Nashville Archives - Tennessee Star

Nashville Mayor Reveals Plan to Raise Property Taxes Amid Tornado Devastation and Coronavirus Pandemic

April 1, 2020March 31, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced during his virtual State of the Metro address Tuesday that he plans to “sharply increase” the city’s property tax rate.

Cooper said the Nashville Finance Department predicts that revenue from sales taxes and other activities will be down between $200 and $300 million because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Because of the unusual circumstances, Cooper didn’t have a budget proposal to discuss but said the budget ordinance he plans to present to the Metro Council in April will “sharply” increase the city’s property tax rate. Cooper said the final rate will still be lower than other cities throughout Tennessee.

Tennessee Medical Association Asks All Mayors to Issue Shelter in Place Orders

March 30, 2020March 29, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

The Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) sent a letter to every mayor in the state Friday asking them to request authority from Gov. Bill Lee to issue shelter-in-place orders for their communities.

Lee has thus far declined to issue a statewide shelter-in-place order, which prompted more than 2,000 health care workers to sign a petition asking him to change course, The Tennessee Star reported. As of Sunday, 26 states had issued stay-at-home orders, including the neighboring states of North Carolina and Kentucky.

Tennessee Doctors Ask Gov. Lee to Issue Shelter in Place Order

March 28, 2020March 27, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

At least 2,000 health care workers have signed a petition asking Gov. Bill Lee to issue a statewide shelter-in-place order to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

The Tennessee Star Report: Caller and Nashville Dentist Billy Tells Leahy That This is Way Past the ‘Rainy Day Fund’ Situation for Small Businesses in Tennessee

March 26, 2020March 25, 2020 Julie Carr

On Wednesday’s 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 was joined on the line by a caller and Nashville Dentist named Billy.

Tennessee Democrats Urge Gov. Lee to Issue Statewide Shelter in Place Order

March 25, 2020March 24, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Democrats in the Tennessee Senate asked Gov. Bill Lee to issue a statewide shelter-in-place order Monday to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Governor Bill Lee Orders Bars And Restaurants to Close

March 22, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued an executive action Sunday ordering the closure of bars, restaurants, and other places of public accommodation in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created both an economic and a health crisis and our response must continue to address both aspects,” Lee said in a statement. “Our goal is to keep the public, especially vulnerable populations, safe while doing everything possible to keep Tennesseans in a financially stable position.”

Nashville Mayor Issues ‘Safer at Home’ Order

March 22, 2020March 22, 2020 Admin

Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced a sweeping “Safer at Home” order Sunday aimed at limiting community spread of COVID-19 in Davidson County.

The order requires all non-essential businesses to shut, beginning on Monday, March 23, and for residents to remain in their homes for all but the most necessary activities for the next two weeks until April 6.

Health Officials Confirm First Coronavirus Death in Tennessee

March 22, 2020March 21, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Health officials in Nashville reported Tennessee’s first coronavirus death Friday evening.

Davidson County Sheriff Reduces Jail Population During Coronavirus Emergency

March 21, 2020March 20, 2020 Chris Butler

Nashville-Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall announced he has initiated plans to reduce the number of inmates in sheriff’s office custody as the coronavirus emergency continues.

This, according to a press release Hall put out this week.

Those plans include expanding pre-trial release criteria and eliminating the work release program. PTR participants are expected to double over the next few days and all work release inmates are being furloughed immediately, the press release said.

Gov. Lee Says Churches Are ‘Risking People’s Lives’ By Continuing to Hold Services

March 21, 2020March 20, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said during a Friday press conference that churches that continue to hold services are putting people’s lives at risk.

“Churches that continue to meet and gather with elderly and putting groups of people in the same setting, quite frankly, they’re risking people’s lives,” Lee said during an update on the COVID-19 outbreak in Tennessee. “There are ways to worship and there are ways to serve without congregating people, and I’m urging and challenging churches to do just that.”

Nashville Officials Create Fund to Help Businesses As Number of Confirmed Coronavirus Cases Soars

March 19, 2020March 18, 2020 Chris Butler

Officials in Nashville have set up a fund to help people who have fallen ill to the coronavirus or lost their jobs or number of working hours because of it.

Nashville Might Forego Collecting Liquor Taxes to Help Struggling Businesses During Coronavirus Emergency

March 18, 2020March 17, 2020 Chris Butler

Nashville business owners who have either had to shut down their businesses or limit capacity because of the coronavirus emergency, per city orders, might soon have a way to help their employees.

Kid Rock’s Steakhouse in Nashville Originally Defied Order, But Will Now Close

March 18, 2020March 17, 2020 Chris Butler

Staff at Kid Rock’s Big Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse announced Monday night that they will temporarily close, per a city order that all bars on Lower Broadway must shut down.

This, even though Kid Rock’s Steakhouse owner originally said he would defy that order.

As The Tennessee Star reported, on Sunday members of the Metropolitan Board of Health of Nashville and Davidson County declared a public health emergency that forced business owners to either close their doors or limit capacity. Bars on Lower Broadway and throughout Davidson County must close until further notice.

Metro Councilman At-Large Steve Glover Urges City Officials to Think Through Decisions and Their Consequences as Music City Shuts Down

March 17, 2020March 16, 2020 Julie Carr

During the top of the third hour on Monday’s Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy, Metro Councilman Steve Glover gave his take on how he thought the city of Nashville may have made drastic decisions without thoroughly thinking through the consequences. He suggested that the city needs to look at the economic impact of all the things that have occurred to us over the last two to three weeks as our number one priority.

Government Red Tape May Keep Nashville Business Owners from Getting Tax Relief During Coronavirus Emergency

March 17, 2020March 16, 2020 Chris Butler

Nashville Democratic Mayor John Cooper hinted Monday that city officials will help businesses in the city that have either had to shut down or limit capacity because of the Coronavirus emergency, per city orders.

Will city officials offer tax relief?

Metro officials say a maze of government rules complicate matters.

On Sunday members of the Metropolitan Board of Health of Nashville and Davidson County declared a public health emergency that forced business owners to either close their doors or limit capacity, according to the city’s website.

Nashville Leaders Say They Want Better Transit and Sidewalks as Part of Regional Transportation Plan

March 14, 2020March 13, 2020 Chris Butler

Transit and sidewalks are two big priorities for Middle Tennessee and its regional transportation needs, according to a survey of community members who gathered for a special meeting this week.

Nashville Leaders Discuss the Area’s Future Transportation Needs

March 13, 2020March 12, 2020 Chris Butler

Nashville Democratic Mayor John Cooper’s senior advisor for Transportation and Infrastructure appeared before a group of community members Thursday to gather their input about the region’s transportation needs.

Coronavirus Fears Lead to $40M Loss in Bookings for Ryman Hospitality Properties

March 11, 2020March 10, 2020 Jason M. Reynolds

Nashville-based Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc. estimates it has lost about $40 million in revenue over fears of the coronavirus.

Nashville, Memphis Report Tennessee’s Second, Third Cases of Coronavirus

March 9, 2020March 8, 2020 Jason M. Reynolds

Nashville Mayor John Cooper confirmed a case of coronavirus on Sunday, making it the third in Tennessee, coming the same day Shelby County announced a case.

Sen. Blackburn Tours Tornado-Damaged Communities, Advances Bill to Allow Faster Repairs of Telecom Infrastructure

March 6, 2020March 5, 2020 Jason M. Reynolds

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has been busy checking in on the state’s response to the deadly tornadoes that hit Middle Tennessee this week.

Nikki Junewicz Describes East Nashville as Tornado Whips Through Downtown Leaving Extensive Damage Early Tuesday Morning

March 4, 2020March 3, 2020 Julie Carr

Live from Music Row Tuesday 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. – Leahy was joined on the newsmakers line live from East Nashville by Fox 17’s Nikki Junewicz.

American Idol Winner and Germantown Resident, Taylor Hicks Gives First Hand Account on Tornado That Swept Through Nashville Last Night

March 4, 2020March 3, 2020 Julie Carr

During an extended hour on Tuesday’s 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. – Leahy reported on the tornado that struck Nashville last night killing several people with more expected to be reported. American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, who lives in the area, gave a special eyewitness report to our sister station.

Metro Council Member Steve Glover Talks Nashville’s Fiscal Fact Versus Fiction and the Need to Curb Unnecessary Spending

March 3, 2020March 3, 2020 Julie Carr

Live from music row Monday 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 am to 8:00 am – host Leahy and all-star panelist Crom Carmichael welcomed in-studio guest Metro Councilman Steve Glover to the show. At the top…

Music Spotlight: Tiffany Ashton

March 2, 2020March 1, 2020 Bethany Bowman

As a Valedictorian of a North Carolina Engineering High School and a soon-to-be graduate of UNC-Charlotte, this twenty-two-year-old dynamo is not your typical country music star.

Leahy, Glover, and Carmichael Weigh in on the Save Our Fairgrounds Legal Battle in Nashville

February 18, 2020February 17, 2020 Julie Carr

Live from music row Monday 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 am to 8:00 am – Leahy and in-studio all-star panelist, Metro Councilman Steve Glover discussed the Nashville’s ever-evolving Major League Soccer stadium deal.

Conservatives and Left-Leaning Voters Alike Protest Mike Bloomberg During His Nashville Stop

February 16, 2020February 15, 2020 Chris Butler

If you were willing to brave the rain to see Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg in Nashville last week then you would have seen two groups of protestors who both dislike Bloomberg, but for different reasons.

Attorney: Mayor Cooper Caves and Violates the Rule of Law by Cutting Deal with Major League Soccer and John Ingram

February 15, 2020February 15, 2020 Julie Carr

Nashville Attorney Jim Roberts who’s representing Save Our Fairgrounds joined host Michael Patrick Leahy Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – to discuss the pending lawsuit regarding Save Our Fairgrounds and the Major Soccer League owners.

Music Spotlight: Regie Hamm

February 13, 2020February 12, 2020 Bethany Bowman

I’ve known Regie Hamm for many years and my husband grew up with him. I even know the highlights of his amazing career, but what I didn’t know was his “where I came from” story. So finally after nearly three years of entertainment reporting, I decided it was time to sit down with this remarkable songwriter/artist/blogger.

Women from Nashville, Marshall County, and South Carolina Charged with TennCare Fraud

February 8, 2020February 7, 2020 Chris Butler

Authorities this week charged women from Nashville, Marshall County, and South Carolina with TennCare fraud.

Mayor Cooper and the Democratic Party Resist School Voucher Program That Would Be Good for Minority Children

February 7, 2020February 7, 2020 Julie Carr

Live from Nashville, Tennessee Thursday 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.– Leahy was joined in studio by former Vanderbilt and Princeton professor Dr. Carol Swain.

Metro Nashville Takes Fight Against School Vouchers to Court

February 7, 2020February 7, 2020 Chris Butler

NASHVILLE — Metro Nashville Law Director Bob Cooper filed a 44-page legal complaint in Davidson County Chancery Court Thursday to fight Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s Education Savings Account Pilot Program.

National Organization Gives Memphis and Nashville Low Grades on Fiscal Health

February 2, 2020February 1, 2020 Chris Butler

A Chicago-based nonprofit gives Memphis a C grade for its fiscal health. This same nonprofit, Truth in Accounting, gave Nashville something even worse — a grade of D.

Nashville Mayor Cooper Says He Wants Soccer Plan That Makes Financial Sense

February 1, 2020January 31, 2020 Jason M. Reynolds

Nashville Mayor John Cooper has been no fan of Nashville’s major league soccer team on the Fairgrounds Nashville site.

Music Spotlight: Mia Morris

January 29, 2020January 28, 2020 Bethany Bowman

When I first heard Mia Morris play and sing with the Song Suffragettes, it was obvious that she was super-talented. What I did not know initially was that this young musician was just 15 years old and that playing for the Song Suffragettes is just a small part of what this talented rock drummer does. I had to find out more about her.

Schools in Memphis, Knoxville, and Nashville Interested in New Voucher Program

January 23, 2020January 22, 2020 Chris Butler

Nearly 60 private schools thus far want to participate in Tennessee’s new voucher program.

Steve Moakler Releases New Record, ‘Blue Jeans’

January 17, 2020January 21, 2020 Bethany Bowman

Nashville, TN Steve Moakler was featured in my Music Spotlight column in 2018 when he released his Born Ready record. Since then a lot of has shifted in his life and his newest album, Blue Jeans, reflects these naturally occurring changes.

Metro Councilman Steve Glover Discusses Budget Priorities and Public vs Charter Schools

January 14, 2020January 14, 2020 Julie Carr

Monday 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 am to 8:00 am – host Leahy was joined in studio with metro councilman, with Steve Glover and all-star panelist Crom Carmichael.

Nashville Think Tank to Advocate ‘Tennessee Is Open for Business’ Agenda During Legislative Session

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020 Chris Butler

Tennessee’s economy is flourishing.

Four More Sentenced to More than 100 Years in Prison for Violent Crime in Nashville Public Housing

December 22, 2019December 21, 2019 Chris Butler

Four Nashville men were sentenced to federal prison last week by Chief U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr., for their roles in violent crime incidents connected to Nashville public housing developments, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Music Spotlight: Heidi Raye

December 22, 2019December 21, 2019 Bethany Bowman

Nashville, TN It is not surprising at all when a country music singer says they come from a small rural town. What is surprising is when that small rural town is in Canada. Heidi Raye was born and raised on a hobby farm Dawson Creek, British Columbia, a place that she describes as the Texas of Canada. Her dad was a John Deere salesman and a Pro Team Roper while her mom was a Pro Barrel Racer. She began singing in church when she was 3, learned to play guitar when she was 12, and then began exploring songwriting soon thereafter. The only genre of music she was exposed to was Country Music. “We say ‘y’all’. I didn’t know it was only a southern thing until I moved to America.”

Keith Urban Returns to Headline Nashville’s New Year’s Eve

December 20, 2019December 19, 2019 Bethany Bowman

The lineup also includes Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, The Struts, Amanda Shires and the Fisk Jubilee Singers along with rising artists Kalie Shorr and Bren Joy.

Nashville Protestors Want Trump Impeached Because He’s ‘Cruel and Selfish’

December 18, 2019December 18, 2019 Chris Butler

NASHVILLE — Nashville resident Brenda Butka believes U.S. Republican President Donald Trump committed a crime in office, and she also believes members of the U.S. House of Representatives have a duty to impeach him this week.

Metro Councilman at Large Steve Glover Explains Expenses Nashville Can Cut

December 17, 2019December 16, 2019 Julie Carr

Live from Music Row Monday 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 am to 8:00 am – Leahy was joined in studio by all-star panelists, Ben Cunningham and Nashville Metro Councilman at-large Steve Glover. During the third hour,…

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