TheVoiceOfJoyce The NashVillager is reporting on the 3 separate challenges to the elimination of the one Black district. The district was divided into 3 parts without public input and now it’s being challenged by the NAACP.

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Donate todayWednesday, May 13, 2026Good morning! Nina Cardona

It’s not Groundhog Day. We’re not really seeing the same thing happen again and again. But now there is yet another lawsuit challenging the Congressional redistricting maps that Tennessee’s legislature adopted last week. And we’re starting to see some developments in the first two suits, too. 

As a newscaster, part of my job is keeping track of all of this, and I basically need a chart to separate out what’s going on in which case. It’s just a lot of moving pieces right now! But don’t worry, I’ll do my best to lay it all out clearly for you.  

WHAT TO KNOW

Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashville, protests with a banner atop her desk in the Senate chamber during a special session of the state legislature to redraw U.S. Congressional voting maps Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

First of all, if you want some context for how redistricting has worked in through the years in Tennessee, I discussed that in an episode of the NashVillager Podcast last week. But as for what’s happening right now, let’s take these lawsuits one by one.  

1️⃣ The newest comes from the American Civil Liberties Union. 
They filed in federal court this week on behalf of a handful of voters and civil rights groups, including the Black Clergy Collaborative of Memphis. This lawsuit focuses directly on the impact to Memphis, where the new lines now split the city into three districts.  

Instead of one member of Congress representing an area that is largely populated by Black people, the new map makes voters in those urban, Black neighborhoods a minority in districts otherwise dominated by rural, mostly White communities.  The A.C.L.U. lawsuit says drawing the lines that way was an act of intentional racial discrimination on the part of the majority white legislature.  

The A.C.L.U. is asking the United States District Court of Middle District of Tennessee to assign a three-judge panel to the case. The filing asks the court to declare the new map unconstitutional and for the old district lines to be restored before this year’s primary election.  

2️⃣ A separate case, also filed in federal court, was brought late last week by the Tennessee Democratic Party, four candidates and some voters. 
This one takes a different legal approach, focusing on timing. Their argument says the last-minute changes to districts risk voter confusion and disenfranchisement.  

The plaintiffs in this case have already amended the initial petition to add claims that the process violates constitutional rights. The judge assigned to the case has scheduled a hearing for May 20, but the plaintiffs are asking the judge to issue a temporary restraining order by the end of this week.  

3️⃣ That brings us all the way around to the first case that was filed after last week’s redistricting vote.
This one comes from the N.A.A.C.P. and, unlike the other two, it’s playing out in state court. The civil rights group makes the case that the legislature overstepped the boundaries established in the purpose that Governor Lee stated in his call for last week’s special session. Specifically, they’re arguing the legislature crossed a legal line by repealing the law that bans mid-decade redistricting.  

This is also the first case that has an official reaction from state attorneys. They refute the N.A.A.C.P. claim and say the civil rights group has failed to show imminent harm.  

On Monday, the Tennessee Supreme Court assigned that case to a panel of three state judges.

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On today’s episode of the NashVillager podcast 
with host Nina Cardona 🎙️ 

What’s behind all the drama in the Rutherford County Assesor’s office? There have been nearly two years of accusations, investigations, ethics complaints and denials over property assessments and tax values in Rutherford County. Plus the local news for May 13, 2026, and this week’s edition of What Where Whens-day. 

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MORE TO KNOW

  • Judges who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities can now face disciplinary action and even be removed from office. That’s after Governor Bill Lee signed the policy into law. The measure bans judges from “obstructing lawful operations” but does not define what actions would count as obstruction. [Tennessee Lookout] 
  • With Waymo’s fully autonomous vehicles now on the road in Nashville, a new Tennessee law gives police officers a way to respond when autonomous cars break the traffic rules. It’s not an immediate fix for situations where a car starts driving against the flow of traffic or parks somewhere it shouldn’t. But police now have the legal route of mailing citations to an autonomous vehicle’s owner. That person or company then has thirty days to respond. 
  • The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam accusing them of shirking jury duty. A recent victim told the department that an unknown caller threatened them with arrest and used real personal information to pressure them into compliance. The Sheriff’s Office says real officers will never demand cash payment to avoid arrest, issue a “gag order” over the phone, or threaten additional charges for hanging up. They urge residents who receive suspicious calls to hang up and reach out directly to the sheriff’s office. 

FROM THIS IS NASHVILLE

NextAge Season 2, our series on romance and intimacy in the second half of life, continues with a deep dive on technology and dating apps. Smart phones, tablets and computers, social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and online dating apps like OurTime, SilverSingles, and SeniorMatch help a growing number of seniors find companionship and keep connected with family. However, entering into the digital world isn’t always simple. So how are older adults learning to navigate these platforms? How do they build confidence online? How do we all keep up with constant tech changes — and stay safe? We get some professional advice, tech support, and a safety briefing – all while hearing the good, bad, and in between of the new state of dating.

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