AltWeeklies Wire
An Equine Abuse Case Shocked Tennessee and Legislation is Meeting Resistancenew

The colt could barely stand, was too weak to walk and likely hadn’t eaten since birth. His malnourished mother had no milk to feed him. The starving colt was among 84 horses rescued from a farm in Cannon County last November.
Nashville Scene |
Christine Kreyling |
03-12-2010 |
Animal Issues
Meet Katherine Carroll, the Battlefield Professornew

In the summer of 2007, Katherine Carroll heard that the Army was searching for Ph.D.s with specialties in Middle Eastern culture and history to embed with combat brigades, to "help them take into account the social, political and cultural context," she says.
Nashville Scene |
Lyda Phillips |
03-05-2010 |
War
Even after a Scandal, Nursing Home Employees Don't Know how to Handle Abuse Allegationsnew
An October survey of a Bristol, Va. nursing home's staff obtained by the Scene (prompted in part by a sexual-abuse complaint lodged in September) found that most of its employees don't even know they are required by law to report abuse allegations to the state.
Nashville Scene |
Brantley Hargrove |
12-11-2009 |
Crime & Justice
A Nashville Hijacking 38 Years Ago Set the Standard on How Not to Handle Hostage Negotiationsnew
The hijacking of 58 November forced police agencies across the country to train for nearly every scenario. It gave rise to organizations like the National Tactical Officers Association. The deaths of Brent Downs and Susan Giffe also caused the death of ad hoc approaches to crisis management. From October 1971 on, there would be an accounting.
Nashville Scene |
Brantley Hargrove |
08-28-2009 |
Crime & Justice
The Female Discount for Sexual Predatorsnew
The evidence seems mounted against Sandy Binkley as she heads for a trial on seven counts of statutory rape and two counts of sexual battery by an authority figure. But if the past offers any prediction, she's almost sure to get the female discount if she's convicted.
Nashville Scene |
Tracy Moore |
07-10-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: Sandy Binkley, rape
A Grieving Son Finds No Justice on Rev. Maury Davis' Path to Redemptionnew
Ron Liles wants to tell Davis that he's a liar for bending the greatest truth in his life. To remind the mega-church pastor that the price of his spiritual rebirth, his professed salvation, was the blood of Liles' 54-year-old mother, Jo Ella.
Nashville Scene |
Brantley Hargrove |
06-19-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Tennessee's Religious Right Draws a Bead on Doctor-Patient Confidentiality for Teensnew
Conservative Christians have found a new cause celebre in the state legislature: Denying teens the right to doctor-patient confidentiality.
Nashville Scene |
Jeff Woods |
05-22-2009 |
Civil Liberties
Nine Tennessee Innovations Are Sowing Seeds for the Futurenew
Today, Middle Tennessee has a surprising number of unheralded innovators—forward-thinkers who are tweaking, leading and finessing the competition in their respective fields. With little fanfare, they have made the area home to several firsts on many fronts: health care, energy conservation, medicine, education, technology, science.
Nashville Scene |
Tracy Moore |
05-01-2009 |
Science
Despite a Spate of Murders, the Tennessee Legislature Rushes to Liberalize Gun Lawsnew
Less than 24 hours after an Alabama killing spree, Tennessee's House Judiciary Committee passed a bill allowing handgun permit holders to ride around with loaded rifles and shotguns in their vehicles.
Nashville Scene |
Jeff Woods |
03-20-2009 |
Policy Issues
Tags: gun control, Tennessee
Tennessee Republicans Think $2.13 an Hour Is Adequate Paynew
State House Democrats are attacking Republicans for opposing an increase in the minimum wage for hardworking waitresses.
Nashville Scene |
Jeff Woods |
03-13-2009 |
Economy
Tags: Tennessee, minimum wage
Tennessee Gov. Considers Turning His Back on the Unemployednew
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen says he may turn down millions of dollars in federal stimulus money rather than expand unemployment benefits in ways that many other states did long ago.
Nashville Scene |
Jeff Woods |
03-05-2009 |
Economy
Charred Bodies Leave Lingering Questions About an Executionnew

In short: Nearly every piece of physical evidence against Steve Henley was tainted. But if police botched their end of the case, Henley's tale was evaporating as well.
Nashville Scene |
Brantley Hargrove |
03-05-2009 |
Crime & Justice
A Month of Terror with Nashville's Most Brazen Stick-Up Crewnew
Pam Carpenter can't sleep at night with three suspects still at large.
Nashville Scene |
Caleb Hannan |
02-20-2009 |
Crime & Justice
If Not for a Special Election, English Only Would Have Prevailed in Nashvillenew
It's heartening that the Nashville's progressives seem able to stop daydreaming about love and harmony long enough to run an effective campaign. But not by any stretch is this the dawning of a new day or a crippling blow to intolerance in our city.
Nashville Scene |
Jeff Woods |
01-30-2009 |
Policy Issues
Steve Ganaway: Business Mogul or Nashville's Numbers King?new
Listening to Nashville businessman Steve Ganaway talk earnestly about community development, it's hard to believe he's a man with the time — much less desire — to run a sprawling numbers game. Then again, Ganaway's business is show business, where perception and reality have always been worlds apart.
Nashville Scene |
P.J. Tobia |
01-30-2009 |
Business & Labor