May 13, 2026

Lawsuits challenge Tennessee congressional map—critics call redistricting an attack on Black voting power

Civil rights groups and Democratic leaders have filed federal lawsuits challenging Tennessee’s newly approved congressional map, arguing the Republican‑backed redistricting dismantles Memphis’ only majority‑Black district,

Parkinson calls for Memphis ‘secession’ debate

Tennessee Rep. Antonio Parkinson is calling for a national conversation about Memphis’ political future—including the possibility of “secession” from Tennessee—after a Republican‑backed redistricting plan divides

Musicians Corner free concert series returns to Music City                

Musicians Corner, Nashville’s beloved free concert series, returns to Centennial Park for its 17th year with five weeks of multi‑genre live music starting May 15,

Death row exonerees, innocence advocates urge Gov. Lee to halt Tony Carruthers execution

Death row exonerees and innocence advocates are urging Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to halt the scheduled execution of Tony Carruthers while courts consider new requests

Automatic draft registration raises questions among young Americans

As the federal government moves to automatically register men ages 18 to 25 for the Selective Service using existing databases, young Americans are raising questions

NAACP names Kristen Clarke as general counsel amid renewed civil rights battles

The NAACP has named prominent civil rights attorney Kristen Clarke as its new General Counsel, signaling an expanded push on voting rights, civil liberties, and

Fashion Fair sale still stings Johnson Publishing heirs years after bankruptcy

Fashion Fair’s bankruptcy sale still stings Johnson Publishing heirs, as Linda Johnson Rice and daughter Alexa Rice say former CEO Desiree Rogers betrayed the family

LA28 Olympic tickets—register by July

Tickets for the 2028 LA28 Olympic Games go on sale again in August, but fans must register by July 22 to enter a random draw

Jefferson Street Corridor study invites community to help shape historic Nashville corridor’s future

The Jefferson Street Corridor study has released its draft plan and is inviting the community to help shape the future of historic Jefferson Street—once the

Blackburn dominates GOP governor’s race as Democratic field remains wide open

A new Tennessee Beacon Poll shows Marsha Blackburn dominating the 2026 Republican governor’s primary with 63% support as Democratic voters remain largely undecided, while Tennesseans

NDOT expands downtown signal retiming project after drop in pedestrian crashes

NDOT is expanding its Downtown Signal Retiming Project after downtown Nashville saw a 20% year‑over‑year drop in pedestrian crashes and a 16% reduction in overall

Faith of A Mustard Seed       

Barbara A. Woods Washington, M. Div., reflects on Paul Tillich’s The Dynamics of Faith, Howard Thurman’s insights, and the First Amendment to argue that faith

Supreme Court’s war on Voting Rights Act sends America backwards

The op‑ed “Supreme Court’s war on Voting Rights Act sends America backwards” by Dedrick Asante‑Muhammad warns that recent Supreme Court decisions weakening the Voting Rights

From preaching to practice—architects of our AI future

From preaching to practice, Rev. Dr. Adolphus C. Lacey calls on faith leaders and communities to become architects of an inclusive AI future—using artificial intelligence

Even under attack, Black Southern voters can deliver the Senate for Democrats

Even under attack from voter suppression and weakened Voting Rights Act protections, Black Southern voters in Texas, North Carolina, and Georgia can still deliver a