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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

This article is from Tennessee/Lookout The Tennessee Supreme Court on Wednesday appointed Gov. Bill Lee’s chief counsel to serve as the state’s Attorney General. The high court chose Jonathan Skrmetti to take the helm of the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office. Skrmetti will replace current state Attorney General Herbert Slatery III, who has completed an eight-year term […]

This article is from Tennessee/Lookout Former U.S. Sen. Bob Corker will lead a statewide, bipartisan coalition of elected leaders urging Tennesseans to approve a measure that would remove language permitting a form of slavery from the Tennessee Constitution. The Constitution is currently worded: “That slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime, whereof the […]

This article is from Tennessee/Lookout Tennessee has experienced slight improvement in providing stability for children, families’ struggles with poverty, health and security kept the state ranked 36th in overall child well-being, according to a 2022 report.  A 50-state report of recent household data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation showed that Tennessee children are still […]