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6 days ago | 
tennessean.com | Andrea Williams |Andréa Williams
Country music fans will tell you that their purist inclinations have nothing to do with politics. They’ll also skip past the cultural realities of country’s golden era. The 60th annual Academy of Country Music Awards celebrated a return to traditional country music. Newcomer Ella Langley and established artist Lainey Wilson won multiple awards, reflecting this trend. This shift back to older styles coincides with a broader societal shift towards conservatism.
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1 week ago | 
christiantoday.com | Andrea Williams |Andréa Williams
Last week, the UK Supreme Court delivered a powerful and long-overdue judgment: families who lose children in hospital-led, court-ordered end-of-life decisions have the right to tell their stories. The Court ruled that the indefinite gagging orders historically imposed on grieving parents-prohibiting them from naming hospitals or clinicians-are a disproportionate infringement on free speech and a betrayal of open justice.
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1 week ago | 
tennessean.com | Andrea Williams |Andréa Williams
While Nashville's 85.7% high school graduation rate is record-breaking, only about a third of graduates are considered "ready" for college or careers. The "ready graduate" rate for the 2022-23 school year was 34.2% overall, and significantly lower for minority and economically disadvantaged students. Mayor O'Connell touted the high graduation rate but failed to acknowledge the low college/career readiness figures. Just how good was Metro Nashville Public Schools’ graduation rate last year?
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1 week ago | 
tennessean.com | Andrea Williams |Andréa Williams
As future of TSSAA remains uncertain, Tennessee student-athletes find themselves torn between the unsympathetic governing body and an authoritarian state government threatening to take control. Tennessee lawmakers are considering dissolving the TSSAA and bringing its governance under the state legislature. This follows disputes over TSSAA's transfer rules and perceived unwillingness to adapt to athlete empowerment.
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3 weeks ago | 
premierchristianity.com | Andrea Williams |Andréa Williams
Rushmoor Council’s efforts to stop Christian street preachers represents a significant and deeply troubling attack on freedom of speech and religious expression, says Christian Concern’s Andrea Williams
Source: Peter Herman / Alamy Stock Photo
Last month, Rushmoor Borough Council sought an injunction at Aldershot and Farnham County Court that would have imposed draconian restrictions on Christian Street preachers in Aldershot and Farnborough.
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3 weeks ago | 
tennessean.com | Andrea Williams |Andréa Williams
Shedeur Sanders is expected to be drafted into the NFL, marking a successful trajectory from youth sports to the professional level. While Shedeur's father, Deion Sanders, has been instrumental in his career, the article raises concerns about "daddy ball" in youth sports. The article acknowledges Shedeur's talent and success while questioning the broader implications of parental involvement in youth sports.
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3 weeks ago | 
tennessean.com | Andrea Williams |Andréa Williams
Tennessee House Bill 793 and Senate Bill 0836 aim to allow schools to deny enrollment to undocumented students, potentially violating the Supreme Court's Plyler v. Doe ruling. Critics argue this legislation will create financial burdens for the state, including potential loss of federal funding and legal challenges. The author argues that denying education to undocumented children perpetuates a cycle of poverty and reinforces socioeconomic disparities.
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3 weeks ago | 
yahoo.com | Andrea Williams |Andréa Williams
There is no justification for House Bill 793 and Senate Bill 0836, the sister bills that in the legislature that would allow Tennessee’s public and charter schools to deny enrollment to undocumented students. First, as critics have mentioned, the argument that undocumented students create a financial drain on education systems holds little weight. Even undocumented immigrants pay taxes that support local schools.
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3 weeks ago | 
christiantoday.com | Andrea Williams |Andréa Williams
This week's Supreme Court ruling was not a case of women's rights defeating trans rights; it was a victory for truth over falsehood. I refer, of course, to For Women Scotland's win against the Scottish Ministers about the definition of 'woman' in law. I was at the court that day supporting a separate Supreme Court case where, backed by my legal team, parents won the freedom to properly share the stories of how their children were treated by doctors in end-of-life cases.
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1 month ago | 
tennessean.com | Andrea Williams |Andréa Williams
For those who think DEI is an attack against meritocracy, or some evil, Democrat-hatched strategy to 'divide America,' Jackie Robinson’s signing is an unassailable counterpoint. Branch Rickey, president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, signed Jackie Robinson in 1945, breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier. Robinson's signing was a calculated risk, reflecting the growing Civil Rights Movement and the need for diverse talent in baseball.
