Most people are familiar with the name United Way, but maybe not we do. We raise funds to give funds locally. Which means we need donors like you.

I wasn't nervous about a minor knee surgery. As an NFL football player who'd undergone far more extensive operations before, this procedure seemed completely routine. Little did I know that within 36 hours, I would be lying unconscious on the sofa at my daughter's second birthday party, my r…

Have you ever noticed that when famous people issue statements, or answer difficult interview questions, that they often say the same things? It’s almost as if they share a rule book, filled with excuses. And it’s not just famous people. Even in our everyday lives, people don’t say what they…

Each January brings with it a fresh start; but lately, great expectations for the year ahead have come tinged with uncertainty. In 2020, we had more questions than answers about a mysterious illness spreading rapidly from China. In 2021, we adjusted to a drastic shift in political leadership…

Today there is only one notable Tennessee city or town along the Mississippi River, but that didn’t used to be the case. In fact, I would argue that Tennessee’s most important “ghost town” is the Tipton County community of Randolph.

Every month, about 100 children in Tennessee are trafficked online for sex, and the highest rates of human trafficking in Tennessee occur in Coffee, Shelby, Davidson and Knox counties, according to a report, titled Human Trafficking in Tennessee. Some of the reports cited in this article wer…

The New Year can often bring goals and expectations that are impossible to keep up with. Instead of focusing on what you’re not getting done, take the time to think about what you really want to achieve. After all, goals represent things you want the most, and the best way to make yourself h…

Voices are important to me. I grew up listening to some of the most iconic voices of the 20th century.

On December 21, 1970, a White House photographer snapped a photograph of Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon together in the Oval Office. Today, that photograph is the most requested image in the National Archives. 

What do we know about law enforcement use of deadly force upon citizens in Tennessee?

From David Carroll: This week I am honored to share a story by Carissa Webb, a teacher friend of mine, who writes about her extraordinary holiday experience:

Here is a fact that not enough Tennesseans know: Joint Base Andrews (formerly known as Andrews Air Force Base) is named for a man from Nashville.

It’s that time of year again where we begin wrapping up and reflecting on our biggest accomplishments of the year. In those moments of reflection, some of us may tend to find flaws in ourselves and begin to create lofty goals that are difficult to reach in the new year. While the new year is…

It’s an expensive time of year for many of us. Between gifts, trees and decorations, food and other expenses, the costs of the holiday season can stretch budgets to their limit.

Let’s just get one thing out of the way: the decade of the 2020s has been hard. It’s been exhausting. This has been true for everyone, but it is especially true for people who work in people-oriented professions – nursing, teaching, pastoring, just to name a few. But, this is about teachers.

When I was a wee lad, my older sisters shared the gift of reading with me, and this was during the heyday of magazines. My parents subscribed to Newsweek, and Readers Digest was always in the barbershop. It was a treat to see the world through the lens of the Life magazine photographers, and…

Tennessee’s eighth grade students learn about the Erie Canal—the artificial body of water that connected the Hudson River to the Great Lakes. They also learn that the Erie Canal is largely responsible for making New York the largest city in America.

This week in "That New Guy," Duane gives his top 10 Christmas movies of all time. Read his full column here. 

The holidays bring exciting moments and wonderful time spent together with family and friends. As we enjoy these beautiful moments together and create everlasting memories, it’s important to ensure the safety of children. The holidays may bring stress and busy schedules, leading to situation…

As a card carrying member of the “evil news media,” I can testify that my profession is not widely admired. We rank near the bottom, between “Guy with leaky bucket who will pave your driveway for a thousand bucks if you pay in advance” and “TV preacher who will mail you a vial of holy water …

You may not have heard of the late Nashville businessman Jack Massey. But if it weren’t for Massey, you probably never would have heard of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Where’s your column been lately, Duane? We’ve missed you, kinda. Were you in prison? Held hostage by ransom-seeking bandits? Were you marooned on a desert island with a millionaire and his wife, the professor and Mary Ann?

No doubt you’ve noticed that some newspaper columnists occasionally do a “From the Mailbag” column, serving up readers’ comments, questions and corrections. I am one of those columnists.

“[COVID-19 has] become a political issue, which is a sad, sad commentary.”

I was recently on a panel that discussed where free speech ends and dangerous speech begins.

Tennessee likes to boast about old structures it has preserved and historical markers it has erected. However, in terms of remembering migration routes, our state could do a much better job.

Statistics show that 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused by age 18; and 95 percent of victims are abused by someone they know and trust. To prevent child abuse, parents must be able to maintain honest relationships with their children. Communicating with children about any topic – espec…

When my sons were teenagers, my wife worked an early morning shift for a period of time, so I was responsible for getting them ready for school. This included breakfast duty, so I prepared a nutritious daily feast of Graham crackers, covered with peanut butter and chocolate chips. (That’s me…

Information is easy to come by these days. If we want to contact someone, we call or text them. If we want to research something, we look it up on the internet. If we want to know our latitude and longitude, we buy a satellite navigation device.

This weekend, we have a guest column from Tullahoma resident Dot Watson. Read her full column here. 

Many cultures have a tradition of thanking God for good things. In Jamestown, Virginia, they proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving for their safe arrival many years before the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts. 

Food insecurity is one of the biggest hurdles that our most vulnerable neighbors face daily — something that gets especially challenging around the holidays. With schools closed for winter break, many families are left without a regular source of meals for their children through the United S…

The recent COP26 climate summit in Glasgow was the 26th attempt to get the nations of the world to fix the climate crisis. During the summit, the Washington Post reported that countries have been under-reporting their emissions, so the negotiations are based on “flawed data.”

One of my frequent topics is customer service. I am old enough to remember when that term was mandatory, not optional.

If people who lived in Tennessee 100 years ago could speak to us today, they’d tell us we are spoiled. We have stores where we can buy just about every type of food, medicine or clothing we need. We have electricity and access to a clean, safe water supply. We all have some degree of access …

November ushers in cooler weather, beautiful fall colors and my favorite time of the year with the holiday seasons upon us.

Imagine this situation: A step-father sexually abuses a 5-year-old girl. The mother has been suffering abuse from him for years, and when she finds out he abuses her daughter, she decides to make a report to the child abuse hotline. Do you think the mother will feel safe providing her name? …

Well, this is embarrassing. I got a very kind email from a loyal reader who wrote, “I really enjoy your columns. You make me laugh every week.” This concerns me, because I don’t always try to be funny. Does this mean my serious musings are unintentionally hilarious? Oh well, so much for my g…

For Ruth Martin, the fight for paid leave is both professional and personal.

Four years ago, an investigative journalist in Nashville examined the cash grants and tax breaks given to companies as part of the state’s economic development deals to create jobs.

This week's "TN History for Kids" shares some history of the Tennessee Supreme Court. Read the column at the link. 

Child safety online is crucial in today’s world where children spend significant amounts of time online (95% of teens have access to smartphones and 45% report being online almost constantly, according to the National Criminal Justice Training Center). We covered the importance of implementi…

Americans have been in a bad mood for the past few years, and as my Papaw Carroll would say about his aches and pains, “It ain’t gettin’ any better.”

On Tuesday nights if you are looking for a good hot meal, go to Damron’s Restaurant on East Lincoln St. and have a free dinner. This opportunity is called COME TO THE TABLE,  and you will be blessed and can enjoy friendship which nourishes your soul while your body is nourished with good foo…

This is a column I should have written a long time ago, but with the Atlanta Braves winning the World Series, now is the perfect time. It’s sort of a confessional, I guess.

Gas prices are rising, store shelves sit empty, and companies cannot fill good-paying jobs. There's no doubt about it — Americans are suffering under President Biden's weak leadership. But instead of addressing the crises they’ve created head-on, Democrats in the White House and Congress are…

Everyone loves lists. We have come up with eight things about Tennessee geography that surprise people.

Simple rules can help keep your children safe online.

I witnessed a rare sight while enjoying my fast food lunch. The manager was at the next table interviewing a job applicant. They were chatting before I started, and the conversation continued after I left. I got the impression the manager didn’t want to let the person go.