Tag Archives: Tennessee

The Tennessean reports: School children in most Tennessee counties will be required to view a three-minute animated video depicting fetal development, such as one produced by a political group that advocates against abortion, a under a bill signed by Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday. HB 2435/SB 2767 mandates the inclusion of a 3-minute computer-generated or high definition ultrasound video depicting …

NBC News reports: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said Thursday that he planned to sign a bill state legislators sent to his desk this week that would allow school staff members to carry concealed handguns on school grounds. “What’s important to me is that we give districts tools and the option to use a tool that will keep their children safe …

The Washington Post reports: The Tennessee legislature passed a bill Tuesday that would allow teachers and school staffers to carry concealed handguns in schools, one of the most divisive steps taken by Republican leaders in the year since six people were killed by a shooter at a Nashville school. The House approved the measure as protesters shouted objections, nearly drowning …

Nashville’s NBC affiliate reports: A bill passed in the Tennessee House that would make it illegal to marry your first cousin in the state, but it did not pass without argument from one lawmaker who pushed an amendment to make it legal for cousins to marry each other if they first received genetic counseling. The bill as amended by Rep. …

From the Justice Department: United States Attorney Henry Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced that a federal judge returned a guilty verdict yesterday for defendants Eva Edl, Eva Zastrow, James Zastrow, and Paul Place on criminal charges arising out of their blockade of a reproductive …

The Tennessean reports: Three dozen well-regarded Americana, country and pop vocalists — including Grammy winners Allison Russell, Brittany Howard, Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Emmylou Harris and Amanda Shires — have joined forces to record and release the new soul anthem “Tennessee Rise.” It is being released to support of the U.S. Senate campaign of state Sen. Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville. …

The Associated Press reports: A bill that would largely ban displaying pride flags in public school classrooms was passed by the GOP-led Tennessee House on Monday after Republicans cut a heated debate short. The 70-24 vote sends the legislation to the Senate, where a final vote could happen as early as this week. The motion to cut off debate prompted …

“When you go into a grocery store, you should know as a consumer this head of lettuce is a head of lettuce, the head of lettuce right next to it could contain a vaccine in it. “All we’re saying is, if it does have the vaccine in it, make sure it’s listed as a pharmaceutical so people can get the …

CNN reports: Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee has signed a bill that allows people in the state to refuse to “solemnize,” or perform, a marriage if they disagree with it. Last week, Tennessee state lawmakers passed HB 878, which states “a person shall not be required to solemnize a marriage.” In Tennessee, only certain people can “solemnize” the “rite of …

Nashville’s ABC affiliate reports: Multiple Tennessee lawmakers took to social media Saturday afternoon to notify the Nashville community about a group of masked people marching through downtown with swastika flags. A News 2 employee spotted the group on Broadway shortly afterward and took a video. In that video, you can hear the marchers chanting, with one person yelling, “Deportation,” and …

Memphis’s CBS reports: A bill working its way through the Tennessee legislature could put a chill on cold beer sales in the state. SB 2636, according to its summary on the state website, “prohibits a beer permittee from selling at retail refrigerated or cold beer.” It passed two votes in the Senate and was referred to a committee. The bill …

The Tennessean reports: Hours after a bill allowing marriage officiants to decline to solemnize weddings if they have moral objections received final passage from lawmakers, a vibrant crowd rallied on Capitol Hill advocating against a slate of bills aimed at placing new restrictions on Tennessee’s LGBTQ community. Senate Bill 596, which would allow officiants to decline to perform weddings, passed …

Nashville’s NBC affiliate reports: The son of a grieving mother is being used as a poster child on anti-vaccine sites and she wants to clear up the false accusations. Janaye Creecy said several websites are using her story and family photos for political use, insinuating her son died from the COVID-vaccine. The Pulaski mother found the unsettling posts as she …

The Washington Post reports: A Tennessee city must pay $500,000 as part of a settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups over an ordinance designed to ban drag performances from taking place on public property, attorneys announced Wednesday. Last year, the Tennessee Equality Project — a nonprofit that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights — filed a federal lawsuit …

The Tennessean reports: A Tennessee Republican hopes to establish an “abortion trafficking” felony for adults who help pregnant minors get an out-of-state abortion without parental permission, an effort reproductive health advocates argue will run afoul of constitutional rights such as interstate travel. Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, filed House Bill 1895 on Monday. The legislation would establish a new Class C …

The Daily Mail reports: Records indicate that Keri Blair arrived in the same car – a gray Infiniti SUV – and used the same debit card in her name each time she stole from the retail giant. According to authorities, Target has video footage of Blair allegedly stealing the items. Reports say the value of the goods stolen on each …

Memphis’s NBC affiliate reports: Collierville School Board Member Keri Blair resigned Tuesday, citing “personal, family reasons,” according to the school board. This comes after she was arrested and charged Friday, January 5, on seven counts of property theft from the Collierville Target, according to the Collierville Police Department. Blair is currently free on a $7,500 bond. According to Collierville police, …

Nashville’s ABC affiliate reports: Republican State Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) has filed a bill to ban all flags in schools that aren’t the official Tennessee or United States flag. Bulso said he drafted the bill after hearing concerns from constituents about pride flags being displayed in schools. Bulso said the country used to have a “very strong consensus” on what …

The Christian Post reports: More than three years after a street preacher’s daughter was sent home from school for wearing a T-shirt declaring “homosexuality is a sin,” the family’s litigation against the school district has come to an end as the now-adult former student has received a cash payment as part of a settlement. In a settlement agreement reached in …

The Tennessean reports: The North Nashville gas station and marketplace that was recently found to be hosting a gym for a local white supremacist group above the store will soon be purchased by Nashville-based Tri Star Energy, a fuel service company that owns more than 200 gas station convenience stores across the south. Dawn Boulanger, Tri Star Energy’s vice president …