NashVillager

It's cold, but not cold enough to freeze the Cumberland River again. Nashville's founders famously crossed the Cumberland on foot, but that's not the only freeze on record. Plus the local news for January 27, 2026 and Nashville artist Shelldhn Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

There's a physiological reason why the winter weather may be taking an emotional toll. Plus, the local news for January 26, 2026 and a HealthQ suggestion for finding help during pregnancy. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Today, Tennessee's Deadly Drug Task Force pays a lot of attention to opioids and fentanyl, but its roots lie in sniffing out meth labs. Plus the local news for January 23, 2026, and Dry January USA. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Once again, kids are trying to sleep among cubicles when they should be cared for in home settings. Plus the local news for January 22, 2026 and saving Civil War sites. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

It looks like this weekend could bring a big storm to Middle Tennessee. Are we ready to handle that kind of weather? Plus the local news for January 21, 2026 and this week's edition of What Where Whens-Day. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

It's been a winding path from Tennessee's first constitution to the laws about how long a governor can serve now. Plus the local news for January 20, 2026 and Health Q on using the gym benefits in some insurance plans. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Robert Renfro came here as a slave shortly after the city was founded. But, he earned his freedom and won both the support of Nashville's elite and multiple lawsuits. Plus the local news for January 16, 2026 and Rock Nashville. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

With more and more aircraft flying through local skies, the FAA may institute tighter restrictions to make sure everyone stays safe. Plus the local news for January 15, 2026 and a taste of what it is to ride through a Boring Company tunnel. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

The Supreme Court set precedent for when deadly force can be used in a case surrounding the police shooting of a Memphis teenager. Plus the local news for January 14, 2026 and this week's edition of What Where Whens-Day. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

For a few decades, Nashville was treated to an occasional, irregular series of musical events that couldn't fall neatly into any one category of either format or genre. Plus the local news for January 13, 2026  Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

One beloved barn is about to be torn down, but nearly a dozen Tennessee historic courthouses are getting money for rehabilitation efforts. Plus, the local news for January 12, 2026, and getting care during flu season. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Medical providers in Tennessee are licensed and monitored by a variety of oversight boards. Whether or not those groups are doing their job well depends on who you ask. Plus the local news for January 9th, and Mon Rovia Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

The legislative session is about to start. Some of the measures lawmakers submit will be thoroughly debated and voted into law. Some won't really cross the starting line. Plus, the local news for January 8, 2026, and Tash Tea. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Nashville's central core has been through ups and downs that should inform the way the city's newest neighborhood is designed. Plus, the local news for January 7th and this week's edition of What Where Whens-Day. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Last month's announcement of an investment in Tennessee zinc operations is big for the state and big for the nation. Plus the local news for January 6, 2026 and the complex music history of Muscle Shoals. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

In the aftermath of World War I, a Nashville man with unbelievable self-confidence sparked a diplomatic incident that reads like fiction. Plus the local news for January 5, 2025 and where to find low cost health care Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Megan JonesAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

A newly filed bill in Tennessee's General Assembly cites lots of scripture and asks lawmakers to take an explicitly pro-Israel stance. Plus the local news for December 31, 2025 and the trade war comes for Tennessee soybeans. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Alexis MarshallAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Why aren't there more dinosaur bones in Tennessee? There are some Cretaceous Period remains in the Volunteer State, but it was the Ice Age that left much richer deposits here.Plus, the local news for Dec. 30, 2025 and red tape that could save lives.Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public Radio.Host/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Tony Gonzalez

Every President and First Lady does something to make the nation's executive mansion their home. For the Polks, it was almost puritan customs, a key bit of redecoration, and an undercurrent of slavery. Plus the local news for December 29, 2025 and a big year for Nashville transit. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

For the holiday episodes, we're doing a look back at our colleague's best work. This one by WPLN's Catherine Sweeney features criminal justice reporter Paige Pfleger's story on how a blind spot in Tennessee's probation system leaves domestic violence victims in danger. Credits:  This is a production of Nashville Public Radio  Host/producer: Catherine Sweeney  Editor: LaTonya Turner  Additional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, and the staff of WPLN and WNXP  

During this holiday week, the NashVillager Podcast takes a moment to share some of the best local reporting of the year — as chosen by WPLN staffers. Today, reporter Rose Gilbert highlights her colleague Mary Mancini's story about a local elephant sanctuary.  This is a production of Nashville Public Radio  Host/producer: Rose Gilbert Editor: LaTonya Turner  Additional support: Mack Linebaugh, Nina Cardona, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP  

Remember when we used to burn CDs?A lot of music made it around the world without being properly published in those early days of file sharing. So the “Lostwave community” steps in to hunt down the origins of unidentified music. In this case, music that was made in Boston and heard in Seattle required the help of a data geek in the Middle East to figure out that the originator lives right here among us in Nashville.  This is a production of Nashville Public Radio. Host/producer: Blake Farmer Editor: Tony Gonzalez 

How are Tennessee Christians using the Bible to form beliefs about immigration?  

How can a WPLN music story transport you somewhere new?During this holiday week, the NashVillager Podcast takes a moment to share some of the best local reporting of the year — as chosen by WPLN staffers. Today, music reporter Justin Barney shows how his colleague Jewly Hight goes far beyond typical artists interviews to capture the local music scene.

It's been quite a year for everyone's favorite: country star, actress, philanthropist (and just plain good person) Dolly Parton. Plus the local news for December 19, 2025 and the final installment of The Debt. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Why are there so many memorial services during the otherwise joyful holiday season?As This Is Nashville mounts an "in memoriam" episode, a look at why the holidays are a natural time to pause and reflect on the people we've lost.Plus the local news for December 18, 2025 and an excerpt from The Debt.

America had Civil Rights Leaders who fought hard for equality far before the to the Civil Rights Movement as we usually think of it got underway. Plus the local news for December 17, 2025 and this week's edition of What Where Whens-day. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

After more than year without a new contract, some workers at the Chattanooga VW factory are losing patience with the United Auto Workers. Plus the local news for December 16, 2025 and another installment of The Debt. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Exposure to the elements during a brutal cold snap played a role in the defeat of the Confederates in the two-day Battle of Nashville. Today, people living on the street face many of the same conditions, and federal resources to help them are in limbo. Plus the local news for December 15, 2025, and part one of The Debt. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

The neighborhood that used to run things at Cheekwood is ready to kick out the stream of visitor traffic to the attraction. But the plan for moving access to a new road has opponents of its own. Plus the local news for December 12, 2025, and the chilling of free speech on Appalachian college campuses. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Incredible fog once lead to a tragic accident involving nearly 100 cars near Chattanooga. The complex system that protects against a repeat tragedy needs to be replaced. Plus, the local news for December 11, 2025 and Andi Marie Tillman. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Today, a peek behind the curtain at the sources that inform the NashVillager Podcast. Plus the local news for December 10, 2025, and this week's edition of What Where Whens-Day. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

A lot of Tennesseans could use help paying for food. Plus the local news for December 9, 2025, and the evolution from CA$HK to Kyleigh. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Miriam Kramer LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

One way out of a time of deep division is finding a common cause. Plus the local news for December 8, 2025 and the Santa train.  Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Finance experts say it's going to be a tight budget year for the state of Tennessee, but that stands in contrast to the types of spending requests that have come in from state agencies. Plus the local news for Dec. 5, and and learning how one private school benefits from the state's voucher program.

Tuesday's special election has some factors in common with James K. Polk's rise to power. But more importantly, it could set the tone for the next round of campaigning.Plus the local news for Dec. 4, 2025, and answering a Curious Nashville question about the Grand Ole Opry.Credits:This is a production of Nashville Public Radio.Host/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Tony Gonzalez

Now that several big developments on the East Bank are moving forward, we're getting a taste of what we'll call the city's soon-to-be new neighborhoods. Plus the local news for December 3, 2025 and this week's edition of What Where Whens-Day. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Tony Gonzalez

The South is sometimes assumed to be a monoculture. But that's not certainly not true … and it never has been. Plus, the local news for December 2, 2025, and a visit to a farm-turned-classroom in Clarksville. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Miriam KramerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Banks used to be very local institutions, but these days they seem to get bigger and bigger. Plus the local news for December 1, 2025 and the latest installment from Music Citizens. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

In an era when national holidays were rare, what did it take for Thanksgiving to make the cut? Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln play significant roles in the creation of the Thanksgiving holiday — but it was also writer and activist Sarah Hale who beat the drum for decades.Plus the local news for Nov. 26 and a round-up of events in What Where When-sday. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public Radio.Host/producer: Tony GonzalezEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

On this day, the Union broke the Confederate siege of Chattanooga by storming Missionary Ridge, which some describe as the “death knell” of the Confederacy.Plus the local news for Nov. 25, and a profile of Henry J. Star, the WNXP Nashville Artist of the Month for November.  Credits:  This is a production of Nashville Public Radio Host/producer: Tony Gonzalez Editor: LaTonya Turner Additional support: Mack Linebaugh and the staff of WPLN and WNXP 

It's the anniversary of one of Tennessee's deadliest disasters, and the Tennessee Guard served a very different role than its current deployment in Memphis. Plus the local news for November 24, 2025 and a feature from our series IN MY PLACE.  Credits:  This is a production of Nashville Public Radio Host/producer: Blake Farmer Editor: LaTonya Turner Additional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez and the staff of WPLN and WNXP 

The fight over access is at the heart of the lawsuits over Tennessee's execution protocols and so much more. Plus the local news for November 21, 2025 and what's the deal with Chicago Style Gyros in Music City? Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

It's easy to wave off concern about sinkholes or pipeline spills as anti-business nonsense, but things can and do go wrong sometimes. Plus the local news for November 20, 2025 and Tennessee pearls. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Miriam KramerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

The arm of government carrying out immigration raids today was created to respond to terrorism. Plus, the local news for November 19, 2025, and this week's edition of What Where Whens-Day. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Miriam KramerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

The zig-zag boundary between Central and Eastern time zones in Tennessee is partly because of another kind of issue with time-keeping. Plus, the local news for November 18, 2025, and new Country Grammy categories. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Miriam KramerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

From Nixon's clean slate from Ford to the way that Trump recently cleared the records of Tennessee political figures, a look at pardons. Plus, the local news for November 17, 2025, and a blind spot in Tennessee's probation system.  Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Miriam KramerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Sometimes assistance can be given in a way that hurts more than it helps. Plus the local news for November 14, 2025 and a tent revival in Scott County. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Miriam KramerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Tunnel-building technology has come a long way in recent years, but creating a tunnel under a bustling city is still a difficult task. Plus, the local news for November 13, 2025, and newfound writings from Virginia Woolf.  Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Miriam KramerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Job growth in the Midstate has long focused on factories in rural areas, but we might be seeing a shifting trend begin. Plus, the local news for November 12, 2025, and this week's edition of What, Where, Whens-day. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Miriam KramerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

For Veterans' Day, the story of a monument to everyone who fought in the bloody Battle of Franklin, both Union and Confederate. Plus, the local news for November 11th, 2025, and small town v. cryptocurrency mine Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Miriam KramerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP