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Commentary: As Governor fails to lead, media and parents must track COVID in schools

BY: and - August 26, 2020

The COVID pandemic is like nothing any of us have experienced. As parents, we are tired, confused and scared. We are being forced to make decisions about our children’s education that pit a bad choice against a worse choice, and we grieve for our children who are being asked to sacrifice and accept a “new normal.” But […]

(Photo: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

Metro Health’s role in vaccine trials prompts internal conflict

BY: and - August 25, 2020

Among the Nashville institutions assuming a role in upcoming clinical trials for a potential COVID-19 vaccine is the Metro Public Health Department, a decision receiving pushback from some members of its oversight board. The decision for the already overstretched department to partner with a private for-profit company in a vaccine trial has not received the […]

Planned Parenthood clinic

State asks judge to lift injunction on Tennessee’s heartbeat abortion law

BY: - August 24, 2020

Attorneys for the state are asking a federal judge to set aside a preliminary injunction barring a “heartbeat” abortion law from taking in effect. In a Friday legal filing, state attorneys notified U.S. District Judge William Campbell they plan to appeal his July 24 order temporarily halting Tennessee’ controversial abortion law from being enforced. They […]

Clinical Research Associates, housed in a nondescript Midtown building, will administer two clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine. (Photo: John Partipilo)

How Nashville will play a critical role in developing the COVID-19 vaccine

BY: and - August 24, 2020

In the national race to develop a vaccine against COVID-19, officially dubbed “Operation Warp Speed,” Nashville residents are at the starting gate.  Two major Phase III vaccine trials are separately getting underway at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Meharry Medical College. A Nashville research firm is tentatively partnering with the Metro Health Department on two […]

Gov. Bill Lee gives his bi-weekly media briefing Aug. 18. (Photo: Tn.gov)

Lawmakers begin review of sweeping emergency powers granted to governor

BY: - August 21, 2020

Since the onset of the pandemic in Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee has drawn on sweeping emergency powers granted under state law to issue 44 executive orders, including stay-at-home orders, business closures and limits on nursing home visitors. On Thursday, state lawmakers met to consider whether those powers should be reigned in going forward. “Does (the […]

COMMENTARY
SEC shootout: Eric Gray of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball to score a touchdown against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Neyland Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)

Bookman: Virus toll ranks high in SEC country as teams huddle up

BY: - August 21, 2020

As you probably expected, the Southeastern Conference dominates the preseason national rankings. As of Tuesday, Florida could claim the title of No. 1 in the country, reporting the highest weekly per-capita death rate from coronavirus nationwide. Go Gators! Texas, home of the Texas A&M Aggies, had the second-highest per capita death rate, followed by Mississippi […]

Clockwise from top left: Rep. London Lamar, Councilmember at Large Sharon Hurt, Sen. Brenda Gilmore, Knox County School Board Member Evetty Satterfield, Rupa Blackwell, Tullahoma Chamber of Commerce.

With Harris keynoting DNC, Tennessee’s elected women of color react

BY: - August 19, 2020

The selection of Sen. Kamala Harris as vice-presidential running mate to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden last week has been lauded for its historic nature. Harris is the first woman of color to be named to one of the top positions on a presidential tickets and one of only a few women of any […]

Renderings of the redeveloped fairgrounds site, which will include the current race track and new Nashville Soccer Club stadium. (Rendering: Fairgrounds Nashville)

New York consultant hired to design fairgrounds plaza

BY: - August 19, 2020

A prominent New York-based consulting firm has quietly scored a small contract to help in the redesign of the plaza that will connect the Nashville fairgrounds racetrack to the mixed-use development surrounding the Nashville SC soccer stadium. Biederman Redevelopment Ventures was hired as a subcontractor for $25,000 to design the plaza that was a critical […]

(Photo: Getty Images)

Tennessee now only state to pursue plan for Medicaid block grant

BY: - August 18, 2020

Tennessee remains the only state actively pursuing a controversial Medicaid block grant touted by the Trump Administration in January as a “game-changer” that would radically rejigger financing for the federal-state public health insurance program that covers 1 in 5 Americans. Last week, Oklahoma’s Republican governor,  Gov. Kevin Stitt, informed federal officials he was scrapping plans […]

Metro Water Department employees repair a broken water main in September 2019. (Photo: Metro Water Services)

Nashville developers sues Metro Water in case with wide implications

BY: - August 14, 2020

A prominent East Nashville developer is in litigation with the Metro Water Department over who should pay for infrastructure repairs to the pipes in the public right-of-way. At face value, it’s a small dollar lawsuit by Metro standards. McGavock Pike Partners, led by Dan Heller and March Egerton, sued Metro in February for $74,641 over […]

Tennessee House of Representatives Chambers (Photo: Tennessee Secretary of State)

COVID-19 liability legislation moves forward

BY: - August 11, 2020

The Tennessee legislature reconvened today to fast-track Gov. Bill Lee’s proposed legislation to exempt public and private companies and institutions from legal liability related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  In separate committee hearings on Tuesday, during a specially called session expected to wrap up in less than a week, Democratic lawmakers argued unsuccessfully against the measure.  […]

(Photo: Getty Images)

Carpool app adapted to aid with contact tracing

BY: - August 7, 2020

An innovative app that both improves traffic conditions and helps with contact tracing has been on the back burner for a year waiting on the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) for approval. Approved a year ago, Hytch Rewards has been waiting on federal funding in order to be fully implemented. The app was approved to […]