WPLN Nashville

The podcast tackles the 'Flock camera debate,' urging officials to regulate how surveillance technology is used. Key subjects addressed include the local news for August 24 and raising concerns about the secrecy surrounding data centers.

Body camera footage suggests that Jonah Neal did not pose a threat when federal agents shot him inside his Memphis home, according to his lawyer, Andre Wharton. Wharton called the response "unjustified" and questioned the law enforcement actions shown in the video, noting it displayed a lack of good training and experience. The shooting occurred after federal agents responded to a 911 call regarding Neal's mental breakdown.

A fatal shooting killed 16-year-old Cameron Frierson on Herman Street in Nashville after a high school football game. The incident has drawn attention from national anti-violence groups, prompting heightened reward money for information. Additionally, the Uvalde Foundation For Kids added a $5,000 reward to help address gun violence prevention.

Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown apologized after administering potassium phosphate instead of mepivacaine to four joint replacement patients on Aug. 14. The medication error led to serious reactions in the patients, including heart failure and paralysis. To prevent recurrence, the hospital is implementing changes like isolated storage for high-alert medications and requiring independent dual verification by trained pharmacists.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced a rate change for data centers, increasing costs by about 10% and adding charges for loads over 5 megawatts. Furthermore, TVA plans to drastically grow its energy supply using fossil gas infrastructure, which involves keeping coal online despite concerns about public health and pollution from the burgeoning data center industry.

Cheekwood Estate and Gardens was allowed to continue construction on a new parking pavilion after Nashville’s Board of Zoning Appeals ruled that Metro did not error in granting the permit. Despite this minor victory, the broader fight continues as the neighborhood group has targeted Cheekwood's ability to host large public events. Furthermore, a separate legal challenge was brought arguing that Metro failed to properly enforce its own rules surrounding the institution.

The podcast discusses whether society's responsibility to help children depends on their documentation status and explores ways officials are attempting to change this approach. Additionally, the episode covers local news for August 21, 2026, including a story about Houston Kendrick.

The podcast addresses the timeline of the Civil War ending in Tennessee, noting a nearly year-and-a-half difference between history class dates and President Andrew Johnson's declaration date. The program also presents local news from August 20, 2026, featuring ProPublica’s investigation into youth detention facilities in Tennessee.

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.

The podcast episode 'Windshield wipers' discusses Mary Anderson, who invented automotive equipment but died in Tennessee without financially benefiting from it. The discussion also covers local news for August 19, 2026, and this week’s edition of What Where Whens-day.

The podcast discusses planting trees to help restore Nashville's canopy after losses sustained during Winter Storm Fern. Additionally, the broadcast covers local news for August 18, 2026, and addresses bipartisan concerns regarding data centers.

The Trump administration is appealing a decision in which a federal judge found that prosecutors brought charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia only after he won his wrongful deportation case. Prosecutors charged him with human smuggling based on an earlier traffic stop, despite previous legal rulings regarding his detention and status. At the same time, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ruled that Abrego Garcia cannot be deported until at least October.

John Lewis kept the local Civil Rights Movement active in Nashville after the initial lunch counter sit-ins, making sure desegregation activists maintained pressure on Music City. The podcast also includes information about the genesis of the Metro Human Relations Commission and covers local news for August 17, 2026, along with the return of the band Hovvdy.

Flock Safety announced platform changes aimed at addressing privacy concerns and documented law enforcement abuses of its license plate reader network. These updates include making an audit tool mandatory for all customers to flag abnormal search behavior and shortening the data retention window from 30 days to seven days. Furthermore, law enforcement users must now link every search to a specific case number.

The podcast explores what Lyft is building in Nashville to support Waymo’s car fleet, noting that the rollout of autonomous cabs involves a partnership between competitors. The segment also covers local news for Aug. 13, 2026, and examines the impact of data centers on power bills.

Anthony Darrell Hines is set for lethal injection execution by the Tennessee Department of Correction on Thursday morning, a sentence Governor Bill Lee confirmed he would not prevent. Hines' legal team requested an intervention in federal courts citing severe medical conditions, including paralysis and muscle wasting, which raise concerns about administering the procedure. The execution follows a previously botched attempt involving Tony Carruthers.

The NashVillager Podcast examines how guardsmen from Tennessee managed to make Nazi leaders fearful during World War II. Specifically, it recounts that a unit of the Tennessee National Guard defeated Hitler’s prized soldiers and defenses multiple times.

Former staff and youth reported that Wayne Halfway House failed to report suspected abuse at Tennessee juvenile prisons to state officials. Revelations include surveillance footage showing teens violently restraining a teenager in a detention center, an act violating policy. Despite internal complaints from employees like Tonya Webb, facility personnel reportedly denied knowledge of the incident, and the Department of Children's Services confirmed no incident report was received.

The NashVillager Podcast examines whether Tennessee is a legal battleground for efforts to end anti-pollution lawsuits. The discussion covers how conservation groups typically sue for better enforcement of federal environmental laws, noting two Tennessee cases that are at the vanguard of this practice change. The segment also includes local news updates for August 11, 2026, and reports on black lung rates rising again.

Right-leaning legal activists, supported by the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, are targeting citizen suits—the right for private groups to sue over major law violations. These opponents argue that Congress improperly delegated power that should remain with federal agencies. Environmentalists warn that losing this tool would be devastating, as it has historically been used to extract fines and enforce compliance.