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Texas ruling on DACA dashes hopes in Tennessee
On July 16, a Texas federal judge ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program was illegal, and although DACA recipients have learned to live with uncertainty, many were still heart broken. Nashville DACA recipient Nathalia Castro had to think carefully about pursuing higher education, knowing that the DACA program still faces legal challenges. […]
Metro Council wrangling continues over minority appointment to Fair Board
On Tuesday night, two Metro Nashville Council Members accused colleagues of pitting Black and Hispanic communities against each other as they argued over new appointees to the Fair Board Commission. As council members prepared to vote in Tracy Hardin, the vice president of construction company Don Hardin Group, to the Board of Fair Commissioners, members […]
Union rally urges Blackburn, Hagerty to vote for PRO Act
Workers and union leaders rallied in front of the offices of Tennessee’s U.S. senators on Tuesday, urging them to support working-class Americans by voting to provide protections for employees seeking to unionize. With the Senate in session, neither Sen. Marsha Blackburn nor Sen. Bill Hagerty was on site but organizers held signs in front of […]
Lawyer charges human trafficking played part in 16-year-old’s death on construction site
A Nashville judge ruled that evidence of human trafficking would be allowed in the case of a 16-year-old who died in a construction-related accident in downtown Nashville last year. Gustavo Ramirez had been working on a scaffold without a harness during construction of La Quinta Inn on Interstate Drive when he fell 120 feet to […]
New law seeks to curb theft of catalytic converters
John Baldwin often exercised on Beaman Park Trail until one afternoon, when after a 30-minute hike and driving home, he realized there was something wrong with his Toyota Tacoma. “It was this horrible sound that he had never heard before,” said Kim Baldwin, his wife. After a consequent call to a tow service, the driver […]
Critical care doctors want DOJ investigation into Lee following Fiscus firing
COVID-19 deaths are now preventable, and Gov. Bill Lee should be held accountable for politicizing the pandemic, said a coalition of physicians battling the virus on the frontlines. On Wednesday, Dr. Jason Martin, a critical care pulmonologist, and other health professionals called on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Lee after recent political moves […]
Survey from Nashville community group details concerns about Fairgrounds track
A community engagement group figured people living near the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway had something to say about NASCAR racing returning to the track, and they were correct. On Tuesday, Stand Up Nashville (SUN) representatives presented results from a recent survey to the Board of Fair Commissioners meeting, detailing local resident’s concerns. In March, Metro Nashville […]
Camper leads minority legislator roundtable
In an era of rising voter suppression, Black Democratic leaders discussed on Monday their roles as double minority legislators in Republican-majority states. Black legislative leaders held a roundtable discussion as part of the Southern Legislative Conference, which is being held in Nashville this week. Rep. Karen D. Camper of Memphis, Tennessee House Democratic Caucus leader […]
Memphis citizen review board upholds assault complaint against police officer
Kleston Beverly of Memphis was sitting in his vehicle when he was suddenly forcibly thrown out onto the ground, surrounded by police officers in riot gear. On Thursday, he entered a formal complaint against officer Kerry Moody in front of Memphis’ Civilian Law Enforcement Review (CLERB) Board, an 13-person independent agency tasked with investigating allegations […]
Refugee arrivals in Tennessee drop to historic low in 2020
As a former child soldier, Gatluak Thach was granted refugee status and moved to Nashville in 1996 to start a new life. Efforts to teach his wife and the nearby community English eventually led to Thach founding the Nashville Center for Empowerment, but over the last few years, Thach noticed a significant decrease in the number […]
Lookout in Brief: Byhalia Pipeline halted but Memphis Council still pushes protective legislation
The Byhalia Connection pipeline project has been abandoned by its developers but Memphis council members continue to push legislation to protect the Memphis Sand Aquifer. On Tuesday, an ordinance for protecting Shelby County’s natural water source was up for a final reading, but was withdrawn. In its place, councilmember JB Smiley introduced a substitute aquifer […]
As permitless gun carry law takes effect, some Second Amendment advocates urge continued training
Even some Tennessee gun enthusiasts are hard-pressed to say that the state’s controversial new permitless gun carry law won’t have negative effects. Starting today, permits will no longer be required to carry a handgun publicly in Tennessee, nor will new gun owners be required to take training. But that’s not to say gun owners shouldn’t […]