Politics
Election Commission apologizes after error capitalized GOP Senators’ names
The Davidson County Election Commission apologized on Tuesday for what election administrator Jeff Roberts called a typographical error that led to the names of incumbent state Senators Steve Dickerson and Ferrell Haile’s names being capitalized on sample ballots sent to Nashville voters this week. Dickerson and Haile were the only candidates on the sample ballots […]
Clarksville City Council adds police accountability to legislative wish list
Every year, local governments around the state send a list of priorities to the Tennessee General Assembly laying out municipal needs for the coming legislative session. The lead item on the Clarksville City Council’s agenda this year is finding money in the budget for road improvement and construction. That’s no surprise, as many Tennessee cities […]
Commentary: Et tu, Lamar?
Perhaps, it’s only fitting that Sen. Lamar Alexander be the one to bury the Sen. Howard H. Baker Jr. tradition of statesmanship, a tradition more reviled than remembered by today’s Tennessee Republican Party. Less than 24 hours after praising the “decency” of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Alexander jumped on the Mitch McConnell bandwagon, […]
Congressional candidate Hale accused of broken promises and bounced checks
Christopher Hale has positioned himself as an ascending star in the Tennessee Democratic Party over the last two years, culminating in his victory in the District 4 Congressional primary in August. But at the same time the photogenic, hard-charging Hale has ridden a wave of clever social media posts to strong fundraising numbers for his […]
Former Metro Councilmember Tony Tenpenny dies of COVID-19
Tony Tenpenny, who served on Nashville’s Metro Council 2011-2015, died of COVID-19 early Sunday morning. Vice-Mayor Jim Shulman confirmed Tenpenny’s death in a statement to WKRN Channel 2. Tenpenny was first hospitalized in early August and according to Facebook posts, had been on a ventilator for most of September. Shulman said Tenpenny had underlying medical […]
In Rutherford County, incumbent and challenger face off for second time
In 2018, the Tennessee House of Representatives race in District 49 was decided by just 1,041 votes. Rep. Mike Sparks, the Republican incumbent first elected in 2010, beat Democrat Chris Mayor by five percent. In 2016, Sparks, who was first elected in 2010, beat Democrat Brandon Thomas by a margin of 61%-39%. Sparks and Thomas […]
As Tennessee prepares to distribute $61M in broadband grants, an audit questions fairness of the grant application process
Over three years, state officials have awarded more than $45 million in grants to municipalities and private companies to expand broadband internet access in rural Tennessee. An audit released Tuesday by the Tennessee Comptroller is now raising questions about how the Department of Economic and Community Development selected who was awarded the highly competitive grants. […]
Referendum proposal on shaky legal footing before Election Commission vote
A referendum that would give Nashville voters the ability to approve property tax increases and bond issuances is on shaky legal footing before it ever gets added to the ballot. The Metro Department of Law, led by Director Bob Cooper, has advised the Election Commission not to put the referendum on the ballot in December […]
Commentary: Let’s Get Debates Right in Tennessee
You might be surprised to learn that I’m a veteran of the NFL and lettered at Penn State. Lest you think I was a linebacker, let me explain the letter was for the debate team and the NFL stood for National Forensic League (established in 1925). The name was changed in 2014 to the National […]
‘We’re not through this’: Governors plead with Congress for emergency assistance
WASHINGTON — Democratic governors on Thursday begged Congress to come to the aid of ailing states, which face unexpected expenses as they attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19 as well as massive revenue shortfalls due to the pandemic. But Republicans at a House hearing rejected their pleas, arguing that states have yet to spend […]
The Memphis miracle: Marquita Bradshaw
Marquita Bradshaw knows what it’s like to be left out, to be the person whose voice is ignored by the power structures. After years of fighting politicians from Memphis to Washington with mostly disappointing results, she’s decided to do something about it. Bradshaw is the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in what she calls […]
Tennessee ACLU launches voter turnout project
Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Jason Isbell is working with the ACLU Tennessee on a campaign to mobilize Tennesseeans to vote via mail-in ballot or early voting for the November election. The campaign, called “Vote Like Your Rights Depend on It,” will feature a video from Isbell, virtual events, educational materials, social media tips and the […]