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Analysis: O’Connell, Rolli’s victory mirror 2015 Barry, Fox Nashville mayoral election map

BY: - August 11, 2023

Freddie O’Connell rode a wave of East Nashville, Salemtown and Hillsboro Village voters to first place in the first round of last week’s Nashville mayoral election. But overall, O’Connell performed highly in several parts of Nashville, drawing 200 or more votes in 52 of Nashville’s 179 precincts, according to results from the Davidson County Election […]

Gov. Bill Lee, surrounded by Republican lawmakers during an April 3 press conference at which Lee announced he would direct funding towards school safety measures. (Photo:John Partipilo)

Draft proclamation lays out the narrow focus of Gov. Bill Lee’s special session

BY: - August 8, 2023

(This story was updated after Gov. Bill Lee issued the special session proclamation.) Gov. Bill Lee still wants lawmakers to consider temporary mental health order of protection, according to a draft document obtained by Tennessee Lookout laying out the 18 topics lawmakers will be allowed to debate at the upcoming special session. The topics are […]

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

Master falconer sues three TWRA officers after sweeping home search, seizure of 13 raptors

BY: - August 1, 2023

A master falconer has filed suit against three Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency law enforcement officers, alleging her constitutional rights were violated when they unlawfully seized 13 birds of prey, phone, computer, video and other records from her Nashville home in 2022 — an action a criminal court judge called “egregious,” “an abuse of the law” […]

Nashville General Hospital board defers action on half-million-dollar marketing and PR contracts

BY: - July 28, 2023

Nashville General Hospital’s oversight board, for a second time, deferred a vote on a pair of high-dollar, no-bid public relations and lobbying contracts with a single firm co-founded by former Metro Councilmember Jerry Maynard and his sister, Misha Maynard, who serves as president. The company, Community Health Marketing, is seeking a three-year contract for government […]

COMMENTARY
Former state Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, walks with his new attorneys after a July 2023 hearing. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Stockard on the Stump: Annoyed judge grants Kelsey one more delay

BY: - July 28, 2023

An increasingly impatient federal judge reset sentencing Thursday for former state Sen. Brian Kelsey amid the prosecution’s complaint about “delay tactics” in the federal campaign finance case. U.S. District Court Judge Waverly Crenshaw scheduled the new sentencing date for Aug. 11 and granted Kelsey’s request for new attorneys, Alex Little and Zachary Lawson, to take […]

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during an event at the Justice Department on June 15, 2021. Photo by Win McNamee | Getty Images

Department of Justice opens civil rights probe of Memphis after Tyre Nichols death case

BY: and - July 27, 2023

The U.S. Department of Justice initiated a civil rights investigation Thursday of the city of Memphis and Memphis Police Department stemming in part from the death of Tyre Nichols, who died in January after being beaten by police officers during a traffic stop. “Public safety requires public trust in police officers,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin […]

Nashville General Hospital board questions cost of $500K PR, lobbying contract with Jerry Maynard

BY: - July 27, 2023

Nashville General Hospital’s oversight board meets Thursday to consider a pair of lobbying and public relations contracts involving a single firm that, together, add up to nearly half-a-million dollars a year — a significant expenditure for the cash-strapped public hospital, which in recent years has operated $7 million in the red. Both contracts are with […]

The Tennessee Supreme Court Building in Nashville, Tennessee, is the historic building that houses the Tennessee Supreme Court offices and where the court meets when it is in session in Nashville. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. (Getty Images)

Tennessee raises bar to restore voting rights for those with felony convictions

BY: - July 27, 2023

Tennessee residents who have felony convictions and want to vote must comply with two state laws rather than one or the other, according to guidance from the state coordinator of elections. Beginning last Friday, they now must obtain a pardon or have all citizenship rights restored, and show they have paid all restitution and court […]

Members of the Tennessee House of Representatives mill about in House Chambers. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Teachers association files suit to stop Tennessee’s ‘prohibited concepts’ law

BY: - July 26, 2023

The state’s largest teacher organization and five educators are challenging the constitutionality of a two-year-old law against teaching “prohibited concepts,” mainly ideas surrounding race and gender. The Tennessee Education Association and the group of teachers filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the state’s education commissioner and State Board of Education members, claiming the law prohibits […]

Vanderbilt University Medical Center. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Patients sue Vanderbilt for releasing transgender clinic records to Tennessee AG

BY: - July 26, 2023

Vanderbilt University Medical Center failed in its duty to protect transgender patients, caused them serious harm and violated state law and its own privacy policies when it yielded to demands from the Tennessee attorney general to turn over private medical records, a lawsuit filed Monday claims. The lawsuit, filed by two patients seeking class action […]

Former House Speaker Glen Casada files motion to dismiss federal corruption charges as trial looms

BY: - July 25, 2023

Former House Speaker Glen Casada wants federal charges against him dismissed before an October trial, claiming lawmakers who did business with a new vendor called Phoenix Solutions received the services they requested. Federal prosecutors accuse Casada — who no longer serves in the House — of covering up the identity of the vendor, which was […]

Nissan Stadium, current home of the National Football League's Tennessee Titans. (Photo: John Partipilo)

TSU to play at new Titans domed stadium

BY: - July 24, 2023

A state building panel is set to inject $500 million into a $2.1 billion domed Titans stadium on Nashville’s East Bank and approve a 30-year lease for the TSU Tigers to play there. The State Building Commission Executive Subcommittee will take up the funding plan Tuesday after the Legislature approved bonds for the stadium proposal […]