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Stockard on the Stump: State spent millions on vaccine campaign that helped cost Fiscus her job
Tennessee spent $11.4 million on public service campaigns designed to battle COVID-19. The only thing it cost the state to fire its chief immunologist was a lot of embarrassment. Using coronavirus relief funds, the state paid Designsensory $8.9 million for messaging to encourage mask wearing and social distancing early in the pandemic. Once vaccines were […]
Fired immunization director never saw letter recommending termination
The Department of Health fired its director of the immunization program for several reasons, including failure to consult superiors on the state’s vaccine program, according to a letter placed in her personnel file. But Dr. Michelle Fiscus, who was terminated Monday, says she didn’t know about the letter written by Dr. Tim Jones on July […]
Democrats slam governor over firing of immunology chief
Two days after Tennessee’s chief immunologist was fired under pressure from anti-vax lawmakers, Democratic leaders blasted the governor for failing to take responsibility for the state’s vaccination policy. “I think it’s an abdication of leadership,” state Sen. Raumesh Akbari said during an online press conference. Democrats expressed shock that the Department of Health and Lee […]
Governor’s administration made state medical director scapegoat for anti-vaxxers
One of Tennessee’s leading medical experts was fired this week, taking the fall for Gov. Bill Lee, when his administration caved in to ultra-conservative lawmakers upset with the state’s COVID-19 vaccine messaging toward teens. The department fired Dr. Shelley Fiscus, state director for vaccine-preventable and infectious diseases, even though she had been working at the […]
After National Guard trip, governor says nation needs new Southern border strategy
Shrugging off the notion that the Southern border “crisis” is a political attack, Gov. Bill Lee says the nation should develop a new strategy to stop a surge in illegal crossings and activity from Mexico. After a two-day trip to review 300 Tennessee National Guard soldiers serving on a year-long mission for border patrol support, […]
Judge blocks restroom sign law aimed at transgender customers
Calling it a “brazen” violation of the First Amendment, a federal judge on Friday blocked a new state law requiring businesses to post government-prescribed signs if they allow transgender customers to use restrooms matching their gender identity. The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee and ACLU filed a lawsuit in June seeking a preliminary court […]
Stockard on the Stump: Jack in the bag sparks new look at gifts
Jack Daniel’s owner Brown-Forman didn’t violate any rules on gifts to lawmakers when it handed out bottles of sipping whiskey to lawmakers in February. But the gift bags are causing the Tennessee Ethics Commission to take a new look at the guidelines for giveaways. The Ethics Commission voted recently to have staff review a 2008 […]
Gilmore laments lack of action on Forrest bust removal
An order by the Tennessee Historical Commission to relocate the busts of Confederate Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest and two U.S. admirals to the State Museum from the State Capitol is set to take effect Friday. But the Tennessee State Museum still has no plan or time frame to put together a new exhibit with […]
Amid investigation, Hakeem raises questions about state suspension of Baptiste Group license
Allegations of sexual abuse at a Baptiste Group home for migrant children gave the state an excuse to suspend the facility’s license as political pressure mounted, a Chattanooga Democrat says. “That’s my perspective,” state Rep. Yusuf Hakeem said Tuesday. “And what concerns me is that supposedly the state would have been doing on-site reviews every […]
ACLU challenges Tennessee transgender bathroom law
The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee and the ACLU filed a lawsuit in federal court Friday challenging a new Tennessee law requiring businesses that offer transgender restrooms to post government-required warnings signs. Filed on behalf of Nashville and Chattanooga business owners who object to the message, the lawsuit claims the law violates the First […]
In affluent Williamson County, an uproar over critical race theory
Amid uproar over Williamson County Schools’ curriculum, Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson is questioning the district’s Wit & Wisdom reading program and whether it teaches critical race theory. Johnson, a Franklin Republican whose children attend system schools, said this week he reviewed a large part of the Wit & Wisdom curriculum and found items that […]
Stockard on the Stump: High Court sides with Legislature on compensating student-athletes
State Rep. Kevin Vaughan is hyped over the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision finding that the NCAA is violating antitrust laws. Vaughan, a Collierville Republican, passed legislation this year enabling student-athletes to benefit from their name, image and likeness, a major step forward in the fight for athletes to get their due. In the land of […]