Local News

A plane crashed in the southwest portion of Williamson County on Wednesday. The small plane went down around 12 p.m near Bending Chestnut Road in Leipers Fork, which is south of Interstate 840 near Natchez Trace Parkway. All three people on board the plane died. Officials added the plane appears to have broken up while in the air. Dr. Lucius Doucet. The two passengers have not yet been identified.

A Middle Tennessee hospital has filed a lawsuit to stop Vanderbilt Medical from expanding into Rutherford County. The state approved Vanderbilt’s new facility in late February. On Monday, Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro filed a lawsuit to reverse that decision. Rutherford County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Tennessee, but St. Thomas argues there’s still not a need for another hospital. In their lawsuit, they cited factors like a continued nursing shortage and the county’s younger, healthier demographic.

The FAFSA, also known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, has some Tennessee students worried about their collegiate future. The Department of Education released this year’s application in December instead of the usual time of October. It was a rollout that many college admissions counselors said was rushed and not properly planned. Middle Tennessee State University is encouraging students to fill out their FAFSA application as soon as possible. They report that 73% of their students are on some sort of financial aid. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) has extended its deadline for the Tennessee Promise Scholarship program to May 31.

Prayers and support for Asher Sullivan continue rolling in as the young man fights for his life. The 10-year-old has been hospitalized for a week after he was swept into a storm drain following the May 8 severe storms. In honor of Asher, some local softball and baseball players have been donning helmets with a gold star sticker and the letter ‘A’ inside. Suppose you’d like to order the honorary Asher stickers, visit the JM Embroidery Facebook page. The owner says the best way to do that is by commenting on how many you’d like under the post about it. She said the business will acknowledge your request by liking your comment and will reply back when they’re ready for pick up at her storefront.