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Jeffco Judge Pat Stephens-Moss, Breast Cancer Survivor, Backed By Her ‘Sistahs-In-Law’

By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson The Birmingham Times For a decade, Jefferson County Judge Patricia Stephens Moss has supported the Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies (BBBB) Sistah Strut, held annually at Birmingham’s Legion Field. While her support has strengthened, she now participates as one of the “Pink Sisters,” a breast cancer survivor who knows firsthand what women face […]
The post Jeffco Judge Pat Stephens-Moss, Breast Cancer Survivor, Backed By Her ‘Sistahs-In-Law’ first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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2 years ago

December 5, 2023

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Judge Patricia Stephens-Moss backed by an army of supporters during the Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies Sistah Strut outside Birmingham’s Legion Field. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

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By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson

The Birmingham Times

For a decade, Jefferson County Judge Patricia Stephens Moss has supported the Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies (BBBB) Sistah Strut, held annually at Birmingham’s Legion Field. While her support has strengthened, she now participates as one of the “Pink Sisters,” a breast cancer survivor who knows firsthand what women face in this personal health crisis.

“I had no idea I’d be one of her Pink Sisters,” Stephens Moss said in a recent interview with The Birmingham Times.

On Saturday, September 30, Stephens Moss not only continued her support but also brought a team of others, including police officers, judges, and judicial assistants—known as the “Sistahs in Law.”

“This is more than a walk, it’s a movement,” Stephens Moss said on Saturday. “… And I’m thankful to be a part of the movement. I’m thankful that others who work in the legal field and others came out today.”

In addition to bringing her team the judge brought some life-saving advice, too.

“Always have your yearly mammograms. I couldn’t feel the lump, so if it hadn’t been for the mammogram and if it hadn’t been for the early detection, I might not be here today,” she said.

Sistah Strut is just one of many events heralding the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is marked in countries around the world every October to help increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection, and treatment, as well as palliative care of this disease.

The Fight Begins

In 2016, Stephens Moss married the Rev. Ira Moss, pastor of New Mount Zion in Tuskegee, Alabama, who she met in 2014 after being set up by a mutual friend at football game of her alma mater, Auburn University. Their union has produced a blended family of five children, 10 grandchildren, and three bonus grands.

Fast forward three years from their wedding date, in 2019, and an unexpected diagnosis—Stephens Moss learned she had breast cancer after a routine mammogram at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center.

“I had to go back [for a follow-up visit], and [during the exam] the tech would go back to that same spot, so I got suspicious. Later, I was told that I needed a biopsy. I went in on a Monday and they called me on Friday. That’s when I learned I had breast cancer,” she said. “I’m gonna tell you that I think the lights went out for a few minutes. [The doctor] thought I was panicking, but in my mind, I was thinking, ‘Tell me what to do to get rid of it.’”

Shortly after learning about the diagnosis, Stephens Moss called a couple of breast cancer survivors and asked about their oncologists, doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating cancer. That’s when she chose her team at the Kirklin Clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital, which included oncologist Erica Stringer-Reasor, M.D., a recent recipient of the Dean’s Excellence Award in Diversity Enhancement and last year’s Ambassador of Hope for Sistah Strut.

“There are all types of breast cancer, and mine was a very aggressive form—HER2 positive,” Stephens Moss said of her illness, described by the Mayo Clinic website as “a breast cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). This protein promotes the growth of cancer cells.”

She added, “I was told I needed chemotherapy, a lumpectomy, and radiation. My chemo started on Halloween of 2019. I started chemo, and there were four different drugs put into my body on a Wednesday every three weeks. It would literally take all day. That went on from October 2019 to February 2020.”

Despite the challenges, there were some beautiful memories, Stephens Moss recalled.

“On Feb. 15, 2020, my son flew in from Arizona with his daughter and wife as I was finishing up my chemo treatment at Kirklin Clinic, and they were there when I rang the bell. Ringing the bell marks an opportunity to celebrate for cancer patients after they complete their treatment,” she said.

Click to view slideshow.

Strong and Steady Support

There was one constant throughout Stephens Moss’s fight: “My husband was with me every single visit to the doctor,” she said.

“Chemo was on Wednesday every three weeks, and it took all day. I wouldn’t schedule anything on Thursday and Friday, I’d rest Saturday, and we’d drive to church in Tuskegee on Sunday.”

While Stephens Moss’s husband would lead services, he gave her “no duties at church other than to sit and look pretty,” she said. “I said to my husband, ‘You didn’t sign up for this.’ And he said to me, ‘God just gave you to me, so I know He’s not gonna take you away from me now.’”

With her husband’s support, Stephens Moss persevered, even though the road to recovery still presented a few twists and turns and some hurdles to overcome.

One Day at a Time

Stephens Moss is an alum of Auburn University and Miles College School of Law, graduating from the latter honored as cum laude, a Latin phrase that indicates the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. Before taking the bench, she was a prosecuting attorney for the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office and held a general practice law firm. She was elected to the 10th Judicial Circuit Court, Domestic Relations, 10 years ago.

While undergoing treatment, Stephens Moss continued serving on the bench, even on days when she didn’t feel her best.

“Actually, I [was] in my office one Monday and my judicial assistant walked in and saw me lying on the floor. She flipped the light on, moved some cases, and told me I was going home,” the judge recalled.

“A lot of times after treatment, melons, [watermelons, cantaloupe, and honeydew], were the only thing I could keep down,” said Stephens Moss. “The fifth day [after chemo], I could eat regularly, but not a lot of greasy foods. I ate a lot of veggies—greens, including collard, cabbage, and turnip—and a lot of baked foods. It was easier on the palate because you get to the point where there’s a metallic taste in your mouth all the time because your taste buds are off.”

Through all of her recovery, the judge managed to keep her docket going the entire time. “A lot of attorneys feel there weren’t any hiccups,” she said.

Stephens Moss also had to have 30 radiation treatments Monday through Friday, which she had to do alone because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I would leave work, get radiation treatment, and come back to work. I did that for six weeks,” she recalled.

Another challenge manifested as she underwent treatment: “Toward the last two weeks, the radiation started to burn my skin,” Stephens Moss recalled. “I endured the broken skin and open wounds because I wanted to finish the radiation. I put cream on it, and I had a T-shirt on underneath so my clothes wouldn’t rub it.”

“For that one, I had to ring the bell by myself because of [the pandemic],” she said.

The Last Leg of the Journey

One of the most interesting things about her breast cancer fight was the timing of her diagnosis and treatment. Her surgery was March 13, 2020, just prior to the COVID-19 shutdown.

“After the surgery, you go home [the next day] with drains, which are inserted so fluid can drain out of your body where they made the incision. I kept those drains for two to three weeks,” Stephens Moss said.

One of the biggest lessons she learned had nothing to do with breast cancer: “[I began] allowing people to support me. It was difficult at first for me to accept, but eventually I did.”

“I had a friend who started a list for people to bring me meals,” said Stephens Moss. “That same friend offered for people to come to my house to help clean, and I jokingly told her, “[You’re] taking me too fast. Let’s take one step at a time, starting with the meals.’ I was thankful for the friends who helped with the meals, but I would not allow the cleaning.”

Although she remained strong for most of her treatment, Stephens Moss remembered one emotional moment when she learned of additional treatment.

“My doctor told me I had to continue infusions until December of that year, [2019]. When she told me I had to continue those infusions, it was the only time I broke down and cried,” Stephens Moss said. “It was disappointing to know I had to continue. But [my doctor] assured me that those infusions were necessary because they were a barrier to make sure the cancer didn’t come back.”

To find out more about Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies or to donate, visit https://brendasbrownbosombuddies.org.

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.

The post Jeffco Judge Pat Stephens-Moss, Breast Cancer Survivor, Backed By Her ‘Sistahs-In-Law’ first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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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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May 3, 2026

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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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May 3, 2026

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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)

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.

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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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