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. 

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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.

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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.”

The Nathan Bedford Forrest bust in the state Capitol will be moved to the Tennessee State Museum. 

Legislators seek to clarify stance on vaccinations in wake of national criticism following the firing of vaccine official Dr. Michelle Fiscus.

All expenses, including monthly rent, are eligible to be reimbursed by the federal government.

But national headlines alleging the state is anti-vaccine don’t sit well with lawmakers and elected officials. Many say the difference between promoting vaccines and simply educating residents, particularly minors, is a fine line.

Dr. Michelle Fiscus, the top vaccine official at the Tennessee Department of Health, confirmed in a statement Monday, July 12, that she has been fired.

A required 4-month waiting period for the removal of a Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the Tennessee Capitol building has expired, but if and when it will be removed is still uncertain.