Former Police Officer Pleading Guilty in Tyre Nichols’ Brutal Beating Death Admits to Repeatedly Striking Victim with Baton

The former Memphis Police officer who took a plea deal in the brutal beating death of Tyre Nichols admitted to repeatedly striking the 27-year-old black man, among other criminal conduct, according to court records.

Desmond Mills Jr, 33, one of five former officers charged in the January homicide, on Thursday pleaded guilty to two felony counts against him — offering his full cooperation with prosecutors in exchange for a recommendation that he serve no more than 15 years in federal prison.

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Former Memphis Police Officer Charged in Tyre Nichols’ Murder Pleads Guilty to Two of Four Counts in Federal Plea Deal

Desmond Mills Jr., one of five former Memphis police officers charged in the January beating death of Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop, has pleaded guilty to two of four criminal charges in the nationally watched federal civil rights case, and several charges in a state case.

Mills appeared Thursday morning before Judge Mark Norris in the Western District of Tennessee.

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Paul Rose Wins Republican Nomination for TN State Senate District 32 Race

Paul Rose easily won the Republican nomination for Tennessee’s State Senate District 32 race Thursday night. According to the results, Rose won with more than 62 percent of the vote, or 6,159 votes out of 9,909 cast overall. Former Shelby County Commissioner George Chism ran a distant second with almost 14 percent of the vote or 1,362 votes. Meanwhile Heidi Shafer, who also served on the Shelby County Commission, placed third, also with almost 14 percent, or 1,358 votes. Former State Representative Steve McManus placed fourth, with about 10 percent of the vote, or 1,030 votes. Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden released a statement after the votes came in. “Paul is a long-time friend and has been committed to advocating for conservative ideas and will make a great State Senator,” Golden said. “We are eager to help them win the General Election and help continue the successes of our Senate supermajority.” Rose will now square off against Democrat Eric Coleman in a March 12 general election, according to the Memphis-based WMC Action News 5. The victor will replace former State Sen. Mark Norris, who is now a federal judge. District 32 encompasses Tipton and parts of eastern Shelby counties.…

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McNally Re-elected Tennessee Lt. Governor and Speaker of the State Senate

State Sen. Randy McNally (R-TN-05) was re-elected to a second term as Speaker of the Senate, and thus Lieutenant Governor, Tuesday. State senators met at noon Tuesday, the first organizational day of the 111th General Assembly to elect their speaker, according to a press release from McNally’s office. By state statute, the Speaker of the Senate holds the title of Lieutenant Governor. McNally has served in the positions since January 2017. Mark Norris, a federal judge in Memphis, swore in McNally as speaker and the members who were elected, WBIR reported. Norris was formerly the Senate Majority Leader until the U.S. Senate voted 51-44 in October to appoint him as a judge. Gov.-elect Bill Lee tweeted, “Congratulations to @ltgovmcnally and @GlenCasada.  I am honored to have the opportunity to work with both of you this session, and I look forward to what we can accomplish together to make this state an even better place for all Tennesseans.” Congratulations to @ltgovmcnally and @GlenCasada. I am honored to have the opportunity to work with both of you this session, and I look forward to what we can accomplish together to make this state an even better place for all Tennesseans. — Bill…

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Early Voting Begins Friday for GOP Primary Bid to Replace Former State Sen. Mark Norris, Who is Now a Federal Judge

Early voting begins today for the primary in the State Senate District 32 race to replace Mark Norris. Formerly the Senate Majority Leader, Norris (R-TN-32) was appointed by the U.S. Senate in October as a federal judge in the Western District of Tennessee, The Tennessee Star reported in October. His appointment had languished since July 2017. Four Republicans filed paperwork to replace Norris, The Star reported last month. The general election is scheduled for March 12. Tipton and part of Shelby County make up that district. Michael Nelson of the Daily Memphian said in a column that he likes the chances of one candidate in particular: Because Norris held the seat so long, a number of credible candidates for the Republican nomination have lined up now that it’s vacant. The favorite is former Shelby County Commissioner Heidi Shafer, but in what’s sure to be a low-turnout contest, any or all of her three rivals could make a run for the money: former state representative Steve McManus, Tipton County construction executive Paul Rose, and defeated Shelby County Trustee candidate (also a former commissioner) George Chism. Why do I rate Shafer the favorite? Precisely because it will be a low-turnout affair in which…

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Candidates Gear Up to Replace Mark Norris in State Senate

Four Republicans have filed paperwork to replace Mark Norris in  a special election in Tennessee’s 32nd State Senate District, according to The Daily Memphian. Norris was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as a federal judge earlier this year. The primary will be held on January 24, with early voting beginning on January 4. The general election is scheduled for March 12. Tipton and part of Shelby County make up that district. “Former state Rep. Steve McManus, former Shelby County Commissioner Heidi Shafer, former Shelby County Commissioner George Chism and Covington businessman Paul Rose turned in their paperwork at Shelby County and Tipton County election offices,” The Daily Memphian reported. “Shafer and Chism were the last to make public commitments to the race. McManus entered the fray first and already has a campaign billboard along I-40 in Memphis, while Rose previously said he was committed and made a formal announcement recently.” Shafer served two terms as a Shelby County Commissioner. Shafer told The Tennessee Star she believes West Tennessee “is getting left behind in a burgeoning economy, particularly when it comes to economic incentives and infrastructure.” “We have had some really strong previous folks from West Tennessee (in the state legislature) so…

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