Metro Nashville Public Schools Unveils Potential Changes for One of District’s Highest Performing High Schools

Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) is considering making changes to Martin Luther King Academic Magnet School (MLKAMS), one of Nashville’s highest-performing high schools.

At Tuesday’s school board meeting, district Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle unveiled plans to move seventh-grade and eighth-grade students to Head Middle School and rebrand that school as Head Middle School at MLK. If MNPS goes forward with its plans, MLKAMS will become a traditional high school serving ninth-grade to 12th-grade. MLKAMS currently teaches students from seventh-grade to 12th-grade.

Read the full story

Metro Nashville Council Member Jeff Eslick Exposes Shocking Drop in Law Enforcement Downtown

Metro Nashville Council Member Jeff Eslick joined The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Thursday to detail his discoveries into the precipitous drop in law enforcement and its effect on the state of public safety downtown on the heels of the city announcing the Hermitage homeless encampment will be taken down in January.

Read the full story

Nashville Police Charge Muslim Family with Beating Son After He Converted to Christianity

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) charged three members of a Muslim family with the alleged beating of their juvenile son and brother on Monday, and police records reportedly reveal the violence was sparked by the victim’s recent conversion to Christianity.

Police arrested Rawaaa Khawaji, Nick Kadum, and John Kadum, who are reportedly the mother, father, and older son of the juvenile victim discovered by law enforcement, according to police documents reviewed by Fox 17.

Read the full story

Report: Tennessee Transit Lacks Dedicated Funding Sources

Music City Star

Tennessee has two of the four among the largest 50 metro cities that doesn’t have set tax funding for transit agencies, according to a new report.

ThinkTennessee found Nashville and Memphis join Orlando and Hartford as the only four that don’t have dedicated transit funding. The report showed that 39 of those cities collect sales tax to fund transit with those taxes ranging from 0.375% to 2% bringing in an average $394 million annually.

Read the full story

Anti-Israel, Pro-Palestine Rally Planned for After Dark in Nashville on Saturday

Another pro-Palestine, anti-Israel rally will be held in downtown Nashville this Saturday after the sun goes down, according to the new self-described “abolitionist” group Palestine Hurra Collective Nashville.

The “Shut It Down For Palestine” march will be held at 5:00 p.m. at the Fred D. Thompson U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building in Nashville, according to the group, which said the demonstration will be part of a “global mobilization for Palestine.”

Read the full story

Nashville Mayor O’Connell Releases Policy Proposals from Transition Committees, Including East Bank Funding

Metro Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell released three policy proposals from his transition committees on Tuesday, more than two months after he assumed office.

O’Connell released documents provided by three transition committees he created to examine how his government can serve residents of Nashville, better its infrastructure system, and encourage economic and population growth in the city.

Read the full story

‘Known Street Racer’ Arrested After Meetup Causes $100,000 in Damages

A street racer has been arrested after a meetup that he allegedly organized caused more than $100,000 in damage to a Nashville street. 

“A known street racer has been charged with felony vandalism after allegedly facilitating an unsanctioned meetup earlier this year on Airpark Center Drive East that caused more than $100,000 in damages,” the city of Nashville said in a press release. “Austin Scott, 25, of Murfreesboro was arrested by [Tennessee Highway Patrol] in Rutherford County on the outstanding warrant after being identified as a suspected lead organizer for Night Riderz.”

Read the full story

FACT CHECK of Tennessee House Speaker Sexton Claim that Alleged Killer of Belmont Freshman Would Have Been in Custody Had State Senate Acted: FALSE

In an in-depth interview on Friday, WTN SuperTalk 99.7 afternoon host Matt Murphy spoke with Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton about the shooting and death of Belmont University student Jillian Ludwig. The Tennessee Star conducted a FACT CHECK of Speaker Sexton’s claim in that interview that Shaquille Taylor, the alleged killer of 18-year-old Belmont University Jillian Ludwig, who was shot in the head on Tuesday and died on Thursday, would have been in custody if the Tennessee State Senate had passed legislation in the August Special Session that the House had passed. The Star determined that Sexton’s claim is FALSE. The transcript of that interview and the corresponding FACT CHECKS conducted by The Star can be seen below. ——————- Matt Murphy: So, obviously, we’ve been covering this very difficult story involving the passing of a Belmont University student by the name of Lillian, or Jillian, pardon me, Jillian Ludwig, who died Thursday, yesterday morning after being shot in the head while walking near campus Tuesday. EDITOR’S NOTE: Prior to allegedly shooting Belmont University freshman Jillian Taylor in the head on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, Shaquille Taylor was deemed incompetent to stand trial for aggravated assault with a deadly…

Read the full story

Second Bystander Shot in Nashville Hours After Death of Belmont University Student

A Nashville man remains hospitalized after he was shot following an apparent fight to which he was not a party, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department. The shooting occurred less than one hour after the death of Belmont University freshman Jillian Ludwig, another innocent bystander who was allegedly shot in the head by Shaquille Taylor on November 7.

Police initially described the victim as man in his 50s who was shot after a fight between two men ended in gunfire in North Nashville, according to WSMV. Police Spokesman Don Aaron told The Tennessee Star the victim is expected to survive, and will be interviewed to ascertain the circumstances that led to the shooting after he recovers.

Read the full story

Pro-Hamas ‘Ceasefire Now’ Rally Takes Place in Nashville

Another pro-Palestine, pro-Hamas, anti-Israel rally organized by the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) took place at Centennial Park in downtown Nashville on Saturday.

The rally marked the fourth straight weekend of pro-Palestine, pro-Hamas, anti-Israel demonstrations in Nashville amid the terrorist group Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel that left over 1,400 Israelis and 32 Americans dead. Middle Tennessee DSA has organized each rally.

Read the full story

Music Spotlight: William Michael Morgan

William Michael Morgan has been in Nashville since he was 19. Many country music fans will remember his gold-certified hit “I Met a Girl” from 2016, which continues to be a favorite at engagement parties and weddings.

Morgan hails from Vicksburg, Mississippi, which is the heart of the Delta Blues and a seven-minute drive from the Louisiana state line. His dad introduced him to country music by covering Marty Robbins and George Jones tunes on his guitar. Then, when he was 12, he got his own guitar, locked himself inside, and learned to play by watching YouTube videos.

Read the full story

Pro-Israel Rally Held at Legislative Plaza in Nashville

A rally for Jewish and Christian communities to “come together in unity to stand with Israel” took place at Legislative Plaza in Nashville on Friday following two straight weeks of pro-Palestine rallies.

The rally, which featured special guest speakers, including state representatives, state senators, pastors, rabbis, music artists, and community leaders, was held from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Read the full story

Music Spotlight: Orlando Mendez

 I’ll admit that I don’t watch music competition shows like I did when I was younger. When I watch TV, it’s usually a mind-numbing procedural or mystery.

But thankfully, a lot of the people I interview got their start on a show and if they are country, they often find their way into my email inbox. Because the competition is so fierce, most of the artists pitched to me are outstanding performers. Orlando Mendez is one such artist and I feel privileged to tell his story.

Read the full story

Middle TN Democratic Socialists of America Hold ‘All Out For Palestine’ Rally in Nashville

The Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) held a second rally in support of the terrorist group Hamas on Sunday in front of the Nashville Metropolitan Courthouse. About 300 vocal supporters attended, chanting slogans indicating support for a “Free Palestine” and the ouster of Israel from the region.

Read the full story

Metro Nashville Public Schools Experiencing Wide Spread Internet Outages

Metro Nashville Public School’s (MNPS) teachers and students face widespread internet outages after returning from fall break.

Sean Braisted, MNPS’s chief communications officer, told The Tennessee Star, “We’ve experienced network traffic issues over the past few days, primarily linked to changes during a recent upgrade that has led to increased network saturation.”

Read the full story

Democratic Socialists of America Rally in Nashville to Support Terrorist Group Hamas and Oppose Israel

Several hundred members of the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Democrat Socialists of America and other leftist groups rallied in Nashville on Saturday to support the terrorist group Hamas and oppose Israel’s actions to defend itself. The rally took place one week after more than 1,200 Israelis were massacred by Hamas terrorists, who launched a sneak attack into Israel from the Gaza strip on October 7.

Read the full story

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell Releases Statement: ‘My Heart Remains Heavy’ over ‘The Pain, Loss, and Horror Endured by the Jewish People’; Makes No Mention of the Atrocities Committed by Hamas Against Israel

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell released a statement on Friday offering prayers for “anyone with loved ones endangered by the ongoing conflict” in the Middle East, failing to mention and condemn the atrocities committed by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Israel.

Read the full story

Mayor Freddie O’Connell ‘Committed’ to Implementing City Review Board

Nashville’s new mayor said he is committed to implementing the new City Review Board despite controversy surrounding the body.

“Civilian oversight is important, and I am committed to getting our Civilian Review Board up and running as quickly as possible, Mayor Freddie O’Connell said Tuesday. “I have also confirmed that our human resources department will work with current employees who are in the unfortunate state-mandated position of having uncertainty surrounding how they are employed.”

Read the full story

Report: Memphis Property Owners Pay Higher Tax Rates than Those in Nashville

The property taxes that fund local city governments have a wide range in Tennessee, especially when it comes to the differences between how property is taxed in Memphis and Nashville, according to a report from the Lincoln Institute on Land Policy on data from 2021.

Nashville, for instance, has a lower effective homestead property tax rate than most other large cities (0.814% compared to the national average) while Memphis homestead properties are taxed at 1.523% above the national average. Nashville was 43rd in effective rate amongst the list of 74 large cities where data was available while Memphis was the 16th highest.

Read the full story

Metro Nashville Police Release Helicopter Video of 16-Year Old Driving a Stolen Vehicle, Eluding Officers on Foot

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) released a video last week taken from a helicopter showing a 16-year-old boy leading officers on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle before fleeing on foot.

“For the 4TH TIME this year, a 16 yr old Nashvillian has been arrested for car theft. Tue night he was driving a Hyundai, stolen in Clarksville on 8/5. He refused to stop for officers. An MNPD helicopter followed him to Judd Dr., where he was arrested & a 2nd stolen vehicle found,” MNPD wrote in a tweet in addition to sharing the video taken from above the scene.

Read the full story

Davidson County Judge Blocks Enforcement of Rule Prohibiting Paper Signs in House Gallery, Lobby During Special Session

A judge in Davidson County blocked a rule prohibiting paper signs from the Tennessee House of Representatives gallery or lobby.

The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Tennessee on behalf of three Tennesseans escorted out of a House subcommittee hearing on Tuesday for possessing paper signs advocating a political message.

Read the full story

Metro Nashville Police Department Says 777 Guns Stolen from Vehicles in Nashville This Year

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said in a press release this week nearly 8000 firearms have been stolen from vehicles in the city this year, a crime that has plagued Nashville for years. 

“So far this year, 777 guns have been stolen from vehicles in Nashville, 24 were taken from autos just last week,” the release says. “The total number of guns stolen this year in Davidson County is 978, which means that nearly 80% of guns stolen so far in 2023 have been taken from automobiles.”

Read the full story