WPLN Nashville

Tennessee officials relocated the Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway signage after Vietnam veterans expressed concerns. The highway, previously known as Vietnam Veterans Boulevard, was renamed to honor conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in Utah. Veterans criticized the change as disrespectful, leading to a move of the signs to Long Hollow Pike.

Nashville received over $13 million from opioid settlement funds, but an internal audit revealed issues with fund management, including unclear tracking of staff salaries and time spent on opioid-related work. Metro Council members propose increased oversight, including a public dashboard and regular reporting, in response to the audit's findings.

The YMCA of Middle Tennessee is implementing the Angel Eye drowning detection system in its 12 indoor pools to alert lifeguards to swimmers in distress. The system uses sensors to detect unusual swimming patterns or incapacitated individuals, sending alerts to lifeguards' watches with the location in the pool. The program, which began as a pilot in late 2025, will be fully rolled out by year-end and is intended to complement, not replace, lifeguards.

Nashville may use eminent domain to halt a data center project, while Rutherford County considers it for a public safety campus. The NashVillager Podcast also covers Nashville’s boot industry and local news from July 23, 2026.

Researchers and conservationists are working to save the endangered eastern hellbender salamander in Appalachia as populations decline due to climate change and human activity. A lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity claims federal officials missed a 2025 deadline to propose endangered species protection. Conservation efforts include breeding programs and habitat restoration led by organizations like the Nashville Zoo and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.

Sumner County Schools delayed the start of the school year and new student registration due to a data breach in its computer network. The district notified law enforcement, the Department of Education, and third-party forensic specialists to address the unauthorized access. Parents expressed concerns about potential exposure of personal data during the breach.

Nashville's Metro Council passed its first data center regulations, including a moratorium on new permits until December 1, in response to public opposition against DC BLOX projects near the Nashville Zoo and Fisk University. The legislation imposes restrictions on facility size, energy use, noise, and fossil fuel generation, while the city may explore eminent domain to block DC BLOX's proposed development.

Food insecurity has increased in west Tennessee this summer, with hunger relief groups reporting higher demand for assistance, particularly for children out of school. Tennessee opted out of the federal Summer EBT program, limiting meal support to 13 counties, while organizations like the Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network and Southwest Human Resources Agency expand outreach to address the gap.

The NashVillager Podcast discusses the revelation of a doctor's identity in Tennessee’s botched execution, a detail typically kept secret. The episode also includes local news for July 22, 2026, and a segment titled What Where Whens-day.

Joseph Lamont Williams, a homeless man in Nashville, was arrested and charged with a felony for camping in a public park, making him one of the first in the U.S. to face such charges under Tennessee's no-camping law. Eleven states have enacted similar bans since the Supreme Court allowed cities to restrict public camping, sparking debate over enforcement and its impact on unhoused individuals.

The NashVillager Podcast explores the delayed construction of Tennessee's statehouse, highlighting political conflicts, an untimely death, and historical controversies. It also covers local news and flag-related discussions.

Nashville’s city council is finalizing legislation to regulate data centers, but a key environmental safeguard allowing unlimited on-site fossil fuel use during undefined 'emergencies' was removed. Councilperson Rollin Horton criticized the amendment, which permits data centers to use gas turbines or diesel generators, while Councilperson Clay Capp proposed a counter-amendment to restrict fossil fuel use and incentivize renewable energy.

Former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam endorsed Charlie Hatcher, a Republican challenger, in the District 5 primary against incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles. Polling shows the race is nearly tied, with Hatcher out-fundraising Ogles. The district was redrawn to move it into West Tennessee, and the general election is likely to feature Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder.

Tennessee officials are attempting to attract a major motion picture studio to relocate to Nashville, raising questions about the potential impacts. The article also references local news for July 20, 2026, and mentions IMAX.

A complaint has been filed against Dr. Mark Fowler for allegedly violating medical ethics during a failed Tennessee execution of Tony Carruthers. The complaint claims Fowler caused Carruthers excruciating pain and potential partial paralysis by administering lidocaine without allergy testing and continuing procedures despite visible distress. The execution was halted by Gov. Bill Lee, who granted Carruthers a one-year reprieve.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supports low-altitude military flyovers after a Navy Blue Angels jet flew over a crowded Florida beach, causing disruption. Hegseth and other Trump administration officials praised the maneuver despite calls for safety reviews and past criticism from aviation experts linking such flights to crashes.

Nashville Electric Service (NES) expanded tree trimming efforts to reduce power outages, but critics argue the policy risks property damage. A recently trimmed tree fell on an East Nashville home in July, raising concerns about the 15-foot clearance zone and trimming techniques. Residents like Taya Mashburn expressed worries about safety and transparency, while NES reiterated its focus on preventing outages.

A Kentucky jury awarded $104 million to the mother of Henry Willis, an 18-year-old who committed suicide after purchasing an illegal ghost gun kit from Husky Armory LLC. The companies involved, Husky Armory LLC and Up North Media LLC, did not respond to the lawsuit or attend the trial. The verdict is described as the largest jury award against a gun dealer in U.S. history.

A Tennessee prison's grand jury indicted 50 individuals in 19 cases involving five inmate murders, assaults against staff and inmates, and other violent crimes. Charges include murder, aggravated assault, official misconduct, and controlled substance possession at Northwest Correctional Complex, with some indictments targeting former staff members.

Data center developer DC BLOX is facing scrutiny over shifting plans for a Nashville facility near the zoo, with concerns about electricity costs, environmental impacts, and transparency. The company initially agreed to 15 MW for the first building but disclosed a potential 100 MW expansion over eight years, prompting criticism from officials and calls for new regulations.