Local News
Parents and teachers in the Rutherford County community are upset over Gov. Bill Lee’s school voucher proposal. On Thursday, they expressed their concerns at a rally outside the school board building. One parent called vouchers a betrayal of our students, educators, and school system. The proposal isn’t finalized, so changes are likely.
A man accused of raping over a dozen women in the late 1990s and early 2000s had his request for a new trial in Davidson County denied. In May 2023, Jason Burdick, known as the “Wooded Rapist,” requested a new trial after claiming his attorneys didn’t argue against the evidence used in the case. He is currently serving a 71-year prison sentence for a series of rapes in Davidson, Wilson, and Williamson counties.
A trial date has been set for the case involving Cade Cothren, the one-time chief of staff to former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada. The trial for both Casada and Cothren is expected to last three weeks and begin on November 6. On Thursday, a motion to dismiss was denied in federal court. In August 2022, Casada and Cothren were indicted on numerous charges including conspiracy to commit theft from programs receiving federal funds; bribery and kickbacks concerning programs receiving federal funds; honest services wire fraud; and conspiracy to commit money laundering. An evacuation is underway at a Bellevue apartment complex due to a gas leak. NFD crews evacuated the complex due to a strong smell of gas, a spokesman said. It appears construction crews hit a large service line. Piedmont Natural Gas has been notified of the leak. No injuries have been reported at this time.