“Debate is healthy, but not when the debate is about wearing a mask that can decrease the chance of children contracting COVID-19,” Dr. James Downing said.

Jason Martin treats COVID-19 patients in a Nashville hospital and has been one of the biggest critics of Gov. Bill Lee’s handling of the pandemic.

Flooding in rural areas took out roads, cellphone towers and telephone lines, leaving families uncertain about whether their loved ones survived the unprecedented deluge.

The state’s executive order banning mask mandates is taking fire from President Joe Biden as well as Biden’s education secretary Miguel Cardona, who this past week specifically questioned the legality of the executive order.

Sen. Katrina Robinson accused of embezzlement and fraud with her business, The Healthcare Institute, appeared in court Friday, a final time before her Sept. 13 trial begins. 

Students are still mandated to wear masks, unless parents present a formal, written request to school officials to opt out.

Tennessee’s two Republican U.S. senators were highly critical of President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw U.S. military forces before his speech Monday, Aug. 16. They were more critical after the speech.

Suburban school districts are no longer requiring mask mandates for students, in line with Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order. However, the Shelby County mandate still affects staff.

In the first 15 days of August, there were more hospitalizations than there were in any full month of the pandemic, although not all of those were due to the coronavirus.

In 24 states, nurse practitioners are allowed to practice independently, without supervision by physicians. During the pandemic, 15 other states loosened restrictions to give them more autonomy.

All four House Republicans from the Shelby County delegation signed Sexton’s call for a special session.

Tennessee’s two Republican U.S. Senators telegraphed their “no” votes well ahead of Tuesday’s vote, which was delayed over the weekend by Hagerty.

The Tennessee Department of Education is considering its rules for enforcing the state’s new law regulating discussions of race in the classroom. 

Related story: Critical race theory: An explainer

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton was in Memphis to discuss violent crime, before the topic turned to COVID. 

Pediatric hospitalizations reflect COVID, rising number of respiratory infections.

Related story:

Masks will be required in all K-12 schools in Shelby County

Tennessee officials say local school boards and parents, not the state, should have the final say in whether students wear masks to school. 

Haslam will also autograph copies of his new book.

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.”