As Tennesseans prepare to head to the polls on August 4, where they will vote on whether to retain the state’s five Supreme Court justices, The Tennessee Star has completed a profile on each justice currently sitting on the bench.
Last week, The Star profiled Justice Holly Kirby.
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After four inmates successfully escaped from a Chattanooga jail, a Tennessee sheriff’s office says that they have all been peacefully taken into custody.
“Within 24 hours of the reported escape, all four inmates were taken back into custody due to the exhaustive and extensive investigation conducted by [Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office] personnel and our federal and local partners. I am extremely proud of the efforts of our personnel who have worked tirelessly throughout the day to ensure the swift apprehension of these four wanted fugitives was accomplished,” said HCSO Chief Deputy Austin Garrett.
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According to the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD), three men have been arrested and charged in connection with a scheme to steal and sell laptops from Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).
A release from FCPD says Franque Minor II, 35, of Maryland and Mario Jones Jr., 21, of Woodbridge, Virginia, were arrested as part of an investigation that began in March, when FCPS notified authorities that several thousand laptops appeared to be missing.
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) Thursday announced that it charged an Ashland doctor for allegedly scamming a more than $40 million from the Medicare system.
“John R. Manning, 61, faces charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and eight counts of health care fraud,” according to the DOJ. “The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation in which the United States seeks to recover all property, including a money judgement, that represents the proceeds of the violations. Manning was arrested Tuesday at his home by federal agents.”
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As Tennesseans prepare to head to the polls on August 4, where they will vote on whether to retain the state’s five Supreme Court justices, The Tennessee Star has completed a profile on each justice currently sitting on the bench.
Last week, The Star profiled Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins.
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A Tennessee woman is headed to federal prison stemming from a conviction involving crimes related to aiding terrorist organizations.
“A Sparta, Tennessee, woman was sentenced in U.S. District Court on Friday, to 66 months in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release of 15 years, for concealing material support and resources intended to be provided to a Foreign Terrorist Organization…” according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.
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As Tennesseeans prepare to head to the polls on August 4, where they will vote on whether to retain the state’s five Supreme Court justices, The Tennessee Star is profiling each justice who currently sits on the bench.
Justice Roger Page was first appointed to the Court by former Governor Bill Haslem (R) in 2016. He is the Court’s newest member. In August of that year, Page was elected to serve a full term, until 2022.
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As Tennessee experiences a massive influx of new residents from across the country, a study found that one state in particular is a popular feeder for the Volunteer State.
“Our 2022 data shows that California is the largest contributor to Tennessee’s population increase,” according to a MoveBuddha study. “Nearly a quarter (22.14%) of all search queries for moves into Tennessee are from the Golden State.”
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As Tennesseans prepare to head to the polls on August 4, where they will vote on whether to retain the state’s five Supreme Court justices, The Tennessee Star is profiling each justice who currently sits on the bench.
Justice Sharon Lee was first appointed to the Court by former Governor Phil Bredesen (D) in 2008. She was retained by voters in 2010, and in 2014. From 2014 to 2016, she served as the state’s chief justice.
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The Tennessee state government has a new Human Rights Commission leader, according to a Tuesday release from the state.
“The Tennessee Human Rights Board of Commissioners has named Muriel Malone Nolen to serve in the capacity of Executive Director of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC) effective July 18, 2022,” that organization says. “Nolen joined THRC in April 2021 as the agency’s Deputy Director and later took on the responsibilities as the Interim Executive Director in February 2022.”
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued nationwide guidance on mask wearing as community COVID-19 spread levels increase, and included seven Tennessee counties in its assessment.
“COVID-19 Community Levels are a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data,” according to the CDC. “Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area.”
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As Tennessee prepares for its Supreme Court elections, which will be held on August 4, The Tennessee Star profiling each of the judges as part of a series.
Uniquely, Tennessee’s Supreme Court is charged with choosing the state’s next attorney general, who will replace outgoing Attorney General Herbert Slatery III.
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The Tennessee Right to Life announced this week its list of endorsees for this year’s statewide elections.
“Tennessee Right to Life exists to promote public respect for the dignity of every human life especially those threatened by abortion, infanticide, partial-birth abortion, assisted suicide, or euthanasia,” according to the organization’s website. “TRL advocates the protection of human life without regard to age, handicap, condition or social position.”
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The Chattanooga Fire Department (CFD) Monday announced that it will be conducting maritime readiness training this week.
“If you see flashing lights and first responders at the Riverpark and on the Tennessee River on Tuesday (7/19/22), don’t be alarmed,” CFD said Monday. “It’s part of a big joint training event coordinated by the US Coast Guard & involving many different agencies, including the [Chattanooga Fire Department].”
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A federal judge in Tennessee Friday granted a temporary injunction on behalf of the state of Tennessee, which was caught in a legal entanglement with President Joe Biden’s administration on the subject of transgender sports.
“As it currently stands, plaintiffs must choose between the threat of legal consequences – enforcement action, civil penalties, and the withholding of federal funding – or altering their state laws to ensure compliance with the guidance and avoid such adverse action,” Judge Charles Atchley, a 2020 appointee of former President Donald Trump, said in granting Tennessee’s motion for an injunction against the federal government.
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A U.S. Senator from Tennessee Friday reacted to a call from a colleague to shut down all pregnancy centers in the United States.
“Elizabeth Warren believes each and every pregnancy resource center across the country should be shut down,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). “What does the left have against those working to support mother and child?”
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The application period for Tennessee’s next attorney general opened Friday.
In a unique process, unlike in any other state, the position of attorney general is not an elected office in Tennessee. Rather, the person who holds the position is appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
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An index created by Vanderbilt University that is used to track political polarization and faith in America’s institutions says that Americans are becoming less polarized, according to the school’s second quarter analysis.
“Americans’ general faith and trust in democracy has stabilized in the first half of 2022, remaining relatively flat throughout the second quarter, according to the most recent Vanderbilt Unity Index,” the school said in a release.
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Officials in the city of Memphis are silent after the City Council pledged not to follow Tennessee’s law restricting abortions, which takes effect in August and would make performing an abortion a felony offense for doctors.
Tuesday, Councilman JB Smiley introduced a resolution Reproductive Autonomy Is Necessary (RAIN) Act, which was subsequently passed by a vote of 6-0, with two members of the City Council abstaining.
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Friday, the application period was opened for Tennessee’s next Attorney General.
In a unique process unlike any other state, the position of Attorney General is not an elected office in Tennessee. Rather, the person who holds the position is appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
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A U.S. senator from Tennessee sat down for a wide-ranging interview with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Drug Task Force Director to expose America’s deadly fentanyl crisis that is getting worse by the day.
“Thousands of people are on the march toward our southern border as we speak. What do they want? Biden’s welcome package – free phone, free plane ticket, and free baby formula,” said Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). “We know that among that group, drug dealers and smugglers are bringing across deadly amounts of fentanyl. I spoke with TBI Special Agent in Charge Thomas Farmer to expose how this crisis is devastating our communities.”
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A U.S. Congressman from Tennessee testified in front of the House Rules Committee, where he spoke against proposed government regulations regarding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards that he says will negatively impact farmers.
“I’d like to support by urging support for my bipartisan amendment, number 631, cosponsored by the gentlelady from Michigan, Representative Alyssa Slotkin, to prohibit the Securities and Exchange Commission from enforcing any provision on its rule making on enhanced standardization of climate-related disclosures for investors that would directly or indirectly require farmers to submit climate-related information to public companies or the SEC,” said Rep. John Rose (R-TN-06).
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Georgia is set to swear in its news Supreme Court Justice next week.
“The Honorable Andrew A. Pinson will be sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia on Wednesday, July 20, at 1 p.m.,” said a release from the state Supreme Court’s website. “Gov. Brian Kemp will administer the oath of office in the House Chamber of the State Capitol Building.”
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The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said in a Tuesday release that a small percentage of its officers’ body worn cameras are not working properly.
“The Nashville Police Department is urgently asking Motorola, the parent company of WatchGuard, the vendor of the police department’s body-worn and in-car camera system, to explain why a small percentage of videos are turning up incomplete when they transfer from the upload server to the storage server,” the release said.
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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Tuesday hosted an event to teach citizens how to respond in the event that they encounter a mass shooter.
“TBI is partnering with other sponsors in presenting this event to offer attendees information on how to increase emergency preparedness, understand critical response, and implement actions that increase survivability,” the law enforcement agency said on its Facebook page. “A TBI special agent will be among the panelists available following the seminar to answer questions.”
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The governor of Georgia Wednesday said he will continue battling to keep costs down for Georgians after the June Consumer Price Index report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) was released.
That report showed 9.1 percent inflation, by far the highest one month increase in more than 40 years.
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After hosting a summit on modern conflict and emerging threats with the National Security Agency (NSA) in May, Vanderbilt University has announced a five-year “education partnership agreement” with the government agency.
“This partnership will bring together the sharpest and most innovative minds across military intelligence and higher education to address these urgent and complex issues,” said Vanderbilt University Chancellor Daniel Diermeier. “Drawing on our strong track record with military-academic collaborations, Vanderbilt provides the intellectual forum to explore these challenges from new and cross-disciplinary perspectives.”
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A U.S. Attorney from Georgia has been appointed to the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC), and will serve as an advisor to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
“It’s a great honor to be selected for the AGAC,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, who was selected for the position. “I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Attorney General and the leadership of the Department of Justice on issues affecting the Northern District of Georgia, the U.S. Attorney Office community, and our federal, state, and local stakeholders.”
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The reelection campaign for Gov. Brian Kemp (R) has responded after gubernatorial challenger Stacy Abrams raised $2.5 million from a George Soros-run Political Action Committee (PAC).
“Far-left radicals from across the country are bankrolling Stacey Abrams’ campaign to bring the failed agenda of D.C. Democrats to Georgia,” Tate Mitchell, a spokesperson for the Kemp campaign, told The Georgia Star News. “Abrams and her liberal allies can – and will – continue to outraise and outspend our campaign, but we will continue to run on Governor Kemp’s record of putting Georgians first and securing historic economic success for our state.”
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Claiming that Twitter was in “material breach” of its agreement to sell the microblogging platform to him, Elon Musk said in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that he does not intend to purchase Twitter, invoking a massive response in the tech space.
“Today’s announcement that Elon Musk is abandoning his takeover of Twitter comes as no surprise to those of us who predicted the implosion for months,” GETTER CEO Jason Miller said in a statement. “But the lasting result of the failed acquisition will be permanent, and Musk deserves credit for further exposing the incurable, rotting, politically discriminatory culture inside the Blue Bird.”
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A women’s group is vying for the state of Tennessee to change its rules about admitting recently relocated lawyers to the State Bar Association, claiming that the current rules are not amenable to mothers who wish to work part-time.
State Bar Associations often have agreements with other states allowing reciprocity for lawyers who relocate to be admitted to the Bar in their new state.
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Tennessee has identified its first case of Monkeypox, a rare affliction that can be deadly.
“Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious viral illness. Although infection may begin with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion before the development of rash, many of the cases associated with the 2022 outbreak have reported very mild or no symptoms other than rash,” according to the Tennessee Department of Health (TDOH).
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Georgia’s House Speaker this week turned the heat up on Major League Baseball (MLB), which moved its All-Star Game from Atlanta to Denver last year in protest of Georgia’s SB 202 election integrity law.
“Earlier this week, I wrote to [MLB] Commissioner [Rob Manfred] and called on him to announce a future All-Star Game in Atlanta,” said Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston (R-District 7). “Georgia’s Election Integrity Act made voting more accessible and secure. False claims to the contrary have been proven wrong. Time for him to make this right.”
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Tennesseans can expect to enjoy three tax holidays over the next several months, according to the state’s Department of Revenue (DOR).
Annually, Tennessee holds a sales tax holiday for the month of July, letting them off the hook for state and local sales taxes, which can be up to 10 percent.
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Gov. Doug Ducey (R), whose second term as Arizona’s governor will expire in January, has endorsed his potential replacement.
“She’s a native Arizonan and lifelong Republican who got her start working for President Reagan,” Ducey said of candidate Karrin Taylor Robson.
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The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) suggested in a recent interview that it won’t investigate abortion crimes.
“We are not abortion police. We are focused on safety and quality of life in our city through community engagement, precision policing, and organizational excellence,” Don Aaron, an MNPD spokesperson, reportedly said. “There are other entities in government, particularly at the state level, that are more equipped to address issues such as this.”
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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is investigating after Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies shot and injured a man who allegedly attempted to run them over with his car.
The incident occurred Monday night.
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Tennessee motorists have seen slight relief at the pump over the past week, matching national averages.
The average price of a gallon of gas in Tennessee was $4.39 Tuesday, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
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An apparent explosion has partially destroyed the Georgia Guidestones, a mysterious landmark in Elbert County.
“The GBI and Elbert County Sheriff’s Office are investigating an explosion that destroyed the Georgia Guidestones near Elberton, GA,” the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said. “The preliminary information indicates that unknown individuals detonated an explosive device at around 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 6th.”
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The city of Chattanooga will spend tens of millions of dollars to build a new baseball stadium for the Chattanooga Lookouts, a minor league affiliate of Major League Baseball’s Cincinnati Reds.
“For more than two decades, this 140 acres around us have sat vacant as a sad, rusting reminder of our wasted potential,” Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly said in a press conference from what used to be the US Pipe site near I-24. “There have been no less than eight studies conducted on this site since 2003, but despite that, our western gateway has remained a blighted brownfield doing absolutely nothing to increase jobs, tourism or quality of life for our residents.”
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After being offline for more than a week due to a cyberattack, Tennessee’s unemployment benefits website appears to be back online Tuesday morning.
“Jobs4TN is back online and operating. The system is ready for you to file new claims and complete your weekly certifications. Please follow the instructions in the link below to complete those tasks,” the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce (TDLWD) confirmed Monday afternoon.
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The Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is teaming up with another Georgia government program to provide free meals to children in the cities parks through the end of July.
“The City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation is pleased to partner with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning’s Bright from the Start program to feed thousands of youth this summer,” DPR said.
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A new Tennessee law upping the punishment for motorists who kill another person while driving under the influence has taken effect.
HB 1384, also known as “Ethan’s, Hailey’s, and Bentley’s Law,” took effect Friday.
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A non-profit founded by gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams Monday bemoaned what it says is a lack of freedom for many Americans.
“Since our nation’s independence, true freedom has only ever existed for a small subset of people,” Fair Fight said on Twitter. “Today, when our basic rights are once again under attack, we’re celebrating those who continue the fight for freedom for every American—no matter their gender, race, or zip code.”
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Two former Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) officers are in legal trouble after allegedly assaulting an inmate and attempting to hide the evidence.
“The Department of Justice announced that Javian Griffin, 36, and Sebron Hollands, 32, two former tactical officers with the Strike Force for the Tennessee Department of Corrections, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Memphis, Tennessee,” according to a DOJ press release. “Griffin is charged with using unlawful force against an inmate at Northwest Correctional Complex. Griffin and Hollands are both charged with obstruction of justice for writing false reports about Griffin’s assault.”
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As Tennessee’s unvaccinated National Guardsmen face an uncertain future after Thursday’s deadline to take the COVID-19 jab or be fired has come and gone, one member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee has taken action at the federal level.
Rep. John Rose (R-TN-06) is cosponsoring a bill with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY-04) that would prevent government mandated vaccinations for members of the U.S. Military.
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After an attempted arson at a pro-life pregnancy center, Tennessee’s governor is speaking out.
“This is terrorism and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Gov. Bill Lee (R) said Thursday in response to news that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) are investigating an arson at Hope Clinic for Women in Nashville.
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The Pima County Democratic Party found itself in hot water after it posted a vulgar message about Independence Day to its Twitter account.
“F*ck the Fourth,” the now deleted tweet said, attaching a flyer for a pro-abortion event at Reid Park sponsored by the Tucson Women’s March.
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The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) is once again pleading with Nashvillians to be careful if they plan on leaving weapons in their cars.
“MNPD’s continuing Park Smart message is to urge motorists to lock their automobile doors, secure any valuables—especially guns, and REMOVE THE KEYS,” MNPD spokeswoman Kristin Mumford told The Tennessee Star.
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A bill that restricts schools from teaching “divisive concepts” like Critical Race Theory (CRT) will take effect Friday.
HB 1084, which passed the Republican-controlled General Assembly in April and was signed into law shortly thereafter, “require[s] local boards of education, local school superintendents, and the governing bodies of charter schools to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race [and] require[s] that curricula and training programs shall encourage such employees not to judge others based on race,” according to the text of the bill.
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