The New Tri-State Defender - August 10-16, 2023

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August 10 - 16, 2023

VOL. 72, No. 32

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Mid-Southerners challenged to lose one million pounds in three years with new app Healthier901 kicks-off Sept. 2 at Shelby Farms Park

by Dena Owens

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Memphis Shelby County Schools Supt. Toni Williams shakes hands with the future during a visit to Highland Oaks Elementary School on the first day of classes. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

School is back in session!

TSD Newsroom Supt. Toni Williams’ Monday morning visit to Highland Oaks Elementary School signaled that the 2023-24 school year is in underway for Memphis Shelby County Schools.

With MSCS Board members Michelle McKissack and Mauricio Calvo alongside, Williams carved out time from her first-day-of-school tour schedule to talk about new initiatives.

“Let’s start with safety,” said Williams, noting that safety is “the topic” for much of the community at this time.

“I have wonderful board members who approved a $2.2 billion budget. And so we have over $50 million in this year’s budget on safety initiatives,” said Williams. “And so what parents, students can see is heavy presence (of)

SEE SCHOOL ON PAGE 2

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare is using technology to help mid-southerners lose a million pounds over three-years.

The recently announced initiative is driven by a free smartphone app.

MLH challenges the region to download its new weight loss app – Healthier901 – to support better health daily.

Healthier901 was created to reduce the risks for heart disease and cancer, the two leading causes of death in Shelby County and neighboring Desoto County, Mississippi.

MLH reported these findings in its 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment, a comprehensive survey the hospital conducts every three years.

Obesity, a key risk factor for heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes, reveals that maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for disease prevention.

Poverty, mental health status and limited access to health services also contribute to chronic diseases, according to the report.

“We can do what very few others have done and we’re going to do it together,” said Michael Ugwueke, president and CEO for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare.

“Our neighbors and community members are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases every day.

This challenge was built to help peo-

ple in the Mid-South live healthier lives and make lasting changes for future generations.”

Over the next three years, the Healthier901 app will provide tools and tips to help residents focus on factors in wellness, including weight loss and ways to gain better control of overall health.

The customizable app is compatible with Fitbit, Apple Watch and Samsung Health technologies, and allows participants to enter their weight and health data, and Michael track weight loss Ugwueke progress.

Using the app, participants can connect with fellow users, invite friends or co-workers, and engage in events and activities, all while choosing options for healthier eating and daily physical activity.

More than 42 percent of Americans are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, raising the risks for weight-related diseases, higher healthcare costs and daily living difficulties.

In 2022, a WalletHub report compared 100 U.S. cities to identify those with the most weight-related health struggles.

Memphis ranked second in obesity

SEE HEALTH ON PAGE 2

Gov. Lee calls lawmakers back to address guns, public safety after school shooting

by Marta W. Aldrich Chalkbeat Tennessee

Defying Tennessee’s powerful gun lobby, Gov. Bill Lee said Tuesday he’s calling lawmakers back to the state Capitol on Aug. 21 to take up public safety proposals after a shooter killed three children and three adults at a Nashville school this spring.

The Republican governor, whose wife knew several of the adult victims at the private church campus known as The Covenant School, wants legislators in one of the nation’s most gun-friendly states to pass a law to keep firearms out of the hands of people who could hurt themselves or others.

The 28-year-old shooter at The Covenant School was shot and killed by police on the campus after using legally purchased firearms in the March 27 attack. Authorities later

said the shooter was seeing a doctor for an “emotional disorder.”

In calling for a law allowing “temporary mental health orders of protection,” Lee has tried to satisfy gun rights advocates who view any restrictions as an infringement of Second Amendment rights.

“As our nation faces evolving public safety threats, Tennessee remains vigilant and is taking continued action to protect communities while preserving the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens,” Lee said in a statement.

But Democrats said Lee’s official proclamation doesn’t go far enough to try to address the proliferation of guns across Tennessee.

“For such a broad call, this proclamation somehow manages to miss the target,” said Rep. John Ray Clem-

SEE GUNS ON PAGE 2

Backing Justin Pearson …

Justin Pearson hugs a supporter at a watch-party celebration of his victory in the Special Election for Tennessee House District 86. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

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The New Tri-State Defender

August 10 - 16, 2023

Page 2

NEWS

GUNS

CONTINUED FROM FRONT mons of Nashville, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus.

Lee’s proclamation is important because it sets the legal parameters for what they can and can’t take up.

The list of what’s fair game is long and includes mental health resources, providers, and related Medicaid coverage; school safety policies; measures encouraging safe storage of firearms; and timely law enforcement access to criminal and juvenile records, as well as to records for individuals “who are subject to mental health commitment.”

It also includes stalking offenses, reports from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation regarding human trafficking, the structure or operations of state or local courts, and limiting the circumstances in which juvenile records may be expunged.

The call comes after the governor met privately this summer with small groups of lawmakers to talk through his proposal and their ideas for quelling gun violence and increasing school safety in hopes of eventually passing meaningful legislation.

Then just a week ago, police in Memphis shot a man suspected of trying to enter a Jewish school with a gun.

Meanwhile, advocates on both sides of the gun debate have pressed Lee to pursue or abandon the special session.

Last weekend, the state’s Republican executive committee adopted a resolution encouraging Lee to back off, while groups like the National Rifle Association and the National Association for Gun Rights have urged legislators to oppose any gun control measures.

“We expect Tennessee Republicans to stand firm in their defense of the Second Amendment and vote to adjourn the special session upon its start in August,” Dudley Brown, president of the gun rights association, said last month.

On the other side, numerous gun control advocates have launched campaigns promoting firearm safety legislation. A Democratic-backed bus tour of the state kicks off Wednesday in Memphis to talk with Tennesseans about gun violence.

Everytown for Gun Safety is spending $100,000 on digital ads, while Voices for a Safer Tennessee released a video message featuring the mother of Evelyn Diekhaus, one of the victims, on what would have been her 10th birthday.

“What’s more important?” asked Katy Dieckhaus, in her emotional plea for “responsible firearm safety laws that will work toward protecting our children and their right to life.”

The shooting at Covenant happened as lawmakers were meeting in their regular session, sparking daily mass demonstrations at the Capitol by Tennesseans protesting loose gun laws, especially those allowing easy access to militarystyle semiautomatic weapons.

Lawmakers responded by passing the governor’s sweeping school safety plan, which pumped $230 million more into hardening public and private K-12 schools by hiring additional armed security guards, upgrading school buildings, and placing a homeland security agent in every Tennessee county, among other things.

But most of them rebuffed Lee’s proposal to pass a law to restrict gun access for people experiencing a mental health crisis. Instead, after a House vote to expel two Democratic

Gov. Bill Lee has called for a gun law in Tennessee aimed at people experiencing a mental health crisis. Lee spoke with reporters April 11 after visiting with officers at a police precinct that responded when a shooter killed three children and three adults at a Nashville school on March 27, 2023.

(Photo: Marta W. Aldrich/ Chalkbeat) representatives for the way they protested the failure to pursue significant gun reforms, the GOP-controlled legislature rushed to adjourn in May without revisiting those laws. Lee quickly vowed to call a special session on the matter.

The governor has lobbied for Tennessee to pass a law on “extreme risk protection orders” and has avoided references to a so-called red flag law, which he has described as a “toxic political label.” Nineteen states have such laws on the books, including Florida, which passed its version after 17 people were murdered in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, despite numerous complaints to law enforcement about threatening statements by the 19-year-old gunman.

An extreme risk order allows courts to temporarily remove guns — typically for up to a year — from people deemed a threat to themselves or others. Family members or law enforcement often must petition a court for an order.

Soon after issuing his proclamation, Lee came under fire from both sides of the debate.

Senate Democratic Leader Raumesh Akbari of Memphis said the governor’s proclamation will prevent most gun safety reforms from being debated during the upcoming session.

“A promise to do something to stop future shootings was made to Covenant parents, but sadly this proclamation eliminates many paths forward,” Akbari said in a statement.

Victims in the Nashville shooting were students Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all age 9; and three school staff members: custodian Mike Hill and substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, both 61, and Katherine Koonce, 60, the head of the school.

(Marta Aldrich is a senior correspondent and covers the statehouse for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Contact her at maldrich@chalkbeat.org.)

Memphis Shelby County Schools Supt. Toni Williams (far right) teamed with board members (l-r) Mauricio Calvo and Michelle McKissack. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

SCHOOL

CONTINUED FROM FRONT safety and security officers, along with safety monitors.

You’ll see fencing this year, you’ll see weapons detection.

So that is a huge investment.”

In addition, said Williams, the new school year will bring “a heavy focus on academics, literacy and extended learning … and nutrition.”

Acknowledging that McKissack, former school board president, had emphasized the need to get “simple things like nutrition” right, Williams said, “you will see this year a heavy

HEALTH

CONTINUED FROM FRONT only behind McAllen, Texas, based on 19 factors.

MLH – the best hospital in the Mid-South according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2023-2024 ranking – is addressing this concern through Healthier901.

The app will capture combined weight loss data by zip code.

“Healthier901 is for the entire family, no matter where each person is on their health journey,” said Ugwueke.

“Building and maintaining a supportive community is key for long-term success.”

Healthier901 kick-off event On Saturday, Sept. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., MLH will kick-off its Healthier901 initiative during a free event at Shelby Farms Park, Memphis.

breakfast and lunch menu. My daughter’s especially excited about the chicken Alfredo. … We’re really committed to making sure that we serve our students and all of our MSCS community well.”

Calvo, who just recently joined the board after being named to fill out the vacant District 5 term, said he took advantage of having arrived early and visited reading classrooms.

“I was so excited to see many classrooms with two people in the classroom, two adults. And that is something so important, something that at the board we want to con-

tinue to push for because we know our teachers need more assistants, especially during those early grades so we can push reading,” he said.

“We wish everybody a really successful year,” he said.

“Parents need to know that it’s not too late to register, even though school has started. We need them to register because we cannot deploy teachers and resources until people register.”

Aside from their formal remarks, Williams, McKissack and Calvo visited classrooms, taking time to interact with students, teachers and administrators.

“Whether you lose 10 pounds, 100 pounds or just become more active, Healthier901 can yield tremendous health benefits for everyone.”

— Tabrina Davis

event.

Employees of MLH had first access to the app on Aug. 9; public access starts later in August.

At the end of three-years, MLH will review wide-reaching effects of the app, including total pounds lost, participant feedback and health-related outcomes.

“Whether you lose 10 pounds, 100 pounds or just become more active, Healthier901 can yield tremendous health benefits for everyone,” said Tabrina Davis, vice president of MLH Marketing & Communications.

Through media partners, the public can track the region’s weight loss progress from month to month, she said.

focus as well on our nutrition menu.”

McKissack, who is running for mayor, represents District One. “I’m very excited about this year’s theme – ‘See the Future’ – because the future is so bright. We have so much that we’ve been working on to build upon for our students in terms of academic success, setting them up for success with tutoring and things of that nature.”

As for the nutrition changes, McKissack said, “Everybody’s talking about it because we had new items on our

Open to the public, the event will feature healthy cooking demonstrations with celebrity chefs, live fitness workouts for all physical levels, onsite health screenings, family fun activities for children and adults, and sponsor giveaways.

Physicians will be on hand to answer health questions.

Event sponsors include Action News 5, Nike, Kroger, Cigna Healthcare and other community partners.

“We are incredibly grateful to our generous sponsors who understand the dire need for this initiative and the challenges our community faces when pursuing a healthier lifestyle,”

said Ugwueke.

“There is power in numbers, and together, we are committed to creating pathways to success for anyone in our community.”

John Webb, president of Cigna Healthcare Tri-South, said, “We are proud to partner with Methodist Le Bonheur on this important program to improve the health and vitality of the Memphis community.”

“Together, we’re building on our longtime relationship with MLH to help the people we both serve live longer, healthier and happier lives.”

MLH will soon announce more details about the kickoff

(For more information and to enroll in the Healthier901 challenge, visit: Healthier901.com.)

The New Tri-State Defender

August 10 - 16, 2023

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PERSPECTIVE The New Tri-State Defender, August 10 - 16, 2023, Page 4

Charles J. Ogletree Jr. ‘Tree’ always called us his students regardless of what we went on to accomplish in life, be it Ron and I, or the ultimate power couple, former president and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama.

— Stephanie Robinson

Few stood quite as tall as Charles ‘Tree’ Ogletree Jr.

by Stephanie Robinson Thegrio.com

There is an age-old question, one skirting both science and perception, that asks whether a tree falling in a forest makes a sound if there is no one around to hear it.

Though countless individuals through the ages have unsuccessfully grappled with this scenario, for me, the answer to this question has recently become very clear. If that tree was a world-renowned civil rights attorney and famed Harvard Law professor named Charles, then the answer is a resounding and definitive yes.

Charles J. Ogletree Jr. — appropriately and affectionately nicknamed “Tree” — left us on Aug. 4 while at his home in Odenton, Maryland, after struggling for years with Alzheimer’s. I knew him both professionally Stephanie and personally. He Robinson was both my teacher and my friend.

The professional part is already the stuff of legend. A Harvard Law professor, famed civil rights attorney, scholar and media personality, the Merced, California, native received his B.A. and M.A. in political science from Stanford University before earning his J.D. from Harvard Law. In 1984, Tree joined Harvard Law School as a lecturer after spending the better part of a decade representing clients at the Public Defender Service in Washington, D.C. His impact at Harvard Law was massive: founding the university’s Criminal Justice Institute in 1990, which trains and enables student lawyers to represent indigent defendants in the Boston area; becoming the Jesse Climenko Professor of Law in 1998; establishing the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law in 2005, a nationally renowned center focused on issues of social justice and equal opportunity; and creating the Saturday School program, a platform supporting Black students and their critical study of the law.

Tree’s impact beyond the university was as sizable, representing celebrity clients like Tupac Shakur and Anita Hill, using his national media platform to advance issues of law and social justice, authoring numerous books on race and society, and mentoring countless students, lawyers, political figures, and social justice warriors within and beyond the law school.

The personal part speaks more to his impact on my family, my friends and me.

Tree was my professor when I entered law school in the 1990s. I worked with him and Professor Derrick Bell as a spokesperson for the movement to get a tenured Black female professor here at Harvard, which

Charles J. Ogletree Jr., lawyer for Anita Hill, speaks to reporters as Paul Minor, behind, looks outside the Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 13, 1991. (AP Photo/John Duricka, File)

Professor Charles J. Ogletree Jr. accepts the chairman’s award at the 48th annual NAACP Image Awards at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Feb. 11, 2017, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo: Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File) ultimately resulted in the hiring of the late Lani Guinier. Tree, along with Bell and Guinier, poured their knowledge, wisdom and insight into me, and I drank up everything they offered.

I was the youngest member of the four-person team on the first Harvard Law School trial team that Tree created.

We won. I took the Winter Trial Advocacy Workshop (TAW), an intensive course in trial analysis, skills, and techniques and practically lived in the Criminal Justice Institute, two of his signature initiatives.

Tree taught me about law, legal ethics, social justice and fairness. He joked that I would never be rich because my heart, passion and compassion were too deep to ever stop serving the people.

Along with my then-boyfriend and

now-husband, Harvard Law professor Ron Sullivan, we babysat Tree’s children while in law school. He ultimately became the godfather of ours.

Tree continued to guide me, even insisting that I work abroad in Kenya for a year after graduating from law school. He told me that Ron would come with me or I could leave him behind.

Later, as I established myself in my own career, Tree became my colleague and associate in many ways. Still, throughout our professional relationship and our friendship, he was always the teacher, and I, the student.

He and his amazing wife, Pam, taught me how to live in an active and fierce way while modeling how Ron and I could be true life partners. We watched and learned

from them as we vacationed at Martha’s Vineyard, chatted in their home or watched their children.

Tree was the biggest advocate for Ron and I becoming the first Black masters/faculty deans in the school’s history at Harvard University. Tree always called us his students regardless of what we went on to accomplish in life, be it Ron and I, or the ultimate power couple, former president and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama.

He often joked that Michelle and Barack were his students, like Ron and me, but that he liked me and Michelle a whole lot better, that we were the true stars.

From the moment I entered law school back in the early ’90s, like a firmly rooted tree, Tree was always there.

Later, particularly for those who knew him well, it was difficult when he started acting erratically, prior to his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Ultimately, this terrible disease stole everything and, once he retired and left Massachusetts, we were no longer able to keep in touch as he sometimes remembered us, but then did not.

But we, undoubtedly, will always remember Tree.

For there is truly no earthly forest big enough to quiet such an impact.

(Stephanie Robinson, Esq. is a lecturer on law at Harvard Law School, where she teaches on issues of democracy, media, and race, and their intersections with the law. She is the president of Sly Bear Media Group. She is the former chief counsel to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and was the political and social commentator for “The Tom Joyner Morning Show,” offering her perspective weekly to over 10 million people on the day’s most pressing issues.)

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The New Tri-State Defender

Redd Watson

August 10 - 16, 2023

RELIGION

Page 5

Jubilee Hummingbirds (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

Jubilee Hummingbirds celebrate 85 years TSD Newsroom The life and legacy of the Jubilee Hummingbirds was celebrated last Sunday (Aug. 6) at the Church Ministries, 1219 Finley Rd. The Jubilee Hummingbirds trace their roots back 85 years. The Rev. William “Redd” Watson has been part of the musical group for 41 years.

“The performance was a great thing,” said Watson. “We started to look over it, but by it being the 85th anniversary, we wanted to celebrate it with the people. We opened the doors just for the public.

“We appreciate all the support they have done for us down through the years.”

The Jubilee Hummingbirds helped to define a style of showmanship and enthusiastic shouting that became synonymous with the jubilee quartet genre. Secular singers, such as James Brown and Jackie Wilson, adopted the style of performing during their popular stage acts of the 1960s.

As for the future, Watson said, “We are just holding up the bloodstained banner.”

He added a reference to the Jubilee Hum-

mingbirds one day becoming the oldest quartet in Memphis.

The goal, said Watson, is to be “an enhancement for the children to come behind us.”

Last year at a Love and Benefit concert in his honor, Watson reflected.

“We were started in the ’40s by Clarence Johnson,” he said at the time. “We always honor him as our founder. In 1964, we recorded at Stax. In the fall of 1968, we started performing each week on ‘Songs of Praise,’ a local gospel program on WREG Channel 3.”

Watson recalled then that at their busiest the Jubilee Hummingbirds were singing through the week, twice on Saturday, and three times on Sunday.

“Those were wonderful days,” he said.

“Not only did we go all over the MidSouth, we were singing in Chicago, just all over. Those were wonderful days. Now, many of the old guys have passed away.

“We want to tell these younger members about our history and what those members did back then to make Jubilee Hummingbirds what they are. Our history must be kept alive.”

Moments of Joy

Bell Sisters

In support of families and children…

Armor Up Ministries delivered back-to-school support during a weekend event held at Pine Hill Community Center in advance of the start of the new school year. (Photos: Tyrone P. Easley/The New Tri-State Defender)

The New Tri-State Defender

August 10 - 16, 2023

Page 6

NEWS

“And most harmful of all, the redistricting plan attacked African American voters, both diluting our voices, our vote and people who look like me, and other people of color, from electing candidates of our choice.”

— former state Sen. Brenda Gilmore

Lawsuit says Tennessee’s US House and state Senate maps discriminate against communities of color

by Jonathan Mattise Associated Press

NASHVILLE – Tennessee is facing its first court challenge over a congressional redistricting map that carved up Democratic-leaning Nashville to help Republicans flip a seat in last year’s elections, a move that the plaintiffs say has unconstitutionally diluted the power of Black voters and other communities of color.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in Nashville says the U.S. House maps and those for the state Senate amount to unconstitutional racial gerrymandering under the 14th and 15th amendments. The plaintiffs include the Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP, the African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee, the Equity Alliance, the League of Women Voters of Tennessee and several Tennessee voters, including former state Sen. Brenda Gilmore.

By splintering Nashville into three Republican-majority districts that

stretch into rural counties, Tennessee’s congressional maps sparked significant pushback and threats of litigation from Democrats after Republicans drew them up early last year.

With the new lines in play, former Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper of Nashville declined to seek reelection, saying he couldn’t win any of the three new seats drawn to split the city during the once-a-decade redistricting process. The Republican advantage held true, as Rep. John Rose won reelection by about 33 percentage points, Rep. Mark Green won another term by 22 points, and Rep. Andy Ogles won his first term by 13 points in the district vacated by Cooper.

The strategy shifted Tennessee to eight Republicans in the U.S. House, with just one Democrat left in Memphis Rep. Steve Cohen.

“The Tennessee Legislature split Nashville into three districts and splintered my neighborhoods,” said Gilmore, a former Democratic state senator who is Black. “And most

harmful of all, the redistricting plan attacked African American voters, both diluting our voices, our vote and people who look like me, and other people of color, from electing candidates of our choice.”

Additionally, the lawsuit challenges state Senate District 31 in majority-Black Shelby County, including part of Memphis. It’s represented by Republican Sen. Brent Taylor.

The new lawsuit in Tennessee comes as the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up a redistricting challenge over South Carolina’s congressional lines similarly on 14th and 15th amendment claims. In that case, a panel of federal judges previously ruled that a congressional district there was intentionally redrawn to split Black neighborhoods to dilute their voting power.

“The South Carolina case is absolutely relevant to our case because the claims in this case and that case are identical. They’re very similar,” said Pooja Chaudhuri, an attorney with The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, one of the

legal groups that helped bring the lawsuit.

Mitchell Brown of the Lawyers’ Committee said the choice not to file the Tennessee lawsuit earlier helped in part because the attorneys were able to see the results of 2022 elections, during which Black and brown voters’ candidates of choice lost by big margins. That includes Odessa Kelly, a Black Democrat defeated

by Rep. Green in one congressional race.

Republican legislative leaders in Tennessee have said population shifts elsewhere in the growing state and significant growth in and around Nashville justified dividing the city up. They have contended that they met the legal requirements needed to withstand any lawsuits.

The lawsuit also accuses Republican lawmakers of passing the maps through a “opaque, inadequate, and rushed process designed to forestall public scrutiny, minimize backlash, and stifle any meaningful debate or dissent.”

Meanwhile, Tennessee’s state

legislative maps are still facing another lawsuit on state constitutional grounds. A ruling could be handed down sometime soon.

Tennessee’s previous congressional map before the 2022 redistricting process kept Nashville together in one seat, extending into two additional counties and totaling about a 24% Black population. That means that Nashville likely doesn’t have enough minority voters to make up a district’s majority — a key number to hit for certain protections under the Voting Rights Act. However, the lawsuit instead focuses on other rights under the U.S. Constitution.

In 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that partisan gerrymandering of congressional and legislative districts is none of its business, limiting those claims to be decided in state courts under their own constitutions and laws.

Republicans in South Carolina’s case, in part, said they were driven by political interests, not race, in drawing their maps.

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COMMUNITY The New Tri-State Defender, August 10 - 16, 2023, Page 7

Council vote sets up final action on City Clerk election option

by James Coleman

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Memphis City Council members jumped another hurdle to possibly restore the City Clerk to an elected position, after unanimously approving a resolution to include the referendum question on this year’s city election ballot.

The council’s action took place during the body’s Tuesday (Aug. 8) meeting. If approved on third reading, the referendum would ask voters to undo an earlier council vote.

In June, members unanimously passed an ordinance vesting appointment power to the three Memphis City Court judges. The appointee would need council approval.

The vote also removed the clerk’s

position from the upcoming ballot in October.

Current City Clerk Myron Lowery’s term ends with the calendar year.

Members were pressed into the ordinance, after an in-progress review of the City Charter by council attorney Allan Wade and city chief legal officer Jennifer Sink uncovered an inconsistency that originated in 1975.

That year, a referendum was passed to make the Clerk’s Office an elected position during a city election. The ballot question, however, should have taken place concurrently with a Shelby County election held during an even-numbered year.

Council members Tuesday were also like-minded about a referendum ordinance asking Memphians

if city employees should be required to live within Shelby County limits.

It also passed unanimously in its second reading.

If approved in its third reading, the question will also be included on October’s ballot.

City elections are Oct. 5.

According to the City of Memphis Human Resource Department website residency requirement webpage, as of Jan. 3, 2011, all City of Memphis Government employees have been required to be residents of the county. The exceptions are those hired before Jan. 3, 2005, who can reside outside the boundaries.

The requirement also makes exceptions for police officers.

Both consent agenda items were sponsored by Chairman Martavius Jones.

Activists banned from school property can’t return early, federal judge rules

by Laura Testino Chalkbeat Tennessee

A sign of respect …

An honorary street name dedication ceremony for former State Rep. Barbara Cooper was held last Friday (Aug. 4) at Navy Park and South Second St. The long-serving Cooper represented District 86. She was 93 when she died on Oct. 25, 2022. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

Two of the Memphis activists who were banned in May from entering Memphis-Shelby County Schools property lost a bid in court to have their bans lifted early.

But a federal judge said last Friday (Aug. 4) that the merits of their broader case against the school district will depend on answers to several pending questions, including how the district decides whether to issue such bans and what its policies are on regulating public comment.

The bans on the two activists – LJ Abraham and Amber Sherman – are due to expire Friday (Aug. 11). They are among five activists who were barred from entering school buildings and board offices after a tense board meeting in May involving the district’s search for a new superintendent.

The bans on the other three – Damon Curry Morris, Tikeila Rucker, and Rachael Spriggs – had already expired, and the judge ruled their request for an injunction moot.

The orders to ban the activists from district property, first issued through the district and the Memphis Police Department, threatened them with criminal trespassing charges if they violated the ban. In initial statements to the media following the

May meeting, district officials said the bans were due to “disruptive” behavior and threats to public safety.

The district later provided their first explanations of the bans in letters to the activists that also included the expiration dates.

The five sued in federal court in June, alleging that MSCS was “conspiring” to prevent them from advocating for a transparent process to hiring the next superintendent.

Their attorneys asked a judge for an injunction lifting the bans on the grounds that the district had violated their constitutional rights to access public meetings.

But U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman wrote in her ruling late Friday that the activists hadn’t provided the court evidence that they were banned “because of the viewpoints they expressed.” She dismissed an argument from the plaintiffs’ attorney that, without an injunction, the district would be likely to issue more bans against the activists as their lawsuit proceeds.

Abraham and Sherman have acknowledged that they dropped small devices that made an alarm sound at the end of the May meeting.

The alarms figured prominently in testimony and arguments for the district during a hearing on the injunction July 13. MSCS’ top security official, Carolyn Jackson, a named

defendant in the suit, testified that the activists posed safety threats.

Attorneys for the activists “presented no evidence rebutting Jackson’s testimony,” Lipman wrote.

But her ruling said she had several remaining questions about how district officials decided to issue the bans and communicate them, about what governs those decisions, and about policies governing public comment. Answers to those questions will help determine whether the bans are constitutional, Lipman wrote.

Lipman said at the July hearing that regardless of her ruling on the preliminary injunction, she expected the case over the bans to continue, acknowledging that it raises “important issues.”

Ben Gastel, the attorney for the activists, told Chalkbeat: “We look forward to proceeding with the next phase of this case and ensuring that our clients constitutional rights are protected and preserved.”

Attorneys for MSCS did not respond to requests for comment Monday.

The case is set for non-jury trial in October 2024.

(Laura Testino covers Memphis-Shelby County Schools for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Reach Laura at LTestino@chalkbeat.org.)

Lining up with Bonner …

Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. now has the backing of the Association of City Retired Employees (ACRE) in his bid to become the next mayor of Memphis.

ACRE Vice President Dan Martello said the endorsement was a break from the group’s decades-long policy of neutrality because “the stakes are just too high this year for us an organization to stay on the sidelines.” (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/ GSW Enterprises/The New TriState Defender)

Ready for “Big Girl” school …

For four-year-old Zaniah Holst, the start of the Memphis Shelby County Schools’ new school year meant it was time for her to attend “Big Girl” school. In her case, that’s Snowden School at 1870 N. Parkway. Zaniah’s mother is Brittany Holst, a former iTeen reporter for The New Tri-State Defender. (Photo: Brittany Holst)

The New Tri-State Defender

NEWS

August 10 - 16, 2023

CLASSIFIEDS NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Memphis YMCAs to expand access to affordable primary care for businesses, individuals TSD Newsroom Greater Memphis Chamber subsidiary Chamber Benefits, Inc., the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South, and WeCare tlc have formed a partnership to open primary care health centers at YMCA locations across Greater Memphis starting in 2024.

The partners are in the process of determining which YMCA locations will house the first three ChamberCare Health Centers. Target markets are Whitehaven, Downtown, and Cordova.

Businesses of all sizes can enroll their employees in the program for $40 per month per employee, which will allow them to offer employee health care at a more affordable cost.

Similarly, individuals can also enroll for $40 per month. Dependents are included at no extra charge.

“This is a partnership united by its love of Memphis and desire to see greater access to primary care throughout our community,” said Ted Townsend, president and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber.

“ChamberCare Health Centers are designed to improve not only the health of our community but of our economy.

Enrolling in this program will help small businesses, which create two out of every three jobs, provide their employees with exceptional benefits at low costs in a highly competitive jobs market.”

After opening the first two health centers, the partners plan to open a new health center in or near a different local YMCA for every 2,000 lives enrolled in the program, including dependents.

“At the Y, strengthening community is our cause,” said Jerry Martin, president and CEO of YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South. “This partnership perfectly aligns with our mission to support programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

“Providing access to quality healthcare, especially in areas with fewer options, enables us to broaden our services to continue to help families and individuals thrive on their journey to wellness.”

The ChamberCare Health Centers will be operated by WeCare tlc, a nationally recognized and Tennessee-certified Woman Business Enterprise that operates health centers across the nation. Each of the approximately 2,500-squarefoot centers will have full-time staffs, including primary care physicians and health coaches.

“WeCare tlc delivers proactive primary care solutions that prevent and manage costly conditions, while allowing our clients to provide an exceptional benefit to attract and retain top talent,” said Raegan Le Douaron, president and CEO of WeCare tlc. “Primary care can address an estimated 95 percent of health issues, making this an affordable, equitable solution for potentially tens of thousands of Memphians.”

Chamber Benefits, Inc. (CBI), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chamber dedicated to providing the highest quality, most cost-effective employee benefit products to Memphis businesses, will help promote and administer the ChamberCare clinics.

(For more information or to sign up, visit https://wecaretlc.com/wecare-tlc-memphis.)

“Primary care can address an estimated 95 percent of health issues, making this an affordable, equitable solution for potentially tens of thousands of Memphians.”

— Raegan Le Douaron

Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000811 SCSO Electrical Bid. Information regarding this Bid is located on the County’s website at www.shelbycountytn.gov . At the top of the home page, click on the dropdown box under “Business”, Click on “Purchasing” and “Bids” to locate the name of the above-described Sealed Bid. SEALED BID I000811 DUE DATE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2023 AT 2:00 PM CST (SB-I000811) SCSO Electrical Bid Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://meet.goto.com/555610741 You can also dial in using your phone.

(For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.)

United States: +1 (571) 317-3122 - One-touch: tel:+15713173122,,555610741# Access Code: 555-610-741 MANDATORY PRE-BID MEETING – A mandatory pre-proposal meeting to address questions will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. (CST) at SCSO Training Academy, 993 Dovecrest, Memphis, TN 38134.

Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.

By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

NOTICE TO BIDDERS Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000818 SCSO Substation Remodel. Information regarding this Bid is located on the County’s website at www.shelbycountytn. gov . At the top of the home page, click on the dropdown box under “Business”, Click on “Purchasing” and “Bids” to locate the name of the above-described Sealed Bid. SEALED BID I000818 DUE DATE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 AT 2:00 PM CST (SB-I000818) SCSO Substation Remodel Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://meet.goto.com/806065493 You can also dial in using your phone.

(For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.)

United States: +1 (872) 240-3311

Page 8

- One-touch: tel:+18722403311,,806065493# Access Code: 806-065-493 MANDATORY PRE-BID MEETING – A mandatory preproposal meeting to address questions will be held on Friday, August 18, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

(CST) at SCSO Substation, 11670 Memphis-Arlington Road, Arlington, TN 38002.

Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.

By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: Tony Lee Tax Parcel #: 04301000000330 Tax Sale #: 704 Price Offered: $1.012.50 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 12:00 p.m. on September 8, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: LaSonja Jones Tax Parcel #: 02904200000270 Tax Sale #: 1902 Price Offered: $2,500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of

The New Tri-State Defender

at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 11:30 a.m. on September 8, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

LaSonja Jones Tax Parcel #: 02905100000150 Tax Sale #: 1902 Price Offered: $3,000.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 11:00 a.m. on September 8, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: GMG REAL ESTATE LLC Tax Parcel #: 0890510A000330

STANDARD RATES: $6.00 per line for 1 column ad.

Tax Sale #: 1702 Price Offered: $10,700.00 Terms: Cash

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property:

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

DEADLINES: Display ads Friday 5 p.m.

Classifieds ads Monday 5 p.m.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Some categories require prepayment.

All ads subject to credit approval. The

NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150

1509 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN 38104 PH (901) 523-1818 HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:30 a.m. on September 8, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: The Restoration Team, LLC Tax Parcel #: 05901100001060 Tax Sale #: 1701 Price Offered: $63,300.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during

Page 9

CLASSIFIEDS

THE NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER CLASSIFIEDS

Rates are non-commissionable and are quoted at the net rate. No refund for early cancellation. For additional information contact Sales Dept. at (901) 746-5201 or email: advertising@tsdmemphis.com.

Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150

August 10 - 16, 2023

New Tri-State Defender reserves the right to correctly classify and edit all copy or to reject or cancel any ad at any time. Only standard abbreviations accepted. Copy change during ordered schedule constitutes new ad & new changes. Deadlines for cancellation are identical to placement deadlines. Rates subject to change.

ADJUSTMENTS: PLEASE check your ad the first day it appears. Call (901) 523-1818 if an error occurs. We can only offer in-house credit and NO REFUNDS are issued.

THE NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER assumes no financial responsibility for errors nor for copy omission.

Direct any classified billing inquires to (901) 523-1818.

this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m. on September 8, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: The Restoration Team, LLC Tax Parcel #: 05208200000850 Tax Sale #: 1703 Price Offered: $23,400.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If ad-

ditional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:00 a.m. on September 8, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property:

James Jackson and Laura Jackson Tax Parcel #: 06016200000040 Tax Sale #: 1802 Price Offered: $4600.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 10:00 a.m. on September 7, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest and best offer without warranties of any sort.

Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150

Shelby County Land Bank 1075 MULLINS STATION, BLDG. E-1 MEMPHIS, TN 38134 (901) 222-1150 NOTICE OF PROPOSED SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

BY SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Notice is hereby given, pursuant to T.C.A. §67-5-2507, that Shelby County Government has received an Offer to Purchase for the following property: LaSonja Jones Tax Parcel #: 02904300000050 Tax Sale #: 1902 Price Offered: $2,500.00 Terms: Cash Additional Offers to Purchase, of at least ten percent (10%) higher, may be submitted within Ten (10) working days of this notice. If additional offers are received during this ten (10) day period, all prospective Purchasers must attend a Public “Bid Off” at 9:30 a.m. on September 8, 2023, to be held in the Shelby County Land Bank Office, to determine the highest and best offer. The property shall thereafter be sold to the prospective Purchaser making the highest

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The New Tri-State Defender

August 10 - 16, 2023

Page 10

SPORTS

Memphis Pro-Am is a growing part of the local hoops mix

At Melrose, the Golden Wildcats look to up their game

by Terry Davis

by Terry Davis

Melrose High School is looking to build upon a successful season under second-year head coach Derrick Bobo.

The backdrop includes the glory days when the school consistently competed for state championships and last season’s 9-2 record, which began with four straight wins. The season ended with a 42-32 loss to Obion County in the first round of the state playoffs.

As for the biggest lesson he learned from last season, Bobo said, “For me being a young head coach, I have to have patience with these young men.

I have to understand we all have one common goal and we are not going to meet that goal or expectation on day one. We have to continue to believe in these young men and chop wood and continue to be a great leader.”

Asked if the success last season helped in recruiting, Bobo said, “Yes and no. Success made some people get lazy, but success opened the eyes of some, and they wanted to part of the success.”

The team has seven players returning on offense, with six starters returning on defense.

The Golden Wildcats’ will depend heavily on the offensive side of the ball this season. Junior running back Ryan Brown will be the work horse again. He led the city in rushing last season with 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns. Sadat Muhammad 20 touchdowns (and 4 interceptions).

The offensive line will feature senior center Irving Jackson and Kaiden Harris, the six-foot, 275-pound

For Memphians, basketball is a year-round sport and the Memphis Pro-Am, which is rolling through its second season, is a solid part of the local hoops mix.

Basketball enthusiasts have been treated to several professional players and amateur players playing side by side. Cameron Payne, a Memphis native now Terry playing for the Davis Phoenix Suns, played earlier in this summer.

And former University of Memphis Tigers guard could be spotted playing with two highly touted Class of 2024 recruits, Billy Richmond Jr. and Curtis Givens III. Both players are high on the list of wanted players for next season for Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway.

Richmond, the son of former Memphis Tiger and owner of the Wing Guru, Billy Richmond Sr., is completing his senior season at Camden High School in New Jersey. He is being highly recruited, including by the Tigers and the University of Kentucky.

“It is a great opportunity for me to showcase my talents,” Richmond said about being in the city for the Memphis Pro-Am. “I wanted to give back to Memphis and give them a show.”

So, when is he going to make this

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Special to The New Tri-State Defender

Melrose head coach Derrick Bobo: “For me being a young head coach, I have to have patience with these young men.”

(Photo: Terry Davis/The New Tri-State Defender) junior guard.

Cameron Miller, a 5’11” 160-pound safety, will be the defensive leader. According to Bobo, Miller has a high football IQ, is physical and represents the Melrose brand of football.

Lonnie Tate, a junior linebacker, had over 100 tackles last season.

With a small roster, Bobo and his staff will have to make judicious use of two-way players.

“The thing about a skill guy is he is going to run all day. We have to elevate it on which guys can play both ways and in what situations. When we get to the playoffs, we have created some depth and we don’t have to play as many players both ways.”

Melrose was undefeated last season in Shelby County. The season starts for the Golden Wildcats on Aug. 18 against the East Mustangs.

“I think we are right where we need to be,” said Bobo. “The boys are excited. I am excited. I am trying to keep everyone focused and locked in.

I am trying to create brotherhood and a culture and a mission of excellence, so we can get to our goal. That is a state championship.”

Curtis Givens III has blossomed as a point guard since leaving Bartlett High School to attend prep school.

Billy Richmond Jr. is highly-touted recruit for the Class of 2024. (Photos: Terry Davis/ The New Tri-State Defender)

announcement?

“I have two dates in mind. The first one is before school and the other is right before basketball season,” he said.

Givens, the son of Memphis promoter Curtis Givens Jr., is playing for prep powerhouse Monteverde.

The 6’2” point guard has blossomed since leaving Bartlett High School to attend prep school. Monteverde has consistently produced top rated players over the last decade and is always in ranked in the top 10 in all high school polls.

Former Memphis Grizzlies Kennedy Chandler, who was released by the Grizzlies late last season and who played well for the Brooklyn Nets NBA Summer League team, choose to play the Pro-Am. As for playing in the NBA Summer League, Chandler said, “I had a great time. It felt good to get back to hooping again. Being back on the court and seeing my mom and dad.”

With many other pro-am events to choose from, Chandler selected Memphis.

“It has been two months since I have been back here. I wanted to

come back to help expand the proam here. I want to have more guys pull up to the pro-am next year.”

Adonis Thomas, a former Memphis Tigers player, also got in on the Memphis Pro-Am action.

“It is a great opportunity to showcase that we are still playing ball and there are a lot of professional players in the city,” he said. “I am thankful to continue to be doing it throughout the summer.”

Thomas, who played pro-ball for a Polish team that finished third in its league, is looking for a new contract to continue his pro career.

Nick Tuggle is running the Memphis Pro-AM league again this season.

“It has been great,” said Tuggle.

“We are beginning to gain a lot of traction. A lot more guys are starting to participate, and the crowds are larger.”

The league will continue to play games at the Orange Mound Community Center on Tuesdays and Thursday, with games at 6:30 and 7:30. Playoffs start on August 10 and the championship game is set for August 17.

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