A bill adopted by the state Senate regarding four schools in Shelby County suburbs must return to the House for review after a flurry of amendments before Senate passage Tuesday.

A bill potentially impacting the ownership and operation of four Memphis-Shelby County Schools received new amendments on the state Senate floor.

The County Commission Monday approved the agreement with Grizzlies to keep the team in Memphis through at least 2029.

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The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Kevin Vaughan (R-Collierville), amends last year’s name, image and likeness law, which allowed college athletes to get paid while still prohibiting their schools from paying them directly.

Two bills expanding permitless gun carry stalled Wednesday, April 6 in the General Assembly.

Lucy Elementary lies in Millington. It’s one of four Memphis-Shelby County Schools campuses affected by pending legislation.

The budget amendment also includes $10 million for the National Civil Rights Museum, $2.5 million each for the Brooks Museum of Art and the Leftwich Tennis Center and $100,000 for the Southern Heritage Classic.

The economic effect of lack of access to child care is enormous, according to a Tennesseans for Quality Early Education report. In Memphis, the impact is $259 million annually in lost earnings and revenue.

Amid an FBI investigation coming to a head, lawmakers found time to advance Gov. Bill Lee’s school funding overhaul.

Rep. Kevin Vaughan (R-Collierville) proposed the bill, which has been approved the State Senate, to prevent moves such as Memphis City Council’s efforts to keep the Byhalia Connection Pipeline away from the city’s aquifer. 

Strickland’s backing of Brent Taylor in the state Senate District 31 primary follows endorsements by Tennessee Republican U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty.

“I might say this sounds like a five star bill to me,” state Rep. Kevin Vaughan (R-Collierville) said of a bill that seeks to ban “factually false” reviews on sites like Yelp.

State Sen. Richard Briggs, the only Republican who voted against the measure, said legislators are “trying to overprotect students” and that the bill is “a solution looking for a problem.”

Tennessee senators will vote on legislation affecting Germantown’s namesake schools next week. If the legislation becomes law, there is still much work on the local level.

A criminal defense lawyer told lawmakers he crafted a law similar to “truth in sentencing” decades ago — and regretted it.

Katrina Robinson was convicted for two wire fraud counts. She was granted the acquittal of two other wire fraud counts in January. A federal judge ruled Friday afternoon that she will not serve prison time.

A bill sending ownership and operation of Germantown Elementary, Germantown Middle and Germantown High schools from Memphis-Shelby County Schools to Germantown Schools passed the state’s Senate Education Committee Wednesday.

Residency requirements for police and firefighters would be prohibited across Tennessee, not just in Memphis.

The bill comes amid a parents’ rights movement among conservatives, who have fought COVID mandates, banned books in some places, and challenged lessons on race, gender and history.

Accidents are common on the interchange, where drivers have to slow down and take an exit in order to stay on the highway.

The Senate last year approved a statewide ban on residency requirements, making an exception for Hamilton County. But last month, the House passed an inverted version, allowing them everywhere except Memphis.

Some states require police to keep DNA evidence until the person convicted dies. But in Tennessee, it can be destroyed after a conviction is rendered, leaving no way for many cases to be revisited.

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said, “I think the legislature has adequately addressed the issue of gun rights,” and the House Civil Justice Subcommittee was told the bill proposed by Rep. Chris Todd of Jackson would risk reciprocity with 21 other states.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and law enforcement leaders are advocating for a state bill that would eliminate parole for people convicted of specific felony offenses, such as attempted murder.