Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Noah McLane

Tennessee legislature honors Memphis native Drew Holcomb

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 12:56:10 -0500

Lawmakers honored the four-time Grammy nominated artist with a resolution making his “Tennessee” an official state song, in the company of classics like “Rocky Top” and “Tennessee Waltz.”

$1.6B in child support held up due to third-party vendor, judge alleges

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 12:55:25 -0500

A juvenile court judge in Memphis says there’s a growing issue with child support payments in Shelby County and that the state’s newest child support enforcement vendor is to blame.

TBI could get its own cold case unit

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 20:30:21 -0500

A bipartisan effort to launch a dedicated cold case unit within the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation could help cut down on the ever-growing number of missing persons in Tennessee.

Memphis Safe Task Force accountability act clears Tennessee House

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 18:01:11 -0500

The MSTF Accountability Act passed the House with 74 ayes and 21 noes now heads to Senate.

Tennessee bill would make drink spiking a felony and require test strips at bars

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 19:50:30 -0500

Led by Sen. Paul Rose, R-Covington, a bipartisan bill that aims to crack down on the use of “date rape” drugs to involuntarily intoxicate someone cruised through the Senate, but is set for a challenge in the House.

Lawmaker calls delay on gun bills a ‘slap in the face’ to Tennessee gun owners

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 14:12:02 -0500

A Republican lawmaker wants guns to be allowed on college campuses, public parks and other places they have been historically banned. “It’s almost like they’re married to that one (Second) Amendment,” said one Memphis lawmaker.

FedEx loses out on $20M tax break following close House vote

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:22:27 -0500

Nine votes separated FedEx from a $20 million tax break, despite a mostly united front from Memphis lawmakers.

New bill would oust Memphis airport board

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:18:13 -0500

Local control of Tennessee’s airports would be grounded if a bill that would give airport-board appointment power to a handful of state lawmakers glides through both chambers.

Tennessee Dems call for gas sales tax holiday

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 04:00:07 -0500

With the war in Iran ongoing and inflation still slightly higher than the Fed’s 2% goal, Tennesseans need financial relief, state Democrats said.

Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act heading to state Senate floor

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:29:54 -0500

“It does not alter the work that the district attorney is doing, does not restrict their discretion,” state Sen. Brent Taylor said.

Republican bill clears way for private firearms in government buildings

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

This follows a trend in this session of legislation that relaxes gun rules in public spaces.

Quick vote on resolution honoring Gov. Bill Lee brings Democratic backlash

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:48:41 -0500

Jeers and shouts erupted from the House floor as a Republican resolution honoring Gov. Bill Lee’s deployment of the National Guard to Memphis moved forward with no discussion allowed.

Lawmakers move to honor Bill Lee over Memphis Safe Task Force

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:25:01 -0500

Members of the Tennessee House of Representatives are set to vote Thursday, March 19, on a congratulatory resolution for Gov. Bill Lee following his deployment of the state’s National Guard to Memphis last year.

Tennessee House passes controversial immigration bills

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:47 -0500

Three immigration-related bills and a constitutional amendment are rolling through the legislature this week, leaving behind a trail of fierce debate and questions about lawmakers’ priorities.

Before driving in Tennessee, Republicans want people to pass the written exam in English

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 04:00:04 -0500

In addition to progress being made on the Republicans’ immigration package this week, voucher expansion moved forward, Memphis Democrats were united while Nashville Democrats split and more at the state Capitol.

Memphis lawmakers pass effort to restore voting rights for some Tennesseans

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:43:38 -0500

The Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill this week reforming two long-standing financial barriers that have blocked formerly incarcerated people from having their voting rights restored.

'Homes not Hedge Funds' passes state senate

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:04:51 -0500

Republican supermajority passes Nashville Democrat’s bill banning individuals and corporations from owning more than 100 single-family homes in most Tennessee counties.

Competing bills battle to restrict community bail funds

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:45:02 -0500

While sponsors argue the bills enhance public safety, community leaders say limiting how often community funds can bail people out would be detrimental.

Bill in state Legislature targets adults who coerce minors into crime

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:59:51 -0500

A bill sponsored by two local lawmakers would add situations where an adult coerced a minor into committing a crime to the list of reasons a sentence might be enhanced.

Here's what happened at the Tennessee Capitol last week

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Sun, 8 Mar 2026 11:30:10 -0500

It was a busy week for state politics, with lots of updates on immigration and bills concerning pharmacy ownership and bail reform.