Also, all eyes are on the Gillespie vs. Huseth race, Tennessee Democrats get funding from DNC and remembering Winfield Dunn.

Dunn moved to Memphis after marrying his wife Betty in 1950. He served as Tennessee’s governor in 1970-75.

In July, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the Friends group did not have standing to sue because of the law because its performances were not “harmful to minors.”

Mayor Young says he still thinks the referendum is not the best approach, but told The Daily Memphian he understands the sentiment. Gov. Lee says the referendum is about finding a way to “circumvent the law.”

U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz was confirmed as the newest judge on the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court Friday, Sept. 13, with both of Tennessee’s U.S. senators voting against him.

The gun referendum has stoked partisan enthusiasm on both sides of the aisle. JB Smiley Jr. and Jerri Green said the council won’t back down. Conservative talk radio has called the body’s moves a “gun grab.”

Steve Cohen meets with diplomats from Middle East countries and said discussions could include the possibility of a peacekeeping force in Gaza. Meanwhile, local Republicans and Democrats hear about voting’s importance in a non-battleground state.

“Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t see the flaws in the system until something bad happens,” said Vanessa Murtaugh, chair of the new Tennessee Inmate Disciplinary Oversight Board.

Frederick Agee, DA for Tennessee’s 28th judicial district, filed a complaint with the Tennessee comptroller’s office and the TBI about state Sen. Brent Taylor posting the personal information of a criminal defendant on social media.

State reps. John Gillespie and Justin J. Pearson were some of the Memphis-area legislators pushing for local gun-control measures on the Nov. 5 ballot after a threat from state Republican leadership.

“Common sense says local governments can’t override state law to give a 12-year-old a driver’s license, and they can’t override other state laws either,” Hargett said in a statement emailed to The Daily Memphian.

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No Tennessee school system has indicated it’s working to train teachers or staff to be armed under the new law, according to dozens of school and law enforcement officials contacted by Chalkbeat.

Rafiah Muhammad-McCormick hopes an expansion of the state’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Act will make the process easier for victims and their families. But she and other advocates are working to clear another hurdle: awareness.

Democrats have a goal of flipping seven to eight state House seats through the 2028 elections to bring Republicans down to just a simple majority there.

The incumbents in every contested Shelby County legislative primary cruised to reelection Thursday, meaning there may not be much change in the local delegation. 

“The message we are sending to big tech is that kids are not your product,” Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee said at a news conference as the Senate passed the bill. “Kids are not your profit source.” She wrote the bill with Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.

The proposals Monday by U.S. President Joe Biden would require Congressional approval. That seems unlikely given the reaction of the city’s representatives in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.

Shoppers can purchase qualifying clothing, school supplies and computers tax free in Tennessee stores through Sunday, July 28.

The attorney representing Friends of George’s, the local theater group that sued to stop Tennessee from implementing the “anti-drag” law, acknowledged Tuesday, July 23, that the appeal process could be difficult.

The Tennessee delegation’s Sunday online meeting wasn’t a quick vote to back Vice President Kamala Harris, but many of the delegates had endorsed her as President Joe Biden’s successor before the virtual vote.

Local Democratic elected officials reacted to President Joe Biden’s decision to call off his reelection bid Sunday, July 21, and support Vice President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic nominee for president. 

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President Joe Biden drops out of the 2024 race

Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for president on Sunday, July 21, ending his bid for reelection.

The court found that Friends of George’s was not at risk of violating the 2023 law because its performances were not “harmful to minors.”

Federal, state and local leaders gathered Thursday, July 18, by the river at the Metal Museum to talk about the path to the $800 million project.