Belmont University

Belmont University is partnering with state community colleges through a new pathway designed to address Tennessee’s urgent need for Pre-K-12 educators. This agreement allows students to complete an associate degree at one of Tennessee's 13 community colleges and then transfer to Belmont for a bachelor’s degree in education.

Belmont University's Thomas F. Frist Medical School has been placed on probation by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME), delaying its next accreditation level by at least two years. The school is offering refunds to students who wish to disenroll by August 25, and its first cohort will not know the accreditation outcome until spring of their fourth year.

Mike Cortese is a candidate for Congress in District 4, representing the Democrat Party. He is an adjunct professor at Belmont University, a Metro Councilman in Davidson County, and has a background in the music industry. His campaign emphasizes expanding district office access and addressing systemic issues in Middle Tennessee.

The Country Music Association (CMA) announced Brittany Schaffer as its new CEO, succeeding Sarah Trahern, who will retire in 2027. Schaffer will join the CMA on September 8 and take full leadership on January 1, 2027. She previously served as dean of Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business and held roles at Loeb & Loeb LLP and Spotify.

Nashville Severe Weather, a group of dedicated volunteers including Will Minkoff, Andrew Leeper, and Tom Johnstone, provides calm, real-time storm updates and safety advice through social media and YouTube livestreams. Their hyperlocal, authentic approach contrasts with traditional media, attracting tens of thousands of viewers seeking reliable information during tornadoes and severe weather in Nashville.

Nashville Severe Weather, a volunteer group including Andrew Leeper, Will Minkoff, and Tom Johnstone, provides real-time severe weather updates via social media and YouTube, gaining trust for their calm, hyperlocal information during tornado threats. The initiative highlights shifting tornado patterns, social media's role in emergency communication, and the decline of traditional local news consumption.

A Senior Spades Tournament hosted by Bicycle Playing Cards at Elizabeth Park Community Center promotes brain health and Alzheimer's awareness. Participants like Cesar Harris and Gwen emphasize the game's strategic and social benefits, while experts from Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center and Belmont University highlight its cognitive advantages.

Jillian Ludwig, a Belmont University freshman, was shot and killed by Shaquille Taylor while jogging in a park. Taylor pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 35 years without parole. The victim's parents delivered emotional impact statements criticizing Taylor and the criminal justice system.