There are 817 article(s) tagged Bill Lee:

• August 2021

  • Health Dept.: Local mask order still in effect in schools, day cares

    Students are still mandated to wear masks, unless parents present a formal, written request to school officials to opt out.

    By Jane Roberts August 18, 2021

  • County Health Department says it will ‘make adjustments’ after governor allows opt-out on masks

    Shelby County Schools leaders, however, say the school system’s mask mandate remains in place despite the executive order that also includes mask mandates by school systems. Shelby County Commissioner Van Turner is suggesting the county should take the issue to court.

    By Bill Dries August 17, 2021

  • Lee mask order causes outrage among Memphis parents, teachers

    Memphians are not happy with Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order allowing parents to opt their children out of mask mandates in schools. 

    By Daja E. Henry August 16, 2021

  • Suburban school districts update mask plans after governor’s order

    Suburban school districts are no longer requiring mask mandates for students, in line with Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order. However, the Shelby County mandate still affects staff.

    By Abigail Warren August 16, 2021

  • Herrington: From anti-mask to ‘exceptionalism,’ a two-front schools battle our kids don’t need

    Our schools: A two-front political battlefield our kids didn’t ask for and really don’t need right now. Education shouldn’t be conscription, especially in the service of others’ political ambitions.

    By Chris Herrington August 13, 2021

  • Wright wants legal opinion on Health Department authority

    Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright says even with recent changes in state laws this year, it’s unclear where the health department’s authority to issue mask mandates and require other measures ends and where decisions by elected officials begin.

    By Bill Dries August 11, 2021

  • State mulls how to enforce ‘critical race theory’ law

    The Tennessee Department of Education is considering its rules for enforcing the state’s new law regulating discussions of race in the classroom. 

    Related story: Critical race theory: An explainer

    By Daja E. Henry, Ian Round August 08, 2021

  • Critical race theory: An explainer

    Here, in a nutshell, is a definition of critical race theory and why people are talking about it. 

    By Ian Round, Daja E. Henry August 08, 2021

  • Latest TCAP results show significant learning loss

    The Tennessee Department of Education released statewide testing numbers Monday, the first batch of data since schools closed in the spring of 2020. 

    By Daja E. Henry August 03, 2021

  • Gov. Bill Lee faces six possible challengers in 2022

    Dr. Jason Martin of Nashville, a likely contender in the Democratic primary for governor, campaigned in Memphis this past weekend.

    By Bill Dries August 02, 2021

  • COVID gets political as fired state health official visits Memphis

    Dr. Michelle Fiscus spoke Saturday, July 31, at a local forum in Binghampton following a state Democratic party rally nearby. Democratic party leaders say Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s handling of the COVID pandemic will be an issue in 2022 state elections.

    By Bill Dries August 01, 2021

• July 2021

  • Tennessee Republicans remain low-key on call for vaccination

    While many Republican leaders nationwide are now calling more strongly for COVID vaccinations in light of the Delta variant, Tennessee’s leading Republicans have remained more muted.

    By Ian Round July 29, 2021

  • Lee, criminal justice advocates differ on clemency

    Some criminal justice advocates say Gov. Bill Lee has not lived up to a commitment to use his clemency power.

    By Ian Round July 26, 2021

  • GOP lawmakers demand answers on immigration issues

    Republican lawmakers discussing refugees demanded transparency Tuesday, July 13, from the federal government regarding unaccompanied minors.

    By Ian Round July 13, 2021

  • Officials: Feds not alerting Tennessee about migrant kids

    It’s a practice that’s been taking place for years in Tennessee, but one that recently sparked criticism ahead of the 2022 midterm election as Republicans nationwide have increased criticisms of President Joe Biden’s administration handling of the border with Mexico.

    By The Associated Press July 13, 2021

  • Democrats blast state plan to buy plane tickets for tourists

    Gov. Bill Lee announced the state would spend $2.5 million to buy plane tickets for tourists. The decision prompted criticism that buying plane tickets for tourists is not the best use of taxpayer dollars.

    By Ian Round July 07, 2021

• June 2021

  • Infrastructure compromise tests partisan divide

    The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast recaps local political development including the county’s budget season and campaign openings for the 2022 county elections. Also, the partisan divide among area legislators remains in place on voting rights and the infrastructure bill.

    By Bill Dries June 27, 2021

  • Gov. won’t commit to funding more Highway Patrol in Memphis — yet

    During a Friday, June 25, visit to the city, the Tennessee governor also defended the state’s open gun carry law that takes effect July 1. Local leaders are worried the permitless gun carry provision could contribute to a summer surge in violent crime.

    By Bill Dries June 25, 2021

  • Governor ramps up support for W. Tenn. ‘megasite’

    Gov. Bill Lee is ordering more aggressive marketing and pushing a $52 million infrastructure investment in the Memphis Regional Megasite, located in Haywood County.

    By Tom Bailey June 08, 2021

• May 2021

  • Why critical race theory is a hot topic in education

    Critical race theory is being banned from classrooms across the nation. Here’s what it is and why educators of color are fighting back. 

    By Daja E. Henry May 31, 2021

  • Opinion: Governor silent about law banning classroom discussion of race

    Gov. Bill Lee signed the bill May 24 without comment. Because what could he really say that makes sense? His first and apparently only attempt to explain the rationale for the law would have been fine for a White Citizens Council meeting in the 1960s.

    By Otis Sanford May 29, 2021

  • Commission calls on Lee to veto critical race theory bill as he signs it

    Shelby County commissioners voted 11-0 with two commissioners not voting in approving a resolution similar to one approved by the Memphis City Council last week.

    By Bill Dries May 24, 2021

  • Opinion: We live in the Great State of Mediocrity

    Tennessee ranked 29th in U.S. News & World Report’s Best States ranking for 2021. ‘Here’s the scientific explanation, and I’ll try to be brief: Our state legislature is mean-spirited, small-minded, short-sighted. And cheap.’

    By Dan Conaway May 21, 2021

  • Council urges Gov. Lee to veto ‘critical race theory’ classroom ban

    The resolution condemns the bill on Lee’s desk that bans public schools from teaching the racial theory. Council members, Black and white, said their experience on a diverse elected body has shown the importance of discussing race in classrooms.

    By Bill Dries May 19, 2021

  • Tenn. Gov. Lee: Bridge fix will require ‘patience’

    Officials from Tennessee and Arkansas said they are working “around the clock” to repair the Hernando DeSoto Bridge, but it could take “several months easily.” 

    By Blake Fontenay May 18, 2021