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 :
Republican state Rep. Tom Leatherwood of Arlington believes schools will have a hard time staying open this year because of quarantine rules and the impact of one person testing positive for COVID-19.
Gov. Bill Lee may have stayed within his boundaries during a state of emergency brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, but legislators still want more “checks and balances” and probably a bigger say in how orders are executed.
A new law stripping people’s voting rights for camping on restricted state property is drawing heat from voting rights advocates and state lawmakers who say it is unjustified.
Gov. Bill Lee said Tuesday the media is important in allowing the community to see what is happening at events and called blocking reporters from a Collierville High School football game “inappropriate."
Tennessee’s unemployed workers are to receive a check for $900 within the next three weeks through a federal grant program putting $44 billion into the national economy, state officials said Tuesday.
A Davidson County chancellor ordered the Secretary of State’s Office to modify its absentee ballot application to reflect the changing position it argued before the Supreme Court in early August.
The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators is demanding an explanation from Lt. Gov. Randy McNally for posting a Facebook meme threatening “vigilante-type justice” against Black Lives Matter and Antifa.
One of Shelby County’s 14 state House seats could disappear because of a dwindling population and low participation in the 2020 Census, putting Democrats in jeopardy of losing ground.
University of Memphis campus workers said Thursday they don't feel safe on campus and criticized the administration for planning to bring all students back to campus Sept. 17.
State Rep. Bill Beck said Thursday, Aug. 27, he tested positive for COVID-19 less than two weeks after attending a legislative special session and criticized state leaders for holding the three-day event.
Locked in prison for 22 years, former Memphis resident Alice Johnson extolled the “compassion” of President Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention for granting her clemency.
Bill Lee signed executive orders Friday extending Tennessee’s state of emergency until Sept. 30 and allowing mayors to put mask mandates in place.
Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers made an emotional plea for racial justice as the NBA postponed playoff games, echoing the sentiment of some Tennesseans such as Memphis' Earle Fisher.
Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn could face a no-confidence vote from lawmakers during September meetings if she doesn't say what they want to hear.
Some four weeks into the school year, the Tennessee Department of Education is postponing a new COVID-19 tracking site because of technical problems.
The Tennessee Department of Education scrubbed its Best for All Central virtual teaching site of Common Core resources after questions were raised about the controversial curriculum, leaving no extra worksheets in its place on most of its teaching options for students learning remotely.
Lawsuit challenged the Tennessee state law preventing first-time voters from using expanded eligibility for absentee voting during the pandemic.
Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner supports Gov. Bill Lee’s police reform plan amid nationwide chaos over alleged police brutality, saying it is a “starting point” to improve police work and relationships with communities.
The Tennessee Department of Education has launched an online dashboard with COVID-19 case information at school and district levels. It shows 514 student cases and 242 staff cases statewide.
Shelby County’s Republican legislators defend President Donald Trump’s comments to author Bob Woodward while Democrats say he misled the nation.
Legislators could question Gov. Bill Lee’s administration this week over reports it is recruiting Chinese investment to Tennessee amid a trade war and questions about whether China misled the world over COVID-19.
Tennessee’s lieutenant governor and House speaker are entering the fight over Nathan Bedford Forrest, saying another step should be taken before the Historical Commission can consider a waiver to remove the Confederate general’s bust from the State Capitol.
Lawmakers could consider new laws for economic incentive accountability after finding out Tennessee collected $18.4 million from 17 companies.
With cases declining statewide, Tennessee will allow nursing homes to lift restrictions for more visitation and activities as long as they show no new cases for two weeks.
Gov. Bill Lee ordered the Economic and Community Development Department to go after private Chinese investment, especially in the electric car sector, the state’s commissioner said.