BREAKING: Security video and eyewitness report that there was a recording, warning people to evacuate, before RV exploded in downtown Nashville. There appears to be little doubt now that this was an act of terrorism. 1/2
The Nashville bomb was detonated outside an AT&T switching facility, raising the question about whether the company was the target. AT&T is viewed as a sinister force by some in our society. 2/2 nytimes.com/2015/08/16/us/…
Witness also tells NewsChannel 5 that there was the sound of gunfire before the warning recording started.
We now believe this was a secondary vehicle, not the RV itself.
BREAKING: Explosion in downtown Nashville, apparently from parked vehicle on 2nd Ave. Fire department personnel being told to pull back two blocks from explosion site, concerned about potential vehicle bombs. Police bomb squad and fire hazmat team on scene.
BREAKING: Nashville police and fire setting up radiation monitors to assess situation in downtown area near explosion site. This is all precautionary at this point.
Finally got around to listening to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's Monday news conference, and *** I AM SO CONFUSED!!! *** 1/
On one hand, Lee told reporters that he did not impose a mask mandate because statewide mandates don't work, that people will only listen to their local elected officials. 2/
"A trusted voice in their community is their local official, the people that they elected to be their leaders," Lee argued. 3/
QUICK ANALYSIS: @GovBillLee's statewide #COVID19 address tonight doesn't change much. No statewide mask mandate, just continuing to urge people to wear masks because it's the right thing to do. He has not always set the example himself. 1/
Lee's Executive Order limits social gatherings to fewer than 10 people. Exempted are churches, funerals and big weddings although it is "strongly encouraged" that any large public celebrations of weddings and funerals be postponed. 2/
The limitation on social gatherings also does not apply to venues that may host multiple social gatherings of fewer than 10 people, as long as they are social distanced. No restriction on restaurant capacity or bars. 3/
BREAKING: Tennessee Department of Health releases data breaking out #COVID19 numbers that should have been reported yesterday. HEADLINE: State surpasses 6,000 deaths, hits a whopping 30.46% positivity rate. DETAILED ANALYSIS TO FOLLOW. 1/
Looking at raw data, while there were 6,347 new #COVID19 cases that would have been reported yesterday (except for data issues), today's report will be 9,689 - for combined total of 16,036 new cases in Tennessee for the last two days. 2/
Here is the follow-up tweet for today's numbers. 3/
As we await Tennessee @GovBillLee's 7 p.m. #COVID19 announcement, here are the recommendations for Tennessee this past week from the White House: "Face masks must be required in all public settings statewide to reduce transmission across the state." 1/
"All public health officials must make it clear that if you are over 65 or with significant health conditions, you should not enter any indoor public spaces where anyone is unmasked due to the immediate risk to your health; you should have groceries and medications delivered." 2/
Under 40? "You need to assume you became infected if you gathered beyond your immediate household. Most likely, you will not have symptoms; however, you are dangerous to others and you must isolate away from anyone at increased risk for severe disease and get tested." 3/
BREAKING: This is officially the WORST WEEK... and the WORST MONTH... of the #COVID19 pandemic in Tennessee in terms of new cases and new reported deaths. BRIEF ANALYSIS TO FOLLOW 1/
So far in December, 129,158 Tennesseans have tested positive for #COVID19. Get this: at this rate, we are on track for 222,000 cases this month alone. 2/
With 1,358 #COVID19 deaths so far in the month of December in Tennessee, we are on track for more than 1,300 deaths this month. 3/