TheVoiceOfJoyce The NashVillager discussing banning books and the new ruling for Public Comments and review. They’re allowing books on Slavery and the Holocaust to remain for teaching moments and instilling empathy and kindness. Worthy goals to live by. Data Centers are concerning and there is a 5 month review process. Kudzo is being studied along with the prevalence of cancer in young people. They’re partnering with KFF.

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Donate todayMonday, June 15, 2026Good morning! Emily SinerTwo years ago, Gov. Bill Lee designated “Roots,” the 1976 novel is about the horrors of the slave trade in America, as an official state book.

The Knox County school board recently decided it didn’t belong in school libraries.

It removed the book because it decided that a passage depicting the rape of an enslaved woman showed “sadomasochistic abuse,” and therefore a violation of Tennessee’s 2022 Age Appropriate Materials Act.

The legislation imposes restrictions on school library content, and WPLN’s Camellia Burris reports that Knox County has banned 124 books since the law was enacted.

But soon after, the district reversed the decision to remove “Roots.” So the book is back on school library shelves in Knox County, but the temporary removal reignited concerns that the law is vague and subjective.

Here’s what to know.

WHAT TO KNOW

Knox County recently backtracked its decision to remove the critically acclaimed book from school libraries. Credit: Camellia Burris / WPLN NewsAt a recent school board meeting, Sherri Garrett, the chapter chair of Moms for Liberty in Knox County, said that the Age Appropriate Materials Act was not intended to remove books like “Roots” because it does not center or promote abuse, but rather depicts the cruelty of slavery.

“There’s a major difference between exploitative sexual content and historically significant literature that tells the truth about a difficult part of history,” she told the board.

However, others supported the removal of the book, calling the book “inappropriate.”

To resolve this, one school board member introduced a resolution to ask the state legislature to amend the law so that the same standard of “appropriateness” doesn’t apply to all grade levels.

Other requested changes include restoring contextual review, so books are judged in their entirety rather than on a single passage, and lengthening the review period from 60 to 90 days to allow for public input before a book is removed.

The board narrowly voted, 5-4, to approve the resolution.

Lucas Johnson, a Tennessee journalist and author of the forthcoming book “Remembering Roots: How an American Classic Transformed the World,” says that Haley’s work is needed in school libraries because it sparks dialogue between students, teaching them empathy and a better understanding of the economic and psychological consequences of slavery.

“Just like the Holocaust, it should continually be talked about because of the atrocity that happened,” Johnson said. “You see how people were treated. In your life going forward, as you go through the day, try to be kinder to people.”

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

Why was James K. Polk’s body moved so many times? A return home to Nashville ended President James K. Polk’s life. His story only got more complicated afterwards. Plus, the local news for June 15, 2026.

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MORE TO KNOW

  • Hundreds of people stood in line for hours on Thursday to speak at the city’s first public hearing on proposed regulations for data centers. Many people voiced opposition to a data center proposed near the Nashville Zoo, which created a petition earlier this month that now has nearly 400,000 signatures. Some people also expressed concern about the data center proposed at Fisk University. Data centers are rapidly spreading across the nation, and the greater Nashville area has at least 27 facilities in operation and more proposals in progress. Amid public backlash, the city is considering a five-month moratorium on data centers while officials weigh how to define and regulate them. [WPLN]
     
  • Yesterday’s performance from the LGBTQ+ chorus Nashville In Harmony featured strikingly complex choral arrangements of popular country songs. Some songs, like Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush,” have overly queer themes. Others, by Kacey Musgraves, Garth Brooks and Beyonce, are significant for how they challenged mainstream barriers, notes WPLN’s Jewly Hight. Artistic director Wesley King says he’s found it troubling to witness the country music industry retreat back to the status quo after a relatively brief period of prioritizing diversity. But instead of maintaining their distance, he wants his Nashville singers to “put themselves in the conversation.” [WPLN]
     
  • An Arby’s in Nashville has turned into a social media sensation because of its backdrop of trees blanketed in kudzu. People online are jokingly calling it “Jungle Arby’s,” but kudzu — the woody, hairy vine with distinct three-pronged leaves and purple flowers — is no joke. Despite its initial lush beauty, the invasive vine outcompetes native species for sunshine and destroys habitats, something that has been accelerated by climate change. “Kudzu is like a glamorous villain,” said Ben Nanny, conservation director at Ijams Nature Center. “It’s ‘the vine that ate the South.’ ” [WUOT]
     
  • Want to name the new baby lemur at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga? The newest resident, a baby red-collared brown lemur, came as a complete surprise — aquarium officials weren’t sure if the mother was pregnant until she was in labor. Almost all lemurs are on the verge of extinction, which is why this latest news is exciting. Even though the baby was born at the end of April, it’s not clear yet if it’s a male or female. So there are voting options for both. The winning name will be revealed on July 9.

FROM HEALTHQ

Illustration by Candice Evers for WPLN and KFF Health NewsMore than a dozen kinds of cancer are on the rise in American adults under 50.

Among these early-onset cancers, colorectal and breast cancers have increased the most, and colorectal cancer is now the deadliest cancer for Americans ages 18 to 49.

Researchers haven’t been able to find a single reason why. The likelihood is that a myriad of factors play a role, including obesity, heavy alcohol use, environmental factors such as microplastics, and disruptions to gut health.

So what’s the best way to detect these cancers? HealthQ, a partnership between WPLN and KFF Health News, found that the most important thing you can do is proactively talk to your doctor about suspicious symptoms and your family history of cancer.Boost my HealthQCHECK OUT TICKET GIVEAWAYS

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