Jonathan Mattise

Stay informed with Jonathan Mattise’s coverage and analysis.

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Tennessee theater professor reinstated, with $500,000 settlement, after losing his job over a Charlie Kirk-related social media post

By Jonathan Mattise and The Associated Press

Jelly Roll

Jelly Roll, country-rap superstar who found music while serving prison time, pardoned by Tennessee governor in front of Christmas Tree

By Jonathan Mattise and The Associated Press

Republican congressional candidate Matt Van Epps casts his ballot at an early voting site in the special election for the seventh district, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

This special election in a deep-red district sets up another big test for Trump — ‘I’m very concerned that we could be caught with our pants down’

By Jonathan Mattise, Leah Askarinam, and others

Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who pushed for the initiative, has indicated that he wants to seek funding for more vouchers during the coming legislative session.

Parents of public school students and taxpayers sue Tennessee over ‘unconstitutional’ $150 million private school voucher program

By Jonathan Mattise and The Associated Press

Flags and flowers are seen at the entrance to Accurate Energetic Systems Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, after an explosion killed 16 people on Oct. 10, in McEwen, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

The fatal blast at a military munitions factory was a chain reaction of up to 28,000 pounds of explosives

By Jonathan Mattise, Kristin M. Hall, and others

FILE – Pro-Palestinian supporters continue their encampment protest on Vanderbilt University campus Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, file)

The White House has faced a flurry of rejections after inviting 9 universities to be the first signatories of its higher-ed compact

By Collin Binkley, Jonathan Mattise, and others

This courtroom sketch depicts, from left, attorney Sean Hecker, Kilmar Abrego Garcia and attorney Rascoe Dean in court during Garcia’s detention hearing on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Diego Fishburn)

Federal judge wants Kilmar Abrego Garcia released but his lawyers worry ICE will arrest and deport him if he’s set free

By Travis Loller, Jonathan Mattise, and others

Fog surrounds a power plant

America’s largest public utility just appointed a new CEO less than a week after Trump mysteriously fired one of its board members without explanation

By Jonathan Mattise and The Associated Press

The Chili's sign across from the restaurant in Scranton Pennsylvania

There hasn’t been a Chili’s near The Office’s hometown of Scranton in two decades. Now the brand is debuting a retro restaurant with ‘awesome blossoms’ back on the menu

By Jonathan Mattise and The Associated Press

Former Sen. Brian Kelsey walks behind a man wearing sunglasses

Brian Kelsey says Trump pardoned him two weeks into his 21-month prison sentence for an illegal campaign finance scheme he pleaded guilty to

By Jonathan Mattise and The Associated Press

FILE – The Tennessee Capitol is seen on April 23, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

Texas porn site age verification law heads to Supreme Court as lower court lets similar Tennessee law take effect

By Jonathan Mattise and The Associated Press

FILE – The Tennessee Capitol is seen on April 23, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

Tennessee porn site age verification law largely blocked by judge as more than a dozen other states enforce theirs

By Jonathan Mattise and The Associated Press

Centrus Energy’s Technology and Manufacturing Center in Oak Ridge, Tenn., Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, after the company announced an expansion of its production of centrifuges at the Tennessee facility to be used for to enrich uranium, which fuels nuclear power plants, at its operations in Piketon, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jonathan Mattise)

Uranium supplier announces $60 million Tennessee expansion as U.S. ramps up nuclear power

By Jonathan Mattise and The Associated Press

FILE – Electrical power lines string across the landscape near downtown Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn, as Nashville Electric Service distributes power to surrounding communities and is supplied their electricity from The Tennessee Valley Authority. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)

New Tennessee natural gas plant has permits for pipeline to fuel it paused on environmental worries

By Jonathan Mattise and The Associated Press

Trousdale Turner Correctional Center operated by CoreCivic is seen Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Hartsville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Private prison giant has spent over $4.4m to settle mistreatment complaints in 1 state—including at least 22 inmate deaths

By Jonathan Mattise, Travis Loller, and others