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JULY 21 – JULY 27, 2017

VOLUME 25 NO. 29

WHAT’S YOUR SCORE? Lack of knowledge about playing the credit game costs Black Americans billions of dollars in higher interest rates, fees, and other costs. FROM THE TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

Sharae Newton (not her real name) has made many mistakes that damaged her credit score. They include running up debt as a college student, especially student loans. After Newton earned a second master’s degree and began working with the federal government, she thought she was secure. She now admits that she still has an

uncomfortable relationship with money, largely because of her lack of credit literacy.

Financial uncertainty Like many middle-class African-Americans, Newton makes a concerted effort to monitor her credit score and learn all she can about how to protect it. Yet Newton – who asked that her identity be kept confidential for the sake of financial privacy – lives with a great deal of uncertainty, especially when something unusual happens that affects her regular financial life. “I’m the only income earner in my household, but I had a series of medical issues that lost me money and cost me money,” said Newton, who owns a home in Northeast Washington, D.C., but has no significant savings.

ANTON SAMSONOV/DREAMSTIME/TNS

Credit cards use credit scores to determine how whether you qualify to get a card and much you pay to use it.

Health issues “I never expected the medical problems I’ve had over the last five years. I’ve had multiple orthopedic surgeries because of

a condition that causes my tendons to tear. I earned my second master’s, got out of whatever credit quandary I was in prior, but my medical expenses got me

right back into it.” Her most recent surgery was in January. The portion she’s required to pay is $14,000. See SCORE, Page A2

Targeting Obama’s legacy

‘MUSLIM TRAVEL BAN’

Trump loses, wins

So far, Trump’s largely failed BY DAVID LAUTER TRIBUNE WASHINGTON BUREAU / TNS

WASHINGTON – Rarely has a president taken office so focused on undoing his predecessor’s works as Donald Trump. Six months in, he has little to show. Monday brought twin blows. Not only did the Affordable Care Act survive another Republican repeal effort, maintaining President Barack Obama’s signature domestic achievement, but Trump was forced to certify that Iran continues to comply with the nuclear deal that was the biggest foreign policy accomplishment of Obama’s second term.

Still remaining

OLIVIER DOULIERY/ABACA PRESS/TNS

The Trump administration’s travel ban suffered another legal setback Wednesday when the U.S. Supreme Court sided with a federal judge in Hawaii, temporarily exempting grandparents and other extended family members from the directive. Other disputed parts of the ban stand until the court meets in October.

Beyond those two headlines, Obama’s program to shield some 750,000 so-called Dreamers from deportation continues intact, much to the frustration of some of Trump’s most ardent backers. The tax hikes on upper-income earners, which were among the hardest-won battles of Obama’s first term, remain in effect. U.S. relations with Cuba remain open, following Obama’s normalization policy, despite Trump’s public show last month of tightening some travel and trade restrictions. See LEGACY, Page A2

Military members boost concealed-weapons licenses BY JIM TURNER THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

TALLAHASSEE – Florida has fasttracked concealed-weapons licenses to 82,000 military members and honorably discharged veterans since terror-related shootings at a pair of military installations in Tennessee two years ago. The fast-tracking for military members, who don’t have to wait until they’re age 21 as do civilian applicants, was established as part of Florida’s reaction to the July 16, 2015, terrorist-motivated shootings in Chattanooga, Tenn., that resulted in the deaths of four Marines, a Navy sailor and the gunman.

ALSO INSIDE

Florida also upgraded security at National Guard recruitment centers, including arming guard members. State Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who along with Gov. Rick Scott helped expedite the permitting process, made an appearance Tuesday to discuss the effort, which has played a part in Florida’s increased number of people allowed to carry concealed firearms.

Large increase Since Putnam first won statewide office in 2010, the number of concealed-weapons licenses has soared from about 800,000 to more than 1.78 million. Putnam’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is-

sues the licenses. The tens of thousands of activeduty military members and veterans getting expedited permits has come as the state has seen “heavy” demand for concealed-weapons licenses, Putnam said. During his appearance at the armory, Putnam said the Legislature “continues to wrestle with the right way to get there” when asked about allowing concealed-weapons license holders to carry firearms on college and university campuses or to openly carry handguns. Efforts to pass such proposals have failed in the Senate in recent years. But with Putnam running for govSee WEAPON, Page A2

SNAPSHOTS ADOPTIONS | A3

Meet Iyanna and Solomon

FLORIDA | A3

Another term for Johnson as education board chair HEALTH | B3

Studies: Coffee drinkers live longer

NATION | A6

Blacks lead in Bible beliefs

COMMENTARY: MARGARET KIMBERLEY: AMERICA SHOULD LEAVE NORTH KOREA ALONE | A4 GUEST COMMENTARY: DR. BOBBY E. MILLS: ORGANIZED CHAOS IS STILL CHAOS | A5

FOCUS

JULY 21 – JULY 27, 2017

For the Trumps, its drip, drip, splash A conspiracy occurs when two or more people come together to plan and act together secretly for any purpose. You have no doubt heard all the talk about President Donald Trump and his political posse, and how they allegedly colluded or cooperated with Russians that launched cyber-attacks to impact the United States election process to get Trump elected.

Got caught Well recently, Donald Trump Jr. was caught red-handed meeting with Russians that said they had information from the Kremlin that would possibly disparage Hillary Clinton and help the Trump campaign. The president, his family and his supporters acknowledged that a meeting was held in Trump

LUCIUS GANTT THE GANTT REPORT

Tower in New York and Trump Jr., Trump’s son-in-law and Trump’s campaign manager at the time attended the meeting that was originally disguised as a meeting about adoptions, and became a meeting to get campaign opposition research material. A lawyer for the president said there was no problem because nothing came out of the meeting. I think there was a problem, but the details of everything that was said and went on during that meeting has not been fully determined and revealed.

Here’s the problem

conspiracy charges.

The Trump people tried to conspire with an adversary – some say enemy – of the United States to interfere in an election process that is sacred to American voters. If your own son decided to have a meeting in a house you own to discuss a way to cooperate with someone to commit an illegal act, and discussed the purpose of the meeting with you and you had no problem with it – that, in my mind, is a conspiracy. Perhaps you could be described as a co-conspirator! It’s like talking about a way to get 100 kilos of heroin across the border and avoiding law enforcement. It doesn’t matter if the desired results were never obtained or realized. The conspiracy is a crime. There are hundreds of men and women in jail right now on

You tell me

LEGACY

Some Obama reversals Halfway through his first year, Trump has achieved some of his goals, although his repeated boast that he has “signed more bills – and I’m talking about through the legislature – than any president, ever,” is untrue. His announcement that the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris climate accord in 2020 has been the best-known part of a concerted administration effort to roll back Obama-era environmental initiatives. And even before his election, Trump’s campaign against trade agreements roused opposition that helped kill Obama’s proposed 12-nation Pacific trade pact and slow the expansion of global trade deals. Trump formally withdrew the U.S. from the by-thenmoribund Trans-Pacific Partnership on his first workday after his inauguration. But Trump’s unusual concentration on repealing what his predecessor did, rather than putting forward initiatives of his own, has also hampered his effectiveness to a remarkable degree.

Hasn’t started anything One of the truisms of American government – as Trump is now learning to his dismay – is that taking away a benefit is generally harder than starting something new. That’s one reason why presi-

Hasn’t delivered

OLIVIER DOULIERY/ABACA PRESS/TNS

Then-President Obama meets with then President-elect Trump on Nov. 10, 2016 in the Oval Office of the White House. dents typically prefer to push their own agendas, rather than focus to the extent Trump has on uprooting their predecessors’ actions. Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon did not, for example, undo the New Deal or Great Society programs of, respectively, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson. President Ronald Reagan moved quickly to repeal the Jimmy Carter administration’s regulations on oil and natural gas production. But his administration’s chief focus was on its own plans for tax cuts and a military buildup. President Bill Clinton devoted his first couple of years in of-

fice to winning a tax increase on high-income Americans, a health care plan that failed, the North American Free Trade Agreement (another Trump target, as it happens) and two major gun control measures. George W. Bush’s first year seemed set to be built around tax cuts and his No Child Left Behind school reform plan until the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks redefined his presidency. Obama’s opening year centered on efforts to recover from an economic crisis, re-regulate Wall Street and, of course, pass what became the Affordable Care Act.

SCORE from A1

Newton’s dilemma illustrates that there is very little financially that Americans can do that isn’t in some way tied to or influenced by their credit scores. In the financial world, a person’s credit score illustrates their creditworthiness, which simply means how likely it is that a person will pay their bills and whether they will pay them on time. A bad credit score means the owner of that score could end up spending thousands of additional dollars in interest or fees if they want to borrow money, rent an apartment, buy a house, rent or buy a car, or obtain insurance. So, financial experts stress that it behooves con-

On a whole different note, readers of TGR have suggested that I write about the administrative and financial problems being experienced by some Histori-

Trump’s campaign did feature elements of what could form the basis of a distinctive first-year agenda. He talked about a massive plan to rebuild the nation’s roads, bridges and airports. He called for wholesale renegotiation of trade agreements. He advocated a sharp reduction in the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country. He endorsed a multibilliondollar plan to give tax money to families to pay tuition for private or religious schools. And he touted a complete rewrite of the tax code, along with deep tax cuts.

And the sharp increases in U.S. use of solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy, largely at the expense of coal, continues, Trump’s rhetoric notwithstanding.

Scores matter

Changing topics

Buy Gantt’s latest book, “Beast Too: Dead Man Writing,” on Amazon.com and from bookstores everywhere. “Like” The Gantt Report page on Facebook. Contact Lucius at www.allworldconsultants. net. Click on this commentary at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

Campaign promises

from A1

She said she and some of her friends and associates are caught in the vice of making too much money to get subsidies and other types of help to pay medical bills that the poor or vulnerable receive. “All of the safety nets, I was not eligible for them,” she said. “Federal jobs provide you a certain privilege but don’t protect you… I had to start using leave without pay. “It does make you feel like, what else can you do to feel protected? This destroyed my credit and I face a very uncertain future.”

How in the hell can people surrounding the president meet with enemies of the United States to conspire to do improper, illadvised and probably illegal acts – and believe in their hearts that nothing is problematic? I told you before perjury was pervasive in the White House. I wrote that justice was obstructed. Now you have an obvious, proven attempt to conspire with some so-called “bad hombres!” All I can say is drip, drip, splash!

cally Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). I am reading reports about what is happening but, as you know, whatever is written about HBCUs will be considered “fake news” regardless of the articles’ veracity. There are some great choices that can be made to lead HBCUs, but the schools must make them. The idea that only HBCU graduates are good enough to work at HBCUs should be discredited and abandoned. Just hire someone that can raise money and effectively manage employees.

Stephen Brobeck

Barrett Burns

sumers to do all they can to ensure that they keep a positive credit score and hone their knowledge about credit scoring.

Measuring knowledge In that regard, Stephen Brobeck, executive director of the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and Barrett Burns, CEO of VantageScore Solutions, spoke to reporters in a recent conference call to discuss the findings of a survey to measure consumer knowledge of credit scores. In the seventh year that the survey has been conducted by the organizations, one of the major findings is that consumer knowledge of credit scores has eroded over the past 12 months. According to the survey, a smaller number of respondents were aware that non-credit service providers used credit scores in determining prices and the services they offer. For cell phone companies, the consumer awareness was down from 68

Marcia Griffin percent to 59 percent. For electric utilities, awareness was down from 53 percent to 44 percent.

Work to do “We wish the survey results were more positive,” Burns said. “Consumers should make every payment on time and we urge them to check their credit every 12 months. “The greater availability of credit scores and credit reports is certainly a net positive for consumers. However, the data demonstrates that we collectively have work to do to help consumers understand that credit scores are used by more than just lenders.”

Need for knowledge Brobeck said the findings generally show that consumers have a dire need for greater levels of financial education. “One would think that increasing access to one’s credit scores would help increase knowledge about these scores,” said Brobeck. “But that apparently has not been the case, to

He has not delivered concrete proposals on any of those ideas. In part, that failure to follow through on those ideas stems from the reality that each of them, with the possible exception of tax reform, deeply divides the GOP. Some of Trump’s proposals, such as those on trade, divide his own administration. Whether Trump’s ideas on taxes fit those of his party remains unknown because – as with health insurance – he has never specified what he has in mind. Compounding the problem of a divided party is Trump’s clear lack of interest in developing policy and his slowness in choosing people for top government jobs. Together, those deficits have left his administration hamstrung in efforts to define an agenda of its own. By default, that’s left Trump with the agenda the Republicans developed during the Obama years – one built around opposition to the party then in the White House.

the detriment of consumers. Low credit scores can cost consumers hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars a year in higher loan and service costs.” On the plus side, the percentage of respondents who said they had obtained at least one credit score in the past year has steadily risen – from 49 percent in 2014, to 51 percent in 2015, to 54 percent in 2016, to 56 percent in 2017. Barrett and Brobeck said that the surveys, in addition to consumer education, are designed to help consumers understand the varied factors that affect their credit. They stressed that it’s crucial for people to make loan payments on time. Failure to do so can adversely affect one’s credit. It is encouraging, the pair said, that a large majority of consumers correctly identified key factors influencing scores: missed loan payments (91 percent), high credit card balances (86 percent), and personal bankruptcy (85 percent). They also know two important ways to raise their credit scores or maintain high scores: making loan payments on time (96 percent) and keeping credit card balances low (80 percent).

Disparity suspected Little research has been done to determine the racial disparities in credit score knowledge. However, there is strong evidence that, in general, credit

scores of Blacks are lower than those of Whites. A study by the Federal Reserve Board in 2008 and an Illinois study by public interest groups in 2014 demonstrated the difference, which no credible source denies. A proximate cause of this credit score difference is that more Blacks than Whites have poor credit reports, the main basis for credit scores. A study by Freddie Mac in 2013 found that 27 percent of Whites – but 48 percent of Blacks – had poor credit reports. One basic cause of the lower credit scores in the African-American community is that Blacks appear to know less than Whites about credit scores. In the 2016 CFA/VantageScore survey, for example: • 90 percent of Whites, but only 69 percent of Blacks, knew that personal bankruptcy influences one’s credit score.  • 86 percent of Whites, but only 73 percent of Blacks, knew that 700 was a good credit score.  • 77 percent of Whites, but only 62 percent of Blacks, knew that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is the best place to file a complaint related to a credit score.

Aware of deficiency Blacks are aware of this void in their knowledge of credit scoring. In the 2016 CFA/Vantage/Score survey, 54 percent of Whites, but only 40 percent of Blacks, thought that their knowledge of credit scores

WEAPON from A1

ernor in 2018, his stances on Second Amendment issues are drawing criticism from Democrats.

Video at issue As Putnam was speaking, Democrats criticized him about a comment posted online Monday about people protesting in Tampa over a recent National Rifle Association recruitment video. Florida Democratic Party spokeswoman Johanna Cervone called the video, narrated by NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch, an attempt to “provoke fear and stoke the flames of division.” In the video, Loesch called out progressives in education, the media and Hollywood for their resistance against President Donald Trump. “The only way we stop this, the only we save our country and our freedom, is to fight this violence of lies with the clenched fist of truth,” Loesch said in the video. “If Adam Putnam is endorsing this video, he’s encouraging violence against fellow Americans,” Cervone said in a prepared statement. “Could Putnam be more transparent in his pandering to the far right? It’s clear Putnam is more than a little insecure about his credentials as a conservative.”

was good or excellent. To address the need for credit score education in the general community, CFA and VantageScore have created a 12-question credit score quiz to help educate consumers about credit scoring. The quiz can be found at www.creditscorequiz.org. The Center for Financial Advancement, a new collaboration between HomeFree-USA, Wells Fargo, Freddie Mac and Mortgage Bankers Association, will engage students, faculty, parents and the local communities on such topics as credit, student loans, savings, homeownership and opportunities in the mortgage profession. The center aims to improve the economic outlook of African-Americans. “More than half of all African-Americans in our country rent. It’s a fact that a homeowner’s net worth is 36 times that of a renter. It’s a fact that that the median income for an African-American household is $35,000 compared to the national average of $53,000,” says Marcia Griffin, president/founder of HomeFree-USA, a HUDapproved homeownership development, foreclosure intervention and financial coaching organization. Burns concludes, “Credit scores can have an impact on everything from your loan terms to the size of the deposit required to acquire a mobile phone, so it’s critical that consumers take our quiz and become educated.”

JULY 21 – JULY 27, 2017

FLORIDA

Johnson gets another term as Board of Education chair THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Marva Johnson of Winter Garden was appointed to the board in 2014.

The State Board of Education on Monday selected Marva Johnson to serve a second consecutive term as board chair. Johnson was appointed to the board by Gov. Rick Scott in 2014 and chosen for her first term as chair in 2015. The board consists of seven members, who serve for four years but can be appointed by the governor for another four

years. Chairs serve for two years but can be elected by members for one more consecutive term. “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Johnson said Monday after receiving unanimous support from the other members.

part of Florida’s strategic plan for education, but Chartrand said the plan didn’t go far enough.

Coding concern

education in response to board member Gary Chartrand’s concerns. Chartrand, who preceded Johnson as chair, said the board needed to take a “deep dive” into science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, education for kindergarten- through 12thgrade students across the state. Commissioner Pam Stewart pointed out to Chartrand that STEM education was already

STEM plans Johnson also proposed during the meeting to develop a workshop around computer science

Orlando company catches flak for snortable chocolate BY KYLE ARNOLD ORLANDO SENTINEL/TNS

ORLANDO – A snortable chocolate powder developed by an Orlando resident is drawing fire from a top lawmaker in Washington, D.C. Orlando-based Legal Lean is selling a powdered chocolate meant to be snorted under the name Coco Loko. It’s for sale on Legal Lean’s website, as well as Amazon, where a 1.25 ounce container costs $24.99. At least one Orlando-area doctor said snorting cocoa powder may cause harm, while U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday calling for an investigation into Coco Loko.

No ‘health value’ “The math for the FDA is clear: This suspect product has no clear health value. It is falsely held up to be chocolate, when it is a powerful stimulant. And they market it like a drug — and they tell users to take it like a drug, by snorting it,” said a statement from Schumer. “It is crystal clear that the FDA needs to wake up and launch a formal investigation into so-

pany that uses a cold-pack method of common ingredients.

‘Use caution’

called Coco Loko before too many of our young people are damaged by it.” Schumer said he’s worried Coco Loko is being marketed like a drug and could appeal to children. “Normalizing stimulants and drug consumption-like behavior is anything but harmless for our young people,” Schumer said.

Trend in Europe Legal Lean founder Nick Anderson said he learned about snorting cocoa powder from online videos posted by Europeans. “It’s a raw cocoa and chocolate snuff,” Anderson told the Orlando Sentinel. “It’s a big trend in Europe, and I was thinking there would probably be a big demand for it here.” The substance is made from raw cacao powder (from cacao pods) and energy-drink ingredients such as taurine and guarana, which have raised alarm regarding their effect on young people when used in large quantities.

Some consequences But even if Coco Loko contains products that can be ingested in energy drinks or food, snorting it could cause serious prob-

He proposed getting data on how Florida’s STEM education, specifically its high school coding programs, “stacked up against the rest of the country.” Johnson said she’d met with programing company Code.org and asked for similar information. Johnson, 47, lives in Winter Garden and is vice president of state government affairs for the telecommunications company Charter Communications South Region.

Coco Loko is a snortable chocolate powder. AMAZON

bacco snuff was once popular in the United States.

lems, said Dr. Julie Wei, head of the ear, nose and throat division at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando. “You are not meant to have anything up your nose,” Wei said. “There are going to be some health consequences because of the way it is absorbed into the mucous membrane of the nose.” The nose’s sensitivity and absorption ability are the reasons why it’s a popular delivery path for cocaine and other drugs, Wei said. It’s also the reason that to-

Produced locally Powdered substances can be harmful if they reach the lungs, she said, and children could also be drawn to Coco Loko because of its chocolate flavoring. Wei couldn’t recall any other consumer products that are meant to be snorted. The Coco Loko packaging and website states “18+.” Anderson said it is produced by a local com-

State approves nursing programs at four colleges THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

The State Board of Education on Monday approved new baccalaureate degrees for nursing at four state colleges in Central Florida. The board endorsed bachelor of science

The Sentinel reached Anderson through an email on the Coco Loko website. Anderson said he is 29 but he declined to answer further questions about his background. He couldn’t vouch for the safety of the product. “I’m not a medical doctor,” he said. “But I would tell people to use caution and not use more than the recommended amount.” He compared Coco Loko with energy drinks, but with more “euphoria.” A few small, independent retailers also carry Coco Loko, Anderson said.

‘Chocolate shooter’ A Belgian company called The Chocolate Line has been selling snortable chocolate since 2007 and has even developed a “chocolate shooter,” essentially a small catapult to fling cocoa powder into a user’s nostrils. Legal Lean started selling Coco Loko a month ago, but sales really escalated a week ago after an article about the chocolate snuff by the Washington Post and CNN. “I knew it might get a little bit of attention, but I didn’t think it would do it this quickly and not on a national level,” Anderson said.

degrees at Valencia College, Eastern Florida State College, Lake-Sumter State College and Seminole State College of Florida. The board also approved a bachelor of applied science degree in supervision and management for Valencia. The degree programs were developed in cooperation with the University of Central Florida and with local health-care facilities, which have cited a need for more nurses with advanced degrees. Students will not pay any more than $10,000 for the degrees under the existing state policy.

ADOPTIONS

A home for Iyanna and Solomon

SOUNDTRACK ON BACK LOT MUSIC

CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

ALL.GTP.0721.FLORIDACOURIER

1/4 PG. (4.93" X 10")

Iyanna

Iyanna, 14, is a sweet and sensitive little girl who loves to care for younger children and animals, and craves the companionship of a female role model. She’s a talented writer, especially of poetry, and she has an uncanny ability to read and relate to other people. She’s a little shy and introspective, but she loves to have a good chat with her friends. Her ideal home is one with a mom and maybe a sister or two, where her birthday will not only be remembered, but will be celebrated in a big way. FRI 7/21

UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH PERFECT WORLD PICTURES A WILL PACKER PRODUCTIONS PRODUCTION A MALCOLM D. LEE FILM “GIRLS TRIP”REGINA HALL TIFFANY HADDISH LARENZ TATEEXECUTIVEMIKE COLTER KATE WALSH WITH JADA PIPRODUCED NKETT SMITH AND QUEEN LATIFAH MUSICBY DAVID NEWMAN PRODUCERS PRESTON HOLMES JAMES LOPEZ BY WILL PACKER p.g.a. MALCOLM D. LEE p.g.a. STORY SCREENPLAY BY ERICA RIVINOJA AND KENYA BARRIS & TRACY OLIVER BY KENYA BARRIS & TRACY OLIVER DIRECTED A UNIVERSAL PICTURE BY MALCOLM D. LEE

FLORIDA COURIER

One Church One Child of Florida is reaching out to families and individuals in communities across the state in efforts to help find permanent homes for children. Children featured in this monthly spotlight are waiting for a permanent home and/or mentor. Daily, over 700 children are in need of a family to call their own; many of them are minorities. The Rev. Beverly Hills Lane, state president for One Church One Child of Florida and vice president for National One Church One Child, is challenging fellow pastors to get involved and encouraging families to open their hearts and homes to children in foster care. Churches are asked to partner with One Church One Child in sharing information with congregations and extending Watch-Care Ministries to children. This monthly series features children located in communities across the state. They have no family identified to adopt them. Consider making them a part of your family through adoption or a part of your church through Project Watch-Care, for support and mentoring.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHILDREN’S BOARD HEART GALLERY OF TAMPA BAY/PEZZ PHOTO

Iyanna and Solomon need a permanent home.

Solomon A kind-hearted young man, Solomon, 16, always endeavors to do the best he can. He has developed an affinity for fishing and being out on the water. Skateboarding and playing games are his favorite pastimes, and he’s also a very good artist. If Solomon had the choice of going anywhere, he would take a whirlwind tour of every fair and carnival in the world – or just stick to getting his very own bounce house in the backyard. These two teens will thrive in a loving, nurturing and active home with both male and female role models. Church involvement is important to them. For more information about becoming an adoptive or foster parent, mentor, partner or volunteer, contact LaKay Fayson, recruitment coordinator for One Church One Child of Florida’s SunCoast Region, at 813740-0210 or lakay_fayson@ococfl.org. The website for One Church One Child of Florida is www.ococfl.org.

EDITORIAL

JULY 21 – JULY 27, 2017

America should leave North Korea alone The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea, has the right to test and develop as many weapons as it likes. It doesn’t need another country’s permission to enhance its arsenal and, given America’s history of aggression, it is wise to do so. Any country deemed an enemy of the United States that doesn’t have a strong defense is in danger of ending up like Iraq or Libya, invaded or destroyed by other means.

We’re the danger There is no reason for Americans to pay attention to drivel about DPRK missiles reaching Alaska or any other part of this country. The United States has more weapons, nuclear and conventional, than any other nation in the world and is therefore the greatest threat to peace. The only danger from the DPRK’s missile program comes from American reactions to it. The corporate media are constantly whipping the public into a frenzy regarding matters that should not be of concern. Despite headlines asking, “What to do about North Korea,” the answer is simple. There is nothing to do at all. Or rather it should be to engage with that nation, rather than to demonize it on a regular basis. The Trump administration has asked for a unilateral standdown as a prerequisite for any talks, something which the DPRK would not and should not agree to do.

MARGARET KIMBERLEY BLACK AGENDA REPORT

While politicians and pundits demand that something be done about this independent country, the United States escalates tensions with war games that simulate an invasion of North Korea.

Arms race? While the DPRK is labeled a danger, the American Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system is being installed in South Korea and poses a very real threat. And in turn it creates an incentive for more weaponry. President Trump is the greater danger in this scenario. He ran for office on a platform of putting America first and with a mistaken and uninformed notion that other countries won’t put their own interests first. He believes that he can pull Russia away from allies like China and Iran when they have become closer for the express purpose of defending themselves from America. Trump may fume that China doesn’t control the DPRK, but his temper tantrums don’t change the fact that other countries do what is best for themselves too.

Dems with Trump But Trump isn’t alone in his

Donald Trump is NOT crazy It’s time for television and radio talk show hosts, educators, editorial writers, columnists and politicians to cease describing US President Donald J. Trump as being “crazy,” “mentally sick,” “childish,” etc. A person with such afflictions is legally and otherwise not responsible for his or her words and behavior. Trump knows exactly what he is saying and what he is doing and should be totally accountable for the consequences of his shenanigans.

Three forces It’s my position that the behavior of the president is guided by three major forces. One is his extreme resentment and rage at the way he has been and is currently being treated by the “big boys” who really run this country, the so-called establishment. They treat him like

A. PETER BAILEY NNPA COLUMNIST

an uncouth boy from Queens, New York who has no class. Many of them are probably guilty of the same social and financial scams that Trump indulges in. But they do them quietly, under the radar. Trump does his openly and flagrantly. To the big boys, that is close to unforgiveable.

No accountability A second force that guides Trump is his never having been held accountable for his escapades. As head of a family business, he didn’t even have

Thinking about The Bahamas’ Independence Day On July 14, The Bahamas celebrated 44 years of independence. I heartily joined in hailing our motto: “Forward, Upward, Onward Together” … my Bahamaland! We are a relatively young nation of only 377,000 people. Yet not even the hegemony of the United States can chasten our national pride.

Still a colony? Except that this Promethean pride cannot disguise the mockery we are making of our “independence.” After all, we are still pledging allegiance to the British queen as our head of state

ANTHONY L. HALL, ESQ. FLORIDA COURIER COLUMNIST

and appealing to the British Privy Council as our court of last resort. Surely, after all these years, we should be referring to Her Majesty as nothing more than a fairy godmother, and appealing only to a Supreme Court of The Bahamas. I’ve been pleading the latter

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: DONALD TRUMP’S VOTER BASE

North Korea scare-mongering. Democrats haven’t defended that country’s right to self-determination either. Trump rattles his saber with a loud voice, but Democrats are just as ready to advance the cause of the United States as hegemon. Democrats in the House of Representatives joined Republicans recently in voting for new sanctions against the DPRK. Only one member voted against this proposal. The liberal corporate media do likewise. Their lament that something must be done about North Korea puts the seal of approval on very dangerous foreign policy decisions. One can read through page after page of the New York Times or Washington Post without seeing any difference of opinion on North Korea. Every reporter and op-ed writer sees it as a problem to be solved instead of as a nation to be engaged with in a respectful manner.

Real peacemakers The only potential peacemakers on this issue are Russia and China. They call on North Korea to cease its missile testing and on the United States to stop its provocative military maneuvers. The reasonable proposal has been either ignored or condemned by the press and the politicians in this country. Their agreement on this issue and their continued closeness are also not a problem to be solved, to deal with a board of directors. Whatever Donald said and whatever Donald did was not to be questioned by wife, children, siblings, business associates, friends, employees, journalists or anyone else. Having to explain and justify a decision he has made – bad or good, right or wrong, legal or illegal – messes with his last nerve. And he lashes back. However, he is careful as to whom to attack in his outbursts. It’s very revealing that he reserves his most vicious and personal attacks on any woman who has the audacity to question his behavior. I have heard several male television pundits say some rather nasty remarks about Trump but he never responds to them with the unbridled fury he directs at women pundits.

‘European supremacist’ Finally, I am convinced that Trump is a European supremacist who strongly believes that people of European descent should be the dominate force in world affairs. He regards Islam –

case for years to no avail, including most recently in a column entitled, “For Independence Sake, Caribbean, Abolish Privy Council,” published on February 1, 2016. And, with all due respect to the Caribbean Court of Justice, I’ve always maintained that there’s no point in ridding ourselves of a colonial arbiter of our legal fate, only to subject ourselves to a regional one. Then, alas, there’s the silly way we look aping the royal pretensions and appurtenances of our former colonial masters. My pet peeve in this regard is having to wear those stupid white wigs in court. I decried this folly for the sake of my profession in “Hey, Tony, What’s Up with the Brothers Wearing White Wigs,” published on March 2, 2007.

British ‘airs’ But this shame is surpassed by the contempt I have for compatriots who covet British honorary titles; you know, like “Sir”

RICK MCKEE, THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE

but instead result from a legitimate need for protection from the United States. North Korea is considered a bogeyman whether it tests missiles or not. It has been accused of everything from hacking into the Sony Corporation’s computer systems to creating new malware viruses. Its president, Kim Jong-un, is treated like a joke or a demon. He may as well use the only defense he has at his disposal – that is to make America think twice about attacking his country.

No difference Trump is like his presidential predecessors. He upholds the belief that other countries have no rights that the United States need to respect. not just ISIS, but Islam – as the current most serious threat to continued European domination. This is evidenced by the following statement that he recently made in his visit to Poland: “The fundamental question of our time is whether the West has the will to survive. Do we have the confidence in our values to defend them at any cost?...Just as Poland could not be broken, I declare today for the world to hear that the West will never, ever be broken. Our values will prevail. Our people will thrive. And our civilization will triumph.”

Dominance, not survival What President Trump fails to say is that the West doesn’t just want to survive. It wants to dominate. Trump believes equally strongly that Russian President Vladimir Putin is the one who can best assist him in confronting what he considers the Islamic threat, because Putin and the Russians are also European su-

before their names or “OBE” after them. I decried this putting on airs for the sake of all former British colonies in “Australia Bans British Honors. Other Commonwealth Countries Should Too,” published on November 3, 2015. Remarkably, the subjugating contradiction inherent in coveting such titles seems lost on most of our people. Not to mention that these “queen’s birthday honours” are often based more on a bribe given than any merit earned. I ridiculed this corrupt practice eleven years ago in “Pardon Me, Sir, but How Much Did You Pay for Your Knighthood,” published on July 14, 2006. As it happened, the London Daily Mail threw this covetousness into shameful relief a year ago. Specifically, it published a report on Dominican-born Baroness Scotland – who now serves as Commonwealth general secretary – under the ban-

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The media may follow along with words like “isolated, “rogue,” and “reclusive.” These adjectives mean just one thing. A particular state has run afoul of the American government because it dares to exist on its own terms. That is a right every nation should have. Scare-mongering is a tool to get public approval for more war. It is the United States that increases the risk of nuclear conflagration more than all the “rogue” nations put together.

Margaret Kimberley’s column appears weekly in BlackAgendaReport.com. Contact her at Margaret.Kimberley@ Black AgendaReport.com . Click on this commentary at www.flcourier.com to write your own response. premacists who have the same attitude toward African and Asian people as other Whites in Europe and the United States. Thus, Trump and Putin have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. Of course, Putin wants to be top dog and may also have some dirt on Trump’s financial affairs that gives him the edge in their relationship. But I am convinced that between them is a shared belief that people who look like them have the right to be the controlling factor in global affairs. Trump is not crazy, childish or mentally sick. He has an agenda that has garnered him the support of a significant number of White people in the United States and in Europe.

A. Peter Bailey’s latest book is “Witnessing Brother Malcolm X, the Master Teacher.” Contact him at apeterb@verizon.net. Click on this commentary at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

ner headline “Stop Posing as a Knight, Palace Warns ‘Baroness Brazen’ Sidekick,” published on July 10, 2016. That report spoke volumes.

Cut the cord In any event, the time has long since passed for us to sever the umbilical cords of colonialism. We should be standing proud as a people – beholden only to ourselves, and completely free of British pretentiousness. Only then would we be able to take unencumbered pride in our independent song, “March On, Bahamaland.”

Anthony L. Hall is a native of The Bahamas with an international law practice in Washington, D.C. Read his columns and daily weblog at www. theipinionsjournal.com. Click on this commentary at www. flcourier.com to write your own response.

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JULY 21 – JULY 27, 2017

Organized chaos is still chaos Chaos by any other name is still chaos. The Trump administration is publicly attempting to micromanage chaos through lying and creating more chaos. For example, the Trump administration is attempting to create chaos in America’s democratic voting process by claiming that there is widespread voter fraud. American social democracy does not have a voter fraud problem. America has a “malnutrition of the brain” presidential leadership problem.

Some questions Christian right evangelicals and most White men have accepted Trump-style chaos as normal when it is abnormal. Why do they love such behavior? Does the answer lie in selfhatred? Does the answer lie in their inability to experience the ultimate reality (God) and spirituality? Or does the answer lie in their inability to achieve physical and material success unless through White privilege? “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1: 1820).

DR. BOBBY E. MILLS GUEST COMMENTARY

The moral inconsistency of Republican Party officials is woefully shameful, because of their blind-eyed, money-grabbing complicity in the destruction of America’s democratic institutions.

godliness” and complete disrespect for constitutional law. American society is the bastion of freedom in the world community, especially among democratic nation-states. That is less so under the leadership of President Trump because of his dictatorial personality traits of “my way or the highway.” Trump and Vladimir Putin are hell-bent on creating a “new world order” based upon ungodliness and brute power. “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for Law disrespected Man-made law says, “Igno- an occasion to the flesh, but by rance of the law is no excuse.” Un- love serve one another.” (Galafortunately, the Trump family, tians 5: 13). the Trump administration, and Christian right evangelicals make Fleshly pleasures excuse after excuse for their “unTrump and Putin are hell-

The Democrats’ year of living stupidly For more than a year now, the collective U.S. ruling class, with Democratic Party and corporate media operatives in the vanguard, has frozen the national political discourse in a McCarthyite time warp. A random visit to a July 26, 2016, issue of the New York Times reveals the same obsession as that which consumes the newspaper today: “Following the Links from Russian Hackers to the U.S. Election.” A year later, the allegations persist, piled ever higher with innuendo and outright nonsense.

GLEN FORD BLACK AGENDA REPORT

Congress to ease up on Russia investigations and get to work on healthcare, terrorism, national security, the economy and jobs. Almost three out of four respondents to the Harvard-Harris poll said lawmakers aren’t paying attention to the issues that are Where’s the proof? important to them – including 68 However, proof of the predicate percent of Democrats. act – that Russia, not Wikileaks, penetrated the Democratic Na- All ‘fake news’ tional Committee – remains totalThe non-stop vilification of ly absent. What is the purpose of this Russia and Trump has seriously torture-by-media? The Trump backfired on the corporate media. White House has been crippled Another poll by Harvard-Harris, by the tsunami that never ebbs, conducted in May showed that but the Democrats have not been two out of three Americans bestrengthened in the process, and lieve the so-called “mainstream” the corporate media’s standing press is full of “fake news” – inamong the public erodes by the cluding a majority of Democrats. The Russiagate blitzkrieg, deday. A poll conducted last month signed to delegitimize Trump and showed majorities of voters want demonize Vladimir Putin, has ex-

Obama White House attacks the NBCC, Part 3 There appears to have been a constant flow of deception, immorality, and corruption in both Obama administrations. You can add “heartlessness,” too. We, the strongest and most economically viable nation in the history of mankind, sat on the sidelines and tried to lead from behind. Russia, North Korea, and a plethora of terror groups had a field day during the Obama years. They saw the weakness in his reasoning and played it like a finelytuned piano. The contrast between now and then are startling. Once again, the United States is starting to be respected worldwide. Our military is returning to full strength and is not afraid to flex some muscle when needed. Wall Street is at an all-time high and our Fortune 100 corporations are starting to invest increasingly. New jobs are being created from those indicators. I thank God for getting through that period of

HARRY C. ALFORD GUEST COMMENTARY

“rot.” The Obama legacy is cracking into many pieces.

Why attack us? I cannot understand why a White House administration tried to destroy the association that my wife and I founded, nursed, and grew to international prominence. Our intent and purpose were clear and noble: “The purpose of the Chamber shall be to teach capitalism and expand access to capitalization, technical support, procurement opportunities, effective networking, and sharing of information for Black-owned businesses and other minority owned businesses

bent on enslaving the world to the pleasures of the flesh. Christian right evangelicals, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8: 2-4). We all know the reason why President Trump never or rarely ever attends church services is because he lacks a spiritual conscience. Christian right evangelicals attend church services every Sunday and at the same time, appear not to have a spiritual conscience. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). America, pray that Christian right evangelicals know what God requires: “He hath shewed thee, O’ man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” (Micah 6: 8). Christian right evangelicals, please inform Donald J. Trump that the presidency is a higher calling to public service, not personalized family business dealmaking.

Too much freedom The primary reason for Trump’s election is that too many Americans are using their freedom to serve the vanity of the flesh rather than serving each other in the Spirit of God (“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” in Matthew 22: 39). What transforms a collection of individuals and families into a nation is the will to create a just sociacerbated an already existing crisis of legitimacy for the entire US political system. “Every major institution from the presidency to the courts is now seen as operating in a partisan fashion in one direction or the other,” said poll codirector Mark Penn.

Both parties for war The only unequivocal winner is the bipartisan War Party, which has used the manufactured crisis to drench the nation in anti-Russian hysteria – worse than back in the bad old days of the Red Scares. By March, Black Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) was using much the same language as Dick Cheney to describe the Kremlin. “I think this attack that we’ve experienced is a form of war, a form of war on our fundamental democratic principles,” said the hopelessly brainwashed representative of the Black Misleadership Class.

Lee reverses herself So insane have the Democrats become that we are probably better off with war powers effectively in the hands of Donald Trump than with California’s Barbara Lee, the only member of Congress that voted against the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. She was in her “right mind” then, but no longer. as well as the African descendent community. The main vehicle of disseminating information concerning this purpose is through the Black chambers located throughout the United States and the entire Black Diaspora and via mass marketing. A strategic plan drives the activities. The Chamber is non-profit, nonpartisan and non-sectarian and abides by the rules set forth via IRS 501(c)3 classification.” Why would anyone want to attack that?

Detractors sued Filing suit was the right thing. We found out who was behind it all and made them stop, for the most part. We were doing God’s work and they were acting like the devil. Of course, we were going to win. The litigation process was friendlier than we expected. The law firm for the defendants were professional. They put pressure on their client to settle. We didn’t think much of it at the time. However, the main lawyer for the opposition, who was a motorcycle enthusiast, was killed the following month after settlement by a car that pushed him off the

EDITORIAL

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: SUNNIS VS. SHIITES

STEVE SACK, THE MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE

ety based upon democratic principles of institutional and ethical fairness, because justice is a spiritual concept. If all that is being said is not enough to change America’s direction from that of being a nation of pathetic pleasure-seekinghypocrites to “one nation under God with liberty and justice for all,” God help us! For we all know that, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighted in his way.” (Psalms 37: 23)

Not good or godly The world knows that Trump and Putin are not good or godly men. Every American should also “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of his flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6: 7-8) A lot of conflict of interest concerns could easily be cleared up if President Trump would simply release his federal income tax Trump’s willingness to talk with the leader of Russia, in Hamburg, infuriated Rep. Lee, who tweeted: “Outraged by President Trump’s 2 hr meeting w/Putin, the man who orchestrated attacks on our democracy. Where do his loyalties lie?” A better question is: When and where did Lee join the War Party? The dogs of war at U.S. intelligence agencies have led the charge against Trump since they encamped at Hillary Clinton’s campaign headquarters last year. The spoiled oligarch was not trusted to maintain the momentum of the US military offensive begun by Barack Obama in 2011, with the unprovoked war against Libya. The state of war must be preserved, whatever the cost to the empire’s domestic institutions. Although the Democrats will ultimately harm themselves with the electorate by folding into the War Party, it suits the purposes of party leadership and the fat cats that finance them. The ruling class has nothing to offer the people except the total insecurity of part-time “gig jobs” and austerity.

No differences Democrats campaign as if there really is a clash of ideas about the organization of society, but they must propose nothing that fundamentally conflicts with the steady

returns. Every American would know whether he serves country or self and family. Who is it that President Trump is attempting to “make great”– country or self? More importantly, the moral inconsistency of Republican Party officials is woefully shameful, because of their blind-eyed, money-grabbing complicity in the destruction of America’s democratic institutions. “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. And this will we do, if God permit.” (Hebrews 6: 1-3).

Bobby Mills has a Ph.D. in sociology from Syracuse University and a professional degree in theology from Colgate Rochester Divinity School. Click on this commentary at www.flcourier.com to write your own response. consolidation of wealth and power by the oligarchy (the American one, not the Russians). That goes for Bernie Sanders, too. Heard anything about single payer from him lately? The “all Russiagate, all the time” information regime – which also prepares the public for a wider war scenario – provides the illusion of motion that passes for “resistance” to the rule of the rich, as personified by Donald Trump. But there has been no Democratic program to reorder society for at least a generation. And now, under the New McCarthyism, the only politics that is allowed is war politics, consisting of denunciations of those who threaten “our fundamental democratic principles” – which need not be defined or even proven to exist. That’s why it has been an empty year, albeit a very loud one. As Gil Scott-Heron sang in “Winter in America,” “Nobody’s fighting, ‘cause nobody knows what to save.”

Glen Ford is executive editor of BlackAgendaReport.com. Email him at Glen.Ford@BlackAgendaReport.com. Click on this commentary at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

road mysteriously. This remind- Douglas told us it would not be ed us of what we learned about easy: the opposition at another time in the past. ‘Power concedes nothing’

Growing again Times are getting back to normal. Our growth, especially on the international theatre, is growing. Colombia, Cuba, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and other nations are on our radar. Our two sons now have their masters of business administration degrees from John Hopkins and Babson College respectively, with concentrations in entrepreneurship. They are now giving us free consulting services. We have established communication with the new White House and are meeting the new agency executives as the Senate confirms them. The Trump administration believes in good business inclusive of small business. At last, we can get back to doing what we do best – empowering and inspiring Black-owned businesses. Nothing is going to take that away from us. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but why did a Black president have to be the biggest adversary? Frederick

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle. “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and never will…Men may not get all they pay for in this world; but they must certainly pay for all they get.” God is so good all the time!

Harry C. Alford is the cofounder and president/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce. Contact him via www.nationalbcc.org. Click on this commentary at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

TOJ A6

NATION

JULY 21 – JULY 27, 2017

24 minorities are in senior Senate jobs It appears little is being done to boost the numbers of top staffers on the Hill. BY WILLIAM DOUGLAS MCCLATCHY WASHINGTON BUREAU/TNS

WASHINGTON – Of the Senate’s 336 top staff jobs — the kind that carry sixfigure salaries and behindthe-scenes clout — just 24 were held by people of color during the last Congress. U.S. lawmakers are not subject to some of the government’s most historic, most celebrated antidiscrimination and labor laws. And there’s little momentum on Capitol Hill behind efforts to get Congress in line with the sort of equal access that private employers have had to practice for decades. The best Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., an outspoken critic of Congress’ practices, could do this summer was to get a House subcommittee to go along with a study of diversity in House offices and how to achieve more of it. And that still needs congressional approval, which is unlikely until at least the fall. “Too bad that we who make the laws don’t have to comply with those laws,” Lee said.

Nonpartisan study The Senate figures come from a study conducted by the nonpartisan Joint Center for Political and Eco-

nomic Studies of Black, Hispanic, Native Americans, Asian-American and other non-White staffing on the Hill. No authoritative studies of House hiring exist. The one group that boasts it practicing what it enacts for others are Senate Democrats. Fifteen of the 48 senators who caucus with Democrats said that more than 20 percent of their total staff is African-American, topped by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., at 36 percent, according to a study by the Senate Democratic Caucus. Sens. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Jon Tester, DMont., and Jack Reed, DR.I., had no Black staffers. Among Hispanics, five senators reported staffs with more than 20 percent Hispanic employees. At the top was Sen. Tom Udall, DN.M., with 43 percent. Sens. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., Ben Cardin, DMd., and Tester had no Hispanic staffers. The study did not say how many African-Americans and Hispanics were in higherpaying jobs.

Black chiefs of staff House Democrats and Republicans provided no data, but several diversity advocates and current and former Capitol Hill staffers maintain the GOP efforts are improving. In December, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., hired Jonathan Burks as chief of staff, making him the first African-American to hold that position. And in the Senate, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., the only

CONGRESSIONALBLACKASSOCIATES.COM

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., the only Republican African-American senator, has an African-American chief of staff, Jennifer DeCasper. They are shown during a 2015 Trailblazers event hosted by the Congressional Black Associates. Republican AfricanAmerican senator, also has an African-American chief of staff, Jennifer DeCasper. Brennen Britton, who is Black, is Sen. Jerry Moran’s chief of staff. Courtney Temple, an African-American woman, is legislative director for Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. Darrell Jordan is communications director for Sen. James Lankford, ROkla.

More needed Still, the numbers in both parties are small. “Where’s the pipeline?” asked Dwayne Carson, an African-American who serves as assistant director of the conservative Republican Study Committee and former deputy chief of staff for Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C. “How do you get (minority students) from college, but not just intern-

ing on the Hill, but to serve the people of the United States and their district for five or seven or 10 years so they can become a Jennifer DeCasper or a Jonathan Burks?” he asked.

Dems’ diversity Among congressional leaders, 43 percent of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office is staffed by minorities — 19 percent African-American, 14 percent Latino and 9 percent Asian or Pacific Islander and 5 percent Middle Eastern or North African, according to the Senate Democratic study. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s staff includes an Arab-American chief of staff, AfricanAmerican female national security adviser, communications director and press secretary, and a Latino member services director.

No response A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., declined to detail the office staffing levels. A Ryan spokeswoman didn’t return emails with questions about diversity on the speaker’s staff. “There’s been a long, long tradition of lawmakers being able to control their own staff, their political appointment,” said Burdett Loomis, a University of Kansas political science professor and congressional expert. “They’ve always felt that they should have somewhat more flexibility in hiring. Once that gets instituted, it’s hard to change it.”

‘Start somewhere’ For Lee, the experience is personal. She recalled how as a congressional intern and staffer in the 1970s and 1980s, she en-

countered few Capitol Hill staffers who looked like her. Now an African-American House member from California, Lee said of her study: “You have to start somewhere and this is unprecedented. We’ve never had Democrats and Republicans agree that you’ve got to start somewhere.” It’s a small but important step, Lee and others say, in trying to remedy a longstanding problem in a government institution that is exempt from some of the anti-discrimination and labor laws that it has passed. “She was able to raise a critical issue in a divided Congress,” said Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Kan., chairman of the House Appropriations legislative branch subcommittee, which unanimously approved Lee’s amendment. “That doesn’t happen every day in Congress.”

Study: Blacks lead in Bible engagement, beliefs The results of the latest State of the Bible survey by American Bible Society showed African-Americans are more engaged with the Bible than any other group. Among African-Americans, 71 percent are considered Bible engaged or Bible friendly compared to just 58 percent of all Americans. A small segment of AfricanAmericans, just 6 percent, has hostile feelings toward the Bible; only 4 percent are skeptical; and 19 percent are neutral.

What terms mean

ROBERT COHEN/ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH/TNS

Darryl Burton sat locked in a cell for 24 years, sentenced to life imprisonment for a murder he said he never committed, he wrote a letter to God asking for help. After Burton’s release years ago, he remained faithful, praying and reading his Bible daily before sunrise.

Poll shows Hillary Clinton still unpopular BY JOHN MCCORMICK BLOOMBERG NEWS/TNS

CHICAGO — For a president with historically low poll numbers, Donald Trump can at least find solace in this: Hillary Clinton is doing worse. Trump’s 2016 Democratic rival is viewed favorably by just 39 percent of Americans in the latest Bloomberg National Poll, two points lower than the president. It’s the sec-

ond-lowest score for Clinton since the poll started tracking her in September 2009. The former secretary of state has always been a polarizing figure, but this survey shows she’s even lost popularity among those who voted for her in November.

‘Growing discontent’ More than a fifth of Clinton voters say they

have an unfavorable view of her. By comparison, just 8 percent of likely Clinton voters felt that way in the final Bloomberg poll before the election, and just 6 percent of Trump’s voters now say they view him unfavorably. “There’s growing discontent with Hillary Clinton even as she has largely stayed out of the spotlight,” said pollster J. Ann Selzer, who oversaw the survey. “It’s not a pox on

Bible engage: One who has a high view of the scriptures and read the Bible four or more times a week. Bible friendly: One who has a high view of the scriptures but read the Bible fewer than four times a week. Bible hostile: One who believes the Bible is just another book of teachings written by men and was written to control or manipulate people. Bible skeptic: One who believes the Bible is just another book of teachings

the Democratic house because numbers for other Democrats are good.”

‘Hard to like’ In follow-up interviews with poll participants, Clinton voters denied that their negative feelings about her had anything to do with her losing the election and, therefore, helping Trump move into the White House. Instead, their comments often reflected the ongoing angst among Democrats about how best to position themselves against Trump and

written by men. Bible neutral: One who has a lower, but not negative, view of Scripture and rarely or never reads the Bible.

Own, download more When asked if the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life, 77 percent agreed that it does. And while all Americans believe morality is on the decline (81 percent), 35 percent of African-Americans blame the decline on lack of Bible reading When African-Americans sit down to read the Bible, 29 percent read it for an hour or more – the leading timeframe for this category. Many cited feeling encouraged (51 percent) and hopeful (53 percent) as a result of reading the Bible.

The rankings African-Americans ranked higher than all Americans in: •Owning at least one Bible in their homes (95 per-

Republicans in 2018 and beyond. Many said they wished Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont had won the Democratic nomination, or that they never liked Clinton and only voted for her because she was the lesser of two bad choices. “She did not feel authentic or genuine to me,” said Chris Leininger, 29, an insurance agent from Fountain Valley, California. “She was hard to like.”

Preferred Sanders Leininger, an independent voter who leans

cent) •Wishing they read the Bible more (74 percent) •Downloading or using a Bible app on a smart phone (46 percent) •Increasing Bible reading in the last year (33 percent) •Listening to audio versions of the Bible (40 percent) •Reading or listening to the Bible or praying every day (27 percent)

Annual report “African-Americans are much more inclined to recognize the value of reading the Bible,” said Roy Peterson, president and CEO of American Bible Society. “Anyone who devotes time to the word of God can discover its unique ability to help make sense of life.” State of the Bible is an annual report commissioned by American Bible Society and conducted by Barna Group on behaviors and beliefs about the Bible among U.S. adults. For more information about the research, visit StateoftheBible.org.

Democratic, said she found Sanders much more likable and with a better story to tell voters. “But I don’t blame her for Trump,” she said. “There were a lot of factors that fed into Trump becoming a president and she was just one of them.” As was the case throughout the campaign, Clinton suffers from gender and racial gaps. Just 35 percent of men hold a favorable view of her, compared to 43 percent of women. And just 32 percent of whites like her, while 51 percent of non-Whites do.

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Reducing meat intake? There’s a name for it See page B3

JULY 21 – JULY 27, 2017

SHARING BLACK LIFE, STATEWIDE

SOUTH FLORIDA / TREASURE COAST AREA

Central Florida singer’s album frames struggles See page B5

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SECTION

‘THE WEATHER 1 TOOK EVERYTHING’

Above is one of several men working on a site just off the desolated highway leading into the Grand’Anse.

Since Hurricane Matthew ravaged Haiti, residents feel abandoned by foreign aid donors and politicians as they struggle to rebuild their lives. BY JACQUELINE CHARLES MIAMI HERALD/TNS

LAINE GOMMIERS, Haiti – A feisty Vanette Joseph slowly navigates her way through a field of debris, passing broken branches and other reminders of last year’s devastating 145-mph hurricane before spying one of her few surviving plants. “All of the lime trees were destroyed,” she says as something catches her eye. She moves in for a closer look. Much like Hurricane Matthew put a chokehold on her livelihood, an invasive coiling vine has gotten hold of the lone standing lime tree, and Joseph, 91, isn’t happy. So the determined farmer pushes her eyeglasses on top of her forehead, reaches in and starts pulling. “I had 100 coconut trees,” she said. “They used to give me at least 10 sacks to send to Port-au-Prince. Now, I can’t even find one coconut to put in some rice to eat.”

Rodley Charles, 16, rides his bicycle along Pointe-Sable Beach in Port Salut, Haiti. The long-stretch of Pointe Sable remains littered with downed almond, poinciana and palm trees and tourists have yet to return to the coastal city of Port Salut, which lost most of its hotels after the storm made landfall in the region.

Damage: $2.8 billion For most of her life Joseph has been self-sufficient, building a life off of coconut, breadfruit, plantain, mangoes and other crops, which she and her late husband planted in this western breadbasket, 172 miles from Haiti’s capital city of Port-au-Prince. Then Hurricane Matthew rumbled through in October and uprooted it all, leaving behind $2.8 billion in damage. In Matthew’s immediate aftermath, U.N. and nongovernmental agencies trucked and flew in thousands of metric tons of rice and vegetable oil and distributed emergency tarps to storm victims all along Haiti’s southern peninsula, where the storm’s Category 4 winds hit. And when reports of hunger surfaced in this rural plain and other storm-ravaged communities earlier this year, they stepped in to do more.

Fending for themselves But nine months after Matthew’s passage, the free rice rations have stopped and

After losing her home in Hurricane Matthew, Marie Dinette Clona, 67, and her son Sterlin Brega, 23, moved into a shack in the market in Jeremie’s Carrefour Bac, where residents in June blocked the road, protesting the lack of assistance. Clona, who sells food, says there is a lot of hunger and many can’t even afford to buy food. She is running her business, she said on credit and often ends up throwing away unsold food.

4 food shortages have been replaced with unaffordable high-priced staples. Once locally available, they are now being trucked in. All along the peninsula, peasants who have been eking out a meager existence by subsistence farming and fishing say they’ve been left to fend for themselves amid a painfully slow recovery and another hurricane season.

Fruit, vegetables gone They feel abandoned, they say, by foreign aid donors and politicians as they struggle to See HAITI, Page B2

Women in Impasse Beauzile in Jeremie, Haiti spend the morning cooking rice and beans at a “community restaurant,” that the Haitian government has launched to help curb hunger. The cooks, all unpaid, say often there isn’t enough food to feed the 1,200 to 1,300 people who come daily for a plate.

CALENDAR & BOOKS

JULY 21 – JULY 27, 2017

STOJ

FLORIDA COMMUNITY CALENDAR Sunrise: Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey and Tauren Wells will be in concert on Aug. 10 at the BB&T Center and Aug. 11 at Tampa’s Amalie Arena. Miami: Tickets are on sale for the Mann’s World Concert and Comedy Show with David and Tamela Mann at the James L. Knight Center on Sept. 1. Orlando: Reggae star Beres Hammond performs Aug. 5 at Hard Rock Live Orlando and Aug. 6 at the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center.

NEPHEW TOMMY & KELLY PRICE

Frankie Beverly and Maze, Nephew Tommy of the “Steve Harvey Morning Show,’’ Tank and Kelly Price are scheduled Sept. 2 at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa.

FUTURE

The rapper performs Aug. 13 in West Palm Beach and Aug. 14 in Tampa and Aug. 16 in Jacksonville.

Miami Beach: Mary J. Blige’s Strength of a Woman Tour is at the Jackie Gleason Theater on Aug. 22. Jacksonville: The

Book explores shifting meaning of responsibility BY DR. GLENN C. ALTSCHULER SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA COURIER

“It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions,” President Ronald Reagan declared in the 1980s. In his inaugural address, President Bill Clinton agreed that America “must offer more opportunity to all and demand responsibility from all.” And, as he demanded an economy “in which everyone gets a fair shot.’’ President Barack Obama maintained that “an America built to last insists on responsibility from everybody.” According to Yascha Mounk, a lecturer in political theory in the Government Department of Harvard University, this presidential rhetoric marked a significant shift in the United States, from an empha-

HAITI

from Page 1 rebuild their lives, not just from Matthew’s wreckage, which left them with massive loss of revenues, but from the heavy rain and drought that ensued and turned their harvest to dust. “We can spend 30 years and we’ll never bounce back,” said Duvanel Francois, 42, who is trying to earn enough to pay for school-exam fees in the rural outskirts of the seaside city of Jeremie by helping another farmer rebuild his home. “We used to have plantains; we don’t have any. We used to have oranges as fruits; we don’t have any. We had avocados, potatoes. These were our oxygen. Once you lose them, you’ve lost everything.”

Making charcoal Francois was among several men shoveling claycolored soil. Located off a rutted, cratered part of the desolated national road that leads into the Grand’Anse, one of Haiti’s 10 geographical departments on the southwest coast, the construction site was an oddity. Even though shiny new metal roofs dot the region’s once-again-green landscape, most homes remain in disrepair, their occupants shuttered in deeper misery, their only economic activity the making of charcoal. Proud that his pre-Matthew earnings had enabled him to school six children, Francois said he only man-

BOOK REVIEW Review of The Age of Responsibility: Luck, Choice, and the Welfare State by Yascha Mounk. Harvard University Press, 280 pages. sis on responsibility as a duty to help others, by for example, making sacrifices for our country, to a conception in which each of us is responsible to take care of ourselves – and suffer the consequences if we do not do so.

‘Lot of damage’ In “The Age of Responsibility,’’ Mounk claims that when this new conception has been translated into “the cold, bureaucratic logic of the welfare state,” it has done a lot of damage, to individuals and to American society. By focusing on a blame game, he indicates, this

aged this school year because fees were waived. But with no such luck with upcoming final exams, he had no other choice, he said, but to seek out odd jobs in hopes of raising $4. “The weather took everything,” he said. To make ends meet he had put up a piece of his property for sale but found no takers. “I’m fighting, but I’ve yet to have anyone from the government or mayor’s office come give me a hand.”

Some relief Late last month, President Jovenel Moise declared a state of emergency for the storm-hit regions. Coming nearly nine months after Matthew, the June 30 presidential decree came one day before a caravan of excavators and other state-owned earthmoving equipment rolled out of the rice-growing Artibonite Valley to the south as part of Moise’s ‘Caravan of Change’ initiative he launched after taking office on Feb. 7. Some Haitians, like agricultural specialist JeanMarie Pamphile, who has been helping Joseph clear her land so she can benefit from a Catholic Relief Services replanting program, have a lot of hope that the caravan, which arrived in the Grand’Anse on Friday, can help bring much of the storm-ravaged land back to life.

Little faith The CRS program is paying $1 per cacao tree and 50 cents per banana tree (for as many as 100 of each tree) to get about 7,000 farm-

doctrine of personal responsibility distracts us from the role of social and economic forces. And Mounk proposes an alternative way of looking at personal responsibility that seeks to empower rather than punish. Mounk may well have exaggerated the nature and magnitude of the shift. Americans have always embraced responsibility as individual accountability and as a duty to others (delivered through private charity and taxpayer-funded social welfare programs).

Important insights Americans have distinguished between poor people, sick people, the unemployed, and criminals who they deem not fully responsible for their plight and who therefore deserve assistance, and those who should be left to their own devices or disciplined. Americans have been – and remain – uncertain about limits on our free will and the implications of these limits for policies grounded in an assessment of personal responsibility. Although his history is flawed, Mounk’s exercise in moral philosophy yields important insights into the

concept of personal responsibility and on our approach to health care, unemployment, disability, welfare, and mass incarceration.

U.S. appeal Mounk acknowledges that the notion of personal accountability has considerable appeal throughout the United States. All of us, whatever our view of free will, he agrees, seek a substantial degree of control over our lives, feel we are taking responsibility for ourselves, and want to be seen as doing so. He demonstrates, however, the arbitrariness and “sheer impracticality” of applying the doctrine of personal responsibility, or, for that matter, a doctrine of “no responsibility”

Morocco Shrine Grounds will be site of the Aug. 12 Throwback Concert featuring Morris Day and The Time, Adina Howard, Lakeside, Ready for the World, Troop, and Rude Boys. Orlando: Tickets are on sale for Jay-Z’s 4:44 Tour. He’ll be at the Amway Center on Nov. 11 and Miami’s AmericanAirlines Arena on Nov. 12. Jacksonville: Lauryn Hill and Nas will perform Sept. 23 at Daily’s Place. Fort Lauderdale: Comedian and actor Sinbad takes the stage Aug. 11 at the Parker Playhouse. Orlando: An All White Affair starring Ginuwine and DJ Envy is July 21 at Hard Rock Live Orlando. Jacksonville: Catch Betty Wright on July 22 at the Times-Union Center for

(based on an individual’s background, prior experiences, including racism and child abuse, and good or bad luck) in a consistent manner. Doing so, he writes, would involve abolishing virtually all forms of rewards and punishments.

Work in progress Mounk’s alternative, his “positive conception of responsibility,” is predicated on the assumption that it is more important to affect future behavior than to track the moral status of past behavior. To that end, Mounk places the actions of individuals in the context of institutional and structural realities (failing schools, automation, globalization) that affected the individual’s options. The aim, of course, is

the Performing Arts. Miami: J. Cole’s Your Eyez Only Tour stops at the AmericanAirlines Arena on Aug. 14 and Orlando’s Amway Center on Aug. 16. St. Petersburg: Tickets are on sale for a show with the Isley Brothers on Aug. 6 at the Mahaffey Theater. Orlando: The 18th Annual Darrell Armstrong Classic Weekend is Aug. 11-13. The foundation helps premature babies. More info: 407-252-333 or jbm395@gmail.com. Miami: Tickets are on sale for Kendrick Lamar’s Damn Tour on Sept. 2 at the AmericanAirlines Arena and Sept. 10 at Tampa’s Amalie Arena. Hollywood: Actor and comedian Chris Tucker takes the Hard Rock Live stage on Sept. 2.

to change those realities. This new conception is a work in progress, involving difficult balancing acts and the danger of removing incentives for people to act in socially responsible ways. But it’s a start. And Mounk is surely right to conclude that “The spread of responsibility is a worthy goal of public policy –- but only if we interpret responsibility as a constructive ideal, designing institutions with the aim of empowering citizens to take on the responsibility they seek.”

Dr. Glenn C. Altschuler is the Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Professor of American Studies at Cornell University. He wrote this review for the Florida Courier.

ers to diversify their food and income, and expand their cacao gardens. But it requires an investment — money many don’t have. “I should easily be able to recruit 117 people,” said Pamphile, who has been trying to enroll farmers in the CRS program. “But while a lot of people have offered up their names, they can’t plant because they don’t have the funds to prepare their land.” Fisherman Recilhome St. Firmin, on the other hand, says he doesn’t have much faith in the caravan, which is getting some financial assistance from the InterAmerican Development Bank but has been dismissed by critics as political cinema. “There won’t be any change,” said St. Firmin, who lives on the coastal outskirts of Port Salut, about four hours south of the Grand’Anse.

‘Nothing is impossible’ Like many in Port Salut, which has gone from being a vibrant tourist town to a place seemingly devoid of life after losing more than a dozen of its hotels to Matthew, St. Firmin thought the hurricane’s deadly passage would bring an immediate injection of cash and reconstruction along the coast. “I don’t think they’ve forgotten us,” he said of donors and the Haitian government. “I just think they aren’t concerned with us. If they were concerned about our well-being they would have been helping since Matthew passed. Nothing is impossible.”

FOCUS FEATURES PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH SIERRA PICTURES A DENVER & DELILAH PRODUCTIONS/CHICKIE THE COP/TGIM FILMS AND 87ELEVEN PRODUCTION A FILM BY DAVID LEITCH CHARLIZE THERON JAMES MCAVOY “ATOMIC BLONDE” JOHN GOODMAN TIL SCHWEIGER EDDIE MARSAN SOFIA BOUTELLA AND TOBY JONES CASTING COSTUME PRODUCTION DIRECTOR OF BY MARY VERNIEU, CSA MARISOL RONCALI DESIGNER CINDY EVANS EDITOR ELÍSABET RONALDSDÓTTIR DESIGNER DAVID SCHEUNEMANN PHOTOGRAPHY JONATHAN SELA

NICK MEYER MARC SCHABERGJOE NOZEMACKSTEVEN V. SCAVELLI ETHAN SMITHDAVID GUILLODKURT JOHNSTAD PRODUCEDBY ERIC GITTER PETER SCHWERIN KELLY MCCORMICK CHARLIZE THERON A.J. DIX BETH KONOSCREENPLAY BASED ON THE ONI PRESS GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES “THE COLDEST CITY” WRITTEN BY ANTONY JOHNSTON AND ILLUSTRATED BY SAM HART DIRECTED BY KURT JOHNSTAD BY DAVID LEITCH EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

SOUNDTRACK ON BACK LOT MUSIC

CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR STARTS FRIDAY, JULY 28 THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES

STOJ

JULY 21 – JULY 27, 2017

HEALTH

B3 ing foods, we say, ‘Well, have you tried quinoa? Or, have you had the Impossible Burger? You should try them.’ ”

Health concerns

HECTOR AMEZCUA/SACRAMENTO BEE/TNS

Simeon Gant prepares a salad for his dinner on July 6. He gave up pork 20 years ago, then beef five years ago. He no longer cooks chicken at home but occasionally eats it when he’s out. He’s one of a growing number of people who are being called Reducetarians.

Cutting back on meat? You're a reducetarian BY CATHIE ANDERSON SACRAMENTO BEE/TNS

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – After giving up meat, Brian Kateman returned home to Staten Island, New York for Thanksgiving dinner and under pressure from his family, he grabbed a piece of turkey. “In that moment, my sister, as siblings will do, took the opportunity to call me out on it and said, ‘I thought you were a vegetarian, Brian,’” Kateman recalled. “I had a similar experience when I went out to breakfast with some friends, and I took a piece of bacon.” He talked with his friend Tyler Alterman about the impact that these gotcha moments could have on people’s efforts to eat

less meat. How could they provide affirmation and encouragement rather than holding people up to ridicule for their failures? They decided that, like vegetarians and vegans, people in this group needed guiding principles and a name around which they could coalesce.

A new term The term “flexitarian,” they said, didn’t get across the idea of eliminating or cutting back on meat. They played around with all sorts of other words before deciding on “reducetarian.” Google searches showed no one else was using it, so they created the Reducetarian Foundation. “We know that it can be challenging sometimes to make drastic changes to diet,” Kateman

said. “So there was a real need to allow people to feel good about the fact that they were making a change in their diet, even if they weren’t perfect or pure. … The average American eats well over 200 pounds of meat a year, and so if a person was eating 10 pounds of meat in a year, why should we criticize them?”

A family choice The Ziegler household over in Davis has reducetarians of virtually every stripe. Jay Ziegler, who handles government relations for the Nature Conservancy, said he has cut back on red meat out of concerns about cholesterol. His wife, Carri, he said, doesn’t eat much red meat or pork because she doesn’t like either. Their teen son, William, is con-

cerned about the environmental impact of factory farms and has reduced his consumption of red meat. Their daughter, Amelia, 20, is a vegan, so she doesn’t eat any animal products.

Variety of reasons At the Reducetarian Foundation, Kateman and Alterman encourage people to eat less meat and remind people that vegans, vegetarians and reducetarians all share many of the same concerns about climate change, biodiversity loss, animal welfare and human health. It’s far easier, however, to imagine a meatless world once people have been successful at going without meat, Kateman said. “No matter what inspires someone to make a change to their diet that improves their bodies and the planet, we want to celebrate that,” Kateman said, “and so when a person says, ‘I just want to save money,’ we say a great way to do that is to eat more plant-based food. “When a person says they just want to try new or interest-

Sacramento resident Simeon Gant, executive director of Green Tech Education & Employment, gave up pork and meat for health reasons. He rarely cooks chicken at home out of concerns about salmonella. “I felt like the food wasn’t fully digesting or going through my system,” Gant said. “It felt like it was clogged up in my chest area. I started eating more vegetables, and I felt like my flow became better. … What I’m still concerned about is when I think about red meat not digesting fully, I feel like if I’m eating less of that, I’m at least reducing my chances of getting cancer.” Gant, however, is also concerned about animal welfare: “If we are mistreating or hurting or brutalizing the animals that we are eating, I do believe that some of that pain is transferred to our bodies as we are eating them.”

Book on subject People can learn more about the reducetarian philosophy at reducetarian.org. Kateman, Alterman and their team also produced a book called “The Reducetarian Solution.” Released in April, it has been endorsed by a diverse constellation of thought leaders, including Deepak Chopra and Sam Harris. The book is a compilation of essays by a wide spectrum of people such as Bill McKibben, Peter Singer and Melanie Joy, but it also contains recipes to assist people trying to change their diet. “I thought there was a lot of power in having all of these different voices with a varying spectrum of opinion coming together around a shared view,” Kateman said. “Sometimes, people get caught up in their small differences, and even though they have so much in common.”

Studies: Coffee drinkers live longer, have lower risk of disease BY BRADLEY J. FIKES SAN DIEGO UNION -TRIBUNE/TNS

Coffee drinkers live longer, according to two large-scale studies released this month that add to extensive research indicating coffee consumption is associated with better health. The studies examined the health histories of hundreds of thousands of people who were tracked over many years. They found that coffee-drinking reduced the risk of various diseases among people from several ethnicities, and this effect was seen in drinkers of regular or decaffeinated coffee. And the more coffee consumed, the greater the benefit.

No clinical trials These are observational studies, not controlled clinical trials. So while they demonstrate an association, they don’t prove cause and effect. But at the least, researchers said the latest evidence reinforces a large body of previous reports indicating there’s no harm from coffee — and that it might very well benefit people’s health. Both of the new studies were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. They asked participants about whether they drank coffee, and if so, how much. Participants were also asked about habits that influence health, such as smoking, exercise and heart disease.

Florida Zika cases top 100 this year

Blacks included One study was led by Veronica W. Setiawan of the University of Southern California. Funded by the National Cancer Institute, it examined coffee-drinking habits among more than 180,000 Whites, AfricanAmericans, Latinos, JapaneseAmericans and native Hawaiians. They were followed for an average of 16 years. The other was performed by European scientists from Imperial College London and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, led by Marc J. Gunter of the IARC. It examined coffee-drinking among more than 520,000 adults from 10 European countries.

No ethnicity affect The study led by Setiawan found those drinking one cup of coffee daily had a 12 percent lower risk of death from heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, respiratory and kidney disease. For those drinking three cups a day, the risk reduction rose to 18 percent. In previous studies, the great majority of those examined were White, meaning that environmental and lifestyle differences among ethnicities could have confounded the results. But her study found these benefits to occur regardless of the ethnicity studied.

Country didn’t matter The study led by Gunter likewise found a lower death risk

THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Florida has had 101 cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus this year, with most involving people who brought the virus into the state after being infected

from various ailments, including digestive, circulatory and liver disease. The relationship was the same regardless of country, the study found. It was funded by the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Consumers and International Agency for Research on Cancer. The studies make a significant contribution to knowledge about coffee and health, said Peter Adams, professor of the Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. “It’s good to know that not everything that gives you a buzz is bad for you,” Adams said by email.

‘Complex concoction’ “These two publications extend the findings of previous studies indicating the apparent benefits of coffee drinking,” he added. “While the data across these and previous investigations seems consistent and compelling, to be really convincing it is important to figure out how it works. “As the authors note, coffee is a complex concoction, and caffeine itself does not seem to be responsible. Coffee does contain many other candidate molecules, for example anti-oxidants.” “However, recent studies have challenged the view that anti-oxidants are always beneficial. Oxidants may not cause aging as previously thought, and anti-oxidants can even help cancer cells

elsewhere, according to numbers posted on the state Department of Health website. The total includes 75 “travel-related” infections this year and six cases in which people were exposed in Florida in 2016 and diag-

FRANCINE ORR/LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS

Two new studies on coffee recently were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. to survive!” “So until we figure out how it works, you can keep drinking coffee and stay off the expensive anti-oxidants from the pharmacy,” he said.

The risks Coffee is most renowned for its stimulant effect, provided by caffeine. However, individuals respond differently based on their genetics. Some people are metabolically fast at breaking down caffeine, others metabolize it more slowly. This has health consequenc-

nosed in 2017. Another 20 cases involve people who were exposed to Zika in 2016 and tested in 2017. In those cases, the website indicates the nature of the exposure is undetermined and the people are not showing symptoms. Zika

es. One of the few studies that showed some harm in coffee found that slow metabolizers who drank four or more cups of regular coffee a day experience a 36 percent greater risk of nonfatal heart attacks. However, fast metabolizers who drank that much coffee had a lower risk of heart attacks. The presumptive explanation is that the non-caffeine components of coffee exert beneficial effects, and fast metabolizers clear caffeine quickly enough to avoid harm from an excessive dose.

is particularly dangerous to pregnant women because it can cause severe birth defects. The Department of Health numbers indicate 72 pregnant women with evidence of Zika have been reported this year.

BUSINESS

JULY 21 – JULY 27, 2017

STOJ

In a lawsuit, a former banker has alleged that the Wells Fargo’s mortgageprocessing and underwriting division was understaffed, leading to chronic delays that were not borrowers’ fault.

loans last year, or about 12 percent of all U.S. mortgages. Bank spokesman Tom Goyda said he could not comment on Alaniz’s lawsuit but that the bank is reviewing “questions that have been raised about past practices” related to rate-lock fees. Alaniz and other former Wells Fargo bankers have said the practice of improperly shifting ratelock fees to borrowers was a problem in Southern California, and it’s not clear whether problems were more widespread. The bank has parted ways with several mortgage executives, including its former national sales manager and two regional managers who oversaw mortgage operations in California, Nevada and Oregon.

Another complaint

RICHARD B. LEVINE/ SIPA USA/TNS

Lawsuit: Bank stuck mortgage borrowers with extra fees BY JAMES RUFUS KOREN LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS

As Wells Fargo & Co. continues to be hit with fallout from its sham-accounts scandal, the bank is facing allegations that it put the screws to customers in yet another way: by slapping them with fees for delays in processing mortgage applications. A former Wells Fargo mortgage banker who worked in Beverly Hills alleged in a lawsuit last week that the bank falsified records so it could blame delays on borrowers — and that it fired him for trying to report the practice. The legal action follows a months-long internal investigation into the alleged abusive practices, one that contributed to

an executive shake-up in the San Francisco bank’s mortgage business. ProPublica first reported on the alleged improper fees in January.

Chronic delays When borrowers apply for mortgages, they are typically guaranteed a set interest rate — assuming the loan is approved within a certain period, often 30 to 45 days. If approval takes longer, borrowers can still get the promised rate but there are financing costs associated with extending guarantees. Wells Fargo’s policy, like that of most lenders, is to cover those costs itself unless the delay is the borrower’s fault. Then, borrow-

ers are charged what’s called a rate-lock extension fee. In his lawsuit, former banker Mauricio Alaniz alleged that the Wells Fargo’s mortgage-processing and underwriting division was understaffed, leading to chronic delays that were not borrowers’ fault. But rather than have the bank waive the rate-lock fee, workers would falsely report that borrowers had submitted incomplete or inaccurate information, according to the lawsuit.

Millions in fees Rate-lock fees can be significant, typically ranging from 0.125 percent to 0.25 percent of the amount of a mortgage, depend-

ing on the size of the loan and other factors. For a home buyer looking to borrow $400,000, a 0.25 percent fee is $1,000. Wells Fargo “would systematically attempt to charge or pass the rate lock expiration fees on to customers, even when the delay was not the customer’s fault,” Alaniz alleged in his complaint, filed July 10 in federal court in Los Angeles. He alleged that the practice led to borrowers paying millions of dollars in improper fees.

Reviewing it Wells Fargo is by far the nation’s largest mortgage lender, originating $244 billion in home

Small businesses sold twice as many items during Amazon’s Prime Day

Biggest ever For Amazon, it serves as a lasso to rope in new members, and as a way to test the robustness of its logistics in an otherwise dead period for retailers. The company said the latest Prime Day was its biggest day ever, with global sales surpassing last year’s by 60 percent. Analysts estimate the blockbuster sale could have added more than $1 billion to Amazon’s topline.

Chavez, who also worked in Beverly Hills before resigning in April 2016, said delays in loan processing became more common starting in 2014, the year after Wells Fargo eliminated 2,300 mortgage-processing jobs. Other mortgage lenders cut back around that time, too, as the volume of mortgage applications declined following a surge of refinancing driven by record low interest rates. As it became more common for loan approvals to stretch past the initial rate-lock period, Chavez said the bank started pushing the fees on to borrowers. A third former Wells Fargo banker in L.A. said managers essentially refused to have the bank cover the cost of rate-lock extensions.

Tougher to qualify “The gloss is fading a bit on auto lending as delinquencies rise,” said James Chessen, chief economist at the American Bankers Association. “Institutions will be more careful as they think about how aggressive they will be in lending, knowing there are early signs that some people are having difficulty paying back their loans.” For a time during the 200709 recession, it was difficult to qualify for a new or used car loan. But as credit began to loosen up around 2013, banks and other lending institutions began vigorously pushing auto loans, even subprime loans to meet pent up car-buying demand.

SEATTLE – Amazon.com said small independent merchants operating on its website sold 40 million items during its recent Prime Day discount extravaganza, twice as many products as such merchants sold last year. In a blog post on Amazon’s website, Amazon executive Peter Faricy said hundreds of thousands of small businesses and entrepreneurs sold products on the Seattle-based e-commerce giant’s self-proclaimed retail holiday, which took place on July 11. The announcement was vague on specifics but underscored how much third-party sellers have been using Amazon as a sales outlet and their increasing importance to Amazon’s bottom line. Marketplace, as the online platform catering to third-party businesses is known, has become one of the pillars of the company, generating billions of dollars in income by charging merchants’ fees to sell products on Amazon’s site and, with increasing frequency, by storing these products and shipping them in the merchants’ stead. Amazon first launched Prime Day in 2015. It’s a day on which both Amazon and many of the retailers operating on its site offer discounts exclusively to members of the company’s $99 a year Prime loyalty program.

Common delays

Delinquencies in direct auto loans — those arranged directly through a bank — rose to 1.03 percent, also under the 15-year average of 1.57 percent.

BY ANGEL GONZALEZ SEATTLE TIMES/TNS

Billions in income

Alaniz’s suit alleges whistleblower retaliation and discrimination, claiming he was fired for reporting alleged illegal conduct to bank managers and because a branch manager believed Alaniz was gay. He’s seeking back pay, punitive damages and compensation for mental and emotional distress. His attorney did not return calls seeking comment. Alaniz’s complaint mirrors claims made by another former Wells Fargo mortgage banker, Frank Chavez, in a letter sent last year to members of the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate banking committee.

Slow sales

KEVIN G. HALL/MCLATCHY/TNS

Above is a Ford dealership in Prince Frederick, Md. New cars now cost an average $35,000, compared with an average $31,000 in 2013, according to Edmunds.com.

Late payments driving rise in fixed-loan delinquencies BY TIM GRANT PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE/TNS

The prices of new and used cars keep rising every year, which means consumers are borrowing more to make the purchases — and the monthly payments for cars and car-related expenses are squeezing many household budgets to the maximum. New cars now cost an average $35,000, compared with an average $31,000 in 2013, according to Edmunds.com, an automobile industry information service based in Santa Monica, Calif. The payments on a new car

with a $31,000 outstanding loan are about $516 a month, even before insurance, gasoline and maintenance are factored in.

to a dealer to buy a used car, and they will pay more.”

More for used

Some are having trouble keeping up with the payments. The Washington-based American Bankers Association reported this month that delinquencies for fixed loans with fixed payment periods rose in the first quarter, driven by an increase in late payments on auto loans. Delinquencies in indirect auto loans — those arranged through third parties, such as auto dealers — rose to 1.83 percent, although they remain well below the 15-year average of 2.20 percent.

Meanwhile, used cars also have become pretty expensive in recent years. The average loan on a used car bought at a dealership is running about $21,000 and carries an average $380-amonth payment. “It’s no longer that easy to pick up a used car for $5,000 to $10,000 that’s in good condition. Those deals are getting harder to find,” said Ivan Drury, a senior analyst at Edmunds.com. “People will probably have to go

Direct and indirect

Gus Faucher, chief economist for PNC Bank in Pittsburgh, said that while auto loan delinquency rates throughout the broad financial system have jumped, they remain low on a historical level and do not threaten the economy. “We have seen auto sales slow in 2017, and some of that is because lenders are pulling back,” Faucher said, adding that 17.5 million new cars were sold in 2016. This year’s new car sales are running at an annual rate of 17 million.

Late on homes too While cars top the list of late payments, consumers also have overextended themselves on other loans, according to the American Bankers Association. Delinquencies in bank credit cards rose to 2.74 percent but remain below their 15-year average of 3.65 percent. Home equity lines of credit delinquencies rose to 1.11 percent but also remain below their 15-year average of 1.18 percent. Home equity loan delinquencies, on the other hand, decreased to 2.59 percent, holding under their 15-year average of 2.95 percent. The American Bankers Association defines a delinquency as a late payment that is 30 days or more overdue.

STOJ

FINEST & ENTERTAINMENT

JULY 21 – JULY 27, 2017

Meet some of

FLORIDA’S

finest

Think you’re one of Florida’s Finest? E-mail your high-resolution (200 dpi) digital photo in casual wear or bathing suit taken in front of a plain background with few distractions, to news@flcourier. com with a short biography of yourself and your contact information. (No nude/ glamour/ fashion photography, please!) In order to be considered, you must be at least 18 years of age. Acceptance of the photographs submitted is in the sole and absolute discretion of Florida Courier editors. We reserve the right to retain your photograph even if it is not published. If you are selected, you will be contacted by e-mail and further instructions will be given.

CHARLES W. CHERRY II / FLORIDA COURIER

Thousands of Caribbean culture lovers converge on South Florida every year on the Columbus Day weekend to attend the annual Miami Broward Carnival, a series of concerts, pageants, parades, and competitions. On Carnival Day, “mas” (masquerade) bands of thousands of revelers dance and march behind 18-wheel tractor-trailer trucks with booming sound systems from morning until nightfall while competing for honors. Here are some of the “Finest” we’ve seen over the years. Go to www.miamibrowardcarnival.com for information on this year’s Carnival.

Central Florida’s Streeter frames struggles in album BY GERRICK D. KENNEDY LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS

Sevyn Streeter felt defeated. She was nearly 15 years into a career that included stints in two (albeit short-lived) singing groups and writing credits for Ariana Grande, Chris Brown, Brandy, Kelly Rowland, Alicia Keys, Tamar Braxton, Fantasia Barrino and Chris Brown. She had the backing of a major label, a loyal fan base, industry co-signs, a platinum radio hit and her songwriting had earned her a Grammy. Yet she had struggled to get her debut album off the ground five years after releasing her first single.

Collaborated with Brown

Stalled at 29 Feeling frustrated and perpetually stalled at the age of 29, the R&B singer-songwriter found herself in a dark place. “I was going through the craziest bout of depression,” she said, taking a brief moment to exhale. “My fans were like, ‘Where is the album? Where is the music?’ — and I was having thoughts of taking my own life,” she said. “I’ve never said that before, but it’s just the truth. To not be able to see the fruits of your labor come to fruition — when you work tirelessly — is incredibly depressing.”

‘Just disrupted’ But even in the midst of depression, Streeter did what she always did when things got tough: She started writing. And it’s those challenges, both personal and professional, that frame her long-gestating debut, “Girl Disrupted,” which came out this month. The release of her album — on Streeter’s 31st birthday — is a high point on the “emotional roller coaster” that has been her life in the music industry. “Obviously when people hear the title, they think of the Angelina Jolie movie,” Streeter said, referencing the 1999 psychological drama “Girl, Interrupted.” “I love that movie and always

was writing and recording to her MySpace page, Streeter heard from Grammy-winning producer Rich Harrison about a girl group he was putting together in 2007. Harrison christened the outfit RichGirl and crafted records that recalled the harmonies of Destiny’s Child, TLC’s street edge and the sultriness of En Vogue. The group earned a following with a handful of singles and the blessing of Beyonce (who featured them on her 2009 arena tour) before getting lost in the shuffle of their label’s restructuring and amicably parting ways.

KATHY HTCHINS/NEWSCOM/ZUMA PRESS/TNS

Sevyn Streeter, who was raised in Haines City, is shown at the BET Awards on June 25 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. watch it in bed,” Streeter said. “But one night, for some reason, the story connected to me in a different way. It was like, ‘God, that’s me and this crazy music industry.’ I’m not interrupted — just ‘disrupted.’”

From Haines City Raised outside of Orlando in the close-knit community of Haines City, the singer (born Amber Denise Streeter) cultivated her voice in church, finding inspiration from gospel acts such as Yolanda Adams, the Clark Sisters, Kim Burrell and pop stars like Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Brandy and Whitney Houston.

By the time she was a child, she knew she wanted to sing for a living. When Streeter was 10, she competed on “Showtime at the Apollo” and tied. But her real break came as a teen after she inked a deal with an Orlando production company and landed a spot in TG4, the all-girl answer to R&B boy band B2K. Though the girls opened for Bow Wow and landed a single on the charts, they fell apart the way many manufactured groups do when solo interests take over.

Another group After being persuaded by her cousin to upload the music she

Although both of her groups fizzled just as quickly as they began, it gave Streeter a taste of the industry — even if it was an often-bitter one. RichGirl had shared management with Chris Brown and done some work with him. Streeter continued collaborating with Brown; demoing records for Brown and other artists turned her into an in-demand songwriter. Eventually she wanted to step into the forefront, and after landing a deal with Atlantic Records she started working on her debut album. In 2012, she released her first single, “I Like It,” but it was 2013’s “It Won’t Stop” — one of her numerous collaborations with Brown — that really took off, peaking in the Top 5 on the R&B chart and becoming her biggest hit to date (it was certified platinum this spring). That same year she issued “Call Me Crazy, But … ,” her debut EP.

Another EP When subsequent records didn’t stick, Streeter and her label opted to put out another EP, 2015’s “Shoulda Been There, Pt. 1,” to tease her album, the aptly titled “On the Verge,” which was set for a summer 2015 release. But without a hit it didn’t make sense to launch the record, and she spent the next year tossing out buzz singles instead. The constant pivoting left her discouraged. Streeter felt like things would have taken off after the success of “It Won’t Stop” and her debut EP if she were not a woman of color. “Had that record been another artist that did not look like me, more mainstream stations

would have played it and there would have been a much bigger platform to display the rest of the music,” Streeter said. “Had ‘It Won’t Stop’ been an Ariana Grande record or a Taylor Swift record it would’ve crossed over.”

Stronger, wiser A string of personal tribulations added to the stress. She lost her grandfather, found out she wasn’t biologically related to her half sister and watched her breakup with rapper B.o.B. play out over social media. “I’m a little country girl from Florida, and here I am with all these things happening. My rosecolored glasses (got) knocked off of my face,” Streeter said. “I started to see the world in a more realistic way. It was tough to go through, but it really made me such a stronger, wiser woman. And I wrote about it all.”

Soulful, seductive Like her earlier EPs, “Girl Disrupted” updates the sweet era of ’90s R&B when strong female voices like TLC, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, SWV and Brandy balanced lush, soulful harmonies with swaggering, hip-hopdipped edge. The album features guest appearances from The-Dream, Wiz Khalifa, Jeremih, Dej Loaf, August Alsina, Ty Dolla Sign and production work from Tricky Stewart. Bedroom grooves like “My Love for You” and the risque “Peace Sign” see her in seduction mode, while “Before I Do” and “Been a Minute” show her tender side. She flips hits from Faith Evans, SWV and New Edition into sexy bangers and moves between delivering tongue lashings to an ex and revealing her deepest insecurities.

Pleased with result Now that her album is out, Streeter is breathing a little easier — and she’s ready to keep going. “I know it took a long time, but I would not have it any other way,” she said. “Dealing with what I’ve dealt with in the past … I’m going to approach this the same way I have with all of my releases. I’ll work as hard as I can — and rub (something) for luck because I know the album is amazing.”

JULY 21 – JULY 27, 2017

Bring it to the table.

The food, the stories, the same old jokes and games. All the year’s happenings. Everyone and everything. Bring it all, because that’s what family is about. And this wouldn’t be a reunion without it.

Learn how Publix can help make it a family reunion to remember at publix.com/familyreunion.

FOOD

JULY 21 – JULY 27, 2017

TOJ

Simply timeless

MEALS FROM FAMILY FEATURES

Italian cuisine has influenced food culture around the world, and is often viewed as an art form that includes the freshest, most authentic ingredients, prepared with passion and served with love to family and friends. Mealtime is a celebration, captured by the classic Italian proverb, “You never grow old at the table.” Americans have celebrated Italian food for decades. Classic Italian dishes have been joined by refreshing, modern twists on tradition that help keep the love affair alive and well with this simple, colorful, flavorful, healthy cuisine. Born in Lucca, Italy, in 1867, Filippo Berio Olive Oil celebrates 150 years of culinary passion and artistry by combining traditional ingredients in contemporary, unexpected recipes that can help you savor the moment. For more recipe creations, visit FilippoBerio.com/recipes.

CAST-IRON SKILLET PIZZA CHICKEN CUTLET Recipe courtesy of BROCCOLI RABE Chef Mary Ann Esposito SANDWICH Prep time: 10 minutes Recipe courtesy of Cook time: 20 minutes Chef Mary Ann Esposito Makes: Two 9-to-10-inch pizzas Prep time: 17 minutes 1 pound store-bought pizza Cook time: 13 minutes dough, at room temperature Servings: 4 4 tablespoons Filippo 1 ripe tomato, thinly sliced Berio Olive Oil, divided 1/4 pound fresh mozzarella 1 small onion, diced cheese, diced 1 pound broccoli rabe, coarse sea salt stems removed and 2 tablespoons Filippo Berio leaves cut into 2-inch Extra Virgin Olive Oil pieces 1/2 cup shredded fresh basil 1/4 teaspoon red pepper Heat well-oiled cast-iron or flakes nonstick 10- or 12-inch frying pan 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, over medium heat 5 minutes. divided Divide dough in half; roll one half into round 1 inch smaller than freshly ground black pepper, to taste diameter of pan. Cook dough in hot pan until dough begins to rise and 6 oil-cured black olives, bottom starts to brown. Using metal pitted and diced (optional) spatula, turn carefully. Layer half the 1/3 cup all-purpose flour tomato slices over dough; scatter half the mozzarella over top. Lower 4 chicken cutlets (about 1 pound total) heat to medium-low; cook until mozzarella melts. 1 egg, beaten Using metal spatula, transfer pizza 1/2 cup bread crumbs, to cutting board. Sprinkle with salt; toasted drizzle with half the olive oil. Cut 8 slices bread, toasted into wedges; sprinkle half the basil over top. 4 slices provolone cheese Repeat with remaining ingredients. (optional)

In 10-inch saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat; saute onion 3 minutes, or until translucent. Stir in broccoli rabe and red pepper flakes; cover and cook over medium heat 2-3 minutes, or until broccoli rabe is wilted. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper, to taste; stir in olives, if desired. Transfer mixture to bowl; cover and keep warm. In small paper or plastic bag, combine flour and remaining salt. One at a time, add chicken cutlets; shake to coat each cutlet in flour then transfer to plate. Dip cutlets in egg then bread crumbs and return to plate. Set aside. In skillet over mediumhigh heat, heat remaining olive oil. Working in batches, brown chicken, cooking 2-3 minutes, or until golden on each side and no longer pink inside. To serve: Top each bread slice with one chicken cutlet; spread with broccoli rabe mixture. Top with slices of provolone, if desired. Top with remaining bread.

A culinary journey As part of its 150th anniversary celebration this summer, a Filippo Berio Food Truck will make a culinary journey from coast to coast. Guests at the truck can sample delicious olive oils, and consumers nationwide are invited to enter a sweepstakes to win a week-long culinary experience at Toscana Saporita, a premier Italian cooking school in Tuscany, Italy. For every sweepstakes entry, Filippo Berio will donate $1 to the Careers Through Culinary Arts Program (CCAP), an organization supported by Filippo Berio since its foundation in 1990 that helps prepare disadvantaged youth for jobs in the restaurant and hospitality industry. For additional details, including tour cities and dates, and how to enter the sweepstakes, visit FollowingFilippo. com.

CAPRESE ZUCCHINI NOODLE BOWL Prep time: 15 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Servings: 4 4 medium zucchini, spiralized (instructions at right) 1/4 cup Filippo Berio Delicato Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar 1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 1 1/2 cups heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved 1/4 cup packed chopped fresh basil 1 ball (8 ounces) burrata cheese, torn Toss together zucchini, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper; let stand 10 minutes, or until zucchini starts to soften. Gently stir in tomatoes and basil. Divide salad among four bowls. Top with cheese.

HOW TO SPIRALIZE ZUCCHINI Use zucchini at least 2 inches in diameter for best results. Trim ends of zucchini. Place spiralizer on smooth surface, such as a countertop, pushing down to adhere suction cups onto surface and secure machine for spiralizing. Place desired blade into spiralizer. Turn zucchini into long strands, trimming with clean kitchen shears as needed.