uesday, June 2, 2026Good morning! Catherine SweeneyPeople often ask where journalists get their story ideas.

Do editors assign them? Do they come from press releases? It’s a long answer for another day. But an underrated route to our stories is reader and listener questions.

I once worked at a newspaper and I was on the reader question column. It was called Action Line. I got questions like, “Why are there this bizarre metal cutouts of dogs planted in the park?” (The answer: They’re supposed to look like coyotes, and it’s to scare geese away. They were covering the park paths in poop.)

I’d just make a quick call and type out an answer. WPLN puts a lot more effort into researching and delivering an answer. There’s a whole podcast called Curious Nashville devoted to answering audience questions. We’ve answered questions like:

“What would it take to bury Nashville’s power lines?”
“Why is there a random beach downtown?”
“What’s with the freight trains blocking traffic?“

And now… why is a local school is named for a person who was openly racist?

WHAT TO KNOW

J.T. Moore Middle School bears the name of a racist segregationist who held prominent roles in the Tennessee state government.Curious Nashville listeners have been asking about J.T. Moore Middle School in South Nashville. Interest in the question finally reached a critical mass with the latest write-in from listener Daniel Barocas:

“J.T. Moore Middle School is named after John Trotwood Moore, who was openly racist, a proponent of lynching and an apologist for the “Old South.” Please help us understand why schools in Metro are named after people with such heinous records and what can be done to correct this.”

The sign outside of the school reads that Moore was a novelist, poet, teacher, lecturer, beloved companion and the official state librarian and archivist from 1919 to 1929.

“He wrote that the history of Tennessee begins with white people,” said Larry Woods, civil rights attorney and criminal justice professor at Tennessee State University. “He said that only the ‘pure breed’ — referring to white people — can ever reach the stars.”Renaming the school would not be easy. The Tennessee Heritage Protection Act – a 2013 state law – “prohibits the renaming, removal and relocation of any memorial on public property.” A school named after an historical figure is subject to this law.

If MNPS wanted Moore renamed, it would need a waiver, and that would require a petition the Monuments and Memorials Commission. Approval requires a 2/3 vote.

WPLN News reviewed the THPA’s records for the last 10 years and could not find a case in which the commission approved a renaming request. The commission refused to answer questions regarding its denial and approval record.

Explore more about this story from education reporter Camellia Burris.

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On today’s episode of the NashVillagerpodcast
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With Tennessee and the nation celebrating milestone anniversaries, a new WPLN project takes a curated look at the backstory to today’s news stories. Plus the local news for June 2, 2026. And bears!

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MORE TO KNOW

About 4,000 Tennesseans have lost their jobs to layoffs so far this year. That’s based on disclosures filed with the department of labor. Federal law requires employers to notify the state if at least 50 people are being laid off. The total so far is pretty typical; it was around 4,000 for the first half of 2025 and 2024, as well. Hundreds of this year’s layoffs have been in the automotive industry.
As of this week, the hub connecting different levels of the Nashville International Airport’s lobby will be closed for an 18-month renovation. The project will double the number of escalators and increase the number, speed, and capacity of elevators. The airport says the work is essential to prepare its facilities for future growth. For passengers, that means the pedestrian bridge between the parking garage and the terminal will be closed. So will some baggage claim machines closest to the construction.
The largest bank in the country is expanding its footprint in Nashville — as well as its visibility. JP Morgan Chase has announced a new office space at Broadwest with room to bring all its local employees from different banking sectors into the same space for the first time. The two floors of office space can hold up to 280 workers. And the building has room for that team to grow. The deal also includes adding the bank’s name to the top of the building, making JP Morgan Chase part of Nashville’s skyline. The Nashville Business Journal reports the office space will open in 2028.

FROM WNXP

Jason Moon Wilkins memorialized a beloved local artist on WNXP. Here’s a glimpse:

Over 80 years, Craig modeled that intent in his approach to music, work, family, friendship, and any tires that happened to flatten along the way.

When he passed away on April 16, 2026, Craig was celebrated as a standard-setting drummer, Grammy-winning songwriter, and career-launching producer.
Listen to the tribute

FROM THIS IS NASHVILLE

Jim Palmer was a crusader for Christianity. He accepted the calling in East Tennessee, went to seminary, and started preaching in one of the largest mega churches in the country. He moved to Nashville to start an offshoot. But then things started to unravel. Faith turned to doubt and then to deconstruction. He was into deconstruction before it was cool, and now he sits down with us to talk about how he’s guiding others who are figuring out what’s next after Christianity.