Tag: Bill Lee

Trump Predicts Hegseth Would Be ‘Very Popular’ If Tapped by Blackburn for U.S. Senate, but Denies He’s Considering Replacing War Secretary

Tom Pappert
Hegseth and Blackburn

President Donald Trump on Wednesday denied he is considering a replacement for U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, but predicted Hegseth would be “very popular” if U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) selected him to finish her term in the Senate after she becomes Tennessee’s 51st governor in January.

Amid reports claiming that Trump may hold Hegseth responsible for the lack of a satisfying conclusion to the conflict in Iran, which Vice President JD Vance said caused the Democratic Party victories in the 2026 midterms on Tuesday, the president on Wednesday told reporters that he thinks Hegseth is “doing a great job.”

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Governor-Elect Blackburn Names Stuart McWhorter Chairman of Transition Committee

Kaitlin Housler
Marsha Blackburn

Tennessee Governor-elect Marsha Blackburn announced Wednesday that Deputy Governor Stuart C. McWhorter will chair her gubernatorial transition committee as she prepares to take office after Tuesday’s election victory.

Blackburn announced the appointment Wednesday morning, saying McWhorter would oversee efforts to ensure a smooth transition between Governor Bill Lee’s administration and her incoming administration.

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Some Lee Administration Officials Reportedly Oppose Another Christa Pike Execution as Blackburn Slams 30-Year Wait

Tom Pappert
Christa Pike

Officials serving under Governor Bill Lee are reportedly in disagreement about the fate of Christa Pike, who was convicted 30 years ago for murdering Colleen Slemmer during a prolonged attack in 1995.

Lee paused all executions scheduled for the remainder of 2026 after Pike survived two doses of lethal injection administered under the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) last month.

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Federal Judge Signals He Will Lift Order Blocking State Takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools

Tom Pappert
students

U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw issued an order indicating he will soon reverse his July 1 decision that blocked the state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS). He reportedly revealed on Friday that he never intended to prevent the state Education Oversight Board from meeting.

In his Monday order, Crenshaw instructed Education Oversight Board Chairman Billy Orgel to file a statement notifying the court “when the Board is ready, willing, and able to perform its duties under Public Chapter 1057,” the law passed by the General Assembly to allow an oversight board to assume responsibilities for school districts that meet specific criteria.

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Federal Judge to Consider Dissolving Injunction Blocking Tennessee State Takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools

Tom Pappert
students learning

U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw will hear arguments on Friday on whether to dissolve the order he filed on July 1 to block enforcement of Senate Bill (SB) 714 and dismiss the lawsuit filed by Shelby County. Governor Bill Lee signed the law earlier this year, and it would empower the state to take control of school districts that meet certain conditions.

The only school district that meets the threshold for state action is Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS), but the Obama-appointed district judge blocked its enforcement with his emergency status quo order issued in July. Crenshaw issued the order in response to the request for an injunction by the plaintiffs, who are still seeking an injunction that would formally block the law while the lawsuit continues.

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As Gov. Bill Lee Courts Paramount and Company Scouts Nashville-Area Offices, Mayor Freddie O’Connell Says Metro Has No Direct Contact

Tom Pappert
Freddie O'Connell

Metro Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell on Friday said his office has had no direct contact with Paramount Skydance Corporation, which is reportedly leaving California amid a breakdown in negotiations between Paramount and California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

TMZ reported Tuesday that Paramount officially told California officials it planned to leave, with earlier reporting that it would exit the state if a deal to complete its merger was not in place by October 1. The outlet later reported that negotiations between Paramount and Bonta had resumed.

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120 Tennessee Law Enforcement Agencies Partner with ICE to Arrest 1,300 Illegal Aliens Since January 2025

Tom Pappert
Police ICE

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on Wednesday that it had partnered with 120 law enforcement agencies in Tennessee as of September 9, suggesting the Volunteer State could represent about about 5 percent of the 2,466 total 287(g) agreements signed nationwide.

Following the agency’s announcement it was “strengthening cooperation” with 120 local partners in Tennessee as part of the expansion of its 287(g) program,  The Tennessee Star reviewed the latest information regarding by ICE, revealing a total of 139 law enforcement agencies in Tennessee had entered one of the three models.

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Nashville Airport Authority to Vote on Airport Name Change to Honor Dolly Parton After Gov. Bill Lee, Parton Estate Confirm Interest

Tom Pappert
Dolly Parton

Governor Bill Lee and the Metro Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) have confirmed that plans to rename the BNA Nashville International Airport to honor Dolly Parton are underway after the iconic singer, songwriter, actress, and philanthropist died last week at age 80. 

The governor confirmed in a Friday press release that his office and the MNAA were working together on the proposal to rename the airport, and that Parton’s team was “touched by the idea and open to continuing the conversation.”

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Tennessee Board Approves Private Partnership for $9.2 Billion I-24 ‘Choice Lanes’ Project

Kaitlin Housler
Nashville Traffic

The Tennessee Transportation Modernization Board unanimously approved DriveTN on Wednesday as the private-sector partner for the I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes project, clearing the way for what state officials call America’s largest interstate choice-lanes public-private partnership with an estimated price tag of $9.2 billion. The decision comes after the passage of the Transportation Modernization Act three years ago in 2023.

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Tennessee Among Finalists for Nuclear Innovation Campus that Could Generate 25,000 Jobs, $50 Billion in New Investments

Tom Pappert
Bill Lee

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on Tuesday that Tennessee ranked among five states selected as potential homes for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, which the agency said are part of a federal “effort to strengthen and modernize the nation’s full nuclear fuel cycle.”

According to the Tuesday press release, a total of 28 applications were submitted from 28 states, and Tennessee was selected as a “potential host” along with Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Utah. The federal agency reported that each state’s governor has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the DOE. 

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Gov. Bill Lee Signs President’s Data Center Ratepayer Pledge

Zachery Schmidt
Bill Lee

Gov. Bill Lee signed on to President Donald Trump’s pledge to make sure ratepayers are not paying for data centers. On Thursday, the Republican Governors Association announced Lee and 23 other governors signed on to the pledge. “Republican governors across the country understand the AI boom should cut your power bill, not spike it,” the association said on social media. “That’s why they’re backing President Trump’s Ratepayer Protection pledge, making sure American families come first.” The pledge says AI companies will “build, bring, or buy all of the energy needed for building and operating data centers, paying the full cost of their energy and infrastructure, no matter what.” “As part of the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, companies agree to protect American consumers from price hikes due to data center energy and infrastructure requirements, and lower electricity costs for consumers in the long term, including by,” the pledge adds. No Democratic governor has signed on to Trump’s pledge. In addition to the Republican governors, the White House announced that over 200 data center-related companies have signed his pledge to ensure data centers will not raise electricity prices for ratepayers. The White House said the companies that have signed onto the pledge cover…

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Fresh off Campaign Launch, Brent Taylor Self-Funds $1 Million in Race for Tennessee’s New 9th Congressional District

Tom Pappert
Brent Taylor

State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) on Thursday provided The Tennessee Star with confirmation he ordered a $1 million transfer of his personal wealth to his newly launched campaign for Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District, which will be redrawn after the Tennessee General Assembly passed redistricting legislation.

Taylor’s cash injection comes within hours of the launch of his congressional campaign, which began moments after the State Senate passed legislation to make the 9th Congressional District winnable for a Republican candidate for the first time in more than 50 years. Taylor was immediately endorsed by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN), who said he will be a conservative fighter for Memphis and a close ally of President Donald Trump if elected. 

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Blackburn Expands Substantial Lead in Upcoming GOP Primary for Governor, New Poll Shows

Kaitlin Housler
Sen. Marsha Blackburn

A new poll released by the Nashville-based Beacon Center of Tennessee shows U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) continuing to dominate the Republican field in the upcoming 2026 gubernatorial primary, expanding her already significant lead.

The latest Beacon Poll finds Blackburn now earning 63 percent support among Republican primary voters, up from 56 percent in January. Her nearest competitor, U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06), garners 10 percent, while Tennessee State Representative Monty Fritts (R-Kingston) trails with 5 percent. Just 22 percent of voters remain undecided.

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House Speaker Introduces Five Bills in Redistricting Special Session

Zachery Schmidt
Cameron Sexton

House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) introduced five bills on the first day of Tennessee’s special session to consider redrawing its congressional map.

Governor Bill Lee called a special session last week after the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, ruling the Voting Rights Act did not require states to create additional majority-minority congressional districts.

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Tennessee Lawmakers to Convene Tuesday for Special Session to Rework Congressional Map

Kaitlin Housler
Bill Lee

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee ordered state lawmakers to convene next week for a special legislative session to formally review the state’s congressional map in the wake of a high-stakes ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court opening the door for states to redraw racial gerrymandered districts.

In the case of Louisiana v. Callais, the Court ruled Wednesday that Louisiana’s revised congressional map, which was designed to create a second majority-black district, constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

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Commentary: Trump and Tennessee Republicans Delivering Affordable Energy

Star News Contributor
Donald Trump

The Trump administration and state leadership are working relentlessly to obtain private, federal and state investments and grants, as well as foreign direct investment in new enrichment technology, advanced nuclear power plants, and other innovations that are being built and deployed in partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

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Tennessee Democrat State Rep. G.A. Hardaway Dies at 71

Kaitlin Housler
GA Hardaway

Tennessee State Representative G.A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) died at the age of 71 after passing away early Friday morning at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville following a brief illness, his family announced.

Hardaway began his legislative career in 2007, representing Tennessee’s 92nd House District before moving to the 93rd District in 2013. His district included neighborhoods such as Orange Mound, Binghampton, Highland Heights, and parts of Cordova.

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Tennessee Legislature Passes Bill Restricting Cities from Relocating Homeless People

Zachery Schmidt

The Tennessee General Assembly is imposing limits on local governments’ ability to relocate homeless people.

The State House and State Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 1788 last week, which prevents local governments from relocating homeless people unless they have written consent from the receiving jurisdiction and the relocation is carried out through a formal reunification program.

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Tennessee Subcommittee Advances School Immigration Status Tracking Bill

Zachery Schmidt
Elaine Davis

The Tennessee House Departments and Agencies Subcommittee advanced a bill on Tuesday that would require schools to track students’ immigration status. House Bill (HB) 1711, sponsored by State Representative Elaine Davis (R-Knoxville), now heads to the House State & Local Government Committee. HB 1711 expands reporting requirements in Tennessee for illegal immigrants. Schools would need to keep track of students’ immigration status so the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration can make a report on how much illegal immigrants in public schools are costing the state annually. Besides schools, prisons, hospitals, and social service agencies would be required to keep track of people’s immigration status to create a report to determine the annual financial effect illegal immigrants have on these services. The bill proposal would mandate law enforcement agencies to submit quarterly reports to the Tennessee Department of Safety, to include information about illegal activities committed by illegal immigrants, criminal gang activity, violations of federal law, and illegal immigrants arrested or detained for federal immigration laws. Law enforcement would need to report legal residents and illegal immigrants who have been charged with crimes or convicted of crimes, the bill proposal states. A government official or employee who fails to file…

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Lee Pushes School Voucher Expansion in Final State of the State

The Center Square
Bill Lee

An expansion that would double the number of private school vouchers offered by Tennessee topped the list of priorities outlined by Republican Gov. Bill Lee in his final State of the State address on Monday.

The state spent $144 million providing vouchers of $7,295 to 20,000 students in the 2025-2026 school year. Lee proposed $155 million for the program in 2026-2027, which he said would fund vouchers for 40,000 students.

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Commentary: Tennessee Conservatives Coalition’s Legislative Priorities for 2026 Session

Star News Contributor
TN Capitol

The snow in Tennessee this week isn’t the only thing accumulating in Nashville. With our general assembly back in session and the bill deadline looming – legislative priorities for our representatives and senators are coming into view. And, for Governor Bill Lee, who enters his last year in office – it’s his last chance to advance his policy agenda. 

As in years past, The Tennessee Conservatives Coalition will be monitoring legislation and having an impact on issues that conservatives in Tennessee care about – from bedrock conservative principles of expanding school choice, to social issues including protecting the unborn and addressing human trafficking, to economic issues of ensuring low taxes, a conservative budget and maintaining and promoting a business friendly environment. 

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Commentary: Tennessee and the Roadless Rule

Admin
Cherokee National Forest

Since 2001, a little-known federal regulation referred to as the “Roadless Rule” has conserved some of the most pristine and backcountry regions within our great federal forests, including hundreds of thousands of acres in my home state of Virginia, and neighboring Tennessee.

As the name implies, road building and industrial logging are prohibited in these designated roadless areas. For over two decades, 58 million acres—roughly 30 per cent of all federal forests managed by the U.S. Forest Service—has been conserved for hunting, fishing, and recreational opportunities by the Roadless Rule. However, in July, the Forest Service announced its intention to repeal the rule, thereby endangering forests across 35 other states.

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