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2019 Ford F150 Limited

NNPA NEWSWIRE — With pickup trucks it is all about the work. This 2019 F-150 Limited could tote 2,600 lbs. and tow 13,000 lbs. It was not just pretty sheet metal. But it was good looking inside and out. Don’t get it twisted. This pickup had an extended range fuel tank (36-gallon capacity). When I first got in the truck it had a range of 515 miles.

Published

7 years ago

May 7, 2019

Oakland Post

By Frank S. Washington, AboutThatCar.com, NNPA Newswire Contributor

DETROIT – Ford’s F-150 Limited is a lot of pickup truck. It is the top of the line model of the bestselling vehicle on the American market for the last 41 years. And it has an almost $75K sticker.

This truck had so much equipment it was challenging to note it all. But first let’s cite the basics; after all it is a pickup truck.

The test vehicle was the Ford F-150 4X4 Supercrew Limited. Under the hood was Ford’s 3.5-liter V6 Ecoboost (dual turbocharged) High Output engine. It made 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Ford bills the F-150 with this engine as the most powerful light duty pickup in America.

It was mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability. The combination had an EPA rating of 17 mpg in the city, 21 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg combined. Five days into the test drive and I had averaged 13.1 mpg.

With pickup trucks it is all about the work. This 2019 F-150 Limited could tote 2,600 lbs. and tow 13,000 lbs. It was not just pretty sheet metal. But it was good looking inside and out. Don’t get it twisted. This pickup had an extended range fuel tank (36-gallon capacity). When I first got in the truck it had a range of 515 miles.

For 2019, the front of the F-150 stayed pretty much the same. But in the rear the Limited has a new dual exhaust system with integrated exhaust tips and bumper cutouts, themselves new.

Inside is where they pulled out all the stops to convey luxury. There was a camel back two-tone color scheme. The front seats were heated and cooled and they massaged you. The second-row seats were heated. There was genuine wood trim, in this case swirl ash and aluminum framed bezels.

Because of its body on frame construction it was pretty hard to rid the Ford F-150 of its truck-like ride. But Ford engineers did an admirable job. They used an independent double-wishbone with coil-over shocks and stamped lower control arm in the front suspension with a heavy-duty gas-pressurized shock absorber. In the rear they used a leaf spring/solid axle suspension with another heavy-duty gas-pressurized shock absorber.

This setup provided a relatively smooth ride. Cornering was accurate but I could feel the Ford F-150’s girth when cornering but it was not anything severe. The engine provided scary acceleration because of the swiftness but the nose never rose up. I didn’t get the chance to try any extreme braking but under normal driving conditions stopping was a sure-footed affair.

Speaking of pedal, this pickup had adjustable pedals. Getting into the F-150 is different. To say it had push button lock and unlock is really a misnomer. I just held a fingertip in front of the pad that looked like a button and the door unlocked. Once I opened it, the running board folded out and down and I was able to step in with little trouble. I climbed in closed the door and the running board retracted.

The first thing I noticed was the glass roof. Ford calls it a twin panel moon roof. Nope. It is a panoramic roof. And since this 2019 F-150 was a supercrew cab that meant there was a lot of glass.

There was a laser etched plaque on the center console armrest that had the F-150 Limited badge on it and the truck’s 17-digit VIN (serial) number. The interior was awash in leather and authentic stitching, even on top of the dash board.

At night there was ice blue ambient lighting. The F-150 Limited could park itself. And Limited was spelled out in chrome block letters across the front of the hood.

There were 12V and 110V plugs in the front and the back as well dual USB jacks in the storage bin in the front and another pair at the base of the center console in the back. The climate controls and the audio controls were in two separate clusters underneath the infotainment touch screen.

The 4X4 pickup had a dial control for 2H, 4A, 4H and 4L. For the uninitiated that is two-wheel high gear, four-wheel automatic, meaning it will shift between two-wheel and four-wheel drive automatically depending on road conditions, four-wheel high gear and four wheel low gear for off-roading.

It had a trailer backup system, LED lights on the sideview mirrors that were power folding, surround and overhead camera and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

I climbed into the rear seats and found them comfortable and stylish. There was plenty of head and hip room. Leg space was abundant and the floor was flat. These were 60/40 folding seats and a power sliding back window.

There was a lot more. Ford said:

Signature design elements include a unique satin-finish grille and tailgate applique, and satin-finish window trim and door handles. It had remote start and tailgate release.

An integrated trailer brake controller was standard, as was a 360-degree camera with split-view display with dynamic hitch assist to simplify the hitching process. Class-exclusive Pro Trailer Backup Assist™ was designed to make maneuvering easier by letting drivers rotate a knob to control its direction, with the truck automatically steering to follow the course selected.

Ford also said: F-150 Limited’s driver-assist technology works to reduce daily stress. Standard adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality allows drivers to set a cruising speed, and then uses radar and camera technology to monitor traffic ahead to maintain a set distance between vehicles – even following one down to a complete stop.

Standard pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking helps drivers avoid or mitigate collisions with other vehicles and pedestrians. Active park assist to aid in parallel parking, plus a lane-keeping system that provides alerts and assistance with lane drift are standard as well.

The F-150 Limited features SYNC® 3 with AppLink™, Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ compatibility, and a FordPass™ Connect 4G LTE modem that provides Wi-Fi access for up to 10 devices. Audiophiles will appreciate the standard B&O PLAY™ audio system by HARMAN.

I especially liked the voice activated navigation system. There was satellite radio, voice controls, a heated steering wheel, Bluetooth, LED lighting in the truck’s bed, and 22-inch alloy wheels. And that was not all. For instance, there was an elaborate step up for easier access into the bed.

For $74,775 there was not much more to want.

Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com

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Poll Shows Support for Policies That Help Families Afford Child Care

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — New national polling shows persistent voter concern about the affordability and availability of child care for working parents, alongside broad support across key demographic groups for federal child care policies that help families afford care.

Published

1 week ago

March 2, 2026

Oakland Post

By First Five Years Fund

New national polling shows persistent voter concern about the affordability and availability of child care for working parents, alongside broad support across key demographic groups for federal child care policies that help families afford care.

The national survey was conducted by UpOne Insight on behalf of the First Five Years Fund from January 13–18, 2026.

Key findings include:

• Parents need help: 80% of voters say the ability of working parents to find and afford child care is either in a state of crisis or a major problem.

• This is an affordability issue: 82% believe federal child care funding will help lower costs for working families — including 69% of Republicans, 84% of Independents, and 94% of Democrats.

• And there continues to be strong support (62%) for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), a federal program that makes it possible for hundreds of thousands of families to afford safe, quality care for their children while parents work or go to school, including a majority of Republicans, 63% of Independents and 72% of Democrats.

• Support for funding child care programs remains strong: 75% believe child care funding should be increased or kept at current levels — including 75% of Republicans, 85% of Independents, and 97% of Democrats.

• 74% say funding for child care is an important and good use of tax dollars, including a majority of Republicans, three-quarters of Independents, and nine in ten Democrats.

FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling said, “Voters across the country are sending a clear message: federal child care and early learning programs work. These investments help parents stay in the workforce, strengthen families, and support healthy child development. They have also long had strong bipartisan support in Congress. At a time when affordability is top of mind for families, continued federal funding is essential to ensure child care remains accessible and within reach.”

First Five Years Fund works to protect, prioritize, and build bipartisan support for quality child care and early learning programs at the federal level. Reliable, affordable, and high-quality early learning and child care can be transformative, not only enhancing a child’s prospects for a brighter future but also bolstering working parents and fostering economic stability nationwide.

We work with Congress and the Administration to identify federal solutions that work for families with young children, as well as states and communities. We work with policymakers to identify ways to increase access to affordable, high-quality child care and early learning programs for children. And we collaborate with advocacy groups to help align best practices with the best possible policies. http://www.ffyf.org

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Trump’s MAGA Allies are Creating Executive Order Plan to Steal the 2026 Midterms

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The document that could lead to an executive order proposes using the claim that China interfered with the 2020 elections as grounds to “declare a national emergency.” The move would be an unprecedented step that would grant Trump new authority over the voting systems in the U.S.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 27, 2026

Oakland Post

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Correspondent

A group of MAGA pro-Trump activists, who say they are working in coordination with the White House, are circulating a 17-page draft executive order that would claim without evidence that China interfered with the 2020 presidential election. Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential to President Joe Biden by over 7 million votes. Since Trump lost to Biden in 2020, he has repeatedly claimed that the election was “stolen” without evidence. The report of a group of “Trump allies” preparing an executive order to give Trump power over elections was first reported by The Washington Post.

The lies around the right-wing campaign that pushed falsehoods that the 2020 election was stolen was trafficked through right-wing media, particularly Fox News. Fox News was then sued for defamation for the claims by Dominion Voting Systems. Fox lost the case and had to settle for the largest defamation amount on record of $787.5 million in April 2023.

The document that could lead to an executive order proposes using the claim that China interfered with the 2020 elections as grounds to “declare a national emergency.” The move would be an unprecedented step that would grant Trump new authority over the voting systems in the U.S.

The story in The Washington Post arrives as Trump increasingly signals that he may take actions that would alter the result of the 2026 midterms. The Republicans are widely expected to lose as their approval ratings plummet as a result of a failing economy under Trump. Over 50 members of Congress have announced they will retire this year and not return in 2027.

The Trump Department of Justice, which now has a large image of Trump on the side of it, “sued five new states Thursday [Feb. 26, 2026] demanding access to their unredacted voter rolls — escalating a campaign that has been rejected by multiple federal courts and faces resistance from Republican-led states as well,” according to Democracy Docket, a group that works to protect voting rights.

Trump claimed back in late 2020, the last year of his first term, that he had the authority to issue an executive order related to mail-in voting for the 2020 elections — which he would then lose. But the Constitution states that control of elections lies with the states. As the GOP works to place hurdles in front of voting, Democrats worked to make voting easier.

In March 2021, President Biden signed an executive order calling on federal agencies to expand voting access as part of the Biden Administration’s effort “to promote and defend the right to vote for all Americans who are legally entitled to participate in elections.”

Trump’s focus is clearly on altering the November 2026 midterm elections. Trump’s polling numbers and the elections and special elections that have taken place around the U.S. over the last year clearly indicate that Republicans are about to be hit by a blue wave of Democratic victories.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent investigative journalist and the founder of Black Virginia News. She is a political analyst who appears on #RolandMartinUnfiltered and hosts the show LAUREN LIVE on YouTube @LaurenVictoriaBurke. She can be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

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PRESS ROOM: NBA Hall of Fame Nominee Terry Cummings Joins 100 Black Men of DeKalb County to Launch Victory & Values Initiative

NNPA NEWSWIRE — NBA Hall of Fame nominee and Basketball Legend Terry Cummings was administered the official member’s oath and ceremonially pinned during a special induction ceremony held on Friday, February 20th.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 27, 2026

admin

Cummings becomes an honorary member, joining other role model sports stars

NBA Hall of Fame nominee and Basketball Legend Terry Cummings has officially become an honorary member of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County, marking a powerful new chapter for the 100 Black Men and youth development across the region.

Cummings was administered the official member’s oath and ceremonially pinned during a special induction ceremony held on Friday, February 20th. The moment signified more than membership — it marked the launch of the organization’s transformative new platform, the Victory & Values Initiative.

The Victory & Values Initiative is a groundbreaking youth development program designed to empower elementary and middle school students through a dynamic blend of sports, mentorship, and STEM exposure. The initiative focuses on building health, discipline, character, leadership, and access to opportunity — creating pathways for long-term academic and personal success.

“This is about more than sports,” said Cummings during the ceremony. “It’s about using the platform of athletics to teach life lessons, create access, and build the next generation of leaders.”

The induction ceremony also featured notable guests including NASCAR’s newest Star Driver, Lavar Scott and NASCAR Director of Athletic Performance, Phil Horton, who joined Cummings for a powerful Victory & Values Town Hall discussion. The Town Hall was moderated by renowned Sports Emcee John Hollins and focused on leadership, resilience, discipline, and the importance of mentorship in shaping young lives.

A “Day at NASCAR” for 75+ Youth

Cummings wasted no time getting to work. On his first full day as an honorary member, he joined his new brothers of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County to host a “Day at NASCAR,” escorting more than 75 youth to a once-in-a-lifetime experience at EchoPark Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway).

The youth participants received behind-the-scenes access including: an exclusive tour of Pit Row, access to the Garage Area and exploration of the interactive Fan Zone.

The experience culminated with a surprise meet-and-greet and Q&A session with NASCAR Superstar Bubba Wallace, who shared insights on perseverance, preparation, and breaking barriers in professional sports.

The day served as a living example of the ‘Victory & Values’ Initiative in action — exposing youth to new industries, expanding their vision for the future, and connecting them directly with high- level mentors and role models.

Building Leaders Through Access and Mentorship

The 100 Black Men of DeKalb County – a chapter of the largest, national mentoring organization in the county – continues to expand its footprint with programs focused on academic excellence, economic empowerment, leadership development, and health & wellness.

The launch of ‘Victory & Values’ represents a strategic expansion of the organization’s impact

intentionally integrating athletics and STEM to engage youth at an early age while reinforcing core principles such as integrity, accountability, teamwork, and perseverance.

“Our mission has always been to mentor the next generation,” said Vaughn Irons, President-Elect of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County. “With Terry Cummings joining the brotherhood, along with partners in NASCAR and professional sports, we are creating unprecedented access and exposure for our youth. Victory & Values is about turning inspiration into structured opportunity.”

By connecting elementary and middle school students to professional athletes, executives, STEM professionals, and community leaders, the initiative aims to:

Increase youth exposure to careers in sports business, engineering, and performance science
Strengthen mentorship pipelines
Promote physical wellness and mental resilience
Build character-driven leadership at an early age

Open Invitation to Youth and Families

All youth are invited to participate in the Victory & Values Initiative, along with the other countless, impactful programs offered by the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County.

Parents and guardians seeking mentorship, leadership development, academic enrichment, and transformative exposure opportunities for their children are encouraged to connect with the organization.

As NBA Legend Terry Cummings’ induction demonstrates, Victory & Values is more than a program — it is a movement designed to build champions in life, not just in sports.

For more information about the Victory & Values Initiative or to enroll a student, contact: 100 Black Men of DeKalb County at Phone at 404.241.1338, info@100bmod.org or Tee Foxx at 404.791.6525,