Legislators say Gov. Bill Lee is set to extend an emergency order for the state but remove all business restrictions and limitations on gathering sizes.

Republican lawmakers such as state Rep. Kevin Vaughan are irritated by a state report about “learning loss” among K-12 students statewide, with schools on inconsistent footing and different health department directives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Davidson County chancellor ordered the state Friday to update absentee voting guidelines to make sure voters who live with COVID-vulnerable Tennesseans, as well as caretakers, are aware they can cast absentee ballots this fall.

Davidson County chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle ruled Friday, Sept. 25, the Registry of Election Finance violated Tennessee’s Open Meetings Act with a secret email vote in early April approving a civil penalty settlement for state Rep. Joe Towns of Memphis.

Trying to prevent a replay of the Breonna Taylor shooting death from taking place in Tennessee, state Sen. Raumesh Akbari is planning legislation prohibiting police from using no-knock warrants.

Gov. Bill Lee said Wednesday he believes the president and Senate have the responsibility to fill the vacancy left by the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg just six weeks before the presidential election.

Gov. Bill Lee sounded the alarm Wednesday, saying Tennessee is projecting a massive learning loss by students because of school closings during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for minority students and those with disabilities.

With less than two months left in his final term, the state representative raised concerns about the state’s method for evaluating teachers, urging the House Education Committee to find another way to measure their performance.

Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn avoided a no-confidence vote Tuesday, Sept. 21 but not verbal criticism from lawmakers during a House Education Committee hearing.

Tennessee superintendents described a litany of problems to legislators Tuesday, Sept. 22, with the worst of the problems being that low-performing students are falling further behind during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Related Story: Lawmakers grill education commissioner over ‘missteps’

Gov. Bill Lee says a move to bolster Tennessee’s unemployment insurance trust fund saved businesses $837 million in tax premiums, but some legislators believe the system is structurally flawed.

Tennessee’s senior Senator ended a Sunday of speculation about where he would stand on the move to fill the vacancy with a written statement Sunday afternoon.

Tennessee officials call the state’s 11-year-old TNInvestco program a “sham” that needs to be investigated and ended because of poor return on a $200 million investment.

Gov. Bill Lee ordered the Economic and Community Development Department to go after private Chinese investment, especially in the electric car sector, the state’s commissioner said.

With cases declining statewide, Tennessee will allow nursing homes to lift restrictions for more visitation and activities as long as they show no new cases for two weeks.

Democrat Gabby Salinas and Republican John Gillespie are getting feisty over an endorsement she received from the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, hinting at a lively race this fall for an open House seat.

Lawmakers could consider new laws for economic incentive accountability after finding out Tennessee collected $18.4 million from 17 companies.

Tennessee’s lieutenant governor and House speaker are entering the fight over Nathan Bedford Forrest, saying another step should be taken before the Historical Commission can consider a waiver to remove the Confederate general’s bust from the State Capitol.

Legislators could question Gov. Bill Lee’s administration this week over reports it is recruiting Chinese investment to Tennessee amid a trade war and questions about whether China misled the world over COVID-19.

Shelby County’s Republican legislators defend President Donald Trump’s comments to author Bob Woodward while Democrats say he misled the nation.

Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner supports Gov. Bill Lee’s police reform plan amid nationwide chaos over alleged police brutality, saying it is a “starting point” to improve police work and relationships with communities.

Lawsuit challenged the Tennessee state law preventing first-time voters from using expanded eligibility for absentee voting during the pandemic.

The Tennessee Department of Education has launched an online dashboard with COVID-19 case information at school and district levels. It shows 514 student cases and 242 staff cases statewide.

The state's changes are in line with changing guidance from federal health officials. And they have already been adopted by the independent county health departments in the state's major cities, including Memphis.

Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers made an emotional plea for racial justice as the NBA postponed playoff games, echoing the sentiment of some Tennesseans such as Memphis' Earle Fisher.