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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December 2018
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Health Care Gov. Bill Haslam appointed a five-member advisory board for Memphis-based University of Tennessee Health Science Center, including U.S. District Court Judge Mark Norris and Michael Ugwueke, president and CEO of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, according to the governor’s office. -
State Government Akbari takes Senate Democratic Caucus chairmanship
Freshman Sen. Raumesh Akbari will serve as chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus in the 111th General Assembly, taking the post Tuesday by acclamation. Though the group is small in number, with five members compared to 28 in the Senate Republican Caucus, Akbari said the “energy is undeniable” and she believes the group can “kick it up another notch for 2020.” -
City of Memphis State water plan seeks to protect Memphis Sands Aquifer
The Memphis Sands Aquifer isn’t in danger of drying up, but it remains in federal litigation, and Tennessee leaders say a long-term look at water needs statewide will help prepare for growth and updated systems. State officials say the aquifer produces the purest drinking water in the nation — 159 million gallons daily for public water supplies. -
State Government Black Caucus work on criminal justice reform could mesh with Lee’s efforts
The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators is putting together a legislative agenda that could fit with one of Gov.-elect Bill Lee’s priorities — keeping felons from going back to prison. -
State Government Lawmakers demand governor-elect avoid conflicts with Lee Company
As Gov.-elect Bill Lee works at disentangling himself from the family-founded Lee Company, state lawmakers say he must take steps to avoid even the appearance of conflict with government contracts the company holds. -
State Government Gov.-elect makes another round of cabinet appointments
Gov.-elect Bill Lee made another round of cabinet appointments Monday, announcing Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Long, a former police officer at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Memphis, will serve as Safety and Homeland Security Department commissioner. -
State Government Akbari to push automatic restoration of voting rights for low-level felons
Senate Minority Chairman Raumesh Akbari, with an eye toward passage of a Florida referendum on felon voting rights, is planning to sponsor legislation automatically restoring the right to vote for people with low-level felony convictions. -
State Government Hardaway backs independent redistricting to avert gerrymandering
State Rep. G.A. Hardaway, still smarting from 2012 redistricting, says Tennessee’s Black Caucus will focus on the importance of voting in 2019 and could seek an independent commission to draw House districts after the 2020 census. -
State Government Memphis lawmakers back resurgence of oversight committees
Expect bipartisan backing for a plan by House Speaker-nominee Glen Casada to resume oversight committees for three main start departments with Memphis Republicans and Democrats both saying they support the idea. -
State Government Senator working with Shelby mayor on driver’s license reinstatement center
Freshman state Sen. Katrina Robinson is working with the Shelby County Mayor’s Office to set up a new driver’s license reinstatement center to expedite Memphis applications in the wake of a federal court ruling. -
Metro Four Republicans, one Democrat turn in qualifying petitions to run for 32nd District Senate seat
Four Republicans filed qualifying papers by a Thursday, Dec. 13, deadline to run in the Jan. 24 GOP primary to the fill the 32nd District Senate seat vacated by Mark Norris. -
State Government Coleman running as Democratic candidate for District 32 Senate race
Bartlett resident Eric Coleman, retired from the U.S. Navy, emerged this week as the only Democratic candidate for the open 32nd District Senate seat vacated by Mark Norris. -
State Government Harris wants state ‘buy-in’ on driver’s license reinstatement center
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said Thursday he is committed to providing county resources for a driver’s license reinstatement center and is hoping for backing from the next governor and his Department of Safety and Homeland Security commissioner. -
State Government Tennessee unveils official portrait of Gov. Bill Haslam
Gov. Bill Haslam choked back emotions Monday morning before the state unveiled the official portrait of Tennessee’s 49th governor, a painting that will hang in the State Capitol for years. -
State Government Camper ‘not afraid’ to match wits with Republican leaders
History-making House Minority Leader Karen Camper isn’t naturally flamboyant. She just wants to get the job done, and if it means delivering tough news to the next governor on issues he wants to push, the former Army intelligence officer says she’ll take on the task. -
State Government Haslam considering run; Boyd nixes idea of replacing Alexander
Gov. Bill Haslam is mulling a run for the U.S. Senate seat to be vacated by Sen. Lamar Alexander while University of Tennessee interim president Randy Boyd is ruling out the 2020 race. -
State Government AG opinion could bring sports betting to Memphis
A Tennessee Attorney General’s opinion saying sports betting could be legalized without amending the Constitution could make it easier for Sen. Brian Kelsey to pass legislation allowing gambling on athletic events. -
State Government Lamar Alexander won’t seek another Senate term in 2020
Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander announced on Monday he won’t seek another U.S. Senate term in 2020, leaving the post open for another contentious election and ending one of the most prolific political careers in Tennessee history. -
State Government Legislators say court ruling on Affordable Care Act a wakeup call
Memphis legislators say a court ruling striking at the heart of the Affordable Care Act should spur the Legislature to protect health insurance coverage for Tennesseans. -
State Government Robinson, Cohen urge clemency for Cyntoia Brown
State Sen. Katrina Robinson is urging the governor to pardon a woman serving a life prison term for murder when she was a teen and says she will sponsor legislation to change sentencing laws for juveniles. -
State Government State Sen. Kyle eyes run for U.S. Senate seat
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.
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State Government Harris wants ‘fresh set of eyes’ for Tennessee Democratic Party leadership
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris believes it’s time for a new leader of the Tennessee Democratic Party, saying Democrats missed a great opportunity to win seats across the state this year. -
Boyd won’t go for outsourcing at UT campuses
University of Tennessee interim President Randy Boyd is searching for better administrative effectiveness within the system’s five campuses, but he said he has no plans to outsource university jobs. -
State Government Advocacy groups want tax incentive records open to public
Tennessee's tax-credit liability of nearly $1 billion is raising questions about economic development incentives and transparency for taxpayers.
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Health Care UT interim president wants more money for medical residencies
University of Tennessee interim president Randy Boyd is considering seeking more state funding for medicine residencies, an effort to offset stagnant federal dollars and enable the UT Health Science Center to graduate more physicians.
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