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Judicial panel finds Senate redistricting illegal, orders new plan
A three-judge panel Wednesday found a Republican-drawn Senate district map drawn unconstitutional and ordered a new map to be redrawn by Jan. 31. The decision affects districts in Shelby and Davidson counties and requires that they be consecutively numbered. The judicial panel dismissed a challenge to the state House map with prejudice after plaintiffs argued […]
Sean Williams, Johnson City man linked to more than 50 sexual assaults, apprehended in Florida
Sean Williams, the Johnson City man at the center of allegations that local police failed for years to investigate multiple sexual assault claims against him, was taken into custody in Florida on Wednesday, more than a month after his escape from police custody, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said. Williams was “apprehended without incident after […]
Tennessee K-12 Mental Health Trust Fund board okays first dispersal of funds
Money from a $250 million state investment in mental health services for children can begin to be spent in this fiscal year, the board of trustees overseeing the investment decided in a meeting on Monday. The four-person board of trustees for the K-12 Mental Health Trust Fund voted to authorize $6 million to be spent […]
Tennessee lawmakers join first Diwali celebration at Tennessee Capitol
A bipartisan group of legislators joined members of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a Hindu denomination that focuses on youth development, womens empowerment and humanitarian causes, for the first celebration of Diwali in the Tennessee Capitol on Monday. Shri Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan, consul general of India for six southern states, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, […]
U.S. Supreme Court considers case dealing with gun rights and domestic violence
WASHINGTON — U.S. Supreme Court justices during Tuesday’s oral arguments seemed to lean toward upholding a federal law that prevents the possession of firearms by a person who is subject to a domestic violence protective order. Liberal and conservative justices appeared to side with the Biden administration’s position that the 1994 federal law is in […]
Tennessee kicks off budget season with experts predicting stagnant revenues
The days of skyrocketing tax revenues are likely over, multiple budget experts told Tennessee’s panel in charge of predicting revenue growth. The financial experts predict the state and national economy will grow but at a slower pace over the next two years. This, combined with the state’s business tax cuts enacted earlier this year, will […]
Chattanooga enters three-year consent decree with feds over disability, housing discrimination
The city of Chattanooga has entered into a three-year consent decree with the federal government following allegations that public officials discriminated against people with disabilities, violated federal civil rights law and the federal Fair Housing Act. Under the rules of the agreement entered in federal court Monday, Chattanooga has 60 days to submit proposed changes […]
VA reports major uptick in veterans’ care after passage of toxic exposure law
Veterans experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts should dial 988 or chat at https://988lifeline.org/. WASHINGTON — Veterans’ care in the United States set all-time records in fiscal year 2023, “shattering” the agency’s performance in previous years, in large part because of an expansion of benefits under the Biden administration, U.S. Secretary of Veterans […]
Biden in Tel Aviv pledges U.S. support for Israel, humanitarian aid for Gaza
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden assured Israel that the U.S. will replenish defense stockpiles and also announced new humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza during his historic visit Wednesday to the war-torn region where thousands have died in just a dozen days, including 31 Americans. Biden plans to ask Congress later this week for an […]
‘So many ways hydrogen can go wrong’: Hub announcements viewed with caution
The Friday announcement that seven projects had been selected to receive $7 billion in seed money to kickstart the production of clean hydrogen across the country was billed by President Joe Biden’s administration as a major step toward slashing carbon emissions, creating thousands of domestic jobs and positioning the U.S. as a clean energy leader. […]
Tourism dollars flow from Tennessee Whiskey Trail
Bill Lee stands beside an old boxcar parked off to one side of a lot at The Chattanooga Choo Choo – quite a fitting place for an old railroad car to spend its days. But it’s not sitting empty. As Lee pulls the massive iron door open, its contents are revealed: Wooden barrels filled with […]
Ohio’s Jordan the latest U.S. House GOP nominee for speaker after days of turmoil
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans on Friday put forward their second nominee this week for speaker, though lawmakers departed Capitol Hill for the weekend without unifying enough to hold a floor vote and with a highly uncertain outcome when they return. Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan won the conference nomination in a closed meeting, defeating […]