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Audit finds Rutherford County mayor failed to report tens of thousands in campaign contributions
A third state audit of former Sen. Bill Ketron, now the mayor of Rutherford County, found his Senate campaign account violated state law or disclosure regulations 13 times, in part by failing to report nearly $44,500 in campaign contributions and documenting nearly $13,000 in campaign funds. Without comment in a teleconference meeting allowed by pandemic […]
Senate Judiciary expedites Right to Work resolution
The Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed an effort Tuesday to enshrine Tennessee’s Right to Work Law in the state Constitution, continuing the process to put it on the 2022 ballot for a voter referendum. With a 7-2 vote, the committee gave a positive recommendation to Sen. Brian Kelsey’s Senate Joint Resolution 2, which would amend the […]
Senator: Memphis Mega-site tweaked to create economic development corridor
Momentum is building for a redesign of the Memphis Megasite wastewater line that would allow for an economic development corridor all the way from the 4,100-acre site in Haywood County to eastern Shelby County, a state senator said. The West Tennessee legislative delegation is working with House and Senate leadership to move the plan forward, […]
In State of State, Lee lauds his pandemic response and talks economic recovery plans
Coming off one of the most difficult years in state history, Gov. Bill Lee delivered his plan Monday to boost Tennessee’s economy and jumpstart K-12 education with a $41.8 billion budget plan as the COVID-19 crisis continues, while praising the state’s pandemic response as effective. The governor, though, is not renewing a call for family […]
Supreme Court to hear appeal on governor’s school voucher law
The Tennessee Supreme Court agreed Thursday to take up the state’s appeal on the education savings account program (ESA) after two lower courts found it unconstitutional. The decision came nine months after Davidson County Chancellor Anne Martin ruled the voucher law would violate the state Constitution’s home rule provision by targeting only Metro Nashville Public […]
Governor Lee won’t push for immediate teacher vaccinations
Gov. Bill Lee says his office is not pushing legislation that would take funds from school districts that don’t resume in-classroom schedules for 70 days this year or 180 days in 2021-22, amid questions about its legality. The governor appears to be softening his stance on the matter after tough talk before the recent special […]
February Historical Commission decision might not solve Forrest question
The Tennessee Historical Commission could decide in mid-February whether to move busts of Nathan Bedford Forrest and two Union admirals from the Capitol to the State Museum, but the outcome remains uncertain because of a pending dispute over state law. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and House Speaker Cameron Sexton stand by an October letter contending […]
Memphis Rep. Cooper urges Black community to get COVID-19 vaccine
State Rep. Barbara Cooper understands the trepidation among Black Tennesseans about getting a COVID-19 vaccination. But after a friend recently died from the virus, she is more determined than ever to set an example for her constituents to ward off the deadly illness. The 91-year-old Cooper, a Democrat representing District 86 in Memphis, received her […]
In General Assembly, bill to allow gun carry without a permit surfaces
The “constitutional carry” or permitless gun carry legislation put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 is rising again in the Tennessee Legislature, likely to set off a stirring debate as the session starts Feb. 8. Rep. Bruce Griffey, a Paris Republican, is sponsoring House Bill 18, which would exempt people from obtaining a […]
School textbook company sought legal action against Schwinn, Department of Education
Tennessee lawmakers are keeping an eye on Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn after an international textbook publisher and Tennessee school district directors complained about the Department of Education in 2019, saying she interfered in book selection by playing favorites. Those complaints led the Legislature to pass Public Chapter 770 in 2020, removing the education commissioner as […]
Republicans back new healthcare plan after Tennessee rejects Medicaid expansion
Two Republican lawmakers are hoping to expand healthcare coverage to hundreds of thousands of working poor while Democrats are trying to turn back the state’s modified “block grant” program with the help of the new Biden Administration. Legislative Democrats sent a letter to President Joe Biden Monday asking him to rescind the “block grant” waiver […]
Lawmakers warn education commissioner about reading screener contract
At least two state legislators are urging caution about an education contract that could push school districts to a specific vendor and, ultimately, mire the state in a money pit. The warnings came amid questions about whether the state is already talking to vendors about a “universal screener” contract. Education Commission Penny Schwinn denied any […]