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<strong>Bill and Melinda Gates have contributed more than $5.5 million in grants to Chiefs for Change since 2016 through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.</strong> &nbsp;(Elaine Thompson,/AP file)Subscribers only Metro

How pro-charter school tech billionaires quietly influence state government

No one will say exactly what Chiefs for Change is doing, who decides what work they do, whether that work is satisfactory, or how much it’s worth.

Secrecy. Dark money. Anonymous billionaires. Nonexistent contracts. All affecting our kids’ education. What are the Chiefs for Change doing?

By Ian Round 20 hours ago
State Government

Special judicial panel to hear Pamela Moses’ petition to vote again

The three-judge panel, selected by the Tennessee Supreme Court, will oversee Moses’ case to challenge the constitutionality of her permanent disenfranchisement due to a guilty plea to a felony charge in 2015.

By Julia Baker June 30, 2022
Update Metro

Tennesseans react to Supreme Court decision on abortion

Responses to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling Friday, June 24, overturning the nearly 50-year old Roe v. Wade decision fall along party lines in Memphis and across Tennessee.

Related Stories:

Near-total abortion ban takes effect in 30 days, but a ‘heartbeat bill’ could come sooner

The closest state to Memphis with abortion access? Illinois.

By Bill Dries, Ian Round, Aisling Mäki June 25, 2022
Metro

Free legal clinic on wheels launches for TN clients

The Tennessee Supreme Court has launched a free legal clinic on wheels called the Justice Bus. The blue sprinter van will mostly travel to rural areas where residents may not have internet access.

By The Associated Press June 26, 2022

  • Elections

    Republican leaders tout ‘Truth in Sentencing’ crime bill

    House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally held a ceremonial signing of the bill at City Hall in Memphis.

    By Bill Dries June 28, 2022
  • State Government

    Republican politicians urge Gov. Lee to reject COVID vaccine for young children

    “Governor, the COVID-19 emergency has long passed in Tennessee,” state Rep. Jason Zachary wrote. “We ask that you direct the Tennessee Department of Health to halt distribution, promotion or recommendation of COVID-19 vaccines for our youngest Tennesseans.”

    By Ian Round June 22, 2022
  • State Government

    Democratic candidates for governor debate health care, guns, teacher pay

    The Democratic candidates in the race are Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley Jr., Nashville-based critical-care physician Jason Martin and Memphis activist Carnita Atwater. 

    By Ian Round June 22, 2022
  • Subscribers only Metro

    From arming teachers to restorative justice, keeping schools safer becomes focus

    Gov. Bill Lee said he’s open to arming teachers, despite evidence that when teachers have guns, the risk of gun violence increases. Restorative justice can’t stop violence on its own, but evidence shows it improves students’ grades and behavior.

    By Ian Round June 20, 2022
  • Metro

    Tennessee Secretary of State arrested for DUI after leaving Bonnaroo

    Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett was arrested for driving under the influence Friday, June 17 after leaving the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Coffee County.

    By Ian Round June 18, 2022
  • Subscribers only State Government

    While other areas quickly fill legislative vacancies, Shelby County has reasons to wait

    Republican-controlled county commissions in other parts of Tennessee have moved fast when state legislative seats open up, appointing replacements in less than a month.

    By Ian Round June 16, 2022
  • State Government

    TN Attorney General asks to reverse order aimed at LGBTQ discrimination

    The USDA announced last month it could stop funding food aid organizations that discriminate on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.

    By Ian Round June 14, 2022
  • Update Education

    Latest state TCAP scores suggest students returning to pre-pandemic levels

    “I am cautiously optimistic about what we have seen so far,” said Memphis-Shelby County Schools superintendent Joris Ray. 

    By Aarron Fleming, Abigail Warren June 15, 2022
  • Education

    Accelerating TN Tour drops by local schools to gauge summer learning

    The state’s education commissioner and others were in Shelby County to see how well programs are helping students stem learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    By Alicia Davidson June 13, 2022
  • State Government

    Gov. Bill Lee focuses on school security in gun debate

    Wednesday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee made his first extensive public comments on a Monday executive order on gun violence in schools. “We’re not looking at gun laws right now,” he told reporters.

    By Bill Dries June 08, 2022
  • State Government

    Gov. Lee appoints new economic development commissioner

    Stuart McWhorter, a health care and tech venture capitalist, worked on Gov. Bill Lee’s 2018 campaign and served as his first finance commissioner.

    By Ian Round June 07, 2022
  • Elections

    Lee signs executive order on school security following mass shootings

    “This order strengthens accountability and transparency around existing school safety planning and assures Tennessee parents that our efforts to protect students and teachers will continue,” Lee said in a press release.

    By Ian Round June 07, 2022
  • Metro

    State House Speaker says AR-15 ban not the answer to mass shootings

    Cameron Sexton says he sees no reason to ban AR-15 weapons in the wake of the Uvalde, Texas, mass shooting. Meanwhile in Washington Thursday, Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen was calling for such a ban.

    By Bill Dries June 02, 2022
  • Subscribers only Metro

    A broader look into factors contributing to school shootings

    An incident involving a student with a gun at White Station High School last week, following on the heels of the Uvalde, Texas, mass school shooting earlier in the week, was but the latest reminder of the increasing frequency of mass shootings. Leaders continue to struggle to find solutions. 

    By Julia Baker, Ian Round May 29, 2022
  • Germantown

    Gov. Lee signs bill affecting Germantown namesake schools

    Gov. Lee signed a bill Wednesday that could impact the ownership and operation of Germantown’s namesake schools.

    By Abigail Warren May 26, 2022
  • Arlington

    Burgess reaffirms disputed Arlington subdivision is in Shelby County

    The question arose recently of whether 200 or so homes already occupied and an additional 100 homes planned are in Shelby or Fayette County.

    By Michael Waddell May 22, 2022
  • Education

    Supreme Court approves school vouchers for Shelby, Davidson counties

    The law will allow families in Shelby and Davidson counties to send their children to private school with taxpayer dollars. The court’s ruling represents a major victory for Gov. Bill Lee and the school choice movement.

    By Ian Round May 18, 2022
  • Elections

    Local, state and national Republican strategist John Ryder dies

    The former Shelby County Republican Party chairman and member of the Republican National Committee, as well as its general counsel, died over the weekend at the age of 72. 

    By Bill Dries May 17, 2022
  • Metro

    Trigger law would ban abortion in Tennessee if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade

    Abortion access would be severely restricted in Tennessee if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

    By Ian Round May 16, 2022
  • Elections

    Hardaway urges Shelby County Commission to fill State House vacancy

    Democratic state Rep. G.A. Hardaway reacted after some county commissioners said Monday they didn’t see any sense in filling the vacancy in a Memphis district because the Tennessee Legislature’s session has ended.

    By Bill Dries May 17, 2022
  • State Government

    ‘Truth in sentencing’ becomes law without governor’s signature

    “My concern with (this bill) is that data does not support the basic premise of the legislation,” Lee wrote in a letter to General Assembly leadership.

    By Ian Round May 10, 2022
  • Update Metro

    Reaction divided to leaked Supreme Court opinion on abortion

    City and state representatives in Washington react to the leaked draft of a high court opinion that indicates it is about to overturn the landmark ruling that legalized abortion in the U.S.

    By Bill Dries, Jane Roberts May 03, 2022
  • Elections

    Here’s how state lawmakers’ preemption affects Shelby County

    During the legislative session that ended last week, Tennessee lawmakers enacted laws limiting local control related to police, pipelines, voting and more.

    By Ian Round May 10, 2022
  • Elections

    A quick guide to what legislators did this session

    A rundown on the fate of every bill we’ve covered since January, organized by subject.

    By Ian Round May 10, 2022
  • Metro

    Tennessee General Assembly finishes legislative session

    On the last day of the session, lawmakers put the finishing touches on a bill that would lead to books being banned from schools and on Gov. Bill Lee’s school funding overhaul.

    By Ian Round April 28, 2022

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