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D.C. Chamber of Commerce Honors ‘Spirit and Hustle’ at 2025 Awards Gala

WASHINGTON INFORMER — In an event co-emceed by Michelle Miller with CBS News and Lorenzo Hall of WUSA 9, many elected officials came to the Thursday night event, including: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, Councilmembers Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2), Wendell Felder (D-Ward 7), Kenyan McDuffie (I-At Large), chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development, and Robert White (D-At Large) and Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy.

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By James Wright Jr.
Washington Informer

Slightly more than 1,000 members of the DMV area’s political, business, and philanthropic communities congregated at the National Building Museum in Northwest on Nov. 6 to celebrate local entrepreneurship and free enterprise at the D.C. Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Awards and Gala.

Chinyere Hubbard, president and CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce, at the organization’s 2025 Chamber Choice Awards and Gala on Nov. 6 at the National Building Museum in Northwest, D.C. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

Chinyere Hubbard, president and CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce, at the organization’s 2025 Chamber Choice Awards and Gala on Nov. 6 at the National Building Museum in Northwest, D.C. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

With the District enduring: the federal government shutdown; a sluggish economy due to high consumer prices and slow economic growth nationally; and a downtown area struggling to retain businesses and public agencies in its office space, the chamber decided to offer hope at this year’s event, under the theme: “Amplify Our Views, Ignite Our Growth.”

“This is what resilience and unity looks like,” said Chinyere Hubbard, president and CEO of the chamber, looking at the large gathering of local business and political leaders.

In an event co-emceed by Michelle Miller with CBS News and Lorenzo Hall of WUSA 9, many elected officials came to the Thursday night event, including: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, Councilmembers Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2), Wendell Felder (D-Ward 7), Kenyan McDuffie (I-At Large), chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development, and Robert White (D-At Large) and Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy.

Attendees gather at the pre-reception for the DC Chamber of Commerce 2025 Awards and Gala on Nov. 6 at the National Building Museum. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

Attendees gather at the pre-reception for the DC Chamber of Commerce 2025 Awards and Gala on Nov. 6 at the National Building Museum. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

Despite challenges, Hubbard, Bowser and other speakers highlighted local achievements, honored people working to uplift D.C.’s business community and economy, and looked toward the future, revealing major plans to support District businesses and residents overall.

“We at the chamber are working to streamline the licensing process and work on new pathways to start businesses,” Hubbard continued. “Developing a tech sector is at work and we played a role in the building of a new Washington Commanders stadium.”

Earl “Chico” Horton III, chairman of the chamber’s board, emphasized the organization’s overall growth, such as adding 155 new members “so far this year,” and plans for the future, such as implementing the Future Moguls Program – a new initiative that trains young business leaders – in January.

“We are celebrating the spirit of Washington, D.C.,” Horton said. “It’s spirit and hustle. We have some of the most hustling opportunities around. It’s all about business. Get your hustle on.”

Chamber Celebrates Game Changers, Bowser and Other Leaders Offer Calls to Action

As part of their work to empower District businesses, the DC Chamber of Commerce is supporting Mayor Bowser’s growth agenda, such as the revitalization of the downtown sector.

Brian Kenner (right), global head of community engagement for Amazon, poses before accepting his award at the D.C. Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Awards and Gala on Nov. 6 at the National Building Museum in Northwest D.C. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

Brian Kenner (right), global head of community engagement for Amazon, poses before accepting his award at the D.C. Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Awards and Gala on Nov. 6 at the National Building Museum in Northwest D.C. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

“[Bowser] has been about business,” said Horton. “We have had the level of business activity in this city like we have now for quite some time.”

During the celebration, the mayor received the chamber’s Game Changer Award, given to people who make a difference in the District’s business landscape.

“It is wonderful to be here to represent the best city in the world,” said Bowser, who shared the honor with D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) and Josh Harris, managing partner of the Washington Commanders.

The mayor declared her commitment to cutting red tape so that businesses can thrive and spoke about the Talent Capital, an initiative her administration launched to recognize the gifts and talents of Washingtonians for entrepreneurial and employment pursuits.

“We are a resume economy,” she said.

As District mayor, Bowser encouraged the crowd to continue to pour its resources into the city.

Earl Chico Horton, chairman of the board fort DC Chamber of Commerce, speaks at the 2025 Chamber of Commerce Awards and Gala on Nov. 6 at the National Building Museum in Northwest D.C. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

Earl Chico Horton, chairman of the board fort DC Chamber of Commerce, speaks at the 2025 Chamber of Commerce Awards and Gala on Nov. 6 at the National Building Museum in Northwest D.C. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

“Invest in D.C.,” she said, “D.C. is where you want to be. Thank you for choosing Washington.”

While Harris, a DMV native, didn’t attend the event, Mark Clouse, president of the Commanders, accepted the award on his behalf, emphasizing the team owner’s commitment to the District.

“We had a vision of bringing the Commanders back to their ancestral home in D.C.,” Clouse said. “This is a city where people set aside their differences and put on the burgundy and gold and cheer on their team.”

The Economic Impact Award went to JPMorganChase and Corenic Construction was a awarded Business of the Year.

Brian Kenner, global head of community engagement for Amazon, got the Business Leader of the Year Award, while Ward 8’s Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, GW Health, was tapped for the Community Impact of the Year citation.

D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie (left) and Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes pose for a photo at the 2025 DC Chamber of Commerce Awards and Gala on Nov. 6. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie (left) and Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes pose for a photo at the 2025 DC Chamber of Commerce Awards and Gala on Nov. 6. (Shevry Lassiter/The Washington Informer)

CAVA, the national restaurant chain that first opened in the DMV area in 2006, received the Chairman Choice Award and The Calpro Group was the recipient of this year’s Chamber Choice Award.

Brett Schulam, co-founder of CAVA, said the support from the District has been key to its nationwide success.

“We started out small here in the city, just two guys and now we employ tens of thousands of people nationally,” Schulman said. “It is all because of the support that we got when we started out here in D.C. in the 2000s. It is because of you, we are who we are today.”

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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.

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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.

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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)

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)

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.

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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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