More than 40 years after Kingston Springs, Tennessee motel maid Catherine Jean Jenkins was stabbed to death, Anthony Darrell Hines was executed for her murder.
Read the full storyAnthony Darrell Hines Executed for 1985 Tennessee Murder
Tag: Gov. Bill Lee
Federal Court Upholds Tennessee’s Ban on Cryptocurrency ATMs
A federal court upheld a Tennessee law that bans cryptocurrency ATMs.
In April, Tennessee became the second state in America to ban cryptocurrency ATMs, with Gov. Bill Lee signing House Bill (HB) 2505 into law.
Read the full storyTennessee Sheriff Claims Potential New Immigration Law Does Not Apply to Him
The sheriff of Tennessee’s second-biggest county by population is claiming that a new potential state immigration law does not apply to him.
Nashville-Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall told Tennessee Outlook that the county does not need to follow House Bill (HB) 2219, which requires county sheriffs to enter into a 287(g) program agreement with the federal government, because he lacks the required certification.
Read the full storyGov. Lee Signs Expansion of Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Program Into Law
Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday signed into law an expansion of Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Program, increasing the total number of available school choice scholarships from 20,000 to 35,000 for the 2026-27 school year.
Read the full storyCommentary: One Veto Left to Get Right, Governor Lee
Tennessee lawmakers spent this session advancing the priorities and values voters sent them to Nashville to fight for. From empowering parents with school choice to cracking down on illegal immigration, expanding Second Amendment rights to protecting free speech on college campuses, the 114th General Assembly moved aggressively on nearly every front.
Read the full storyCommentary: A Defining Moment for Patient Access in Tennessee
Tennessee is on the verge of a meaningful step forward for patients, families, and the future of healthcare in our state. With overwhelming bipartisan support—passing the House 94-0 and the Senate 29-1—HB 484 / SB 435 reflects a powerful shared commitment to improving patient access to modern, evidence-based care.
Read the full storyTennessee, Feds Approve Music City Loop Project
Gov. Bill Lee announced on Wednesday that the Music City Loop project received state and federal approval.
The Boring Company’s Music City Loop got its lease application and enhanced grading permit for the use of state-owned property along Tennessee’s highway system, approved by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration.
Read the full storyTennessee Lawmakers Cancel Session as Major Winter Storm Looms
The Tennessee Senate cancelled floor sessions and committee meetings for next week as ice and snow is expected in parts of the state beginning as soon as Friday evening.
Read the full storyTennessee Launches First-of-Its-Kind Public Domestic Violence Offender Registry Under Savanna’s Law
In a groundbreaking move aimed at enhancing public safety and protect victims of domestic abuse, Tennessee has officially launched the nation’s first public registry for persistent domestic violence offenders.
Read the full storyCommentary: Phony Populist Grifters Exhibit Disdain for the Rule of Law
Sadly, our law schools, bar associations, and judiciary have become politicized to the degree that in blue states the law itself has lost its moral force; many lawyers and judges, in a profession that has become dominated by the Left, simply seek to impose their personal predilections on society while pretending to follow the law. Activist judges are ideological zealots in black robes–amoral actors in a nihilistic belief system in which power and winning are all that matter. Laws and procedural rules don’t matter.
This same trend is evident on the fringe right. Let me explain. I have written previously about the “nullification” movement, which would encourage state officials to defy federal laws they personally disagree with (like blue state mayors and governors are doing with illegal immigration). Fortunately, the misguided legislation proposed in TN to advance this dubious notion has never reached the floor of the General Assembly. It is a crackpot theory promoted by the fringe John Birch Society and some of its wild-eyed fellow travelers.
Read the full storyLaw Enforcement Effort in Memphis Leads to Arrest of 141 Alleged Violent Fugitives
Memphis streets are safer after law enforcement completed a recent task force initiative.
Operation Memphis Streets, which was conducted from July 14 to July 25, saw 141 alleged violent fugitives taken into custody.
Read the full storyTennessee Company Announces $12 million Expansion Plan
A Tennessee-based company announced plans on Monday to invest $12 million in expanding its manufacturing operations in Robertson County. Tate Ornamental said this investment will create an additional 50 new jobs, bringing its workforce in Tennessee to 250. The investment and additional staff will enhance the company’s production capacity by enabling the construction of a state-of-the-art facility near its existing metal and stone plants. Construction for this operation is estimated to begin in January 2027. Tate Ornamental started in 1988 and is a family-owned design, fabrication, installation and freight company. Reacting to the news, Gov. Bill Lee said brands like Tate Ornamental shape Tennessee. Lee thanked the company for its continued investment in the state’s “highly skilled workforce.” Ronald Tate, the president of Tate Ornamental, said the company is “excited” to continue its growth in Tennessee. “While we do work all over the country and had the option to expand elsewhere, choosing to invest again in our hometown was an easy decision,” Tate explained. “White House has been a foundation for our company for many years, and we’re proud to keep building here, creating jobs here and continuing to be part of this community’s future.” White House Mayor John Corbitt…
Read the full storyTennessee Politicians React to Death of Frank Niceley
Tennessee politicians reacted to the news of former state legislator Frank Niceley passing away Thursday at 78 years old from a heart attack.
Niceley served in the Tennessee Legislature for a total of 16 years. Tennesseans elected him to the State House from 1988 to 1992 and the State Senate from 2013 to 2025.
Read the full storyGov. Bill Lee Signs EO to Strengthen Workforce Development Program
Gov. Bill Lee signed an executive order (EO) on Tuesday that seeks to strengthen the state’s workforce program.
This EO requires the State Workforce Development Board (SWDR) to adopt a results-driven approach that aligns education and training with the changing needs of employers and industries.
Read the full storyNew Tennessee Law Tightens Oversight of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land
A new Tennessee law, effective July 1, will regulate foreigners who purchase agricultural land in the state.
Gov. Bill Lee signed House Bill (HB) 219 in May, which says that “foreign persons” must submit a copy of their Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) to the Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture. State Representative Jay Reedy (R-Erin) introduced this piece of legislation.
Read the full storyCommentary: TVA Is Failing Tennesseans – It’s Time for Oversight and Reform
For decades, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) operated with the noble promise of bringing affordable, reliable energy to the people of Tennessee. While covering all of Tennessee, it also serves a larger seven state region including portions of Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. However, today it’s clear that TVA – a federal entity – has drifted far from its original mission. What was once a respected public utility has become an unaccountable bureaucracy – plagued by mismanagement, bloated salaries and misplaced priorities – including a focus on green energy and woke policies like fully embracing far-left ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) initiatives and net-zero.
Read the full storyTennessee Sports Betting Grows While Lottery Is Flat
Tennessee has two funding sources for education, one of which is growing while the other is seeing a drop in revenues.
The growth of sports betting and the decline in Tennessee Lottery revenues became a hot topic of discussion for lawmakers during a special session of the General Assembly in January.
Read the full storyGov. Lee Signs Bill Banning Red Dye 40 from School Food
Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill last week aimed at improving the nutritional value of school lunches in Tennessee.
House Bill (HB) 134 bans the use of the petroleum-based chemical Red 40 in school food or beverage items. This new law gives Tennessee schools until August 1, 2027, to comply with the removal requirement.
Read the full storyBattle Lines Drawn in Nashville Over Immigration Enforcement
Battle lines are being drawn over immigration enforcement in Nashville. It’s shaping up as a fight once again pitting liberals who control the island of blue that is Davidson County versus the sea of red that is Tennessee.
In one corner, Nashville’s liberal Mayor, Freddie O’Connell and members of the democrat-majority City Council expressing outrage that federal immigration laws were being enforced in their city. In the other corner, the Trump Department of Homeland Security, Republican Governor Bill Lee and key players in the republican supermajority General Assembly who were clearly peeved at the tone and tenor of the Mayor’s hastily called Monday press conference.
Read the full storyTennessee Gov. Bill Lee Among 26 Governors Pledging Support for Trump Immigration Plans, Including Deportations
Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee was among the 26 governors who signed a letter confirming their support for the immigration proposals advanced by President-elect Donald Trump, including the mass deportation of illegal immigrants.
Lee confirmed his support in a post to the social media platform X, where he shared a joint letter issued by the Republican Governors Association (RGA), which Lee continues to lead through the end of this year.
Read the full storyTennessee Governor Asks Attorney General to Investigate FEMA for Political Discrimination After Hurricane Helene
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Sunday revealed he is working with Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti to investigate whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) discriminated against Tennesseans affected by Hurricane Helene based on their political views.
Lee made the announcement after a FEMA official directed relief workers to avoid homes advertising support for President-elect Donald Trump after Hurricane Milton in Florida, specifically through guidance that told workers to “avoid homes advertising Trump” and “practice de-escalation and preventative measures” as best practices when providing relief.
Read the full storyCommentary: Private Sector Should Drive Broadband Innovation, Not Big Government
by Tommy Vallejos Most of you are probably reading this very article using the power of broadband internet, which attests to the importance of high-speed internet in connecting us, sharing ideas and gathering as communities. Access to reliable internet is powering every aspect of our lives, now starting from the earliest years of childhood – better connecting students to their education in urban and rural communities alike. Broadband gives rural entrepreneurs and small business owners the chance to connect with new customers, suppliers and business opportunities. Millions of Tennesseans are reaping the benefits of the internet on a daily basis, including many who don’t stop to give it a second thought. However, 200,000 of our neighbors in Tennessee still don’t have reliable access to high-speed internet. And many of those impacted tend to be Latinos in sparsely populated towns across our state. The good news is that additional federal resources have been allocated to states to help meet these broadband gaps, most of which are occurring in rural communities. We have Governor Bill Lee to thank for deploying these important funds. But we have to be careful because the federal government is prone to solutions that spend a lot…
Read the full storyOak Ridge Preferred Site for $5.5 Billion Uranium Enrichment Facility
Oak Ridge has been named the preferred site for an Orano USA centrifuge uranium enrichment facility, state leaders announced on Wednesday.
The multi-billion dollar project is expected to cover about 750,000 square feet. The company plans to invest $5.5 billion in the project, according to Tennessee Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston.
Read the full storyTennessee Gov. Lee Grants $41 Million for Vocational Education Programs
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s office announced $41 million in grants to 23 projects to invest in vocational education in rural counties.
The Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education grants, capped at $2 million apiece, are intended to expand regional partnerships between Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, community colleges and local industries.
Read the full storyFederal Judiciary Panel Tosses Lawsuit over Alleged Gerrymandering in Tennessee
A federal lawsuit filed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and others against the state of Tennessee and Gov. Bill Lee (R) has been dismissed by a panel of federal judges.
Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP, et.al. v. William B. Lee was filed by a “coalition of civil rights organizations and Tennessee voters filed a federal lawsuit against Tennessee’s Governor, Secretary of State, Coordinator of Elections, and the State Election Commission and its members challenging the state’s enacted congressional and state Senate districts as unconstitutional racial gerrymanders and as intentionally racially discriminatory,” according to a case summary.
Read the full storyTennessee Man Sentenced to Death in Torture, Rape, Murder of Homeless Woman
A Tennessee man was sentenced to death by lethal injection in an Anderson County court for the torture, rape, murder and abuse of a corpse in Oak Ridge 2019, according to multiple reports.
Monday, Sean Finnegan was found guilty of the following crimes against a homeless woman named Jennifer Paxton:
Read the full storyFirst Ever MLB Game Scheduled in Tennessee as Nashville Vies for Professional Team
The first ever Major League Baseball (MLB) game is set for about this time next, according to Gov. Bill Lee (R).
The governor’s office said in a release that the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves will play a regular season game marketed as the MLB Speedway Classic at Tennessee’s Bristol Motor Speedway on August 2, 2025.
Read the full storyLee Creates Tennessee Office of Outdoor Recreation
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is starting a state Office of Outdoor Recreation after putting $207 million for state parks, blueways development, farmland conservation and outdoor recreation in this year’s budget.
Lee announced the department, within the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, will work on conservation to provide Tennessee residents and visitors have more access to the outdoors.
Read the full storyTennessee School Resource Officers to Receive $800 Bonuses From State Grant Program
Thanks to a state grant program, eligible school resource offers will receive an $800 retention bonus payment this summer, according a release from the The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) and the Tennessee Peace Officers Standards Training (POST) Commission.
“This summer, each eligible law enforcement officer will receive an $800 retention bonus payment if they have completed their 2023 in-service hours and are still employed as a law enforcement officer at the time of the application,” th release said. “An additional $800 will also be awarded to all SROs who have completed the 2023-24 academic year, as well as all applicable training. Eligible officers already receive an $800 salary supplement payment from the POST Commission for completion of annual training requirements.”
Read the full storyOklahoma Becomes Latest State in Court over Illegal Immigration, Arguing It’s a State Issue
Oklahoma is the most recent state facing a legal battle with the Biden administration on the issue of illegal immigration, with a federal judge blocking legislation that would make entering the country illegally a state crime.
Oklahoma’s House Bill 4156 makes it a crime to be in Oklahoma without legal status. The legislation was signed into law on April 30, but was blocked by a federal judge in June after the Biden administration filed a lawsuit against the state.
Read the full storyTennessee Sees $4.7 Billion Individual Income Increase From In-Migration
Tennessee saw the fifth-largest population increase from other states between 2021 and 2022, according to new data released by the Internal Revenue Service.
Tennessee saw a net increase of nearly 60,600 during that calendar year, a population increase of 0.87% during the year, with a net increase of nearly $4.7 billion in adjusted gross income on individual tax returns.
Read the full storyTennessee Students Show TCAP Math Score Improvement
Tennessee students showed math test scored improvements since hitting a pandemic low point in 2021, just as occurred in English language arts, according to new data released by the Tennessee Department of Education.
The Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program places results into four categories – exceed, met, approaching and below – compared to student comprehension expectations.
Read the full storyFar-Left State Rep. Aftyn Behn Sues Tennessee over Abortion Trafficking Law
Far-left member of the Tennessee General Assembly earlier this week filed a lawsuit against 11 district attorneys general over a soon-to-be enacted abortion trafficking law signed by Governor Bill Lee (R).
State Representative Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) and Nashville abortion activist and attorney Rachel Welty are listed as the plaintiffs in the case.
Read the full storyBill to Halt Predatory Car Booting Signed by Gov. Lee
Gov. Bill Lee (R) last week signed a bill into law that is meant to prevent predatory car booting by overzealous local officials.
The “Modernization of Towing, Immobilization, and Oversight Normalization” or the MOTION Act will take effect July 1.
Read the full storyTennessee Law Requiring Age Verification for Online Porn Sites Starts January 1
Tennessee will make it a felony for a minor to access an adult content website without age verification starting Jan. 1.
Gov. Bill Lee recently signed the bill into law, making the offense a class C felony and making the entity liable for damages, including attorney’s costs and court fees.
Read the full storyGov. Lee Signs Abortion Trafficking Bill into Law
Gov. Bill Lee (R) on Tuesday signed a bill into law that will penalize adults who take minors across state lines to obtain abortions or sex change surgeries.
HB 1895 “creates the criminal offense of abortion trafficking of a minor; provides for a civil action against a person committing the offense of abortion trafficking of a minor for the wrongful death of an unborn child that was aborted.”
Read the full storyGov. Bill Lee Confirms He’s ‘Engaged’ with Republican Candidates to Determine School Choice Stance Ahead of Primary Elections
Governor Bill Lee confirmed in a Monday press conference that he is “engaged” with Republican candidates to determine their stance on school choice following the defeat of his Education Freedom Scholarship Act, which would have provided 20,000 Education Savings Accounts for Tennessee students.
Lee said he has “met with several candidates, some who are in open seats; some who are incumbents,” with the governor specifically asking the candidates for their stances on “what I’m talking about is education freedom and choice for parents.”
Read the full storyGov. Lee Signs $1.6 Billion Franchise Tax Refund, $400K Repeal into Law
The property portion of Tennessee’s franchise tax has been repealed and businesses will be eligible for a rebate of up to three years of those taxes.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed the bill into law Friday. The rebate could cost the state up to $1.6 billion.
Read the full storyTennessee to Require Social Media Companies to Get Parental Consent for Minors
Social media companies in Tennessee will need to verify parental consent before allowing minors to create accounts in the state starting Jan. 1.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed the bill, which along with age verification and parental consent, requires social media companies to allow parents access to monitor the account with privacy settings, daily time restrictions and creating breaks where the minor cannot use the social media.
Read the full storyTennessee Firearms Association Sues ATF over Private Gun Sale Rule
The Tennessee Firearms Association (TFA) is joining a lawsuit with several states and pro-Second Amendment groups against the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which says that the ATF far too broadly interpreting a new law passed by Congress regarding private gun sales.
The lawsuit stems from the definition of the term “‘Engaged in the Business’ as a Dealer in Firearms,” and claims that the ATF is angling to make citizens who sell even one firearm privately subject to licensure that large firearms sellers must obtain, according to a release from TFA.
Read the full storyTennessee Celebrates Small Business Appreciation Week
Gov. Bill Lee (R) has officially proclaimed April 28 to May 4 as Small Business Appreciation Week in Tennessee.
Noting that small businesses are “the backbone of Tennessee’s economy, comprising a significant portion of the State’s employment including nearly half of private-sector workforce,” and that “supporting small business owners in Tennessee strengthens the State’s resilience against economic downturns and promotes sustainable economic development,” Lee released the official proclamation on the state’s website.
Read the full storyTennessee Bill Enabling Adult Sentences for Teenage Criminals Awaits Signature from Gov. Bill Lee
Tennessee lawmakers on Thursday approved legislation that will allow for “blended sentences” of minors who were aged at least 16 when committing a crime, meaning some juvenile offenders will receive adult sentences for their crimes.
The Tennessee Senate on Thursday passed SB 624, sponsored by Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis), after the Senate version of the bill was adopted in the Tennessee State House. It now awaits a signature from Governor Bill Lee.
Read the full storyConcealed Carry Now Allowed for Approved Tennessee School Staff
Tennessee school staff are now eligible to concealed carry firearms at school if they have met the criteria and gained proper approval.
The law went into effect after it was signed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. Several school districts have already said they will not take part in the concealed carry option, which requires the approval of the school principal, superintendent and local law enforcement department.
Read the full storyBill to Block Transporting Minors for Abortion Headed to Gov. Lee’s Desk
A bill making it a misdemeanor punishable by just less than a year of imprisonment for assisting in bringing a minor across state lines for an abortion without parental permission is headed to the desk of Gov. Bill Lee.
An amended Senate Bill 1971 was concurred by the Senate 25-4 after passing the House 74-24.
Read the full storyGeneral Assembly Passes Bill for Stricter Bail Requirements
The Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday that strengthened bail requirements.
HB 1719 “removes the defendant’s financial condition as a consideration for the magistrate in determining the amount of bail necessary to reasonably assure the appearance of the defendant at trial and protect the safety of the public.”
Read the full storyMetro Nashville Councilwoman Courtney Johnston Demanded Special Session for New Gun Laws in 2022
Metro Councilwoman Courtney Johnston, who recently announced a primary challenge to Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), previously urged Governor Bill Lee to call a special session to pass legislation targeting firearms in a 2022 open letter.
Johnston argued in her letter that “thoughts and prayers are no longer enough” and urged Lee to “take a hard look at our policies and what we can and should do differently.”
Read the full storyThoughts Mixed on Impact of Potential Super Bowl in Tennessee
A bill that would allow Tennessee Department of Tourism to keep mega-event contracts hidden for up to 10 years headed to the desk of Gov. Bill Lee this week, where it’s expected to be signed.
The department currently has $25 million in a mega-event fund to use to lure events such as a push to hold the 2028, 2029 or 2030 Super Bowl to the new Nissan Stadium.
Read the full storyGov. Lee Says Volkswagen Unionization Would be ‘Big Mistake’ at TDOT Event in Chattanooga
At an event held Monday at Chattanooga’s office of the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), Gov. Bill Lee (R) said it would be a “big mistake” for Volkswagen employees at a plant there to unionize.
Lee reportedly said:
Read the full storyTennessee Lawmakers Mark Anniversary of Covenant School Shooting
Tennessee’s lawmakers at the state and federal level Wednesday marked the year anniversary of the mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, which claimed six lives.
Tennessee’s House Republicans shared the following message on X.
Read the full storyTennessee Bills to Fine Parents for Crimes Committed by Children, Treat Teenage Thieves as Adults Head to Gov. Lee’s Desk
The Tennessee General Assembly on Monday passed legislation that would see families of juvenile offenders fined for repeated criminal acts and teenage thieves charged as adults, with the bills now headed to Governor Bill Lee for final approval.
The Juvenile Organized Retail Theft Act, SB 2573, mandates that punishments for organized retail theft and car break-ins resulting in the theft of more than $1,000 worth of goods must be considered a Class E felony, which carries a sentence of at least one year in prison. The bill would additionally apply to juvenile defendants who are at least 15.
Read the full story