Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Sam Stockard

Harris backs farmers' access to groundwater while preserving aquifer

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 15:00:16 -0600

The Shelby County mayor contends the proposed rule changes will stop “onerous” permitting requirements while still protecting the Memphis Sand Aquifer, a move he believes will stop legislation designed to undermine county rules.

Key races set to shape Shelby legislative delegation

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 08:07:50 -0500

Few House races statewide are expected to see turnover in the Nov. 3 election, but Shelby County has a handful of seats that could shift.

Governor could acquiesce to loss of emergency powers

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Fri, 9 Oct 2020 04:00:10 -0500

Gov. Bill Lee agrees the state Legislature should review the executive branch’s executive powers during a state of emergency and appears willing to give up some of the office’s authority.

Governor disagrees with legislative leaders over Forrest removal process

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Thu, 8 Oct 2020 10:45:52 -0500

The governor and speakers of the House and Senate are in dispute over the next step for removing the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the State Capitol.

New COVID relief funding targets minorities, women, veterans

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Wed, 7 Oct 2020 19:10:07 -0500

Gov. Bill Lee’s Administration unveiled $50 million more Wednesday, Oct. 7, in federal COVID-19 relief funds, this time designed to help businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans.

Governor backs Trump statements on COVID-19

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Tue, 6 Oct 2020 16:34:16 -0500

Gov. Bill Lee is taking President Donald Trump’s view of the pandemic, saying people should not fear COVID-19 but “respect” the virus and take steps to avoid it, even though the president has downplayed the importance of wearing masks.

Bradshaw, Hagerty duel over canceled debate

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Tue, 6 Oct 2020 16:09:24 -0500

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Marquita Bradshaw is calling for a debate with Republican Bill Hagerty after their only scheduled event was canceled, saying she wants to face off, while his campaign accuses her of pulling a “political stunt.”

Democrats question governor’s federal COVID spending

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Mon, 5 Oct 2020 04:00:02 -0500

House Democrats, including five from Shelby County, are calling for a state Comptroller’s audit of Gov. Bill Lee’s federal-coronavirus-funds spending amid questions about its effectiveness.

Lawmakers could chip away at governor’s emergency powers

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Sat, 3 Oct 2020 04:00:11 -0500

The chairman of a committee studying the governor’s emergency authority says the Legislature could increase notification requirements and even put an end the office’s executive powers in a prolonged state of emergency.

Local leaders react to Trump testing positive for COVID-19, having 'mild symptoms'

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Fri, 2 Oct 2020 12:50:19 -0500

The Constitution’s 25th Amendment spells out the procedures under which the president can declare himself “unable to discharge the powers and duties” of the presidency.

Governor calls learning loss report important despite questions about data

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Fri, 2 Oct 2020 04:00:08 -0500

The governor and his education commissioner stand by the presentation of a massive learning loss report even though old data was used to make dire predictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Camper blasts House Speaker’s move to cut health department autonomy

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Thu, 1 Oct 2020 19:27:07 -0500

House Minority Leader Karen Camper criticized plans by House Speaker Cameron Sexton to kill the independence of Shelby County’s Health Department amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

House Speaker calls for cutting Shelby Health Department autonomy

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 18:49:23 -0500

House Speaker Cameron Sexton will try to reduce the authority of the Shelby County Health Department and five others operating independently, but could run into opposition from others who believe urban areas need autonomy in situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Federal court temporarily blocks state medical abortion law

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 13:37:04 -0500

A federal court has blocked temporarily a state law that forces abortion clinics to tell patients about the potential to “reverse” a medical abortion.

Appeals court rules private school voucher program unconstitutional

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 08:27:40 -0500

The Tennessee Court of Appeals struck another blow against Gov. Bill Lee’s Education Savings Account program, Tuesday, Sept. 29, finding the state violated the Constitution with an effort to use public money to send students to private schools.

Governor to lift business restrictions in most counties but extend state of emergency

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 20:10:55 -0500

Legislators say Gov. Bill Lee is set to extend an emergency order for the state but remove all business restrictions and limitations on gathering sizes.

Barrett nomination spurs call for Rhodes community to rise to 'great challenges'

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 17:02:12 -0500

Rhodes College President Marjorie Hass urges the college to rise to the “great challenges” of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, and others praise the the Notre Dame law professor’s commitment to equality and women’s rights.

Learning-loss announcement bothers Republican lawmakers

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 12:06:44 -0500

Republican lawmakers such as state Rep. Kevin Vaughan are irritated by a state report about “learning loss” among K-12 students statewide, with schools on inconsistent footing and different health department directives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Court order: Voters living with COVID-vulnerable people can vote absentee

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 18:05:59 -0500

A Davidson County chancellor ordered the state Friday to update absentee voting guidelines to make sure voters who live with COVID-vulnerable Tennesseans, as well as caretakers, are aware they can cast absentee ballots this fall.

Secret vote regarding Joe Towns violated Open Meetings Act, chancellor rules

sstockard@dailymemphian.com (Sam Stockard) — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 14:04:57 -0500

Davidson County chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle ruled Friday, Sept. 25, the Registry of Election Finance violated Tennessee’s Open Meetings Act with a secret email vote in early April approving a civil penalty settlement for state Rep. Joe Towns of Memphis.