Metro Planning Commission Pushes Off Data Center Zoning Regulations into the Future

by Zachery Schmidt | Jun 12, 2026 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South

The Metropolitan Planning Commission decided to put off a decision on regulating data centers in Davidson County. The planning commission will consider a proposed ordinance on June 25th that will provide a “comprehensive regulatory framework for data centers.” The...

ICE Arrests Honduran National Following Release from Prison for 2022 Nashville Deadly Wrong-Way Crash

by Kaitlin Housler | May 27, 2026 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The South

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have arrested a Honduran national convicted in a 2022 deadly wrong-way crash that killed a Nashville musician following his recent release from state prison in West Tennessee, the agency announced Wednesday. ICE...

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell to Run for Reelection

by Kaitlin Housler | May 5, 2026 | Elections, News, Tennessee, The South

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell confirmed this week to multiple outlets that he will seek reelection in 2027 to “strengthen the foundation” of his administration’s policies. O’Connell, elected in 2023, said his decision to run again is driven largely by...

Davidson and Rutherford Counties See Largest Population Increase in Tennessee

by Zachery Schmidt | Mar 31, 2026 | Economy, News, Tennessee, The South

Davidson County saw its population increase the most of any county in Tennessee last year, according to the University of Tennessee-Knoxville (UTK)’s Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research. Tennessee’s second most populous county gained 9,281 residents from...

‘Incredibly Expensive’: Popular Nashville Restaurant Featured on Netflix Show Closing Due to Property Tax Spike

by Kaitlin Housler | Mar 12, 2026 | Economy, News, Tennessee, The South

Pelican & Pig, a Nashville restaurant featured on the hit Netflix show Somebody Feed Phil, announced Tuesday it will be closing its doors after seven years in Music City after the business saw a sharp increase in its property taxes. The restaurant said its final...

Starbucks Expanding to Tennessee as Seattle Mayor Tells Residents Not to Buy the Coffee

by Kaitlin Housler | Mar 5, 2026 | Economy, News, Tennessee, The South

Starbucks announced plans this week to open a new corporate operations office in Davidson County later this year and is reportedly offering dozens of its Seattle-based employees an opportunity to relocate to Tennessee as part of its expansion to the state. The...

‘Zero Empathy’: Pappert Blasts O’Connell as Downtown Businesses Face Crushing Tax Hikes

by Kaitlin Housler | Feb 21, 2026 | News, Politics, Tennessee, The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, The South

Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, blasted Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s recent response to outrage over skyrocketing property taxes on Lower Broadway, saying the mayor’s remarks “show zero empathy” and amounted to telling a struggling business...

Davidson County Poll: Voters Fault NES for Storm Outages, Mayor O’Connell Maintains Majority Approval

by Kaitlin Housler | Feb 13, 2026 | News, Politics, Tennessee, The South, TN LEAD

Baker Group Strategies released a new poll on Friday, surveying voter attitudes in Davidson County, with a particular focus on Nashville Electric Service’s (NES) response to Winter Storm Fern and Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s job approval. The survey of 418 likely...

Report: Over 11,000 Suspected Illegals Charged with Crimes in Tennessee Last Year

by Zachery Schmidt | Feb 2, 2026 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The South

Tennessee had 11,344 reports of suspected illegal immigrants who were charged or convicted of a crime in 2025, according to a new report. The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference (TDAGC) released a report last week, examining crimes committed by potential...

Metro Councilwoman Joy Styles Launches Bid for Nashville Mayor, Slams O’Connell for ‘Ineffective Leadership’

by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 21, 2026 | Elections, News, Tennessee, The South

Metro Nashville Council Member Joy Styles (District 32) announced her candidacy for mayor on Tuesday, drawing a sharp contrast with incumbent Mayor Freddie O’Connell, whom she criticized for what she described as an “ineffective” leader who maintains an...