by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 31, 2026 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South
Republican leaders in the Tennessee General Assembly are pointing to a newly released 2025 report as evidence they say underscores the need for tougher state-level enforcement on illegal immigration and closer cooperation with federal authorities. The report, released...
by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 31, 2026 | News, Politics, Tennessee, The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, The South
EJ Haust, a self-described political refugee from Minnesota, said U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar’s (D-MN) bid for governor represents no meaningful change in leadership or direction for the state, arguing the longtime Democrat offers “no shift in any kind of values or...
by Zachery Schmidt | Jan 30, 2026 | News, Politics, Tennessee, The South
The state House Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee will hear a bill next week that challenges the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage. State Representative Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) introduced House Bill (HB) 1473 in January to allow private citizens and...
by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 30, 2026 | Culture, News, Tennessee, The South
Hotels throughout the Nashville area are offering discounted rates to local residents as widespread power outages persist and dangerously cold temperatures are expected through the weekend. As of press time on Friday, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp....
by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 30, 2026 | Culture, News, Tennessee, The South
On the sixth straight day of widespread power outages across Music City, more than 73,000 Nashville Electric Service (NES) customers entered Friday without electricity, as the National Weather Service warns of “dangerous cold temperatures” through the weekend. At 8:00...
by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 30, 2026 | Culture, News, Tennessee, The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, The South
On Thursday’s edition of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, host and CEO of The Tennessee Star Michael Patrick Leahy and the outlet’s lead reporter Tom Pappert framed the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern as a tale of two electric utilities, sharply contrasting the response...
by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 29, 2026 | Culture, News, Tennessee, The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, The South
Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, said Nashville Electric Service (NES) was discussing internal diversity initiatives even as tens of thousands of customers remained without power following Winter Storm Fern. On Thursday’s edition of The Michael...
by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 29, 2026 | Education, News, Tennessee, The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, The South
Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, said Metro Nashville Public Schools’ (MNPS) newly announced partnership with Colin Kaepernick’s artificial intelligence (AI) company raises serious questions about the district’s priorities and the quality of education...
by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 29, 2026 | Culture, News, Tennessee, The South, TN LEAD
As Nashville Electric Service (NES) continues to face criticism for its storm preparedness and widespread power outages amid Winter Storm Fern, the utility’s President and CEO Teresa Broyles-Aplin just months ago praised the company’s prioritization of preserving...
by Zachery Schmidt | Jan 28, 2026 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The South
Two Tennessee contractors at a Knoxville construction site face criminal charges for their alleged actions during a federal immigration raid. Authorities charged Tyler Shane Wells, 33, and Alexander Bonilla-Servin, 18, last week with harboring illegal immigrants for...
by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 28, 2026 | News, Politics, Tennessee, The South, TN LEAD
President Donald Trump lauded Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on Wednesday as an “incredible” and “very special” leader, saying Tennessee is “lucky” to have her as she runs for governor. During his remarks at the White House on Trump Accounts,...
by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 28, 2026 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, The South
As federal immigration agents face growing resistance in Minnesota, legal analyst Mark Pulliam says the most powerful force behind that opposition is the national press, which he argues is distorting facts and shaping public opinion to undermine enforcement of...
by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 27, 2026 | Culture, News, Tennessee, The South
State officials have since confirmed five weather-related deaths across Tennessee following the powerful winter storm that moved into the state late last week, according to the Tennessee Department of Health and state emergency officials. As of Monday evening, the...
by Zachery Schmidt | Jan 27, 2026 | Economy, News, Tennessee, The South
Centrus, a nuclear energy company, announced last week that it will expand its operations in Tennessee. The nuclear company will be transitioning its Oak Ridge facility to a high-rate manufacturing plant, according to a state government press release. Centrus said it...
by Zachery Schmidt | Jan 26, 2026 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South
A new bill proposal would stop Tennesseans from paying sales taxes on fruits and vegetables. State Representative Mike Sparks (R-Smyrna) introduced House Bill (HB) 2086 last week, which would prevent people from paying the state’s 4 percent sales tax on these items....
by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 26, 2026 | Economy, News, State News, The South, Virginia
Virginia hospitals provided $4.5 billion in community benefits during fiscal year 2024, according to the 2026 Community Benefit Report released by the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA). The report, released Monday, details hospital contributions...
by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 25, 2026 | News, Policy, State News, The South, Virginia
John and Anne Fredericks, owners of the John Fredericks Media Network, the largest independently owned news-talk-sports radio network in America, have endorsed new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidance clarifying broadcasters’ responsibilities under federal...
by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 23, 2026 | Elections, News, Tennessee, The South
Tennessee House Majority Whip Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville) filed a bill on Thursday that would prohibit anyone who holds dual citizenship or is not a natural-born U.S. citizen from qualifying as a candidate in federal primary elections. The bill, filed as House...
by Zachery Schmidt | Jan 23, 2026 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), along with other senators, introduced a bill that would deport child care providers who are non-citizens who commit fraud. Besides deportation, the Stop Fraud by Strengthening Oversight and More Accountability for Lying and Illegal...
by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 23, 2026 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The South
A doctor who works for the Department of Anesthesiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has been arrested and charged with child sexual exploitation charges, arrest records provided by the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office show. Dr. Kevin J. Preece was...
