State Government
General Assembly passes ban on police, fire residency requirements — for Memphis only
The bill was amended to apply only to Memphis. It will become law with Gov. Bill Lee’s signature.
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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February 2022
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Update
State Government -
Elections Torrey Harris seeking appointment to Robinson’s former state Senate seat
Harris joins state Rep. London Lamar and nonprofit leader Rhonnie Brewer in seeking the Senate seat, which has been vacant since Feb. 2.
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March 2022
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Metro Legislators reject bill allowing cities to raise minimum wage
“Like many of you, I believe in local control,” state Sen. Sara Kyle of Memphis said.
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Premium
State GovernmentState pot proposals are plentiful, but don’t expect Tennessee law to change
The vast majority of Tennesseans support medical or recreational marijuana, but Tennessee could be “the last state standing” when it comes to legalization.
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Premium
State GovernmentLegislation would let 18-year-olds carry guns without permits
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.
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Premium
State GovernmentDestroyed evidence offers little chance of redemption for convicted
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.
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State Government State Senate rejects House version of police residency requirement bill
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.
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Elections TN General Assembly honors Memphis 13
Bill sponsored by G.A. Hardaway recognizes Black first-graders who integrated four Memphis schools in 1961 as ‘young civil rights leaders.’
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Public Safety MICAH pushes for a conviction review unit at virtual town hall
Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich, seeking a second eight-year term, has resisted creating a conviction review unit.
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State Government Construction on I-55/Crump Blvd. interchange to begin this spring
Accidents are common on the interchange, where drivers have to slow down and take an exit in order to stay on the highway.
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State Government House passes bill allowing parents to challenge books in school libraries
The bill comes amid a parents’ rights movement among conservatives, who have fought COVID mandates, banned books in some places, and challenged lessons on race, gender and history.
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State Government Senate version of ban on police residency requirement — not targeting Memphis — passes House
Residency requirements for police and firefighters would be prohibited across Tennessee, not just in Memphis.
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State Government General Assembly passes ‘divisive concepts’ bill for public colleges
State Sen. Richard Briggs, the only Republican who voted against the measure, said legislators are “trying to overprotect students” and that the bill is “a solution looking for a problem.”
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Elections Drew Rainer’s father advocates for ‘truth in sentencing,’ but governor’s support in doubt
A criminal defense lawyer told lawmakers he crafted a law similar to “truth in sentencing” decades ago — and regretted it.
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State Government State House committee advances two bills giving state more power over speech
“I might say this sounds like a five star bill to me,” state Rep. Kevin Vaughan (R-Collierville) said of a bill that seeks to ban “factually false” reviews on sites like Yelp.
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State Government Cities could lose right to regulate some energy projects
Rep. Kevin Vaughan (R-Collierville) proposed the bill, which has been approved the State Senate, to prevent moves such as Memphis City Council’s efforts to keep the Byhalia Connection Pipeline away from the city’s aquifer.
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State Government Lee’s school funding proposal progresses despite corruption inquiry
Amid an FBI investigation coming to a head, lawmakers found time to advance Gov. Bill Lee’s school funding overhaul.
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State Government General Assembly won’t tackle child care this year
The economic effect of lack of access to child care is enormous, according to a Tennesseans for Quality Early Education report. In Memphis, the impact is $259 million annually in lost earnings and revenue.
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Update
State GovernmentLee proposes $20 million for riverfront dock expansion
The budget amendment also includes $10 million for the National Civil Rights Museum, $2.5 million each for the Brooks Museum of Art and the Leftwich Tennis Center and $100,000 for the Southern Heritage Classic.
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April 2022
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Education U of M looks to rent up to 300 beds before the fall semester
Growing out-of-state enrollment and declining in-state enrollment are due in part to the looming “enrollment cliff” and the university’s improved prestige and R1 status.
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Transportation & Logistics TDOT awards $141 million contract for I-55/Crump Blvd. interchange renovation
The intersection just east of the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge was a major choke point last year when the I-40 bridge was closed.
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State Government Permitless carry bills stall in General Assembly
Two bills expanding permitless gun carry stalled Wednesday, April 6 in the General Assembly.
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State Government General Assembly passes tweak to law affecting college athletes
The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Kevin Vaughan (R-Collierville), amends last year’s name, image and likeness law, which allowed college athletes to get paid while still prohibiting their schools from paying them directly.
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State Government Collierville students speak out against ‘obscenity’ bill, help stall action
“There’s a clear difference between desensitizing a child to obscenity and removing stigmas to topics society continues to turn its head to,” Milana Kumar of Collierville said.
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State Government State Senate passes bill requiring Black history, ‘virtues of capitalism’ curricula
Teachers would be required to provide lessons on Black history and the “virtues of capitalism” under a handful of bills passed Tuesday, April 12 by the state Senate related to civics and history.
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