Demetria Kalodimos

1 week ago | nashvillebanner.com | Demetria Kalodimos |Steve Haruch

Major Jackson is the author of six poetry collections, including, most recently, Razzle Dazzle: New & Selected Poems. He is a professor at Vanderbilt University and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Coming to Nashville to teach was a homecoming of sorts β€” he spent many summers here as a child. For two years, spanning 443 episodes, Major was the host of the podcast The Slowdown, which gave him the space to introduce new poems and poets to a devoted audience on a daily basis.

2 weeks ago | nashvillebanner.com | Demetria Kalodimos |Steve Haruch

Michael Shane Neal knew from an early age he wanted to be an artist. But there were no artists in his family, so he wasn’t sure how he’d turn that into a career. After taking classes in the basement of a dormitory at Lipscomb University, he had a chance meeting with someone who knew the famed portrait artist Raymond Kinstler. And after a trip to New York, a mentorship was born. Shane credits Kinstler with showing him the way to an artist’s life.

3 weeks ago | nashvillebanner.com | Demetria Kalodimos |Steve Haruch

Rev. Matt Steinhauer was among the dozen or so clergy who interrupted a House committee meeting earlier this week by reciting the Lord’s Prayer. He was eventually escorted out by Tennessee State Troopers. What brought Matt to the Cordell Hull State Office Building that day was a belief that public education is for everyone, and that the bill under consideration β€” which would allow school districts to turn away or charge tuition to undocumented children β€” goes against the teachings of Jesus.

4 weeks ago | nashvillebanner.com | Demetria Kalodimos |Steve Cavendish

For the origin story of the Inmate Disciplinary Oversight Board, you need only look at the murder of Eliza Fletcher. The Memphis woman was killed by a recently released inmate who had a long record of violence behind bars, yet still earned “good time” credit. In response, the legislature established a panel to reduce sentence reductions. Now, a hand-selected board has the power to reconsider the punishments given for every serious offense committed in custody.

1 month ago | nashvillebanner.com | Demetria Kalodimos |Steve Haruch

Middle Tennessee weather can be unpredictable — and dangerous. When things get iffy, a trio of “suburban dads” keeps the information flowing. But once the watches turn to warnings, they really get serious: That’s when they start livestreaming on YouTube, tracking storms in real time and letting their audience know when to shelter and when it’s safe to carry on. Nashville Severe Weather started as a Twitter account to keep locals informed of potential rainouts and worse.