Latest news with #Franklin-based
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mother of 5-year-old girl killed in Franklin crash by accused drunk driver has also died, DA says
A vigil is planned for the mother of a 5-year-old girl killed in a crash by an accused drunk driver in Franklin over Memorial Day weekend who has also died. Minaben Patel, 38, of Franklin, has died days after the May 24 crash that killed her daughter, Krisha Patel, 5, according to the district attorney and a Facebook post by the SAFE Coalition on Tuesday afternoon. 'The Norfolk District Attorney's Office and the Franklin Police Department are saddened by the loss to Minaben's family and we extend our heartfelt condolences,' Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey and Franklin Police Chief Thomas Lynch said in a statement Tuesday. A vigil for Minaben Patel is planned for 6 p.m. Thursday at the crash site on Grove Street in Franklin, The SAFE Coalition, a Franklin-based nonprofit group, said in its Facebook post. Another vigil was held for her daughter, Krisha Patel, at the site last Wednesday. 'We would like to share, through the families wishes, that Minaben Patel, mother of sweet Krisha, has passed away,' the SAFE Coalition said in its post. 'Minaben's family is again deeply thankful for all the love and support shared over the last week,' the group said. 'They invite the community to honor this amazing Mother, Wife, Family Member and friend this Thursday for a service of remembrance.' The driver accused in the fatal crash, James Blanchard, 21, of Franklin, was ordered held on $250,000 cash bail following his arraignment on May 27. A not guilty plea was entered on Blanchard's behalf. He is charged with motor vehicle homicide while driving negligently and under the influence of alcohol, three counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing serious bodily injury, negligent driving, driving a motor vehicle with an open container of alcohol, and marked lanes violation, according to Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey. It was immediately unclear Tuesday if Blanchard would face additional charges in the case. Boston 25 has reached out to Morrissey's office for comment. During his arraignment, prosecutor Christopher Meade said Blanchard told police he had two beers while at a landscaping job on Saturday, May 24 after working that morning at his job as a mechanic. When he left his landscaping job, he opened a 1.75 liter bottle of Tito's vodka. He began drinking straight out of the bottle and drove home in his truck, Meade said during the arraignment in Wrentham District Court. Investigators later found a second, empty 1.75 liter bottle of Tito's in his truck that Blanchard told police was 'from the night before,' Meade said. While driving home around 6:22 p.m. Saturday, May 24, Blanchard crashed into a Honda Accord carrying a family of four on Grove Street in Franklin, Meade said. They were going to Blackstone for a family birthday party. The 5-year-old girl died following the crash, Meade said. Her mother and brother were taken to a local hospital in critical condition. The brother's condition was not known on Tuesday. Her father, the driver of the Honda, was treated and released. Defense attorney Timothy Flaherty had asked the court during Blanchard's arraignment to impose a lesser amount of $10,000 cash bail, with conditions for his release to include electronic monitoring and that he enter an alcohol rehabilitation center. 'It's probably the right place for this young man at this time,' Flaherty said during the arraignment. 'It's a significant case but significant penalties. But I can tell the court that this young man is not a risk of flight.' An autopsy will be performed to determine a cause of Minaben Patel's death, the district attorney said. Meanwhile, services were held for Krisha Patel on May 31, according to the girl's obituary. 'Our hearts are broken as we say goodbye to such a precious little soul. In her short time with us, she filled the world with laughter, wonder, and love,' her obituary states. 'Her smile could brighten the darkest day, and her kind heart touched everyone she met.' 'Though her time here was far too brief, her spirit will forever live on in the hearts of all who loved her,' her obituary states. 'We will carry her memory with us always - like a beautiful, shining star in the sky. May she rest peacefully, wrapped in love and light.' The crash remains under investigation by Franklin Police, the Norfolk District Attorney's Office and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Business Journals
14-05-2025
- Health
- Business Journals
WGU aims to address Tennessee's health care workforce shortage (video)
The COVID-19 pandemic engulfed the world in the most unexpected manner — questioning all advancements and established norms of a 'routine' life. The blunt reminders of the transient nature of human life and the collective impact of disruptions to everyday behaviors changed perceptions for a multitude of industries and careers. A primary example is the health care industry that was exceptionally resilient, yet acutely impacted and severely altered, perhaps forever. According to the Tennessee Department of Health, the state currently faces provider shortages in physicians, dentists and mental health care providers; meaning that many Tennesseans struggle with access to health care providers when they need one. The Tennessee Hospital Association projects the pandemic caused an unprecedented staffing crisis that will last well into the next decade, including an anticipated shortfall of 8,500 registered nurses through 2035. The accredited, nonprofit Western Governors University's (WGU) Michael O. Leavitt School of Health (LSH) collaborated with Synergy 3C and HealthCorum to organize HealthEQ Tennessee, a Franklin-based health conference that aimed at converging diverse stakeholders to discuss solutions for elevating Tennessee's health landscape and addressing the state's workforce shortage. With WGU's competency-based model of education, that promotes flexible and affordable learning, the university is steadily addressing the nation's health care workforce shortages. Check out what the state and institution experts have to say about Tennessee's health care landscape and workforce shortage in the video. Learn more about the Leavitt School of Health (
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EWaste program comes to Williamson County for electronic waste removal
America's first mid-market e-waste franchise that specifically focuses on municipal and corporate recycling has created a new partnership with Williamson County. "The city of Franklin stepped up to collect eWaste for Williamson County residents over the past few years. Now, county residents no longer have to travel to the city to recycle, they have five new drop-off stations closer to home,' Solid Waste Director for Williamson County Mac Nolen said. City eWaste was started with the intention of finding a safe way to remove and recycle old electronics. Since 2018, the organization has helped over 242 businesses in the Middle Tennessee area. This partnership focuses on providing an efficient way for the county's citizens to dispose of their electronic waste. As a result, five secure drop-off stations are being created at convenience centers in Nolensville, Grassland, Fairview, College Grove, and the Williamson County Solid Waste Department. 'Keeping eWaste out of our Convenience Center trash will lessen the amount of solid waste going to the out of county disposal facility. This will be an opportunity for us to do the right thing,' said Nolen. According to City eWaste, each year, Americans discard about 6.9 million tons of electronics, yet only 15% is properly recycled. This creates a massive service gap that City eWaste closes by offering free and 100% secure electronics recycling programs to county and municipal entities of all sizes. 'If we can get even half of residents to drop off their ewaste in one of our designated bins across Williamson County, we can really do some good,' said Matthew Rogers, founder of City eWaste. 'Nothing is going to change until we can get this material to the right place.' The Franklin-based company is set to expand nationwide to aid other communities in the removal of their unwanted electronics. 'Everyone has a pile of electronics at home collecting dust,' added Rogers. 'Our job is to make getting rid of them feel like the simplest, easiest, and most secure option out there. By doing so, we're closing an enormous residential recycling gap that's gone ignored for far too long.' Drop-Off Locations and Hours ● Williamson County-Solid Waste Department, 5750 Pinewood Road. Opening Hours: 7am-3:30pm M-F ● Grassland Convenience Center, 1495 Sneed Road West. Tel: 615-371-1697. Opening Hours: 7am-5pm M-F ● Nolensville Convenience Center, 1525 Owen Road. Tel: 615-776-2717. Opening Hours: 7am-5pm M-F ● College Grove Convenience Center, 6520 Arno-College Grove Road. Tel: 615-368-7181. Opening Hours: 7am-5pm M-F ● Fairview Convenience Center, behind Fairview Recreation. Tel: 615-799-8311. Opening Hours: 7am-5pm M-F For more information, visit: This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Williamson County partners with eWaste for electronic waste removal
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
USTA pulls out of multimillion-dollar Spring Hill development
SPRING HILL, Tenn. (WKRN) — The United States Tennis Association (UTSA) has withdrawn from a multimillion-dollar development that's been in the works for years, according to a Franklin-based real estate company associated with the project. According to a press release from SouthStar, LLC, the company agreed to provide the opportunity for a USTA tennis facility in the Legacy Pointe development in Spring Hill in 2022. SouthStar agreed to provide a location to construct the facility and allow the USTA to bring local, regional and national tournaments to Middle Tennessee. AUGUST 2022: Spring Hill businesses excited about proposed multi-million dollar tennis complex In order to build and support operations for the project, which would have significantly affected area development, the USTA had to raise several million dollars. A statement from the City of Spring Hill said the USTA withdrew because the organization could 'not raise enough capital within the timeframe outlined by the development.' According to SouthStar's plans for Legacy Pointe available online, the facility was expected to take up about 136,000 square feet and serve as a regional headquarters for the USTA. The plans indicated the facility was expected to bring more than 450,000 USTA visitors to the area each year and draw $10-20 million in guest expenditures. 'While this outcome is not what we had envisioned, we want to express our sincere gratitude to SouthStar and the city of Spring Hill for their support and partnership throughout the process,' USTA Tennessee President Carol Wrinn said. 'USTA remains committed to promoting and developing the game of tennis, and we look forward to finding new ways to work together in the future.' Without USTA's involvement in the project, SouthStar has started to explore replacement options that would benefit the Spring Hill community. 'We've been working with the USTA for almost three years to bring the regional tennis facility to fruition,' SouthStar president Glenn McGehee said. 'Unfortunately, it's a tough fundraising environment out there right now and the organization was unable to secure the funds necessary to move forward with the project. We are all disappointed as this project would have been a great addition to Legacy Pointe and the Spring Hill community.' ⏩ SouthStar broke ground on the 213-acre mixed-use development last May. Legacy Pointe will feature residential, commercial, offices and greenspace. The project will also include a four-lane road connecting Crossings Boulevard to Kedron Road, which is scheduled for completion this year. The City of Spring Hill said despite the USTA's withdrawal, the Legacy Pointe development will continue to improve connectivity in the area through the four-lane connector—a project more than a decade in the making. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
06-02-2025
- Associated Press
LEGAL POWERS, PLLC WELCOMES FORMER PROSECUTOR AND SEASONED TRIAL ATTORNEY LODY POWERS TO THE DEFENSE TEAM
02/06/2025, Franklin, TN // KISS PR Brand Story PressWire // Legal Powers, PLLC is thrilled to announce the addition of Attorney Lody Powers, a distinguished trial attorney with over a decade of litigation experience, to its legal team. Known for her exceptional courtroom skills and comprehensive knowledge of criminal law, Lody's arrival bolsters the firm's commitment to delivering superior legal representation for clients facing criminal charges in Williamson County and Middle Tennessee. Lody Powers began her legal career as the first Latina Assistant District Attorney to serve in Davidson County Criminal Court. During her tenure, she gained extensive courtroom experience prosecuting some of the most serious criminal cases handled by the Davidson County District Attorney's Office. As a member of the Special Victims Trial Team she handled complex cases brought to her by specialized investigations of sexual assaults and murders, as a Domestic Violence Team member she prosecuted domestic assault cases, aggravated assault cases, harassment cases, and stalking cases, and as a member of both the Division II and Division VI Trial Teams she handled a variety of serious felony cases ranging from Aggravated Assault to First Degree Murder cases.. Her prior experience as a prosecutor uniquely positions Lody to provide unparalleled insight into how criminal allegations are investigated and how those investigations are then turned into criminal cases in court and prosecuted. This invaluable perspective allows her to develop innovative defense strategies tailored to the specific needs of her clients. 'Lody's impressive expertise coupled with the wealth of insight and knowledge she brings to our clients as a former prosecutor make her an invaluable addition to our firm,' said Ben Powers, founder of Legal Powers, PLLC. 'Her compassionate approach and fierce advocacy align perfectly with our mission to fight for our clients and protect their rights and futures.' Lody's bilingual and bicultural background further enriches her practice. Born in Colombia, South America, Lody has called Nashville and Middle Tennessee home for over 20 years. Her ability to connect with Spanish-speaking clients and her active role in the legal community—serving as Vice President of the Nashville Hispanic Bar Association and as a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, Nashville Bar Association, and Lawyers Association for Women—underscore her commitment to advocating for fellow members of our diverse Middle Tennessee communities. Legal Powers, PLLC invites you to learn more about how Lody's legal powers helps clients navigate complex criminal charges. Contact Legal Powers, PLLC today for a free consultation. About Legal Powers, PLLC Legal Powers, PLLC is a Franklin-based law firm dedicated to providing exceptional legal representation to clients in Middle Tennessee. With a focus on criminal defense, the firm is committed to safeguarding the rights and futures of individuals facing legal challenges. ### Media Contact Ben Powers Legal Powers, PLLC 235 3rd Ave N, Franklin, TN 37064
