Cynthia Abrams

3 weeks ago | wpln.org | Cynthia Abrams

When Lisa A. first heard that Tennessee had made camping on public land a felony, she channeled her frustrations into a poem. “Felonious Sleeping”My state ID says TennesseeOur public property is for all to seeBut don’t touchThe park is for everyone but meIt was 2022, and the legislative move made Tennessee the first state to make camping on public land punishable as a felony. At the time, Lisa was struggling to find stable housing.

3 weeks ago | wpln.org | Cynthia Abrams

As Nashville struggles to house its ever-growing population, a new report has proposed a solution: zoning reforms. The study, a product of Washington D.C.-based think tank The Urban Institute, points out that in 2023, Nashville grew by more than 31,000 people. And the city’s planning department has estimated that to accommodate demand, Nashville will need to add upwards of 80,000 housing units by 2040 — but that under the current zoning code only 50,000 are likely to be built.

4 weeks ago | wpln.org | Cynthia Abrams

Tennessee lawmakers in both chambers have approved a bill targeting charities that help undocumented immigrants find housing, opening up the organizations to lawsuits if people they help house go on to commit a crime. The bill’s sponsor says it reflects the priorities of the White House. “This is a public safety bill keeping up with the Trump administration’s renewed focus on illegal immigration,” Rep. Rusty Grills said in a House Civil Justice Subcommittee hearing earlier this month.

1 month ago | wpln.org | Cynthia Abrams

While politicians nationwide are seeing a stark partisan divide in their approval ratings, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s is sitting high at 67%. That’s the finding in a new poll from Vanderbilt University, released Friday. O’Connell’s rating took a small hit from last year — just six months into his term, his rating sat at 71%. The poll shows differences along party lines: 83% of Democrats approve of O’Connell, while just 44% of Republicans do.

1 month ago | wpln.org | Cynthia Abrams

Two significant decisions regarding Nashville General Hospital have been finalized. On Tuesday, Nashville’s Metro Council allocated $10 million to help the hospital maintain its current level of operations for the remaining fiscal year amid delayed state dollars and other financial challenges unearthed in an internal audit released in February. That audit was tied to another item on the council’s agenda — a settlement of nearly $900,000 to former CEO Joseph Webb following his recent resignation.