Protected: September 25 – October 1, 2019: “Rides, O-R”
Bluegrass Breakdown files are available in either mp2 or mp3 format. To save files to your computer, right-click each link and choose "Save As." Mac users: hold down control, then…
Community Argues Against Fort Campbell Cuts At High-Stakes Listening Session
Military officials led the meeting with the intent of listening to comments from city and state officials. Credit: Emily Siner / WPLN
A five-hour listening session at Fort Campbell last night — with more than 1,900 people attending — made a case to military higher-ups about why the army post should be spared reductions.
Clarksville Leans On Citizens To Make Case Against Fort Campbell Downsizing
Fort Campbell is home to the 101st Airborne Division, which has been one of the most heavily-deployed units in the last 12 years of war. Credit: Stephen Jerkins
Tuesday night is Clarksville’s chance to make its case for preserving as many jobs as possible at Fort Campbell. Local leaders have been working to recruit an overflow crowd in order to persuade Pentagons officials, going as far as to put up Interstate billboards advertising the so-called "listening session."
Tennessee’s Legislature Is Mostly Male, Even More White And Virtually All Christian
The gender gap between Tennessee's lawmakers and the rest of the population. Credit: Emily Siner / WPLN. Source: capitol.tn.gov, U.S. Census Bureau
We recently read a Washington Post article about the diversity of Congress, and that got us wondering: What are the demographics of Tennessee's 109th General Assembly?
Nashville’s Next Mayor: Minimum Wage Question May Help You Pick
Nationally, there's been a campaign to raise the minimum wage to $15.00 an hour, though the push has gotten very little traction in Tennessee. Credit: The All-Night Images via FLICKR
Should Nashville have its own minimum wage? It's a move made recently in neighboring states and nearby cities. There's been little-to-no support for raising the mandated base pay at the state level, but there have been rumblings on the city level.
Irate Tennessee Lawmaker Attacks High Cost Of Textbooks
State Rep. Mike Sparks wants lawmakers to study the high cost of textbooks. Credit: John Liu via Flickr
State Rep. Mike Sparks calls on legislators to consider alternatives to traditional textbooks.
Haslam Calls Tennessee Complacent In Inaugural Speech
About 1,000 people attended Gov. Bill Haslam's swearing in for a second term. Credit: Chas Sisk / WPLN
Tenn. Gov. Bill Haslam challenged Tennesseans to raise their standards in his second inaugural address.
Listen: Governor Haslam’s Inaugural Speech In Its Entirety
The program for Bill Haslam's second inauguration. Credit: Chas Sisk / WPLN
The Tennessee governor lays out his plans for his second term. Read the speech or listen to it here:
Haslam’s Second Inaugural To Take Place Saturday
Celebrations also include a ball and prayer breakfast.
Tennessee Could Be The Star In Next Week’s State Of The Union Address
President Obama speaks at Pellissippi State Community College to introduce "America's College Promise," a free community college program. Credit: WhiteHouse.gov
President Barack Obama has been touting two Tennessee programs in the lead-up to his State of the Union address.
Some Fort Campbell Soldiers Fighting Ebola May Have To Stay In West Africa
Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky, right, greets a soldier in Liberia. No handshakes in an Ebola zone. Credit: Joint Forces Command United Assistance
More soldiers from the 101st airborne division will be coming home from Liberia in early February. But the rest are waiting to hear whether the mission to fight Ebola is over — or whether they’ll be sent to a different part of West Africa.
In Looming Fight Over Tennessee Abortion Laws, Both Sides Are Approaching Cautiously
Several dozen people come inside the Capitol to protest the legislature's proposed abortion regulations. Credit: Chas Sisk / WPLN
Abortion rights lobbyists say they don't expect to stop lawmakers from passing new regulations this year, and conservative lobbyists are wary of lawsuits.
Will Tennessee Continue Allowing Virtual Schools To Operate Statewide?
K-12 students end up getting most of their instruction online, though the youngest grades spend less time in front of a computer. Credit: K-12 via Facebook
This year, Tennessee lawmakers must decide whether or not to stay in the statewide cyber school business. The legislative act that paved the way for the troubled Tennessee Virtual Academy needs to be renewed.
Tenn. Senate Leader Thinks Lawmakers Should Rewrite Common Core Standards
Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey says lawmakers should take the lead on rewriting Common Core education standards. Photo via Gov. Haslam's flckr stream.
Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey says legislators -- not committees of educators -- should take the lead on replacing the controversial Common Core education standards.
Busier Than Ever: Nashville’s Airport Sets Another Record in 2014
Nashville Airport's new flight to Oakland, starting June 7, will depart around 2 p.m. daily. Credit: Emily Siner / WPLN
More travelers than ever passed through Nashville International Airport last year. The jump in traffic comes as the airport’s largest carrier continues to add flights.
Alexander Expedites NCLB Fix, Identifies Testing As Big Sticking Point
Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander pledged to fix the No Child Left Behind Law ahead of becoming the HELP Committee's new chairman. Credit: HELP Committee via YouTube
In his first days as chairman of the U.S. Senate’s education committee, Lamar Alexander is following through on a pledge to fix the Bush-era No Child Left Behind law.
Oak Ridge Shows Off A Shelby Cobra Built With A 3-D Printer
President Obama checked out this 3-D-printed Shelby Cobra on a visit to Tennessee last week. Credit: ORNL
Scientists from Oak Ridge National Lab are at the Detroit Auto Show this week showing off a sleek Shelby Cobra that they built with a 3-D printer.
Amid Abortion Protests, Tennessee Lawmakers Return For Raucous First Day
Abortion rights activists rally outside the state capitol Tuesday on the first day of the legislative session. Credit: Chas Sisk / WPLN
Dozens of protesters rallied to protest upcoming abortion legislation as state lawmakers opened the 109th General Assembly.
TennCare Ditches Northrop Grumman, Starts Over On Eligibility Computer System
Darin Gordon is the head of TennCare, which has grown by 120,000 this year even though the state has not expanded who qualifies for the health coverage. Credit: TN Photo Services
A year after a contractor failed to deliver a new computer system to TennCare, the agency is starting over. Northrop Grumman won the $35 million project three years ago but has never brought online the new system for determining who is eligible for health benefits.
How To Make Uninsured Tennesseans Healthy? Haslam Suggests Paying Them
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam is complimentary of New Jersey's Chris Christie, though stops well short of endorsing him to be the next President. Credit: TN Photo Services
We explain in 90 seconds Gov. Bill Haslam's Insure Tennessee plan to provide coverage to poor Tennesseans and to encourage them through incentives to make better choices.