Politics
Editor’s column: GOP legislative leadership should police their own
The Tennessee General Assembly has come a ways since the days of Tommy Burnett. Burnett was a Democratic state representative of legendary proportions. An epic schmoozer and confidant to the late Gov. Ned Ray McWherter, Burnett was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1970, rising to become majority leader, and remained popular with […]
Stockard on the Stump: As the whistle blows, felonies could follow
To the untrained eye, it might appear that Rep. Brandon Ogles is sponsoring legislation making it a felony to assault a referee in reaction to the “pantsing” of an East Tennessee ref by enraged Rep. Jeremy Faison. You would be wrong, according to Ogles. Ogles, a Franklin Republican, claims he planned to sponsor the bill […]
Legislatures across country back off pandemic protocols
As Dr. Jennifer Bacani McKenney walked the halls of the Kansas Statehouse on opening day of the legislative session this month, she was taken aback by what she saw. In the hallways, where “people are chatting and hugging and all that stuff, there were probably less than half of the people wearing masks … You […]
Senate Ethics Committee speeds Robinson ouster move to chamber hearing
Less than a week after notifying Sen. Katrina Robinson she would face an Ethics Committee hearing, the panel expedited a move Thursday to expel her from the Senate. In two 4-1 votes, with the only opposition coming from fellow Memphis Democrat, Sen. Raumesh Akbari, the committee found Robinson violated the Senate’s ethics rules, then recommended […]
Black Caucus, Shelby Democrats urge Senate Ethics Committee not to unseat Robinson
Concerned that the Senate Ethics Committee could recommend ousting Sen. Katrina Robinson for felony convictions, the Black Caucus and Shelby County Democratic Legislative Caucus are urging the panel to wait until her legal case is finished. Both groups sent the committee letters Wednesday requesting it decide against removing Robinson, a Memphis Democrat, from the Senate […]
Shelby County approves $1.5 million for COVID testing kits
During a special session Wednesday, Shelby County commissioners approved $1.5 million for the purchase of at-home COVID testing kits as cases continue to spread throughout the county. Shelby County’s weekly test positivity rate has decreased since last week, but residents are still testing at a positive rate of 35.9%, continuing the county’s streak of the […]
Shelby County accepts opioid settlement
The Shelby County Commission voted to accept $20 million as a partial settlement as part of a statewide effort to crack down on the opioid epidemic. In March 2021, Memphis city officials filed a federal lawsuit against a group of opioid manufacturers and distributors for their role in fueling the opioid influx that has significantly […]
Registry embarks on long road to obtain testimony on Faith Family Freedom Fund PAC
The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance could consider civil penalties dealing with fraud against Cade Cothren, ex-chief of staff to former House Speaker Glen Casada, as they dig into a shady political action committee he may have run secretly. Registry board members don’t expect him to be forthcoming, and they aren’t certain what types of […]
Judge rules fired Tennessee vaccine official Dr. Michelle Fiscus cannot pursue monetary damages
A federal judge has ruled that former Tennessee vaccination chief Dr. Michelle Fiscus cannot pursue claims for monetary damages against the state’s top two Department of Health officials after her controversial firing last summer — but the remainder of her lawsuit seeking a ‘name-clearing hearing’ and a finding that the state violated her constitutional rights […]
Republican district maps move ahead amid claims of minority vote dilution
Republican-controlled panels approved legislative and congressional district maps Tuesday despite criticism they would dilute African-American and Latino votes. In spite of evidence that Black voters would lose their influence in elections, the Senate Judiciary and House State Government committees approved three redistricting plans for new state House, state Senate and congressional maps. New maps are […]
Commentary: Republican maps are undermining democracy
The proposed electoral maps recently unveiled by Republicans represent not only a brazen partisan power move, but a party disconnected from and disinterested in the voices of the people. Despite both the House and Senate Redistricting Committees holding public hearings in the last few months of 2021 and accepting submissions from both private citizens and […]
Crowd protests GOP-drawn congressional maps on MLK Day
Concerns over COVID-19 and lingering snow from a weekend storm halted several Middle Tennessee events traditionally held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to honor the late civil rights leader, but more than 100 people turned out in Nashville to protest new GOP-drawn congressional and legislative district maps. The Nashville Justice League, which is comprised […]