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...

‘Helping NES Hide’: Pappert Blasts Utility’s Growing PR Machine

by Kaitlin Housler | Feb 12, 2026 | Culture, News, Tennessee, The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, The South

Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, is questioning Nashville Electric Service’s (NES) decision to retain multiple communications vendors amid mounting scrutiny over its response to Winter Storm Fern. During a Wednesday appearance on The Michael Patrick...

Michael Patrick Leahy Calls for the Firing of Nashville Electric Service CEO

by Kaitlin Housler | Feb 5, 2026 | News, Politics, Tennessee, The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, The South, TN LEAD

The Tennessee Star’s CEO and Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy and Lead Reporter Tom Pappert on Wednesday sharply criticized Nashville Electric Service (NES) leadership, calling for the immediate firing of CEO Teresa Broyles-Aplin and resignations from the...

TDCI Commissioner, Attorney General Promise Swift Action Against Unfair Insurance Practices After Winter Storm

by Kaitlin Housler | Feb 4, 2026 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The South

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) Commissioner Carter Lawrence (pictured above, left) and Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti (pictured above, right) said that their offices are ready to work together to ensure insurance companies fulfill...

Elon Musk’s xAI Donates 500 Generators to Assist with Ongoing Outages in Nashville

by Kaitlin Housler | Feb 2, 2026 | Culture, News, Tennessee, The South

Elon Musk, CEO of the artificial intelligence company xAI and electric vehicle company Tesla, has donated 500 generators to the Nashville area as tens of thousands of households remain without power following last week’s Winter Storm Fern. The generator donations are...

Calls Grow for Tennessee General Assembly to Take Over NES Board Amid Winter Storm Outage Crisis

by Kaitlin Housler | Feb 2, 2026 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South, TN LEAD

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) Tennessee Deputy Director Michael Lotfi has suggested Republican leaders in the Tennessee General Assembly “take over” the Nashville Electric Service (NES) Board of Directors amid the utility’s ongoing power outage crisis following...

Attorney General Skrmetti: Winter Storm Shows Why Governor Must Retain Authority to Deploy National Guard

by Kaitlin Housler | Feb 1, 2026 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The South

As Tennessee National Guard troops continue assisting communities in the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti says the emergency effort demonstrates why the governor’s authority to deploy the Guard is critical as the state appeals a court...

Woke NES CEO on Tree Trimming: ‘I Don’t Want Us Out Destroying the Canopy’

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...