More than 50 troopers will contribute to an ongoing “surge” over the next few weeks, after state Sen. Brent Taylor pleaded for more help fighting crime in Memphis. 

Dr. Dale Viox was sworn in Saturday, Nov. 18, in Nashville during theTennessee School Boards Association Delegate Assembly at the Opryland Convention Center.

Eight hours of meetings focused on federal education funding and whether Tennessee should give that funding up wrapped last week. Here are some of the main takeaways.

Tennessee’s education commissioner refused to say Tuesday whether she supports or opposes the possible rejection of more than $1 billion in annual school funding from the federal government.

Economists say the days of massive budget surpluses are over, but the state remains in a solid financial position. And the economy is not in a recession.

The federal funding supports students with disabilities, English learners, rural students and those from low-income households. No state has ever rejected it.

The request by plaintiffs in the case known as L.W. v. Skrmetti represents the first time the U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to weigh in on such a law.

U.S. Rep. David Kustoff and Tenneessee Gov. Bill Lee visited the East Memphis school to also look over new security measures funded with state and federal grants since a July incident on campus.

Courtney Anderson was sentenced to 163 years in prison, but a local judge amended his sentence to time served. The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the ruling that freed him.

Several groups, including the local nonprofit, filed a federal lawsuit over Tennessee’s aggravated prostitution statute, alleging the law is unconstitutional and violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Drag performer Flamy Grant was scheduled for a pride festival at Maryville College when the Blount County District Attorney wrote he completed a “diligent search” of state laws that might allow him to cancel the event.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti filed his lawsuit in Davidson County Chancery Court, alleging that Meta violated the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act.

“There are things that my office is doing that I think the Cameron Sextons of the world would be pleased to hear,” Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy told The Daily Memphian in a recent interview. 

In Jonathan Skrmetti’s first year as Tennessee Attorney General, his office has enforced loosened gun laws, advocated for a state law that takes power away from local prosecutors in death penalty review cases and defended many controversial state laws.

“Court proceedings can’t happen without court-appointed attorneys, but attorneys can’t afford to take cases at the current rates. The criminal justice and juvenile court systems are running out of options,” said Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Holly Kirby. 

Turnaround times at the Jackson Crime Lab, which processes sexual assault evidence kits from Memphis, decreased from 51 weeks to 18 weeks between July 2022 and August 2023. Last year, the numbers were getting worse.

Justin Jones’ attorneys argue Cameron Sexton “led an illegal and unconstitutional effort to expel them — all in an effort to quash legitimate and open discussion about the use of weapons of war in murdering six Nashville citizens.”

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen was among the Democratic majority voting for the bill, and Rep. David Kustoff was among the 126 Republicans who voted for it.

TennCare says the majority who lost health coverage are eligible but fell through the cracks due to “procedural” reasons, such as failing to update their contact information after moving.

A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled 2-1 that the transgender plaintiffs did not have a constitutional right to gender-affirming care as minors, saying courts should get out of the way of “thoughtful debates” within state legislatures.

The judge determined that Kelsey had raised a “substantial and close question that is integral to the merits of his convictions” and did not appeal for the sole purpose of delay.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton first expressed interest in rejecting $1.8 billion in annual federal education funding during the regular legislative session earlier this year.

With four weeks left until he’s scheduled to go to prison, former state Sen. Brian Kelsey appeared in federal court in Nashville on Thursday, Sept. 21 to argue that prosecutors violated his plea deal — and that he should remain free while the appeal plays out.

A trio of elected Republican state leaders highlighted their accomplishments in Nashville and the benefits for their constituents in Shelby County’ suburbs.

Dignitaries including Gov. Bill Lee were present as Alliance Healthcare Services celebrated a facility being built in Binghampton that will cover behavioral health, addiction, and walk-in help for children and families.