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Tag: nashville

  • New majority of Biden picks confirmed to US utility’s board

    New majority of Biden picks confirmed to US utility’s board

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    NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed six long-waiting nominees by President Joe Biden to the board of the nation’s largest public utility, establishing a new majority with Biden’s picks.

    The Senate confirmed the six by unanimous consent, Tennessee Valley Authority spokesperson Ashton Davies said. The federal utility’s nine-member board had been whittled down to five people, each appointed by former President Donald Trump, with two members who had been serving after their terms expired in May.

    The seats come with five-year terms. But when a board member’s term expires, that person can keep serving until end of the current congressional session, typically in December, or until their successors take office, whatever comes first.

    Environmental groups had been calling for urgency in the confirmations, saying that otherwise, the board soon wouldn’t have a quorum to conduct business and the utility’s ability to fulfill its duties would be hampered. Advocates also have been urging the new board members, when installed, to move away from carbon-producing electricity more quickly in a push to curb climate change.

    The new board members span several states. Huntsville, Alabama attorney Joe Ritch is returning to the TVA board of which he once was chairman as a nominee of former President Barack Obama. Adam Wade White is the judge executive for Lyon County, Kentucky. Bill Renick is a former Ashland, Mississippi, mayor and state lawmaker.

    Beth Geer, from Brentwood, Tennessee, is the chief of staff to former Vice President Al Gore and serves on Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s Sustainability Advisory Committee. Michelle Moore, who grew up in LaGrange, Georgia, and lives in Richmond, Virginia, heads a clean energy nonprofit after leading Obama’s sustainability team.

    Robert Klein is a retired line foreman for the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga who also filled roles with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

    Three of the new board members’ nominations date back to April 2021. Two were nominated in June, and one was nominated in July.

    “We’re excited to have Beth, Bobby, Michelle, Bill, Joe and Wade add their diverse perspectives to the TVA team,” TVA spokesperson Ashton Davies said in a statement. “We look forward to them being sworn in as TVA directors in the coming days and help us further strengthen TVA’s ongoing mission of service to the 10 million people of our seven-state region.”

    Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, on Wednesday offered praise for “finally adding a Kentuckian” — White — to the board.

    “Wade’s heart has always been in serving his home state and his unique perspective will bring balance to the organization and its priorities,” McConnell said in a statement.

    Three Trump-appointed board members will remain in the new year: Chairman William Kilbride, whose term expires in May 2023, and Beth Harwell and Brian Noland, whose terms expire in May 2024.

    Environmental advocates have urged the new Democrat-appointed board members, once installed, to move more quickly in transitioning to 100% carbon-free electricity, citing the Biden administration’s goal of a carbon-pollution-free energy sector by 2035.

    TVA has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2035, compared to 2005 levels. The utility has its own aspirational goal of net zero emissions by 2050. TVA’s CEO, Jeff Lyash, has said the utility will not be able to meet Biden’s 100% reduction goal for 2035 without technological advances in energy storage, carbon capture and small modular nuclear reactors.

    Meanwhile, the utility earlier this month recommended replacing the aging coal-burning Cumberland Fossil Plant in Tennessee with natural gas. Last year, TVA’s board delegated any decision on Cumberland’s replacement to Lyash.

    TVA provides electricity for 153 local power companies serving 10 million people in Tennessee and parts of six surrounding states, in addition to large industrial customers and federal operations.

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  • Michael Weintrob’s “InstrumentHead”

    Michael Weintrob’s “InstrumentHead”

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    Michael Weintrob’s “InstrumentHead” – CBS News


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    Nashville photographer Michael Weintrob’s project consists of portraits of musicians in which their personality and emotion is captured through their instruments, literally. “Sunday Morning” producer Roman Feeser talked with Weintrob about his book “InstrumentHead,” and its companion volume, “InstrumentHead Revealed.”

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  • Records access sought in case of inmate who severed penis

    Records access sought in case of inmate who severed penis

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    NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Tennessee judge on Friday promised to rule quickly on a request for public access to records that detail the treatment of a death row prisoner who cut off his penis while on suicide watch in October.

    In a lawsuit filed in Chancery Court in Nashville, inmate Henry Hodges accused the state of providing inadequate medical and mental health care.

    The inmate, who was sentenced to die for the 1990 killing of a telephone repairman, also accused the state of cruel and unusual punishment for his treatment upon his return to the prison from the hospital. That included keeping him naked and tied down with restraints on a thin vinyl mattress over a concrete slab in a room where the lights were always on and there was no TV or radio.

    Hodges was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where surgeons reattached his penis. After a few weeks in the hospital, he was returned to the prison. Hodges ended up having to return to the hospital to have his penis surgically removed after necrosis set in, according to court filings.

    The state has asked for a court order that would protect broad categories of documents from public disclosure, including all video recordings of Hodges’ treatment while inside the prison. The Associated Press and the Nashville Banner are asking for those records to be open.

    In court on Friday, Assistant Attorney General Dean Atyia argued that state law exempts certain categories of documents from public disclosure. Those include investigative reports, surveillance video, and other document directly related to the security of the prison.

    The state has filed an affidavit by Ernest Lewis, the associate warden of security at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, stating that public disclosure of the prison records “could pose a severe security risk to both inmates and staff.”

    “We have to protect the public,” Atyia said. “We have to keep prison transportation safe, keep prison officials safe, keep contraband out of the prisons.”

    Nashville Banner attorney Daniel Horwitz argued that the state’s assertions of a vague security risk and the single-page affidavit from Lewis are not nearly sufficient to justify keeping the records secret. Officials have to demonstrate specific harm that would come from release of specific documents, rather than broad, conclusory allegations.

    “The state has concerns about prisoner transportation?” he said. “Great. Let us know where that is” in the videos.

    Hodges’ attorney, Kelley Henry, spoke in favor of disclosure, saying that videos of the prison interior are already public on the Tennessee Department of Correction’s own YouTube channel.

    “By putting it on the internet, that shows it doesn’t compromise safety and security,” she stated.

    In addition, the videos refute the state’s version of events about Hodges’ actions and his treatment by prison officials, she said.

    In addition, there is an exception to the statute that protects video and other records deemed to implicate security. They can be released in several cases, including where they show possible criminal activity, said Paul McAdoo, an attorney with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, who is representing The AP.

    Henry, who has seen the videos in question, suggested in court that Hodges’ treatment by prison officials could be considered criminal, although she did not go into detail.

    No official has been charged with a crime.

    Prison security is important, McAdoo argued, but it is up to the judge to review the records the state wants to keep private and determine whether security is likely to be compromised by them.

    Hodges has said he wants all the records open to the public, including his medical records. Atyia said they would not oppose the release of the medical records.

    A Nashville jury convicted Hodges of murder in 1992 and sentenced him to death for the killing of the repairman, Ronald Bassett. Hodges also was sentenced to 40 years in prison for robbing Bassett.

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  • Tennessee eyes $2M in contracts to test 1000 rape kits

    Tennessee eyes $2M in contracts to test 1000 rape kits

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    NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s lead investigative agency is seeking $2 million in contracts with outside labs to process 1,000 rape kits it says need to be tested before the end of June.

    The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued the request for proposals for up to three contractors, as the state’s turnaround times for sexual assault kits continue to face scrutiny after the high-profile killing of teacher Eliza Fletcher in September. The contractors would also need to testify about the tested rape kits as needed in court cases.

    As of October, the agency said the average turnaround time for a rape kit was 43 weeks at the Knoxville lab, 42.4 weeks at the Jackson lab and 32.7 weeks at the Nashville lab. The bureau wants the contractors signed on by the end of January.

    The agency has attributed the delays to staffing woes and low pay agency-wide that complicates recruiting and keeping scientists, in addition to other professionals. The issues are likely to drive plenty of conversation during the legislative session that begins next month.

    Republican Gov. Bill Lee announced in late September that he and lawmakers were fast-tracking funding to hire an 25 additional forensic lab positions. The agency had requested 40 more special agent/forensic scientist positions and 10 more technicians in the budget that is now in effect, but Lee and lawmakers initially funded half that amount.

    Eighteen new special agent/forensic scientists have started since September, while 22 are in the hiring, background or relocation process, agency spokesperson Keli McAlister said.

    There are several different roles for forensic scientists at the agency other than DNA, ranging from toxicology to forensic chemistry. In the first wave of positions approved for the current budget, for example, the 20 new special agent/forensic scientist positions funded included eight forensic biology/DNA positions.

    Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch has said the agency has several other approaches in the works, as he aims to reduce turnaround times to eight to 12 weeks within a year for all evidence. Some efforts include: offering overtime for lab workers; operating the labs on weekends; and contracting with retired TBI workers to help provide training so current scientists can shift their time training employees to more case work.

    The problems with Tennessee’s rape kit testing were laid bare after Fletcher’s killing.

    Authorities confirmed that the man charged with abducting and killing Fletcher had not been charged in the 2021 case of the rape of a woman due to the delay in processing the sexual assault kit.

    Cleotha Henderson was eventually indicted in the case just days after he was arrested in the death of Fletcher, a mother of two and a kindergarten teacher.

    In the earlier case, Memphis police say they took a sexual assault report on Sept. 21, 2021 but it wasn’t analyzed in a state lab until nearly a year later. When the 2021 DNA was entered into the national database, it returned a match for Henderson on Sept. 5. Fletcher disappeared on Sept. 2.

    TBI said police in Memphis had made no request for expedited analysis of the kit, which can cut the wait to only days, and no suspect information was included in the submission.

    Henderson made a brief appearance before a judge in Shelby County Criminal Court on the rape charge Friday. His defense attorney said she is receiving evidence from prosecutors and a judge set a report date for Feb. 3. Henderson has pleaded not guilty.

    ———

    Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee contributed to this report.

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  • The Dish: Breakfast and Brunch

    The Dish: Breakfast and Brunch

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    The Dish: Breakfast and Brunch – CBS News


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    From scrumptious breakfast burritos in Alaska to savory pancakes in Nashville, we take a bite of the most important meal of the day: breakfast, with a side of brunch.

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  • Corey Stapleton & The Pretty Pirates Release Second Album ‘Anchors Aweigh’

    Corey Stapleton & The Pretty Pirates Release Second Album ‘Anchors Aweigh’

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    Country music artist Corey Stapleton harmonizes politics and Nashville music with his second album of 2022

    Press Release
    –

    Dec 2, 2022 09:00 MST


    BILLINGS, Mont., December 2, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Corey Stapleton & The Pretty Pirates continue their busy year, following up the critically acclaimed debut album ‘Seachange’ with another smashing country rock album, ‘Anchors Aweigh’.

    Recorded at OmniSound Studios in Nashville, TN, the Montana artist and current presidential candidate blends his country recordings with a nostalgic 80s rock sound, including a smashing cover of “Somebody’s Baby” first recorded 40 years ago by Jackson Browne. The 12-song album features Stapleton’s fearless songwriting and vocals with a dynamic range of songs including ‘I Believed You Then’, ‘Anchors Aweigh’ and ‘Summer in Montana’.

    Stapleton stunned the Montana political scene last year when the 55-year-old politician released “Western Son”, a somewhat biographical song contemplating America’s potential by merging music and statesmanship. The U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Montana Secretary of State has launched his campaign for the Republican nomination for U.S. President in 2024.

    ‘Anchors Aweigh’ by Corey Stapleton & The Pretty Pirates is available on all streaming platforms.

    Source: Corey Stapleton & The Pretty Pirates

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  • Drive-by Shooting Injures 2 At Funeral At Nashville Church

    Drive-by Shooting Injures 2 At Funeral At Nashville Church

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    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A drive-by shooting in Nashville on Saturday injured two people as they and others were walking out of church from the funeral of a woman who was fatally shot earlier this month, according to police.

    Metro Nashville Police Department spokesperson Don Aaron said the afternoon shooting occurred outside New Season Church, where a funeral service had just ended for 19-year-old Terriana Johnson. The hearse was parked out front with the rear door open and people were filing out of church as the shots began, Aaron said.

    Police say they are on the lookout for a black late-model Honda Civic with a temporary tag, from which one shooter or more fired as the car passed by, hitting an 18-year-old woman in the leg and a 25-year-old man in the pelvis. Neither were considered life-threatening injuries, Aaron said.

    Some attendees of the funeral services for Johnson — who was not a member of the church that was hosting — were armed and fired back at the car, Aaron said.

    The shooting occurred before Johnson’s body was brought out of the church, according to police, and her burial took place later in the afternoon.

    Authorities remain on the lookout for a 17-year-old charged with criminal homicide in Johnson’s fatal shooting on Nov. 14 at Watkins Park. Police allege that the teen opened fire on a car in which Johnson was riding after Johnson and the suspect’s sister were involved in a fight moments earlier.

    Aaron said the shooting “appears to be some type of beef between two groups of people,” but not necessarily between members of the two families.

    “This was just a brazen shooting,” Aaron told reporters. “These persons have no regard for human life at all.”

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  • Drive-by shooting injures 2 at funeral at Nashville church

    Drive-by shooting injures 2 at funeral at Nashville church

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    NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A drive-by shooting in Nashville on Saturday injured two people as they and others were walking out of church from the funeral of a woman who was fatally shot earlier this month, according to police.

    Metro Nashville Police Department spokesperson Don Aaron said the afternoon shooting occurred outside New Season Church, where a funeral service had just ended for 19-year-old Terriana Johnson. The hearse was parked out front with the rear door open and people were filing out of church as the shots began, Aaron said.

    Police say they are on the lookout for a black late-model Honda Civic with a temporary tag, from which one shooter or more fired as the car passed by, hitting an 18-year-old woman in the leg and a 25-year-old man in the pelvis. Neither were considered life-threatening injuries, Aaron said.

    Some attendees of the funeral services for Johnson — who was not a member of the church that was hosting — were armed and fired back at the car, Aaron said.

    Authorities remain on the lookout for a 17-year-old charged with criminal homicide in Johnson’s fatal shooting on Nov. 14 at Watkins Park. Police allege that the teen opened fire on a car in which Johnson was riding after Johnson and the suspect’s sister were involved in a fight moments earlier.

    Aaron said the shooting “appears to be some type of beef between two groups of people,” but not necessarily between members of the two families.

    “This was just a brazen shooting,” Aaron told reporters. “These persons have no regard for human life at all.”

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  • Morgan Wallen Foundation and Greater Good Music Provide Thanksgiving Dinners for 2,000 Families

    Morgan Wallen Foundation and Greater Good Music Provide Thanksgiving Dinners for 2,000 Families

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    Press Release
    –

    Nov 21, 2022 11:30 EST


    NASHVILLE, Tenn., November 21, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    It’s been a tough year to make ends meet with rising inflation and historically high food costs making it difficult for families to afford Thanksgiving this year. Tennessee and Kentucky residents were both especially hard hit with catastrophic floods that tragically took lives and destroyed thousands of homes. This is why Tennessee-based non-profit Greater Good Music approached supporter and entertainer/songwriter Morgan Wallen and his Found­ation to partner for a giveaway this holiday season. Working together, 2,000 families in need received turkeys along with complete meals ahead of Thanksgiving this week.

    On Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, Greater Good Music delivered turkeys to more than 300 Middle Tennessee families waiting in line at Waverly High School, in Waverly, Tennessee, where a historic flood gutted the town last year and residents have been working to rebuild. Volunteers from Joseph’s Storehouse food ministry were on hand to distribute turkeys, stuffing, and fresh fruits and vegetables to families who were impacted by the flood disaster near Nashville.

    Additional communities in Tennessee also received food deliveries including Wallen’s hometown of Sneedville in Eastern Tennessee where 450 families received Thanksgiving meal boxes. The distributions at local high schools and food pantries took place this weekend. In addition, 600 families in Pike County, Kentucky, who lost homes in the flood there this summer, received complementary holiday dinners. 

    Earlier this year, Greater Good Music worked with Wallen and his Foundation to help communities in need on several stops on his 2022 Dangerous Tour. Greater Good Music identified food insecure communities on the tour and organized food distributions donated by Wallen that fed more than 500,000 people in need before show time on tour stops across the United States.

    Greater Good Music’s mission is to prevent food insecurity by partnering with music artists to organize mobile food distributions in cities on tour. According to the US Department of Agriculture, more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, in the United States are food insecure and may not have enough food to eat each week. Covid-19, climate change, and global conflicts have exacerbated the problems of food insecurity in America and the world this year.

    About Greater Good Music: Greater Good Music brings people and music together to do good. We partner with nationally known music artists on tour to supply healthy food distributions before show time to low-income families and disaster victims, so they do not have to go hungry. Greater Good Music teamed up with musicians and volunteers on tour across the United States to deliver over one million meals to food insecure people in America in 2022. We turn concert day into a day of giving. Find us at www.GreaterGoodMusic.org, and on Instagram (@GreaterGoodMusicCharity) and Facebook (facebook.com/GreaterGoodMusic). Greater Good Music is operating through a fiscal sponsorship with Players Philanthropy Fund, a Maryland charitable trust with federal tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to Greater Good Music are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

    About Morgan Wallen:

    The east Tennessee superstar and recent ACM Milestone Award recipient shares, “Awards are awesome, but my true measure of success is my fans, who this year I got to see every single night out on the road and will continue to do so for many years to come.” Thanks to nearly 1 million of his fans, $3 for every ticket sold during his 2022 Dangerous Tour has raised nearly $3 million benefitting the Morgan Wallen Foundation which funds causes close to his heart.

    #   #   #

    Source: Greater Good Music

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  • Duchene’s goal, assist lead Predators to 2-1 win over Wild

    Duchene’s goal, assist lead Predators to 2-1 win over Wild

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    NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Matt Duchene scored a goal and assisted on another to lead the Nashville Predators to a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night.

    Nino Niederreiter also scored and Juuse Saros made 32 saves for Nashville. Ryan Johansen had two assists.

    Frederick Gaudreau scored and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 23 shots for the Wild.

    Niederreiter scored the first goal at 11:20 of the opening period off passes from his two linemates, Johansen and Duchene.

    The assist was Duchene’s 700th career point, but the winger didn’t sit on that milestone very long.

    Duchene followed 44 seconds later with a power-play goal on a one-timer from the high slot off a feed from Johansen.

    Saros stopped all 27 shots he faced through the first two periods, but Gaudreau finally snuck one by him 32 seconds into the third on the first Minnesota shot of the final period.

    Saros wouldn’t allow the equalizer though, preserving the victory by denying Joel Eriksson Ek on a point-blank shot with about 90 seconds left.

    A BETTER START

    In scoring two first-period goals and allowing none, the Predators reversed a trend that’s plagued them through the first 15 games. Entering the day, Nashville had been outscored 20-9 in first periods this season — the worst differential in the NHL.

    POINT STREAKS EXTENDED

    With assists on Gaudreau’s goal, both Mats Zuccarello and Kirill Kaprizov extended their point streaks to four games. During that span, Zuccarello has a goal and three assists while Kaprizov has two goals and three assists.

    WELCOME BACK

    Wild forward Brandon Duhaime returned to the lineup after missing Minnesota’s previous five games with an upper-body injury.

    UP NEXT

    Wild: Host the Pittsburgh Penguins to start a seven-game homestand Thursday.

    Predators: Host the New York Islanders on Thursday.

    ———

    AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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  • Bitcoin Magazine Opens Art Gallery, Exhibit Dedicated To Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht

    Bitcoin Magazine Opens Art Gallery, Exhibit Dedicated To Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht

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    Nashville, TN. — Bitcoin Magazine has unveiled the Bitcoin Magazine Art Gallery (BMAG), a display space and storefront featuring a jail cell exhibit dedicated to Bitcoin pioneer Ross Ulbricht, who faces a double life sentence plus 40 years for his role in founding the darknet marketplace Silk Road. The location will serve as an outlet for Bitcoin-related clothing, hardware and the print edition of Bitcoin Magazine, while the art gallery will feature exclusive visuals from the leading creatives in the Bitcoin space as well as new artists to showcase their work.

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    Bitcoin Magazine

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  • Wife of former U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander dies at age 77

    Wife of former U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander dies at age 77

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    MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Leslee Kathryn Buhler Alexander, the wife of former Tennessee governor and U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander and a longtime family and children’s health advocate, has died at age 77, her family said Sunday.

    Known as “Honey,” Alexander was surrounded by her family when she died Saturday at her home outside of the Tennessee city of Maryville, her family said in a statement.

    She was married for 53 years to Lamar Alexander, a Republican who served as Tennessee’s governor from 1979 to 1987, and campaigned for him throughout his political career. He also served as U.S. education secretary under President George H.W. Bush, ran for president and spent three terms in the U.S. Senate before retiring in 2020.

    While her husband was governor, Alexander led the statewide Healthy Children Initiative, which sought to provide prenatal health care for children. She was a member of the 1985-1986 Southern Regional Task Force on Infant Mortality, the governor’s task forces on day care and youth alcohol and drug abuse, and the U.S. Health Secretary’s Council on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, her family’s statement said.

    She also co-founded Leadership Nashville in 1976 and served on many boards, including the Junior League of Nashville and the Hermitage. She also had been vice-chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and a board member of Family Service America and the National Archives Foundation, the statement said.

    The Honey Alexander Center, located at the Nashville nonprofit Family and Children’s Service, opened in 2019.

    “Our dear ‘Honey’ was funny, loving, always caring, unselfish and courageous,” her family said in the statement. “We are so fortunate to have spent our lives with her. We will miss her every day.”

    Honey Alexander was born Oct. 12, 1945, in Los Angeles. She was working for U.S. Sen. John Tower of Texas when she met her future husband, who was a staffer for U.S. Sen. Howard Baker Jr. of Tennessee, during a softball game between the two staffs in 1967, her family said. They married in 1969.

    Honey Alexander liked to jog, plant flowers and read historical novels, her family said. She also loved to spend time with her children and grandchildren, her family said.

    In a statement, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said Honey Alexander “modeled grace, charity, and public service.” Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said on Twitter that she “devoted her life to serving others & made a profound impact through her work to support children & families.”

    Honey Alexander will be remembered at a private graveside service for family members and at a memorial service to be held later at Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville, the family said.

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  • Leslie Jordan’s final TV interview: “CBS Mornings” extended cut

    Leslie Jordan’s final TV interview: “CBS Mornings” extended cut

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    Leslie Jordan’s final TV interview: “CBS Mornings” extended cut – CBS News


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    Emmy-winning actor, comedian and singer Leslie Jordan died unexpectedly on Oct. 24 at 67 years old. CBS News correspondent Anthony Mason had just visited him in Nashville two weeks prior to chat about his life, career, becoming a viral internet sensation during the pandemic, and his recent pivot to country music. They met up for what would be Jordan’s final sit-down TV interview at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studios, where he recorded his debut gospel album.

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  • Remembering actor, comedian and viral sensation Leslie Jordan

    Remembering actor, comedian and viral sensation Leslie Jordan

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    Remembering actor, comedian and viral sensation Leslie Jordan – CBS News


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    Tributes are pouring in across the entertainment industry for Leslie Jordan, who died unexpectedly on Monday. CBS News correspondent Anthony Mason visited Jordan in Nashville just two weeks earlier, where he reflected on his acting career, unexpected turn to country music and becoming a beloved viral internet sensation during the pandemic.

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  • 70th United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Keynote Ark of Israel’s Major Fundraising Event in Nashville in November

    70th United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Keynote Ark of Israel’s Major Fundraising Event in Nashville in November

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    The inaugural Hearts Of Courage Gala will benefit the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Widows & Orphans Organization and Ark Of Israel’s initiatives to unite America and Israel

    Press Release
    –

    Oct 18, 2022 14:00 EDT


    NASHVILLE, Tenn., October 18, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Ark Of Israel is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel. The organization is pleased to announce that the 70th United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be the keynote speaker at the inaugural Hearts Of Courage Gala on Nov. 14, 2022, at 6 p.m. (CT) at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University. 

    Mike Pompeo served as the 70th United States Secretary of State from April 2018 through January 2021. He previously served from January 2017 to April 2018 as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

    As our nation’s most senior diplomat, Secretary Pompeo helped craft U.S. foreign policy based on our nation’s founding ideals, putting America first. America became a massive energy exporter and a force for good in the Middle East, cementing real peace through the work of the Abraham Accords. 

    In addition to serving as the keynote, Secretary Pompeo will also receive the Hearts Of Courage Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedicated service to the United States and commitment to ensuring the safety of its greatest ally, Israel.

    Secretary Pompeo will be joined by a growing lists of world-renowned guests who include: Anat Sultan Dadon (Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States), Shlomi Nahumson (CEO of IDF Widows and Orphans Organization), Netanel Hershtik (Cantor of The West Hampton Synagogue – NY), Shahar Azani (SR VP of the Jewish Broadcast Service), Justice Enlow (Miss Tennessee USA, 2020), Jonathan Feldstein (CEO of Genesis 123) and Kim Walker-Smith (Grammy-nominated artist and acclaimed worship leader) who will be providing live entertainment for guests. 

    The Hearts Of Courage Gala will bring leaders from across the globe together to honor the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel. With proceeds benefiting the IDF Widows & Orphans Organization and Ark Of Israel’s initiatives to unite America and Israel, this historic event will be a celebration as we come together to assist the most vulnerable among us.

    To learn more about the The Hearts Of Courage Gala, other speakers, and how to register, please visit arkofisrael.com. 

    Ark Of Israel is a nonprofit organization that celebrates American values, actively works to strengthen the United States and Israel alliance, and was founded on the shared values of these two great nations.

    For more information about the The Hearts Of Courage Gala, please call Josh Standifer at 865.307.4193 or email Josh@LocalArk.com. 

    Source: Ark Of Israel

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  • Burst of cold air: Here is who will see freezing temperatures this week | CNN

    Burst of cold air: Here is who will see freezing temperatures this week | CNN

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    Editor’s Note: A version of this article originally appeared in the weekly weather newsletter, the CNN Weather Brief, which is released every Monday. You can sign up here to receive them every week and during significant storms.



    CNN
     — 

    Winter is coming for many this week, with the first significant snow of the season for some, and freezing temperatures for millions of others.

    It was just last week we were talking about cute fall temperatures, and now someone has flipped a switch to winter. This will be – by far – the coldest air of the season to this point.

    So brace yourself, as I am planning to do.

    “Afternoon highs today will definitely feel cold!” the National Weather Service office in Nashville said.

    Along with temperatures running 15-25 degrees below normal for much of the East, winds will be strong, making it feel even colder. Nashville will only get into the mid-50s to right around 60 today, with a bone-chilling wind chill.

    Atlanta will be colder than New York City on Tuesday, with highs only making it to the low 50s.

    Tuesday night will be even colder, with lows in the 20s as far south as portions of Arkansas and Tennessee.

    “Tuesday night will be the coldest night … with all locations expected to be below freezing,” the weather service in Nashville said. “Even Nashville metro should freeze.”

    CNN Weather

    The Weather Prediction Center said many cool daytime high and overnight low temperature records could be broken because of the cold air Monday and Tuesday.

    “This may be the first freeze of the season for many places across the Central Plains, Middle Mississippi Valley and Ohio/Tennessee Valleys which will impact sensitive crops/livestock,” the Weather Prediction Center said.

    Here are some major cities expecting lows below freezing this week:

    • Kansas City
    • St. Louis
    • Memphis
    • Nashville
    • Atlanta

    See how low the temperatures will drop where you live.

    In the Upper Midwest, there will be even bigger impacts. A winter storm warning is in effect for portions of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin, where 4-8 inches of snow could fall through Wednesday.

    However, it won’t be shocking to see an isolated area or two get as much as a foot of snow with the potent early-season system.

    “Guidance continues to indicate potentially historic early-season snowfall across the eastern UP, which when combined with northerly winds to 50 mph and lingering fall foliage could result in widespread power outages,” the weather service in Marquette warned.

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  • Jerry Lee Lewis, Keith Whitley join the Country Hall of Fame

    Jerry Lee Lewis, Keith Whitley join the Country Hall of Fame

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    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Two artists who started their careers outside of country music were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame as early rock pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis and bluegrass performer-turned-country star Keith Whitley joined the ranks.

    Lewis, the 87-year-old artist nicknamed “The Killer,” was unable to attend the induction ceremony on Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee, due to guidance from his doctor. But his fellow country stars Hank Williams Jr. and Kris Kristofferson showed up in his stead to accept and honor the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer.

    Whitley’s widow, fellow country star Lorrie Morgan, accepted the medallion on his behalf during the ceremony featuring performances by Garth Brooks, Mickey Guyton, Chris Isaak, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert and Alabama. Also inducted this year was music executive Joe Galante, who had a key role in marketing country music to wider pop and rock audiences starting in the 1980s.

    Lewis, from Ferriday, Louisiana, grew up on country music, but Sam Phillips at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee, turned him into a rockabilly star, with hits like “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Great Balls of Fire.”

    Williams, who also helped induct Lewis into the Rock & Hall of Fame in 1986, recalled Lewis spending time at his home when he was a kid and listening to Lewis’ rock songs on the radio. He said Lewis taught him that entertaining was about more than skill.

    “Jerry Lee doesn’t ask for your attention, he demands it,” Williams said. “He doesn’t take a stage, he commands it.”

    In Memphis, Lewis played alongside Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash in the now famous Million Dollar Quartet. Lewis’ career was nearly derailed over the scandal arising from his marriage to his 13-year-old cousin, Myra, and he faced a backlash from fans during a tour in England in 1958, when crowds became combative.

    Lewis was abandoned by concert promoters for several years before mounting a return to the country charts in the late 1960s. He had No. 1 hits on the Billboard Country Chart with “There Must Be More to Love Than This,” “Would You Take Another Chance on Me” and “Chantilly Lace.” His other top country singles included “What Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me),” ″She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye” and “To Make Love Sweeter for You.”

    Isaak delivered a rollicking version of “Great Balls of Fire” during the ceremony and 85-year-old actor and singer Kristofferson made a rare public appearance to help unveil Lewis’ plaque, which will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame rotunda.

    Morgan was moved to tears during her speech, noting that her late husband would feel so undeserving of the honor. Whitley’s first work as a musician was in bluegrass, when he and Ricky Skaggs started playing as teenagers in Ralph Stanley’s band, the Clinch Mountain Boys.

    “My whole family, we’ve all missed him together and all the fans who loved Keith and visited his gravesite all the time,” she said.

    That bluegrass background made Whitley stand out as a country singer in the 1980s, where he brought tender emotion and incredible vocal range to hits including “When You Say Nothing at All” and “I’m No Stranger to the Rain.”

    But his career was ended too short, spanning just four years and seven months on the Billboard charts before his 1989 death from alcohol poisoning at age 34. But the singer from Sandy Hook, Kentucky, continued to influence numerous country singers who came up alongside him, including Brooks, who praised his pure country singing and authenticity.

    “Truth, honesty. The guy could outsing 99 percent of us,” Brooks said.

    Galante was the head of RCA Nashville in his 30s and both Morgan and Whitley were among the hit artists that he brought to success, including Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Vince Gill, The Judds, Martina McBride and more. He helped the band Alabama achieve crossover success with multi-platinum hits.

    “I was a label head, but I was a huge fan of their music,” Galante said. “And it’s all about the music at the end of the day.”

    __

    Online:

    https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/

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  • Joy Oladokun discusses her faith, hopeful sound and Chris Stapleton collaboration

    Joy Oladokun discusses her faith, hopeful sound and Chris Stapleton collaboration

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    Joy Oladokun discusses her faith, hopeful sound and Chris Stapleton collaboration – CBS News


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    Joy Oladokun has established herself as one of the most authentic and unapologetic singer-songwriters in Nashville, recently collaborating with some of the biggest names in country music. Her hopeful songs drew attention from new fans during the pandemic and have been featured on TV shows like “Love Island,” “This is Us” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Anthony Mason reports.

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  • The Onsite Foundation & Musicares® Announce a Strategic Partnership to Ensure Music Industry Professionals Receive Best-in-Class Emotional Health Education and Resources

    The Onsite Foundation & Musicares® Announce a Strategic Partnership to Ensure Music Industry Professionals Receive Best-in-Class Emotional Health Education and Resources

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    “Unplugged” will help music industry professionals process stress and reconnect with their authentic selves.


    NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 17, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
     The Onsite Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity and leader in emotional health education and resources, announced in 2021 a partnership with MusiCares® to create and host a retreat for music industry professionals titled “Unplugged: a healing retreat at Onsite for the music industry”. This three-day healing retreat at Onsite is an invitation to step away from all the noise and distractions and into a space where participants can freely explore who they are, what got them here, and who they truly want to be as a creative moving forward. The tools will help attendees connect with themselves and work toward building an authentic life.

    The “Unplugged” retreat will take place Oct. 6-9, 2022 at Onsite in Cumberland Furnace in Middle Tennessee and will be available to musicians, singer/songwriters, engineers, stagehands, managers, tour bus drivers, A&R, agents, make-up artists, venue managers, live crews, and anyone else who is currently working or has worked in the music industry.

    Last year, 26% of MusiCares Wellness in Music Survey respondents said they regularly experience moderate to severe levels of depression. To put that in perspective, a 2019 National Health Interview Survey of U.S. adults founds that only 4.7 percent reported regularly feeling depressed.
    The 2021 Wellness in Music Survey saw a decline in respondents experiencing moderate to severe levels of depression, with 20% reporting feeling this way. However, 56% of this year’s respondents reported feeling moderately high to very high levels of anxiety – and though that is down almost 10% from last year’s numbers, it indicates the mental health of the music community is still strained.

    “We live in a world built to connect us, but it can feel like it’s designed to divide us, distract us, and keep us disconnected. When we feel disconnected from the world, we are likely disconnected from the world within ourselves,” said Miles Adcox, Chairman and Proprietor of Onsite Workshops. “We hope attending Unplugged allows creatives to disconnect from all the noise and distractions of life so they can reconnect to themselves.” 

    “We are so thankful that MusiCares has partnered with us to help music industry professionals who are struggling from the effects of stress and trauma. Our hope is that “Unplugged” attendees leave the retreat feeling emotionally unstuck and empowered with new insights to better connect with their authentic self and the people in their life,” says Deanna Wantz, Executive Director of The Onsite Foundation.

    “At MusiCares, we understand how important mental health and well-being are to the success of the music community,” says Laura Segura, Executive Director of MusiCares. “We are excited to once again partner with The Onsite Foundation to give music professionals the resources needed for healing and reconnecting to their purpose so they can continue to do what they love.”

    MusiCares provides a safety net of critical health and welfare services to the music community in three key areas including:
    ● Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Services: Support, referrals, and emergency financial assistance for counseling, psychiatric care, inpatient treatment, coaching, intensive outpatient care, sober living, and more.
    ● Health Services: Financial assistance during medical crises and preventive services such as dental and medical screenings, hearing clinics, vocal health workshops, and assistance obtaining low-cost health insurance.
    ● Human Services: Support for basic living expenses like rent, utilities, car payments, and insurance premiums in times of hardship, plus programs addressing affordable housing, career development, legal issues, and senior services.

    Applications for “Unplugged” are now open. For more information on how to apply, please visit www.theonsitefoundation.org.

    ###

    About The Onsite Foundation:
    The Onsite Foundation provides trauma-informed counseling and emotional health education that transforms individuals and communities. The Onsite Foundation provides tools and resources, along with full scholarships to best-in-class trauma-informed workshops, to ensure all persons have access to therapies and services regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or socio-economic status. The Onsite Foundation’s efforts are focused on vulnerable and underserved populations including survivors of mass shootings, Black mental-health professionals, veterans, first responders, and bereaved parents. The Onsite Foundation exists to ensure all persons affected by trauma, abuse, stress, or mental health issues receive the gift of emotional freedom. For more information, visit www.theonsitefoundation.org.

    About MusiCares:
    MusiCares helps the humans behind music because music gives so much to the world. Offering preventive, emergency, and recovery programs, MusiCares is a safety net supporting the health and welfare of the music community. Founded by the Recording Academy in 1989 as a U.S. based, independent 501(c)(3) charity, MusiCares safeguards the well-being of all music people through direct financial grant programs, networks of support resources, and tailored crisis relief efforts. For more information please visit: www.musicares.org

    About Onsite:
    Onsite curates transformational emotional health experiences that combine some of the best therapeutic and clinical minds in the country with its signature healing hospitality. Recently Onsite launched a series of virtual offerings and will be expanding this platform in 2021. Onsite offers experiential group programs, therapeutic intensives, digital courses, and innovative residential trauma treatment that bolster empathy, self-awareness, compassion, and resilience. Onsite’s mission is to change lives and reconnect the world by enhancing emotional health and intelligence. Our work has been featured on 20/20, Good Morning America, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, People, Dr. Phil Show, and The Doctors. For more information, visit onsiteworkshops.com.

    Press Contacts:
    The Onsite Foundation
    Deanna Wantz
    615-323-3191
    deanna@theonsitefoundation.org

    MusiCares
    Jenn Kerr, for MusiCares
    jennifer.kerr@porternovelli.com

    Onsite
    Lindsey Nobles
    615-476-5984
    lnobles@onsiteworkshops.com

    Source: The Onsite Foundation

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  • Young Entrepreneur Nick Caster is Raising the Bar & House on the Nashville Music Scene

    Young Entrepreneur Nick Caster is Raising the Bar & House on the Nashville Music Scene

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    Nick Caster negotiates the first National House EDM Awards at Grand Ole Opry, April 2023

    Press Release
    –

    Jul 26, 2022


    NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 26, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Nick Caster prefers to work behind the scenes, but it’s finally time for him to step into the spotlight. A natural businessman with his hand in entertainment and corporate markets alike, Caster’s latest work in progress comes in the form of breaking a major barrier in Nashville music – the second-ever House Music Awards will be held at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in April 2023. Ticketing will begin in Early 2023.

    Nick Caster is serving as the development director of the new award show created by house music artist, DJ, and producer Jesse Saunders (originator of house music). The house music genre continues to grow in the American market, but bringing the genre and its leaders to Nashville is a serious step into the Music City market. Caster is a seamless addition to the team, bringing the vision of the award show to life while consulting with corporations and artists alike. 

    “Nick has done a wonderful job as Director of Marketing, and as a result, we have seen tremendous growth and exposure for our brand. He has been a pleasure to work with over the last few years.” – CEO Chris Van Doeselaar, Newco Design Build / Blox 

    With a background in writing and producing pop, EDM, country, and rock music for other artists, Caster has his finger on the pulse of what listeners desire. He bridges the gap between artistic pursuits and corporate consulting with NC1 Agency (Nashville, Tennessee). His prior experience includes collaborations with Tesla, Google, Universal, Live Nation, and more. The proof of Caster’s expertise lies in his successes – notably by bringing “25 times the amount of business in 18 months” to a design build architecture firm, Caster says. He additionally has consulted with S.A.F.E. Structure Designs, which creates support equipment for military defense and industrial industries.  

    “I have always appreciated Nick for his honesty and integrity. He is motivating, energetic, which when combined with his skill set makes him an extremely valuable asset.” – CEO Johnny Buscema, S.A.F.E Structure Designs

    The business-minded consultant brings expertise and connections to the entertainment industry, which makes Caster a sought-after producer, artist development professional, and songwriter. The upcoming House Music Awards is another opportunity for Caster to celebrate his creative pursuits professionally along with his corporate success.

    “Our team is excited to bring the House Music Awards to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Jesse Saunders and I came up with a new genre category of ‘country house’ to open more doors for country artists to work with DJs and remixers,” Caster states about the upcoming event.

    Press Contact: Jill@publicitynationpr.com

    Source: House Music Awards

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