Tennessee
Tennessee County Considers Using Federal Covid Dollars For Reparations Programs
circa 1934: A part of the every day line-up outdoors the State Unemployment Workplace, Memphis, USA (Picture by Hulton Archive/Getty Photos)
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The thought of paying Black People for a whole bunch of years of their ancestors’ free labor used to construct wealth for white People has been round for a very long time.
Each legislative session from 1989 till he retired in 2017, Michigan congressman John Conyers launched a failed invoice to review, amongst different points, how a lot compensation that may entail. In 1993, Harper’s Journal pegged it at $97 trillion. Pope Francis apologized for slavery. So did the Southern Baptist Conference. At the least 9 states have joined them, led by Alabama in 2007.
Extra lately, research on the wealth hole between People of various races, and the conclusion of the significance of generational wealth in that nationwide shame, have strengthened the concept though no residing American has been instantly concerned within the enslavement of Africans, the “peculiar establishment” and the many years of Jim Crow segregation that adopted have repercussions that echo at the moment.
Within the newest try at narrowing the hole, native lawmakers in Shelby County, Tenn., will take into account a proposal subsequent week to make use of $5 million in federal Covid-19 funds to assist scale back disparities between Black and white residents in wealth, healthcare outcomes and homeownership. The quantity is a fraction of the $182 million the county has acquired in American Rescue Plan Act funding.
“This isn’t going to be a course of that’s issuing checks to Black individuals in Shelby County,” county commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. instructed Forbes. “This strategy of neighborhood reparations supplies an ecosystem to deliberately monitor and promote Black wealth whereas offering entry to belongings and infrastructure.”
Shelby County, which incorporates Memphis, is the biggest county in Tennessee with a inhabitants of about 924,000, based on the most recent Census knowledge. Roughly 55% of its residents are Black.
Ford, a Democrat, mentioned a committee vote on the measure is scheduled for February 22 and a full fee vote might happen that day as properly. The board has 9 Democrats and 4 Republicans, and Ford mentioned that to date he’s secured the help of seven different Democrats. He mentioned he doesn’t anticipate the backing of the board’s Republicans, none of whom responded to requests for remark from Forbes.
The proposal makes Shelby County the most recent municipality to contemplate, research or launch reparations applications, becoming a member of cities together with Evanston, In poor health., Asheville, N.C., and St. Paul, Minn. In 2021, Evanston grew to become one of many first cities within the nation to implement a reparations program, and its plan targets $25,000 housing grants to descendants of Black residents impacted by racist housing insurance policies within the metropolis between 1919 and 1969.
This summer season, California state legislators are scheduled to contemplate suggestions from the state’s Reparations Job Drive. These are anticipated to incorporate financial and non-monetary applications designed to treatment harms suffered in 5 areas: housing discrimination, mass incarceration, unjust property seizures, the devaluation of Black companies and healthcare. For example, the duty pressure mentioned the influence of housing discrimination within the state may warrant compensation of $223,000 per individual, or roughly $569 billion.
“I feel what unites all of those efforts is a rising understanding of the influence and longstanding legacy of slavery and Jim Crow segregation,” Rachel Swarns, a New York College journalism professor who research the ties between slavery and modern establishments, instructed Forbes. “However there are numerous, many various approaches which might be being taken at this second. Individuals are actually wrestling with it in numerous methods.”
Black American households had on common $316,000 in collected wealth final 12 months, based on figures cited by the Federal Reserve Financial institution of St. Louis. White American households had about 4 occasions that, or $1.3 million.
A 2020 research by researchers William Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mullen estimated that the federal authorities must compensate Black households about $800,000 every, for a complete of $10 trillion to $12 trillion, to successfully shut the Black-white wealth hole.
Ford mentioned his objective is to ascertain reparations applications based mostly on 5 pillars: housing, psychological well being, prison justice, enterprise possession and monetary literacy. The feasibility research will assist give attention to what these applications would seem like, Ford mentioned, however a part of his imaginative and prescient is to have a centralized web site for individuals to entry sources associated to these areas.
Requested about the usage of Covid-19 funds, Ford pointed to federal steering that lists eligible makes use of reminiscent of “help to households and communities” and help for addressing “healthcare and academic disparities.” Ford acknowledged that whereas the applications funded by Covid-19 cash probably can’t exclude any ethnicities, they are often focused to predominantly Black Census tracts or ZIP Codes.
“I need individuals to know that that is one-time cash to put the muse for the needs of us having the research,” he mentioned, “and to establish, as we go ahead, a devoted funding supply.”
Swarns mentioned it’s not simply governments which have been mulling or beginning reparations applications. Virginia Theological Seminary in 2021, as an illustration, started writing $2,100 checks yearly to the descendants of Black People who labored there throughout the eras of slavery and Jim Crow. Georgetown College has launched a plan to boost $400,000 yearly for initiatives that can profit the descendants of the enslaved individuals whose labor supported the faculty. Swarns is writing a e-book on the topic.
The phrase “reparations” might be polarizing, she mentioned, so some are avoiding it in identify if not in deed.
Georgetown’s fund makes use of the phrase “reconciliation,” Swarns mentioned. “Individuals are being very aware of wanting to handle the historical past whereas not eager to alienate essential constituencies.”
2024 Tennessee Invite
Jordan Crooks started the first midseason meet with a bang in the 200 freestyle. Crooks led off the Tennessee men’s 800 freestyle relay with a blistering 1:30.00. He is currently the number 8 performer all time, but you could write a book with all of the places this time is #1. Fastest he has ever been. Fastest Vol in history (beating his own record of 1:30.41 from NCAAs). Fastest swimmer this year. Fastest midseason 200 freestyler ever.
Let’s start with the personal best time. At this meet last year, he went a 1:32.07 leading off the same relay. At the time, this was a two second drop from his previous best time, also leading off the 800 free relay at the Tennessee invite of 1:34.30. He dropped more time at SECs where he swam the event individually and went 1:31.45 and 1:31.17 in prelims and finals respectively. Finally in prelims at NCAAs he went his best time until this evening at 1:30.41. This means in about 3 months, Crooks dropped a second and a half after previously being known as pretty-exclusively a drop dead sprinter.
Here are his splits from NCAAs and from tonight:
| 2024 NCAAs | 2024 Tennessee Invite |
| 20.64 | 20.48 |
| 43.56 (22.92) | 43.22 (20.74) |
| 1:06.82 (23.26) | 1:06.82 (23.36) |
| 1:30.41 (23.59) | 1:30.41 (23.59) |
What about the fact that this is at a midseason meet? Is Crooks the fastest midseason 200 freestyler ever? Yes. Here are the top 6 midseason times in history:
- 1:30.00- Jordan Crooks: 2024 Tennessee Invite
- 1:30.57- Drew Kibler: 2020 Texas Hall of Fame Invite
- 1:30.83- Drew Kibler: 2019 Minnesota Invite
- 1:30.86 Andrew Seliskar: 2018 UGA Fall Invite
- 1:31.10- Drew Kibler: 2020 Texas First Chance Qualifier (October)
- 1:31.30- Charlie Hawke: 2023 Tennessee Invite
Crooks’ time this evening is more than 5 tenths faster than the next fastest time at mid-season. Drew Kibler is on the list 3 times though, which makes the list look especially fast. Here are the top 6 performers in history:
- 1:30.00- Jordan Crooks: 2024 Tennessee Invite
- 1:30.57- Drew Kibler: 2020 Texas Hall of Fame Invite
- 1:30.86- Andrew Seliskar: 2018 UGA Fall Invite
- 1:31.30- Charlie Hawke: 2023 Tennessee Invite
- 1:31.65- Joao de Luca: 2013 Winter Nationals
- 1:31.73- Grant House: 2021 NC State Invite
Only two other people have ever been 1:30 at this point in the season, which just makes Crooks’ time that much more impressive. It does leave the world of swimming with a lot of questions. Is he next to go under 1:30? How will Luke Hobson respond at the Texas Invite later this week? Can we expect another half second drop in March? One thing is certain, however. It is only November, and only the first day of the meet. There is a lot more swimming in store, and if tonight is any indication, it is going to be exciting.
The Tennessee Titans are on a losing streak after falling 23-13 to the Minnesota Vikings in the team’s Week 11 matchup.
The loss puts the Titans at 2-8 on the year, meaning the team must win out in order to avoid a losing season. The Titans are tied for the fewest amount of wins in the league, putting them in position to potentially acquire the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sports Illustrated writer Conor Orr also views the Titans as one of the NFL’s worst teams, placing them at No. 30 in his latest power rankings, one spot lower than the previous week.
“Will Levis was hurried on half of his snaps on Sunday. I don’t think we’re under any illusion that he’s the long-term answer and certainly he’s earned a place of deep suspicion among the fanbase, but there are some games where he plays at least halfway decent — Levis bested Rodgers for a barely-positive EPA per dropback rating Sunday — yet it feels like the Titans don’t have a shot,” Orr writes.
The only teams that rank below the Titans in the power rankings are the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars, who also lost by multiple scores in Week 11 action.
The Titans have struggled with offensive line play all year long, so it’s no surprise that it led to another loss against the Vikings. The Titans will have to get better in that department, along with several others, if they want to move up in the power rankings and grab a few more wins in the final third of the season.
The Titans are back in action on Sunday as they travel to the Lone Star State to face off against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in Week 12.
Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!
Tennessee
With I-40 damaged from Helene, how will it impact holiday traffic in Tennessee? What to know before you go
Video: I-40 damage after Tropical Storm Helene in Western North Carolina
Aerial video shows damage and beginning of repairs of Interstate 40 along the Pigeon River in Western North Carolina.
Are you taking a road trip this holiday season?
You’re not alone. AAA experts predict 71.7 million travelers to be on the roads nationwide around Thanksgiving, a 1.3 million increase over 2023 numbers.
In East Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Transportation Spokesperson Mark Nagi anticipates the highways being “very busy.” Road damage and closures add even more complication and congestion to the already-crowded roads.
Tropical Storm Helene caused grave damage to Tennessee and North Carolina highways when the storm swept through on Sept. 27. Months later, road damage continues to be top of mind for drivers.
“We’re continuing to work to get these roadways and bridges open as quickly as possible,” Nagi said.
Interstate 40 remains closed across the Tennessee and North Carolina state border after a mudslide wiped out a portion of the highway. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has a plan to reopen two-way traffic in the gorge, but not in time for Thanksgiving or Christmas travel.
To make travel a bit easier, there will be no temporary lane closures from noon on Wednesday, Nov 27, through 6 a.m. on Dec. 2, according to Nagi. However, this does not apply to long-term closures like I-40 where roads are closed for damage.
Tips for holiday travel
Knowing that highways in East Tennessee could be extra busy this year, Nagi shared some road trip tips to make the holiday travel easier.
- Download the SmartWay app, or look at the road closure map online.
- Give yourself extra time to travel. Leave early if you can.
- Try to avoid travel during peak times, including Wednesday, Nov 27.
Where is I-40 closed?
Still, you’re unable to drive across the Tennessee state line into North Carolina on I-40.
In Tennessee, there is one lane of traffic open in each direction between Mile Marker 446 and Mile Marker 451 at the state line. Commercial traffic cannot go any further than Mile Marker 440 on I-40 East, according to Nagi.
The highway is closed in both directions from Mile Marker zero to 20 in North Carolina.
How many people travel across I-40 at the gorge?
I-40 is a major thoroughfare through the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The stretch of I-40 in North Carolina that was damaged by Helene supports about 7,610 trucks daily and a total average daily traffic of over 26,000 vehicles.
Alternate route: Use Interstate 26 through Erwin
You can use I-26 through Erwin to cross the state line. This route option reopened in late October, according to Nagi. There is one-lane two-way traffic through the area.
Nagi said there would likely be more traffic on this route through the holiday travel season.
Alternate route: Use Interstate 81 and Interstate 77
From Knoxville, travelers can head north on I-81, which connects with I-77 toward Charlotte. It’s more miles, but you can eventually get to Ashville and other areas of North Carolina from there.
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