In a move that critics say will cause backlogs, the county will lose Division 9 of Criminal Court effective July 1 and Division 7 of Circuit Court effective Sept. 1.

Republican state Senator Brent Taylor told a group of 50 at the Whitehaven Republican Club that school leaders should “keep quiet” about not using a state law that allows for teachers to carry guns at schools.

“My office has fought fraud against homeowners for decades, and there is no home in Tennessee more beloved than Graceland,” Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a news release.

The recent funding approval comes as public health advocates say that families are increasingly struggling to afford enough diapers for their children.

Beginning July 1, drag racing goes from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. Those convicted of the crime will now face up to six years in prison and a $3,000 fine.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell joined Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday to celebrate Tennessee’s new law requiring all high schools to keep an automated external defibrillator available during classes, athletic practices and games.

Her appointment to the state’s highest court marks the apex of a 15-year legal career that she’s been working toward since childhood.

The new Tennessee law, which goes into effect July 1, authorizes the state to pursue capital punishment when an adult is convicted of aggravated rape of a child.

A new rule, which says employers prohibiting people from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity is workplace harassment, became law in late April.

Gov. Bill Lee said Tuesday, May 7, the ability to open carry firearms — and “constitutional rights” — are not the issue when it comes to Memphis and Shelby County crime.

According to a statement from Tennessee AG Jonathan Skrmetti, he believes the new ATF rule imposes too much of a regulatory burden on people “who occasionally sell or trade a firearm.” 

The plaintiffs argue in court filings that sex is properly determined not by external genitalia but by gender identity, which they define in their brief as “a person’s core internal sense of their own gender.” 

The Associated Press reported the DEA planned to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. The move is a bureaucratic step that could open up further pathways to legalization.

“I can tell you that we will continue to talk to anybody about abortion services when they ask for that information,” said Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi CEO Ashley Coffield. 

Gov. Bill Lee was able to secure a deal on the $1.9 billion tax cut and refund for businesses. The amount is almost 4% of the state’s $52.8 billion budget — which largely does not contain tax breaks for most Tennesseans.

Local education officials, from both private and public schools, continue to express skepticism about the “armed teachers” law. 

Under the bill, juvenile court can keep the minor under its jurisdiction until the teen’s 19th birthday, after which the court is authorized to impose an additional sentence to be served on or before their 24th birthday if they violate conditions.

After more than three months of debates and votes, the 113th Tennessee General Assembly is going home this week. Their decisions include making Memphis barbecue the second state food.

The bill to remove two Shelby County judgeships was faced with opposition after the removal of the Division 9 seat, formerly held by Melissa Boyd.

Tennessee’s GOP-dominant Statehouse approved the bill Wednesday, clearing the way for the measure to head to the Republican governor’s desk.

Although the Tennessee House of Representatives passed a similar bill in March, both houses would have to approve such a bill before it could head to the governor for his signature.

Some opponents of the bill hope liability concerns may make teachers and schools think twice before adopting the program.

When considering a request for $12 million for Youth Villages’ Memphis Allies program, the state Senate’s Finance, Ways and Means committee cut $1.75 million from four other Memphis nonprofits. 

With the passage of both bills Monday, attention can now shift to local governments receiving the needed approvals to allocate the funding.