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Germantown schools takeover advances in Tennessee House
On Tuesday, a controversial bill allowing Germantown to take over Shelby County schools in their district was amended to include tighter restrictions if both parties were unable to reach an agreement by next year. On April 4, HB2430 passed despite outcries from Memphis Democrats that forcing Shelby County schools to cede four properties to Germantown […]
Murfreesboro mortuary settles suit in corpse “abuse” case
A Murfreesboro funeral home named in a federal lawsuit for allegedly abusing the bodies of deceased immigrants has settled with the victim’s family. On April 6, Nelson and Sons Memorial Chapel settled with the family of Freddy Aroldo Cristotomo, who died in October 2019. Nelson was one of five funeral homes named by multiple families […]
Land use dispute pits prominent Nashville family against conservation group
Thousands of years ago, Native Americans, wild animals and later,early white settlers traveled along the Natchez Trace, on what is now Vaughn Road in Williamson County. Around the corner lies Sneed Road, where Native Americans once settled alongside the Harpeth River, building their villages and homes on higher plains to avoid flooding, and burying their […]
Tennessee House passes CROWN Act
On Monday, the Tennessee House passed a bill banning race-based discrimination at work, preventing employers from discriminating against hairstyles belonging to an employee’s ethnic group. The CROWN Act, as known as the Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act, is a nationwide movement to prevent employers and schools from using hair discrimination […]
Senate passes two bills aimed at transgender athletes
The state Senate passed two bills targetting LGBTQ youth in sports, despite concerns voiced by some lawmakers on the negative impacts for LGBTQ children. On Monday, senators voted in favor of passing SB1861 and SB2153, both bills that prohibit trans athletes from participating in women’s sports. SB2153, sponsored by Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, prohibits males […]
Tennessee House bill seeks to gather information on immigrant children
A bill seeking to gather identifying information on unaccompanied migrant children was placed on the state budget for review, despite reservations from legislators as to who would have access to the information. On Tuesday, Rep. Dan Howell, R-Cleveland, introduced to the House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee a bill to require organizations housing migrant children […]
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation keeps Duck River withdrawal limits
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has agreed to keep water withdrawal limitations intact to protect the Duck River, denying an appeal from Marshall County to drop limits. The Duck River, which is the longest river to be entirely contained in Tennessee, is also one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America. […]
Southern Environmental Law Center slams TVA with suit
The Southern Environmental Law Center has filed a lawsuit against the Tennessee Valley Authority after its public records requests for contracts with methane-gas companies were met with heavily redacted records. In 2019, TVA, which produces electricity for nearly 10 million people across the Southeast, announced their plans to possibly retire several coal-fired plants throughout Tennessee […]
Tennessee House Commerce Committee passes amended pipeline bill
The House Commerce Committee passed a controversial energy infrastructure preemption bill that removes local control from communities, but with amendments proposed by environmental and community organizers. On Tuesday, committee members passed HB2246 to allow exceptions for local zoning codes and local actions that are state authorized, among other tweaks that have loosened the bill. According […]
Shelby County Commission approves $28 million for juvenile correction center
The Shelby County Commission voted to award funds for the restoration of a defunct correctional facility set to house the county’s juvenile offenders, despite concerns from critics advocating for supportive programs to keep youths out of jail. Since 2012, Memphis and Shelby County Juvenile Courts have faced increasing scrutiny for failing to protect the constitutional […]
Tennessee Senate passes bill to preempt local laws on oil and gas pipelines
The Tennessee Senate passed a controversial pipeline preemption bill on Thursday in spite of concerns about the effect oil and gas pipelines could have on personal property and drinking water. Before passage, Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, sponsor of SB2077, amended the bill to allow for wellhead protections and to align with its House counterpart. Critics […]
Vaughan pipeline bill is delayed in committee
An energy infrastructure preemption bill was delayed by the House Commerce Committee until next week, citing time constraints to debate a bill that has attracted statewide controversy. Dozens of environmental justice activists traveled from across the state to protest and speak against HB2246 in person, calling it a move against the local liberties of Tennessee […]