LATEST ARTICLES

To Mr. Smallwood: Let’s be clear, a retreating Daniel Hambrick posed no ‘deadly threat’

EDITORIAL BOARD | Nashville Voice

In the fiery aftermath of a grand jury’s decision to indict officer Andrew Delke for fatally shooting Daniel Hambrick three times in the back as he fled from police, the Nashville Fraternal Order of Police has continued in its adamant defense of the officer’s inexcusable actions.

In an anger-fueled op-ed published in The Tennessean (incidentally on the first day of Black History Month), FOP president James Smallwood embarked on a bitter attempt at firing back against District Attorney Glenn Funk’s critical analysis of Delke’s defense.

Smallwood boldly proclaimed, “Funk’s decision to charge Delke with a crime for doing precisely what he and every other police officer in Tennessee are trained to do is an attack on law enforcement itself.”

Smallwood extended Delke’s defense attorney David Raybin’s assertion that his client acted in compliance with his training when he executed Hambrick, even though Tennessee state law upholds that it is unconstitutional to use deadly force against a fleeing suspect who does not pose a threat to others.

We say that Hambrick’s decision to retreat, and run from Delke without firing a single shot hardly measured up to Smallwood’s characterization on Hambrick as a “deadly threat.”

Although both Raybin and Smallwood have clarified their interpretations of Metro Police Officer training and protocol, the people of Nashville continue in their wait for an official representative of the Metro Nashville Police Department to clarify whether or not shooting a man three times in the back as he runs away is in compliance with the training of Nashville officers.

If our officers are in fact trained to ignore the Supreme Court’s 1985 declaration that such a use of force is unconstitutional, then Nashvillians are justifiably in need of a new police force.

The FOP president also argued that the “targeted glance” Hambrick allegedly gave the officer justified his death.

In Smallwood’s own words, Hambrick “looked over his shoulder,” which prompted Delke to begin firing shots.

Did Hambrick’s brief over-the-shoulder glance make him a “deadly threat?” If so, then does looking at an officer the ‘wrong way’ give that officer license to justifiably shoot and kill any Nashville citizen?

In his commentary, Smallwood routinely expressed disregard for the inherent value of human life outside of a blue uniform.

Time and time again, he blindly overlooked the countless, unarmed victims of police brutality in exchange for the opportunity to gush over the value and importance of men and women in blue, and expound on his fear of “more police officers being hurt and killed in the line of duty.”

According to Smallwood, punishing an officer who is supposedly following their training can lead to a “disaster.”

In response, we ask Mr. Smallwood to also acknowledge the many disastrous encounters between law enforcement and unarmed civilians that plague the nation:

  • Wasn’t it also a disaster when 12-year  old, unarmed Tamir Rice was shot and killed by a white police officer who feared for his life?
  • Wasn’t it a disaster when unarmed father of five Eric Garner was strangled to death on a street corner by a police officer?
  • Wasn’t it a disaster when a four-year-old child was forced to comfort her mother as Philando Castile bled to death in his car after being shot through the window by a scared police officer?

Smallwood’s habit of placing more value on the life of a man in uniform is extremely problematic. Such logic has placed the safety of the general public in jeopardy.

Hambrick’s life—although he did have a criminal history, as Smallwood was sure to point out—was just as valuable, and mattered just as much as officer Delke’s, regardless of his decision to “look over his shoulder.”

If the FOP and the Metro Nashville Police Department cannot recognize this fundamental truth, then the people must act to rectify this breach of the social contract that initially granted the police department its authority.


Johnson: ‘If there’s breath, there’s hope for change’

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By LEE JOHNSON | Nashville Voice

I had waited almost a decade – nine years and 11 months, to be exact.  

So I didn’t mind taking off from my job in Nashville, Tennessee and driving three hours to pick up my cousin Harold from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee.

In a way, I too was being released.  

When Harold and I were both nine years old, we watched our older cousins get high. They would often let Harold take puffs just to see his reaction. But they never let me smoke. It was as if our fates depended on their misconstrued judgments.

Even though I was as young as Harold, a guilty feeling haunted me over the years when I thought about how I did nothing to try to prevent him from smoking. I just watched him through the smoke that was growing between us, separating us as our lives went in different directions.

I eventually went off to college. Harold looked to the mean streets of Binghampton in Memphis, Tennessee, for his education.

As he got older, Harold’s drug usage escalated. He began using crack cocaine and became addicted. To support his habit, he burglarized several homes and even robbed a drug dealer.

By the time he was 24, Harold had been locked up four times. However, his longest stint came about four years later when he was charged with voluntary manslaughter following a botched drug deal. He was found guilty and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

While I hated to see my cousin incarcerated, I was sort of relieved. At the rate he was going, I feared he might end up dead if he continued his lifestyle. I stayed in contact with him during his lock up.

I could tell during his letters and phone conversations that he was remorseful for his actions, and that he seemed to genuinely want to turn his life around.

But then, part of me was doubtful. Sure, he’s saying this now because he just wants to get out. But when he gets out, will he stay out?

Anderson, another cousin, gave me hope that Harold would. Anderson was also addicted to crack cocaine at one time and lived dangerously to support his habit. However, he changed.

I wrote an article about his recovery that appeared in Essence magazine and pierced the heart of one of Memphis, Tennessee’s toughest judges.

Anderson had to appear before Judge Ann Pugh for a probation violation that occurred during his addiction. He faced jail time. But after his attorney gave the judge the magazine article, and she read about his recovery and the positive things he’d been doing, she was moved.

“My reaction was something very out of the ordinary for me,” Judge Pugh said in a letter she sent me before she died in 2016. “The more I read, the more emotional I became, to the point that I could not read at all for the tears that were freely and uncontrollably flowing.

“I think the article brought out the hopelessness, the anguish, the total frustration that I feel toward repeat offenders, that family members and friends must feel when their loved ones revert back to the old ways of drugs and crime,” the letter continued. “And then your article showed that … there is hope – a bright side.”

Pugh dismissed the charge against Anderson, who has been sober more than 20 years and is living a successful life. He is among 10 male relatives in my family who have battled and overcome some type of substance abuse.

And I’m pleased to say that Harold is among the recovered.

He flattened his prison sentence and ended up serving about 10 years. It’s been about that long since I picked him up from the West Tennessee complex that sunny summer day in 2007.

Harold was a different person, with a positive outlook on life. And for the first time, I felt like he wouldn’t be back.

As we drove from the complex, I watched in my review mirror as it faded into the distance. I couldn’t help but smile. My guilt was fading with it.  

About two years ago, Harold got married, and I attended his wedding. His best man was his father, Terry, who at one time was imprisoned with Harold at a facility in Shelby County, Tennessee.

But Terry eventually overcame his drug addiction and revived an upholstery business in Memphis that is very successful. The two currently work together, and Terry plans to one day leave Harold the business.  

For Harold, Anderson, and Terry, there’s a “bright side.”

Unfortunately, many stories don’t end up that way.

Studies reveal high rates of recidivism among individuals released from prison.

One study that tracked 404,638 prisoners in 30 states after their release from prison in 2005 found that within three years of release, about 68 percent were rearrested, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.  

During my more than 20 years as a reporter, I learned that a large part of the reason for the high recidivism rate is the justice system’s lack of effective rehabilitation programs.

Political consultant David Keene alluded to the difficulty ex-offenders have re-acclimating to society in an interview for the Academy Award-nominated documentary “13th,” which explores mass incarceration in the U.S. prison system.

“In many ways, the prison system is sort of in the dark,” Keene said. “If you look at the whole problem … we have too many laws, locking too many people up, for too many things.

“And while they’re in prison, doing very little if anything to rehabilitate them so that they can re-enter civil society when they get out,” he added. “And then when they get out, we shun them.”

Keene’s assertion highlights the need for transitional living programs, as well as substance abuse programs, that give ex-offenders the best chance to be successful in society.

But then there’s also the help of family and friends – care that’s invaluable. No matter how many times Harold fell, those close to him had their hands extended.

And like Harold, I believe that it is best to pull anyone up as many times as necessary than to lower them once six feet.


Williams: ‘On R. Kelly, trauma and the state of black mental wellness’

By JESSICA WILLIAMS | Nashville Voice

Trauma is defined as a “deeply distressing or disturbing experience” by dictionary.com.

What that definition fails to mention are the implications that trauma has for the person who experiences it. It was very timely that I had a trauma-informed training at the gym right around the time of the release of the R. Kelly documentary.

Because let’s be real, he’s traumatized and now imposing his trauma on young, innocent girls.

Trauma can show up in many ways, shapes, and form and looks different on everyone.

For example, if the trauma is sexual, it may show up as becoming overtly sexual—as we see with R. Kelly, more about that in a bit—or not wanting any physical contact at all.

Mental trauma can lead to the need to be perfect or in other cases, chronic self-esteem and worth issues haunt a person as a result of words from others. Whatever the case, trauma is something that happens to many people and needs to be addressed.

Digging a bit deeper. Trauma has physical implications, specifically with the brain. In our session, we learned 80 percent of the adult brain is developed by the age of 3 and that development begins from the bottom up.

The bottom portion of the brain is where we store trauma and our fight or flight response triggers and concurrently is adversely affected by trauma. That’s why things like touching or certain sounds can create a reaction from certain people.

Consequently, it is difficult to occupy both the bottom brain (reaction space) and the top brain (response space.) The unfortunate truth is that many people spend a good amount of time in the bottom brain as opposed to the top.

The guards, the lack of trust, the separation, the anxiety, the depression…they all stem from the bottom brain triggers.

And, in turn, if not dealt with, is handed down to the next generation. Hence generational curses is a scientifically proven thing. It’s real.

What does this have to do with R. Kelly and the state of black mental wellness you may ask?

Well….R. Kelly is mentally ill. We all know that.

From being sexually traumatized at age seven to feeling like an outsider due to his lack of intelligence in the traditional sense (i.e. reading and writing), he has a strong sense of powerlessness and exercises it on young women who appear vulnerable and weak. That, of course, is obvious.

Does that excuse his behavior? Not at all. It actually brings me to a point.

Mental illness in the black community is real and has been passed down for generations.

And with that, if you know better…you do better. And a man with R. Kelly’s means should absolutely know much better. He needs to acknowledge he’s messed up and get the help he needs!

Unfortunately, it seems, we’re much beyond that. The damage is too great. He is a threat to our black daughters and has no remorse. The only solution at this point is life behind bars with the key thrown away. How did it get this far?!?

It’s time we address the skeletons in our closets. It has been an age-old tale that therapy makes you weak…that trusting strangers with your life story is doing too much…and recognizing where we need support is not in our best interest.

But here’s the thing…would you rather spend time incarcerated? Disconnected? Unable to move on from your past?

The answer should be no!

If you’ve never talked to someone…if you’ve never flushed out your ailments…if you’ve hidden from yourself and others with a private second life—you’re part of the problem too!

It’s far too common that we, as black people, play the high road and are not honest about what is really going on inside. This begins to translate in our relationships, work life, connection to one another, and overall wellness.

Tying it all together, the brain in trauma is an unhealthy one. It is proven that people who have an enlarged brain are more likely to deal with health complications than those who do not. And as a result, the life expectancy of this population significantly decreases against those who do not have this characteristic.

High blood pressure. Cancer. Diabetes. Have you ever wondered why these diseases are disproportioned among blacks? I am sure the trauma and mental illness left unchecked has something to do with it.

So while you’re thinking about this whole R. Kelly situation—he’s canceled by the way—make sure you see the big picture in this.

These women need help. They are traumatized. He needs a lot of help…he’s severely traumatized. And take a look in the mirror. You may find that you are a bit traumatized too.

What will you do to change the path you’re on currently to protect your legacy?

I am building a network of amazing counselors who can support you if the assistance you need is beyond my scope.

Don’t go through life alone and without working out your issues. You can extend your life and the life of your children with one simple step. Just do it!

Cyntoia Brown is granted clemency after serving 15 years in prison for killing man who bought her for sex

By MALLORY GAFAS and TINA BURNSIDE | CNN Newsource

Cyntoia Denise Brown, a woman serving a life sentence for killing a man who bought her for sex when she was 16 years old, has been granted clemency, the Tennessee governor’s office said Monday.

Brown, 30, will be released to parole supervision on Aug. 7 after serving 15 years in prison, Gov. Bill Haslam’s office said in a statement.

“This decision comes after careful consideration of what is a tragic and complex case,” Haslam said.

“Cyntoia Brown committed, by her own admission, a horrific crime at the age of 16. Yet, imposing a life sentence on a juvenile that would require her to serve at least 51 years before even being eligible for parole consideration is too harsh, especially in light of the extraordinary steps Ms. Brown has taken to rebuild her life. Transformation should be accompanied by hope.”

Brown’s case drew the attention of several high-profile advocates including a US congressman, several Tennessee lawmakers and a number of A-List celebrities. Comedian Amy Schumer, reality star Kim Kardashian West and actress Ashley Judd were among those who called for Brown’s clemency.

In 2004, Brown killed Johnny Mitchell Allen, who Brown said had solicited her for sex and taken her back to his house.

Prosecutors at the time said Brown shot Allen in the head while he was sleeping, stole money and guns, took his truck, and fled the scene. They argued the killing wasn’t motivated by self-defense, but robbery.

Brown said she was scared for her life by Allen’s behavior and took money for fear of returning empty-handed to her pimp, nicknamed “Cut Throat.”
A juvenile court found Brown competent to be tried as an adult. She was convicted of murder and robbery and sentenced to life in prison.

Though more than a decade had passed since her trial, the harsh punishment for a teenage victim of sex trafficking sparked outrage around the US — particularly after celebrities Rihanna and Kardashian West came to her defense on social media in 2017.

Since Brown’s conviction, juvenile sentencing guidelines in Tennessee have been amended:

“If Cyntoia Brown were tried today, legal experts say she would not have been tried in the same way,” said CNN affiliate WZTV anchor Stacy Case, who had been investigating reports of sex trafficking in Tennessee when she came across Brown’s story.

“Our courts today would view her as a child sex slave… she would be viewed as a victim.”

In fact, it was Brown’s trial that inspired a documentary that eventually helped to alter the way Tennessee deals with sex trafficking victims, particularly those who are juveniles.

“If you look at Cyntoia’s original transcripts, they are peppered with the phrase ‘teen prostitute,'” says Derri Smith, founder and CEO of non-profit End Slavery Tennessee.

“Well we know today there’s no such thing as a teen prostitute … because this teen may think that she decided this was her idea to be raped multiple times a day and give money to someone else, it’s pretty clear there’s an adult behind that who’s manipulating and exploiting her.”

In the 2011 documentary “Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story,” Brown describes being forced into prostitution at a young age, sex-trafficked and raped repeatedly.

“The first time he did something to me is when he choked me and I passed out,” Brown recounts of her alleged pimp in the documentary. “I made him money…he wasn’t going to let me go nowhere. He told me he’d kill me.”

The documentary by Daniel H. Birman Productions, Inc. also revealed new evidence that suggests Brown suffered from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which can cause brain damage — evidence that the jury which convicted her in 2004 never saw. Her mother also admitted to drinking heavily while pregnant, according to court records from a 2014 appeal.

“Then as a teenager, she did have a nice adoptive family,” Case said. “But because of her experiences, she veered and ended up on the wrong side of the law — and ended up being sex-trafficked. If she had grown up differently, if she had had other opportunities, it may not have ended up that way.”

A second installment of the documentary is scheduled for release this year.

Since her sentencing, Brown has spent all of her adulthood in prison — but her advocates say she has worked to transform herself during her time behind bars.

“She is light years today, as a woman, different from the traumatized 16-year-old that she was,” Smith says. “She’s mentoring… troubled youth, working on her college degree, she is planning a nonprofit so she can help other young people.”

Brown received her associate’s degree from Lipscomb University in 2015, and, according to Smith, has been working toward her bachelor’s degree while in prison. She’s also collaborating with Tennessee’s Juvenile Justice System to help counsel young people at risk, and her supporters say she’s been a model inmate during her incarceration.

“I learned that my life was — and is — not over,” Brown said over the phone in a clip titled, “Prison Reflections,” from the documentary filmmakers. “I can create opportunities where I can actually help people.”

#2018InReview: ‘We love ya, we just don’t trust ya’

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By ERIC BROWN | Nashville Voice

From music, fashion, all the way to Black Twitter, people love, to love, Black culture. It’s the thing to use Black lingo and perform the latest dance that goes viral from Black culture. We officially know Hip Hop is the most listened genre of music around the world.

In Nashville, it so easy to hear people happily ready to tell you about getting food from Slim and Husky’s or grabbing a drink from Minerva Ave. Being around Black Culture, talking about Black Culture, and enjoying Black Culture, is too awesome! From watching Beyonce transforming her performance into an HBCU homecoming to Migos and Drake bringing back Soul Train, Black Culture is the epitome of Cool.

We love Black Culture, but in 2019, can we trust not only Black Culture but the members of the culture too? As much as it sounds good to say this to Non-black cultures, this question is actually for those who reside in Black Culture. Black folks love to be Black until we need to do the work to elevate the culture.

This article is not just talking about blocking freeways with black bodies that want to be recognized before being shot down in acts of injustice. In this article, it is not talking about using social media platforms to deliver post about criticizing institutions that continue to uphold unfairness.

Can we support black businesses, black organizations, black entrepreneurs, black banks, black dentists, black doctors, black CPAs, black organizers, and black religious and non-religious institutions, for the sake of the community even after death?

If Black Culture was a person, it’s easy to look at her beauty and talent, but can she be allowed to show off her intelligence and strategy to lead her people into a higher level to thrive and not only survive?

It’s great to sell out theaters to watch the brilliant film, “The Black Panther” in colorful dashikis (that we hope are not made in China). It’s great to hold up black fist in selfies, but does that equal trust in the community?

There is no doubt that Black people love the Black community, but do Black people trust it? Do Black folks stop going to a certain restaurants because too many Black folks are now there? That’s a question to Black People about Black People.

Does the Black Community get treated with great customer service to attract them to come back to support Black businesses? That still a question for Black folks to answer about Black folks?

Do Black people have a higher value in education because their degrees come from a Private White Institution over a Historically Black College or University? Do we hire quality Black workers or hire Black firms by giving them the same expectation and grace given to others with a different hue? black-owned

The word trust comes from an Old Norse word that means to rely on, to have confidence in, and to protect and support. In 2019, can Black people rely on Black people to create or build industries that are not just as worthy as the food, alcohol, clothes, and barber/beauty shops?

Maybe black grocery stores, black tech companies, or black owned cargo vehicles are needed to create stronger local and international economic networks. The Black Nashville Chamber of Commerce is working to do just this type of project.

Are there confident people who are ready to run as community leaders who are not afraid to run on their values, authenticity, and straightforward beliefs to better all of Nashville as a council member, mayor, or even a Black District Attorney. Since the 2016 election, it seems that there is more interest in politics within younger generations.

Groups like the Equity Alliance, The Tennessee Black Voter Project, Davidson County Black Democratic Caucus, Emerge, and New Leader’s Council all have an opportunity to make this dream a reality.

Will the Black community support and protect its rich history in Nashville through the arts, music, economic power, and education? These endeavors are happening through organizations like Creatives Day, the Norf Collective,  Knowledge Bank, and The Jefferson Street Art Crawl. It can help happen by supporting colleges like American Baptist College, Fisk University, Meharry College, and Tennessee State University not only on homecoming week, but throughout the year.

This can only happen when Black People support all areas of Black Culture and not just some of the Black Culture. If there are Black Organizers, be okay with connecting with Black Business Leaders.

It’s to support the culture if everyone in the culture looks at others as the enemy. Look to one another. If there are a Black Academicians, it’s okay to connect with Black Religious Leaders.

The Black Community is diverse in age, class, aesthetics, faith, sexuality, politic, and so much more. It’s hard to be pro-black and only protect part of the Black Community?

In 2019, be very intentional about not only your expectations of Black folks in the community. Also be intentional in your habits and patterns of showing your trust in the community as well.

One thing is for sure, Black Culture is always good at getting all people on the bandwagon. Let’s get Black folks on its own bandwagon through supporting, protecting, being steadfast and firm in Black Culture.

It can be done through Black money, through Black time, through Black talents, and through Black support. Let’s make TRUST a trend in the Black Culture, too.

Trump says Mattis to leave by end of the year, announces new acting secretary of defense

By ELI WATKINS, BARBARA STARR and RYAN BROWNE | CNN Newsource

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday he would replace Defense Secretary James Mattis at the start of the new year, two months earlier than Mattis’ planned departure.

“I am pleased to announce that our very talented Deputy Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan, will assume the title of Acting Secretary of Defense starting January 1, 2019. Patrick has a long list of accomplishments while serving as Deputy, & previously Boeing. He will be great!” Trump tweeted.

Mattis announced his resignation on Thursday with a letter saying his views were not aligned with Trump, who said Mattis would retire at the end of February.

Mattis’ last day is expected to be Jan. 1, according to a source familiar with the matter. He is not expected to have a big, public farewell ceremony to try to prevent further exacerbating tensions between himself and Trump, the source said.

Trump mad at coverage of Mattis resignation

A source familiar with the matter said Trump was mad at the extensive coverage given to Mattis’ resignation and therefore was forcing him to leave earlier than he originally planned.

Pentagon spokesman Col. Rob Manning said in a statement that “the secretary of defense serves at the pleasure of the President. The department remains focused on national security.”

Mattis’ retirement announcement on Thursday led much of Washington, including key Republicans, to express alarm about the change in leadership at the Pentagon. The announcement itself followed Trump’s decision to call for a full withdrawal of troops from Syria and consideration of a drawdown in Afghanistan.

Mattis’ No. 2 to lead Pentagon

Shanahan, Trump’s choice to replace Mattis on an interim basis, was confirmed as Mattis’ No. 2 in the Pentagon last year by an overwhelming margin that came after a confirmation process that included a clash with the late Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain.

Shanahan’s portfolio at the Department of Defense has been narrow; he has almost exclusively handled budget issues, internal reform and the Space Force.

His official biography from the Defense Department notes Shanahan joined Boeing in 1986 and stayed with the major defense contractor for more than three decades. He received an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington and two higher degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, according to his biography.

FBI criticizes GOP chairman for Christmas Eve document deadline

By JEREMY HERB | CNN Newsource

The FBI is pushing back on outgoing House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte’s demand that the bureau finishes reviewing more than 3,000 pages of closed-door interview transcripts by Christmas Eve after the documents were provided to the FBI earlier this week.

In a blistering letter to Goodlatte, obtained by CNN, FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich warned that releasing transcripts without proper redactions “will result in the disclosure of law enforcement sensitive information” and suggested the documents might contain classified information.

“Your committee has not afforded the FBI the time necessary to undertake a thorough review of this large volume of documents for classified, sensitive and personally identifiable information,” Bowdich wrote.

Goodlatte and House Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy, who are both retiring Republicans, hope to release transcripts of the interviews they conducted over the past year for their joint probe into the FBI’s handling of the investigations into Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump and Russia.

Bowdich said the FBI was provided the documents for review on Wednesday and was given a deadline of Monday to provide suggested redactions or corrections — which he emphasized in italics was Christmas Eve.

“We respectfully request that the committees maintain the confidentiality of the un-redacted interview transcripts pending a complete review by the FBI, the (Justice) Department and the Special Counsel’s Office, as appropriate,” Bowdich wrote.

Some of the documents the lawmakers obtained and asked witnesses about involve the foreign intelligence surveillance warrant on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, and they have also probed the start of the counterintelligence investigation into members of Trump’s campaign.

In his letter, Bowdich noted that the topics covered included “FISA warrants and counterintelligence investigations,” warning that the transcripts could contain classified information.

The committees conducted the interviews behind closed doors, and the final sessions with former FBI Director James Comey and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch were this week. Comey’s testimony was already released publicly as part of an agreement struck in exchange for his appearance.

Goodlatte and Gowdy haven’t said whether they plan to put out any kind of report to summarize their findings before they retire at the end of this Congress. Gowdy told reporters on Wednesday that he wanted the transcripts of the interviews to be released publicly so that people can judge for themselves.

The Democrats taking over the two committees have made clear they do not plan to continue the probe into the FBI and Justice Department, which they charge was an effort to undermine special counsel Robert Mueller.

Goodlatte’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

The FBI and Justice Department have repeatedly clashed with the Republican lawmakers over their investigation, as Republicans say the Justice Department slow-rolled their document requests.Several conservative lawmakers blamed Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein for the delays and threatened to hold him in contempt of Congress unless they got the documents they were seeking.Those same lawmakers on the committees were frustrated that Rosenstein never appeared for a closed-door interview as part of the probe. An interview between committee leaders and Rosenstein was scheduled in October, but it was postponed and never rescheduled.

LeBron James: NFL owners ‘old white men’ with ‘slave mentality’ toward players

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By PAUL KASABIAN | CNN Newsource

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James said Friday on his HBO Sports series The Shop that the NFL has “a bunch of old white men owning teams” who have a “slave mentality” toward players.

Ben Golliver of the Washington Post provided the full transcript:

Ahiza Garcia of CNN Money reported May 18 that only two people of color owned or co-owned professional NFL teams: Shahid Khan of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kim Pegula of the Buffalo Bills.

The lack of diversity spreads through all major American sports leagues, with the NBA having the most people of color own or co-own teams (only three). The same goes for management and coaching positions as well.

James is one of a few people to call out the league and/or its owners over a “slave mentality” or something similar after NFL owners approved a national anthem policy whereas players must either stand or stay in the locker room. The policy was in direct response to NFL players protesting racial injustice and social inequality during the performance of the song.

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman, in response to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stating his players must have their “toe on the line” and stand during the anthem, said Jones had an “old plantation mentality.”

Solomon Jones of Philly.com wrote that “team owners sometimes think and behave like slave owners.”

Per Glen Martin of California Magazine, Cal sociology professor emeritus and civil rights activist Harry Edwards said the policy, which stated that players must stand for the anthem or stay in the locker room, is representative of a “plantation mentality.” Edwards noted NFL owners “are wealthy, entitled and arrogant, and they essentially view their players as property, not human beings with rights guaranteed by the Constitution. … [NFL team] owners are acting like plantation owners, insisting that any act of ‘rebellion’ must be squelched.”

James has never been afraid to use his platform to express his feelings on the world’s most important issues, as Cord Jefferson of Bleacher Report noted in a July 23 piece. Chances are this won’t be the last time we see James shun the “shut-up-and-dribble” request.

LeBron James is Nashville Voice’s ‘Person of the Year’

By NIARA SAVAGE | Nashville Voice

Less than one month away from the close of 2018, America remains more politically divided, more socially disjointed, and more traumatized by domestic terrorism than in recent years.

Despite the conflict and negativity that have dominated this political year, 2018 has also seen its fair share of heroes.

News about Colin Kaepernick’s continued courageous fight against the NFL’s call for players to stand during the National Anthem, rather than kneel in protest of police violence, has dominated media networks.

The struggle reached its pinnacle and effectively broke the internet when Nike boldly decided to make Kaepernick the face of its new campaign.

Maxine Waters powerfully resurfaced on national news, and earned the affectionate name “Aunty Maxine,” among millennials, when she fearlessly faced off against Donald Trump this year. After receiving death threats as a backlash to her scuttle with Trump back in June, the gutsy 80-year old responded, “You’d better shoot straight.”

The Nashville Voice has selected LeBron James as its first Person Of the Year, for demonstrating a profoundly dedicated sense of character, on and off the court.

Even after witnessing how political and social activism derailed Colin Kaepernick’s NFL career, Lebron James–one of the greatest to ever play the game–risked his athletic legacy by remaining vocal about the oppressive social conditions impacting minority communities.

He was not afraid to call President Trump out, professing that 45 doesn’t “give a f*uck about the people.”

After incidences of police brutality became more widely visible on a national scale due to the use of cellphones, James quickly transformed his personal Instagram page into a resource for spreading awareness about social justice issues.

During late spring, James shared his platform of nearly four million followers, by featuring young activists on his page.

The activists include 11-year-old Kheri Rogers, who focuses on issues relating to colorism and self-love, and Delaney Reynolds, a college student and author dedicated to combating climate change.

LeBron’s spirit of activism did not end with powerful quotes and social media posts. In July, James announced that his latest philanthropic endeavor, had taken the form of the I Promise School, which will serve students grades 1-8 and be fully operational in 2022.

The eight million-dollar school targets at-risk children, provides students with bikes, free meals, and full scholarships to cover college tuition.

Although many young athletes aspire to rival his astounding talent on the court someday, LeBron’s personal commitment to moral values, as well as to his family, also makes him a role model.

The star-player is not only a legendary athlete and philanthropist, but a dedicated husband, and father of three.

The pervasiveness of Lebron James’ good-natured personhood, now expressed on the public stage, paves the way for the next generation of athletes to commit themselves to greatness in every capacity.


Nashville’s 10 Most Powerful African Americans 2018

STAFF REPORT | Nashville Voice

As Metropolitan Nashville continues to evolve into one of America’s largest urban centers, leadership in our community is of the highest importance.

Some leaders may be elected by the people they represent, some leaders rise to prominence through the sacrifice and success of their careers and some leaders are granted opportunities to hold spaces. All leaders, however, must possess a vision that puts the best interests of the community as top priority.

But first, they must possess the power to bring that vision into fruition. Without power, they are just a person with a bunch of ideas. Powerful people have the ability to get things done, efficiently and quickly. They can make a call, show up or speak up, and then things start to happen.

In a celebration of those who we believe have acquired immense influence and high esteem throughout Metro Davidson County and beyond, Nashville Voice is excited to present our ranking of the 10 Most Powerful Blacks in Nashville to introduce the men and women who are helping to ensure that our community continues to prosper. This process was not a popularity contest. The fact is, many people who possess tremendous power, you would never know.

In a 2015 interview with Business Insider, the acclaimed author Robert Greene — who has been studying power for more than 20 years — once said:

“Power is the measure of the degree of control you have over circumstances in your life and the actions of the people around you. It is a skill that is developed by a deep understanding of human nature, of what truly motivates people, and of the manipulations necessary for advancement and protection. Power works best when it is indirect — never coercing people; instead, getting them to voluntarily align with your interests.”  

To put it more simply, Nashville Voice defines power as an effortless ability to move the needle. It is undoubtedly having an incredible amount of influence over one’s environment and the people around them.

So what were the criteria we considered when selecting our top 10?

  • CAPACITY: They have the capacity to move the needle or make a change.
  • RESPONSIBILITY: They use their power to or are responsible for making big decisions to make lasting changes that impact the lives of Nashville residents.
  • SINGULARITY: If you needed something done, you would call this person. They don’t have to call anyone else to get things done.
  • RESPECTABILITY: They possess superior character and are deeply respected by their peers in the community.
  • CONSISTENCY: They have made a career out of using their power and influence for the greater good of the urban community in Nashville.

Our list of the 10 most powerful Blacks in Nashville spans over many industries, from local government and banking to faith-based leadership and in education.* It is comprised of four women and six men who exceeded in many of the criteria listed above.

*Unfortunately, African Americans do not possess significant power in corporate Nashville.

Richard Manson

10: Richard Manson: Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Citizens Savings Bank & Trust
Citizens Savings Bank & Trust appointed healthcare executive and attorney Richard Manson as chairman of the board following the retirement of esteemed Chairman Dr. T.B. Boyd III in early 2018. In his role as chairman of the board, Manson provides leadership for the effective governance of the bank and provides guidance for the accountability to shareholders, regulators, and other stakeholders. Citizens Bank is the oldest black-owned bank in the nation and African Americans have historically relied on Citizens to finance small businesses, homes, education and/or religious institutions.

Tanaka Vercher

9: Councilwoman Tanaka Vercher: Two-term chairwoman of Metro Council Budget & Finance Committee
Tanaka Vercher is a member of the Nashville Metro Council in Tennessee, representing District 28. She was elected in the general election on August 6, 2015. Elected by her peers to serve as chairwoman of the Metro Council’s Budget & Finance committee, she is arguably the most powerful person on the Council, overseeing the City’s $2.2 billion budget. The Metro Nashville-Davidson County budget affects every citizen, visitor, and business in our city, for schools to healthcare, neighborhoods to industrial complexes, public safety to sports and entertainment. No woman has ever served for two terms as Budget and Finance chairperson.

Rosetta Miller Perry

8: Rosetta Miller-Perry: Owner of the Tennessee Tribune
Following a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy and as a lawyer, Rosetta Miller-Perry founded the Tennessee Tribune in 1991. Denied funds from local banks, Miller-Perry invested $70,000 from her personal savings into the Tribune. Under Miller-Perry’s regime, The Tribune has become the most effective African-American weekly in Middle Tennessee. For more than 21 years, the paper has championed the cause of civil rights and leadership of African-Americans. Miller-Perry remains at the helm of the publication and wields her pen of power like a mighty sword. When Rosetta speaks, the Earth moves.

Bishop Joseph Warren Walker III

7. Bishop Joseph Warren Walker III: Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Tennessee State University, the only public HBCU in Tennessee; the Presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International.
Bishop Joseph Warren Walker III serves as the Senior Pastor of the historic Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Nashville, which he has grown to a congregation of 30,000+ with three campuses in Metropolitan Nashville and a massive virtual following through live stream and other digital platforms. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Meharry Medical College and Citizens Savings Bank; in October 2016, he was appointed by TN Governor Bill Haslam to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Tennessee State University. While several faith leaders belong on this list, Walker is the only Nashvillian serving as the presiding bishop of a religious denomination.

Darrell Freeman

6. Darrell Freeman: Founder of Zycron; the first two-term chairman of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Darrell S. Freeman is the founder of Zycron Inc., a company he founded more than 25 years ago and sold last spring to Texas-based IT Staffing for $20 Million. It is also one of the largest information technology companies in Nashville, Tennessee. Beyond Zycron, Freeman’s other business ventures include being co-owner of Pinnacle Construction Partners and a co-founder of Franklin-based Reliant Bank. He’s also lead director on the board of Brentwood-based substance abuse treatment services provider American Addiction Centers Inc. Freeman is also the chairman of S3 Asset Management, a technology and medical equipment recycling company in which he owns a 30 percent stake. While chairman of the Chamber, Freeman changed the culture and the face of the Nashville-Area Chamber of Commerce by bringing people of color to its table of power and championing minority-owned businesses.

Talia Lomax-O’dneal

5. Talia Lomax-O’dneal: Finance director for Metro Government
Talia Lomax-O’dneal serves as Metro Nashville’s Director of Finance, overseeing a roughly $2 billion budget and protecting the interests of taxpayers through sound fiscal management practices. She was appointed to the position in fall 2015 by then-Mayor Megan Barry, after a month of serving as Acting Director of Finance. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Finance Director, where her primary responsibilities included preparation and monitoring of Metro’s operating and capital budgets. She has worked extensively in the field of finance in the public and private sector for more than 25 years, 15 of which have been in the Metro Finance Department.

Glenda Baskin-Glover

4. Glenda Baskin Glover: President of Tennessee State University, Tennessee’s only public HBCU; International president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Glenda Baskin-Glover has served as president of Tennessee State University since 2013. Because education is the singlemost determinant for an individual’s success and prosperity, there is no Tennessee institution more critical to the success of the African-American community than Tennessee State, which has produced more black college graduates than any other university in the state of Tennessee. Glover also became the 30th International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the nation’s oldest Greek-letter organization established by African-American college women, on July 12. Glover kicked off her role by donating $50,000 to the sorority’s Educational Advancement Foundation, specifically for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Glover also led a 24-hour giving campaign in September in which the sorority broke its one-day fundraising records, raising nearly $1.1 million dollars for the support of HBCUs.

Shawn Joseph

3. Shawn Joseph: Director, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
Shawn Joseph, the Director of Metro Nashville Public Schools, is an experienced educator who has fought for excellence and equity for every student he has served in his more than 20-year career. Before moving to Nashville, he was the head of teaching and learning in Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland. Prior to that, he was the superintendent of the Seaford County District in Seaford, Delaware. Joseph’s work has garnered national recognition, and his expertise has been sought by other districts during transitional periods. Cities live or die based on the quality of their public school systems. MNPS is the 46th largest school district in the nation with nearly 100,000 students and a budget of $700 million.

David Williams

2. David Williams: Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Relations, Vanderbilt University
When David Williams arrived at Vanderbilt University in 2000, serving initially as vice chancellor and general counsel, he quickly became one of the architects who transformed Vanderbilt University into the incredibly diverse and inclusive campus it has become. Stepping into the history books as the first African American athletic director in SEC history, Williams used his power to empower others in hiring the University’s first African American head coach of any of its programs. But his power and influence have extended well beyond West End Avenue, as he has used his platform as a champion of diversity and inclusion to bring effective change to the city of Nashville and has emerged as one of the most powerful individuals in the state of Tennessee. Though Williams announced that he plans to step down from his leadership role at the helm of the Commodores, Williams’ legacy will be felt by several generations to come. He plans to transition full-time to his role as a tenured professor of law at the Vanderbilt Law School, a position he has held along with his university leadership responsibilities since he first joined the university faculty.

Decosta Jenkins

1. DeCosta Jenkins: CEO of Nashville Electric Services, one of the largest utility companies in the country
Decosta Jenkins was appointed the president and CEO of Nashville Electric Services—one of the 12 largest public electric utilities in the nation, distributing energy to more than 385,000 customers in Middle Tennessee—in September 2004, after 13 years with the company. Prior to that, Jenkins spent 11 years with Deloitte and Touche. Jenkins is a member and past treasurer of the Nashville Downtown Exchange Club and is board chairman of Samaritan Ministries/Project S.E.E. Jenkins serves on the boards of TN Rehabilitative Initiative in Correction, Goodwill Industries, Tennessee Valley Public Power Association, Nashville Bank & Trust, YMCA of Middle Tennessee, Salvation Army, American Public Power Association and The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. We selected Jenkins at the top of our list not only because of his professional power helming the largest utility company in middle Tennessee, but also his expansive commitment to use his personal influence, energy, resources, and compassion to serve the least of these in our community.

UT Football has some problems to solve going into next season

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By MIKE PATTON | Nashville Voice

Not many knew what to expect from the Tennessee Vols this season. With a new head coach and some talent left behind, there were some that had high hopes he could turn some things around quickly.

Well, even with the talent he had, things were still the same as they were last year on Rocky Top. The Vols were up and down all season, with the emphasis on down definitely there the last two games, where they were blown out by a combined score of 88-30.

With that last loss to Vanderbilt to close out the season, the Vols again are not going to a bowl game. Instead, they will be watching the other teams play, wishing they were there playing instead of being at home.

A season record of 5-7 was obviously not what they had in mind, especially coming off the upsets of Kentucky and Auburn this season. With what was seen this season, the Vols have two things they have to find answers for going into the offseason.

One big issue the Vols need to address badly is their offensive line.

Sure, they lost Brandon Kennedy to a knee injury this season and he was slated to be their starting center, but the issues they had do not begin and end with Kennedy. The Vols struggled to find an offensive line combination that would consistently do what they needed to get done.

Unfortunately, they never found a consistent five guys that could handle running their offense. The result was quarterback Jarrett Guarantano running for his life a lot and him taking some bigtime hits.

Not only did he take hits on almost every play, but the defense also covered him so securely he never had any time to read the field. The result was Guarantano taking a lot of sacks, passes incomplete and shorter routes that did not give Tennessee the chance to stretch the field.

Along with the Tennessee offensive line being bad protecting Guarantano, they were also bad in running the football.

Sophomore running back Ty Chandler was expected to have himself a good season, as he was slated to be the focal point of the running game. He did have a solid season, but he could have had better if he had a better offensive line.

Plenty of times, the Vols offensive line was pushed into the backfield and that meant Chandler would have nowhere to run, creating for himself on plenty of runs.

While those runs may be exciting at times, they are not runs that can be sustainable in an offense all season long.

The Vols have to get tougher up front going into next season. They have to hold their blocks and set the tempo instead of allowing people to dictate the tempo to them.

The offensive issues are apparent. but so are some of the issues on the defense. The Vols were young in the secondary this season. They threw plenty of freshman or sophomores out there that were inexperienced.

They fought, but they were not as consistent as you would want them to be as defensive backs. The result was some big plays that happened against some good offenses. And with the big play happening on the regular, more pressure was put on the offense to make some things happen.

Along with pressure put on the offense to produce, there was also pressure on the front seven to produce pressure and especially the edge rushers. The Vols, unfortunately, did not have the guys up front to consistently create pressure.

Usually, a team has either a good pass rush or a good secondary, but no solid football team has been devoid of both.

Tennessee was not a good team this year and being devoid of both things hurt them. The main objective for Pruitt is to find a consistent pass rush. Whether it comes from the players he currently has or from someone he brings in for next season, the Vols need someone to create pressure and do so consistently.

The Vols finished 5-7 and that isn’t the standard Vols fans were used to back in the Phil Fulmer days. The turnaround isn’t going to happen overnight, but if Pruitt is able to take care of these issues, the Vols may be back a little sooner than many feel they should be.

TSU Lady Tigers to host ‘Challenge in Music City’ tournament

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By MIKE PATTON | Nashville Voice

This Friday, women’s basketball will be alive and well at downtown Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. The “Challenge in Music City” tournament kicks off Friday afternoon with teams from Stetson, Marist, Hofstra, Wright State, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin and Arkansas.

Tennessee State’s Lady Tigers will be hosting and playing in this year’s event and, for the Lady Tigers, the tournament enables them to dance in the spotlight during the Thanksgiving weekend.

“We were approached to be the host school and with the caliber of competition, it seemed like a no-brainer being right here in our back door,” explained second-year TSU women’s basketball head coach Jessica Kern.

Coming off a 0-3 start this season, the Lady Tigers will face some stiff competition in this challenge, playing Arkansas, Wisconsin and Pittsburgh in consecutive nights; for Kern, though, this is a part of the process of growth for this team.

“Obviously being victorious is always the goal we want,” Kern said. “However, as long as we continue to grow as a team and as a staff, I am a firm believer that if you keep kicking on the door, it will open!

“Our breakthrough is right around the corner and what better way to do it then here at home!”

As far as the team’s the slow start, Kern said there is a bigger goal in mind.

“We all know this wasn’t the ideal start for our season,” she said. “However, we want quality production and want to go against quality opponents. Playing a fluff schedule will not prepare us for the postseason. Our ladies are encouraged and uplifted and ready for whomever the next opponent will be.”

Kern also complimented her staff. “My staff has done a wonderful job in preparing the young ladies and with a little bit of patience, we will be where we need to be sooner rather than later and more importantly, we are all healthy.”

And health is a key thing for the Lady Tigers, as they got Tia Wooten back recently from an undisclosed injury. The senior played in her first game this season against Troy and scored 16 points in the loss.

As Wooten continues to get back in the swing of things and this team continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how they continue to mold together.

This weekend, they continue that journey as the host team of the Challenge in Music City. Tickets are $20 per day of the challenge and tickets will be good for the entire day. They can be purchased either at the arena or through http://nashvilleauditorium.com/events/.

There will be four games each day starting at 12 noon CST with the last game beginning at a scheduled time of 7:30 PM CST.

Vols post big upset; Memphis, MTSU extend winning streaks

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By RON WYNN | Nashville Voice

The Tennessee Volunteer revived their bowl hopes with a huge upset Saturday, while both the University of Memphis and Middle Tennessee State University continued their winning streaks.

The Kentucky Wildcats came into Rocky Mount ranked 12th in the nation and in second place in the SEC East. They left with their 17th straight loss to Tennessee in Knoxville, 24-7.

The Vols borrowed a page from the Georgia playbook, concentrating on stopping UK’s star running back Benny Snell and daring Kentucky to beat them some other way.

Snell had just 81 rushing yards and 25 on receptions. Tennessee’s Ty Chandler out gained him with 89 rushing yards and Tennessee had 215 yards on the ground to Kentucky’s 77.

Jarrett Guarantano had two touchdown passes among his 12 completions in 20 attempts. He also had set a school record with 146 consecutive passes without an interception.

Darrell Taylor was the game’s defensive star. He had four sacks on UK QB Terry Wilson, plus a firced fumble he also recovered. Tennessee improved to 2-4 in the SEC and 5-5 overall. They need one more win for bowl eligibility and face Missouri at home Saturday.

Other than some defensive miscues, Memphis had no problems with Tulsa, winning 47-21 at the Liberty Bowl to even their AAC record at 3-3, and move to 6-4 overall. Darrell Henderson had another spectacular game with 166 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.

Damonte Coxie had six receptions for 110 yards, his third straight game with over 100 yards. QB Brady White also had two touchdown passes among his 14 completions in 20 attempts and 184 yards. The Tigers now go to SMU Friday night.

The MTSU Blue Raiders rolled to a 48-32 road win over the University of El Paso Miners. It was their sixth Conference USA win in seven tried and runs their overall record to 7-3.

Both QB Brent Stockstill, with four touchdown passes and 352 yards in the air, and receiver Ty Lee with a career high 158 yards in receptions, were offensive stars. The Miners hit a lot of late points playing against backups.

The underappreciated greatness of Chris Johnson

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By MIKE PATTON | Nashville Voice

One of the best Titans of all-time retired this week. Chris Johnson officially decided he was done playing football in the NFL after 10 seasons.

The talented running back totaled 9,651 yards rushing over his career along with 55 rushing touchdowns with the Tennessee Titans along with the New York Jets and the Arizona Cardinals. The numbers show he had a good career, but when he was first drafted, no one knew what to expect.

Being drafted 24th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft, Johnson was a relatively unknown player out of East Carolina. People knew he was fast, but people weren’t sure he was just a speed guy or a football player.

Also, because he had previously played wide receiver before becoming a running back at East Carolina, there were some doubts as to if he could be an NFL running back. Well, those doubts surely went away quickly as he ran for over 1,200 yards in his first season as a Titan.

Every time he touched the ball, there was a chance he could take it the distance with the speed he possessed. His explosion at the running back position was refreshing for a Titans team that had not been known for having explosive offensive players.

He would go to join an elite club in 2009, rushing for over 2000 yards and crossing the goal line 14 times that season. In two short seasons, Johnson went from unknown to one of the faces of the team.

Johnson was solid as a running back for the Titans after the 2009 season, but with great play comes great expectations. He held out, wanting to get the money he felt was owed to him sooner rather than later. Because of that, there were many fans that turned on him, calling him selfish and greedy.

With each bad game or bad run, fans would call into radio stations talking about how bad he was and ignoring the fact that the offensive line he once had wasn’t the same. Despite the talk about his running style, Johnson rushed for over 1,000 yards each of his six seasons in Tennessee while averaging under four yards per carry once in those three seasons.

After the 2013 season, Johnson would land in a New York Jets jersey, signing a two-year deal. He would only make it through one season and then he landed in Arizona for the last three years of his career. He was productive in the last two stops, but he was nowhere near the same type of running back he was when he was in the two-tone blue of the Tennessee Titans.

Many Titans fans want to remember Eddie George as the best back to ever play for the Titans, but the most exciting back to play here for Tennessee was Chris Johnson. Some fans may want to forget he played here, but what you cannot forget is the speed and excitement he played with on the field.

As he retires, he will always be remembered as a Tennessee Titans. He will not be a Hall of Famer, but he will be a guy that will forever be remembered in Titans history.

Local pastors see online worship as another way to spread the Word

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By LEE JOHNSON | Nashville Voice

When Alan George tells people he’s a pastor at an internet church, he’s often confronted with the following assumption, “An internet church is not a real church. The church is a place you go every week to worship God. It’s a building. It has walls and windows.”

Then the Life Church pastor gives this response:  “Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 that He will “build His church on Peter, a person.” Nowhere in the Bible does God say the church can only be assembled in a building. In fact, I believe that church is not a building at all, but the people.”

George is not alone in his belief. As more and more people decide to have church online, ministers see internet worship has an opportunity to reach more people, and further spread the gospel.

“Now, more than ever before, we’re able to take God’s Word to the ends of the earth and fulfill the Great Commission Jesus left for all of us,” says George. “The internet church is a digital mission field where people only need an internet connection to encounter God in a real way.”

Bishop Joseph Walker III serves as pastor of the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, which has three locations in Nashville, Tennessee. He said that Mt. Zion has a physical membership roster of about 30,000 but has a virtually serves nearly 40,000 around the world.

“A lot of people really enjoy waking up … sitting in the bed and watching TV,” said Walker, noting the convenience online churching gives individuals. “It’s a preference.”

However, he acknowledges one downside to internet worship is a “lack of community, being in fellowship.”

Earl Lavender, a professor of theology at Lipscomb University, agrees. He believes people who worship online only do not get the face-to-face fellowship that’s a special part of church ministry.

“I think the real advantage of being part of a community is that people know who you are … your brokenness, your strength, your weaknesses,” says Lavender. “My hope would be that communities of faith could be such that you would actually want to be a part of them, and it would be worth the effort to get there.”

Jalen Dukes is a member of Mt. Zion. While he was in college at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the Nashville native watched his home church online. But after he graduated in 2015 and returned home, Dukes now worships in person.

“You can worship at home, but I don’t think it’s the same experience,” says Dukes. “The fellowship part, definitely, adds to the worship experience.”

Alex Angellakis is a chaplain and online chat moderator at Pioneer Memorial, a Seventh-day Adventist Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan, that has a large online presence. He says virtual worshippers may not have the “face-to-face” experience of churchgoers, but they’re still able to engage with one another, and pray, which “feels like a community.”

“You’ll see people wave at each other with the emojis and such on Facebook because they recognize each other,” says Angellakis.

Online ministers say the internet also allows individuals to communicate with people they would not normally be able to at their brick and mortar churches.

“At each of our services, people have the opportunity to connect and chat with people from all over the world,” says George. “We are seeing friendships made with people from the United States, England, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, the Philippines, and practically every other country in the world.”

For some people, online worship is not just an opportunity to connect, but reconnect – and stay connected.

Karla Winfrey is a documentarian and entrepreneur who moved back home to Nashville a couple of years ago after living in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where she still has ties.

Winfrey attends church with her family in Nashville each Sunday, but every now and then, she wants to hear a word from the pastor where she attended church in Georgia. And she did so recently.

“I was getting ready to go to church in Nashville, and I was listening to the church in Stone Mountain on my cell phone,” Winfrey said. “I was still part of and connected to the church that I miss going to. A lot of people relocate, so it gives you an opportunity to still feel connected.”

TSU basketball head coach Brian ‘Penny’ Collins: ‘Optimistic’ about Tigers’ upcoming season

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By MIKE PATTON / Nashville Voice

The Tennessee State Tigers basketball season is getting ready to kick off, opening Nov. 10 against Lipscomb University.

Last year, they were led by coach Dana Ford as the Tigers were trying to make some noise in the Ohio Valley Conference.  This season, they are still trying to make some noise in the OVC, but they are led by a different voice this time around.

Ford has moved on to coach the Missouri State Bears and, in his place, has stepped in someone familiar with Tennessee State University basketball.

Brian “Penny” Collins was officially named the Head Coach of the TSU men’s basketball program on March 26. A proven winner as a coach and player with deep ties to the city of Nashville, Collins is the 18th head coach in program history.

“I grew up watching Carlos Rogers play basketball here. TSU was like an NBA team to me as a kid,” Collins said.  The Nashville native has finally made it back home to a place where he envisioned himself being a coach at one day.

To Collins, though, coaching TSU basketball is much more than just about basketball: “I grew up in the TSU community. My mother and grandmother both went to TSU. I was always here growing up.”

Collins has inherited a team that finished last season with a 15-15 record, including a 10-8 record in the Ohio Valley Conference, which put them in a tie for fifth place in the OVC. He also received a team that has lost two of its best players, Delano Spencer (graduation) and Christian Mekowulu (graduate transfer to Texas A&M).

Even with those two losses, Collins still has high optimism for the Tennessee State Tigers.

“Our expectation is to win the OVC Conference and get to the NCAA Tournament,” Collins said.

The Tigers are picked to finish eight in the conference this season, but to that Penny has to say, “To be honest, that is the most overrated stat mentioned. It isn’t something we keep up with.”

Collins said he not only wants to lift up the basketball team, but he wants to create a long-lasting impression of his regime.

“I want us to above all be great young men. No one is going to put a conference championship on your resume. I want us to be remembered for being great young men first.”

So far so good for Collins, as he has infused some energy into the program that was not there before. He helped put together the first ever Big Blue Basketball event, introducing the city and the school to his team while having an event to try and bring the school into what the team is doing.

Penny is focused on the present and the future and the future looks bright with the energy he is bringing to the Tennessee State program this season. It should be fun to watch how his spirit permeates throughout the rest of his team, the university and the program.

Jeff Sessions out as attorney general in Trump administration

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By Laura Jarrett and Eli Watkins | CNN News

President Donald Trump on Wednesday fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

“At your request, I am submitting my resignation,” Sessions wrote in a letter to White House chief of staff John Kelly.

Matthew Whitaker will take over as acting attorney general, the President said.

Whitaker is expected to take charge of the Russia investigation and special counsel Robert Mueller from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Whitaker has been openly critical of Mueller and the investigation and Democrats immediately called on him to recuse himself, just as Sessions had.

“We are pleased to announce that Matthew G. Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will become our new Acting Attorney General of the United States. He will serve our Country well …We thank Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well! A permanent replacement will be nominated at a later date,” Trump tweeted.

The move is an abrupt end to what had been a tumultuous tenure for Sessions, originally one of Trump’s earliest and most loyal surrogates as an Alabama Republican senator. He was a key figure in implementing Trump’s vision for America and significantly rolled back Obama-era policies on immigration, police reform and civil rights.

Sessions was an enforcer of much of the Trump administration’s hardline approach on immigration and regularly praised the President’s tough words on crime. But even as he continued to carry out the Trump agenda, his relationship with the President remained strained and fraught for months due to the ongoing Mueller investigation.

Sessions received the request to resign from Kelly, not the President, on Wednesday morning, an administration official said. It is not clear whether Mueller was told ahead of time.

Sessions believed that Rosenstein has handled the investigation properly after it was dropped “right in his lap,” according to a source familiar with Sessions’ thinking.”[Rosenstein is] a professional, he’s tried to do the right thing and he’s handled it as well as anybody could,” the source said of Sessions’ views on the matter.

However, the source said that Sessions himself has been frustrated that Mueller’s investigation has not yet concluded, but DOJ officials have “tried to do the right thing every day and not be involved in arguing the case in the media.”

In a statement, Whitaker said he will lead a “fair” department with high ethical standards.

“It is a true honor that the President has confidence in my ability to lead the Department of Justice as Acting Attorney General. I am committed to leading a fair Department with the highest ethical standards, that upholds the rule of law, and seeks justice for all Americans,” he said.

Trump constantly criticized Sessions

Sessions’ ouster came a day after the midterm elections saw Republicans hold onto control of the Senate — which would confirm Trump’s eventual permanent choice to head the Justice Department — and just weeks after Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to multiple counts of campaign finance violations, tax fraud, and bank fraud and Trump’s former campaign chair Paul Manafort was found guilty of eight charges including tax fraud and bank fraud.

Sessions was aware that Cohen was facing bank fraud and tax violations but had been walled off from the campaign finance aspects of the investigation into Trump’s former lawyer, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told CNN.

Trump’s distaste for Sessions was well known — and publicly reinforced , himself on a regular basis — after the attorney general recused himself from all matters related to the 2016 campaign early in Trump’s term.

The President mocked Sessions in August as “scared stiff and Missing in Action.” Later the same month as Trump continued to rail against him, Sessions issued a statement firing back at Trump and declaring, “While I am Attorney General, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations. I demand the highest standards, and where they are not met, I take action.”

Just days later, Trump knocked the Sessions-led Justice Department for indicting two Trump-supporting Republican congressmen ahead of the midterm elections. Both lawmakers won their re-election bids Tuesday.

But Sessions hung on, and although there was no formal reconciliation, the President allowed him to stay, even despite the unwillingness of White House spokespeople to publicly confirm, for days, that Trump had confidence in the attorney general.

In early August, Trump tweeted that Sessions “should stop” Mueller’s investigation, raising questions as to whether the President was attempting to obstruct justice. Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani told CNN’s Dana Bash that Trump was merely “expressing his opinion on his favorite medium.”

Sessions, for his part, consistently maintained that his recusal decision was made in consultation with career ethics officials at the Justice Department and was in the works from the time he was sworn in.

Democrats demand continued independence for Mueller

Top Democrats immediately called for Mueller’s investigation to be allowed to proceed.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the new acting attorney general to recuse himself from oversight of the Mueller probe.

“Given his previous comments advocating defunding and imposing limitations on the Mueller investigation, Mr. Whitaker should recuse himself from its oversight for the duration of his time as acting attorney general,” Schumer said.

Former Obama administration Attorney General Eric Holder declared interference with the special counsel “a red line.

“Anyone who attempts to interfere with or obstruct the Mueller inquiry must be held accountable. This is a red line. We are a nation of laws and norms not subject to the self-interested actions of one man,” Holder tweeted.

New York Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler tweeted a vow for accountability. Nadler is poised to chair the House Judiciary Committee next year.”

Americans must have answers immediately as to the reasoning behind @realDonaldTrump removing Jeff Sessions from @TheJusticeDept. Why is the President making this change and who has authority over Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation? We will be holding people accountable,” Nadler tweeted.

Immigration bonded him with Trump from the start

Sessions’ campaign loyalty to Trump earned him a plumb spot in the administration as attorney general, and Sessions’ former aides and allies, including prominent Trump adviser Stephen Miller, spread throughout the administration in key posts across multiple agencies.

Under Sessions, the Justice Department has been aggressive in trying to cut off funds to and punish sanctuary cities — though the courts have repeatedly admonished many of those efforts — and was the primary agency that justified the ending of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, a program that protected young undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children.

Sessions moved to push the limits of his authority over the nation’s immigration system and reinterpreted asylum law as he clashed with immigration judges. He has been the voice of many of the administration’s most aggressive immigration priorities, and was a staunch defender of the administration’s policies last summer that led to the separation of immigrant families and led to widespread outcry.

CNN’s Veronica Stracqualursi and Tal Kopan contributed to this report.

House Democrats ascendant, set to check Trump’s power

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By Stephen Collinson | CNN News

Democrats on Tuesday captured the House of Representatives and are set to exert a major institutional check on President Donald Trump, while breaking the Republican monopoly on power and ushering in a younger, more female and more racially diverse political generation.

But the GOP solidified their Senate majority after an acerbic midterm election that enshrined America’s deep divides and shaped a highly contentious battleground for the stirring 2020 presidential race.

The opposite trends in the House and the Senate underscored a political and cultural gulf among diverse and affluent liberals living in big cities and their suburbs, and the mostly, white, working class and rural conservative bloc of voters for whom Trump remains an iconic figure.

In his first reaction to a mixed night, Trump chose to celebrate Republican successes even though the loss of the House meant his record of busting political convention could not defy the traditional first-term midterm curse faced by many of his predecessors.”Tremendous success tonight. Thank you to all!” he tweeted.

But the new Democratic House will pose a perilous problem for the President, who must now brace for the novel experience of oversight from Capitol Hill with Democratic committee chairs promising constraints on his power that the GOP never attempted.

Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker who is in position to lead again, pledged that the new majority would work to rein in the White House as well as to improve health care, lower the cost of drugs and protect millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions.

“Today is more than about Democrats and Republicans. It is about restoring the Constitution’s checks and balances to the Trump administration,” Pelosi said.

Democrats could win more than 30 seats in the House, above the net gain of 23 seats that they needed to take control for the first time in eight years. But they lost significant ground in the Senate, losing incumbents in Missouri and Indiana and North Dakota, where Trump is still wildly popular. With several races too close to call, the GOP advantage was expected to grow.

And liberal hearts were broken in several closely fought marquee races, including Andrew Gillum’s failure to become Florida’s first African-American governor and rising star Beto O’Rourke’s failed bid to unseat Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

O’Rourke’s narrow defeat, however, proved his ability to compete even in conservative territory and he will get buzz as a potential 2020 presidential candidate.

Democrats dare to dream again

Two years after the trauma of Trump’s shock defeat of Hillary Clinton, Democrats could dare to dream again.

They won the House, which will change hands for the third time in 12 volatile years, by performing strongly in suburban areas where Trump’s flaming rhetoric is toxic. They also attracted a higher proportion of younger voters than at the last midterm elections four years ago and will change the face of Washington.

“We have the beginning of a new Democratic Party, younger, browner, cooler, more women, more veterans, can win in Michigan, can win in Pennsylvania, can win in Ohio,” said Van Jones, a CNN political commentator. “It may not be a blue wave, it’s a rainbow wave.”

One potential pitfall for Democrats will be to hold Trump to account without being seen as overreaching. After all, some presidents, including Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, had tough midterm elections but leveraged attacks by Capitol Hill foes to help them win re-election. Trump, who loves nothing more than to identify new enemies, will be a formidable opponent.

Within minutes of their victory being confirmed, other Democrats were already threatening to go after Trump and to probe his business interests, including his tax returns.

Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who is slated to steer the House Judiciary Committee, warned that the election was about accountability for Trump.”He’s going to learn that he’s not above the law,” Nadler told CNN.

The race they ran

The contradictory message sent by voters on Tuesday night recalls Clinton’s win in the popular vote but defeat in the Electoral College and underlines the split down the middle of American politics.

Republicans performed strongly in the deep red states where Trump mounted a frenetic final campaign blitz and proved that despite his low approval rating he remains a potent political force among conservatives.In nearly every state with a key contested Senate or governor’s race, the President had a positive approval rating over 50%, according to CNN’s preliminary exit poll data.

Keeping hold of the Senate is especially important for Trump, since it will allow him and Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell to press on with one of his major legacy-building initiatives, restocking the federal judiciary with conservatives.

Tuesday’s Senate victory marks another triumph for the canny Kentuckian, follow his piloting of Trump’s two nominees onto the Supreme Court to construct what could be a generational conservative majority.

Still, Trump will also have to answer for a scorched-earth campaign on immigration in the final days that might have helped tip the House to Democrats, even if he can argue that his magnetism helped push other candidates, such as Rep. Ron DeSantis, who won the Florida gubernatorial race, across the finish line.

Other Trump favorites include Marsha Blackburn, who will capture the Tennessee Senate race, and Mike Braun, who defeated the incumbent Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly in Indiana. Trump also helped topple another foe, Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in Missouri.

The loss of the House spells the end of a political era for Republicans who rode into town on a Tea Party wave whipped up by fury over Obamacare and huge government spending in the wake of the Great Recession.

The Republican majority will leave town with Obamacare still the law of the land and with a deficit going through the roof on the back of GOP tax cuts.

In theory, the new Democratic majority would have the capacity to initiate impeachment proceedings against Trump, should there be sufficient grounds uncovered in Robert Mueller’s special counsel investigation.

Though the Republican gains in the Senate make it even less likely that there would be a two-thirds majority needed to convict a president and evict him from office.

But if they take a cautious approach, Democrats could face a backlash from their own base voters who have been electrified in opposition to Trump. In exit polls, 77% of self-identified Democrats supported impeachment.

What is next for Trump?

Much will depend on how Trump reacts to what is undeniable a rebuke from voters two years into a presidency that has unfolded in institutional chaos, torn at racial and cultural divides and often trampled on truth and facts.

Given his history and personality, it seems unlikely the President will reflect on the cultural warfare that he waged in the dying days of the campaign and change his approach. Indeed, he may conclude that exactly that kind of approach was behind a better-than-expected GOP performance in Senate races.

But critics will argue that his incessant concern with bolstering the support of his most vehement supporters and angry tirades risks deepening the damage suffered among college-educated female voters especially, in a way that could severely compromise his hopes of winning re-election in two years.

The President watched the results after having dinner with his family in the residence of the White House.

He was joined by Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson, Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman and the President’s ex-campaign aides, David Bossie and Corey Lewandowski, a source familiar with the guest list said.

Two other sources close to the White House said that Trump is already blaming retiring House Speaker Paul Ryan for the loss of the House.

“He is really angry at Ryan,” one source said, on “everything.”Drew Hammill, an aide to Pelosi, tweeted Tuesday evening that the President called Pelosi at 11:45 p.m. ET “to extend his congratulations on winning a Democratic House Majority.”

This story has been updated.


Blackburn withstands challenge from Bredesen to win Tennessee Senate seat

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By Dan Merica | CNN News

Rep. Marsha Blackburn will win the race to represent Tennessee in the US Senate, outlasting a challenge from former Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat who looked to run against his party to win in a state President Donald Trump won by 26 percentage points in 2016.

Blackburn, a conservative lawmaker closely tied to the President, looked to nationalize the Senate race as much as possible, hoping to tap into the same conservatism that elected Trump in order to blunt some goodwill Bredesen had built up during his two terms as governor. Trump visited the state three times. Blackburn will be the first female senator to represent her state.

Democrats had hoped to pick up Tennessee as part of a narrow path to retaking the Senate.

Although Bredesen ran as a Democrat, he largely ran away from the national party and regularly touted his ties to the state and independence from Washington, D.C.

The strategy was clear: He hoped to bank on the fact he won every county in the state in 2006 during his second run for governor and looked to tag Blackburn as a traditional Washington ideologue.

Bredesen got some help, too. Sen. Bob Corker, whose decision to retire opened the seat and gave way to the Democratic campaign, declined to help bury the popular Democrat, a clear sign that not all Republicans have been wooed by the Trump wing of the party.

And the former governor also energized Tennessee Democrats who had long struggled to gain traction in the state. Taylor Swift, a pop star known for staying out of politics, eagerly got behind his campaign, too.

Blackburn, however, looked to highlight Bredesen’s party affiliation at every turn, regularly tying him to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and some of the more high-profile liberal members of the legislative body.

“Phil Bredesen has said he would have voted against the tax cuts,” Blackburn said during one debate. “Chuck Schumer has bought and paid for his campaign.”

Bredesen looked to blunt the attack by telling voters he would not back Schumer for Majority Leader if he were elected.

The former governor also announced during the campaign that he would have voted in favor of Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump’s controversial Supreme Court pick, whose confirmation hearings became a national event after professor Christine Blasey Ford testified that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her in high school. Kavanaugh denied the allegations.


Democrats to use House majority to launch Trump investigations

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By Lauren FoxJeremy Herb and Manu Raju | CNN News

House Democrats are ready to unleash the full force of their oversight powers on the Trump administration, a political liability for the President that will come from a newly divided government in Washington.

Now in the majority, Democrats are prepared to force Cabinet secretaries to testify, request President Donald Trump’s tax returns and scrutinize some of the Trump’s most controversial policy decisions that got little more than an eye-roll or harsh statement from Trump’s fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill.

Now that oversight will come under the hot lights of television cameras in high-octane Democratic-controlled hearings.

It’s the moment Democrats have been waiting for.

“This election was about accountability,” New York Rep. Jerry Nadler, who is expected to lead the Judiciary Committee next year, told CNN. “Donald Trump may not like hearing it, but for the first time, his administration is going to be held accountable.”

The preparations for a Democratic takeover have been underway for months.

One source familiar with the discussions said that “it would have been malpractice” not to be ready even as leadership encouraged members to exercise caution. The person described rigorous planning in which key oversight teams were communicating with each other “every single day.

Winning the majority is a mandate to provide a check and balance in the form of oversight and accountability that’s been completely absent during two years of the Trump administration under Republican control of Congress,” said. Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Democrat from Virginia. “But how we do it is what will be the test. We can’t look like Torquemada in the Spanish Inquisition. It has to be fact-based, methodical, meticulous and well-grounded. And judicious. But I believe we are more than capable of doing that. We’ve done it before.”

Where to look

The House Oversight and Government Reform committee will be at the center of the action. Elijah Cummings, a Democrat from Maryland who is expected to lead the committee, plans to look at “all the things the President has done that go against the mandates of our founding fathers in the Constitution.”

“Right now, we have a president who is accountable to no one,” Cummings told CNN.

Still, Cummings insisted he would “work very hard” to approach his chairmanship in a deliberative and bipartisan manner. “I don’t want people to think we are going to rush in and beat up on Trump,” he said.

Even in the minority, Cummings sought to investigate potential violations of the Emoluments clause and whether the administration followed protocols when it came to their employees’ security clearances.

In the weeks leading up to the election, Cummings has accused Trump of being far more instrumental than first thought in the decision to keep the FBI headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C., as opposed to moving it to the suburbs, a move Democrats argued was so that Trump could ensure another developer wouldn’t buy it and build something that would compete with Trump’s nearby hotel.

But, the House Judiciary Committee will also have a major stake in the oversight game. Over the last few months, the panel’s Democrats have sent dozens of letters on everything from the Trump administration’s family separations on the Southern border to the rise of white nationalism to why the Justice Department has refused to defend the Affordable Care Act in a Texas court case.

Nadler, whose political fights with Trump stretch back decades over New York real estate politics, told CNN that his committee would probe many of those same issues they previously pressed Republicans to examine, including family separation, gun safety, environmental laws and the Justice Department’s failure to defend the Affordable Care Act.

“He’s going to learn that he’s not above the law,” Nadler said of Trump.

Trump’s tax returns

Another top priority will be asking for Trump’s tax returns. Rep. Richard Neal, the man expected to lead the House Ways and Means Committee, told CNN in October he plans to first ask Trump for them. If that fails, he will use an arcane IRS code to formally request them, a move that is expected to launch a months-long court battle.

“I think we would all be comfortable if this was done on a voluntary basis,” Neal said. “If they would resist the overture then I think you could probably see a long and grinding court case.”

Cummings said Trump’s tax returns would “probably” be pursued as part of his panel’s Emoluments investigation as well, but predicted that the committees would coordinate their oversight efforts.

“The last thing we want to do is step on each other,” he said.”All of this is complicated because it’s like coming upon an 88-car pile-up on the highway. It’s hard to know where to begin,” said Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, a member of the Judiciary and Oversight Committees.

For policy committees, expect even more oversight of federal agencies. The House Energy and Commerce Committee will conduct oversight into the ways the Trump administration has weakened protections for people with pre-existing conditions at the Department of Health and Human Services.

And, the House Natural Resources Committee’s expected Chairman Raul Grijalva has said he wants to bring Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke before his committee after reporting that the Department of Justice is investigating the secretary.

“Secretary Zinke will be called to testify in February on why his conduct in office merited referral to the Justice Department, whether that referral was related to the recent attempted firing of his inspector general, and his many other failures and scandals,” Grijalva said in a statement before the midterms.

Russia

The new Democratic majority is also likely to result in a restarting of the congressional investigation into potential collusion between Trump’s team and Russia, which House Republicans concluded in March.

But Rep. Adam Schiff, who is likely to become chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, isn’t planning to re-launch a full-blown investigation into Russia. That’s because special counsel Robert Mueller is believed to be close to completing his work, and the Senate Intelligence Committee is also nearing the finish line of its own Russia investigation.

As a result, Democrats plan to wait to see what Mueller and the Senate find — and what questions they believe are still unanswered, according to a senior House Democratic aide. They expect there could be several key issues that might go unanswered that they can continue to probe, including potential Russian money laundering, Trump’s financial ties to Deutsche Bank and the number Donald Trump Jr. called when he dialed a blocked phone the while arranging the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting.

“The question, though, that I don’t know whether Mueller has been able to answer because I don’t know whether he’s been given the license to look into it, is were the Russians laundering money through the Trump Organization?” Schiff told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer last month. “And that will be a very high priority to get an answer to. For the reason that, if they were doing this, it’s not only a crime, but it’s something provable.”

Of course, one unanswered question that could change Democrats’ planning is that they don’t know what form the end result of the special counsel will take, if his findings will even be provided to Congress and who might be supervising the special counsel investigation if Attorney General Jeff Sessions or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein leave the Justice Department.

DOJ regulations don’t require that Mueller’s findings are provided to Congress, and if they are not sent to Capitol Hill, it’s likely to be one of the biggest early fights between the new Democratic House and the Trump administration.

Will the White House cooperate?

One outside White House ally predicted a “long fight” over subpoenas from Democratic investigations between lawmakers and the Trump administration but said the White House might be inclined to cooperate more than some might expect.

“Why give them a needle when you can give them the haystack?” the ally said, suggesting that document dumps might drown Democrats in so much paperwork that it keeps them occupied for months.

Separately, another White House official acknowledged that they will need a coordinated campaign between legal and communications teams to fight back in public. Much of this response is expected come down to what new White House counsel Pat Cipollone advises, the official said.

CNN’s Elizabeth Landers contributed to this report.


Mayor, community leaders support formation of a diversity-themed political action committee

By ERICA DAVIS | Nashville Voice

Residents have noticed that Nashville is growing fast. Businesses are booming in the music city but when it comes to minority and women-owned businesses, Nashville will need some improvement. In fact, the recent release of a city-funded disparity study conducted by Griffin and Strong Law Firm from 2013-2017, shows that Nashville is lacking in the range of business owners that it conducts business.

According to the Nashville Business Journal, the study found that of the nearly $3 billion worth of Metro prime contracts reviewed, 16.54 percent of those taxpayer dollars went to minority and women-owned businesses. That amounts to roughly $480 million out of $2.9 billion pool. To read the full study, click here.

Nashville Mayor David Briley acknowledge the findings of the study back in September, saying: “The (study), which is being presented to Council today, confirms there are disparities in the participation of those firms in the city’s procurement process. These results, while not surprising, are unacceptable,” he said. “As I talk about often, my administration is committed to ensuring all Nashvillians can equitably participate in our city’s success and growth. … I have directed my administration to work with community, business and Metro stakeholders to take these steps.”

On Thursday, Nov. 1, Briley, members of his administration and community leaders all converged at Swett’s Restaurant in North Nashville for the creation of the Nashville Business Alliance, a new political action committee called together to help increase the number of women-owned and minority-owned businesses who work with local government.

The committee is currently being spearheaded by Michael Carter, a co-founder of Pinnacle Construction Partners; Jacky Akbari, board chairwoman of the National Organization for Workforce Diversity; Lee Molette, CEO of Molette Investment Services; Turner Nashe, senior vice president of education services at Innertainment Delivery Systems/Global Tel*Link; Jerry Maynard, CEO of The Maynard Group; and Harvey Hoskins, co-founder of Hoskins and Co. PC.

At the event, Mayor Briley both acknowledged the city’s explosive growth within the past seven years and reaffirmed his commitment to doing his part to helping women-owned and minority-owned businesses in the city thrive.

Ashford Hughes, who serves as the Mayor’s chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for Metropolitan Davidson Government, echoed the importance of having the disparity study conducted and weighed in on how Metro Government plans to use its findings.

“Conducting studies like this one are important to see if Metro Government’s programs are in good faith effort,” says Hughes. “This study gives us the specific numbers available.”

Maynard, owner of The Maynard Group and former city councilman, said he believes the support and leadership from Briley is going to be helpful in pushing forward the mission to increase women and minority-owned businesses.

“The mayor is critical; if the Mayor does not show strong leadership as the leader of our city none of this would get done,” Maynard said. “ So Mayor Briley has shown strong leadership now it is important for our community to rally not only behind him but alongside him to make sure that these initiatives of inclusion and equity not only has passed as far as legislation but make sure it happens in real life.”

“This disparity study shows that 6.8 percent of contracts went to women and minority-owned businesses,” he added. “We created the (Nashville Business Alliance) to support the Mayor’s equity and inclusion initiative. We are not going to just stop there, then we are going to go to the private sector and we are going to fight to make sure the private sector that they reflect inclusion and diversity because the private sector is doing worse than Metro Government.”

Everything we know about Amazon’s HQ2 search

By Kaya YurieffCNN Business

Amazon has made this much clear: It will finish its search for a second headquarters by the end of the year. Beyond that, a lot is TBD.

The company sent cities across North America into a frenzy last year when it announced its search. Dubbed HQ2, the new facility — or facilities — will cost at least $5 billion to construct and will create as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs over the next 10 to 15 years.

Employees at Amazon’s (AMZN) main campus in Seattle will be offered the chance to relocate.

The company has narrowed 238 proposals down to 20 finalists, and executives have traveled across the United States and to one Canadian city to survey sites for Amazon’s new home. But as the company provides few updates, theories and leaks about which city will be crowned winner continue to swirl — and this week has brought a fresh flurry of news.

On Monday night, The New York Times reported that Amazon is close to a deal to split HQ2 between the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, New York, and the Crystal City area of Arlington, Virginia.

Long Island City is one of four areas that New York City proposed in its bid for the Amazon project. The others were Midtown West, the Brooklyn Tech Triangle and Lower Manhattan.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier Monday that Amazon plans to divide its second headquarters evenly between two cities instead of picking one winner. According to the Journal’s sources, the rationale behind selecting two cities is to recruit enough technical talent.

Amazon declined to comment on the Wall Street Journal report and didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the New York Times report.

Here’s what we know about where HQ2 plans stand.

What qualities is Amazon seeking for HQ2?

The expected 50,000 people who will eventually work at the new headquarters will bring a huge economic boost to the winning city — or cities. The fact that the jobs pay well makes the opportunity even more attractive.

But the cities must have certain attributes.

In its request for proposals, Amazon outlined several criteria for HQ2, such as proximity to a major airport and the ability to attract technical talent. It must be a suburban or urban area with more than 1 million people. Amazon also said it was looking for communities that offer a “stable and business-friendly” environment and access to mass transit.

Which cities are still in the running, and who are the top contenders?

Depends on who you ask.Amazon announced a list of 20 finalists for HQ2 in January, including: Atlanta; Austin; Boston; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas; Denver; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Miami; Montgomery County, Maryland; Nashville; Newark; New York City; Northern Virginia; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Raleigh; Toronto; and Washington, DC.

Over the past weekend, The Washington Post reported that Northern Virginia’s Crystal City was in advanced talks with Amazon for the second headquarters. On Sunday, the Journal said not only Crystal City but also Dallas and New York City were in late-stage discussions with the company. According to the Journal’s sources, talks with other cities — such as Denver, Toronto and Nashville — appear to have fizzled out.

An Amazon executive took a swipe at the Washington Post report on Saturday.

“Memo to the genius leaking info about Crystal City, VA as #HQ2 selection. You’re not doing Crystal City, VA any favors. And stop treating the NDA you signed like a used napkin,” tweeted Mike Grella, Amazon’s Director of Economic Development.

Grella leads economic development for Amazon Web Services and has not been involved at all in the HQ2 search, a source familiar with the matter told CNN Business.

Meanwhile, the Washington, DC, metro area has been considered a favorite for the site. It’s the only region with three finalists on the short list, and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post and has a home in the nation’s capital.

Representatives for cities such as Dallas, Crystal City, Austin and Philadelphia declined to comment to CNN Business, while others did not respond to requests for comment.

What are cities offering Amazon?

Some cities got creative with their offers. Stonecrest, Georgia — which is still in the running as part of Atlanta’s bid — offered to turn over some of its land and rename it the city of Amazon.

But on the whole, finalists took varying approaches to releasing their proposals to the public. Toronto, the only Canadian city on the short list, posted its entire bid online without redactions. The city touted its diverse technical talent, universal health care and welcoming immigration system. It also proposed real estate sites for the facility.

Others have gone public with big tax incentives. Maryland approved $8.5 billion in incentives to Amazon — the largest known package. Not far behind is Newark, New Jersey, which announced $7 billion in incentives to attract the company.

But many cities released blacked-out versions of their bids or refused to make any part of their proposals public. Philadelphia released a heavily redacted proposal that included information about possible sites and its talent pool, but blocked out details about incentives.

Amazon is famously secretive, so it’s no surprise the company has largely remained mum throughout the HQ2 process. Since announcing its shortlist in January, Amazon has given virtually no public updates beyond reiterating that a decision would be made this year.

According to a source familiar with the search, Amazon wrapped up visits to all 20 finalists this summer. When touring cities, Amazon representatives met with local business leaders and saw potential real estate sites.

Following those visits, Amazon asked the finalists for a comprehensive request for information — a standard document for economic development projects — containing a variety of questions about talent, real estate, regulations and more.

In recent months, the company also reportedly revisited some of the bigger cities such as Miami, Chicago and New York City, according to the Wall Street Journal.

CNN’s Clare Sebastian contributed reporting to this article.

Pipe bomb suspect scheduled for Election Day court hearing

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By Julia JonesRosa Flores and Nicole Chavez | CNN News

Pipe bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc is expected to appear in a New York court on Tuesday.

The 56-year-old will appear in federal court in downtown Manhattan at noon ET, according to a letter from federal prosecutors to Judge Robert Lehrburger.

Sayoc was due to arrive in New York on Monday after waiving his right to a bond hearing in Miami on Friday.

He faces five federal charges: interstate transportation of an explosive, illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents and other persons, threatening interstate communications, and assaulting current and former federal officers.

16th explosive device recovered, prosecutors say

Sayoc is accused of sending at least 14 mail bombs to several targets, including former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. None of the devices detonated, and no one was injured.

If convicted, Sayoc could receive up to 48 years in prison.

Since Sayoc’s arrest, authorities have recovered two more packages containing explosive devices, bringing the total to 16.

The latest package was found on Friday, federal prosecutors said in the letter to Lehrburger. The device was in a package addressed to a Democratic donor and billionaire Thomas Steyer, in California, prosecutors said. It was the second package Sayoc allegedly mailed to Steyer.

“The defendant used mailing materials nearly identical to the other 15 packages, including the same type of envelope, address format, and stamps,” the prosecutors’ letter reads.

FBI finds target list, package labels

Sayoc was arrested on Oct. 26 at an AutoZone parking lot in Plantation, Florida, as he neared his white Dodge van, which was plastered with pro-Trump and anti-Democrat memes.

In the week since his arrest, authorities have called the pipe bombs a “domestic terrorist attack.”

A letter sent to the judge presiding over Sayoc’s case in Florida suggests investigators believe he had planned to continue his alleged attacks.

“Put simply, only the defendant’s arrest and incapacitation resulting from his detention were sufficient to stop his attack,” Geoffrey S. Berman, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York wrote.

Searches into Sayoc’s laptop and cell phone showed he had been doing research online about the homes and families of the recipients of the packages. He also kept a list of their physical addresses and had lists of other potential targets, the letter said.

And while the exact content of the packages has not been discussed in detail, prosecutors said the bombs had clear similarities. They a in envelopes that had return labels listing the address and the name of US Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, a former Democratic National Committee chair.

The return labels all had the same misspellings, the letter said.

Video shows suspect chatting with officers

Investigators suspect that Sayoc made the pipe bombs in the van he was arrested beside, two law enforcement sources have said.

A law enforcement official has said it appears that Sayoc had been kicked out by his parents and was living in the vehicle.

Sayoc’s arrest last month was not the first time that law enforcement approached him near his vehicle.

In September, two Boca Raton police officers had a friendly chat with the former male dancer outside his van, which was parked outside a fitness club.

The nearly five-minute conversation was recorded on an officer’s bodycam.

The footage shows one officer explaining that someone had called about Sayoc, saying, “They were concerned about you.”

The officers seemed to think he was OK. Sayoc told them he was taking a nap after working at a Florida strip club and that he planned to go inside the gym to work out. They checked his license and ran his plate, and they both came back valid.

In the video, Sayoc’s dashboard and front seats are visible but not the rest of the interior.

CNN’s Rosa Flores reported from Miami, and Nicole Chavez wrote and reported from Atlanta. CNN’s Kara Scannell, Evan Perez, Laura Jarrett, Jamiel Lynch, Susannah Cullinane and Steve Almasy contributed to this report.

The Morning After: What’s Next for American Politics?

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By NIARA SAVAGE | Nashville Voice

An unprecedented, countrywide movement has just fizzled to a long-anticipated conclusion.

Record-breaking numbers of people in states across the nation exercised their right to vote, in what former President Barack Obama has called “the most important election of our generation.”

And now, the polls have closed. Election day is over. All of the energy, expressed by current and former political officer holders, news anchors, and everyday citizens alike, has served its purpose.

But what next? The damage has already been done. Trump is still in office. Eleven senior citizens, slaughtered in the largest Anti-Semitic attack in US history, remain dead.

Bombs were sent by mail to over a dozen liberal political leaders just two weeks ago. A group of migrants in Central America, most of them women and children seeking asylum, remain demonized by President Trump and right-wing media.

Yes, Americans made history at the polls, but the Trump Administration has already made its own twisted, and permanent mark our nation’s history. And so the question remains: What next?

We still live in a nation, under a president who spoke not of issues regarding healthcare or the economy, but of xenophobia, and racism, to excite his base.

Our president, as much as it pains me to use this phrase), continues to rally and campaign on a platform of fear-mongering, by capitalizing on White fragility and anxiety.

All of this tension and anxiety resulted in a Trump-centric mid-term election. A CNN poll showed that 38 percent of voters voted simply to oppose Donald Trump, while another 34 percent voted simply to support him. What kind of story do these statistics tell about the state of the nation?

We are living in a country in which 34 percent of voters wish to support a man, who, when questioned about solutions to gun violence in the wake of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, stated that the victims should have had an “armed guard inside the temple.”

Even over the dead bodies of eleven Jewish senior citizens, and two Black grandparents shopping at a Kentucky Kroger Supermarket, and countless, nameless others, 34 percent percent of voters wish to support a self-proclaimed “nationalist.”

The racial climate of this country has been irrevocably changed, and in the midst of a race war, here we are, basking in the aftermath of a history-making midterm election.

But for now, we are in the same sinking boat we were 24 hours ago. Progressive legislation and impeachment are months and months away, and neither of these things can make a racist heart emboldened by Trump’s rhetoric, any less racist.

So once again, the unanswered question hangs over our strangled, starving democracy: What’s next?

More than 30 million Americans have voted in the midterms, with a surge of younger voters

By Aaron Kessler and Annie Grayer | CNN News

Early voting continues to be explosive one day before Election Day, as an energized American electorate weighs in on its government.

As of Monday morning, at least 31 million people have voted early nationwide, according to data collected by Catalist, a data company that works with Democrats and others, to compile counts of ballots cast before Election Day, either early in-person or by mail.

That’s far more than the 19 million who voted early at this point during the 2014 midterms. In fact, it’s more than the 22 million early votes cast in the entire 2014 election.

The data suggests an electorate deeply engaged in voters’ first real opportunity to offer a verdict on the presidency of Donald Trump, who has actively tried to turn the election into a referendum on himself.

Encouraging signs for Democrats include a clear surge in young and first-time voters in the early voting data and a larger percentage of women voters, who have appeared supportive of Democrats in recent national polls. Also, in states where party identification is available, Democrats are a larger portion of the early voting electorate than they were in 2014.

It’s important not to draw conclusions from the data. The country has been moving toward a more robust use of early voting for years. It’s also not clear if the early vote in key states is showing up to support Trump and Republicans or Democrats.

But it is certainly true that 33 states have eclipsed their early voting totals from this point in 2014, according to Catalist.

Age

The Catalist records show the share of early voters under the age of 30 has increased substantially this year in many states, compared to the previous cycles.

In at least 10 states, voters under 30 make up a larger percentage of the early vote this cycle than they did in 2014.

In four states — Texas, Georgia, Nevada and New Jersey — the share of the youth vote under 30 this cycle has roughly doubled compared with 2014.

Check out what’s happened in Texas and Georgia, for instance:

First-timers

The records also allow for examining which early voters have registered to vote for the first time — at least for 2018 (previous years were not available).

In North Dakota and Nevada, 11 percent of the early voting electorate were first-time voters. By contrast, in Illinois, Kansas, New Jersey and West Virginia, first-time voters only comprise between 3 percent and 4 percent of early voting.

Gender

Women continue to outpace men in early voting in every state where Catalist provided data to CNN, with the exceptions of Montana, Nevada and Alaska.

In four states — Georgia, Florida, Kansas, and New Jersey — women comprise at least 10 percentage points more of the early vote than men.

Party registration

The records provided by Catalist to CNN includes party registration for early vote tallies in select states. (Those numbers reflect a count of the voter’s party affiliation, but do not indicate who a voter actually chose on the ballot.)

While most states are on par with the party breakdown of previous cycles, which generally favor Republicans, Democrats have made gains in several notable places since 2014.

In Nevada, Democrats have actually pulled ahead of Republicans as a share of the early vote this time, and in several other states have increased their share over 2014.

Some key states do not have party registration information at all — such as Texas and Georgia.

Brian Kemp turns election system worries into a political weapon

By Gregory KriegDonie O’Sullivan and Kaylee Hartung | CNN News

With the clock winding down before Tuesday’s vote, Georgia’s chief elections officer, who is also running for governor, turned a report of an alleged vulnerability in the election system he oversees into a political weapon in a race he is hoping to win.

Republican Brian Kemp on Monday stood by his decision to level claims of attempted hacking at Democrats, turning their objections — and the concerns of nonpartisan civil rights groups — into an election eve selling point.

“I’m not worried about how it looks. I’m doing my job,” he said during a campaign stop in DeKalb County that he had been stuck with two bad options. “This is how we would handle any investigation when something like this comes up. Because I can assure you if I hadn’t done anything and the story came out that something was going on, you’d be going ‘Why didn’t you act?'”

Kemp’s decision to directly accuse the opposing party of wrongdoing while running for the state’s highest office has further inflamed deep-seated worries over voting rights in Georgia at the height of a historic campaign by his Democratic opponent, Stacey Abrams, to become the country’s black female governor.

Amid the furor over the purported hacking, Kemp announced Monday that the state had not only broken its 2014 record but has set a new, all-time record for early voting in a midterm election.

“The normal course of action would be that you investigate the vulnerability, fix it and then reassure the public. They seem to be doing it backwards,” Richard DeMillo, a Georgia Tech professor and one of the experts contacted by Georgia Democrats, told CNN on Monday. “Rather than addressing the substance of the vulnerability they’re assuming everything is fine and attacking the messenger.”

The last week of the campaign has included a robocall paid for by white supremacists crudely impersonating megastar Oprah Winfrey, who traveled last week to Georgia to campaign on Abrams’ behalf. Kemp denounced the robocall as “absolutely disgusting,” but has often trafficked in racial themes during the campaign, including a tweet late Monday tying Abrams to the Black Panthers.

His campaign has also falsely claimed Abrams encouraged undocumented immigrants to vote and dismissed as “outside agitators” critics alleging that he weaponized state law to suppress the minority vote.

Those charges escalated early last month after an Associated Press analysis of public records data found that Kemp’s office had put on hold more than 53,000 voter registrations — nearly 70 percent of them belonging to African Americans — because they failed to clear the state’s controversial “exact match” standard.

A subsequent lawsuit led a federal judge to issue an injunction blocking the state from rejecting absentee ballots without taking added steps to notify voters and sort out any signature discrepancies.

Kemp on Sunday lit another fuse when his office issued an early morning bulletin that claimed, vaguely and without any proof, that there had been “a failed attempt to hack the state’s voter registration system.” It added, with no further explanation, that the Democratic Party of Georgia had been placed under investigation the night before in connection with the failed breach.

In reality, a Georgia citizen had discovered what he believed was a flaw in the system and sought to bring it to the attention of authorities.

A series of emails, obtained by CNN, including an exchange between Georgia Democratic party operatives, refer to findings by an unaffiliated voter, Richard Wright, who said he had discovered potential vulnerabilities in the state’s voter information page and its online registration system.

The Secretary of State received the chain of emails from a representative of a cybersecurity expert who the Georgia Democratic Party asked to evaluate the potential vulnerabilities.

“If Richard Wright had never contacted the Democratic Party on Saturday morning,” his lawyer, David Cross, told CNN, “no one would be talking about the Democratic Party. It’s only because Wright alerted them that Kemp draws it back to them.”

But it had an immediate impact. Before most voters had gotten out of bed, word of a newly launched probe into election security, already a pressure point for many Americans, had spread across the state and country.

That meant added work for Abrams, who kept up her planned bus tour schedule while also calling into radio stations and appearing on national television — for a second day running — to both push back against Kemp’s claims and cast them as new evidence against his candidacy.

“Even if he weren’t a candidate in this election, what he is doing is proving to voters that he cannot be trusted to do his job,” said Abigail Collazo, Abrams’ director of strategic communication on Monday. “So when you add on the layer of him also being a candidate, it becomes more clear than ever that voters cannot trust Brian Kemp. And that is a message that we have been continually sharing with voters since Day One.”

Shortly after the secretary of state’s office went public, Abrams told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” she was unaware of any probe and said Kemp was simply “desperate to turn the conversation away from his failures.”

As Abrams and Georgia Democrats were sorting out what exactly they had been accused of, Kemp’s campaign issued a statement on the matter, further politicizing the episode. “Thanks to the systems and protocols established by Secretary of State Brian Kemp,” Kemp campaign spokesman said, “no personal information was breached.”

It was an audacious one-two, with Kemp’s office effectively setting the predicate and his campaign following up with more direct, but legally immaterial, suggestions of criminal behavior.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation added a statement Monday that its Georgia Cyber Crime Center had opened a criminal investigation at the request of Kemp’s office.

“It’s wrong to call it an investigation,” Abrams had told CNN’s John Berman on “New Day” hours before. “It’s a witch hunt that was created by someone who is abusing his power.”

As Kemp defended the steps taken by the office and after it had assured voters that there were no breaches in the system, a ProPublica report alleged that state officials were tinkering — as late as Sunday night — with code on the website in question.

In a statement to CNN, Candice Broce, a spokeswoman for the secretary of state’s office, denied the report.

“There is no such vulnerability in the system as alleged by the ProPublica article,” Broce said. “We immediately reviewed claims of such vulnerabilities once we received them, and our cybersecurity team — which includes top-notch, private sector cybersecurity vendors — could not substantiate any of them.”

CNN’s Curt Devine contributed to this report.


Joint Chiefs chair says soldiers will not be involved in denying border entry to migrants

By Kate Sullivan and Ryan Browne | CNN

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford said Monday that the US military will not be “involved in the actual mission of denying people entry to the United States.”

When asked about the border mission for active-duty troops, Dunford said the military will not be coming into contact with migrants traveling toward the border.

“There is no plan for US military forces to be involved in the actual mission of denying people entry to the United States,” Dunford said, speaking at an event at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. “There is no plan for soldiers to come in contact with immigrants or to reinforce Department of Homeland Security as they’re conducting their mission.

We are providing enabling capabilities,” Dunford said, explaining they were tasked with supporting the DHS.

Just before the midterm elections, President Donald Trump ordered thousands of troops to the southern border to guard against what he has called an “invasion” by a group of migrants heading north through Mexico to the United States.

Despite Trump’s unsubstantiated claim that the group of Central American migrants includes “gang members and some very bad people,” most of the migrants reportedly plan to apply for asylum once they arrive at the border, following legal procedures.

Dunford said the DHS requested logistical support, “so you’ll see some soldiers down there right now that are putting up concertina wire and reinforcing the points of entry,” and that the military is providing “both trucks and helicopter support and then also some medical support.”

Pentagon spokesman Col. Rob Manning said Monday, “There are currently more than 4,800 personnel deployed in support of this mission. This continues to be a dynamic situation with more units and personnel deploying to the operating area, and we expect to reach 5,200 deployed personnel as early as today.

“DoD anticipates more than 7,000 active-duty troops will be supporting DHS soon,” Manning said. The breakdown of personnel includes “1,100 in California, 1,100 in (Arizona) and 2,600 in Texas,” according to Manning.

In response to criticism of himself and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, who signed off on the request for assistance, Dunford said the President gave them a legal order and it is not his job to “assess the appropriateness of the mission.

“The President gave us a legal order: Support the Department of Homeland Security,” Dunford said.

“It’s not my job to assess the appropriateness of the mission,” Dunford said. “It’s my job to accept the legality of the mission and, again, the capability of our forces to perform that mission. So others outside the ring can make a subjective assessment as to what … we’re doing but I’m not going to comment on that.”

As a military leader, Dunford said, the questions he asks are: Is the order legal, is the order unambiguous and do the troops have the capability to perform the task. “And the answer is yes in all three cases,” he said.

Trump’s decision to deploy active-duty US troops and the earlier deployment of National Guard forces to the southern border could cost between $200 million and $300 million, according to an independent analysis and Department of Defense figures on guard deployments.

Asked about criticism of the decision by his predecessor and other retired senior officers, Dunford said, “To be honest with you, I wish they wouldn’t do that, but they certainly can do that if they want to.”

Retired Gen. Martin Dempsey, who served as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2011 to 2015, tweeted Friday that “our men and women in uniform are better trained, better equipped, and better led so they meet any threat with confidence. A wasteful deployment of over-stretched soldiers and Marines would be made much worse if they use force disproportional to the threat they face. They won’t.”


America votes Tuesday. Here’s what’s at stake.

By Stephen Collinson | CNN Newsource

With one day to go before the midterm elections, Americans face a choice that could shape the nation for years after a campaign that left it politically torn, at war with itself over race and mourning tragedy.

Voters must decide on Tuesday whether to constrain President Donald Trump and his compliant Republicans after the first two years of a demagogic presidency that widened national divides and unfolded in a torrent of scandal. Trump also tested constitutional norms and engineered a sharp shift in the country’s attitude toward the rest of the world.

But as they face their first chance to judge Trump’s performance, they could also register satisfaction with a historically primed economy and a President who has kept many of his election promises, however controversial and is running an undeniably consequential administration that has managed to engineer a generational conservative shift to the Supreme Court.

The first result would represent a rebuke to Trump’s entire political approach: His failure to tame his volatile instincts in the interests of national unity and his unwillingness to embrace the presidency itself as a national trust.

The second would convey acquiescence for the President’s scorched-earth tactics, indefatigable and domineering personality, fear-mongering warnings that the nation is under assault from an invading immigrant tide of dark-skinned criminals and approval of his creed of “America First” nationalism.

“You saw that barbed wire going up. That barbed wire — yes sir, we have barbed wire going up. Because you know what? We’re not letting these people invade our country,” Trump said at a rally in Georgia on Sunday, defending his decision to dispatch troops to the border in what critics have branded a political “stunt.”

While the campaign has seen intense skirmishes over health care, immigration, education and the best way to share the dividends of high growth, low unemployment and rising wages, Trump has, as he does all the time about everything else, made the campaign about himself.

In the most inflammatory closing argument of any campaign in modern memory, Trump seized on a group of migrants heading toward the southern US border from hundreds of miles away in Mexico as a metaphor for his hardline and racially insulting rhetoric on immigration.

His searing nationalist rhetoric and tearing of cultural fault lines drew criticism that he had crossed a dangerous line after a gunman killed 11 people in a synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh and a Trump supporter mailed bombs to the President’s top targets in politics and the media, including two former Presidents.

But it is a measure of the country’s volatile political climate and the lessons of Trump’s logic-defying win in 2016 that no one can say for sure how Tuesday night will unfold.

Trump v. Obama

At times on Sunday, it almost felt like Trump was running a campaign against the man whom he has defined himself against, his predecessor in the Oval Office, Barack Obama.

The 44th president is making the most direct assault on Trump yet attempted by any prominent Democrat.

Ten years to the day after he delivered his soaring victory speech in Grant Park, Chicago, Obama doubled down on hope, painting it as the antidote to what he said were the dark impulses exemplified by his successor, and warned America was at a crossroads.

“In the closing weeks of this election, we’ve seen repeated attempts to divide us with rhetoric, to try to turn us on one another,” Obama said in Gary, Indiana, revisiting, a city familiar from his 2008 campaign.”The good news is, Indiana, when you vote, you can reject that kind of politics,” he said. “When you vote you can be a check on bad behavior. When you vote you can choose hope over fear.”

Tuesday’s election represents another clash between Trump’s capacity to subvert political norms and the weight of history and electoral logic.

Omens look poor for Republicans, since Trump’s approval rating sits between 40% and 45% in most polls and history suggests that first-term presidents who are that unpopular typically lead their parties to heavy losses.
\Democrats are increasingly confident they can recapture the House of Representatives for the first time in eight years and are banking on a backlash against the President from voters who stayed home in 2016. Their path to power lies through more diverse, suburban and affluent districts where Trump’s cultural warfare plays poorly.

But Trump’s ironclad loyalty from a political base that sees him as a hero and a guardian of traditional, largely white, working-class life means that Republicans are strong favorites to keep the Senate, as vulnerable Democrats fight for political life in states where Trump won big two years ago like Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota and Montana.


Mueller could soon roar back into the news

By CNN Staff

Roger Stone is telling anyone who will listen that Robert Mueller has it wrong. Stone is saying he did not coordinate with WikiLeaks during the 2016 campaign or try to pressure a friend into lying to the special counsel.

The Trump ally and veteran GOP dirty trickster made that case in a CNN interview the other day. He repeated it in what one friend described as “nervous energy” calls to friends and associates in recent days.

Stone believes the special counsel’s office will seek an indictment. CNN reporting details emails and other evidence that question whether Stone coordinated with WikiLeaks — and perhaps the Trump campaign — about Democratic emails hacked and released late in the 2016 campaign.

The new reporting on Stone raises a bigger issue that has some of the President’s friends and allies worried.

Mueller has been quiet for weeks. Justice Department guidelines urge prosecutors to be cautious in the 60 days or so before an election, so not to be seen as trying to influence voters.

But with the election Tuesday, Trump-related investigations could climb back into the news. That includes the work of the special counsel and separate federal investigations in New York.

The worry on Team Trump is negative headlines coming at a time that is already pressure-packed. Democrats could capture the House.

A wave of administration personnel turnover is about to unfold. And there are year-end pressures as Congress returns with big post-election spending issues and the President heads overseas.

Just the name “Mueller” makes the President angry, a Trump insider said in a weekend exchange. If the election goes poorly for the White House, this source suggested the President will be on edge, anyway. And if the investigations then roar back into the news, “I’m worried about a volcano.”

What ‘The Tennessean’ got wrong about the Hambrick shooting

By NIARA SAVAGE | Nashville Voice

Click almost any link about the shooting of Daniel Hambrick, and you’ll read the same tragic story. A black man, fleeing from police following a traffic stop, is shot three times in the back.

According to an article by The Tennessean, “At some point that evening (Andrew) Delke attempted to perform a traffic stop on a car Hambrick was driving.”

However, the problem with this claim is that the Hambrick family’s attorney, Joy Kimbrough, has stated that there was no traffic stop before the shooting occurred.

We now know that Delke was in the process of pursuing a traffic stop on a similar looking vehicle, when he misidentified the vehicle associated with Mr. Hambrick, like the one he had previously pursued.

The Tennessean has since published a more recent article which corrects this error. However, from the time that the shooting occurred in July, up until late September, The Tennessean reported information we now know to be untrue.

This isn’t necessarily the fault of media organizations themselves. After all, a journalist can only publish information based on the content of their sources.

Unfortunately, these initial reports are typically based on law enforcement’s version of events. The Nashville Scene’s article demonstrates how the ‘official story’ can change over time following a shooting.

According to the article, Josh Devine of the TBI initially stated that the first vehicle Delke pursued was “traveling in an erratic pattern.”

We now know that the vehicle simply yielded at a stop sign, although it had the right-of-way, an action that is a far cry from what most would consider to be erratic driving.

In addition, Devine also stated, on behalf of law enforcement of course, that the second vehicle, which is associated with Daniel Hambrick, was the same as the one from the initial stop. This is another detail we now know to be untrue, as Officer Delke misidentified the second vehicle to be the same as the first.

The takeaway from this ‘mix up’ is not be distrustful of the intentions of mainstream media, but rather to be aware of, and think critically about the conflict of interest law enforcement faces when tasked with providing the initial version of events to the public, following an officer-involved shooting.

Body cams would encourage transparency, by enabling both third-party investigators, and the public to gain an objective perspective of events following an officer-civilian conflict.

However, the Metro Police Department doesn’t seem eager to equip all of its officers with these useful devices: Even though funding for police body cams was approved over a year ago, there was nobody cam footage of the shooting of Mr. Hambrick

An alternative to body cams comes in the form of Amendment 1, which Nashvillians will have the opportunity to vote on this Tuesday — election day.

This amendment would lead to the implementation of a Community Oversight Board, an independent body that would act as a check on police by investigating civilian complaints against officers.

More transparent practices and policies would provide media outlets with the opportunity to present a more objective, and accurate order of events, right from the start.

Three clear signs that Donald Trump is playing the race card. Again.

By Chris Cillizza | CNN Editor-at-large

President Donald Trump is closing the 2018 campaign in a familiar key: Making barely-veiled racial attacks in hopes of driving a portion of his base to vote.

Three instances from the weekend stand out:

1. In Indianapolis over the weekend, Trump, describing his presidential predecessor, said: “Barack,” then paused, then drew the letter “H” (for Obama’s middle name “Hussein”) in the air. Trump has talked about Obama lots and lots of times over the past two years, but it’s only the weekend before the election that he decides to note Obama’s middle name — or middle initial — in this way. Ask yourself why. And then give me one reason other than to remind voters that Obama’s middle name is “Hussein.” And then explain to me how reminding people that that is Obama’s middle name isn’t playing on racial animus?

2. On Saturday in Florida, Trump said that Andrew Gillum, the African-American Democratic nominee for governor, was “not equipped” to do the job. “It’s not for him,” added Trump. Gillum, who is the mayor of Tallahassee, spent more than a decade on that city’s commission prior to ascending to his current post in 2015. It’s also worth noting that less than a week ago, Trump, referred to Gillum as a “thief” without making clear what evidence he had to make such a charge. (The FBI is currently investigating the Tallahassee city government, although Gillum has not been named in any of the subpoenas.)

3. Trump has repeatedly insisted that Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who is black, is “not qualified” for the job which she is seeking. Trump didn’t elaborate, but it’s unclear what he objected to in Abrams’ resume; she is a graduate of Yale Law School and was minority leader of the Georgia state House prior to this bid.

In a vacuum, you could write off these three incidents to the arguments lots of Republicans make when asked about Trump: He’s an equal opportunity offender! He’s said plenty of nasty things about white people, too!

But we don’t live in a vacuum. And the truth of Trump’s life as a politician is that he has repeatedly shown a willingness to engage in the sort of racial dog-whistling — and, sometimes, outright whistling — that he knows motivates some portion of his base.

Anger, grief and inspiration as Pittsburgh lays more synagogue victims to rest

By Faith Karimi, Steve Almasy and Eliott C. McLaughlin |CNN Newsource

A Pittsburgh community is experiencing a range of feelings and emotions — anger, grief, inspiration, renewed spirituality — that are bringing together residents and their supporters throughout the tightly knit enclave this week.

The Squirrel Hill neighborhood hosted another slate of funerals for victims of last weekend’s synagogue shooting, a day after President Donald Trump and his family encountered demonstrators denouncing his visit. Local and state leaders also declined to accompany him on his travels.

Another protest is scheduled Wednesday evening as University of Pittsburgh students plan to meet at a public square in the Oakland neighborhood to rally against hate and gun violence.

National Jewish leaders, meanwhile, are encouraging Americans of every faith to follow up last week’s deadly shooting by attending Shabbat services in their own hometowns in solidarity with Pittsburgh.

Mourners gathered Wednesday to bury some of the 11 people killed in the Saturday massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue. The funeral for 75-year-old Joyce Fienberg, a widow, grandmother and University of Pittsburgh research specialist, began Wednesday morning, while the funerals for Irving Younger, 69, and Melvin Wax, 87 — both big Pittsburgh Pirates fans — were held early afternoon.

Crowds packed funerals Tuesday, with long lines snaking through streets and busloads of people coming from synagogues nationwide. Pedestrians quietly watched as motorcades and hearses passed by, followed on foot by mourners dressed in black. Others held hands and wept.

At least three people have been laid to rest in public funerals this week: brothers David and Cecil Rosenthal and Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz. Additional funerals are planned Thursday.Those killed ranged in age from 54 to 97.

Despite protests, funerals focus on victims

The community united to mourn the victims of what’s believed to be deadliest attack against Jews in US history but was divided over a visit by Trump.

Trump came to Pittsburgh to pay his respects Tuesday despite a request by local leaders to stay away until the dead were buried.

As protesters condemned the visit, mourners attending the funerals focused on those killed.

The Rosenthal brothers were fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team, and about 100 players and staff members paid their respects at the Rodef Shalom Congregation.

Relatives shared stories of how the brothers loved their synagogue and spent time at the Jewish Community Center.

Rabinowitz was remembered as caring. He became known in Pittsburgh as the “one to go to” for HIV care because he treated everyone with dignity and respect, former patient Michael Kerr said. His patients are among those grieving his death.”

Anything you wanted done, Jerry was there to do it. (He) always helped out,” said Jean Clickner, who knew Rabinowitz for decades. “He’s a little guy, and he’s bigger than life.”

Neighbors protest visit

Trump was accompanied to Tree of Life by Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The President and first lady lit a candle inside the vestibule for the 11 victims.

Outside, the Trumps participated in placing stones, a Jewish custom, atop 11 Star of David markers planted in the ground outside the synagogue. Melania Trump lay single white rosebuds.

Some neighbors in Squirrel Hill protested the visit and held signs saying, “Words Matter,” “Strength Through Unity,” “Watch Your Words” and “Hate Does Not Work in Our Neighborhoods.”

Not everyone was against Trump’s visit though.

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who was leading a service at Tree of Life when the shooting began, greeted the first couple at the synagogue and shared with them details of the horrific attack.

The Trumps also visited with wounded police officers at a hospital, the widow of a victim and others.

Rabbi says congregants unbowed

The shooting struck at the heart of Pittsburgh’s historically Jewish Squirrel Hill neighborhood and reverberated across the nation.

Myers said his congregants would be unbowed.

“We are Tree of Life, and as I said before to many, you can cut off some of the branches from our tree, but Tree of Life has been in Pittsburgh for 154 years. We’re not going anywhere,” he said. “We will be back stronger and better than ever.”

An online fundraiser for those affected by the massacre had raised more than $944,000 by early Wednesday.

Two victims, a 70-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman, remain in the hospital. The man, who is in critical condition, suffered organ problems stemming from the shooting, but he is getting much better, said Dr. Donald Yealy, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s head of emergency medicine.

Outreach efforts extended to first responders as well. Those injured in the shooting include four law enforcement officers. One of them, a 40-year-old officer who directly confronted the gunman and suffered wounds to his extremities and pelvis, has been upgraded to stable condition. The other three officers have been discharged, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The walls of the Zone 4 police station, blocks from the synagogue, were lined with handwritten notes from residents. Crowds gathered outside the precinct and chanted, “Thank you! Thank you!”Muslim communities also raised more than $180,000 in three days for the shooting victims.

Suspect faces federal and state charges

Suspect Robert Bowers, 46, faces 44 federal charges, including counts of hate crimes that are potentially punishable by death. He made his first court appearance Monday.

An investigator said Wednesday that the AR-15 rifle and three Glock handguns Bowers used in the attack were purchased legally.

Bowers was detained without bond, and his next court date is Thursday. The US attorney in Pittsburgh has started the process of seeking the death penalty.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said his office is looking into whether Bowers and others used social media platform Gab to incite violence based on evidence that the suspect posted anti-Semitic comments on the site. The state has not filed charges.

Andrew Torba, the CEO of Gab, defended the site. In an interview with CNN affiliate WBRE, he said he’s “horrified” the suspect used his site but said, “there are bad people in the world, and they are on every social network.”

During the interview, he wore a hat that said, “Make Speech Free Again.”

CNN’s Amir Vera and Jean Casarez contributed to this report.


Politics and the Pulpit: What is the role of religious leaders in Trump’s America?

By NIARA SAVAGE | Nashville Voice

In the wake of a violent string terror of attacks perpetrated by White men, against Jews, Blacks, and liberal politicians, concern over the impact of Trump’s rhetoric on the current social and racial climate has reached an all-time high.

Historically, Americans, especially Black Americans, have looked to religious leaders for political direction, and guidance.

For the Black community, the church has long since served as a place for political discussion, organization, and action.

One week out from what has been called the most important midterm election in recent times, and less than one week after the most violent anti-Semitic attack in American history, we face a great need for such political guidance and organization.

But in the face of an increasingly secular society, and in the midst of a firmly “separation of church and state” society, what exactly does the role of a religious leader look like? Nashville’s religious leaders are somewhat divided on the issue.

Pastor Frank Stevenson of the City of Grace Church believes that during this “Weird time in history,” created in part by Donald Trump. “There is a new void from religious leaders that has to be addressed,” he said.

According to Stevenson, some religious leaders are “missing opportunities to address the ills of society,” and that leaders should come together to protect the “least, lost and left out.”

Coincidentally, recent attacks have targeted those who have historically been regarded as outcasts or marginalized groups.

On Wednesday, two Black shoppers at a Kroger supermarket in Kentucky lost their lives to a White male shooter, who was heard saying, “Whites don’t shoot Whites,” before being captured. The shooting is now being investigated as a hate crime.

Pastor Enoch Fuzz of Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church, who doesn’t believe that Trump’s intense, right-wing rhetoric has influenced the uptick in domestic terrorism, said he feels that religious leaders already do “more than enough,” in terms of their political responsibilities.

While Fuzz believes that religious leaders will be criticized as a result of speaking out against political happenings, Stevenson said that the voice of religious leaders should not be “compromised,” and that their message shouldn’t be “watered down,” in order to avoid potential backlash.

A perceived absence of the presence and influence of the church in times of political and social upheaval is not new. In Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” he criticized White Evangelical leaders for their “do-nothingism,” in the wake of a bloody struggle for Civil Rights and liberation among Blacks.

The Rev. Marilyn Thornton, who leads ministry at the Fisk Wesley Foundation, defines the responsibility of a religious leader as “making people conscious of their ethical responsibilities according to their faith.”

Thornton, who believes that White Supremacists have been emboldened by Trump’s rhetoric, also pointed out that a person doesn’t necessarily have to be in a leadership role, in order to organize and engage in political activism.

She cited college students’ significant role in the Civil Rights movement in the form of bus boycotts and sit-ins as examples.

Regardless of whether you believe that religious leaders are doing too much or not enough in the political arena, election day on Nov. 6 will prove to be a great equalizer, as to which voices can and will be equally heard.

From friends to enemies: Eric Reid versus Malcolm Jenkins

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By MIKE PATTON | Nashville Voice

NFL safeties Eric Reid and Malcolm Jenkins were once on the same team fighting for social change in the NFL. Then, over the course of some events, we got to what we saw when the Carolina Panthers went to Philadelphia to face the Eagles.

Reid came onto the field during the coin toss and was not a happy camper. Jenkins came towards him as well, but it was evident Reid was irate by the intensity in his eyes.

After the game and also after the Panthers played the Ravens this past weekend, Reid went into reasons why he had such a strong reaction to Jenkins and it all went back to the talks those two used to have.

Both were a part of the Players Coalition in the NFL at one point in time but Eric Reid left. He divulged the reason he left was that he was asked about how much money it would take for him to stop protesting.

Reid also mentioned he felt Jenkins was a sellout because he took money from the NFL (directly to his own organization at that) and helped usher in the failed attempted NFL anthem policy to start the 2018 NFL football season in.

Jenkins, for his part, failed to respond to Reid’s claims and did not call any names at all. Instead, he took the high road and left the conversation alone.

Reid would also go into talk about Neo-colonialism when it relates to Jenkins as well. Needless to say, some aren’t pleased with Reid speaking on Jenkins in such a public forum. The feeling of some is Reid should have talked privately with Jenkins about his feelings towards him and the dealings both had in the past.

With Reid, though, people have to realize that he doesn’t view Jenkins as his ally anymore, but more as an opportunist based on his comments.

Although both are fighting for social justice, it seems like one has a few other things going on besides the fight for reforming our society.

Jenkins is one of the faces of the fight for social justice, but it seems like he wanted to be the reason behind the movement. Why else would he take the money and put it all into his organization if he wasn’t trying to be the face of the movement in terms of NFL players?

He may have been trying to do some good with the money, but it sounds like he was trying to gather the media spotlight when it comes to the fight for social change.

Whether folks want to agree with Reid’s methods for telling his truth or not, the fact remains that Jenkins has not disputed anything he has said and that says something.

Jenkins, like many others, distanced himself from Kaepernick, but he also profited from a movement Kaepernick started. At this point, he has some questions to answer about some things because Reid laid out a detailed account of how everything went.

Both are trying to make a change and have made some change; in the end, they are both doing so in different ways and with different agendas. Hopefully, they will continue to try to make impacts, but it is clear Reid and Jenkins will not be on the same page anytime soon.

The only way that happens is if Jenkins takes the initiative to start a dialogue with Reid because it seems like he is the one who started this rift between the two.

Here’s what we know so far about Robert Bowers, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect

By Saeed Ahmed and Paul P. Murphy | CNN Newsource

As officials try to put together a picture of the alleged Pittsburgh synagogue shooter, one focus of the investigation is his social media postings, the FBI said. Here’s what we know so far about suspect Robert Bowers, 46:

He allegedly made anti-Semitic statements after his arrest

While in custody and receiving medical treatment, Bowers told a SWAT officer he wanted all Jews to die and also that “they (Jews) were committing genocide to his people,” according to the police criminal complaint.

The bloodshed took place on the same day as Saturday Shabbat services. At the time of the shooting, three different congregations were holding services at the Tree of Life.

He was in the synagogue for about 20 minutes

At a Saturday afternoon news conference, officials said the suspect was in the Squirrel Hill synagogue for about 20 minutes. After the attack and as he was leaving the building, Bowers encountered a law enforcement officer and the two exchanged gunfire, officials said.

The suspect went back inside to hide from SWAT officers. Bowers was in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds, officials said. It’s believed he was shot by police.

He was not known to law enforcement

“At this point, we have no knowledge that Bowers was known to law enforcement before today,” said Bob Jones, FBI Pittsburgh special agent in charge. Jones said that while Bowers’ alleged motive is unknown, officials believed he acted alone.

He has an active license to carry firearms

Bowers has an active license and has made at least six known firearm purchases since 1996, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation said. On September 29, Bowers posted photos of his handgun collection on his Gab.com account, which included multiple clips and sights.

A rifle and three handguns were found on the scene of the attack, the FBI said.

He blamed Jews for helping migrant caravans

On his Gab.com account, Bowers claimed Jews were helping transport members of the migrant caravans. He shared a video that another Gab.com user posted, purportedly of a Jewish refugee advocacy group HIAS on the US-Mexico border. Another post that Bowers commented on described HIAS’ overall efforts as “sugar-coated evil.”

Seventeen days before the attack, Bowers posted a web page from HIAS that listed a number of Shabbats that were being held on behalf of refugees, an official said. On that list was a Shabbat address that is less than a mile away from the Tree of Life Synagogue. (The chief executive officer of HIAS, Mark Hetfield, said Bowers is not known to the group.)

He called those in migrant caravans ‘invaders’

According to his posts, Bowers believed that those in the migrant caravans were violent because they were attempting to leave countries that had high levels of violence. And Bowers repeatedly called them “invaders” on his Gab posts.

“I have noticed a change in people saying ‘illegals’ that now say ‘invaders’,” read one post, six days before the shooting. “I like this.”A law enforcement source confirmed to CNN that investigators believe the social media postings belong to Bowers and that the language on his account matches the suspected motivation behind the shootings.

His most recent post was five minutes before police were alerted to the shooting

In that Gab post, Bowers said he “can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in.”

His Gab account has frequent anti-Semitic postings

He has reposted a number of posts on his social media accounts that tell Jews to get out or leave. Gab is a social media platform that advocates for free speech and puts nearly no restrictions on content.

(In a statement posted online, Gab says it “unequivocally disavows and condemns all acts of terrorism and violence…Gab’s mission is very simple: to defend free expression and individual liberty online for all people.” Gab said it was alerted to the suspect’s profile on their platform, backed up the data, suspended the account, and contacted the FBI.)

His posts included criticism of President Trump

Among the many anti-Semitic social media posts were comments suggesting that President Trump was surrounded by too many Jewish people.

“Trump is surrounded by k*”, “things will stay the course,” read one post on the Gab social media platform, which used a derogatory term to describe Jews.

Another post, apparently intended as an insult, read: “Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist,” Bowers said two days before the shooting. “There is no #MAGA as long as there is a k infestation.

He said he didn’t vote for Trump

Roughly four hours before the shooting, Bowers commented in a post that he did not vote for Trump.

He was involved in trucking

A law enforcement official familiar with the ongoing investigation tells CNN that Bowers has a commercial driver’s license and a history associated with the trucking industry.

He received a traffic citation in 2015

A CNN review of criminal records found a 2015 traffic citation against Bowers for allegedly driving without tags.

He’s been charged with hate crimes

Bowers faces 29 charges in all, including 11 counts of using a firearm to commit murder and multiple counts of two hate crimes: obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death and obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer.

CNN’s Keith Allen, Steve Almasy, Josh Campbell, Matthew Hilk, Tammy Kupperman, Nadia Lancy, Shimon Prokupecz, Miguel Marquez, Evan Perez, AnneClaire Stapleton and Joe Sutton contributed to this report.


Vols lose, Blue Raiders win

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By RON WYNN | Nashville Voice

The Tennessee Volunteers ended up on the wrong side of a tough road loss Saturday, while the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders enjoyed a prolific offensive day on the way to a blowout in front of a hostile crowd.

Tennessee blew a 12-point second half lead and dropped a 27-24 SEC contest to South Carolina, while MTSU scored early and often on the way to a 51-17 romp. For the Vols, it was a critical loss, while MTSU solidified their first-place standing in Conference USA.

Tennessee did pretty much everything they wanted offensively throughout the first half and midway through the third quarter. They relied on a short passing game, getting the ball outside to their running backs, and occasionally hitting a big play on the outside to their receivers.

When Carlin Fils-Aime raced 14 yards into the end zone in the third quarter to make it 21-9, it seemed the Volunteers had things wrapped up.

Instead, they collapsed as South Carolina’s Jake Bentley led South Carolina on scoring drives, then managed to survive a huge hit on the tying two-point conversion play.

While the South Carolina defense was stopped the Volunteer offense twice on downs in the fourth quarter, Bentley engineered a game-winning drive that led to Parker White’s 25-yard field goal that was the difference.

The loss negated some strong individual efforts from Tennessee. These included Jarrett Guarantino completing 27 of 39 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns, including converting four fourth downs in one stretch.

Jauan Jennings had a six-yard touchdown reception, but his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty led to a South Carolina matching touchdown later.

Tennessee was also hurt by Rico Dowdle’s 140 yards rushing. Tennessee argued that Dowdle fumbled right before South Carolina’s last touchdown, but they were overruled by the replay officials. Unlike their other SEC losses, this game was one Tennessee knows it could and should have won.

“We played some good football today,” UT head coach Jeremy Pruitt told ESPN. “We didn’t finish the game. We made mistakes and they took advantage of it.”

South Carolina evened its record at 3-3 in the SEC (4-3 overall). Tennessee is 1-4 in conference play (3-5 overall), but have a very winnable home game Saturday against Charlotte.

It’s seldom that a safety also gets a huge offensive play, but MTSU’s Reed Blankenship had a 100-yard interception run that gave MTSU a 31-10 lead and pretty much ended any suspense regarding the fate of Old Dominion. Blankenship also had a sack and 17 tackles as part of a spectacular defensive afternoon. MTSU won its fourth C-USA game in five contests (5-3 overall).

Brent Stockstill returned from injury to throw for 280 yards and three touchdowns while Terelle West had 120 yards and one touchdown. Old Dominion has one marquee victory this season, a 49-35 upset over Virginia Tech, ranked 13th at the time. But Saturday’s defeat was their fourth conference loss in five tries (2-7 overall). MTSU’s next opponent is longtime rival Western Kentucky.

Grizzlies prevail over Suns 117-96 at home

After the opening week of the NBA season, the Memphis Grizzlies have won three of five games. That’s neither a great nor a poor start, and their 117-96 home victory Saturday night over the Phoenix Suns serves as a blueprint for what they hope will be a return to the playoffs in the 2018-19 season.

Offensively, they got 19 points from Marc Gasol and 18 each from Mike Conley and MarShon Brooks. But they also had two other double-figure scorers in Garrett Temple with 15 and Wayne Selden with 14.

Defensively, they held Phoenix to 46 percent shooting, and the Suns only made nine of 33 three-pointers.

“We want to be a versatile offensive team where you can’t key in on one or two guys to shut us down,” Grizzlies head coach J.B. Bickerstaff told ESPN. “It’s good to see a bunch of guys get double-figure points. That’s means we’re sharing the ball well.”

The Grizzlies output overshadowed a strong game from the Suns’ first-round draft pick (and first overall) Deandrew Ayton. Ayton had a season-high 24 points and eight rebounds for a Suns team minus its leading scorer Devin Booker, who was out with a strained hamstring.

The Grizzlies opened the week with a home game against the Washington Wizards. They then begin a road trip with games Friday in Utah against the Jazz and Sunday in Phoenix against the Suns.

Pipe bomb scare reveals Trump’s uneasy embrace of the presidency

Analysis by Stephen Collinson | CNN Newsource

Washington is locked in a destructive and acrimonious ritual that plays out every time President Donald Trump is called upon to lead in a moment of national peril — and that ensures that America’s political estrangement will only deepen.

The controversy over explosive devices sent to prominent Democrats, a liberal billionaire and CNN — all frequent targets of the President’s rhetoric — is following a pattern repeated over and over during over 21 tumultuous months.

When a natural disaster, a political controversy or a mass shooting takes place, the media and political establishment set expectations for Trump to invoke a poetic vision of common purpose and unity, craving a spectacle in line with the traditional conventions of the presidency at great historical moments.

Trump then produces a scripted response that is adequate, but in the moment or in subsequent days undercuts that message with radioactive comments or tweets that spark fierce criticism and mobilize the conservative media machine in his defense while he often deflects blame back onto the media as he did in a pointed 3 a.m. tweet early Friday morning.

It suggests the President has little desire to play the role of national counselor being forced upon him — one that is a poor fit given his deliberately divisive style. The drama usually ends with another layer of bile added to the nation’s politics.

That a President who has based his political career on crushing conventions and norms should so constantly be tripped up by the behavioral and ceremonial codes that define the role of head of state is deeply ironic.

But Trump knows that refusing to bow to the standards the establishment demands is the secret of his bond with his loyal political base.”Do you see how nice I’m behaving tonight?” he said on Wednesday, letting a crowd in Wisconsin in on the joke of a performance toned down after the bombs were discovered.

These dual forces operating on Trump help explain why the political divides and mutual mistrust cleaving America — between the President’s loyalists and critics — are unbridgeable and will produce a bitter 2020 election campaign.

The last few days have stuck to the script.

Undermining his own words

As soon as authorities discovered that homemade bombs had been sent to former President Barack Obama and the home of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as other Trump targets like George Soros and CNN, eyes started turning to the White House.

The President had to say something, and he did so at the top of a previously scheduled event on Wednesday.”I just want to tell you that, in these times, we have to unify. We have to come together, and send one very clear, strong, unmistakable message that acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America,” Trump said, slamming the “egregious” and “abhorrent” attacks.

It was a strong statement on the face of it, though was notable in failing to name any of the victims, all often the focus of Trump’s ire.But Trump got a passing grade in the eyes of most commentators.

It was only later that his unwillingness to play the role presidential tradition requires became clear. At a rally in Wisconsin, the President undercut his message by appearing to blame the media and his opponents for the sour national mood in which the pipe bombs had been crafted and delivered.

His performance not only flouted the paternal conventions of the modern presidency — which date at least to Franklin Roosevelt’s fireside chats during the Great Depression — it also suggested that when he’s not in a formal, scripted setting, Trump really cares only about his own political motivations.

“It was one of the worst moments in the Trump presidency,” said CNN presidential historian Douglas Brinkley. “It was a golden opportunity to be large, to try to say something that would unify the country. … He came off, in my opinion, as a very small president.”

The President’s attitude set off a media storm, and then a backlash from his White House. Press secretary Sarah Sanders accused reporters of always focusing “on the negative” and not playing their own role to foster national unity.

Trump next fired off a tweet unleashing new acrimony, sparking fresh accusations about his attitude toward norms and constitutional freedoms and his understanding of what a president is supposed to do.

The fight back on such occasions resonates with Trump supporters, however, who see the President as the victim of unrelenting and slanted news coverage, a factor that endears him to them even more.

One Trump confidant told CNN’s Jeff Zeleny that criticism of the President’s behavior over the bomb scares just cemented Trump’s view that he is “treated with hostility and unfairly — there’s no talking him out of that.”

Around 3 a.m. Friday morning, Trump again took to Twitter to defend himself and criticize the media saying that the media has been “blaming me for the current spate of Bombs.” He went on to claim that while he faces much media criticism, he is called “not Presidential” when he hits back.

This was not the first time that the criticism of him left Trump brooding after critics charged that his performance fell well short of the standards of decorum and decency expected of a commander-in-chief and revealed a leader unable to rise above political combat to console and steer his nation.

After violence at a white supremacists rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, last year in which an anti-racism protester was killed, Trump was initially criticized for an inadequate response but then delivered a speech condemning an “egregious display of bigotry, hatred and violence” that has “no place in America.”But he couldn’t help himself. 

A day later in a Trump Tower news conference, he blamed “both sides” for the violence, setting off a days-long debate about race.”You had a group on one side that was bad. You had a group on the other side that was also very violent. Nobody wants to say that. I’ll say it right now,” Trump said.

It was almost as if the President couldn’t let his scripted, “presidential”-style remarks have the last word. Maybe it’s a symptom of his rebellious character. Or perhaps it shows a need to signal his loyal base, which embraced his revolt against the establishment, that he hasn’t gone native in Washington.

The same scenario unfolded when Trump returned from Finland amid outrage over his deference to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit.

He read out a statement designed to make clear he accepted intelligence community assessments on Moscow’s interference in the 2016 US election. But he couldn’t resist adding a caveat — “could be other people also” — in an ad-lib that undermined his statement but was also an act of defiance against Washington’s expectations.

Every time the weight of convention and tradition requires him to act one way, Trump the outsider and iconoclast can’t bring himself to comply.

And each time, the criticism that Trump stirs, and consequent fury within his inner circle at the media response, makes the polarization even worse.

It’s been a trait of his presidency right from the beginning, emerging when he went to the CIA on his first full day in office, attacked the media for its coverage of his inaugural crowds and effectively conducted a campaign rally in front of the agency’s revered memorial wall to fallen officers.

Gravity of the presidency

Some commentators believe Trump simply has no desire to honor the moral authority of the presidency and simply sees it as a vehicle for his own power, prestige and self-glorification.

Others suggest he doesn’t understand the magnitude of his responsibilities.

“He is now the President of the United States. He is not on a talk show somewhere,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told CNN’s Brooke Baldwin on Thursday. “When that position of power is spewing hateful rhetoric, that has an effect.”

Another theory about Trump’s behavior could be that he has banked so exclusively on his political base that he cannot allow himself to do anything that would damage his image as the ultimate rabble-rouser.The President also knows he’s most effective when he’s attacking an enemy, in the heat of a fight. And a political method that relies on inflaming cultural, racial and societal divides means he might not ever be accepted by those who despise him anyway.

But that all leaves a bigger question: What will be the impact on American life and the national unity of years of such civic discord?

Trump may simply be unable to summon the words and the aspiration to bring the country together — as President George W. Bush did on a pile of rubble after 9/11 — or he may not even want to do so.

Ultimately, as a self-styled disruptor, he may realize that it’s simply impossible to honor the historical expectations and conventions of his job while being true to himself. And if it comes to a choice, there’s no doubt which side of that equation he will choose.

Cesar Sayoc was a DJ, bodybuilder and pizza delivery man before he became a bomb suspect

By Nicole Chavez, CNN

Hours before his arrest, Cesar Sayoc was playing music sets at a Florida strip club.

Few there were aware of his political views.

“He was a nice guy,” Stacy Saccal, the club’s general manager, told CNN affiliate WPTV. “He would make jokes, just funny.”

At least four times a week over the last two months, the 56-year-old parked his white Dodge van plastered with stickers supporting President Donald Trump and depicting some of Trump’s critics with targets over their images near the Ultra Gentlemen’s Club in West Palm Beach. Sometimes he would work as a DJ and others as a bouncer.

He is a bodybuilder and former male dancer

Sayoc, of Aventura, Florida, is a bodybuilder who worked as a male dancer for several years and most recently as a pizza driver.

On his LinkedIn account, Sayoc described himself as a choreographer and booking agent for male strippers and burlesque shows.

On Twitter, he said he is a “Current Booking Agent/Sales/Marketing/Promotions/Project Mgr Live Events” at Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida, Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock International said there was “no evidence” the suspect is or was a member or was employed by any of the three groups.

They also said they could not immediately “verify if he is or was an employee of a vendor company.”

A cousin, Lenny Altieri, said Sayoc went to good schools and was well-educated. “Brains and common sense are not synonymous,” he said.

Sayoc attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte from 1983 to 1984 but did not graduate, the school’s communications office said. He was an undeclared major who played on the soccer team.

He also went to Brevard College in North Carolina, a school spokeswoman said. He enrolled at Brevard in fall 1980 and attended classes there for three semesters but didn’t graduate.

He used to deliver food for a pizza restaurant in Fort Lauderdale until he quit in January. He said he had gotten a job driving a hazardous waste truck in North Carolina, manager Debra Gureghian said.

He appeared to be living in his van

He appears to have been estranged from his family for several years.

A 2012 bankruptcy filing in Florida indicated that Sayoc “lives with his mom, owns no furniture.” The 46-page filing, signed by Sayoc in June 2012, lists total assets of $4,175 and liabilities of $21,109.

But an attorney representing Sayoc’s family said he has not visited his mom’s condo in Aventura for at least three years.

His mother and sisters had urged him to seek medical treatment because he struggled with “a lack of comprehension of reality,” attorney Ronald S. Lowy said.

“He thinks there’s nothing wrong with him,” Lowy said in a telephone interview, shortly after meeting with the suspect’s family on Friday.

He said Sayoc’s mother, who underwent surgery Friday, “can’t understand his behavior or views.”

Lowy, the family attorney, said Sayoc’s father is Filipino and his mother is Italian. He said Sayoc was not politically active when he met him.

It appears that he was kicked out by his parents and had been living in the white Dodge van where he was found Friday, a law enforcement official said.

Investigators believe that Sayoc made the pipe bombs in that van, two law enforcement sources said. Inside that vehicle were soldering equipment, stamps, envelopes, paper, a printer and powder, the sources said.

He has a lengthy criminal history

Sayoc’s past is marked by encounters with law enforcement.

Court records show he had been arrested at least nine times, mostly in Florida, for accusations of grand theft, battery, fraud, drug possession and probation violations.

In 2002, he was arrested after Miami police said he threatened to bomb a power company saying “it would be worse than September 11th.”

“The defendant contacted a rep (from) Florida Power and Light Co. … by telephone and threatened to blow up FPL,” a Miami Police Department report about the incident said.

The caller “threatened to blow up the building if FP&L turned off his light,” the report said.

He pleaded guilty to the offense, records show, and was sentenced to one year of probation.

In 2014, he was arrested and later pleaded guilty to stealing copper pipes at a Home Depot, records show.

‘A model employee’ despite views on minorities, former boss says
Gureghian, general manager of New River Pizza and Fresh Kitchen in Fort Lauderdale, said Sayoc was open with her about his views. He calls himself a white supremacist and dislikes gays, African-Americans, Jews and anybody who isn’t white, she said.

Gureghian said Sayoc told her that lesbians like her and other minorities should be put on an island. And though he liked her, he told her she would burn in hell, she told CNN.

Even though she hated his political leanings, Gureghian said she didn’t fire him because he did his job and there were no complaints.

“He was a model employee,” she said, adding that she “can’t understand” how he would allegedly send mail bombs.

He posted anti-Muslim memes and slammed politicians
To some of his colleagues, Sayoc was not particularly involved in politics, but his social media accounts and his van tell a different story.

In 2016, Sayoc registered to vote as a Republican in Florida, and a Facebook video showed him in a “Make America Great Again” hat at a Trump rally.

He was prolific on his two Facebook accounts and three Twitter feeds, often posting provocative photos and memes attacking liberals.

He took on Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee in the Florida governor’s race, more than 80 times in October alone.

In other posts, Sayoc shared conspiracy theories, memes and articles slamming former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Trump’s opponent in 2016.

On September 20, in response to a Trump tweet, Sayoc posted a self-shot video of himself at what appears to be a Trump rally.

The text of the tweet threatened former Vice President Joe Biden and former Attorney General Eric Holder, both of whom were targeted by improvised explosive devices discovered this week.

“Go Trump Trump Trump hey Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. And Eric Himpton Holder Sr. Stick your BS all crap you talk where sun doesn’t shine. We will meet your threats right to your face soon. Not option we will see you soon. Hug loved ones real close we aren’t ones,” the tweet read.

But he spoke about bombs only twice on Twitter and the context of those posts isn’t entirely clear.

“Bomb squad here,” read the first tweet posted Sept. 9.

“Unconquered Seminole Tribe Bomb squad,” read a second tweet posted minutes later.

Sayoc also posted virulently anti-Muslim memes and published the address of billionaire investor and Democratic donor George Soros and photos of the homes of some others who later received bombs.

As recently as Wednesday, Sayoc posted a tweet that was critical of Soros, former President Barack Obama and others. A package to Soros had two days earlier.

And about two weeks ago, Sayoc tweeted at a political analyst.

“We will see you 4 sure. Hug your loved ones real close every time you leave you home,” the tweet said in part.

Rochelle Ritchie reported it as abuse, but Twitter said it wasn’t a violation of its rules.

A Facebook representative told CNN that the company had removed Sayoc’s account Friday.

The rep said that several of Sayoc’s previous posts had violated Facebook’s community standards and had been removed before his arrest but that none of his posts reported to or discovered by Facebook contained violations of its rules severe enough to remove the account entirely.

Sayoc was not previously known to the Secret Service, law enforcement sources said.

CNN’s Jason Hanna, Evan Perez, Scott Glover, Steve Almasy, Ray Sanchez and Paul P. Murphy contributed to this report.


Obama rips Trump: ‘It’s wrong to spend all your time from a position of power vilifying people’

By Caroline Kelly | CNN Newsource

Former President Barack Obama made a thinly veiled jab at President Donald Trump on Friday evening, saying it was wrong to use a position of power for attacking others as “enemies of the people and then suddenly pretending that you’re concerned about civility.”

“I would like to think that everybody in America would think it’s wrong to spend all your time from a position of power vilifying people, questioning their patriotism, calling them enemies of the people and then suddenly pretending that you’re concerned about civility,” he told a cheering crowd.
Trump has repeatedly called the media “fake news” and “the enemy of the people.”

Following the discovery of multiple packages sent to people whom the President has spoken against as political enemies, as well as a suspicious package in CNN’s New York bureau at the Time Warner Center on Wednesday, Trump tweeted Thursday that “a very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News.”

Obama said Friday, “It shouldn’t be Democratic or Republican to say you don’t try to punish political opponents or threaten the freedom of the press just because you don’t like what they say.”

Obama was in Michigan campaigning for Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer. He urged attendees to consider political events of the recent past, including Republicans’ attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and a voting record that contradicts recent claims that the GOP has always protected individuals with pre-existing conditions.

Obama made similar comments at a Milwaukee rally earlier in the day when he stumped for Wisconsin Democrats, including Sen. Tammy Baldwin and gubernatorial candidate Tony Evers, and made a few jabs at Trump.

Referencing Republicans’ fixation on then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s unsecured email server, Obama said, “They didn’t care about emails.

“And you know how you know? If they did, they’d be up in arms right now as the Chinese are listening to the President’s iPhone that he leaves in his golf cart,” he added, a reference to a New York Times report. “It turns out, I guess it wasn’t that important.”

In what has become a tight governor’s race, Evers has been leading over 2016 Republican presidential candidate and current Gov. Scott Walker in most polls. Baldwin leads several polls by double digits.

Former Vice President Joe Biden is slated to visit Wisconsin on Tuesday to campaign for state Democrats at rallies in Madison and Milwaukee.


REVIEW: George Tillman’s “The Hate U Give” is exceptional

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By Ron Wynn

George Tillman Jr.’s “The Hate U Give” is that rare example of a film that extends and continues the tradition established by its literary predecessor, yet also offers its own twists and sensibility.

Now showing at several places in Nashville, the film’s based on Angie Thomas’ acclaimed 2017 similarly titled novel. It offers a compelling story about the impact of police violence and misconduct, as well as side examinations of such issues as class conflict, peer group pressure and family influences.

The film’s enhanced by several tremendous performances, notably by Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Andrew Mackie, Issa Rae and Russell Hornsby, though the entire cast does an excellent job.

Audrey Wells has provided a realistic, crisp script with characters not just spouting slogans or rhetoric, but addressing a real plight in frank, incisive language. It was previously shown in Nashville at the International Black Film Festival of Nashville prior to its general release.

The main storyline features high school student Starr Carter (Stenberg) who lives in a suburban all-black community but attends an all-white school.

Racial issues don’t seem that important to Carter, because she’s been embraced by the student body, or at least thinks so until a horrible incident occurs that shakes up everything and everyone while turning her previously neat and nice world upside down.

Carter’s leaving a party in a car driven by childhood friend Khali (Algee Smith). The police pull the car over for a “routine” inspection that suddenly goes terribly wrong and results in Khali being gunned down in front of Carter. The police think (wrongly) that Khali’s a dangerous criminal.

Now Starr Carter has to leave her comfort zone and speak out about what she witnessed. She’s encouraged by her parents Maverick (Hornsby) and Lisa (Hall), as well as April Ofrah (Rae), an activist who gives Carter the motivation and courage to tell the world what she saw.

“The Hate U Give” has moments of passion and pathos, and doesn’t aim to make its audience comfortable. It is a powerful story about an ongoing problem that has plagued this nation and black communities for decades.

It doesn’t claim to have an ultimate answer or solution but offers in its portrayals formula citizens who witness these incidents can and should follow. It’s also a family friendly work without being lightweight or stereotypical. It is highly recommended.

Netflix cancels “Luke Cage”

The TV show “Luke Cage,” adapted from the Marvel comic book series, was a sensation in its first season on Netflix. Things weren’t nearly as rosy in season number two, neither in terms of popularity or storyline, but few anticipated there wouldn’t be a third season.

But last week Netflix ended “Luke Cage,” announcing there wouldn’t be the third edition. The news came only a couple of days after Netflix had also canned another Marvel show “Iron Fist.”

In an announcement carried by such publications as Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix was rather matter-of-fact in talking about its decision.

“Unfortunately, ‘Marvel’s Luke Cage’ will not return for a third season. Everyone at Marvel Television and Netflix is grateful to the dedicated showrunner, writers, cast and crew who brought Harlem’s Hero to life for the past two seasons, and to all the fans who have supported the series.”

Variety added there had been talks for a third season, but Netflix decided not to pursue it. The larger story, even though it reportedly didn’t have any immediate impact on “Luke Cage,” is Disney is preparing to launch its own streaming service.

They are letting their licensing deals with Marvel expire, so the Disney library’s content can move to Disney-owned services. Why Disney couldn’t still produce “Luke Cage” for Netflix wasn’t explained. 

Marvel and Netflix had a five series deal for interconnected shows. There will be a new season of “Daredevil.” The fate of “Jessica Jones,” “The Defenders” and “The Punisher” is uncertain.

“Luke Cage” and “Iron Fist” are both gone, though there are rumors a new show combining the two may at some point appear.

While not enjoying season two as much as season one, overall I found “Luke Cage” a gripping, culturally authentic series. It is a shame it’s gone so soon.

Lemon: This is how presidents used to respond

CNN Newsource

CNN’s Don Lemon compares Donald Trump’s response to bombs and suspicious packages sent to US political figures and CNN to responses from previous presidents during the country’s times of trouble.

Rod Reed: The living example of being more than a coach

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By MIKE PATTON | Nashville Voice

A coach of a team is primarily judged by how he does. The injuries and things like that tend to come secondary to the wins and losses he or she produces.

Such is life when it comes to the world of college and pro sports. People may get caught up in records, but the job of a coach is much more than the wins and losses he or she produces.

Such is the case for Tennessee State Rod Reed this year. The veteran coach started the season on a high, winning the first two games. After that good start, the Tigers would go on to lose three straight games.

On this past Saturday, which was TSU’s Homecoming, the Tigers won in a blowout 41-14. Coach Reed was happy to be on the right side of the win/loss ledger again, but there was much more behind the win than anyone cares to speak on.

When asked about if this game provided more of a fresh start for his team, Reed went into detail about the things his team has been facing,

“After the Vanderbilt game, we emotionally had a lot of things going on. We had a one player that has to bury his dad this week. We have another that has to bury his mom this week. There is a lot of things that have been going on that have been emotionally pulling on this team.”

Reed also went on to say, “Kids are real resilient but when you get hit with that along with all the injuries we have had. We had 12 or 13 guys out for this game alone.”

Reed brought us into the world of TSU football a little bit more and you could see that he has been dealing with a lot of things. He has not only been the coach of the team, but he has been the psychiatrist and the motivator as well.

He also talked about the defense and how he put the ownership of preparation for the Tennessee Tech game on his coaching staff to deal with the injuries.

He said they made things as simple as possible to allow his players to just play the game. That may not seem like much to people, but that is the sign of a coach that knows the pulse of his team.

So many will look at the 2-3 record the Tigers have. They are currently 1-2 in the conference with a trip to Southeast Missouri State coming up next after their bye week.

Plenty are not giving them a chance after the results they have had the last few weeks, but with what Rod Reed has helped this team overcome with the injuries and deaths of parents, I would not count them out just yet.

Reed is an example of what a coach is and should be. He knows he has a job to do, but he also knows that his job is to be there for his players, which he continues to do each and every day with his team.

Whether you like Reed as a coach or if you do or don’t know him, you have to respect him for guiding this team through the injuries and the tough times he continues to lead them through.

Stacey Abrams could forge a new path for Democrats in the Old South

By Gregory Krieg, | CNN Newsource

A pair of young volunteers for Democrat Stacey Abrams’ campaign for Georgia governor stood under umbrellas on a sloping suburban street in Decatur, a 15-minute drive east of Atlanta, chewing over Georgia’s premier political contest — and one of the country’s most watched.

Olivia Volkert and Quinn Mulholland, both 22-year-old recent college grads, had their fliers stacked, talking points ready and an app in hand that pointed them to potential supporters’ doors. They explained why this time around — with this Democratic candidate — feels so different.

“First and foremost, she’s an African American woman running for governor in Georgia. That speaks for itself,” Volkert said.

“I also think,” Mulholland added, “that there’s something to be said for the novelty of having a Democrat in the South running as an unapologetic progressive. You don’t really often see that, so I think it’s something that excites Democrats across the country.”

They called it a “new playbook” — a rejection, Volkert said, of “the centrist, middle-of-the-road approach didn’t work for Jason Carter.”

Carter, the grandson of former President Jimmy Carter, challenged Gov. Nathan Deal in 2014. He ran what’s long been the textbook campaign for Georgia Democrats and, as has become their custom, lost.

Abrams, they said, is going another route.

“Mobilize and excite the base and increase turnout among people who are actually Democrats,” is how Mulholland described it. “That really hasn’t been tried (here) before and I think it’s something that could become a national template if it works.”

That strategy is being tested in the Georgia governor’s race, which pits Abrams against the state’s Republican secretary of state, Brian Kemp, who won his primary with the backing of President Donald Trump. Abrams and Kemp will face off for the first time Tuesday night in a debate.

A glance at Georgia’s political visitor log in 2018 would suggest the young canvassers were on to something.

Democrats considering presidential bids have been stalking the state for months, from the early stages of a primary that Abrams would capture in a landslide through to these final weeks of the general election.

If she emerges on Nov. 6 — or after a December run-off, should neither candidate in this neck-and-neck race score a majority next month — as the governor-elect, it would bolster a sense of Democratic viability in weakening Republican stronghold, transforming it in the eyes of political strategists into a 2020 battleground.

Abrams’ campaign, driven by a progressive policy agenda and political vocabulary, but leavened with friendly appeals to the state’s cautious business community, would be held up as an outline for how to win it.

National fights come home to Georgia

On the Republican side, Kemp is following a roadmap of his own.

His campaign has relentlessly sought to portray Abrams as an extremist, falsely accusing her of trying to drive undocumented immigrants to the polls, and describing the former state House minority leader as an agent of the far left.

He will likely continue that line of attack in Tuesday’s debate, which comes a day after Abrams’ participation in a 1992 protest that involved burning the Georgia flag, which at the time included the Confederate battle emblem, resurfaced in The New York Times.

In response to questions over his office’s handling of voter registrations, Kemp in a recent op-ed suggested — as he has throughout — that the concerns were ginned up by an Abrams campaign that had “felt a sudden loss of momentum.”

“Instead of hitting the road to connect with Georgia voters,” he wrote, “they manufactured a ‘crisis’ and asked left-wing allies to fan the flames.” (Abrams began an “early vote bus tour” on October 15, which will run on-and-off through Election Day.)

In an interview after she addressed an education summit at The Carter Center in Atlanta, Abrams recalled early skepticism over her campaign tactics transforming into an almost giddy curiosity over “how we made it work, especially in the Deep South,” after the primary.

“I’m an African American woman who is charting a very different path to doing this,” Abrams said. “I think people want to know: Will it work? But I also think they’re excited by the possibility it could work. Because it changes the conversation about how we have these debates, how we run these campaigns. It shows that there’s another way to win.”

Hours earlier, Ayanna Pressley, the Boston city councilor who is poised in 2019 to become the first African-American woman to represent Massachusetts in Congress, spoke alongside Abrams at digitalundivided, an incubator for minority women entrepreneurs, in downtown Atlanta.

“I’ve always rejected the notion that people don’t vote and don’t show up because they’re ignorant, indifferent, apathetic, don’t know any better,” Pressley said afterward. “People don’t participate because they haven’t been invited to. Because, in some states, it’s inconvenient to. There are real barriers.”

In the first week of in-person voting in Georgia, those hurdles — real and perceived — have dominated the headlines, amid reports that Kemp, the state’s chief elections officer, has effectively used a controversial state law as a tool for suppressing minority turnout.

His record over more than eight years in the job, during which the state purged more than a million “inactive” voters from its rolls has bred deep distrust among political opponents and activists, particularly in the communities Abrams had worked to energize this cycle.

Civil rights groups launched a pair of lawsuits in response, while Kemp and his office denied all suggestions of wrongdoing, accused Abrams of using the reports to excite her base and dismissed the hubbub as the work of “outside agitators,” a historically loaded term dating back to the Civil Rights era, while touting a new record number of registered voters.

But apart from a volley of fundraising shouts and a call for Kemp to resign as the state’s chief elections official, Abrams’ campaign has mostly outsourced those fights to the state party, which is running its own “voter protection” hotline, and advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, whose legal director on Tuesday called the law at the center of the suits “a literacy test reminiscent of Jim Crow.”

Abrams the ‘extremist’ vs. Abrams the dealmaker

Like so many others in the party running in 2018, Abrams’ trail talk typically hinges on health care prescriptions. Unlike Kemp, she wants to expand Medicaid under Obamacare, a transition that would cover an estimated half a million uninsured people.

The campaign says the move would also create more than 50,000 jobs and function like a “law enforcement tool,” as Abrams argued in reference to the potential for new mental health funds.

Abrams, who established a reputation as a dealmaker during her time as a legislator, is confident she can wrangle support for expansion from Republican lawmakers, especially those from the rural counties where hospitals and doctors and either leaving or gone.

“I don’t expect to flip the (state) House and the Senate,” she said at The Carter Center, “but I expect to add some new friends.”

State Rep. Allen Peake, one of the GOP votes Abrams would likely need, is backing Kemp and said he expected the Republican to keep up the GOP’s winning streak. He doesn’t want to expand Medicaid or agree with Abrams’ “policies and the agenda that she intends to promote.”

Still, he readily described her as a friend and talked about meeting the future minority leader when they took office together as part of the same legislative class in 2007.

“It was clear that she was a very intelligent woman, in fact, one of the smartest people I’ve ever met, quite frankly,” Peake said. He’s not surprised the national spotlight is shining on Abrams, and ambitious Democrats — like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who rallied with Abrams and Pressley last week — from around the country are heading south to stand by her side.

“The demographics in Georgia are continuing to evolve and with the growth of Atlanta we’re bringing more progressives into our state and so I think, from a national level, folks are seeing that maybe there’s a turn and shift potentially in Georgia in the future,” Peake said. “I’m not sure I buy that completely, but it is true that the demographics are shifting.”

Democrats have for years been counting on those evolving demographics to deliver them power in traditionally red states like Texas and Arizona. It hasn’t happened. Even as Georgia changes, a few things have remained constant. Republican rule has been one.

The GOP took over the governor’s mansion in 2003, assumed control of the state legislature in 2005 and have held on, without a break, ever since.

Through it all, for about a decade now, African-American voters as a percentage of the total electorate have been consistently in the 30% range, according to University of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock.

“Abrams is really going to try to mobilize individuals who are registered but have sat out in previous elections,” Bullock said. “That’s what makes it such an interesting contest: she is taking a different approach to what has been done in the past.”

The class of 2020 can’t stay away

That novel pursuit, he added, extended to the campaign’s willingness — indeed, their desire — to campaign with and alongside members of the expected presidential primary class of 2020, a group headlined by national figures like Warren and fellow Sens. Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand and former Vice President Joe Biden — all of them progressives, to varying degrees, hailing from blue states outside of the South.

“In the past, if Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders, those kinds of folks, were going to come to Georgia, Democrats would’ve taken to the hills. They would have disappeared, not want to be within camera range of a shot of that,” Bullock said with a laugh. “So this is very different.”

On the final day of voter registration, Warren was greeted by hearty crowds in and around Atlanta. First at a rally at Clayton State University and then a phone bank launch a few minutes south in Jonesboro.

“I’m here this morning because I believe in Stacey Abrams,” Warren declared during the morning event, before turning to address the still fresh fight over new Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, connecting in her speech the process that confirmed him to “a rigged system that rolls over women, rolls over African Americans, rolls over students, rolls over anyone who gets in there way.”

“It hurt,” Warren said. “But now it is time to turn our pain into power.”

Jeff Young, a 68-year-old retired patent attorney from Atlanta who called himself “a big fan” of Warren, applauded at every turn.

“I admire Stacey Abrams for wanting to have her here because Stacey Abrams hasn’t run away from her principles,” Young said before the event began. “We need a party that says we need a free market that admits its debt to society for its use of the nation’s resources,” he added, channeling an old Warren argument, “and I mean both natural resources and human resources.”

The Abrams campaign views the embrace as mutually beneficial. They believe that Georgia Democrats, a generation of whom have never seen their candidate win a big statewide election, seeing national stars on the ground, stumping for their candidate offers a stamp of validation — evidence that the momentum they feel is real and victory is possible.

“I want our friends to come from around the country,” Abrams said, “because you need people to believe things for you before you believe it for yourself.”

McDonald’s is changing its breakfast menu to draw more customers

By Danielle Wiener-Bronner | CNN Newsource

McDonald’s hopes new breakfast items will draw more customers to the golden arches.

The company announced Tuesday that it would expand its breakfast menu. The new items, along with local deals and low prices, should help “win back customers at breakfast,” said CFO Kevin Ozan during a call with analysts.

With the new items, McDonald’s is aiming to reverse a troubling trend: American customers are eating elsewhere.

Sales in the United States grew by 2.4 percent in the third quarter, but that was mostly because people spent more. The number of American customers declined.

Over the past couple of years, McDonald’s (MCD) has tried a number of different strategies to boost its US business. It put self-order kiosks in restaurants. It added new menu items. And McDonald’s added delivery.

That helped boost sales among existing customers. But those initiatives, part of a massive effort to modernize its US restaurants, haven’t helped

McDonald’s hold on to existing customers or bring in new ones. The company believes a revamped breakfast menu could help.

“It’s very competitive out there at breakfast,” said CEO Stephen Easterbrook. “We’re still losing a little share … it continues to be a battleground,” he said. “We want to do better at breakfast.”

McDonald’s didn’t offer details on what the new items will be.

In recent years, Taco Bell has found success with its breakfast offerings. The chain started serving breakfast in 2014 and now sells items like the naked egg taco, which has a fried egg for a shell. Dunkin’ (DNKN), which offers a two-sandwich deal for breakfast, has also done well in the morning.

Competitors have upped their game and McDonald’s may have “lost a little bit of ground” on breakfast over the past few years, said Morningstar analyst R.J. Hottovy.

[VIDEO] Everything you need to know about the iPhone XR

CNN Newsource

Since the iPhone’s launch in 2007, Apple has sold more than a billion phones. Here’s just how much the iPhone makes for the trillion-dollar company.​

[VIDEO] Gillum: DeSantis’ monkey comment says it all

CNN Newsource

During a CNN debate between Florida’s gubernatorial candidates, Andrew Gillum (D-FL) responded to Rep. Ron DeSantis on his “monkey it up” comment.

Former White House lawyer: Mueller probe isn’t a witch hunt

By Dan Merica | CNN Newsource

Former White House lawyer Ty Cobb said Monday that he does not believe the ongoing special counsel probe led by Robert Mueller is a “witch hunt.”

The comment puts him at odds with his former boss, President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called the probe into possible ties between his campaign and Russian interference in the 2016 election a “witch hunt.”

Cobb, speaking with CNN’s Gloria Borger at the day-long CITIZEN Conference in New York, took a markedly different position.

“I don’t think it’s a witch hunt,” he said.

The comment came during a panel with Jack Quinn, a former White House lawyer under President Bill Clinton.

Later, Cobb lauded Mueller, the former head of the FBI and a Vietnam War veteran.

“Bob Mueller is an American hero in my view,” Cobb said, noting his service as a Marine.

“He was a very serious prosecutor,” Cobb said. “He and I first met in the mid-’80s when we were prosecuting different places and I have respected him throughout.”

Cobb left the White House earlier this year after months of working on the administration’s response to the Mueller investigation.

“I’ve done what I came to do in terms of managing the White House response to the special counsel requests,” Cobb said. “I’m extremely grateful to the President and Chief Kelly for the opportunity to serve my country.”

It was clear on Monday, however, the Cobb’s time in the White House was unique, highlighted by the fact that he often had to work with the President on how to publicly respond to Mueller.

Borger asked both lawyers about working with Presidents in crisis and Quinn lauded his former boss.

“I have practiced law for a really long time on Washington, Bill Clinton was the best client I ever had,” he said. “Believe it or not, he not only listened to advice, but he also sought it out and particularly, frankly, when he was in crisis, he wanted input, he wanted other people’s thinking, he wanted guidance.”

When Borger asked if there was anger, the frustration of blow ups, Quinn said no, the vision of Clinton as quick-tempered was a “myth.”

Cobb, to laughs, responded: “Um, I had a slightly different experience.”

Mural project, ‘My Nashville’ dedicated at main Nashville Public Library

Nashville Voice

Bright, colorful murals have begun to pop up all over the Nashville cityscape. Now, one commissioned through a community program grant by AkzoNobel – a leading global paints and coatings company – and the Nashville Mayor’s Youth Council (MYC), has been officially dedicated to the community.

Over the summer, youth came together to lead, design and execute the painting through a series of workshops led by artist and project manager Jake Elliott of WHAT Creative Group.

The final quilt mural was painted in June and July at the NPL by students, volunteers, local AkzoNobel employees and community partners, and is now on display in the NPL main parking garage.

“The mural symbolizes the pride of Nashville’s youth and community members have in being part of our vibrant city,” said Nashville Mayor David Briley. “We’re happy to have engaged corporate community members like AkzoNobel, who are dedicated to helping transform our urban landscapes in a positive way. Much like a quilt, the ‘My Nashville’ mural combines snapshots of impressions around our city.”

Titled, “My Nashville,” the mural was revealed in a short ceremony at the Nashville Public Library (NPL) last Saturday, Oct. 20. Five scholarship recipients were also acknowledged, including: 

  • Lauren Estrada
  • Jasmine Johnson
  • Anyah Gilmore-Jones
  • Leah Faulkner
  • Rachel Holt

“My Nashville” is the third community-wide project born from the partnership between AkzoNobel and the MYC. The project aims to unite the community through the common goals of helping youth exercise their leadership and promoting the importance of public art to the community as a whole.

The artwork is part of a series of 10 student-led, civic improvement projects, in which the Mayor’s Youth Council helps beautify the city over the course of two years. The projects are made possible through a $100,000 grant from AkzoNobel. The funding also provides up to 10 academic scholarships for Nashville youth.

“Seeing the youth take ownership of the public art projects is inspiring and makes us proud to be part of Nashville,” said Yvette Williger, AkzoNobel People Services Leader. “AkzoNobel came to Nashville in 1947, and since then, we have been an active and hands-on corporate member of the community, with many of our employees volunteering for the projects. We are proud to support the Mayor’s Youth Council. ”

The Mayor’s Youth Council is comprised of students from 23 public, private and charter schools located in Nashville. Members of the group are involved in student-led programs through the city’s Oasis Center, a non-profit organization that has a mission \to train the next generation of leadership through community service and positive action.

Fight club: Fists fly high in NHL; not so much in NBA, NFL

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By MIKE PATTON | Nashville Voice

NHL, NFL and the NBA are professional sports leagues that entertain us all.

The highs and lows of watching the sport capture us all. And each and every time they are on, people get lost in the moment and forget what all may be going on around them.

While sports fans have loved the world of sports and what it has provided, you also have to think about the questions sports spark in your mind.

One question that comes to mind is the physicality when it comes to the NHL compared to the NBA and the NFL.

When you watch professional hockey, you have to be amazed by the fact that men with size and speed can move around on skates like that.

What is more amazing than that, though, is the rules that go along with the NHL. The NHL seems to go by the rules of letting people fight it out.

Any time there is an issue between players, it seems there is a fight that breaks out. Unlike the NFL or NBA, the fight is not immediately broken up.

It goes on for a while until it is broken up by the officials.

At that point, the members of the fight usually go to the penalty box.

A lot of the times, the fights are premeditated. The players immediately drop their gloves in a faceoff and go at it right then and there. And along the premeditated fights, some of these vendettas on the ice end up carrying over for a while.

Seems rough right?

Well let any hockey fan tell you and they will say it’s part of the game and how they are.

The dueling players aren’t labeled “thugs” or any other bad words. What they are called is “passionate” or players who “handled their business”.

Now, imagine if this was to happen in the NBA or NFL. What is there was some premeditated things happen on the court?

Of course, The Malice at the Palace is something that would be badly looked upon in any sport. The players were actually in the crowd at that time.

But what is funny is when players get into each other’s faces on the court or get into some pushing and shoving on the court—heck, some may even take a swing at another player while in the heat of battle—what usually happens in those situations is a suspension.

The funny thing is the players involved in these incidents are competing at the highest levels of competition just like NHL players are, but instead of that understanding there, the players are often called “thugs” or other things for trash talk that happens on the court and can get a little overboard.

The NHL, NBA and NFL all have talented players across the board. But the way the physical nature of both sports is viewed is highly interesting.

There’s also the unavoidable fact that the NHL is predominantly staffed by white players while the NBA and NFL employ predominantly black players.

You have to wonder why one sport’s violence is loved and even encouraged while even trash talk in the other two sports mentioned gets looked down upon.

One has to wonder if the views of physical play in the different sports have a direct correlation with the number of African-Americans playing it.

There may be nothing to it, but that issue may be everything to it as well.

Netflix content chief says Obama projects won’t necessarily be political

By Sandra Gonzalez | CNN Newsource

Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos didn’t have a lot of details to offer on the projects being prepped by Barack and Michelle Obama for his streaming service but indicated that the content won’t necessarily be “political.

“They want to do storytelling that is fitting with the things [they] have done with the presidency, obviously, but [also] the experiences they’ve had throughout their entire lives,” Sarandos told the crowd at Vanity Fair’s New Establishment Summit on Tuesday.

Sarandos said the content will hit on subjects like sports, lifestyle and nutrition. Echoing the information shared in the deal’s original announcement, Sarandos said the former president and first lady have “got their eyes on film and television, fiction and nonfiction.”

The Obamas deal with the streaming giant was formally announced back in May.

At the time of the announcement, the Obamas said in a statement that they were looking forward to harnessing “the power of storytelling” to promote common values.

Sources told CNN back in May that the Obamas would possibly be appearing on camera as moderators or hosts.

Sarandos said he hoped on-camera appearances were in the cards, but said current projects have them serving as executive producers and doing some voice-over work.

He added that the streaming network would have “a lot to talk about later this year” regarding its slate of Obama projects.

TSU remembers founders during Homecoming week

Nashville Voice

TSU President Glenda Glover, accompanied by keynote speaker Council Woman-At-Large Sharon Hurt, led a procession of faculty, student leaders and administrators in Kean Hall to mark the university’s 106th birthday.

The University Wind Ensemble, led by Dr. Reginald McDonald, offered selections to a cheering audience, following the presentation of colors by the Air Force ROTC Color Guard.

“This is a great day for Tennessee State University,” Glover said, as she recounted events in the University’s history from its founding in 1912 to the role it plays today as a major center of education in the nation.

“From 1912 when the then-Agricultural and Industrial Normal School for Negroes, built to provide the educational opportunity for blacks, opened its doors to the first 247 students, TSU has maintained a tradition of excellence in education for a diverse population.”

In her keynote address, Rep. Hurt, president and CEO of Jefferson Street United Merchant Partnership, or JUMP, reminded the students, faculty and alumni that as members of the TSU family, they have a “rich legacy” to uphold of people who believe in self-determination.

“As you celebrate Founders’ Day, remember that you have an ancestral calling to serve and support this institution,” said Hurt, a graduate of TSU. Hurt also holds a master’s degree in non-profit leadership from Belmont University.

“You are the keepers of a legacy of worldwide accomplishments and have the God-given right by virtue of your calling to glorify, magnify and fortify the legacy that you have inherited as a descendant of doctors, teachers, engineers, talk show host, etc.,” she said. “Whatever your profession, TSU gave you a purpose.”

Hurt, a recipient of several awards and recognitions, is a former board member of the Center for Non-Profit Management and past president of the Association of Non-Profit Executives Council and is a graduate of the 2004 Class of Leadership Nashville.

During her tenure as president of JUMP, Hurt has secured more than $4 million in funding from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program Grant to acquire and rehabilitate homes in the North Nashville community.

She thanked President Glover, also an alumna, for the invitation and for her own legacy of excellence in earning multiple degrees. She called on students to be more focused, and congratulated the university on the celebration of the 2018 Homecoming.

Roseanne Barr responds to ‘The Conners’ debut

By Sandra Gonzalez
CNN Newsource

So, Roseanne was right.

Nearly five months since ABC’s much-publicized axing of its “Roseanne” revival from its lineup, the network on Tuesday premiered “The Conners,” a half-hour spin-off framed around the fictional family of Roseanne Conner.

In the first episode, Dan (John Goodman), Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) and Roseanne’s children are three weeks into dealing with the aftermath of her sudden death from what they believe to be a heart attack.

It doesn’t take long, however, for the truth to come out: Roseanne died as a result of opioid abuse.

Roseanne Barr, whose Twitter tirade led to her dismissal from the show both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, said in September that this would be her character’s fate. ABC did not comment at the time.

Initially, Roseanne’s family is in disbelief, particularly Dan, who says defensively that he had flushed her pills.

A prescription bottle reveals, however, that Roseanne had participated in an exchange of sorts with neighbors in order to get pain pills. And later, her family finds Roseanne’s small stashes of medication around the house.

When Dan later confronts the woman (Mary Steenburgen) who exchanged pills with Roseanne, she’s anguished. The uninsured neighbors are used to helping each other out, she tells him.

“I never would have given them to her if I knew she had a problem,” she says to him. “I know what it’s like to have that problem, so I’m sorry.”

This conversation helps Dan, who has been unable to sleep in the bed he once shared with his wife since she died, find an ounce of peace.

“She was going to do what she was going to do,” he says at one point. “She never listened to a damn person in her life.”

It’s an eerie line considering the real-life circumstances of the show’s one-time star, but also effective.

Barr posted a tweet on Tuesday night reminding followers she’s not actually dead. She later released a joint statement with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach in response to “The Conners” premiere.

“While we wish the very best for the cast and production crew of ‘The Conners,’ all of whom are deeply dedicated to their craft and were Roseanne’s cherished colleagues, we regret that ABC chose to cancel Roseanne by killing off the Roseanne Conner character,” the statement read in part. “That it was done through an opioid overdose lent an unnecessary grim and morbid dimension to an otherwise happy family show.”

By episode’s end, “The Conners” makes it clear that the matriarch’s presence remains important to the family but the reset button has been pressed. In new opening credits, Dan, daughter Darlene (Sara Gilbert) and Jackie take center stage.

With Dan now able to slumber, the show is eager it seems to put the drama that led to “Roseanne’s” demise to bed as well.

TSU breaks ground on two new residence halls, first on-campus residences in 23 years

Nashville Voice

TSU President Glenda Glover helped break ground Wednesday for two new co-educational residence halls, the first of three groundbreakings taking place during the university’s annual homecoming week festivities.

Construction of the residence halls was initially announced last fall after the State Building Commission approved construction of the $75.3 million project.

“We break ground this morning for student residence life,” said Glover at a ceremony before the groundbreaking. “We break this ground for student success. And we break this ground because it is altogether fitting and proper for upgrading student life on the campus of Tennessee State University.”

Wednesday’s groundbreaking, the first for a new residence hall at TSU since 1995, took place on the lawn of the Strange Performing Arts Building. The groundbreaking for a Health Sciences Building is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, in the Hankal Hall courtyard. Also, a groundbreaking for an Alumni Welcome Center will take place around 1:30 p.m. the same day at the corner of 31st and John Merritt Blvd.

TSU President Glenda Glover unveils plans for two new on-campus residence halls to be built at the university’s main campus near Strange Hall. (Courtesy: Tennessee State University)

Tracy Ford, vice president for student affairs at TSU, said the groundbreaking for the residence halls and the other planned construction is indeed “reason to celebrate.”

“Today doesn’t just mark the groundbreaking of a physical structure, but it shines a light on the amazing future of TSU and represents one of the many exciting and strategic changes to come,” Ford said.

Braxton Simpson, student representative on the TSU Board of Trustees, expressed a similar sentiment.

“This is a very exciting moment for all of the students here at Tennessee State University,” she said.

Besides TSU’s faculty and staff, Wednesday’s groundbreaking was also attended by local and state officials.

“This is a wonderful day,” said State Sen. Thelma Harper, a TSU alumna. “TSU is No. 1!”

State Rep. Harold Love Jr., a TSU graduate, lauded Dr. Glover and “all those involved in the intricacies of getting this done.”

“Residence halls represent a university’s commitment to student success just as much as other educational buildings,” Love said. “Tennessee State continues to invest in facilities to increase the opportunities for students to find a home away from home.”

Patton: Le’Veon Bell the latest star to be used as NFL’s franchise tag pawn

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By MIKE PATTON  | Nashville Voice

The NFL, unlike MLB and the NBA, doesn’t have guaranteed deals. But one thing the NFL has that MLB and NBA don’t have is a franchise tag.

When a team has a player they cannot come to an agreement with but still want to retain his services, the team can put out there a one-year franchise tag deal that gives a player a deal that is the average of the top five paid players at the position which the player plays.

In addition, the franchise tag gives the organization time to put together a long-term deal. In the case of Le’Veon Bell though, the franchise tag has not been so kind to him.

While it is going to pay him a very good amount of money for one season, Bell has been going through this with the Steelers for a couple years now.

The team seems to not want to sign him to a long-term deal and as a result, Bell has not signed the franchise tag and reported to his team.
Bell, like others that have been in a holdout situation, is the one taking the blame here.

Fans are riding him because he is holding out, radio shows are giving him hell for not reporting and even his teammates are fed up with him holding out.

The anger is real towards Bell, but what about when these type of contract situations are flipped the other way?

For the players themselves, the NFL also stands for “Not For Long.” That being said, players have to look out for themselves.

The more money they can make over the short period of time most play, the better they can take care of themselves after they are done playing financially.

The only thing any player is entitled to when they sign a new contract is the guaranteed money the team is going to give them.

For example, free-agent wide receiver Allen Robinson signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Chicago Bears this offseason. That number sounds nice, but he is only guaranteed $25 million of that money.

The other money involved in this is only “fluff money” that makes the deal sound nice but isn’t something he is guaranteed to see. The reason he isn’t guaranteed all of his money is owners don’t want to be on the hook for all that money.

They want a way out when they feel players don’t live up to the contract they signed. And when ownership feels that way, that’s when players get unceremoniously dumped by a team.

And as far as the other “fluff money,” it holds as much value as toilet paper when it gets flushed down the toilet.

Owners seem to escape blame when things go bad and players get cut, with fans using lines like “he did not live up to his contract.”

But what about when players outperform the contracts they have? Shouldn’t they get that right to do so without so much public persecution?

Fans who don’t understand that are practicing hypocrisy with their fandom.

Since so many fans want to compare this to their day jobs, they may want to ask themselves if they would like to be paid less money for doing above and beyond what their job titles are.

Who else is betting that answer would be “no”?

Tennessee State University’s Christion Abercrombie transferred to Shepherd Center in Atlanta for rehabilitation

Nashville Voice

Injured Tennessee State University football player Christion Abercrombie, 20, of Smyrna, Georgia, was transferred on Oct. 17 from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville to Shepherd Center in Atlanta for brain injury treatment and rehabilitation.

Abercrombie sustained a brain injury during Tennessee State’s football game against crosstown rival Vanderbilt University on Sept. 29.

He has been admitted to Shepherd Center’s Intensive Care Unit for evaluation, care and observation. Soon, he will move into the hospital’s Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program, where he will begin therapy under the guidance of a full team of medical and rehabilitation specialists.

Medical and rehabilitation teams at Shepherd Center typically include the following: an attending physician, nurse, occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech-language pathologist, recreation therapist, case manager, peer support specialist, dietitian and psychologist.

Shepherd Center specializes in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury or brain injury. Founded in 1975, Shepherd Center is a private, not-for-profit hospital and is ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top 10 rehabilitation hospitals in the nation.

TSU President Glenda Glover said Christion’s improving health is “an example of what the power of prayer can do.”

“The TSU Family is extremely happy to hear that football player Christion Abercrombie is continuing to improve,” she said. “The news couldn’t have come at a better time than during our homecoming week. The entire TSU Family has had Christion on our minds throughout the entire planning process of the last few weeks.

“Again, this is great news. We ask that everyone keep praying for Christion, and his family, as he moves to the next phase of care and ultimately makes a full recovery.”

TSU head football coach Rod Reed expressed similar sentiment.

“This is, in my opinion, a miracle that he’s being discharged after such a traumatic experience,” he said. “We’re looking forward to a speedy recovery.”

Abercrombie’s parents said they are grateful for the excellent care he received while at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and they look forward to seeing continued improvement in their son while he is at Shepherd Center.

“We truly appreciate all of the love, support and prayers from everyone,” said Staci Abercrombie, Christion’s mother. “This has given the family the strength needed to be able to care for Christion. This injury was not expected, but God has prepared us and will continue to provide us with his healing power.

“We know that it’s a miracle that our son is here today,” she continued. “All honor and glory goes to God. Please continue to pray for Christion’s full recovery. ‘Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.’ (Psalm 9:10)”

For those who want to donate online to help support the medical-related expenses for Abercrombie, a GoFundMe account is available at gofundme.com/tennessee-state-univ-athletics-dept

The importance of Tennessee State’s Homecoming celebration

Nashville, Tennessee is a city where everyone loves to flock to these days.

And like every city, there are certain events that bring everyone out. One of those events is this weekend with TSU Homecoming.

This Saturday, the Tigers face off against the Tennessee Tech Eagles at Nissan Stadium, the home they share with the Titans.

The games, parties, and events all capture the attention of everyone, but that isn’t what makes the homecoming of the HBCU standout the most.

Tennessee State’s pageantry and the game are part of the show, but they are not all of it. Plenty of people gather with family and tailgate all day. The game is something they want to watch, but it isn’t the entire show though.

Plenty of people sit outside and enjoy spending time with their families while listening to music and partying and don’t even attend the game despite having tickets. The reason for that is that Homecoming is more than just a game for plenty.

The city, especially the African-American community, has an affinity for Tennessee State and wants to be a part of the university for the most part.

The school’s rich history and importance to the city is much more than just Homecoming, but it allows us to celebrate the school for the great things that it has done for our communities.

Raimil Swanigan, a Tennessee State alum who arrived in Nashville back in 1997, sees it as a reason for celebration and reflection.

“For me personally, Homecoming is a big deal simply because I get the opportunity to support the university that gave me the confidence to think, work and serve,” said Swanigan, a Brownsville native. “It also serves as a mini-family reunion because my cousin lives near the university and my family from Brownsville, Tennessee always meets up at his house to enjoy fellowship with each other.”

Corey Jackson, another Tennessee State alum who came to school here from out of town, has a little bit different vision for what Tennessee State Homecoming means to him.

“The city benefits from it and it is an inspiration for the youth that the hopes of going to the school, from the football game to the parade and the pep rally,” he said.

Jackson and Swanigan came here and were connected to the university, but Nikki Walker grew up and went to school at Tennessee State, so her connection to the school goes back to her childhood.

“TSU Homecoming to me means rich tradition,” Walker said. “As a young, Black child growing up in Nashville, TSU is the college your parents teach you about first. They teach you the historical element, as TSU was one of the first colleges Black people could attend as well as the part it took in the Civil Rights era.”

“TSU Homecoming means connecting with old friends and meeting new ones,” she continued. “For the city, it is the one time we all get together to celebrate Black excellence whether you went to the school or not. It always brings the city together through the good and the bad. I am a proud alumnus of Tennessee State University. It taught me to be proud of my heritage and to always show excellence in all that I do.”

Mueller’s quiet period has not been very quiet

By Katelyn Polantz and Evan Perez,
CNN Newsource

Ever since reaching a deal with special counsel Robert Mueller, Paul Manafort has kept the Russia prosecutors busy.

The former Trump campaign chairman and his lawyers have visited Mueller’s office in Washington at least nine times in the last four weeks, a strong indication that the special counsel is moving at a steady clip.

September and October at first glance appear to be quiet periods for the investigation, under the Justice Department’s guidelines to avoid public political acts before the midterm elections.

But the quiet period has seen a persistent murmur of activity, based on near-daily sightings of Mueller’s prosecutors and sources involved in the investigation.

In addition to Manafort, Mueller’s team has kept interviewing witnesses, gathered a grand jury weekly to meet in Washington on most Fridays, and kicked up other still-secret court action.

Plus, the discussions between the President’s legal team and the special counsel’s office have intensified in recent weeks, including after the special counsel sent questions about possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian government.

The President’s attorneys are expected to reply to the questions in writing.

People around Trump and other witnesses believe more criminal indictments will come from Mueller.

Attorneys who have dealt with Mueller’s investigators and other officials expect that the special counsel’s efforts, now 17 months in the works, will include an active post-election period a much-anticipated report where Mueller will outline what his investigators decided to prosecute and what they declined.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversees the investigation, on Wednesday called the probe “appropriate and independent,” in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

“[A]t the end of the day, the public will have confidence that the cases we brought were warranted by the evidence and that it was an appropriate use of resources.”

A frequent cooperator

At least nine times since he pleaded guilty on Sept. 14, a black Ford SUV has brought Manafort to Mueller’s office in southwest DC around 10 am.

Manafort’s lawyers arrive around the same time, waiting in the lobby for the car to arrive. There they remain inside the offices, typically for six hours.

It’s not entirely clear yet what Manafort has shared with prosecutors, and if his interviews check facts that haven’t yet come to light outside of the prosecutors’ own notes.

Among the questions, investigators have asked Manafort about his dealings with Russians, according to one source familiar with the matter.

Attorneys for Manafort would not discuss their activities for this story.

The visits amount to what could total dozens of hours of interviews between Mueller’s prosecutors and Manafort since he finalized his plea agreement.

Manafort agreed to fully cooperate with the Justice Department as it investigates the Trump campaign and the Russian government’s actions before the 2016 election.

At the same time, Trump has distanced himself from crimes investigators still may be pursuing. He publicly claimed this week that criminal charges so far brought by Mueller’s team have nothing to do with him.

Trump attorneys declined to comment for this story.

Other help

The flurry of interviews with Manafort and other cooperating defendants leaves Trump’s legal team somewhat in the dark on what Mueller is pursuing.

Manafort’s lawyers have shared information with the Trump legal team, but according to sources familiar with the case, there is no formal joint defense agreement.

Manafort’s criminal confessions and separate conviction by a jury dealt with his Ukrainian lobbying work and financial dealings largely before 2016.

Yet his cooperation is widely expected to include helping the prosecutors build potential criminal cases about coordination between the Russian government and Trump campaign.

Aside from Manafort, three other Trump campaign officials have pleaded guilty to charges.

Two of them, campaign deputy Rick Gates and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, also agreed to broadly help Mueller’s team with its investigation and have visited the special counsel’s office to give interviews since their pleas.

Mueller’s team has also been speaking with Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal attorney, who has spent hours with Mueller’s team since his own guilty plea in August, in which he accused President Donald Trump of directing him to commit a crime.

Trump legal team

Meanwhile, Trump’s team is working up answers to Mueller’s questions. Even if the defense team were to sign and deliver their answers soon, Mueller’s office may have follow-up questions that drag out their discussions.

The legal team, comprised of personal and White House lawyers Jay Sekulow, Marty and Jane Raskin and Emmet Flood, still hasn’t reached an agreement on whether the President will be interviewed in person or must respond to questions about possible obstruction of justice related to his firing of FBI Director James Comey.

While they’re in investigatory limbo, expectations have grown in Washington legal circles that Mueller will issue a report soon after the November election or even before the end of the year.

When it’s finished, Mueller’s report is expected to explain the decisions of the Justice Department to bring or to decline to bring criminal cases during the course of the investigation.

Mueller’s findings and decisions will be confidential unless higher-up officials in the Justice Department will decide to make the report public.

As of now, the Trump legal team operates under the belief that Mueller won’t finish his work without bringing indictments that hit closer to the Trump campaign.

Activity in the DC courthouse

The next campaign contact in Mueller’s crosshairs may be Trump adviser Roger Stone, who’s publicly said he expects to be indicted after nine of his friends and aides spoke to Mueller’s office or received grand jury subpoenas.

In the last two weeks, multiple contacts of Stone have been in touch with the special counsel’s office about them providing information, according to CNN’s reporting.

Special counsel prosecutors have also visited the federal courthouse in downtown Washington almost daily.

Once in early September and once in early October, Chief Judge Beryl Howell held hour-long sealed hearings in her courtroom featuring trial and appellate prosecutors from Mueller’s office.

Both times, the lawyers opposite the Justice Department declined to share with CNN their names, clients names or law firms. Howell oversees court action related to the federal grand jury that Mueller has used to approve indictments in DC.

Previously she has ordered two witnesses — a real estate agent and a lawyer — to testify against Manafort before the grand jury, and she held Andrew Miller, a Stone associate, in contempt for refusing to comply with a subpoena.

The real estate and lawyer orders became public on the eve of Manafort’s indictment last October, and Miller’s attorneys spoke publicly about his subpoena challenge as it was ongoing.

Other times in the courthouse in recent weeks, the Mueller investigators visit the chief judge’s chambers and then the clerk’s office, indicating a flurry of court paperwork.

A spokesperson for Howell and the federal court in DC declined to comment on the nature of the recent sealed court activity, as did a spokesman for the special counsel’s office.

As the court action moves forward, Trump himself has said he is working on giving information to Mueller.

When asked by the Associated Press on Tuesday if he would sit for an interview with Mueller or simply answer written questions, as his lawyers have agreed to do, Trump said: “You know that’s in process. It’s a tremendous waste of time for the president of the United States.”

CNN’s Sara Murray, Erica Orden, Kara Scannell, Laura Robinson, Em Steck and Sam Fossum contributed to this report.

Jenifer Lewis wants to help Kanye West

By Lisa Respers France
CNN Newsource

Speaking to CNN about Kanye West, actress Jenifer Lewis broke down in tears.

“I just feel so sorry for him,” Lewis said as she wept.

Last week, West was the subject of both scorn and concern because of a trip to the White House where he shared thoughts on prison reform and an alternate universe for more than ten minutes during an unusual Oval Office photo op with President Donald Trump.

West, who has said he’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and referenced his diagnosis on his latest album “Ye,” calling it his “superpower,” seemed to walk back the possibility he was mentally ill during his White House remarks.

Either way, Lewis, 61, empathizes with West.

The “Black-ish” star was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the 1990s and wrote about her struggles with mental illness in her memoir “The Mother of Black Hollywood.”

If anyone understands how tricky it can be to navigate fame and being black in Hollywood, while dealing with a mental health struggle, it’s Lewis.

According to the actress, that includes being in denial about the seriousness of bipolar disorder.

Lewis said she recognizes some of West’s more controversial moments as possible symptoms.

“Part of the disorder is not wanting to tame the mania,” Lewis told CNN. “The high is so high and it feels great, but it’s dangerous. It’s so dangerous.”

Lewis said members of West’s camp recently approached her about meeting with him to talk about their shared experiences.

“They are going to try to get me in a room with him when he gets back from Uganda,” she said. “And all I can tell everyone is that I will do my best.”

CNN has reached out to West’s reps for comment. He is currently in Uganda finishing up work on a forthcoming album.

Lewis told CNN Tuesday that while she doesn’t know much about West’s career, she’s worried for him and recognizes how much influence he has, especially with his young fans.

She said she watched some portions of West’s recent visit to the White House.

“Of course I have my opinion about [West] going there and being out of control,” Lewis said. “I mean very little can shock us today with this administration, but it was cruel.”

An advocate for civil rights and mental health care reform, Lewis has been an outspoken critic of Trump.

She said she understands the anger that’s been directed toward West for his support of Trump, but believes it won’t help the hip-hop star.

“We need more compassion,” Lewis said. “You cannot reach [those who are bipolar] by meeting them with rage. Trust me, they’ve got more rage than you.”

Instead, she said, more must be done to bring mental illness into the spotlight.

“I cannot say enough how dangerous this disease is,” Lewis said. “And it is a disease. People need to start treating it like a disease like they do cancer, not as something to point at and laugh.”

Lewis also had strong words for some of those in West’s camp.

“You’ve got to stop thinking about your paycheck,” she said. “Stop thinking about your paycheck, because if you don’t, he won’t be around.”

“I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder,” West told Trump last week. “I was connected with a neuropsychologist that worked with athletes in the NBA and the NFL. He said that I actually wasn’t bipolar, I had sleep deprivation, which could cause dementia 10 to 20 years from now where I wouldn’t even remember my son’s name.”

Lewis said she sought help managing her disorder, in part, because she was aware of how much she could do to advocate for mental health.

She has fought to feel well, which is what Lewis hopes for West.

“What makes me powerful is I have a smile on my face,” Lewis said. “That’s what makes me feel that I am worthy to do this work because I’m a happy person and I am unafraid.”

Jeff Sessions slams legal discovery process against officials

By Sophie Tatum
CNN Newsource

Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Monday criticized “judicial activism” and condemned attempts to depose or question senior executive branch officials, including President Donald Trump.

“Simply put, discovery against the President of the United States should not be treated lightly. The man is busy, in case you’d like to know,” Sessions said while speaking to the Heritage Foundation.

Sessions added that preparing for a deposition is “a monumental disruption.”

“Subjecting the executive branch to this kind of discovery is unacceptable,” he said.

His comments also addressed a number of upcoming cases and decisions, including a challenge to the administration’s decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.

Last week, the Trump administration asked the US Supreme Court to block Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross from having to be deposed on the matter.
However, days after the administration filed its request with the court, new questions arose about previous comments Ross had made to Congress about the controversial census question.

A Justice Department filing revealed that Steve Bannon contacted Ross in the spring of 2017 — when Bannon was a senior Trump adviser — asking him to speak with Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach about including a citizenship question.

Ross previously denied to Congress that anyone from the White House had discussed adding that type of question to the census with him, later adding that it was an initiative from the Justice Department.

CNN previously reported that a Commerce Department spokesman, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Ross’ comments before Congress were not misleading.

The spokesman said that the Justice Department “response supplements the record but does not change the secretary’s story, it only adds to it.”

Directly addressing the census case during his remarks on Monday, Sessions criticized “an increasing number of judges,” who he said, “view themselves as something akin to roving inspectors general for the entire Executive Branch.”

“For example, right now we are litigating one case where the district court has authorized a deposition of the Secretary of Commerce about the decision to reinstate a question on the Census. The court believes this is proper because it wants to probe the Secretary’s motives,” he said.

Sessions went on to defend the census question, noting that it “has appeared in one form or another on the census for over a hundred years.”

“The words on the page don’t have a motive; they are either permitted or they are not. But the judge has decided to hold a trial over the inner-workings of a Cabinet Secretary’s mind.”

CNN’s Ariane de Vogue, Gregory Wallace and Paul LeBlanc contributed to this report.


What Elizabeth Warren’s DNA test reveals (and it’s not what you think)

By Chris Cillizza,
CNN Newsource

On Monday morning, we learned that Elizabeth Warren is probably-almost-definitely-I-mean-nothing-is-100-percent partially Native American.

“The facts suggest that you absolutely have a Native American ancestor in your pedigree,” Carlos Bustamante, a professor of genetics at Stanford University, tells Warren in a video released by her campaign.

The release of the video — and its contents — mean that Warren was probably right when she claimed — to much criticism — during her 2012 Senate campaign that she is part Native American. But it definitely means that she is running for president in 2020. And running hard.

Let’s dig in.

The presence of President Donald Trump — and other Republicans — making fun of Warren’s supposed heritage is everywhere in this video.

It features video of Trump repeatedly referring to Warren as “Pocahontas” and White House press secretary Sarah Sanders suggesting that Warren used her questionable Native American heritage to get a series of teaching jobs at prominent universities.

This all began back in Warren’s 2012 Senate campaign, when the Boston Herald ran a piece noting that Harvard Law School listed Warren as a minority professor — and used her status as such to boost their diversity numbers amid criticism.

Within a week, Warren acknowledged that she had listed herself as a minority in a listing of law professors.

When asked for documentation of that heritage, her campaign was unable to produce any.

“I am very proud of my heritage,” Warren said in 2012. “These are my family stories. is what my brothers and I were told by my mom and my dad, my mammaw and my pappaw. This is our lives. And I’m very proud of it.”

Warren also changed her story on whether or not she had informed Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania of her Native American heritage; she initially said she had no idea how either school had received the information before later acknowledging that she had told the schools sometime after she was hired.

What Warren knew — and what she said — about her Cherokee heritage was a major issue during her 2012 campaign against then Sen. Scott Brown (R). He ran ads attacking her story and confronted her in a debate over the issue as well. She won easily.

So why is Warren re-addressing this now? And doing so in a slickly produced, campaign-style video in which,

  • a) she travels back to her hometown of Norman, Oklahoma to talk to her brothers — and others — about her mother, who she has long contended was part Native American,
  • b) she interviews a series of professors involved in her hiring processes at various universities who insist her claimed Native American background had nothing to do with why she was hired, and
  • c) she submits to a DNA test that seems to suggest that her past heritage claims are likely to be true, and
  • d) she releases a series of documents aimed at bolstering her heritage claims?

The answer, of course, is because she is running for president in 2020. And she wants to do two things with this video:

1) Stamp out a whisper campaign (or more) from her likely Democratic opponents — and Trump — about whether she lied about her background

2) Send a message to Democratic activists and donors that she is 100% going to fight back — and fight back hard.

Make no mistake: The timing of the release of this video is not accidental. (Almost nothing in politics is.) Trump has been going after Warren — he dubbed her “Pocahontas” during the 2016 campaign — of late, as reports suggest she is gearing up to run against him in 2020.

“I want to apologize,” Trump said during a campaign speech in Montana over the summer. “Pocahontas, I apologize to you. I apologize to you. To you I apologize. To the fake Pocahontas, I won’t apologize.”

Asked to respond to news of the DNA test, Trump said Monday morning, “Who cares?”

Whether Warren wants to admit it or not — and my strong guess is “not” — Trump’s attacks were clearly doing some damage. You don’t respond — with a 5+-minute video, a DNA test and loads of documentation — if you think that this whole Native American thing is just so much GOP conspiracy theorizing.

Warren knows she has a weakness — whether perceived or real is harder to tell — on her origin story. And she and her team know that presidential campaign often hinges on just those origin stories.

The American public tends to buy into the person as opposed to the specific policy when considering their vote for president; if Warren has a major problem in that origin story, it could well hamstring attempts to get people to connect with her.

And so, we get this video. And the DNA test. And all the documents. To show, yes, that Warren’s claim that she had some Native American blood is almost certainly true, but also to show that she has a full campaign team who understands how modern campaigns work and is at the ready to deal — and deal effectively — with any sorts of problems that arise during the course of the campaign.

Warren said recently that after the 2018 midterms she planned to “take a hard look at running for president.”

Which left some wiggle room and uncertainty. But this video is all the proof anyone paying attention should need to know that Warren’s hedge on whether she will run is simply political talk.

She’s in. You don’t produce a video like this if you aren’t.

Tennessee Higher Education Commission rejects MTSU’s plan for law school

WPLN Nashville Public Radio 

Middle Tennessee State University’s plans to open a law school have been rejected by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, who voted 8-5 today against a proposal to transfer Indiana-based Valparaiso Law School to MTSU’s campus.

“THEC’s decision denies a legal education to Nashville-area students financially unable to attend an expensive, nearby accredited private institution or unable to relocate to a public institution hundreds of miles away in Knoxville or Memphis,” MTSU President Sidney McPhee said in a statement. 

WPLN Nashville Public Radio reports:

The commission looked at these criteria, among others, in making the decision: Alignment with state master plan and institutional mission, sustainable demand, program costs and revenue and no unnecessary duplication. The commission also solicited comments from expert legal reviewers.

Based on comments and these criteria, the commission denied MTSU’s proposal. The biggest critics of the transfer came from lawyers and law schools in Memphis and Knoxville, where the state’s only other public law schools are located.
Comments generally regarded concerns of a watered down law school market for the state, since Nashville is already home to three law schools — Belmont University, Vanderbilt University and Nashville School of Law. Another school in the city, many said, would take away from other schools’ ability to compete, even if it’s a public option.

49 Teachers to be honored in Metro Schools’ annual Blue Ribbon Teacher Awards

Metro Nashville Public Schools, along with the Nashville’s Agenda Steering Committee and the Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF), announced today the winners of this year’s Blue Ribbon Teacher Awards.

This year, the focus of the awards was on recognizing teachers doing outstanding work in one of three areas – literacy instruction, support of English Language Learners and teacher leadership.

Winners will be honored at a special reception in March and celebrated through a month-long city advertising campaign. Along with Blue Ribbon status, each teacher receives a $1,000 cash prize – supported exclusively by private donations.

This year’s winners join an elite group of the city’s top public school educators. With their addition, only 192 teachers have received this distinction to date.

“In classrooms across this district we have many life-changing moments taking place every single day due to the expertise, commitment, and caring of our great teachers,” said Dr. Shawn Joseph, director of schools. “The Blue Ribbon Teacher Award helps us shine the spotlight on some of our best teachers and more importantly, better demonstrate the value this community places on teaching excellence.”

In its fourth year, the program aims to recognize top teaching talent in our public schools. Winners are determined following a rigorous selection process that included a review of evidence of outstanding teaching practices by a team of experts.

Applications of semi-finalists are then reviewed by a specially-convened community selection panel.

“So often, teachers tell us they feel invisible or their work unnoticed in the larger community,” said Tom Sherrard, chairman of the Nashville’s Agenda Steering Committee and a member of the Board of the Nashville Public Education Foundation. “What we are hoping to do with this award is to say that great teaching matters – not just to students and parents but the entire community.

“We all benefit immensely from the work of extraordinary educators like these. They deserve the entire city’s thanks and recognition.”

The Blue Ribbon Teacher awards program began in 2014 and is a joint project of the Nashville’s Agenda Steering Committee, the NPEF and MNPS.

Members of this year’s community selection panel were: Susannah Berry, Gail Carr-Williams, Hank Clay, Ron Corbin, Stephen Francescon, Rebecca King, Vanessa Lazon, Rob McNeilly, Paul Oakley, David Plazas, Stephanie Silverman, Brenda Wynn and Nahed Zehr.

Elizabeth Warren releases DNA test with ‘strong evidence’ of Native American ancestry

By REBECCA BERG and ERIC BRADNER
CNN Newsource

Sen. Elizabeth Warren has released the results of a DNA analysis showing she has distant Native American ancestry, in an apparent attempt to pre-empt further questions and attacks should she run for president in 2020.

Warren first faced scrutiny for her purported Native American heritage during her 2012 Senate race. But President Donald Trump has revived and amplified the controversy as he eyes Warren as a possible rival, frequently mocking her with the nickname “Pocahontas.”

But Warren now has documentation to back up her family lore — an analysis of her genetic data performed by Carlos Bustamante, a professor of genetics at Stanford and adviser to Ancestry and 23 and Me.

In a rollout video about Warren’s heritage, the Massachusetts Democrat is seen sitting behind a laptop as she calls Bustamante.

“Now, the President likes to call my mom a liar,” Warren asks him. “What do the facts say?”

Bustamante responds, “The facts suggest that you absolutely have a Native American ancestor in your pedigree.” Warren is shown nodding.
Trump waved off Warren’s DNA test results on Monday, telling reporters, “who cares?” when asked about them.

Trump said later Monday that Warren owes the nation an apology.
“She owes the country an apology,” the President said when asked whether he himself owed the senator an apology for calling her “Pocahontas.”

Bustamante’s full report is now posted on Warren’s website, along with other supporting documents and interviews detailing her background.

According to the report, “the great majority of (Warren’s) identifiable ancestry is European.” However, the report adds, “The analysis also identified 5 genetic segments as Native American in origin at high confidence.”

Bustamante’s analysis places Warren’s Native American ancestor between six and 10 generations ago, with the report estimating eight generations.

“The identity of the sample donor, Elizabeth Warren, was not known to the analyst during the time the work was performed,” the report says.

Warren’s video makes clear that it is in part a response to Trump’s attacks, opening with a clip of the President mocking Warren as “Pocahontas.” Members of Warren’s family express their disappointment with the President’s taunts in a series of interviews.

“He’s talking about stuff he doesn’t have any idea about,” Mark Herring, Warren’s nephew, says in the video.

On Monday, Kellyanne Conway, a counselor to Trump, told CNN that the video was “odd” and wrote off the DNA results.

“I haven’t looked at the test,” Conway said. “I know that everybody likes to pick their junk science and sound science depending on the conclusion it seems some days. But I haven’t looked at the DNA test and it really doesn’t interest me, to be frank with you.”

The video also tackles the question of whether Warren’s Native American heritage played any role in her professional advancement.

That issue has been raised by the White House as well, with press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying during one briefing, “What most people find offensive is Sen. Warren lying about her heritage to advance her career.”

Warren’s purported Native American heritage was touted by Harvard Law School when she was a professor there.

But Warren’s video includes testimonials from faculty at Harvard Law, the University of Houston, University of Pennsylvania Law School and UT Austin School of Law insisting Warren’s professional advancement was not tied to it.

“Her heritage had no bearing on her hiring,” Jay Westbrook of the UT Austin School of Law says in the video. “Period.”

Her campaign has also published a lengthy archive of university documents to support these claims.

The information is unlikely to dissuade the President from continuing to zero in on the controversy surrounding Warren’s background.

At one rally, depicted in Warren’s video, Trump offered to donate $1 million to charity if Warren were to take a DNA test “and it shows you’re an Indian.”

Warren tweeted Monday morning that Trump could “send the check to the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center.”

But Trump said Monday that he “didn’t say” he would pay Warren $1 million for showing her test results.

“I didn’t say that. You better read it again,” he told reporters outside the White House.

At the July rally where Trump made the original offer, he said, “And we will say, ‘I will give you a million dollars, paid for by Trump, to your favorite charity if you take the test and it shows you’re an Indian … we’ll see what she does. I have a feeling she will say no but we will hold it for the debates.”
Later Monday, Trump said he did not owe Warren the money, saying that

was contingent on her winning the nomination.
“If she gets the nomination in the debate where I was going to have her tested,” Trump said.cx”I’ll only do it if I can test her personally,” he said. “This is not something I would enjoy doing either.”

The President also said Monday he hopes Warren will run for president because she will be “easy” to beat.

“I hope she’s running for president because I think she’d be very easy… I do not think she’d be very difficult at all,” Trump said, adding, “I don’t want to say bad things about her because I hope she’s one of the people that get through the process.

A Warren aide told CNN the decision to release the video and DNA test about her Native American ties is part of a larger effort to put out as much information about her background as possible as she weighs a 2020 presidential run.

Warren also recently released 10 years of tax returns and her personnel files from Harvard and other schools. The aide said the DNA test came back Friday.

Warren wonders in the video about the motives of those, like Trump, who “have questioned my heritage and my family history.”

“Maybe they do it to insult me,” she muses. “Maybe they do it to distract from the kinds of changes I’m fighting for.”

She concedes in the video that she is not enrolled in any tribe, “but my family history is my family history.”

What counts as Native American heritage is a question with different answers among the 573 legally recognized tribes in the United States.

Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. released a statement Monday in response to Warren’s test and claims.

“Using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong,” the statement said in part. “It makes a mockery out of DNA tests and its legitimate uses while also dishonoring legitimate tribal governments and their citizens, whose ancestors are well documented and whose heritage is proven. Senator Warren is undermining tribal interests with her continued claims of tribal heritage.”

Most tribes use their membership rolls dating back decades, requiring a direct descendant or blood quantum. Warren claims Cherokee and Delaware heritage — both of which use membership rolls to determine who qualifies for tribal citizenship, which Warren has never claimed.

Cherokee Nation principal chief Bill John Baker is 1/32 Cherokee by blood.
Melanie Benjamin, the tribal chairwoman of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians in Minnesota, said Warren asked her for advice on how to discuss her heritage before a speech in February.

“My advice to her — and I used an example — is that in Indian country, we are very community-oriented,” she said. “We are those types of people where we will embrace you as part of our community, and then we will recognize you as our community from there on.”

“If you are told from Day One that you are that tribal person and that tribal home, that’s who you are. And that’s the simplest way to explain that,” Benjamin said.

Warren concludes in the video that the issue “isn’t just about casual racism,” but part of a pattern of “discrimination, neglect and violence” that Native communities have faced “for generations.”

“And Trump can say whatever he wants about me,” she adds. “But mocking Native Americans or any group in order to try to get at me that’s not what America stands for.”

CNN’s Abby Phillip, Kevin Liptak, Manu Raju, Devan Cole, Paul LeBlanc and Leslie Bentz contributed to this report.

Vanderbilt’s Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center unveils Legacy Pioneers Portraits, newly renovated Legacy Lounge

Nashville Voice

People from Vanderbilt present and past who have made Vanderbilt a more inclusive space for black students, faculty and staff are the subjects of 10 new portraits unveiled by the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center Oct. 10.

The ten Legacy Pioneer Portraits, which were painted by critically acclaimed visual artist James Threalkill, a 1979 Vanderbilt alum, will hang in the Study Lounge inside the Black Cultural Center.

“This project is about helping the Vanderbilt community to see, understand and appreciate the black history of the university and those who helped shape that experience for the better,” said Rosevelt Noble, assistant dean of students and director of the Black Cultural Center. “It’s important for students who frequent the Black Cultural Center to realize that a lot of people made significant sacrifices to make their experience what it is today.”

Noble noted that this is just the first class of Legacy Pioneers and that there is much more to come. The portraits unveiled in the Black Cultural Center include:

  • Rev. Walter R. Murray,
  • Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos,
  • Eileen Carpenter,
  • Sheryll Cashin,
  • Peter Pratt,
  • Ray Winbush,
  • Tonya Mitchell,
  • Monica Peek,
  • Akaninyene Ruffin; and,
  • former Chancellor Gordon Gee.

The Legacy Pioneers initiative was inspired by the Lost in the Ivy project, which Noble established back in 2007.

Lost in the Ivy comprises hundreds of interviews and personal narratives on the African American experience at Vanderbilt, which includes faculty, staff, students, and alumni from across the university.

More than 500 interviews have been conducted to date and the project has brought to light many stories that for years remained untold.

The Legacy Pioneer initiative came to life when Noble repeatedly heard the stories told during the interviews about the lasting impact of particular individuals or events in improving the Vanderbilt culture.

Subsequent research through old newspapers, magazines and other artifacts confirmed the oral narratives and identified some individuals as pioneers for their enhancements to the black experience.

Pulitzer Prize Poet’s new memoir both disturbing and exciting

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By Ron Wynn
Nashville Voice

Only a select number of poets have ever won the Pulitzer Prize, and the list of black winners is even shorter.

When Gregory Pardlo won in 2011 for his poetry volume “Digest,” he triggered a fresh wave of interest among readers and poetry lovers worldwide.

But his new book, “Air Traffic – A Memoir of Ambition and Manhood in America” (Penguin/Random House) focuses as much of the spotlight on his father as on the author.

“Air Traffic” is both a sometimes disturbing, always insightful coming-of-age chronicle and a look at how sudden misfortune can overwhelm and destroy lives and families.

It’s also a tale of the sometimes edgy and uncomfortable relationship between a father and a son, especially when things have been affected by a stunning fall of grace by either party.

Lastly, it also reveals the devastating impact of drug addiction, both on an individual family and on many communities overall, especially in black neighborhoods.

Pardlo’s father was highly intelligent and at one point very popular among his co-workers.

The elder Pardlo was a labor organizer and air traffic controller, a man who defied the odds regarding what blacks weren’t supposed to be able to do in the ’60s and ’70s and had become a very successful figure within the world of aviation.

But that all came crashing down in 1981 when the air traffic controllers gambled that President Reagan wouldn’t dare risk public safety in the air and actually de-certify their union if they ignored the law and went on strike.

The union did and Reagan promptly de-certified them, later allowing only a small number to reclaim their jobs.

The action not only stunned Pardlo’s father, but it also led to a mental and physical breakdown, as well as a descent into drug addiction and the subsequent damage to family finances that is often triggered by the selfish behavior an addict.

The younger Pardlo encounters his own troubles, some caused by the turbulent relationship with his father, and the others immaturity and uncertainty about what direction he should take in life.

The younger Pardlo struggles and scuffles with everything from trying to be a Marine to traveling around the world, then later becoming the manager at a jazz club.

But it’s not until he finally discovers the joys of writing and poetry that e finds something that he both enjoys and gives his life new distinction and quality.

It also helps him navigate increasingly thorny barriers regarding race and class, and decide what paths he wants to follow for the remainder of his life, both personally and professionally.

“Air Traffic” has plenty of troubling, disturbing segments and sequences. It is probing, extremely candid and sometimes controversial in that Pardlo has no problems taking issue with orthodox positions regarding racial identity, gender politics, writing techniques, educational values and other areas.

But it is also rewarding and valuable as it details the eventual triumph of a gifted writer over personal and family demons, and one man finally finding his place in the world after years of turmoil.

Why the Kanye West-Jim Brown lunch with Trump was a disaster

By Nia-Malika Henderson
CNN Newsource

Imagine this: A president, concerned about the opioid crisis that is ravaging many communities, particularly white, Midwestern communities, invites a retired football player and a famous musician to talk about the crisis.

And imagine that this is one of the few high-level meetings he has about the crisis, which has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans.
Well, that is kind of what just happened.

Not with the opioids, but with the critical, potentially lethal, issues facing many African-Americans across the country. On Thursday, President Donald Trump had a working lunch with Kanye West and retired football player Jim Brown.

This was the meeting’s preview sent by the White House ahead of time: “The discussion will be centered on President Trump’s historic work to benefit all Americans such as urban revitalization, the creation of Opportunity Zones, new workforce training programs, record highs in African American employment, the creation of manufacturing jobs, ideas from his meeting with African American pastors, potential future clemencies, and addressing the massive violent crime surge in Chicago.”

Shorter readout: This was Trump’s black people meeting.

What a meeting it was. No cameras were allowed in the lunch, but West’s about 10-minute soliloquy in the Oval Office provided a window into the ground covered.

Here are some ideas West raised:

  • Bring Trump factories and Yeezy ideation centers to Chicago.
  • His MAGA hat makes him feel like a superhero.
  • Make the dopest … no the “flyest” cars.
  • School is boring. Kids should play basketball while they are doing math.
  • Time doesn’t exist.
  • Stop worrying about the future. We only have today.
  • Trump and Colin Kaepernick wearing “Make America Great” hats at the Super Bowl.
  • Stop-and-frisk is bad.
  • The solution to police brutality is love.
  • Something about an Iplane.
  • Opening up industries and tax breaks.
  • Something about liberals distracting black people by focusing on racism.

So, what were the goals here?

For Trump, it was a chance for him to say, Trump does care about black people, but don’t take my word for it, listen to Kanye West

.But what the meeting highlighted was how few African-Americans Trump has in his circle.

Omarosa Manigault-Newman, who wrote a scathing tell-all on Trump, hasn’t been replaced.

The meeting also highlights how seriously Trump takes issues that his base doesn’t really care about.

Rather than invite real policy experts, say on education or criminal justice, Trump brought before the cameras two famous black men who like him.

The result was about what one would expect — a hard-to-parse, bizarre Oval Office moment with very little substance fueled by West’s desperate need for attention and Trump’s need for open adoration by famous people.

Hart, Haddish film ‘Night School’ does the expected

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By Ron Wynn
Nashville Voice

It’s safe to say that the new Kevin Hart/Tiffany Haddish film is pretty much “critic-proof.” By that, I mean the fans of both these comic powerhouses will flock to it and love it, no matter how bad the reviews or what anyone thinks of it.

The fact that it has a predictable plot and isn’t particularly different in style or theme from any of the many other films the two have made separately also won’t matter, and as expected, it has proven the number one film at the box office.

What storyline does exist focuses on high school dropout Teddy Walker (Hart), who’s both irritated and agitated by the lack of opportunities his educational status affords him in 2018.

He’s wasting away selling barbecue grills and being tolerated in a relationship by design executive Lisa (Megalyn Echikunwoke).

Lisa really tries not to notice (at least publicly) the difference in their status and levels of education, but it finally begins to bother Walker. He decides he needs to go back to school and at least get a GED.

Walker encounters a rather unconventional (to put it mildly) teacher in Haddish, who is light on academics, but heavy on critic-proof philosophy, comic bravado, and thinly veiled insults, though it’s clear she truly values her students and wants them to succeed.

There’s also prickly principal Stuart (Taran Killam), who had run-ins with Walker before. Plus there are assorted other classmates with varying degrees of personality.

“Night School” is little more than a series of barely connected comedic sketches and situations designed to showcase the verbal and improvisational skills of its two stars.

If you’re a fan of either or enjoy predictable storylines with an ending designed to be somewhat inspirational, you’ll find “Night School” to your liking.

But the film and its audience would have been much better served had the studio not gotten greedy and let Lee make a genuine adult film with the requisite dialog, situations and sensibility necessary for an “R” rating.

Instead, because they want the dollars that are far more likely from a PG-13, Lee, producer Will Packer and company softened up a lot of language and settings. That decision ensured a bigger audience but reduced the film’s impact and value.

That doesn’t mean there’s no humor in “Night School.” There are some very funny sequences, and unless you’re someone who hates sophomoric humor or sight gags, it’s impossible not to laugh at some of Hart and Haddish’s lines and expressions.

Both are excellent physical comics, able to execute even the most juvenile scenes and make them somewhat funny, if not always hilarious. It doesn’t surprise me that “Night School” did so well in its opening week.

Both Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish are box office gold at this point in their careers. I just hope down the line both opt for more engaging scripts and films that stretch their talents rather than just spotlight them.

29th Southern Festival of Books offers excellent events

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By Ron Wynn
Nashville Voice

The Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word celebrates its 29th anniversary this weekend, and it has become one of the nation’s finest and most diverse.

A completely free event, it brings to Nashville more than 200 of the region and nation’s finest authors in every genre from biography to fiction, mystery to romance, politics, sports, cuisine, poetry and the arts.

It’s designed to encourage reader interaction and participation. Every author either does a solo reading or participates in a panel discussion. There’s a signing in the book tent by participating authors after each event. Plus, every book discussed or spotlighted is available for sale in areas close to the event. All proceeds support the festival.

There will also be live music entertainment on multiple stages and a variety of food vendors. The 2018 Southern Festival of Books begins Friday at 12 noon. Session times are: Friday 12 noon – 5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday 12 noon – 5 p.m.

The panels and readings are being held either at the War Memorial Plaza or the Main Public Library downtown on Church Street. A complete schedule is available at humanitiestennessee.org Here are a few recommendations:

Friday

Deborah G. Plant – “Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo”
12 noon, Nashville Public Library (NPL) Auditorium
Plant will lead a discussion on this volume written by the acclaimed author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, which wasn’t in print for decades and was only recently recovered. It includes a new foreword by Alice Walker and is the story of Oluale Kossula AKA Cudjo Lewis. He was one of the last survivors of the Clotilda, the last vessel to carry kidnapped Africans into a life of bondage in the United States — 50 years after the slave trade was officially abolished. In 1927, Hurston made the first of several journeys to Africatown, near Mobile, Ala., to interview him. Kossula’s accounts of the cruelty he witnessed, including seeing the decapitated heads of his loved ones burned and traded for cash, as well as his experiences of being sold, are wrenching and riveting.

Richard Blackett, Bill Carey, Jim Jordan – “Going Deeper: New Research into American Slavery”
3 p.m. NPL Conference Room 1A
This is just as described, authoritative new research by each of these authors into the ugly phenomenon of American slavery. Not particularly enjoyable to hear or discuss, but extremely important is obliterating myths and shedding new light on something many in this country would prefer not to remember, nor accept how much impact its legacy still has in contemporary society.

Saturday

David Blight – “Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom”
11 a.m., NPL Banner Room
It’s hard to believe that there’s new and fresh information about the legendary 19th-century abolitionist and social justice advocate Frederick Douglass, but that’s precisely the case with David Blight’s exceptional new biography. He has uncovered new information previously available only. This is not only the first Douglass biography in over 25 years but arguably the most comprehensive and vital.

Nadine Strossen, Emily Siner – “Hate: Why We Should Resist It With Free Speech, Not Censorship (Inalienable Rights)”
2 p.m., NPL Conference Room 1A
This one is sure to be controversial. There are those who feel all speech, even that uttered by the likes of Neo-Nazis and Klan types, should be heard. Others feel letting racists and bigots have open forums not only encourages violence against their targets, but empowers the scum and dregs of society to continue spreading hatred with impunity. Both Nadine Strossen and Emily Siner have long track records of being impassioned supporters of unrestricted 1st Amendment privileges, so it will be quite interesting to see how they respond to the suggestion that there are some in our society who shouldn’t always have free access to forums.

Kiese Laymon, Rae Paris, Rochelle Riley – “”Reverberations of Racism: Memoirs of Personal Freedom, 4:30 p.m. NPL Conference Room
Distinguished writers, authors and/or journalists Kiese Laymon, Rae Paris and Rochelle Riley discuss how racism has affected their personal and professional choices and the ways in which they refuse to let it limit their goals or outlook on life.

Sunday

Elliott Gorn, Christopher Schmidt – “Beyond The Flashpoint: Examining Events of the Civil Rights Movement”
12 noon, NPL Conference Room 1B
With the 50 year anniversaries of such events as the Voting Rights Act, Fair Housing Act and the death of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., there’s a lot of examination occurring regarding just how much progress this nation has made in the areas of social justice and Civil Rights. These two authors have spent years evaluating and assessing the events of the ’50s and 60s and offer some perspectives on them that will alternately enlighten and depress due to their frankness regarding national attitudes and policy emphasis.

Steve Haruch (editor) – “People Only Die of Love in Movies: Film Writing by Jim Ridley”
12 noon, NPL Special Collections Room
Jim Ridley was one of those who deserve the title “larger than life.” He rose from writer to editor during his 25 year tenure at the Nashville Scene, often turning down the opportunity to go elsewhere due to his love for the city and his family.

As a writer, he won two first-place awards in the Association of Alternative Newsmedia’s art criticism area. During his time as an editor, the Scene won more than 40 awards from that same organization, averaging about five a year. But that is only a small part of the story. Jim Ridley was beloved across the city and region, someone whose friendships transcended every social division, going across race, age, gender, religion and sexual orientation. He helped save the Belcourt from extinction by championing it in the Scene.

Sadly, he died a couple of years ago at 49. His colleague and friend Steve Haruch has compiled a great cross-section of his film writing, showing how devoted he was to cinema and how broad his tastes were, as well as his ability to convey to both knowledgeable and novice readers a love of the art form that was infectious. He’s still missed every day by those fortunate enough to call him a friend, and this book brings back a lot of wonderful memories, as this discussion no doubt also will.

‘Undocumented’ author Dan-el Padilla Peralta to deliver Hispanic Heritage Month lecture Oct. 15

Nashville Voice

Dan-el Padilla Peralta, author of the memoir Undocumented: A Dominican Boy’s Odyssey from a Homeless Shelter to the Ivy League, will deliver the Hispanic Heritage Month Speaker lecture at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, in Sarratt Cinema. This program is free and open to the public.

Peralta, a Princeton University classics professor who identifies as Dominican, immigrated to the United States when he was four years old. The Association of Latin American Students, or ALAS, is sponsoring the event in partnership with many campus organizations.

The lecture is part of the Vanderbilt community’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which began Sept. 15 and ends Oct. 15 and featured a series of events across campus, including celebrations, lectures and visiting speakers. The 30-day period, which is observed nationally, recognizes Hispanic and Latinx histories, cultures and contributions.

Many of the Hispanic Heritage Month programs this year were sponsored by ALAS, a student organization formerly known as Vanderbilt Association of Hispanic Students, recently changed its name to be more inclusive of a broader array of identities, including students with ties to Brazil, Afro-Latinx culture and indigenous populations of the region.

A highlight of Hispanic Heritage Month was a visit by Gabby Rivera.

Rivera is the award-winning writer of Juliet Takes a Breath and the Marvel Comics series America, which features the first queer, Latinx teen-girl superhero.

Latinx, a term often used in lieu of Latino or Latina, is a more inclusive term that encompasses multiple identities, including race, gender and culture.

During her visit, Rivera gave a keynote centered on the importance of empowering diverse voices to tell their own stories and cultivating radical creativity and joy. She also held a meet-and-greet breakfast and led an interactive writer’s workshop with students, faculty and staff.

The Sept. 15 start date for Hispanic Heritage Month coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of five Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

In addition, Mexico and Chile observe their independence on Sept. 16 and 18, respectively.


Music was the surprising star of the American Music Awards

By Lisa Respers France 
CNN Newsource

The 2018 American Music Awards were, surprisingly, mostly about the music.

There were some moments, including comedian Billy Eichner going off script to urge people to vote and XXXTentacion’s mother, Cleopatra Bernard, accepting the award for favorite soul/R&B album for her late son.

But it was the performances at Tuesday’s ceremony that captured attention.

Taylor Swift, who just wrapped the North American leg of her “Reputation” tour, kicked off the show with her single “I Did Something Bad.”

It marked Swift’s first live awards show performance in three years.

Ledisi, CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary and Gladys Knight pay tribute to Aretha Franklin

Legendary singer Aretha Franklin, who died of pancreatic cancer in August, was honored with a gospel tribute that closed out the show.

Her friend Gladys Knight began with a stirring rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

The tribute then transitioned into more rollicking performances by the other artists, with selections that harkened back to Franklin’s influential gospel roots.

Carrie Underwood’s emotional ‘Spinning Bottles’

The country superstar offered a moving rendition of her single “Spinning Bottles.”

She also took home the award for favorite country female artist.

Panic at the Disco’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

It’s not easy doing a Queen cover, especially when it’s an iconic song.

But Panic at the Disco more than pulled it off, performing via satellite from Sydney.

The performance was introduced by Rami Malek, Joseph Mazzello and Gwilym Lee, who star in the upcoming film about Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Cardi B, J Balvin and Bad Bunny’s ‘I Like It’

Welcome back, Cardi B!

The new mother gave fans plenty to like with a tropical-themed rendition of her hit song “I Like It.”

It was her first awards show performance since the July birth of her daughter, Kulture Kiari Cephus, with husband Offset.

Mariah Carey debuts new song ‘With You’

When you are a diva who has been in the game for a minute, you don’t need to dance around.

Wearing a pink gown and surrounded by the same color, Mariah Carey gave notes, not moves.

Ciara and Missy Elliott show how to ‘Level Up’

This performance was the complete opposite of Carey’s as Ciara seemed never to stop moving.

She and her backup dancers went through an energetic routine that helped show why “Level Up” has become a viral dance craze.

It gave shades of a 2018 version of Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation” minus the social message.

And of course Missy Elliott makes everything she appears on better.

Ella Mai is all ‘Boo’d Up’

Newcomer Ella Mai has a hit with her new single.

That was made obvious as the crowd jammed to the English singer-songwriter’s performance.

Jennifer Lopez brings the power with ‘Limitless’

Jennifer Lopez did double duty, both singing and reminding us that she’s also an actress.

J-Lo sang “Limitless,” from her forthcoming movie “Second Act.”

Lopez began with a poem by writer Jasmin Kuar, which read: “Scream so that one day a hundred years from now another sister will not have to dry her tears wondering where in history she lost her voice.”

The performance evoked the power of women, and Lopez’s backup dancers accentuated the song’s lyrics, “I am here to stay.”

Camila Cabello has ‘Consequences’

Former Fifth Harmony singer Camila Cabello brought in an orchestra to perform her single “Consequences.”

It was good night for Cabello, who also took home awards for favorite new artist of the year and favorite pop/rock song for “Havana,” featuring Young Thug.


MTSU, Memphis both post impressive victories

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By Ron Wynn
Nashville Voice

Middle Tennessee State University took a major step forward in asserting leadership in Conference USA’s East Division last Friday, while the University of Memphis bounced back from a crushing road defeat to blow out an overmatched team Saturday.

The University of Tennessee had an off week, one they definitely needed as they recoup from consecutive blowout losses to Florida and Georgia.

The Blue Raiders have seldom had good luck against Marshall either at home or away, but 24 straight second-half points ended years of frustration for them in Huntington as they defeated the Thundering Herd 34-24. The victory left them undefeated in C-USA play at 2-0 (3-2 overall), and was their first road win over Marshall in five tries.

“We won this game with guts and toughness,” MTSU head coach Rick Stockstill told the Murfreesboro Daily New Journal. “We never flinched, we kept battling the whole game and we beat a really good football team here tonight.”

They also continued a recent pattern of making big gambles. This time MTSU went for it on fourth down and a toss play to running back Tavares Thomas proved critical as they took a 24-17 lead and used that as a catalyst for victory.

“I wouldn’t have gone for two if I didn’t believe in our players and trust them,” Stockstill said. “I wouldn’t have gone for it on fourth down there if I didn’t believe in them.”

Unfortunately, the victory took its toll. The Blue Raiders lost punter Matt Bonadies and starting right guard Chandler Brewer to injuries, and it was unclear at press time whether either will be available for their next game at Florida International.

But with QB Brent Stockstill completing 25 of 40 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns, plus rushing for 31 yards and adding another touchdown, MTSU got plenty of offense. Stockstill has now passed the 10,000-yard mark for his college career, just the 24th player to do that in the modern era.

The University of Memphis was in a foul mood after being thoroughly defeated by Tulane, and they spent Saturday taking out their frustrations on UConn at the Liberty Bowl.

The 55-14 rout on homecoming was over early, as Memphis running back Darrell Henderson and Patric Taylor Jr. romped up and down the field.

The duo had 250 yards on the ground and five touchdowns between them in the first half alone. Henderson finished with 174 yards and three touchdowns, while Taylor had 161 and three scores as well.

“I didn’t care what the situation, what the circumstance, I wanted to see a response,” University of Memphis head coach Mike Norvell told the Commercial Appeal. “We played like Memphis Tigers, and that’s what I was most pleased with.”

The win improves the Tigers record to 4-2, and sets up a critical home game Saturday against the University of Central Florida (UCF). These teams met in the American Athletic Conference Championship game (AAC) last year, and the Tigers came out on the short end.

“It’s going to be a great atmosphere and we’re going to be ready to go,” Henderson said. “We got to get revenge.”

It’s also a game for survival, as a loss would be the Tigers’ third in the AAC, and would pretty much eliminate them from the conference race, though they could certainly still make a bowl game.

Dave Roberts facing tough challenge

There is currently only ONE African-American manager in Major League Baseball, Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Roberts led the Dodgers to the World Series last year, where they were defeated by the Houston Astros.

While the Dodgers haven’t won a World Series in 30 years, they’ve won the last six Western Division titles, and at press time were ahead of the Atlanta Braves 2-1 and looking towards a National League Championship Series clash against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Yet, instead of being lauded for another great job, the word coming out of Los Angeles is if the Dodgers don’t win the World Series Roberts will lose his job.

Longtime Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke endorsed that sentiment before the playoffs began last week, writing that making the World Series isn’t good enough this year, that the Dodgers MUST WIN or it would be time for a change.

This ridiculous attitude was what got Dusty Baker canned in Washington after last season ended. He took the Nationals to back-to-back division titles, but because they lost in the playoffs management decided he wasn’t the right person to lead them.

So they fired him, and his replacement ended with a worse record and the team missing the playoffs.

MLB already has tons of problems, among them a huge loss in interest among African Americans and young people, and a lack of American born blacks playing the sport at all levels from little league to the majors.

The last thing they should be doing is running off highly qualified and successful African Americans at the management level, yet that seems to be happening.

While there’s little doubt Roberts will get hired elsewhere should the Dodgers lose and he gets terminated, he shouldn’t be under that type of pressure. It is absurd, but it’s a sign of the times in professional sports, where winning isn’t enough, just championships matter.

‘SNL’ spoofs GOP’s celebration over Kavanaugh

It was a “Saturday Night Live” GOP locker room party for Brett Kavanaugh after the Senate confirmed his seat on the Supreme Court.

Limo crash kills 20 people in deadliest US transportation accident since 2009

By Holly Yan, Elizabeth Joseph and Darran Simon
CNN Newsource

A limousine carrying several couples to a birthday party failed to stop at an intersection in upstate New York and struck a parked vehicle, killing 20 people in the deadliest transportation accident in the United States in nearly a decade, according to authorities and a family member.

The 2001 Ford Excursion limo was traveling southwest on State Route 30 when it didn’t stop at the intersection with State Route 30 A and collided with an SUV in a parking lot shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday in Schoharie, New York State Police First Deputy Superintendent Chris Fiore said.

All 18 people in the limo, including the driver, were killed, Fiore said Sunday. Two pedestrians near the unoccupied parked 2015 Toyota Highlander also were killed, he said.

Valerie Abeling told CNN her niece, Erin Vertucci and Erin’s husband Shane McGowan, who were married in June, were among the victims in the limo.

“My family is just going through a lot,” Abeling said. “It’s a horrible tragedy and there’s no words to describe how we feel.”

Authorities are still notifying the families of victims and declined to release the victims’ names, according to Fiore.

‘These were young couples’

Abeling said the group was heading to Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown — located about 43 miles away — to celebrate the 30th birthday of Vertucci’s and McGowan’s friend, who got married last month. That friend and her three sisters and their spouses were all killed, Abeling said.

“These were young couples, just got married and had their whole lives ahead of them,” Abeling said.

Vertucci and McGowan “were very much in love,” Abeling said.

“My niece was four years older than him, and she said she found the love of her life,” she said. “He was very sweet and very kind and very funny.”

Fiore said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families following this horrific tragedy.”

He said authorities were able to figure out the direction the limo was traveling and what occurred, based on evidence found at the scene. He said there were witnesses.

Fiore said authorities couldn’t answer several questions at this point, such as whether the limo’s occupants were wearing seat belts, whether the vehicle’s brakes were working or whether the driver was speeding.

The speed limit at the intersection is 50 mph, Fiore said.

‘I heard a loud bang’

A National Transportation Safety Board team arrived Sunday to investigate. The team expects to remain on the scene for about five days, NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt said.

“Twenty fatalities, it’s just horrific,” Sumwalt said. “I’ve been on the board for 12 years and this is one of the biggest losses of life … that we’ve seen in a long, long time. Colgan Air up at Buffalo killed 40 people, 50 people, but this is the most deadly transportation accident in this country since February of 2009.”

The crash happened outside an Apple Barrel Country Store & Cafe. Resident Bridey Finnagen said the crash was loud enough to hear from down the road.

“I heard a loud bang. I came out my front door to see what was going on,” Finnagen told CNN affiliate WTEN.

“I saw a lot of people here at the Apple Barrel out in the parking lot. Then I heard screaming. Then I saw this large van, a very unusual looking vehicle, out here in Schoharie in the bushes and really wrecked, hit a tree.”
State and local authorities respond to the scene about 40 miles west of Albany.

State and local authorities respond to the scene about 40 miles west of Albany.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo praised the first responders who “worked through the night to help.”

“I join all New Yorkers in mourning these deaths and share in the unspeakable sorrow experienced by their families and loved ones during this extremely difficult time.”

CNN’s Madeleine Thompson, Keith Allen, Tony Marco, Tonju Francois and Mimi Hsin Hsuan Sun contributed to this report.


Patton: Life, education are so much greater than football

By MIKE PATTON | Nashville Voice

Playing college football is a blessing. To be able to play the sport you love at the collegiate level in front of tons of fans is truly something to cherish.

Like many other college football players, Christion Abercrombie was enjoying another chance to play the game.

The former University of Illinois linebacker was suiting up for Tennessee State University this season after transferring to the Tigers during the offseason.

At some point in the second quarter, Abercrombie was not feeling well and came out of the game. At that point, he collapsed on the sideline and was administered oxygen.

And as things currently stand, he is in critical condition and fighting for his life.

The game he loves, unfortunately, has given him some pain that he is fighting through, but the overall story along with this life-threatening injury is how Coach Derrick Mason of the Vanderbilt Commodores responded.

When asked about the Abercrombie injury after the game, Mason said, “I know what it is to be a coach. I know what it is to have a player who’s injured. At the end of the day, when serious injuries happen, football becomes secondary.”

Mason, who was coaching TSU’s opponent Saturday, the Vanderbilt Commodores, forgot about his allegiance to coaching his team for a moment. He purposely forgot Abercrombie was playing for the opponent and instead became a human being.

There was a collection of players that gathered at the 50-yard line from both teams that prayed for Abercrombie and his health.

In these instances, you forget that these players are out there trying to win a game while entertaining fans and trying to boost their draft stocks, but they are human beings.

At any point in time, what happened to Abercrombie could have been one of them. They realized that and instead of viewing him as just a teammate or an opponent, they became concerned citizens for his ongoing battle for his health and his life.

So many times, people get caught up in someone being an opponent or adversary that they lose sight that we are only opponents when it comes to a jersey or a team affiliation.

In the end, we are all running the same race together as one.

The young men that strap on the pads every weekend to represent their university are also the same young men that are building towards degrees or representing universities with charitable things they do.

TSU head coach Rod Reed and Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason share a moment following Saturday’s game at Commodore Stadium.

When Mason said football is secondary, he is correct. We are human beings first and foremost and our jobs are to make a difference.

Football is important, but it is not more important than basic human life. The ability to breathe, walk, talk and even smile are things we all take for granted.

Hopefully, for Christion Abercrombie, he will one day be walking, talking and smiling again as he faces a battle for his life.

My prayers go out to him as he battles on and hopefully when he overcomes this battle, we shall see him enjoying life again.

Trump orders FBI probe into Kavanaugh; Senate vote delayed

By Eric BradnerManu RajuPhil Mattingly and Dana Bash
CNN Newsource

Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation was suddenly thrown into doubt Friday after Republicans and the White House agreed to a one-week delay so the FBI can investigate sexual assault allegations facing President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee.

“I’ve ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh’s file,” Trump said in a statement. “As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week.”

The fast-moving developments Friday mean that the full Senate will not vote early next week, as expected.

Members voted Friday night to formally open consideration of Kavanaugh’s nomination, a procedural move that allows Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to keep his options open.

The delay is the result of a last-minute change of heart by Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, whose stunning move to force an investigation was quickly backed by several senators considered swing votes on Kavanaugh’s confirmation.

Flake made the demand for the FBI probe after a chaotic scene at a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting in which the panel advanced Kavanaugh by an 11-10 party line vote — saying his vote was conditioned on a probe taking place, and that he would oppose Kavanaugh on the floor of the Senate unless his demand was met.

Swing votes Alaska GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin subsequently backed an FBI investigation before they’ll vote to confirm Kavanaugh.

The Judiciary Committee officially requested the FBI investigation, saying it should probe “current credible allegations” against Kavanaugh, and Republicans said it would be up to the FBI to decide what allegations are considered credible.

It was Flake, Collins and Murkowski who set the terms of the investigation, three sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

A separate Republican source familiar with the matter told CNN that the undecided GOP senators believe a key FBI focus should be on, but not limited to, Mark Judge, Kavanaugh’s friend who Christine Blasey Ford has alleged was also in the room during the alleged assault and is also named as a witness to other incidents alleged by Julie Swetnick.

Judge has said he does not recall incidents alleged by Ford or Swetnick. Kavanaugh has denied allegations made by Ford and Swetnick.

The FBI is looking at the accusation of another woman, Deborah Ramirez, who has alleged Kavanaugh exposed himself to her at dormitory party while the two were undergraduate students at Yale.

The FBI has reached out to Ramirez, her attorney said, confirming a report in The Washington Post.

“We can confirm the FBI has reached out to interview Ms. Ramirez and she has agreed to cooperate with their investigation,” the attorney, John Clune, said in a statement. “Out of respect for the integrity of the process, we will have no further comment at this time.”

Kavanaugh has denied Ramirez’s allegation, which was reported by The New Yorker.

“This alleged event from 35 years ago did not happen, Kavanaugh said in a statement last Sunday when The New Yorker published the article. “The people who knew me then know this did not happen and have said so. This is a smear, plain and simple.”

Separately, on timing, a senior GOP leadership aide told CNN the agreement among the three key Republican senators and GOP leadership was to take the first key procedural vote on the Senate floor on the nomination no later than next Friday. It could happen earlier if the FBI is finished before then.

The expectation is that like other FBI background checks, the results of the FBI’s investigation will be private and put in Kavanaugh’s file and made available to senators but not the public, the aide said.

The tumult came just hours after Kavanaugh appeared to be on solid footing, with Republicans rallying to his side after his denials of Christine Blasey Ford’s allegation in a Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday.
In a statement Friday, Kavanaugh said he would “continue to cooperate” with the FBI.

Bill Cosby sentenced to 3 to 10 years in prison for sexual assault

By Eric Levenson and Aaron Cooper
CNN Newsource

Bill Cosby, once known as “America’s Dad,” was sentenced Tuesday to three to 10 years in a state prison for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his home 14 years ago.

Cosby’s bail was revoked and he was escorted from the courthouse in handcuffs.

“This was a serious crime,” Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Judge Steven O’Neill said. “Mr. Cosby, this has all circled back to you. The day has come, the time has come.”

Cosby, convicted in April of aggravated indecent assault, declined to speak to the court prior to the sentence. His attorneys have filed an appeal.

Bill Cosby's mugshot was taken on Tuesday, Sept. 25 as he was being processed into the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
Bill Cosby’s mugshot was taken on Tuesday, Sept. 25 as he was being processed into the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. (CNN)

He also was ordered to pay a fine of $25,000 plus the costs of prosecution as part of the sentence. In addition, O’Neill ruled that Cosby will be classified as a “sexually violent predator,” a determination that requires lifetime registration, lifetime mandatory sex offender counseling with a treatment provider and notification to the community that a “sexually violent predator” lives in the area.

Cosby was booked into Montgomery County Correctional Facility and will be transferred to SCI Phoenix, a state prison in Collegeville, according to Corrie Emerson, public affairs manager for Montgomery County.

The lengthy path to this moment began in 2004 when Cosby, the groundbreaking actor, gave Constand pills to incapacitate her and then sexually assaulted her. 

She told police in 2005 about the incident but prosecutors declined to press charges, and they settled the case in civil court a year later.

A decade later, dozens of women came forward to say Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted them over his decades as a powerful media figure. Constand’s was the only one of those cases that occurred within the statute of limitations.

A new team of prosecutors took up the case and, relying on Constand’s and Cosby’s statements in a civil deposition, arrested him in December 2015.

A first criminal trial against Cosby ended in a hung jury. But in April, Cosby was convicted of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and assaulting Constand in the first high-profile celebrity criminal trial of the #MeToo era.

“No one is above the law, and no one should be treated differently or disproportionally,” O’Neill said.

Cosby’s spokesperson Andrew Wyatt unleashed on the media, judge and prosecutors after the sentence, calling the prosecution “the most racist and sexist trial in the history of the United States.”

He also said Cosby was doing well because “he knows that these are lies” and even compared it to the sexual assault allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

“They persecuted Jesus and look what happened. (I’m) not saying Mr. Cosby’s Jesus, but we know what this country has done to black men for centuries,” Wyatt said.

Gloria Allred, the victims’ rights attorney who represents several women who say they were assaulted by Cosby, praised the sentence as a long journey to justice.

“We’re glad that judgment day has finally come for Mr. Cosby,” she said. “Mr. Cosby has shown no remorse and there has been no justice for many of the accusers who were barred from a court by the arbitrary time limits imposed by the statute of limitations.”

Ahead of the sentencing, Constand wrote a five-page letter to the court explaining how Cosby’s assault — and the ensuing legal battle — had changed her life.

As a Temple University employee, she looked up to Cosby, a Temple trustee, as a mentor and friend. He used that position of power and trust, as well as his public persona as Dr. Huxtable, to take advantage of her, she testified at trial.

“Bill Cosby took my beautiful, healthy young spirit and crushed it. He robbed me of my health and vitality, my open nature and my trust in myself and others,” she wrote in the impact statement.

O’Neill cited Constand’s statement in deciding on the sentence.

“I have given great weight to the victim impact testimony in this case, and it was powerful,” he said.

Kathy McKee, a former actress who has accused Cosby of raping her, told CNN that listening to the news about Cosby’s sentencing stirs up some “very difficult and deep emotions.”

“I’m happy that the judge sentenced Bill Cosby accordingly and I’m grateful to Andrea for standing strong,” she said.
Chelan Lasha, another of Cosby’s alleged victims, also praised the sentence.

“I am very happy to know that Mr. Cosby will do time in prison. That he is touchable, like he touched us unwillingly,” she said.

The prison sentence drew praise from victims and advocacy groups like the nonprofit Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, known as RAINN.

“We are grateful that the court understood the seriousness of Cosby’s crime and sentenced him to prison,” said Jodi Omear, vice president of communications at RAINN. “Let’s hope that the legacy of this case is that victims feel empowered to come forward, knowing that it can truly make a difference in bringing perpetrators to justice.”

Prosecutors had asked the judge on Monday to sentence Cosby to five to 10 years in state prison for the assault, saying he had shown “no remorse” for his actions. However, Cosby’s defense attorney, Joseph P. Green, asked for a sentence of house arrest, citing Cosby’s advanced age and blindness.

Cost of Living in Nashville: What to Expect When Moving Here

By Emily Parker

Nashville, a city that resonates with the melodies of country music and the buzz of a rapidly growing metropolis, has become a beacon for those seeking new opportunities. This burgeoning popularity raises an important consideration for potential movers: the cost of living in Nashville. It’s a city where the old Southern charm meets a modern, urban lifestyle, making it an attractive destination for many. However, the decision to relocate comes with financial considerations. This blog post explores the various costs associated with living in Nashville, from housing to entertainment, providing a detailed guide for anyone contemplating calling this lively place their home.

Cost of Living in Nashville: Housing

Housing in Nashville varies widely in terms of style and price. The housing market here has seen a steady price increase, partly due to its growing popularity and economic growth. For renters and buyers, this means navigating a market where options range from high-rise apartments in the energetic downtown to quaint, historic homes in suburbs like Franklin and Brentwood. The average rent for an apartment is slightly above the national average, reflecting the city’s growing demand. Homeownership comes with its own set of expenses, with median home prices also above the national average. However, unlike other major areas like Los Angeles or New York, Nashville’s housing market is relatively affordable. Neighborhoods like Antioch and Madison offer more reasonable prices for those looking for budget-friendly options. The key to finding a good deal lies in thorough research and exploring different neighborhoods.

The big stadium and tall buildings in the Downtown area.
If you want to live in energetic and lively neighborhoods, then Downtown Nashville is the right place for you (Photo by: Tanner Boriackway | Unsplash).

Utilities and Essential Services

When settling in Nashville, understanding the costs of utilities and essential services is key. The average monthly utility bill, including basics like electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage, can vary depending on the size of your living space and usage. However, it typically aligns with the national average. Internet services are widely available, with multiple providers offering competitive rates. Transportation costs in Nashville can be a significant part of your budget, especially if you own a car, considering gas prices in downtown areas. While not as extensive as in some larger cities, the city’s public transportation system offers a more budget-friendly commuting option with its bus network. The healthcare facilities here are renowned, particularly in areas like cancer treatment and pediatric care, but healthcare costs are something to consider in your monthly budgeting. Education, from public schools to esteemed universities like Vanderbilt, increases living costs, particularly for families.

Food and Groceries

Nashville’s culinary scene is a delightful blend of traditional Southern cuisine and innovative culinary trends. The food costs, however, are a tad above the national average. Grocery shopping can vary widely in price depending on where you shop. Local farmers’ markets, such as the Nashville Farmers’ Market, offer fresh, affordable produce. For those who enjoy dining out, the restaurant scene here ranges from high-end eateries to casual, budget-friendly spots. The city is famous for its barbecue, hot chicken, and display of international cuisines. Many local restaurants offer specials and happy hour deals for the budget-conscious, making dining out more affordable.

Entertainment and Leisure

Nashville, often referred to as “Music City,” is a center for entertainment and leisure activities, but these can impact your budget. It is home to iconic music venues like the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium, where ticket prices vary based on performers and events. Local bars and clubs in areas like Broadway feature live music with no cover charge, offering affordable entertainment options. Beyond music, there is a rich offering of cultural attractions like the First Art Museum and Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the city’s numerous parks and greenways, which provide free recreational activities. The average monthly spend on entertainment can be kept in check by taking advantage of these free or low-cost activities.

A colorful mural that says LOOKING PRETTY, MUSIC CITY.
Caption: The world-famous Music City offers many interesting entertainment and leisure options for its residents (Photo by: Jon Tyson | Unsplash).

Taxes and Miscellaneous Expenses

Nashville’s tax structure is an important aspect of its overall cost of living. Tennessee is one of the few states with no personal income tax, which can significantly save residents. However, a relatively high sales tax rate offsets this, impacting daily purchases. When budgeting for life here, it’s also important to consider other miscellaneous expenses. These include insurance, which can vary based on health and automotive needs, and personal care services. While sometimes overlooked, these can add up to the overall cost of living in Nashville and should be factored into your budget.

Cost of Living Comparison

Nashville stands out in Tennessee for its balance of affordability, amenities, and vibrant urban life. This balance often draws people from across the state, particularly from cities like Memphis. Memphis, while more affordable, doesn’t quite match Nashville’s blend of cultural richness and economic opportunity. This trend sees many people contacting long distance movers in Memphis to help them come to Nashville so they can enjoy this affordable yet exciting urban center. On a national scale, Nashville’s cost of living presents an appealing middle ground. Compared to larger cities like New York or San Francisco, Nashville is significantly more affordable, especially in housing and general expenses. However, it offers more urban amenities than smaller cities or rural areas. The city’s unique position within both the state of Tennessee and the nation at large highlights its appeal as a practical and enjoyable place to live.

Tips for Managing Living Costs in Nashville

Strategic budgeting and local know-how are essential to manage living costs effectively in Nashville. Utilizing public transportation can lead to substantial savings on commuting costs. Embracing the city’s local markets and seasonal produce can reduce food expenses. Taking advantage of free or low-cost entertainment options, like local music gigs, public parks, and community events, can keep leisure expenses in check. Consider shared living arrangements or looking for housing options slightly outside the city center for better deals. Staying informed about local sales and discounts can also help manage daily expenses. With thoughtful planning and smart spending habits, living here can be both financially feasible and immensely rewarding.

A person putting coins in a blue piggy bank.
You can use some money-saving tips to navigate the cost of living in Nashville.(Photo by: Maitree Rimthong | Pexels).

Conclusion

Navigating the cost of living in Nashville requires a balanced approach, weighing its higher expenses in areas like housing and dining against the financial benefits of no state income tax and the city’s overall affordability compared to other major urban centers. This beautiful city offers a unique mix of cultural richness, economic opportunities, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. With careful budgeting and a willingness to explore all the city offers, life here can be a fulfilling and financially sustainable choice.

Author Bio:
Emily Parker is a seasoned writer and relocation expert with a deep understanding of the moving industry. Emily has spent several years working with Spyder Moving Tennessee, gaining invaluable insights into the challenges and nuances of relocating. Her experience in the field has made her a trusted voice on moving, housing and adapting to new cities.

Help To Moms Launches Revolutionary Referral System for Maternal Health Supplies

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Innovative Platform Streamlines Access to Essential Pregnancy and Postpartum Supplies for Expectant Mothers Through Healthcare Providers

Nashville, TN – Help To Moms, a pioneering provider of maternal health solutions, is excited to announce the launch of its state-of-the-art referral system designed to empower medical practices with the ability to effortlessly order breast pumps and other vital supportive supplies for their pregnant patients. This cutting-edge platform is set to transform the way healthcare providers support women through their pregnancy and postpartum journeys.

“Our platform simplifies the process for medical practices to secure breast pumps and other essential supportive supplies for their expecting patients,” stated Alphonso Harvey, CEO of Help To Moms. “We are dedicated to leveraging innovation in our products and services, and this platform is a testament to our commitment to being at the forefront of the maternal health space.”

Parachute Health, known for its e-prescribing and healthcare supply chain solutions, brings its technological expertise to this partnership, enabling a seamless, digital referral process for physicians. This system not only streamlines the procurement of maternal health supplies but also underscores the commitment of both organizations to innovate within the maternal health space.

The new referral system by Help To Moms is one of the first in the industry, offering a digital solution for referring physicians to easily place orders for their patients. This initiative not only streamlines the ordering process but also ensures that expectant mothers have timely access to the supplies they need to navigate pregnancy and postpartum challenges with greater comfort and support.

Healthcare providers looking to utilize this innovative service can sign up and place digital referrals by visiting www.parachutehealth.com/helptomoms.

Tis’ the Season of Giving, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, Big Breakfast Fundraiser Amplifies Youth Voices, Expected to Raise $835,000

NASHVILLE, Tenn – The annual Big Breakfast Fundraiser, organized to support and uplift the voices of our youth, has once again proven the power of community connection. With the theme of “Amplifying Youth Voice,” this year’s event was a resounding success. To date, the total invested from the community is $751,000, with gifts coming in daily. The organization expects the final total to be $835K.

Presented by Amazon, the event was held at the Music City Center with the aim of empowering our young generation. Funds raised help inspire youth to voice their ideas, goals, and dreams through professionally supported one-to-one and group mentorship relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee will use the funds to fuel program innovation and volunteer recruitment initiatives. Amazon’s astounding support was instrumental in making this event a great success.

The event was enlivened with a stellar opening act by the Gallatin High School Marching Band. Their lively performance added a vibrant touch to the event.

The fundraiser was graced by the presence of Ran Carthon, General Manager for the Tennessee Titans. His inspiring keynote speech resonated with the attendees, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and giving our youth the tools, they need to succeed.
“The breakfast was phenomenal. Hearing the stories and seeing the other young men and women who have been mentored through the program is inspiring. It’s something I look forward to being a part of moving forward”, said Ran Carthon.

Local comedian DJ Pryor hosted the event, adding a touch of humor and light-heartedness to the proceedings. His engaging style kept the audience entertained and engaged throughout the event.

For the 17th year, we’ve gathered the community to celebrate the power of mentorship. Seeing 1,300 leaders, Bigs, Little’s, families, board members, and staff come together to build connection and empower our young folks is inspiring. When we link arms, all things are possible.”, says Melissa Hudson-Gant, Chief Executive Officer of BBBSMT.

Big Brothers Big Sisters would like to acknowledge each event sponsor for their generous investments in making this breakfast a success.

Gold Sponsors
Transcor, Coretrust, UPS, Advance Financial, Delta Dental, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Northwestern Mutual, Jackson, Gresham Smith, Boyle

Silver Sponsors
Messer, United Healthcare, Ascend Federal Credit Union, Centurion, Kroger, Nashville Electric Service

Bronze Sponsors
Bank of America, Crosslin, Riggs Davie, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, Johnston & Associates, MentorHub, Scarlett Family Foundation, Five Iron, Fifth Third Bank, Skanska, Plow, Ragen Smith, Ryman Hospitality, BDO, Regions Bank, First Bank, Milek Media

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee is grateful to all attendees, sponsors, and investors who helped raise funds and awareness for the cause.

eMpowerment Inc. Fuels Dreams with Sixth Annual ‘Dream Big and Go Get It Scholarship’ in Southeast Nashville.

Fostering Bright Futures for Southeast Nashville Youth Through Education and Opportunity

NASHVILLE, Tenn – eMpowerment Inc. continues its commitment to the youth of Southeast Nashville through the “Dream Big and Go Get It Scholarship.” Now in its sixth year, this scholarship has become a beacon of hope and support for high school students aspiring to further their education. The scholarship, which begins its application period on January 1, 2024, provides financial assistance to dedicated students embarking on their higher education journey.

The scholarship is open to students attending public high schools in Southeast Nashville, including Antioch High, Cane Ridge High, Glencliff High, and any charter high school in the Southeast Nashville District. It also includes students residing in Southeast Nashville but attending public high schools elsewhere in Nashville.

Valued at $1,000, the “Dream Big and Go Get It Scholarship” is awarded annually, with applications accepted from January 1 to March 31. Applicants are required to complete a comprehensive application form, with essays that showcase their educational passion, and submit two letters of recommendation. These letters should come from individuals who can speak to the student’s character and academic potential.

Janelle Douglas, the director of eMpowerment Inc., shares her insight: “Our students in Southeast Nashville face unique challenges, particularly financial ones, that can impede their educational journeys. The ‘Dream Big and Go Get It Scholarship’ is a testament to our belief in their potential and our commitment to supporting them.”

Douglas adds, “This scholarship is more than just financial aid; it’s a way to level the playing field and encourage our students to focus on achieving their academic goals, just like their peers in more affluent areas.”

The scholarship celebrates students who excel academically and are actively involved in their communities, embodying the spirit of Dream Big and Go Get It.’

Douglas reflects on the impact of the scholarship: “Now in its sixth year, we’ve seen how this scholarship can change lives. Our long-term vision is to expand this initiative, offering more scholarships to support the dreams of our young community members.”
For application details and more information on the “Dream Big and Go Get It Scholarship,” visit https://bit.ly/DreamBigApp2024.

The mission of eMpowerment Inc. is to support students of color in the southeast Nashville quadrant of Metro Nashville, Davidson County by providing them with the tools, guidance and resources they need to overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.

OPINION: Essential Strategies for Achieving a Safer Neighborhood

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By Chloe Pearson

Neighborhood safety is a concern that touches everyone, irrespective of age or social status. A secure neighborhood is not just the responsibility of law enforcement; it’s a communal endeavor. When neighbors work together, the likelihood of crime diminishes, and everyone enjoys a safer, more peaceful environment. Nashville Voice offers these tips for a safer neighborhood.

Form or Participate in a Local Watch Initiative

Having a Local Watch Initiative is crucial for enhanced neighborhood safety. These community-driven programs are geared toward encouraging residents to be vigilant about their surroundings and to collaborate in reducing crime. The group can hold periodic meetings, issue neighborhood alerts, and even patrol the area at agreed-upon times, making the neighborhood less appealing to criminals.

Engaging Your Homeowners Association

In your neighborhoods, Homeowners Associations play a vital role in security upkeep. Residents must ensure that they promptly report issues such as malfunctioning gate systems, broken lights, or other maintenance-related concerns that could compromise security. A well-maintained neighborhood tends to discourage criminal elements.

Garner Suggestions from Fellow Residents

Community participation is essential in developing effective safety strategies for your area. Asking for your neighbors’ ideas on community safety through online survey platforms not only gathers diverse opinions but also recommendations for actionable solutions. To keep this collective knowledge organized, online PDF tools can be used to compile responses, which can then be easily distributed to participants and stakeholders; for more information, click here.

Alerting Authorities About Unusual Incidents

In many instances, residents are the first to observe unusual activities or unfamiliar individuals in their neighborhood. Recognizing what falls outside the norm and promptly alerting the police is essential for taking proactive measures against potential criminal activities. Quick reporting allows law enforcement to respond swiftly, which in turn increases the chances of preventing a crime before it occurs.

Illuminating Parking Zones

The importance of well-lit parking areas cannot be overstated. Darkness provides cover for criminal activity, so residents should endeavor to park their vehicles in bright zones. For homeowners, installing motion-activated lighting systems in driveways can also be an effective security measure.

Collective Night-Time Walks

There is undeniable safety in numbers. If you find yourself needing to walk through the neighborhood at night, try to do so in a group. If possible, make plans with neighbors or friends, especially if you’ll be traversing areas that are poorly lit or known for less-than-stellar safety records.

Maintain Clear Sightlines

Tall bushes, trees, or any form of dense foliage around the home can offer convenient hiding spots for would-be intruders. For this reason, it is wise to keep plants and shrubs trimmed, particularly those near windows, gates, and entrances. This practice can drastically limit the hiding places available to potential criminals.

Always Secure Entry Points

Leaving doors or windows open is akin to rolling out a welcome mat for potential intruders. Even when you’re at home, it’s prudent to keep all entry points securely locked to deter unauthorized access. Enhancing security measures, such as installing high-quality deadbolts on doors and putting security bars on easily accessible windows, can add an extra layer of protection against break-ins.

The safety of a neighborhood is an ongoing project requiring the collaborative efforts of every resident. From being an active part of a local watch initiative to ensuring that your immediate environment is well-lit and unobstructed, every individual action adds up. So, take the responsibility seriously and become an active participant in your community’s safety. Your involvement makes a difference, and when everyone chips in, we create not just a neighborhood but a haven.

The Nashville Voice provides opinion pieces and commentary from a variety of voices. These articles have a focus on both Middle Tennessee and national news.

Megan Barry Announces Campaign for U.S. Congress in TN-07 against Incumbent Mark Green

Nashville, TN – Megan Barry, the first woman ever elected Mayor of Nashville, released an ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO, launching her campaign for Tennessee’s 7th district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, spelling out her reasons for challenging incumbent Congressman Mark Green.

Citing a dysfunctional Congress and the failures of Mark Green and his colleagues in the House Majority to address the issues people care about and to make a meaningful difference for families, Megan Barry declared, “It’s outrageous and we don’t have to tolerate it.”

Barry, who lost her only son to an overdose, pointed to the raging overdose crisis, all-too-frequent mass shootings, and the closure of local rural hospitals as reasons for her candidacy against Green, who she said has done little or nothing on these critical issues.

Barry added, “Women in Tennessee are dealing with one of the most extreme and restrictive laws on reproductive healthcare in the country, and Mark Green supports it. I want to go to D.C. to restore the rights of women in America, where we are trusted to make our own healthcare decisions.”

“On virtually every issue that matters most to Tennesseans – a thriving economy, healthcare access, education, gun violence, reproductive rights – Mark Green is on the wrong side,” said Barry.

Barry said she is running because the voters of the 7th district deserve a representative who knows how to work in a bipartisan fashion to get things done, who understands that the real concerns of working families have been ignored for too long, and who will fight every day to build an economy that works for everyone.

Tau Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc’s 40th Annual Senior Citizens Luncheon

A Prelude to the Centennial: Alpha Phi Alpha’s Legacy of Service in Nashville

As the Tau Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. approaches its historic Centennial Anniversary in 2025, the chapter proudly reflects on nearly a century of unwavering dedication to service and advocacy for the communities of Nashville, TN.

Founded in 1925, Tau Lambda Chapter has been a pillar of community engagement, embodying the principles of scholarship, leadership, and service set forth by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. This year marks a significant milestone as the chapter celebrates the 40th anniversary of its Senior Citizens Luncheon, a cherished tradition that has become a hallmark of the fraternity’s commitment to uplifting the community.

Originating in 1983 at Clark Memorial United Methodist Church under the pastoral leadership of Reverend James King, the Senior Citizens Luncheon was conceived by 13 visionary individuals. What started as a modest gathering in the Fellowship Hall has since evolved into a grand event hosted at the Tau Lambda fraternity house on Ashton St. in the Bordeaux community of Nashville, TN.

This year, Tau Lambda Chapter is excited to host and serve a record number of at least 100 guests at the Senior Citizens Luncheon. The event, fully funded by the volunteer members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., holds a special place in the hearts of the Brothers as they consider it an honor to serve the community, particularly during the holiday season.

“Tau Lambda Chapter is committed to service and community engagement. The Senior Citizen Luncheon is an embodiment of the tenets of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.”, says Ronald C. Small, President of Tau Lambda Chapter. “The Senior Citizens’ Luncheon is a prime example of our longstanding values of service and love for all mankind.”

The Senior Citizens Luncheon has become a festive occasion featuring a sumptuous meal that includes fried turkeys, ham, greens, green beans, mac & cheese, sweet potatoes, a variety of desserts, and more. The Brotherhood takes pride in cooking, preparing, and serving the guests, creating an atmosphere filled with warmth, joy, and the spirit of the season.

A highlight of the event is the spirited singing of Christmas carols, bringing an extra dose of merriment to the occasion. Attendees, adorned in their Sunday’s best, leave with not just memories but also small tokens of appreciation for their participation in this heartwarming celebration.

Beyond the joyous festivities, the Senior Citizens Luncheon provides an invaluable opportunity for the Brotherhood to fellowship amongst themselves and reinforce their mission of providing service and advocacy for the community.

The Senior Citizens Luncheon is scheduled on December 16, 2023 beginning at noon and will take place at 2016 Ashton Ave, Nashville, TN 37218.

As Tau Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. looks forward to its Centennial Anniversary in 2025, the Senior Citizens Luncheon stands as a testament to the chapter’s enduring commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those it serves.

For more information about Tau Lambda Chapter and its upcoming Centennial Anniversary celebrations, please contact: Bro. Ronald C. Small, President, Tau Lambda Chapter at president@taulambda.com.

 

Southern Comfort Cuisine: Must-Try Foodie Spots in Nashville

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Nashville, known for its vibrant music and cultural scene, also has an exceptional culinary landscape. Its food culture is an eclectic mix of traditional Southern comfort cuisine and modern culinary innovations. In this guide, we will explore the foodie spots in Nashville that have become culinary landmarks. These eateries are not just about serving food. They are about preserving and celebrating the rich gastronomic heritage of the South. From smoky barbecue joints to elegant farm-to-table restaurants, each spot offers a unique window into the soul of Southern cooking. Whether you are a local or a visitor, prepare to be delighted by the diverse and rich flavors that define the culinary landscape of this dynamic city.

A woman is holding a piece of fried chicken on a plate filled with food.
H&T is known for its ‘Braided Chicken’ (Photo by: Rachel Claire | pexels.com).

H & T’s: A Hidden Gem for Southern Delights

H & T’s is a cherished destination for those seeking authentic Southern comfort cuisine. With its warm and inviting ambiance, this hidden gem offers a genuine taste of the South. Here, the menu celebrates classic Southern flavors, where each dish tells a story of tradition and culinary craftsmanship. Its signature dish, the ‘Low Country Boil,’ is a harmonious mix of seasoned shrimp, corn, potatoes, and sausage. Their famous ‘Buttermilk Fried Chicken’ is another must-try, known for its perfectly crisp exterior and juicy interior. Patrons consistently praise the food quality, noting the freshness of ingredients and the skilled preparation. Reviews highlight the friendly and attentive service, enhancing the dining experience. H & T’s offers an immersive experience of Southern culture and hospitality and is a must-visit spot in Nashville’s vibrant culinary landscape.

Swett’s Restaurant: A Legacy of Southern Cooking

Swett’s Restaurant, a cornerstone in Nashville’s dining scene, has served delectable Southern cuisine for over six decades. This establishment has a rich history, beginning as a modest family-owned business and blossoming into a beloved local institution. Swett’s is renowned for its authentic cooking, which resonates with the culinary heritage of the South. Among their must-try menu items, ‘Homestyle Meatloaf’ stands out. Another key point is that each dish is prepared with recipes passed down through generations. It is also famous for its ‘Collard Greens’, which have become synonymous with the comfort and warmth of Southern cooking. Locals frequently laud Swett’s for its consistent quality and nostalgic flavors, often reminiscing about meals that remind them of family gatherings.

Monell’s: Family-Style Dining at Its Best

Monell’s Dining & Catering is a shining example of family-style dining, making it one of the top foodie spots in Nashville. This beloved eatery captures the essence of a communal experience, where guests gather around large tables to share a meal as if they were family. At Monell’s, the menu rotates daily but always features a selection of hearty Southern dishes. To begin with, their famous ‘Skillet Fried Chicken,’ always crispy and juicy, and the ‘Cornbread and Greens’ are consistent favorites, embodying the soul of Southern cooking. Also, locally sourced ingredients ensure freshness and support local producers. But, what truly sets Monell’s apart is the atmosphere. Diners often comment on the warm, home-like environment, where conversations flow as freely as the sweet tea. This combination of delicious food and a welcoming atmosphere makes Monell’s a unique culinary experience in Nashville.

The Loveless Cafe: A Nashville Tradition

The Loveless Cafe has been an iconic dining destination in Nashville since 1951 and is loved by many. This historic cafe has evolved from a small motel eatery to a culinary landmark known for preserving and celebrating the tradition of Southern cooking. The cafe’s historic significance is woven into the fabric of Nashville’s food culture, making it a must-visit destination for locals and tourists. In the first place, it’s Biscuits and Homemade Preserves, with a recipe unchanged for over half a century, which is a testament to the cafe’s commitment to authenticity. Other signature items include their ‘Country Ham’ and ‘Red-Eye Gravy,’ which offer a taste of authentic Southern hospitality. The cafe’s impact on Nashville’s food scene extends beyond its menu; it embodies the spirit of the region’s culinary heritage.

Barbecue on the grill
Most of the best foodie spots in Nashville offer great barbecue. (Photo by: Samer Daboul | pexels.com).

Wendell Smith’s Restaurant: Classic Comfort with a Modern Twist

Wendell Smith’s Restaurant artfully combines traditional Southern comfort food with contemporary culinary twists. Established in the dynamic city heart, this restaurant has built a reputation for refreshing classic Southern dishes with modern flavors and techniques. With its sleek yet cozy design, the interior complements the innovative menu, creating a unique dining atmosphere. Signature dishes like ‘Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese’ and Pit BBQ pork’ showcase the restaurant’s flair for infusing familiar recipes with new, exciting elements. Diners praise creative cuisine and the exceptional customer service that enhances the overall experience. The staff at Wendell Smith’s is known for their friendly and attentive approach, ensuring that each visit is memorable.

Nashville skyline.
Living in the South is centered around community and family values. (Photo by: Isaac Loredo Vargas | pexels.com).

Savoring the Southern Comfort: Embracing the Cuisine and Lifestyle of the South

Savoring Southern comfort cuisine celebrates a deeply rooted Southern way of life. Rich flavors and ingredients like corn, tomatoes, greens, and pork make its essence. Hospitality is the cornerstone of the South, evident in communal meals, family gatherings, and local celebrations. The warm, welcoming nature of the South you can most vividly experience through these interactions. With its mild winters and warm summers, Tennessee’s climate ensures a continuous supply of fresh, local produce. It enhances food quality and the joy of outdoor dining. This abundance of fresh ingredients is a boon for food lovers and chefs alike.

Living in the South means embracing a relaxed pace of life, focusing on community and family. It seamlessly blends urban and rural lifestyles. Local food scenes reflect this lifestyle, from bustling BBQ joints to serene farm-to-table restaurants, contributing to daily life and fostering community spirit. For those considering long-distance moving to Tennessee and researching movers, find and team up with the right crew. It will ensure a smooth transition into this enriching and flavorful Southern way of life.

Exploring More Foodie Spots in Nashville

Nashville’s culinary landscape extends beyond the well-known favorites, offering a diverse array of eateries with their unique specialties. Here’s a quick guide to some other notable destinations in Nashville:

  • Arnold’s Country Kitchen: Known for its classic meat-and-three menu, Arnold’s offers a daily rotation of Southern staples like roast beef and fried catfish, accompanied by a selection of sides like creamy mashed potatoes and collard greens.
  • Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack: The birthplace of Nashville’s famous hot chicken. Prince’s offers this fiery favorite ranging from mild to ‘extra hot’ for the more daring diners.
  • Peg Leg Porker: This barbecue joint is a must-visit for fans of smoked meats. Also, their dry-rubbed ribs and pulled pork sandwiches are local legends.
  • City House: Blending Southern ingredients with Italian techniques, City House is renowned for its unique pizzas topped with Southern-inspired ingredients and homemade pasta.

Conclusion

In summary, the foodie spots in Nashville offer an unparalleled experience for those seeking the authentic taste of Southern comfort cuisine. Nashville’s culinary scene stands out for its deep-rooted traditions, innovative approaches, and the warm hospitality accompanying every meal. From classic dishes that have stood the test of time to contemporary interpretations that keep the cuisine fresh and exciting, Nashville is a treasure trove for food lovers. It’s a city where each meal tells a story and creates memories. Hence, Nashville is a must-visit destination for anyone who appreciates good food and a rich culinary heritage. Lastly, we invite you to share your own Nashville dining experiences, as every visit and every meal adds a new chapter to the ever-evolving story of Nashville’s food culture.

Soul Food Poetry Cafe’s “Poetry Honors” Celebrates Nashville’s Spoken Word Scene at City Winery

Nashville, TN – City Winery Nashville hosted the Soul Food Poetry Cafe’s “Poetry Honors” event on Saturday, November 18. The evening event, which began with a dinner at 6:00 pm followed by performances at 8:00 pm, drew an audience of 220 people to celebrate Nashville’s spoken word scene.

The event featured performances by I am Nick Music and Leslie Janene, with accompaniment from the Quentin Michael Music Group. These acts were a prelude to the evening’s main focus: honoring significant contributors to Nashville’s spoken word community. The honorees included poets Frank “Frizzy” Sykes, Khaos “No B.S.” Thomas, Alexis Wolfe, Cameron Mitchell, Black Atticus and the non-profit Southern Word.

Nashville poet Imani Rhema, the organizer of the event, shared her insights into the motivation behind the “Poetry Honors.” She explained, “Our event started as an open mic show and has evolved into a live concert event that includes poetry and live music. However, the core of spoken word continues with the poets at the open mics in Nashville. It’s a challenging job, involving coordination with venues, promoting events, and keeping the momentum going. I’ve experienced these challenges firsthand. So I just want to make sure to give them the honor, give them their flowers now for keeping the spoken word movement going in Nashville.”

Throughout the event, each honoree captivated the audience with their powerful poetry pieces, showcasing the diverse range of voices and styles that enrich Nashville’s spoken word scene.

A highlight of the evening was the honoring of the Southern Word, an organization which has been instrumental in promoting spoken word education and youth development in the region. Representing Southern Word, Tennessee State University student Christian Ezell, a member of their program, delivered a poignant poem that exemplified the organization’s impact. Founded in 2008, Southern Word has grown into a national leader in the spoken word education field, serving thousands of youth annually. Their work extends beyond spoken word to music production and writing, empowering youth to become active thinkers and creators, while addressing educational and developmental challenges.

Khaos “No B.S.” Thomas, one of the honorees, commented, “To be recognized by my peers and fellow poets as a serious writer is a great feeling. I think that with my life experiences over the last 75 years, what I have to say is very important. I have been writing for over 50 years and I feel honored to be recognized in this way.”

Cameron Mitchell of The Free Fyre spoke about the impact of the recognition: “Receiving this award lets us know that our work is making a positive impact in the community. It allows those who strive to be artists to know that it is possible to blaze your own path and take your artistry to the next level.”

Black Atticus, the founder of Po Boys and Poets and currently Knoxville’s poet laureate, spoke about the significance of the evening. “It’s refreshing to see a sense of unity in Nashville’s poetry scene, something that I felt was lacking when I was more active here,” he reflected. “Back then, there seemed to be more division within the community. Being honored tonight by another poetry group, rather than seeing us as competition, is a much-needed step towards unity. It’s a great start and a clear indication of unification within Tennessee’s poetry community.”

Alexis Wolfe, another honoree of the evening, reflected on the significance of the honor and her journey in poetry. “Being honored tonight is a bit surreal for me. I’m often so immersed in my work that I don’t always stop to appreciate the journey. This recognition forces me to be present and appreciate my path.”

A former resident of Clarksville where she was stationed at Fort Campbell, Alexis now resides in Nashville. She recounted her transition from the army to pursuing poetry full-time. “When I was in Clarksville, I used to visit Nashville for open mics. After my service, I moved here to fully dedicate myself to poetry. As someone currently ranked as the 5th best poet in the world, following my performance at the Women of the World Poetry Slam, I feel a sense of responsibility and validation. Being honored among legends of poetry, who I deeply respect, means a lot to me.”

The evening concluded with a high energy performance by Nashville artist Neci, accompanied by the Quentin Michael Music Group. This final act underscored the blend of spoken word and music that characterized the event, leaving an enduring impression on the audience.

Soul Food Poetry Cafe, founded 16 years ago by Imani Rhema, has been at the forefront of nurturing this vibrant arts scene. ‘Poetry Honors,’ hosted by Soul Food Poetry Cafe, was not just a celebration of the spoken word in Nashville, but also a testament to the unwavering commitment of Nashville’s poets and artists to their craft. This event, marked by significant attendance, underscored the depth of Nashville’s dedication to its literary talents.

Imani Rhema concluded, ‘With tonight’s event, I wanted to reach back and pay honor to those who are still doing the grind. This honor is for their dedication and hard work.’

For more information on future events and to support Nashville’s spoken word talents, visit www.soulfoodpoetrycafe.com.

BC Holdings of Tennessee Expands Team with Three New Hires

Sarah Hogue, Amy Smith and Nikki Tudor Join Nashville Financial Wellness Team

NASHVILLE, Tenn., – Leading financial wellness and workforce training company, BC Holdings of Tennessee, LLC (BCH), welcomes three new professionals to their growing team: Sarah Hogue, account executive; Amy Smith, program coordinator; and Nikki Tudor, office coordinator. These roles are critical to support the continued expansion of BCH to serve clients in the private sector, higher education and federal government with financial education and training across the U.S.

Sarah Hogue of BC Holdings of Tennessee, LLC (Courtesy Photo)
Sarah Hogue of BC Holdings of Tennessee, LLC (Courtesy Photo)

Sarah Hogue brings six years of sales experience to her role as account executive in the event, food and beverage industry as well as the legal sector. Most recently, she spent two years at Legal Tech as a sales associate capturing video and audio for depositions across Tennessee. Prior to that, she was an office manager and sales associate at Music City Tents & Events attending site visits and coordinating showroom appointments for clients. In her new role at BCH, she develops relationships with educational institutions and enterprises and provides business development support to senior leadership. She also serves as an ambassador for BCH at national trade shows and conferences. Hogue has a Bachelor of Science degree in hospitality management from the University of Mississippi at Oxford.

Amy Smith of BC Holdings of Tennessee, LLC (Courtesy Photo)
Amy Smith of BC Holdings of Tennessee, LLC (Courtesy Photo)

Amy Smith joins BCH as program coordinator with more than 20 years of professional experience in human services and health insurance organizations and advocating for the special needs community. Most recently, she served as an account executive at SafeinHome, a provider of assistive technology for the intellectual or developmental disability community. Previously, she served as a program manager and aging consultant for the State of Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability. Prior to that, Smith spent eight years with Cigna Healthcare in Franklin as a quality assurance manager where she maintained policies and procedures for claim systems processing. At BCH, she oversees program administration and implementation for various clients across the nation. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in family and consumer studies/child development and family studies from Middle Tennessee State University. She also has completed coursework toward a Master of Social Work, organizational leadership from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Nikki Tudor of BC Holdings of Tennessee, LLC (Courtesy Photo)
Nikki Tudor of BC Holdings of Tennessee, LLC (Courtesy Photo)

Nikki Tudor joins BCH as office coordinator with two years of experience in client relations and hospitality. Most recently, she served as office coordinator for ONiT Painting managing customer relationships and providing marketing support including content marketing, social media and email campaigns to promote the brand. Prior to that, she was an intern in the ticket office at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. Previously, she provided marketing assistance to Leliebloem House & Chenin Blanc Association of South Africa to introduce wines to the U.S. market. Tudor has a Bachelor of Arts degree in media arts and studies and a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from the University of Kentucky at Lexington.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Sarah, Amy and Nikki to our growing team who each brings a wealth of experience and dedication to financial wellness and training,” says Saundra B. Curry, co-founder and COO, BC Holdings of Tennessee, LLC. “Their combined sales, program management and organizational skills will help propel us to the next level of strategic growth.”

Access the BC Holdings of Tennessee, LLC press kit with bios, articles, company backgrounders and more.