The U.S. Postal Service is honoring Phillis Wheatley (1753–1784), the first author of African descent in the American Colonies to publish a book, with the 49th stamp in the Black Heritage series. A first-day-of-issue event for the Phillis Wheatley Black Heritage stamp will be held Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at 11 a.m. EST at the Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St. in Boston. The event is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared using the hashtag #BlackHeritageStamp. Attendees are encouraged to register at https://www.usps.com/philliswheatleystamp. Born in West Africa and brought to Boston on…
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University and Jackson State University will renew a long-standing football rivalry when the two programs meet in the 2026 John A. Merritt Classic on Saturday, Aug. 29, as part of the Week 0 slate at Nissan Stadium. The matchup marks the first-ever meeting between TSU and Jackson State at the John A. Merritt Classic, adding a new chapter to a series that dates back more than seven decades. Tennessee State holds a 30-23-2 all-time advantage in the series, which began with the teams’ first meeting in 1949. “The John A. Merritt Classic provides the…
A Tennessee Senate panel wants officers at a privately-run prison rocked by a 2025 riot to wear body cameras despite opposition from the state’s correction commissioner. The State and Local Government Corrections Subcommittee recommended a pilot program Tuesday for the state’s private-prison contractor, CoreCivic, to equip detention officers at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center with body cameras in an effort to protect officers and inmates and provide clearer evidence for criminal investigations. State Sen. Ed Jackson of Jackson pointed out that prisons can be “extremely dangerous” because of a shortage of prison officers. “Body cameras would keep everybody honest,” Jackson said.…
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The family of the late MTSU First Lady Elizabeth McPhee announced Saturday that her visitation services will be held Tuesday, Jan. 13, and the funeral will follow the next day, Wednesday, Jan. 14, both at Murfreesboro’s Belle Aire Baptist Church. McPhee, 72, the spouse of MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, died Jan. 8, after a brief illness. Visitation for Mrs. McPhee will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Belle Aire Baptist Church, 1307 N. Rutherford Blvd., in Murfreesboro. Her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the church. Woodfin Funeral Chapel…
NASHVILLE, TN — For the third time in recent months, a broad coalition of 314 Tennessee clergy and faith leaders has reached out to Governor Bill Lee, urging him to address a mounting hunger crisis. In a formal sign-on letter delivered today, the leaders demand immediate action before the January 1 deadline to participate in the 2026 federal Summer EBT program—a move that would secure funding for summer nutrition programs for over 700,000 children. Building on their previous advocacy regarding the $2.2 billion Rainy Day Fund and SNAP benefit lapses, the coalition is now highlighting a critical choice in stewardship.…
NASHVILLE – WeGo Public Transit will hold a mechanic hiring event on Saturday, January 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 430 Myatt Drive in Madison. As part of Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s Choose How You Move initiative, WeGo needs to hire more mechanics to expand transit service across the region. Applicants can apply and register online to reserve an on-site interview at the event. WeGo is looking for automotive mechanics, diesel mechanics, and fleet maintenance supervisors. Wage: $29.83 per hour (additional pay incentives available with ‘H-Series ASE’ certifications) Sign-On Bonus: $2,000 WeGo benefits include health/dental/vision care, a pension plan, company paid life insurance, tuition…
On the 13th of January 1935, she was born Katherine “Kaddie” Watkins, the sixth of eight kids of James “JC” Watkins and Alice Young-Watkins. Growing up on Brick Church Pike during the heart of the Great Depression, Katherine learned the value of education, hard work, and faith. She accepted Jesus Christ at an early age and was baptized into the Christian faith at Zion Missionary Baptist Church, which she made her church home for many years. An active member, Katherine was a member of the choir and the women’s auxiliary and later served as the church secretary under Pastor James…
Thomas H. Watkins, 1937-2025, was the founder, CEO and publisher of the New York Daily Challenge, he first Black daily newspaper in New York City. At its height of operation, Watkins’ flagship publication reached thousands of readers, brought in nearly $30M per year and employed dozens of African-Americans from its corporate headquarters in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. But even in year one, it deviated to a broad audience garnering advertising support from juggernauts including Pfizer, General Electric, and Ford. This year, the New York Daily Challenge celebrates its 56th Anniversary as an award-winning outlet that fearlessly breaks controversial news, candidly reports on…
Nashville, TN — United Ways of Tennessee (UWTN), the statewide association supporting and strengthening local United Ways across the Volunteer State, announced today the appointment of Matt Marshall as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective February 1, 2026. Marshall, who currently serves as President & CEO of United Way of West Tennessee, will assume statewide leadership following a highly impactful six-year tenure marked by organizational transformation, innovative community partnerships, and significant expansion of both revenue and reach. In his new role, Marshall will guide the collective strategy of Tennessee’s United Way network, representing local United Ways at the…
There always seems to be a never-ending list of tasks during the holiday season, from booking flights to purchasing gifts for loved ones. As you prepare for the holidays, it’s also critical to keep an eye out for online scams that aim to steal your money and your joy. Nationally, nearly 1 in 3 consumers reported falling victim to an online scam during the 2024 holiday season, and Tennesseans have lost more than $160 million to fraud and scams just last year. Scams are becoming increasingly more sophisticated, making them more convincing and harder to detect. “The holidays are scammers’…