching and carrying signs at

speech at Stanford University that was titled, The Other America. Connecticut Avenue and L Street, N.W.,

“I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air… Washington, D.C. on June 18, 1968.

All of these things have brought about a great deal of despair and a

great deal of desperation, a great deal of disappointment and even bitterness in the Negro communities.”

Renee Nicole Good (Credit: X/unblogd)

Key Developments:

• Protests and political fallout continue — The fatal shooting of 37-year-old

Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good by an ICE (Immigration and Customs

Enforcement) officer during a federal immigration operation on January 7 has

ignited widespread controversy, protests, and public debate across Minnesota and

nationally.

• Federal prosecutors resign amid controversy — At least four federal prosecutors in

Minneapolis have resigned in protest over how the probe into Good’s death is being

handled, particularly the lack of independent

investigation into the shooting.

Yet, we cannot allow the significance of what Dr. King represented to be erased,

diluted, or rewritten by anyone. His legacy belongs to the people, to the movement,

and to the ongoing struggle for justice. It must be protected, taught, and lived—not

sanitized or stripped of its truth.

This MLK Special Edition honors Dr. King’s enduring vision and invites us to

recommit ourselves to carrying his work forward—keeping his legacy alive through

action, accountability, and an unyielding pursuit of justice, equality, and unity for

generations to come.

Yet, we cannot allow the significance of what Dr. King represented to be erased,

diluted, or rewritten by anyone. His legacy belongs to the people, to the movement,

and to the ongoing struggle for justice. It must be protected, taught, and lived—not

sanitized or stripped of its truth.

This MLK Special Edition honors Dr. King’s enduring vision and invites us to

recommit ourselves to carrying his work forward—keeping his legacy alive through

action, accountability, and an unyielding pursuit of justice, equality, and unity for

generations to come.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy

As we reflect on his life in today’s world, Dr. King’s message

remains not only relevant—but urgent. His call for unity, equity,

and meaningful is rooted action in continues courage, to inspire us faith, to stand against and an

injustice, confront inequality, and work together toward a more

unwavering just and inclusive society. commitment to justice and

equality. Through principled, nonviolent

leadership, he helped transform a nation

and challenged America to live up to its

promise of freedom and dignity for all.

Celebrating 40 Years of

The Baltimore Times

The Baltimore Times proudly celebrates 40 years of telling

positive stories about positive people.

For four decades, we have remained committed to uplifting

Black voices, championing community progress, and serving

as a trusted source of news and inspiration throughout

Baltimore and beyond.

@TheWestsideGazetteNewspaper

A MESSAGE FROM

THE PUBLISHER

As we reflect on his life in today’s world, Dr. King’s message

remains not only relevant—but urgent. His call for unity, equity,

and meaningful action continues to inspire us to stand against

injustice, confront inequality, and work together toward a more

just and inclusive society.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was founded on January 15,

1908. It was established on the campus of Howard University

in Washington, D.C., making it the first historically Black

Greek-letter sorority.

Thursday

Jan 15 th

Partly Cloudy

Sunrise: 7:09am

Fri

42°

66°

AMERICA IS

SKATING ON

THIN ICE —

AND THE

CRACKS ARE

GETTING

LOUDER.

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr

We’re not just talking

about fractured trust in our

institutions we’re talking

about real-life consequences

playing out on our streets and

in our headlines.

In Minneapolis, the fatal

shooting of Renee Nicole

Good, a 37-year-old mother

and community member, by a

federal ICE agent has shaken

a city still healing from past

trauma and demanded once

again that we take stock of

where this nation is headed.

This wasn’t distant

political rhetoric; this was

a human life cut short. It

sparked grief, fear, and

massive gatherings of citizens

demanding accountability,

calling painfully into focus

what happens when a

government’s actions hit the

thin ice of public trust and

community safety.

THIN ICE IS NOT JUST A

METAPHOR — IT IS OUR

REALITY.

What President Trump

and his government has

created is metaphorically

speaking thin ICE Agents.

Thin maybe well represented

in what their day-to-day

duties are for operating with

public safety at the forefront.

It represents a very thin line

between law and order and

criminality.

Thin ice isn’t stable. It

cracks when pressure is

applied from above.

(Cont’d on page 3)

73°

54°

74°

54°

67°

47°

JR.

72°

50°

Sunset: 5:50pm

Sat Sun Mon Tues

WESTSIDE GAZETTE IS A MEMBER:

National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)

Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA)

Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)

70°

50°

aries

PAGE 2 • JANUARY 15 - JANUARY 21, 2026

an repayment structure

hile providing life-changing

upport to students and their

milies.

“Today, my administration

pproved debt cancellation

r another 74,000 student

an borrowers across the

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

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

Depot’s prestigious “Retool Your

School” competition and receiving a

substantial $60,000 grant dedicated

www.thewestsidegazette.com

to campus enhancement.

Despite cooler temperatures and “How Long? Not Long.”

In his final major address, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivers a prophetic message of

overcast skies, the collective spirit

urgency, endurance, and ultimate hope. Speaking amid violence, resistance, and exhaustion

prevailed as almost 135 participants, within the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King asks the anguished question on everyone’s heart —

“How long?” — and answers it with unwavering conviction: “Not long.”

led by Home Depot Daytona Beach He argues that injustice, no matter how entrenched, carries the seeds of its own destruction.

Segregation, voter suppression, and racial violence cannot endure because they contradict both

Store Manager Therese Watsonmoral

law and democratic ideals. Dr. King reassures listeners that truth crushed to the ground

Murray, joined forces in yesterday’s

will rise again, participated and that history in bends the toward vote justice for when B-CU. people These refuse to surrender enhancements

to fear or

fatigue.

successful effort. Their mission The speech will blends help realism create and faith: more realism vibrant about the and suffering engaging still ahead, and spaces faith that for

righteousness will prevail. Dr. King calls for perseverance, moral courage,

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

and continued nonviolent struggle, reminding the nation that freedom is

ranging from assembling bookcases find inspiration never voluntarily through given by the oppressor downtime.” — it must be demanded by the

oppressed.

and indoor-outdoor dining sets to Home “How Depot’s Long? Not “Retool Long.” stands Your as a timeless School” reminder that program,

progress

may be delayed, but it is never denied when people stay committed to

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

justice — and that hope, grounded in action, is itself a revolutionary

tables, basketball hoops, hockey providing force. over $9.25 million in campus improvement

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

HBCU attacks

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

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

misinformation

about America’s top

talent producing

have earned forgiveness after Biden credited the success The president institutions outlined the

a decade of dedicated service. of these relief efforts to the broader achievements of his

By Kevin Harris and

Additionally, close to 30,000 corrective measures taken administration Richard in McDaniel supporting

Jackson Advocate

individuals who have been to address broken student students and Guest Writers borrowers,

in repayment for at least loan programs. He asserted including achieving the most

20 years without receiving that these fixes have removed significant increases in Pell

relief through income-driven barriers preventing borrowers Grants in over a decade, aimed

repayment plans will now see from accessing the relief they

their debts forgiven.

were entitled to under the law.


From One Teen to Another:

Faith When Life Gets Heavy

Being a teenager today isn’t just about school and friends; it’s about pressure.

Pressure to succeed, to fit in, to look confident, to have a plan. Most of us don’t

say it out loud, but there are days when everything feels too much. I’ve had

those days. Days when I’ve questioned myself, my future, and even my faith.

What I’m learning, though, is that faith isn’t about having everything together. It’s about trusting God

even when things feel messy. As teens, we’re growing, changing, and figuring out who we are. Mistakes

are part of that journey. I’ve made them. I’ve doubted myself and wondered if God was really listening.

But the Bible reminds us in Lamentations 3:22–23 that God’s mercies are new every morning. That means

yesterday didn’t get to define today. God gives us fresh starts even when we don’t think we deserve them.

Social media makes things harder. Everyone else’s life looks perfect, while we’re struggling behind the

scenes. But God never asked us to compare ourselves to anyone else. Psalm 139 says we are fearful and

wonderfully made. Not accidentally. Not as a backup plan. On purpose. When I remember that, it helps

me stop measuring my worth by likes, grades, or opinions. There are moments when faith feels quiet. It’s

not always powerful worship music or big prayers. Sometimes faith is just whispering a prayer before bed.

Sometimes it’s choosing not to quit when you feel discouraged. Isaiah 40:31 says that those who hope in

the Lord will renew their strength. I’ve learned that strength doesn’t always mean feeling strong; it means

choosing to keep going. Life as a teen isn’t easy, and following God doesn’t mean problems disappear. But it

does mean we’re never walking alone. Psalm 34:19 says we may face many troubles, but the Lord delivers

us all from them. That promise gives me hope, especially on hard days. To any teen reading this: you matter

more than you realize. Your struggles don’t cancel your purpose. Your doubts don’t scare God away. He’s

still working with you, even when you can’t see it yet. Philippians 1:6 says God will finish the work He

started and that includes you. From one teen to another, don’t give up. Not in your faith. Not in your future.

God is still writing your story, and the best chapters are ahead.

-- By a Teen, for teens

College

Prep

camaraderie

adjective

(noun)

Word of

the Week

being at rest; inactive or

people who spend a lot of time together

motionless; HOW TO USE quiet; IN A SENTENCE: still: a

quiescent mind.

definition: mutual trust and friendshp among

“Even though they were rivals, a professional camaraderie

existed between the two athletes”

There is a dangerous

misinformation campaign about

Historically Black Colleges and

Universities (HBCUs). The

false narrative that HBCUs are

somehow fragile, dependent on

foreign students, or lesser-tier


institutions was most recently

pushed when Donald Trump

suggested HBCUs would go out of business without

students from China.

Like most of what Trump says, his take on HBCUs

is false.

International

quiescent

students are not the financial backbone

of HBCUs, and foreign students make up a very

small fraction of the typical HBCU population. While

Trump’s HBCU claims are easily disproved, the need

to articulate who and what HBCUs still remain.

HBCUs

[ kwee-es-uhnt,

are not charity

kwahycases.

HBCUs

]

are

engines of excellence, and the legacy - and future - of

these institutions profoundly counters the lies and

misinformation about who HBCUs are and their many

contributions to society.

The misinformation that HBCUs are “fragile charity

cases”

HOW

or “unsustainable

TO USE QUIESCENT

without foreign

IN

students”

A

is not just wrong - it SENTENCE

subtly reinforces a paternalistic

mindset, reducing Black institutions to dependencies

rather than celebrating them as the self-sustaining,

job creating, educational pillars of excellence that they

are. These institutions have persisted, thrived, and

evolved long quiescentperiods into powerhouses of academic may excellence also have that

shape American leadership and economic growth at

home and abroad.

as And well. while HBCUs were born out of necessity -

providing Black Americans access to higher education

during segregation - they do not discriminate against

white Americans.

HBCUs are institutions deeply rooted in U.S.

history, community, and leadership that are open and

accessible to all while proudly embracing their principal

mission of educating Black Americans. Students of all

ethnic backgrounds are welcome at HBCUs and non-

Black students make up a meaningful portion of HBCU

enrollment, particularly at the graduate level in critical

fields such as engineering, law, and medicine.

HBCUs more than carry their economic weight.

According to a recent report from the United Negro

College Fund (UNCF), HBCUs generate $16.5 billion


It’s possible that other volcanoes with

subtle but protracted warning periods

Leia’s Mathematics

Corner

The school library bought 144 new books after winter

break. They were placed equally on 9 shelves.

How many books are on each shelf?

11

x 6

Created by Leia P.

4th grader!

Word Search

List 22Compiled

by Kamar

Jackson,

Freshmen

at Dillard

High School

- 54


Ain’t That A VHIT

Moving from Grief to Gratitude:

When God Turns Pain Into Perspective

Inspired by a recent

Sunday sermon

By Von C. Howard

Grief has a way of hitting our

lives without warning. It doesn’t

wait for the “right” moment,

nor does it care about our plans,

responsibilities, or the image

of strength we try so hard to

uphold. It arrives as a reminder

that something meaningful has

shifted in our lives. During

a recent Sunday sermon, the

pastor said something that echoed across the sanctuary and settled

in many of our hearts: “Grief is the proof that we loved deeply

and gratitude is the reminder that God still loves us.”

That truth is universal. Grief touches everyone, regardless of

age, background, neighborhood, or circumstance. And it isn’t

limited to the death of a loved one. Sometimes grief is the end

of a relationship, the loss of a job, a dream that didn’t unfold, or

a season of life that changed before we were ready. It’s the quiet

ache of unmet expectations. But the pastor reminded us that grief,

as heavy as it feels, is not where God expects us to pitch our tent.

Instead of treating grief like weakness, the sermon encouraged us

to see it as a place of honesty. Many of us were raised to “push

through,” to keep moving, to put on a brave face. But grief asks

us to pause. To sit still long enough to feel what we often try

to outrun. The pastor shared, “Before God heals your heart, He

holds it.” That message resonated because it made room for us to

be human, to feel pain without judgment.

Somewhere in the middle of the tears, God begins to shift

something in us. Not suddenly. Not loudly. But gently. It may

come through a memory, a scripture, a conversation, or a simple

breath of clarity. The pastor called this moment the pivot of grace,

when grief begins to loosen its grip just enough for gratitude to

peek through.

In that moment, we begin to see:

• The love we experienced

• The lessons we gained

• The strength we discovered

• The faith that carried us

It doesn’t erase the hurt, but it starts transforming it.

Continue on Page 10

If Dr. King Were Here, He’d Say:

America Is

Backsliding

on Justice

My brothers and sisters,

I come before you not as a partisan, not

as a prophet of despair, but as a witness

to truth — and the truth is this: America

is standing at a dangerous crossroads

once again.

We are told that the shooting of an

unarmed citizen by federal immigration

agents is an unfortunate anomaly. But

I tell you today, there are no accidents

in a system that has learned to devalue

certain lives. When armed authority

moves without transparency, without

accountability, and without regard for

human dignity, justice is not merely

delayed — it is denied.

We are witnessing a quiet but

calculated retreat from our moral

commitments.

When free access to national parks

and public spaces honoring Black history

is stripped away, it is not budgetary

housekeeping — it is historical amnesia

by design. When a nation begins to ration

its remembrance of Black suffering

and Black contribution, it signals not

progress, but fear — fear of the truth.

And when the Department of

Education is dismantled, we must ask

America’s current

tensions over race, law

enforcement authority,

immigration enforcement,

political polarization,

economic anxiety, and the

legitimacy of our elections

are all pressure points. If

we don’t respond wisely, the

whole structure can break.

Newton’s Third Law tells

us: for every action, there

is an equal and opposite

reaction. The shooting in

Minneapolis is creating

reactions of protests, sorrow,

plainly: Who benefits when knowledge is

weakened? Education has always been the

pathway from bondage to possibility. To

undermine it is to undermine democracy

itself. An uneducated citizenry is not free

— it is manageable.

We are also told that removing Black

history from classrooms will bring unity.

But I tell you, you cannot build unity

on a foundation of lies. You cannot

heal what you refuse to acknowledge.

The whitewashing of history is not

reconciliation — it is erasure.

And now, my brothers and sisters,

we come to the attack on what is called

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion — DEI.

Let us speak clearly and without fear.

DEI is not a threat to America.

Injustice is.

DEI is not about exclusion. It is about

correction.

It is about naming the truth that

opportunity in this nation has never been

evenly distributed — and daring to do

something about it.

They tell us DEI is divisive.

But segregation was divisive.

Disenfranchisement was divisive. Silence

in the face of inequality has always been

the greatest divider of all.

JANUARY 15 - JANUARY 21, 2026 • PAGE 3

The Civil Rights Movement was

DEI in action — demanding diversity

at lunch counters, equity at the ballot

box, and inclusion in institutions that

once slammed their doors shut to Black

Americans. To dismantle DEI today is

to wage war on the unfinished work of

freedom.

And let us not be deceived by clever

language or polished press releases.

When an administration moves to

dismantle civil rights protections, erase

history, weaken education, criminalize

protest, and normalize state violence —

we are not facing policy disagreements;

we are facing a moral crisis.

There comes a time when silence

becomes betrayal.

This is that time.

We must not be distracted by slogans.

We must not be paralyzed by fear. We

must organize, educate, vote, and love

our communities with the fierce urgency

this moment demands.

The arc of the moral universe is long

— but it does not bend by itself. It bends

when ordinary people choose courage

over comfort, justice over convenience,

and truth over power.

Let us be those people.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER from the Front Page

debate over law enforcement,

and demands for justice.

Dr. Martin Luther King

Jr. taught us that how we

react matters as much as

what we react to. Meeting

force with force only deepens

the fracture. Meeting

injustice with hatred only

accelerates the collapse.

When thin ice cracks, the

instinct is to panic. Dr. King

taught us to stand firm, to

resist the urge to retaliate in

kind, and to push back with

principled, disciplined action.

THE EQUAL AND

OPPOSITE REACTION WE

MUST CHOOSE is CIVIC

PARTICIPATION.

This is the reaction that

restores solidarity does not

undermine, it is not violence

Not chaos. Not silence.

It is organized, nonviolent,

collective action at the ballot

box.

As the 2026 primary

elections are on the horizon,

the stakes could not be

higher. There are forces in

America right now, including

the President and his

political allies who seek to

shift the public’s attention

away from accountability,

justice, and democratic

participation. They push

distraction, grievance, and

crisis narratives because

a disengaged electorate is

easier to manipulate. Some

have even floated ideas to

delay or undermine elections

altogether. These are moves

that would shatter what



PUBLIC NOTICE

BROWARD COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD

MARCH 10, 2026 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

The Broward County Canvassing Board will convene at the Supervisor of Elections’ Office, located at 4650 NW

21 st Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 at the dates and times listed below for the purposes of preparing for

and canvassing the Municipal Elections to be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. The times and dates, as well as

any amendments to the Canvassing Board schedule and agenda, will be posted online at the Broward County

Supervisor of Elections website at BrowardVotes.gov.

DATE/TIME

Wednesday, 2/18/26

10:00 am to conclusion

Thursday, 2/19/26

through Monday,

03/10/26

8:30 am – 9:00 am

(Monday through Friday

unless noticed otherwise)

Thursday, 2/19/26

through Tuesday,

3/10/2026

9:00 am until conclusion

(Monday through Friday

unless noticed otherwise)

Wednesday, 2/25/26

through Friday, 3/13/26

(To be noticed as needed

with at least 48-hour

public notice)

Tuesday, 3/10/26

8:30 am – 9:00 am

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Tuesday, 3/10/26

after 7:00 pm

Friday, 3/13/26

10:00 a.m. to conclusion

ACTIVITY

− Canvassing Board to convene for the public Logic & Accuracy Test of the

voting and tabulating equipment to be used for Vote-by-Mail and Election

Day ballots; and to authorize opening, processing, duplicating, and tabulation

of Vote-by-Mail ballots after the conclusion of testing.

− Canvassing Board to consider procedures regarding the conduct of meetings,

signature and ballot material inspections, and the participation of the public

and authorized observers.

− Canvassing Board to review standards and procedures for determining voter

intent.

− Candidate, Political Party, and Political Committee inspection of Vote-by-Mail

ballot envelopes (voter certificates) and signatures prior to daily processing,

opening, and tabulation.

− Inspection of tabulated Vote-by-Mail ballots and ballot materials (by

authorized observers).

− Duplication of Vote-by-Mail ballots (if any).

− Canvassing Board member(s) or alternate(s) will be present for the opening,

tabulating, and duplication of Vote-by-Mail ballots (daily unless noticed

otherwise).

Canvassing Board to continue canvassing and convene (as needed) to

consider:

• Voter/Ballot Challenges/Protests

• Determinations of Voter Intent

• Duplicated ballots

• Duplicated Overseas & Military

ballots.

• Blank ballots, undervotes,

overvotes

• Provisional ballots

• Cure Affidavits

• Ballots without a voter

certificate

• Envelopes with multiple ballots

• Envelopes without a ballot

• Deceased voter ballots

• Any other relevant matter

− Candidate, Political Party, and Political Committee inspection of Vote-by-Mail

ballot envelopes (voter certificates) and signatures prior to daily processing,

opening, and tabulation.

− Inspection of tabulated Vote-by-Mail ballots and ballot materials (by

authorized observers).

− Announce preliminary results of Vote-by-Mail and Election Day.

− Order recount(s) if necessary and identify dates/times for recount(s).

− Conclude any machine and manual recounts

− Certification of Official Election Results.

− Conduct Post-Election Automated Independent Audit, if no manual recount is

conducted.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026

NBOTB CARES Community Service Initiative

TIME: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

BELLE GLADE, SOUTH BAY, AND PAHOKEE COMMUNITIES & PALM BEACH COUNTY SENIOR PROGRAM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2026

Emerging Experience Entrepreneurship Conference ( FREE with Registration )

9:00 AM – 1:00 PM | PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE PUBLIC SAFETY CONFERENCE CENTER

HBCU College & Career Fair ( FREE )

9:00 AM – 1:00 PM | PALM BEACH STATE COLLEGE GYM – LAKE WORTH CAMPUS

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2026

Fan Experience & Stroll Off Competition ( FREE )

12:00 PM – 3:30 PM | FLAGLER CREDIT UNION STADIUM

Tickets

On Sale

Starting at $20

SATURDAY, JAN. 17, 2026 4:00 PM FLAGLER CREDIT UNION STADIUM, 777 GLADES RD, BOCA RATON, FL

Schedule of Events

Pepsi National Battle of the Bands

SHOWTIME: 4:00 PM EST | GATES OPEN: 3:00 PM | FLAGLER CREDIT UNION STADIUM

TICKETS START AT $20

N A T I O N A L B A T T L E O F T H E B A N D S . C O M

THE FOLLOWING CITIES WILL HOLD MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ON MARCH 10, 2026:

Lauderhill and Pembroke Pines (Districts 1 & 4)


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

HAPPY

BIRTHDAY

DR.

MARTIN

LUTHER

KING, JR.


HAPPY 95TH BIRTHDAY

ROSE BUD NELSON

King Holiday Celebration

Join us as we

honor the memory

of Dr. Martin

Luther King,

Jr. at this annual

march for

non-violence.

The King Holiday

Celebration Parade departs on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at 9:30

a.m. from Sistrunk Boulevard and NW 5th Avenue, then heads

west along Sistrunk Boulevard, and then north on NW 15th Avenue

ending at Carter Park.

Following the parade, a multicultural festival will be held in Carter

Park. The King Holiday Celebration is presented by the City of

Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation Department and the Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee, Inc.

For parade or vendor applications and more information, visit

the King Holiday Celebration page.

January 19 | 9:30 AM - 3 PM

• 9:30 AM - Parade Begins from Sistrunk Boulevard and NW

5th Avenue

• 11 AM - 3 PM - Multicultural Festival at Carter Park

• King Holiday Celebration Flyer

Traffic Advisory

The following traffic advisory will be in effect on Monday, January

19 beginning at 7 a.m.:

• Sistrunk Boulevard/NW 6th Street will be closed from the

railroad tracks west to NW 15th Avenue

• NW 15th Avenue will be closed from Sistrunk Boulevard/

NW 6th Street to Carter Park

• The King Holiday Celebration Parade will begin at 9:30

a.m. and roads will reopen as the parade travels past.

LIT Conference — Register Now

Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026 at 9 a.m., at New Mount Olive Baptist

Church, 400 N.W. 9th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Join New Mount Olive Baptist Church for the 2026 LIT (Living

In Transformation) Conference, beginning at 9 a.m., with

breakfast, followed by breakout sessions and panel discussions

for all ages. This year’s focus: Generosity to God, Generosity

to Others, and Generosity to Self.

Conference materials are drawn from The Power of Generosity

by Boyd Bailey (available on Amazon). Please obtain

your copy in advance.

Parents: Youth sessions will feature NFL Super Bowl Champions

Jabaal Sheard and Trey Flowers—be sure your children

attend.

Register today: mountolive.org

Name:

Address:

City:

State/Zip:

Follow @TheWestsideGazette Newspaper on Social Media +

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

STAY

CONNECTED --




Deeply Rooted

FAMU School of Nursing Graduates Largest Cohort of Graduate Students in Recent History

Women’s Health and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse

Founded in 1904, the FAMU School of Nursing became the first baccalaureate program

in Florida in 1936 and is one of the most respected nursing programs in the state.

By Deidre Williams

(Source: FAMU Florida A&M

University News)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—

Florida A&M University’s

(FAMU) School of Nursing

(SON) is advancing healthcare

delivery across the state and

the nation with the latest

graduation of 26 Master of

Science in Nursing (MSN)

students—the largest cohort

aAAA

in recent program history.

The graduating class includes

13 Women’s Health Nurse

Practitioners (WHNP) and 13

Adult Gerontology Primary

Care Nurse Practitioners

(AGPCNP), reflecting the

school’s strategic focus on

workforce areas experiencing

critical shortages.

The graduates have

completed a rigorous curriculum

rooted in evidence-based

This Week in Health: Cervical Cancer Awareness

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

Cervical cancer remains one of the most

preventable cancers, yet it continues to affect

hundreds of thousands of women worldwide

each year.

What Causes Cervical Cancer?

Nearly all cases of cervical cancer are linked to

persistent infection with high-risk types of

human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus

transmitted through intimate skin-to-skin

contact. While most HPV infections clear

naturally, some strains can cause abnormal

cell changes that may progress to cancer if left

undetected.

Why Screening Matters

Early cervical cancer often has no symptoms,

making routine screening essential. Pap tests

and HPV tests can detect precancerous

changes long before they become dangerous.

Health experts emphasize that regular

screening can reduce cervical cancer deaths

Westside Health Brief

Marsha Mullings, MPH

January 12, 2026

practice, advanced clinical

training, and service to

underserved communities.

Their achievement demonstrates

steady growth within

FAMU’s advanced practice

programs and the university’s

broader commitment to

strengthening workforce

pipelines in healthcare.

Florida Faces Significant

Primary Care Shortages

Florida is projected to

Signs That You’re Transitioning

to Another Stage of MS

By Karen Heslop

(Source BlackDoctor.org.)

Research shows that

Blacks may develop

multiple sclerosis more often

than previously thought.

Additionally, the symptoms

of the disease can progress

more quickly or have a higher

severity. Still, there are a

few general principles that

hold true when it comes to

the stages of the disease.

If you know what to expect

with each stage, you’ll be

able to identify the difference

between when your multiple

sclerosis is progressing and

when your symptoms need to

be managed more effectively.

The Different Stages Of

Multiple Sclerosis

There are currently

four different stages of

multiple sclerosis.

The first is called

clinically isolated

syndrome (CIS) and,

in some cases, isn’t

considered to be a true

diagnosis of the disease.

However, this is

when most people

start to experience the

symptoms.

The second stage

is relapsing-remitting

MS (RRMS), in which

people experience a

distinctive cycle of

relapses and remissions

with their symptoms.

It’s estimated that over

80 percent of people are

officially diagnosed at

this stage.

The third stage is

secondary-progressive

MS (SPMS). At this

stage, there are fewer

instances of remission

of the symptoms of

multiple sclerosis.

Finally, the fourth

stage is primaryprogressive

MS (PPMS).

This form of the disease is

rare, however, as it only

affects approximately

15% of people who have

MS. In this stage, the

disease progresses quickly

with no periods of remission.

Signs That Your MS Is

Changing

The two factors to look

out for when your multiple

sclerosis changes are the

progression of your symptoms

as well as the cycle of

remissions and relapses.

Typically, people move

from stage 2 to stage 3

of the disease. In stage 2

(RRMS), you’ll have periods

of remission followed by

relapses or flare-ups.

Over time, the symptoms

you experience during a

relapse may worsen or the

flare-ups may start to last

longer.

Additionally, the

remission part of the cycle

may be shorter, and you may

notice that you’re no longer

having symptom-free days.

For example, you may notice

longer periods of fatigue,

increased muscle weakness,

trouble with coordination,

and growing incontinence.

These are sure signs that

your MS is progressing to

stage 3 (SPMS). At this stage,

you may still have periods of

relapse and remission, but

the symptoms of the disease

will continue to worsen. That

means you’ll always feel the

effects of the illness.

Though the progression

from one stage to the other

is expected, your doctor can

still help you manage your

symptoms so make sure to

let them know as soon as you

start to experience changes.

Bear in mind that the rate at

which you may move through

the stages can vary but health

experts estimate that it can

happen within 10 years of

your first diagnosis.

How Your Treatment Might

Change

When you’re dealing with

RRMS, the doctor will focus

on drugs that manage your

symptoms, prevent relapses,



by up to 80% in populations with strong

screening programs.

You should start taking Pap tests at age 21. If

your Pap test result is normal, your doctor

may tell you that you can wait 3 years until

your next Pap test.

If you're 30 to 65 years old, you have three

options. Talk to your doctor about which

testing option is right for you.

• An HPV test only. If your result is

normal, your doctor may tell you that

you can wait 5 years until your next

screening test.

• An HPV test along with the Pap test. If

both of your results are normal, your

doctor may tell you that you can wait 5

years until your next screening test.

• A Pap test only. If your result is normal,

your doctor may tell you that you can

wait 3 years until your next Pap test.

Prevention Saves Lives

Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that

can be prevented through a combination of

vaccination, screening, and timely treatment.

The HPV vaccine protects against the virus

types most likely to cause cervical cancer and

is recommended for preteens, teens, and

young adults. Safe sexual practices, avoiding

tobacco, and managing chronic health

conditions also help reduce risk.

Source: CDC; www.cdc.gov

Practitioners align with state and national workforce demands

experience one of the nation’s

most severe shortages of

primary care providers in

the next decade. According

to the Florida Agency for

Health Care Administration’s

Graduate Medical Education

report released in July the

state is expected to face a

shortfall of nearly 18,000

physicians by 2035, with

overall physician supply

meeting only about 77 percent

of projected demand. Primary

care specialties, including

adult gerontology, are central

to this gap.

“These projections illuminate

the essential role advanced

practice nurses will

play in maintaining access to

care,” said Shannon Smith,

Ph.D., DNP, dean of FAMU’s

School of Nursing. “FAMU’s

MSN graduates are prepared

to meet critical workforce

By Evan Bollinger

(Source BlackDoctor.org)

It’s a problem with not

nearly enough attention.

Prostate cancer hits men hard

all over the world—it’s one of

the biggest threats out there.

But lately, something very

concerning has been showing

up in the numbers: Black

men are getting hit with this

diagnosis at younger ages

than ever, and the stats are

brutal and clear as day.

Black men don’t just have

a higher chance of getting

prostate cancer; they’re

dealing with the nastier,

faster-acting forms way

earlier than most. Seven

major culprits are behind this,

and they’re backed by real

science, painting a picture

that’s tough to ignore.

Some studies, like one

in Nature Genetics, found

abnormalities in the DNA—

specifically in a spot called

8q24—that show up more

in guys with African roots,

acting like a green light for

prostate cancer to rev up

early.

Plus, higher testosterone

levels, pretty common in

Black men, might also be

increasing cancer cell growth,

stacking the odds against

them over time.

Of course, there are

always ways to stay on top of

these issues, and they include

getting regular screening and

learning more about your

family’s genetic history.

2. More Aggressive



NEW SERVICE CHANGES

COMING SOON

STARTING SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2026

BETTER BUSES, BETTER BROWARD

ROUTE CHANGES

4

shortages, particularly in

rural and underserved communities

where gaps in

primary care and maternal

health contribute to

preventable complications

and adverse outcomes for

mothers and infants.”

National Data Show

Widespread Gaps in

Women’s Health Access

In addition to primary care

shortages, access to women’s

health providers remains a

national concern. Released in

September 2024, the March of

Dimes Maternity Care Desert

report finds that more than

one-third of U.S. counties

lack adequate maternity care

resources. KFF similarly

reports that nearly half of U.S.

counties have no practicing

OB-GYN. These shortages

contribute to persistent gaps

in maternal health outcomes

New

4

29-foot Buses

7

6

and preventative care.

FAMU’s cohort of 13

WHNP graduates will help

mitigate these shortages,

particularly in medically

underserved and rural

communities.

Provost Watson: “A Legacy

of Nursing Excellence with

Community Impact”

Provost Allyson L. Watson,

Ph.D., said the achievement

of the MSN cohort reflects the

strength and consistency of

FAMU’s nursing education.

“These graduates enter

the profession prepared to

assume advanced clinical

roles at a critical moment

for healthcare,” Watson said.

“Their training reflects the

rigor, discipline, and purpose

that define FAMU’s approach

to graduate education.”



7 Reasons Black Men are Getting

Prostate Cancer Earlier & Earlier

1. Genetic and Biological

Factors

Genes and biology are

major factors among Black

men with this disease, and

it’s happening younger and

younger.

48

For schedules: Broward.org/BCT/Schedules

or call Customer Service at 954-357-8400

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


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GAZETTE

NEWSPAPER STAFF

Bobby R. Henry, Sr.

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Tawanna C. Taylor

ADMINISTRATIVE ASST.

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Arri D. Henry

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Carma L. Henry

COMMUNITY NEWS

EDITOR

Sylvester “Nunnie’

Robinson SPORTS

Editor

Elizabeth D. Henry

CIRCULATION

MANAGER

NoRegret Media

WEBMASTER

Carma T. Taylor

DIGITAL SPECIALIST

Eric Sears

IT SPECIALIST

Ron Lyons

PHOTOGRAPHER

Levi Henry, Jr.:

PUBLISHER (Emeritus)

Yvonne Henry: EDITOR

(Emeritus)

WEBSITE:


Broward County’s

Largest African

American Owned and

Operated Newspaper

Serving Broward - Miami-Dade

and Palm Beach Counties

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CREDO -The Black Press

beieves that American

best lead the world away

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.

LETTERS TO THE

EDITOR GUIDELINES

We welcome letters from

the public. Letters must be

signed with a clearly

legible name along witha

compete address and

phone number.

No unsigned letters will be

considered for publiction.

The Westside Gazettere

serves the right to edit

letters. Letters should be

500 words or less.

We Must Finish the Work

Dr. King Died Doing

To honor Martin Luther King Jr. honestly is to

remember that he was organizing to make

the dream real—and to decide whether we

are willing to carry that dangerous, unfinished

work forward.

By Ben Jealous

This year, let’s honor Dr. Martin

Luther King Jr.’s birthday by

remembering his final mission—and by

picking up the mantle he left behind.

Every year, America remembers a

dream. But the work that placed Dr.

King in the greatest danger was not

dreaming. It was organizing to make

the dream real.

Dr. King was assassinated in

Memphis in April 1968 while supporting

striking sanitation workers and

preparing to launch the Poor People’s

Campaign. He was there because he had come to understand

something fundamental about American life: that racism and

economic exploitation are intertwined, and that neither can be

defeated without confronting both.

He was not killed while leading a desegregation battle

in a northern suburb. He was killed while trying to unite

economically struggling Americans across racial lines around

shared demands for dignity, wages, and opportunity.

When that unity fails—when workers and the poor are kept

divided—the consequences are not abstract. Wages stagnate.

Healthcare becomes conditional. Food insecurity spreads

quietly. People turn on one another while decisions that shape


In 2025 Black Culture Claimed

Ownership Not Permission

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Across platforms, Black pop culture

in 2025 resisted dilution. Virality lost its grip. Ownership

replaced access. Community replaced clicks. The work did not

ask to be understood. It stood where it was.

AI-generated image by Stacy Brown / NNPA

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National

Correspondent

Black pop culture in 2025 did not chase attention. It set

terms. Across music, television, film, fashion, and sports, Black

creators tightened control over narrative, ownership, and

meaning at a moment when the country itself felt unmoored.

Hip hop provided the year’s clearest line of separation.

“Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar did more than dominate

playlists. It reset cultural boundaries. “They not like us”

became shorthand for lineage, authorship, and accountability,

repeated in crowds, locker rooms, and online spaces as a

declaration rather than a slogan. The record carried the weight

of history and the sharpness of confrontation, reinforcing hip

hop’s original purpose as documentation and refusal.

Kendrick’s presence in 2025 was not constant, but it

was decisive. The work rejected false humility and cultural

trespassing with lines that landed like verdicts. “I can’t fake

humble just ’cause your ass is insecure” circulated as both lyric


Whatever happened to Trump’s

“Golden Age” for American workers?

By Lawrence S. Wittner

There is a widening gap today between

global possibilities and global realities.

The possibilities are enormous, for―

thanks to a variety of factors, ranging

from increases in knowledge to advances

in economic productivity―it’s finally

feasible for all of humanity to lead decent

and fulfilling lives.

No longer is poverty necessary, for the

enormous global economy can produce adequate food, goods,

and services for all the world’s people.

Human health and longevity can be improved substantially,

thanks to breakthroughs in science and medicine.

Education, communications, transportation, and culture have

made huge strides toward enriching human existence and

could finally be made available to all.

Meanwhile, the rise of the United Nations and of international

law holds the promise of moving beyond the violent, bloodstained

past and securing peace, human rights, and justice on the

international level.

And yet, current realities fall far short of these possibilities.

Despite some advances in countering worldwide poverty, it

remains at a startlingly high level. According to the World


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 newspaper.

CONGRESSPERSONS

AI-ACCOUNTABILITY

MOUSE TRAP

“Mice provide significant ecological benefits to

humans. But humans who behave like mice constitute

an even greater threat to humanity and democracy.”

By John Johnson II

Democracy is a process of governing

whereby elected representatives

manage the governmental affairs on

behalf of the people. To prevent the

establishment of a monarchy or King,

the government is divided into three

separate co-equal branches of power, the

Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary.

This arrangement also allows for the

establishment of a metaphorical AI-

Accountability Mouse Trap (AI-AMT).

Currently, two separate actions by the

Supreme Court have occurred causing America’s democracy to

experience a free fall towards a Fascist form of government. In

this system, the President rules with absolute immunity and is

absolved of accountability by a complicit Republican controlled

Congress. However, this loophole is subject to challenges or

closure by an (AI-AMT).

This metaphorical (AI-AMT) in a similar form has already

faced an examination. However, my proposed version

includes an element identified as a “mouse trap which infers

Congresspersons are subject to snaring in a “mouse trap.”

Also, this hypothetical modified (AI-AMT) once developed will

include algorithms designed to record Congresspersons who

uphold or violate their oath to the U.S. Constitution based on

their voting patterns.



Monthly Message

BSO’S OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

From my first day as

sheriff, I made a promise

the Broward Sheriff’s Office

(BSO) would keep Broward

County safe while operating

at the highest professional

standards. That commitment

led me to establish the

Office of Inspector General

(OIG) in 2021, embedding

accountability and transparency

into every aspect of

BSO’s work. Upholding these

high standards strengthens

our organization, reinforces

our integrity and makes our

communities safer.

Through independent organizational

oversight, the

OIG strengthens our services

through three divisions:

Internal Affairs and Public

Corruption, Policy and

Accountability and Internal

Audit. Staffed by both sworn

and civilian professionals,

these divisions work every

day to ensure BSO operations

are ethical, efficient and

fiscally responsible.

The Division of Internal

Affairs and Public Corruption

investigates allegations of

misconduct, including use of

force and firearms discharge

incidents, thoroughly and

objectively. These investigations

assess whether actions

are consistent with BSO

standards, ensuring personnel

serve the public with integrity

and professionalism. By

John Johnson II 01/15/26

Democrats can’t win in 2026 on

Trump resistance alone

By Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel, Trice Edney

News Wire

Democrats ended 2025 with important victories that steadied

a rattled party still reeling from Donald Trump’s return to

power. Yet even after those wins, Democratic approval ratings

remain stubbornly low. A recent Quinnipiac University poll

found only 18 percent of voters approve of the way congressional

Democrats are handling their jobs. A record low of 73 percent

disapprove. In stark contrast, congressional Republicans

have a 35 percent approval rating while 58 percent disapprove.

Democrats are even under water within our own party. The

same poll found only 42 percent of Democrats approve of congressional

Democrats with 48 percent disapproving. Among Republicans,

77 percent approve of their own party in Congress.

(Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash)

Frankly Speacking

How did

Americans get

it this wrong?

By W. Frank Wilson

Your childish

President

is sulking because

he’s not

getting the

Nobel Peace

Prize. He takes

Venezuela as

his get even or his, I’ll show

them award.

Not being in jail should be

all the prize he needs because

no other 34 count indicted

felon would be free not to

mention….POTUS!

He has several “Piece

Rewards” from his rape and

God only knows what’s in the

Epstein files

He’s on tape bragging

that he grabs women by their

%#%%%s so what else does

this sorry excuse of a human

want?

His heartburn stems

from the fact that Barack

Obama was awarded

Nobel Award and Obama



Suffering isn’t

a competition:

Injustice

anywhere is a

threat to justice

everywhere

By Jared O. Bell

The start of 2026

arrives less as a

new beginning and

more as the potent

aftershocks of the

many earthquakes

we endured in

2025. It was a year

defined by widening wars,

democratic backsliding, the

systematic hollowing out of

governmental, diplomatic,

and humanitarian institu

tions, tariff-driven economic

uncertainty, and the

normalization of political

violence in the United States

and around the world.

Heading into the second week



conducting comprehensive,

evidence-based reviews, the

OIG identifies patterns of

misconduct, recommends

policy improvements and

holds employees accountable

when standards are not met.

This oversight enhances operational

effectiveness, reduces

risk and ensures public safety

operations are conducted efficiently,

ethically and in a

manner the community can

rely on.

The Division of Policy

and Accountability (DPA)

establishes and maintains

clear operational standards

across BSO. Its Policy Unit

routinely reviews and updates

policies to align with state and

federal laws, accreditation

standards and community

expectations, providing employees

with clear guidance

to perform their duties safely

and professionally. Within

the DPA, the Research Unit

applies data-driven analysis

to identify trends, enhance

operations and guide

resources where they will

have the greatest impact on

community safety.

Additional units within

the DPA further support

responsible operations and

public confidence. The Criminal

Justice Information

Services (CJIS) Compliance

Unit en-sures per-sonnel are

properly trained to use systems

that

contain sensitive

information

responsibly.

While these

systems

provide deputies

with real-time data to

identify threats and protect

the public, strict compliance

requirements ensure that

information is accessed,

shared and safeguarded appropriately.

The Division of Internal

Audit provides an additional

layer of oversight. The division

is responsible for conducting

financial, operational and performance

audits across the

organization. Detailed reports

with actionable findings and

recommendations optimizes

resource allocation while protecting

taxpayer dollars.

The OIG plays a vital role in

upholding integrity, accountability

and transparency at

BSO. Through oversight and

collaboration, these divisions

guide policy, support sound

decision making and protect

public resources, delivering

reliable and trusted service to

the residents and visitors of

Broward County.

Visit sheriff.org to learn

more about BSO’s Office of

Inspector General, review

the OIG Annual Report or

discover opportunities to join

our team.

Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony

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Library A-List: Kelvin Watson Is LJ’s 2026 Librarian of the Year

By Lisa Peet

For his work bringing partners from across the county to

drive innovation and change lives, Las Vegas–Clark County

Library District Executive Director Kelvin Watson is LJ’s 2026

Librarian of the Year.

When Kelvin Watson arrived in his new role as executive

director of the Las Vegas–Clark County Library District (LVC-

CLD) in spring 2021, services were opening up again after

COVID-19 shutdowns. His first challenges, he says, involved

getting people back into the library and building relationships

outside it, as well as helping craft a new strategic plan.

Watson was also the first full-time African American library

director in the state, and some people needed time to adjust

to that, he says. “The first six months for me were all of those

things happening—figuring out who’s who and what’s what in

the community, building relationships, getting people to trust

me.”

Within a few weeks of his arrival, he had met the heads

of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance and Chamber of

Commerce, the Clark County Schools Superintendent, and the

presidents of area universities. “I was out every day, doing library

things and community things, attending galas, attending

fundraising events, and just getting my face out there, talking

about the library,” he says. “I think I’ve been to every Rotary

Club meeting.”

The results have been unquestionable. LVCCLD has received

the American Library Association (ALA)/Information Today

Library of the Future Award three years running; the 2023

ALA Medal of Excellence Award; and the 2023 Urban Libraries

Council Innovation Award for Anti-Racism, Digital Equity

& Inclusion, among many other accolades. Programming and

circulation metrics have surpassed those of 2019.

“Kelvin came here and he hit the ground running in terms of

getting involved, getting to know all the players,” says Keith

Rogers, chair of the LVCCLD Board of Trustees. “Kelvin is still

everywhere. He’s on the news outlets doing interviews, he’s at

all the conferences, serving as a panelist, a guest speaker, he’s

mentoring other young librarians. He’s everywhere, and that’s

a big part—having the energy to be able to execute your ambitious

vision for this work.”

Former FPL Lineworker Celebrates 90 th Birthday

Florida Power and Light

Company (FPL) lineworkers

reach extraordinary milestones

throughout their careers –

from enhancing the electric

grid during sunny skies to

responding on the frontlines

after hurricanes and severe

weather.

One former FPL lineworker

recently reached a personal

milestone worth celebrating.

John “JJ” VanRiel turned 90

years old on Nov. 14. A unique

feeling, right?

“No different than 89!” JJ said

with a laugh.

VanRiel’s journey began as a

helper in 1956 – a supporting

role where someone gains

experience and training in the

field with more experienced

lineworkers. Then, after six

years as an apprentice, VanRiel

became a lineworker, traveling

up and down Florida’s east

coast from his home in South

Florida to his service area in

Cocoa.

“I worked with a really good

foreman, and his wife only

charged me $15 per week for

breakfast, lunch and dinner,”

VanRiel recalled, reflecting

on his weekdays in Brevard

County before going home to

Miami-Dade County on the

weekends.

It’s just one of countless stories

that comprised VanRiel’s

41-year career with FPL,

including memories responding

to hurricane restorations in

Naples, St. Augustine and

Miami, specifically after

Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

“It was something else,”

said VanRiel. “Everything was

down.”

Bringing electric infrastructure

back up alongside his

coworkers was part of the

camaraderie he loved about his

career – even if it meant taking

some playful grief from his wife,

Von, at home.

“There was a hurricane

coming and we were held over

PLAYING IT SMART Watson gets into the grooves at the

East Las Vegas Library’s Built from Scratch Multimedia

Lab. (Photo by Corey Kennedy)

Special Edition Hardcover and Paperback of There Is Life After Politics,

Divorce, and Prison Deliver a Message of Redemption Through Faith

NEW JERSEY -- Author Anthony Eboney Davis announces

the release of the Special Edition Hardcover and

Paperback (print editions only) of There Is Life After Politics,

Divorce, and Prison: When You Follow God’s Plan, a

faith-based work offering hope, accountability, and renewed

purpose through obedience to God after politics, divorce, and

incarceration.

These print-only special editions underscore the permanence

of Davis’s message and are crafted for readers, libraries,

churches, faith communities, and collectors who value

the enduring impact of a physical book.

In There Is Life After Politics, Divorce, and Prison, Davis

shares a deeply personal testimony shaped by public scrutiny,

personal loss, and spiritual transformation. The book

affirms that failure does not cancel

calling—and that restoration is possible

through humility, obedience, and

faith.

“The scars I bear on my body show I

have lived, and the scars I bear in my

heart show I have loved deeply.”

— A. Eboney Davis

Davis also reflects on the influences

that shaped his journey, crediting

both lived experience and divine

grace: Continue reading online at:


to secure the yard before we

could get home…and she said,

“you love the company more

than you love me!” VanRiel

said, laughing.

For his 90 th birthday, VanRiel –

donning his Hurricane Andrew

restoration team T-shirt and an

FPL bucket hat – was surprised

when the camaraderie he

revered so much made its way

back to where he currently lives

in Stuart.

An FPL crew of lineworkers

– with a familiar bucket truck

– pulled up to his celebration

to showcase the new and

reminisce about the past.

“[The bucket truck] looks

exactly like what I had!” JJ

proclaimed, excitedly looking at

the FPL-branded bucket truck,

reflecting on the differences

and similarities. “They

now have tinted windows,

power steering, automatic

transmissions and I don’t know

if they have air conditioning or

not! I had a lineman that when

I was driving, he would hold a

pad out of the window so wind

would come into the cab!”

VanRiel – who advanced

to a foreman in his career –

retired from FPL in December

1997, earning an appreciation

plaque from FPL’s South Dade

Operations team. Still a student

of the company’s infrastructure

improvements, JJ says he’s

most impressed by the volume

of concrete poles on the system

and automated switching

technology.

And, it was a worthwhile visit

for the crew who learned about

what it took to deliver reliable

electricity in JJ’s time before

starting a day of providing the

same level of service.

“To listen to his stories and his

memories of all the things he

did in his career was amazing.

We couldn’t be happier and

prouder to celebrate his

birthday with him,” said Larry

Gross, FPL Treasure Coast

area manager.

FRANCINE

Your Tailor

Alterations For

Men & Women & Kids

Cell: (754) 274-8537

A: 784 NW 91st Terrace

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.


CHURCH DIRECTORY

Deeply Rooted

Have Your Church Announcements Placed

In Our Church Directory


First Baptist Church Piney Grove, Inc.

4699 West Oakland Park Blvd., Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313

(954) 735-1500 - Fax (954) 735-1999

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

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!

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. Why are the names Rahab , Tamar, Bathsheba and

Ruth prevalent in the Bible?

2. What did Moses do to prevent him and Aaron from

entering the promise land?

3. The New Testament speaks about the ‘Pool of Siloam’.

Who built the tunnel that allowed the water to flow into

the pool?

4. What is the distance between Bethlehem and Jerusalem?

5. Complete the following verse: For I know that in me (that

is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing: For………………..

6. Complete the following verse: If we confess our sins, he

is faithful and just………………….

7. Initials CE, BCE, AD and BC stands for what?

8. What happened in the year 70 AD?

9.In Matthew 11:30 Jesus said “For my yoke is easy, and

my burden is light”. What is a yoke?

Answers – 1) They are in the lineage of Jesus; 2) Numbers

20:10-12; 3) King Hezekiah (New Bible Dictionary); 4) 5-6

miles; 5) Romans 7:18; 6) 1 John 1:9; 7) CE – Common

Era, BCE – Before Common Era, AD – anno Domini, BC

– before Christ; 8) The Jewish revolt. Jerusalem and the

great Temple were destroyed by the Romans; 9) a yoke

is a wooden crosspiece that is fasten over the necks of

two animals.

By Michael A. Robinson

NEW MOUNT. OLIVE

BAPTIST CHURCH

The 50th

ANNIVERSARY

CELEBRATION

SERVICE TO

HONOR DR.

MARTIN LUTHER

KING. JR.

New Mount Olive Baptist Church, 400 Northwest Ninth

Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will host the 50th Annual

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Service on Sunday,

January 18, 2026, at 4:00 P.M. The service will be sponsored by

the Zeta Alpha Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,

Inc. Dr. Marcus D. Davidson is the Senior Pastor of New Mt.

Olive Baptist Church.

This year’s celebration will include a musical extravaganza

with selections from The Voices of New Mount Olive Baptist

Church, Director Kenny Smith. The guest speaker is the

Honorable Lucien J, Metellus, Jr., the 37th General President

of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc,

General President Lucien J. Metellus, Jr. was born in

Brooklyn, New York, where he attended Holy Cross School. A

man of Haitian descent, at the age of 14, the family moved to

Queens, NY. There he attended the now —closed Springfield

Garden’s High School. His education continued at Syracuse

University, where he secured a degree in Policy Studies.

Brother Metellus entered the House of Alpha at Zeta Zeta

Lambda Chapter, seated in St. Albans, NY. Since then, he

has served as a chapter President, Vice President, Secretary,

Director of Education Activities, Associate Editor to the Sphinx,

and fundraising chair. He has served as chapter advisor for the

college chapter Theta Epsilon, seated at St. Johns University.

He is also a Life member of the Fraternity.

Service at the District level includes tenures as Parliamentarian,

Secretary, Director of Competitions, NY State Director of

Conferences, NY City Area Director, NY State President, and

District Director.

Throughout his time in Alpha, Brother Metellus has been

active and has been in service to the fraternity’s Eastern

Region as March for Babies Coordinator, Parliamentarian,

and Director of College Brothers Affairs. He -also served as a

Parliamentarian for the General Organization and became a

voting Board of Directors member with his election as the 28th

Eastern Regional Vice President.

On January 2, 2024, he was officially elected as the 37th

General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated,

and assumed office on January I, 2025.

Professionally, he has worked in the information technology

field for 20 years, and is currently employed as a Project

Manager & Senior Business Analyst, he works on providing

solutions for clients and customers. In his career, he has

managed projects that provided millions of dollars of savings

to businesses through the utilization of technology. He has over

10 professional certifications and degrees in leadership, project

management, religion, and technology,

In keeping with the fraternal traditions of “Servants of All,”

Brother Metellus has assisted at Center for Hope and Safety,

a Domestic Violence shelter in New Jersey; Youth Partnership

of Bergen County; has been a Boy Scot Troop Leader; and also

worked with the March of Dimes and Big Brothers, Big Sisters



The church must respond as AI crosses sacred lines

By Barbara Reynolds

(Source Philadelphia Tribune)

Sooner rather than later, there must be an outcry that

technology has crossed a sacred line. A growing wave of AIpowered

religious apps now allows users to “text with Jesus,”

“talk to the Bible,” and even hold conversations with AI versions

of Mary, the apostles, angels — or the devil itself. These tools

mimic holy figures with unsettling ease, blurring the line

between devotion and digital impersonation.

Some apps write personalized prayers. Others accept

“confessions,” give marriage or workplace advice, or claim to

deliver spiritual comfort. What many shrug off as harmless

novelty is actually part of a larger trend: sacred identities are

being reduced to commodities, while simulated spirituality

threatens to overshadow the real Jesus Christ — crucified,

risen, and, as Scripture reminds us, the true and living image

of God.

On TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms, “AI Jesus”

influencers and Messiah-style avatars quote Scripture and

dispense moral guidance as if speaking with divine authority.

During several test conversations I had with the “Text Jesus” app, the impersonation was

unmistakable.

When I asked, Are you Jesus? it replied:

“My child, I am with you always… I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Those words come straight from John 14:6—Jesus speaking to

Thomas, not an algorithm trained on scripture and user prompts.

When I asked whether it was wrong to impersonate Jesus, the

Rest in Peace: Actor T.K. Carter

Remembered for Iconic TV & Film Roles

By J. Bachelor,

(Source: NewsBreak)

The entertainment world

is mourning the loss of T.K.

Carter, a versatile actor

and comedian whose career

spanned decades across

television and film. Known for

his sharp comedic timing and

memorable supporting roles,

Carter became a familiar face

to audiences in the 1980s and

1990s, appearing in some of

the era’s most popular TV

shows and cult-favorite films.

On television, Carter made

lasting impressions with

appearances on beloved series

including Punky Brewster, A

Different World, and Saved

by the Bell.

Whether delivering laughs

or adding depth to an episode,

his performances helped

elevate the shows and made

him a recognizable presence

By Rachel DeSantis

(Source: HBCU News)

for viewers who grew up

watching network television’s

golden era.

Carter also left his mark on

the big screen, most notably

appearing in John Carpenter’s

sci-fi horror classic The

Thing, which remains one

of the most influential genre

Deeply Rooted

Source: Frank Micelotta / Getty

films of all time. His body of

work reflects a career built

on consistency, talent, and

adaptability, earning him

respect from fans and peers

alike. T.K. Carter’s legacy

lives on through the roles

that continue to resonate with

audiences across generations.

Richard Smallwood, Grammy-Nominated

Gospel Singer and Songwriter, Dies at 77

Richard Smallwood, the

Grammy-nominated gospel

Barbara Reynolds



singer and songwriter

whose music was covered

by the likes of Whitney

Houston and Destiny’s Child,

has died. He was 77.

Smallwood died of

complications of kidney

failure at a nursing home

in Sandy Spring, Md. on

Tuesday, Dec. 30, according

to his representative.

“We are saddened to

announce the passing of worldrenowned

artist, songwriter,

and musician, Richard

Smallwood,” read a statement

shared to his Facebook page.

“The family asks that you

respect our privacy during

this difficult time, while

helping to celebrate the legacy

Remembering Reality Star Christopher

“Big Black” Boykin, Gone at 45

(Photo credit: Twitter.com)

two live together in the

Hollywood Hills and hatch

crazy plans. One week they

decide to teach Meaty the



Obituaries

Death and Funeral Notices

A Good Sheperd's Funeral

Home & Cremation

Services Central

he leaves behind and the gifts

he unselfishly shared with

the world.”

Over a 50-year career,

Smallwood made his name as

a composer, gospel singer and

songwriter; in 1996, Houston

covered his song “I Love the

Lord” with the Georgia Mass

Choir for the soundtrack of

the movie The Preacher’s

Wife, and Boyz II Men sang

a snippet of the song on their

1997 album Evolution.

Destiny’s Child, meanwhile,

covered his song “Total

Praise” as part of a gospel

medley in 2007.

Smallwood was born on Nov.

30, 1948 in Atlanta and was

raised in Washington, D.C.,

with his stepfather serving

as pastor of Union Temple

Baptist Church. He was

playing piano by ear by age

5, and formed his own gospel

group by age 11.

Roberta Flack was one of

his high school teachers

before her career took off,

and he graduated cum laude

from Howard University.




VIEW OBITUARIES ONLINE


Announcements:

*In Memoriam *Death Notices *Happy Birthdays

*Card of Thanks *Remembrances

(954) 525-1489

Kathy Ordonez Funeral Service

will be held January

17th at Event Center.

Jesus Vazquez Perez Viewing

January 16th at Iglesia

De Dios Pentecostal Coral

Springs.

Charles L. Bell – 75 Memorial

Gathering was held on

January 10th at St. George

Community Park,.

Walter Louis Brown, Jr. – 54.

Baby Girl Anari Miracle

Lawrence.

Cindy Rose Benjamin-Merrell

– 61 Funeral Service was

held January 10th at James

C. Boyd’s Memorial Chaepl

with Rev. Jo Branch officiating.

GUIDE ME IN

Your Truth

An Teach Mem,

For You Are

God My

Savior.

Psalm 25:5

Sandra Miranda Rodriguez

– 70

Alexander Williams – 59

Roy Mizell & Kurtz

Funeral Home

Mary Elizabeth Davis.

Brenda Joyce Ward Funeral

Service was held January

5th at Old Time Way

Church of God in Christ,

August, GA.

Kenneth E. “White Shoes”

White, Sr. - 65

"God is our refuge

and strength, a very

present help in

trouble."

Psalm 46:1

(Source: BlackDoctor.org)

Reality TV star

Christopher “Big Black”

Boykin of the funny hit show,

‘Rob & Big‘, made everyone

smile, laugh and say “Do

work, son!” for over five

seasons in new shows and

reruns on MTV. In 2017, the

loveable Boykin passed away.

But what made it even more

heartbreaking was that he

was only 45 years old.

If you ever watched the

MTV reality series Rob &

Big, then you knew how

unpredictably funny he and

the show was.

The reality series follows

professional skateboarder

Rob Dyrdek and his

bodyguard, Big Black. The


BROWARD COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY

NOTICE OF INTENT TO OPEN THE ONE- AND TWO- BEDROOM WAITING LISTS FOR THE

TEQUESTA RESERVE PROJECT-BASED VOUCHER (PBV) PROGRAM – ELDERLY FAMILIES

BROWARD COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY (BCHA) will accept pre-applications for the Tequesta Reserve Project-Based

Voucher (PBV) Program for elderly families Online pre-applications will be accepted beginning 8:30 AM on Wednesday, January

21, 2026 through Friday, January 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM.

A computer lottery process will randomly select 250 1-bedroom and 250 2-bedroom pre-applications for placement on the

wait list. Ranking method of the list will be based on the date and time of application.

PRE-APPLICATION INFORMATION (Please read carefully):

Pre-applications will ONLY be available for completion online at the following website: (https://bchafl.myhousing.com). If you do

not have access to a computer, you can go to a public library or any other place where computers are available to access the website

to complete the pre-application.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you need help in filling out your pre-application because of a disability that limits your ability to access

the computer application process, please send an e-mail to accommodations@bchafl.org.

Tequesta Reserve is a property designated for elderly families located at 4891 Griffin Road, Davie FL 33024 with anticipated

occupancy in 2026. It consists of one- and two-bedroom apartments that receive subsidy through the Project-Based program.

Households consisting of up to 2 people may apply for the 1-bedroom waiting list and households with 2-4 people may apply for the

2-bedroom list.

Elderly family definition (24 CFR 5.403):

The head of household (including co-head), spouse or sole member must be aged 62 or older.

It may include two or more persons who are at least 62 years of age living together, or

one or more persons who are at least 62 years of age living with one or more live-in aides.

Applicants determined eligible under US Housing and Urban Development program requirements must also meet the

property’s requirements for residency.

Two-step eligibility process:

1- Families will initially be screened for project-based voucher eligibility at BCHA and if the family is eligible for the program, the

family will be referred to Tequesta Reserve to apply for residency.

2- Tequesta Reserve will complete a separate application process to determine if the family meets their requirements for residency.

The property will charge an application fee and if the family is approved for residency, it will also require a security deposit paid

by the family.

Total annual income may not exceed the maximum ELIGIBLE INCOME LIMIT per Household:

Number of Persons in 1 2 3 4

Household

Annual Income $40,350 $46,100 $51,850 $57,650

BCHA does not discriminate on the basis of Federal or local protected classes in the access to admissions

procedures or employment of its housing programs and activities and provides Equal Housing Opportunity to all.

La AUTORIDAD DE VIVIENDA DEL CONDADO DE BROWARD (BCHA) aceptará presolicitudes en línea para el Programa

de Vales Basados en Proyectos (PBV) de Tequesta Reserve para familias de personas mayores. Las presolicitudes en línea se

aceptarán a partir de las 8:30 a.m. del miércoles 21 de enero de 2026 hasta el viernes 23 de enero de 2026 a las 5:00 p.m.

Un proceso de lotería electrónica seleccionará al azar 250 presolicitudes de 1 dormitorio y 250 de 2 dormitorios para ser

colocadas en la lista de espera. El método de clasificación de la lista se basará en la fecha y hora de la solicitud.

INFORMACIÓN SOBRE LA PRESOLICITUD (Lea atentamente):

Las presolicitudes SOLO estarán disponibles para completarse en línea en el siguiente sitio web: (https://bchafl.myhousing.com).

Si no tiene acceso a una computadora, puede acudir a una biblioteca pública o a cualquier otro lugar donde haya computadoras

disponibles para acceder al sitio web y completar la presolicitud.

AVISO IMPORTANTE: Si necesita ayuda para completar su presolicitud debido a una discapacidad que limite su capacidad para

acceder al proceso de solicitud por computadora, envíe un mensaje por correo electrónico a accommodations@bchafl.org.

Tequesta Reserve es un complejo residencial para familias de personas mayores situada en 4891 Griffin Road, Davie FL 33024,

con ocupación prevista para 2026. Consta de apartamentos de uno y dos dormitorios que reciben subsidios a través del programa

basado en proyectos.

Los hogares compuestos por hasta 2 personas pueden solicitar la lista de espera de 1 dormitorio, y los hogares de 2 a 4 personas

pueden solicitar la lista de 2 dormitorios.

Definición de familia de personas mayores (24 CFR 5.403):

La cabeza de familia (incluyendo al co-jefe de familia), cónyuge o miembro único debe tener 62 años o más.

Puede incluir a dos o más personas de al menos 62 años que vivan juntas, o

Una o más personas de al menos 62 años que vivan con uno o más asistentes de atención personal residentes.


State Leaders take Action

against Toxic Baby Formula

By A.G. Gancarski

(Source Florida Politics)

‘I wish I could say that this

was an isolated finding.’

If you’re tired of questionable

additives in your

baby’s bottle, good news: Gov.

Ron DeSantis and other state

leaders are as well.

During a press conference

in Bartow, DeSantis and other

state leaders condemned toxic

filler in formula, introducing

members of the Florida

MAHA Commission and

lauding their efforts to test

“staples” like infant formula.

“What we just want is,

basically, transparency

and the truth, and we want

people to be able to make the

best decision for them — not

necessarily what would be

in the best decision of some,

you know, manufacturer

or something like that,”

DeSantis said.

First Lady Casey

DeSantis, a survivor of breast

cancer and a mother of three,

said “small, repeated toxins”

can add up to consequences,

particularly in what’s being

fed to babies.

Baby formula contamination

“affects the most

vulnerable among us,” she

said, noting that Friday’s

action is just the first of many

“major announcements”

regarding toxic additives to

food in the coming days and

weeks.

Florida’s Department of

Health tested 24 formulas for

contaminants, with 16 of them

having at least one heavy

metal that exceeded federal

standards, the First Lady

said, evidencing “systemic

problems” and showing the

need for manufacturers to

test for “harmful chemicals.”

“Of the 24 infant formulas

tested, 16 of those formulas

contained at least one, if

not more, heavy metals that

exceeded federal standards.

Mercury was the most

common detected above

federal benchmarks in 16

formulas. Arsenic exceeded

benchmarks in five formulas;

cadmium, three; and lead,

two.”

The First Lady said this

initiative showed Florida’s

willingness to help out the

U.S. Department of Health

and Human Services’ Stork

Speed operation, and called on

other states to join the effort

and be a “force multiplier.”

She also said that families

in the Women, Infants, and

Children (WIC) program

will now have more formula

options covered by financial

assistance, in the event

people want to change, and

urged them to check out

ExposingFoodToxins.com to

find out specifics about given

products on the market.

Surgeon General Joseph

Ladapo, a father of three

himself, noted that many

families supplement with, or

exclusively use, baby formula

for nursing infants, and said

neurological development

could be harmed by the heavy

metals found in formula.

“I wish I could say this was

an isolated finding,” Ladapo

said.

Lt. Gov. Jay Collins said a

“medically-complex child” of

his could only take formula,

and noted that one of those

identified in the state testing

was one that his kid used.

Ain’t That A VHIT from Page 3

Gratitude doesn’t demand that we forget. It simply

invites us to remember differently. It allows us to say:

“God, thank You for what I had. Thank You for what remains. And

thank You for holding me through what I don’t yet understand.”

Gratitude shifts our perspective, from what we lost to what God

is still restoring. It becomes both worship and witness.

Moving from grief to gratitude is not a straight line. It’s a

journey filled with steps forward and steps back. But every step

reminds us of one truth:

We grieve because we loved.

We grow because God loves us still.

Yet somewhere between the sorrow and the healing, gratitude

rises, quiet, steady, and powerful, testifying that God has been

with us all along.

Los solicitantes determinados que califiquen para el programa de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de EE.UU. (HUD) también

deben cumplir con los requisitos de residencia del complejo.

Proceso de elegibilidad de dos pasos:

3- BCHA evaluará inicialmente a las familias para determinar si califican para el vale basado en proyectos; si la familia califica para

el programa, será remitida a Tequesta Reserve para solicitar la residencia

4- Tequesta Reserve completará un proceso de solicitud independiente para determinar si la familia cumple con sus requisitos de

residencia. El complejo residencial cobrará una tarifa de solicitud y, si se aprueba la residencia de la familia, también se pedirá

el pago de un depósito de seguridad por parte de la familia

El ingreso anual total no puede exceder el LÍMITE DE INGRESO PERMITIDO máximo por hogar:

Número de personas en 1 2 3 4

el hogar

Ingreso anual $40,350 $46,100 $51,850 $57,650

BCHA no discrimina por motivos de clases protegidas federales o locales en el acceso a los procedimientos de admisión o empleo

de sus programas y actividades de vivienda, y ofrece igualdad de oportunidades de vivienda para todos.

I have

a dream...

ANONS LENTANSYON OUVRI LIS DATANT YO POU APATMAN YON (1) AK DE (2) CHANMAKOUCHE YO POU

PWOGRAM SIBVANSYON BAZE SOU PWOJÈ A (PBV) – FANMI GRANMOUN AJE, POU TEQUESTA RESERVE

OTORITE LOJMAN KONTE BROWARD (BROWARD COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY, BCHA) pral aksepte demann preliminè

pou Pwogram Sibvansyon Baze sou Pwojè a (Project-Based Voucher, PBV) pou fanmi granmoun aje, pou Tequesta Reserve. N ap

aksepte demann preliminè sou entènèt kòmanse a 8:30 nan maten nan mèkredi 21 janvye 2026 pou fini nan Vandredi 23 janvye 2026

a 5:00 nan apremidi.

Se yon tiraj pa òdinatè ki pral chwazi owaza 250 demann preliminè pou apatman 1 chanmakouche ak 250 demann preliminè

pou apatman 2 chanmakouche pou mete yo sou lis datant la. Metòd klasman lis la ap baze sou dat ak lè kote demann nan te fèt.

ENFÒMASYON SOU DEMANN PRELIMINÈ (Tanpri li byen):

Demann preliminè yo ap disponib pou ranpli sou entènèt SÈLMAN nan sit wèb sa a: (https://bchafl.myhousing.com). Si w pa kapab

al sou òdinatè lakay ou, ou ka ale nan yon bibliyotèk piblik oswa nenpòt ki lòt kote ki gen òdinatè disponib pou ale sou sit wèb la pou

ranpli demann preliminè a.

ANONS ENPÒTAN: Si w bezwen yo ede w ranpli demann ou an poutèt yon andikap ki anpeche w fè demann nan sou òdinatè, tanpri

voye yon imèl pou accommodations@bchafl.org.

Tequesta Reserve se yon pwopriyete yo deziyen pou fanmi granmou aje, ki nan adrès 4891 Griffin Road, Davie FL 33024 epi ki

sipoze kòmanse resevwa lokatè an 2026. Li genyen apatman yon (1) chanmakouche ak apatman de (2) chanmakouche k ap resevwa

sibvansyon nan kad pwogram Baze sou Pwojè a.

Fanmi ki gen jiska 2 moun gendwa mande pou yo mete yo sou lis datant pou 1 chanmakouche a epi fanmi ki gen 2 a 4 moun gendwa

mande pou yo mete yo sou lis pou 2 chanmakouche a.

Definisyon fanmi granmoun aje (24 CFR 5.403):

Chèf fanmi an (se gendwa dezyèm chèf fanmi an tou), konjwen li oswa sèl manm fanmi an dwe gen laj 62 lane pou pi

piti.

Gendwa gen de (2) moun oswa piplis ki gen laj omwen 62 lane ki rete ansanm, oswa

omwen yon moun ki gen laj omwen 62 lane ki gen yon èd pou pi piti ki rete nan kay la avèk li.

Demandè ki jwenn kalifikasyon dapre kondisyon pwogram Lojman ak Devlòpman Iben Etazini an (US Housing and Urban

Development),

dwe respekte kondisyon pwopriyete a pou rete ladan l tou.

Pwosesis kalifikasyon an gen de (2) etap ladan l:

5- N ap kòmanse pa triye fanmi yo pou wè kilès nan yo ki kalifye pou sibvansyon baze sou pwojè nan BCHA, epi si fanmi an kalifye

pou pwogram nan, n ap voye fanmi an nan Tequesta Reserve pou li fè demann pou rete la.

6- Tequesta Reserve pral fè yon lòt pwosesis demann separe pou detèmine si fanmi an respekte kondisyon yo pou rete nan

pwopriyete li a. Pwopriyete a pral mande peye yon frè demann, epi si fanmi an apwouve pou rete ladan l, l ap egzije pou fanmi

an peye yon depo garanti tou.

Revni pa ane total la pa gendwa depase LIMIT REVNI KALIFYE maksimòm nan pou yon Fanmi:

Excellence in Service

“The Broward Sheriff ’s Office honors

the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

by providing excellence in service to

our community and upholding the

principles of justice, equality and peace.”

Kantite Moun ki rete nan 1 2 3 4

Kay la

Revni Pa Ane $40,350 $46,100 $51,850 $57,650

BCHA pa fè diskriminasyon sou baz kategori ki gen pwoteksyon federal oswa lokal nan pwosedi admisyon li yo, oswa lè l ap

anplwaye moun nan pwogram ak aktivite lojman li yo, epi li ofri tout moun Chans Egalego nan Zafè Lojman.


SPORTS

Nunnie on the Sideline

By Nunnie Robinson, WG Sports Editor

Deeply Rooted

World Athletics backs

Jamaica with US$100,000

hurricane relief, reinforcing

Caribbean commitment


Brian Lewis reveals cancer

diagnosis, pledges to keep

running for athletes

The national championship game

will be played Monday, January 19 at

7:30 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami

Gardens, featuring No. 1 Indiana

against No. 10 Miami. From a comparative

standpoint, this matchup presents

an intriguing contrast between

sustained dominance and a late-season

surge against elite competition.

Indiana enters the game as an

11-point favorite according to most

sportsbooks. That line reflects the Hoosiers’

body of work: an undefeated season,

a Big Ten Championship, and a

dominant, semifinal victory over Oregon that solidified their

No. 1 ranking. Indiana’s offensive efficiency is anchored by

Heisman Trophy–winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza,

a South Florida product from Miami Christopher Columbus

High School whom Miami chose not to recruit.

Common-opponent analysis further illustrates how closely

matched these teams may be. Ohio State was defeated by

both Indiana and Miami by comparable margins, suggesting

a narrower competitive gap than the betting line indicates.

Additionally, the location of the game effectively provides

Miami with a home-field advantage.

Miami’s path to the championship has been particularly

rigorous. The Hurricanes defeated three College Football

Playoff Top-7 teams: No. 7 Texas A&M on the road, No. 2

Ohio State, and No. 6 Ole Miss. They also recorded a regular-season

win over CFP No. 11 Notre Dame. From a résumé

standpoint, Miami has been tested repeatedly against elite

competition and emerged largely successful.

From a tactical perspective, Miami’s ability to compete

hinges on discipline and execution. The Hurricanes possess

the athleticism to match Indiana but must limit mental errors,

reduce self-inflicted penalties, and improve coverage

technique—particularly against Indiana’s back-shoulder

passing game, which has been a consistent strength for the

Hoosiers.

Projection: Miami by 3, 38–35.

Indiana’s rapid ascent to the upper tier of college football

underscores several broader trends reshaping the sport.

Strong program leadership, effective utilization of NIL opportunities,

adaptation to NCAA revenue-sharing structures,

allowing players to enter the portal, and player loyalty

to coaching staffs rather than institutional tradition have

significantly shortened traditional rebuilding timelines.

Head coach Curt Cignetti’s success—mirroring his winning

formula at FCS power James Madison, where several key

players followed him to Indiana—illustrates a model that

other programs are likely to emulate.

The applicability of this model to HBCU programs remains

uncertain. Structural disparities between Power Four programs

and FCS institutions—where most HBCUs compete—persist

in areas such as financial resources, facilities,

and player depth. Nevertheless, expectations for rapid improvement

continue to increase regardless of classification.

This reality places particular scrutiny on former NFL players

now leading collegiate programs, including Quinn Gray

at Florida A&M, Marshall Faulk at Southern, and Michael

Vick at Norfolk State. Their professional credibility brings

heightened expectations, even as they navigate systemic

limitations.

At the professional level, recent coaching decisions raise

additional questions. John Harbaugh’s departure may signal

a broader shift that could eventually include Mike Tomlin

in Pittsburgh, though organizational stability and autonomy

may delay such a move.

Finally, should the Green Bay Packers part ways with

Matt LaFleur, it would represent a significant strategic miscalculation.

In that scenario, the Miami Dolphins would be

well advised to pursue him immediately.

Amscot provides a wide variety of smart financial solutions for our customers

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By Ian Burnett

(Source: CNW)

In a powerful reaffirmation of its long-standing relationship

with Caribbean athletics, World Athletics has committed

US$100,000 (approximately J$16 million) to assist Jamaica’s

track and field community following the devastation caused by

Hurricane Melissa.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by World Athletics

President Lord Sebastian Coe

during a media briefing at the

headquarters of the Jamaica

Athletics Administrative

Association (JAAA), signaling

both immediate relief and

the continuation of a broader

regional support strategy.

45

Structured recovery for

athletes and officials

The funds, to be disbursed

through the International

Athletics Foundation, are

designated for recovery

pathways and targeted

support programs for athletes,

coaches, and officials whose

training environments and

livelihoods were disrupted by

the storm.

“We can recruit external

teams and agencies to come

to the table to help,” Coe said.

“And I’m delighted to be able

to announce this morning

that we will make available

$100,000 to help with

those pathways and those

programs.”

Ian Forbes, First Vice

President of the JAAA,

confirmed that the association

will consult directly with

athletes, coaches, and other

stakeholders to determine the

most effective and equitable

use of the funds.

Relief effort extends

beyond immediate funding

World Athletics’ response

will not end with the financial

grant. Coe also revealed

plans for a 5K charity run in

Kingston this April, following

discussions with Mayor

Andrew Swaby. Coe will

serve as patron of the event,

with proceeds directed toward

broader hurricane relief

efforts.

The initiative underscores

a commitment to communitydriven

recovery while

expanding the reach of

support beyond the track and

field fraternity.

Jamaica visit highlights

high-level engagement

Now in his 10th year as

president of World Athletics,

Coe’s visit to Jamaica

included meetings with Prime

Minister Dr. Andrew Holness

and Opposition Leader Mark

Golding, reinforcing the

non-partisan and national

significance of the relief

initiative.

He also engaged with key

athletics stakeholders and



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By Ben McLeod

(Source: CNW)

In a moment of striking vulnerability, former Caribbean

Association of National Olympic Committees president and

longtime Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee leader

Brian Lewis has disclosed that he has been diagnosed with

cancer.

Lewis made the revelation Thursday evening during a live

appearance on the popular sports talk program Isports on i95.5


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Love.

Courage.

Hope.

Dr. King’s beliefs stand

strong today.

From his unwavering commitment to equality to his pursuit of a

more compassionate world, Dr. King has inspired generations to

lift each other up and be the love in their community. In honor of

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we reflect on his teachings and find

inspiration in those who carry his ideals forward.

The Westside Gazette

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