Tag: Davidson County

Nashville Council Members Push Back Against Mayor’s Closed-Door $2.1B Stadium Deal

The Center Square

Opposition to a deal for the public portion of financing of a new $2.1 billion Tennessee Titans stadium is building amongst Nashville council members since the deal was first announced at a press conference by the mayor’s office and then a non-binding term sheet was presented to the city’s sports authority and East Bank Stadium Committee.

The deal includes a $500 million payment from the state of Tennessee, $760 million in bonds from the city’s sports authority and an undetermined amount of future tax dollars that will go toward stadium maintenance, upkeep and East Bank infrastructure. The mayor’s office hired private consultants, New York-based Inner Circle Sports, to help broker its deal.

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Americans for Prosperity Calls Out Oracle for Reported Layoffs While Receiving Taxpayer Money

Kaitlin Housler

Following a report that tech company Oracle has begun laying off workers from its Nashville location, the libertarian conservative political advocacy group Americans for Prosperity is calling on state and local leaders to scrutinize the company especially after it received “nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in taxpayer money.”

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J.C. Bowman of Professional Educators of Tennessee Reviews NAEP Scores, Down Across the State

Julie Carr

Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Professional Educators of Tennessee’s head, JC Bowman in studio to take a closer look at Tennessee’s NAEP scores which reveal Davidson, Shelby, and Madison County public schools failing.

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‘Dad Gone Wild’ Blogger TC Weber: Education Workers’ Rewards Get Bigger ‘The Further Away You Move from Kids’

Julie Carr

Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Dad Gone Wild blogger, TC Weber in studio to discuss his journey to Nashville and his perspective on Metro Nashville Public Schools.

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Governor Lee Touts Education Savings Account Program

Peter D'Abrosca

Tennessee’s Governor on Wednesday touted the state’s new Education Savings Account (ESA) program. 

“When TN families can choose the right school for their child, that student has an even greater shot at success in life,” said Gov. Bill Lee (R) on Twitter. “That’s what our Education Savings Account program is all about. Nearly 1,000 families have applied. 350+ are already approved. And we’re just getting started.”

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Tennessee SBA Director LaTanya Channel Tapped by Mayor Cooper to Run Newly-Renamed Office of Economic Growth and Small Business Development

Kaitlyn Osteen

Mayor John Cooper announced that effective October 3, LaTanya Channel will serve as director of the refocused Mayor’s Office of Economic Growth and Small Business Development, previously known as the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Community Development.

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All-Star Panelist Clint Brewer Notes Strong Early Voting and Speculates on TN-5 Race by County

Julie Carr

Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Clint Brewer in studio to discuss the TN5 congressional race and money spent in the Williamson County senate race by Gary Humble and incumbent Jack Johnson.

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Chief of Police Announces Enhanced Security Plans for Metro Nashville Schools

Kaitlin Housler

Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake announced Tuesday that police coverage at Metro Schools for the upcoming school year will be the highest ever, and will include elementary, middle and high school campuses.

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TechnologyAdvice, LLC Announces $2.7 Million Investment in Nashville to Expand Headquarters

Kaitlin Housler

TechnologyAdvice, LLC officials announced this week that the company would invest $2.7 million to expand its headquarters and other back-office functions in Nashville, Tennessee.

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Davidson County General Sessions Judge GOP Candidate Brian Horowitz: ‘I Want to Help the System Become More Equitable and to Treat Everybody Fairly’

Julie Carr

Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Davidson County General Sessions Judge GOP Candidate Brian Horowitz in studio to describe the position and his main goal as judge if elected.

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CDC Says More than 20 Tennessee Counties Should Return to Wearing Masks

Peter D'Abrosca

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued nationwide guidance on mask wearing as community COVID-19 spread levels increase, and included seven Tennessee counties in its assessment. 

“COVID-19 Community Levels are a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data,” according to the CDC. “Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area.”

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South Central GOP Vice Chair Raphaela Keohane Describes Why Charter Amendment 1 Is Bad for Registered Davidson County Voters

Julie Carr

Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed grassroots activist and Vice Chair of the South central region of Davidson County Republican chapter Raphaela Keohane in the studio to talk about how bad the Amendment One initiative is for registered voters in the county.

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Kroger Expected to Bring 180 Jobs to Nashville with New ‘Spoke’ Facility

Kaitlin Housler

Kroger Fulfillment Network, LLC officials announced Thursday that Kroger Co. will offer more Americans product delivery through the addition of a “spoke” facility in Nashville. The project is expected to bring 180 new jobs to Davidson County.

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Attorney on Proposed Charter Amendment 1: Forever Eliminates Citizens’ Ability to Amend the Metro Charter for Any Reason

Laura Baigert

The attorney behind 4GoodGovernment and its Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act, Jim Roberts, told The Tennessee Star that the proposed Amendment 1 to the Charter of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County forever eliminates citizens’ ability to amend the charter for any reason.

Roberts is well-versed on the topic of Metro charter amendments, having successfully navigated the petition process for the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act (NTPA) twice, but a lawsuit by Metro government kept it from being put on the ballot.

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Republican School Board Candidate for Davidson County D-4 Kelli Phillips on Early Voting, General Elections, and Her Opponent

Julie Carr

Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed District 4 School Board Candidate Kelli Phillips in-studio to talk about door knocking, early voting, the upcoming August 4th general elections, and issue with her opponent.

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Toast, Inc. Announces New Configuration Facility in Antioch

Kaitlin Housler

Toast, Inc. officials announced Thursday that the company will establish its new configuration facility in Davidson County, selecting Antioch as the first location. The company expects to create more than 100 new jobs over the next five years in the greater Nashville region.

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Metro Nashville Police Recover Massive Load of Narcotics, including 18,000 Fentanyl Pills, from Donelson Apartment

Kaitlin Housler

Metro Nashville Police recovered a large haul of illegal drugs and a loaded weapon Thursday evening at a Donelson apartment while following up on a routine service call.

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Tennessee House GOP Candidate Michelle Foreman: ‘There Is No Reason in the World That We Need to Have the Federal Government Involved in Education’

Julie Carr

Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed GOP Candidate for Tennessee’s 59th Congressional District, Michelle Foreman in-studio to answer questions on policy.

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Nashville Sees 15 Percent Increase in Overdose Deaths in 2021

Peter D'Abrosca
Fentanyl

According to recently-released city data from the Overdose Response Program, Nashville saw a massive increase in drug overdose rate in 2021. 

“In 2021, there were 712 suspected drug overdose deaths, representing a 15% increase compared to 2020, where 621 overdose deaths were reported,” according to the report.

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GOP Judicial Candidate Brian Horowitz: ‘I Would Love to See More Republican Candidates Stick Their Neck Out There and Try to Make Nashville a Better Place’

Julie Carr

Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed GOP Judicial Candidate for Davidson County Division Nine, Brian Horowitz in studio to discuss why he’s the preferred candidate over the incumbent and what it will take to win the race.

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Tennessee 5th Congressional District Candidate Jeff Beierlein Plays Taking the 5th

Julie Carr

Live from Music Row Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed Jeff Bereilein, GOP candidate for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District in studio to play Taking the Fifth.

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All-Star Panelist Clint Brewer Discusses Tennessee State House and Senate Redistricting Issues

Julie Carr
Tennessee State flag

Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Clint Brewer in-studio to discuss the issue of redistricting in the Tennessee State House and Senate.

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Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles Convinced That the 5th Congressional District Can Find a GOP Tennessean Candidate Out of 760,000 Residents

Julie Carr
Andy Ogles

Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles in studio to examine the growing field of GOP candidates for Tennessee’s Fifth Congressional District.

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Iron Galaxy Studios, LLC Locating to Nashville to Build New Video Game Development Studio

Kaitlin Housler

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Commissioner Bob Rolfe announced Wednesday that Iron Galaxy Studios, LLC will invest $950,000 to establish a new video game development studio in Nashville. As part of the company’s expansion to Davidson County, Iron Galaxy will create 108 new tech jobs over the next five years, according to a press release by TNECD.

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All-Star Panelist Clint Brewer Comments on the Tennessee Democrats’ Redistricting Lawsuit

Julie Carr

Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Public Affairs Specialist and all-star panelist Clint Brewer in studio to weigh in on recent Democratic lawsuit filed in response to Middle Tennessee’s redistricting.

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Governor Lee, Commissioner Rolfe Announce Chick-fil-A Supply Distribution Center Coming to Davidson County

Kaitlin Housler

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Commissioner Bob Rolfe announced Thursday that Chick-fil-A Supply® selected Antioch as the location for its fourth U.S. distribution center in the state. The facility will begin operations later this year, according to a press release by TNECD.

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All Star Panelist Clint Brewer Discusses the Fifth Congressional District’s Slew of GOP Candidates

Julie Carr

Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Clint Brewer in studio to comment upon the recent nod to Nashville transplant Morgan Ortegas for Tennessee’s Fifth Congressional District and those confirmed and considering a run.

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Tennessee Democratic Party Threatens Lawsuit over Proposed Congressional Map

Cooper Moran

The Tennessee Democratic Party (TNDP) on Wednesday threatened a lawsuit against proposed congressional maps, if they are fully enacted.

The maps, unveiled by the the House Redistricting Committee, would split Davidson County into three different districts, likely eliminating Representative Jim Cooper (D-TN-05).

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Metro Nashville Public Schools Says They Will Not Close Schools Amidst COVID-19 Spike

Aaron Gulbransen

Metro Nashville Public Schools said on Monday that shutting down in-person learning and switching the district to remote learning is “not an option”. 

An email sent out to staff by MNPS stated, “So, to be clear, switching the district to remote learning during this wave is not an option, and closing schools is not an option without extending the school year into the summer”. This is in compliance with current state guidelines, individual classrooms or schools may temporarily switch to remote learning for up to seven days, school districts are not allowed to. The need must also be documented.

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Nashville City Council Continues to Debate Ending Emissions Testing While Five Counties Are Set to End the Program Next Month

Kaitlin Housler

During a Monday joint meeting of the Budget and Finance Committee and the Health and Safety Committee of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, officials from the Metro Public Health Department recommended council members end the current vehicle emissions testing program and replace it with a $4 fee for each vehicle registration. The $4 fee proposal would go toward air pollution mitigation efforts.

The Tennessee Star reported the resolution filed by Metro Council Member Kevin Rhoten (District 14), RS2021-1251, was filed November 9th. According to the legislation details, “this resolution would repeal Resolution No. RS2018-1171, which authorized the continuation of the Metropolitan Government’s vehicle inspection and maintenance program, also called the emissions testing program.”

The resolution to end emissions testing in Nashville will be further discussed, and most likely voted on, at the council’s next meeting in the new year on January 4th, 2022.

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Nashville Indoor Mask Mandate Deferred Indefinitely

Kaitlin Housler

On Tuesday night, Metro Nashville City Council members’ attempt to impose an indoor mask mandate was indefinitely deferred. Councilmember Joy Styles, chief sponsor of bill BL2021-872, moved to indefinitely defer the legislation that would have imposed a mask mandate in all indoor spaces in Nashville.

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Metro Nashville City Council Forms COVID-19 Financial Oversight Committee to Help Decide $260 Million in Relief Funds

Kaitlin Housler

The Metro Nashville government has formed a COVID-19 Financial Oversight Committee in order to help decide where COVID relief funds are spent. Nashville has received $260 million in American Rescue Plan funding that is supposed to be used to help with COVID response, mitigation, and prevention.

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Council Member-At-Large Steve Glover on Unintended Consequences of Mask Mandate Message, Don’t Visit Nashville

Julie Carr
Steve Glover

Friday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Metro City Council Member-At-Large, Steve Glover to the newsmakers line to discuss the unintended consequences of a never-ending mask mandate in Davidson County.

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Davidson County Council Endorses Indoor Mask Mandate

Bradley Vasoli

The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee voted on Tuesday evening to urge the Metropolitan Public Health Department’s (MPHD) Chief Medical Director Gill Wright to reinstate a citywide mask mandate for public indoor spaces.

Councilpersons Joy Styles (District 32), Burkley Allen (At-Large), Jennifer Gamble (District 3), Sharon Hurt (At-Large) and Sandra Sepulveda (District 30) sponsored the resolution, which passed with 21 councilpersons in favor, nine opposed and five abstaining.

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Dr. Carol Swain: ‘The National Agenda Is to Keep Everyone in Masks to Strike Fear in the Hearts of People and Manipulate the Population’

Julie Carr

host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist, Dr. Carol Swain, in studio to advise of her upcoming in-store appearance at Puffy Muffin where she will be signing her new book Black Eye for America this Saturday, and governor Lee’s lack of Republican leadership.

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Precedent Matters: Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles Questions the Slippery Slope of Bill Lee’s Executive Order Regarding Masks in School

Julie Carr

Tuesday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles in studio to discuss the lack of clarity in Bill Lee’s executive order for K12 mask mandates.

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Nashville Area’s Population Approaches Two Million People

The Center Square

The Nashville metropolitan area was the 20th-fastest growing statistical area in the country since 2010, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

With a growth rate of 20.9% from 2010 to 2020, the Nashville area now is the 36th-largest metropolitan area in the country with nearly 2 million residents. The census numbers showed the metro Nashville population increased by 343,319 people to 1,989,519.

Tennessee’s population grew by 8.9% between 2010 and 2020; lower than the 11.5% and 16.7% increases during the previous two census counts. Four of the past six census counts have shown double-digit increases in Tennessee’s population growth.

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Leahy and Huey on Unscientific Mask Mandates for Elementary Students, Suggest Recall for School Board Members

Julie Carr

Thursday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed California refugee Craig Huey in studio to examine the actions of Director of Schools Jason Golden and Dr. Adrienne Battle’s stupid mask mandates for elementary school students.

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Tennessee House Speaker Sexton on Letter to Governor Lee Asking for Special Session Over Mask Mandates and Vaccine Passports

Julie Carr
Speaker Cameron Sexton

Thursday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed Speaker Cameron Sexton to the newsmakers line to weigh in on his current letter to Governor Bill Lee requesting a special session to debate COVID mandates in the state.

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‘Save Nashville Now’ Files Suit Against Davidson County Election Commission over Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act

Chris Butler

Members of a group who oppose the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act announced this week they have filed suit against the Davidson County Election Commission. “Save Nashville Now” members announced the lawsuit against the Davidson County Election Commission in a newsletter to their supporters Tuesday.

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