The lawyer for a Georgia man scheduled to be executed next week says her client has significant cognitive impairments that likely contributed to his crimes and has suffered horrific abuse in prison.

She argues that means his life should be spared. Virgil Delano Presnell Jr. was convicted of killing an 8-year-old girl and raping her 10-year-old friend after abducting them as they walked home from school in Cobb County, just outside Atlanta, on May 4, 1976. He is scheduled to be executed on Tuesday.

The five-member parole board, which is the only authority in Georgia that can commute a death sentence, has scheduled a closed-door clemency hearing Monday to consider his case.

“Before society makes a man pay the ultimate price for a crime, it must determine if his culpability justifies the cost. In Virgil’s case, it simply does not. Virgil Presnell is profoundly disabled,” his attorney Monet Brewerton-Palmer wrote in a clemency application released on Friday by the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

The application acknowledges the seriousness of what Presnell Jr. did and says he's “deeply and profoundly sorry” to the families of the two girls. The application asks the parole board to delay his execution by 90 days so the board can review his application, then it asks the board to commute his sentence to life without the possibility of parole.

NASHVILLE — For generations of drivers, waiting at the DMV to take the driving test's written portion was like a rite of passage, where the passage of time went by very slowly.

Now, Tennessee is one of the first states in the nation to let teenage drivers take the written portion of their driver's test from the comfort of home. It's part of an initiative to reduce the wait time at the Tennessee Driver Services Center.

"A lot of our centers are overwhelmed with individuals taking a test for the first time. So now, instead of having a parent taking off work, coming to the center, they can do it 24/7 from the privacy of their home," said Michael Hogan, Director of Driver Services for the state of Tennessee.

Only teenagers between the ages of 15-17 qualify, and they must have their parent or guardian serve as their official test proctor, using an app called Tennessee Proctor ID.

"They will go in, their proctor will receive an ID, they will use that ID to validate who they are, and then they will begin the test," said Hogan.

Taking the test from home might sound like it could be really easy to cheat. However, the state thought of that, so there are a few safeguards in place.

"If individuals try to toggle between the screens, it’s an automatic failure," said Hogan.

There's also a bank of questions, so multiple failures of the test won't just give you all the answers.

"That person would probably have to take the test over 8 or 9 times before they would touch each question," he said.

Parents and guardians also have skin in the game, because they'll have to sign an important state document.

"They are signing that form that says, 'I’m financially responsible for this minor.' And so, that partnership, we’re hoping that they will take that seriously, and make sure the minor studies but also takes it without compromising the test," said Hogan.

The online test won't keep you totally out of the DMV. The proctor and teenager will still have to come in, in person, and turn in paperwork to actually get the ID. But the hope is that this new method of doing things will help the wait pass a little faster.

"It takes about 7 minutes to issue a driver’s license, once all of those other processes are done, so we’re reducing the processing time, customer’s visit time, and then the overall wait time at the Driver’s Services Center," said Hogan.

If teenagers fail the test twice, they'll have to take the rest of their tries in person at the DMV. The state also reserves the right to retest any driver that took the test online, at any time they wish.

This story was first reported by Chris Davis at WTVF in Nashville.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police in Memphis are looking for a woman who they believe was kidnapped Friday morning.

Authorities say Eliza Fletcher was on a run around 4:30 a.m. when an unknown man approached her and reportedly forced her into a dark-colored SUV near the University of Memphis.

A missing person's report was reportedly filed after Fletcher did not return from her normal run.

According to the Daily Memphian, Fletcher's water bottle and phone were found in front of a house that is owned by the university.

Fletcher was last seen wearing purple shorts and a pink top, police said.

Anyone with information about Fletcher's whereabouts is asked to call 911 or dial 1-800-TBI-FIND.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. —

Madison Miller rescued 5-year-old Bluebell in London. A place little Bluebell felt at home

Until her parents moved to Nashville, Tennessee.

It wasn't until they landed at the Nashville International Airport that they realized Bluebell didn't she didn't make the trip.

"They said she wasn't in Nashville and they said their best guess was she was in Saudi Arabia," Miller said.

An hour later, Miller says airport staff tracked Bluebell down, sending a picture of her locked in her crate.

Three flights and 63 hours later, Bluebell bolted to see her owners.

"We had to go and grab her because she was so horrified and that's when we knew something was wrong," Miller said.

Something was wrong then and ever since.

When they got home, Bluebell would cry when left alone－at one point chewing through a door.

Now they want to know how this happened in the first place.

Watch the video above for the full story.

A federal judge in Tennessee has ruled that a state law limiting public drag show performances represented an “unconstitutional restriction on the freedom of speech.”

“As a matter of text alone, the (Adult Entertainment Act) is a content, and viewpoint-based restriction on speech. The AEA was passed for the impermissible purpose of chilling constitutionally-protected speech,” US District Court Judge Thomas Parker, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, said in a 70-page late-Friday ruling.

Parker, who called the law “unconstitutionally vague and substantially overbroad,” also barred the defendant in the case – the district attorney of Shelby County, which is home to Memphis – from enforcing the law in that county.

The court ruling comes after Friends of George’s, a Memphis-based nonprofit that produces drag performances and comedy sketches, sued in March to stop the law from going into effect, arguing it was a violation of its free speech. Parker then temporarily blocked the state from enforcing the ban as he considered the law’s constitutionality.

Tennessee Republicans, who hold supermajorities in the state legislature, earlier this year passed the measure to restrict public drag show performances, which was signed by Republican Gov. Bill Lee. The law sought to limit “adult cabaret performances” on public property to shield children from viewing them, threatening violators with a misdemeanor and repeat offenders with a felony. The ban specifically included “male or female impersonators” who perform in a way that is “harmful to minors.” It had been set to go into effect on April 1.

“WE WON!” Friends of George’s wrote in a tweet Saturday. “Judge Parker has declared Tennessee’s anti-drag law unconstitutional!”

Tennessee officials have argued that the measure is not a full ban and is only intended to stop overtly sexual performances in front of minors. Parker, in his ruling, acknowledged the state’s “compelling interest in protecting the psychological and physical wellbeing of children” but ruled against the law as “an unconstitutional restriction on the freedom of speech.”

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a statement Saturday that his office was reviewing the order and expects to appeal “at the appropriate time.”

“The scope of this law has been misrepresented in public by those more interested in pressing a narrative than in reading the statutory text,” Skrmetti said. “The Adult Entertainment Act remains in effect outside of Shelby County. This narrowly-tailored law protects minors from exposure to sexually explicit performances. Its operative language is rooted in the U.S. Supreme Court’s long-established First Amendment precedent.”

CNN has also reached out to Lee’s office for comment.

Tennessee’s law is just one of a slew of other similar measures that Republican-led state legislatures across the country have considered this year.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running for president, signed a bill last month that, among other things, gives his administration the power to take away licenses from establishments if they allow children into an “adult live performance,” widely interpreted as a crackdown on drag shows.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed legislation in May that prevents children from attending “sexually oriented shows” and from being present at obscene performances on public property. It specifically targets drag story hours, which it defines as “an event hosted by a drag queen or drag king who reads children’s books and engages in other learning activities with minor children present.”

Republicans say the performances – which often feature men dressing as women in exaggerated makeup while singing or entertaining a crowd, though some shows feature bawdier content – expose children to sexual themes and imagery that are inappropriate. LGBTQ advocates, however, argue that not all drag shows are sexual in nature and laws such as the ones in Montana and Tennessee stigmatize the community and could violate the First Amendment.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. —

A female shooter wielding two "assault-style" rifles and a pistol killed three students and three adults at a private Christian school in Nashville on Monday in what marks the latest in a series of mass shootings in a country growing increasingly unnerved by bloodshed in schools.

The suspect also died after being shot by police following the violence at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian school for about 200 students from preschool through sixth grade. Police said the shooter was a 28-year-old woman from Nashville, after initially saying she appeared to be in her teens.

Authorities were working to identify her and whether she had a connection to the school.

The killings come as communities around the nation are reeling from a spate of school violence, including the massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, last year; a first grader who shot his teacher in Virginia; and a shooting last week in Denver that wounded two administrators.

The Nashville victims were pronounced dead upon arrival at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. One officer had a hand wound from cut glass.

Other students walked to safety Monday, holding hands as they left their school surrounded by police cars, to a nearby church to be reunited with their parents.

"In a tragic morning, Nashville joined the dreaded, long list of communities to experience a school shooting," Mayor John Cooper wrote on Twitter. "My heart goes out to the families of the victims. Our entire city stands with you."

Jozen Reodica heard the police sirens and fire trucks blaring from outside her office building nearby. As her building was placed under lockdown, she took out her phone and recorded the chaos.

"I thought I would just see this on TV," she said. "And right now, it's real."

Video above: Jill Biden speaks after Nashville school shooting

On WTVF TV, reporter Hannah McDonald said that her mother-in-law works at the front desk at The Covenant School. The woman had stepped outside for a break Monday morning and was coming back when she heard gunshots, McDonald said during a live broadcast. The reporter said she has not been able to speak with her mother-in-law but said her husband had.

"In a tragic morning, Nashville joined the dreaded, long list of communities to experience a school shooting," Nashville Mayor John Cooper tweeted, thanking first responders and medical professionals. "My heart goes out to the families of the victims. Our entire city stands with you."

The Covenant School was founded as a ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church in 2001, according to the school's website. The school is located in the affluent Green Hills neighborhood just south of downtown Nashville, situated close to the city's top universities and home to the famed Bluebird Café – a beloved spot for musicians and song writers.

The grade school has 33 teachers, the website said. The school's website features the motto "Shepherding Hearts, Empowering Minds, Celebrating Childhood."

The shooter entered the school through a side entrance and went to the second story, police spokesperson Don Aaron said during a news briefing.

Democratic state Rep. Bob Freeman, whose district includes The Covenant School, called Monday's shooting an "unimaginable tragedy."

"I live around the corner from Covenant and pass by it often. I have friends who attend both church and school there," Freeman said in a statement. "I have also visited the church in the past. It tears my heart apart to see this."

NASHVILLE, Tenn. —

In an extraordinary act of political retaliation, Tennessee Republicans on Thursday expelled two Democratic lawmakers from the state Legislature for their role in a protest that called for more gun control in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting in Nashville.

The banishment of Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson was a move the chamber has used only a handful of times since the Civil War. Most state legislatures possess the power to expel members, but it is generally reserved as a punishment for lawmakers accused of serious misconduct, not used as a weapon against political opponents.

The GOP supermajority in the House declined by a single vote to expel a third Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson.

Johnson joined with Jones and Pearson last week as hundreds of protesters packed the Capitol to call for passage of gun-control measures. While demonstrators filled galleries, the three Democrats approached the front of the House chamber with a bullhorn and participated in a chant.

The protest unfolded days after the shooting at the Covenant School, a private Christian school where six people were killed, including three children.

Video below: Former Tennessee House Democrat speaks after expulsion

“We are losing our democracy. This is not normal. This is not OK," Pearson told reporters as he waited to learn whether he would be banished too. The three “broke a House rule because we’re fighting for kids who are dying from gun violence and people in our communities who want to see an end to the proliferation of weaponry in our communities.”

Johnson, a retired teacher, said her concern about school shootings was personal, recalling a day in 2008 when students came running toward her out of a cafeteria because a student had just been shot and killed there.

“The trauma on those faces, you will never, ever forget. I don’t want to forget it,” she said.

Thousands of people flocked to the Capitol on Thursday to support the Democrats, cheering and chanting outside the House chamber so loudly that the noise drowned out the proceedings.

The trio held hands as they walked onto the House floor, and Pearson raised his fist to the crowd during the Pledge of Allegiance.

Offered a chance to defend himself before the vote, Jones said the GOP responded to the shooting with a different kind of attack.

“We called for you all to ban assault weapons, and you respond with an assault on democracy,” he said.

If expelled, Jones vowed that he would continue pressing for action on guns.

“I’ll be out there with the people every week, demanding that you act,” he said.

Republican Rep. Gino Bulso said the three Democratic representatives “effectively conducted a mutiny."

“The gentleman shows no remorse," Bulso said, referring to Jones. "He does not even recognize that what he did was wrong. So not to expel him would simply invite him and his colleagues to engage in mutiny on the House floor.”

Even if they are expelled, the three lawmakers may not be gone for long. County commissions in their districts get to pick replacements to serve until a special election can be scheduled.

Any expelled lawmakers would be eligible for appointment back to their seats. They would also be eligible to run in the special election. And under the Tennessee Constitution, lawmakers cannot be expelled for the same offense twice.

Republican Rep. Sabi Kumar advised Jones, who is Black, to be more collegial and less focused on race.

“You have a lot to offer, but offer it in a vein where people are accepting of your ideas,” Kumar said.

Jones said he did not intend to assimilate in order to be accepted. “I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to make a change for my community,” he replied.

Outrage over the possible expulsion underscored not only the ability of the Republican supermajority to silence opponents, but its increasing willingness to do so.

In Washington, President Joe Biden also was critical of the expulsions, calling them “shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent.”

“Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting. And what are GOP officials focused on? Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action. It’s shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent,” Biden tweeted.

Many of the protesters traveled from Memphis and Knoxville, areas that Pearson and Johnson represent, and stood in a line that wrapped around the Capitol to get inside.

Protesters outside the chamber held up signs that said, “School zones shouldn’t be war zones,” “Muskets didn’t fire 950 rounds per minute” with a photo of George Washington, and “You can silence a gun ... but not the voice of the people.“

Before the expulsion vote, House members debated more than 20 bills, including a school safety proposal requiring public and private schools to submit their building safety plans to the state. The bill did not address gun control, sparking criticism from some Democratic members that lawmakers were only addressing a symptom and not the cause of school shootings.

Past expulsion votes have taken place under distinctly different circumstances.

In 2019, lawmakers faced pressure to expel former Republican Rep. David Byrd after he faced accusations of sexual misconduct dating to when he was a high school basketball coach three decades earlier. Republicans declined to take any action, pointing out that he was reelected as the allegations surfaced. Byrd retired last year.

Last year, the state Senate expelled Democrat Katrina Robinson after she was convicted of using about $3,400 in federal grant money on wedding expenses instead of her nursing school.

Before that case, state lawmakers last ousted a House member in 2016 when the chamber voted 70-2 to remove Republican Rep. Jeremy Durham after an attorney general’s investigation detailed allegations of improper sexual contact with at least 22 women during his four years in office.

In a concert Friday night in Knoxville, Tennessee, Lizzo filled the stage with drag queens in a glittery protest against the state's legislation designed to restrict drag performances in public.Video above: Madonna adds tour date in Tennessee to protest 'unacceptable' anti-LGBTQ lawsWhile performing at Thompson-Boling Arena, the Grammy-winning "Juice" singer brought out a number of drag performers, including Aquaria, Kandy Muse, Asia O'Hara and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo. On Saturday, Lizzo posted videos on Instagram from the show, including comments to the crowd that referenced the pending law.In February, Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed the legislation against "adult cabaret" in public or in front of minors. A federal judge temporarily blocked the law in late March, saying it was too vaguely written. Civil rights groups have criticized the law as a violation of free speech.The Tennessee law is part of a wider Republican effort to restrict drag shows and other LGBTQ+ public gatherings."In light of recent and tragic events and current events, I was told by people on the internet, 'Cancel your shows in Tennessee,' 'Don't go to Tennessee,'" Lizzo said during the Friday concert. "Their reason was valid, but why would I not come to the people who need to hear this message the most?""Why would I not create a safe space in Tennessee where we can celebrate drag entertainers and celebrate our differences?" added Lizzo.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. —

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has issued an Amber Alert for a 2-day-old child who is missing after her mother was found shot to death in Memphis.

Kennedy Hoyle was last seen wearing a black and white polka-dot onesie with pink pants, according to the TBI. She weighs 6 pounds and is 17 inches long. She has brown hair and brown eyes.

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According to the Memphis Police Department, officers found an abandoned vehicle at about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday.

"After searching the area, a female, 27, was located near the vehicle deceased," MPD said in a tweet.

In an updated tweet from MPD, the police department said Brandon Isabelle, the father of the missing newborn, has been arrested and charged.

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MPD's tweet also said evidence suggests the newborn is deceased, but the search for her remains will continue.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Kennedy Hoyle is asked to call MPD at 901-545-2677 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Authorities in Memphis are searching for those responsible for the fatal shooting of a 1-year-old.

Police said the shooting occurred just after 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

Initially, when officers arrived, they found two victims.

Later, police released an update saying that the child was the only victim.

The 1-year-old was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

***UPDATE***
The 1-year-old was the only shooting victim from this incident.

— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) January 13, 2022

Details of a motive or a description of a suspect were not immediately known.

On Tuesday morning, a new student arrived for their first day of class at an elementary school in Tennessee. But it wasn't a child, it was a deer. A buck busted in through an emergency exit and locked itself inside a classroom overnight at Westside Elementary School in Springfield, Tennessee. A game warden with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency was able to escort the buck back into the wild.The buck overturned a few tables and chairs but was unharmed. Watch the video above for the full story.

GALLATIN, Tenn. — In hard times, we often need a community to try to help us through it.

After receiving difficult news, a man gained a whole new community. People across the country came together for a very unexpected reason – a symbol that’s helping individuals, no matter their story.

When you go into Old Soul Tattoo in Gallatin, Tennessee, you have to find something that speaks to your passion, what you love, how you look at life. What would be the right tattoo for freelance photographer Richard Suter?

“Positivity is greater than negativity, and these three little symbols have meant a lot to me,” said Suter as showed off a tattoo on his wrist that looked like, “+ > –.”

If you catch Suter out and about, he would love nothing more than to tell you about the symbol. He loves a conversation, loves people.

“I always try to be positive with things,” he said. “If I’m keeping lots and lots of good up here, I know my life will follow those steps.”

When Suter came into Old Soul for that tattoo three years ago, he didn’t know just how much meaning it would carry for him one day.

“April 6, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer,” he said. “Blood sugar went through the roof from the treatment. I started hallucinating and I collapsed. I was unconscious. I was in the CCU at the hospital.”

To keep people updated on his progress, Suter’s wife started a page on Facebook called Richard’s Recovery. Right there was the symbol. Suter didn’t know it was the beginning of something.

“Somebody called me and asked me, ‘Would you mind if I got your tattoo?’” Suter remembered. “I said, ‘Absolutely not. That’d be great!’”

It didn’t take long before it got big. All around the community, signs started going up outside of banks reading, “Team Suter.” Suter’s symbol is also seen outside Gallatin’s city hall and chamber of commerce. People all over the country began following Richard’s Recovery, taking that symbol and applying it to their own stories. It was people like Erica Twidle.

“Mid-June, I got a call the company I was working for decided to go a different direction and eliminated my role,” said Twidle. “With two kids and health insurance and a pandemic, the worry just totally flooded. [Suter’s] image kept popping up in my head. It didn’t take away the worry, the sadness I was dealing with, but there’s always a silver lining. There's always some good in what’s going on.”

“Getting to lift people up in things that are normally horrific, it’s been a blessing,” said Suter.

As Suter continues chemo treatments, he said he’s amazed at the unexpected power three little symbols have had.

“I’ve had more good than bad,” he said. “It’s been more happy than sad, more pros than cons over the last six months than I ever had in my life, which is a strong thing to say when you’ve been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. No matter what you’re going through in life, you can get through that. We rise by helping others, and man, have I risen.”

Due to a coin shortage at the Federal Reserve, Kroger will no longer return coin change to customers.

Instead, the remainders from cash transactions can either be donated to charity or applied to the customers' loyalty cards to be used on the next purchase.

Kroger officials said, "at Kroger, we are implementing several creative solutions to minimize the impact to our customers. We know this is an inconvenience for our customers and we appreciate their patience. The Treasury Department expects the shortage to diminish as more regions of the country reopen."

Customers have the following options if coins are not available:

• Round up to support Zero Hunger, Zero Waste Foundation
• Pay with a form of payment other than cash
• Have their coin change loaded as credit toward their next purchase directly to their loyalty card

Currently, Kroger stores are collecting donations for its Zero Hunger|Zero Waste Foundation by allowing customers to round up their order total to the next dollar. The foundation supports hunger relief efforts across the communities it serves.

Customers using self-checkout will still be able to receive coins.

This story was originally published by Rebekah Pewitt at WTVF.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — According to the Associated Press, authorities have found human remains in the vicinity of the explosion in downtown Nashville.

Two law enforcement officials told The AP on condition of anonymity that it's unclear if the remains are related to the explosion or whether they might belong to the person believed to be responsible or a victim.

Citing law enforcement sources, CBS News reported that human remains were found at the explosion site. However, it's unclear if the "remains are from someone connected to explosion or from an innocent victim."

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During a press conference Friday, Mayor John Cooper said 41 separate businesses were heavily damaged in the explosion. Cooper added that the city is resilient and will rebuild.

"The message today is that we are going from relief now to resolve," Cooper said. "To catch those folks, rebuild our city and one more challenge of 2020, but we will get through it."

Metro Police officials said tissue was found at the explosion site, but Chief John Drake could not confirm if it was a human victim of the incident. The AP said the remains were human, but could not confirm how the remains were related to the explosion.

"When I was briefed this morning of the explosion, I thought it was going to be a propane tank explosion from an RV, but it turned out to be an intentional act," Chief Drake said.

Metro Nashville police have also released a surveillance photo of an RV before it exploded early Friday morning in downtown.

According to police, the vehicle arrived on 2nd Ave at 1:22 a.m. Anyone with information on it should call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463 or report it online via https://fbi.gov/nashville.

The explosion has caused AT&T outages throughout the area and has affected the 911 lines for local law enforcement.

Additionally, the FAA has temporarily halted flights out of Nashville due to the ongoing telecommunications issues. Nashville International Airport said they expect the issues to be resolved and anticipate service to resume by 3 p.m. CT.

The FBI has now taken the lead in the investigation into the large explosion that caused massive damage and injured three people.

The blast was felt across much of Davidson County around 6:30 a.m. Metro police said the explosion has been linked to a vehicle outside 166 Second Avenue N., the location of an AT&T data center downtown.

Metro police said there is no other imminent danger to the public, but out of precaution, K-9s are sweeping the area.

During a morning press conference, Metro police said they believe the explosion was an "intentional act." Federal agents say the bureau has not yet determined the motive or if the explosion was in fact intentional. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is also assisting with K-9s.

The FBI opened an online tip line for anyone who may have information on the explosion. Agents said anyone with information can also call 1-800-CALL-FBI. The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation (NCVC) has offered a $25,500 reward for information in the case.

Metro police spokesman Don Aaron said police received a report of a suspicious vehicle outside of the AT&T transmission building and upon investigating the report, officers called the hazardous devices unit. The vehicle was playing a warning message for anyone in the area to evacuate, police said. Officers then went door-to-door to evacuate the area.

About an hour after the report of a suspicious vehicle, the vehicle exploded.

Witnesses told investigators they heard gunshots early in the morning and a message coming from an RV parked in the street warning anyone in the area to evacuate before beginning to count down to an explosion. Police have confirmed that the RV was broadcasting a message. Video posted to YouTube appears to capture the reported warning message seconds before the blast.

Warning, some may find the below video disturbing:

Three people have been taken to the hospital, but officials say none of the injuries have been reported as critical. Metro police said an officer suffered hearing loss from the explosion, but the department is hoping the hearing loss is only temporary.

Traffic to the downtown area has been restricted on Friday morning. An Emergency Operations Center has been activated in response to the explosion.

Nashville firefighters have asked everyone in the area to move at least two blocks away due to concerns about any possible other explosions.

WeGo Public Transit said it will suspend all bus service at 11 a.m. and will close WeGo Central as a precaution.

Heavy smoke and damage were seen in the Second Avenue area. Police said debris from the blast was found near the old Metro Courthouse and near the downtown pedestrian bridge.

Photos: Explosion in downtown Nashville causes heavy smoke, damage

The deputy assistant to President Donald Trump said the president has been briefed on the explosion.

CBS News reported that President-Elect Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation, as well.

Gov. Bill Lee and Nashville Mayor John Cooper have released statements in response to the explosion.

This story was originally published by Caroline Sutton on WTVF in Nashville, Tennessee.

ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio — There were plenty of smiles to start homecoming weekend in front of the bleachers at Charles L. Brown Stadium Friday night.

Anderson rallied from an eight-point deficit with eight minutes remaining to defeat Winton Woods 28-21 in an Eastern Cincinnati Conference football showdown.

"It was remarkable how our kids came back," Anderson coach Evan Dreyer said.

It was Anderson's first win over Winton Woods since 2009, according to Dreyer.

"It was the most fun I've ever had playing a game," Anderson senior wide receiver Evan Upchurch said.

"The energy from our team and the energy from their team - it just added up and it was a great game."

Upchurch was part of a two-point conversion play when he threw the football to junior quarterback Griffin Scalf in the end zone to tie the game at 21 with 6:47 left.

"That is just Evan Upchurch and Griffin Scalf having some fun before and after practice," said Dreyer. "They wanted to run it and it was really, really cool as a coach to see those guys succeed."

Scalf connected with junior wide receiver Santos Alvarez for a 29-yard touchdown pass a play earlier to close the gap on the Warriors' lead.

After the two-point conversion, Anderson senior linebacker Casey O'Toole recovered the onside kick to give the Raptors another scoring opportunity.

The Raptors converted a fourth down from the Warriors' 12-yard line and three plays later Scalf eluded two defenders to find senior tight end Brody Foley in the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown pass connection with under two minutes left.

"He's a big target," Scalf said of Foley. "Just throw it up and he goes and gets it."

Foley, who is verbally committed to the University of Tennessee, said he saw Scalf look away and he found an open space in the end zone.

"It was a great play by him and a great play by our offense," said Foley, who also scored a first-half touchdown.

The Anderson defense was strong on the Warriors' final drive to seal the victory.

"I've been here six years now and the curse of beating Winton Woods," Dreyer said. "They're a great ball club. (Coach) Chad Murphy took over and it's one of those things to get over a little bit of a hump as we head toward the last three games. It's going to be really, really crucial to finish these three games strong as we end ECC play and head toward the playoffs in November."

Foley said he won't soon forget Friday night's game.

"It's amazing," Foley said. "It's a great feeling. I love coming out here every Friday with my boys and playing. It's special at home, it's homecoming, the fans are all out. It's an awesome feeling."

Anderson senior kicker Hayden Brooke had two field goals - including a 38-yarder and 29-yarder to help the Raptors (5-2, 4-1 ECC), who play at Milford Oct. 8.

Winton Woods senior running back Tyrek Spikes scored two rushing touchdowns and senior wide receiver Tai'je Frazier scored on a 48-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter for the Warriors (4-3, 3-2 ECC), who play at Turpin Oct. 8.

COLLIERVILLE, Tenn. —

At least one person was killed and 14 others injured in a shooting at a Kroger in Collierville, Tennessee, police officials said Thursday afternoon.

The shooter was also found dead, apparently of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Police Chief Dale Lane said.

Lane said 13 victims were taken to hospitals and one person suffered an anxiety attack and went on their own.

An employee at the supermarket said when the shooting started, she thought it was just "balloons popping."

Brignetta Dickerson was working the cash register when she said the shooting began in the deli section.

She told WMC she ran with some of her coworkers to hide but the gunman came right behind them and started shooting.

"He kept on shooting, shooting, shooting," Dickerson said. "He shot one of my coworkers in the head, and then shot one of the customers in the stomach, and then my other customer got kind of like cuts because of the asphalt."

Dickerson, who has worked at Kroger for 32 years, said she was OK but a little scared and shaky.

Lane said as far as police know, there was no incident that led up to the shooting.

Regional One Health Medical Center in Memphis received nine patients, said Angie Golding, a spokesperson at Regional One Health.

According to Golding, four were in critical condition when they arrived and five were in non-critical condition.

Golding did not provide further information, as the hospital was still working to notify relatives.

At least one patient was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital's location in Collierville, spokesperson Kimberly Alexander told CNN. She would not provide any information on the condition of the patient.

Lane said 44 people were working in the Kroger when the shooting happened.

Some employees hid in freezer

Around 1:30 p.m. CT, Collierville Communications Center received a 911 call about an active shooter at the Kroger, Lane told reporters outside the store. There actually was a patrol car near the store when the 911 call came in, Lane said.

When officers entered the store, they found people who had been shot. A SWAT team, patrol officers and other command staff members went aisle to aisle and room to room, bringing out employees who were hiding and helping the injured victims, Lane said.

Several employees were found hiding in freezers or locked in offices. "They were doing what they had been trained to do: Run, hide, fight," Lane said.

The chief said he was part of a team that brought a Kroger employee down from the top of the building.

The chief said the shooter's vehicle was in the parking lot and was being searched.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski with the Memphis field office said the FBI has deployed an evidence response team to support Collierville police and is providing specialists to provide assistance to victims.

Kroger spokesperson Teresa Dickerson said the grocery chain is providing counseling for store workers.

Dolly Parton is saying thanks, but no thanks, to Tennessee lawmakers who want to build a statue in her honor at the capitol in Nashville.

In a statement posted to Twitter Thursday morning, Parton said she was “honored and humbled by their intention but I have asked the leaders of the state legislature to remove the bill from any and all consideration.”

“Given all that is going on in the world, I don’t think putting me on a pedestal is appropriate at this time,” her statement reads.

A state representative proposed the idea last month to recognize all Parton has contributed to the state. The statue would have been paid for with a mix of monetary gifts and donations.

Parton has used her fame and fortune for several large philanthropic causes. In 1995, she started the Imagination Library to promote children’s literacy, which has grown into an international organization. Every month, the organization sends out more than one million books to children under age 5.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Dollywood Foundation has focused on Mountain Tough, which offers resources to those impacted by COVID-19, including counseling access and shopping assistance.

And notably, last year she donated a million dollars to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to help develop the Moderna coronavirus vaccine.

Parton’s statement Thursday left the door open to the possibility of a statue in the future.

“I hope, though, that somewhere down the road several years from now or perhaps after I’m gone if you still feel I deserve it, then I’m certain I will stand proud in our great State Capitol as a grateful Tennessean,” Parton’s statement reads.

“In the meantime, I’ll continue to try to do good work to make this great state proud.”

NASHVILLE, TENN. — The family of a woman who was shot by Nashville officers says more should have been done to deescalate the situation before she was shot.

Three Metro police officers in Nashville arrived at a home Friday night to find a woman with a pickaxe and baseball bat. The emergency call was for a suicidal individual who wanted to be shot.

The video shows one officer take the lead in trying to talk her down. He spends minutes trying to negotiate a surrender as two other officers stand by on alert. Metro police say as they talked, the woman appeared to be calm enough with no overt aggression.

But then her mother arrives and tries to intervene. Officers say that's when things escalate, taking away the option of waiting until the woman surrenders.

"Under normal circumstances where the mother does not interject...that's exactly how that would have played out," said Metro police commander Scott Byrd.

Moments later, negotiations break down and an officer deploys the taser.

"They attempted the less-lethal approach initially. But the tasers did not work. It enraged her," said Metro Chief of Staff Officer Chris Taylor.

Just under three seconds later, another officer fires two rounds from his gun. The woman collapses.

"That's unreasonable. That was quick. They didn't give the taser a chance to work," said Michael Crestman, the woman's brother.

He said he understands that his sister put officers in an incredibly difficult situation, but believes they should have waited her out.

"They knew she was suicidal. She told them to come shoot her so they did," Crestman said. "This should have been approached differently. I saw a bit of lunge, but there was distance. It would be different if she had a gun."

Byrd says the distance between the one officer and the woman armed with a large pickaxe was small. The moment she was tased, she moved forward. "It is close. When you get to someone with a long handle and the ability to reach out to it was threatening."

When she did step forward, the other officer felt he had no choice, but to shoot and end the threat. The woman was hit twice suffering a lacerated kidney, colon and injured spinal cord.

She remains in critical condition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Metro Police say they are working closely with the mayor's office and the Mental Health Co-op to come up with new and better possible responses to all mental health calls.

The officers involved remain on paid administrative leave as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigates.

This article was written by Nick Beres for WTVF.

A series of tornadoes in the southeastern U.S. left at least five people dead on Thursday and caused extensive property damage throughout the region.

The five confirmed deaths all occurred in Alabama near the town of Ohatchee, located east of Birmingham. However, the damage wrought by the storms was seen as far west as Mississippi and as far east as Georgia.

According to the Weather Channel, the west Georgia town of Newnan had also seen significant storm damage as of Thursday night.

The Weather Channel says the system had produced at least eight confirmed tornadoes on Thursday — six in Alabama, and one each in Mississippi and Tennessee.

Video shared on social media showed enormous funnel clouds and the extensive property damage left behind by the storms.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. —

Police faced gunfire as they responded to reports of a possible gunman at a Tennessee high school Monday, leaving one person dead and an officer wounded, authorities said.

No one else was killed or wounded at Austin-East Magnet High School in Knoxville, a city about 180 miles east of Nashville, police said. A male has been detained. Police said they responded to the school around 3:15 p.m. and when they encountered a male with a gun, shots were fired.

"Upon approach of the subject, shots were fired," Knoxville Police Department posted on Facebook. "A Knoxville Police officer was struck at least one time and transported to the hospital with injuries that are not expected to be life-threatening."

Speaking from outside a hospital, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon told WATE-TV that she spoke with the wounded officer and that he was conscious and in good spirits.

The police post said a male died at the school, which is not far from the city's zoo and Interstate 40. A map of the neighborhood shows the school is in a residential area near some churches.

Three students from Austin-East Magnet High School have been shot to death away from the campus less than three weeks apart this year, police said. Administrators have said students felt the arts magnet school was a safe space, according to a story in the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Video: Knoxville mayor says "we need to stop the violence"

State Rep. Sam McKenzie, who represents the district and went to the school, said in a statement, "I am at a loss to describe my sadness as yet another horrific act of gun violence has happened in my community," urging the community to "reclaim the sanctity of our beloved neighborhood."

"This is the fourth unnecessary shooting involving the Austin East community this year and we must make sure we take every step and make every effort to prevent these tragedies from continuing to occur," McKenzie aid.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said it was sending agents to the school.

Gov. Bill Lee mentioned the shooting at a news conference but said he had little information.

"I just wanted to make reference to that and ask, for those who are watching, online or otherwise, to pray for that situation and for the families and the victims that might be affected by that in our state," he said.

Last week, the Republican governor signed legislation that will make Tennessee the latest state to allow most adults 21 and older to carry handguns — openly or concealed — without first clearing a background check and training. Lee backed the legislation over objections from law enforcement groups, who argued that the state's existing permit system provided an important safeguard for knowing who should or shouldn't be carrying a gun.

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The law, which does not apply to long guns, will take effect July 1. The new measure also increases certain penalties. For example, theft of a firearm — now a misdemeanor that carries a 30-day sentence — will become a felony with a mandatory six month incarceration. It also makes exceptions for people with certain mental illnesses and criminal convictions.

When asked earlier this year whether recent mass shootings in Georgia, Colorado and others gave him any concern about timing, Lee has previously said the increased penalties mean that "we in fact will be strengthening laws that would help prevent gun crimes in the future."

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. —

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has signed legislation that puts public schools and their districts at risk of losing civil lawsuits if they let transgender students or employees use multi-person bathrooms or locker rooms that do not reflect their gender at birth.

LGBTQ advocates have decried the legislation as discriminatory.

The Republican governor signed the bill Friday, cementing another policy into law this year in Tennessee that targets the transgender community. Numerous anti-transgender measures have advanced recently in GOP-led statehouses across the country, including in Texas, Alabama and Arkansas.

Under the bathroom measure, a student or employee could sue in an effort to claim monetary damages "for all psychological, emotional, and physical harm suffered" if school officials allow a transgender person into the bathroom or locker room when others are in there. They also could take legal action if required to stay in the same sleeping quarters as a member of the opposite sex at birth, unless that person is a family member.

The proposal says schools must try to offer a bathroom or changing facility that is single-occupancy or that is for employees if a student or employee "desires greater privacy when using a multi-occupancy restroom or changing facility" designated for their sex at birth.

Lee, who is up for reelection next year, has said the bill promotes "equality in bathrooms," despite the prohibition against transgender people using multi-person facilities that don't align with their sex at birth. The legislation takes effect July 1.

Related video: Iowa GOP leaders work on bill banning transgender athletes from girls' sports

"That bill provides equal access to every student. It's a reasonable accommodation," Lee told reporters last week. "It allows for accommodation for every student regardless of their gender. I think that's a smart approach to the challenge."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee has said the requirement would violate equal protection rights under the Constitution and the Civil Rights Act. The ACLU expects the law will be challenged in court.

"Transgender students should be treated with respect and dignity, just like everyone else," ACLU of Tennessee Executive Director Hedy Weinberg said in a statement. "Governor Lee's decision to sign this bill sends the opposite message — that students should be able to discriminate against a group of their classmates by avoiding sharing public spaces with them, and sue their schools if they are prevented from doing so."

Such measures have met with opposition from LGBTQ advocates and prominent business interests. Nonetheless, it isn't the first — and won't be the last — proposed restriction affecting the transgender community to come before Lee this year. So far nationally, there has been no big, tangible repercussion where bills have passed targeting transgender people, unlike the swift backlash from the business community to North Carolina's 2016 "bathroom bill."

The governor has already signed a different proposal this year that bars transgender athletes from playing girls public high school or middle school sports.

The NCAA recently picked three states — Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas — that ban interscholastic transgender athletes as host schools for softball regionals, with Arkansas' law also applying to college sports. The decision came after the organization reiterated support for transgender athletes in college sports, warning that future events should only be in places that are "safe, healthy and free of discrimination."

Lee has also signed legislation to require school districts to alert parents 30 days in advance before students are taught about sexual orientation or gender identity. Parents could also opt their student out of the lesson. The requirement would not apply when a teacher is responding to a student's question or referring to a historic figure or group.

Lee is still deciding whether to sign a different variety of "bathroom bill" that passed this year. This one would require businesses or government facilities open to the public to post a sign if they let transgender people use multi-person bathrooms, locker rooms or changing rooms with people of their gender identity, not just their gender at birth.

Another bill passed by lawmakers seeks to ban gender-affirming medical treatment for trans minors — including the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy. Lee has not acted on the legislation yet. Arkansas approved a similar version earlier this year over a veto from Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

___

Associated Press writer Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee contributed to this report.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Age discrimination is nothing new, but Suzette Inman says she’s worried COVID-19 gave businesses an excuse to push older employees out of the workforce.

Inman says she has filled out hundreds of applications and been through only a handful of interviews. It’s been five months without a job for the 50-something-year-old who says she’s heard all the advice before.

Some have told her to change the college graduation date on her resume. Meanwhile, others have said maybe consider cosmetic work to appear younger.

“It’s a dilemma, and I’m so sad and so sorry for the other people who are out there like me who are struggling right now to eat,” Inman said.

Inman has more than 25 years of experience in data research and digital marketing. It makes it all the more frustrating when she hears that these are the changes you need to get a job with few opportunities to pay a living wage.

The US Dept. of Labor released April’s jobs report, which showed we gained 266,000 across the country. Experts predicted the vaccine rollout and loosening of COVID restrictions would have led to a boom in hiring. Many expected the number of new jobs to top one million. The unemployment rate actually rose to 6.1 percent.

Thankfully Inman has had unemployment benefits, but even that took months.

"If it weren’t for my church, I would’ve gone under,” Inman said.

Slashing the state’s unemployment benefits was unthinkable for Inman. Now it’s closer to reality. State lawmakers voted to cut benefits from 26 weeks down to 12—the fewest number of weeks in the country.

An amendment to these bills looks to cut unemployment to 12 weeks from the 26 weeks it usually provides. This only happens if the state’s average unemployment rate is at or below 5.5%, in other words, where they’re expected to be when things get back to normal.

Claimants get an additional week of benefits for each 0.5% we are over that 5.5% threshold. So if the unemployment rate is at 6.5%, claimants get two more weeks up to a max of 20 weeks.

The state’s fiscal report says this will cut between $31-$36 million/year in benefits from the insurance trust fund.

If approved and signed, this law would go into effect on July 1, 2023. It would cost the state $250,000 to make the necessary IT changes to their unemployment systems.

“We need some solutions here and just cutting people off is not the solution,” Inman said.

Lawmakers say the solution should be finding a job. Inman says she agrees, but we need time to work for...not against us.

Levi Ismail at WTVF first reported this story.