Free Republic

Vince Gill and Patty Loveless sing at the funeral of George Jones

Is Fox News going soft? That is what a number of Tea Party activists are saying and they are organizing a boycott to protest the conservative station’s coverage, especially what they view as the network’s relative silence in investigating the attacks on a diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya. “Particularly after the election, Fox keeps turning to the left,” said Stan Hjerlied, 75, of Fort Collins, Colo., and a participant in the boycott. He pointed to an interview Fox News CEO Roger Ailes gave after the election in which he said that the Republican Party and Fox News need to modernize,...

-excerpt- All received steroid injections, mostly for back pain, a fairly typical treatment.

Federal judge William Haynes signed an order on Thursday recommending the approval of a special type of visa for Juana Villegas. Villegas, an undocumented immigrant, sparked controversy after she was arrested and shackled to a hospital bed in the final stages of pregnancy in 2009. Haynes recommended that Villegas be approved for a U Visa — a temporary visa given to immigrants who are the victims of crimes. However, Haynes didn't accuse the Davidson County Sheriff's Office, whom allegedly denied Villegas the use of a breast pump, of committing crimes. Rather, he ruled that Villegas had “met her minimum burden...

A bus full of three-dozen undocumented immigrants — displaying their illegal status for all to see — is set to stop in Nashville on Thursday to raise awareness of immigration politics. The “UndocuBus,” as organizers call it, will be at a public rally Thursday near the Super Mercado La Reyna #2 at 3761 Nolensville Pike in Nashville from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The group’s motto: “No papers, no fear.” Advertising for Thursday’s event is virtually nonexistent, but supporters are beginning to spread the word via Facebook. The group includes six undocumented immigrants from Tennessee. “The Hispanic community in Tennessee...

Shoppers could soon be automatically recognised when they walk into a shop using a controversial new camera. Called Facedeals, the camera uses photos uploaded to Facebook to recognise people as they walk in. Shoppers who agree to use the system, which has not been developed with Facebook, will be offered special deals. A promotional video created to promote the concept shows drinkers entering a bar, and then being offerend cheap drinks as they are recognised. 'Facebook check-ins are a powerful mechanism for businesses to deliver discounts to loyal customers, yet few businesses—and fewer customers—have realized it,' said Nashville-based advertising agency...

Final unofficial returns from the state Division of Elections this morning indicate that seven incumbent Republicans and five incumbent Democrats lost bids for re-election in Thursday's primaries. Latest additions to the incumbent loser list are Rep. Jim Cobb, R-Spring City, defeated by insurance agent Ron Travis 4.357 votes to 4,252 , according to the final unofficial returns; and Rep. Mary Pruitt, D-Nashville, defeated by Harold Love Jr. by about 40 votes. Other defeated incumbent Republican legislators were House Republican Caucus Chairman Debra Maggart of Hendersonville, House Education Committee Chairman Richard Montgomery of Sevierville; and Reps. Dale Ford of Jonesborough, Julia...

A local group wants Nashville to focus on marketing to the gay and lesbian communities. Businesses like Tribe say marketing Nashville to the LGBT community could bring a lot of money into the city. Joey Amato of Outreach Public Relations said he got the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau to help him with a press release promoting Nashville as a gay destination. According to Community Marketing, Inc., the LGBT community spends $65 million a year on tourism. Joey Amato says if he can help Nashville get a portion of that, it would be great for the city. "I fell in...

Delusion guided accused shooter of soldiers at Little Rock recruiting centerPsychiatrist says reality was lost on Muhammad By Kristina Goetz Memphis Commercial Appeal Posted July 23, 2011 at midnight LITTLE ROCK -- The star defense witness in the capital murder trial of Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad said Friday that the defendant believes he is persecuted because he's Muslim and that his actions are more important than they really are -- all because he suffers from a delusional disorder. "Saying you're an operative of a major terrorist organization is grandiose," said Dr. Shawn Agharkar, a psychiatrist who examined Muhammad three times in...

NASHVILLE -- As many as 5,000 people were evacuated on Tuesday night after an explosion at the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville -- where hundreds of the nation's sheriffs are attending a conference. The blast occurred in a mechanical room at the convention center about 8:30pm local time, WSMV-TV reported, adding that no injuries had been reported. The convention center suffered significant damage from the blast and a Nashville Fire Department spokesperson told the station there was a smell of natural gas in the area. Gas was switched off in the building as officials responded to the scene.

Mayor Karl Dean’s proposed property tax hike, which has already drawn the ire of the Nashville Tea Party, has reverberated up to the conservative-backed Americans for Prosperity political advocacy organization. Arlington, Va.-based Americans for Prosperity, an advocacy group that professes to educate citizens on education policies, has highlighted Dean’s tax proposal as its top story on its website.“Nashville taxpayers are under attack by Mayor Dean’s proposed 13 percent property tax increase,” reads a short blog post penned by the organization’s Tennessee state director Brad Stevens.“Taxpayers should not be on the hook for Nashville city leaders’ lack of fiscal responsibility,” the post continues.Oddly,...

Virgil Goode giving his acceptance speech now at the convention. Thanking the other candidates for all their hard work running in this race and those in our national party that have worked hard over the years for our party.

Country and bluegrass pioneer Earl Scruggs has passed away in a Nashville hospital at the age of 88. Scruggs was born in Shelby, NC and started playing the banjo at the age of four, an instrument that would fill his days during the depression and after his father died. Originally, he played using two fingers but, by the age of ten, he had evolved to a three-finger style that would eventually revolutionize bluegrass music and become known as "Scruggs Style Picking." Scruggs started his professional career in 1945 with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys but, in 1948, he left Monroe's...

In fact, it has now been six months since the Great Gibson Guitar Raid… and even though Gibson’s business was damaged, and half a million dollars’ worth of property was confiscated, no charges have been filed at all.

On Monday, the day after this year's NCAA March Madness selections, hardcore Vanderbilt University basketball fans plotted a pilgrimage to the desert, to Albuquerque, to exhort their Commodores in their struggle with the Harvard Crimson. Also on Monday, Vanderbilt battered the faithful and cast out the Christians, all in the name of diversity. March 12 marked the day Vanderbilt student groups must begin to submit applications to the university so the Ministry of Diversity, er, I mean, the Dean of Students office, can decree which student organizations are nondiscriminatory enough to haunt Vandy's hallowed halls. Forgive the Orwellian slip, but...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – About 30 Tennessee Highway Patrol officers moved into War Memorial Plaza overnight and removed the final Occupy Nashville tent, according to the group. Occupy Nashville said that the troopers came onto the Plaza around 3:50 a.m. Monday. The group said Christopher Humphrey was asked to come out of the tent on War Memorial Plaza. When he did, he said the troopers proceeded to remove his tent, as well as one nearby from the plaza. They said the troopers initially removed their information table, donation box, and other protest materials, but the troopers agreed to return them after...

Members of Occupy Nashville have apparently heeded the new law that would have evicted them from War Memorial Plaza overnight. Gov. Bill Haslam originally signed the new law a week ago, but Occupy Nashville members were given a week to comply. A handful of tents remained on the plaza Thursday, but WSMV Ch. 4 reports that the last remaining protestors packed up their belonging overnight. Occupy Nashville was camped out on the plaza for more than four months. Under the new law, those who camp on state property that is not properly designated can face a $2,500 fine, a year...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Occupy Nashville protesters who have been living on Legislative Plaza are preparing for more arrests under a state law passed last month making it illegal for anyone to camp on state-owned land that is not specifically designated for that purpose. The protesters were given a seven-day notice to remove their campsites last Friday and members of the group said Thursday the state could start enforcing the law starting after midnight.

Live Out Your Walking Dead Fantasies In This Abandoned Tennessee Prison - Modern Ruins We're going to have to wait until season three of The Walking Dead TV show to see the zombie-filled prison. But if you're near Nashville, you can visit the Tennessee State Prison, an abandoned penitentiary. It looks like the zombies got to it first. Even before it fell into decay, this prison suffered plenty of woes at the hands of its prisoners. In 1902, a group of prisoners blew out a wing of the facility, killing one prisoner and allowing others to escape (two were never...

NASHVILLE -- Occupy Nashville was given a seven-day warning on Friday to take down its encampment on the War Memorial Plaza next to the state Capitol. Gov. Bill Haslam signed into law the measure that makes it illegal for anyone to camp on state-owned land that is not specifically designated for that purpose. Bill sponsors say the law is aimed at evicting Occupy Nashville protesters. But homeless advocates worry that it will lead to the arrest of homeless people camped far from the Capitol. Violators can face nearly a year in jail or a fine of up to $2,500 or...

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- A Metro Nashville Councilman was arrested Thursday afternoon during a prostitution sting operation in Metro Center. Police said that 33-year-old Metro Councilman Brady Banks paid $100 to female undercover officer in exchange for sex. Officials said that Banks met the officers in a hotel room after responding to an escort service ad posted by the police.Banks was one of three men arrested in the sting. Police also arrested Matthew Moynihan, 38, of Hendersonville and Jyotin Arora, 37.Banks was booked into the Davidson County Jail and was held on $1,000 bond.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A proposal aimed at stopping Occupy Nashville protesters from staying overnight on the Capitol complex has passed the House. The measure sponsored by Republican Rep. Eric Watson of Cleveland was approved 70-26 after a lengthy debate on Thursday. The companion bill was to be heard on the Senate floor, but the upper chamber adjourned before hearing the legislation.

After five months of demonstrations and camping out on Legislative Plaza, nearly half of the Occupy Nashville protesters have removed their tents from the Capitol complex. The protesters discussed their future plans at a general assembly meeting Tuesday evening. All this comes right before state lawmakers were to pass a bill that would ban anyone from sleeping outside the Capitol. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Tennessee Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons said the protesters informed a state trooper patrolling the area that they plan to leave. But some protesters suggested they would remain at Legislative Plaza until they are forcibly...

Gannett Newspaper - Link Only: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120212/NEWS01/302120070/Occupy-Nashville-protesters-may-pack-up?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Gannett Newspaper - Link Only: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120208/NEWS0201/302080112/Tennessee-close-evicting-Occupy-Nashville?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

I know some of you guys gave me a hard time when I shared the story of my buddy who rented a room in a house in Nashville and fell behind on his rent (though good faith discussions with the landlady were in progress) and then when gone a couple of weeks all of a sudden found his stuff taken to storage and the landlady's lawyer demanding a ransom for it. You said my buddy ought to suck it up, not try to "legally steal" from the landlady, and such. If you're still of the same opinion and don't want...

By Sunlen Miller @sunlenmiller Rand Paul’s Pat-Down Standoff With TSA in Nashville Ends Sen. Rand Paul told his communications director this morning he was being detained by TSA at the Nashville airport. The Twitter account associated with Paul staffer Moira Bagley, @moirabagley, tweeted around 10 a.m., ET, “Just got a call from @senrandpaul. He’s currently being detained by TSA in Nashville.” A TSA spokesman disputed that Paul was ever “detained.” But he was not granted access to the secure area of the airport when he tried to board a flight Monday morning.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Metro police were called to Legislative Plaza late Thursday night after a man allegedly set a fire at the Occupy Nashville camp. Authorities said demonstrators saw a man set fire to an unoccupied sleeping bag. They chased the man, stopped him and held him until police arrived. It was not immediately known if the man was connected to the Occupy Nashville camp or the movement. His name wasn't immediately released.

For the rest of the semester, a Rutherford County elementary student has to eat lunch at the "silent table" for allegedly waving around a slice of pizza some say resembled a gun. Nicholas Taylor attends David Youree Elementary School in Smyrna, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. School leaders say the 10-year-old threatened other students at his lunch table with a piece of pizza with bites out of it so it looked like a gun and when asked about it was initially not truthful. Nicholas' mother LeAnn calls her son's punishment "absolutely ridiculous" saying he was just playing around and...

A burglary suspect is in police custody this morning after being attacked by the 17-year-old that lives at the south Nashville home. According to Metro Police, the complainant called and advised that a Hispanic male was crawling through the window at the Tony Sudekum homes at 15 Carroll Street at around 2 a.m. The complainant's son chased the suspect away while armed with a meat cleaver, and stated that he yelled at the suspect to "never come back here." It was at this time that the suspect turned and charged at the teenager. The victim swung at the suspect with...

Occupy Billed $1,045 for Security Before ArrestsTRAVIS LOLLER | Associated Press Wednesday, November 30, 2011 Updated 3:43PM NASHVILLE (AP) – The state Department of General Services billed Occupy Nashville $1,045 to provide two troopers for security the night before they began arresting the protesters and clearing their encampment. The invoice was part of a public records request to the department from The Associated Press. **SNIP** They were told the state could not police their encampment and they would have to pay for security, she said.

WASHINGTON — Country music gets its due at the Obama White House next week. The Obamas will play host to a string of country stars — legendary and contemporary — Monday at their seventh “In Performance at the White House” program. Among those performing Monday night: Lauren Alaina, The Band Perry, Dierks Bentley, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Mickey, Darius Rucker and James Taylor.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The heavy Tennessee Highway Patrol presence and curfew enforcement on Legislative Plaza came to a sudden and unexpected stop Saturday night, and by Sunday morning, Occupy Nashville protesters declared it a victory on The Hill. "At 4:30 in the morning, I walked around congratulating everybody that we took The Hill, said Clay Wright who proudly waved his Occupy Nashville flag on the steps of Legislative Plaza. "The people, the people own Legislative Plaza, and that's the way it needs to be recognized," said Wright. But a sign with a curfew enforcement states otherwise. Enforced since Thursday, it's put...

State troopers for the second straight night arrested anti-Wall Street protesters for defying a new nighttime curfew imposed by the Republican governor, in an effort to disband an encampment near the state Capitol in Nashville. And also, for a second time, a Nashville night judge dismissed the arrest warrants. The Tennessean newspaper reported early Saturday morning that Magistrate Tom Nelson told troopers delivering the protesters to jail that he could "find no authority anywhere for anyone to authorize a curfew anywhere on Legislative Plaza." Occupy Nashville protesters - including many of the 29 arrested in a pre-dawn raid on Friday...

NEW YORK (AP) — While more U.S. cities are resorting to force to break up the Wall Street protests, many others — Philadelphia, New York, Minneapolis and Portland, Ore., among them — are content to let the demonstrations go on for now.New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, for example, said Friday that the several hundred protesters sleeping in Zuccotti Park, the unofficial headquarters of the movement that began in mid-September, can stay as long as they obey the law."I can't talk about other cities," he said. "Our responsibilities are protect your rights and your safety. And I think we're trying to...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A new policy could have Occupy Nashville demonstrators off Legislative Plaza after midnight Friday. After a lengthy meeting Thursday night, members of the group decided they will not willingly leave the plaza. That state policy could force Occupy Nashville members to leave the place they have protested for 20 days. Thursday afternoon the Department of General Services put a curfew into effect for the Capitol grounds. The group, by consensus, decided they will continue to protest on the plaza as they have since October 7th. They understand police may try to remove them from the area. *snip*...

What: A Rally and Free Concert to show our support for Gibson Guitar When: Saturday Oct 8 2-4PM Where: Parking Lot of the Scoreboard Restaurant, Nashville (See website for MAP) Website: http://GibsonRally.com Why: Federal agents raided two Gibson factories in August and confiscated part of the production inventory of this 100 year old American Manufacturer and Employer. This abuse of federal power must not go unanswered. We, the citizenswho grant government its power and authority, MUST act to hold government accountable when that power is abused. Please join us on Oct 8 in Nashville and Stand with Gibson.

Whether you believe that man has ruined the earth’s climate or not we can all agree that Washington’s bickering about emergency FEMA funding does nothing to fight the effects of global climate change. According to the New York Times, Hurricane Irene earlier this year was the first US catastrophe of the Obama administration to make the top 10 list, joining the insurmountable Bush catastrophes of Katrina and 911. Climate experts Bill McKibben and Al Gore agree that Obama has failed with only half hearted efforts to reverse the rising oceans. A search at usaspending.gov (Sponsored by Senator Obama under the...

NASHVILLE, - The Combos "Americas Manliest Cities" study named Nashville as the most masculine metropolis in the United States. Mars Chocolate North America said the third annual study used metrics including the number of manly businesses, such as home improvement stores and steak houses, and manly jobs, such as construction, to rank the relative manliness of 50 U.S. cities. The study, which deducted manliness points from cities with large numbers of cupcake stores or fancy furniture sellers, ranked Nashville in the top spot, followed by Charlotte, N.C.; Oklahoma City; Memphis and Columbia, S.C. Los Angeles ranked last on the list...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former Predator Wade Belak, an enforcer who had played with five NHL teams before retiring in March, was found dead Wednesday in Toronto. He was 35. Belak is the third NHL enforcer found dead since May. The Predators learned of Belak's death from NHL security and the team issued a statement saying the organization was shocked and sadden by his sudden and untimely death. "Wade was a beloved member of the organization, a terrific teammate and wonderful father and husband who will be greatly missed," according to the Predators' statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A daycare center was evacuated after a gang-related shooting on Albion Street killed one person and injured two others, according to Metro Police. Children at the Little Hearts Day Care were moved to another location after the shooting occurred at 3003 Albion St., which is also across from Hadley Park. Metro Police said the shooting was gang-related and there were several shots. Police said eight people were involved and four are currently accounted for. One person is in custody and is being questioned by police. Police have closed Albion Street and 29th Avenue North and 30th Avenue...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nashville has a new trash law and many people don't like it. Beginning today, you can no longer put grass clippings, twigs or leaves in your trash bin. This includes both private and public trash service in Nashville. The city said it wants to reduce the amount of material dumped into Nashville's landfill as well as adopt a more environmentally sound waste policy. But many residents say it's unfair. How are they supposed to get rid of leaves and grass trimmings? "I don't have a truck. I don't have a way to drop off my yard waste...

Family of Suspect in Arkansas Military Center Shooting Says Gov't Knew He Was DangerousBy Catherine Herridge & Jason Donner FoxNews.com Published June 10, 2011 The family of Carlos Bledsoe, who is accused of shooting and killing an Army private and injuring another outside a military recruitment center in Arkansas in June 2009, says the FBI has a lot to answer for in the case -- suggesting the federal government was aware that Bledsoe was a jihadist in training even before the shooting. “We're asking for (Attorney General) Eric Holder ... to give my son a fair trial, and the only...

What the hell is going on over Memorial Day weekend among America's youts, specifically, "Eric Holder's People"?!IM SICK OF IT! Here in Little Rock, (which was just named No. 7 most dangerous city), I was talking to my friend yesterday, who is an LRPD officer. He asked if my wife and I were going to Riverfest that evening. I told him my son, age 9 mos. was sick, and we weren't planning to. He told me, "Good. There is a Rap artist playing at 9PM and there are not enough cops on duty so be very careful, and carry your...

There is a first-hand undercover investigation being done in Al-Farooq mosque in Nashville, TN. What has been exposed is unthinkable. This is video footage of a first-hand undercover investigation done in Al-Farooq mosque. Listen to a 7 year old talk about her husband and how they are beaten during shariah class. The video is just the sound, as these kids are in tremendous danger and the undercover person inside needed to hide the camera deeply. We are working on the sound quality. Listen to the girl stating how kids are beaten as she begins to cry.The teachers, "they hit...

On Thursday night’s edition of The Ed Show on MSNBC, "Ed Schultz threw down a threat-down on hawkish, jingoistic country crooners like Toby Keith and Lee Greenwood ," wrote Adam Gold of Nashville Scene, "or as he called 'em, ‘fun-lovin', American rednecks in Nashville, Tennessee."Schultz "put the Music Row machine on notice — jestingly expressing his hankering to hear a patriotic anthem lauding President Obama and the Navy Seals for toe-tagging Osama bin Laden." You can tell Schultz was mocking patriotic country singers because he didn’t ask Steve Earle or the Dixie Chicks for their help.

http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2011/05/geert-wilders-comes-to-nashville.html Mr. Wilders will continue his lectures in Nashville, where the current legislature is contemplating “anti-sharia” legislation. Nashville’s neighboring city of Murfreesboro is famous for its battle over a planned mega-mosque. The Cornerstone Church is a large church in the Nashville area, where several thousand Christians are expected to listen to Wilders’ “Warning to America”. -Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday May 12, 2011

A certain person told me there had been going on in Nashville, since last Thursday April 28, a one week "Tea Party" meeting for truckers to air their grievances about government overreaching and plan political action. This person intended to be there, but for personal reasons it seems he could not. So I thought I'd try to Google up whatever information I could to see what had been going on -- supposedly Jay Sekulow was intending to be a guest speaker. I'm having a lot of trouble identifying any such event, if it existed at all. My apology in advance...

A top elected official in Nashville hired both his children for Metro jobs that were never advertised. It's the latest revelation from the Channel 4 I-Team investigation into Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk David Torrence. The I-Team's hidden camera showed Torrence away from the office several days a week, doing yard work, golfing or running personal errands with his Metro car. Torrence said he works only three days a week and doesn't deny being out of the office for half of last year. Torrence didn't just hire his sons without advertising the openings; he hired them to replace veteran employees...

Jihad Returns to America By: Robert Spencer FrontPageMagazine.com | Thursday, June 04, 2009 Jihad came once again to American soil on Monday, when an American convert to Islam, Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, began shooting at soldiers who were standing outside the Army-Navy Career Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Muhammad murdered Pvt. William Long, 23, and gravely wounded Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula, 18. Muhammad was charged with capital murder and – in a departure from authorities’ practically reflexive dismissal of terrorism as a factor in virtually any act of violence by a Muslim -- sixteen counts of committing a terrorist act. Rather curiously,...