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Memphis council delays anti-Byhalia vote
On Tuesday at the Memphis City Council meeting, advocates and critics of the Byhalia Pipeline achieved a truce of sorts and legal actions have been dismissed. After almost a year of protests and legal action against construction of the Byhalia Pipeline through Memphis, the council agenda included a vote on an ordinance that would create […]
Housing may be key to high infant mortality numbers in Tennessee
For decades, the Bordeaux community has been home to many of Nashville’s working and middle-class Black families, but the neighborhood’s quiet exterior hides efforts by the Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) to reduce infant mortality. The latest maternal mortality report published by the Tennessee Department of Health revealed racial inequities when addressing why Black children […]
Tennessee immigrant groups, union organizers push back on preemptive laws
Immigrant rights advocates and community organizers are urging legislators to restore critical decision making to local governments, adding that if COVID-19 has proven anything, it’s that local officials know what’s best for their residents. Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) and Stand Up Nashville (SUN), a coalition of community leaders and union organizers, joined […]
Nashville councilmembers ask Cooper for funds to address childhood trauma
Nashville Metro Councilmember at Large Zulfat Suara led a Wednesday press conference to weigh in on Mayor John Cooper’s pending budget for the coming fiscal year. Her ask? Suara wants Cooper to include additional funding for Metro Nashville Public Schools to help children recover from severe traumas experienced over the past year due to environmental […]
Shelby County Commission quashes biennial property appraisal
After a substantial debate, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted to withdraw a proposal to appraise property every two years. The proposal was initiated by Melvin Burgess, the Shelby County assessor of property, who recommended the 2-year reappraisal plan to aid the city’s budget and to have Shelby County properties reflect market value. The […]
Community activists push back on Oracle deal
Community organizers are asking Metro Nashville to postpone an agreement with the technology giant Oracle, saying there are too many questions about how the company’s relocation here will affect local residents already suffering from rising living costs. Stand Up Nashville and The Equity Alliance held a rally Monday to protest what they see as a […]
Memphis commissioner questions jail “virtual visit” charges
Shelby County’s contract with a prison telecom company was supposed to allow jail inmates to have contact with loved ones, but instead those loved ones are being used for profit, said Commissioner Tami Sawyer. The Shelby County Board of Commissioners will vote Monday on amending the county’s current contract with Global Tel Link (GTL), which […]
Franklin group to mark Juneteenth with first-time public ceremony
The Franklin Justice & Equity Coalition (FJEC) and the Fuller Story announced their plans Tuesday to commemorate Juneteenth with a ceremony and a bronze statue of a U.S. Colored Troops soldier in front of Franklin’s Historic Courthouse. In collaboration with the Civil War Commission and the Battle of Franklin Trust, the group will hold a […]
Shelby County adds mental health training for firefighters
On Wednesday, Shelby County Commissioners voted 10-0 on a resolution creating a partnership between the Shelby County Fire Department and Alliance Healthcare Services. Through the agreement, Shelby County firefighters will be trained to respond and transport individuals suffering from mental health crises to the appropriate facilities to get help. Commissioner David Bradford, the sponsor of […]
TIRRC pushes Congress to create easier path to citizenship
Immigrants and new Americans made up a large portion of essential workers during the pandemic, and Tennessee immigrant advocates joined a nationwide effort urging Congress to create an easier path to citizenship. Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) held a rally Tuesday night to call on representatives and senators to promote the interests of […]
Nashville Police diversity chief discusses outreach efforts
In 2005, Capt. Carlos Lara arrived in Nashville just in time to witness how the city coped with a new wave of immigrants, and although he didn’t know it at the time, Lara would use his early experiences to become Metro Nashville Police Department’s first Latino Captain and chief diversity officer. Born and raised in […]
Memphis minister joins national group calling for end to filibuster
A Memphis pastor joined other Christian leaders from across the nation on Thursday to call for a reform of filibuster tactics that could prevent an upcoming voting rights bill aimed at voter suppression legislation. Rev. J. Lawrence Turner, pastor at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, joined Bishop William J. Barber II and the […]