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Tennessee’s public school systems look for creative solutions to teacher shortages
Tennessee’s public schools are finding creative solutions to solve teacher shortages, a problem not limited to Tennessee, but experienced nationwide. The pandemic exacerbated existing teacher shortages, as school districts across the country struggled to attract and retain staff, especially in critical areas such as special education, bilingual education, science, technology, engineering, math, career and technical […]
Memphis City Council redraws districts
The Memphis City Council approved new district lines on Tuesday while noting that District 4 may see further changes after the special election on the Nov. 8 ballot. After being elected in the Aug. 4 election to serve as the new Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk, city council chairwoman Jamita Swearengen resigned on Aug. 9, […]
2020 report claims new Hickman County wastewater plant unnecessary
A public utility’s proposal to discharge wastewater from heavily populated counties into rural Hickman County would be unnecessary if the utility district maintained its systems, according to an engineer who prepared an analysis of the Water Authority of Dickson County. A 2020 report by George Kurz analyzing the WADC’s annual treated wastewater flow showed that […]
Clean energy coalition urges TVA to take advantage of Inflation Reduction Act funds
Clean energy advocates are urging the Tennessee Valley Authority to use funds provided through the Inflation Reduction Act to deliver environmentally-friendly energy to Tennessee customers. The massive bill Congress passed Friday includes $370 billion for clean energy investments and listed TVA as an entity that is eligible to take advantage of clean energy credits and […]
TIRRC Votes harnesses “Black and brown political power”
Efforts to increase voter participation among immigrant communities led to increased turnout and elections of immigrant-rights candidates, said advocates. Following the August 4 primary election, the Tennessee Immigrant and Rights Coalition’s affiliate TIRRC Votes celebrated the election of several pro-immigrant candidates among school board races, district attorney races and other elected positions. “Our TIRRC Votes […]
Tennessee ACLU names attorney Kathy Sinback as executive director
Nashville attorney Kathy Sinback will take the reins as the new executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, replacing longtime director Hedy Weinberg as of September 6. Sinback, whose career began with the Metro Nashville Public Defender’s Office in 1997, is known for her work with the Davidson County Juvenile Court and […]
Study shows Tennessee ranks 36th for overall child well-being
Tennessee has experienced slight improvement in providing stability for children, families’ struggles with poverty, health and security kept the state ranked 36th in overall child well-being, according to a 2022 report. A 50-state report of recent household data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation showed that Tennessee children are still struggling to get access […]
“Get DC out of Tennessee,” says Republican congressional nominee Ogles
Late Thursday night, supporters of Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles celebrated winning the Fifth Congressional District Republican primary after a bruising, attack-filled campaign. Once early votes started to come in, Ogles held a strong lead over former Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell and continued to lead throughout the night. Ogles, former director of Americans for […]
August Election Day marked by slow polling places
As Tennessee candidates hovered in the blazing sun on Thursday to greet potential voters, they contemplated the months leading up to the August election. In the 5th Congressional District, Sen. Heidi Campbell noted how redistricting affected the area, but “maybe in ways (legislators) didn’t anticipate.” Campbell, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary, said Republican […]
Increased threats to poll workers across country haven’t dampened enthusiasm in Tennessee
At Belle Meade City Hall, Victor Nelson took a quick break from his work as a poll worker, a job he says is as rewarding as it is challenging. Nationwide, poll workers have reported feeling threatened since the 2020 presidential election cycle after former President Donald Trump propagated false claims about the election. The threats […]
Charter amendments add to long ballots across Tennessee
Partisan races aren’t the only ones on Tennessee ballots Thursday, as voters in Davidson, Hamilton and Shelby Counties will also be voting to ratify — or not to ratify — a clutch of amendments to county government charters. Davidson County The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County approved four amendments in May but each […]
Memphis-Shelby County School Board candidates face challenges to system
Memphis-Shelby County School Board races remain nonpartisan, unlike 59 other Tennessee counties, with four seats up for election. Board members will have several challenges to address: Students in Memphis, a majority-minority city, were some of the hardest hit by the pandemic economically and academically. School closures due to remote learning, COVID-case surges and teacher shortages led […]