Nashville, Tenn. (TN Tribune)-The esteemed keynote speaker for the Middle TN NAN “Black Diamond” Ball is the renowned civil rights advocate, Reverend Al Sharpton. A true trailblazer in the fight for equality, Rev. Sharpton has made significant contributions to social justice, inspiring change on both local and global scales. He is a renowned civil rights figure, author, and influential activist. With a career spanning many years, he has fearlessly challenged systemic discrimination and worked towards creating a more inclusive society. Rev. Al Sharpton envisions a future where every individual ..read more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TN Tribune) – YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee hosted the 12th annual Wine Women & Shoes, presented by Regions on Saturday, April 13, at the Music City Center. The event – named Nashville’s Best Women’s Event two years in a row by Nfocus Magazine – did not disappoint and raised $620,000, as more than 500 individuals and 100 volunteers of diverse ages and backgrounds, gathered together for a singular cause – supporting YWCA’s Weaver Domestic Violence Center and the women and children it serves every day. “The generosity of the Nashville community is overwhelming,” sa ..read more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mayor Freddie O’Connell, Nashville Electric Service (NES), and the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) celebrate the upgrading of 6,183 streetlights to new LED technology. The upgrades will slash energy consumption by 60 percent, save the city $20 million in energy costs and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 36,000 metric tons over the next decade. The strategic overhaul began in January with a goal of providing a more efficient and sustainable means of street lighting while improving safety and streetscape aesthetics for Nashvil ..read more

NASHVILLE, TENN. (TN Tribune) — The Tennessee General Assembly yesterday approved critical additional funding for court-appointed attorneys representing the indigent in state courts. The funds, $8.6 million in additional recurring funding, were included in the FY 2024-2025 budget, and will provide a $10 increase in the hourly reimbursement rate of compensation, along with a proportionate increase in the current cap on the total amount a court-appointed attorney may earn per case, marking the first time this rate has been increased since 1997. The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) applauds the T ..read more

Nashville, TN — In a victory for Tennessee voters, a federal judge affirmed  that Tennessee election officials cannot deny voter registration to eligible Tennesseans who have past felony convictions and that they must inform potential voters of the eligibility requirements for voting after a felony.  “The Tennessee NAACP is pleased with the federal judge’s ruling,” said Gloria Sweet-Love, president of the Tennessee NAACP. “It takes us a step closer to removing barriers for formerly incarcerated Tennesseans who are seeking free and fair access to the ballot b ..read more

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s School of Journalism and Strategic Media is celebrating its 50th year of teaching students reporting, storytelling, breaking news and everything in between.   Approved in 1972, the program began when Ed Kimbrell started the Department of Mass Communications, which included sequences in advertising and public relations, news-editorial, graphics and photography, and broadcasting.  A Recording Industry major was added in 1973. The department became a school as it added radio and TV courses before becoming the ..read more

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (TN Tribune) – FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) announced an NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) program benefiting University of Memphis student-athletes. FedEx will invest $5M per year for the next five years in University of Memphis student-athletes who will be promoting FedEx initiatives, with the program initially centered around football, men’s and women’s basketball, and additional women’s sports. FedEx, whose world headquarters is located in Memphis, is introducing the NIL model at its hometown university to further bolster its longstanding relationship with the University of Me ..read more

Chattanooga, Tenn.(TN Tribune), Yesterday, the Volkswagen autoworkers in Chattanooga, Tennessee overwhelmingly voted “Yes” to unionize and become members of the United Auto Workers (UAW).  In comparing the move to the historic 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) President Lee Saunders congratulates the Volkswagen autoworkers.     “On behalf of AFSCME’s 1.4 million members, congratulations to the Volkswagen autoworkers on winning their union in Tennessee,” Saunders said. “It shows wha ..read more

Nashville, Tenn. (TN Tribune) — Mandisa Hundley, renowned for her vibrant spirit and powerful vocals, tragically passed away at her Nashville home yesterday. Known mononymously as Mandisa, she was a celebrated figure in the Christian music world, an American Idol finalist, and a former member of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. She was 47. The sad news was confirmed by her public relations team, who stated, “We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased. At this time, we do not know the cause of death or any further details. We ask for your prayers for her family and close-kni ..read more

Sow to Grow Experience Is Designed for Teens with Disabilities KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Gardens is hosting “Sow to Grow,” a three-week vocational summer program for youth with disabilities. Parents of teens ages 13 through high school are encouraged to register their child to attend from June 3 through June 24, 2024. The Sow to Grow program will be a fun, socially engaging summer program that involves a variety of fun gardening activities for teens with disabilities. The sessions will be presented in a safe and welcoming environment. Through this work-ready skills progra ..read more