Are you sitting down, meemaw? Because it’s time for your week in review!
We’ve got a low level risk of severe weather through Saturday, so be weather aware this weekend. It’s gonna be gross, wet and hot the entire time. And then it’s gonna get even hotter next week. [NashSevereWx & YouTube]
Listen, Dolly’s appearance at the opening of her gas station this week had us nervous and starting a prayer chain. But at least she had her wits about her and cracked a Buc-ee’s joke! Seriously, y’all, start a prayer chain. We’re telling you to do so right here on Dolly Parton’s internet, so you have to. And some of y’all need to visit her gas station ASAP to tell us what it’s like. [The Tennessean]
A Tennessee judge has temporarily blocked the state from sharing information about families enrolled in a federally funded medical program with immigration authorities while a legal challenge moves forward. The temporary order comes one day after the Tennessee Justice Center filed a lawsuit on behalf of three Nashville physicians seeking to stop a new Tennessee Department of Health rule that was set to take effect July 1. [News Channel 5]
Pride Month brings rainbow flags, parades, and celebration. But for many LGBTQ people in Middle Tennessee, it also raises a more complicated question: where do you actually belong the other eleven months of the year? Spoiler alert: you belong everywhere. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Note from your round-up writer: The use of “queer” needs to be re-evaluated for the public lexicon, as many young people have forgotten their very real history or never bothered to learn. [WPLN]
A controversial mailer sent out by a Young Republican sparked a clash this week at a county party meeting between that activist and a veteran lawmaker over the direction of the GOP. Surely y’all didn’t think all of his hemming and hawing about “Zionists” and the continued normalization of anti-Jewish hatred was going to end well on either the far-left or the far-right. And yes, when you say “Zionist” (95-98% of Jewish people are Zionists – meaning Jews deserve the right to self-determination and safety in their homeland), you mean “Jewish” because you’re forcing a litmus test for Jewish people. [More News Channel 5]
A federal judge has blocked Tennessee from moving forward with a plan that would have prevented people from using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to buy certain sugary foods and drinks. The restrictions were set to take effect July 31 after Tennessee received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture earlier this year. [WKRN]
Vanderbilt announced its new partnership with the University of Ottawa June 10, 2026. The collaboration aims to preserve the history of Indigenous peoples through community and Indigenous-led digital approaches. [Vanderbilt Hustler]
When are y’all gonna come to your senses and remove this embarrassment from public office and never vote for him again? Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles introduced a sweeping immigration bill to revoke the citizenship of some naturalized Americans, end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and review asylum and refugee approvals made between Jan. 20, 2021, and Jan. 20, 2025. [WZTV]
AI-generated performers are gaining millions of streams, raising questions about authenticity, ownership, and the future of music. School’s out for most but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still be reading all this great work from these students! [Nashville SUNN]
FirstGen Forward, the center for first-generation student success, recently announced Fisk University as one of five (5) higher education institutions to receive the TIAA Innovation Award. The award, provided by FirstGen Forward with support from TIAA, will support new or existing programs, services, or initiatives that implement creative approaches to enhancing campus-wide success for first-generation students. [Tennessee Tribune]
Outside consultants have delivered a final after-action report commissioned by the Electric Power Board in the wake of a winter storm that left half of Nashville Electric Service’s customers without power earlier this year, some for as long as 12 days. The report — like a preliminary version issued in April — identifies a series of faults in NES’ response to the power outages, including in the public utility’s emergency planning, public communications and onboarding of outside repair crews. [Nashville Banner]
New Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) results show Tennessee students made gains in English language arts, math and social studies. The TCAP results were released on Wednesday. According to the state, third-grade students reached their highest proficiency level in English language arts in nearly 10 years. Fourth graders also made substantial growth in mathematics. [WSMV]
Are you sitting down, meemaw? Ryman Hospitality Properties is exploring the sale of its entertainment arm, which includes Nashville icons Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry. [Nashville Business Journal]
A Tennessee Christian school agreed to pay a former student $10,000 to settle a legal battle after she sued the school for barring her from graduation and suspending her after she came out as gay on social media. A final judgment entered Monday resolved the lawsuit filed by Morgan Armstrong, a graduating senior at Tennessee Christian Preparatory School near Chattanooga. [The Hill]
Are you ready to make people like Andy Ogles so mad they could spit? Celebrate love, diversity, and community at Nashville Pride 2026, one of the largest LGBTQ+ festivals in the Southeast. Held at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, the event features a Pride Parade, live entertainment, drag performances, local vendors, food trucks, family-friendly activities, and community resources. And after the past year? You know showing up is gonna be worthwhile. [Visit Music City & Nashville Pride]
