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COMMENTARY: So I finally got ahold of a Popeyes Chicken Sandwich . . .

NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER — Earlier this week, I wrote about the mass extinction of the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich— story is on newsstands and was published here at TSDMemphis.com yesterday. The latest twist on this phenomenon involves a Chattanooga man who is suing Popeyes for $5,000 for running out of the sandwiches.

Published

7 years ago

September 4, 2019

Oakland Post

TSDs Lee Eric Smith took a "sandwich selfie" before sampling the Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Popeyes. (Photo by: Lee Eric Smith)

After five hunting excursions, TSD staffer finds “rare bird” at Popeyes on Union Ave.

By Lee Eric Smith

Earlier this week, I wrote about the mass extinction of the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich— story is on newsstands and was published here at TSDMemphis.com yesterday.

The latest twist on this phenomenon involves a Chattanooga man who is suing Popeyes for $5,000 for running out of the sandwiches.

“I can’t get happy; I have this sandwich on my mind. I can’t think straight,” he told the Times Free Press on Thursday. “It just consumes you.”

He complained of being scammed by a guy on Craigslist, of car damage from his rolling hunt for the sandwich. He says he was ridiculed by his friends for driving around looking for a darn sandwich. Having hit Popeyes on three separate occasions, I was in no place to judge.

So I was shocked – SHOCKED, I TELL YOU – when I learned that a buddy of mine had tried one for the first time the same day – from the Popeyes on Union Avenue. After all, Popeyes had gone to the trouble of putting together a Twitter highlight reel and announcing the sandwich had sold through a supply meant to last through September.

HOW IN THE HELL DID MY BUDDY GET ONE? Well, in his case, his wife picked him up one on the way home, that’s how. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. It was the old double-clutch anti-reverse fakeout.

By announcing that the sandwich had sold out, people stopped lining up at Popeyes to get them — and with fewer people in line demanding the sandwich . . . surprise! You might actually luck out and get one! (Or, in my case, TWO — more on that in a moment).

Just for kicks last night, I swung by the Popeyes on Union on my way home from his place. Who knows, right? I pulled up to see two staffers outside, and I sheepishly asked them the question they’ve come to dread. Worked out, because they gave me the answer I’d come to dread: “We out of chicken sandwiches.”

As I slowly pulled away, I heard one of the workers save the day, though: “We’ll have some more tomorrow,” she said, almost apologetically.

As I pulled away, I wondered if it was true, or if it was just something Popeyes told their employees to say. There was only one way to find out.

I figured that if there was a chance to get one of the sandwiches, it would need to be fairly early in the day. And going by the Popeyes on Union isn’t exactly out of the way on my way to work. I decided to make my fifth attempt at trying this sandwich phenomenon. I’mma even sit down in the restaurant to do it!

The line inside the restaurant was full, but not unwieldy — the kind of busy you might see on any other Friday lunch crunch. People were politely ordering, and my eyes locked on the stainless steel countertop where they stuff bags: “Those sure look like sandwich envelopes bag thingys,” I said to myself.

Even as a few people ahead of me were all ordering the sandwich, I was skeptical. I’ve had enough Charlie Brown experiences to know that just like Lucy snatches the football away from my beleaguered hero, I could conceivably get to the counter and learn they’re out again.

“Welcome to Popeyes, may I take your order?” she said.

“Let me get a Spicy Chicken Sandwich,” I said, fingers crossed.

“Do you want the combo?” she asked. Inside I jumped. That’s what servers say when there’s no doubt about completing the order! I said yes, and she asked if that was all. it wasn’t.

“Let me get a Classic Chicken Sandwich too,” I said. I talked myself into it because, hey, they’re about to run out and I need to sample one for this story, right?

See, time was I wouldn’t flinch at eating two chicken sandwiches, but I’m doing much better lately. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have ordered the second one, but since they’re going to be running out, and I wanted (needed) to sample both — you know, for this story — I doubled up.

And the verdict?

I started with the spicy, because . . . well, spicy. It is an EXCELLENT sandwich, mostly because it delivers on what you would hope for in a chicken sandwich. It’s a large breast fillet for starters, with a twist on that Popeyes seasoning that you already know. It’s also crunchy, and the spicy mayo and pickle provide the additional kick and bite that takes the sandwich over the top. I absolutely didn’t need to eat the second sandwich.

So how was the second sandwich, the “Classic?” Just as delicious in a very different way. The fillet also had that distinctive Popeyes flavor, but with regular mayo instead to go with the pickle slice. I almost always default to a spicy version of anything if it’s available, but I could see myself ordering one of these depending on the mood. It’s also a winner.

As a man of a certain age, I can’t see myself waiting in a wrapped-around-the-building line for a chicken sandwich, period. I mean hot Krispy Kreme doughnuts, that’s something else. But a chicken sandwich from fast food joint?

That said, if you WERE going to wait in line for a chicken sandwich, you’d want it to be worth the wait. And BOTH Popeyes Chicken Sandwiches check that box many times.

That’s in case you decide to take your chances and see if you can get one before they’re gone — again.

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.

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1 week 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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1 week 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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1 week 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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