Towns trying to revive state horse racing commission
Hoping to keep gambling dollars from slipping out of Shelby County, state Rep. Joe Towns is sponsoring legislation to revive the Tennessee Horse Racing Commission and bring races to Memphis.
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 :
-
February 2019
-
State Government -
State Government Camper castigates legislation limiting police oversight boards
House Minority Caucus leader Karen Camper of Memphis says a proposed bill that would reduce the authority of police oversight boards is an effort by Republican leaders to control local government.
-
State Government Legislation would cut campaign finance penalties, let lawmakers pay with campaign accounts
State Rep. Joe Towns' bills could affect thousands of dollars in penalties levied against the Memphis Democrat by the Registry of Election Finance.
-
State Government Sen. Kyle joining fight for medical marijuana
State Sen. Sara Kyle of Memphis is getting into the mix as legislative Democrats and Republicans sponsor legislation to legalize medical cannabis in effort to treat pain and cut down use of deadly opioids.
-
State Government Republicans seek TennCare flexibility as Democrats call for Medicaid expansion
Senate leaders, governor discuss request for federal block grant and possible TennCare savings that could be used to fund health-care vouchers for under-insured Tennesseans in Memphis and elsewhere.
-
State Government Memphis lawmakers leading Early Education Caucus
Rep. Mark White of Memphis is chairing a group of legislators who will concentrate on finding new ways to improve education for students in prekindergarten through third grade.
-
State Government Robinson’s career-technical education bill could align with governor’s vocational plan
State Sen. Katrina Robinson’s proposal to put career and technical education in middle schools could mesh with Gov. Bill Lee’s newly unveiled vocational education plan.
-
State Government University of Memphis won’t drop Confucius Institute despite lawmaker’s concerns
Knoxville representative says universities should close Confucius Institute programs because it’s a “front for communist propaganda and intelligence gathering.” The University of Memphis is keeping its program, however.
-
State Government Governor backs bill pulling subpoena power from police oversight boards
Gov. Bill Lee says he favors pulling the ability to compel testimony from police oversight committees, even though Knoxville's board has had that authority for 20 years without incident.
-
State Government Governor soft pedals on JLL contract
Gov. Bill Lee appears noncommittal on his support for a heavily-debated statewide contract that outsources facilities management at colleges and Tennessee agencies with a maximum payout of $1.9 billion.
-
State Government Republican House leaders plan police oversight board restrictions
House Republican leaders are proposing legislation that would strip city boards of the ability to subpoena witnesses and documents and limit ability of cities to appoint members based on demographics.
-
State Government Kyle reviving ‘MaKayla’s Law’ legislation as lawmakers take aim with firearms bills
Bill would punish adults for leaving guns unsecured for children to shoot others; legislation reducing penalty for illegal handgun carry being rewritten
-
State Government Education savings accounts or vouchers: No matter the verbiage, lawmakers set for fight
Battle lines are being drawn for debate over education savings accounts – a method for using state dollars to send students to private schools – and Shelby County lawmakers will be in the thick of the fray. -
State Government Legislation in works to protect state after Electrolux blindsiding
State Rep. G.A. Hardaway is planning to introduce a bill requiring companies that receive economic recruiting incentives to prove they're meeting job commitments or face penalties.
-
Education School systems putting safety money into officers, technology
Shelby County school systems are steering millions of dollars in new safety and security funds into technology and officers as part of a state plan to protect students and staff. -
State Government Parkinson, Hardaway cast doubt on House social media rules
House members say rule against livestreaming to social media hurts ability to communicate with Memphis constituents.
-
-
January 2019
-
State Government Fetal heartbeat bill draws support of governor, key Republican leaders
Some groups believe fetal heartbeat bill would run into constitutional problems, with state attorney general calling it "suspect."
-
State Government Boyd requests $3 million for UTHSC opioid addiction program
UT interim president says program provides "direct impact" for Memphis and could help addicts statewide.
-
State Government State House committee chairmen can prohibit livestreaming
Republican leaders say social media recordings can cause distractions and affect the state's video of committee meetings.
-
State Government Parkinson ‘trending nationally’ on schools code of conduct legislation
A Memphis legislator interviews with numerous news organization about pending legislation requiring districts to adopt parental rules, potentially for dress codes.
-
State Government Commissioner Nichols starts job facing loss of $15 million in federal funds
Family First Prevention Services Act set to replace state's waiver program for providing behavioral and mental health services to children in state custody.
-
State Government House passes MLK resolution year after pulling Memphis celebration money
A year after the state House of Representatives pulled $250,000 from Memphis' bicentennial celebration as retribution for the removal of Confederate monuments, local legislators are hoping the body is moving in a new direction.
-
State Government Rep. Cooper bill would let prisoners apply for Reconnect scholarships
Worried that prisoners are learning nothing as they sit in cells, state Rep. Barbara Cooper is sponsoring a bill enabling inmates to earn college credits using Tennessee Reconnect money.
-
State Government State not seeking Memphis megasite money for next budget unless it lands a major employer
Economic and Community Development commissioner contends the state has enough resources on hand to make the Memphis Regional Megasite in Haywood County "shovel-ready."
-
State Government Rep. Larry Miller’s bill would require top election officials to vacate office
The secretary of state and coordinator of elections would have to leave their posts if they seek public office under legislation sponsored by state Rep. Larry Miller of Memphis.
-