Tag Archives: Tennessee

The Tennessean reports: For the second time in recent weeks, a resolution denouncing neo-Nazis and white nationalists has died in the Tennessee General Assembly. The first resolution, filed by Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, was killed in a House subcommittee in mid-March after Clemmons failed to receive a second motion to discuss the resolution. Last week, House Republican Caucus Chairman …

The Tennessean reports: Metro police have arrested a pastor accused of molesting several children across two decades while he was leader of a South Nashville congregation. Matthew Dennis Patterson, known as Denny, served as pastor of Nolensville Road Baptist Church for more than 20 years. He resigned on Sept. 24. Days later, members of the congregation came to the police …

The Tennessean reports: A bill requiring Tennessee schools to prominently display the national “In God We Trust” motto is headed to the governor for his signature. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, overwhelmingly passed the state House on Monday with 81 of the 99 members voting in favor of it. Before the vote, the Republican lawmaker spoke …

The Tennessean reports: A House committee declined to pass a resolution that stated Tennessee denounces white nationalism and neo-Nazism. The sponsor, Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, didn’t receive a second motion to proceed with discussing the resolution in the House State Government Subcommittee on Wednesday. “I’m in utter disbelief at what just happened,” Clemmons said after the meeting. “I didn’t …

Nashville’s NBC affiliate reports: What would you think if you saw your wedding picture being used in a political attack ad? That’s the spot a local gay couple is finding themselves. Their wedding was officiated by a candidate for state senate, but the couple says they didn’t sign up to be caught in the mudslinging. The Air Force veteran, who …

The Christian Post reports: After allegedly threatening to take his life last month over allegations that he raped two underage boys, Ronnie Gorton, a married father and lead pastor of The Awakening Church in Atoka, Tennessee, was indicted on 47 counts of illegal relations with three underage boys. Among the charges, according to The Leader, are five counts of aggravated …

The Tennessean reports: House Republicans effectively killed a bill Wednesday that would prohibit child marriages in Tennessee, citing an obscure legal theory that passing the bill could deter a conservative lawyer’s case against gay marriage. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Darren Jernigan, D-Old Hickory, calls for the state to outlaw marriages where one of the parties is under 18 years …

The Washington Post reports: Megan Barry resigned as Nashville’s mayor Tuesday morning, weeks after admitting an affair with the police officer who ran her security detail. Barry announced her resignation at a news conference, shortly after she pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge related to the affair. She kept her remarks brief and smiled throughout the announcement. “It has …

Talking Points Memo reports: Last month’s massacre in Parkland, Fla., which killed 17 high school students and staff, kicked off a national conversation about the need for increased gun control. But gun rights supporters are playing offense as well as defense. Despite Parkland, Republican lawmakers in a number of states are quietly advancing a slew of NRA-backed bills. In some …

The Christian Post reports: Ronnie Gorton, a married father and lead pastor of The Awakening Church in Atoka, Tennessee, has been taken in for a psychiatric evaluation after he allegedly threatened to take his life over accusations that he raped two underage boys. Tipton County investigators told WMCActionNews5 that a 17-year-old boy came forward last week to allege that Gorton, …

CBS News reports: President Trump is expected to find a loyal audience Monday to hear his speech to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Convention in Nashville, where he will push for rural prosperity and tout solutions proposed by a task force that include increasing internet connectivity for rural America. A new report from the task force, however, also argues …

USA Today reports: The city of Memphis sold two public parks containing Confederate monuments to a nonprofit Wednesday in a massive, months-in-the-planning operation to take the statues down overnight. The City Council unanimously approved the sale of Health Science Park, home of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, and its easement on Fourth Bluff Park, home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, …

The Shelbyville Times-Gazette reports: Confederates. Anarchists. Police. Batons. Automatic rifles. Snipers. Helicopters. Drones. Clowns. Those were the scenes Saturday as 200 to 400 white nationalists and 400 to 600 counter-protesters filled downtown Shelbyville during the White Lives Matter rally. The streets in between the sidewalks at North Cannon Boulevard and Lane Parkway belonged to hundreds of police officers from across …

The Anti-Defamation League reports: The white supremacist Nationalist Front will hold a series of “White Lives Matter” protests at various points in Tennessee on Saturday, October 28, 2017. The events will begin at 10am EST and culminate in a private social event that evening. With an expected attendance of around 200 people, this could be the largest gathering of white …

Bloomberg reports: Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn is launching her bid for the U.S. Senate on the heels of Gov. Bill Haslam’s decision to sit out the race to succeed retiring Sen. Bob Corker. Blackburn described herself in her campaign announcement Thursday as a “hard-core, card-carrying Tennessee conservative” and decried the Republican majority in the Senate for failing to repeal …

The Tennessean reports: Sen. Bob Corker said Tuesday he will not seek re-election next year. “After much thought, consideration and family discussion over the past year, Elizabeth and I have decided that I will leave the United States Senate when my term expires at the end of 2018,” the Chattanooga Republican said in a statement. “When I ran for the …

A couple of the usual haters appeared at Knoxville Pride this afternoon to wave their anti-LGBT banners and shout abuse. Not having it was the touring Washington Gay Men’s Chorus, who encircled the haters to deliver a rousing rendition of We Shall Overcome. The chorus is in town as part of their Southern Equality Tour. Watch below. GMCW leads the …

The Associated Press reports: Tennessee lawmakers are considering legislation to amend the state constitution to say that God is the source of liberties for the state’s citizens. The House Civil Justice Subcommittee voted Wednesday to advance the measure sponsored by Republican Rep. Micah Van Huss of Jonesborough. The bill failed in the same subcommittee last month. But the panel agreed …

The Huffington Post reports: President Donald Trump is expected to choose as his Army secretary Tennessee state Sen. Mark Green (R), a legislator who is popular among many tea party Republicans and is the sponsor of a bill that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer advocates say takes direct aim at their community. Green’s confirmation would be a significant break …

The Associated Press reports: A watered-down version of a bill that took aim at Tennessee’s recognition of gay marriages is dead for the year. The House Civil Justice Subcommittee voted Wednesday to stop considering the bill by Republican Rep. Mark Pody of Lebanon until next year. The bill would have required the state attorney general to defend county or city …