Investigates
Metro Council member to Trump-backing colleague: ‘(Expletive) off’
The same political rancor that has divided friends and families across the country played out in spectacular fashion among Metro Council members over the weekend, culminating in one member telling a conservative colleague to “(Expletive) off.” The drama was triggered by a group email sent to council members from a person named Bruce Crawford, who […]
Rural jail populations surge again posing new risks as coronavirus cases spike
After an initial reduction in jail populations at the start of the epidemic, thousands of men and women have been newly incarcerated in local lockups across Tennessee — creating overcrowded conditions in rural counties even as the state experiences record levels of death and infection as COVID-19 continues its spread outside urban areas. Data from […]
In rural Tennessee, lack of resources lead to dismal situation for domestic violence victims
If you come to Paris from Clarksville — arguably the closest “big” town — you’ll drive through a stunning display of scenery as you cross the Tennessee River Bridge. As you transition from Stewart County to Henry County, vibrant emerald-colored trees, some still blooming with pink flowers despite spring being long gone, line the sides […]
Tennessee women in rural areas more likely to be domestic violence victims
Near the downtown area of Paris, Tennessee, a long set of concrete stairs, partially overgrown with crabgrass and weeds, leads up a hill to the maroon front door on Depot Street, a small pastel orange house surrounded by tall, skinny trees. On the night of May 22, 2018, Jessica Jones got off work from her […]
Taxpayer funded corporate incentives fail to produce promised jobs
When Canadian entrepreneurs touting a healthy new snack product scouted Kingsport, Tenn. as their new headquarters in 2015, local economic development officials like Clay Walker were enthusiastic. They sampled the gluten-free, non-GMO fruit and vegetable bars and worked to seal a deal that would bring 273 jobs to the northeast Tennessee town of 54,000 in […]
Nashville live music industry on the brink of calamity; asks government for help
The Nashville live music industry has been eviscerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a ripple effect that has left musicians, stage hands, sound engineers and booking agents out of work and put concert venues on the brink of permanent closure. While the pandemic has negatively impacted all kinds of businesses, no sector has been steamrolled […]
Construction COVID cases garner little oversight
While Nashville officials deploy more resources to enforce mask mandates at the honky tonks lining Lower Broadway, the city’s loosely regulated construction sites have emerged as the No. 2 source of the city’s coronavirus clusters. By last week, there were 233 COVID cases associated with outbreaks at 18 Nashville construction sites. Only long term care […]
Outbreak at Bordeaux residential facility for delinquent youth infects 28 kids, 15 staff
A COVID-19 outbreak at a Nashville facility that cares for children in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services infected 28 children and 15 staff members, according to data provided by the child welfare agency. Standing Tall Music City in Bordeaux provides mental health, drug and alcohol use and other treatment to boys […]
Staff, children recovering after COVID outbreak at Nashville juvenile detention center
Eleven children and eight staff members tested positive for COVID-19 at the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center in June. All have since recovered. The east Nashville facility is one of five juvenile detention centers around Tennessee that have had positive coronavirus cases among staff or youth, according to data obtained from the Department of Children’s […]
Living conditions at Tennessee drive-through safari raise red flags
On any given day at the Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo, visitors in vehicles line the gravel driveway for several hundred yards, snaking past the entrance, down the road, and doubling back again to finally enter the park. Once inside the park visitors can drive through 5.5 miles of safari trail and feed a variety […]
Tennessee’s Hispanic community absorbs a third of COVID cases
Manuel Caló, a 56-year-old Nashville construction worker from Guatemala, fell so ill so quickly that, although he took the test for COVID-19, he couldn’t wait for the results. Friends took him to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was placed on oxygen and hospitalized for four days. Even feeling so sick, Caló had to overcome […]
East Tennessee migrant workers at mercy of employers
Evensville, Tenn. – In April, nearly 200 migrant workers came to Rhea County from Mexico to grow tomatoes, then in May they seemingly vanished. With long, winding unpaved roads leading deep into untouched forest, Rhea County seems disconnected from the rest of Tennessee, and this seemingly innocuous fact is reinforced when some of their population […]