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

Stock up on school supplies, clothes and shoes this weekend. Tennessee’s tax-free holiday continues through Sunday, but Mississippi’s ends at midnight Saturday. The Volunteer State is also exempting most food items (except candy!) from sales tax.

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.

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

He also blasted the disqualification of U.S. sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson from the Olympics after she smoked marijuana. “It’s only performance-enhancing if you are in the Coney Island hot dog-eating contest.”

The Nathan Bedford Forrest bust in the state Capitol will be moved to the Tennessee State Museum. 

Legislators seek to clarify stance on vaccinations in wake of national criticism following the firing of vaccine official Dr. Michelle Fiscus.

All expenses, including monthly rent, are eligible to be reimbursed by the federal government.

But national headlines alleging the state is anti-vaccine don’t sit well with lawmakers and elected officials. Many say the difference between promoting vaccines and simply educating residents, particularly minors, is a fine line.

Dr. Michelle Fiscus, the top vaccine official at the Tennessee Department of Health, confirmed in a statement Monday, July 12, that she has been fired.

A required 4-month waiting period for the removal of a Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the Tennessee Capitol building has expired, but if and when it will be removed is still uncertain.

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.

Despite the easing of the pandemic, most local governments are keeping their states of emergency active, renewing them as often as weekly, to make sure they don’t run afoul of funding.

Here’s a review of some of the new state laws and changes to state law that took effect July 1 after approval by the Tennessee General Assembly and the signature of Gov. Bill Lee.

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.

Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower visited Collierville on Tuesday. During his visit, he provided guidance on American Rescue Plan funds to local government and school leaders.

First-term Tennessee legislators Heidi Campbell, John Gillespie, Torrey Harris and Eddie Mannis say they’ve learned to be tough but find friends across the aisle as well.

Republican state lawmakers floated the idea of “dissolving and reconstituting” the Tennessee Department of Health Wednesday, June 16, because of vaccine messaging they said amounted to “coercion.”

Since Bill Haslam was elected governor in 2010, Republicans have held control of Tennessee’s state government, with the party controlling the trifecta of the House, Senate and governor’s office. No Black politician has chaired a full, standing committee since then.

The closure of the Hernando DeSoto Bridge has re-energized supporters of a plan to add a new bridge across the Mississippi River in the Memphis area for cars and trucks.

U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty is one of the co-sponsors of legislation that could provide funding to repair the Hernando DeSoto Bridge, build a new bridge across the Mississippi River, or both.