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According to a Pew Research study, while a significant majority of Black adults support providing reparations to descendants of enslaved people in the U.S., only a small minority of white Americans shares the same view. (f11photo/Adobe Stock)

TN reparations ban bill set for vote today

The Tennessee House of Representatives plans to vote today on House Bill 474, to end the study of reparations in the state. A Memphis nonpartisan …

More than 131,000 Tennesseans have already cast their ballots during early voting. (rawpixel/Adobe Stock)

New Tennessee law could lead to voter confusion at the polls

As municipal elections in Tennessee fast approach, groups are making an urgent push for more voter education - especially in the Nashville metro area…

M�s de 131.000 habitantes de Tennessee ya han emitido sus votos durante la votaci�n anticipada. (rawpixel/Adobe Stock)

Nueva ley de Tennessee podría generar confusión de los votantes en las urnas

A medida que se acercan rápidamente las elecciones municipales en Tennessee, los grupos están presionando urgentemente para lograr una …

Regaining voting rights has been shown to reduce recidivism rates, meaning more Tennesseans would<br />be able to reenter their communities, work, and earn money to pay off their debts. (rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: TN voting-rights restoration process 'overly complicated'

In Tennessee, almost a half million people won't be able to vote in any upcoming elections because of a past felony conviction, and one organization …

Se ha demostrado que recuperar el derecho al voto reduce las tasas de reincidencia, lo que significa que m�s habitantes de Tennessee podr�an volver a ingresar a sus comunidades, trabajar y ganar dinero para pagar sus deudas. (rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Proceso de restauración de derecho al voto en TN es 'demasiado complicado'

En Tennessee, casi medio millón de personas no podrán votar en las próximas elecciones debido a una condena por un delito grave en el …

In 2019, Black Americans represented 14% of the total U.S. population, but 33% of the total prison population and 46% of the prison population who had already served at least 10 years. (Framestock/Adobe Stock)

Report cites racial disparity in imprisonment

Tennessee's incarceration rates stand out internationally, and there are glaring racial disparities in prisons and jails. New research examines the …

Launched in 2021, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development's Office of Re-Entry suggests justice-involved individuals register on Jobs4TN before release to facilitate their job search. (Gstockstudio/AdobeStock)

6 people in prison receive bachelor’s degrees from Lane College

Bridging the gap between education and incarceration, six people in Tiptonville, Tennessee, recently got their bachelor's degrees through a historic …

More than 400 mass shootings have occurred this year in the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archives. (Fitz/AdobeStock)

TN ‘Moms Demand Action’ Calls for More Action on Gun Safety Laws

As Tennessee lawmakers continue in their special legislative session on public safety, mental health and gun reform, hundreds of groups and activists …

When you get SSI, you may also get Medicaid, which helps pay doctor and hospital bills. Your local social services or medical assistance office can give you information about Medicaid. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/AdobeStock)

Feds to Expand Awareness of SSI Benefits to Tennesseans

The Social Security Administration has taken a proactive step to bridge the gap between critical financial assistance and the people who may be eligib…

The FBI reported in 2022 that American Jews account for 2.4% of the U.S. population, but that antisemitism drove 63% of reported religiously motivated hate crimes. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Tennessee On Board to Counter Growing Antisemitism

The Volunteer State, like many others, isn't immune to the recent wave of antisemitic acts and rhetoric, and the state is fighting back through …

Tennesseans are required to pay all legal financial obligations related to each conviction before they can apply to have their voting rights restored. (Burlingham/Adobe Stock)

Report: Still Locked Out from Voting in Tennessee

In Tennessee, almost a half-million people will not be able to vote in any upcoming election because of a past felony conviction, and a new survey …

The Tennessee House passed House Bill 2106 last year, which requires that Black history be taught to 5th through 8th graders. It takes effect July 1, 2025. (Adobe Stock)

TN Group Heads to State Capitol for 'Day On The Hill'

Advocates and leaders are headed to the state capitol next week to voice their concerns over issues affecting Black communities in Tennessee…

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation offers Racial Healing Conversation Guidelines that include five steps to help facilitate meaningful and impactful conversations. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

"Changing the Narrative" for National Day of Racial Healing

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s holiday, designated as a National Day of Service, and tomorrow, the same spirit carries over to the seventh …

Nashville State Community College and other partners offer what's known as

TN School Works to Attract More Students of Color to Higher Ed

A new report on Black students in the community college system found fewer are signing up to attend two-year schools, an enrollment downturn made …

Tennesseans must bring valid photo identification to the polls. That means a driver's license or government-issued photo ID. College student IDs are not acceptable. (Vesperstock/Adobe Stock)

TN Early Voting Underway; Voters Face Lengthy Ballots

The Volunteer State ranks poorly in the U.S. for its overall lack of voter participation. Over the last decade, critics say the poor turnout is …

Los residentes de Tennessee deben traer una identificaci�n v�lida con foto a las urnas. Eso significa una licencia de conducir o una identificaci�n con foto emitida por el gobierno. No se aceptan identificaciones de estudiantes universitarios. (Vesperstock/Adobe Stock)

Comenzó votación anticipada en TN; votantes enfrentan boletas largas

El Estado Voluntario ocupa un lugar bajo en los EE. UU. por su falta general de participación de los votantes. Durante la última dé…

Expanding professional nursing licenses to DACA recipients and Temporary Protected Status holders could help alleviate Tennessee's nursing shortage. (Adobe Stock)

TN Gov. Expected to Sign 'Historic' Expansion of Immigrant Workers’ Rights

A bill on Gov. Bill Lee's desk would expand eligibility for certain types of work licenses to Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) recipients…

Ampliar las licencias profesionales de enfermer�a a los beneficiarios de DACA y los titulares de Estado Temporal de Protecci�n (TPS) podr�a ayudar a aliviar la escasez de enfermeras en Tennessee. (Acci�n de Adobe)

Gobernador firmará expansión 'histórica' para trabajadores inmigrantes en TN

Un proyecto de ley en el escritorio del gobernador Bill Lee ampliaría la elegibilidad para ciertos tipos de licencias de trabajo a los beneficiar…

A recent report by the Hope Center calls on states to increase funding for HBCUs to help close the gap in addressing students' basic needs. (Adobe Stock)

Hunger Persists at HBCUs, Despite Record Federal Funding

Tennessee's six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) collectively received more than $131 million in the past year through the America…

Tennessee House Republicans' newly approved map of congressional voting districts fast-growing and increasingly diverse Nashville into three districts. (Adobe Stock)

Groups: New TN Redistricting Maps Dilute Black, Brown Voting Blocs

Tennessee lawmakers have approved all three congressional, state House and state Senate redistricting maps, which now head to Gov. Bill Lee's desk…

From 1980 to 2019, Tennessee's jail incarceration rate increased 319%, according to the Vera Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Shelby County Pretrial System Under Scrutiny, Calls for Reform

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Legal advocacy groups in Tennessee have asked Shelby County Court officials to change their bail and pretrial detention practices…

Black men comprise only 2% of the national teacher workforce, according to 2016 data from the Department of Education. (Adobe Stock)

More Black Male Educators Sought Across TN

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Among Tennessee students, 40% are children of color, yet only about 3% of teachers in the state are Black men. In Memphis…

Students participating in a high-impact practice in their first semester are more likely to be enrolled full time, and are much more likely to be enrolled in a learning-support course, according to a Lumina Foundation study. (Adobe Stock)

High-Impact Practices Make a Difference for TN’s Community-College Students

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - As the pandemic continues to pose challenges for college students across the state, research by the Lumina Foundation shows that a …

Research suggests a significant percentage of people on death row in the U.S. have some form of intellectual disability, brain damage, or severe mental illness. (Adobe Stock)

Rallies Planned Across TN for Pervis Payne

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tomorrow, events in Knoxville, Memphis, Murfreesboro and Nashville will mark the one-year anniversary of weekly rallies for …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by …

People who have medical debt or trouble paying medical bills are more likely to have continued health issues, from high blood pressure and mental health concerns to a shorter life expectancy.(Adobe Stock)

TN Court Offers Online Negotiation for People with Medical Debt

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - A court in Hamilton County has set up a new pilot program, giving people with unpaid medical bills an option to negotiate online …

Protestors clash with police on a highway in Hong Kong. (Adobe Stock)

TN “Anti-Protest" Bill Would Make Highway Obstruction a Felony

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- State Senate lawmakers are considering a bill today that would increase the penalty for obstructing a highway from a class A …

For people unable to pay, court fees and fines can prolong their involvement in Tennessee's criminal-justice system. (Adobe Stock)

Mountain of Fees, Fines Trap TN Residents in Justice System

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennesseans charged with a crime often face a mountain of fees and fines, even if they aren't convicted. Critics say mandatory …

Pervis Payne is in Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Tennessee. (The Innocence Project)

Gov. Lee Delays Execution in Case Spotlighting Intellectual Disability

MEMPHIS -- Gov. Bill Lee has delayed the execution of Pervis Payne until next spring, citing challenges and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 …

About 30% of Black workers and 20% of Latinx workers hold bachelor's degrees, compared to 44% of White workers. (Adobe Stock)

Wage Gap Persists for Students of Color with College Degrees

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The percentage of students of color enrolled in Tennessee colleges has steadily increased in the past decade, but national figures …

Civilian Conservation Corps members at a camp near Esco, Tenn. (Lewis Hine, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons)

Reviving a Depression-Era Program Could Put Young People to Work

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nationwide, the youth unemployment rate during the coronavirus pandemic is the highest it has been since the Great Depression…

More Americans are expected to vote by mail in the 2020 election year as the coronavirus pandemic continues. (Adobe Stock)

Tennessee's Strict Absentee Ballot Rules Put Voters at Risk

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee is bracing for multiple elections this year, including a major statewide election on Aug. 6 and the general election on …

Tight working conditions on production lines in meat and poultry processing facilities make it impossible for workers to adhere to 6-foot distancing. (Adobe Stock)

Undocumented Poultry Workers Fear Speaking Out on Unsafe Conditions

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- A Tyson chicken plant in Goodlettsville is reporting nearly 300 confirmed cases of the coronavirus among employees, and …

Aprendizaje en línea, un reto para los Programas Carcelarios de Educación Superior

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Muchas universidades han migrado a clases en línea para el resto del año escolar, pero para las personas que están …

A new proposed rule change by the U.S. Department of Agriculture would weaken school meal nutrition standards put into place in 2012. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed USDA Rule Would Reduce Fruits, Veggies in School Cafeterias

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a proposed rule change that would allow schools to serve fewer fruits and grains…

Supreme Court, court of appeals and district court judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. (Adobe Stock)

Senate Confirmations Alter Federal Judiciary

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Over the past few years, the U.S. Senate has confirmed 185 of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees, the majority of whom …

No state's minimum wage covers the current cost of living, according to researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (Adobe Stock)

Groups, Legislators Propose Federal Job Guarantee for All

NASHVILLE, Tenn. â€“ Some organizations are pushing for what they call a federal job guarantee, legislation that would ensure that …

Atheist students in one Tennessee public school district were told they would be better off

ACLU Sues TN School District Over Official Prayers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a freedom of religion lawsuit on behalf of parents whose children attend Smith …

Around 200,000 Tennessee children live in areas of concentrated poverty, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

New Data: Fewer TN Children Living in Concentrated Poverty

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The number of Tennessee children living in poverty has fallen by 7%, according to a new report by the Annie E. Casey …

A judge has temporarily blocked a Tennessee law that outlines strict new rules for voter registration, including fines and criminal charges for anyone who doesn't comply. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Federal Court Blocks TN Law Restricting Voter Registration

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Just weeks from going into effect, a federal district court judge has temporarily blocked a Tennessee law that would make it …

Tennessee's state Capitol building in Nashville, where a bust of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest is on display. (Adobe Stock)

TN Proclamation Law Aimed at Keeping “Memory of the Confederacy Alive”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gov. Bill Lee's recent signing of a proclamation making July 13 Nathan Bedford Forrest Day, in observance of the Confederate …

Juvenile detention facilities around the country routinely put youths in solitary confinement, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. (Adobe Stock)

In Shelby County, a Push to Reduce Youth Solitary Confinement

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A juvenile detention center in Shelby County has reduced the use of solitary confinement among children in its care…

Tennessee's child population has grown by 24 percent since 1990, according to a report by The Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Tennessee’s Child Population has Ballooned in Last 3 Decades

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee's child population has grown rapidly since 1990, according to a report just released by The Annie E. Casey …

It may come as no surprise that a new poll finds Tennessee is becoming more politically polarized. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: The Political Divide Widens in Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A new poll from Vanderbilt University finds Tennessee is becoming more politically polarized. Pollsters surveyed by phone 1…

The proposed work-reporting requirement would affect families with annual incomes below $21,000. Opponents say that's primarily parents and caregivers. (Bobbylove/Twenty20)

Report: Medicaid Work Requirement Could Lead to Health Care Loss

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As many as 68,000 Tennesseans would be affected by a proposal to require parents who now receive Medicaid to demonstrate …

Recent data from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families shows nationwide, about 276,000 fewer children had health insurance in 2017 than in 2016. (Masterone/Twenty20)<br />

Report Ranks TN High for Uninsured Children

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Children's advocates say while the need for Medicaid expansion has been overlooked by the Tennessee legislature, its impact …

According to the American Immigration Council, more than 285,000 Tennesseans have at least one immigrant parent. (amberley johanna/Flickr)

Executive Order Threatens ‘Flores’ Protections for Undocumented Children

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee has been the site of at least one federal raid that resulted in the detention of undocumented workers. While …

Currently, the Affordable Care Act makes legal immigrants, including green card holders and temporary visitors, eligible for subsidies to purchase private health insurance. (Twenty20)

Tennesseans Can Weigh In on Green-Card Policies

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As they prepare to vote in the November midterms, Tennesseans can also weigh in on a proposal by the Trump administration …

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TN: Social Justice