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Riverview K-8 School welcomes TVA’s helping hands

NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER — At some point in the future, the lighting in the athletic locker rooms at Riverview K-8 School likely will mostly go unnoticed. Such is not the case now. Improvements made Monday by the TVA Transmission Team illuminated the lighting need and spotlighted the value of helping hands to an inner city school facing multiple challenges in the quest to educate students.

Published

7 years ago

October 28, 2019

Oakland Post

New lighting for locker rooms was on the wish list for Riverview K-8 School administrators and TVA associates put in the work to make that happen this past Monday. (Photo by: Karanja A. Ajanaku)

By Karanja A. Ajanaku

At some point in the future, the lighting in the athletic locker rooms at Riverview K-8 School likely will mostly go unnoticed. Such is not the case now.

Tennessee Valley Authority retirees presented Riverview K-8 School Principal Rasheedah Cooperwood with a $1,000 check for the school’s robotics program. (Photo by: Karanja A. Ajanaku)

Improvements made Monday by the TVA Transmission Team illuminated the lighting need and spotlighted the value of helping hands to an inner city school facing multiple challenges in the quest to educate students.

Located at 241 Majuba Ave. in South Memphis, Riverview was one of six sites focused upon during what was dubbed an “Afternoon of Service.” Several dozen TVA retirees descended up the school.

Principal Rasheeda Cooperwood-Jemison, who was an assistant principal at Riverview last year, clearly was pleased about the visitors and their intent.

“We were fortunate to be selected by the Tennessee Valley Authority for their community service project,” said Cooperwood-Jemison, noting that the first word of the opportunity came via an email fielded by one of the school’s secretary. “The next thing I know they showed up and asked what we needed to have done here at the school.”

Was she used to someone showing up with such a let-me-help-you invitation?

“Absolutely not,” said Cooperwood-Jemison. “We really see it as a blessing. Sometimes our school can be forgotten about. Just the location; we’re not really off of a main street. We’re in the back of a neighborhood.”

The TVA Afternoon of Service brought improvements inside and outside to Riverview K-8. (Photo by: Karanja Ajanaku)

She had a wish list.

“The most important thing was to get some positive affirmations up in the restrooms. Things that students could read and that would speak life to them. …Everywhere they go we try to speak life into them and be positive.”

Since there is not a lot of adult supervision in the restrooms, she reasoned that positive messaging – like ‘You are beautiful. You are worthy. You are awesome. Hard work pays off’ – would re-enforce the ongoing effort.

Two Riverview staffers, Joyce Catron, general office secretary, and CIS Site Coordinator Tamika Williams were pivotal links that made Monday’s activity possible.

“They have boots on the ground. I’ve seen maybe 30 volunteers. They’re here in the school hands-on. They’re working in our locker rooms, they’ve made donations for our staff lounge, they’re doing the project in the restrooms, as well as beautification projects outside. Also, we’re receiving a donation for our Robotics cCub.”

The Robotics Club was started through a partnership with Mitsubishi, a community partner. Students will compete in robotics competition next spring.

“Mitsubishi has a hug factory not far from the school and a lot of people don’t even know about it. That’s why Mitsubishi wanted to partner with our school to get the students thinking beyond any part time job and thinking what does a career really look like in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) in your own community.”

Tennessee Valley Authority retirees presented Riverview K-8 School Principal Rasheedah Cooperwood with a $1,000 check for the school’s robotics program. (Photo by: Karanja A. Ajanaku)

The helping hands come as the Riverview staff focuses on “moving the needle on academics for our students.”

Two years ago, Riverview was a Level 5 school for growth and achievement before dipping to Level 1 last year.

“We expect with our pushing to be right back at the Level 5,” she said. “It’s more than just performance on a test. We know that literacy is going to be the key for our students in impacting their future trajectory. We want to make sure they have all the opportunities.

“We know that Memphis is a city that’s changing. There are a lot of job opportunities and a lot of time people are not prepared. We really want to give them a solid foundation.”

Cooperwood-Jemison said she see’s herself in the Riverview’s students.

“I grew up in Buffalo, N.Y. in a neighborhood just like the neighborhood I am blessed to serve in. They’re students who have a lot of potential…These are children that just need an opportunity and they need to know that people care about them.”

Having the TVA volunteers onsite reaffirms the staff’s messaging to the students, she said.

“For us to say, ‘Hey, we love you. We care about you.’ They think that’s what we’re supposed to say because we work here. But to see all of these volunteers really does something to their spirits.”

Tequilla Hurt of TVA was instrumental in the selection of Riverview. A Wooddale High School graduate, she now lives in Chattanooga. When she heard of the principal’s request for affirmations, Riverview landed solidly on her selection list.

“TVA is here to serve. We’re part of the community. We want to help out and continue to build partnerships and hopefully there will be more to come.”

Jacinda Woodward, TVA’s senior vice president for power operations, echoed TVA’s commitment to service.

“Being able to serve the community here in Memphis is really important to us. We took this opportunity while we were out here (in Memphis) for a business meeting to also do some community service. …

“There were some things that were needed to be done that we could do. We have a lot of skilled and talented people that work at TVA….”

This article originally appeared in the New Tri-State Defender

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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.

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2 weeks ago

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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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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