NASHVILLE, TN — Metro Councilmember Joy Styles announced Tuesday she will run for mayor of Nashville in the August 2027 election, becoming the first candidate to officially enter the race. The announcement sets the stage for a likely contest against incumbent Mayor Freddie O’Connell, who is widely expected to seek reelection but has not formally declared his candidacy. Styles is currently serving her second term on the Metro Council, representing the Antioch area. Advocacy for economic development in Antioch has been a central focus of her tenure, particularly efforts to spur redevelopment and investment in one of the fastest-growing parts…
Author: TN Tribune Staff Writer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis community is pulling together to fight for a mother who spent her life fighting for others. Deborah Marion is the mother of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright, who was tragically killed in 2010. After spending years pressing for justice in her son’s case, Marion now finds herself in need of help as she faces serious health and financial challenges. For years, Marion became known for her tireless efforts to keep her son’s case in the public eye, a push many credit with helping authorities bring those responsible for his murder to justice. “You know what…
NASHVILLE, TN — Tennessee State University and the Metropolitan Historical Commission will host the 45th annual Nashville Conference on African American History and Culture on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, continuing a decades-long tradition of highlighting African American history, scholarship and cultural expression in Nashville and across Tennessee. The day-long conference will take place at Tennessee State University’s Avon Williams Campus, with both in-person and virtual attendance options available. This year’s theme, “From Roots to Resilience: Reclaiming Black Journeys, Stories, and Legacies Across Tennessee,” will guide a series of presentations examining African American experiences and contributions throughout the state. The conference…
The Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church announced the following on Friday: Bishop Harry L. Seawright has been assigned to the Second Episcopal District, vacating his episcopal assignment in the Thirteenth Episcopal District. Bishop Jeffery B. Cooper, Sr., remains in the Eighteenth Episcopal District and is assigned to the Thirteenth Episcopal District. The message was signed by Bishop Silvester Scott Beaman, President, Council of Bishops and the Council of Bishops, African Methodist Episcopal Church. The Thirteenth Episcopal District includes Kentucky and Tennessee. The Second Episcopal District includes Baltimore, Washington, Virginia, North Carolina, and Western North Carolina. The…
The Tennessee Tribune has selected Pastor Frank D. Stevenson of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church: A City of Grace as its 2025 recipient of the Exceptional Leadership & Community Service Award. It’s a salute to his visionary initiatives and outstanding commitment to giving back to help eliminate scarcity and despair. As a champion of the people, he’s worked diligently to ensure fair treatment and advancement of all those living in Nashville and beyond. For more than 20 years, Stevenson has applied the power of service in ministry to make lasting impact in Middle Tennessee. He’s known for an approach that’s hands-on…
The beloved Disney classic “Beauty and the Beast” is dazzling audiences at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, running now through Nov. 16. The 30th anniversary tour of the Broadway musical combines the nostalgia of the animated film with a refreshed, theatrical vision designed to captivate audiences of all ages. The musical, first adapted for the stage in 1994, features the original score by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and a book by Linda Woolverton. The revival brings updated staging, choreography and design while keeping the heart of the story intact. Familiar songs such as “Be…
Meharry Medical College has launched the largest fundraising effort in its nearly 150-year history, announcing Campaign 150 — a $500 million initiative to strengthen scholarships, research, and institutional growth. College officials revealed that more than $400 million has already been secured in early gifts, positioning the campaign to become the most successful in Meharry’s history. The announcement was celebrated Wednesday afternoon at the Cal Turner Family Center on Meharry’s Nashville campus, with remarks from Dr. James E.K. Hildreth, Meharry’s president and CEO, who delivered the keynote address. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and several Meharry leaders and alumni are also slated…
NASHVILLE, TN — A collaborative conversation about safer and more transparent policing took place on September 11th at the North Police Precinct, bringing together faith leaders, activists, and law enforcement officials to address the changing dynamics of policing in one of Nashville’s most historic and rapidly transforming communities. The meeting was organized by civil rights activist Reverend Venita Lewis and convened members of the Nashville Police Review Committee, including Pastor Howard Jones, Reverend Venita Lewis, Pastor Barry Barlow, Angel Stansberry, and David Conner. They were joined by Commander Steven Bowers of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD), Chief Greg Robinson,…
Clarksville, TN. – NAACP Clarksville TN Branch – The theme for the 69th Freedom Fund Banquet is “Celebrating Our Stories, Our Culture, Our Excellence”. The banquet will be held at the Valor Hall Event Center, 105 Walter Garrett Lane, Oak Grove, KY, 42262, November 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. and doors will open at 5:00 p.m. The Branch extends an invitation to the community to come join us in our endeavor to make Clarksville-Montgomery County Tennessee a more cohesive community. The Annual Freedom Fund Banquet is the Branch’s main fundraising event. Guest speaker for the banquet is the 17th Most Worshipful Grand Master L. Lamont Banks,…
NASHVILLE, TN — Meharry Medical College, one of the nation’s oldest and largest historically Black academic health sciences centers, recently announced the appointment of Vence L. Bonham, Jr., J.D. as president and chief executive officer of the Diaspora Human Genomics Institute (DHGI) and founding director of the Meharry Center for Bioethics, Social and Behavioral Research. Bonham comes to Meharry with an extensive background spanning law, bioethics and genomics. He has held multiple leadership roles at the National Institute of Health (NIH), most recently as acting director and deputy director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). Bonham also served…