Politics
House Democrats tout infrastructure benefits, but Republicans wary
There are countless ways that a $1.5 trillion federal infrastructure package drafted by U.S. House Democrats would affect Tennessee if it ever becomes law, but U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper said there’s one big change residents in his Nashville-area district would see quickly: fewer freight trains causing big traffic jams on major roads. Right now, idle […]
Finance director accuses Hospital Authority of hiding $9.4M in federal funding
The Hospital Authority failed to disclose $9.4 million in federal CARES Act funding to Mayor John Cooper’s administration in fear that its operating subsidy could be reduced, according to documents obtained by the Tennessee Lookout. Finance Director Kevin Crumbo, one of Cooper’s top aides, blasted the Hospital Authority for not keeping the administration in the […]
Tennessee: The faces of DACA
Last week the Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration and upheld Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), but program recipients still face many barriers in Tennessee. Katherine Diaz Garcia, 21, was seven years old when she first came to the U.S. from El Salvador and still remembers her home country and the violence her […]
Chief Anderson to retire, will help Nashville pick next chief
Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson will retire in the coming months, bringing an end to a career that spanned 45 years including the last decade at the helm of the department. Pressure mounted in recent weeks on Nashville Mayor John Cooper to ask for Anderson’s resignation. Police reform activists, the American Civil Liberties Union, the […]
Analysis: Mendes increases political profile with push for tax increase
A multi-year crusade to raise taxes is not normally the foundation for a bright political career, but Metro Councilmember Bob Mendes finally accomplished early Wednesday morning what he set out to do three years ago. Now the question is if Mendes’s notable success helps or hurts his ambitious political goals. There’s no question Mendes’s advocacy […]
Chattanooga business coalition bucks Berke’s budget
Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke’s proposed budget for FY 2021 passed first reading before Chattanooga City Council despite ongoing comment from community members and a “tax revenue” strike by a coalition of businesses in protest. Cameron “C-Grimey” Williams, owner of Goldfinger Production$, an entertainment company that books musical acts for bars and restaurants, was one of […]
Trump signs modest police reform order; defends ‘brave men and women in blue’
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a modest police reform order Tuesday in response to massive civil unrest over police brutality against people of color. The executive order strengthens efforts to track police misconduct and uses federal funds to encourage police departments to improve training and certification standards and to work with social workers and […]
From the 901: Cohen opponent characterizes congressman as “embarrassment”
Memphis attorney Corey Strong, who is running in the Democratic primary against U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, characterized Cohen as an “embarrassment” in a fundraising email Wednesday. Titled “Are you embarrassed?”, the email read, in part: “When the nation looks at us, what do they see? Our esteemed representative leering over a bucket of chicken? They see […]
State House committee advances bill criminalizing abortion after heartbeat detected
A bill criminalizing abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected was approved by members of a House health committee on Tuesday, even as some lawmakers voting in favor of it said they had not read it in its final form, including one of the bill’s sponsors. The bill was amended by Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro, […]
Lawsuit means COVID caution is reason for absentee ballot
All Tennessee voters can now request an absentee ballot from their county election commission following a Nashville judge’s ruling last week in a lawsuit filed by plaintiffs who said they did not want to vote in person because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle ruled that voters can check the box that says […]
BREAKING: Judge strikes down TN limits on absentee voting due to pandemic
A Nashville judge ruled Thursday that voters under 60 may request an absentee ballot due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making Tennessee one of the last states to expand mail-in voting in the nation. The ruling by Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle sets up a showdown in the state’s more conservative appeals court system. Plaintiffs, including Tennessee […]
Mayor Cooper: Nashville not ready from public health perspective to host RNC
Nashville Mayor John Cooper acknowledged on Thursday that tourism-starved Music City wants to get its convention business up and running again, but said the city is not where it needs to be from a public health perspective right now to host the Republican Nashville Convention. Gov. Bill Lee said earlier this week he has had […]