Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 19h

Trump Fires Black Officials From an Overwhelmingly White Administration

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u... @nytimes.com

Trump Fires Black Officials From an Overwhelmingly White Administration

www.nytimes.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 20h

Vanderbilt campus groups push back against Trump administration higher ed ‘compact’ tennesseelookout.com/briefs/vande... @tennesseelookout.com

Vanderbilt campus groups push back against Trump administration higher ed ‘compact’ • Tennessee Lookout

A demand that Vanderbilt University sign onto a “compact” with the Trump administration is drawing pushback from some campus groups.

tennesseelookout.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 20h

‘This shutdown feels different.’ States might not get repaid when government reopens. stateline.org/2025/10/09/t... @stateline.org

‘This shutdown feels different.’ States might not get repaid when government reopens. • Stateline

States are continuing to operate federally funded programs during the shutdown. But they say they can only front those costs for so long — and some are worried about getting repaid.

stateline.org

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Reposted by Anita Wadhwani

Holly McCall @jhollymc.bsky.social · 1d

Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk said the immigration crackdowns ultimately “make Nashville a more dangerous place to live.” Victims afraid to report crimes or prosecute criminals means offenders, including violent ones-continue to perpetrate crime. Story from @anitawadhwani.bsky.social.

In Nashville, immigration sweeps deter crime victims from coming forward • Tennessee Lookout

The Trump administration's immigration crackdowns have created new barriers to criminal justice and community safety, Nashville officials say.

tennesseelookout.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 1d

Musk’s Boring Company Bought Property in South Nashville — Residents Want to Know Why nashvillebanner.com/2025/10/08/b... @nashvillebanner.bsky.social @stelliott.bsky.social

Boring Company tunnel project sparks neighborhood concern - Nashville Banner

Residents in South Nashville are concerned about how The Boring Company's planned tunnel connecting the airport to downtown will impact their lives and neighborhood.

nashvillebanner.com

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Reposted by Anita Wadhwani

Kentucky Lantern @kentuckylantern.com · 1d

In Nashville, immigration sweeps deter crime victims from coming forward
@anitawadhwani.bsky.social tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/08/i...

In Nashville, immigration sweeps deter crime victims from coming forward • Tennessee Lookout

The Trump administration's immigration crackdowns have created new barriers to criminal justice and community safety, Nashville officials say.

tennesseelookout.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 1d

Memphis state Rep. Justin Pearson, well known to Memphians for his community organizing against environmental racism before national attention as one of the "Tennessee 3," to challenge U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen in 2026 Democratic primary tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/08/m... @friedmanadam5.bsky.social

Memphis state Rep. Justin Pearson to challenge U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen in 2026 Democratic primary • Tennessee Lookout

Tennessee state Rep. Justin J. Pearson of Memphis plans to challenge long-time U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen in the 2026 Democratic primary.

tennesseelookout.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 1d

Karina Fernandez manages a team of five 5 bilingual police dept. counselors who reach out to crime victims to offer help

In April, a month before Nashville mass immigration sweeps, 699 victims sought the counselors’ help

By July, the number had shrunk to 61

tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/08/i...

In Nashville, immigration sweeps deter crime victims from coming forward • Tennessee Lookout

The Trump administration's immigration crackdowns have created new barriers to criminal justice and community safety, Nashville officials say.

tennesseelookout.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 2d

Planned Parenthood closes one of its 2 Memphis clinics after a federal appeals court lifted stay on new law barring patients from using Medicaid as payment.

It's unclear how long the temporary closure will last; a legal challenge to the law remains ongoing.

tennesseelookout.com/briefs/plann...

Planned Parenthood closes a Memphis clinic after Trump administration stops Medicaid payments • Tennessee Lookout

Planned Parenthood has temporarily closed one of two Memphis clinics as a result of a federal appeals court decision.

tennesseelookout.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 2d

“Fear of ICE is pushing my patients and their families away from the very systems meant to protect their health and their pregnancies”
19thnews.org/2025/10/preg... via @19thnews.org

ICE fears put pregnant immigrants and their babies at risk

Fear of deportation is deterring people without permanent legal status from critical care. Doctors are worried for their health — and the health of their pregnancies.

19thnews.org

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Reposted by Anita Wadhwani

Tennessee Lookout @tennesseelookout.com · 3d

A federal judge in Nashville ruled that there is a “realistic likelihood” that the government behaved vindictively in bringing human smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man wrongly deported to El Salvador before being brought to Tennessee in June to face criminal charges.

Nashville federal judge finds “likelihood” prosecution of Kilmar Abrego Garcia is vindictive • Tennessee Lookout

A federal judge in Nashville ruled there's a “realistic likelihood” the government acted vindictively to bringcharges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

tennesseelookout.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 3d

Nationwide, out-of-state travel for abortion declined this year as pill use increased.
Last year, 10,020 Tennesseans crossed state lines for an abortion while 5,840 turned to telehealth for abortion pills, exceeded pre-Dobbs levels
tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/06/r... @tennesseelookout.com

Report: Out-of-state travel for abortion declined this year as pill use increases • Tennessee Lookout

Fewer people crossed state lines to obtain an abortion in the first six months of 2025 than the same period last year.

tennesseelookout.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 3d

Jack Daniel’s ends decades-long program that helped farmers feed cows with distillery byproducts at no cost, leaving the local ag biz reeling.

The company will instead provide scraps to an energy company to convert into fuel/fertilizer.
tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/06/j... @cstephenson.bsky.social

Jack Daniel’s is ending a program that helped farmers feed cows with its scraps. What happens now? • Tennessee Lookout

Jack Daniel’s is terminating a program that provided the company’s corn byproduct “slop” to local cattle farmers at low or no cost.

tennesseelookout.com

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Reposted by Anita Wadhwani

Jessica Lussenhop @jlussenhop.bsky.social · 5d

Some additional behind-the-scenes info on how the text messages were vetted. Thrilling to watch national news orgs following Andy Mannix's reporting in the @startribune.com — and a reminder to support your local newspaper!!! www.startribune.com/editors-note...

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Reposted by Anita Wadhwani

Jim Daley @jimdaleywrites.bsky.social · 6d

In a stunning assault on the First Amendment, the Trump regime has deported an Atlanta journalist (after holding him for more than 100 days) in direct retaliation for his reporting on immigration enforcement. www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news...

Journalist Mario Guevara deported to El Salvador after judges deny his request to stay in U.S.

Georgia-based journalist Mario Guevara has been deported to El Salvador after more than 100 days in detainment.

www.cbsnews.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 6d

EV battery component company backs out of plans for $152M Haywood County facility tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/02/e... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com

EV battery component company backs out of plans for $152M Haywood County facility • Tennessee Lookout

A South Korean battery component maker has backed out of plans to build a $152.5 million electrolyte manufacturing facility to Haywood County.

tennesseelookout.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 6d

Independent groups have spent $2.5 million in the Middle Tennessee U.S. House primary tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/03/i... @friedmanadam5.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com

Independent groups have spent $2.5 million in the Middle Tennessee U.S. House primary • Tennessee Lookout

Independent expenditure political action committees have spent $2.5 million in the Tennessee 7th Congressional District special election.

tennesseelookout.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 7d

170 US hospitals face major flood risk. Experts say Trump is making it worse. tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/02/i... @tennesseelookout.com @kffhealthnews.org

Investigation: 170 US hospitals face major flood risk. Experts say Trump is making it worse. • Tennessee Lookout

Peninsula Hospital, a psychiatric hospital on the edge of the Tennessee River, could be submerged in 11 feet of water in an intense storm.

tennesseelookout.com

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Reposted by Anita Wadhwani

Nashville Banner @nashvillebanner.bsky.social · 8d

The Tennessee Supreme Court has scheduled four people to be executed by the state next year, including the only woman on the state’s death row.

✏️: @iamstevenhale.bsky.social

Tennessee Supreme Court schedules four executions for 2026 - Nashville Banner

Tennessee Supreme Court sets execution dates for four death row inmates, including the only woman on the state's death row. Concerns raised about future executions.

nashvillebanner.com

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Reposted by Anita Wadhwani

Mississippi Today @mississippitoday.org · 8d

Planned Parenthood closes Louisiana clinics after 40 years due to financial and political pressure

Planned Parenthood has closed its clinics in Louisiana. The organization was already absent in Wyoming, North Dakota and Mississippi.

Planned Parenthood closes Louisiana clinics after 40 years due to financial and political pressure

Planned Parenthood has closed its clinics in Louisiana. The organization was already absent in Wyoming, North Dakota and Mississippi.

mississippitoday.org

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 8d

With new job requirements looming, state sets October 31 deadline for SNAP recipients to provide paperwork

tennesseelookout.com/briefs/with-... @tennesseelookout.com

With new job requirements looming, state sets deadline for SNAP recipients to comply • Tennessee Lookout

Tennesseans with SNAP food benefits have until October 31 to verify to the state they are unable to meet Trump administration work demands.

tennesseelookout.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 8d

Tennessee AG issued a 2021 legal opinion that questioned the constitutionality of using the TN National Guard to fight crime, as is the plan in Memphis

That opinion has since been illegally withdrawn, said Democratic State Sen. Jeff Yarbro
tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/01/t... @tennesseelookout.com

Tennessee lawmaker says AG omitted, altered Guard deployment opinions • Tennessee Lookout

A Tennessee senator accused Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti of revising an opinion on use of the National Guard, violating of the constitution.

tennesseelookout.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 9d

Energy Dept. adds ‘climate change’ and ‘emissions’ to banned words list

www.politico.com/news/2025/09... @politico.com

Energy Dept. adds ‘climate change’ and ‘emissions’ to banned words list

It is the latest in a series of Trump administration efforts to dispute, silence or downplay climate change.

www.politico.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 9d

Trump’s budget would completely eliminate funding for five National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research laboratories in Tennessee tennesseelookout.com/briefs/map-s... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com

Map shows how Trump’s proposed NOAA budget cuts could affect Tennessee • Tennessee Lookout

President Donald Trump’s budget would cut all funding for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research laboratories in Tennessee.

tennesseelookout.com

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Anita Wadhwani @anitawadhwani.bsky.social · 9d

The plan by Musk's Boring Company to dig a 10-mile tunnel connecting downtown Nashville to the airport is estimated to cost $240M to $300M million, its chief of development told the Nashville Rotary Club Monday.

tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/30/n... @tennesseelookout.com

Nashville’s airport transit tunnel could cost Boring at least $240 million • Tennessee Lookout

The Elon Musk Boring Company estimates construction of a tunnel from downtown Nashville to the airport will be $240 million to $300 million.

tennesseelookout.com

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