The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) announced that the state’s Free Hunting Day this year will be today- coinciding with the opening day of squirrel season.
The Volunteer State’s Free Hunting Day is a yearly event by the TWRA with the goal of increasing interest in hunting and “for people to experience the enjoyment of the sport.”
Read the full story
The Tennessee Senate went into session briefly Thursday only to adjourn until 4 p.m. on Monday.
The Senate passed three bills Wednesday and are awaiting those bills returning but Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, told media he didn’t expect the Senate to take up any other bills.
Read the full story
Fox News barred The Star News Network access to the all-important Spin Room at Wednesday’s first Republican presidential primary debate in Milwaukee, blocking access to the candidates and they’re surrogates.
Read the full story
Tennessee transferred to a new platform for tracking students with unique educational needs.
The new platform, Tennessee Plans for Learning Success and Excellence, or TN Pulse, is free for school districts, public charter schools, and state-operated programs (SOPs).
Read the full story
One of two bills concerning firearms in schools and on school grounds was recommended for passage in separate committees on Wednesday.
Read the full story
A Colorado gun control activist last week posted a photo of fellow activists from an out-of-state gun control group phone banking to residents in Tennessee.
“Phone banking to Tennessee to help people contact their lawmakers about Secure Storage and Extreme Risk Protection Orders,” said an August 12 tweet from Pat Rottschaefer, who describes herself as a “proud member of Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety.”
Read the full story
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) hosted the first two of ten promised town halls last week designed to gather feedback on A – F letter grades for individual schools.
The TDOE staged initial meetings at the Dixon County High School and the General Motor Inn in Greenville. Neither session drew more than a handful of people. Those in attendance expressed confusion over the purpose of the town halls.
Read the full story
During the special session of the Tennessee General Assembly Tuesday, the issue of human trafficking took center stage.
The Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday passed SB 7088, which as introduced would require the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) “to submit a report on child and human trafficking crimes and trends in this state, based upon data available to the bureau, as well as current programs and activities of the bureau’s human trafficking unit, to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the speaker of the senate by December 1, 2023, and by each December 1 thereafter.”
Read the full story
Attorney and newest all-star panelist Braden Boucek joined host Michael Patrick Leahy on Monday’s episode of The Tennessee Star Report to discuss to administrative overreach and bizarre secrecy surrounding the Covenant Killer Manifesto and how lawmakers convening in the special session could obtain and review those materials today.
Read the full story
The Tennessee House of Representatives passed a set of rules put forth by the Select Committee on Rules for the special session by a 73-23 vote on Monday.
Read the full story
Data from the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office shows that new business filings in Tennessee for the second quarter of 2023 were the highest in the state’s history.
Read the full story
The Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition (TNFFC) Board of Directors released a statement applauding a bill filed by Tennessee House Minority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) which addresses child and human trafficking.
Read the full story
Independent Women’s Voice (IWV), an advocacy organization that “fights for women and families,” has sent a letter to U.S. Congressional lawmakers urging the passage of Representative Mark Green’s (R-TN-07) Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act.
Read the full story
New data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) revealed unemployment across the state reached a historic low in July of 3.1 percent.
Read the full story
The Metro Sports Authority Board of Directors approved the selection of the Tennessee Builders Alliance (TBA) to construct the Tennessee Titans’ new $2.1 billion stadium at its meeting on Thursday.
Read the full story
Host Michael Patrick Leahy lays out why Gov. Bill Lee’s “Laundry List Red Flag Law Special Session’ breaks with modern political tradition in Tennessee. He also explains the surprising reason his ‘Red Flag’ law is doomed to fail in court on Friday’s episode of The Tennessee Star Report. TRANSCRIPT Michael Patrick Leahy: Well, we’re looking at this special session call Governor Bill Lee had – his ill-advised call [for a special session that will convene on Monday, August 21.]It’s going to be an opportunity for the Left wing to descend upon the capital on Monday and try to intimidate Tennessee General Assembly members to adopt gun control measures and a Red Flag law. We’ll get to those details here in just a minute, but let’s talk about the history of special sessions. It’s supposed to be on extraordinary occasions. The modern political tradition here in the state of Tennessee is to take care of the business of the state during the general session of the Tennessee General Assembly, which convenes in January and typically runs to April or May. And when you have an opportunity for committee hearings and for more deliberate consideration of a wide array of laws…
Read the full story
Tipton County Sheriff Shannon Beasley warned individuals crossing county lines to commit crimes, saying such actions will not be tolerated.
“I will say this again, if you bring it to us we are going to bring it back at you! If you think we are going to let you run back to Memphis, or anywhere else, without any consequences…you’ve got us confused,” Beasley said in a Facebook post last week.
Read the full story
Tennessee Coalition for Open Government’s Executive Director Deborah Fisher joined all-star panelist and author Carol Swain in-studio on Thursday’s edition of The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy to discuss the provisions in current law that would make the Covenant Killer Manifesto available for review by Tennessee lawmakers.
Read the full story
A Tennessee high school has reversed its speech policies following a lawsuit by a 17-year-old student who was suspended for posting memes about the principal, according to a Tuesday press release.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a First Amendment advocacy group, filed a lawsuit in July on behalf of a senior at Tullahoma High School, alleging that the administration suspended the student for posting satirical images, or memes, on Instagram that poked fun at the principal’s “overly serious” behavior. In an agreement, the high school has wiped the student’s suspension from his record while the lawsuit continues and has removed pages from its handbook that state students cannot “embarrass,” “discredit” or “humiliate” members of the school community.
Read the full story
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett recently announced a shakeup to his staff, including a new Chief of Staff and Policy Assistant.
Read the full story
The Tennessee Democratic Party (TNDP) announced Tuesday that California Governor Gavin Newsom will be its keynote speaker at its annual fundraiser.
Newsom will headline the party’s Three Star Dinner set at the Music City Center in Nashville on August 26.
Read the full story
A member of the Tennessee General Assembly Tuesday told The Tennessee Star that Gov. Bill Lee (R) will not ask Republicans to submit a bill for red flag laws during the upcoming special session.
“The Governor is not pushing any type of gun control legislation nor is he pushing red flag legislation,” State Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) told The Star by email. “I was on the legislative task force the Governor pulled together to discuss options. He never once brought up or asked us to support a red flag law during the 3 meetings we discussed specific topics.”
Read the full story
The University of Tennessee – Knoxville announced Monday that NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and UT graduate Peyton Manning will return to campus as a communications professor.
Manning will join the faculty of the College of Communication and Information beginning in the fall of this year.
Read the full story
Tennessee U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) recently introduced a bill that would prohibit Special Counsel Jack Smith from receiving a federal salary funded by taxpayers.
Read the full story
Tennessee U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07) has sent a letter to the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) concerning a recent presentation promoted to staff about using Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to connect with students.
Read the full story
The Tennessee Firearms Association executive director told the Influence Watch podcast he is shocked that Volunteer State’s Republican Gov. Bill Lee called a special election, so he could exploit the Covenant School shooting to pass so-called red flag laws.
“In March of this year, there was a school shooting at a place called Covenant School in Nashville, where three adults and three children were killed by a 28-year-old female who reportedly had been a student at the school in her past,” said John Harris, a Nashville attorney, who founded the TFA in 1995.
Read the full story
n November, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE), in compliance with state law, will release school letter grades for individual Tennessee schools. To prepare families, teachers, community members, and decision-makers to review that data, the TDOE is holding a series of 10 Town Halls.
“Whether you are a student, parent, teacher, policymaker, or an interested community member, school letter grades will empower all Tennesseans with the information they need to support K-12 public education and our local schools,” said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education. “I encourage all Tennesseans to join us at a town hall or submit a public comment to share what you want to know about schools in your community and how they are serving your kids.”
Read the full story
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has led a coalition of 24 states in urging Congress to pass Representative Mark Green’s (R-TN-07) Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act.
Read the full story
The Tennessee Titans released a new video giving fans a look into its new $2.1 billion stadium expected to be operational in 2027. The team also unveiled a new website with information on how fans can invest in season tickets for the new stadium.
Read the full story
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) awarding Students First Technologies (SFT) a contract to manage the state’s Education Savings Account (ESA) program continues to raise concerns.
“Our government owes citizens the responsibility of providing the best service at an affordable price. Often they outsource services that could be done better or more efficiently in-house. ” JC Bowman, executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee told The Tennessee Star, “When that work is outsourced it needs to be with people who have the adequate experience and skills to deliver quality service. We need to know who does the work, and they must be held accountable.”
Read the full story
Over 25 million pounds of invasive carp have been removed by commercial harvest since 2018 in five Tennessee reservoirs, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Read the full story
A three-judge panel of the Chancery Court for the State of Tennessee Twentieth Judicial District ordered the lawsuit filed by the Tennessee Education Association (TEA) that challenged a new law that prohibits association dues deduction from paychecks “dismissed without prejudice” following the union’s voluntary dismissal.
Read the full story
Months ago, while the Legislature was still in its regular session, Governor Lee asked them to enact his Red Flag law which was his immediate, some might say knee-jerk – response to the Covenant School murders. The Legislature rejected that request, deferred almost all remaining 2nd Amendment legislation to 2024 and instead adjourned. Before most of them could get home, Governor Lee announced that he was going to call them back into a special legislative session to consider and pass his Red Flag proposal.
Read the full story
The Tennessee House Republican Caucus responded to Governor Bill Lee’s official special session proclamation for the Tennessee General Assembly to convene at 4 p.m. on Monday, August 21.
Read the full story
Governor Bill Lee has issued a proclamation calling for a special legislative session to take up gun-control measures, including a controversial “red flag” bill that many of his GOP allies in the Republican-controlled Tennessee General Assembly say is a non-starter.
The long-expected proclamation was apparently leaked to the liberal Tennessee Lookout late Thursday afternoon before it’s official release.
Read the full story
The Tennessee Republican State Executive Committee passed a resolution on Saturday that calls on Governor Bill Lee to forgo calling the Tennessee General Assembly for a special session addressing “public safety,” according to a report by the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Read the full story
With the new school year starting back up, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) and Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) have launched a campaign to prevent underage drinking among Tennessee youth.
Read the full story
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) updated the State Board of Education (SBE) last week on the state’s progress in implementing its new school funding formula – Tennessee Investment in Student Success (TISA). Tennessee is moving from a systems-based funding formula to a student-based funding formula with TISA.
The new system uses a formula that starts with a base amount for each student and then adds money for various factors. Those components include poverty, district size, English learners, and special education needs. This year, the base allocation per student is $6,860 per student.
Read the full story
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced Thursday that a $1.5 million grant program for STEM studies is now open for applications.
Teachers will be able to apply for the grants and put them to use upon distribution in January, according to a release.
Read the full story
South Korean company Hanon Systems recently announced it will invest $170 million to establish a new manufacturing presence in Loudon.
Read the full story
Gov. Bill Lee (R) is once again touting the benefits of becoming a law enforcement officer in Tennessee, as he attempts to recruit out-of-staters to join the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
“Law enforcement officers from across the country recognize that there’s no better place to work, live and raise a family than Tennessee,” Lee said in statement. “Over the past two years, we’ve recruited a record number of troopers to Tennessee’s ranks, and we continue to welcome men and women nationwide to join the Tennessee Highway Patrol.”
Read the full story
A Tennessee law that prohibits teacher association dues from being automatically deducted from paychecks may go into effect after a three-judge panel declined to issue a temporary halt to it as requested by the Tennessee Education Association (TEA).
The Chancery Court for the State of Tennessee Twentieth Judicial District, Davidson County, denied last week the teachers’ union’s motion, ending a previous temporary halt to the practice of payroll deduction for dues for professional employee organizations.
Read the full story
Tennessee U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07) filed legislation on Tuesday that would reverse the Biden Administration’s decision to defund school archery and hunting programs
Read the full story
A Tennessee National Guard medical flight crew recently evacuated an injured hiker from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, according to the Tennessee Department of Military.
On Thursday, July 27, the Tennessee National Guard and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) were notified that a hiker in a remote area of the park near Inspiration Point along Alum Cave Trail was suffering head trauma and needed immediate medical aid and evacuation to a nearby hospital.
Read the full story
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), gas prices across the Volunteer State have risen sharply over the past month.
As of Tuesday, the average price for a gallon of gasoline statewide is $3.43, AAA’s website says.
Read the full story
As part of the Tennessee Tax Works Act, signed into law earlier this year, Tennesseans will enjoy a three month reprieve from taxes on certain items at the grocery store.
Food and food ingredients will be exempt from state taxes from Tuesday until October 31, according to the state’s website.
Read the full story
Tennessee’s Democrat elected officials will embark upon a statewide bus tour to discuss gun violence, which will end at the state capitol on the first day of the August special session on gun control.
“I’m here to announce a statewide effort that we are spearheading,” said Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville), the Democrat caucus chair in a Monday morning press conference. “You know, too often we state legislators spend a great deal of time up here in the state capitol spinning our wheels about important issues. But today I’m announcing that my colleagues and I are putting some wheels on the road and heading out across the state to personally hear from and speak with Tennessee families on this important matter.”
Read the full story
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20) named Tennessee U.S. Representative David Kustoff (R-TN-08) as chairman of the House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group on Friday.
Read the full story
Tennessee U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03) was recently awarded the United States Nuclear Industry Council’s (USNIC) prestigious Distinguished Leadership Award for his nearly 13 years of “vigorous advocacy for advancing America’s nuclear preeminence.”
Read the full story
School-aged students in eleven economically distressed counties across Tennessee will receive a backpack courtesy of First Lady Maria Lee’s ‘Tennessee Serves’ initiative at the beginning of this upcoming school year.
Read the full story