T.I. – Live in Memphis!

In Memphis to film the finale of his reality TV show, "T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle," and lending his support to the Olympic Cares Toy Drive, T.I. opened up during a press conference at Southland Mall on Tuesday (Nov. 20).

Kelvin Cowans: Welcome to Memphis T.I., and thanks for coming!

T.I.: Right on!

Men of Excellence 2012: Recognition & inspiration

A tangible sense of family gripped The New Tri-State Defender's 4th Annual Men of Excellence Reception and Awards Dinner at the University of Memphis Holiday Inn last Saturday (Nov. 17.)

That sensation was made all the more real by the evening's keynote speaker, Dr. Willie W. Herenton, the first African American elected mayor of Memphis and the city's longest-serving mayor. He did not disappoint, delivering an address that added context to a dynamic event recognizing and honoring area African-American men for their contributions and achievements.

Ole Miss sets meeting over race-laced harassment

University of Mississippi Chancellor Dan Jones will meet Tuesday (Nov. 27) with Mary Woods and her son, Jamal Woods, regarding on-campus incidents of harassment made uglier by racial underpinnings.

The Rev. Dwight Montgomery, Memphis SCLC president, confirmed the meeting Tuesday (Nov. 20) after he and the Rev. L. LaSimba Gray, Rainbow PUSH Memphis president, held a press conference calling for the university to meet with the Woods family, SCLC Memphis and Rainbow PUSH.

BRIEFS & THINGS: 28th Annual Memphis Thanksgiving Dinner

The 28th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the Homeless and Hungry will be held on Thanksgiving Day, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Memphis Cook Convention Center.

MATA will provide free transportation on a special route to and from the event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Memphis, COGIC and the Bishop Porter ‘bridge’

Bishop Brandon B. Porter of Memphis says his election to the Church of God in Christ General Board was a matter of obedience – not ambition – and that he sees himself in the role of bridging a "disconnect" between the city and COGIC.

Porter, pastor of Memphis' Greater Community Temple COGIC, was elected Tuesday (Nov. 13) during COGIC's annual Convocation, which was held in St. Louis for the third consecutive year after 100-plus years in Memphis.

50 years down, Boys & Girls Clubs stepping into the present

Somehow, Michael Mallory's sneakers have always guided him down the path that led to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis. Whether it was walking a few blocks around the corner to the Barksdale Club, or hiking six miles from his Midtown home to the Samelson Club in Highland Heights, Mallory knew the Boys & Girls Clubs was his ticket to staying on the straight-and-narrow.

BRIEFS & THINGS: Pancreatic cancer awareness month

When Republican Gov. Bill Haslam officially declares November Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month next week, he will have no stronger bi-partisan supporter than State Rep. Lois DeBerry of Memphis.

DeBerry, Speaker Pro Tempore Emeritus, is a pancreatic cancer survivor. Last month, doctors delivered good news – no traces of the disease were detectable of the disease that she had been battling for almost three years.

Economics and education – a work in progress

If we didn't hear enough conversation about the economy during the 2012 presidential campaign, the day following the reelection of President Barack Obama (Nov 7) the conversation was still top of mind – but in a different setting.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Black Enterprise teamed to present a symposium on economics and education reform, entitled "Today's Business Crisis: Educating Tomorrow's Workforce." The setting was the Grand Ballroom of the Peabody Hotel downtown.

After sales tax defeat, which way is up?

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell Jr. says that the defeat of the proposed half-cent sales tax referendum should be taken as a clear signal that it's time for the body charged with unifying the schools to avoid any more distractions and get down to brass tacks.

As the county's chief executive, Luttrell will be heavily involved with the new system, and is part of the 21-member Shelby County Transition Planning Commission that is crafting the new school system.

Down goes Flinn; No sweat, says Cohen

No sweat, no threat, Congressman Steve Cohen told The New Tri State Defender following his trouncing of ninth-district GOP opponent Dr. George Flinn Jr. in Tuesday's election.

Defeating Flinn 188, 245 to 59,676, the victory ensures Cohen's fourth term in the seat.

TSD taps Dr. Herenton for Men of Excellence keynote

Former Memphis Mayor Dr. Willie. W. Herenton will be the keynote speaker when The New Tri-State Defender (TSD) hosts its fourth annual Men of Excellence Awards Reception and Presentation on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at The Holiday Inn University of Memphis, 3700 Central Avenue.

Civic engagement goes awry at University of Mississippi

OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi officials say they have initiated a thorough review of an election night incident that apparently degenerated into the use of uncivil language and racial epithets.

University of Mississippi police were notified by students shortly before midnight Tuesday (Nov. 6) that Twitter chatter was indicating students were gathering near the student union to protest the results of the election. The officers found 30-40 students gathered in front of the union, and over the next 20 minutes the gathering had grown to more than 400 students, many of whom were chanting political slogans.