Briefs
Williamson county pediatricians push for mask mandates in schools
As Williamson County parents, physicians urged school officials to prevent the possibility of “needless” deaths of children from COVID-19 by mandating masks. On Monday, several physicians called on Williamson County Public School Board members, private school administrators and elected officials to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for all children returning to […]
Vanderbilt to host virtual event about vaccine hesitancy
Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy will host a virtual event August 18 at noon to “offer evidence-based context and perspective to de-escalate current heated rhetoric and dispel commonly held misunderstandings about vaccine development and efficacy. Panelist for the event, Vaccine Hesitancy: the Politics of Public Health in […]
Memphis City Council takes step to protect Memphis Sand Aquifer
The Memphis City Council made steps to pass an ordinance protecting the Memphis Sand Aquifer after environmental activists spent nearly a year fighting to protect it against a crude-oil pipeline. On Tuesday, the Memphis council passed on second reading an ordinance established the city government’s role in overseeing future developments in Memphis and how they […]
Tennessee residents sue governor for ending federal unemployment
A group of Tennesseans is suing Gov. Bill Lee for stopping federal unemployment benefits two months early, saying they need the money to survive. Represented by Nashville attorney Gary Blackburn, residents from Shelby, Carter, Knox, Davidson and Williamson counties filed the class action lawsuit Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Nashville against the governor and […]
Watchdog coalition files complaints against ALEC in 15 states
A coalition of watchdog organizations is filing complaints in15 states this week against the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC,) a nonprofit group of conservative state legislators and private organizations that draft model legislation to share with states across the country. Tennessee is one of the states included in the action. The Center for Media and […]
‘Going in the wrong direction’: positivity rates surge in 10 rural Tennessee counties
In 10 rural Tennessee counties, a key indicator of COVID-19 spread — the testing positivity rate — is surging to levels not seen since the spring. Positivity rates measure the number of positive tests among all those testing for COVID-19. In June, Tennessee was seeing a positively rate, also known as “attack rate,” under 3% […]
Metro Council wrangling continues over minority appointment to Fair Board
On Tuesday night, two Metro Nashville Council Members accused colleagues of pitting Black and Hispanic communities against each other as they argued over new appointees to the Fair Board Commission. As council members prepared to vote in Tracy Hardin, the vice president of construction company Don Hardin Group, to the Board of Fair Commissioners, members […]
Union rally urges Blackburn, Hagerty to vote for PRO Act
Workers and union leaders rallied in front of the offices of Tennessee’s U.S. senators on Tuesday, urging them to support working-class Americans by voting to provide protections for employees seeking to unionize. With the Senate in session, neither Sen. Marsha Blackburn nor Sen. Bill Hagerty was on site but organizers held signs in front of […]
Forrest bust removal question to go to State Building Commission
Nathan Bedford Forrest’s days in the State Capitol could be numbered. The State Capitol Commission is set to request Thursday that the State Building Commission concur with its decision to relocate three busts, including one of Confederate Lt. Gen. Forrest, to the State Museum, moving them out of the State Capitol after years of upheaval. […]
Critical care doctors want DOJ investigation into Lee following Fiscus firing
COVID-19 deaths are now preventable, and Gov. Bill Lee should be held accountable for politicizing the pandemic, said a coalition of physicians battling the virus on the frontlines. On Wednesday, Dr. Jason Martin, a critical care pulmonologist, and other health professionals called on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Lee after recent political moves […]
Camper leads minority legislator roundtable
In an era of rising voter suppression, Black Democratic leaders discussed on Monday their roles as double minority legislators in Republican-majority states. Black legislative leaders held a roundtable discussion as part of the Southern Legislative Conference, which is being held in Nashville this week. Rep. Karen D. Camper of Memphis, Tennessee House Democratic Caucus leader […]
Save Nashville Now sues Davidson County Election Commission
The other shoe has dropped in the ongoing dispute over a proposed referendum in Nashville to change the Metro Government Charter and undo a property tax increase levied by Metro Council in 2020. Save Nashville Now, a coalition of city business, community and faith leaders has filed a lawsuit against the Davidson County Election Commission, […]