Knoxville school shooting prompts delay of gun ‘sanctuary’ measure
Three hours after a school shooting in Knoxville, the Tennessee House of Representatives decided Monday, April 12, to delay a bill making the state a “Second Amendment Sanctuary.”
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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April 2021
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State Government Tennessee House delays hair discrimination bill
The CROWN Act, which bans discrimination against people for wearing natural hairstyles such as braids, locs or twists, was delayed Tuesday, April 13 in the House Commerce Committee.
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State Government Senate approves bill requiring police recordings of juvenile interrogations
Police would be required to record their interrogations of juveniles under a bill passed unanimously by the Tennessee Senate Wednesday, April 14.
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Elections Voting law changes moving slowly in Tennessee
Despite major voting law reforms in some states, such as Georgia, few major changes have been made so far in Tennessee.
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Update
State GovernmentBill to let college athletes make money passes Legislature
A bill allowing student athletes in Tennessee to make money from their brand has passed both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly with little opposition, and it is now headed to Gov. Bill Lee.
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May 2021
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State Government State sticking to its approach on opioid epidemic
In the war against opioid overdose deaths, Tennessee is winning one battle — doctors are prescribing pain pills at much lower rates — but still losing other battles.
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State GovernmentHow did permitless carry become Tennessee law?
While neither side is completely happy, the law allowing Tennessee gun owners to carry openly with or without a permit sailed through the legislature — and with relatively little pushing from gun advocacy groups.
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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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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 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 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 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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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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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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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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June 2021
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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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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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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 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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July 2021
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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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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 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 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 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 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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