• 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
    • Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom
    • 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

Pierce Gentry, WUOT

After Trump’s shakeup, TVA board votes to keep coal burning, drop renewable energy plans

By Pierce Gentry, WUOT

February 12, 2026

The Kingston Fossil Plant, built and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, viewed from Interstate 40 near Kingston, Tennessee.

The Tennessee Valley Authority has moved to strike language about renewable energy generation and diversity, equity and inclusion while reversing plans to retire aging coal power plants.

Filed Under: Environment, WPLN News Tagged With: Coal plants, Cumberland Fossil Plant, Don Moul, kingston fossil plant, Tennessee Valley Authority, Tom Rice, xAi

Epstein files show former UT professor used students to develop AI tools for predatory billionaire

By Pierce Gentry, WUOT

February 6, 2026

Dozens of emails involving a former UT professor and Jeffrey Epstein were released by the Department of Justice, revealing an effort funded by the disgraced financier to develop an AI-powered robot with facial recognition capabilities.

An associate professor of computer science at UT spent years communicating with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before leaving the university in 2021, DOJ documents show.

Filed Under: Criminal Justice, WPLN News Tagged With: Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Artificial Intelligence, Jeffrey Epstein, sexual abuse, surveillance, University of Tennessee

Winter storm week 2: Challenges linger and some school districts remain closed

By LaTonya Turner, Pierce Gentry, WUOTandAlexis Marshall

February 1, 2026

Winter Storm Fern has created lingering challenges for residents, city leaders and emergency workers in Tennessee. Here’s the latest at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Filed Under: Environment, WPLN News Tagged With: Cold weather, Freddie O'Connell, Middle Tennessee, Nashville Electric Service, NDOT, snow, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Weather, William Swann

Time – and money – is running out to save Civil War sites in Tennessee

By Pierce Gentry, WUOT

January 27, 2026

A replica Civil War-era cannon sits overlooking the site of Redoubt One in southern Nashville on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. The site is managed by the Battle of Nashville Trust, which struggles to acquire land for preservation in the wealthy suburbs of the city.

As real estate developers continue to buy up swaths of land in Nashville and the surrounding area, portions of Tennessee’s 122 Civil War battlefields are being lost in the process.

Filed Under: History, WPLN News Tagged With: Battle of Franklin, Battle of Nashville, Civil War history, state budget, Tennessee Wars Commission

As Tennessee declines summer food aid for kids, county mayors push governor to reconsider

By Pierce Gentry, WUOT

January 14, 2026

School Cafeteria STOCK.jpeg

Governor Bill Lee says the USDA’s Summer EBT food assistance program costs too much to run despite widespread support among local officials and families.

Filed Under: Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: Bill Lee, EBT, food access

Campus firings over Charlie Kirk comments chill free speech in Appalachia

By Pierce Gentry, WUOT

December 12, 2025

Tamar Shirinian sits on the couch in her Knoxville home on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. Shirinian is a cultural anthropologist who had previously worked for 6 years as an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee until she was fired for making a private Facebook comment critical of conservative activist Charlie Kirk after his Sept. 10 assassination.

An atmosphere of fear and uncertainty has set in on campuses across Appalachia where at least a dozen faculty and staff at colleges and universities have lost their jobs after sharing negative opinions about the conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Filed Under: Education, WPLN News Tagged With: Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Charlie Kirk, Politics, University of Tennessee

In rural Tennessee, crypto miners try to ‘sweet talk’ locals into bitcoin mine development

By Pierce Gentry, WUOT

November 4, 2025

Mike (left) and Cynthia Trentham (right) look out at a fractionation plant operated by the NGL Supply Co., which moved in across the street from their family farm in Bulls Gap, Tenn., last year. They say the flame burns day and night, casting harsh light through their windows as they sleep and disturbing their cattle.

Residents of Bulls Gap are fighting plans for a propane-fueled bitcoin mine after over a year of disruption from a nearby gas flare that shattered the town’s once-peaceful rural life.

Filed Under: WPLN News Tagged With: Bulls Gap, cryptomining, rural Tennessee

Despite federal shutdown, local and state funds keep Great Smoky Mountains National Park open

By Pierce Gentry, WUOT

October 9, 2025

An entrance sign to Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a roadside surrounded by forest.

After the federal government shutdown cut staffing and services at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, local governments and nonprofits in the region stepped up to foot the bill and keep the park open during the peak fall season.

Filed Under: Environment, Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, federal government shutdown, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Farmers are recovering after Helene – with help from UT Ag researchers

By |Pierce Gentry

October 3, 2025

A barn containing farm equipment on John Hilemon II’s Erwin, Tennessee farm as seen on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 just weeks after record rainfall from Hurricane Helene led to severe flooding in rural East Tennessee.

As East Tennessee recovers after Hurricane Helene, farmers find their land has changed in unexpected ways. University of Tennessee soil scientists are testing the ground to create future plans.

Filed Under: Environment, WPLN News Tagged With: agriculture, Hurricane Helene, University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension

Low-head dams pose risks in Appalachia, but some people aren’t ready to see them go

By Pierce Gentry|Shepherd Snyder|Aprile Rickert

September 30, 2025

Water rushes over the top of a low-head dam.

State officials in Appalachia have labeled low-head dams as public safety hazards, with some even being responsible for deaths. But some community members are hesitant to have the fixtures removed.

Filed Under: Environment, WPLN News Tagged With: Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Army Corps of Engineers, dam, Tennessee Valley Authority, water

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
©2026 Nashville Public Radio

on-air light On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM

Pop-Up Player : All Channels
Launch Streaming Player