Author: Ashley Benkarski

By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — Amazon kicked off National Truck Driver Appreciation Week Sep. 9 by hosting a custom-built pop-up truck stop and surprise performance by Nashville-based country artist Jason Aldean. A former truck driver himself, Aldean played for about 200 line-haul and freight workers, performing his new single, “We Back,” for the first time live. In addition to the concert, Vice President of Amazon’s Middle Mile Transportation Peter Larsen announced Amazon would be donating $25,000 to Truckers Against Trafficking, a nonprofit entity that trains truckers to spot and report human trafficking. TAT reported certifying over 700,000 individuals in…

By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — St. Pius X Classical Academy expanded its student body this year thanks in part to a grant initiative that provided tuition assistance for families hoping to enroll their child in the school. Part of the Diocese of Nashville’s Advancement of Catholic Education program, the ACE Welcome Grants extend the opportunity for a rigorous, classical education to students in need, covering half the tuition for the first year of enrollment and a quarter of the tuition in the second year. Principal Lori Patton noted that student enrollment had increased 25 percent this year due to…

By Ashley Benkarski  MURFREESBORO, TN — Murfreesboro police searched Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron’s Universal International Insurance Wed., July 17 after obtaining a warrant in response to charges of alleged insurance fraud.  Kelsey Ketron Randolph, an elected member of the Tennessee Republican Party Executive Committee who began her second term last year representing District 13, serves as vice president of her father’s insurance agency and has been accused of fraud by customers who said they didn’t receive insurance they’d paid the premiums for. Three customers stepped forward to claim wrongdoing by the agency, with two filing lawsuits in the last…

By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — Brianna Mason made history June 29 when she was crowned Miss Tennessee 2019 at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville’s Thompson-Boling Arena. Mason is the first black Miss Tennessee since the pageant’s inception in 1938–the better part of a century ago. “I set this goal for the past four years so to finally accomplish it is very special, but there have been women who have come before me that paved the way and so I think this win is just as much theirs as it is mine,” she said. Black women have been breaking barriers in…

By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — Swim season is here, and people will flock to pools, lakes and rivers for relief from high summer temperatures. But without water safety education, a fun day of swimming can quickly turn to tragedy.  Dr. Sheila McMorrow is the Pediatric Emergency Department Medical Director at The Children’s Hospital at TriStar Centennial, and she’s seen first-hand the devastating effects of drowning that might have been avoided if preventative actions had been taken.  “About 74 percent of drownings occur in home or community pools, with most of these incidents involving children,” Dr. McMorrow said.  Contrary to…

By Ashley Benkarski MURFREESBORO, TN — Presidential hopeful Julián Castro delivered the closing remarks to the crowd at the Tennessee Democratic Party’s Elevate summit that took place last weekend at MTSU’s Student Union Building, saying he’d like to be able to tell the Trump administration “Ádios” upon their departure from the White House. “I don’t want to make this country anything ‘again,’” Castro said. “I want to go forward … with one exception: I want to restore integrity and decency to the Oval Office.” His first act would be to sign an executive order to recommit the country to the…

By Ashley Benkarski MURFREESBORO, TN — Two years after white supremacists rallied in their community, residents have continued to stand in solidarity against racism. Local groups Murfreesboro Muslim Youth and Murfreesboro Cold Patrol joined forces to create Love Your Neighbor, a potluck open to the public that encourages fellowship. “The idea is to bring people together–no agenda, no speeches, no flyers. Just bring folks together … bring some food, or don’t bring any food,” said Abdou Kattih, a member of MMY’s leadership team. “Let’s meet each other. Let’s get to know each other. Let’s build bridges … create an environment…

By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — The Music Business Association held its annual Music Biz conference May 5-8 at the new JW Marriott hotel, with artists Peter Frampton, Darius Rucker and others receiving awards for their contributions to the industry. The conference brings together people from all stages of the music industry to discuss a myriad of topics over four days, with panels that provide professional insight for attendees. It’s also a great way to network, as local country artist and attendee J Kyle Reynolds can attest. This was the second time he’s been to the conference, and he said…

By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — Sports and music industry professionals were present to support a fundraiser for the National Museum of African American Music April 24, highlighting the impact of black artists and athletes on social justice movements throughout America’s history. Titled “Sounds of Social Justice,” the event featured a live auction of artwork inspired by black musicians, performances of local artists The Shindellas and Jason Eskridge, an appearance by Grammy-winning artist and NMAAM National Chair India.Arie and a panel moderated by Michael Eric Dyson featuring ex-NFL stars Malcolm Jenkins and Derrick Morgan, BMI vice president Catherine Brewton and…

By Ashley Benkarski NASHVILLE, TN — It was no ordinary Friday for students at two local elementary schools. Current and former NFL stars surprised the children of Napier and Shwab elementary schools, handing out special backpacks of nonperishable foods and spending time talking to them—a unique experience the kids will remember for the rest of their lives. The NFL partnered with The Bridge Ministry for its Bridge to Kids program to deliver the bags. The ministry provides food every week to children in partner schools that might otherwise go hungry, serving about 3300 students last year alone, said Bridge Ministry’s…