TN homeland security commissioner re: @nashvillebanner.bsky.social and co. ICE/THP investigation: “I don’t think it’s appropriate what happened. ... We don’t have control over other agencies, but we limited the amount of participation that we did after that. That’s the only operation we’ve done."

Gov. Bill Lee said “I don’t know” when asked about THP and ICE conduct in a Nashville raid last May, during which troopers and agents disparaged and “hunted” immigrants. Protesters, lawmakers and THP leadership also debated accountability on Thursday. ✍️ @sarahgracetaylor.bsky.social

Black Mental Health Village’s “Honoring Black History by Honoring Our Elders” event celebrated senior change-makers in Nashville and reminded the community that Black history is “local, living and still being written.” ✍️ @ejturner02.bsky.social

In an evidentiary hearing on Thursday, the government called two witnesses to prove that their prosecution of Kilmar Abrego García was not vindictive. The judge previously found some evidence of vindictiveness, and the defense is asking him to dismiss the case. ✍️ @mikeiereiland.bsky.social

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally announced on the Senate floor Thursday that he will not seek reelection, ending a nearly five-decade legislative career and kicking off a leadership race in the state Senate. ✍️ @stelliott.bsky.social

This investigation was a collaboration with @motherjones.com, @nashvillebanner.bsky.social, News Channel 5, Nashville Noticias, and the Institute for Public Service Reporting - Memphis You can find links to stories here + our methodology write-up: www.lighthousereports.com/methodology/...

NEW: In an agreed order, the Attorney General’s Office said it will not enforce a law that would impose felony criminal liability on elected officials who vote for sanctuary policies. CM Clay Capp: "This is a huge victory for free speech and self-government” nashvillebanner.com/2026/02/25/t...

Founded in 2020, 95 Counties has been uplifting the descendants of enslaved people by uncovering their ancestry and allowing them to name themselves in the context of American history. ✒️: @ejturner02.bsky.social

On Tuesday, East Bank Development Authority chair Emily Lamb stepped down from the role to assume the position of director of the Metro Codes Department in “several months.” 📝: @stelliott.bsky.social

NEW: A Tennessee bill that would seek the death penalty for so-called “prenatal homicide” likely stalled for the year as sponsor Sen. Mark Pody withdrew support. nashvillebanner.com/2026/02/24/t...

In the aftermath of the Antioch school shooting, Metro Council adopted a resolution requesting that MNPD assess the safety plans of Nashville’s public schools. One year later, that report hasn’t been released yet.

Mayor Freddie O’Connell said he had accepted the resignation of Nashville Department of Transportation Director Diana Alarcon and appointed Deputy Director Phillip Jones as acting director. ✍️ @stelliott.bsky.social

The gyms at Shelby Park and Easley community centers were closed last week due to structural concerns. An official said the ice storm caused “cracking” in beams, but a community center gym roof with the same design collapsed last year. ✍️ @stelliott.bsky.social

In a special podcast episode, @genuinehumandk.bsky.social talks with @sarahgracetaylor.bsky.social, @stelliott.bsky.social and Araceli Crescencio about how they approached their reporting on the THP-ICE operation, which involved reviewing 50+ hours of video. Produced by @andreatudhope.bsky.social.

Must-read reporting this week.

Yesterday, our investigation exposed misreported statistics and disparaging conduct in an immigration raid conducted in Nashville last May by ICE and the THP. Now, state lawmakers and city leaders are calling for accountability from the governor and law enforcement. ✍️ @sarahgracetaylor.bsky.social

I want to underline one thing ... We launched the Banner to help reverse the loss of public service journalism. If you want to support local, independent journalism and help put more boots on the ground, click here: nashville-public-media.fundjournalism.org/donate/?camp...

Exceptional work led by the @nashvillebanner.bsky.social nashvillebanner.com/2026/02/19/i...

INVESTIGATION: Over the last 5 months, the Banner and a coalition of partners analyzed 52 hours of footage and thousands of pages of documents from a joint THP/ICE operation targeting Nashville’s predominantly immigrant neighborhoods. Here’s what we found: (1/11) ✍️ @sarahgracetaylor.bsky.social

From @nashvillebanner.bsky.social: 'Huntin’ Time' — How ICE and Tennessee State Troopers Targeted Immigrants, Inflated Safety Claims 2/ nashvillebanner.com/2026/02/19/i...

From @nashvillebanner.bsky.social: ‘My Life Has Been a Mess’ — The Aftermath of May 2025 Highway Patrol, ICE Operation 3/ nashvillebanner.com/2026/02/19/i...

I promise we wouldn’t ask you to read 8,000 words if it wasn’t important. Every article we write and conversation we have about detention facilities or immigration policies in Nashville need to be informed by what already happened here:

Detailed (and appalling) account by @sarahgracetaylor.bsky.social at @nashvillebanner.bsky.social of officer conduct during immigrant dragnet in Nashville last May ‘Huntin’ Time’ — How ICE and Tennessee State Troopers Targeted Immigrants, Inflated Safety Claims nashvillebanner.com/2026/02/19/i...

Today we're sharing an investigation into the Nashville ICE/THP traffic operation. (Thread) I viewed over 50 hours of footage from the raid, which showed law enforcement calling targets "wet," "bodies," "illegals," physically writing on arrestees and competing to make the most arrests:

INVESTIGATION: Over the last 5 months, the Banner and a coalition of partners analyzed 52 hours of footage and thousands of pages of documents from a joint THP/ICE operation targeting Nashville’s predominantly immigrant neighborhoods. Here’s what we found: (1/11) ✍️ @sarahgracetaylor.bsky.social

A word about HG Webb, who passed away recently I've been racking by brain to think if I have ever met a kinder, more generous person. He was so instrumental in saving the Belcourt it's no accident his name is on the screening room that was added to the refurbished building. This photo ...

In a 64-page report, the Board of Professional Responsibility finds Nashville historian David Ewing misappropriated more than $300K from the trust fund of a friend he told he would help for free, and recommends he be disbarred. ✒️: @scavendish.bsky.social

A poll found that 47 percent of voters blame NES "for the issues the city of Nashville faced when dealing with the recent ice storm," compared to 15 percent who blamed the Nashville Office of Emergency Management and 9 percent who blame O'Connell. ✍️: @stelliott.bsky.social

The Metro Council has several items on its Tuesday agenda related to recovery from the recent winter storm. Check out our preview of the meeting: 📝: @stelliott.bsky.social

Did a bonus pod with our education reporter Lillian Avedian about the bills she’s been following at the state legislature — including vouchers, communism curriculum, the Ten Commandments — and also romance at the Winter Olympics. nashvillebanner.com/2026/02/13/b...

The recent winter storm in Nashville hit refugee families especially hard. Advocates said language barriers, limited access to resources and lack of familiarity with cold weather left many in danger and underprepared for the historic storm. ✍️ @ejturner02.bsky.social

On Thursday, the Tennessee Supreme Court heard oral arguments on 2023 laws passed by the legislature cutting the Metro Council and taking over the board that runs BNA, major landmarks in the ongoing battle between Metro and the state’s Republican supermajority. ✍️ @mikeiereiland.bsky.social

NEW POLL: A survey found that 47 percent of voters blame NES "for the issues the city of Nashville faced when dealing with the recent ice storm," compared to 15 percent who blamed the Nashville Office of Emergency Management and 9 percent who blame O'Connell. nashvillebanner.com/2026/02/13/n...

A lengthy legal battle between Metro and the Tennessee State Gov. is approaching its conclusion. On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Tennessee will hear oral arguments about a potential reduction in the size of Metro Council and a state takeover of the airport authority. 📝: @mikeiereiland.bsky.social

A new Metro Council resolution calls for the NES CEO to be fired. nashvillebanner.com/2026/02/11/m...

A new Metro Council resolution calls for Nashville Electric Service CEO Teresa Broyles-Aplin to be fired after “systemic leadership failures” related to last month’s historic winter storm and the power outage crisis that followed. nashvillebanner.com/2026/02/11/m...

The @nashvillebanner.bsky.social is hiring! We have two openings: director of audience and membership manager — check it out ⬇️

At a special four-hour committee meeting Tuesday night, Metro councilmembers and NES leaders discussed communication struggles, power grid resiliency and especially vulnerable customers in the wake of last month’s winter storm. ✍️ @stelliott.bsky.social

The Tennessee Department of Correction is seeking funding for “drone detection technology” that officials say is necessary to stop people from airdropping drugs, weapons and other contraband into the state’s prisons. ✍️ @iamstevenhale.bsky.social

oh wow what a generous person

Very good Intro to Metro by @stelliott.bsky.social. If you're in Nashville and sometimes wonder what the hell a bunch of nerds On Here are talking about a couple Tuesdays every month, this is a fantastic place to start.

Whether you're a longtime Nashville resident newly interested in your city government or a recent transplant hoping to keep up with what's going on, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville-Davidson County can be hard to follow. That's why we put together this guide. ✍️: @stelliott.bsky.social

The Nashville Electric Service board met this morning. There’s been talk about if and whether anyone would resign. That did not happen this morning. Some stuff that did in next post.

Metry and her husband of 4 years go to DHS to get their I-130 in motion. "Good news" a DHS employee told them, the form to start her naturalization was approved. DHS employee asks the husband to follow him through a secure door. When it locks behind him, ICE detains his wife to deport her.

EXCLUSIVE: Terez Metry was 13 when her family fled to Tennessee from Egypt in 2011. Then, they left her behind. She only recently discovered she had an order of removal from 2011. But she was following the legal path to citizenship. On Monday, at a routine DHS meeting, Metry was detained.

Teachers and students from Knowledge Academy have spent the past few months at public meetings appealing to keep their school open. Their fight tells a bigger story about the tensions around public vs. charter education, and how that’s playing out in Antioch. ✍️ Lillian Avedian

Tennessee lawmakers are considering allowing autonomous delivery robots on roads and bike lanes while doubling the devices’ current speed limit. ✍️: @sarahgracetaylor.bsky.social

Since the Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits expired, marketplace enrollees are seeing significantly higher insurance costs. Here’s how that’s playing out in Tennessee. 📝 @ejturner02.bsky.social

Some good news: Fatal overdoses fell by nearly 20 percent in Nashville last year. From September through December, there were just 68 suspected overdose deaths, the lowest the death toll has been in a single quarter since at least 2017. nashvillebanner.com/newsletters/