By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — Quentin Ware is a man of many talents, well known to the Atlanta and Middle Tennessee communities he’s been a part of all his life. A performer and music publisher with a background in the journalism industry, he’s adding another role to his extensive resumé as assistant vice president of the mortgage loan division for Wilson Bank & Trust. “Becoming proficient in any career requires a constant desire for understanding the needs of people,” Ware said. “It has been my experience that people all over the globe want the same things. A safe environment…
Author: Ashley Benkarski
By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — Merrill Lynch Wealth Management released the results of its recent study into the increasing number of affluent Black Americans and the ways in which they obtain and grow wealth. The report, titled “Diverse Viewpoints: Understanding Affluence in the United States,” defines “affluent” as a household making $125,000 or more and found affluent Black households have grown by 65 percent since 2015 compared to 53 percent of the general population. It’s common knowledge that Black Americans were locked out of generational wealth for centuries due to legal slavery and Jim Crow laws. When these practices…
By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — Attorneys with Brazil Clark, LLC is urging affected persons of a recent successful class action lawsuit to file claims for compensation before the Oct. 29 deadline. The class action suit, titled K.W., et al. v. Rutherford County, could award families a total of $11 million (or $1,000 to $5,000 per person), the firm said. The suit successfully challenged Rutherford County’s illegal arrest (“Always Arrest”) and detainment policy (“Filter System”) that impacted nearly 1,500 children. Due to these policies, Rutherford County’s juvenile detention rate was 10 times higher than anywhere else in the state, said…
By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — Heather Cohen may not look like most people’s idea of a private investigator, but that just works to her advantage. Oddly enough, her bright red hair and tattoos allow her the element of surprise, but it’s her tenacity to see justice served that’s led to a successful career in PI work and bounty hunting. Cohen is a PI featured on a new series, “Secrets, Lies, and Private Eyes” which also follows three other teams of dedicated women investigators. Cohen is based in Nashville but takes on cases around the state and in Kentucky. When…
By Ashley Benkarski Tennessee remains the state with the highest volume of new coronavirus cases per capita in recent weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that the delta variant is responsible for 82 percent of COVID-19 cases and was found to be 55 percent more transmissible than its predecessor, said Dr. April Kapu, President of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. The majority of current COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated. “It’s also important to note that unvaccinated patients are more likely to be hospitalized with the delta variant, and we are seeing younger patients in our hospitals…
By Ashley Benkarski MURFREESBORO, TN — A crowd of more than 100 people watched as City administrators and elected officials unveiled new signage to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. at Patterson Park Community Center on Saturday. Patterson Park is the destination for the City’s MLK Jr. Day March and will have its address on Mercury Blvd. renamed. The Commission’s authorization renames the two-mile stretch of Mercury from Southeast Broad Street to South Rutherford Boulevard. DeShawn Rogers read Dr. King’s “How Long” speech and Councilman Kirt Wade, who spearheaded the project, shared his experience and acknowledged those who helped make it…
By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — I’Ashea Myles, a lawyer with the noted Bone McAllester Norton law firm and mentee of the Honorable Richard H. Dinkins is running for District III Chancery Court judge in next year’s election taking place May 3. The Chancery Court hears cases involving business and property disputes, including intellectual-property claims, trusts, estates, and related matters. Myles’ experience extends beyond the realm of law — She began her professional career as a businesswoman in New York City and Nashville. This background complements her legal knowledge and will be an enhancement to the Court, she said, as…
By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — It’s been a big year for the Fisk Jubilee Singers, having won their first GRAMMY award on the 150th anniversary of their journey to England in spreading the message of life as a slave in the American South. Playwright and author Jamima B. Jones is partnering with local theatre company Dream 7 to share the Singers’ Underground Railroad tour in “The Story of Jubilee.” “In the Fall of 2009, while preparing to interview for a position as a Personnel Coordinator for a Los Angeles-based group of Jubilee Singers, I researched who the original Fisk…
By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — After decades of losing to Democrats the Republican party plans to dissolve those seats through gerrymandering, Representative Jim Cooper said in an interview. This is one of the most concerning issues facing the state, he explained, because the end result will carve Nashville up into districts explicitly favoring the GOP, which holds a supermajority. Cooper is one of only two Democratic legislators representing Tennessee in the House of Representatives, the other Steve Cohen of Memphis. Cooper currently serves the state’s 5th Congressional District which includes Nashville, Cheatham County and Dickson County. Redistricting happens once…
By Ashley Benkarski MURFREESBORO, TN — An unsolved shooting death is hopefully closer to being solved as Gov. Bill Lee approved a $10,000 reward. August 2, 2019 should have been a happy day for the Ray family as Terrell was celebrating his thirtieth birthday. However the night ended in tragedy as Terrell was shot by unknown assailant(s) in the early morning hours and his Ford Mustang was stolen from the Villager Condominiums in Murfreesboro. Since that day Ray’s family and friends have been denied the justice they deserve—Whoever pulled the trigger that night is still free. In an effort to…