April 19 Declared Z. Alexander Looby Day in Nashville
April 19 is now Z. Alexander Looby Day in Nashville, honoring the prominent attorney and civil rights leader who was targeted in a 1960 bombing, which led to a silent march of…
April 20: Vanderbilt Lawsuit; Gen. Dan Craine Appearance
Three female ex-Vanderbilt employees filed a lawsuit against the university alleging retaliation after reporting sexual harassment from their department's director. Gen. Dan…
Jordan Ritter Conn: Writer and Author, ‘American Men’
In his new book, writer Jordan Ritter Conn delves into the lives of four men, from very different backgrounds, living in disparate parts of the country. All of them are reckoning,…
Tennessee to Expand Voucher Program to 35,000 Students Next Year
Tennessee has passed a bill to fund 35,000 vouchers for the 2026-27 academic year, which will direct about $260 million in public funds to private schools. Democrats and some…
April 16: School Vouchers Vote Delayed; Grocery Tax Reduction Option
The Tennessee State Senate has approved a bill that allows local governments to reduce their sales tax on food and groceries. The Senate also delayed a vote on an expansion to…
Early Voting Begins for May 5 Davidson County Primary
Early voting for the May 5 county primary elections begins on April 15, with contested races for judgeships, county clerk, circuit court clerk, and two seats on the Metro…
Report: NES Was Not Prepared for Historic Winter Storm That Left Nashville in the Dark
The Nashville Electric Service was unprepared in several key areas for January's historic winter storm, which left over 230,000 customers without power and resulted in five…
Pam Murray, Candidate for Davidson County Clerk
Davidson County Clerk candidate Pam Murray answers questions about her qualifications for the job and her her desire to serve in that role. The post Pam Murray, Candidate for…
Q&A With the Candidates for Davidson County Clerk in May Primary
Three Democrats, Freda Player, Sharon Hurt, and Pam Murray, are running to succeed retiring Davidson County Clerk Brenda Wynn. All three are Democrats, and -- with no Republicans…
Live Nation, Ticketmaster Operate as a Monopoly, a Federal Jury Says
A jury in federal court determined that Live Nation and Ticketmaster had a harmful monopoly over big concert venues, and the judge will decide the appropriate remedies, with a…
Freda Player, Candidate for Davidson County Clerk
Davidson County Clerk candidate Freda Player answers questions about her qualifications for the job and her her desire to serve in that role. The post Freda Player, Candidate for…
Sharon Hurt, Candidate for Davidson County Clerk
Davidson County Clerk candidate Sharon Hurt answers questions about her qualifications for the job and her her desire to serve in that role. The post Sharon Hurt, Candidate for…
‘The People’s Court:’ In Nashville’s Family Court, Three Candidates Attempt to Separate Themselves
Davidson County's Third and Fourth Circuit Courts, also known as "family court", hear over 2,000 divorce cases and other domestic matters each year. Three candidates - Bethany…
House Narrowly Votes to Expand Vouchers to 35,000 Tennessee Students
The Tennessee House passed a bill to nearly double the state's Education Freedom Scholarship program to 35,000 seats and added an amendment requiring public schools to track the…
Nashville Downtown Partnership Replacing Security Contract, Submitting Budget
The Nashville Downtown Partnership (NDP) is submitting a budget to the Metro Council for approval, which includes a contract with Civicity to replace the controversial security…
April 15: IRS Extension for Davidson County; Lawsuit Involving Nashville Predators Owners
Residents and businesses in 23 Tennessee counties, including Davidson, have until May 22 to file their 2025 tax returns and scheduled payments due to federal disaster relief for…
Q&A With the Candidates for Metro Nashville Public School Board Elections
Four of nine seats on the Metro Nashville Public Schools board are up for election this year, with seven candidates on the ballot. Only two of the four races are contested. The…
Erin O’Hara Block, Candidate for Metro Nashville Public Schools Board, District 8
Erin O'Hara Block is an education policy consultant and MNPS school board member running for re-election. She touts her background in education policy and research, and a…
Cheryl Mayes, Candidate for Metro Nashville Public Schools Board, District 6
Cheryl D. Mayes is a school board member with an MBA in Organizational Leadership and a BS in Psychology. She says she is running for the school board because she is committed to…
Rachael Anne Elrod, Candidate for Metro Nashville Public Schools Board, District 2
Rachael Anne Elrod is a school board candidate with a background in education and public service. She says she is committed to providing high-quality education to all students,…
Jennifer Bell, Candidate for Metro Nashville Public Schools Board, District 4
Jennifer Bell, a Nashville native and former teacher, is running for school board. Her goal is for every student to access to a high-quality education. She touts her experience…
Mary Bernice Polk, Candidate for Metro Nashville Public Schools Board, District 6
Mary Bernice Polk, a retired school bus driver and grandmother, is running for school board. She says she can be a voice for students and staff, and to ensure that budgets are…
Fran Bush, Candidate for Metro Nashville Public Schools Board, District 6
Fran Bush, a Nashville native and owner of three childcare facilities, is running for school board in District 6. Her focus is to provide expertise, support, and informed…
ICE’s Indiscriminate Detentions Are Ripping Tennessee Parents Away from Their Children
A Nashville woman has been transporting children out of the US to reunite them with their deported parents. Many other families remain separated due to the Trump administration's…
April 9: Tennessee Supreme Court Scam Warning; Teacher Training
The Tennessee Supreme Court has warned Tennesseans of a phishing scam. The Tennessee General Assembly is considering legislation to support teacher residency programs, and Mayor…
Poll From Pro-Racetrack Nashville Labor Union Claims Support for Renovations, Opposition to Demolition
With Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s plans for the Fairgrounds Speedway still uncertain, and a possible ballot referendum in the works that could lead to the end of auto racing at the…
Teacher Pay, Student Supports Among Priorities as MNPS Board Prepares to Vote on Budget Proposal
The Metro Nashville Public Schools budget proposal for the coming fiscal year includes increased funding for operations, salaries, and benefits, as well as investments in academic…
At MNPS Forum, Candidates for School Board Stake Their Positions on Safety, Charters and More
The seven candidates for the upcoming Metro Nashville Public Schools board primary discussed school safety, charter schools, immigrant students, and more at a forum hosted by…
Republican Bill Targeting DAs in Nashville and Memphis Set for House Vote
Republicans in the state legislature are pushing forward with legislation that would allow the Tennessee Attorney General to audit the charging decisions of local District…
On the Ballot for Nashville Criminal Court Judge, Three Distinct Choices Make Their Case
The Davidson County judicial primary elections feature three Democratic candidates for the Criminal Court, Division III seat, each with unique backgrounds and perspectives on the…
LISTEN: The Latest From Metro Council and the East Bank, Plus Shadow Politics
Banner reporters Steven Hale and Stephen Elliott sit down to talk about Tuesday’s Metro Council meeting. Stephen explains the council’s debates about nominees to boards and…
Announcing Press Forward Middle Tennessee and the First Local News Day
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has launched a local chapter of Press Forward, a national fund to support local news efforts. The announcement comes on the first…
In General Sessions Race, Jodie Bell Offers Experience Against Michael Robinson’s Family History
Judge Jodie Bell, the incumbent in the race for General Sessions Judge, is a longtime defense attorney and former public defender who has handled over 1,000 cases in General…
April 13: Marsha Blackburn Fundraising Advantage; Remembering Lee Estes
Sen. Marsha Blackburn raised over $1.2 million for her gubernatorial campaign in the first quarter of the year, while Rep. John Rose raised just shy of $150,000/ Record high…
Adam Dread: Attorney, Comedian and Former Metro Councilmember
Adam Dread didn’t mean to become an attorney. For a time, he tried his hand at stand-up comedy, touring the country one club at a time. But he studied law, he says, to become a…
April 8: Kilmar Abrego Garcia Filings; Caroline Eller Promoted; Nashville Predators TV Deal
Judge Waverly Crenshaw is set to rule on a case involving Kilmar Abrego García, who is arguing that his prosecution for human smuggling is vindictive. The Nashville Predators have…
April 14: Tennessee Bishops Support Pope Leo XIV; Natchez Trace Parkway Closure
Tennessee's Catholic bishops express support for Pope Leo XIV. The ACLU seeks DNA testing in a death penalty case. Installation of a safety barrier will shut down the Natchez…
How to Vote in Tennessee’s Elections
Voters in Tennessee can register online or by mail, and can vote absentee if they meet certain conditions, while a photo ID is required to vote in person or by mail. The post How…
April 10: Tennessee Unemployment Rate; a Gun Control Bill and Gun Violence Stats
Williamson County had the lowest unemployment rate in Tennessee in January. A new professional women's basketball franchise will begin play in Nashville in 2027, the Tennessee…
April 17: Tennessee Performing Arts Center Renderings; Gov. Bill Lee’s Final Budget
The Tennessee Performing Arts Center released renderings of its proposed design for a new home on the East Bank, the state's $58 billion annual budget passed both chambers of the…
Rise in Gas Prices Strains Nashville Food Trucks, Nonprofits who Rely on Transport to Feed Community
Gas prices in Nashville have risen significantly due to the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran, impacting drivers, small businesses, and nonprofits. A new two-week ceasefire may help…