Listen A year ago this week, massive wildfires swept through the Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee. In the resort towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, thousands of homes and cabins were lost. Some of the rebound happened quickly. At the Westgate Resort in Gatlinburg, the fires ravaged its property: 70 of the 90 buildings were […]
After The Blaze, Gatlinburg’s Tourism Has Rebounded
Movers & Thinkers: The Complicated Ways We Think About Death
Listen Talking to college students about death might not seem like the most comfortable conversation, but that is Andrea Mills’ job. She teaches a death and dying psychology class at Lipscomb University, where she delves into how people deal with the end of life. She talked to WPLN’s Emily Siner in our podcast Movers & […]
Nashville’s Newest Charter School Embraces Black Empowerment
Listen Many schools aspire for racial diversity. But that’s not quite the aim of the newest charter school in North Nashville. KIPP Nashville College Prep Elementary says it is embracing what is a reality for most schools in the area: that students are primarily African-American, and instead of swimming against the current, it’s trying to […]
StoryCorps Nashville: A Holiday Memory Of Dad Standing Up To Discrimination
When Michael Turney and his sister Betty Turney-Turner stopped by the StoryCorps booth in Nashville last year, they both talked about the values and work ethic they learned from their parents: stick up for yourself, even in the face of blatant discrimination.
Why Nashville Might Miss General Hospital If It Shuts Down
Listen A plan that would end Nashville’s long history of running a public hospital is basically an argument that the city doesn’t really need one — and that other medical centers in town already dole out far more charity care, especially as General Hospital’s caseload has dwindled to 40 patients a day, operating at just […]
Metro Council Moves to Ban Decorative Rope Lighting On Major Roads
Listen Rope lights line the windows of gas stations and minimarkets throughout Nashville— but one Metro Councilwoman wants them taken down, and says they could distract drivers. A bill to ban the decorations is inching closer to approval.
Remembering How Mel Tillis Overcame Stuttering To Be A Country Music Star
Listen One of Nashville’s most prolific hit-makers died Sunday. Mel Tillis spent the last year dealing with intestinal issues, according to his publicist. He died at a hospital in Ocala, Florida, at age 85.
Curious Nashville: What’s The Story Of The Murals In The Governor’s Office?
Visitors to the Tennessee State Capitol are often struck by the murals that adorn the reception area of the governor’s office. Protesters who gathered…
Tennessee Recognized For Laws Combatting Child Sex Trafficking
The state of Tennessee has been voted the best in the nation this year for its laws intended to prevent child sex trafficking. That’s according to Shared Hope International, which since 2011 has been grading states in part on their laws combating child sex traffickers.
In Clarksville, Police Say They Welcome Body Cameras
Listen Cell phone footage shot by bystanders showing sometimes violent police interactions with civilians has led to more discussions nationwide about whether officers should wear body cameras. In some cities, local law enforcement has resisted that idea. But that’s not the case in Clarksville, where the police department has actually been one of its biggest […]
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