Ian Round is The Daily Memphian’s state government reporter based in Nashville. He came to Tennessee from Maryland, where he reported on local politics for Baltimore Brew. He earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland in December 2019.
There are 432 articles by Ian Round :
The Senate last year approved a statewide ban on residency requirements, making an exception for Hamilton County. But last month, the House passed an inverted version, allowing them everywhere except Memphis.
Some states require police to keep DNA evidence until the person convicted dies. But in Tennessee, it can be destroyed after a conviction is rendered, leaving no way for many cases to be revisited.
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said, “I think the legislature has adequately addressed the issue of gun rights,” and the House Civil Justice Subcommittee was told the bill proposed by Rep. Chris Todd of Jackson would risk reciprocity with 21 other states.
The vast majority of Tennesseans support medical or recreational marijuana, but Tennessee could be “the last state standing” when it comes to legalization.
“Like many of you, I believe in local control,” state Sen. Sara Kyle of Memphis said.
Harris joins state Rep. London Lamar and nonprofit leader Rhonnie Brewer in seeking the Senate seat, which has been vacant since Feb. 2.
The bill was amended to apply only to Memphis. It will become law with Gov. Bill Lee’s signature.
“We are primarily arguing that this is an infringement on the counties’ sovereignty,” former Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper said on behalf of MSCS and MNPS.
The grandmother and aunts of Artemis Rayford, a Memphis boy killed at home by a stray bullet on Christmas day, woke up at 3:30 a.m. yesterday to drive to Nashville.
The bill would have upgraded June 19 from a day of special observance to an official state holiday, giving state government workers the day off.
In her recusal, Sarah Campbell cited a rule that says, “A judge shall disqualify himself or herself in any proceeding in which the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned.”
“This bill does not ban any book,” state Sen. Jack Johnson said about the controversial Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022.
A bill by state Rep. London Lamar would require data sharing between police departments and the state health department, and would require TDH to produce an annual report on the public health impacts of gun violence.
Memphis Democrats objected, primarily because most of the bill’s sponsors are not Memphians.
Memphians have voted twice to use ranked-choice voting, also known as instant-runoff voting, although it hasn’t yet been implemented.
The Germantown Republican is sponsoring a bill requiring the ACT or SAT test for admission to any of Tennessee’s public, four-year universities. The bill would not require a minimum score for admission.
Unfair maps can result in expensive lawsuits, poor representation for the political minority, foregone-conclusion elections and safe seats for incumbents. Partisan redistricting also causes voters to lose faith in the system and disengage from civic life.
“Young Dolph was an inspiration to so many and taught me that whatever you do, just make sure you get paid for your hard work,” state Rep. Torrey Harris (D-Memphis) told The Daily Memphian, referencing the rapper’s song Get Paid.
A brief history of the Voting Rights Act in Tennessee, and Shelby County’s protected congressional district.
For young interns beginning their careers, even a necktie can put a knot in the budget. So donors come to the rescue.
Robinson was expelled following her two wire fraud convictions but before her sentencing, which is scheduled for March 3. Robinson said GOP lawmakers discriminated against her on the basis of her race, gender and party.
Republican lawmakers say Sarah Campbell shouldn’t recuse on the voucher case, one of Lee’s signature accomplishments.
A boost to education funding was the most notable item on Lee’s proposed $52.6 billion budget for fiscal year 2023.
Almost 82 years after the last documented lynching in Tennessee, a Republican and a Democrat want to commemorate all 154 victims statewide with Community Remembrance Project.
Republican state senators question whether everything on the list is truly needed.