State lawmakers say charter school bill running into opposition
Gov. Bill Lee’s charter school authorization bill is hitting a wall as legislators get pushback from local school districts and others.
Sam Stockard
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 :
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March 2019
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State Government -
State Government Towns trying to remove slavery from state Constitution
Saying he wants to blot out “one of the worst parts of our history,” state Rep. Joe Towns is renewing legislation to eliminate slavery and involuntary servitude from the Tennessee Constitution.
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State Government House nixes subpoena power for police oversight boards
Despite the objections of Davidson County lawmakers, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation Thursday removing subpoena power from police oversight boards in Tennessee.
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State Government Senate Transportation chair says Kyle bill on SCV specialty plates deserves debate
A key Senate committee chairman believes legislation barring nonprofit groups from using specialty tag proceeds to sue the state or cities is worth debating.
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State Government Kelsey pushes resolution to pay college players for performance
Calling for an end to the exploitation of college athletes, state Sen. Brian Kelsey says he is sponsoring legislation urging universities and conferences to pay athletes for their performance.
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State Government Registry of Election Finance zaps Towns for another $10K
State Rep. Joe Towns’ civil penalties reached a total of $45,000 Wednesday after the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance fined him another $10,000 for failing to file campaign reports.
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State Government NRA ad criticizes Kelsey for posing with Moms Demand Action
State Sen. Brian Kelsey is downplaying a National Rifle Association graphic criticizing him for posing with members of Moms Demand Action, a group advocating for gun law reforms.
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State Government Kelsey, White carrying state charter commission bill as pushback begins
Two Shelby County lawmakers are sponsoring legislation creating a state commission with authority to approve charter schools without the operators going through a local school board.
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State Government Republicans back tobacco, vaping age of 21
Legislators contend cutting the age will make it harder for teens to vape or smoke, keeping them from getting addicted.
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State Government Shelby lawmakers leery of governor’s education savings accounts plan
Gov. Bill Lee says this is the year to pass his “school choice” plan, putting $25.4 million in his budget plan to pay local systems if they lose students.
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State Government Kelsey proposing increases in Senate campaign fundraising
Legislation by state Sen. Brian Kelsey that could dramatically increase Senate candidate fundraising could be heard in a committee this week.
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State Government Senate to take judicious approach on fetal heartbeat bill
Constitutional questions and the likelihood of expensive litigation will likely cause the state Senate to slow-walk a fetal heartbeat bill passed by the House this week.
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State Government House passes fetal heartbeat bill
The Tennessee House of Representatives overwhelmingly backed legislation Thursday prohibiting abortion procedures once a heartbeat is detected.
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State Government Coley: Embattled Byrd needs to bring ‘closure’ to sexual misconduct allegations
Shelby representative says former Wayne County coach, principal should explain apology he made to woman who accused him of sexual misconduct.
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State Government United Campus Workers from Memphis rally for better pay
The United Campus Workers put a strong Memphis presence to work Wednesday, rallying for higher wages for adjunct faculty, who teach a third of the courses at Tennessee colleges and universities.
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State Government Medicaid block grant bill advances despite opposition from Shelby Democrats
Legislation requiring Gov. Bill Lee’s administration to seek a federal block grant for funding TennCare advanced in the House this week in spite of Shelby County lawmakers’ efforts to attach guidelines.
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State Government Women urge embattled House member to resign
Enough is Enough is calling out state Rep. David Byrd for alleged sexual misconduct with high school girls basketball players he coached in 1980s. Memphis lawmakers have supported calls for an investigation.
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State Government Camper hammers Lee on vouchers proposal in State of the State
Gov. Bill Lee proposes putting $25 million into education savings accounts, a program that would affect low-income students in Shelby County Schools.
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State Government Robinson seeks help for incarcerated women
Legislation by state Sen. Katrina Robinson of Memphis would require detention facilities to make hygiene, healthcare products available to female inmates for free.
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State Government Towns sounds off on Memphis monuments lawsuit
State representatives say monuments caused consternation among black community for years in Memphis.
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State Government Memphis Democrats seek removal of Forrest bust
Memphis Democratic House members G.A. Hardaway and London Lamar are calling for the removal of the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the State Capitol as well as a probe of 30-year-old sexual misconduct allegations against a Republican House member.
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State Government Kyle hopes to restrict lawsuits funded by sale of Confederate tags
Legislation would prohibit proceeds from the sale of specialty tags from being used to pay for lawsuits against local or state governments.
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State Government Two protesters arrested in Capitol clash over Forrest bust
Two students are expected to be charged in connection with an incident with legislators at the State Capitol over the controversial Nathan Bedford Forrest bust. The bust prompted a letter from U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis to Gov. Bill Lee asking for its removal.
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State Government Memphis advocates back Lee’s plan to drop expungement fee
Gov. Bill Lee calls for eliminating the $180 state expungement fee to make it easier for people to wipe their records clean, advocates say. The move drew wide praise from those in Memphis.
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February 2019
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State Government Governor won’t budge on Forrest bust despite Cohen request
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen sends Gov. Bill Lee a second letter urging him to call for removal of the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the State Capitol in light of Lee's "stated regret" for glorifying the "Old South" while in a fraternity at Auburn.
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