Charita Manette Upkins passed away on Thursday, December 11, 2025. She was born on May 16, 1966, the daughter of Betty Ann Carson. She is survived by her husband of nearly 30 years, Louis Upkins, and her two children, Caleb Upkins and Zoe Upkins. Born and raised in Memphis, Charita graduated from Central High School and attended Springdale Baptist Church. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communications from the University of Tennessee. In 1990, she became the first African American woman to win the Miss Tennessee USA title and later competed in the Miss…
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MNPS has been recognized by a national organization for its work to serve diverse student populations and drive strong academic outcomes in recent years. The district has been selected as a 2025 Demonstration District by the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE), which identifies exemplary K-12 schools and districts and works to share best practices and maximize teaching and learning. NABSE recognizes Demonstration Districts that have shown high-impact, research-based practices; a districtwide culture grounded in inclusive excellence; strong family and community partnerships; data-driven results that accelerate growth and achievement; and leadership that inspires, empowers, and elevates at every level. Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle and other district leaders accepted the award on December 13 after making a presentation…
Tennessee officials said Friday that the state will collaborate with Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit organization established by Charlie Kirk. The announcement was made during an event at the Tennessee State Capitol, where leaders said Club America chapters — student-run groups affiliated with Turning Point USA — will be launched in high schools across the state. Among the speakers were U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who is campaigning for governor, and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin. The event was closed to the media, though a roughly 30-minute video of the program was later shared on Rumble, a social…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jay Walker recently announced the official launch of REVIVE, a new national network designed to cut through noise with bold reporting, meaningful conversation, and culture-driven programming for a modern audience. REVIVE will be based in Nashville operating from a newly developed 200,000-square-foot media campus on five acres, featuring 13 production studios and a central newsroom, according to a release. The Nashville campus is engineered to support daily live shows, original reporting, and dynamic production across formats, and will be home to more than 200 employees, including journalists, content creators, production talent, and technical staff. With a team of this scale and a…
When I read that TSU President Dwayne Tucker announced the university came out $13.2 million ahead of its goal to reduce budget deficits this year, I felt a deep sense of pride. I smiled because I knew—this is only the beginning. President Tucker is guiding Tennessee State University into a stronger future than the one he inherited. He leads with calm, integrity, and purpose. He doesn’t tear people down to prove a point—he lifts the university up. And I must say… It’s always hard for me to write about President Tucker without thinking about his mother. The late Julia Pearl Pillow…
With the rollout of the new Trump Accounts program, a newborn’s SSN could be more important than ever. Under the new rules, any U.S. child under age 18 with a valid Social Security number becomes eligible for a Trump Account — but without that SSN, the account cannot be opened. The program, authorized under the recent One Big Beautiful Bill Act, provides a one-time $1,000 federal contribution for children born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028, provided they have a valid SSN and are U.S. citizens. For parents who didn’t apply for an SSN at birth — a…
NASHVILLE — North Nashville residents will have a festive destination to look forward to this weekend as the Holiday Village on Historic Jefferson Street returns for a two-day celebration filled with community spirit, local vendors and seasonal cheer. The event, hosted by the Jefferson Street Historical Society, will take place Saturday, Dec. 6, from noon to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 7, from 1 to 7 p.m. Organizers say the annual gathering is designed to spotlight the cultural legacy of Jefferson Street while offering families a welcoming space to enjoy holiday activities. This year’s Holiday Village will be led by…
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — New data from Nielsen’s Spring 2025 Nationwide Audio Survey shows major growth for the Memphis-based Spotset Radio Network, which now reaches 12.5 million adults each week — including 25% of all Black adults in the U.S. Spotset, created in 1996 by Trust Marketing & Communications, has become the country’s largest network of Black and independently owned radio stations. Today, the network includes 115 stations ranging from major markets like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago to smaller communities such as New Albany, Mississippi. According to Nielsen, Spotset’s weekly reach represents 5% of all U.S. adults 18+ and…
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Steve Cropper, the influential guitarist, songwriter and producer whose understated style shaped the sound of Stax Records and powered Booker T. and the M.G.’s, has died at 84. Pat Mitchell Worley, president and CEO of the Soulsville Foundation, said Cropper’s family informed her that he passed away Wednesday in Nashville. The foundation oversees the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, built on the original Stax Records site where Cropper spent much of his career. A cause of death has not been released. Eddie Gore, a longtime friend and collaborator, said he visited Cropper on Tuesday at a…
Nashville, Tennessee – Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated® Kappa Lambda Omega Chapter is pleased to announce the opening of their scholarship application. To promote lifelong learning and to defray the cost of college education, Kappa Lambda Omega established three scholarships to support females, as they transition from high school to higher education. In addition to their General Chapter Scholarships, KLO has established two named scholarships, the Lillian Dunn Thomas Scholarship and the Donzaleigh Patterson Scholarship, which were named in honor of two members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® who were instrumental in establishing the Kappa Lambda Omega Chapter, chartered…