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 :
State Senate Democratic Caucus chair Raumesh Akbari hopes to delve into juvenile justice, changing the law on status offenses such as truancy and allowing "blended sentencing" that could keep juveniles from graduating to adult offenses.
Bill Lee is sworn in as Tennessee's 50th governor during a Saturday inauguration ceremony in Nashville's War Memorial Auditorium.
New governor says recruiting business to Shelby County, finishing megasite a key part of making state prosper.
Rep. Antonio Parkinson of Memphis wants to require school districts to set codes of conduct for people who visit campuses to maintain a better standard of "decorum."
Offenders eligible for expungement could pay a $250 fee to speed up the process of clearing their criminal record.
Memphis representative says Gov. Bill Lee should make short-term and long-term plans to cope with programs for low-income residents, law enforcement and military during the federal government shutdown.
Lee says every department being asked to prepare budgets as if they're putting a 2 percent cut into place.
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.
Economic and Community Development commissioner contends the state has enough resources on hand to make the Memphis Regional Megasite in Haywood County "shovel-ready."
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.
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.
Family First Prevention Services Act set to replace state's waiver program for providing behavioral and mental health services to children in state custody.
A Memphis legislator interviews with numerous news organization about pending legislation requiring districts to adopt parental rules, potentially for dress codes.
Republican leaders say social media recordings can cause distractions and affect the state's video of committee meetings.
UT interim president says program provides "direct impact" for Memphis and could help addicts statewide.
Some groups believe fetal heartbeat bill would run into constitutional problems, with state attorney general calling it "suspect."
House members say rule against livestreaming to social media hurts ability to communicate with Memphis constituents.
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.
Bill would punish adults for leaving guns unsecured for children to shoot others; legislation reducing penalty for illegal handgun carry being rewritten
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.
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.
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.