Reporter
Sam Stockard is a Nashville-based reporter with more than 30 years of journalism experience as a writer, editor and columnist covering the state Legislature and Tennessee politics for The Daily Memphian.
There are 1058 articles by Sam Stockard :
Gov. Bill Lee said Thursday he will hold the state’s private prison operator accountable amid a report the number of murders at CoreCivic-run facilities was twice that at Tennessee Department of Correction prisons.
After mulling a bid for six months, former Gov. Bill Haslam said he will not run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Lamar Alexander.
Tennessee prisons operated by CoreCivic experienced twice as many inmate murders over a five-year period as state Department of Correction-run facilities, according to two advocacy groups.
An East Tennessee legislator bothered by reports lawmakers are directing campaign funds to their personal businesses is prepared to sponsor a bill to stop the practice, a move that would affect at least one Memphis lawmaker.
With arguments set Tuesday in a lawsuit to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, a network of pastors is urging Gov. Bill Lee to request Tennessee drop out of the federal case.
Gov. Bill Lee – set to appoint a Health Care Modernization Task Force – apparently hasn’t decided whether to seek a block grant waiver for federal Medicaid funds.
With up to seven House members seeking the Speaker’s post, Shelby County House Republicans are expecting multiple rounds of caucus voting to choose a nominee, but they believe the group will unify behind the next Speaker.
With a special session of the Legislature set in late August, state Rep. Jim Coley is calling embattled Rep. David Byrd a “drag” on the Republican Party. An expulsion resolution against Byrd is likely at the session.
A day before the Fourth of July and with an August special session looming, House Democrats are calling for a wide-ranging investigation into the expenses of resigning Speaker Glen Casada.
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis is suspending court activity during a review of its delinquent bill policies and concerns raised by lawmakers.
Tennessee’s new “hands-free law,” which took effect Monday, seeks to curb distraction-related crashes across the state and particularly in Shelby County, which leads the state in such accidents. The measure is among a number of new state laws that became effective Monday.
Gov. Bill Lee landed a Mitsubishi corporate headquarters for Franklin during an Asian economic recruiting trip. But whether the travel abroad yields anything for the Shelby County area is unclear as Lee was noncommittal when asked about landing tenants for Memphis Regional Megasite.
Gov. Bill Lee professed support for "equal protection" when questioned about support for Pride Month events and LGBT rights in the workplace.
The impact of a U.S. Supreme Court decision in which it declined to set limits on partisan gerrymandering could be felt in Tennessee when it starts redistricting in two years, drawing support from Republicans and opposition from Democrats.
Amid questions about its fundraising for the Tennessee State Museum, the Tennessee State Museum Foundation will consider providing funds for a centennial celebration of the Legislature’s 1920 women’s suffrage vote.
Gov. Bill Lee has called an Aug. 23 special session for the House of Representatives to replace resigning House Speaker Glen Casada.
The 73-member House Republican Caucus will hold a late July meeting to vote on a Speaker nominee in advance of an August special session when the full chamber will replace Glen Casada.
Three Memphians will serve on the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct, a body created by the Legislature to investigate and act on complaints against judges.
Amid questions about the Tennessee State Museum Foundation and its fundraising, state Sen. Sara Kyle is hoping for a better relationship between the nonprofit entity and the Douglas Henry State Museum Commission.
Memphis Democrat calls criticism “hog wash” from fellow Democrats for voting with Republicans on education and abortion legislation.
As Lt. Gov. Randy McNally supports a federal rule change to increase Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals, Shelby Democrats continue their call for Medicaid expansion.
Following the shooting death of Brandon Webber in Frayser, state Sen. Sara Kyle contends the community’s residents need to be made a part of the dialogue to stop such incidents.
State Rep. G.A. Hardaway of Memphis wants a new process for appointing special prosecutors amid discriminatory comments by the district attorney chosen to investigate a case involving House Speaker Glen Casada’s office and an African-American activist.
NASHVILLE – Questions about the Legislature's constitutional authority to remove the House speaker from office are influencing Gov. Bill Lee’s decision to call an August special session on the matter, according to a Memphis legislator.
Memphis lawmakers are calling for hearings on the Achievement School District and restructuring the way it manages charter schools in the wake of the director’s resignation.