Listen Republican businessman Bill Lee wasn’t known to many Tennesseans before this year’s race for governor. He’d been a major fundraiser for the GOP. But he’d never run for public office of any kind. Lee touts that as a virtue. In the latest in a series of interviews with the six leading candidates for governor, […]
Tennessee Governor Candidate Interview: How Bill Lee Hopes To Go From Political Newbie To Top Leader
No Bookshelves Here: Rutherford County Opens New Tech-Centric Library
Listen For the first time in 26 years, a new library is opening in Rutherford County. But there’s something you won’t see there: books. Or, bookshelves. The Technology Engagement Center is designed as a trendsetting library that focuses on digital literacy, computing skills and “maker” spaces.
Influential Nashville Nonprofit Asks For Extension On Repaying Loan For Its New School
Listen Nashville’s housing authority has granted the Martha O’Bryan Center a nearly three-year extension to fundraise for the nonprofit’s new school in East Nashville’s James Cayce public housing complex. And despite the request, housing officials say they’re not worried about the future of the project.
A Conflicted City Council Makes Statement Against For-Profit Prison Operators
Listen Nashville’s Metro Council waded into the thorny political issue of private prison operations on Tuesday, ultimately deciding to oppose any city employee pension funds from being invested into for-profit prisons, including locally based CoreCivic.
Tennessee Governor Candidate Interviews: How Democrat Karl Dean Hopes To Cross Party Lines
Listen Gubernatorial candidate Karl Dean is trying to present himself as a moderate. Not too business-centric for his base in the Democratic primaries, not too liberal to offend the Republican voters he’d need if he gets the nomination. WPLN’s Emily Siner spoke with the former mayor of Nashville about this delicate dance that would likely […]
The First Aging Buildings Come Tumbling Down In The James Cayce Homes
Listen The James Cayce public housing complex is coming down. On South 8th Street in East Nashville, the shovel of a giant trackhoe is eating through the roof and walls of a brick, two story apartment building. Lenekra Head looks on from her balcony. “It’s astonishing how it’s there and then it disappears,” she says. […]
Nashville To Tighten Rules To Prevent Home Construction Within Flood Buffer
Listen Nashville’s city council is hoping to limit the damage of future flooding along the banks of the Cumberland River. If finalized this week, the city will strengthen a rule that prevents new homes from being constructed within 50 feet of the Cumberland.
Tennessee Governor Candidate Interviews: What Diane Black Chooses To Emphasize In Her Campaign
Listen The Republican gubernatorial candidate with the most name recognition is Congressman Diane Black, polls have shown. And if elected, she would be the first woman to hold the position of governor. But that isn’t what she talks about to voters. Instead, she touts close ties to President Trump and fierce opposition to illegal immigration. […]
Metro Council Will Vote On Resolution Asking City Not To Invest Benefit Fund In Private Prisons
Listen Update: This story has been updated to reflect new information from the Office of Metro’s Finance Director, which says all Core Civic investments were sold in November 2016. Metro Council members on Tuesday will vote on a measure asking the city to stop investing money from its employee pension fund into for-profit prisons. […]
Nashvillians Can Now Speak Their Minds About Anything (For 2 Minutes) In Front Of The Metro Council
Listen Nashville’s longstanding rules about how the public can make comments at Metro Council meetings will undergo a significant change Tuesday. An open comment portion will be added near the beginning of the meeting to allow people to talk about issues even if they’re not on the council’s agenda.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM