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 :
House Majority Leader William Lamberth calls the Shelby County Schools board's lawsuit against the state for more funding a "waste" and says the system should work with the state instead for a solution.
Tennessee's likely next House speaker might push a rule that would enable committee chairs to have five more bills than the 15-bill limit for unexpected situations.
State Reps. London Lamar and G.A. Hardaway joined a call Thursday for Gov. Bill Haslam to grant clemency to convicted murderer Cyntoia Brown, who killed a man in 2004 at the age of 16 after he picked her up for prostitution.
Shelby County Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Nichols is set to oversee the Tennessee Department of Children's Services in Gov.-elect Bill Lee's administration.
Legislation sponsored by Senate Minority Chairwoman Raumesh Akbari would authorize sports betting in Tennessee and set up a gaming commission to oversee the industry, with 10 percent of the revenue going to state and local governments and community colleges and technical schools.
The Shelby County legislative delegation will have five new faces and one member moving to the Senate from the House as the 111th General Assembly convenes Jan. 8.
Tennessee lawmakers passed a number of bills in 2018 that became law on Jan. 1, affecting everything from Sunday wine sales to sanctuary city prohibitions and ultrasounds done before abortion procedures.
Criminal justice reform promises to be a recurring theme in the 111th General Assembly in 2019, along with medical marijuana and possibly an immigration issue affecting in-state tuition.
Tennessee's tax-credit liability of nearly $1 billion is raising questions about economic development incentives and transparency for taxpayers.
Sara Kyle says constituents have been encouraging her to consider running even before U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander announced he would not seek re-election.