Kicking off a special legislative session focused on education, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee Tuesday, Jan. 19, outlined his plans to address the learning loss many students have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Germantown Municipal School District laid out a wish list as part of its efforts advocate for state laws that best serve students.

Kelsey, who represents Germantown, Cordova and East Memphis. will serve as chairman of the senate education committee.

Eric Munchel, 30, was taken into custody Sunday after being charged with one felony count of the federal version of trespassing and one felony count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Tennessee’s legislative session is likely to stretch for several months, with a special session called by Republican Gov. Bill Lee on tap starting Jan. 19 to address education challenges that have popped up amid the virus outbreak.

State representatives from Shelby County want to clarify that authority for school operations lies with local district’s elected leaders. 

The $8.6 billion waiver must be approved by the Tennessee General Assembly and sets a cap on TennCare funding with the state keeping a share of any savings if its spending comes in below the cap. 

The searches included the homes of former Republican House Speaker Glen Casada and state Rep. Robin Smith.

Portal will not reduce demand for the shot or scarcity of supply, but is expected to eliminate long lines, disappointment.

The coronavirus is spreading faster in Tennessee than just about anywhere, but the state is also vaccinating residents faster than the national average. Locally, however, officials are awaiting smoother and more consistent distribution from the state to improve the situation. 

The two Republicans are part of a group of 11 Republican Senators and Senators-elect who are calling for a Congressional investigation and audit of presidential election results in battleground states won by President-elect Joe Biden.

The two Republican U.S. senators representing Tennessee have not commented on the override of the Defense Authorization Act veto by Trump or the move to boost stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000 per person. 

While officials on Sunday named Anthony Quinn Warner, 63, as the man behind the mysterious explosion in which he was killed, the motive has remained elusive.

Memphis-area legislators say Medicaid expansion, school funding and criminal justice reform will be among the biggest issues that face when the General Assembly convenes Jan. 12. 

The man believed to be responsible for the Christmas Day bombing that tore through downtown Nashville blew himself up in the explosion, and appears to have acted alone, federal officials said Sunday, Dec. 27.

FEMA confirms tissue samples found at the scene are human remains, and Douglas Korneski, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Memphis field office, said 250 agents, analysts and FBI staff are working the Nashville case.

NASHVILLE — Three people injured in the Christmas Day blast in Downtown Nashville were in stable condition Friday evening, Major John Cooper said, and no further information was available about possible human remains found at the scene.

Affected property owners oppose the design for replacing the Poplar Viaduct that would remove direct access between Scott Street and Poplar Avenue. City and state engineers say keeping the connection would be less safe.

The numbers will be updated twice a week.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee again refused to order a statewide mask mandate Sunday, Dec. 20, instead ordering a statewide limit on indoor public social gatherings of no more than 10 people excluding homes and churches.

As the first COVID-19 vaccinations began in Memphis hospitals Thursday, Gov. Bill Lee offered a message of hope that the pandemic’s end is close but also acknowledged the challenges of Tennessee being in the midst of its worst surge yet.

The lawsuit seeks to invalidate the 62 electoral votes in the four battleground states that would go to President-elect Joe Biden. 

The veteran state legislator will have an office on Capitol Hill in Nashville as part of the governor’s cabinet.

Gov. Bill Lee continued to leave mask mandates in the hands of local officials Tuesday, while Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey estimated a late spring to early summer time frame for widespread vaccination availability.

Mayors from the West Tennessee counties outside Shelby County heard a pitch from Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and others Thursday for a regional mask mandate. Harris says Gov. Bill Lee is unlikely to order a statewide mask requirement. The regional effort will move to one-on-one talks.