Day: February 24, 2025

Tennessee Supreme Court Sides with A.G. Jonathan Skrmetti over Death Row Inmate, Shelby County D.A. Steve Mulroy on Capital Punishment

Tom Pappert
DA Steve Mulroy, AG Jonathon Skrmetti

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Friday ruled the state law mandating only the Tennessee Attorney General can handle post-conviction death row cases is constitutional, dealing a blow to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, who joined a legal effort by a death row inmate that sought to disqualify Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti from his case.

Mulroy became involved in the legal effort after Larry McKay, who was convicted of murder in 1982, asked for a new trial in 2023, when lawmakers changed Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) 40-30-114(c) to mandate that Skrmetti’s would office “has exclusive control” over the case, as well as all other death row appeals. 

Read the full story

Rep. Mark Green Says CCP ‘Waiting in the Wings’ to Buy U.S. Land as Bill Would Ban Biden-Era Scheme for Foreigners

Tom Pappert
Rep. Mark Green

U.S. Representative Mark Green on Monday said his legislation seeking to permanently prohibit a Biden-era scheme between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to create a new class of company that would allow foreigners to buy American land for the sole purpose of discontinuing all economic activity.

Green earlier this month introduced the Protect America’s Lands Act, which would specifically prohibit the establishment of Natural Asset Companies (NACs). The concept, under the Biden administration policy proposed between the SEC and NYSE, would have allowed the foreign purchase of American land for the purpose of returning it to its natural state.

Read the full story

Resolution to Amend Tennessee Constitution Allowing Judges to Refuse Bail to Violent Defendants Would Not Lead to Overcrowded Jails, Reporter Says

Kaitlin Housler
Inside prison

Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, said a resolution in the Tennessee General Assembly that would amend the state’s constitution to allow judges the discretion to refuse bail to defendants facing certain charges would not lead to overcrowding in jails across the state.

Read the full story

Trump Shaking Rafters of Establishment with DOGE, Tariffs, Gaza Plan, Aiming for Lasting Changes

Just the News
President Donald Trump

President Trump is shaking the rafters of the establishment from the new Department of Government Efficiency to trade policy and potential administration control of the U.S. Postal Service, hoping such actions will lead to lasting change.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who Trump chose to lead DOGE, is examining records at the Treasury Department, Health and Human Services, Education Department and Pentagon to find waste and fraud as a way to reduce federal spending.

Read the full story

Constitutional Change to Tennessee Bail Could Keep Thousands of Criminals Off Streets Before Trial

Tom Pappert
Tennessee Speaker Cam Sexton, Police arrest

The Tennessee State Senate on Tuesday will consider a resolution that would begin the process of amending the Tennessee Constitution to allow judges the discretion to refuse bail to defendants facing a greater variety of charges, potentially resulting in thousands of additional criminals kept off the street while awaiting trial.

Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 25 would modify Article 1, Section 15 of the Constitution of Tennessee to allow judges to refuse bail to defendants accused of capital offenses, acts of terrorism, second degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated, rape, and grave torture, as well as those who face charges for which the defendant, “could not be released prior to the expiration of at least eighty-five percent of the entire sentence imposed.”

Read the full story

Commentary: The GRACIE Act Is a Crucial Step in Protecting Children from Traffickers in Tennessee and Beyond

Star News Contributor
Migrant children at border

Across our country, a child is sold for sex every two minutes.

Although shocking, this fact reflects a troubling reality: Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world—generating $150 billion in profits— and afflicts every community in our country, including in Tennessee.

Read the full story

Tennessee Lawmakers Consider Bill That ‘Deletes All References’ to World Health Organization in State Law

Tom Pappert
Tennessee Representative Justin Lafferty and State Senator Brent Taylor

Lawmakers in the Tennessee General Assembly this week will consider legislation that “deletes all references” to the World Health Organization (WHO) from the Volunteer State’s laws, especially those governing how a pandemic is declared.

According to the summary submitted for the legislation, House Bill (HB) 1226 by State Representative Justin Lafferty (R-Knoxville) and Senate Bill (SB) 669 by State Representative Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) completely “delets all references to the World Health Organization,” and would instead require the declaration of a pandemic to be made “by the federal Centers for Disease and Prevention Control (CDC), rather than the World Health Organization.”

Read the full story