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COMMENTARY: Attack Issues

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “…Has there ever been a time when you should have spoken up and didn’t, but later you realized you were wrong? Should folks call you names or disparage your character” And what about those who say [that] Judge Kemp acted “unprofessionally?” What standard is being used, from the person whose co-workers want to call them out but won’t, for fear of being called a bully?”

Published

7 years ago

October 14, 2019

Oakland Post

“Don't be guilty of false narratives, no matter how much you wish they were true. And check info before you speak and share!" (Photo: iStockphoto/ NNPA)

My Truth

By Cheryl Smith, Publisher, I Messenger Media L.L.C.

I was so looking forward to returning to the highest of seven hills in Tallahassee. It was Homecoming and while many were excited about the football match-up between Florida A&M University and North Carolina Central University. I had so many other things to look forward to. I was going to get a much-needed break after spending a week and a half covering a murder trial. I would get to celebrate anniversaries with sorority sisters, classmates, alumni and friends. There would be a show of all shows from the baddest band in the land: The Marching 100. I’d get to enjoy some really good cooking, and I’d get to act like I was 21 again!

Well, guess what? Folks in Tallahassee wanted to talk about the Amber Guyger Murder Trial in Dallas, TX. And boy, did I get an earful. I was practically overwhelmed by the conversations at the airport, on the plane, in the Uber, at restaurants, at the tailgates, waiting in line for the ladies’ room, at the game, and even parties, especially when people found out I was from Dallas. This was not what my 21-year-old self was in the mood for. And yes, I received phone calls, emails and text messages to add to the drama of social media platforms.

Which brings me to my truth. I was determined to not let the trial or the commentary from the peanut gallery destroy my homecoming. I learned at a young age that your mouth can get you into trouble and you need to know what you are talking about or just shut up! Well, that wasn’t happening, at least not on social media. I know. It was the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey who said, “Every man has a right to his own opinion.

“Every race has a right to its own action; therefore, let no man persuade you against your will, let no other race influence you against your own.” Opinions are great. They become profound when backed up by facts, research and substantive analysis. I heard erroneous information from usually credible sources, and I witnessed a lot of people passing along opinion as fact. You also had people miserable with their own lives, armed and ready to attack others. Now you can disagree without all the filth and name calling. People didn’t speak out as much about all the lynching’s and wrongfully incarcerated, nor have many found a cause they would champion.

They couldn’t tell you of any improprieties in other cases and couldn’t name the judges in cases that involved the murders of Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Trayvon Martin, shall I continue? And interestingly those talking about what the judge wouldn’t have done, never heard of the judge until the Amber Guyger case. These graduates of Facebook School of Law, the University of I’m Bad Because I’m on Social Media, and The Who is a Coon University are laughable.

The United Negro College Fund says, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Well, a mind without research, knowledge, information or discernment is a terrible thing. Just as I thought things couldn’t get more incredulous, someone else would opine. So, I wondered a few things… For those who admit that we have a broken, unfair justice system; why would you uphold that system by offering the defense: “Never have I heard of a judge doing anything like that!”

Well, it’s kind of like punishing your new wife because she is different from the ex-wife who made your life miserable for years. You know the one who was trifling, deceptive, nagging, all of that! Do you remember the feeling you had when you posted, shared or liked something on Facebook that you shouldn’t have? Did it make you stop and think and become more responsible? I still remember the day I shared a post that was actually wishful thinking.

Someone posted that Allen Iverson was joining LeBron James in Cleveland. Just a minute of thought and I would have realized the numbers didn’t add up. On that day, I said, “Never again! Don’t be guilty of false narratives, no matter how much you wish they were true. And check info before you speak and share!” Then there are those who have weighed in on who is a sellout, a coon, Aunt Jemima, et al. Really? Some of those same name callers sit quietly in boardrooms, newsrooms, classrooms, and everywhere in the workplace and allow people to be joked about, mistreated, disenfranchised, marginalized and worse, fired.

Would you call them sell-outs and all the other names being used to verbally assault Judge Kemp? Or what about you? Has there ever been a time when you should have spoken up and didn’t, but later you realized you were wrong? Should folks call you names or disparage your character” And what about those who say the judge acted “unprofessionally?” What standard is being used, from the person whose co-workers want to call them out but won’t, for fear of being called a bully?

Why is it so easy to turn on people and begin character assassinations, especially when you’re talking about people you don’t know? And then. You have the people who say, “If it was me…” What the heck! It is NOT you and it’s easy to say what you would do when you are not in a situation — that’s when you’re biggest and baddest! I daresay there will be people who later will admit they spoke out of order while others will die on the sword before any admission.

I guess it’s more noble to be wrong and stay wrong, and it’s easier to rationalize your way out of an embarrassing situation by deflecting. Whatever the case, and everyone should know that when you put stuff out there, folks see you for who you are. They will smile in your face, but behind your back they will do just as many do on social media — make punk moves.

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2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

Oakland Post

The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

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Snoop Dogg Celebrates 10 Til’ Midnight at the Compound

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

admin

Snoop Dogg celebrated the premiere of 10 Til’ Midnight at his Inglewood recording studio & multipurpose facility, The Compound, but the night felt like much more than an album release. It felt like Los Angeles. It felt like legacy. And it felt like another major move from one of the city’s greatest cultural architects as he continues to prove that he is not just dropping music — he is building moments, shaping narratives, and pushing the culture forward in real time.

What made the event so powerful was the clarity behind the vision. During a panel conversation with DJ Hed, Snoop opened up about the heart behind 10 Til’ Midnight, explaining that the project was created to help bridge older and younger generations while also speaking to the long-standing divisions between Bloods and Crips in a unique way through film. That alone gave the project a different kind of weight. This was not just about songs. This was about using creativity as a tool for connection. This was about taking a story rooted in Los Angeles and telling it in a way that could bring people together.

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles. The film was shot in the city, including at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, which gave the entire project an even deeper hometown feel. It was not just a West Coast story in content — it was a Los Angeles-made production from the ground up.

That matters because, in a city like this, authenticity still carries weight. Snoop understands how to make sure that what he creates does not just represent Los Angeles on the surface, but actually comes from it.

What also makes 10 Til’ Midnight significant is that it represents another major step in Snoop’s evolution as both an artist and executive. Public reporting around the project identifies it as his 22nd studio album, but the bigger story is what it represents in this season of his life. This is one of several consecutive moves he has made in his 50s that show he is still building, still expanding, and still finding new ways to reinvent what the next chapter looks like.

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Now, as the head of Death Row Records and the newly aligned leader of Death Row Pictures, he is taking the brand into a new dimension. That is what made this moment feel bigger than music. Snoop is not just protecting the legacy of Death Row — he is stretching it. He is expanding it beyond records and into film, visual storytelling, and larger creative worlds that can continue carrying the label’s impact forward. Public reporting has noted that this project arrives as part of that broader cinematic push.

That is a major Los Angeles move because the city has always been built on the intersection of music, film, neighborhood identity, and cultural storytelling. With 10 Til’ Midnight, Snoop is leaning all the way into that intersection.

The room at The Compound reflected that. It felt like a private premiere, but it also felt like a statement — a reminder that Snoop Dogg’s staying power has never been based only on nostalgia. It comes from his ability to remain connected, remain visionary, and remain in tune with how to move the culture without losing the essence of who he is.

That is why this premiere mattered. It was not just about celebrating another album. It was about witnessing a Los Angeles legend continue to evolve, continue to unify, and continue to use art to tell stories that hit deeper than entertainment alone.

In that sense, 10 Til’ Midnight became more than a project launch. It became another example of how Snoop Dogg is still taking Los Angeles to the next level — using music, film, and legacy together to build something bigger than a moment.

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OP-ED: Small Businesses Need Minnesota to Act on Pass-Through Tax Policy

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — A Twin Cities immigrant entrepreneur who built several businesses including grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods is calling on Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option before it expires, warning that its loss would hit small businesses already recovering from Operation Metro Surge with higher federal tax bills.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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A Twin Cities Small Business Owner Is Urging Minnesota to Extend a Tax Policy That Could Save Thousands of Businesses

By Daniel Hernandez | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

I came to the United States as a teenager with a clear goal: to build something meaningful through hard work. I put in long days in construction, restaurants, and landscaping; doing whatever it took to learn, save, and eventually start my own business.

Over time, I built and ran several successful ventures, including an event photography company, a magazine, a tax and accounting firm, and now grocery stores serving neighborhoods across the Twin Cities where other retailers chose not to invest. I’ve created jobs, supported families, and committed to communities that deserve stability and opportunity.

That’s why I’m speaking out now.

Small business owners in Minneapolis and the communities we serve are recovering from serious disruptions, including the impacts of Operation Metro Surge. That event hit immigrant communities especially hard. In my own case, I lost nearly half of my 60 employees and saw revenue drop by about 85%. While I worked to provide competitive wages, health benefits, and paid time off, the real hardship fell on the people who lost their jobs and income.

Even as we rebuild, small businesses are facing another challenge. The Minnesota Legislature is considering letting an important tax policy expire: the Pass-Through Entity tax option.

Here’s what that means in plain terms.

Many small businesses, including mine, are pass-through businesses. That means the business itself doesn’t pay income tax. Instead, the owners report the income on their personal tax returns. But under current federal rules, there’s a limit on how much state tax we can deduct. That often leads to higher federal tax bills.

The Pass-Through Entity option fixes that. It allows the business to pay the state tax directly, which means the business can fully deduct those taxes on its federal return and lower the total amount of income taxed federally. The result is straightforward: small business owners pay less in federal taxes, without reducing what the state collects.

This policy is not new or controversial. Thirty-six states already offer it. It doesn’t cost Minnesota anything, it’s revenue neutral. And it benefits more than 66,000 businesses across the state.

In a state where the cost of doing business is already high, it’s hard to understand why we wouldn’t offer the same basic tax treatment as states like California and Illinois.

Small businesses have carried a heavy load in recent years, through a pandemic, rising costs and public safety disruptions. We’ve adapted, reinvested and stayed committed to our communities. What we need now are practical policies that support that work, not make it harder.

If the Minnesota House does not act soon, many businesses will face significantly higher federal tax bills. That’s money that could otherwise be used to hire workers, raise wages or reinvest in local neighborhoods.

I urge Gov. Tim Walz and members of the House Tax Committee to pass House File 3127 and extend the Pass-Through Entity election.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’ve proven our resilience. Now we need our state leaders to show the same commitment to us.

Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Colonial Market located at 2100 E. Lake St.

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