The Tennessee Court of Appeals has effectively dismissed the decade-long rape-kit backlog lawsuit against the City of Memphis.

One of Tennessee’s top Republican leaders says his team will review all of a local judge’s criminal cases following a series of controversial bail decisions.

The new sentence includes no prison time. Robinson received a sentence of time served in 2022. Instead, U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman imposed a fine of $48,600. 

Lee called it “a great idea” to dismantle the agency, which was created under a 1979 federal law during President Jimmy Carter’s administration.

“It’s a one-time bonus that’s basically asking us to sell out our public schools,” said Liz Marable, a longtime Memphis educator who is currently president of the United Education Association of Shelby County. “But we are not for sale.”

The Sunday appearance on the CBS news program “Face The Nation” fuels speculation U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty is being considered as Secretary of State or some other cabinet-level post in the second Trump Administration.

The governor said he looks forward to delivering on his promise for more education choices for parents.

The Associated Press reports Marsha Blackburn defeated state Rep. Gloria Johnson, who shot to fame last year after she was nearly expelled from the Statehouse for her participation in a gun control protest from the House floor.

Six finalists will be interviewed in November by the Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments, which will then select three finalists to submit to Gov. Bill Lee.

Following a stroll down the narrow pedestrian walkway of the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge, Bill Lee and other elected leaders got a briefing Tuesday, Oct. 22, on plans for the $800 million bridge to be completed in 2030.

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The ruling also outlined specific pregnancy-related conditions that would now qualify as “medical necessity exceptions” under the ban, which currently does not include exceptions for fetal anomalies or for victims of rape or incest.

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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