• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Nashville's local news and NPR station

Search
Listen Listen
Give Now
  • Search
  • News
    • Arts, Culture & Music
    • Criminal Justice
    • Curious Nashville
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Housing
    • Metro Government
    • Race & Equity
    • State Politics
  • Schedule
    • WPLN-FM
    • WPLN International
  • Support
    • Give Now
    • Ways to Support
    • The Producers’ Circle
    • Donor Hub
    • Donate A Car
    • Give Stock
    • Business Support
    • Planned Giving
  • Shows + Podcasts
    • NashVillager
    • This Is Nashville
    • The Promise
    • Curious Nashville
    • See All
  • NashVillager
    • Podcast
    • Newsletter
  • Events
  • Giveaways
  • Donor Hub
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Marianna Bacallao

Marianna Bacallao, Power & Equity Reporter

Marianna Bacallao (mare-ee-AW-nuh bah-kuh-YOW) covers systems of power from the statehouse to the pulpit, turning the microphone to those most impacted by policy. Previously, she served as the afternoon host for WPLN News, where she won a regional Edward R. Murrow for hosting during a deadly tornado outbreak, served as a guide on election night and gave live updates in the wake of the Covenant School shooting. A Georgia native, she was a contributor to Georgia Public Broadcasting during her undergrad years and served as editor-in-chief for Mercer University’s student newspaper.

U.S. Republicans probe Nashville mayor, allege ‘chilling effect’ on ICE

Marianna Bacallao

June 2, 2025

Two U.S congressional committees are looking into Nashville’s response to federal immigration activity.

Filed Under: Metro, Politics, Race & Equity, WPLN News Tagged With: Donald Trump, Freddie O'Connell, ICE, Immigration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raid, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition

As Tennessee pastors and politicians clash over Trump’s immigration agenda, their congregations are divided

Marianna Bacallao

May 30, 2025

Listen

As evangelical Christians continue to support President Donald Trump, church leadership is taking issue with his immigration policies.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: 114th Tennessee General Assembly, Brent Taylor, Christian, Christianity, evangelical, ICE, Immigration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Lifeway, Southern Baptist Convention, tnleg, tnpol

ICE to pay Nashville ‘a lot of attention’ after mayor decries raids

Marianna Bacallao

May 29, 2025

The Trump administration’s ‘border czar’ said congress has opened an investigation into O’Connell’s response — and implied an escalation in enforcement.

Filed Under: Metro, Politics, Race & Equity, WPLN News Tagged With: Donald Trump, Freddie O'Connell, ICE, Immigration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raid, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition

‘My mom isn’t a criminal’: Nashville families search for loved ones detained by ICE

Marianna Bacallao

May 8, 2025

Nashville families impacted by a series of ICE raids in the past few days still don’t have concrete answers on where their loved ones are.

Filed Under: Criminal Justice, Metro, Politics, Race & Equity, WPLN News Tagged With: 287(g), Freddie O'Connell, ICE, Immigration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raid, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition

Nashville police whistleblower indicted over Covenant School records

Marianna Bacallao

May 6, 2025

A Metro Nashville police whistleblower has been indicted for stealing documents related to the Covenant School shooting, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Filed Under: Criminal Justice, Metro, WPLN News Tagged With: community oversight board, Covenant, Covenant School, Metro Nashville Police Department, MNPD, shooting

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee uses first veto to strike down probation changes

Marianna Bacallao

May 5, 2025

Lee vetoed a measure that would give the state more power to reject parole requests.

Filed Under: Criminal Justice, Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: 114th Tennessee General Assembly, Bill Lee, probation and parole, recidivism, state parole board, tnleg, tnpol

State and local officials clash over Nashville ICE raid

Marianna Bacallao

May 5, 2025

Mayor Freddie O’Connell has decried the wide-scale arrests of South Nashville drivers Saturday night. But the office is limited in how it can respond.

Filed Under: Metro, Politics, Race & Equity, WPLN News Tagged With: 114th Tennessee General Assembly, 287(g), Bill Lee, Freddie O'Connell, ICE, Immigration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raid, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, tnleg, tnpol

Trump nominates Tennessee attorney to federal appeals court, marking first judicial pick of second term

Marianna Bacallao

May 5, 2025

Whitney Hermandorfer has the led the Tennessee AG’s Strategic Litigation Unit, where she defended the state’s near-total abortion ban.

Filed Under: Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: Abortion, Jonathan Skrmetti, Kentucky, lgbt, lgbtq, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Tennessee Attorney General, transgender, Whitney Hermandorfer

ICE arrests drivers in South Nashville, sparking outrage from local officials

Marianna Bacallao

May 4, 2025

Several drivers in South Nashville were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Saturday night, sparking outrage from activists and politicians.

Filed Under: Criminal Justice, Metro, Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: 287(g), Aftyn Behn, Don Aaron, East Nashville, Freddie O'Connell, ICE, Immigration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Metro Nashville Police Department, MNPD, Nashville police, raid, sean parker, Tennessee Highway Patrol

Southern Baptist Convention membership declines while baptisms rise

Marianna Bacallao

April 30, 2025

Fewer people identify as Southern Baptists, and fewer churches are a part of the Nashville-based denomination, according to an annual report.

Filed Under: Arts, Culture & Music, WPLN News Tagged With: Christian, Christianity, Lifeway, religion, Southern Baptist Convention

Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Become a sponsor?
Become a sponsor?
Become a sponsor?

Footer

About

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Staff
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Impact Report
  • Financial, FCC and CPB Reports
  • WPLN News Transparency Report
  • FCC Public File
  • Board of Directors
  • Privacy Policy

Listen

  • Ways To Listen
  • Shows & Podcasts
  • iPhone App
  • Android App
  • Alexa Smart Speakers

Sister Stations

  • WPLN International
  • 91.ONE, WNXP
  • Nashville Classical Radio

Stay Connected

  • Contact News Department
  • Receive Our Newsletters
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
WPLN News, Nashville Public Radio
630 Mainstream Drive
Nashville, TN 37228

Phone: (615) 760-2903
©2025 Nashville Public Radio

on-air light On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM

Pop-Up Player : All Channels
Launch Streaming Player