Politics
Hamblen County Commission chair denied residents free speech rights, suit alleges
Hamblen County Commission Chairman Howard Shipley admitted he violated the free speech rights of citizens, apologized for it, and promised never to do it again. But less than a year later, court records allege, he did it again. Now, Hamblen County taxpayers are on the hook for the cost of defending him in federal court. […]
Stockard on the Stump: Gov. calls Jan. 6 “lawlessness” but congressional committee missing mark
Gov. Bill Lee stopped short of calling the Jan. 6, 2021 riot on the U.S. Capitol an insurrection but said it was “lawlessness” and that the perpetrators should be punished. On the other hand, Lee said the congressional committee showing evidence that former President Trump tried to use bogus electors to change the election’s outcome […]
Access to abortion for members of the military expanded in Pentagon spending bill
WASHINGTON — Democrats in Congress are pushing to increase access to abortion for members of the military, concerned a U.S. Supreme Court decision that could end the constitutional right will harm troops. The U.S. House’s annual funding bill for the Defense Department would require the Pentagon to provide leave to troops and civilian employees seeking […]
Former state lawmaker Sheila Butt sued for defamation
(Story updated June 24 with comment from Butt added.) Former Republican state representative Sheila Butt, now a candidate for Maury County mayor, has been sued for defamation of character by another mayoral candidate. David Baker, a minister and former volunteer chaplain at the Maury County Jail, filed suit in Maury County Circuit Court on Wednesday, […]
U.S. House members warned about disinformation in upcoming campaigns
WASHINGTON — Experts on election security warned lawmakers during a U.S. House Administration hearing on Wednesday of targeted disinformation campaigns that could occur in the upcoming midterm and presidential elections. The panel of witnesses also stressed to members of the subcommittee on elections the dangers of conspiracy groups and their reach in sowing disinformation about […]
Biden pitches a summer gas tax holiday as price hovers around $5 a gallon
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Wednesday called on Congress and state legislatures to provide a temporary reprieve from gas taxes —but members of his own party and Republicans appeared opposed, making it look likely on the federal level. In addition, many state legislatures are out of session for the year and aren’t expected to […]
Memphis Light, Gas and Water suspends disconnections through heat wave
As Tennessee residents endure the second week of a heat wave, Memphis’ utility provider announced the agency will not suspend services for residents who fail to pay their bills. On Tuesday, Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s president and CEO J.T. Young addressed Memphis City Council members’ concerns and added that MLGW had already suspended disconnection […]
Trump led pressure campaign on state election officials, Jan. 6 panel says
Former President Donald Trump was directly involved in efforts to pressure state officials in Georgia, Arizona and elsewhere to overturn the 2020 election results in their states, according to evidence the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack presented Tuesday at the panel’s fourth hearing this month. Trump and his attorneys knew that […]
Hargett was driving state vehicle when charged with DUI
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office confirmed Tuesday he was driving a state vehicle when charged with DUI after attending Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. In response to questions about whether he was using his state-issued vehicle when arrested, Hargett spokeswoman Julia Bruck sent out a statement saying, “As the Tennessee Secretary of State, […]
Madison County “culture war” is a fight worth having
Since the beginning of time, relationships between humans have existed in many other forms and fashions other than monogamous, heterosexual affiliations. Until recently, however, those relationships were not equally recognized from a legal perspective or carried the same weight of acceptance from a broad portion of society. The strides that have been made over the […]
Lawmakers won’t seek Hargett’s resignation following DUI arrest
Tennessee’s legislative leaders might have been caught off guard by Republican Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s DUI charge after Bonnaroo Friday night, but they aren’t calling for his head. None of the state’s General Assembly leaders are asking him to resign from the constitutional officer position in the aftermath of his arrest by Tullahoma Police […]
Georgia, Arizona GOP officials to testify before Jan. 6 panel
The fourth Jan. 6 hearing on Tuesday will focus on pressure put by President Donald Trump and his allies on state officials in Georgia, Arizona and elsewhere to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The U.S. House hearing will include live testimony from Republican officials in those states, committee aides said Monday. It begins at […]