Two Memphis educators are plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against the state over the 2021 “prohibited concepts” law.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday, Aug. 9, in Nashville federal court seeks to redraw the Cordova-based state Senate district in Shelby County and cites a “larger discriminatory agenda” by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Tennessee Highway Patrol has recruited 1,000 applicants in its newest cadet class, and of those, between 110 and 115 are from Shelby County, Gov. Bill Lee told reporters during a press conference Wednesday, Aug. 9.

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Gov. Lee says public safety is a 'matter of emergency'

“We should not wait for others to solve the challenges that this nation is facing of trafficking, human trafficking, drug trafficking, violent crime,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued a formal call for a special session of the Legislature to begin Aug. 21 in the Capitol. It includes mental health orders of protection, with a lot of conditions, among the topics to be considered.

Pearson easily beat independent candidate Jeff Johnston in the second special general election this year for the seat covering the western edge of Shelby County.

Voters on the western edge of Shelby County go to the polls Thursday, Aug. 3, to elect their state representative for the fourth time this year.

A panel of three state judges ruled Friday that the ban targeting the Tennessee Education Association no longer needs to be blocked.

Holiday bakers have just a few more days to stock up on tax-free flour, sugar, butter and other supplies. Most food and ingredients used to prepare food are exempt from sales tax.

Fewer than half of eligible Tennesseans are participating in WIC, a federal nutrition program that serves low-income children and pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women.

The Tennessee Education Association and five state educators including two affiliated with MSCS filed a lawsuit against the 2021 ‘prohibited concepts’ law, banning certain discussion surrounding race and gender in public and charter schools.

Kelsey is now scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 11 at 1 p.m. in federal court in Nashville.

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Here’s a look back at the timeline that led to former state Sen. Brian Kelsey’s expected sentencing hearing Thursday, July 27, on two campaign-finance felonies.

Gun violence has become a major theme in the Memphis mayoral race. And the Memphis City Council voted to put a referendum on local gun laws before voters next year, setting up a possible clash with the state.

State Reps. Justin J. Pearson and Justin Jones both now have more campaign money than any of the Republican lawmakers who expelled them in April.

As residents assembled outside the Westwood community center, local and state leaders called for government action against gun violence. “Our state legislature needs a sense of urgency to address this problem through appropriate legislation.”

Tennessee Department of Children’s Services says the Fayette County facility is needed despite reports by Disability Rights Tennessee and the Youth Law Center of abuse and unsafe conditions at the facility.

Tennessee officials approved just under $718 million to rebuild the state’s technical colleges on Thursday.

A passenger rail route connecting Nashville, Chattanooga and Atlanta should be Tennessee’s top priority, followed by a Memphis-to-Nashville line, according to a report from an independent state commission.

This weekend’s ruling, allowing SB1 to take effect, isn’t what made gender-affirming care inaccessible for many people. That care had become less accessible in Tennessee — even for trans adults — since the bill was introduced in the General Assembly in November, before the legislative session even began.

A federal appeals court has temporarily reversed a lower court’s ruling that had prohibited Tennessee from enacting a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

The injunction will be in place until the lawsuit runs its course. Supporters of the law say they’re prepared to appeal all the way to the Supreme Court.

A huge number of new state laws take effect July 1, with the start of the 2024 fiscal year. But lawsuits and inaction by lawmakers make the absence of some laws as notable as the presence of others.

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Judges block state law banning teacher group from automatically deducting member dues

State Attorney General appeals drag ban ruling

Jonathan Skrmetti’s appeal comes nearly a month after a federal judge in Memphis ruled in favor of an LGBTQ+ theater company, which argued the law restricted its performers’ free speech rights.