NashVillager

The way our state and local governments work together in a natural disaster has its roots in national defense. Plus, the local news for October 28, 2025, and snakes on This is Nashville.  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

Tennessee has several stories of offbeat thefts of art (or “art,” depending on your point of view). Plus, the local news for October 27, 2025, and investigative collaboration. 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

There once was a time when tens of thousands of Tennessee kids under the age of 13 worked dangerous jobs in places like mines and fabric mills. That's not legal anymore, but there are efforts to chip away at the laws protecting young workers. Plus, the local news for October 24, 2025, and 2LiveBre. 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

Play areas have come a long way from the days of monkey bars and scorchingly hot metal slides. That's by design. Plus, the local news for October 23, 2025, and a Dragula suite. 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

On the anniversary of the world's first parachute jump, a look at the paratroopers-turned-air-assault soldiers. Plus, the local news for October 22, 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

As Shelby County sues the governor for potentially overstepping his role, a look at the state laws that are cited in the court case. Plus, the local news for October 21, 2025, and the race to save an endangered Tennessee fish. 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 income tax that wasn't a traditional income tax is gone, but why hasn't Tennessee eliminated the grocery tax? Plus the local news for October 20, 2025 and kids in solitary confinement. 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

It looks like school vouchers could be a dominant topic at the state capitol for a third straight year. Plus the local news for October 17, 2025 and leaf peeping.  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 new campaign of a disgraced former sheriff will require the Tennessee GOP to make an interesting decision. Plus the local news for October 16, 2025 and a new look at one town's last public lynching. 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

Another round of No Kings demonstrations are scheduled for this weekend. Plus the local news for October 15, 2025 and this week's edition of What Where Whens-day. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Mack LinebaughAdditional support: Tony Gonzalez, Miriam Kramer, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Abolition never really caught on in a serious way in Middle Tennessee, but that doesn't mean people weren't aware that the institution of slavery was dying all over the rest of the world. Plus the local news for October 14, 2025 and pawpaw soda 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

What do we know about the site of Friday morning's explosion? After the deadly explosion at a factory near Bucksnort, a look at the work done by Accurate Energy Solutions. Plus the local news for October 13, 2025 and invasive carp in our waterways.Credits:  This is a production of Nashville Public Radio Host/producer: Nina Cardona Editor: Miriam Kramer Additional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP 

A great American hero died in Middle Tennessee, possibly at his own hand, more than 200 years ago. We've still got to get better at preventing suicides here. Plus, the local news for October 10, 2025, and a unique Sewanee tradition. 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

Nashville isn't a city that has had a huge fire shape it, but there is still a lot to remember on this Firefighters Memorial Day. Plus, the local news for October 9, 2025 and a look at Eviction Right to Counsel. 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

A mailer sent out to Republicans around the Midstate ahead of this week's election crossed some serious lines. Plus, the local news for October 8, 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

From soccer to football, things are looking up for sports across Tennessee. Even the Titans won last weekend. Plus, the local news for October 7, 2025, and a look at the staying power of low head dams in Appalachia. 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

More than a century after a groundbreaking Midstate bank showed that a woman's place can absolutely be in finance, the number of female bank CEOs still lags behind other industries. Plus the local news for October 6, 2025 and preserving the Ohio River Basin. 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

A new analysis of book removals from schools and libraries shows Tennessee has a dubious honor. Plus the local news for October 3, 2025 and a Gospel music hall of fame finally finds a home. Credits:  This is a production of Nashville Public Radio Host/producer: Nina Cardona Editor: Miriam Kramer Additional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP 

Near misses at Nashville's Airport are one sign of how bad the nationwide air traffic controller shortage is. Plus, the local news for October 2, 2025, and teaching math by quilting. 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

Vanderbilt's Seigenthaler Center and MTSU's Free Speech Center were both built on a principle that is also core to what we do at Nashville Public Radio. Plus, the local news for October 1, 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

Photos and documents from a groundbreaking program to educate Black Children roughly a century ago are now available online through Fisk's library. Plus, the local news for September 30, 2025, and a This is Nashville excerpt. 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 breakdown in relations between Nashville and state government is real, but it wasn't always this way. Plus, the local news for September 29, 2025 and talking about the “G word”: geriatrics.  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

Tylenol, fluoride and all kinds of vaccines are caught in the crossfire of conflicts between word-of-mouth advice and actual science. Plus, the local news for September 26, 2025, and VibeOut. 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

There's a lot the confusion over the role the FCC has to play in the fight over whether the Jimmy Kimmel Show should be on air. A lot of it comes down to local stations and their licenses. Plus, the local news for September 25, 2025, and demystifying childhood vaccine recommendations. 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

Can Tennessee laboratories handle all the evidence and autopsies in a growing region? In addition to highly publicized backlogs for testing sexual assault kits, a new report shows delays are growing for other types of evidence testing.Plus, the local news for Sept. 24, 2025, and the latest edition of What Where When-sday. 

There are major differences between the Bank Panic of 1819 and today's flex loan crisis, but the end result is the same: Tennesseans struggling under massive debt that is not all of their own making. Plus, the local news for September 23, 2025, and funding cuts for disability services. 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

When the National Guard is deployed to an American city, people in the guard units' hometowns are left in the lurch. Plus, the local news for September 22, 2025, and harm reductionist Miriam Field. 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 the cancellations of Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel to book bans and drag restrictions in Tennessee, are we testing the limits of the First Amendment? Plus, the local news for September 19, 2025, and flex loans. 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 most iconic type of Nashville bar is part of a colorful history that includes cattle drives and sailors on shore leave. Plus, the local news for September 18, 2025 and reclaiming the banjo. 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

Zoning laws may sound arcane, but they set the tone for so much of what gives a neighborhood its character. Plus, the local news for September 17, 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

Not all deaths in the public sphere get the same level of response. Whether or not someone like Charlie Kirk should be remembered with large scale vigils or a moment of silence is a politically loaded question. Plus, the local news for Sept. 16, 2025, and a landfill controversy in a rural area of Tennessee. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: Tony GonzalezAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Miriam Kramer, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

There was a time when the majority of parks in our city were about ball fields and band shells, but now the four largest parks in the system are mostly given over to nature. Plus, the local news for September 15, 2025, and NPR's Pod Corner. Credits:  This is a production of Nashville Public Radio. Host/producer: Nina Cardona Editor: Miriam Kramer Additional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP 

One of our most beloved rights in this nation is also one of the most contentious. Plus, the local news for September 12, 2025, and deciding where Nashville needs more housing. 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

Our history as a state and country has been defined, in large part, by waves of migration. Tennessee has been part of many of those exoduses. Plus, the local news for September 11, 2025, and a look at the debate around IVF in this state. 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 a brief moment, it looked like our part of the state could have played host to an underground atom smasher. The conversations around the Boring Co.'s planned Music City Loop today holds some parallels. Plus, the local news for September 10, 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

From the early days of auto safety to the current attempts to reduce overdose deaths, new ideas for increasing safety are often met with skepticism or annoyance. Plus, the local news for September 9, 2025, and This Is Nashville's harm reduction week. 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

Two men who became emblematic for pandemic disagreements back in 2020 are facing off again, this time in a Congressional election. Plus, the local news for September 8, 2025, and a dip into the archive for Mule Day 2021. 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

Content Warning: This episode contains explicit discussions of hard drug use. It also contains mature, uncensored language.For about the last four years, This is Nashville's managing editor Tasha A.F. Lemley has been reporting on ways to support people who use dangerous drugs, often without requiring, or even suggesting, that they should stop using.It's a philosophy known as harm reduction. The concept has become more widely embraced in recent years as a way to keep drug users from dying – whether that's from an overdose, disease or infection. But some champions want to take it even further, beyond what the law in Tennessee allows right now. And that's the story we're bringing you today for this special episode of the NashVillager. Credits:Producer: Tasha A.F. LemleyHost: Blake FarmerLegal review: Paul McAdooSpecial thanks: Tony Gonzalez

Before he became a Texas legend, Sam Houston was a prominent Tennessean with a penchant for running away to be with the Cherokee. Plus, the local news for September 5, 2025, and horse farm immigration raids. 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

Here in Tennessee, we're using way more energy than we produce.Plus the local news for Sept. 4, 2025 and a profile of Emily Hines, the WNXP Nashville Artist of the Month.  Credits:  This is a production of Nashville Public Radio.Host/producer: Nina Cardona Editor: Miriam Kramer Additional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP 

One of the first times guard troops were called in to protect desegregation was in Tennessee, but would a deployment to Memphis be a good idea now? Plus, the local news for September 3, 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

Clarksville native and TSU Tigerbelle Wilma Rudolph was the complete Olympic package: amazing athleticism and a profoundly inspirational backstory. But being the star of the Rome Games was a double-edged sword. Plus, the local news for September 2, 2025, and author Eliana Ramage. 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

A natural disaster can set off ripple effects of problems and challenges wherever it strikes, and there have been lessons learned since Katrina. Plus, the local news for August 29, 2025, and a conversation with the Black Keys.  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

Cracker Barrel showed the world just how difficult it is to try to keep things fresh when your brand is built on total consistency. Plus, the local news for August 28, 2025, and a postmortem on Tennessee's most recent execution. 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

Today is the anniversary of one Black Tennessean's hard-fought rise to union leadership. Plus, the local news for August 27, 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

Steamboats made Nashville's river an important mode of commercial transportation, and barges keep that tradition alive today. Plus, the local news for August 26, 2025, and lifelong learning. 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

On this day in 2012, Goodlettsville little leaguers won the national championship — and gained memories for a lifetime. Plus, the local news for August 25, 2025, and Kentucky's first medical cannabis dispensary. Credits:  This is a production of Nashville Public Radio Hosts/producers: Tony Gonzalez and Nina Cardona Editor: Miriam Kramer Additional support: Mack Linebaugh, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP 

On today's episode, Blake Farmer digs into Fisk University's beginnings. Plus, the local news for August 22, 2025, and a look at the controversy surrounding East Bank Boulevard.  Credits:  This is a production of Nashville Public Radio Host/producer: Blake Farmer Editor: Miriam Kramer Additional support: Mack Linebaugh, Nina Cardona, Tony Gonzalez, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP 

From the tallest building in Nashville, to our airport's busiest year on record, superlative numbers are in the news this week. Plus, the latest local news for August 21, 2025, and the story of one Tennessee town pushing back against a bitcoin data mine.  Credits:This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Tony GonzalezEditor: Miriam KramerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Nina Cardona, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Across Middle Tennessee, many of our Kurdish neighbors saw their lives changed forever by a war that ended in a ceasefire on this day in 1988. Plus, the local news for Aug. 20, 2025, and shining a light on the Nashville Shakespeare Festival.  Credits:This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Tony GonzalezEditor: Miriam KramerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Nina Cardona, LaTonya Turner and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

State interference in university matters has been an ongoing theme in Tennessee for quite some time. Plus, the local news for August 19, 2025, and the man who shows up in support of the death penalty at each execution.  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