Coronavirus daily blog, March 11: Rhodes, UT suspend in-person classes
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 :
26
2
52
2
The state reports the total number of confirmed cases in Tennessee is 73, and a third Shelby County case has also been reported. That individual is isolated at home and did not contract it in Shelby County.
Gov. Bill Lee outlined an assistance plan Tuesday to help people survive the crisis financially and is expected to declare a small business emergency so companies can obtain federal loans to stay afloat.
House and Senate leaders reached an agreement Monday for the Legislature’s schedule, likely entailing an early, temporary adjournment for 60 days out of concern for COVID-19, according to sources.
Reacting to the national coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Bill Lee will present an “adjusted” budget by Wednesday containing funds to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and mid-state tornado victims as lawmakers hoped to take a recess of at least two months.
Tennessee has tested less than 300 people in the past two weeks; 'There aren't enough kits,' local doctor says
Speculation spreads about the Legislature possibly wrapping up by the end of this week. But Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said it will likely take two to three weeks for the General Assembly to finish its work.
Gov. Bill Lee called Monday for all school districts to close as soon possible to stop the spread of coronavirus, drawing a response from the TEA for TNReady testing to be canceled.
Memphis is home to one of Tennessee's safety net hospitals, which will serve low-income residents in need of health care should they contract the COVID-19 virus.
Tennessee’s political leaders are speeding up work on Gov. Bill Lee’s $40.9 billion budget proposal, which is expected to contain extra funding to deal with COVID-19 and tornadoes that struck the state amid a state of emergency.
State basketball tournaments are latest cancellations with COVID-19.
With Gov. Bill Lee declaring a state of emergency, Republican legislative leaders are calling for limited visits to the Capitol complex in an effort to stem to spread of the coronavirus, though Democrats say more extensive steps should be taken.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton is turning down a Nashville lawmaker’s request for temporary adjournment of the House and passage of a short-term budget until state and federal health officials get a handle on the coronavirus pandemic.
The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance cut state Rep. Joe Towns some slack Wednesday, March 11, even though he was 166 penalty days late on mid-year supplemental filing for 2019.
Lawmakers made a move Tuesday toward pay for student-athletes, an effort designed to avert situations like the James Wiseman case at the University of Memphis.
The state reversed course Tuesday amid criticism and said it would begin identifying the home county of those with confirmed cases of coronavirus.