News

A crowd of teenagers hold signs in the Tennessee Capitol on Thursday as part of a rally to urge lawmakers to take up gun safety laws. (Photo: John Partipilo)

From grief to action in Nashville, protesters demand change at the state capitol

BY: - March 30, 2023

Less than 16 hours after a muted vigil, a grieving city turned to protest, and crowds took to the halls of the Tennessee Capitol Thursday, demanding action on gun violence after six were killed at the Covenant School, marking Nashville’s third mass shooting since 2017. Hundreds gathered outside the city government building Wednesday evening to […]

Reps. Justin Jones, right, Justin Pearson, bottom, and Gloria Johnson, left, bring a megaphone onto the Tennessee House floor on March 30, 2023. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Chaos erupts at Tennessee Capitol over demand for gun safety measures

BY: - March 30, 2023

Three Democratic lawmakers on Thursday led an unprecedented gun-control rally in the midst of the morning session as hundreds protested against gun violence outside the door three days after a mass shooting at The Covenant School. Chaos erupted around 10:50 a.m. as the House voted on a bill dealing with expansion of the state’s education […]

Sen. Todd Gardnehire, R-Chattanooga, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he will not take up any more gun-related bills this legislative session. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Senate Judiciary Committee won’t take up gun bills in wake of church massacre

BY: - March 30, 2023

On the heels of a mass shooting at a Nashville private school, Senate Judiciary Chairman Todd Gardenire said Wednesday gun-related bills won’t be taken up the rest of this legislative session. Gardenhire called Gov. Bill Lee’s words “appropriate” in the wake of the shooting and noted he is “embarrassed” that some lawmakers are trying to […]

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) on Capitol Hill on March 25, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik-Pool/Getty Images)

Alabama senator blocking military promotions over abortion policy says he’ll ‘work it out’

BY: - March 29, 2023

WASHINGTON — Sen. Tommy Tuberville insisted he will smooth things over with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after the top Pentagon official said Tuesday that the Alabama senator’s continued hold on 160 defense nominees will affect U.S. military readiness. “We’re gonna work it out,” Tuberville told States Newsroom on his way to the Senate floor Tuesday […]

In Nashville, Rev. Ingrid McIntyre hugs a mourner during a Monday night vigil for shooting victims at Belmont Methodist Church. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Photo essay: Nashville reels after six killed in Monday school shooting

BY: - March 29, 2023

A beautiful spring morning devolved into chaos Monday, as emergency vehicles sped to the scene of a mass shooting at Covenant School in the Green Hills part of Nashville. Area schools, public and private, went on lockdown and frantic parents tried to reach their children. A shooter killed six at Covenant, including three children attending […]

Shaundelle Brooks, photographed during a House session in March 2023, is the mother of Akilah DaSilva, who was killed in an April 2018 mass shooting at a Nashville Waffle House.

‘We’re going to have to find a way’: Nashvillians reflect on loss

BY: - March 29, 2023

Monday’s shooting at Nashville’s Covenant School, a private elementary school in an affluent neighborhood, was the city’s third mass shooting in six years. A gunman shot seven people at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in September 2017, killing one; and a 29-year-old man with schizophrenia opened fire inside a South Nashville Waffle House in 2018, […]

Election officials on Tuesday detailed to the U.S. Senate Rules Committee how their states countered threats to election workers and worked to combat misinformation and disinformation during the 2022 midterm election. (Photo: John Partipilo)

State election officials at U.S. Senate hearing discuss threats to workers, call for funding

BY: - March 29, 2023

WASHINGTON — Election officials on Tuesday detailed to the U.S. Senate Rules Committee how their states countered threats to election workers and worked to combat misinformation and disinformation during the 2022 midterm election. With the 2024 presidential election closely approaching, Senate Rules Committee Chair Sen. Amy Klobuchar said she was concerned about threats to election […]

Historic Metro Nashville Courthouse. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Black clergy group, council members and others file suit against state for Metro Council cut

BY: - March 28, 2023

Metro Nashville Council’s minority caucus members, the leader of a Black clergy group and several other prominent Nashvillians filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging a Republican-led law to reduce the size of the city’s council from 40 to 20. The suit — filed in Davidson County Chancery Court — is similar to another filed by the […]

Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake addresses members of the media on Monday, March 27, after a school shooting at a private elementary school in Nashville. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Metro Police chief backed secure gun bill before Nashville shooting incident

BY: - March 28, 2023

Even before six people died Monday in a mass shooting at The Covenant School, Metro Police Chief John Drake pushed for passage of legislation designed to stop people from leaving weapons loose in vehicles. Drake sent a letter to Rep. Clay Doggett, chairman of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on March 21 seeking support of […]

A day after a mass shooting at The Covenant School, a woman is overcome with emotion in front of an impromptu memorial. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Updates on Nashville school shooting: police investigation continues as city mourns

BY: - March 28, 2023

A candlelight vigil to honor victims and support the families and survivors of The Covenant School shooting is scheduled for Wednesday evening outside Nashville’s City Hall. First Lady Jill Biden is expected to attend, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at Wednesday’s press briefing, as the president continues to call on Congress to pass an assault […]

From left, Emma Bushong, Sarah Kate Esquivel and Katherine Dix grieve for the victims of the Covenant School shooting during a community vigil at Belmont United Methodist Church Monday. (Photo: John Partipilo)

3 kids, 3 adults killed in shooting at Nashville private elementary school

BY: - March 27, 2023

Three children and three adult staff members are dead after a mass shooting event Monday at The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville’s Green Hills neighborhood. Among the victims are three 9-year-old children: Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney. The adult victims are Cynthia Peak, 61,  Mike Hill, 61, and Katherine Koonce, […]

Nashvilles Lower Broadway's entertainment district. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Hume-Fogg HS parent organization asks GOP lawmakers to kill Tootsie’s-backed beer board bill

BY: - March 27, 2023

Hume-Fogg’s parent-teacher organization called on top state Republican lawmakers to pull legislation exempting Lower Broadway bars from oversight by the Metro Nashville government.  Bob Bernstein, on behalf of the Hume-Fogg PTO, sent a letter the Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, and House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, on Friday, asking the Republican leaders to help […]