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State Funding Board taps $65M for Oracle’s Nashville project
The State Funding Board on Tuesday approved a $65 million FastTrack Economic Development grant for Oracle Corp.’s Nashville project on the east bank of the Cumberland River. The funds are designed to offset expenses such as new construction and land acquisition, coming after the Metro Council approved $175 million for infrastructure improvements surrounding a 65-acre […]
Nashville doctor announces Democratic gubernatorial bid
Dr. Jason Martin, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Sumner Regional Medical Center, has made official what’s been rumored for months: He’s running for governor. Martin made the announcement at Meharry Hospital in Nashville Monday morning after launching an exploratory committee a month ago. He has appointed Keith Maune, founder of a Nashville technology […]
Conservative talk show host Phil Valentine dies of COVID-19
Phil Valentine, the conservative talk show host who mocked COVID-19, has died of the virus at the age of 61. His employer, SuperTalk 99.7, announced his death in a brief statement via Twitter late Saturday afternoon. “We are saddened to report that our host and friend Phil Valentine has passed away. Please keep the Valentine […]
Pediatrics association pushes back on Lee and requests meeting
The Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement Tuesday firing back to Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order giving parents of school children the ability to opt out of school mask requirements, saying the group “strongly disagrees” with Lee. “We implore all parents to continue to send their children to school masked. […]
School officials, lawmakers react to Lee order on masks in schools
Shortly after Gov. Bill Lee concluded a Monday press conference at which he announced parents across the state will have the option to decide if their children wear masks in school or not, responses began to pour in from elected officials and school districts. Lee issued an executive order mandating school systems must allow parents […]
License plate readers deferred again at Nashville Metro Council meeting
Two competing ordinances allowing for the use of License Plate Readers (LPR) in Nashville’s public right of ways were deferred at Tuesday’s Metro Council meeting. Councilmember Courtney Johnston brought her ordinance back for consideration after indefinitely deferring it in April to get through the annual budget process. Her ordinance calls for LPRS to be affixed […]
Watchdog coalition files complaints against ALEC in 15 states
A coalition of watchdog organizations is filing complaints in15 states this week against the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC,) a nonprofit group of conservative state legislators and private organizations that draft model legislation to share with states across the country. Tennessee is one of the states included in the action. The Center for Media and […]
Visit Franklin names new President and CEO
The board of directors for Visit Franklin, the convention and visitors bureau for Williamson County, has named Maureen Haley Thornton as president/CEO. Thornton replaces Ellie Westman Chin, who left the role in February to take over as president/CEO of Destination Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. Andy Marshall, chair of the Visit Franklin Board and CEO of […]
Gov. Lee Announces Next Steps for Memphis Regional Megasite
On Tuesday, Gov. Bill Lee announced he’s planning to complete major infrastructure investments at the Memphis Regional Megasite, as well as addressing workforce and quality of life issues in the region. “The Memphis Regional Megasite offers tremendous opportunity for West Tennessee, and I am committed to building out infrastructure and supporting area workforce as we […]
Pro-Palestine demonstrators hit streets in Nashville
Hundreds of Tennesseans marched through the streets of downtown Nashville on Friday night to support Palestine and protest treatment of Palestinian civilians in the recent Israel-Palestine conflict. Many of the approximately 800 attendees were of Palestinian descent. “We will sacrifice our blood and souls for Palestine,” was a refrain chanted by marchers in Arabic through […]
Tennesseans on the move: who to keep an eye on in 2021
A year like 2020, replete with drama in politics, health care, education and civil rights, gives public leaders the chance to shine or flop. With the year near to passing in our collective rear view mirrors, the staff of the Tennessee Lookout brings your attention to a handful of Tennesseans in politics, education, health care […]
The year in photos: September-December
Politics and pandemic consumed our photojournalists for the latter portion of the year. When President Donald Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, Memphis photojournalist Karen Pulfer Focht went to Barrett’s alma mater, Rhodes College, to get images from Justice Barrett’s college years. Focht also got what may will be one of […]