Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Metro - State Government

Ahead of special session, Democrats want G.A. Hardaway’s vacant seat filled

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Sun, 3 May 2026 14:20:28 -0500

The House Democratic Caucus chair is calling for the late G.A. Hardaway’s seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives to be filled before the special session on Tuesday.

County Commission to meet on funding for MSCS lawsuit against takeover

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 1 May 2026 18:56:28 -0500

The commission will try again on a resolution to provide county funding for a legal challenge of the state’s pending takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

Lee greenlights special session for redistricting next week

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 3 May 2026 13:31:31 -0500

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has called a special session of the Tennessee Legislature to consider redrawing the lines of the state’s nine Congressional districts in a bid to turn the state’s largest and only blue district red in this year’s midterm elections.

Trump says Gov. Lee on board with redistricting push

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:00:35 -0500

Trump posted Thursday on social media that he had talked with Gov. Bill Lee about a special session of the Tennessee legislature. Lee hasn’t commented.

Can the GOP Memphis schools takeover be stopped? Local leaders weigh the district’s options.

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:52:03 -0500

Since Tennessee Republicans passed the takeover bill last week, community response has been muted. Some say that’s because there’s no recourse, but a district lawsuit could be on the horizon.

The AM/DM podcast: Is MSCS state takeover a land grab?

mcashiola@dailymemphian.com (Mary Cashiola) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:27:17 -0500

In part two of our podcast about the takeover, reporter Laura Testino returns to talk about how churn factors in, what we can take from the school system takeover in Houston and what role school closures and land sales might play.

The AM/DM podcast: Burning questions about the state's MSCS takeover

mcashiola@dailymemphian.com (Mary Cashiola) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:29:19 -0500

Who will the new board members be? And is former superintendent Marie Feagins expected to get her job back?

County Commission fails to fund MSCS takeover lawsuit

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:49:28 -0500

A procedural vote Monday, April 27, killed a maneuver to fund a legal challenge by Memphis-Shelby County Schools to the state’s takeover of the school system. But there could be a second try.

Hiring, working, driving: An immigration-related legislative recap

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:13:39 -0500

Four months after announcing Republican lawmakers would send a “strong message” with immigration-related bills, The Daily Memphian looks at what passed and what failed.

Bail bond limits, property tax ban, ICE regulations: A legislative session recap

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:42:56 -0500

A lot can happen in four months, especially when 132 Tennessee lawmakers get together. Here are some of the bills that may have slipped between the big headlines.

Democratic mayoral candidates on MSCS lawsuit, Task Force, jail

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 06:43:57 -0500

With Election Day around the corner, it was a busy week in Shelby County. Mayoral contenders hit forums across the area to talk with voters one-on-one. Meanwhile, early voting turnout is higher than the pivotal 2018 County primaries.

Leaders from both parties mourn G.A. Hardaway

editors@dailymemphian.com ( The Daily Memphian Staff) — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:07:10 -0500

Republicans and Democrats reacted with sadness to news of state Rep. G.A. Hardaway, who died in a Nashville hospital Friday morning. He was 71.

Ever the ‘cool cat' in dapper clothes, G.A. Hardaway knew what mattered to his community

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:05:19 -0500

State Rep. G.A. Hardaway was known for being well-versed on issues, and being an advocate for Memphis.

Longtime state rep G.A. Hardaway dies

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:43:10 -0500

G.A. Hardaway, a longtime public servant and state representative, died Friday, April 24.

Get the lead out: Bill requires DHS to make lead tests available to Memphians

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:40:33 -0500

Two Memphis lawmakers teamed up to ensure Memphis kids and pregnant women have access to blood lead level tests.

Tennessee lawmakers pass MSCS takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:30:10 -0500

The Tennessee Senate and House of Representatives both voted down party lines Wednesday, April 22, to pass a takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.

MSCS board votes to sue over state takeover proposal

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:10:39 -0500

The MSCS board’s resolution claims that Tennessee lawmakers’ takeover proposal “directly conflicts with established constitutional provisions and statutory requirements.”

Tennessee Republicans push for significant last-minute ESA voucher expansion

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:27:43 -0500

Voucher-friendly Tennessee Republicans are pushing a last-minute amendment that would drop all enrollment caps on the state’s original voucher program.

Tennessee bill allows anonymous applicants for director-level jobs

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:23:50 -0500

A new bill headed to Gov. Lee would keeps applicants for roles like superintendent and fire chief anonymous. Supporters call it protection. Critics say it’s concerning for government transparency.

Memphis gets another $50M for Downtown Memphis safety

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:08:47 -0500

The Tennessee General Assembly included a $50 million grant for Downtown Memphis Public Safety in the state budget passed this week.