Oprah gives commencement speech at alma mater Tennessee State University

Oprah Winfrey delighted graduates at her alma mater Tennessee State University on Saturday, telling the story of how she fell one credit short of graduating as she launched the media career that would make her a household name.

Rep. Justin Pearson: Second ousted lawmaker to be reinstated in Tennessee House

Commissioners in Memphis have voted to reinstate the second of two Black Democrats kicked out of the Republican-led Tennessee House. Republicans banished Rep. Justin Pearson and Rep. Justin Jones last week over their role in a gun control protest on the House floor after a deadly school shooting.

Nashville officials poised to vote on restoring ousted state lawmaker

A metro council vote would send Rep. Justin Jones back after essentially a long weekend. Expelled Memphis Rep. Justin Pearson, meanwhile, could be reappointed at a Wednesday meeting of the Shelby County Commission.

Hundreds gather for candlelight vigil to honor victims in Nashville shooting

Hundreds of people have gathered at a candlelight vigil to mourn the three children and three adults slain in a school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nashville shooting victim Hallie Scruggs remembered at father's former North Texas church

9-year-old victim Hallie Scruggs and 61-year-old victim Cynthia Peak had previously lived in Dallas-Fort Worth. 9-year-old victim Evelyn Dieckhaus has extended family who lives in the area.

Nashville school shooting: Officers who took out suspected Covenant shooter identified

Officer Rex Englebert and Officer Michael Collazo fired at the 28-year-old suspect "and fatally wounded her," Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake said.

Nashville school shooting: Suspect who killed 6 drew maps, surveilled campus, police say

The suspect in a Nashville school shooting on Monday had drawn a detailed map of the school, including potential entry points, and conducted surveillance before killing three students and three adults.

Nashville school shooting victim is former Dallas pastor's daughter

The 9-year-old daughter of a former pastor at Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas has been identified as one of the young victims in Monday’s mass school shooting.

Tennessee becomes first state to ban drag shows on public property

The legislation criminalizes an “adult cabaret performance” that takes place on public property or in a location where the performance could be viewed by a person who is not an adult.

5 former Memphis officers plead not guilty in death of Tyre Nichols

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III, and Justin Smith made their first court appearances on Friday in Nichols’ violent arrest and death.

Officer drew gun as he approached Tyre Nichols, report finds

The Memphis police chief has said she saw no justification in video of the incident for pulling Tyre Nichols over in the first place.

Tyre Nichols: More Memphis officers could be disciplined in beating death

Six officers already have been fired and one more has been relieved of duty after Nichols was pulled over for an alleged traffic violation and beaten by Memphis police.

Impassioned calls for police reform at Tyre Nichols' funeral

Tyre Nichols' family and friends remembered him with songs of faith and emotional tributes Wednesday, blending a celebration of his life with outraged calls for police reform after the brutal beating he endured at the hands of Memphis police.

Tyre Nichols death revives calls for change in police culture

Tyre Nichols' case exposes an uncomfortable truth: More than two years since the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Rayshard Brooks touched off protests, policing reforms have not significantly reduced such killings.