Forward Times

Last Tuesday, Forward Times opened its doors to Texas gubernatorial candidate Rep. Gina Hinojosa for a conversation unlike most political events.

No room full of staffers and officials, just entrepreneurs, retirees, neighbors and community members who came to hear her answer for herself.

Juli McShay led the discussion, covering HISD, HBCU funding, Black maternal health, small businesses and transportation.

Swipe through for a look inside the room, the history on the walls, and the community that showed up.

Watch the full conversation on the Forward Times YouTube channel, and read the full feature here:

https://www.forwardtimes.com/news/gina-hinojosa-sits-down-at-forward-times-for-an-intimate-conversation-about-texas-future/article_e30f19eb-9d68-43e5-b07e-17d9f35f6720.html

🗣️ Forward Fam — what stood out most to you from this conversation? Tell us below. ⬇️

📸: Medron White

A pink ribbon can start a conversation, but it cannot answer the questions a woman carries after a diagnosis, cover the cost of her care or sit with her when the appointment is over.

That is the gap Sisters Network Inc. has been closing for more than three decades, and this weekend the Houston-founded organization brings it home.

The National Black Breast Cancer Summit returns to the Hyatt Regency Houston/Galleria Oct. 2-4, drawing survivors, healthcare experts and advocates for three days built around education, connection and care.

Black women are 38 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, according to the American Cancer Society, despite being slightly less likely to receive a diagnosis.

Founder Karen Eubanks Jackson built Sisters Network to put Black women’s experiences at the center of that conversation, from Friday’s free SIS Wellness Experience to Saturday’s Pretty in Pink Luncheon featuring Beyond the Gates stars Tamara Tunie, Karla Mosley and Arielle Prepetit, to a closing Gospel Brunch and Celebration of Life.

Read the full story by Lenora Small (LENORA), Forward Times Associate Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, here:

https://www.forwardtimes.com/health/national-black-breast-cancer-summit-returns-to-houston-with-care-beyond-awareness/article_88ca3d09-0d56-43a0-83ec-7ce3455c2500.html

Forward Fam, who in your life needs to hear about this weekend? 👇🏾

This week, Forward Times opens its doors and its front page to a conversation about the future of Texas.

We welcomed Texas gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa for Governor into the historic home of the Forward Times for an intimate conversation with Forward Times Political Contributor Juli McShay, host of Pretty Petty Politics — and we invited the community into the room with us.

Inside, Hinojosa spoke about public education and HISD, HBCU funding, Black maternal health, the economy, small businesses, transportation and other issues shaping the lives of Texans.

But the conversation was never meant to stay inside the room.

Our latest issue is on stands and online today.

Watch the full conversation, presented by Forward Times & Pretty Petty Politics, on the Forward Times YouTube channel.

Read it. Watch it. Hear the answers for yourself here:

https://www.forwardtimes.com/news/gina-hinojosa-sits-down-at-forward-times-for-an-intimate-conversation-about-texas-future/article_e30f19eb-9d68-43e5-b07e-17d9f35f6720.html

Then make your plan to vote.

Last day to register: Oct. 5
Early voting: Oct. 19–30
Election Day: Nov. 3

What’s next for you this fall? 🍂

Lone Star College–Houston North’s next 8-week session gives you another chance to start or keep going, with small classes and personalized attention.

Explore your next start and register at bit.ly/hnnextstart.

You can also visit any LSC–Houston North location for help getting started.

The voice on the phone sounds exactly like your grandson, and he says he’s in trouble.

Scammers can now clone a loved one’s voice from a short audio clip, and they’re counting on panic to move faster than your judgment.

The FBI received more than 22,000 AI-related fraud complaints in 2025, with reported losses topping $893 million.

Our new guide breaks down the red flags to watch for, from requests for gift cards and crypto to callers who insist you keep it a secret, plus the simple rule worth teaching everyone in your family.

Read the full guide via the link here, then send it to a family member who needs it:

https://www.forwardtimes.com/tech/dont-believe-everything-you-hear-how-to-spot-ai-voice-scams-and-other-common-frauds/article_532360e8-a71d-4dc4-82c4-81f4f42b72a5.html

🗣️ Forward Fam, has anyone in your family ever gotten a call like this? What was their experience like and how did you resolve it?

Let us know in the comment section 👇🏽

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Whether it’s a morning walk, a line dance class or a first round of pickleball, staying active as you age can look like whatever brings you joy.

Our latest wellness feature is a reminder that growing older doesn’t mean shrinking your world.

It covers what movement, strength and rest can do for your independence, why regular plans with friends are part of staying well, and why there is no expiration date on being a beginner.

There is still living to do, and this one is full of ideas for doing it well.

Read the full feature here:

https://www.forwardtimes.com/editorial/life-looks-good-on-you-staying-active-social-and-well-as-you-age/article_9ea08520-032c-4a2b-bc8b-c0c3927a6652.html

🗣️ Forward Fam, what’s something new you’ve tried (or want to try) this year?

Who makes the call if you can’t speak for yourself?

It’s one of the questions many families put off for years, until a hospital visit forces the conversation.

A new Forward Times guide walks through the documents every Texas family should know about, from a will and a Medical Power of Attorney to the Directive to Physicians and Transfer on Death Deeds for the family home. It also shows how to build an “If Something Happens” file so the people you love aren’t left piecing together decisions you could have made clear today.

You don’t need substantial wealth to need a plan. A house, a car, a retirement account or a family heirloom all deserve one.

Read the full story by Lenora Small, Forward Times Associate Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, here:

https://www.forwardtimes.com/news/estate-planning-for-seniors-wills-advance-directives-and-the-documents-every-family-should-have/article_9c3af698-6d27-4a4e-9327-3f6f320b027d.html

🗣️ Forward Fam, has your family had the talk about wills and wishes yet?

It might start after a fall, a surgery or a hospital stay. Suddenly your family is weighing terms like skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and long-term care while trying to answer a more personal question: what does my loved one need right now?

Wellsential Health the largest nonprofit skilled nursing network in Texas, is helping families through that moment with a people-over-profits approach. One of the most common misconceptions they hear is that skilled nursing means a permanent move, when many patients come for short-term rehabilitation and return home.

The story also covers what to look for beyond a facility's rating, how dignity and independence stay at the center of care, and why you don't need every answer to start the conversation.

Read the full story by Lenora Small, Forward Times Associate Publisher and Editor-in-Chief:

https://www.forwardtimes.com/news/wellsential-health-is-helping-families-navigate-what-comes-next/article_c3afe743-25dd-4091-bffc-6a00d07ce35e.html

🗣️ Forward Fam, what would you want to ask before choosing care for a loved one?