Nicole Hester

Democratic representatives walk off the House floor together on the third day of special session concerning redistricting at The Tennessee State Capitol Building in Nashville on Thursday, May 7, 2026. After walking off the House floor several representatives then gathered together held hands in prayer. Rep. Justin Jones D-Nashville was seen burning a paper confederate flag with the words “we will not go back” outside House Chamber. (Photos by @nshester | @tennesseannews ) Currently being reported on the Tennesseean on Tuesday May 12, 2026. From Vivian Jones and Allie Feinberg @vivian_e_jones “Sexton strips TN Dems’ committee posts after redistricting protest House Speaker Cameron Sexton stripped committee assignments from every House Democrat in response to chaos unleashed as Republicans passed a new congressional map. “House Speaker Cameron Sexton removed every member of the House Democratic Caucus from committees after Democrats stood in the well in protest as Republicans voted to pass new congressional maps that fractured Black voting power in Memphis. House Democrats received individual letters from Sexton informing them they’d been removed from committees on May 12 — until further notice.” Article link posted in comments.

Rep. Justin Jones D- Nashville, walks out of the House Chamber and burns a photo of the Confederate Flag with the words “ We Will Not Go Back” on the third day of special session concerning redistricting at The Tennessee State Capitol Building in Nashville on Thursday, May 7, 2026. ( @nshester | @tennesseannews )

Rep. Justin Pearson D- Memphis attempts to attend a Senate Committee meeting and is denied entry by the Sergeant at Arms on the second day of special session concerning redistricting at Cordell Hull State Office Building in Nashville on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (@nshester | @tennesseannews ) reported by @angele.latham on @tennesseannews "Democratic lawmakers kicked out of committee, barred from entry" "After protesters shut down the previous Senate committee meeting, the Judiciary Committee convened in the same room, but with doors sealed to the public and multiple Democratic House Representatives. Both Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, and Rep. Gabby Salinas, D-Memphis, were seated in the meeting. While not on the committee, they attended to observe its members discuss overhauling current election timelines, among other measures. According to Johnson, both were told to leave the committee room. The Tennessean watched Johnson get turned away at the door by state troopers. Inside the chamber doors, Judiciary Committee members heard testimony from incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, who shared how the new map could damage Memphis' ability to secure federal funding and create challenges for congressmen to serve constituents across such widespread geography. While he spoke, Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, was similarly barred from entering and stood between two bodies of law enforcement and heavy doors awaiting entrance. Johnson said she had never been turned away from a committee room before. /story/news/ politics/legislature/2026/05/05/redistrict-memphis-congressional-live-updates--live/ 89933936007|#g|c89964331007

No Kings protest in Nashville today Saturday March 28, 2026.

Buddy Spicher looks off as he sits for a portrait in January after reminiscing about the stories behind some of the photographs underneath the glass top at the bar at Buddy’s Tiny Tonk in Nashville.  (Photo by @nshester | @tennesseannews ) From @mackensylunsford story on the @tennesseannews “Buddy Spicher’s life unspooled in memories spread across the bar top. He traced the fragments of a working musician’s life with his fingers. The sheet music. The session notes. The Polaroids of the musicians he’s played with. Mementos from nearly 70 years of playing alongside some of the biggest names in music sit preserved beneath the bar’s glass at Buddy’s Tiny Tonk. Thousands of recordings, from Loretta Lynn to the Monkees, lean on the work of Spicher, who has become one of the most recorded musicians in Nashville history.”

Renee Henry begins to weep as Darryl Worley sings “Have You Forgotten” at the AFP America 250 Reception at Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Henry and her husband met in high school, she said 10 days after they were married, he left for the Marine Corps and within 6 months, he was in Desert Storm and gone for 9 months. They endured through together, but 2 weeks after moving to D.C. she recalled the moment 9/11 happened, seeing it on T.V. hearing the schools were in lock down and knowing what it would mean for her family. “My husband, went off to war, and he’s been in Iraq 3 times, and Afghanistan,” Henry said, “27 years in the Marine Corps, but the family serves too.”(photo by @nshester | @tennesseannews )

Kristi Noem takes stage in Nashville shortly after being fired by Trump Kristi Noem speaks at the Sergeant Benevolent Association conference at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville on March 5, shortly after President Donald Trump announced she would be replaced as Homeland Security secretary. (Photos by @nshester | @tennesseannews ) More photos on @tennesseannews Along with reporting by @vivian_e_jones

National Religious Broadcasters Summit at Gaylord Opryland & Convention Center in Nashville on Wednesday Feb. 18., 2026. (@nshester | The Tennesseean) ✍️ @liamsadams

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth greets the crowd before speaking during the National Religious Broadcasters Freedom 250 Celebration at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville on Thursday, February. 19, 2026.(Photo by @nshester | @tennesseannews ) As always More photos and full coverage on @tennesseannews Check out @vivian_e_jones and @liamsadams reporting on the event

Photos from the “Heated RivalRave” at Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (Photos by @nshester | @tennesseannews ) More photos on the Tennesseean along with @audreyraegibbs story “Heated Rivalry” and collective joy at Nashville’s queer hockey rave” #imcomingtothecottage #heatedrivalry

Ariana Kaufman says goodbye to her horse before walking into her home at Homeland Dr. in Nashville, on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. She said it was the first day she’d been able to pause and show the horse affection since the winter storm that caused widespread power outages across Nashville. On day four without power or water, Kaufman said she has felt panicked and has cried off and on. “I’ve not been through anything like this, and my mental health is truly suffering. I feel hopeless a lot of the time,” she said. “I think we’re all feeling pretty alone.” 2.Ariana Kaufman walks her horse back to her home after it escaped through a hole in a fence damaged by the winter storm at her home on Homeland Drive in Nashville on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. 3.Ariana Kaufman holds her 30‑year‑old ball python, Mingus, in her bedroom on Homeland Drive in Nashville on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. With the power out for four days, Mingus’ tank could no longer retain heat, leaving him close to death, Kaufman said. “I’ve had to keep him in a pillowcase against my body when I’m inside, and when I come out to take care of the other animals, I tuck him under all the bedding,” she said “He sleeps on my belly at night to try to keep him warm.” 4.Joseph Tepperman and Ariana Kaufman move one of the frozen water containers for their horses into the sun, hoping it will thaw, a little at their home on Homeland Drive in Nashville on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. With no power or water for days, the couple has relied on a bag of trail mix and and hummus. Kaufman said they plan to stay at her mother’s house until utilities are restored but struggled with the idea of leaving the horses. “We’ve just been really struggling to keep warm and eat and sleep because it’s so cold,” she said. “And taking care of livestock through all of this has been really, really, really hard.” 5.Ariana Kaufman’s horses and donkey are returned after escaping through a hole in a fence damaged by the winter storm at her home on Homeland Drive in Nashville on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (By @nshester | @tennesseannews )

This week Kelly Chieng the volunteers at Open Table Nashville have been working through the frigid temperatures to check in with people who are the most vulnerable to these winter storms. Last December when temperatures were in the teens Chieng let me ride along with her while she and a team of volunteers delivered gloves, blankets, and other supplies to some of the people who are living unhoused. As temperatures drop Open Table Nashville braves the cold to deliver a helping hand to unhoused neighbors. (Photo by @nshester | @tennesseannews ) Kelly Chieng, checks in with volunteers with Open Table Nashville while they drive around giving gloves, socks, blankets protein drinks to people living outside downtown Nashville on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Temperatures were in the teens when volunteers with Open Table Nashville, were winter canvassing. Over the summer two major camps closed, Chieng said winter canvassing has provided the opportunity to see friends from those communities. “People don’t just disappear or suspend in the air, they go somewhere,” Chieng continued, “And you know it’s good to see them, but I would also love to see them in housing or never see them again because they’ve found housing and they’re doing great.” More up on The Tennesseean