News
Nashville COVID chief says ‘data and science matter’
A Monday story from NBC that reported Nashville is experiencing a high spike in COVID-19 cases counted data from a Trousdale County prison outbreak took local criticism. Written by political reporter Jonathan Allen and reporters Phil McCausland and Cyrus Farivar, the story cited a May 7 report by the White House pandemic task force. Dr. […]
Will Congress send aid to ailing local news outlets?
WASHINGTON — Politicians are banding together to try to rescue local news media from economic collapse during the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced that Democratic leaders in Congress are pushing to fix a small business lending program so that it applies to local news publishers and broadcasters affiliated with larger […]
Poor People’s Campaign launches stay-at-home campaign
The Poor People’s Campaign, which has a Tennessee chapter, today launched a nonviolent protest to promote the plight of essential and low-income workers as states begin reopening the economy. Today’s virtual media conference was led by the Rev. William Barber II and featured workers speaking of having inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE.) A Dallas retail […]
Gov. Lee: TN should focus CARES funds on unemployment insurance, helping businesses
Gov. Bill Lee laid out his priorities on Tuesday for how Tennessee should spend $2.4 billion in federal CARES Act stimulus funds, advocating for investment in the state’s unemployment insurance program and aid to businesses that lost money because of his stay-at-home order in April. Tennessee, like all states, has been navigating how to spend […]
Fauci: UT students shouldn’t expect COVID-19 vaccine before fall term
WASHINGTON — Students preparing to head to the University of Tennessee this fall shouldn’t expect to get a COVID-19 vaccine before then, a top public health official told Congress on Tuesday. Tennessee Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander, chairman of the U.S. Senate committee that oversees health and education, asked top Trump administration health officials at a […]
As Nashville reopens, some business owners play it safe
As Nashville begins Phase One of reopening, the once vibrant Nashville dining and entertainment scene is gradually reopening, with many establishments forgoing even to-go orders and remaining closed. Brenda Sanderson, owner of several downtown businesses such as Legends Corner and Second Fiddle, remains skeptical about opening her honky-tonk bars without Nashville’s iconic music scene. “It’s […]
Pandemic pushes bill to legalize home recording studios
Just a few weeks before thousands of Davidson County residents were forced to work from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Metro Council bill to legalize home-based businesses advanced to the brink of passing. The legislation, sponsored by Councilman Dave Rosenberg, has stalled since then but is scheduled to be considered for public hearing […]
Release of health data to law enforcement raises privacy concerns
The release of private health information of Tennesseans who have tested positive for COVID-19 to law enforcement by Gov. Bill Lee’s administration is facing pushback from lawmakers, advocates for minority communities and at least one police force that originally agreed to get the information. The Tennessee Black Caucus on Saturday called on Lee to end […]
Update: DNC Member Owen: “I didn’t give money to McConnell”
On Wednesday, the Tennessee Lookout reported Bill Owen, a former state senator from Knoxville and one of four Tennessee members on the Democratic National Committee, survived a challenge from party officials that would have removed him from the DNC. Among the charges levied against him were his numerous contributions to Republican elected officials. Owen has […]
North Nashville schools would be consolidated under new proposal
The Nashville school board will consider a plan at its Tuesday meeting to close several schools in the Pearl-Cohn and Whites Creek cluster as part of a multi-year consolidation proposal by new Director Adrienne Battle. The board isn’t likely to vote at the May 12 meeting on the consolidation plan called Metro Schools ReimaginED. In […]
UPDATE: List of Law Enforcement Agencies with MOUs
The Tennessee Department of Health has provided a list of law enforcement agencies in the state that have entered into memorandums of understanding with the state to accept personal data about COVID-19 patients in their jurisdictions. As the Tennessee Lookout reported earlier, Gov. Bill Lee requested the Department of Health to provide daily updates to […]
GOP Senate hopeful serves with his donors on White House panel
WASHINGTON — Tennessee Senate candidate Bill Hagerty is serving on a White House economic advisory panel alongside several of his highest-profile campaign donors. Hagerty — who served as President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Japan until last July — was named by the president in April as a “thought leader” on the panel aimed at reopening […]