ICU doctor announces Democratic bid for governor
Jason Martin treats COVID-19 patients in a Nashville hospital and has been one of the biggest critics of Gov. Bill Lee’s handling of the pandemic.
Ian Round
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 :
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August 2021
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State Government Memphis near the eye of national mask debate storm
Tennessee finds itself at the center of a national debate over whether mask mandates promote public health at the expense of citizens’ liberty.
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State Government National Guard deployed to help overwhelmed hospitals
In the first 15 days of August, there were more hospitalizations than there were in any full month of the pandemic, although not all of those were due to the coronavirus.
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Education State mulls how to enforce ‘critical race theory’ law
The Tennessee Department of Education is considering its rules for enforcing the state’s new law regulating discussions of race in the classroom.
Related story: Critical race theory: An explainer
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Education Critical race theory: An explainer
Here, in a nutshell, is a definition of critical race theory and why people are talking about it.
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Update
State GovernmentState GOP lawmakers backpedal on vaccination comments
Legislators seek to clarify stance on vaccinations in wake of national criticism following the firing of vaccine official Dr. Michelle Fiscus.
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Coronavirus With Delta spreading, Piercey urges vaccination
Because of the recent spike in Delta variant cases, Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey said more vaccine-hesitant people have decided to get vaccinated.
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July 2021
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State Government Tennessee Republicans remain low-key on call for vaccination
While many Republican leaders nationwide are now calling more strongly for COVID vaccinations in light of the Delta variant, Tennessee’s leading Republicans have remained more muted.
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State Government Lee, criminal justice advocates differ on clemency
Some criminal justice advocates say Gov. Bill Lee has not lived up to a commitment to use his clemency power.
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State Government Battle over Forrest bust ends with removal from Capitol
The Nathan Bedford Forrest bust in the state Capitol will be moved to the Tennessee State Museum.
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State Government GOP lawmakers demand answers on immigration issues
Republican lawmakers discussing refugees demanded transparency Tuesday, July 13, from the federal government regarding unaccompanied minors.
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State Government Top vaccine official at state health department fired
Dr. Michelle Fiscus, the top vaccine official at the Tennessee Department of Health, confirmed in a statement Monday, July 12, that she has been fired.
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State Government Democrats blast state plan to buy plane tickets for tourists
Gov. Bill Lee announced the state would spend $2.5 million to buy plane tickets for tourists. The decision prompted criticism that buying plane tickets for tourists is not the best use of taxpayer dollars.
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June 2021
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State Government Four rookie lawmakers reflect on legislative session
First-term Tennessee legislators Heidi Campbell, John Gillespie, Torrey Harris and Eddie Mannis say they’ve learned to be tough but find friends across the aisle as well.
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State Government Lawmakers look to dissolve state Health Dept. over teen vaccines
Republican state lawmakers floated the idea of “dissolving and reconstituting” the Tennessee Department of Health Wednesday, June 16, because of vaccine messaging they said amounted to “coercion.”
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State GovernmentGeneral Assembly committee leadership short on diversity
Since Bill Haslam was elected governor in 2010, Republicans have held control of Tennessee’s state government, with the party controlling the trifecta of the House, Senate and governor’s office. No Black politician has chaired a full, standing committee since then.
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EducationEducation commissioner skipping Shelby on 50-district summer tour
Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn won’t be making a Shelby County stop during a 50-district summer tour, but a spokesman said the omission isn’t personal or political.
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May 2021
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State GovernmentState GOP aims to reform criminal justice system
Tennessee jails people at a higher rate than average, but hasn’t seen results in reducing crime or recidivism. Republicans have responded with reforms they argue will lead states to save money and keep people out of jail who don’t need to be there.
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Shelby County State concludes health department needs more training, better chain of command
A Tennessee Department of Health report on Shelby County vaccine distribution problems recommends more training and establishing a clear chain of command but concluded no one needs to get revaccinated.
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Transportation & Logistics Arkansas confirms bridge may have been damaged since 2019
Drone footage shows the Hernando DeSoto Bridge may have been damaged since 2019.
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State Government Tennessee opts out of higher federal unemployment benefits
Tennesseans on unemployment insurance won’t get the extra $300 per week provided by the federal government as of July 3, Gov. Bill Lee announced Tuesday, May 11.
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State Government Legislative session ends with satisfied Republicans, disappointed Democrats
Lawmakers wrap up legislative session viewed differently by Democrats and Republicans.
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State Government Tennessee moves to ban no-knock warrants
Tennessee legislators moved in the final days of their just-completed session to ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants, both changes sought by activists in the wake of the police-involved deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.
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State Government West Tennessee lags in legislative leadership
The two urban areas of Memphis and Nashville control the minority Democratic leadership in state politics, but Memphis and West Tennessee are underrepresented among the Republican majority.
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State Government Controversial protest measure stalls in legislature
A bill that would give drivers immunity for hitting protesters in some instances is not moving forward this year.
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