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New guidance from Tennessee officials says hospitals cannot limit vaccines to existing patients
Tennessee hospitals may no longer restrict their still-limited supply of vaccine only to established patients under new guidance issued by the Tennessee Department of Health, Dr. Lisa Piercey, commissioner, said Friday in a briefing with reporters. “For hospitals to continue vaccinating on a forward going basis we have asked them … to do a few […]
New conservative group Tennessee Stands takes on government mandates
In the six months since Tennessee Stands launched as a fresh conservative voice railing against pandemic policies — galvanizing resistance to COVID-19 emergency orders by state and local officials — the newly established nonprofit has worked to coalesce resistance to government mandates during the pandemic. Tennessee Stands and its founder, Gary Humble, have filed lawsuits […]
“Save Our Stages” Act brings relief to Music City
For nearly a year, Exit/In owner Chris Cobb has been part of a constant text thread and email chain with independent music venue operators across the country struggling with the same set of grim circumstances: COVID-19 has decimated live music and arts venues and many operators have worried they may never be able to open […]
COVID-19 vaccine rollout concerns advocates for poor and minority patients
As demand continues to outpace supply for COVID-19 vaccines, local officials and healthcare advocates are questioning whether Tennessee’s poor, Black and brown residents are getting an equal shot. For more than a week, access to vaccines has been open to Tennesseans age 75 and older through public health departments and hospitals. Health departments’ rollouts of […]
Second Avenue resident still unable to reenter home weeks after Christmas Day blast
Nearly two weeks after fleeing in only her pajamas on Christmas Day after hearing bizarre warnings from a parked RV that a bomb would be detonated, Betsy Williams was allowed to return to her Second Avenue building escorted by fire personnel. Williams and her partner, Kim Madlom, weren’t able to enter their own apartment, where […]
FBI raids homes, legislative offices; Three legislative staff members placed on leave
The FBI raided the legislative offices and homes of state lawmakers as well as current and former aides, multiple sources confirmed to the Tennessee Lookout. The raids were first reported by the Tennessean. State Rep. Glen Casada, state Rep. Robin Smith, newly elected state Rep. Todd Warner and former Casada aide Cade Cothren were among […]
Report: 5 historic buildings may need to be partly or wholly demolished after Christmas Day explosion
Five historic Nashville buildings may need to be partially or substantially demolished then rebuilt following the Christmas Day bombing that devastated parts of downtown, an engineering report commissioned by the city has found. City officials cautioned that the 15-page report detailing building-by-building damage along Second Avenue is preliminary and expressed optimism that a closer inspection […]
How Tennessee leaders responded to uprising at U.S. Capitol
Members of Tennessee’s Congressional delegation called for peace following insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday during a Senate debate about whether to certify the presidential election results. Congress members and their staff reported being safe following a dramatic scene in which armed protesters stormed the Senate chambers, overrunning the Capitol police following a rally […]
Nashville Electric Service temporarily relents on disconnections
Nashville Electric Service has once again suspended disconnections for non-payment of utility bills through January 31 at the urging of Mayor John Cooper and Vice Mayor Jim Shulman following a report by Tennessee Lookout detailing thousands of shut-offs among city residents. The utility company’s grace period for customers unable to pay their electric bills during […]
In Nashville, Second Avenue resident heard warnings: “Don’t come near this vehicle. It has a bomb.”
Kim Madlom remembers fragments of the messages broadcast by the digital-sounding female voice blasting from an RV across the street from her apartment in the early hours of Christmas Day. “Your priority now is to evacuate.” “Don’t come near this vehicle.” “It has a bomb.” Madlom, 59, and her partner, Betsy Williams, 64, had been […]
COVID-19 spike keeps DCS kids away from families at Christmas
With more than 300 kids stuck in COVID-19 quarantine at facilities licensed by the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, this holiday season may bring limited cheer or face to face contact with parents and siblings. Since April, 636 children and youth have tested positive for COVID-19 in facilities connected with DCS —144 of them since December […]
Across Tennessee, local officials warn of holiday surge
In a last-ditch effort ahead of the holidays, public health officials across Tennessee on Tuesday issued a flurry of warnings and pleas for people to avoid gathering with others outside their own households. Tennessee continues to occupy one of the top spots in the nation for the rate of COVID-19 transmission, a dramatic surge that […]