Bill Lee

Several states, including Republican-led Georgia and Tennessee, and Democratic-led Maryland and Virginia, have passed laws to expand or protect access to contraception. Measures include allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control without a doctor’s signature, requiring health plans to cover contraceptives, and establishing legal rights to contraception.

Several states, including Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia, have enacted laws to expand or protect access to contraception. Republican and Democratic governors signed measures allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control, requiring health insurance coverage for contraceptives, and establishing legal rights to contraception access.

Several states, including Republican-led Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia, have passed laws to expand or protect access to contraception. These measures include allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control, requiring health insurance coverage for contraceptives, and establishing legal rights to contraception.

Several U.S. states, including Republican-led Georgia and Tennessee, as well as Democratic-led Maryland and Virginia, have enacted laws to expand or protect access to contraception. Measures include allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control, mandating insurance coverage, and requiring educational institutions to report on contraception access.

The voter registration deadline for August elections is July 7. The newly seated Metro Nashville Airport Authority board seeks to withdraw from a lawsuit initiated by its previous incarnation over control of the airport, following a state law change altering board appointments.

Two Tennessee National Guard members assigned to a federal crime-fighting patrol in Memphis fatally shot a 20-year-old man during a pursuit after he turned toward them with a gun. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is examining the circumstances, and the incident involves a task force established by President Donald Trump to address crime in Democrat-led cities.

National Guard troops fatally shot 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson in Memphis after he was seen armed with a handgun and fled from law enforcement. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is examining the incident, which occurred during a federal task force deployment aimed at reducing crime. Legal challenges to the deployment by Democratic officials were partially resolved in favor of continuation.

Two National Guard members assigned to the Memphis Safe Task Force fatally shot 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson during a pursuit in Memphis. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is examining the circumstances of the shooting, which occurred after Johnson turned toward the soldiers with a weapon. Federal troops have patrolled Memphis since October 2025 under a Trump administration initiative, despite objections from local officials.

Two Tennessee National Guard members fatally shot a 20-year-old man during a pursuit in Memphis after he turned toward them with a gun. The incident occurred as part of a federal crime-fighting deployment in the city, which has faced high violent crime rates. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is examining the circumstances, and local leaders have expressed mixed reactions to the federal troop presence.

Tennessee Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Jody Barrett, are demanding transparency from Gov. Bill Lee's administration following a failed execution of Tony Carruthers. They seek explanations and procedural changes before the next scheduled execution of Darrell Hines. An independent review has been requested to prevent future issues with lethal injection protocols.

A new state law transferred control of the Metro Nashville Airport Authority to Republican state leaders, prompting legal challenges from the city seeking to reinstate mayor-appointed board members. Nashville Electric Service appointed Laine Arnold as chief communications officer to address public communication issues during recent crises. A lawsuit over Cheekwood Estate's planned parking garage faces criticism from Councilmember Sandy Ewing for misrepresenting the city's efforts to improve park access.

A Tennessee judge extended a temporary order blocking state health officials from reporting sick and disabled immigrant children in a healthcare program to an immigration enforcement office. Three doctors, supported by a law firm, argue the policy risks patients' health, while state officials claim compliance with federal and state laws.

Tennessee’s emergency management department, previously called the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, is now the Tennessee Emergency Management Authority and has been elevated to a cabinet-level department. The change aims to improve coordination across state government and enhance disaster response capabilities.

Tennessee Republicans have asked Governor Bill Lee to halt executions for a review of the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) after multiple failures, including a botched execution attempt. The lawmakers support the death penalty but emphasize the need for corrections to TDOC's procedures before resuming executions.

Republican state senators in Tennessee are demanding an investigation into the failed execution of Tony Carruthers in May, citing repeated failures in the state's lethal injection process. Legal challenges and calls for a moratorium on the death penalty have followed, involving inmates scheduled for execution this year, while lawmakers emphasize their support for the death penalty and accountability for protocol violations.

Tennessee Republican senators are calling for an independent review of the state's execution process following a failed lethal injection attempt for death row inmate Tony Von Carruthers in May 2026. The execution was halted after the team could not establish a backup IV line, citing past issues with the Department of Correction's compliance with lethal injection protocols.

The city of Waverly removed a low-head dam from Trace Creek to reduce flood risk and benefit protected wildlife. The project, supported by local leaders and funded by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant, is part of ongoing efforts to improve flood resilience after the 2021 disaster.

Tennessee lawmakers approved a $356 million increase for Student First Technologies, LLC, raising its contract to nearly $637 million over five years to administer private-school voucher programs. The expansion follows a 15,000-student increase in the Education Freedom Scholarship program and comes despite the vendor's past issues in Arkansas and West Virginia.

Shelby County government sued Tennessee lawmakers in federal court over a law replacing the locally elected Memphis Shelby County Schools board with a state-appointed one. The lawsuit alleges violations of equal protection clauses in the U.S. and Tennessee constitutions, arguing the law removes local control over education decisions.

The Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act, a Tennessee law allowing public schools and higher education institutions to teach the positive impacts of Christianity on American history, goes into effect July 1. The law, signed by Gov. Bill Lee in April, permits but does not require instruction on topics like the Pilgrims, the Declaration of Independence's references to divine authority, and the Ten Commandments' influence on American legal tradition. Teaching under the law is scheduled to begin in the Fall 2026 semester.

Republican governors in multiple states are rebranding June, traditionally recognized as Pride Month, with alternative names like 'Nuclear Family Month' or 'Strong Families Month' to promote traditional family structures. The proclamations, which do not carry legal weight, aim to highlight conservative values but diverge from the LGBTQ+ community's celebration of Pride Month.

Republican-led states including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Utah have declared June as alternative months such as 'Nuclear Family Month' and 'Fidelity Month' instead of Pride Month. These proclamations promote traditional family structures defined as 'one husband, one wife, and children' but do not carry legal weight.

Republican governors in several U.S. states are rebranding June, traditionally recognized as Pride Month, with conservative-themed designations like 'Nuclear Family Month' and 'Fidelity Month.' These proclamations, which emphasize traditional family structures, are positioned as counter-programming to Pride Month celebrations that highlight LGBTQ+ history and culture. The efforts include states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Utah, with some governors explicitly defining family units as consisting of a married man and woman with children.

Republican-led states including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Utah are rebranding June, widely recognized as Pride Month, with conservative-friendly labels like 'Nuclear Family Month' and 'Strong Families Month.' These proclamations promote traditional family structures without explicitly opposing Pride Month, which celebrates LGBTQ+ communities.

Republican governors in several states have declared June as alternative designations like 'Nuclear Family Month' or 'Fidelity Month,' promoting traditional family structures as a counter to Pride Month. The proclamations emphasize heterosexual, married families with children and do not carry legal weight but reflect political messaging.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools, along with the Shelby County Commission and nine board members, filed a federal lawsuit against Tennessee officials to block a state takeover law that transfers control from the local school board to a Republican-appointed oversight board. The lawsuit claims the law violates the Fourteenth Amendment and Tennessee Constitution by dismantling local governance and stripping budget approval authority from county government.

A three-judge panel heard arguments on Tennessee's redistricting map. The ACLU of Tennessee, Memphis voters, and the American Civil Liberties Union allege intentional discrimination, seeking to block the map before elections. The new map divides Memphis and Shelby County into three sections, reducing the state's last majority-Black district, following a Supreme Court ruling that weakened protections under the Voting Rights Act.

Several Republican governors in states including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Utah have issued proclamations rebranding June with conservative-friendly terms like 'Nuclear Family Month' or 'Fidelity Month,' promoting traditional family structures. These declarations, which do not carry legal weight, coincide with Pride Month, a time celebrating LGBTQ+ history and culture.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen urged Gov. Bill Lee to revoke a Tennessee directive requiring the reporting of approximately 400 sick or disabled immigrant children in a public health program to a state immigration enforcement division. The directive, which has drawn opposition from health providers and advocates, mandates that families receiving services through the Children’s Special Services program be reported to the Centralized Immigration Enforcement Bureau by June 30 if they continue using the services.

Tennessee's government requires immigrant families to share personal information with immigration authorities to retain healthcare coverage for their disabled or critically ill children through the Children’s Special Services program, creating a June 30 deadline with no transition plan. Healthcare providers and advocates are scrambling to secure care for affected children, including those reliant on ventilators and chemotherapy.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a resolution sponsored by Rep. Bud Hulsey designating June as 'Nuclear Family Month,' which critics argue undermines single parents and LGBTQ+ communities. The resolution includes statistics about fatherless children but faces backlash for prioritizing traditional family models over broader social issues.

LGBTQ+ advocacy groups criticize a Tennessee law prohibiting doctors from asking minors about gender identity, calling it 'medical censorship' that could harm transgender youth. The law, House Bill 1665, passed with no Democratic support and takes effect in October, requiring parental consent for such questions and restricting insurance-related gender inquiries.

Rebecca Paul, CEO of the Tennessee Education Lottery, will retire in 2026 after 23 years, amid scrutiny over her $650,000 salary. Lottery revenue has declined since the legalization of sports gambling, leading Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton to push legislation for board restructuring and public disclosure of her compensation.

Tennessee lawmakers are campaigning to pass a constitutional amendment banning a state property tax, which has not existed since 1946. The measure, labeled 'Yes on 2,' involves bipartisan groups and county leaders, including Rep. Bob Freeman, who denies being listed as a chairperson. The amendment requires a majority vote in the gubernatorial election to be added to the state Constitution.

Federal public defenders in Tennessee are urging Gov. Bill Lee to delay all death row executions while litigation over the state's lethal injection protocol continues, following a botched execution on May 21 and concerns about procedural violations. The Department of Correction failed to properly execute Tony Carruthers, causing him severe suffering, and public defenders argue the state is ignoring legal warnings about staff competency and protocol adherence.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed legislation granting political appointees control over Memphis-Shelby County Schools through a nine-person oversight board. The board, appointed by top state Republicans, will oversee academic challenges, budgets, and district operations, reducing local control. Critics argue the move undermines Memphis' Democratic-leaning community and ignores socioeconomic factors affecting school performance.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee granted a one-year reprieve to death row inmate Tony Carruthers after a failed execution attempt due to medical complications during lethal injection. Advocates and legal representatives criticized the botched process, citing procedural failures and concerns over Carruthers' conviction based on circumstantial evidence.

Tennessee death row inmate Tony Carruthers' execution was called off Thursday after medical personnel failed for over an hour to establish required intravenous lines. Governor Bill Lee announced the state will not attempt to execute Carruthers for at least a year. Carruthers was convicted in 1994 of kidnapping and murdering three people in Memphis, though his attorneys argue the conviction was based on flawed evidence and witness testimony.

Gov. Bill Lee faced criticism for a past photo in a Confederate uniform and later apologized, calling his actions insensitive. Despite his apology, the article highlights his policies, including banning critical race theory in schools and diluting Black voting power in Memphis, as inconsistent with racial sensitivity.

Rep. Steve Cohen will give remarks after Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a new GOP-friendly map into law that carved up his district. The Memphis-based 9th Congressional District was gutted amid Republicans' efforts. Cohen has vowed to take legal action.