Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 9-14-26

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for September 14, 2026

All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.

We start with local news…

Officer Involved Shooting (WSMV.com)

A man was hospitalized Saturday morning after exchanging gunfire with Columbia police officers during a barricade incident.

The Columbia Police Department (CPD) said officers responded to the 300 block of Skyview Drive around 9:33 a.m. on Saturday for reports of a man outside with a handgun, firing rounds into the ground.

When officers arrived, CPD said the man — identified as 48-year-old Matthew Kirk — fired multiple shots at the officers. CPD said the initial responding officer returned fire.

Kirk then went into the home.

CPD SWAT officers and crisis negotiators were able to reach Kirk via phone and learned that he had suffered multiple gunshot wounds during the exchange of gunfire.

“Due to the potential for life-threatening injuries, an emergency entry team entered the residence and took Kirk into custody without further incident,” CPD said.

Kirk was flown to a Nashville hospital, where he underwent surgery.

No officers were injured in the incident, CPD said.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is investigating the shooting.

“As is standard procedure in officer-involved shooting incidents, the officer involved will be placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the TBI investigation,” CPD said.

This incident marks the second officer-involved shooting in 24 hours in Middle Tennessee, with the TBI investigating after a man was injured in a shooting with Murfreesboro police on Friday night.

Prostitution Sting (Press Release)

The Columbia Police Department, working in partnership with local, state, and federal agencies, executed two search warrants Wednesday as part of a months-long investigation into suspected prostitution and human trafficking connected to massage parlors in Columbia.

The investigation was conducted in coordination with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office, 22nd Judicial Drug Task Force, and the Tennessee Department of Health.

The search warrants were executed at businesses suspected of providing illegal sexual services and being associated with human trafficking. The operation was part of a larger statewide effort to investigate and disrupt illegal massage-parlor operations while identifying individuals who may be victims of human trafficking.

During the execution of the search warrants, investigators located evidence indicating that illegal sexual activity was occurring at both locations. Three individuals working at the establishments were identified as being unlawfully present in the United States.

Investigators also seized $104,279 in U.S. currency as part of the investigation.

Two individuals were arrested as a result of the investigation. One individual was charged with promoting prostitution, while the other was charged with prostitution.

Investigators also determined that the activity under investigation was connected to similar operations in other states and countries.

As part of the broader statewide operation, search warrants were also executed in the following Tennessee jurisdictions:

• Cookeville

• Hamilton County

• Chattanooga

• Kingsport

• Nashville

• Goodlettsville

• Clarksville

• Murfreesboro

Statement from Chief Jeremy Haywood

“I am proud of the cooperative effort between the multiple agencies involved in this investigation. This is another example of how our partnerships are making a difference, not only in Columbia, but throughout the state of Tennessee.”

“Our officers and investigators will continue to work diligently to identify and hold accountable those who commit crimes within our city. We remain especially committed to investigating crimes involving human trafficking and protecting individuals who may be victims of exploitation.”

The Columbia Police Department extends its appreciation to all participating agencies for their assistance and continued partnership in addressing illegal activity and human trafficking in our communities.

Threat at Whitthorne Middle School (MSM)

A viral social media trend using AI-generated images of the Dr. Seuss “Cat in the Hat” character has arrived in Maury County Public Schools. TikTok users posted lists of students’ names along with Cat in the Hat images and made both vague and direct threats against Whitthorne Middle School last Wednesday and Culleoka Unit School last Thursday.

“School administrators, in coordination with the Maury County Sheriff’s Department, promptly investigated the account and identified the source of the online threat. Appropriate school policies and disciplinary measures have been enforced,” Maury County Public Schools said in messages sent to the parents of Whitthorne and Culleoka students who appeared on the list.

The district also encouraged people to submit tips to the SafeTN app.

“We want to reassure our families that at no time were students in danger or unsafe at school. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority.”

Maury County Public Schools declined to confirm whether any students had been disciplined for participating in the Cat in the Hat trend, but a representative told Main Street Maury that expulsion is the prescribed punishment for “threats of mass violence.”

“We want to be unequivocally clear: Maury County Public Schools has zero tolerance for threats, threatening language or content that promotes or suggests violence against our schools, students, and/or staff,” the district continued, encouraging parents to speak to their children about responsible social media use.

“Individuals who create, repost, share, forward or otherwise distribute threatening content will be subject to disciplinary ramifications at school and criminal charges. Sharing or amplifying threatening content will be treated as a threat.”

“We are taking all threats across our school district seriously and individuals found involved will face criminal charges. The safety and security of all students, faculty, and staff remain our highest priority,” the Maury County Sheriff’s Department said. The sheriff’s department also asked people to report threats and violations to them.

“I do not feel that any of these children are still safe until the perpetrator that is creating these videos is actually put away… Everybody thinks this is just a joke, [but] it’s not funny when you… get no sleep just to make sure your kid is safe,” said Robin Boyle, the mother of one of the Whitthorne students who was threatened.

“Parents definitely need to do better with these kids’ social media; I’m not saying micromanage them, but definitely keep a better eye on them.”

Judge Allows Environmental Suit Against Spring Hill (WKRN.com)

A federal judge has cleared the way for an environmental lawsuit against the City of Spring Hill to proceed.

The ruling, issued Sept. 4, 2026, by Chief U.S. District Judge William Campbell, rejected the city’s request to throw out a citizen-led lawsuit accusing its sewage facility of polluting waterways.

Spring Hill argued that Tennessee Riverkeeper’s suit should be dismissed because the city had already settled on an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

The judge sided against the city, stating that the court could not determine if the 2025 consent order between Spring Hill and state regulators resolved the same violations alleged in the case. 

In the 2025 consent order, TDEC outlined 29 effluent violations that were self-reported by the city.

According to the self-reported logs, Spring Hill experienced multiple catastrophic infrastructure overflows in 2025, including a single 2.6 billion gallon bypass on Jan. 8 and a 1.08 billion gallon bypass on March 16.

As was previously reported, the city agreed to pay a civil penalty of $65,700 and to halt sewer connections for any new projects that do not already have vested sewer rights under Tennessee law.

While Spring Hill waived its right to appeal the decision, it did not admit or deny the factual allegations or alleged violations.

On Jan. 5, 2026, Spring Hill officials passed an ordinance formally establishing a capacity allocation framework to ensure compliance with state regulators while keeping sewer projects moving.

At the time, Mayor Matt Fitterer called it a serious and necessary action to protect the water reclamation system long-term and to keep the city in full compliance with its obligations to the state. 

“I want to thank the development community for working constructively with the City as we prioritize reliable water reclamation service for current residents while establishing a fair, transparent path forward for remaining capacity,” said Fitterer. “We recognize that this action will have negative local economic implications and are focused on minimizing the impact.”

In the federal court order, Campbell noted that it’s not clear what violations exactly were addressed in the city’s dealings with state regulators.

“Defendant has not shown that there is no further relief available. In this regard, the Court notes that the Consent Order itself contemplates further ‘corrective action,’ ‘penalties and/or damages,’ and ‘enforcement action including, but not limited to, monetary and injunctive relief.'”

-Chief Judge William Campbell

While Spring Hill declined to comment on legal matters, communications director Lucas Wright told News 2 that the city is making progress on its Pure Water Spring Hill project.

“The plan involves constructing an Advanced Purification Facility, upgrades at our Water and Reclamation Treatment Plants, and a reservoir,” said Wright. He added that the city is also looking at short-term solutions to ease some strain on its sewer system.

Meanwhile, the lawsuit is expected to move into the evidence-gathering phase.

Molder Calls for Three Debates (WilliamsonScene)

Fifth Congressional District candidates Charlie Hatcher and Chaz Molder appear poised to debate the issues ahead of the Nov. 3 election, bucking the recent trend of politicians avoiding debates in Tennessee and beyond.

Molder, the Democratic Party nominee who currently serves as mayor of Columbia, called on Thursday for three debates to take place across the 5th Congressional District. He proposed locations in Columbia, Memphis and Martin.

"As a mayor, I don’t wait for an invitation to show up. I listen to folks at church on Sunday morning, around kitchen tables, at the ballfield, and in my office at city hall, whether they voted for me or not," Molder said in a statement. "The politicians who gerrymandered this district gave us a lot of ground to cover. We are the ones asking for the job, so we ought to be the ones doing the traveling. No voter should have to drive three hours to hear their congressional candidates debate. Three debates will give people across this district a chance to hear from both of us in person, close to home."

Hatcher’s campaign told the Williamson Scene that the Republican Party nominee and former state agriculture commissioner is “committed to debating.”

“I’ve been meeting folks where they are in every nook and cranny of this district for months. Voters deserve to hear from the two nominees in this important race,” Hatcher said in a statement. “I look forward to a discussion on the issues at a time and place that works for both candidates throughout the district.” 

When asked if Hatcher is committing to one or three debates, as proposed by Molder, a Hatcher spokesperson responded, “We will do it on a timeline that works for both candidates, not to just one politician's political stunt.”

While no details are available about when and where a debate could take place, or the rules of an agreed-to debate, Hatcher and Molder’s commitment strikes a notably different tone from other state-level races, such as the gubernatorial race, which is likely to see no debates.

U.S. Sen. and Republican gubernatorial nominee Marsha Blackburn refused to debate during the primary election and also refused to debate Democratic nominee Jerri Green, as well as calls for debate coming from independent candidates Lauren Pinkston and David Hatley, all of whom have called for a debate. 

Pryor Art Gallery Exhibit (Press Release)

The Columbia State Community College Pryor Art Gallery will host the Tennessee Watercolor Society’s Juried Biennial Exhibition in mid-September.

The focus of the exhibition is celebrating the beauty in Tennessee artists’ water media paintings on paper. Pieces on display will feature art hand-selected from the traveling exhibition.

“The TnWS is a 55-year-old non-profit visual arts organization,” said Wendy Latimer, Tennessee Watercolor Society exhibition chair. “We are proud to present our traveling exhibit from the TnWS Biennial Juried Exhibition. The main exhibition of 62 watercolor and water media paintings on paper was hosted at the Customs House Museum in Clarksville. From the main exhibit, our internationally known juror, Sterling Edwards, selected 30 paintings that would travel across Tennessee to three host venues, including the Columbia State Pryor Art Gallery. We hope you will enjoy a representation of technical mastery and artistic expression by artists from across Tennessee.”

The traveling exhibition comes to us from the West Tennessee Regional Art Center in Humboldt and will travel on to Clearstory Arts in Chattanooga following its showing in the Pryor Art Gallery. Each piece ranges in style, including illustrative, still life, portraiture and abstract, offering something to see for a wide array of interests.

“It is an honor to host this esteemed exhibition,” said Tori Zemer, Pryor Art Gallery curator. “These artists are some of the top practicing water media painters of Tennessee, and it is so exciting to see how they are pushing the boundaries of the medium. Love it or hate it, people tend to think of watercolor in a very narrow box - this exhibition breaks through that and shows just how much is possible.”

An official opening reception for the exhibit will be held on September 16 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The exhibit is open through October 27. 

The Pryor Art Gallery is in the Waymon L. Hickman Building on the Columbia Campus, located at 1665 Hampshire Pike, and is open Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information about the Pryor Art Gallery and upcoming exhibitions, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/PryorGallery or Facebook at ColumbiaStatePAG. 

Columbia City Perception Survey (Press Release)

The City of Columbia is inviting the community to share what makes Columbia unique through a new community perception survey, the next step in the City’s community branding initiative. The survey will be available through September 16.

The quick, 10-minute survey gives residents and others familiar with Columbia an opportunity to share what they value about the community and the qualities they believe help define Columbia.

Community branding is about more than a logo or tagline. A community’s brand reflects its identity, reputation and what distinguishes it from other places. A strong, authentic brand will help tell Columbia’s story, strengthen community pride and support efforts to attract visitors, businesses, investment, talent and new opportunities.

The City selected Chandlerthinks to lead the branding initiative. The process has already included extensive research, including a public meeting and stakeholder interviews, along with market research and strategic analysis.

Feedback gathered through the community survey will add another important perspective to that research and help identify the characteristics and perceptions that should inform Columbia’s brand. The goal is not to create a new identity for Columbia, but to develop a brand that authentically reflects the community and what makes it distinctive.

The City encourages anyone with a connection to Columbia to participate and help shape how Columbia’s story is shared for years to come.

Community members can complete the survey online at ColumbiaTN.gov or by scanning the QR code provided.

Residents may also complete the survey in person at Columbia Fire & Rescue Station No. 1, located at 1001 S. High Street, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Those completing the survey in person should park behind the fire station and ring the bell at the side door.

250th Lecture (Press Release)

The Maury County 250th Commemoration Committee will continue the Lecture Series on September 17, 2026 at 6pm in the Ledbetter Auditorium at the Columbia State Community College. It is free and open to the public.

The speaker will be Dr. John Vile who will discuss “An Enduring Legacy: How the U.S. Constitution Was Drafted and Ratified.”

Vile is a Professor of Political Science and Dean of the University Honors College at MTSU who has written and edited more than 50 books, including a two-volume encyclopedia on The Constitutional Convention of 1787; A Companion to the United States Constitution and Its Amendments (now in its 8th edition); The Men Who Made the Constitution; The Encyclopedia of Constitutional Amendments, Proposed Amendments, and Amending Issue (now in its 5th edition); and books on great American symbols (the flag, the bald eagle, the National Anthem, and the Liberty Bell), religion and politics, and presidential speeches.

Vile is the recipient of MTSU’s Career Achievement Award and was named by the national Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society as its Phi Kappa Phi Scholar for 2020-2022.

The Maury County 250th Committee includes representatives from the African American Heritage Society of Maury County, Columbia State Community College, Maury County Archives, Maury County Historical Society, and City of Mt. Pleasant and Spring Hill Library. “In addition to the lectures series, this committee has scheduled programs and events that will amplify the diverse voices and connect local and state history to the broader American story,” said Jo Ann McClellan, Project Director and Maury County Historian.

For more information about the schedule of events, please visit maury250.com.

And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…

Mrs. Carey Warren Hight, 50, resident of Columbia passed away on Wednesday September 9 at her residence. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Columbia Academy Vest Hall multipurpose room. The family will receive visitors from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a service beginning at 6:00 p.m.  

And now, news from around the state… 

Brad Pitt to Premier Film in Franklin (WilliamsonHerald)

Franklin will get a dose of Hollywood this week when Paramount Pictures brings the global premiere of Brad Pitt’s new movie, Heart of the Beast, to FirstBank Amphitheater. 

The premiere will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 16th at FirstBank Amphitheater, 4525 Graystone Quarry Lane.

Pitt is expected to attend the Tennessee premiere along with director David Ayer and producers Marty Bowen and Olivia Hamilton, according to Page Six. The outlet reports Pitt specifically wanted an outdoor venue in Middle America rather than a traditional Hollywood or New York premiere location.

In Heart of the Beast, Pitt stars as James Belmont, a Special Forces officer who survives a plane crash with his combat dog, Odin. Stranded deep in the Alaskan wilderness, the pair must battle the elements to survive. Ayer directed the adventure thriller, whose previous films include Fury, which also starred Pitt.

The cast also includes J.K. Simmons and Anna Lambe. The film was primarily shot in New Zealand and is scheduled to open nationwide in theaters Sept. 25.

The Franklin premiere comes during a Tennessee promotional swing for Pitt. He is also expected to appear at Bristol Motor Speedway for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race ahead of the movie’s theatrical release.

Cell Phone School Policy Update (Tennessean)

Cell phone jail is a real thing now for Tennessee schools.

But the second year of implementing a state law that prohibits students from using wireless communication during instructional time hasn't been so bad. At least some say.

Some schools, including Mt. Juliet High School, have found creative ways to meet the law requiring students to put away cell phones and other wireless communication devices during class time.

However, the legislation that went into effect before the 2025-26 academic year does afford individual school districts enforcement flexibility, which can vary significantly.

Mt. Juliet High follows Wilson County Schools district policy that does let students bring cell phones and wireless devices to school with the requirement that they must be stored or out of direct possession during instructional time.

The school has storage pouches or other containers set up in classrooms for students to drop off their phones before class and pick them up afterward.

Like the box in teacher Dominique Crawford's criminal justice class that is named Cell Phone Jail, a moniker given by students mostly because it is divided into sections that make it look like a mini jail.

“I honestly think it’s good because I feel like phones are very distracting and if I have my phone, I’m more likely to pick that up than … do my work,” Mt. Juliet High senior Kara Hall said of the law.

Maybe somewhat surprisingly, many students at Mt. Juliet High don't seem to have a real issue with a cell phone-less pocket and hand.

Mt. Juliet senior Casey Sherman believes her grades have improved because phones have been removed as a distraction during class.

“I asked (students) last year a lot, ‘what do you all think?’” Mt. Juliet Principal Ryan Hill said. “And the biggest response was ‘I don’t feel distracted, I’m not checking my pocket or worried about what’s going on in another class because my friends don’t have their phones on either'."

The Putnam County School System has seen a reduction in bullying incidents that Communications and Marketing Supervisor Buddy Pearson credits to the cell phone prohibition.

And Hill believes the classroom cell phone ban is having a positive effect on a lost art among many teens — face-to-face communication.

It isn't perfect.

Some students work to sneak in phones or burners. But Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee JC Bowman said teacher feedback on the law has been positive overall.

"Most teachers largely back the new cell phone policies, seeing them as helpful for instruction and noting a significant drop in discipline issues," Bowman said  "However, some advocate for a complete ban, citing bullying concerns."

Many districts have adopted certain exceptions to the classroom cell phone ban that include emergencies, teacher authorization related to classroom education and health management reasons.

BREAK 3 at:57

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Nashville’s popular Live on the Green concert series is officially returning, with Lightning 100 and Opry Entertainment Group announcing plans to bring the event back in 2027. 

To celebrate the return, organizers will host a special Live on the Green Lawnwarming Party on October 18 at Ascend Federal Credit Union Amphitheater.

The launch event will feature performances from past Live on the Green headliners Guster and Grace Potter, with additional artists to be announced.

“Since its inception in 2009, the series has always focused on bringing Nashville together through great music,” said Lester Turner Jr., president of Tuned In Broadcasting, Inc., parent company of Lightning 100.

Turner said the partnership with Opry Entertainment Group will help usher in a new chapter for the longtime Nashville concert series.

Tickets are available now at AscendAmphitheater.com.