A federal judge paused the receiver’s push to expand Uncle Nearest’s receivership, ordering affiliates to produce financial records first and delaying any decision on broader court control.
By Milton Kirby | Chattanooga, TN | November 12, 2025
A federal judge has paused the receiver’s bid to expand control beyond Uncle Nearest, Inc. to other Weaver-owned businesses, ordering the parties to exchange financial records first. The stay comes via an “Agreed Order Staying Proceedings Related to Receiver’s Motion for Clarification,” entered October 29, 2025, in Farm Credit Mid-America, PCA v. Uncle Nearest, Inc.
What the order does
Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. temporarily halts litigation on the receiver’s request to fold affiliated Weaver entities—such as Humble Baron, Classic Hops Brewing, and Shelbyville Barrelhouse BBQ—into the receivership. Instead, the court requires two years of bank statements and financial records from the affiliates within seven days, with permission for the receiver to review up to three additional years if needed.
Photo by Milton Kirby
Why it matters
The stay keeps those affiliates outside the receivership for now, while giving Receiver Phillip G. Young Jr. visibility into their finances. The scope question—whether the court should broaden control beyond Uncle Nearest, Inc.—remains unresolved until the records review is complete and any follow-up hearing is set.
The defense’s position
Attorneys for Fawn and Keith Weaver argue the attempted expansion chilled business and partnerships, contributing to over $1 million in lost revenue; they have signaled potential claims tied to that harm.
Case backdrop
The court placed Uncle Nearest under receivership in August after Farm Credit Mid-America sought protection of collateral and continuity of operations. The first quarterly report (filed October 1) cited missing records, overlapping entities, and a stabilization plan with significant professional-fee and vendor-catch-up costs.
Sidebar: Why the Case Is in Chattanooga
Though Uncle Nearest, Inc. operates in Shelbyville, Tennessee, and creditor Farm Credit Mid-America is based in Louisville, Kentucky, the federal receivership case is being handled in Chattanooga.
That’s because Shelbyville and Bedford County fall under the Chattanooga Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, where Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. presides. This means all filings, orders, and hearings — including the October 29 Agreed Order Staying Proceedings — are issued through the Chattanooga federal courthouse, even though the business operations in question are about an hour northwest.
In short: Shelbyville is the stage, but Chattanooga is the courtroom.
What’s next
The parties face deadlines to complete disclosures and propose next steps. After the receiver reviews the affiliates’ financials, the court will decide whether to expand the receivership—or keep it narrow. TSJ will monitor the docket for any new motions or hearing dates.
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Dear Shadow Ball: Any thoughts on why Jackie Robinson was first to break the major league’s color barrier and not Satchel Paige. Paige was a pitcher while Robinson was a 1st baseman. – David Nivens, parts unknown
Dear David, Great question! Thank you so much for breaking the ice in both categories. You were the first to answer my question and the first to pose a question to me. Hopefully, moving forward, folks will follow your lead.
Now, this question could take a book to answer, and, in fact, books have been written about the broader subject: Was Jack Robinson the best choice to integrate the game, and, if not, who else would have been a better choice? In the interest of column space, I am going to limit my answer to your parameters, why Jack Robinson and not Satchel Paige. Both of whom played for the Kansas City Monarchs in 1945.
Let us look first at Satchel Paige: he was one of the best pitchers in Negro League history and, arguably, in all of baseball history. He also, even at this stage of his career, was the most marketable name in the Negro Leagues. Satchel Paige ranks 1st in career Negro League strikeouts, 1st in ERA+, 2nd in shutouts, and 3rd in wins. This is the entire case for Paige, and it very well could have been enough had the game integrated earlier. However, by the time Branch Rickey invited Jack Robinson to a meeting in Brooklyn in August 1945, Satchel Paige was, at least, 38 years old. More importantly, Paige was coming off a less-than-stellar 1945 season in which he achieved a 4-4 record with a 4.05 E.R.A. He was the fourth-best pitcher on the Monarchs that year, and among pitchers with as many innings pitched as he did, only two hurlers had a worse ERA.
As for Jack Robinson, at 26, while he was a tad old for a prospect, he was on the cusp of his prime if he were to have one. The biggest question facing Robinson at the start of the ’45 season was in what sport his prime was to be in. He had not played much baseball at any level since leaving UCLA in 1941. Based on his athleticism, the Kansas City Monarchs, of the Negro National League, invited him for a tryout in the Spring of 1945. He not only made the team, but he was arguably the best player in the 1945 Negro American League! No one who batted as often or more than he did topped him in batting average, on base%, slugging, OPS, OPS+ … he led the league in 2Bs, HRs, extra base hits, was 2nd in steals, and 3rd in RBIs.
… and then there were the intangibles – intelligent, articulate, non-smoker, non-drinker, graduated high school, junior college, and had studied at UCLA, was a wartime 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army with an honorable discharge. While both he and Paige had competed in integrated competition, Robinson had a long history of integrated scenarios in Pasadena, UCLA, and the service.
Thus, given the choice between Paige & Robinson, I strongly agree with Rickey’s decision. Jack Robinson was the right person for this assignment.
Last week’s Shadow Ball Significa question: What was the name of Atlanta’s most prolific franchise (in terms of years in the league) in the Negro Leagues?
Since no one provided the correct answer last week, I would like to keep that question active until it is answered. This column depends on interaction. So, please try again.
Ted Knorr
Ted Knorr is a Negro League baseball historian, a longtime member of the Society for American Baseball Research’s Negro League Committee, and founder of the Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference and several local Negro League Commemorative Nights in central Pennsylvania. You can send questions for Knorr on Negro League topics, as well as your answers to the week’s Significa question to shadowball@truthseekersjournal.com or Shadow Ball, 3904 N Druid Hills Rd, Ste 179, Decatur, GA 30033
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Reality-TV star and dentist Dr. Heavenly Kimes launches her Georgia 13th District congressional bid at Nostalgia Kitchen & Cocktails, pledging new leadership in healthcare, education, and community service.
By Milton Kirby | Stone Mountain, GA | November 10, 2025
The crowd packed into Nostalgia Kitchen & Cocktails in Stone Mountain wasn’t there for reality television drama — they came to hear a new kind of pitch.
Dr. Heavenly Kimes, best known for her role on Bravo’s Married to Medicine, stepped off the screen and into the political arena Saturday afternoon, holding her first town hall at the restaurant as a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District.
The nostalgic, mural-lined restaurant, tucked near downtown Stone Mountain, served as a fitting backdrop — lively, intimate, and full of conversation. Plates clattered, phones recorded, and neighbors leaned close as Kimes began to speak. Neighbors and fellow doctors were in the building, many eager to hear how one of their own planned to bring bedside compassion to Washington.
At 54, the dentist, entrepreneur, and TV personality is no stranger to reinvention. For years, she’s built a brand around transformation — first in smiles, now in service. What began as a planned run for the Georgia House of Representatives (District 93) has turned into something larger: a bid for Congress.
“Just days before I announced for State House, the One Big Beautiful Bill was signed,” Kimes told the audience. “I waited to hear something from my Congressman about it — I did not. When Donald Trump launched a retribution campaign against former allies like John Bolton, I hoped to hear my Congressman take a stand — I did not. Thousands of Georgians have lost their jobs this year, and I expected to see leadership at a town hall to help families transition to new opportunities — I did not.”
She paused, then added, “After hearing from community leaders urging me to run for Congress, I realized this: we need more than a vote in Washington, we need a voice. People are scared, but they also have hope — and they deserve someone willing to speak to both.”
From the Office to the District
Kimes’ campaign now centers on three familiar pillars — healthcare, economic development, and education reform. She said her decision to enter politics grew out of years of serving patients who couldn’t afford care. But even more heartbreaking, they can’t afford the prescriptions that go along with it.”
She told the crowd she understood the struggle personally. “When my first child was born, I received WIC benefits,” she said, referencing the federal Women, Infants and Children program. “Without those benefits, life would have been different.”
It was one of many moments where she blurred the line between TV personality and public servant — grounded in both story and sincerity.
New Leadership for a Changing District
Georgia’s 13th District, stretching across portions of DeKalb, Clayton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, and Rockdale Counties, has been represented by Congressman David Scott since 2002. Kimes made clear she respects Scott’s long tenure but believes a generational shift is overdue.
Scott served in the Georgia General Assembly from 1974 to 2002 — first in the House of Representatives (1974–1982) and then in the State Senate (1983–2002). He was first elected to Congress in 2002 and began his current term in January 2003. Kimes noted that Congressman Scott failed to vote in the last six elections — something she believes reflects the need for new leadership.
“We must have a new kind of candidate — one who is ready to fight for healthcare access, economic opportunity, education, and justice for every family in GA-13,” she said.
Her campaign manager, veteran political strategist Fred Hicks, framed her candidacy as essential to energizing Georgia’s Democratic base.
“If Democrats are going to win Georgia and take back the House, we need candidates like Dr. Heavenly,” Hicks said. “Candidates who are less political, more passionate, and deeply visible in their communities. Her voice and her audience are the missing keys to closing the vote gap and delivering Democratic victories.”
Healthcare at the Heart
Healthcare dominated the Stone Mountain discussion. From mental health to medical affordability, Kimes linked policy goals to lived experience.
She floated one creative — if unconventional — idea to address mental health funding: adding a one-dime fee to every ticket sold through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
“With about 108 million passengers passing through annually,” she explained, “that dime could generate roughly $10.8 million a year for mental health initiatives across metro Atlanta.”
Audience members nodded, some whispering their approval. One man in the back clapped softly, saying, “That’s thinking outside the box.”
Kimes emphasized that the federal government must partner more directly with counties to ensure those funds reach frontline organizations treating addiction and crisis intervention.
Faith in Families and Small Business
Her platform also calls for targeted investment in local entrepreneurs — particularly women- and minority-owned small businesses — and for expanding career-path programs in schools to bridge the gap between education and opportunity.
“I’ve built businesses from the ground up,” she said. “I know what it takes to sign a payroll and meet a budget. We need to make sure more people — especially our youth — learn those same skills early.”
Education, she said, should prepare students not only for college but also for trades, healthcare, and technology jobs that sustain families right here in Georgia.
“Not everyone’s path is the same,” she said. “We’ve got to invest in schools, teachers, and programs that give every child a real chance.”
The Personal Touch
Throughout the afternoon, Kimes balanced policy with personality — offering flashes of the humor and authenticity that have made her a fan favorite on television.
At one point, Hicks asked bluntly why voters should choose her to represent Georgia’s 13th Congressional District.
Kimes smiled. “You should vote for Dr. Heavenly not only because she’s the best person for the job — but because she’s real, she’s relatable, she has the reach, she has the resources, and she has the platform.”
Her voice carried both confidence and conviction.
“Congress works for the people,” she said. “And right now, a lot of people don’t feel like anyone’s working for them.”
Campaign in Motion
The Stone Mountain town hall marked the early phase of her congressional run. The campaign is still developing its detailed policy proposals, but Kimes made clear she intends to keep the conversation local — visiting neighborhoods, schools, churches, and small businesses across the district.
Her team plans a series of “Real Talk with Dr. Heavenly” sessions — informal meet-ups where residents can share concerns directly.
“We’ll keep these going,” she told attendees. “You’ll see me in Decatur, Riverdale, Stockbridge — everywhere. We can’t change anything if we don’t listen first.”
Though light on legislative specifics for now, her message of empathy and empowerment resonated with the audience. As the event ended, supporters lined up for photos, handshakes, and hugs — some thanking her for “showing up” where others had not.
A Campaign to Watch
Dr. Heavenly Kimes’ entry into the race makes Georgia’s 13th Congressional District one of the state’s most closely watched contests in 2026. Her celebrity brings visibility; her message brings energy. Whether that combination translates into electoral success remains to be seen.
But one thing was clear in Stone Mountain: Kimes intends to campaign like she practices dentistry — with a bright smile, sharp precision, and a steady hand.
The Truth Seekers Journal will continue to follow her campaign. As Dr. Heavenly releases more details on healthcare, education, and economic policy proposals, we will keep our readers informed.
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MARTA celebrates Outkast’s 25th anniversary of Stankonia with a custom bus honoring André 3000 and Big Boi ahead of their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | November 4, 2025
If you’ve ever ridden MARTA with Outkast playing through your headphones, this one’s for you. The city’s favorite duo — André 3000 and Big Boi — just got a moving tribute in their honor, and it’s riding through the same neighborhoods that raised them. This is a moment of pride for all of us, a testament to our shared love for our city and its music.
Courtesy MARTA – Interim General Manager & CEO Jonathan Hunt, Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, MARTA Chief of Staff Steven Parker
MARTA has wrapped one of its buses in full Stankonia glory — a rolling celebration of 25 years since the album that not only changed hip-hop but also changed Atlanta’s cultural landscape. It reminded the world that the South had something to say, and we’re proud to be a part of that cultural revolution.
The bus made its first appearance at Skatetonia25, a fan party thrown by Sony Music at Cascade Skating Rink — the kind of place where Atlanta’s stories always seem to begin. There was music, skating, and even Big Boi himself, posing for photos beside the bus that now carries his name through the streets he grew up on.
“MARTA is part of the fabric of Atlanta, just like Outkast,” said MARTA Interim CEO Jonathan Hunt. “We’re proud to celebrate artists who carried this city’s voice to the world — and who gave MARTA a shoutout along the way.”
That shoutout — the one every true fan knows — came on “Elevators (Me & You)” back in 1996:
“A couple of years ago on Headland and Delowe / Was the start of something good / Where me and my [partner] rode the MARTA through the hood…”
That spot, Headland and Delowe in East Point, still sits along MARTA bus routes 93 and 81. And thanks to Outkast, it’s part of Atlanta’s living soundtrack.
The new MARTA tribute bus will stay in service for a year, cruising through Southwest Atlanta, the birthplace of Outkast and a hotbed of creativity and community. This route is a reminder that these two elements always find a way to ride together, just like Outkast’s music and the city that inspired it.
Courtesy MARTA – CEO Jonathan Hunt, Mike “Killer Mike” Render
And with Outkast set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on November 8, this moment feels like more than nostalgia. It’s a full-circle ride — from ATLiens to Stankonia, from College Park to the cosmos. The bus, a moving tribute to their legacy, is a symbol of their journey from local heroes to global icons.
So, if you see that bus roll past, know: the South’s still got something to say.
Howard University receives a historic $80 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, strengthening its research leadership, medical innovation, and mission of truth, service, and opportunity.
By Milton Kirby | Washington, D.C. | November 3, 2025
A Legacy Rooted in Truth and Service
Founded in 1867, Howard University has shaped generations of scholars, leaders, and visionaries. Across 14 schools and colleges offering 143 degree programs, the institution continues to embody its motto — Veritas et Utilitas, Truth and Service. With more than 14,000 students, the University remains one of the nation’s most important engines of opportunity, research, and social mobility.
Howard’s historic role in American life is reflected in its remarkable roster of honorees and scholars: one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows, and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. The university also produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other institution in the country.
A Leader in Research and STEM
Howard’s nationwide impact is perhaps most visible in the sciences. The National Science Foundation ranks the university as the top producer of African-American undergraduates who later earn science and engineering doctoral degrees.
Howard is also home to nationally recognized programs in business, social work, communications, and engineering. It is consistently ranked as the No. 1 HBCU for undergraduate programs in business, computer science, economics, engineering, psychology, and — at the graduate level — criminal law, constitutional law, dispute resolution, health care law, trial advocacy, economics, English, fine arts, history, political science, and speech pathology.
The Howard University School of Law, a national advocate for justice for more than 150 years, ranks No. 1 among HBCUs and recently placed No. 13 in the nation for graduates working at leading law firms.
A Historic Gift from MacKenzie Scott
Howard University has received one of the largest philanthropic gifts in its 154-year history: an $80 million investment from MacKenzie Scott. Combined with Scott’s earlier gifts of $40 million in 2020 and $12 million in 2023, her total contributions to Howard now reach $132 million.
MacKenzie Scott – Courtesy Vogue
The latest gift is unrestricted — a powerful vote of confidence in Howard’s ability to allocate resources where they will have the greatest impact. It arrives at a time when the university is accelerating its research efforts, expanding campus infrastructure, and strengthening academic programs.
This year, the Carnegie Foundation and American Council on Education designated Howard as an R1 research institution, placing it among the nation’s elite universities with the highest levels of research activity. Forbes, LinkedIn, and U.S. News & World Report similarly named Howard the nation’s top HBCU, with several programs ranked best-in-class across the country.
Transforming Medical Education and Innovation
Of the $80 million gift, $17 million is earmarked for the Howard University College of Medicine — a global leader in training physicians who serve medically underserved communities in the U.S. and abroad.
The funds will support the development of a new Academic Medical Center, a transformative project aligned with the innovation center Scott funded through her 2023 gift. This interdisciplinary hub — shared by the College of Medicine and the College of Engineering and Architecture — allows students to work at the cutting edge of health technology, exploring ways to improve patient outcomes and expand scientific frontiers.
Howard’s Health Sciences division, which includes the Colleges of Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, continues to serve as a national leader in studying health disparities and producing women surgeons, pharmacists, and allied health professionals.
Impact on Social Mobility and Opportunity
Howard’s mission to uplift economically challenged students is not just aspirational — it is measurable.
• U.S. News named Howard the top institution in the Washington, D.C. area for social mobility. • Carnegie and ACE recognized Howard as an Opportunity College and University – High Access and High Earnings, highlighting its success in serving Pell-eligible and underrepresented students. • Among Research One universities, Howard ranked highest in “access,” reflecting its commitment to enrolling students from diverse economic and ethnic backgrounds. • Eight years after graduation, Howard alumni earn the highest median income among all HBCUs.
Scott’s gift will strengthen these outcomes, funding both immediate needs and long-term initiatives.
Investing in the Future: Facilities, Research, and Stability
The University will direct part of the gift toward new construction and renovation projects essential to R1-level research — including work in artificial intelligence, automation, public health, and scientific discovery.
Howard is also building modern living, learning, and commercial spaces designed to attract top students across the country, including Black men whose enrollment numbers have lagged nationally.
A portion of Scott’s gift will also support a reserve fund to safeguard the university during federal funding delays and government shutdowns — a serious challenge for the nation’s only Congressionally-chartered HBCU.
A Relationship Rooted in Mentorship and Legacy
MacKenzie Scott’s bond with Howard is deeply personal — shaped by her mentor and Howard alumna, Nobel laureate Toni Morrison (B.A. ’53, DHL ’95).
Morrison, who later taught at Princeton, served as Scott’s senior thesis adviser. Their relationship extended far beyond the classroom. Morrison encouraged her writing, helped her find professional footing, and offered the kind of mentorship that leaves an imprint for life.
The two exchanged letters for years. In one, Scott thanked Morrison for “criticism and encouragement, therapy and breathing lessons.” Morrison once described Scott’s writing as technically sophisticated and assured — a prediction validated when Scott later won the American Book Award.
Morrison also played a pivotal role in Scott’s life trajectory, providing a reference that helped her secure a position at the investment management firm where she met Jeff Bezos.
Today, Scott’s philanthropy reflects the lessons she learned from Morrison: that one can shape the world in many different ways, and that talent — wherever found — deserves nurturing.
Part of Scott’s 2020 gift created the Toni Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and Humanities, ensuring Morrison’s legacy continues at her alma mater.
A Gift That Honors the Past and Builds the Next 150 Years
For more than a century and a half, Howard University has been a national force for scholarship, justice, and leadership. As the university celebrates 154 years, it stands on the cusp of an even more ambitious future — one shaped by new research facilities, deeper community impact, and an unwavering commitment to preparing students to change the world.
MacKenzie Scott’s $80 million gift not only honors Howard’s past — it helps secure a future as glorious as the generations that came before.
The National Black Farmers Association’s 35th Conference in Birmingham honored John Boyd Jr.’s legacy, uniting farmers nationwide to reclaim land, legacy, and economic justice.
By Milton Kirby | Birmingham, AL | November 3, 2025
The air in Birmingham felt like history turning its own soil—just right for a gathering of people who understand the language of the land. Inside the conference hall, rows of worn cowboy hats, Sunday dresses, and seed-company caps filled the seats. Farmers came from every corner of the country—Alabama, West Virginia, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Texas. Some arrived by pickup, others by bus or plane, but all came for one reason: to celebrate 35 years of the National Black Farmers Association and the man who has never stopped fighting for them, Dr. John W. Boyd Jr.
Photo Milton Kirby – Kara Brewer Boyd
The theme for the two-day gathering said it plain: “ReClaiming, ReGaining & ReGenerating Our Farms.” But what unfolded in those rooms was more than a conference. It was a reunion of faith and endurance—an unbroken line stretching from the sharecroppers of yesterday to the land stewards of today. It was family—farm boots and Sunday shoes, handshakes that turned into hugs, stories that started with the weather and ended with survival.
Grounded in the Work
Across two full days, the energy never dipped. Workshops buzzed with talk of farm loans, USDA programs, and the fine print that too often traps small farmers. Between sessions on farm credit, USDA programs, and cooperative models, farmers swapped lessons about soil testing, irrigation, and the art of keeping a small operation alive when fuel costs rise faster than the price of corn, cotton, beef, or soybeans.
At one table, a USDA outreach officer explained disaster-relief programs to a group of farmers. At another, a veteran rancher shared tips on protecting heirs’ property and forming family LLCs. Every conversation echoed one unspoken truth—knowledge is the new harvest.
Dr. Trina D. Brown, a health and wellness strategist, emphasized that the message was just as much about the people as the land. “We have to heal ourselves while we heal our soil,” she said, urging farmers to protect their mental health as fiercely as their crops.
Chaplain Eve Priester delivered a spirit-filled, inspirational prayer unlike any other. “Farming is God’s ministry in real time,” she said. “We plant, we nurture, and we believe in the harvest.” You could feel the amen in the air.
The Boyd Legacy
Mr Priester a hay farmer traveled from MS
When John W. Boyd Jr. stepped to the podium, applause broke like thunder. Some rose to their feet; others simply bowed their heads in respect. Boyd, a fourth-generation farmer from Baskerville, Virginia, has carried this fight for decades—from the long legal battles of Pigford v. Glickman to more recent struggles for debt relief and USDA reform.
“Black farmers, we’ve got to get to know one another,” he said. “Do business with each other. Build something together.”
Behind the quiet strength of his voice was the memory of his father, John Wesley Boyd Sr., who taught him the oldest truth in farming: “Be good to the land, and the land will be good to you.”
That lesson has guided the NBFA since its founding in the early 1990s—through courtrooms, congressional hearings, and countless farm visits across America.
Faces of the Movement
The conference lineup reflected the diversity and endurance of Black and Native farmers.
Kara Brewer Boyd, NBFA Program Director, President of the Association of American Indian Farmers, and wife of John Boyd, spoke about cross-cultural solidarity and the shared struggle of land-based people. An enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe, she reminded the audience that “land is identity—and identity is power.”
Boyd offered tips and techniques so practical and powerful that attendees described them as “nuggets of gold,” carefully pocketed to take home and put to work.
Nick and Tonya Dangerfield, dedicated Realtors serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area, focus on empowering underserved clients in Texas and Oklahoma to purchase, retain, and sell property with confidence. The couple is also cultivating a family farm in East Texas, building legacy wealth for their children.
Jolene Beaumont Whiteclay, with 46 years of experience as a dedicated farmer and rancher, is deeply rooted in her community and heritage. Currently serving as a Health Systems Specialist with the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Indian Health Service, she balances professional commitments with managing a thriving 3,000-acre ranch alongside her three sons. A proud member of the Crow Tribe of Montana, Jolene is a third-generation rancher continuing her family’s legacy.
Charles “Chuck” Baldwin has dedicated more than 40 years to cross-cultural work, primarily in Western and Central Africa. His career has included public speaking, fundraising, teaching, leadership development, mentoring, and building relationships across national and ethnic lines. For the past twelve years, Baldwin has served as the Special Populations Outreach Coordinator (SPOC) for the National AgrAbility Project at Purdue University. He collaborates closely with Extension professionals from 1890 and 1994 land-grant universities to expand support for diverse farming communities.
Every speaker’s story carried the same rhythm—loss, endurance, renewal. Through it all, the NBFA banner hung behind them, bold in green and gold, a reminder of how far they’ve come.
Photo Milton Kirby – NBFA Audience
Honoring the Struggle
During the awards ceremony, Boyd presented special honors to those whose service has strengthened the movement.
Lifetime Achievement Award – Adrian Boyd, a decorated Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm and brother of John W. Boyd Jr., was recognized for his advocacy in the In Re Black Farmers Class Action Lawsuit. He played an instrumental role in securing passage of the 2010 Reclamation Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama—a beacon of hope for Black farmers who had suffered from systemic discrimination at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The act awarded $1.25 billion in restitution to those farmers.
Chairman’s Award – Andre P. Barlow, Esq., longtime NBFA legal counsel and former U.S. Department of Justice attorney, was honored for his unwavering commitment to justice. A former trial attorney with the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, Barlow has spent years working to ensure fairness in the very systems that once failed Black farmers. His partnership with the NBFA reflects a deep commitment to civil rights, economic opportunity, and the belief that every farmer deserves a fair chance to thrive.
Family Farmer of the Year – George C. Roberts Jr., founder of Circle R Ranch in Oklahoma and a proud Seminole Freedman, spoke of stewardship, heritage, and the sacred duty to honor ancestors through the soil they once worked. Roberts was recognized for decades of ethical farming and for his advocacy for children with disabilities through his community foundation.
Farmer of the Year – Zachary Morse, a cattleman from Nelson County, Virginia, brought the crowd to its feet. He shared how his family’s Roundhouse Farm has grown into a 200-acre operation that now provides 80/20 processed beef for hamburgers and meals served at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. His pride was quiet but steady.
As each name was called, the applause felt like gratitude paid forward. These were not just honorees—they were field generals in a long campaign for dignity and fairness.
The Work Continues
The closing session turned toward what’s next: youth engagement, policy reform, and land reclamation. Plans were laid for new training partnerships with universities and 1890 land-grant institutions, along with continued outreach through the NBFA’s women’s and Native farmer networks.
Boyd called for unity over rivalry. “We can’t do this work divided,” he said. “The future of Black farming depends on us doing business with one another—buying from, selling to, and standing up for each other.”
For two days, Birmingham became more than a meeting place. It became a crossroads of memory and mission. Farmers traded phone numbers and promised to stay in touch. Some left with new tools and grant information; others left with something even deeper—a sense that they were part of a living legacy.
The land is still rich. The people are still here. And the fight—for dignity, for ownership, for the soul of Black agriculture—is far from over.
Atlanta’s mayors and church leaders rally at Big Bethel AME, vowing to defend diversity, equity, and inclusion programs amid Trump’s federal funding threats.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | November 1, 2025
On a cool Friday morning inside Big Bethel AME Church, sunlight poured through stained glass where freedom once found its voice. From that pulpit — the same one that carried Dr. King’s thunder and John Lewis’s call for good trouble — came a new rallying cry:
“The soul of Atlanta is not for sale.”
Mayor Andre Dickens stood with nearly every living Black mayor in city history — Andrew Young, Shirley Franklin, Bill Campbell, Kasim Reed — and Valerie Jackson, wife of the late Mayor Maynard Jackson. Together they filled the sanctuary with memory, defiance, and faith.
A City That Won’t Bow
They came to answer a challenge from Washington — a Trump administration order threatening to choke off federal dollars from cities that keep diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs alive.
Billions for housing, airport work, and BeltLine projects hang in the balance. But the crowd at Big Bethel didn’t come to talk fear. They came to talk faith.
“We are gathered here to rekindle the spirit of our city — to remind one another that courage, unity, and truth still live within us,” said former councilman Jabari Simama, now helping to lead the new Soul of Atlanta Coalition. “Our mission today is clear: to bring people together, share knowledge, and demonstrate that when we act with purpose and faith, we can change the course of our community. We can push back against forces that seek to divide, distract, and destroy us.”
“Atlanta was built by people who refused to dream small. We will never deny the values that have not only made this city great, but made it just.”
A Legacy Worth More Than Money
Atlanta has already paid a price for its convictions — forfeiting $37.5 million in airport funds this summer rather than gut its minority-contracting program.
“Our soul is not for sale,” declared Elder Toni Belin Ingram of the AME Church, her voice rising over the applause.
Big Bethel AME Church
Mayor Dickens called the fight what it is: another Goliath moment. “Goliath doesn’t stand a chance in Atlanta,” he said. “We’ve slayed bears. We’ve slayed lions. Been there. Done that. Got the notes. Got the t-shirt and some of the scars.”
His office later said the city is still reviewing the legal path forward, but his tone in the church left little doubt: the mayor intends to stand firm.
Where the Story Began
Valerie Jackson
It was Maynard Jackson — Atlanta’s first Black mayor — who planted the seed of economic fairness back in the 1970s. His Equal Business Opportunity program forced open the door for Black-owned firms to compete for city contracts. Washington noticed — and copied it.
“This is where it all began,” said Ambassador Andrew Young, looking over the packed pews. “These ideas didn’t come from Washington to us. They came from us to Washington.”
Valerie Jackson smiled softly at the mention of her husband’s name.
“Maynard’s policies of inclusion became a model for the nation,” she said. “We will not allow the principles of fairness and justice to be rolled back.”
A Coalition of Courage
From Shirley Franklin to Kasim Reed, the lineup at Big Bethel looked like a living timeline of Atlanta’s Black leadership. Pastor Jonathan C. Augustine — or “Pastor Jay” — reminded everyone why they were there.
“Your presence here says we know what’s happening,” he said. “An autocratic leader is targeting blue cities led by Black mayors. And yet here we stand.”
The new Soul of Atlanta Coalition plans to spend the next year gathering stories, uplifting minority-owned businesses, and organizing pushback against attacks on DEI and affirmative-action programs.
Standing in the Gap
Even as City Hall weighs its legal moves, Dickens said the work of serving people continues — especially with the federal shutdown straining families.
“We’re spending time feeding the least, the last, the lost,” he said.
The Atlanta Community Food Bank has launched a $5 million emergency plan to replace lost SNAP benefits, aiming to distribute six million pounds of food in four weeks through 700 local partners.
“In tough times,” Dickens said, “we see the true spirit of Atlanta — compassion, connection, and courage.”
By Stacy M. Brown | Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
There are moments in history when a single act of generosity reveals the moral decay of an entire nation. MacKenzie Scott’s $38 million gift to Alabama State University, the largest in its 158-year history, is such a moment. It is not merely a financial transaction, nor the casual benevolence of the wealthy. It is a moral indictment against a society that has grown indifferent to the suffering of its Black citizens, against a government that starves their schools, and against a class of newly rich who have forgotten the communal obligations of success.
Dr. Quinton T. Ross Jr., the university’s president, called it a defining moment for Alabama State, and indeed it is. His words ring with the gratitude of those who have built excellence in the face of deprivation. “Ms. Scott’s generosity affirms Alabama State University’s reputation as a catalyst for excellence and innovation in higher education,” he said. But her act is more than affirmation. It is a resurrection, and a call to remember that Black institutions remain the crucibles of America’s moral and intellectual power. In recent weeks, Scott has dispersed her fortune with quiet conviction. Seventy million to the United Negro College Fund to strengthen endowments across thirty-seven member schools; sixty-three million to Morgan State University, her second gift to that campus in less than five years; and one hundred and one million combined to Morgan State and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in a span of days.
Her giving, unshackled by stipulations or vanity, stands in luminous contrast to an era defined by greed and indifference. The plutocracy that dominates modern life often extracts from the many to enrich the few. Scott reverses that equation. She does not donate to dominate. She gives to repair. Her wealth, born of corporate conquest, has become the instrument of restoration. It stands as a redemption, perhaps, of what that very system has broken. One cannot ignore the symbolism of her actions. At a time when the federal government withholds support from historically Black institutions, when affirmative action has been dismantled, and when diversity programs are vilified, a white woman from the highest ranks of privilege has become the single most consistent benefactor of Black education in the nation. It is as though she has seen, from her rarefied vantage point, what America refuses to see: that the progress of its Black citizens is not a charity, but the measure of its own civilization.
Scott’s philanthropy, then, is not simply about money. It is about memory. The moral memory of a nation that has forgotten the debt it owes to those it once enslaved and now ignores. In her giving, she restores something elemental, the belief that one’s prosperity is meaningless if it does not lift others. W.E.B. Du Bois wrote of the “double consciousness” that afflicts the Negro in America, the struggle to see oneself through the eyes of a world that despises you. Today, the irony is reversed. America must learn to see itself through the eyes of those it has wronged. MacKenzie Scott, for all her privilege, seems to have glimpsed that truth. She gives the impression that she has looked into the soul of the republic and found it wanting.
Her actions do not absolve the sins of this nation. They reveal them. And in revealing them, they offer a path, not of atonement, but of accountability. For every dollar she gives to rebuild a school, there are a thousand more that others with power might give but will not. One woman has chosen conscience over complacency. The question that remains is whether the rest of America—Black and white alike—will choose to follow her example or remain comfortable in the quiet decay of its own moral poverty.
MARTA completes Garnett Station’s $5 million platform renovation, restoring full Red and Gold Line service and advancing its billion-dollar station modernization program across Atlanta.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | October 29, 2025
After six weeks of construction, MARTA has officially reopened Garnett Station to full Red and Gold Line service, marking the completion of a major platform renovation that blends safety, efficiency, and forward-looking design.
The temporary “skip stop,” a strategic decision during which trains bypassed the downtown station, proved to be a well-thought-out move—saving an estimated four months of construction time and $5 million in project costs.
“By limiting service during construction, we were able to accelerate the timeline and ensure safety for both riders and workers,” MARTA officials said.
Restoring and Reinventing a 44-Year-Old Station
Built in 1981, Garnett Station has long served as a southern gateway to downtown Atlanta. The renovation replaced the station’s original 44-year-old pavers—a vital structural refresh handled by a team of experienced contractors, including Carroll Daniel Construction, C.D. Moody Construction Company, H&M Restoration Service, Level Construction Services, Schindler Elevator Corporation, SRC Ventures, and Williams Tile & Marble Company.
Work on the lower concourse was also completed ahead of schedule, setting the stage for continued improvements on the upper concourse, where crews are applying graffiti-resistant coatings, replacing windscreens, and performing deep cleaning and pressure washing.
Importantly, train service is no longer impacted, allowing riders to once again board and exit at Garnett while remaining improvements continue behind the scenes.
A New Vision for the Plaza
MARTA, in partnership with the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District and the Project for Public Spaces, is not just transforming the station’s large concrete plaza, but also inviting the community to be part of this change. The goal is to create a vibrant public space that promotes connection, accessibility, and civic pride—especially as Atlanta prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The redesign aims to reimagine Garnett’s urban footprint, turning a utilitarian space into a place where art, culture, and transportation meet.
Part of a Billion-Dollar Revitalization Effort
The Garnett Station work is one piece of MARTA’s broader $1 billion Station Rehabilitation Program, which spans all 38 rail stations across the system. The initiative focuses on modernizing infrastructure, improving safety and accessibility, and enhancing the aesthetic experience for the hundreds of thousands of daily MARTA riders.
With Garnett Station’s platform now complete, MARTA’s leadership says it’s another step toward delivering on the agency’s promise of a safer, cleaner, and more connected transit experience for Atlanta residents and visitors alike. This project is not just about infrastructure but about enhancing the daily lives of our community.
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is opening its doors to job seekers this fall, with a large-scale hiring event scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at MARTA Headquarters, 2424 Piedmont Road NE, across from Lindbergh Center Station.
The agency is recruiting for a range of critical positions that keep Atlanta moving — including rail and bus operators, journeyman bus technicians, railcar mechanics, track mechanics, track maintainers, and hostler junior apprentices.
Qualified applicants can earn sign-on bonuses for select roles, including CDL Bus Operators (with passenger endorsement), Journeyman Bus Technicians, and Track Maintainers.
Requirements and Opportunities
MARTA is seeking both full-time and part-time operators who are 21 years or older, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and have a current Class C license. All operator candidates must pass a physical exam, ability test, and drug and alcohol screening.
For Journeyman Bus Technicians, applicants must be 18 years or older, possess a Class C license, and have completed training in automotive, transit bus, diesel, or maintenance programs—or have at least three years of comparable experience.
Getting There
MARTA encourages candidates to ride transit to the event, which will be held directly across from Lindbergh Center Station for easy access.
Those who drive can park in the Sydney Marcus parking deck but must park only in MARTA-designated areas. Parking in the wrong section could result in additional fees.
Dress to Impress
Business casual or professional dress is required, and candidates should bring updated resumes and proof of required credentials.
Interested applicants can explore upcoming career fairs and other job opportunities by visiting itsmarta.com.
A federal judge sides with Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing in its antitrust lawsuit, dismissing NASCAR’s “cartel” counterclaim and reshaping the sport’s power balance ahead of trial.
By Milton Kirby | Charlotte, NC | October 29, 2025
A Legal Showdown in Charlotte
Michael Jordan’s racing team, 23XI Racing, and Front Row Motorsports have not only made headlines on the track but also in federal court. On October 28, 2025, they scored a major victory when U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell dismissed NASCAR’s counterclaim accusing them of operating as a cartel.
The ruling marks a turning point in one of the most significant legal battles in modern motorsports. What began as a disagreement over how NASCAR governs its teams has evolved into a test of how much control a sports sanctioning body should hold over its competitors.
Background: Why the Teams Sued NASCAR
The lawsuit was filed in October 2024 by 23XI Racing — co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin — and Front Row Motorsports, owned by Bob Jenkins. Their claim: NASCAR’s charter system and business practices create an illegal monopoly.
Under that charter system, each Cup Series team holds a “charter” guaranteeing entry in every race and a share of revenue. The teams allege that NASCAR uses the system to limit competition, suppress team values, and maintain full control over television and sponsorship income.
Out of 15 Cup Series organizations, only two — 23XI and Front Row — refused to sign the new 2025 charter agreement after two years of tense negotiations. They called the deal “take-it-or-leave-it,” claiming it stripped teams of long-term equity.
The lawsuit names NASCAR Holdings, Inc. and CEO Jim France as defendants, accusing them of violating federal antitrust laws by dictating terms that block other sanctioning bodies or rival leagues from competing in top-tier stock-car racing.
NASCAR Fights Back — and Loses
In March 2025, NASCAR countersued. Its attorneys claimed that Curtis Polk — Jordan’s longtime business manager and co-owner of 23XI — coordinated with other teams to pressure NASCAR for a better charter deal.
NASCAR’s counterclaim described the teams as an “illegal cartel” that allegedly:
Boycotted meetings of the Team Owners Council,
Tried to interfere with NASCAR’s ongoing media-rights negotiations, and
Refused to negotiate individually.
The sanctioning body argued that this group behavior harmed competition and violated the Sherman Antitrust Act.
But Judge Bell didn’t see it that way. In his October 28 order, he granted summary judgment in favor of the teams, effectively tossing NASCAR’s counterclaim.
He wrote that NASCAR failed to show any “unreasonable restraint of trade” and that the meeting boycott “appeared to have little impact on the competitive landscape.” In other words, while the teams’ joint stance may have frustrated NASCAR, it did not harm competition itself — the key legal test for any antitrust violation.
Even if NASCAR experienced economic loss, the court said, that isn’t the same as harm to the marketplace.
What the Dismissal Means
By removing the “cartel” accusation, Judge Bell has simplified the case heading to trial. The focus now returns to the original question: Does NASCAR’s business model violate antitrust law?
For 23XI and Front Row, this is a big win. It clears away a major distraction and gives their attorneys — led by veteran sports lawyer Jeffrey Kessler — a cleaner path to argue that NASCAR’s charter system is anti-competitive.
“This ruling only reaffirms my clients’ unwavering pursuit of a more fair and equitable sport,” Kessler said after the decision.
NASCAR’s legal team struck a different tone, saying it “respects the court’s decision, though we respectfully disagree with its reasoning,” and indicated it may appeal the dismissal.
The Charter System at the Center of It All
Created in 2016, NASCAR’s charter system was meant to give teams stability — a guarantee that, like franchises in the NFL or NBA, they could count on starting spots and predictable income.
But the plaintiffs argue that NASCAR turned that system into a control mechanism. Charters can be revoked or limited in transferability, giving the sanctioning body final say over who can buy, sell, or race.
Teams say this suppresses their market value and leaves them dependent on NASCAR’s approval for everything from sponsorships to media exposure. Without reforms, they claim, no independent racing team can ever build the long-term wealth enjoyed by teams in other professional sports.
That imbalance is magnified by the way charters are distributed. Under the new 2025 charter agreement, most teams are limited to a maximum of three charters. However, powerhouse organizations like Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing were grandfathered in and allowed to keep four.
According to Jayski’s NASCAR Silly Season Site and RacingNews.co, this exception allows Hendrick to continue fielding four chartered cars — the No. 5, No. 9, No. 24, and No. 48 entries — while new or expanding teams are capped. That rule not only preserves historical dominance but also illustrates the inequity newer teams like 23XI are fighting to change.
Inside the Courtroom: Key Legal Milestones
The Original Complaint (October 2024) – Filed in Charlotte’s federal court, the complaint alleged that NASCAR controls nearly every aspect of top-tier stock-car racing, from event scheduling to licensing and broadcast rights.
Preliminary Injunction (December 2024) – Judge Bell temporarily allowed 23XI and Front Row to operate under existing charters while litigation continued.
Fourth Circuit Appeal (June 2025) – An appellate panel vacated an earlier injunction, emphasizing the need for a full trial on the merits.
Counterclaim Dismissed (October 2025) – The most recent order, striking down NASCAR’s accusation of cartel behavior.
The case is now scheduled for trial on December 1, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Both sides have agreed to strict pre-trial conduct rules to keep the proceedings civil — including bans on referencing unrelated controversies like former NASCAR CEO Brian France’s 2018 resignation.
The Bigger Legal Questions
The trial will revolve around several key issues:
Market Definition: Are we talking about “top-tier stock-car racing” (the Cup Series alone) or the entire motorsports industry? The smaller the defined market, the stronger the monopoly claim.
Competition vs. Competitor Harm: Antitrust law protects the market, not individual companies. The teams must prove NASCAR’s structure hurts competition itself — for example, by preventing new entrants or suppressing fair prices.
Revenue and Negotiation Power: Who should control the billions generated by television rights, sponsorships, and licensing? Teams say NASCAR hoards too much of that revenue and dictates how it’s divided.
Statute of Limitations: NASCAR argues that some alleged conduct happened more than four years ago and falls outside the antitrust window.
How the court answers those questions could reshape not only NASCAR’s future but also the economics of all U.S. motorsports.
What’s at Stake
If 23XI and Front Row win, the case could force NASCAR to overhaul its entire charter and revenue model. That might include:
Allowing greater transfer rights for team charters,
Sharing a larger portion of media and sponsorship revenue, and
Giving teams a stronger voice in governance.
For NASCAR, losing could mean ceding some of the control it has exercised since its founding in 1948.
Even a negotiated settlement — which remains possible — might compel NASCAR to rewrite its agreements in ways that permanently rebalance power between teams and the league.
Cultural and Business Impact
Beyond the courtroom, this case carries symbolic weight. Michael Jordan’s entry into NASCAR was already historic: a Black majority owner stepping into a sport long criticized for its lack of diversity.
Now, his team is challenging the structure of the very organization he joined. It’s not just about money — it’s about transparency, fairness, and inclusion in a sport trying to modernize its image.
Business outlets like Sports Business Journal and The Athletic note that Jordan’s leadership brings credibility and global attention to a sport seeking new fans. This lawsuit, though risky, positions him as both a competitor and a reformer.
For many team owners, the outcome will determine whether NASCAR evolves into a franchise-style league with shared prosperity — or remains a top-down entity where teams compete for limited leverage.
The Road Ahead
The December 1 trial will likely stretch into early 2026. Legal experts expect fireworks: expert testimony on sports economics, closed-door contract disclosures, and possibly new revelations about NASCAR’s internal decision-making.
Both sides continue mediation talks, but after this week’s ruling, 23XI and Front Row hold the momentum.
Whatever the verdict, this case is already changing the conversation around how America’s biggest racing league does business.
Dear Shadow Ball: How many players have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, based on their play in the Negro Leagues? – Curious Curt, International Falls, MN
Dear Curious Curt: Thanks for that question … there are 28 players, listed below with position and year inducted), inducted into the Hall of Fame based on their performance in the Negro Leagues.
Satchel Paige, P, 1971 Ray Dandridge, 3b, 1987 Andy Cooper, p, 2006
Josh Gibson, c, 1972 Leon Day, 1995 Pete Hill, of, 2006
Oscar Charleston, OF, 1976 Turkey Stearnes, of, 2000 Ben Taylor, ib, 2006
Martin Dihigo, 2b, 1977 John Henry Lloyd, ss, 1977 Cristobal Torriente, of, 2006
John Henry Lloyd, ss, 1977 Hilton Smith, p, 2001 Jud Wilson, 3b, 2006
Ray Brown, p, 2006
The real question, for me at least, is “are 28 Negro League player inductees sufficient to accurately tell the story of Negro League baseball in the first half of the twentieth century?” To answer that we need to add some context.
CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND
On December 16, 2020, Major League Baseball announced that it was correcting a longtime oversight in the game’s history by officially recognizing seven specific Negro Leagues operating between 1920-1948 as “Major Leagues”.
Since April 15, 1947 (the day Major League Baseball integrated) 42% of all Hall of Fame players debuting have been players of color (i.e., would have been Negro Leaguers prior to that date)l
In his 1994 baseball documentary, Ken Burns states that Black baseball stars defeated White Major League stars at least 309(70%) times in 438 games … this, of course, is “oral history” but all 7 compilations of games between “so called” Negro League and “so called” Major League teams give the Negro Leaguers the edge with an average winning percentage of 58%.
Many Major League baseball players had been effusive in their assessment and praise of Negro League players prior to the integration of the game including Hall of Famers Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, John McGraw, Joe DiMaggio, Dizzy Dean, Bob Feller, Charlie Gehringer, Rogers Hornsby, and Leo Durocher.
(This would be interesting but not probative but for the above four bullets) Between 1920-1948 the slash lines for both the two Major Leagues and the seven Negro Leagues are virtually identical. A slash line includes batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. The seven Negro Leagues slash line was .272, .335, .376 while the two Major Leagues (AL & NL) was .276, .340, .389.
It must be noted that – while there are 28 players in the Hall for play in the Negro Leagues – there are 125 players in the Hall who earned induction for play in the Major Leagues during baseball’s segregated era prior to 1947.
Given the above bullet points I hope it is obvious to all of us that the current ratio of Major League Hall of Famers prior to 1947 to Negro League Hall of Famers from that same period does not match the record, opinion and honors captured in the above bullets. Clearly, 28 does not do a good job of educating the public. How many Negro Leaguers should there be inducted in Cooperstown? I will close by sharing my opinion and will defend it later in this series if reader interest warrants. In my opinion there should be somewhere between 60 to 80 Negro League players inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Last week’s Shadowball Significa Question
“Who was the first 20th century player to break the color barrier and get into the major leagues, two bonus questions, what year, what team? A third bonus question, how long did he play in the majors? David Nivens, parts unknown, provided the following: When I was kid, my baseball coach told me that Jackie Robinson was the first black player to enter the Major Leagues in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He played 10 years in the Major Leagues. Thank you, David I very much appreciated your participation, and your including your father’s assistance; my dad provided me that same information when I was a kid.
The Shadowball Significa Question of the Week
What was the name of Atlanta’s most prolific franchise (in terms of years in the league) in the Negro Leagues?
Ted Knorr
Ted Knorr is a Negro Leagues history expert and longtime SABR member, known for his trivia wins and founding the Jerry Malloy Conference and Commemorative Nights. You can send questions to shadowball@truthseekersjournal.com or Shadow Ball, 3904 N Druid Hills Rd, Ste 179, Decatur, GA 30033
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MARTA launches the “Better Breeze” upgrade, a modern contactless fare collection system arriving by spring 2026, bringing faster gates, tap-to-pay options, and enhanced rider security.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | October 28, 2025
The next time you step onto MARTA, you may notice something new — and brighter. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority has begun replacing its entire fare collection system, marking one of the agency’s biggest technology upgrades in nearly two decades.
MARTA began installing new fare equipment at Lindbergh Center Station Sept. 22 and at Doraville Oct. 8. The installation of new contactless payment terminals on buses began in mid-September. The installation of new equipment will continue systemwide in phases until the customer transition period next April.
The project will continue in phases through spring 2026, when riders will officially transition to the Better Breeze system.
A System Built for the Future “It’s great to keep fares unchanged for years, but not an entire fare collection system,” said MARTA Interim General Manager and CEO Jonathan Hunt. Hunt called the upgrade essential to preparing for a “once-in-a-generation” year ahead, with new trains, a redesigned bus network, on-demand zones, and a refreshed mobile app launching before Atlanta hosts the 2026 World Cup.
Leadership from MARTA and INIT, the Better Breeze system developer and installer (L to R: Rhonda Allen, MARTA Deputy General Manager; Jonathan Hunt, MARTA Interim General Manager & CEO; Jennifer Ide, Chair, MARTA Board of Directors; Carl Commons, INIT CEO; Steven Parker, MARTA Chief of Staff).
MARTA’s Breeze system first launched in 2006, replacing tokens and paper transfers. While the Breeze name will remain, everything else — from faregates to the mobile app — will be rebuilt.
Tap, Go, and Keep Moving The Better Breeze system introduces open payment technology. Riders can simply tap their credit or debit card, smartphone, or digital wallet to pay the same $2.50 fare. The upgrade also includes new orange Breeze cards, improved vending machines, and a redesigned mobile app where users will create new accounts to purchase fares.
For MARTA Mobility and reduced-fare customers, the agency will offer both physical and digital options. Transition details will be announced early next year.
High-Tech Security, Lower Downtime MARTA’s installation partner, INIT, says each faregate unit can run 10,000 hours without service failure. The new gates are more tamper-resistant, remotely monitored, and designed to reduce fare evasion. “This is about transforming the rider experience and making transit more connected,” said Carl Commons, INIT’s CEO.
The technology is already used in cities including Houston, Seattle, Nashville, Grand Rapids, Honolulu, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
No Fare Increase — Just Faster Rides MARTA confirmed there will be no fare increase with the Better Breeze rollout. The systemwide modernization will take place in stages, ensuring riders can still access all rail stations during construction. Riders are advised to follow posted signs at stations to avoid closed faregates while new units are installed.
Better Breeze Card – Courtesy MARTA
From Tokens to Tap-to-Pay When MARTA began in 1971, bus rides cost just 15 cents. In 2006, the original Breeze card introduced Atlanta riders to smart-card technology. Nearly 20 years later, MARTA is once again reinventing how Atlanta moves — one tap at a time.
By the Numbers – MARTA Fare Facts
15 cents: Original MARTA fare in 1971
$2.50: Current one-way fare (unchanged for 14 years)
10,000 hours: Estimated operating time per faregate without service failure
2026: Target year for Better Breeze systemwide launch
20 years: Time since the original Breeze system debuted
Millions of low-income Americans could lose food assistance as SNAP benefits halt November 1 amid a prolonged government shutdown, leaving families and food banks bracing for crisis.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | October 27, 2025
As the federal shutdown stretches into its fourth week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed that no Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will be issued on November 1 — potentially cutting off aid to more than 42 million Americans who rely on the program to feed their families.
On Monday, the USDA posted a stark message on its website: “Bottom line, the well has run dry.” According to the agency, Senate gridlock over federal spending has left SNAP — once known as food stamps — without the funds to continue into the new month.
Photo by Milton Kirby
The USDA’s statement comes amid partisan tension in Congress. The agency said that Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times against proposed measures to fund SNAP, citing disagreements over other spending priorities. Without a resolution, the department warned, “there will be no benefits issued November 1.”
Millions at Risk
The impact of this funding lapse is enormous. SNAP currently provides monthly food assistance to roughly one in eight Americans — including working parents, seniors, and people with disabilities. The separate Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, serving more than 7 million low-income mothers and babies, is also poised to run out of money.
While EBT cards will still function for now, only unused balances from prior months will remain available after November 1. USDA has clarified that these balances will roll over, but no new November benefits will be issued.
Adding to the strain, the USDA has said it will not reimburse states that use their own funds to keep SNAP benefits flowing during the shutdown. That decision leaves governors and local agencies scrambling to fill the gap.
Food Banks Brace for Surge
Across the nation, food banks are preparing for a potential surge in demand. “Food banks are already squeezed by federal funding cuts,” said George Matysik, executive director of the Share Food Program in Philadelphia. “If SNAP goes dark, we’ll see lines wrap around the block.”
Photo by Milton Kirby
The New Disabled South, a Georgia-based advocacy group, has begun offering small emergency grants — $100 for individuals and $250 for families — to help SNAP recipients cover basic needs. But even that organization is warning participants that accepting cash could affect other benefits such as Medicaid or Social Security.
A Divided Washington
The USDA said in an internal memo earlier this month that it would not tap its $5 billion contingency fund, explaining that the reserve is reserved for natural disasters, not shutdowns. That decision — combined with congressional inaction — has deepened frustration across party lines.
“It’s abysmal that we live in such a moment,” said Dom Kelly, founder of New Disabled South. “A government shutdown should not mean that people have to choose between paying rent and feeding their families.”
The shutdown, which began October 1 after lawmakers failed to agree on a 2026 federal budget, is now among the longest in U.S. history, trailing only the 35-day standoff of 2018–2019.
What SNAP Recipients Can Do
SNAP and WIC recipients are urged to contact their state agencies immediately for local assistance and to verify whether their states are releasing temporary emergency benefits. In some states, officials are exploring emergency appropriations or public-private partnerships with community food banks. Others are directing residents to faith-based and nonprofit food programs.
The USDA emphasized that while its mission is to “increase food security and reduce hunger in partnership with cooperating organizations,” it cannot operate without congressional funding.
For now, the agency’s message is clear: without a deal, millions of American households could see their food budgets vanish overnight.
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ATLANTA — On Saturday, October 18, hundreds of seniors filled the Wolf Creek Amphitheater for a joyful and determined attempt to set a new Guinness World Record. The goal: the largest senior health awareness fitness class ever organized.
Led by energetic fitness coach DaShaun Johnson, the crowd stretched, stepped, and moved in sync for nearly an hour. The effort came just 83 participants shy of setting a new global mark, but the day was far from a loss.
“What we did here today was bigger than any record,” Johnson said. “We moved together — as one community — and that’s what this is all about.”
The event, presented by the City of South Fulton in partnership with The Guru of Abs, drew seniors, caregivers, and family members from across metro Atlanta. Volunteers, sponsors, and local wellness organizations filled the amphitheater with energy, resources, and encouragement.
A Day of Movement and Motivation
The day began with warm ups and motivational music before Johnson led a full-body session designed to be inclusive for all mobility levels. From chair-based stretches to low-impact cardio, participants showed that age is no barrier to movement.
“While we did not break the Guinness record, to see all of these seniors here investing in their health is truly amazing,” said Leslie McGuffie, Chief Operating Officer of Axxess Benefit Consultants.
Many seniors said they came not for a record, but for connection.
“It feels good to know we’re part of something that celebrates us,” said participant Margaret Allen of East Point. “You’re never too old to take care of yourself.”
Why Senior Fitness Matters
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults aged 65 and older need at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week, along with muscle-strengthening exercises twice a week. Regular activity helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
The popular SilverSneakers program, which provides free gym access for many older adults through Medicare, reports that consistent exercise improves balance, boosts mood, and reduces falls — the leading cause of injury among seniors.
“Events like this do more than raise awareness,” said wellness coordinator Tasha Greene. “They remind our elders that they are seen, valued, and capable.”
Building a Culture of Wellness
Organizers say the near-record turnout has inspired plans for a larger attempt next year. The City of South Fulton plans to continue promoting senior wellness programs throughout 2026, including walking clubs, nutrition workshops, and free exercise classes.
“We may have missed the record this time,” Johnson said with a smile, “but next year, we’ll make sure the world knows Atlanta’s seniors are unstoppable.”
No matter your age, the fitness journey can continue. With proper guidance and a consistent regimen, movement at any stage of life can improve health outcomes and quality of living.
Senior Fitness by the Numbers
150 minutes of weekly activity recommended for adults 65+.
28% of adults over 65 are inactive, per CDC.
25% reduction in risk of early death for active seniors.
40% fewer falls reported among seniors who exercise regularly.
The Power of Community Wellness
Social engagement improves mental health and reduces isolation.
Group exercise increases consistency and motivation.
Community-based programs can improve local health outcomes by up to 20%, according to public health studies.
Atlanta’s explosive growth is slowing after decades of expansion, as families move to surrounding suburbs for space and affordability while the city grows denser and pricier.
By Krystal Nurse | General Assignment Reporter | October 20, 2025
Quinn Arnau was thoughtful in his decision to plant his roots in the Atlanta metro area 20 years ago. He sought a space with an up-and-coming airport, major corporations’ headquarters and room to breathe.
“I feel like Atlanta is a cool place to live,” Arnau, president of the Atlanta Realtors Association, told Straight Arrow News. “It’s seen as an alternative to some of the larger cities like Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.”
He isn’t the only one who feels this way. Atlanta has grown steadily for the past two decades. But as that sought-after available space becomes harder to find, the boomtown’s growth is slowing.
Between 1990 and 2025, Atlanta’s population grew an average of 2.2% every five years, according to an SAN analysis of data from the Atlanta Regional Commission, a regional planning organization that tracks trends for the city and surrounding counties. The city’s most rapid growth occurred from 2015 to 2020, during which the number of residents increased by 15.5%, or 67,015 people. The city is no stranger to population losses, as its worst was by 4.84% from 2000 to 2005, when it lost 20,163 residents.
Ann Carpenter, head of research and analytics at the commission, told SAN her team reviews results of the decennial census and then uses information about new homes being built to calculate a weighted population change.
On an annual basis, the growth looks more incremental. Data from the Census Bureau’s annual population estimates showed that Atlanta’s growth slowed from 1.5% between 2021 and 2022 to 1.3% from 2023 to 2024.
John Floresta, chief strategy and accountability officer at the Cobb County School District, which serves 100,000-plus students in the Atlanta metro, told SAN that he believes the stalled national birth rate is the cause. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the national rate has been falling since 2007 with a small spike in 2021.
“Over the course of the last five years or so, we have seen a stable birth rate across the county,” he said.
Yet even as the birth rate has held steady, school enrollment has decreased in Cobb County. The number of incoming kindergarteners has dropped from 7,720 students six years ago to 6,803 as of March 6, according to Georgia Department of Education enrollment data.
Despite it, people have relocated from the city’s confines to the suburbs where they can access more land for as much, sometimes less, than what they pay in Atlanta. The movement hit cities across the nation for decades. This urban flight proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic, as places like Atlanta accepted more multifamily developments to accommodate a rising population, pushing single-family homes to the suburbs.
What’s led to the growth?
Lloyd Potter, professor of sociology and demography at the University of Texas at San Antonio, told SAN that cities often see more people move in when a transportation system is built. That happened in places like Knoxville, Tennessee, Dallas and Houston.
Atlanta followed a relatively steady growth after the 1990s, mimicking the expansion of major companies like Delta Air Lines, UPS, Coca-Cola Company and Equifax. The region became a great place to work: The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell region had an unemployment rate of 4.9% in 1990 and 3.4% in 2024, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Since 1990, the region has added a net of 45,827 employees. The largest addition was in 2021 when 146,300 people joined the region’s workforce — a rebound after the area saw 142,000 people lose their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Still, the promise of good jobs helps keep the region humming. At Cobb County schools, Floresta said the district has worked with several businesses to embed staff at Career Innovation and Technology Academy, a magnet high school that focuses on providing students hands-on learning experiences and career opportunities. Through the academy, Floresta said students graduate trained in their industries and could be hired quicker than others.
“Employers are confident that they’re hiring a skilled employee when a graduate walks in their door,” he said.
He added families are noticing the options suburban school districts like Cobb County offer and are either moving to those counties or sending their kids to the districts.
Suburbs enjoy the constraints of Atlanta
Floresta, like Arnau, moved to the Atlanta area nearly 25 years ago. He chose a home in Cobb County, which was growing slowly, starting in the parts neighboring Atlanta.
Soon enough, that development extended up to the city of Marietta, then to the town of East Cobb, over to the city of Kennesaw and down the county’s western side.
That’s evident in the sprawl of building permits the Atlanta Regional Commission has tracked. Its map revealed that single-family housing building permits in 2024 clustered in Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties.
Those new homes are likely being filled with younger families, Arnau said.
According to the commission’s yearly population report, the Atlanta Metro’s population grew by 26.3% from 1970 to 1980 and by 34.9% from 1980 to 1990. Gwinnett County experienced the largest jump, exploding from 72,349 residents in 1970 to just over 1 million as of this year.
The commission uses an 11-county region in the population estimates over the Census Bureau’s 29-county metro.
Arnau has noticed a trend of younger people moving out of the city of Atlanta to take advantage of the space a home in the suburbs can offer for their budgets.
“We have a lot of people looking for a large flat backyard,” Arnau said, “and I’m not sure how Atlanta is perceived from the outside, but once you get especially north of the city, there are creeks and rivers and hills and things everywhere.”
The lack of open space in Atlanta has, however, made way for multifamily buildings such as apartments, condominiums and townhomes. The city has approved nearly nine times more multifamily permits than it did for single-family homes in 2024, according to the Atlanta Regional Commission.
It’s the only area in the region with such a large discrepancy between the housing types.
“Some of those rentals are coming at the expense of would-be development for single-family homes,” Arnau said.
Throughout the region, home sales aren’t closing as quickly as they once did, Arnau told SAN. As a result, Arnau deems the area part of a “neutral” real estate market, which means neither buyers nor sellers have an advantage. This has allowed homeowners to stay put for longer as their homes build equity.
And that, in turn, promotes smaller towns to build their own downtown or city center areas to entice people to stay, Arnau said. That’s happened in Alpharetta, where in 2015, leaders created a downtown master plan to address Fulton County’s 365,000-resident increase between 1970 and 2015.
Growth in Atlanta hasn’t stopped. It’s only slowed after years of explosive growth that has become the expectation: People are still moving in and calling it home.
“The future is bright,” Arnau said. “Atlanta will continue to keep growing and we’ll see people continue to want to live here.”
Tristan Peterson (Creative Director) and Devin Pavlou (Digital Producer) contributed to this report.
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