More than once, the eyes of the nation turned to Tennessee’s tragedies and political conflicts this year. But it’s not guaranteed that national media will stick with a story, explain the nuances or detail the long-term impacts.
Those roles motivate WPLN’s newsroom.
As part of our 2023 year-in-review series, I reviewed the roughly 700 stories our newsroom published this year. And I found myself wanting to highlight our best explanatory journalism, the moments where we brought unique insights to the community, and those times where our reporters handled subtle subjects with care and diligence.
Tracking Tennessee gun policies
Following the mass shooting at the Covenant School, attention turned quickly to policymaking around access to guns, culminating in the legislature’s special session in August.
How Tennessee became one of the most gun-friendly states before the Covenant School shooting (Paige Pfleger)
After Covenant, Lee calls for expanding a gun dispossession system already failing domestic violence victims (Paige Pfleger)
Blaise Gainey WPLN NewsProtestors gathered outside Cordell Hull to protest drag restrictions during the 2023 legislative session.
Transgender care and anti-LGBTQ legislation
The steady drumbeat of legislation targeting the LGBTQ community — and the resulting lawsuits and court rulings — prompted dozens of developments and stories in 2023. It could be hard to keep track of where each measure stood.
Added layers of understanding about the real-world impact come across in follow-up interviews, like these:
‘Because others can’t leave’: Inside the fight for transgender rights in Tennessee (Marianna Bacallao)
‘It’s not a way to live’: Why transgender people are leaving Tennessee (Marianna Bacallao)
Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors takes effect immediately, after a federal court overturns a lower court’s ruling (Marianna Bacallao)
Tennessee’s drag show roots run deep (Jewly Hight)
Neo-Nazis threatened a drag show at a Cookeville bar. Now the bar is facing eviction. (Marianna Bacallao)
‘Where am I going to be free to be who I am?’ (Jewly Hight)
Courtesy Nashville Mayor's Office Reading scores were under scrutiny in Tennessee, where a large percentage of third graders were at risk of being held back because of TCAP results.
Third graders put to the test
A new law began to require thousands of students to participate in learning interventions or risk not going on to the fourth grade. Despite intense scrutiny, and debates, misunderstandings about the TCAP persisted — even among elected officials making decisions.
TCAP: a deep dive into the history of the test that threatens to hold back so many Tennessee third graders (Alexis Marshall)
The Widows Creek fossil plant is one that TVA has retired as it reduces its dependence on coal.
TVA and the future of energy
One story that has grown slowly and without much fanfare is the Tennessee Valley Authority’s steady buildout of fossil fuel plants. Now at eight gas plants proposed in three years, the projects have been drawing pushback at the local and federal levels.
Tennessee residents are tired of coal ash pollution. TDEC could help. (Caroline Eggers)
TVA proposes another methane gas plant, this time just outside Nashville (Caroline Eggers)
Tennessee is vulnerable to winter blackouts. Here is a big reason why. (Caroline Eggers)
Tasha A.F. Lemley WPLN NewsTammy reflects outside of the Inglewood home where she raised her family. Now she’s living in a transitional motel as she attempts to secure permanent housing.
Nashville’s clearing of encampments
It’s a complicated reality on the ground when Metro clears an encampment — and it’s something that happened often in 2023, with more expected in the coming year.
This Is Nashville senior producer Tasha A.F. Lemley regularly checked in with one woman, as she made it into transitional and eventually permanent housing in a process that took more than a year.
A Nashville woman’s story shows the challenge of moving from homelessness to a permanent home (Tasha A.F. Lemley)
From homelessness to permanent housing (Tasha A.F. Lemley)
A former motel in South Nashville has become essential for people leaving encampments. There’s tension over the conditions there. (Tasha A.F. Lemley)
What does Nashville’s vice mayor do?
It’s a job that flies under the radar for many Nashvillians. So what does the vice mayor do? This Is Nashville led the way on explaining.
Citizen Nashville: What does the Vice Mayor do?
Not sure who to choose for Nashville’s vice mayor? Here’s what each candidate wants to do with the job. (Char Daston)
Even more unforgettable — and insightful — 2023 stories
For Fulbrighters in Afghanistan, a Tennessee nonprofit has become an unlikely lifeline (Rose Gilbert)
Alternate Ending: A Nashville family was united by community. What happens when development disrupts connection? (Ambriehl Crutchfield)
Members of Nashville’s Israeli and Palestinian communities grieve, fear for friends and family as war in Gaza escalates (Rose Gilbert)
What we can learn from 8 years of Freddie O’Connell comments to WPLN News (Cynthia Abrams)
The Kids of Rutherford County (Meribah Knight)
Tennessee already ranks in the top 10 for teen births. Advocates are worried the rate could increase. (Catherine Sweeney)
Droughts will worsen in Tennessee. The state lacks a real plan, a new report finds (Caroline Eggers)
This youth detention center superintendent illegally locks kids alone in cells. No one has forced him to stop. (Paige Pfleger)
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM