Politics
Fired Rutherford Circuit Court Clerk employees file suit claiming harassment
Two men terminated by the Rutherford County Circuit Court Clerk, one of them disabled with cerebral palsy, are claiming they were wrongfully fired after suffering harassment and discrimination. Nicholas Trail, who has the physical disability, and Stephen LaQuire filed the lawsuit Thursday, March 4, in Rutherford County Chancery Court against Court Clerk Melissa Harrell, saying […]
U.S. mishandling of Covid response costs tens of thousands of lives, Hildreth says
Dr. James Hildreth, CEO of Meharry Medical College and a member of the new U.S. COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, offered a pointed assessment of the nation’s early response to the COVID-19 pandemic, criticizing a lack of coordination among its 50 states and missed opportunities to protect the country’s most vulnerable populations that led to […]
Stockard on the Stump: Holt sidesteps moral dilemma with state job handling booze industry
Retired Capitol Hill reporter Tom Humphrey for years wrote a column called “Humphrey on the Hill.” In his stead, Sam Stockard is taking up the mantle with a new report called “Stockard on the Stump,” a collection of briefs, anecdotes and quotes from the latest week in the Tennessee General Assembly. As a state representative, […]
Tennessee Republicans belittle Congress’ voter rights resolution
Tennessee Republican leaders are belittling Congress’ move this week to change voting laws, mainly by bringing more people into the election process and changing the method for redrawing district lines. On a party-line 220-210 vote, the U.S. House on Wednesday passed wide-ranging voting and ethics legislation. The measure faces a higher hurdle in the Senate, […]
Clarksville City Council considers becoming Second Amendment sanctuary city
(Update: The Clarksville City Council voted 8-4 Thursday night to approve the resolution to make the city a Second Amendment sanctuary.) A resolution introduced in the Clarksville City Council would proclaim the city as a “Second Amendment sanctuary,” as the state considers legislation that would make the same declaration across all of Tennessee. The resolution, […]
Reefer madness: Delta-8 produces similar effects to marijuana while still legal
While Tennessee sits on the sidelines of marijuana legalization, Tennesseans are choosing Delta-8, a psychoactive cannabis product nearly identical to marijuana. The two are isomers—chemical compounds with the same formula but different atomic arrangements—that offer similar mental effects with medicinal and recreational applications. Since legalizing CBD oil in 2015, the Tennessee state legislature has failed […]
Sweeping voting rights package passes U.S. House
The House passed sweeping voting rights, redistricting, campaign finance and ethics reform, late Wednesday night along party lines in a 220 to 210 vote, but the historic package will face an uphill battle in the Senate as no Republicans currently support the bill. Even though Democrats control Congress and the White House, their slim majority […]
Commentary: How “Niceley” to Advocate Nonsense
Few legislators are as unintentionally funny as Tennessee’s Frank Niceley. He’s a farmer from Strawberry Plains whose state senate district sprawls across Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson and Union counties. The Republican Niceley was elected to the state house in 2004 and moved up to the State Senate after the 2012 election. His career has […]
Permit-less gun carry bills steamroll through Legislature
Despite opposition from law enforcement officials, permit-less weapon legislation gained momentum in the General Assembly this week, although lawmakers might have to pick Gov. Bill Lee’s bill over one considered to be true “constitutional carry.” The Senate Judiciary Committee passed an amended version of the governor’s bill on a 7-2 vote Tuesday, followed by the […]
Nashville leaders and organizers call for changes to construction safety
Workers-rights advocates will file a bill to hold contractors accountable for incidents that have resulted in Nashville being named one of the most dangerous cities in the South for construction workers. On Tuesday, several Metro council members and community leaders held a press conference to address allegations of unsafe and unhygienic construction sites that have […]
Editor’s Column: Tennessee’s Constitution should be handled with care
On Monday, Tennessee officials staged a parade to move three physical versions of the Tennessee Constitution to their new home in the freshly completed Tennessee Library and Archives building. The Tennessee National Guard color guard turned out in smart uniforms, the Tennessee State University drumline high stepped along the downtown parade route, and the constitutions […]
Voting rights advocates and Democratic leaders slam GOP efforts to remove judge
A Tennessee plaintiff in the 2020 lawsuit to expand absentee voting during the COVID-19 pandemic says legislation to remove Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle is part of an effort to quell voting rights. Meanwhile, House Democrats contend the move is an unconstitutional effort to remove a sitting judge because Republicans disagree with her rulings. They say […]