VOL. 55, NO. 2 • OCTOBER 24 - 30, 2019
OCTOBER IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. LEARN THE SIGNS.
World Series Expected to Generate About $6.5M in D.C
Thousands Expected for Cummings Funeral
By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill
By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia
Vida Ali can't stop smiling when talking about the District's euphoria over the Washington Nationals hosting the World Series this weekend for the first time in franchise history. It doesn't hurt that the co-owner of Ben's Chili's Bowl will also benefit with its business located at Nationals Park in Southeast. "Energetically, there will be a lot more bars and places filled. Everyone in the city will benefit," she said. "I see [smiling faces]. We are still like, 'This is an amazing moment.' We're still on a high." Other businesses expect to flourish in the city with the anticipation of such as monumental sports event like the World Series nicknamed "America's pastime," but some small and minority businesses and residents east of the Anacostia River wonder whether they will see any economic benefits. Elliott Ferguson said that will "absolutely" happen with the city generating an estimated $6.5 mil-
Thousands of mourners and well-wishers are expected to flood the New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore on Friday, Oct. 25, when funeral services for Rep. Elijah Cummings is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. The longtime Maryland congressman died Oct. 17 at the age of 68. Expected among the list of attendees are former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, Maryland Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin and many others. "As Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, he showed us all not only the importance of checks and balances within our democracy but also the necessity of good people stewarding it," Obama said in a statement. "Steely yet compassionate, principled yet open to new perspectives, Chairman Cummings remained steadfast in his pursuit of truth, justice, and reconciliation. It's a tribute to his native Baltimore that one of its own brought such character, tact, and resolve into the halls of power every day. "And true to the giants of progress, he followed into public service, Chairman Cummings
CUMMINGS Page 42
Valentine Talks Baseball Page 35
lion for two games against the Houston Astros. The Nationals will host the Astros in Games 3 and 4 Oct. 25-26 and, if necessary,
SERIES Page 44
5 Virginia Ali and her daughter-inlaw Vida Ali in front of the restaurant on U Street. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)
Mother Fights for Metro Police Body-Cam Footage of Son's Death By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins
5 Rep. Elijah Cummings (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
More than a year after her son died in a police-involved shooting, Kenithia Alston said she still has questions about that fateful evening that the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has not been willing to answer. In August, after what would've
been Marqueese Alston's 24th birthday, the Alston matriarch's focus has pivoted to securing the police body camera footage that would reveal key details about her son's final moments, including the number of officers on the scene, the amount of times he got hit, and whether he opened fire first. Alston contends that MPD offi-
FOOTAGE Page 46
Celebrating 55 Years of Service / Serving More Than 50,000 Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area 5W