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Lookout Staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 7, 2020 -A supporter of Donald Trump yells at a Black Lives Matter supporter during a "Stop the Steal" rally, the same day President-elect Joe Biden clinched his win. (Photo: Ray Di Pietro)

Group hosts discussion on the First Amendment and disinformation

By: - November 15, 2021

A Nashville-based civic engagement group will host a panel discussion on Thursday to probe the line between First Amendment rights and tensions arising from disinformation, called “Protected Speech and Fear in America.” As part of its “Conversationalist Series,” Millions of Conversations will share information from global conflict mediation expert Andrew Ladley and Deborah Fisher, director […]

Odessa Kelly works on the porch of her East Nashville. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Kelly picks up endorsements from national progressive groups

By: - November 10, 2021

Odessa Kelly, Democratic candidate for the 5th Congressional District, has picked up two endorsements from national progressive organizations, her campaign announced on Tuesday.  Indivisible, which was founded after former President Donald Trump’s 2016 election and Working Families Party (WFP,) endorsed Kelly. WFP, founded in New York City in 1998, is a progressive grassroots political party […]

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 09: Senator-elect Bill Hagerty (R-TN) meets with the media on November 9, 2020 in Washington, DC. The Senate is reconvening for the first time after the 2020 presidential election and a coronavirus relief package is high on their list of priorities. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)

Michael Sullivan named Hagerty state director

By: - October 29, 2021

U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty has named Michael Sullivan as state director for his U.S. Senate office, based in Nashville. Sullivan replaces Jim Henry, who is retiring.  “Michael Sullivan has been by my side since I began this journey to have the honor of representing my fellow Tennesseans in the U.S. Senate, and I am pleased […]

Supporters of Planned Parenthood in the gallery of the Tennessee House of Representatives. (Photo: Ray Di Pietro))

Coalition hold events for abortion justice in nine Tennessee cities

By: - September 30, 2021

A coalition of progressive groups and organizations that work for reproductive rights is holding a rally for abortion justice in nine Tennessee cities on Saturday, with Murfreesboro serving as a central site. The “Bans off our Bodies” event is part of a Nationwide Day of Action for Abortion Rights which will feature more than 600  […]

Tennessee House of Representatives (Photo: John Partipilo)

Education committee drops discussion of Black history education

By: - September 17, 2021

Chattanooga Democratic Rep. Yusef Hakeem says he is “surprised and disappointed” the Joint Legislative Education Committee won’t be discussing a bill he introduced during legislative session to provide the study of Black history to public school students.  In April, HB1460 was deferred to summer study, which typically means a bill has little traction. Hakeem wrote […]

Historic Nashville Courthouse. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Metro Nashville Council defers vote on license plate readers

By: - September 8, 2021

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 […]

Conceptual rendering of the Oracle campus in Nashville courtesy of Mayor John Cooper's office.

State Funding Board taps $65M for Oracle’s Nashville project

By: - September 7, 2021

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 […]

Dr. Jason Martin (Photo: Martin for Governor)

Nashville doctor announces Democratic gubernatorial bid

By: - August 23, 2021

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 […]

A 2012 photo of Phil Valentine, right, with Fox host Sean Hannity. (Photo: Facebook)

Conservative talk show host Phil Valentine dies of COVID-19

By: - August 21, 2021

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 […]

Metro Public Healthy Molly Shine preps a vaccine while sister Maya and Sara Gana wait at a recent Nashville mobile vaccine clinic. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Pediatrics association pushes back on Lee and requests meeting

By: - August 17, 2021

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. […]

See nothing, hear nothing, say nothing: children will bear the brunt of the state's mishandling of the COVID crisis. (Photo illustration: John Partipilo)

School officials, lawmakers react to Lee order on masks in schools

By: - August 16, 2021

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 […]

Historic Nashville Courthouse. (Photo: John Partipilo)

License plate readers deferred again at Nashville Metro Council meeting

By: - August 10, 2021

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 […]