Latest news with #UniversityofMemphis
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Teen graduates from high school months after hit-and-run
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It's graduation night for many in the Memphis area, including Thomas Powell, who survived a hit-and-run last July. Now, he has a full-ride scholarship waiting for him at the University of Memphis. WREG had a chance to catch up with Powell and his family outside of Mitchell High School's graduation. ORIGINAL STORY: Hit-and-run wreck leaves honor student on life support They said they're extremely proud because less than a year ago, this all felt unrealistic. 'I knew I had to trust God because he was the only one who could bring him back to this,' Powell's mother, Shauntay Williams said. Williams' prayers were answered as her oldest son, Thomas Powell, will be graduating from Mitchell High School. Last July, Powell was struck by a car in a hit-and-run, leaving him on life support and unable to walk on his own. Nearly a year later, his recovery has been nothing short of a miracle, as he credits God and his positive attitude for his recovery. He said he's even given his walker to a man less fortunate than him, months after his accident. 'There was a guy, he had a walking cane and he was walking down the street. We were looking for a yard to cut and he was having a hard time with his cane,' Powell said. 'I just gave him my walker.' Monday night, Thomas celebrates an academic career most could only dream of. While at Mitchell High, he was an honor roll student and earned a full-ride scholarship to the University of Memphis next fall. He also earned a medal from the exclusive ACT 25+ club, a group that celebrates Shelby County students with an ACT score of 25 or higher. Honor student returns home after hit-and-run crash 'I'm the only one in my class that has this,' Powell said of the medal. To say his family is proud is an understatement. 'He's a light,' Williams said. 'Put it like that, he's a light and he shines really, really bright.' After college, Powell said he plans on becoming a therapist, so he can help people overcome mental hurdles like he did. 'I want to be a therapist,' Powell said. 'I want to go and be a therapist and make it so people can reach heights higher than I reached without having to go through the same things.' Powell said he's also considering attending Vanderbilt, although his mom would like for him to stay close to home at the University of Memphis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
List shows the vendors MATA hasn't paid, totaling $10M+
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Area Transit Authority neglected its bills, and WREG Investigators uncovered they owe more than $10 million to more than 200 vendors. The long list of vendors stretched throughout five pages and shows entities MATA did business with but hadn't paid as of mid-October. This list was handed over to the new interim CEO and CFO the MATA board hired in January. They're trying to sort through it. Last month, they told council members 94% of MATA's payables were a month or more late. They want to get that number down to 10%. 'We are hoping to get many of those folks more current in the near future,' Interim CFO Aaron Headley stated. WREG Investigators submitted an open records request for the list in October. With help from the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press, we just received a copy. It shows as of October 14, MATA owed thousands of dollars to phone, battery, tire and software companies. What MATA's interim CEO charged to her company credit card Many on this list are local companies, including a public relations firm and multiple law firms. The list included $183,328 owed to G & W Diesel Service, $224,293 to Memphis Light Gas & Water, $489,332 to Gillig LLC, $765,517 to HDR Engineering Inc., and $673,568 to the Downtown Memphis Commission. It also stated MATA owed $86,914 to the University of Memphis, and $11,246 to the YMCA. Again, these totals were as of October. One company on the list is now suing MATA. The complaint claims while it provided services, MATA 'stopped paying all invoices in or around January 2024 without legal justification or explanation.' The judge granted MATA more time to respond to the complaint. Tobacco, jewelry store, more charges found on MATA's credit card MATA's new leadership has said the vendor accounts are being carefully managed, and the list they were handed only complicated things, as they learned bus repairs were tied up because of the unpaid bills. 'More of every dollar has to be going towards putting buses on the street and moving Memphians from their origin to their destination. That's our priority,' MATA's Interim CEO John Lewis told Your News Leader in April. vendor-list-10.14.2024Download MATA sent a statement Friday saying the agency intends to meet all its financial obligations 'as soon as financially possible.' The full statement is below: We understand the critical role our vendors play in maintaining safe and reliable transportation for our community. Acknowledging past financial challenges, our Finance team developed a structured system aimed at ensuring consistent, timely payments to our vendors. Due to the tough financial position we find ourselves in, we have had to prioritize payments to vendors that directly support operations, such as bus maintenance and repairs, to keep our fleet in service for our riders. It is our intention to meet all the financial obligations of the agency as soon as financially possible. These strategic adjustments are part of our commitment to maximizing service efficiency, optimizing resources, and enhancing overall reliability for our riders. We appreciate the continued patience and partnership of our vendors as we implement these measures to strengthen financial stability and improve service delivery. At last check, 64% of buses are on time. MATA's new leadership hopes to get that number to 85% as they continue to pay off debts, get parts to fix buses, and get more vehicles on the street. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Memphis man free after being held nearly three years in Kuwait
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A University of Memphis alumnus and grandfather of six was among 10 more Americans freed from Kuwait this week. In 2022, Tony Holden was working as an HVAC technician for a U.S.-based defense contractor at Camp Arifjan U.S. Army Base when his family said he was arrested on fabricated drug charges. The Memphis native returned to the United States on Wednesday and, in a video circulating online, he thanked President Trump for bringing him home. 'I wanted you to be able to meditate on how you've affected, personally, lives and the difference that you've made,' Holden said. 'I give all the grace and honor to God. He uses instruments, and there have been a lot of people behind the scenes who have done a great job.' According to a website set up to raise awareness about his case, Holden was approached by two men who were so violent he thought he was being kidnapped. Family members said the corrupt officers who were after bonuses beat Holden and trashed his apartment looking for drugs. They said the men also took Holden, his wife, and his then three-year-old daughter into the Kuwaiti desert and physically threatened them and eventually coerced Holden into signing a written confession in Arabic to protect his family. Holmes Rd. bridge to close for repairs His family said even though they never found any drugs and Holden's drug test came back negative, he was charged with drug possession, drug trafficking, and attempting to flee the country. They said the trial judge believed the police report was fabricated, but Holden was still sentenced to five years in prison. He was detained for more than 900 days. Since March, Kuwait has pardoned 23 Americans as part of a goodwill gesture by a U.S. ally. In a post on 'X', Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to the President, Senior Director for Counter Terrorism, National Security Council, said 47 hostages had been released in 100 days thanks to the President. Holden's family members are celebrating his release and say they never gave up hope he would be released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Concerns rise for international students at U of M, nationwide
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Several University of Memphis international students are facing status concerns, as fears are growing for students at universities nationwide. According to University of Memphis leaders, five international students had records terminated — a move that impacts their immigration status. This is all over SEVIS records, also known as 'Student and Exchange Visitor Program.' Because of these terminations, those five students are not in legal status with the Department of Homeland Security. Across the country, this is happening to more than 1,000 international students and recent graduates, not just at the U of M. 📡 for Memphis and the Mid-South. 📧 and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. At Lemoyne-Owen College, leaders say one student's F-1 status was terminated. Now it's unclear whether this involves deportation. One lawyer, who is representing 150 students nationwide, has filed a lawsuit, saying ICE is illegally interfering. 'The law here is crystal clear, and that's what makes it even more frustrating. The government knows what they did is wrong. They know that. They just don't care,' said Lawyer Charles Kuck. This has led to rallies across the country, like one at Georgia State, calling on ICE to stay off campuses. We will keep you updated as this story develops and as we learn more from our local universities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
5 University of Memphis international students have records terminated
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The University of Memphis says five international students had their SEVIS records terminated Wednesday, a move affecting their immigration status. SEVIS stands for stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Termination means those students are not in legal status with the Department of Homeland Security. It is unclear whether this involves deportation. 'Our Division of International Affairs is actively working with the impacted students in addition to advising all UofM international students on how to navigate and maintain their status,' a university spokesperson said in an email. More than 1,300 international students and recent graduates have had their legal status challenged by the State Department, including several others in Tennessee, according to a report Wednesday from Inside Higher Ed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
