Author: Ashley Benkarski

NASHVILLE, TN—Murfreesboro native and lifetime Tennessean Kimi Abernathy is running to replace Republican incumbent Steve Dickerson, who is running for reelection, for State Senate District 20. She’s an Iranian-American, military wife and mother of five, and though this is her first time being the face of a campaign, she’s been a member of the Davidson County Democratic Party Executive Committee and worked with the leadership team of The Equity Alliance. She has also served on the Bedford County Foster Care Review Board, the Bell Buckle Planning Commission, Alignment Nashville Social and Emotional Learning Team, and is the President of the…

NASHVILLE, TN– Democrat Mike Stewart has been District 52’s representative in the Tennessee General Assembly since 2008 and hopes voters will keep him there when they cast their ballots this election cycle. He’s also been elected as Democratic Caucus Chair three times unanimously. Stewart is perhaps most known for bringing assault rifles he purchased in a parking lot without a background check or identification to the capitol building in Nashville in an effort to bring attention to the ease with which guns can be obtained. It may have been a drastic action to take to make a point, but as…

Since September, 2019, Kierra has been busy writing a story she hopes inspires other children. Nashville, TN — Thirteen-year-old Kierra Perkins is no stranger to entrepreneurship– She’s the CEO of her own company, Kandles by Kierra, which she founded in 2018.  She’s been featured across multiple news outlets and is a regular vendor at Modernoire’s small business showcases, her outgoing personality as much of an attraction as the aroma of her various candles. An honor roll student, accomplished motivational speaker and race car driver, she’s now a published author.  Kierra’s new book, A Special Gift For Dad: A Story of…

NASHVILLE, TN– The President and Vice President of the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship (IMF), along with members of Nashville’s Community Oversight Board (COB) held a press conference Thursday calling on Mayor John Cooper to remove Metro Police Chief Steve Anderson and adhere to requests for reforming the Metro Nashville Police Department’s policies in the wake of protests across the country calling for an end to police brutality and systemic racism.  Held at Beech Creek Baptist Church, the organizers made impassioned remarks and took questions from reporters. Beech’s Rev. Davie Tucker, VP of the IMF,  and Rev. Chris Jackson, IMF President and…

WASHINGTON CO., TN– Sharee and DeVonn Burress of St. Louis had no idea where the search for their family history would take them. With the help of genealogy research company Ancestry.com and NBC’s weekly show “Roots Less Traveled,” the mother-son duo flew 300 miles southeast to Tennessee, landing at Nashville’s BNA Airport, and continued on to the Tennessee Judiciary Museum in the Tennessee Supreme Court Building. Meeting with Court of Appeals Judge Andy Bennett, the Burress’s learned of an historic case that would change them forever. That case was Ford v. Ford, a testament to equal rights in the time of the…

Nashville, TN — The hit stage play “Je’Caryous Johnson presents SET IT OFF” based on the critically acclaimed film by the same name is back by popular demand, arriving in Nashville Sun., March 15 at 4 PM at The Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC), 505 Deaderick Street. “SET IT OFF” is written, directed and produced by Je’Caryous Johnson, who has toured over 21 stage play productions to sold-out crowds and written over 37 plays. In 2017, Johnson adapted “Two Can Play That Game” starring Vivica A. Fox and most recently launched “Redemption of A Dogg,” which chronicled a character built around…

NASHVILLE, TN — A birthday is a holiday to the person celebrating it. But many don’t get to celebrate theirs—people suffering an exhaustive list of situations—making what should be a joyous occasion painful. A community servicedriven nonprofit, The Birthday Giving Program, formed in May 2017 to provide birthday celebrations “to children, adults, senior citizens and veterans affected by poverty, addiction, abuse, homelessness, violence, physical/mental challenges, old age, and loneliness,” said founder Sonika Menon. Menon’s nonprofit began in Plainfield, Ill., where it now partners with 26 organizations across the state; it also has chapters in California, Florida and Tennessee. The program’s…

MURFREESBORO, TN— Kelsey Ketron is being held at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on a $100,000 bond after a county Grand Jury returned three indictments against her, officials with Murfreesboro’s police department said. The daughter of Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron is facing more than 70 separate charges after months of controversy regarding her actions as an employee of her father’s company, Universal International Insurance. Ketron had been practicing insurance without a license, something her father said he thought was not illegal as she was acting in an administrative role when asked in front of his company’s office as…

Nashville,TN–The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network released its annual report measuring state legislative activity focused on fighting cancer Aug. 1, with Tennessee receiving a failing grade of red. How Do You Measure Up? A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality is a state-by-state examination of legislative actions that aim to prevent and reduce incidences of cancer and expand care, focusing on eight specific policy benchmarks used to assign a grade of green, yellow or red. Tennessee’s legislature has met only one of those bench- marks, the organization said, causing it to fail. To…