Tennessee
Tennessee parent proudly calls herself a ‘Venmo mom’ — why her stance is dividing the internet
A Tennessee mom says she doesn’t want to volunteer in her kids’ classrooms or for their extracurricular activities — and said she’s “found her community” after posting a video on TikTok explaining that she’s a proud “Venmo mom.”
“I don’t know about anyone else out there, but ‘Meet the Teacher’ is super stressful because I do not want to be involved at all,” Casey Neal, 31 and a mother of four, said in her video that has grabbed at least 450,000 views.
“I will make sure my kids obviously do their homework and get to school on time … but I don’t want to be on PTO, PTA, room mom, team mom — I don’t want to do any of that.”
Neal indicated that when the start of a school year or sports season rolls around, she gets ready to duck.
“I start getting real stressed when they start asking for volunteers,” Neal said in her video.
“I’m like, ‘Oh no, I know they’re judging me because I’m not raising my hand,’ but I don’t want to do all that extra sh–,” she said. “I don’t want to come in. I don’t want to set up.”
But she’s more than happy to Venmo money to help with whatever is needed, she said.
“If the room mom needs money for everyone to participate, fine. I’ll Venmo money right over,” Neal said in her video.
“I do not want to set up for it. I don’t want to do it.”
This year, to avoid the stress, she said she made that perfectly clear to all the classroom and team organizers.
Neal and her husband have four kids — ages 11, 7, 5 and 3 — who are involved in all kinds of activities, such as cheerleading, baseball, football and more.
“I even told one of the coaches today that I am a ‘Venmo mom,’” Neal said.
Neal, who worked as a district manager and ran five stores for Andy’s Frozen Custard until moving to Knoxville this year, said her job made it difficult for her to attend school functions during the work day.
And that didn’t seem to sit well with some people.
“When I wasn’t as involved as the other moms, I didn’t feel very welcome in certain situations,” Neal told Fox News Digital.
“My two youngest, they went to a private school before we moved, and they had a bike day, where you brought their bike or their scooter, and [some people] were like, ‘Oh, you’re not staying?’ Or, ‘Oh, you’re not staying for the party?’ I’m thinking, ‘Does nobody work anymore?’”
Neal said she also had a bad experience with some cheer moms a couple of years ago.
“Their practices are two to three hours long,” Neal said.
“So I just come back and pick up [her daughter] when practice is over. There was a mom who was talking very poorly of me, and this is one of the practices I happened to go to. When she realized I was there, her face dropped. There was even a dad there who was, like, ‘Not cool.’”
Said Neal, “I don’t need that drama in my life or in my kids’ life.”
“We’re here to set examples, and if they’re talking poorly in front of all the parents, I’m sure some kids heard some stuff. I just don’t think that’s necessary.”
That’s when Neal realized she could avoid all the trouble and still help out by donating her money rather than her time.
Thousands of people agreed with her — all for their own reasons.
“I’ll literally pay for the entire event, just don’t make me actually go,” one viewer of Neal’s video said.
“This is so me. Just let me know how much money and I will send it,” another viewer said.
“As an introvert, please don’t ask me. I’ll send all the money and cheer in the audience, though,” another person commented.
“This. Can we normalize this?” another person commented.
“You need door prizes, meals donated, crafts? I’ll drop it at the office. I’m not staying,” another viewer stated.
What’s even more validating, Neal told Fox News Digital, are the comments of appreciation for “Venmo moms” by the ones organizing the events.
“There is a place for everyone,” one viewer commented.
“As a room mom and team mom, I can’t thank you enough for being a Venmo mom,” someone else added.
“As a room mom, I love Venmo moms,” another viewer said.
Neal said she now has a community of moms who are supportive of this behind-the-scenes role.
“Not to sound cheesy, but I just thought it was really beautiful,” Neal said.
“Never did I think my rant would go off. But the comments and women supporting each other in the comments and supporting me meant a lot. It takes all kinds of people doing all kinds of things,” she added.
“We’re all there for the same reason. We just contribute in different ways. I just thought it was really beautiful and positive.”
There were a few who disagreed with the notion of not giving time to an important cause, such as a child’s education experience or extracurricular activities — and they didn’t mind saying so.
“I do want to be involved [because] I wish my mom was when I was a kid,” one viewer commented.
“Your kids would love to see you helping,” someone else said.
“I was a Venmo mom until I lost my son last year. This year I’m doing everything to be involved in my daughter’s life. Every moment counts,” another user wrote.
Others said that they didn’t really want to volunteer their time — but they’re willing to take one for the team.
“As a new PTA president, I don’t want to do it either, yet here we are,” another said.
“I don’t want to either. I do it to make sure my kids have the best experience [they] can. It’s not really about me at all,” someone else commented.
“My thoughts are if everyone felt like that, then the kids would have a sh—- experience in school,” another person said.
“So I suck it up and volunteer so the kids can have fun or whatever else it’s for.”
Neal said her kids love seeing her in the stands and they know she’s there to support them in all their activities.
“I love being on the sidelines. That, for me, is the biggest thing,” said Neal.
“But as far as being in charge, being a team mom, a room mom, I’m just not good at planning, and there are people who want to do that. I will get a teacher whatever they need to make them successful, to help make the class successful, but I just don’t want to be in charge.”
Neal added, “And the teen moms, they seem to have it under control. They don’t need me.”
Tennessee
Why Big Lots announced going out of business sales at remaining locations. What to know about closures in Tennessee
Big Lots: Rising inflation forcing retailer to close dozens of stores
Big Lots plans to close 35-40 stores this year, highlighting economic challenges facing large retailers. The closures include four stores in Michigan.
Big Lots has closed over 400 stores in 2024 and has now announced going out business sales across its remaining locations.
On Thursday, Big Lots announced in a news release that it did not anticipate a sale to Nexus Capital Management going through. In this deal, Nexus Capital Management would have taken over Big Lots by early January helping the chain achieve financial stability.
Here’s what to know about Big Lots closures in Tennessee.
Is Big Lots closing all its stores?
Big Lots does not have any plans to close all of its stores yet. The going out of business (GOB) sales are a way for the company “protect the value of its estate,” according to their statement. The goal is for the sales to allow Big Lots to continue being a company that is financially stable enough to meet obligations and continue business in the near future.
“We all have worked extremely hard and have taken every step to complete a going concern sale. While we remain hopeful that we can close an alternative going concern transaction, in order to protect the value of the Big Lots estate, we have made the difficult decision to begin the GOB process,” said Bruce Thorn, Big Lots’ President and Chief Executive Officer,
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September after announcing the original plan to close less than 50 stores in July. There have been over 400 stores announced for closure since then.
Which Big Lots stores in Tennessee are closing?
As previously reported by USA TODAY, the stores closing in Tennessee include two stores outside Nashville and one in northwest Tennessee. They are:
There has been one store added to the closing list:
How many Big Lots are there in Tennessee?
There are a total of 47, soon to be 43, Big Lots stores across Tennessee. Locations include Chattanooga, Clarksville, Memphis, Knoxville and more. A complete list of Big Lots stores can be found at local.biglots.com/tn.
Why is Big Lots closing stores?
High inflation and interest rates are impacting Big Lots like many other stores. Additionally, a news release from the company said economic trends like customer spending on home and seasonal products, have affected the company’s revenue.
The company had previously reported that sales in the first quarter of 2024 fell more than 10% compared to the previous year. The company did perform better in the second quarter, yielding improved comp sales.
“While the company’s underlying performance has been improving, the Board of Directors conducted a broad strategic review of alternatives and determined that entering into the Sale Agreement with Nexus, and initiating a court-supervised sale process, is the best path forward to maximize value and ensure continued operations,” wrote Big Lots in the news release.
Tennessee
Former TSU president: Tennessee State University must be saved. HBCUs matter. | Opinion
TSU and HBCUs represent America’s promise that education can change lives and build a more equitable future for everyone.
TSU Interim President Ronald Johnson focuses on turning HBCUs around
Dr. Ronald A. Johnson, interim president of Tennessee State University, appeared on the Tennessee Voices video show with host David Plazas.
At the Dec. 16th State Building Commission meeting, calls were made for more layoffs, selling university property, and declaring financial exigency at Tennessee State University (TSU).
TSU’s leadership responded that “all options are on the table” – a deeply troubling stance.
Financial exigency – akin to bankruptcy reorganization – should be a tool of absolute last resort. Prematurely invoking it would harm the university’s credibility, reputation, and ability to serve its students.
During my tenure as interim president, my team and I developed a financial model that charted a clear path to restore TSU’s financial stability within a few years.
This plan provided a viable alternative to punitive measures like financial exigency, which I firmly believe would jeopardize TSU’s long-term mission.
Despite the challenges, I remain hopeful. TSU can and must be saved because historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) matter now more than ever.
Why HBCUs like TSU are essential
I have spent much of my career at the intersection of finance and higher education, leading turnarounds at Clark Atlanta University, Kentucky State University, and Tennessee State University.
I also helped establish the HBCU Executive Leadership Instituteto prepare future leaders. This work has shown me the unmatched power and promise of HBCUs.
HBCUs are not just institutions of higher learning; they are beacons of opportunity that have anchored communities, fueled America’s progress, and uplifted generations. Since the first HBCU was founded in 1837, they have provided pathways to education and social mobility for learners, often excluded from traditional systems.
TSU embodies this mission with a unique combination of responsibilities:
- An HBCU legacy of access and impact.
- A Land Grant Institution supporting agricultural and economic development.
- An R2 Carnegie Classification for research and innovation—one of only 11 HBCUs to achieve this designation.
- A Regional Comprehensive University serving as Nashville’s public university.
Few universities carry this weight, and TSU has stood as a vital engine of progress since 1912.
Consider the contributions of HBCUs
HBCUs are engines of impact across all areas of society:
- Arts & Culture: From literary pioneers like Langston Hughes to TSU alumna Oprah Winfrey, HBCUs have shaped culture, creativity, and storytelling worldwide.
- Economic Empowerment: HBCUs generate $16.5 billion annually in economic impact, creating jobs and driving local economies. Combined as a company, they would rank among the top 50 Fortune 500 employers.
- Education & Research: HBCUs confer 17% of bachelor’s degrees earned by Black students despite being only 3% of all institutions. TSU’s research leads to advancements in agriculture, engineering, and science.
- Health & Well-Being: HBCUs produce a disproportionate share of Black doctors, nurses, and health professionals, addressing disparities in underserved communities.
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship: HBCUs foster leaders and innovators, empowering graduates to launch businesses, solve problems, and create societal change.
Challenges facing TSU and public HBCUs
Despite these extraordinary contributions, HBCUs like TSU face systemic barriers: decades of underfunding, structural misalignment, and rising external pressures. Inflation, declining enrollment, and the FAFSA rollout delay have further strained resources.
TSU, for instance, has endured a 23% enrollment drop, with inefficiencies in financial aid systems and affordability concerns compounding the challenge.
At the same time, the burden of historic underfunding cannot be ignored; reports from the U.S. Department of Education estimate Tennessee owes TSU $2.1 billion in underfunded land-grant appropriations.
The Governor and General Assembly have acknowledged $544 million owed, and recent steps have been taken to address this. However, far more is required to close the gap and secure TSU’s future.
A path forward: Valuing and futureproofing HBCUs
Perception drives action. HBCUs must no longer be viewed as struggling institutions but as vital engines of progress that drive America’s success. Futureproofing HBCUs will require:
- Equitable Investment: Address historic funding gaps and provide operational resources, not just infrastructure dollars.
- Financial Sustainability: Align expenditures with revenue, unlock new funding sources, and optimize resources.
- Student-Centered Innovation: Modernize enrollment systems, expand financial aid access, and ensure student affordability.
- Elevating the HBCU Identity: Redefine the HBCU brand to honor its legacy while advancing a future-focused mission.
Why TSU must be saved
TSU transforms lives, strengthens communities, and fuels Tennessee’s economy.
It is a gateway to opportunity for first-generation and underserved students and a driver of innovation, agriculture, and research.
TSUs and HBCUs matter. They represent America’s promise that education can change lives and build a more equitable future for everyone.
When TSU thrives, Tennessee thrives. When HBCUs thrive, America thrives.
Ronald A. Johnson, Ph.D., is the former interim president of Tennessee State University
Tennessee
Former Tennessee DB Jordan Matthews announces transfer commitment, staying in SEC
Former Tennessee defensive back Jordan Matthews committed to Vanderbilt on Wednesday. He’s the second Tennessee transfer to announce a commitment to a new school, following Kaleb Webb, who committed to Maryland on Wednesday.
Matthews, a redshirt freshman from Baton Rouge, La., appeared in 12 games this season as a reserve defensive back and special teams player, recording 3.0 tackles and breaking up two passes.
He broke up both passes in the season-opening win over Chattanooga on August 31, recorded two tackles against Kent State on September 14 and had one tackle against the Mocs.
BREAKING: Tennessee transfer CB Jordan Matthews has Committed to Vanderbilt, he tells @on3sports
The 6’2 190 CB will have 3 years of eligibility remaining
Top 15 CB in the ‘23 Class (per On3)https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/0c8Q3v2F3h
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 19, 2024
Jordan Matthews was a four-star recruit in 2023
Matthews was a four-star prospect in the 2023 class. He was ranked No. 143 overall, No. 16 at corner and No. 7 in the state of Louisiana, out of Woodlawn High School in Baton Rouge. He picked Tennessee over LSU, Texas and Michigan.
The Vols have added one player out of the portal so far, getting Arizona offensive lineman Wendell Moe on Wednesday. Moe started 27 games over three seasons at Arizona. He was named All-Pac-12 second team in 2023 as a redshirt freshman and played 760 snaps this season.
Matthews is one of eight Vols that have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal since the portal window opened, and is the first to announce his commitment to a new school.
Tennessee players in NCAA Transfer Portal won’t play for Vols in playoff
Other Tennessee players that have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal so far include receivers Kaleb Webb, Chas Nimrod and Nathan Leacock, freshman linebacker Jalen Smith, redshirt freshman defensive back Jordan Matthews, sophomore running back Khalifa Keith and freshman offensive lineman Vysen Lang.
Webb initially committed to Wake Forest last week, but after the retirement of Wake coach Dave Clawson, he switched his commitment to Maryland.
Head coach Josh Heupel said on Monday that Tennessee players that have or are entering the portal will not play for the Vols at Ohio State Saturday night in the first round of the College Football Playoff at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC/ESPN.
Tennessee last offseason lost 13 players to the NCAA Transfer Portal and added 10 players out of the portal, including tight ends Miles Kitsleman (Alabama) and Holden Staes (Notre Dame) and defensive backs Jermod McCoy (Oregon State) and Jalen McMurray (Temple). The Vols also added Lance Heard (LSU) at offensive tackle and Jaxson Moi (Stanford) on the defensive line.
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