Author: Clint Confehr

By Clint Confehr NASHVILLE, TN — There’s good news in bad news, Metro’s congressman says reflecting on 2017 and what it means for 2018. What to do about a “bigoted” president is why Rep. Al Green (D-Houston) introduced articles of impeachment that failed 364-58 on Dec. 6. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis) alleged obstruction of justice and, among other things, profiting from foreign patronage of his businesses; the latter, dismissed by a federal judge Dec. 21. “The vote we had was premature,” Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Nashville) said about articles of impeachment he helped defeat. “None of the Democratic leadership supported it.”…

By Clint Confehr NASHVILLE, TN — Christmas for 520 kids in 300 families got brighter last Saturday when they received toys and practical gifts from a collaboration of volunteers. “Everybody plays a certain part,” said Reggie Miller, a 27-year veteran of Metro Nashville Police and spokesman for the 20-year-old program distributing bicycles, playthings and food to needy families. Businesses, government employees and members of social organizations — people who become aware of families in need — provide names and addresses of families. Metro Social Services employees groom the list and send invitations for the event held Dec. 16. Dr. Jacqueline…

By Clint Confehr EAST NASHVILLE, TN — Minority construction subcontractors might expect to be paid more than $3 million together for their part in building 94 apartments at Kirkpatrick Park, city and business leaders say. “We are very focused on making sure that minorities are included,” Ralph Mosley, chairman of the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) Board of Directors, said, emphasizing his contractor’s goal. Exactly how much subcontractors are paid has not been announced. Competitive bids are part of the calculation. An MDHA spokeswoman emphasized it’s to be 20 percent of the general contractor’s contract. MDHA hired R.G. Anderson…

By Clint Confehr NASHVILLE, TN — April Ryan, a close witness of world history, stays grounded on basics in her personal and professional life; reserving family time, and abiding traditional journalistic standards. Ryan is Tennessee State University’s commencement speaker Saturday. Her news reports and commentary from Washington, D.C. are on American Urban Radio Networks and other major news groups. As AURN’s White House correspondent, she says it’s impossible to describe that job, but she’s offered tried and true journalistic facts of life. “Everything comes to the White House from war to peace and everything in between … so there’s nothing…

By Clint Confehr NASHVILLE, TN — Metro and federal officials ceremoniously started construction of a new public housing development in Kirkpatrick Park on Wednesday when the mayor requested continued federal support. Dr. Ben Carson, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, wanted to attend Nashville’s groundbreaking event, according to Denise Cleveland-Leggett, HUD’s Region IV regional administrator, but air travel issues prevented that. “He looks at the entire country,” Cleveland-Leggett said. “As as you can imagine, he gets a lot of invitations.” However, HUD’s secretary noticed the use of the word envision as part of the name for…

By Clint Confehr FRANKLIN, TN — African American veterans’ contribution to history is the topic of next Friday’s porch talk at the McLemore House presented by the African American Heritage Society of Williamson County. Leading the discussion at 446 11th Ave., N. are AAHS Vice President Harvey Chrisman, American Legion Post 215 historian and past commander, along with AAHS historical committee member and blogger Tina Jones. “The pair will explore the rich history of African American veterans from Williamson County dating from the Revolutionary War through the current day,” AAHS President Alma McLemore announced. “The speakers will also highlight the…

By Clint Confehr SHELBYVILLE, TN — At least one Bedford County resident has it all figured out when it comes to White Lives Matter demonstrations planned Oct. 28. “This is all due to Donald Trump,” Courtney Parsons of Shelbyville said after his city council unanimously adopted a carefully-worded resolution for peace in the valley. With a nod to Halloween, “Boo to Hate” signs are anticipated among opponents of white supremacist demonstrators. The deadly Aug. 12 demonstration in Charlottesville, Va. apparently motivated a city declaration of support for police. The resolution also supports Constitutionally-protected rights of peaceable assembly and freedom of…

By Clint Confehr NASHVILLE, TN — It’s practically ironic that metro’s new director of parks and recreation was an academic rather than a sports-oriented student before starting her career. “I was not a student athlete,” Metro’s Parks and Recreation Department Director Monique Odom says. “I am now a parent of a student athlete.” In school, she was an academic honors student. In college, her counter clerk job at Whiteway Cleaners was where she acquired “transferrable skills.” Named parks director last week, Odom still uses those skills. She graciously declined to discuss Fort Negley, a controversial city property. “I have a…

By Clint Confehr FRANKLIN, TN — A urologist and an actor walk into a theater after a comedy for mature audiences to answer questions about prostate cancer. That lighthearted approach to a serious problem is prompted by the play, “A Man and His Prostate,” performed by Emmy Award-winning actor Ed Asner. On stage with Asner after the show, Dr. Joseph Smith of Vanderbilt University Medical Center said the play’s medically accurate, and he’s going to Africa where prostate cancer is common. “The highest rate of prostate cancer in the world is in African Americans,” said Dr. Smith, a professor of…

By Clint Confehr FRANKLIN, TN — A great great grandson of Frederick Douglass recently attracted local interest in his family’s initiative to combat modern slavery, human trafficking. Kevin Greene of Murfreesboro told nearly 100 people about the Frederick Douglass Family Initiative, an abolitionist organization co-founded by direct descendants of Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington. Before emancipation, Douglass realized “knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave.” Now, the Frederick Douglass family offers education for teachers, families, students and community leaders to stop human trafficking. Greene emphasized the message — it’s easier to build strong children than repair broken…