Politics
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 […]
Seven states to watch in the 2022 push to restrict voting rights
WASHINGTON — Republican state lawmakers across the country are ramping up their drive to enact voting and election-related laws in time for crucial 2022 midterm elections. As federal legislation that would limit state-level voting restrictions appears stymied in Washington, Republicans in the states are moving forward with new proposals and revisiting old ones that Democrats […]
Online orders for free at-home COVID tests to begin Jan. 19
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Friday launched a new website for Americans to request up to four free COVID-19 tests per household. The administration is buying 1 billion at-home rapid COVID-19 tests, and Americans will be able to begin ordering the tests online on Jan. 19 at COVIDtests.gov. This is part of the administration’s effort […]
Governor plans to put more money into K-12 amid funding formula push
In the midst of an initiative to change the state’s K-12 funding formula, Gov. Bill Lee said Friday he plans to boost spending for public schools next fiscal year. Tennessee is spending $6.9 billion on K-12 education this year, $5.6 billion in state funds and $1.14 billion from the federal government. The state has spent […]
Stockard on the Stump: Convicted state senator could be ousted
State Sen. Katrina Robinson could face removal from the state Senate based on a decision by the chamber’s Ethics Committee. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said this week the panel is reviewing Robinson’s legal situation. “I think what they’re looking at is the plea agreement where she did admit to committing felonies and whether it would […]
Federal prosecutors file seditious conspiracy charges against Oath Keepers in Jan. 6 attack
WASHINGTON — Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right militia group the Oath Keepers, was charged with seditious conspiracy in organizing an attack on the U.S. Capitol and disrupting the Electoral College certification of the president, the Justice Department announced Thursday. Edward Vallejo, 63, of Phoenix is charged along with Rhodes in connection with events […]
House redistricting panel splits Davidson congressional map three ways
Snickers and gasps filled a House meeting room Wednesday when Republicans revealed a congressional redistricting map that splits Davidson County three ways. Most onlookers knew what was coming, but they were still shocked when they saw it. Democratic state Rep. Antonio Parkinson of Memphis summed it up best: “When this map was unveiled you could […]