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Audit critical of Tennesee’s economic incentive program after companies failed to create promised jobs
Nine companies lured to do business in Tennessee with generous economic incentive packages have been referred to the Tennessee Attorney General for possible legal action after failing to live up to their end of the bargain, Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe told lawmakers this week in response to a critical audit of the […]
Comptroller: Two Memphis nonprofits who received thousands in federal dollars lied about feeding low-income kids
In 2018, suspicion had grown about a Memphis child care organization that was supposed to be distributing food to low-income children who were out of school for the summer — food paid for by taxpayer funds in a program overseen in Tennessee by the state’s Department of Human Services. Red Robin’s Academy of Learning had […]
As Tennessee prepares to distribute $61M in broadband grants, an audit questions fairness of the grant application process
Over three years, state officials have awarded more than $45 million in grants to municipalities and private companies to expand broadband internet access in rural Tennessee. An audit released Tuesday by the Tennessee Comptroller is now raising questions about how the Department of Economic and Community Development selected who was awarded the highly competitive grants. […]
State senator proposes court for “harassing” open records requests
A proposal by Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, would allow state and local authorities to take individuals seeking public records to court if their repeated requests for government information is found to constitute “harassment.” Haile sought input on his proposed legislation Wednesday from the the Advisory Committee on Open Government, which works with the Tennessee Office of […]
Gov. Bill Lee administration defends emergency powers used to combat COVID-19
Members of the administration of Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday provided testimony justifying the sweeping emergency powers adopted by the governor in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the onset of the pandemic in Tennessee, Lee has drawn on the state’s 20-year-old Emergency Powers Act to issue 44 executive orders that have had direct impact […]
Nashville attorney makes cameo appearance in Senate Russian interference report
Deep within the 966-page Senate Intelligence Committee Report on Russian interference in the U.S. political process, released August 18, a Nashville lawyer who formerly served as attorney to the campaign of U.S. Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn makes several cameo appearances. Kline Preston, IV is a long-time Nashville attorney — a graduate of the Nashville School of […]
Nearly 1,000 positive cases, 14 deaths associated with Tennessee programs for people with disabilities
The toll COVID-19 has taken on people with intellectual or developmental disabilities in Tennessee continues to climb: there are now 14 people dead and 333 more who have tested positive for the virus among the people served by state programs. The men and women are among about 12,000 served by public programs overseen by the […]
Workers compensation for COVID-19 an uphill battle for Tennessee workers
More than 40% of initial COVID-19-related workers’ compensations filings in Tennessee have been denied, according to data provided by state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Among workers most likely to get an initial “no” for seeking medical expenses and lost wages as a result of claiming they contracted the disease on the job? Agricultural, […]
Metro Health’s role in vaccine trials prompts internal conflict
Among the Nashville institutions assuming a role in upcoming clinical trials for a potential COVID-19 vaccine is the Metro Public Health Department, a decision receiving pushback from some members of its oversight board. The decision for the already overstretched department to partner with a private for-profit company in a vaccine trial has not received the […]
State asks judge to lift injunction on Tennessee’s heartbeat abortion law
Attorneys for the state are asking a federal judge to set aside a preliminary injunction barring a “heartbeat” abortion law from taking in effect. In a Friday legal filing, state attorneys notified U.S. District Judge William Campbell they plan to appeal his July 24 order temporarily halting Tennessee’ controversial abortion law from being enforced. They […]
How Nashville will play a critical role in developing the COVID-19 vaccine
In the national race to develop a vaccine against COVID-19, officially dubbed “Operation Warp Speed,” Nashville residents are at the starting gate. Two major Phase III vaccine trials are separately getting underway at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Meharry Medical College. A Nashville research firm is tentatively partnering with the Metro Health Department on two […]
Lawmakers begin review of sweeping emergency powers granted to governor
Since the onset of the pandemic in Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee has drawn on sweeping emergency powers granted under state law to issue 44 executive orders, including stay-at-home orders, business closures and limits on nursing home visitors. On Thursday, state lawmakers met to consider whether those powers should be reigned in going forward. “Does (the […]