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‘Deeply concerned and disturbed;’ Tennessee NAACP demands release of kids taken after traffic stop

BY: - March 25, 2023

MANCHESTER, Tenn. — Leaders of the Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP on Friday issued a public demand for the release of five Black children taken from their parents after a misdemeanor traffic stop in rural Tennessee last month, saying they were “deeply concerned and disturbed” by the events. The civil rights organization, joined by […]

Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, campaigning in his district on March 6, 2023, in Memphis. (Photo By Karen Pulfer Focht)

Pearson votes, debate on hold for another swearing-in

BY: - March 22, 2023

Forgive Rep. Justin J. Pearson if he’s not been too boisterous the last few days. The freshman House member from Memphis can’t vote, present bills or debate until he is sworn in again after winning the general election unopposed. Under an obscure state law, the Shelby County Democrat isn’t allowed to do much but show […]

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, photographed by John Partipilo on Nov, 7, 2022.

Lieutenant governor suspending social media activity amid questions about posts

BY: - March 14, 2023

Two days after being skewered on Saturday Night Live, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally is stopping his social media activity amid questions about his posts on the Instagram pictures of a young, scantily-clad gay man. Asked earlier Monday if he would resign, McNally said he serves “at the pleasure of the members of the Senate and […]

Dr. Michelle Fiscus (Photo: John Partipilo)

Judge: former Tennessee vaccine chief suit must go to trial

BY: - March 10, 2023

A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit brought by the state’s ex-vaccine chief against two of Tennessee’s top health officials will go to trial on May 8. The ruling on Friday clears the way for a jury to consider whether the reputation of Dr. Michelle Fiscus – former medical director of the state’s Vaccine-Preventable […]

A building once housing the Jackson Women’s Health Organization — otherwise known as the Pink House for its iconic pink walls — was recently the only abortion clinic in the state of Mississippi and the heart of the Supreme Court case that overturned the federal right to abortion. Now its walls have been painted white and a new owner plans to turn it into a luxury consignment store. (Photo by Shalina Chatlani/States Newsroom)

Remaining abortion clinics face more challenges if abortion pill limited by Texas judge

BY: - March 2, 2023

JACKSON, MISS. The Pink House — otherwise known as Jackson Women’s Health Organization — was the center of the U.S. Supreme Court case that overturned the federal right to abortion in June. Today, the clinic, the only abortion clinic to serve Mississippi and the greater area for years, is shuttered. On a hot day in […]

A locked gate keeps trespassers out of the former Monsanto plant property in Maury County, which Trinity Business Group proposes developing for a regional waste center. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Louisiana company renews fight to build landfills on rural Maury County Superfund site

BY: - February 27, 2023

A high-stakes battle over a private company’s efforts to bring a large-scale trash disposal complex to a federally-designated Superfund site along the Duck River is heading into yet another round. Louisiana-based Trinity Business Group first filed an application with the state in June for their proposed 1,300 acre waste complex in Maury County. The company […]

Nissan Stadium in Nashville, home of the Tennessee Titans. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Mayor Cooper, Titans finalize agreement for new Nashville NFL stadium

BY: - February 24, 2023

Nashville Mayor John Cooper and the Tennessee Titans have finalized an agreement to build a new $2.1 billion NFL stadium and will present it to the Metro Council for its first vote of approval on March 7. The final agreement is similar to the term sheet council members approved last December, with some slight modifications. […]

Four minors were employed by Packers Sanitation Services at the JBS meat processing plant in Greeley, Colorado, according to a Department of Labor investigation. The site was one of 13 plants in eight states where the food sanitation company illegally employed children. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images)

Food sanitation company fined $1.5 million for illegal child labor

BY: - February 21, 2023

A company responsible for cleaning meatpacking plants across the country has paid $1.5 million in civil penalties for making children as young as 13 work in dangerous conditions. The fine, announced Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor, followed an investigation by the agency into Packers Sanitation Services Inc., at 13 plants in eight states, […]

The Private Confederate Soldier Monument in Nashville's Centennial Park. (Photo: Nashville Public Library)

Nashville Confederate monument to stay

BY: - February 20, 2023

A Confederate monument will remain in one of Nashville’s most-visited public parks after the Tennessee Historical Commission on Friday rejected the city’s efforts to move it. The commission, whose 24 voting members are appointed by Gov. Bill Lee,  rejected a petition brought by Nashville parks officials to remove a life-sized statue of a Confederate soldier […]

Casting votes, Nov. 3, 2020. (Photo: Ray Di Pietro)

Sumner County Commission approves temporary storage for voting machines

BY: - February 15, 2023

Sumner County Commissioners this week approved the use of a temporary basement space to store 275 new voting machines soon to arrive from the manufacturer — part of an effort to avert violating U.S. Department of Homeland Security election rules requiring them to be kept in a secure location. But the decision may not avert […]

Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton told a lawyer for Tennessee Right to Life:"To intimidate this committee to go a certain direction is uncalled for." (Photo: John Partipilo)

Abortion bill to save life of mother clears first hurdle amid rancor over political threat

BY: - February 14, 2023

Despite a threat of negative pro-life scoring, a House subcommittee overwhelmingly passed legislation Tuesday enabling doctors to perform abortions in life-threatening situations without facing prosecution. The House Population Health Subcommittee approved HB883 and sent it to the full Health Committee for consideration as House Speaker Cameron Sexton stepped in to blast Tennessee Right to Life […]

Holly Lamar with one of her falcons. (Photo: John Partipilo)

‘Egregious’ abuse of the law: Tennessee wildlife agency takes falcons and prosecutes their owner

BY: - February 14, 2023

Holly Lamar, a master falconer and owner of a Nashville “bird experience” business, has a story to tell about each one of her 13 captive-bred birds of prey. The story behind Faith, her seven-year-old peregrine falcon, is tied to a particularly rough patch for Lamar, who experienced success as a Grammy-nominated songwriter, then lost nearly […]