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 :
Three people working in the Legislature have tested positive for COVID-19, possibly including one lawmaker who has tested positive. Plus, a former lawmaker who gave the House prayer June 18 was released from the hospital after testing positive.
Just moments after Gov. Bill Lee signed an abortion ban into law Monday, July 13, a federal judge blocked the measure from taking effect and set up a court battle with the ACLU-Tennessee.
Gov. Bill Lee continues to call the COVID-19 pandemic a crisis, but some Memphis lawmakers question his strategy as cases spike. They say he needs to be prepared for another round of spending to help families as the school year starts.
The Tennessee Black Caucus is preparing to challenge the assertion that Nathan Bedford Forrest is a "military hero," which was part of the vote to shift the Confederate general's bust to the State Museum.
With protesters shouting in the halls of the Tennessee Tower, the State Capitol Commission narrowly voted Thursday, July 9, to relocate the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust to the State Museum.
Gov. Bill Lee is expected to tell the State Capitol Commission he believes the monument should be moved to the State Museum.
The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance confirmed a $22,000 settlement penalty of campaign reporting violations for state Rep. Joe Towns in an effort to avert an open meetings lawsuit.
The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators is only “cautiously optimistic” the State Capitol Commission will vote Thursday to remove the monument of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest.
The Sierra Club’s Scott Banbury raises questions about the governor's move to extend electronic meetings for local governments, while the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government says it creates a "convenient" loophole for councils and commissions to avoid public comment.
The state is doling out $81 million in grants to K-12 schools, colleges and universities to prepare for a safe reopening this August in the COVID-19 climate.
The Masons are worried state funding will be cut for the Family Support Program, hurting their ability to pay for speech therapy for their autistic son.
The Lee Administration is paying an accounting firm $250,000 to help it properly spend more than $7 billion in federal funds by Dec. 30, the deadline for using CARES Act money connected to COVID-19 expenses.
Gov. Bill Lee announced Thursday, July 2, plans for a partnership with various agencies to enhance officer training and increase police training.
Governor signed an executive order providing legal cover for health care providers in the COVID-19 pandemic and said his administration is looking at the legal authority for local governments to mandate face masks.
Gov. Bill Lee said Wednesday, July 1, he will address the Capitol Commission about removing the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the State Capitol’s second floor, but he didn’t say whether he would make a recommendation to the panel when it meets July 9.
The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance is set to take another vote July 8 to reduce civil penalties against state Rep. Joe Towns after the Attorney General's Office advised it to reaffirm what critics are calling “secret” action that led to an open meetings lawsuit.
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn announced the shutdown of the University of Memphis Confucius Institute, saying students of Chinese culture and language at U.S. colleges should be “alarmed that the Chinese government has infiltrated their institutions.”
A Shelby County group seeking election security reforms is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its case to prohibit the use of certain election machines and provide for a paper trail of election ballots.
The Tennessee Legislature broke an impasse Thursday night and was set to pass a $39.4 billion budget for fiscal 2021 dealing with a $1 billion shortfall caused by the COVID-19 crisis, wrapping up a short but chaotic session surrounded by protest.
The House voted to let the Memphis Zoo serve alcoholic beverages this week, but not without hearing lawmakers raise worries about drunken people falling into cages with “man-eating” animals.
The Tennessee House overwhelmingly passed fetal heartbeat legislation Thursday to prohibit abortion, then held out hope the Senate would consider the measure.
Gov. Bill Lee is proclaiming Friday, June 19, as Juneteenth in Tennessee, but he stops short of demanding removal of the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the State Capitol.
House and Senate break stalemate to reach $39.4 billion budget agreement as Legislature prepares to adjourn.
The state House voted 80-9 Tuesday to give schools, businesses and hospitals broader protections against the potential for "frivolous lawsuits" tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the waning days of the 111th General Assembly, the House of Representatives descended into an atmosphere of chaotic uncertainty but slowly started trying to take a new direction Wednesday morning.