House Minority Leader Karen Camper is delving into a rural grants fund to find out whether a list of “earmarked” projects or legislative requests exists.

The chairman of the Legislature’s Joint Government Operations Committee is refusing to hold hearings about a $4 million rural grants pool some lawmakers are calling a “slush fund” designed to reward legislators who voted for the governor’s voucher bill.

State House members criticized Department of Human Services Commissioner Danielle Barnes this week for letting a reserve fund for needy services build up to $732 million and for putting out a plan to spend it without asking permission.

House Minority Leader Karen Camper will ask the Department of Finance & Administration about 50 to 60 “commitments” for rural grants to be awarded from a $4 million pool criticized as a “slush fund” to reward lawmakers for their voucher votes.

Gov. Bill Lee hopes to add people and services to TennCare through the state’s Medicaid “modified” block grant proposal to the federal government, but admits he has no idea how negotiations will turn out.

A House member confirmed Tuesday being questioned in the past two months by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents looking into allegations former House Speaker Glen Casada offered lawmakers favors in return for votes on the voucher bill this spring.

State Rep. G.A. Hardaway is insisting House leaders live up to a commitment to investigate allegations of misconduct made against state Rep. David Byrd as a high school girls basketball coach 30 years ago.

The trial will be a legal battle between the state and voter registration advocates over new requirements and penalties approved this year but on hold because of a federal court ruling.

With Memphis in an uproar over the eligibility of University of Memphis star James Wiseman, state Rep. G.A. Hardaway says he plans to push for a probe of the “business aspect” of the NCAA.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton is following the advice of Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery and declining to call for an immediate investigation into embattled state Rep. David Byrd. But hearings still could be held in January 2020 in the House Judiciary Committee.

The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance is ordering state Rep. Joe Towns to come before the panel to explain why he is failing to file campaign finance reports, violations that have led to $65,000 in civil penalties against him.

Gov. Bill Lee admits he's not following James Wiseman’s case against the NCAA and said the state should take a limited position in the matter.

Department of Environment and Conservation mulls three-month shutdown of golf courses as part of governor's request to trim 1% from 2020-21 budget.

State Rep. Antonio Parkinson and state Sen. Brian Kelsey are amending legislation in an effort to defend University of Memphis star James Wiseman from an NCAA ruling he is "likely ineligible" for the season.

International job clients are hitting the "pause button" on relocations to Tennessee because of the U.S. trade war with China, according to Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe

Memphis product Jerri Green might be a mother of three, but she’s ready to fight for the House District 83 seat in a 2020 race with Republican state Rep. Mark White.

Surprised by potential delays in IMPROVE Act road projects, lawmakers are looking for a new revenue source or help from the federal government, which must renew its own transportation funding act to help states.

With Republican Gov. Bill Lee slow-walking the spending of $733 million in reserve funds for low-income families, Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen is demanding the money go toward people in need.

Driver’s license testing centers on Summer Avenue and East Shelby Drive will get more personnel starting Nov. 11 to cut wait times.

Tennessee Department of Transportation officials say the IMPROVE Act, a 10-year, $10.5 billion program financed by fuel tax increases, has jumped to 20 years, possibly pushing off two big Shelby County projects.

Tennessee's former lieutenant governor, Ron Ramsey, said Tuesday he was interviewed by an FBI agent in a short phone call this year about state Sen. Brian's Kelsey's finances.

Tennessee’s Economic and Community Development commissioner is not requesting funds in fiscal 2020-21 for the Memphis Regional Megasite, saying the state is awaiting court action on wastewater lines easements before it will embark on the rest of the project.

State Rep. Mark White and other leaders urged Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn to slow-walk revisions in accountability measures it took lawmakers years to win, but Gov. Bill Lee backs her efforts to change the status quo.

New House Speaker Cameron Sexton is moving the House Finance, Ways & Means Committee's department budget hearings to a November-December schedule, away from the long practice of holding them during the regular session.

East Memphis Republican will travel Tennessee working for Lipscomb's College of Leadership & Public Service.