This article is from Tennessee/Lookout. Government tax subsidies to build new professional sports facilities topped the annual Pork Report, a list of the most egregious examples of government money considered wasteful in Tennessee during the last year. “From pickleball courts in Bristol to unused homeless pods in Nashville, there continues to be plenty of material for […]
The Angry Grandmother’s ‘Twelve Banned Books of Christmas’
This article is from Tennessee/Lookout. All y’all know I love to read, I always have and one of the joys of owning a bookstore was recommending books to customers of all ages. Once someone discovers the pleasure of escaping mentally with a great book, that wanting to read never goes away. This grandmother is stunned to […]
Sen. Gardenhire Wants Private School Vouchers Extended to Hamilton County
This article is from Tennessee/Lookout. State Sen. Todd Gardenhire, assured that the state’s education savings account program cleared legal hurdles, has filed legislation to expand private school vouchers to the Hamilton County school district. Senate Bill 12 would enable the state program to include qualifying students in districts with at least five schools in the bottom 10% […]
Tennessee DCS Situation Represents Abject Failure of Government, Lawmakers
This article is from Tennessee/Lookout When Tennessee Lookout reporter Anita Wadhwani first reported in August 2021 that children in custody of the state were left sleeping on the floors of state office buildings, some surrounded by mounds of clothing and dirty diapers, readers were outraged. One might think that Gov. Bill Lee, who frequently touts his […]
State Voter Registration Numbers for Midterm Show Little to No Uptick
This article is from Tennessee/Lookout Interviews with Tennessee election administrators show that people are registering to vote at roughly the same pace or slightly lower levels than previous years, a hint that voter turnout in this year’s midterm elections will be low. And there’s little sign that the June 24 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court […]
Lee Ignores Gubernatorial Debate Challenge
This article is from Tennessee/Lookout. Republican Gov. Bill Lee barely responded Tuesday when asked if he would debate Democratic candidate Dr. Jason Martin before the Nov. 8 election. Questioned about whether he would go head to head with Martin to give Tennessee voters a chance to see them on stage together, Lee said, “I’m most focused on […]
Know Your Tennessee Constitutional Amendments
This article is from Tennessee/Lookout November’s midterm elections approach, and for Tennesseans, that means only a handful of major hot-ticket races. Gov. Bill Lee has opposition for his second term from Dr. Jason Martin of Nashville. Martin entered the race as a reaction to Lee’s oft-criticized — from all political segments — handling of the COVID-19 […]
State Officials Begin Distributing Summer Food Funding for Kids — Five Months Late
This article is from Tennessee/Lookout Nearly three months into the school year, state officials will finally start distributing funds from a federal food program meant to feed families during the summer. When the COVID pandemic led to shuttered schools, federally-funded COVID-19 relief programs allowed children who relied on schools to feed them to continue having meals […]
Suits Against ERPD Officers Pile Up
Three Civil Rights Law Suits Pending in U.S. District Court This article is from Tennessee/Lookout Allegations against East Ridge, Tenn., police officers of excessive force, retaliatory arrests of bystanders and filing false charges — buttressed by body camera and bystander footage — are mounting, a review of police and court records by the Tennessee Lookout shows. […]
State to Hire More TBI Personnel to Cut Rape Kit Turnaround Time
This article is from Tennessee/Lookout Gov. Bill Lee and legislative leaders announced plans Thursday to expedite the hiring of forensic lab positions in the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to speed up turnaround on sexual assault kits. Twenty-five forensic lab positions, including forensic scientists, technicians and administrative support, are to be filled across the state: eight in […]
Sentencing Hearing for Ex-Rep. Smith Postponed Amid Casada Case
This article is from Tennessee/Lookout A sentencing hearing for former Rep. Robin Smith, who is set to cooperate with the prosecution in Rep. Glen Casada’s trial, is being postponed until January 30, a court document filed Monday shows. Smith’s sentencing hearing was scheduled for Oct. 17. Her plea agreement to fraud charges anticipates she will testify […]
Former House Speaker Casada, Aide Indicted on Bribery, Kickback Charges
This article is from Tennessee/Lookout Former Tennessee House Speaker Rep. Glen Casada and his chief of staff were arrested at their homes by FBI agents Tuesday morning after a federal grand jury on Monday issued an indictment on 20-counts involving bribery, theft from programs receiving federal funds, kickbacks, conspiracy to commit money laundering and other charges, […]
Tennessee Supreme Court Revives Home Business Lawsuit
This article is from Tennessee/Lookout The Tennessee Supreme Court on Thursday revived a lawsuit by Nashville music producer Lij Shaw and beauty salon owner Patricia Raynor challenging Metro Council’s restrictions on their home-based businesses. A lower court had tossed the suit after city leaders tweaked an ordinance that had effectively shut down Shaw’s home-based recording studio […]
Cothren Challenges Subpoena Order by State Registry
This article is from Tennessee/Lookout The former chief of staff for ex-House Speaker Glen Casada is continuing to fight a subpoena to testify before the Registry of Election Finance about a political action committee he ran secretly to attack political adversaries. Cynthia Sherwood, the Nashville attorney for Cade Cothren, claims the court should not hold him […]
Sinback Named New Executive Director of ACLU
This article is from Tennessee/Lookout Nashville attorney Kathy Sinback will take the reins as the new executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, replacing longtime director Hedy Weinberg as of September 6. Sinback, whose career began with the Metro Nashville Public Defender’s Office in 1997, is known for her work with the Davidson […]