Investigates

Historic Metro Nashville Courthouse (Photo: Nashville.gov)

Metro Council member to Trump-backing colleague: ‘(Expletive) off’

BY: - November 9, 2020

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 […]

(Photo: Getty Images)

Rural jail populations surge again posing new risks as coronavirus cases spike

BY: - November 2, 2020

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 […]

Elizabeth Jones with her nephew, Isaiah. Jones is raising Isaiah after his mother was killed by her domestic partner in a murder-suicide in Paris, Tenn. (Photo: John Partipilo)

In rural Tennessee, lack of resources lead to dismal situation for domestic violence victims

BY: - October 7, 2020

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 […]

Elizabeth Jones holds her nephew, Isiah. She is his caretaker after his mother was killed in 2018 by her boyfriend in a murder-suicide. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Tennessee women in rural areas more likely to be domestic violence victims

BY: - October 6, 2020

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 […]

Screenshot of Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development homepage.

Taxpayer funded corporate incentives fail to produce promised jobs

BY: - September 29, 2020

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 […]

Recording Artist Kenny Vaughan performs during the 2011 Americana Music festival at The Mercy Lounge in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

Nashville live music industry on the brink of calamity; asks government for help

BY: - August 26, 2020

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 […]

A construction worker walks past a sign the reads "Please wash your hands for at least 25 seconds" at a construction site. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Construction COVID cases garner little oversight

BY: - August 10, 2020

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 […]

The exterior of Standing Tall in Nashville. (Photo: standingtalltn.com)

Outbreak at Bordeaux residential facility for delinquent youth infects 28 kids, 15 staff

BY: - August 7, 2020

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 […]

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Staff, children recovering after COVID outbreak at Nashville juvenile detention center

BY: - August 6, 2020

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 […]

Tennessee Animal Safari. (Photo: Matt Bastin)

Living conditions at Tennessee drive-through safari raise red flags

BY: - August 3, 2020

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 […]

Hispanic Tennesseans, many of whom work in essential fields, are bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 outbreak. (Photo: Getty Images)

Tennessee’s Hispanic community absorbs a third of COVID cases

BY: and - June 15, 2020

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 […]

Migrant workers place stakes for tomato plants at a commercial farm in East Tennessee. (Photo: John Partipilo for the Tennessee Lookout)

East Tennessee migrant workers at mercy of employers

BY: - June 4, 2020

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 […]