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Federal judge temporary halts Tennessee’s so-called “abortion reversal” law, set to go into effect Oct. 1
A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a Tennessee law requiring abortion providers to tell women a medication abortion can be reversed — a claim that providers have called “scientifically unsupported and misleading information.” The law, enacted earlier this year by Tennessee lawmakers, was set to go into effect October 1. It makes it a […]
Taxpayer funded corporate incentives fail to produce promised jobs
When Canadian entrepreneurs touting a healthy new snack product scouted Kingsport, Tenn. as their new headquarters in 2015, local economic development officials like Clay Walker were enthusiastic. They sampled the gluten-free, non-GMO fruit and vegetable bars and worked to seal a deal that would bring 273 jobs to the northeast Tennessee town of 54,000 in […]
How do you win over Glen Casada voters? “Remind them of his record.”
It’s safe to say there’s no path to winning an election in Williamson County that doesn’t include Republican voters. Conservatives have dominated local politics for two decades in Tennessee’s wealthiest county, home to some of the state’s most powerful politicians, including Gov. Bill Lee and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn. The political makeup of the 63rd […]
Editor’s column: Assessing John Cooper
One year after John Cooper was inaugurated Nashville mayor, he’s facing the possibility of seeing his signature tax increase rolled back by referendum and talk of a recall campaign. Cooper knocked off incumbent Mayor David Briley, first besting him in the August 2019 general election by 10% and then clinching the seat by a whopping […]
Middle Tennessee wedding industry adapts events for pandemic
Hannah Tomlin Davies had largely remained optimistic about her upcoming wedding, but the day she picked up her wedding dress was the day Williamson County reported their first COVID-19 case, and the area’s wedding industry has struggled to stay afloat under strict pandemic regulations ever since. In 2018, Davidson County alone hosted 5,618 marriages, according […]
Musicians coalition pushes to end smoking in bars
A coalition of musicians is pushing to end smoking in Nashville’s bars and music venues, the latest in a long line of efforts that have typically failed. Tennessee passed a smoking ban in 2007, but included a carve-out for establishments with under-21 age restrictions. Musicians for Smokefree Nashville are seeking to ban smoking in bars […]
Nashville’s COVID hotspots include facilities for kids in DCS custody
Among the Nashville COVID-19 hotspots disclosed by the city’s health department on Monday are three facilities in or near downtown where the majority of positive cases have been found not among honky tonk patrons or nursing home residents but in children in the custody of the Department of Children’s Services. At Hermitage Hall, an Eighth […]
Commentary: Election Acceptance is Not Trump’s Call
Some people have asked an odd question: what happens if Donald Trump loses the presidential election but doesn’t acknowledge defeat or leave the White House? The short answer is that those things are not up to him. After Joe Biden take his oath of office at noon on January 20, 2021, Trump is a noisy […]
Election 2020: In District 7, political newcomer takes on incumbent Green
Democrat Kiran Sreepada thinks he has what it takes to unseat entrenched Republican Congressman Mark Green to represent the people of Tennessee District 7 in the U.S. House of Representatives. It’s a tough battle, Green is running to his second term with political momentum on his side. Green is a popular, and familiar, character in Tennessee […]
Audit critical of Tennesee’s economic incentive program after companies failed to create promised jobs
Nine companies lured to do business in Tennessee with generous economic incentive packages have been referred to the Tennessee Attorney General for possible legal action after failing to live up to their end of the bargain, Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe told lawmakers this week in response to a critical audit of the […]
Comptroller: Two Memphis nonprofits who received thousands in federal dollars lied about feeding low-income kids
In 2018, suspicion had grown about a Memphis child care organization that was supposed to be distributing food to low-income children who were out of school for the summer — food paid for by taxpayer funds in a program overseen in Tennessee by the state’s Department of Human Services. Red Robin’s Academy of Learning had […]
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 […]