A Nashville SWAT officer who fatally shot a sword-wielding man today is now decommissioned. Edited bodycam footage appears to show the officer firing three shots at the man as he stood at a distance and was not moving toward officers. Here's what we know.

Nashville officer decommissioned after fatally shooting man with sword

The Nashville SWAT officer who fatally shot a man wielding a sword off Cheshire Drive on Saturday has been decommissioned, police said.

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A Mississippi mayor is facing sharp criticism after he pushed back at lowering his city's flags to honor Dolly Parton, saying the move should be reserved for "very significant" events and may "lessen the meaning of the gesture."

Mississippi mayor pushes back on lowering flags to honor Dolly Parton

Mississippi mayor Ken Adams pushed back at lowering flags to honor Dolly Parton, saying the move may "lessen the meaning of the gesture."

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Both Fisk University and Tennessee State University made the inaugural ranking of America's Top HBCUs by @forbes.com. Here's what students and leaders from the historic Nashville schools had to say about the news.

Fisk, Tennessee State make Forbes list of best HBCUs

Tennessee State University and Fisk University, both located in Nashville, are listed by Forbes among the top HBCUs in the nation.

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Mikki Allen, the athletic director at Tennessee State University, is on administrative leave pending an investigation. This comes two months after coaches wrote a "no confidence" letter against Allen. It's the latest in a series of high-profile upheavals at the Nashville HBCU.

Tennessee State University AD Mikki Allen on leave pending investigation

Mikki Allen, the athletic director at Tennessee State University, has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation.

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Belmont University's new medical school, which welcomed its first class in 2024, is on probation. It still has its preliminary accreditation status but won't have a chance to advance that until at least 2028.

Belmont medical school put on probation. What it means for students

The Thomas F. Frist Jr. College of Medicine, which is part of Belmont University, is on probation after an accreditation committee review.

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I sat down with Lilith Pipkin, a Nashville teen caught up in the Antioch High School shooting in 2025 that left her friend dead. A year later, she reported another threat, but then ended up getting blamed for it and expelled. Read my story to find out what happened.

She witnessed a school shooting, then got expelled after reporting a threat

A year after witnessing the Antioch High shooting, Lilith Pipkin said, she was expelled after reporting another school threat.

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I sat down with Lilith Pipkin, a Nashville teen caught up in the Antioch High School shooting in 2025 that left her friend dead. A year later, she reported another threat, but then ended up getting blamed for it and expelled. Read my story to find out what happened.

She witnessed a school shooting, then got expelled after reporting a threat

A year after witnessing the Antioch High shooting, Lilith Pipkin said, she was expelled after reporting another school threat.

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Opponents of Tennessee's private school vouchers say they subsidize tuition for families who can already afford it. I compiled a boatload of tuition and income data and did a deep-dive analysis to test that theory. Here's what I discovered.

Can TN voucher families already afford private school? What we learned

Opponents of Tennessee's private school vouchers say they subsidize tuition for those who can already afford it. We dug in to find out if that's true.

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Is that a rollercoaster sculpture on the Cumberland River? Nope. It's spiral galaxies flung together. I looked into the history of Nashville's "Ghost Ballet" installation for curious locals (like me), tourists and #CMAFest revelers alike.

Nashville's 'Ghost Ballet' sculpture nods to East Bank history

The "Ghost Ballet for the East Bank Machineworks" sculpture near downtown Nashville is often seen as rollercoaster tracks. Here's the real story.

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Yesterday, The Tennessean published a helpful, simple lawsuit tracker for all the legal challenges against redistricting. I'll be updating it as we get more info.

Track the lawsuits trying to block Tennessee's redistricting

See what has happened and what is next in the four lawsuits trying to block Tennessee Republicans' congressional redistricting.

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BREAKING: A federal judge has dismissed the criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia stemming from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee. The evidence before the court, the judge wrote, "sadly reflects an abuse of prosecuting power." www.tennessean.com/story/news/c...

Federal judge dismisses Kilmar Abrego Garcia's criminal charges

A federal judge dismissed the criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The charges stemmed from a traffic stop in Cookeville, Tennessee.

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BREAKING: A three-judge panel upheld Tennessee's new congressional maps in the NAACP's lawsuit, which challenged the constitutionality of lawmakers' actions. This follows a ruling in a different federal case denying a temporary injunction. www.tennessean.com/story/news/c...

Judges uphold Tennessee's new congressional maps in NAACP challenge

A three-judge panel rejected the NAACP's case against Tennessee's new congressional maps in another victory for redistricting proponents.

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State reading scores for Tennessee public school third graders went out this week. That sets off a fast-moving timeline to determine if tens of thousands will be held back or not. Here's my rundown on what happens between now and August.

Tennessee third grade reading scores are out. Here's what happens now

The release of TCAP reading scores set off a fast-moving timeline for Tennessee third graders to avoid being held back.

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A Nashville teen hurt in the 2025 Antioch High School shooting is suing AI weapon detection company Omnilert. Its system failed to pick up the shooter's gun that day. The suit says Omnilert misrepresented its abilities and later scaled back language on its site.

Antioch High School shooting survivor sues AI weapon detection company

The suit says Omnilert misled schools and the public on its abilities and later scaled back language on its site.

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BREAKING: Tony Carruthers attorneys say executioners cannot find a vein for lethal injection and have asked for a stay of his execution.

Tony Carruthers' attorneys say executioners cannot find vein, ask for stay

Carruthers' attorneys filed an emergency motion for a stay of execution to the Tennessee Supreme Court at about 11:40 a.m.

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A five-year-old Sumner County boy with autism faced assault charges after a series of violent outbursts at his kindergarten. After several months of court dates and an evaluation, a judge dismissed the case this week. Here's a closer look at what happened.

Assault case against Sumner Co. kindergartner with autism dismissed

A Tennessee kindergartener with autism faced assault charges after violent outbursts at school. The case has now been dismissed.

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A five-year-old Sumner County boy with autism faced assault charges after a series of violent outbursts at his kindergarten. After several months of court dates and an evaluation, a judge dismissed the case this week. Here's a closer look at what happened.

Assault case against Sumner Co. kindergartner with autism dismissed

A Tennessee kindergartener with autism faced assault charges after violent outbursts at school. The case has now been dismissed.

tennessean.com

This one's for my space nerds — and for those who need a little joy and whimsy in their lives. I had the honor of speaking with a Tennessee scientist and college dean who will help with an upcoming #Artemis mission that will land astronauts on the moon.

Future Artemis mission gives Tennessee scientist her moonshot

NASA has tapped Tennessee Technological University faculty member Jeanette Luna to join the team for an upcoming Artemis moon mission.

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State testing season is upon us, teeing off the fast-moving timeline of the Tennessee reading law. Last year 58% of third graders failed the state reading test. Here's what parents need to know this year as thousands of third graders face being held back.

What to know about Tennessee third grade reading law, TCAP scores

TCAP reading scores will set off a fast-moving timeline for Tennessee third graders to avoid being held back.

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It's been a heartbreaking weekend in Tennessee after two students were killed and several others were injured in a school bus crash. Here's the latest on what we know. (1/2)

TN community 'shattered' after 2 students killed in school bus wreck

A school bus crash in Tennessee left two students from a Clarksville middle school dead. Several more were injured.

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A bill backed by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services is drawing pushback. The bill allows some youth accused of assaulting residential staff to be kept in custody longer. Opponents say it doesn't guarantee due process and may perpetuate abuse.

Youth advocates say DCS bill could perpetuate abuse, harm TN kids

Youth advocates and state lawmakers from both sides of the aisle oppose a bill backed by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services.

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A Tennessee bill would allow the death penalty for women who get an abortion. It's yet to be voted on, but is being backed by several Tennessee GOP lawmakers, including one in the running for governor. More from @vivianejones.bsky.social here. ⤵️

TN bill would allow death penalty for women who have an abortion

SBC President Clint Pressley endorsed the effort saying it would “provide preborn children with equal protection of the laws.”

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Really incredible and important work by Sarah Grace and the Nashville Banner team here.

Sarah Grace Taylor@sarahgracetaylor.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Today we're sharing an investigation into the Nashville ICE/THP traffic operation. (Thread) I viewed over 50 hours of footage from the raid, which showed law enforcement calling targets "wet," "bodies," "illegals," physically writing on arrestees and competing to make the most arrests:

I took off my "children's reporter" hat for a bit to hear from weather experts on what made the Nashville winter storm so devastating. The effects will be felt well into the spring, with weakened trees posing a risk as severe weather season nears.

Why was the Nashville ice storm so severe? Experts weigh in

As Nashville recovers from a devastating winter storm, we hear from two weather experts on what happened and what's ahead.

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I got to write a story with a much-needed happy ending about a very special (and tough) mule named Earl. (Spoiler: He's okay! And getting all the treats he wants.)

As Middle Tennessee districts burn through snow days after a catastrophic winter storm, I took a look at look at what happens if they run out of them.

So many local restaurants and organizations have come together to feed and support Nashville residents in the wake of this terrible winter storm. I dropped by to see the Prince's Hot Chicken crew in action yesterday in Germantown.

The threat of power outages as freezing rain and ice move in to Middle Tennessee is likely front-of-mind for many. This story has a ton of tips (with a big assist from my colleague Gabrielle) on how to stay warm if the power goes out.

Happy Saturday from the Tennessean breaking news desk (AKA my apartment). @ahornbostel.bsky.social and I will be holding down the fort today as a winter storm moves through Nashville. We'll keep live updates rolling all day here. ⤵️

It's been a year since a deadly shooting at Antioch High School in Nashville — the city's second school shooting in as many years. I caught up with two therapists who have worked with mass violence victims to get their advice on how people can cope, help and heal.