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Terri Sanders Transforms Omaha Star: 87 Years of Black Women Leading Nebraska’s Iconic Newspaper

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Sanders’ plans for the museum are ambitious. She envisions a space that honors Black journalists, features historical exhibits, and preserves the personal quarters of founder Mildred Brown, which remain remarkably intact.

Published

1 year ago

October 10, 2024

Oakland Post

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

In North Omaha, the legacy of The Omaha Star lives on, steadfast through decades of change and challenge. Since 1938, Nebraska’s only Black-owned newspaper has been a voice for the community, and now, under the leadership of Terri Sanders, it’s poised to become a national cultural landmark.

“Paper’s been going 87 years. We have never missed a publication day. So, we can’t start with me,” Sanders said in a telephone conversation with NNPA Newswire. The mother of former vice-presidential advisor and MSNBC News journalist Symone D. Sanders-Townsend, Sanders said she remains committed to preserving Omaha’s beacon of Black journalism.

Dr Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., NNPA President and CEO, Emphasized, “The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) congratulates Terri Sanders and The Omaha Star for outstanding service and leadership of the Black Press of America. Now there will be a national museum dedicated to the Black Press because of Sanders’ leadership”

The Omaha Star is a member of the NNPA, the trade association representing more than 200 African-American-owned newspapers and media companies across the country. The NNPA is commonly known as the Black Press of America.

Since its inception, The Omaha Star has seen only five publishers, all Black women—a testament to the resilience and continuity that Sanders proudly upholds. She took the reins almost resistantly but with a sense of duty in 2020, right as the pandemic disrupted daily life, presenting her with an immediate trial by fire. “Our ad dollars were hit hard,” Sanders recalled. She said the performing arts had been a core part of the Star’s advertising base, but theaters went dark during the pandemic. “But we kept publishing every two weeks, as we always had,” she declared.

Despite the challenges, Sanders wasted no time updating the paper’s approach. She amplified its digital presence and reinstated beloved features like Family of the Week, a fixture from founder Mildred Brown’s era. “Imagine a paper that’s 85 years old; original subscribers weren’t around anymore. Young people didn’t know what the Omaha Star was,” Sanders explained. By photographing families on their porches and sharing their stories, she re-engaged the community, making the newspaper a familiar part of daily life again.

Her journey to leading the Star began long before she held the title of publisher. Sanders previously led the Red Plains Black History Museum, where she revived its operations after a two-decade closure. “The building was almost condemned, but we used to say, ‘the building is closed, but the museum is open,’” Sanders recalls. Her determination to preserve Black history eventually brought her to the Omaha Star, where she was asked to step in as interim publisher as a board member of the Mildred D. Brown Memorial Study Center. What began as a temporary role quickly became a full-time commitment as Sanders took charge during a pivotal moment for the paper.

In 2023, determined to ensure the Star’s future, Sanders established the Omaha Star Institute and purchased the newspaper outright. She focuses on transforming the paper’s historic headquarters into a world-class journalism museum serving as a national destination for Black history. “I wrote a grant solely for the Omaha Star. They said, ‘Put your dreams on paper and dream big,’” she recalls, having secured $830,000 from the state to jumpstart renovations on the North Omaha building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sanders’ plans for the museum are ambitious. She envisions a space that honors Black journalists, features historical exhibits, and preserves the personal quarters of founder Mildred Brown, which remain remarkably intact. Next door, Sanders is creating the Mildred Brown Strolling Park, which will include a “walk of fame” to honor Black Omaha legends, including media mogul Cathy Hughes and Father John Markoe, who was instrumental in Omaha’s integration efforts. The park will also include a historical marker dedicated to the Omaha DePorres Club, a civil rights group that Father Markoe led in close partnership with the Omaha Star.

Bringing this project to life is a pair of pioneering contractors: Blair-Freeman, the only two Black women contractors in Nebraska, who specialize in historic buildings. Working with Architectural Offices, they’re preserving the building’s historic character while transforming it into a space that will educate and inspire future generations. “It’s symbolic that we’re the only Black women-led publication in Nebraska, and now we’re working with the state’s only two Black women contractors. It’s come full circle,” Sanders said with pride.

As she steers this massive $3 million project, Sanders also reflects on the strength of the Black women who led the Omaha Star before her. “All of the publishers have been Black females. I’m the fifth,” she shared, emphasizing that this legacy of Black female leadership has always been central to the paper’s mission. She’s determined to keep that tradition alive, working with young people to pass on the art and craft of journalism through training programs at the Omaha Star Institute.

For Sanders, the Omaha Star is more than a newspaper—it’s a community anchor, a storyteller, and a testament to Black resilience. “Everybody says, ‘newspapers are dead.’ Not true, they are not. But you have to understand the value of a newspaper,” she said, pushing back against modern cynicism. With the museum expected to open in 2025, Sanders sees a bright future for the Star and a legacy that will resonate far beyond Omaha. “This will be a national treasure, not just for Omaha,” Sanders exclaimed. “We plan to use our office space to teach journalism to a younger generation. We will not be silent; we will tell our stories. That’s the power of the Omaha Star.”

Oakland Post

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Michael: The King of Pop’s Story Returns to the Big Screen

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The curtain has finally lifted on one of Hollywood’s most anticipated films. Lionsgate has unveiled the official trailer and release date for “Michael,” the sweeping biopic about Michael Jackson that has been years in the making.

Published

6 days ago

November 6, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The curtain has finally lifted on one of Hollywood’s most anticipated films. Lionsgate has unveiled the official trailer and release date for “Michael,” the sweeping biopic about Michael Jackson that has been years in the making. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film will arrive in theaters on April 24, 2026, with the singer’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, stepping into the spotlight to portray his legendary uncle.

The trailer wastes no time rekindling the aura of Jackson’s genius. Opening with a studio scene between Jackson and his longtime producer Quincy Jones, played by Kendrick Sampson, the clip builds from a quiet, familiar rhythm to the electrifying pulse of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” Viewers catch glimpses of the singer’s childhood, flashes of “Thriller,” and the silhouette that redefined pop culture. Each frame reminds fans of why Jackson remains unmatched in artistry and influence. The cast surrounding the late pop king’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, reads like a who’s who of Black entertainment and music history. Colman Domingo plays Joe Jackson, Nia Long portrays Katherine Jackson, and Larenz Tate takes on the role of Motown founder Berry Gordy. Laura Harrier portrays music executive Suzanne de Passe, while Kat Graham embodies Diana Ross. Miles Teller plays attorney John Branca, a towering entertainment lawyer and longtime Jackson confidant who later became co-executor of his estate. The film’s journey to release has been as complicated as the icon it portrays. Production wrapped in 2024, but legal hurdles over depictions of past controversies forced extensive reshoots and editing delays. Even so, Fuqua’s film now appears ready to reclaim the narrative, focusing on Jackson’s creative ambition and humanity beyond tabloid noise. IndieWire reported that the film had faced “a massive legal snafu” over a disputed storyline but was retooled to center the music and legacy that defined generations.

Maven. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson

“Michael” promises more than a chronological retelling. It aims to explore how a child star from Gary, Indiana, became the world’s most influential entertainer. The script, written by Oscar-nominated John Logan, traces Jackson’s early years with the Jackson 5 through the triumphs and isolation of global superstardom. With Fuqua’s cinematic eye and producer Graham King—who brought “Bohemian Rhapsody” to life—joining forces with estate executors Branca and John McClain, the film is positioned as both a tribute and a restoration of Jackson’s cultural truth. Branca’s work behind the scenes has long shaped Jackson’s posthumous success. After the singer died in 2009, Branca and McClain took control of the estate burdened by debt and turned it into a global powerhouse worth billions. Under their stewardship, Jackson’s projects have generated more than $3 billion in worldwide ticket sales and landmark deals, including a $600 million joint venture with Sony earlier this year. At its heart, though, “Michael” is a story about artistry that transcends scandal. It offers a reminder that, despite the noise surrounding his life, Jackson’s music still bridges continents and generations. The trailer’s closing moments capture that spirit. As the beat of “Billie Jean” swells and Jaafar Jackson moonwalks into a spotlight, audiences are left with a familiar feeling—the awe of witnessing something timeless return home.

“Michael” opens worldwide in theaters April 24, 2026. See the official trailer here.

Stacy M. Brown

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Donald Trump Is the Biggest Loser

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The Trump Brand took a significant hit as it was swept up in the Democratic blue wave of the election last night.

Published

7 days ago

November 5, 2025

Oakland Post

By April Ryan

The Trump Brand took a significant hit as it was swept up in the Democratic blue wave of the election last night.

Chris Jones, Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives (AR-02), says, “Last night was electric, and it was unquestionably a wave.” Democrats won big in what is widely considered a repudiation of Trump’s 9 months at the White House in his second term.

In the state of Virginia, which produced the first big election night win and saw the election of the first woman governor, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, 56% of Virginia’s residents disapprove of President Trump. In New Jersey, 55% of state residents disapprove of the president; in New York, 69% disapprove; and in California, 63% disapprove of the president. The Trump brand or his support for any candidates did nothing to benefit those he endorsed in this election. They actually lost in each race he publicly put his name behind. Trump endorsed former New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who lost the New York mayor’s race in his run as an independent. And New Jersey Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who ran for governor with the presidential endorsement, also lost his prospective race.

The next question is, will the democratic momentum be sustainable? Jones further explained, “This can become a 2026 tsunami, but turning a wave into a tsunami takes energy. A lot of energy. It doesn’t just happen. The conditions are there. Now we have to work!”

Some Democrats would argue that the work is already underway. The pushback against Trump’s national redistricting efforts received a thumb in the eye from California voters. Prop 50, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s counterbalance to President Trump’s redistricting efforts, passed in California last night. Although Trump’s name was not on the ballot last night, his Republican policies were. The United States has now entered the longest government shutdown in its history. Forty-two million Americans are not getting SNAP benefits. Economists are acknowledging that the government shutdown is contributing to the rise in delinquent debt in the student loan, automotive, and credit card industries. These items are among the negatives Americans are protesting against.

Compounding Trump’s political problems is a tariff battle that’s directly impacting pocketbooks. The day after the elections, the Trump administration was arguing before the US Supreme Court in favor of the president’s tariff powers. Meanwhile, President Trump‘s poll numbers are underwater, standing at a 37% national disapproval rate

Oakland Post

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Historic Beatdown: Democrats Sweep Virginia as Speaker Don Scott and Jay Jones Make History

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — In a clear rejection of the policies of President Donald Trump, history repeated itself in Virginia.

Published

1 week ago

November 5, 2025

Oakland Post

By Lauren Burke

In a clear rejection of the policies of President Donald Trump, history repeated itself in Virginia. Democrats once again swept all three statewide offices as they did in 2017 during Trump’s first term. Abigail Spanberger easily won the office of Governor, and State Senator Ghazala Hashmi won her race over John Reid to be the next Lieutenant Governor. The victories occurred against the backdrop of a historic win in Virginia by Spanberger that will give Virginia its first woman Governor.

Spanberger’s widely predicted win over Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears was called 17 minutes after the polls closed in Virginia at 7 pm. Former Delegate Jay Jones won his race against incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares. His victory means Jones will be the first Black Attorney General in Virginia’s history. Jones’ win was particularly noteworthy since the last month of his campaign was consumed by the issue of private text messages from 2022 to Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner. Republicans ran a non-stop barrage of negative ads against Jones for a month.

Del. Coyner lost her bid for re-election to Delegate-elect Lindsey Dougherty. The Dougherty race was the number one target for House Speaker Don Scott and his campaign lieutenant, Delegate Dan Helmer. Coyner’s defeat was one of at least 13 victories for Democrats who have now added to their ranks in the Virginia House to historic margins. When the Virginia General Assembly returns to session in January, there will be at least 64 Democrats in the chamber. The widespread Republican defeat is a testament to a combination of historic fundraising, Democrats running in all 100 seats, dislike of President Trump’s policies, and an ineffective top of the ticket featuring Lt. Gov. Earle Sears.

+13: Speaker Scott and Del. Helmer Hit Historic Numbers in Fundraising and Power

As the evening ended, a glaring historic fact became clearer: The Virginia House of Delegates will expand to a historic number. The change means the largest Democratic House chamber in the modern era. There were several notable wins by Democrats running for the Virginia House. They include Virgil Thornton, Lilly Franklin, and Kim Pope Adams. Speaker Don Scott and his campaign chair, Dan Helmer, undertook a record fundraising effort never before seen in Virginia’s history. The moment of success for Virginia Democrats will be viewed as a positive signal for Democrats moving into the 2026 elections.