NASHVILE, Tenn. (OSBORNE)  --  Nashville has it’s new Police Oversight Board.

Metro Council chose the eleven-member panel Tuesday night in a five-hour, marathon session. Several rounds of voting slowly whittled down the original list of more than 150 applicants.

The Council last week approved two board members nominated by Mayor David Briley. Last night they approved two more panelists nominated by council members. Most of the evening was devoted to selecting the remaining seven board members.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WMOT/TNS)  --  A new report from the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network shows that suicides among children between 10 and 17 spiked more than 54 percent in three years.

On average, a child commits suicide somewhere in Tennessee each week and suicide is now the second leading cause of deaths among children.

While there's no single reason people take their own lives, Network Executive Director Scott Ridgway says children's exposure to what he calls "mature concepts" should be a concern.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (OSBORNE)  --  Gov. Bill Lee is settling into his new job this week on Capitol Hill after taking the oath of office on Saturday.

During his inaugural speech, Lee stressed many of the same policy priorities he campaigned on: Criminal justice reform, a new emphasis on vocational education, and building on the state’s strong economy.

But Lee noted that while the state as a whole may be prospering, many Tennesseans are struggling.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (OSBORNE)  --  Music City pedestrians may have another tough year ahead if early January is any indication. Two people have already been struck and killed on the city’s streets in 2019.

A man was struck by a bus on Jan. 1 on Fourth Ave. A woman was struck and killed by an SUV on Old Hickory Jan. 9.

Nora Kern with Walk Bike Nashville notes that 2018 again set a grim record for pedestrian deaths with 22 people killed citywide (see cout note below). She says the same number of pedestrians died in 2017.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (OSBORNE)  --  The Nashville Business Journal suggests all those construction cranes dotting Metro’s skyline are overshadowing the remarkable growth underway just down I-65 in Franklin.

Journal Senior Report Adam Sichko notes Franklin approved $535 million worth of commercial construction last year. He says that represents historic development for the second year in a row.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (OSBORNE)  --  A new study suggests Tennessee is making progress against its racial disparities, as the mid-state celebrates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The personal finance website Wallethub.com ranks Tennessee 17th in the nation for racial progress, up two positions from last year.

Wallethub analyst Jill Gonzalez says Tennessee cracked the top ten when it comes to minority employment and wealth.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (OSBORNE)  --  Tennessee lawmakers are sharing their legislative priorities as the 2019 session gets underway.

Jeff Yarbro is the State Senate Minority Leader. The Nashville Democrat says Medicaid expansion continues to be one of his party’s biggest legislative priorities.

“We’re one of about ten states, eleven states that hasn’t expanded Medicaid at this point, which is putting a lot of pressure on small town hospitals and lots of families unnecessarily.”

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WMOT/TNS)  --  Tennessee’s tourism industry is happy that The Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains at least partially open during the government shutdown, but some are questioning that decision.

The park is one of Tennessee’s most important economic engines. Federal data shows the Smokies attract some 11 million visitors a year who spend in excess of $800 million annually.

Park officials are using camping and other visitor fees to keep the Smokies partially staffed. but there have been reports of trash, overflowing toilets and damaged property.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (OSBORNE)  --  Martin Luther King Day is fast approaching.

The national holiday takes place on the third Monday each January and will be celebrated this year on Monday, January 21.

You might be surprised to learn that Nashville holds one of the oldest MLK Day marches in the country. A march and convocation has been organized in the mid-state each year since 1989 by the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship.