April 13, 2023

Nashville sends Justin Jones back to state House after expulsion

Knoxville Rep. Johnson survives vote, Memphis Rep. Pearson expelled

BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT, CONNOR DARYANI AND KELSEY BEYELER

MNPD officers speak on responding to Covenant School shooting

BY MATT MASTERS

Several members of the Metro Nashville Police Department spoke at an April 4 news conference where they recounted their actions during the March 27 Covenant School shooting, including the officers who entered the school and killed the active shooter.

MNPD Public Information Officer Don Aaron introduced MNPD Chief John Drake who spoke along with Det. Sgt. Jeff Mathes, Det. Mike Collazo, Officer Rex Engelbert, and Midtown Hills Precinct Commander Dayton Wheeler, while Nashville Mayor John Cooper sat in attendance.

Engelbert, Collazo and Mathes all engaged the shooter, 28-year-old Audrey Hale, after Hale executed a “targeted attack” on the school and church, which took the lives of six people -- three children, Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, and three school staff members, Cindy Peak, Mike Hill and Katherine Koonce.

In the days after the attack that shocked

the nation, communities across Nashville and Middle Tennessee have mourned the victims.

CHIEF JOHN DRAKE

“Last Monday was a day that we all hope we would never see anywhere, and especially here in Nashville,” Drake said. “We’ve trained for incidents like this for years with the thoughts that if it ever happened, we would not hesitate, we will go in and we will do whatever was needed for the safety of those involved.”

Drake said that “hundreds” of MNPD officers and civilian staff responded to the incident from taking 911 calls and dispatching units, to officers who entered the school, transported victims, helped to reunify families and connect them with counseling services and more, along with numerous other local, state and federal first responders.

“Rex Engelbert, Mike Collazo and Sgt. Mathes did what they were trained to do,” Drake said. “They formed together, they got prepared and went right in,

The Metro Council on Monday unanimously voted to send expelled Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) back to the Tennessee General Assembly in an interim capacity, days after Republicans voted to kick him out of the legislature for leading an antigun protest on the House floor.

“This afternoon’s vote is unprecedented, but so was the action of the legislature,” Mayor John Cooper said, addressing the special-called meeting. “Let’s give them their voice back.”

Added Councilmember Delishia Porterfield, who lost to Jones in the 2022 Democratic primary: “We are restoring the political voice of the 70,000 people of District 52.”

A special election to fill the remainder of Jones’ original term is expected to be held later this year.

Jones, Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) and Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) faced expulsion after they gathered on the House floor days after a shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville left three students and three staff members dead. Last week, the Republican-controlled House voted to expel Jones and Pearson, while the Johnson expulsion effort fell one vote short of reaching the required two-thirds majority.

Most members of the Metro Council quickly said they would send Jones back in an interim capacity. The Shelby County Commission is meeting

MNPD Det. Mike Collazo

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

MNPD Officer Rex Engelbert

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Rep. Justin Jones is sworn in on the steps of the Tennessee State Capitol on April 10, 2023, just days after the House of Representatives voted him out of the body following protests calling for action on gun violence.

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

MNPD officers speak

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

knowing that every second, every moment wasted could cost lives, and I’m so incredibly proud of not only them, but other members of our police department as well.

“I watched video of officers who went into the school, took pulse of the victims hoping there was life and these people grabbed these kids and ran out of the school hoping to save lives, and I’m so incredibly grateful for them,” Drake said, while also thanking teachers and staff of The Covenant School who helped to both keep students safe and aid officers in tracking down the shooter.

DET. SGT. JEFF MATHES

Mathes, an 11-year MNPD veteran, said that he was organizing an office in the Midtown Hills Precinct when he heard the call.

“I knew exactly where it was based on my personal life, I do frequent that area. And I’ve always known that to be the church on the hill,” Mathes said, adding that he and other detectives responded to the school, where he encountered Officer Engelbert, who is assigned to the downtown Central Precinct, someone he had never met before.

“Officer Engelbert opened the door for me,” Mathes said. “Not knowing what I was walking into, I went through that door with purpose. I knew the gravity of the situation, what had occurred based on the context, the amount of callers, it was a serious incident.”

Mathes said that they heard and received what they recognized as rifle fire as they advanced to the second floor.

“Once in that hallway, the smell of gunpowder was in the air,” Mathes sad. “It was also very smoky, obvious that there had been [gun]fire in that area very quickly.”

“Doing what our training tells us to do in those situations and following stimulus [gunfire,] all of us stepped over a victim. I to this day don’t know how I did that morally, but training is what kicked in. We then proceeded continually toward the sounds of gunfire, and then once we got near the shooter and the shooter was neutralized.”

OFFICER REX ENGELBERT

Engelbert, a four-year MNPD veteran, was one of the first officers to enter the school and was in the area of the school by chance that morning as he was traveling to the Metro Police Academy to complete administrative work.

“En route there, that put me in the Midtown sector so I really had no business being where I was,” Engelbert said. “You can call it fate, God or whatever you want,

but I can’t count on both my hands the irregularities that put me in that position when a call for service came out for an act of deadly aggression at school.”

“I’ve been to I don’t know how many false active deadly aggression calls -- Something told me it was time to really get to this one.”

“Luckily, due to the bravery of two staff members, they stayed on scene, they didn’t run. And they gave me concise, clear information for me to use to help anyone in danger,” Engelbert continued.

DET. MIKE COLLAZO

Collazo, a nine-year MNPD veteran who works directly under Mathes, praised the work of dispatchers, and said that when he arrived on scene, a school staff member led him to the glass door that had been shot out at the start of the attack.

“As I made entry into the school, I saw an individual that I believe has been identified as a janitor,” Collazo said. “He was laid out on the ground, not moving.”

“The shooter wasn’t shooting at that point. so just like Officer Rex, Sgt. Mathes, and every other officer that had gotten there, started clearing rooms as fast as possible, trying to find where the shooter was.”

Collazo said that at one point he was “upset” that he was encountering locked doors, but said that he later was “thankful” because school staff and students were taking measures to protect themselves as police cleared the first floor and searched for the shooter.

“Once we started getting the first shots, that’s when everything kind of kicked into overdrive for us,” Collazo said. “We had gone up the stairwell, made our way down the hallway, that’s when we ran or that’s

when I ran into that second victim laid on the ground. We had to push past the victim because we continued to hear more shots being fired.”

“Once the situation was ended with the shooter, like Sgt. Mathes and everybody stated, our job wasn’t done,” Collazo said. “We knew that there were victims -- We had to pass those victims, so I immediately switched gears, left that scene and ran the route that we had just taken back outside.”

“I think it clicked for every officer that was on scene at that point, it was time to start trying to render aid to the victims and start evacuating the school, so we implemented our rescue Task Force protocol.”

MIDTOWN HILLS PRECINCT COMMANDER DAYTON WHEELER

“Immediately my stomach dropped when I realized it was a school,” Wheeler, who oversees Midtown Hills Precinct operations said.

“I will tell you from witnessing these individuals and several other officers entering into the school, they reminded me of a scripture that said, ‘Who shall I send?’ and it says, ‘Send me,’ and I believe these individuals, along with every Metro Nashville police officer, fire department, personnel, that they answered that call.”

Wheeler said that MNPD has received “an outpouring of support” from across Nashville and from around the world.

“Part of my role is to make sure the members of my precinct are taken care of continue to stay on top of them and communicate,” Wheeler said. “I know each one of them has a great support system at home and at work, so I just wanted to add that the community as a whole has been tremendous through this entire ordeal.”

MNPD Chief John Drake motions to Det. Sgt. Jeff Mathes, Det. Mike Collazo, Officer Rex Engelbert, and Commander Dayton Wheeler, who all responded to the March 27, 2023, Covenant School shooting, during an April 4 news conference where each MNPD member talked about their actions on the day of the shooting PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

MNPD Det. Sgt. Jeff Mathes

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Nashville Mayor John Cooper

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Wednesday to consider the Pearson vacancy.

The move has spurred international attention. Vice President Kamala Harris came to Nashville last week to meet with the trio, and President Joe Biden met with them via videoconference. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is among the lawyers counseling Pearson and Jones. The group of attorneys wrote to House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) urging the House to accept the interim appointments if Jones and Pearson are returned to the legislature.

Supporters then marched the few blocks from the Metro Courthouse to the state Capitol, where the House was scheduled to begin a floor session minutes after the end of the special Metro Council meeting. On the steps of the Capitol, Chancellor I’Ashea L. Myles swore Jones in, returning him to his seat just four days after he was expelled.

Back on the House floor shortly after, Jones made his first comments: “I want to welcome the people back to the people’s house. I want to welcome democracy back to the people’s house. ... No unjust attack on democracy will happen unchallenged.”

Expulsion is rare in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Rep. Jeremy Durham was kicked out of the House in 2016 following a series of sexual harassment allegations. In 1980, Rep. Robert Fisher was expelled for accepting a bribe. In 1866, six representatives

were kicked out of the House for opposing civil rights for the formerly enslaved.

To begin the expulsion proceedings on April 6, Rep. Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville) moved to suspend the rules to show video from the day of the protest. Democrats argued that they did not know whether the video was selectively edited or relevant. Republicans allowed for the video, featuring clips of the trio standing in the well leading anti-gun chants and later describing the events in a press conference. Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons of Nashville argued that the Republican members who took the video should be punished, as rules prohibit recording on the floor.

The measure to expel Jones was heard first.

In his defense, Jones thanked Republicans for showing the video “because it showed to the world the ridiculousness of the claims that the actions of those who went to the well merits expulsion.”

He pointed to the Tennessee Constitution, which reads, “Any member of either House of the General Assembly shall have liberty to dissent from and protest against, any act or resolve which he may think injurious to the public or to any individual.”

With throngs of protestors gathering outside the Capitol and in the House chamber, Johnson and Pearson welcomed

Rep. Justin Jones, Rep. Gloria Johnson and Rep. Justin Pearson, known collectively as the ‘Tennessee Three,’ are met with cheers by hundreds of supporters inside the State Capitol on April 6, 2023, the day that Jones and Pearson were voted out of the House for participating in protests calling for action on gun violence.

supporters prior to the vote, encouraging them to remain silent throughout the proceedings to avoid being removed from the gallery.

House leaders suspended the rules to take up several school safety-related bills out of order at the top of the floor session, a move Jones called an “optical spectacle.”

“You ban books, you ban drag, kids are still in body bags,” the crowd chanted as legislative business was ongoing in the House.

Attendees chanted in support of the trio and called Republican leaders fascists as they moved into the chamber. With audience sections above the chamber full, additional supporters watched the proceedings on televisions in the lobby and on their phones. Their chants were audible from within the chamber.

The resolution to expel Jones passed 72-25. Republican Rep. Charlie Baum was the lone GOP member opposing the resolution, while Republican Rep. Sam Whitson

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

State leaders patronize students asking for action on gun reform, expel the legislators who cheered them on

BY BILL FREEMAN

Following the mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville on March 27, thousands of students and allies joined together in a strong show of protest against the current state of gun laws in Tennessee. These students, grieving and fearful, showed up in peaceful protest, pleading for better gun laws. But some Republican lawmakers did not want to hear it, and instead turned their focus toward the three Democratic legislators who took charge in assisting the students

Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville and Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis acknowledged the protesters from the House floor. Jones took to the well of the House with a bullhorn, and the three led chants for gun reform for the students. Though the three were trying to let the students know they were heard and understood, other legislators called it “disorderly behavior” and grounds for expulsion. The two young Black representatives, Pearson and Jones, were expelled from their House seats. Johnson remains in her seat.

Legislators used words like “decorum” to explain their argument for expulsion. But as the Tennessee Lookout notes: “House Republicans didn’t care about decorum when

former Rep. David Byrd was credibly accused of sexually assaulting high school basketball players he coached, nor when the FBI raided the homes and offices of three GOP House members, nor when former Sen. Brian Kelsey was indicted on federal charges.”

As The Tennessean noted on April 6, “No House member has ever been removed from elected office for simply violating decorum rules.” So why now?

According to the expulsion resolutions, the three “did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives through their individual and collective actions.” But what about the dishonor this brings to our state? What about the dishonor brought to the students, who go unheard because the expulsion of these legislators has taken the national spotlight?

The expulsions of Pearson and Jones did nothing good for Tennessee’s reputation. Expelling two young Black legislators makes the Republican legislators appear racist, and the original plea for gun reform by students has been brushed to the side. According to British newspaper The Independent: “In America, even the most stirring calls to action to prevent mass shootings have a way of quickly being forgotten or neutralised.

No matter how many victims speak out, no matter how many legislators call for a new approach, no matter how awful the details of each new massacre at hand — little has been done in decades to change the way guns are accessed in the U.S., aside from Republicanled states making it easier to carry pistols without a permit.”

Gov. Bill Lee told students who showed up at the Capitol, “You’re heard.” He said this with legislation on the table — House Bill 1158 — to lower the permitless carry age from 21 to 18.

Gov. Lee’s solution to gun violence in schools is to place an armed security guard at every Tennessee public school, boost security at both public and private schools, and provide additional mental health resources. And then what? Bars on the windows? Treating students as if they are the prisoners is hardly conducive to creating a good learning environment. If anything, it could lead to students feeling even more fearful and anxious. After all, anytime an armed guard is needed nearby, doesn’t that always indicate imminent danger? Further, mass shootings don’t happen only at schools. Will we be provided with armed guards at the grocery store, the mall, bars?

The focus should be on identifying the root cause of the problem, which is the easy availability of guns in the country and here in Tennessee. CNN reported in 2021: “The U.S. has the highest firearm homicide rate in the developed world. In 2019, the number of U.S. deaths from gun violence was about 4 per 100,000 people. That’s 18 times the average rate in other developed countries.” Allowing people to purchase guns without proper background checks, training or licensing is irresponsible and dangerous. Expelling lawmakers because they are advocating for gun reform alongside their constituents? Even if you disagree with their position, that is not right. When politics are prioritized over the need to create a safer and more just society, that is just plain unacceptable.

Bill

Freeman

Bill Freeman is the owner of FW Publishing, the publishing company that produces the Nashville Scene, Nfocus, the Nashville Post and The News.

Rep. Justin Jones, backed by House Democrats, shortly before House Republicans voted in favor of his expulsion, April 6, 2023.

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Justin Jones

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

did not vote.

The move drew national attention.

“The fact that this vote is happening is shocking, undemocratic and without precedent,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday. “Across Tennessee and across America, our kids are paying the price for the actions of Republican lawmakers.”

Jones was first elected to the House last year. Previously, he was a frequent presence in and around the Capitol as a protester and organizer. In 2019, he was banned from the Capitol after he was accused of throwing a cup at then-House Speaker Glen Casada during a chaotic protest over a bust honoring Confederate general and KKK founder Nathan Bedford Forrest. Jones said he filed a police report after an altercation with Rep. Justin Lafferty (R-Knoxville) following the House earlier this week agreeing to consider the expulsion efforts.

Johnson was represented by former Reps. John Mark Windle and Mike Stewart.

Johnson was first elected to the House in 2012 but lost reelection after a single term. She returned to the legislature after winning another bid in 2018.

Johnson was one of the main lawmakers pushing for expulsion of former Rep. David Byrd, a Republican who apologized in a recorded conversation for sexually abusing a minor student when he was a basketball coach. Republicans killed that expulsion effort. Casada was forced to step down as speaker following a scandal involving racy texts sent between him and his chief of staff

Cade Cothren; both were later arrested on fraud charges. Republicans did not push to remove Casada from the legislature.

Several Republicans joined with Democrats to deny the resolution a twothirds majority by a single vote.

“I may have broken a rule, but the words in this document are false, and I did what I was compelled to do based on speaking for the voters in my district who were begging me to bring this forward,” Johnson said.

Pearson was appointed earlier this year to fill the vacancy left by the death of longtime Rep. Barbara Cooper. He won a competitive Democratic primary in a special election for the seat.

“We committed no crime,” Pearson said. “We did nothing but come to this floor to say we need to listen to the voices of our constituents who are chanting to end gun violence.”

Pearson argued that he was never informed about the rules of the House, which were voted on before he came to the Capitol. He also said that Thursday’s hearings were “the first day that I’ve seen something that is even a semblance of democracy, even on a day when this democracy is being challenged.”

Asked why she survived the vote but Jones and Pearson did not, Johnson said, “It might have to do with the color of our skin.”

This article was originally published in our sister publication, the Nashville Post.

Governor calls for action on guns from legislature, TBI

BY MATT MASTERS

Gov. Bill Lee announced on Tuesday a variety of measures to address gun violence, including calling for “new, stronger” order of protection laws, an executive order requiring faster reporting of criminal activity by law enforcement and the courts and requiring the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to review the process for purchasing guns and “operational barriers for sharing information.”

Lee made the announcement during an April 11 news conference at the Metro Nashville Police Department’s Midtown Hills Precinct after he met with law enforcement officials whom he praised for their response to the March 27 Covenant School shooting.

“We can’t stop evil, but we can do something, and when there is a clear need for action, I think that we have an obligation — and I certainly do — to remind people that we should set aside politics and pride and accomplish something that the people of Tennessee want us to get accomplished,”

Lee said. “It’s been a very emotionally charged couple of weeks, but we have to stay focused on the path forward. Tennesseans are depending on us.”

Tuesday’s action comes on the heels of an April 3 joint announcement from Lee and Republican leaders in the legislature of a $200 million school safety investment, which includes funding to put a school resource officer in every Tennessee public school, security upgrades at public and private schools, school-based behavioral health liaisons and an expanded “statewide homeland security network” for private and public schools.

“I said at the time that that bill was the next step but that it wasn’t the last step, and I also said last week and I still say today that we can all agree that it is possible and it is important that we find a way to remove individuals who are a threat to themselves or our society, to remove them from [having] access to weapons,” Lee said Tuesday.

Lee said that this new order

Governor calls for action

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

of protection effort would “go beyond the scope” of current laws that normally are issued in instances of domestic violence.

“I’m asking the legislature to bring forth thoughtful, practical measures to do that, to strengthen our laws, to separate those dangerous people from firearms while at the same time preserving the constitutional rights of the people of this state,” the governor said.

Lee told reporters that he wants to complete this effort by the end of the legislative session.

“The existing background check process for purchasing a firearm only works when there is accurate and timely information available,” Lee said, adding that the executive order will “set a 72-hour clock for reporting new criminal activity” and “ensure and require that the courts submit timely, accurate information directly to the TBI.” Additionally, he said, the order would require the TBI “to examine the current process for

purchasing firearms, to look at operational barriers for sharing information, to provide a report within 60 days of the issues that exist in that process, so that if there are changes needed we can make those changes.”

Lee said that he thinks that leaders from both the House and the Senate have “expressed a desire to do something.”

“We should be encouraged that there is a moment in time where people can come together and get something done,” Lee said. “This is our moment to lead and give the people of Tennessee what they deserve.”

Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) offered support for Lee’s announcement. Democrats have repeatedly introduced legislation related to so-called red flag laws and background checks in recent years.

“In this moment, our families deserve action to stop future gun violence. The governor is right to make this a priority before session ends,” Akbari said.“We are

ready to work with the governor and the supermajority to get something done.”

A variety of gun-related bills have already been proposed this legislative session, including a bill aimed at holding gun owners accountable when their guns are stolen from vehicles and a bill that would lower the age at which a person can lawfully carry a handgun in public without a permit from 21 to 18.

On Tuesday, the Senate Finance, Ways and Means committee unanimously passed Lee’s school safety bill. The bill does not mention guns, instead focusing on various ways schools can improve their security. Some of the measures include penalizing schools for having unlocked exterior doors and requiring schools to submit safety plans to the state. Democrats have expressed concerns over the bill creating prison-like environments for students and suggested the proposal does nothing to address the causes of gun violence.

“I am decidedly of mixed minds about this,” Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) said at the committee hearing. “I want to do everything in the world to make these buildings safer. Also, this is where my children spend their days, [and] I don’t want these to feel too much like fortified entities.”

In 2021, the state’s permitless handgun bill was signed into law by Lee in a ceremony inside of Beretta USA’s firearm factory in Gallatin.

That law was the subject of criticism by the Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association and Brentwood Police Department, among other law enforcement agencies.

In February, the Biden administration and the U.S. Justice Department announced an investment of more than $231 million in funding to 49 states, territories and the District of Columbia as part of the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program, with the goal of reducing gun violence nationally.

Court panel halts implementation of Metro Council reduction

BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT

A panel of three judges — two Republicans from other parts of the state and one Nashville Democrat — on Monday ruled that the new state law requiring Nashville to cut its Metro Council in half cannot go into effect.

The panel granted Metro a temporary injunction, and a status conference is scheduled for next week.

Metro and individual plaintiffs argued that the state law illegally targeted Nashville, the only local legislative body that would

have been affected by the legislation. Additionally, Metro and the other plaintiffs argued, dramatic changes to the city’s governing body so close to an election (candidates have already qualified for the elections later this year) would cause irreparable chaos in the electoral process.

The panel agreed with the plaintiffs that the law “results in upheaval of the election process, risks voter confusion, and potentially comprises the integrity of Davidson County’s August 3, 2023 general

election.” The Metro Planning Department has already proposed potential maps for a Metro Council of 20 members.

Tennessee Republicans pushed the bill after the Metro Council, made up of 40 members, declined to support a bid for Nashville to host the 2024 Republican National Convention.

“We are grateful that the court issued an injunction based on its unanimous finding that Metro is likely to succeed on our claim that the Legislature violated the Constitution

by changing the rules for Metro alone in the middle of an election,” Metro Legal Director Wally Dietz said.

If there are no appeals, Metro Legal anticipates any changes to the size of the Metro Council would not go into effect until 2027 elections.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Williamson County home of Tennessee Holler founder targeted in weekend shooting

BY MATT MASTERS

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are investigating an April 1 shooting in College Grove. Progressive media activist Justin Kanew says his home was the target of the shooting.

While WCSO would not confirm that their investigation relates to Kanew, who is the founder and editor of the liberal site The Tennessee Holler and a former candidate for political office, Kanew publicly acknowledged the incident Tuesday in a social media post.

“On Saturday night, someone targeted our home by shooting several bullets into our house while my family was sleeping,” Kanew said. “This violence has no place in a civilized society and we are thankful no one was physically hurt.

“The authorities have not completed their investigation and right now we do not know for sure the reason for this attack,” Kanew continued. “We urge the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office to continue to investigate this crime and help shed light on Saturday’s unfortunate events and bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice. In the meantime, our family remains focused on keeping our children healthy and safe. We don’t plan on making any additional statements at this time and hope everyone will respect our privacy.”

WCSO said in a news release that deputies responded to the Falls Grove neighborhood of College Grove after the incident occurred sometime between 10 and 10:30 p.m. in what they called an “aggravated assault.”

WCSO refused to answer any questions

about the ongoing investigation, and is asking anyone with information about this shooting to contact WCSO Det. Robert Daub at 615790-5554, Ext. 3221 or by email at robert. daub@williamsoncounty-tn.gov.

Anonymous tips can also be made by calling Crime Stoppers of Williamson County at 615-794-4000, where they may be eligible for a reward.

The Tennessee Holler is involved in both progressive activism and journalism, having gained a large following locally and nationwide thanks in large part to their coverage of politics and social issues since their founding in 2019.

Just hours before the shooting, Kanew was covering a gun reform protest on Franklin’s public square.

In an April 6 news release, Tennessee

Attorney General Skrmetti condemned political violence, citing several recent incidnets including the College Grove shooting.

“Over the weekend, an unknown assailant fired into the home of a local political activist while his children were sleeping inside. I don’t know him personally, though I know I often disagree with him. Regardless of any differences of opinion, though, as a dad and as an attorney general I cannot tolerate this attack against him and his family,” the release reads.

“Our participatory democracy is being tested by these escalating acts of political violence. No Tennessean should have to worry about their safety, or the safety of their family, because of the opinions they express.”

State Sen. Heidi Campbell, Vivian Wilhoite running for mayor

BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT

Two of Nashville’s three state senators are now running for mayor.

Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) announced Wednesday her campaign to succeed Mayor John Cooper. She joins a field that includes her Senate colleague Jeff Yarbro, who announced his own bid in February.

In 2020, Campbell beat incumbent Republican Sen. Steve Dickerson despite significant spending by Republicans in the Senate seeking to retain the last Nashville Republican in the legislature. (Sen. Mark Pody, a Wilson County Republican, represents part of Nashville after redistricting.) She ran for Congress in 2022 in the 5th Congressional District, formerly a Democratic stronghold redrawn to favor Republicans and won by Republican Andy Ogles.

Previously, Campbell was mayor of Oak Hill.

Campbell had nearly $70,000 in her state Senate campaign account as of Jan. 24, funds which can be transferred to a mayoral campaign. She closed her congressional campaign account earlier this year after disbursing remaining funds to charitable organizations and political allies. Campbell’s fundraising team from both the congressional campaign, which raised more than $1 million, and her Senate campaign is already working for Wiltshire’s mayoral campaign.

Also on Wednesday, Davidson County Property Assessor Vivian Wilhoite filed paperwork appointing a mayoral campaign treasurer.

Wilhoite said she would make a formal announcement in the coming weeks. Her treasurer is former judge and Metro Councilmember Nick Leonardo.

Wilhoite, a Tennessee State graduate, was elected in 2007 to the first of two terms on the Metro Council. In 2016, she was elected countywide as Davidson County property assessor.

Following Mayor John Cooper’s announcement earlier this year that he would not seek reelection, Wilhoite teased a potential run.

In addition to Campbell, Wilhoite, and Yarbro, the field now includes former Metro official Matt Wiltshire, Metro Councilmembers Freddie O’Connell and Sharon Hurt, former AllianceBernstein executive Jim Gingrich, Republican strategist Alice Rolli and former school board member Fran Bush.

The qualifying deadline for the race is in May.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Narrow abortion ban exception approved by state legislature

BY HANNAH HERNER

Metro Council defers Titans stadium vote

BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT

A bill establishing a limited carveout for doctors performing abortions is on its way to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk after passing in the Senate 26-1 Wednesday.

SB0745/HB0883 lists ectopic pregnancy, a dead fetus and molar pregnancy as exceptions to Tennessee’s strict abortion ban. It allows doctors to use “reasonable medical judgment” to prevent death of a pregnant patient or spare them from the irreversible, severe impairment of a major bodily function. It also clarifies that no exception exists if a pregnant person threatens to end their life.

On the Senate floor Wednesday, Democratic senators introduced amendments to add exceptions for rape and incest, but each effort failed.

Some clinicians supported the bill when it was introduced, at which point it allowed doctors to use their “good faith judgment” when treating a patient. The bill ultimately became what Republican legislators referred to as a “compromise bill” to appease antiabortion organization Tennessee Right to Life.

Under Tennessee’s trigger ban, medical professionals can be charged with a felony for performing an abortion, protected only by an affirmative defense in court if the procedure was done to save the life of the mother. When SB0745 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in March, clinicians

told the Post that removing the affirmative defense clause from the law was a small win, though allowances were still too limited.

On Wednesday, Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis) presented an amendment to revert the bill back to its original form — the version that garnered clinician support.

“This bill falls short of providing protections for the health and the life of the mother,” Lamar said. “It is not bringing abortion back — it is giving sick women the chance to save their life.”

Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) also introduced an amendment to reintroduce the “good faith medical judgment” standard. Both amendments were tabled via 25-4 votes.

Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) tried to add an exception for rape and incest, which was tabled with a vote of 18-7. Earlier this session, a bill that would add exceptions for rape or incest was shelved, despite support from GOP House Speaker Cameron Sexton.

Finally, Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) introduced an amendment to provide an exception for children who are victims of rape or incest. It was tabled with a vote of 17-6.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Early Wednesday morning, the Metro Council voted to defer for a meeting consideration of a plan to help the Tennessee Titans build a domed stadium on the East Bank.

The decision followed hours of Tuesday night debate by the council.

Metro Council will now consider the proposal on the second of three required readings at its April 18 meeting. The body could hold a special meeting later in April to vote on the deal for a third time, as some officials noted certain types of legislation cannot be considered once the council begins working on a budget in May.

Several councilmembers sought to amend the legislation. One, a “housekeeping” amendment, passed unanimously, according to Nashville Scene contributor Nicole

Williams. Another, sponsored by Metro Councilmember Brandon Taylor, seeks to add fees for certain events at the future stadium in an effort to send revenues to the city’s general fund. It passed by a single vote.

An effort to hold a public hearing on the plan secured 25-13 support — one vote shy of the supermajority needed to call one, according to Williams.

The $2.1 billion proposal’s financing structure as proposed includes $500 million in bonds from the state, $840 million from the Titans and the NFL and $760 million funded by Metro debt and repaid through an increase to the city’s hotel tax and sales tax redirects from the stadium and the surrounding campus.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

12South Mexican restaurant to close

BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS

The 12South Taqueria del Sol will cease operations on June 30 after an approximately 10-year run.

A release does not offer a specific reason but alludes to a possible rent increase. Having opened in early 2013, the business is located at 2317 12th Ave. S.

Taqueria del Sol offers a menu combining fast-casual Mexican and Southern cuisine.

The announcement follows Chago’s Cantina, a Mexican restaurant that operated near 12South at 2015 Belmont Blvd., having closed in August 2022 after an 11.5-year run.

In May 2022, and as the Post reported, New York-based Turnbridge Equities paid $6.15 million for the building home to the restaurant and Faherty. In addition, Turn-

bridge is underway with Ashwood 12 South.

“With rapid development in the neighborhood, we made the difficult decision with our landlord to terminate our lease agreement,” Tony Halligan, Taqueria del Sol Nashville owner, said in the release. “We are very grateful to our hardworking team and community for the generous support and relationships that we have built over the past 10 years that we have been in business.”

Originally opened in Atlanta in 2000 by restaurateur Mike Klank and chef Eddie Hernandez, the parent company of Taqueria del Sol opened a second Nashville location in 2017. The restaurant, located at 4500 Charlotte Ave., will continue with operations. This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

RENDERING OF THE PROPOSED TENNESSEE TITANS STADIUM

Medical professionals were joined by protesters outside of the Justice A.A. Birch Building on Aug. 25, 2022, the day that Tennessee’s abortion trigger law went into effect.

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Five free and cheap family things to do in middle Tennessee

BY AMANDA HAGGARD

If you’re looking for a sign to get outside this weekend, this is it. All around Middle Tennessee, there are events celebrating the beauty of nature. On Saturday, the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival will be in full bloom downtown. And on Sunday, you can check out the Nolensville Buttercup Festival over in Williamson County. In East Nashville, nature will be on full display in an art show and sale at Shelby Bottoms Nature Center. There’s one indoor kid item on our list this week, but the focus is still on outdoor spring creatures: Go with your young one to build a bunny stuffy at the library in Smyrna.

As part of our series on free and cheap things to do with the family, here is our weekly roundup of places to spend time together over the next week:

NASHVILLE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

The Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates spring and Japanese culture on April 15 on the front lawn of the Metro Courthouse at Nashville Public Square. The free festival starts with the Cherry Blossom Walk at 9:30 a.m. The rest of the day includes traditional and contemporary Japanese music and dance, a roving “Candyman,” martial arts demonstrations, art, anime, children’s activities, sumo-suit wrestling, a Cosplay Contest, the annual Pups in Pink Parade and a variety of Japanese cuisine.

RYMAN SIDEWALK SESSION

On April 14, the Ryman Sidewalk

Sessions will be set up at PNC Plaza. The event is free and there will be giveaways. On this date, singer-songwriter Brenna Bone will play a blend of country and rock. It’s a great chance to get to some of the talent that’s normally on the inside of the Ryman on the outside.

THE COLORS OF SHELBY

At Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, they’re hosting an inaugural art show and sale called The Colors of Shelby. The show will feature work from The Chestnut Group, a nonprofit society of plein air artists who paint to protect ecosystems and historic landscapes in Middle Tennessee. The group’s more than 200 members meet for paint-outs to support land conservancy. The show is free, and the art is for sale.

NOLENSVILLE BUTTERCUP FESTIVAL

On April 16, Nolensville will host its annual Nolensville Buttercup Festival. The day’s events include a car show, live music, food, a balloon artist, craft and artisan vendors, and, of course, the Miss Buttercup Pageant.

TEDDY BEAR WORKSHOP

The library in Smyrna will have a Teddy Bear Workshop on April 14 at 10 a.m. There will be a story, snack and an interactive activity. Kiddos will make their own stuffed bunny and registration is required.

Tennessee Press Association’s Carol Goss Daniels dies STAFF

REPORTS

after an eight-year battle with colon cancer. She was 59.

According to a release, Daniels moved to Tennessee in 2007 from her native Canada, working in marketing with nonprofit organizations. These included Belle Meade Plantation, Books from Birth of Middle Tennessee, Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign, the Nashville Rescue Mission, the Nashville Symphony and Watkins College of Art, Design and Film.

Daniels chaired annual fundraising events and was recognized with the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Volunteer of the Year award in 2013. She served on the Nashville Symphony Orchestra board of trustees and on the board of directors of Project Cure. In addition, she was a member of The Andrew Jackson Foundation board of trustees, which runs the Hermitage and its 1,100 acres.

Related to her work with the Tennessee Press Association, Daniels served as executive vice president of Tennessee Press Service,

which represents the sales and marketing interests of Tennessee’s newspapers and their associated digital properties.

“When we hired Carol … the organization was really struggling,” Dave Gould, owner of Main Street Media of Tennessee and president of the Tennessee Press Service, said in the release. “Carol quickly got things turned around, leading by example and building an outstanding team. Today, the association is on sound footing.

“Our industry has been going through such incredible change and Carol was always so positive, passionate, optimistic and encouraging,” Gould added.

Chris Vass, TPA president, said Daniels was a “passionate champion of the First Amendment and a tireless advocate for association members who relied on her skill, high-energy and determination to advance our mission and values.”

Daniels graduated from The University of Calgary with a degree in criminal justice and would later earn a degree in marketing from Mount Royal College.

Area home sales continue falling

BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS

The Nashville area saw 3,063 home closings in March — a 19 percent decrease from the 3,805 figure of the same month in 2022, according to data compiled by Greater Nashville Realtors.

This follows 2,186 home closings in February, a 25 percent decrease year over year, and 1,802 home closings in January, a 31 percent decrease from the total recorded in January 2022.

Data for the first quarter of 2023 showed 7,051 closings, a 24 percent decrease from the 9,378 closings during the first quarter of 2022. In contrast, there were 8,047 closings reported during the first quarter of 2019. There were 2,954 sales pending at the end of March, compared to 3,415 pending sales at this time last year. Similarly, pending sales have been down each month since September. In March 2019, there were 3,158

sales pending.

The average number of days on the market for a single-family home in March was 54. This compares to a February number of 59 and a January mark of 61. Prior to mid-2022, the monthly days-onthe-market numbers consistently had been in the high 20s.

The median price for a single-family home in March was $465,000. For a

Daniels began her career in the media industry at the Calgary Sun in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 2003. She was later recruited to oversee the English-language division of Toronto-based Canoe as director of national sales and marketing.

In 2012, and after moving to Tennessee, Daniels joined The Leaf-Chronicle in Clarksville as sales and marketing director; in 2015, she became general manager. Daniels is survived by her husband of 15 years, Frank Daniels III (former president of Post parent company FW Publishing) of Clarksville, in addition to her mother, siblings, children, step-children, grandchildren and step-grandchildren. Services are pending and will be held at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home in Clarksville.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

condominium, the median price was $327,885. The figures compare with the March 2022 median residential and condominium prices of $461,620 and $319,690 respectively. In 2019, the median price for a residential single-family was $305,000; for a condominium, $223,000.

Inventory in March was 8,677, up 135 percent from the 3,685 figure of the same month from last year. Inventory continues elevating after multiple months of a lack of homes offered in relation to figures from prior to mid-2022. For comparison, in March 2019, inventory was 11,276.

“Home prices continue to rise in the Greater Nashville area as inventory continues to restrict the market,” Brad Copeland, Greater Nashville Realtors president, said in a release.

“Condominium sales are seeing the greatest growth since the median price of those homes coincides with the buying power of the greatest number of home buyers in the Nashville region,” Copeland added. “While prices remain strong, the supply remains anemic compared to the overall demand.”

The GNR data was collected from Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Maury, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Carol Goss Daniels — the veteran executive director of the Tennessee Press Association known for her fundraising skills and work with nonprofits — died April 8

Carol Goss Daniels

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION

Nashville woman killed in April 4 crash on Sawyer Brown Road

STAFF REPORTS

Nashville woman charged with voluntary manslaughter in 2020 shooting of boyfriend

STAFF REPORTS

her boyfriend inside of her Swiss Avenue apartment following a grand jury indictment.

According to a Metro Nashville Police Department news release, 33-year-old Tiffany McMutuary has been charged with voluntary manslaughter and was booked in jail on a $75,000 bond for the shooting death of 38-year-old Anthony D. Davis.

McMutuary called 911 at 12:41 a.m. on Dec. 22, 2020, to report that she shot Davis in self defense after she reported that Davis had grabbed her by the neck and threatened to kill her during an argument.

“She said she got away from Davis and retrieved his gun from another room,” a Dec. 2020 MNPD news release reads.

“McMutuary said she confronted Davis with the pistol and shot him as he advanced on her.”

Davis died at the scene.

A Nashville woman was killed on April 4 in a single-vehicle crash in the 7500 block of Sawyer Brown Road.

The Metro Nashville Police Department identified the victim as 37-year-old Stephanie Evans who they said was driving north

when her PT Cruiser left the road at a curve and struck a mailbox and a tree.

West Precinct officers responded to the scene just before 2 p.m. and determined that Evans was not wearing a seatbelt, and results of the routine toxicology report are pending.

A Nashville woman has been charged with the Dec. 2020 shooting death of

Police said that the couple had a “history of domestic incidents,” and McMutuary consented to an interview with detectives.

-

-

-

-

Tiffany McMutuary

PHOTO BY MNPD

Adventure Science Center names new president and CEO

BY HANNAH HERNER

Conservancy, located off the California coast, overseeing nature-based learning for the nonprofit. With more than 20 years of museum experience at organizations including the Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Miami and the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, she has also held roles as an elementary school teacher and university professor, according to a press release.

Melber is tasked with leading the organization as it expands its secondfloor gallery space to focus on health care and technology and grows its TWISTER conference to encourage young women to pursue careers in STEM.

Adventure Science Center has named Leah Melber its new president and CEO, the nonprofit announced Thursday. A She replaces Steve Hinkley, who stepped down in September 2022 after a five-year run.

Melber most recently served as the senior director of education at the Catalina Island

“ We are thrilled to have Leah on board to lead Adventure Science Center,” said Josh Trusley, incoming board chair. “The science center has exciting things planned to continue to meet the needs of our growing and dynamic region. Leah is the right leader to invest in and partner with the organization as we continue to create experiences that inspire, educate and promote new opportunities for our community.”

Chief Business Officer Karen Musacchio has served as the organization’s interim CEO and president since Hinkley stepped aside.

Addiction company makes leadership changes to prep for new facilities

BY HANNAH HERNER

Franklin-based addiction treatment provider Landmark Recovery has announced changes to its C-suite. CEO and co-founder Matt Boyle remains at the helm with one new addition and a promotion.

Matthew DiGiacobbe will serve as chief financial officer. He most recently worked for DriveWealth, a New Jersey-based fintech company, according to a press release.

AJ Henry, who was named chief people officer for Landmark in August, has been named COO. He previously served as principal human resources business partner for Amazon.

“We are set to open 18 facilities by the end of 2024, and with that much growth ahead, we wanted to update our executive team to take on the expansion,” a spokesperson for the company told the Post.

In addition to Boyle, several leadership team members are remaining in their roles, including chief medical officer Jason Kirby, chief revenue officer Justin Hartman and chief legal officer H. Chris Kang.

Landmark Recovery, which was founded in 2016, moved its headquarters from

Phoenix to Franklin in 2021. At the time, the company managed 10 centers that provide partial hospitalization and medical detox services, and it has since added four more. Landmark and its sister company Praxis will add 18 additional facilities to its national network by the end of 2024.

“With this new team in place, we are refocused and reenergized to build the biggest, highest quality, and most impactful addiction treatment organization in the country,” Boyle said. “We already have over 17,000 graduates, so I cannot wait to see the influence Landmark will have on improving the state of mental health and addiction just a few short years from now.”

In 2022, Landmark announced a $7.5 million expansion to its headquarters and the addition of 1,300 new jobs — a move that Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter called a “major win for our state.”

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Adventure Science Center announced in December that it had launched a search for its next president and CEO, using a national search firm.

The organization in 2020 began renovating more than 15,000 square feet of exhibit space and has since reopened three spaces: a sensory-friendly space, a climbing area and an immersive audiovisual room.

Adventure Science Center was founded in 1945 as Cumberland Science Museum, and has been located on the WedgewoodHouston hill with Fort Negley since the 1970s.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Saint Thomas names Titans, NSCC execs to board

BY HANNAH HERNER

Titans in 2019 and worked to launch the state’s first girls’ flag football league. He has added local eateries such as Slim & Husky’s at the stadium as well as created the “Battle of the Bands” for up-and-coming artists to play at halftime.

Ascension Saint Thomas has named two new board members. Shanna Jackson, president of Nashville State Community College, and Gil Beverly, senior vice president of the Tennessee Titans, are set to join the health system’s board of directors.

Jackson has led the community college since 2018 and has launched partnerships with Metro Nashville Public Schools, ClarksvilleMontgomery County Schools and Amazon Career Choice. Beverly joined the Tennessee

“Ascension Saint Thomas is committed to fostering a board of dynamic, creative, forward-thinking leaders who integrate the health system within the civic and business community to extend our mission and make a positive difference,” said Fahad Tahir, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas. “Dr. Jackson and Gil Beverly have helped their respective organizations establish unique partnerships and launch exciting programs to serve our community for years to come.”

In March, the organization opened a new satellite location in Rutherford County.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Leah Melber PHOTO SUBMITTED

Adventure Science Center PHOTO BY ERIC ENGLAND

Gil Beverly and Shanna Jackson

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ASCENSION SAINT THOMAS

Ingram Industries names CFO

BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS

In addition to his new role, Dowell will continue to serve as co-chair of Ingram Industries’ company-wide diversity, equity and inclusion steering committee.

Dowell joined Ingram in 2013 as senior treasury manager. He has served the company as assistant treasurer and assistant controller, and most recently held the title of senior vice president and controller.

Dowell serves on the board of the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee and has served as treasurer since 2020.

Music industry producer sells Berry Hill property

BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS

Nashville’s Ingram Industries has announced that Alfred Dowell has been promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Dowell will succeed Mary Cavarra as CFO, who is retiring after more than 25 years at the company, according to a release. Cavarra will continue to work with the Ingram family office and remain on the board of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and serve as board chair-elect of the Nashville Symphony.

“Alfred is exceedingly qualified for this position, and I am excited to see him flourish in his new role,” Orrin Ingram, Ingram Industries CEO, said in the release. “Alfred has been a tremendous asset to our company and has demonstrated strong leadership skills and business acumen in his role as senior vice president and controller. We look forward to his continued contributions and expertise.

“Mary has played an integral role in almost every aspect of Ingram Industries, and we would not be where we are as a company today without her service and hard work,” Ingram added.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Bell Construction names president

STAFF REPORTS

A Los Angeles music industry producer and executive has sold his Berry Hill studio property for sale for $2.35 million.

Ron Fair — who has worked with Christina Aguilera, Vanessa Carlton, Keyshia Cole and The Black Eyed Peas — and wife Stefanie Jill Fair had asked about $2.9 million for the property, as the Post reported in May 2022.

The Fairs paid $890,000 for the 0.21-acre property, located at 2814 Azalea Place, in January 2017, Metro records show.

group Wild Orchid, which included Stacy Ferguson (“Fergie” of The Black Eyed Peas). The office building that sold was constructed in 1941 and offers about 4,310 square feet, making it one of the larger such structures located in Berry Hill. It is home to no tenant, but at one time seemingly accommodated Playground Recording Studios.

Brentwood’s Bell Construction announced Monday that Eric Pyle has been named president.

According to a release, Pyle replaces his father, Keith Pyle, who served as president of Bell since 2005 and will now serve as chair of the company’s board of directors.

Eric Pyle has been with Bell (stylized as “BELL”) for approximately 16 years. He assumes day-to-day leadership of the company after having most recently served as member and as executive vice president of building operations.

Having joined Bell part-time in 2002, Pyle went on to graduate with a degree in

construction

engineering technology from Murray State University in 2007. At that point, he was promoted to full-time position of project engineer. Since then, he has held the roles of partner and project executive and was recently promoted to head the company’s building division as building division manager.

“This announcement is the culmination of the company’s diligent, long-range succession planning process and comes at the right time as BELL is performing at its best yet and positioned for significant growth in Middle Tennessee and beyond,” Keith Pyle, who has worked at Bell for more than 37 years, said in the release. “BELL’s board members and I are confident that Eric is the right person to continue to lead this momentum. He embodies the company’s core values and has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to the success of our team and clients over the past 16 years.”

Bell Construction provides general contracting, design-build and construction management services, with a focus on the hospitality, office and transportation sectors. Since its founding in 1970 by the late Ray Bell, the company has overseen approximately 1,000 construction projects.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

According to a Davidson County Register of Deeds document, the new owner is Soundville Holdings LLC, led by member Michael A. Smith (details about whom the Post was unable to determine). The LLC has landed a loan, valued at $1,997,500, from Pinnacle Bank, a separate document notes.

Ron Fair has served as an executive with Geffen Records, Virgin Records and A&M Records, among other labels. He has produced multiple number one singles and has worked with Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifah, in addition to the aforementioned artists.

Stefanie Fair was a member of girl

The sale is the equivalent of about $545 per square foot based on the building’s size. The asking price was the equivalent of about $670 per foot.

Of note, the Los Angeles Times reported in 2016 that the Fairs had listed their Brentwood home for sale for $15.5 million. They bought the property for $7.25 million, the newspaper noted.

Stephen Prather and Tee Patterson, first vice presidents with Nashville-based Charles Hawkins Co., represented the Fairs. The Post was unable to determine if the buyer used a broker.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Lipscomb sells three properties near campus

BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS

Lipscomb University has undertaken the latest in what has become a series of real estate transactions — with this deal, however, seeing the school as the seller and not the buyer.

According to a Davidson County Register of Deeds document, Lipscomb sold for a collective $2.2 million three properties: 1110 Caldwell Lane, 1112 Caldwell Lane and 1518 Grandview Drive.

The buyer was Franklin’s Sunnybrook Investment LLC, details about which the Post was unable to determine.

The university paid $1 million for the two adjacent Caldwell Lane properties (neither

offering a building) in late 2014, Metro records show. It paid about $493,000 for the 1518 Grandview Drive property, which offers a single-family home, in late 2022.

The transaction follows Lipscomb’s having completed multiple purchases of properties from RER Partnership since October 2022.

Lipscomb officials have declined to comment regarding the university’s previous real estate deals and their plans related to those efforts.

The Post was unable to determine if brokers were involved in the latest transaction. This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

2814 Azalea Place

Alfred Dowell

PHOTO COURTESY OF INGRAM INDUSTRIES

Eric Pyle

PHOTO COURTESY OF BELL CONSTRUCTION

Titans, Jeffery Simmons agree to extension

STAFF REPORTS

Vanderbilt’s Sargent competes at the Masters

BY LOGAN BUTTS

Vanderbilt sophomore Gordon Sargent competed on golf’s biggest stage over the weekend, becoming the first amateur to receive a special invitation to the Masters Tournament in more than two decades.

The reigning NCAA individual national champion failed to make the cut after the first two rounds, notching a 77 (+5) in the first round and a 76 (+4) in the second for a total of 9 over par for the tournament, which placed him in a tie for 79th overall. But it was still a historic performance for the Birmingham native.

The last time an amateur received a special exemption to compete at the Masters was in 2000 when Aaron Baddeley accepted an invite following a win in the Australian Open.

The Masters usually invites a handful of amateurs each year, but their invitation is tied to winning major tournaments like the U.S. Amateur Open. An exception to the rules like the one Sargent received is rare.

Becoming the first freshman in 16 years to win an individual NCAA national championship likely helped Sargent earn Augusta National’s approval. His No. 1 spot in the World Amateur Gold rankings didn’t hurt either.

Starting next year, however, the Masters will begin hanging out invitations to the reigning NCAA Division I individual champion. Sargent was also the first Vanderbilt student-athlete to compete at the Masters as an amateur since John Augenstein competed in the 2020 iteration.

The Tennessee Titans and star defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons have agreed in principle on a four-year contract extension, ESPN’s Turron Davenport reports.

“We are not done yet,” Simmons said on Twitter. “We have so much work to do!”

Simmons’ role with the team has been a key consideration for new general manager Ran Carthon, who quickly moved away from several veterans upon coming to Nashville from the San Francisco 49ers earlier this year.

Simmons, named second-team All Pro in 2022 and 2021, said last year that he was unsure if the Titans would be able to afford a contract extension. In 2022, he made $2.21 million and is due north of $10 million next season. But according to Spotrac, his market value is a bit more than $26 million annually, which would place him among the highest-paid defensive tackles in the NFL.

The Titans picked Simmons in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

MT’s Kseniya Malashka taken in third round of WNBA draft

BY LOGAN BUTTS

Middle Tennessee’s Kseniya Malashka was selected in the third round of the 2023 WNBA draft on Monday night, landing with the Chicago Sky at 35th overall.

The 6-0 forward became the fifth Blue Raider to be drafted, all under current head coach Rick Insell, joining two-time WNBA champion and Mt. Juliet alum Alysha Clark, Amber Holt, Chrissy Givens, and current Atlanta Dream member Cheyenne Parker.

The VCU transfer made an instant impact in Murfreesboro, earning the C-USA Sixth Player of the Year award in each of her two seasons as a Blue Raider, notching a spot on the all-conference second team for 202122, and being named to the 2022 All-WNIT Team after Middle Tennessee reached the final four of that tournament.

The Belarus native averaged 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game last season, helping the Blue Raiders to a 28-5 record, an NCAA Tournament appearance, and Conference USA regular season and tournament titles.

During her collegiate career, Malashka played in 128 games and collected 1,207 points, 550 rebounds, and 165 blocks. Kseniya

Jeffery Simmons

PHOTO BY DONALD PAGE/TENNESSEE TITANS

Gordon Sargent

PHOTO BY VANDERBILT/KARLEE SELL

Malashka

PHOTO BY DAVID RUSSELL

COMMENT

Mr. Trump pretends to be a victim even though all these years he has gotten his way through wealth and power. Now Mr. Trump warns that if the government can come after him, it can come after anyone who pays off a porn star and tries to overturn an election. And what kind of precedent will this set, if people are held accountable for their actions!? After a lifetime of getting away with lying and cheating, Mr. Trump is finding out that as another Republican, Mr. Reagan, famously complained, “Government for the people, of the people, and by the people IS the problem.”

TICKED OFF

I am offended as should all thinking individuals should be that the MURDERESS that killed 3 innocent children and 3 devoted adults is a victim

How laughable if not so tragic. What are those ignorant individuals thinking

I’m simply amazed at the stupidity

of certain individuals of today. This is so tragically sad.

EXPULSIONS

I am irate, repulsed, sickened, at the actions of the mass collection of idiots in the state government voting on the expulsion of 3 members for exercising their freedom of speech and right to express their anger in the killing of 6 human beings. Do these Repulsivecans have nothing better to legislate? Will it take a child or grandchild of their own to be slayed in a mass school shooting to bring these sons of b*tches to the knees and to their senses? Are they so power-hungry that they will do whatever it takes to enter into a one-party, one-rule form of government? Are the thoughts and ideas of others not pertinent to today’s many problems and issues?

******* head that something has to be done, NOW”. I am going to agree to disagree with your disagreement. The time is NOW to act up since the majority of Nashville’s voters have put in the incompetent, ignorant, ruling body of our state government. I am extremely proud to say that I have voted in every election held since moving here in 1988. If more people would just take a look at candidates, listen to what they have to say, decipher what is good, bad and BS, then make an intelligent decision before pulling the lever to vote, not just because they represent a certain political party. Vote with your head and heart, not because your grandfather voted only a particular party for decades. That’s what has gotten us into the terrible, repulsive predicament we are in today.

that enabled America to become a democracy. The Revolutionary War was fought for the principles of freedom, one such is the freedom of speech. Yet the very same reasons that the Europeans left England for new lands is the oppression that they implemented and institutionalized America. Throughout its existence America has and continue to afford these democratic principle to people of color. There is no argument that the Europeans’ ancestors waged wars to conquer (STEAL) this land, but no one can dispute that it was the enslavement of black people that built its wealth. Yet even today we can not share in its prosperity.

The comments in the Ticked Off column do not reflect the views of FW Publishing.

“RESPONSE

TO GREEN HILLS SHOOTING”

RESPONSE

I am the writer of “get it through your

DISORDERLY CONDUCT THE FOUNDATION OF AMERICA’S DEMOCRACY.

“Disorderly Conduct” is the principle

Baby Carrot Goat Cheese Tart

BY EDIBLE NASHVILLE

Spring baby carrots and tender green onions are best in this luxurious tart with goat cheese and puff pastry.

ACROSS

1 Prefix for the greenminded

4 Great cleverness

10 Junior hurdle, for short

14 Forever and a day

15 Revelers at reunions

16 Pilgrim at Mecca

17 Him, in French

18 Bawdy

19 Chester Ar thur’s middle name

20 Wind

22 1/2 cup coar sely chopped, for bright (or soapy) flavor

24 Add value to

27 Smallville surname

28 Word with color or rhyme

30 Sidestep

34 In ___ parentis (legal term)

37 Noteworthy span

38 Singer Donny or Marie

39 Sound at the doctor’s office

40 About two cups cubed, after peeling and pitting

42 Pick up the tab

43 Former Wyoming representative Liz

INGREDIENTS

10-20 baby carrots

8 ounces (1/2 of a pound package)

Butter Puff Pastry (available in the freezer section)

3 ounces Tomme or Gruyere cheese, shredded

1. Preheat oven to 425F.

2. Cook carrots in boiling water for 3 minutes or until al dente. Drain under cold water (to shock or quit cooking).

Unroll puff pastry dough. Place in an 11 x 7-inch removeable bottom tart pan, pressing in bottom and up sides of pan. Sprinkle cheese on bottom of dough. Arrange carrots on top of cheese. Top

3 green onions, julienned

3 ounces honey goat cheese

Freshly ground black pepper

Coarse salt

Fresh rosemary sprigs

with strips of green onion. Dollop goat cheese over carrots. Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper and salt. Top with a rosemary sprig, if desired.

3. Bake 35-45 minutes or until browned and puffed. Remove from oven. Cool. Remove sides of tart pan. Serves 8 as an appetizer or 4 as a main dish.

Follow Edible Nashville on instagram @ediblenashtn and their website ediblenashville.com. To subscribe to the magazine that comes out 6x/year, go to ediblenashville.com.

45 “___ was saying …”

46 Cat calls

47 Money spent in Munich

48 Serpentine

50 Carry-out

52 “Stat!”

55 One seeded and minced, for heat

59 Shade a lot like lilac

61 Somewhat

62 Saskatchewan’s second-largest city, after Saskatoon

65 Soccer great Hamm

66 Phenomenon that may be dank or trending

67 Marine fish that’s also the name of a hairstyle

68 “___ your move”

69 Kane’s Rosebud, for one

70 Brand for a butterfly exper t, perhaps

71 Bill-blocking vote

DOWN

1 Their blood is toxic to humans

2 Spor ty model

3 One small red minced, for crunch and tang

4 Three cloves minced, for depth and aroma

5 Cotton gin inventor Whitney

6 Gist

7 Apple for a teacher, maybe

8 Reverse a thumbs-up for, on Facebook

9 Slink

10 Ghostly apparition

11 One teaspoon, pink or black, for emphasis

12 Slightly open

13 Baseball’s Martinez

21 “Ish”

23 “Thus …”

25 “American Pie” ride

26 Lunch that saves the day?

29 Talkative bird

31 Very cool, in slang

32 Chew (on)

33 “Grand” ice cream brand

34 Ruth Bader Ginsburg collar fabric

35 “From Here to Eternity” setting

36 “Moonstr uck” star

38 Panegyric poet

40 Fabulous fabulist

41 ___ Minor

44 Written for an instr umentalist

46 Talkative bird

48 Build some muscle

49 One vine-ripe chopped, for texture and color

51 They can make you sick

53 1/2 teaspoon, for a little extra flavor … really, try it!

54 Role for Patti LuPone and Madonna

55 Rocks out

56 Mouse with his own island in a Newbery Honor book

57 One small juiced, for citrus notes, and to preserve color

58 Rudely stare at

60 Accommodating 63 ___ de la Cité

64 Nancy Drew’s beau

ANSWER TO PUZZLE

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TPAC Gala

PHOTOS BY DANIEL MEIGS

On Saturday, April 1, nearly 400 guests convened at the brand-new Four Seasons Hotel Nashville for the TPAC Gala. The black-tie event, co-chaired by Tiffany Degrafinreid and Allison Lechleiter, kicked off with a sunset cocktail hour on Four Seasons Hotel Nashville’s fifth floor, offering spectacular views of the Cumberland River and Riverfront Park. Models Elizabeth Graham Pistole and Destinee Johnson — outfitted in exquisite gold, copper and Tiffany blue gowns designed by Matt Logan — served as living sculptures during the party, which also included a jazz set from the Wes Bailey Band. Following the cocktail hour, guests made their way into the Grand Ballroom for a three-course dinner from Four Seasons Hotel Nashville and an inspiring musical performance, produced by Matt Logan Productions.

TPAC Board Chair Dr. Phil Wenk of Delta Dental welcomed guests with his opening remarks before Piper Jones performed “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from the Broadway hit musical, Funny Girl, which will be part of TPAC’s 2023-2024 Broadway at TPAC season. Later in the evening, Piper Jones was joined by John-Mark McGaha for a medley of Tina Turner hits, another nod to the upcoming Broadway season.

TPAC President and CEO Jennifer Turner delivered heartfelt remarks reflecting on TPAC’s success over the past year — including setting a new record for season ticket sales and developing new performance series for dance, theater, and family programming — and the organization’s impact in the community. She was joined onstage by Belmont University junior Josh Jordan, a former finalist in TPAC’s Spotlight Awards, who shared a testimonial about how his involvement with TPAC as a high school student helped inspire, prepare and equip

him for a career in musical theater.

Turner also inspired the audience about TPAC’s future with an exciting announcement about an upcoming capital campaign to build a new performing arts center. The soon-to-launch capital campaign comes on the heels of an announcement from Governor Bill Lee in his State of the State Address on Feb. 6 that included TPAC in his proposed budget to relocate and build a new performance home. TPAC’s capital campaign will be co-chaired by Dr. Phil Wenk and Victor Berrios.

“Our unique capacity for narrative storytelling conveys multicultural experiences and serves as a foundation from which opera, ballet, theater, and other arts forms can thrive,” said Turner. “I truly believe that to serve one of the most vibrant arts communities in the world, we must be bold in our beliefs and courageous to dream bigger than ourselves. To deliver on the vision for TPAC since its founding almost 50 years ago, we must build on what we have created and become a cultural pioneer worthy of Tennessee’s creative legacy.”

The evening concluded with a moving performance of “When You Believe” by Piper Jones, John-Mark McGaha and the PARAGON musical ensemble from Nashville School of the Arts.

TPAC Gala was presented by Delta Dental. Additional sponsors of the TPAC Gala and Patrons Party include BlueCross Blue Shield of Tennessee, CinemaSins, Dollar General, Hardaway Construction, Broadway Across America, Butler Snow, Delek Hope, Earl Swensson Associates, Fifth Third Bank, HCA Healthcare and TriStar Health, I.C. Thomasson Associates, Martha Rivers Ingram, JohnsonPossKirby, Nissan and Vanderbilt University. Flowers were designed and provided by Gossamer.

Sierra Fermin, Josh Jordan, and TPAC Board Chair Dr. Phil Wenk

TPAC Board Chair Dr. Phil Wenk

TPAC President and CEO Jennifer Turner, and Matt Logan

Alfred Degrafinreid, TPAC Board Member Sheila Gibson, and TPAC Board Member Melvin Malone Franklin Carver, Stacey Nickens, Neale Bedrock, and Pam Bedrock

Dan Lechleiter and TPAC Gala 2023 Co-chair Allison Lechleiter

TPAC Gala 2023 Co-chairs Tiffany Degrafinreid and Allison Lechleiter

Destinee Johnson

Breun and Ursula Reed

Susan Hoag, TPAC President and CEO Jennifer Turner, and Nancy Floyd

Robert Chinman, Liz Thomas, and Rachael Vacek

TPAC Vice President of Leadership Giving Diana Pelham and Zach Pelham

Piper Jones

Lee Pratt and Neil Krugman

Elizabeth Graham Pistole

David Andrews and Matt Paco

Shari and Red Martin

Peter Depp and Jay Joyner

Josh Jordan

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