Published by the Tennessee Lookout, Reporter Anita Wahwani – June 14, 2023 An annual report on the state of Tennessee kids has found slight improvements in child poverty rates but limited — and even downward —shifts in longstanding poor outcomes to their health, education and well-being. The report, the 2023 Kids Count Data Book by…
Published by the Tennessee Lookout, Commentator Holly McCall – June 12, 2023 Tennessee lawmakers like to give fancy names to laws that don’t remotely represent what the titles suggest. For instance, Gov. Bill Lee on June 5 ceremoniously signed the Transportation Modernization Act at a table by the side of Donelson Pike in Nashville, surrounded…
Published by the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Reporter Omer Yusuf – June 4, 2023 A federal judge tossed out Tennessee’s controversial “anti-drag” law just after midnight Friday. The law would have restricted drag performances in the state. Judge Thomas Parker ruled the law unconstitutional after closing arguments in hearings about the state’s recent passage of the bill…
Published by the The Tennessean, Reporters Kimberlee Kruesi and Jonathan Mattise – June 2, 2023 Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s administration accused the National Rifle Association of wanting to use involuntary commitment laws “to round up mentally ill people and deprive them of other liberties,” according to documents drafted by the Republican’s staffers as part of…
Published by the Tennessee Lookout, Reporter Sam Stockard – June 1, 2023 The governor’s proposal enabling law enforcement to confiscate weapons from unstable people is likely to go down in flames during a special session. Tennessee’s House and Senate speakers forecast a harsh reception for Gov. Bill Lee’s plan Wednesday in an interview with reporters….
Published by WJHL, Reporter Slater Teague – May 18, 2023 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill that protects school teachers who don’t use a student’s preferred pronouns. The Republican governor signed legislation Wednesday that prevents public school teachers from facing civil lawsuits or adverse employment action for not referring to a student…