News
Snoop Dogg and Death Row Records Cannabis Unveil Limited Edition 2Pac Collection
Snoop Dogg’s Death Row Records unveils an exclusive 2Pac cannabis collection. Fans can vote for their favorite strain, available in select stores this summer.
The exclusive line showcases new strains, collectible photos and reimagined Death Row iconography and mementos
Fans can vote for their favorite strain, named after takes, to determine which makes the cut for a permanent 2Pac cannabis collection being released this fall
LOS ANGELES /PRNewswire/ — When Snoop Dogg took over Death Row Records (DRR) in 2022 and launched Death Row Records Cannabis in January 2023, he vowed to restore the label to its former glory, championing artists, hip-hop, and cannabis culture. Today, that promise is being fulfilled with the introduction of a limited edition collection honoring one of DRR’s most legendary artists, 2Pac.
2Pac joined DRR in 1995 and swiftly became one of the most influential rappers of all time. Beyond his music, 2Pac was a powerful voice for political and social change, using his platform to advocate for Black America.
The 2Pac Collection
Significantly, Snoop Dogg chose 2Pac for DRR Cannabis’ inaugural artist collaboration. Their connection is rooted in a shared history that goes beyond the label, with 2Pac famously handing Snoop his first blunt, a story Snoop recalled as he inducted 2Pac into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
“That first blunt sparked a friendship that ran deep,” Snoop reminisces. “We’ll always have his music, but this is another way I can bring what was meaningful to 2Pac to his fans.”
Customers can choose from one of five strains: a crowd favorite, an Alien OG, and Take 1, Take 2, Take 3, Take 4 – phenotypes from the same parent genetics. Fans can vote for their favorite “Take” through a QR code, where the winning “Take” will make the cut for the exclusive and permanent 2Pac collection, due out this fall. In addition to the jarred flower, customers will receive one of four never-before released collectible photos of 2Pac in front of a DRR graffiti-covered wall, as well as a DRR matchbook, recreated precisely from the shoot.
This exclusive release will initially be available in select California dispensaries by Friday, July 19th, with a planned release in Michigan through their partner, Pleasantrees, later this year. Fans eager to collect all the photos can go to deathrowcannabis.co to find the closest retail store offering the special commemorative product.
For more information about this collection, please visit deathrowcannabis.co.
About Death Row Records
Founded in 1991, Death Row Records became a significant force in the hip-hop industry, known for its roster of influential artists and its contributions to the genre. Under Snoop Dogg’s leadership, the label continues to innovate and celebrate the rich culture of hip-hop and cannabis.
About Death Row Cannabis
Launched in 2023, Death Row Cannabis brings the legacy of Death Row Records into the cannabis industry, offering premium products that honor the label’s iconic history and its artists.
SOURCE Death Row Records Cannabis
The Bridge is a section of the STM Daily News Blog meant for diversity, offering real news stories about bona fide community efforts to perpetuate a greater good. The purpose of The Bridge is to connect the divides that separate us, fostering understanding and empathy among different groups. By highlighting positive initiatives and inspirational actions, The Bridge aims to create a sense of unity and shared purpose. This section brings to light stories of individuals and organizations working tirelessly to promote inclusivity, equality, and mutual respect. Through these narratives, readers are encouraged to appreciate the richness of diverse perspectives and to participate actively in building stronger, more cohesive communities.
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The Long Track Back
LA Metro Approves $71 Million Bus Engine Program and Advances Antelope Valley Line Safety Work
LA Metro will replace engines in as many as 680 natural-gas buses while advancing safety improvements at two Antelope Valley Line crossings in Sylmar.
Two newly confirmed Board actions will keep hundreds of Metro buses in service while moving two Sylmar rail crossings toward construction.
LOS ANGELES — October 28, 2026 — The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has approved two major investments affecting bus reliability and regional rail safety: a nearly $71 million engine-replacement program for as many as 680 buses and a $27.6 million construction budget for two Antelope Valley Line crossings in Sylmar.
The Metro Board approved both actions on October 22.
Hundreds of natural-gas buses will receive new engines
Metro awarded Cummins Sales and Service a five-year, single-source contract worth up to $70.99 million for 680 near-zero-emission natural-gas engines. The engines will be installed in El Dorado National 40-foot buses and New Flyer 60-foot articulated buses during fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
The engines will operate on renewable compressed natural gas and replace older engines as part of Metro’s midlife bus-refurbishment program. Metro mechanics will perform the installations.
According to the Board report, replacing high-mileage engines should reduce engine-related road calls and improve the reliability of buses that remain in daily service. Metro estimates that the replacements will reduce nitrogen-oxide emissions by 90 percent and greenhouse-gas emissions by 9 percent compared with the engines being removed.
The decision also provides more context for Metro’s transition to electric buses. In September, the agency approved the purchase of 220 battery-electric buses, with deliveries expected to begin in 2028. The new Cummins contract shows that Metro will continue investing in its existing natural-gas fleet while electric buses and the charging infrastructure needed to support them are introduced.
Metro has not changed its zero-emission goal through this action. The engine replacements are intended to keep current buses dependable during the transition and do not obligate the agency to order all 680 engines.
Two Sylmar rail crossings move toward construction
In a separate action, the Board established a $27.62 million life-of-project budget for improvements at the Astoria Street pedestrian crossing and the Polk Street roadway crossing along the Metrolink Antelope Valley Line.
The crossings are part of Segment 4 of Metro’s Brighton-to-Roxford Double Track Project. Although the broader project remains in different stages of design, the Astoria and Polk plans are sufficiently advanced to proceed as separate construction packages.
Planned improvements include coordinated traffic signals, pedestrian gates and additional roadway gates. Polk Street will receive a four-quadrant gate system intended to make it harder for motorists to enter or drive around the crossing when a train approaches. Both locations will also be prepared for possible future quiet-zone operations.
The work supports Metro’s larger effort to improve safety, reliability and capacity on the Antelope Valley Line. Advancing the two crossings now also protects state Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program funding that must be spent and submitted for reimbursement by June 30, 2027.
Metro will conduct community outreach and execute the construction contracts following the Board’s approval. A specific construction-start date has not yet been announced.
Primary sources
● Metro Board Report 2026-0644: Near-Zero Natural Gas-Fueled Engines
● Metro Board Report 2026-0640: Astoria and Polk Crossing Improvements
This story is part of The Long Track Back, STM Daily News’ continuing coverage of Los Angeles transit projects, service and regional mobility.
Slate Auto and Smarties Launch Colorful EV Starter Packs
Slate Auto has partnered with Smarties Candy Company on six pastel customization packages for its upcoming electric truck. Announced October 27, the Smarties x Slate collection gives buyers another way to personalize the minimalist EV before deliveries begin.
The six Starter Packs are inspired by Smarties flavors: Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Grape, Pineapple, Orange and Strawberry. Each package includes a coordinating vehicle wrap, color-matched mirror decals, a Smarties-branded rocker decal, a logo decal, a customized key-fob end cap and a matching interior Slatelet.
Customers will be able to purchase the packages through the Slate Marketplace as their delivery dates approach. Pricing for the Smarties packages was not included in the announcement.
The collaboration fits Slate’s strategy of selling one simplified vehicle platform that owners can customize over time. Every truck leaves the Warsaw, Indiana, factory with gray exterior panels designed to be wrapped instead of conventionally painted. Buyers can keep the two-seat pickup configuration or select one of Slate’s five-seat SUV conversions.
The partnership does not change the truck’s core price or specifications. Slate continues to list the Blank Slate pickup at $24,950 before its $1,450 destination charge, with an estimated 205 miles of range. The range figure is still a company projection rather than a final EPA rating, and Slate continues to say its first deliveries are expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
For Slate, the Smarties collection is more than a seasonal promotion. It demonstrates how branded wraps and accessories could become an important part of the company’s business model while allowing buyers to change the appearance of their vehicles without purchasing a different truck.
Source: Slate Auto’s official Smarties collaboration announcement
Entertainment
Patrick Stewart, Beloved Star of Star Trek and X-Men, Dies at 86
Sir Patrick Stewart, beloved for his performances as Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Professor Charles Xavier, has died at 86, leaving a lasting legacy across television, film and theater.
Entertainment News Brief
Sir Patrick Stewart, the acclaimed actor best known as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, has died at 86.
Stewart died October 28 at his home in Los Angeles, according to a statement from his spokesperson reported by Reuters. The announcement said he had been living with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia and was with his wife, Sunny Ozell.
Stewart brought a commanding presence and a thoughtful approach to leadership to Star Trek: The Next Generation, which aired from 1987 to 1994. He later continued Picard’s story in feature films and returned for Star Trek: Picard.
His career also encompassed Shakespearean theater, including work with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He was knighted in 2010 for his contributions to drama.
For generations of viewers, Stewart helped make science fiction a place to explore questions of responsibility, compassion and humanity.
Sources
● Reuters: Patrick Stewart, Shakespearean actor turned Star Trek and X-Men star, dies at 86
● ABC News: Patrick Stewart dies at 86
