Almost half a million tax returns have been filed with the IRS from home computers so far this year in Tennessee, an increase of 9 percent compared to the number of returns from the same time last year.

Nationwide, the number of returns filed from home computers is up almost six percent over last year at this time.

IRS reminds taxpayers that everyone can use Free File to prepare and e-file their tax returns for free, either by using brand name software or Free File Fillable Forms, which is the electronic version of IRS paper forms.

Rhodes College hosted a unique Black History Month program on campus Tuesday night in the Orgill Room of the Clough Building.

About 30 students showed up for "Color TV: Careers in Media," a panel discussion about diversity in media and the accomplishments of African Americans in the field. Panelists inlcuded: Action News 5 morning co-anchor Kym Clark, 95.7 Hallelujah FM radio personality/producer Michael Adrian Davis and the Executive Director of the Tri-State Defender Dr. Karanja Ajanaku.

Students, most of whom are interested in journalism or mass media careers, were also invited to ask questions of the panelists about their personal experiences in their chosen fields, as well as the future of the business.

The publisher and president of the Tri-State Defender, one of the longest running newspapers for African American news and an essential part of the Civil Rights movement in Memphis, is listed as "100 History Makers in the Making" by The Grio.com.

The site credits Bernal Smith II with rolling out a social media strategy that has helped increase the paper's sales by 15% and "adapting tradition to modern-day technology." And all in less than a year at the helm of the historic paper.

Smith also formed a news partnership with WMC TV 5 which helped enhance news coverage, increase marketing and improve awareness of the Tri-State Defender brand.

For the full story, click here.