Tennessee State News

Nashville's Jazzy 88 WFSK wraps up 19th annual Radiothon fundraiser

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 03:11:03 +0000

For more than 50 years, Nashville's Jazzy 88 WFSK has been the soundtrack to the city. This weekend, the station wrapped up its 19th annual Radiothon fundraiseran effort that helps keep the music alive.

Jazzy 88 WFSK has been part of Nashville's fabric since 1973. Owned and operated by Fisk University, the non-profit station relies on fundraisers, sponsors, and donors to stay on the air.

For nearly two decades, Sharon Kay has been the one keeping the beat. She's been running the station for 20 years come Novemberand she's spent nearly half a century on radio.

But keeping the station on air hasn't always been easy.

The annual Radiothon returned in full force for the 19th yearwith listeners urged to give back to the station that's given so much to them. One of the pandemic-era traditionsdrive-thru donationscontinued this year.

"Those dollars have helped to keep the station going, and without them, it will be static on 88.1 FM. It would be static," Kay said.

While the Radiothon weekend is over, Kay says giving doesn't stop when the music fades.

"We raised money for 31 days. Now you will take it. 365, 24/7 people. No, not just no any month, but it just makes the difference," Kay said.

The donations have allowed WFSK to keep up with licensing, engineering, and even invest in state-of-the-art equipment.

Listeners can continue supporting the station by donating online at https://connect.fisk.edu/wfskdonation.

"This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy."

Immersive Halloween Experiences in Tennessee to Add to Your Spooky Season Bucket List

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 02:43:00 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 1, 2025) – The crisp fall air echoes with the stories of Tennessee’s haunted past, in historic prisons, hotels, theatres, caves and on walking tours. Add these immersive Halloween experiences to your spooky season bucket list. For additional inspiration, if you dare, meet Tennessee’s ghosts this fall.

Historic Brushy Mountain Penitentiary – Petros

Nestled in the mountains of East Tennessee, this former maximum-security prison was known as “The End of the Line.” Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary opened in 1896. Brushy’s reputation as the last stop for the worst criminals became legend, housing such notorious inmates as Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassin James Earl Ray, who tried (and failed) to escape in 1977. Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary closed in 2009, after 113 years of operation and remains Tennessee’s oldest and most infamous prison. Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary has now earned the reputation of being one of Tennessee’s most haunted and paranormally active places. Footsteps, apparitions, disembodied voices and EVPs (electronic voice phenomenon) have all been reported and captured here. Some of the most reportedly active locations within the prison walls include: The Hole, cell blocks, the Mess Hall, Auditorium, Cell 28 (James Earl Ray’s cell) and the Hospital. Today, the prison is open for tours (self-guided, private and public guided, as well as paranormal investigations) and even features a distillery (End of the Line Moonshine – Brushy Mountain Distillery), restaurant (Warden’s Table) and concert venue on the property. For visitors on a road trip, there’s an RV park on-site to stay.

Dread Hollow & Lantern Tour: Ghost Walk Edition at Ruby Falls – Chattanooga

Dread Hollow returns with new scares for the Halloween season at Ruby Falls. The nationally ranked haunted house returns with three new interactive nightmares, including the Belle Royale Hotel, Dreadwood Forest and Dread Hollow High School. The attraction’s haunted house and escape rooms are open Thursday through Sunday fall nights, Oct. 2 – Nov. 2. Parental discretion is advised. Tickets are available now. Also at Ruby Falls, get in the Halloween spirit with a special edition, after-hours Lantern Tour: Ghost Walk Edition featuring ghost stories from the history of Ruby Falls and Chattanooga legends. Hear cryptic tales by the light of hand-held lanterns and visit the sites of peculiar encounters, mischievous mayhem and tragedy. Children younger than 12 are not permitted.

A Victorian Seance Experience at Mabry-Hazen House – Knoxville

As the evenings grow darker and the first hint of winter hangs in the air, the western world enters the season of the dead. It is a time when ghost stories, dark tales and mysterious happenings rise up to help us understand death and the unexplained. Experience the macabre and darker history of Americans’ experiences with death, burial and Spiritualism during A Victorian Seance Experience, Oct. 23-26 at Mabry-Hazen House. If a seance isn’t your cup of spooky, join Patrick Hollis, executive director of Mabry-Hazen House for a walking tour about the infamous Gun Fight on Gay Street, 6:30 p.m. ET Oct. 16 in downtown Knoxville. Stroll through and learn about the tangled web of relationships, murder and court cases that culminated in the last gunfight of the wild, wild East. Tickets are $30.

Historic Rugby Lantern Tours – Historic Rugby

Originally founded in 1880 as the Rugby colony by British author Thomas Hughes, Historic Rugby is a nonprofit organization aiming to protect, preserve and interpret the natural and manmade, historic resources and heritage of the region. Visitors can tour and learn about the Victorian village. Historic Rugby hosts hikes, outdoor events, teas, galas and performances throughout the year. Historic Rugby offers After Dark Lantern Tours including guided ghost walks, guided ghost hunts and private paranormal investigations of the historic village.

Haunts at the Font – Castalian SpringsExplore the spooky landscape of Cragfont by lantern during Haunts at the Font Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. CT. Cragfont State Historic Site is about an hour from Nashville. Guests will be guided by lantern along a trail from the historic tobacco barn to Cragfont, looming creepily in the distance. Along the way, you’ll encounter a number of characters from Cragfont’s spirited past. Each will have a spine-tingling story to tell. Before and after the tour, calm your fears with apple cider by the fire and the soothingly spooky sounds of historic murder ballads performed by the Traveling Caudells. Mature content is not suitable for children under nine. This event is mostly outdoors and reservations are encouraged.

Lotz House – Franklin

Built in 1858, the Lotz House is a window into the history of the Civil War. The Lotz family home was at the epicenter of the pivotal Battle of Franklin, sustaining structural damage from cannonball fire and serving as a hospital for both sides of the war. The rich history of the home includes reported unexplained phenomena like an apparition of a woman crying for a loved one, a little girl staring out the window, the sound of drums and the displacement of ordinary items. Daytime tours are available at the Lotz House, dubbed by the Travel Channel as one of “the Most Terrifying Places in America.” Within Franklin’s Historic Downtown, Franklin on Foot walking tours also share stories of the soldiers who fought the battle 6 p.m. CT every Friday night in October at Lotz House. Reservations are required.

Bell Witch Cave – Adams

Feared by seventh U.S. President Andrew Jackson himself and ripe with countless reports of mysterious activity, the Bell Witch Cave in Adams is a legendary haunted location. The same property where the Bell family was tormented by the Bell Witch back in the early 1800s, the land has seen a bit of everything in terms of unexplained activity, including rocks being thrown, eerie noises and mysterious lights being caught on camera. Black Wolf Paranormal hosts public overnight paranormal investigations, and visitors have access to explore (at night) the Bell Witch cave, the replica cabin on site and a Native American burial hill. Visit the Black Wolf Paranormal’ s Facebook site to book your experience.

Elmwood Cemetery – Memphis

Beneath the ancient elms, oaks and magnolias–generals, senators, governors, mayors and madams rest in this 80-acre cemetery with over 100 years of Memphis’ history. Established in 1852, Elmwood Cemetery is the final resting place to over 75,000 inhabitants. See monuments from the Victorian area that feature angels, flowers and plants. While there is no charge to visit Elmwood, there is a fee for docent-led tours of the cemetery grounds. Walking tours and driving tours are free. You can also rent audio tours which include a map noting some of the common symbols found on tombstones. Elmwood is on the National Register of Historic Places and is also an official bird sanctuary and arboretum. Elmwood hosts special events and tours year-round.

Pro-tip: Take the Historical Haunts: The Haunted Memphis Bus Tour for an unforgettable night out with ghost stories, dark history, local legends and tales of the paranormal.

Campfire Storytelling at T.O. Fuller State Park – Memphis

Gather around the campfire for chilling tales during Halloween Campfire Storytelling: Marshmallows and Mayhem at T.O. Fuller State Park on Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. CT. Families will be treated to folktales and fables about Tennessee’s storied history while roasting marshmallows. Dress for the weather and feel free to bring additional snacks, chairs and blankets.

Pro-tip: Discover Fun October Events and Festivals for Families this October at Tennessee State Parks.

Kamala Harris to headline conversation at Ryman Auditorium Nov. 18

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 02:27:52 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Former Vice President Kamala Harris will appear at Ryman Auditorium on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, at 7 p.m. for “A Conversation with Kamala Harris,” a ticketed event presented in partnership with Parnassus Books.

Billed as a candid look at one of the most eventful presidential races in modern politics, Harris will share insights from the 2024 campaign and lead a conversation about the path forward for the country. Every ticket includes a copy of her new book, 107 DAYS (Simon & Schuster). VIP Meet & Greet tickets are available and include a photo with Harris and a signed copy of the book.

The program will explore what Harris witnessed on the trail, what she learned, and how Americans can collectively chart an alternative vision for the nation now.

Publisher Simon & Schuster said 107 DAYS sold 350,000 copies in its first week across print, ebooks and audiobooks, positioning it as the year’s top political title. The memoir details Harris’ unexpected 107-day 2024 presidential campaign, according to the publisher.

Nashville's multicultural heritage celebration brings diverse communities together

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 23:53:43 +0000

Nashville's diverse cultural communities took center stage at a recent heritage celebration, showcasing traditions from around the world that have found a home in Music City.

From dances rooted in distant places to sounds that carry centuries of stories, the event featured art and performances that invited attendees into worlds beyond their own.

Yolanda brought her children to learn about the Mexican tradition of Day of the Dead, where they discovered the meaning behind the colorful costumes and paintings.

"The costumes, the paintings and how each one had meaning so that's really cool," Yolanda said.

Among the families sharing their heritage was Ipek Ismael, who calls Nashville home. She explained that many Kurdish people settled in Nashville after fleeing unrest in the Middle East.

"The biggest population of Kurdish people in the world lives in Nashville," Ismael said. "So during Saddam Hussein's regime, Kurdish people got mistreated. A lot of them got killed, oppressed."

Despite the difficult circumstances that brought her family to Nashville, Ismael said she has found peace and opportunity while staying connected to her roots.

"If I would have lived in back home, I would have not been where I am today. I went to school. I got educated. I got my degree in civil engineering," Ismael said.

For families like Yolanda's, the celebration offered children a chance to gain new perspectives about the world around them.

"Experience other traditions in a time where the world is so divided. We just wanted to see where people are happy and doing things together," she said.

Want to see more of Nashville's incredible cultural diversity in action? Watch our full video coverage of this celebration and discover how these communities are enriching Music City. Have a cultural story or tradition you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you at kim.rafferty@NewsChannel5.com.

In this article, we used artificial intelligence to help us convert a video news report originally written by Kim Rafferty. When using this tool, both Kim and the NewsChannel 5 editorial team verified all the facts in the article to make sure it is fair and accurate before we published it. We care about your trust in us and where you get your news, and using this tool allows us to convert our news coverage into different formats so we can quickly reach you where you like to consume information. It also lets our journalists spend more time looking into your story ideas, listening to you and digging into the stories that matter.

Is the crime crackdown making a difference in Memphis?

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 22:37:05 +0000

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It's now been five days with the Memphis Safe Task Force on the city's streets, but whether they are making a difference depends on who you ask.

Federal law enforcement was deployed to Memphis for a crime crackdown. And if you listen to federal officials, it's working.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has made daily posts about the overnight arrests by the Safe Task Force. She says there have been a total of 153 arrests since Monday, including five gang members, and five missing children recovered.

But are these numbers showing fewer criminal acts in Memphis? Pastor and community activist Earle Fisher has questions.

"Pam Bondi is sending something out every day talking about the number of arrests, and a lot of these arrests have nothing to do with the type of violent crimes that they touted they would be minimizing when they got here," Fisher said.

Fisher says the public isn't hearing about the overnight crimes they usually hear about every morning, and he wonders why.

"I went and did a little research and found out there were still several aggravated assaults. There was still a homicide, but nobody seemed to be reporting it. And so I was curious if we were getting the full scope and the full story," Fisher said.

News 2's sister station, WREG, and local media report on many crimes that they hear on police scanners or get police reports about.

Police told WREG that they have not made any changes in what they send out since the process moved to their website about a year ago. Now all media must go there to find out information.

This week, they say there hasn't been much to report because crime is down.

But Fisher says people who don't feel that wonder if it plays into the narrative of how crime is reported.

"If we are serious about trying to make sure that violent crime is minimized, we need to make sure that all of our efforts and initiatives are being shared with transparency and accountability," he said.

Now with a federal task force on the mission of reducing crime, it's even leaving residents like Patricia Rogers with questions.

"I looked on that site yesterday and it was talking about assaults. I didn't see not one shooting, although on a Facebook post I did see where someone said that there was some shootings in Memphis. And I said, I know that's not true, because the media would have reported that," she said.

WREG looked at numbers posted on the city's crime data website over the last five days. From Monday to this Friday there was one murder, 31 aggravated assaults, 23 motor vehicle thefts and six robberies.

Compare that to last week, when there were two homicides, 47 aggravated assaults, 72 vehicle thefts and 12 robberies. The week-to-week, five-day numbers are down as of mid-day Friday.

"If crime is down, I am going to celebrate it, but I'm also going to ask how and why, so that we can make sure we're doing long-term solutions and not these snapshots where people will use for political purposes," Fisher said.

WREG is committed to providing you accurate accounts of crime in our community. We will continue to push for the numbers and incidents that reflect what's happening where we live.

One rescued, another dead after parachute jump near John Tune Airport

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:48:15 +0000

One person was rescued and another is dead after a parachute jumping accident Saturday afternoon near John C. Tune Airport.

The Nashville Fire Department says crews were called to a wooded area roughly three miles from the roadway near Ashland City Highway.

Authorities tell NewsChannel 5 that they rescued one person who was stuck in a tree and is now receiving medical treatment.

NFD officials say a rescuer safely reached the parachute jumper, freed him from the harness, and assisted him down a ladder using a pulley system. The patient was awake, alert, and in stable condition after being suspended for several hours. He will be transported to the hospital as a precaution.

The flight instructor was found deceased in the area.

Officials say three other skydivers who jumped moments earlier landed safely, and the plane landed safely back at John C. Tune Airport.

Pritzker says Trump threatened to federalize Illinois National Guard

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:18:05 +0000

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said the Trump administration gave him an ultimatum: call up 300 Illinois National Guard members or President Donald Trump would do it for him.

Pritzker's statement comes after weeks of signals from the Trump administration that it would send National Guard members to Chicago to fight crime. The administration has already sent federal agents to protect a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Broadview, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The building has attracted protests from people opposed to Trumps immigration policies.

"It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will," Pritzker said. "In the coming hours, the Trump administration intends to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard. They will pull hardworking Americans out of their regular jobs and away from their families, all to participate in a manufactured performance not a serious effort to protect public safety. For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control."

In September, Trump posted a meme on his Truth Social platform saying Chicago is "about to find out why it's called the Department of WAR" a reference to his executive order last week aimed at renaming the Department of Defense.

In a separate post, Trump wrote: "Six people were murdered in Chicago this weekend, and 12 others were shot and are in serious condition. This would mean that over the past number of weeks, approximately 50 people were killed and hundreds were shot, many expected to die. Governor Pritzker just stated that he doesnt want federal government help! WHY???"

The potential call-up of National Guard troops comes a week after the Trump administration announced it was sending troops to Portland, Oregon. City and state officials in Oregon opposed the order and have taken the administration to court over the call-up.

The Trump administration has also dispatched National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. Louisiana plans to use National Guard troops in New Orleans, a move supported by the states Republican Gov. Jeff Landry.

Pritzker has vowed to fight the Trump administration on any potential deployment of National Guard troops to Illinois.

In Illinois, we will do everything within our power to look out for our neighbors, uphold the Constitution and defend the rule of law," he said.

Military members are unable to conduct law enforcement missions but can be used to provide support for officers.

Rite Aid bows out as pharmacy chain after repeated bankruptcies

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 19:38:21 +0000

Once one of the largest U.S. pharmacy chains, Rite Aid closed its final locations Friday, marking the end of a failed comeback attempt.

The company emerged from bankruptcy in September 2024 after shuttering hundreds of stores, but less than a year later, it filed for bankruptcy again. In May, Rite Aid said it had secured $2 billion in financing as it sought a buyer to keep some locations open.

Later that month, the company sold its pharmacy services to several competitors including Walgreens, CVS, Kroger and Albertsons. Those pharmacies now hold customers prescription records and are handling refills.

A limited number of Rite Aid locations will remain open under a new name.

Rite Aids footprint fell from 2,100 stores several years ago to 1,300 earlier this year. By this week, it was down to fewer than 100.

Additional closures could worsen access to prescriptions in some areas. A 2024 Ohio State University study found that 46 percent of U.S. counties were pharmacy deserts.

Poor access to pharmacies is often associated with lower medication adherence, the study said. Patients in socially vulnerable communities may lack the means to travel to other pharmacies or may have limited access to broadband internet to find telepharmacy options. Furthermore, pharmacies often offer diagnostic, preventive and emergency services. As high pharmacy desert density counties also have a lower primary care density, patients in these regions face increased barriers to accessing primary health care needs.

Abrego Garcia wins request for hearing on whether TN smuggling charges are illegally 'vindictive'

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 17:53:52 +0000

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A federal judge has concluded that the Department of Justice's prosecution of Kilmar Abrego Garcia on human smuggling charges may be an illegal retaliation after he successfully sued the Trump administration over his deportation to El Salvador.

The case of Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who was a construction worker in Maryland, has become a proxy for the partisan struggle over President Donald Trump's sweeping immigration policy and mass deportation agenda.

U.S. District Court Judge Waverly Crenshaw late Friday granted a request by lawyers for Abrego Garcia and ordered discovery and an evidentiary hearing in Abrego Garcia's effort to show that the federal human smuggling case against him in Tennessee is illegally retaliatory.

Crenshaw said Abrego Garcia had shown that there is “some evidence that the prosecution against him may be indictive.” That evidence included statements by various Trump administration officials and the timeline of the charges being filed.

The departments of Justice and Homeland Security did not immediately respond to inquiries about the case Saturday.

In his 16-page ruling, Crenshaw said many statements by Trump administration officials “raise cause for concern,” but one stood out.

That statement by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, on a Fox News program after Abrego Garcia was charged in June, seemed to suggest that the Department of Justice charged Abrego Garcia because he won his wrongful deportation case, Crenshaw wrote.

Blanche’s ”remarkable statements could directly establish that the motivations for Abrego’s criminal charges stem from his exercise of his constitutional and statutory rights" to sue over his deportation "rather than a genuine desire to prosecute him for alleged criminal misconduct,” Crenshaw wrote.

Likewise, Crenshaw noted that the Department of Homeland Security reopened an investigation into Abrego Garcia days after the U.S. Supreme Court said in April that the Trump administration must work to bring back Abrego Garcia.

Abrego Garcia was indicted on May 21 and charged June 6, the day the U.S. brought him from a prison in El Salvador back to the U.S. He pleaded not guilty and is now being held in Pennsylvania.

If convicted in the Tennessee case, Abrego Garcia will be deported, federal officials have said. A U.S. immigration judge has denied Abrego Garcia's bid for asylum, although he can appeal.

The Salvadoran national has an American wife and children and has lived in Maryland for years, but he immigrated to the United States illegally as a teenager.

In 2019, he was arrested by immigration agents. He requested asylum but was not eligible because he had been in the U.S. for more than a year. But the judge ruled he could not be deported to El Salvador, where he faced danger from a gang that targeted his family.

The human smuggling charges in Tennessee stem from a 2022 traffic stop. He was not charged at the time.

Trump administration officials have waged a relentless public relations campaign against Abrego Garcia, repeatedly referring to him as a member of the MS-13 gang, among other things, despite the fact he has not been convicted of any crimes.

Abrego Garcia's attorneys have denounced the criminal charges and the deportation efforts, saying they are an attempt to punish him for standing up to the administration.

Abrego Garcia contends that, while imprisoned in El Salvador, he suffered beatings, sleep deprivation and psychological torture. El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, has denied those allegations.

Diddy’s legal fight isn’t over: Hip-hop mogul plans appeal after federal prison sentence

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 17:10:03 +0000

Sean Diddy Combs life of luxury atop the hip-hop world vanished with his criminal conviction.

He now faces the grim prospect of more years behind bars as his attorneys make plans to appeal.

Combs' carefully cultivated reputation as an affable celebrity entrepreneur, A-list party host and reality TV star came crashing down Friday. The Grammy-winning artist and music executive was sentenced to four years and two months in prison for transporting people across state lines for sexual encounters.

It was a public reckoning for the 55-year-old music star, who made a plea for leniency and wept as his lawyers played a video portraying his family life, career and philanthropy.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian also fined Combs $500,000, the maximum allowed.

Combs was convicted in July of flying his girlfriends and male sex workers around the country to engage in drug-fueled sexual encounters over many years and in multiple places.

The sordid, nearly two-month trial in a federal court in Manhattan featured harrowing testimony from women who said Combs beat, threatened, sexually assaulted and blackmailed them.

He was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life.

Here's what to know about the case.

How much time will Combs serve

Combs has already served a year in jail, meaning he could get out in about three years.

Prosecutors sought a sentence of more than 11 years. Combs' lawyers wanted him freed immediately and said the time behind bars has already forced his remorse and sobriety.

Combs lawyers said they will appeal.

There is no chance of parole in the federal system.

Prosecutor Christy Slavik said that sparing Combs serious prison time would excuse years of violence.

Key witnesses against Combs urged the judge to reject leniency for the hip-hop mogul, saying they feared for their safety if he was freed.

Where is Combs doing time

Combs was sent to a Brooklyn federal lockup a year ago after his lawyers unsuccessfully fought to keep him out of jail following his arrest.

The lockup is used mainly for post-arrest detention for people awaiting trial in federal courts in Manhattan or Brooklyn. Other inmates are there to serve short sentences following convictions.

The facility has been plagued by problems since opening in the 1990s. In recent years, its conditions have been so stark that some judges have refused to send people there.

Combs' lawyers were denied a request to let him await trial under house arrest at his mansion on an island in Miami Beach, Florida.

As for the remainder of his sentence, there is a federal lockup for men near Combs' home.

It's a low-security federal correctional institution at Miami with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp. The inmate population there totals 1,000, including 174 at the camp and 826 at the correctional institution, according to its website.

Federal law that was violated

Combs was sentenced for violating the federal Mann Act, an anti-prostitution law with a century-old history. The Mann Act makes it illegal to transport someone across state lines for the purpose of prostitution or other illegal sex acts.

The law was amended in the 1980s and today it is primarily used for prosecuting interstate prostitution crimes or people accused of taking underage children across state lines for sexual purposes.

Defense attorney Jason Driscoll argued Friday the law was misapplied.

Diddy's long descent

Combs' reputational freefall began when his former longtime girlfriend and R&B singer Cassie, the criminal trials key witness, sued him in 2023, alleging years of sexual and physical abuse. He settled for $20 million, but the lawsuit set off a storm of similar allegations from other women and men.

The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Cassie has.

The revelation last year of the federal sex trafficking investigation on the day of a bicoastal raid of Combs houses took the allegations to another level of seriousness and public knowledge.

How the case played in popular culture

The revelation that feds had seized 1,000 bottles of baby oil and other lubricant as part of the raid entered the popular culture immediately.

The case turned Combs into a punchline as much as a villain. Talk shows, Saturday Night Live and social media posters milked it for jokes about freak-offs and the voluminous amounts of baby oil he had for the sex marathons.

Fellow celebrities were called out for past Diddy associations though no others were implicated in the criminal allegations.

Supreme Court could overturn Hawaii's limits on where guns can be carried

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 15:55:21 +0000

The Supreme Court will consider overturning a Hawaii law that strictly regulates where people can carry guns.

The Trump administration urged the justices to take the case, arguing the law violates Second Amendment rights.

Hawaiis law bans guns on private property unless the owner allows them. It also prohibits firearms on beaches, in parks, and in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol.

The case stems from the courts 2022 ruling that found people have a right to carry firearms in public.

The Hawaii Supreme Court upheld the state's law in a unanimous ruling last year.

This is a landmark decision that affirms the constitutionality of crucial gun-safety legislation, Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez said following the state's high court ruling. Gun violence is a serious problem, and commonsense tools like licensing and registration have an important role to play in addressing that problem."

She added that the ruling meant states retain the authority to require that individuals have a license before carrying firearms in public.

Another 74 arrests in Memphis overnight, A.G. Bondi says

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 15:49:10 +0000

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) -- Another 74 arrests were made and 16 illegal firearms seized in Memphis overnight, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi reported Saturday morning.

That brings the total number of arrests made after five days of the Memphis Safe Task Force operation to 227, with 65 weapons seized, according to the attorney general.

"Arrests include multiple gang members, including one wanted for murder, and an illegal alien juvenile arrested with approximately two pounds of methamphetamines," she wrote.

WREG has not been able to independently confirm all the information reported by Bondi on her X account each day. We are working to find more details on the arrests.

WREG looked at MPD arrests posted on the city’s crime data website over the last five days. From Monday to this Friday there was one murder, 31 aggravated assaults, 23 motor vehicle thefts and six robberies.

Compare that to the same period last week, when there were two homicides, 47 aggravated assaults, 72 vehicle thefts and 12 robberies. The week-to-week numbers were down as of mid-day Friday.

Friday evening, Memphis Mayor Paul Young praised the arrests touted by the task force. He said the Memphis Police Department was working alongside federal agents in the operation, and said MPD was making arrests as well.

“We have members of MPD working alongside these agents to ensure they have local insight into the daily operations,” Young said in a statement Friday. “On the MPD front, there have been an additional 167 arrests this week.”

Young said before the federal initiative began, the city was reducing the crime rate on its own, with overall crime falling 13% in 2024 and falling another 16% so far this year.

Exactly where all the charged suspects end up is not known, but Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said Friday that the county is bracing for potentially more than 100 new cases a day, which he said could overwhelm an already overcrowded jail and create backlogs in the court system.

He pushed for the establishment of a night court to help ease the backlog on the county's jail and courts.

Residents are giving mixed reviews on the effort, with support for crime reduction tempered by concerns over potential civil rights violations.

"Some love it, some like it, some neutral, but if it helps enhance Memphis for the positive, I’m all for it,” said Lonnie Buchanan, a Frayser resident, Friday evening.

On her X account, Bondi also reposted a WREG story on reports of extremely long lines for registration and car tag renewals at the Shelby County Clerk’s offices. Citizens told a reporter that the increased law enforcement presence has them on high alert.

"Make Memphis great again!" Bondi commented in the post.

A.C. Williams Jr.: ‘The Mighty One’

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 15:33:12 +0000

Barbara Winfield was ecstatic when I presented her a copy of my book, “Daddy: A.C. Williams Jr. and his Teen Town Singers.” At the age of 84, she has trouble climbing the stairs in her home, but her aging body hasn’t affected her memory of Mr. Williams and why the book is so important to her.

Andrew Charles Williams Jr. graduated from Tennessee State University in 1938, taught biology at Manassas High School for eight years, and launched his career in broadcasting at WDIA in 1949.

An affable personality with a penchant for community service and youth development, Mr. Williams was known by his moniker “Moohah,” an Indian name meaning “The Mighty One.” He was the radio station’s first Black fulltime employee who corralled high school students to form The Teen Town Singers.

“He was like a father to me. After my father died, he would always call my mother to check on me,” said Winfield, who was a student at Booker T. Washington High School when she joined Mr. Williams’s famed choral group. Like some of her choral mates from other Black high schools — Carver, Manassas, Hamilton, Douglass, Melrose — she revered the man for his gentility and doting nature.

A retired Memphis City Schools teacher, Winfield is one of 19 Teen Towners featured in the 262-page book depicting Mr. Williams’s love for the youth in his charge and his longevity at WDIA — 34 years — as an announcer and director of community relations.

Published in August 2024 by GrantHouse Publishers in Memphis, the book was the brainchild of Markhum “Mark” L. Stansbury Sr., a Teen Towner himself who finds solace in broadcasting at WDIA for more than 60 years now. A retired university administrator, he wanted Mr. Williams’s legacy in radio, as an educator, and founder of The Teen Town Singers to be preserved for posterity.

Joan E. Patterson, Mr. Williams’s daughter, didn’t want her father’s legacy to go unnoticed either or be consigned to the dust bin of history.

Stansbury and other board members of the WDIA Goodwill Fund, the radio station’s charitable arm, gave me the greenlight to write the book. When I spoke to Patterson, she was flabbergasted and offered to help me cobble together the full story of Mr. Williams, who died Dec. 3, 2004, at the age of 87.

“He was a great male figure for me,” said Stansbury, a BTW alum who was raised by his mother in the Foote Homes housing project and at 378 Hernando Street, just south of downtown Memphis. He’d never met his biological father, so he doted on Mr. Williams.

Carla Thomas, the “Queen of Memphis Soul,” was a Teen Town Singer as well. So was her brother, the late Marvell Thomas. She was 11 years old when she joined the group.

“I begged Dad to let me join,” said Thomas, whose father, the legendary Rufus Thomas, was a disc jockey at WDIA at that time and held sway with Mr. Williams and other legendary jocks.

Teen Towners had to be in ninth grade to join the group, but Thomas was different. She could sing and write songs. A song she’d written at Hamilton High School when she was 17, “Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes),” catapulted her to stardom after enrolling at Tennessee State University.

Other Teen Towners were also successful as singers, songwriters, entertainers, entrepreneurs, educators, administrators, athletes and more — just what Mr. Williams had intended when he awarded them scholarships to attend college. Overall, the book is a snapshot of his life and legacy and the love he’d shown inner-city youth looking to belong to something bigger than themselves.

Majority of school vouchers awarded to students in urban, wealthy areas of Tennessee, data shows

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 11:58:24 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Data obtained by News 2 from the Tennessee Dept. of Education shows the majority of the new "Education Freedom Scholarships," or school vouchers, were awarded to students who live in the metro/urban areas and some of the wealthiest suburbs in the state.

The vouchers use public money to pay to send students to private schools or other options if their parents choose. The controversial program was passed during a special legislative session this January.

News 2 filed a public records request for the zip codes of students who were awarded a voucher. Through our analysis of the data received, we found that the majority of students who received one lived in Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, and Chattanooga.

Balin Miller, beloved Alaskan climber known as ‘Orange Tent Guy’ on TikTok, dies in Yosemite accident

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 11:26:21 +0000

A popular Alaskan climber fell to his death from Yosemite National Park's El Capitan, marking the third death in the park since this summer.
Balin Miller, 23, died in a climbing accident Wednesday, his mother Jeanine Girard-Moorman confirmed.
Hes been climbing since he was a young boy, she said. His heart and soul was truly to just climb. He loved to climb and it was never about money and fame.
The death comes on the first day of the federal government shutdown, which left national parks generally open, with limited operations and closed visitor centers, according to the National Park Service. The park service said in a statement that they are investigating the incident and park rangers and emergency personnel responded immediately."
RELATED STORY | California woman dies after being struck by tree branch in Yosemite National Park
El Capitan is one of the most striking features of Yosemite National Park, an enormous sheer granite rock face of approximately 3,000 feet that entices big-wall rock climbers from all over the world. Alex Honnold completed the first free solo climb of El Capitan in 2017 for the documentary Free Solo.
Many posted tributes to Miller on social media, saying they had watched him climb on a TikTok livestream for two days before his death and referring to him as orange tent guy" because of his distinctive camp setup.
Earlier this year, an 18-year-old from Texas died in the park while free-soloing, or climbing without a rope, on a different formation. In August, a 29-year-old woman died after being struck in the head by a large tree branch while hiking.
While it's still unclear exactly what happened, his older brother, Dylan Miller, said Balin was lead rope soloing a way to climb alone while still protected by a rope on a 2,400-foot route named Sea of Dreams. He had already finished the climb and was hauling up his last bit of gear when he likely rappelled off the end of his rope, Dylan said.
Miller was an accomplished alpinist who had already gained international attention for claiming the first solo ascent of Mount McKinley's Slovak Direct, a technically difficult route that took him 56 hours to complete, he posted on his Instagram in June.
He grew up climbing in Alaska with his brother and their father, who was also a climber. While Dylan took a little more time to fall in love with the sport, it stuck with his younger sibling instantly.
He said he felt most alive when he was climbing, Dylan Miller said. Im his bigger brother but he was my mentor.
This year, Balin Miller had also spent weeks solo climbing in Patagonia and the Canadian Rockies, ticking off a notoriously difficult ice climb called Reality Bath, which had been unrepeated for 37 years, according to Climbing magazine.
"Hes had probably one of the most impressive last six months of climbing of anyone that I can think of, Clint Helander, an Alaska alpinist, told the Anchorage Daily News.
But this most recent trip to Yosemite wasn't supposed to be hard climbing. Miller had just arrived two weeks early to climb and enjoy the park's beauty and solitude before the rest of his family, who planned to meet up there.
More than just a climber, he loved animals and was fun, kind and full of life, his mother said.
He often climbed with a stripe of glitter freckles across his cheekbones, describing it in a Climbing magazine interview like a warrior putting makeup on before going into battle.
He has inspired so many people to do things that are perhaps unthinkable, including myself. I cant imagine climbing ever again without him," his brother said.

Medicaid, Medicare text scam scares hundreds during federal government shutdown

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 11:08:24 +0000

Hundreds of Medicaid and Medicare recipients have been alarmed by a text message scam, according to health care provider EPIC Health.
On Wednesday, the Michigan attorney general issued a warning.
Watch video report below: Medicaid, Medicare text scam scares hundreds during federal government shutdown
Sarah Lattimore, a Medicaid recipient, said she received one of those text messages on Thursday. For a moment, she thought her visit to the doctor on Friday would be impossible because the text claimed she no longer had Medicaid coverage.
RELATED STORY | There's no September jobs report because the government office that prepares it is shut down
"Basically saying that my insurance is cut off and I cannot see any doctors for any of my conditions, Lattimore said.

She said she was instantly concerned.
"I can't pay out of pocket like everybody else can, Lattimore said.
The text message had a link for her to click and submit personal information to resolve the problem. Instead, Lattimore made the wise choice to call her health care provider, EPIC Health.
She learned it was a scam, and at least 200 other EPIC Health patients received similar text messages from scammers exploiting the federal government shutdown as a way to scare Medicaid and Medicare recipients.

"Today, we saw a huge drop off in the number of our scheduled patients," said Dr. David Wash, supervising physician at EPIC Health.
When asked what implications there are when someone receives and believes the text messages, Wash said, Delayed care.

Basically, what that's going to do is inundate our emergency room, where people are gonna start using emergency room as their primary care, or some people are just not going to go, the doctor explained. And what that's going to do is that's going to delay care and cause increase, possibly emergencies, because we have a lot of people who have uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure that need that constant preventative long-term care and management.
Wash also referenced a state attorney general's warning. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel advises the following:
Block the text, email or call Don't click links or open attachments Report the spam Delete the text or email from their device
EPIC Health District Manager Cora Fitzpatrick said the health system is also doing its part to clear confusion.
"We reassure them by letting them know, 'Hey, you are covered,' she said. When they're calling us (and) when they're coming in, we let them know, You are covered. You can be seen today.
This article was written by Darren Cunningham for the Scripps News Group in Detroit.

Universal Orlando reopening coaster after fatal Accident, family had urged delay

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 10:56:39 +0000

Universal Orlando Resort plans to reopen its Stardust Racers ride at Epic Universe more than two weeks after a 32-year-old man died of blunt force injuries after going on the high-speed roller coaster.
Signs will be updated to reinforce existing warnings and eligibility requirements to help visitors decide if they should go on the dual-launch coaster, which reaches speeds up to 62 mph, Karen Irwin, president and chief operating officer at Universal Orlando Resort, said Friday in a memo to workers. The ride will reopen on Saturday.
The family of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala publicly had urged Universal not to reopen the ride until all investigations were finished and they had a better understanding of how he died. The medical examiner for the Orlando area ruled the cause of death as multiple blunt impact injuries and said the manner of death was an accident. The full autopsy report hasn't been made public.
RELATED STORY | Man dies after riding roller coaster at new Florida theme park Epic Universe
Zavala had a spinal disability from birth and used a wheelchair, but his family's attorneys said his disability didnt cause his death on Sept. 17.
Irwin said the ride at Universal's newest theme park had undergone an extensive operational and technical review that confirmed the ride systems had functioned properly and Universal workers had followed proper procedures. The ride system's manufacturer and an independent roller coaster engineering expert also conducted on-site testing which supported Universal's findings, she said.
Separately, a woman sued Universal Orlando Resort last week, claiming she was injured on the ride, which she claimed shook her violently and slammed her head into her seats headrest. The attorneys for Zavala's family said this week that others have reached out to them with similar stories about the ride, which officially opened in May with the debut of the new theme park.

NDOT to Host Transportation Demand Management Summit at Nissan Stadium

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 02:44:33 +0000

NASHVILLE, TN – The Nashville Department of Transportation & Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT)’s Transportation Demand Management program, Nashville Connector, will host a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) summit on Friday, October 10^th, 2025, from 8:00am to 3:00pm. The full-day event will bring together transportation professionals, employers, advocates, and policymakers to explore innovative strategies for improving mobility and reducing congestion across the region.

Transportation Demand Management (TDM) is the use of policies and strategies to maximize the efficiency of transportation systems leading to improved mobility, reduced congestion, and lower vehicle emissions.

The event will feature a robust lineup of speakers and sessions, including:

Regional and statewide TDM updates

A special message from the Mayor’s Office of Nashville and Davidson County

A leadership panel with representatives from IndyGo, WeGo Public Transit, NDOT, and the Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee

A session on transit infrastructure, policy, regional coordination, and funding

A focused discussion on TDM strategies for large-scale special events in Nashville

Attendees may also participate in networking opportunities and a mobility showcase that highlights local and regional efforts to promote sustainable transportation.

“This summit is a chance to connect across sectors and communities to shape the future of mobility in Middle Tennessee,” said Meghan Mathson, TDM Administrator at NDOT and lead organizer of the event. “We’re excited to spotlight the innovative work happening here and across the region.”

The summit is free and open to the public, but please register to attend the event. Register here for the TDM summit and visit the Nashville Connector webpage for information on the summit’s schedule.

To report a non-emergency issue affecting a Metro Nashville street, visit hub.nashville.gov

Nurse assaults going underreported, Tennessee healthcare workers say

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 23:46:06 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee nurses and doctors are being assaulted and harassed at alarming rates.

Recently, six health care workers filed police reports for assaults at TriStar Summit Medical Center.

According to the Tennessee Emergency Nurses Association, these kinds of incidents are most likely underreported.

"I've seen people beaten so bad they never come back to the bedside," Tennessee Emergency Nurses Association State Council President, Todd Haines, said.

'Be aware': Residents give warning after 70-year-old woman attacked in downtown Nashville

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 23:06:06 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — An attack in a busy part of Nashville sent a 70-year-old woman to the hospital earlier this week. Since the incident, her neighbors have asked people to stay alert when downtown.

On Wednesday just before 11 p.m., the Metro Nashville Police Department said Annmarie Gray was walking along Commerce Street and Fourth Avenue North, near the Ryman Auditorium, when a man suddenly turned the corner and assaulted her.

ORIGINAL STORY | 70-year-old woman attacked in downtown Nashville

“She was kicked in the chest, brought to the ground and knocked unconscious," said Bernie Cox, the victim’s neighbor and friend. "She broke her hip and she broke her arm."

The suspect, 35-year-old Pablo Arias, was located and arrested by the MNPD. Police said he smelled of alcohol, appeared confused and was struggling to stay upright. Arias was charged with elderly abuse. He posted bail and was released later that same morning, according to records.

“He was out yesterday while she’s going through surgery," Cox said. "His court date is some time in late November, and I'll bet you he won’t even be here [in Nashville]."

Cox has lived next to Gray for about a decade. He told News 2 she's a retired officer with the Los Angeles Police Department who now works part-time at the Ryman Auditorium — just two blocks from their Church Street apartment complex. Cox added that she’s not the first person that’s been suddenly attacked in that part of downtown.

“I was walking my dog right here, in front of the building and out of nowhere, a guy came up to me — a homeless guy — and put me in a chokehold," Cox told News 2. "I pushed him away and went to chase the dog again, and he came after me and choked me again."

Cox attributed the crime in their area to an increase in homelessness and panhandling. He warned other residents to remain aware at all times.

“There’s so many people around here you think, 'Hey, it’s safe here!' But there’s too much evidence and historically, what’s going on, be aware,” said Cox. “Be with somebody. Don’t travel alone if you don't have to ... [Gray] was with a coworker from work, and if it wasn’t for him, who knows what would have happened at that point.”

Another one of Gray’s neighbors agreed with Cox, telling News 2 that homelessness has become much worse in their area. He praised the work of Nashville Downtown Partnership, while adding he doesn’t see a tremendous MNPD presence in their stretch of downtown.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

According to data for the MNPD precinct that covers downtown Nashville, there were 10 reported violent offenses just last week. So far this year, that same precinct has seen more than 750 cases of violent offenses and aggravated assaults.

“It doesn’t matter the time of day anymore. These guys are getting pretty brave,” said Cox. “They don’t care about the people around you in the path ... Everybody has got to be aware about everything going on, you don’t know who’s coming out of a dark alley.”

An online awareness and fundraising campaign was launched by Cox for Gray. You can follow this link to visit the site.

Artist captures three generations of Amos men

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:00:45 +0000

When Cameron Hill was tapped by Marie Pizano to paint a large-scale mural in honor of the late actor John Amos, who embodied the character of James Evans Sr. in the TV series “Good Times,” he was ecstatic.

“It was the first mural I’ve done for the city of Memphis,” said Hill, who painted murals for the Memphis Grizzles, Jack Daniels, and Amazon. But there was something special about this mural project.

The mural is titled “Three Generations” and “highlights the significance of legacy and the essential role fathers play in the lives of families and communities,” said Pizano, founder and president of The MVP3 Foundation.

The mural captures in profile reasonable facsimiles of the legendary actor, his father John A. Amos Sr., and Amos’s son, Kelly Christopher “KC” Amos. Hill rendered their likeness with spray paint on the side of a building at 88 South Front St. in downtown Memphis.

Pizano said fathers are vital in reducing trauma and healing communities, which she has championed over the years. Now she’s fighting on a different front, calling it, “Healing Through the Arts.”

On Sept. 15, Pizano dedicated “Three Generations” to the memory of Amos, a friend, she said, who was often referred to as “America’s Dad.” She said Amos supported her mission to inspire hope and healing through the arts.

Amos and his son, KC, came to Memphis in 2023 at Pizano’s request to announce the actor’s role in “Hillbilly Bible,” a faith-based film that Pizano was producing. They’d collaborated on future projects as well, but Amos had taken ill and died on Aug. 21, 2024.

Hill understood the assignment and the significance of visualizing Pizano’s concept. Moreover, he understands the need to have a father in the home and the ramification of not having one altogether.

“Fathers are pretty much missing in the Black community,” said Hill, who lost his father last year on Oct. 3. “My father went to work and passed away. Once I got the news, I vowed I would live my life the way I wanted to.”

At that moment, grief turned to a yearning to succeed at something that he could control — his own destiny. So, he quit his job to pursue art full time. That was nine years ago and he hasn’t looked back — other than to reflect on how far he’s come.

Hill drew inspiration from his father and his older brother, the victim of gun violence. “I had to take care of him,” the 29-year-old artist said. During this time in Hill’s life, he was beset with problems.

A biology major at LeMoyne-Owen College, Hill said an advisor suggested that he take painting classes. “I had never painted before,” he said, and would go on to graduate from the college in 2019. “This was all new to me.”

Considering the deluge of misinformation in the ether today, Pizano said the mural is a tribute to legacy, fatherhood, and the power of storytelling across generations. It has been a pet peeve of hers that misleading information is proliferating various media platforms.

During the unveiling, Pizano and KC — who was in Memphis to witness “Three Generations” — announced the winner of the second MVP3 John Amos Grant. The honoree was Robrecus “Rico” Parker, a student at Southwest Tennessee Community College.

Parker embodies media integrity and purpose, said Pizano, and added that he furthers Amos’s legacy and the mission of The MVP3 Foundation to mentor and uplift future storytellers with heart and truth.

The mural project was sponsored by The MVP3 Foundation with support from City Councilman Edmund H. Ford Sr. and Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. For more information, visit MVP3foundation.org and MVP3network.com.

Copyright 2025 TNTRIBUNE. All rights reserved.

Iowa family sues Roblox after daughter lured to Tennessee

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 12:28:28 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — An Iowa family claims their 13-year-old daughter was found in Tennessee after she was taken from her grandmother's home by someone she met in a Roblox chat room.

Now, they and other families are suing Roblox Corporation, accusing the gaming platform of failing to protect children from predators.

Tennessee sets deadline to comply with new, expanded work requirements for SNAP

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 10:31:05 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennesseans who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have until Oct. 31 to comply with the new, expanded work requirements created by the President Donald Trump's administration.

Those who were once exempt from the work requirements — people between 55 to 64 years old, parents with children 14 and older, veterans, the homeless and children aging out of foster care — will soon have to get a job, volunteer, go to training or submit documentation proving they cannot work in order to receive SNAP benefits.

While Republicans said expanding work requirements for SNAP would incentivize employment, improve the economy, and reduce government dependency, the Tennessee Justice Center has argued it will only put more people at risk of going hungry.

Report: Tennessee SNAP costs could more than double due to federal cuts

"If you want people to work, taking food away is not the solution," Signe Anderson with the TJC said. "The majority of folks who can work do work ... they need food in order to work and be productive people.”

The TJC is working to educate those who are unaware of the changes and collect stories from people personally impacted by the expanded work requirements, including seniors who have already retired, to show lawmakers.

“I’m especially thinking of some of our grandparents who are the primary caregiver of grandchildren," Anderson said. "In many cases, it was not an expected life decision, but because of the way things are, grandparents have taken over the care of their [grand]children and didn’t necessarily have the financial set up for that.”

In addition, Theresa Lau with the Southern Poverty Law Center told News 2 those with disabilities who don't have access to a doctor to prove they are disabled and people experiencing homelessness will be especially impacted by the change.

“It’s a lifeline for so many people, and when people lose access to SNAP, nutrition assistance, there’s a cascading effect," Lau said.

According to the TJC, up to 50,000 Tennesseans could lose at least some of their SNAP benefits due to the changes. That could have a ripple effect on schools that serve free and reduced lunch, food banks, and even the economy, they said.

Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom

The federal government has issued very limited guidance on how states should implement the changes, and gave states a tight compliance deadline of Nov. 1, according to Anderson. There's some concern there may not be enough time for state departments to train employees on the changes.

To learn more about the expanded work requirements and Tennessee's response, you can follow this link.

My Brother’s Keeper Nashville Partnership Welcomes Marc Anthony Peek as New Director

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 01:45:09 +0000

NASHVILLE, TN – The My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Nashville Partnership today announced the appointment of Marc Anthony Peek as its new Director. Peek will lead the city’s efforts to accelerate outcomes for boys and young men of color, advancing Nashville’s vision to become a national model for youth opportunity and success.

Peek brings two decades of leadership in education, youth engagement, and community development, and a deep commitment to building collaborative systems that ensure equity, opportunity, and success for all youth in Nashville. He has served as a Community Achieves Site Manager at Napier Elementary School, where he worked as a restorative practice coach and key liaison between schools and community-based organizations.

Previously, Peek coordinated large-scale service learning initiatives as Contract Manager at Hands on Nashville for Tennessee State University and worked for nearly a decade as a Family Therapist and Youth Engagement Specialist at The Oasis Center.

He holds a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor of English with a Minor in Africana Studies from Tennessee State University. As Director, he will oversee the partnership’s strategic priorities, including the I Read I Lead literacy campaign and other milestone areas aligned with MBK’s framework.

“Marc Anthony Peek is the right leader at the right time for MBK Nashville,” said Lonnell Matthews, Davidson County Juvenile Court Clerk and Co-Chair of the MBK Nashville Leadership Table. “His passion, vision, and experience will strengthen our ability to create real, lasting change for young men across our city.”

“I am honored to join MBK Nashville at such a pivotal moment,” said Marc Anthony Peek, MBK Nashville Director. “Our community has already demonstrated what’s possible when government, schools, and nonprofits work together. I look forward to building on that foundation to ensure more of our young men read at grade level, graduate ready for college or careers, and are prepared to lead lives of purpose and impact.”

About My Brother’s Keeper Nashville Partnership

The MBK Nashville Partnership creates conditions for the success of young males from diverse backgrounds through mentorship, scholarship, and self-determination, leveraging cross-sector partnerships in education, community, and government.

'I didn’t go into this to be assaulted’: Nurse speaks out after string of attacks at TriStar Summit Medical Center

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 23:31:43 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — From tackling a nurse to the ground to sexual inappropriate comments, several Metro police reports show health care workers were assaulted and harassed at TriStar Summit Medical Center in Hermitage.

News 2 spoke to one of those nurses.

Sitting down with new Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt to discuss the future of farming in Tennessee

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 20:19:00 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Farming is a way of life in Tennessee passed down from generation to generation.

"The founders of our state, in 1786, understood that Tennessee was going to be a powerhouse for agriculture and forestry," Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt told News 2.

Holt knows firsthand the challenges that farmers face — and his term as commissioner started Wednesday.

As farmland disappears, Hatcher Family Dairy adapts to the future

"As a first-generation farmer here in the state of Tennessee, I have been there. I have felt that desire — to become a part of the agricultural industry, and struggled with: how do I gain entry into this industry?" Holt said.

Farming supports thousands of jobs and shapes the state's economy and culture.

"The estimates that we've gotten from [the University of Tennessee] from 2024 estimate that agriculture and forestry accounts for $103 billion worth of economic activity here in the state of Tennessee."

President Donald Trump's trade war with China resulted in a boycott of American-grown soybeans, cutting off Tennessee farmers from their largest customer.

"Is China an important market for us? It absolutely is," Holt said. "...There are several markets for Tennessee soybeans."

UT estimates that the state's other row crops — like cotton, corn and wheat — are also in trouble and could lose upwards of $360 million this year.

"This is going to be — probably — one of the toughest years in really not only recent memory, but all the way back to the '80s and potentially farm crises prior to that the scale of economic loss that will be demonstrated this year — this production year — will really be matched in comparison to the last several years," Holt said.

The reality is that some Tennessee farms will not survive.

"The issue with the current situation that we're in is that this is not just a tough year. This is a tough year on the back of two preceding very tough years," Holt added. "This is going to be a decision time for many of them as to say: am I interested and willing to continue down this path?"

Markets for all crops are vanishing.

"There's not really a budget out there right now, on a per acre basis, for any of your major crops that really show the opportunity for a significant amount of profit," Holt said. "...In many cases, several of those row crop — some of those row crop commodities — produce a loss on a per-acre basis at this moment."

Farmland Preservation Act only ‘first step’ in addressing Tennessee’s dwindling farmland

Can farmers and farming remain viable in Tennessee?

"Can any nation survive without agriculture? The answer, really, is no. For me, the outlook, whether that's the next year or the next 10 years out — are there going to be tough times in agriculture? Certainly. Agriculture and farming is not a job. It is a lifestyle, and I think it's one that is, really, I think, the most deeply-woven portion of fabric that really makes up our nation. Will we have hard times in agriculture over the next couple of years? Certainly we will. Will agriculture return and will it continue to be the lifeblood of our nation and our state? It absolutely will. I am very optimistic about the future of agriculture in Tennessee."

Introducing the New UT Viticulture Team

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 16:03:01 +0000

Expanded Team to Serve Tennessee’s Growing Grape and Wine Industries

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee’s grape growers and wineries continue to grow in number, and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is introducing a new and expanded team of professionals to serve this increasingly important part of agriculture in the Volunteer State.

“Viticulture and enology have tremendous potential for the state of Tennessee in agricultural production, commercial sales and tourism,” says Keith Carver, UTIA senior vice chancellor and senior vice president. “We want to see these industries thrive and grow.”

Grape and wine production takes place across the state. Twenty-nine of Tennessee’s 95 counties had at least one winery in the fourth quarter of 2024, and Tennessee grape-growing farms numbered 472 in 2022.

The two industries have big economic impacts, not only through their operations, but also as popular agritourism destinations. An analysis by UTIA agricultural economists found that when tourism spending is included, the overall economic impact of the Tennessee wine industry on the state economy in 2024 was approximately $610 million, involving more than 3,340 jobs. This includes tax revenues that provided approximately $62 million to benefit local and state budgets. These results highlight the large and growing contribution of Tennessee wineries to the entire Tennessee economy and to local and state tax revenues.

Within the UT Department of Plant Sciences, two new faculty members will build on the outstanding legacy of Extension fruit and nut crops specialist David Lockwood, who helped establish commercial grape growing and winemaking in the state and has served Tennessee fruit and nut growers for 50 years. The team expects to gain a third member in January 2026 with the hire of the university’s first fermentation sciences faculty in the UT Department of Food Science. Meanwhile, Lockwood, too, continues being involved with the team.

Pierre Davadant is the new assistant professor of viticulture at UT, with a 75% appointment in AgResearch and a 25% teaching appointment in the Herbert College of Agriculture. His position was created to focus on Tennessee’s expanding interest in grapes and wines. Davadant’s research will focus on identifying grape varieties adapted to Tennessee’s climate and developing vineyard practices that reduce frost risk, control fungal diseases, manage vine vigor and improve fruit and wine quality. A central part of his vision is to understand how climate, soils and growing conditions shape the identity of local wines across East, Middle, and West Tennessee. For the first time ever, students with an interest in viticulture will be able to take a course entirely related to grape production.

Originally from France, Davadant earned master’s degrees from two French universities: a degree in agriculture from École d’Ingénieurs de Purpan and in viticulture and enology from SupAgro in Montpellier. He completed a Ph.D. at Washington State University, where he studied grapevine nitrogen nutrition. He has worked at leading wine estates in France and California and spent six years teaching in France. At UT, he will combine research in field trials, controlled experiments, and create a UT test vineyard to help Tennessee growers produce high-quality wines as well as develop new viticulture classes for our students.

Annie Vogel is a new assistant professor and UT Extension commercial fruit specialist, covering grapes along with other fruit crops. She has statewide responsibilities for developing a comprehensive educational program in commercial fruit production and provides a vital link between researchers and growers. Her Extension program will include production and management recommendations, adapting management strategies to regional climates, diversifying crops and encouraging integrated pest management strategies through a horticultural lens.

Having focused on grapes for her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Georgia, Vogel is well-acquainted with viticulture. Her background in fruit production began when she was a summer intern at a vineyard in west Georgia. As a research assistant in the university’s viticulture program, Vogel helped maintain research projects across 11 north Georgia vineyards, growing bunch grapes and muscadines. Her master’s thesis explored leaf removal, a common canopy management practice, to determine the ideal timing and extent of leaf removal to improve or maintain fruit quality, yield, and disease management in southeastern vineyards. Vogel also built a model to predict grape berry temperature using modified, self-contained data loggers to determine berry temperature in varying canopies.

In his post-retirement role, Lockwood continues to support Tennessee grape and wine producers through Extension outreach, education, and technical assistance, working closely with Vogel to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of service for growers.

To reach team members, email Davadant at pierre.davadant@utk.edu, Vogel at avogel8@utk.edu and Lockwood at lockwood@utk.edu.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.

Memphis leaders roll out “Free the 901” campaign to oppose National Guard deployment

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 02:15:12 +0000

Memphis, TN — Today community, faith, labor, youth, culture and business leaders launched Free the 901, a campaign to prepare, protect and uplift Memphis residents amid escalating authoritarian attacks — including the proposed deployment of the National Guard to patrol neighborhoods.

Rooted in the belief that real safety comes from investing in people, not punishment, Free the 901 held a press conference at 1 p.m., followed by the “No Cooperation with Occupation” march at 1:30 p.m. Both events began at the park across from Juvenile Court (intersection of Neely & Adams).

Trinity Williams of the Equity Alliance talks to supporters during the Free the 901 campaign in Memphis to oppose National Guard deployment. Photo by Dave Mason

This campaign was born out of urgency. On Sept. 12, Donald Trump and Gov. Bill Lee announced plans to send the National Guard and a multi-agency task force into Memphis, with more concrete plans revealed at today’s press conference with Lee in Memphis. Free the 901 rejects this overreach and will mobilize residents through trainings, orientations and rapid-response organizing, while advancing policies and narratives that put care over control, people over policing and safety over surveillance. “Memphis is the incubator—what’s tested here becomes the blackprint for the rest of the country,” said Tikeila Rucker, one of the visionaries of Free the 901.

Instead of pouring hundreds of millions into militarization, Free the 901 calls on leaders and neighbors to double down on what works: investing in people and communities. Safety comes from strong schools, affordable housing, living-wage jobs and mental health resources — not soldiers on the streets.

Supporters can text “Free901” to 25225 to join the campaign, organizers said.

Partner organizations include ACLU-TN, American Muslim Advisory Council, Black Voters Matter, Decarcerate Memphis, The Equity Alliance, Indivisible Memphis, Justice & Safety Alliance, Memphis Activism Calendar, Memphis Artists for Change, Memphis for All, Memphis Tenants Union, Memphis Voices for Palestine, MICAH, Official Black Lives Matter, Stand for Children Tennessee, Tennessee for All, TIRRC (Tennessee Immigrants & Refugee Rights Coalition) and Vecindarios 901.

Applications Open for OZ Arts Nashville’s Fifth Annual Brave New Works Lab through Monday, October 20

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 01:21:51 +0000

Nashville, Tenn. – Contemporary arts center OZ Arts Nashville encourages artists from all performance disciplines to submit proposals via the open call the Brave New Works Lab 2026, due on Monday, October 20, 2025. Now in its fifth year, the Lab has become one of the most important resources for daring Nashville-based artists working in contemporary performance, inviting them to transform OZ Arts into a laboratory for the creation and premiere of new works and works-in-progress. As always, there is no fee to apply. The Brave New Works Lab will have performances at OZ’s expansive Creative Warehouse from May 14-16, 2026, and interested creatives can find more information on the OZ Arts website at: ozartsnashville.org/brave-new-works-lab-2026

Each year since 2022, the Brave New Works Lab has debuted entirely original short-form performances created by artists working in dance, theater, music, multimedia, and more. The Lab encourages multimedia experimentation and collaboration across disciplines, creating a safe space for high-risk artistic adventures. In the first four years, the Lab has debuted a total of 16 new performance projects, serving as a crucial incubator for some of the most exciting new work happening in Middle Tennessee. Among them: PYDANCE’s rock-infused dance-theater creation God’s Country, an installment of writer/performer Clay Steakley and dance artist Becca Hoback’s collaboration with The Fire Cycle, and musician Sarah Saturday and filmmaker Dycee Wildman’s collaboration on Voyage. The Lab is also a home for some of the most vibrant dance artists in the region, with previous years including new dance works by choreographers like Alexandra Winer, Stacie Flood-Popp, Kourtney “Koko” French, Gabrielle Saliba, Lenin Fernandez, and many more.

Artist proposals for the Brave New Works Lab are due by Monday October 20, 2025. Artists of all performance disciplines — and especially teams of artists working across disciplines — are encouraged to apply. For additional information, visit the OZ Arts website, or email Daniel Jones (daniel@ozartsnashville.org) with any inquiries.

About OZ Arts Nashville

Founded in 2013 by the Ozgener family, OZ Arts Nashville has quickly established itself as one of the Southeast’s most influential and respected producers and presenters focused on the creation and presentation of significant performing and visual artworks by diverse cultural visionaries who are making vital contributions to the evolution of contemporary culture. Through performances, exhibitions, and community events, OZ Arts focuses on producing and presenting the work of local and visiting artists who reflect our diverse society, utilize new artistic forms and technology in creative ways, and provide opportunities for meaningful engagement with audiences, students and cultural and civic leaders. OZ Arts’ unique creative warehouse has developed a reputation as a major national and regional laboratory for experimentation and a home for contemporary dance and performance. More than 70,000 audience members have been introduced to adventurous artists from around the world since the organization opened, and hundreds of local and regional artists have used OZ’s 10,000 square-foot warehouse theater to develop new works. For more information, please visit ozartsnashville.org.

Knoxville College works toward revival as historic HBCU for Black education

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 01:04:54 +0000

Established in 1875, Knoxville College is one of Tennessee’s oldest historically Black colleges and universities and remains a vital institution for higher education among African Americans in East Tennessee. Founded by the United Presbyterian Church of North America to serve freed men and women, it opened as a normal school for training teachers before becoming a full college two years later.

The college occupies a 39-acre campus in Knoxville’s Mechanicsville neighborhood. Many of its early structures were built by students, using bricks they made themselves. Over the years, the campus became not only an educational site but also a hub of community life. Knoxville College joined the United Negro College Fund and became part of the national network of HBCUs that played an essential role in advancing opportunities for Black students.

The school also figured prominently in the civil rights movement. In 1960, Knoxville College students took part in downtown sit-ins to protest segregated lunch counters. Two years later, the college amended its charter to allow white students. The campus chapel has welcomed influential speakers, including W.E.B. Du Bois and George Washington Carver.

Knoxville College’s prominence declined in the late 20th century. The school lost accreditation in 1997, a blow that limited access to federal financial aid and made it harder to attract students. Enrollment fell sharply, reaching only 11 students by 2015. Classes were suspended temporarily, though the school welcomed students back in 2018 after a reorganization. In August 2024, Knoxville College submitted an application for accreditation with the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools in hopes of restoring its academic standing.

The physical campus has faced challenges as well. Several historic buildings have sat vacant for decades, and fires have damaged others. Elnathan Hall, a building first constructed in 1893, was destroyed again by fire in November 2024 after years of disuse. Preservationists have listed portions of the campus as endangered, citing its importance to Knoxville’s Black history

Despite these setbacks, Knoxville College continues to symbolize resilience for the Black community in East Tennessee. It remains the only HBCU in the region, and its revival is being pursued by alumni, faculty, and local leaders committed to restoring its legacy. Current efforts focus on meeting accreditation requirements, stabilizing and restoring historic buildings, expanding enrollment, and strengthening academic offerings.

For many in Knoxville, the future of Knoxville College represents more than the survival of an institution. It is seen as honoring the struggles and achievements of generations of Black Tennesseans who viewed education as a pathway to equality and empowerment.

Copyright TNTRIBUNE 2025. All rights reserved.

Stephen Colbert likens final presidential debate to ‘getting our last wisdom tooth taken out’

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 16:25:33 +0000

‘Donald Trump is the only president who gets marks for good behaviour,’ Jimmy Kimmel quipped

AOC snaps back at Trump's 'unhinged' debate attack

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 06:48:05 +0000

Trump picked out Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez during Thursday night’s debate, saying she ‘knew nothing about the climate’