GOP leader passes confidence vote after social media uproar
March 21, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally's Republican colleagues in the Senate have voted 19-7 that he should keep his leadership post in the wake of revelations that he repeatedly commented on posts of nearly nude photos of a young gay model and other LGBTQ personalities.
Tennessee House OKs narrow abortion exemption bill
March 21, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's GOP-dominant House on Monday advanced legislation that would add a narrow exemption to the state's strict abortion ban, despite concerns raised by Democrats and medical experts that the bill does not go far enough to protect doctors and pregnant patients.
Tenn. advances push to allow express toll lanes, hike EV fee
March 20, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A roads funding push by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee that would allow express toll lanes to be built on some highways and would increase fees on drivers with electric or hybrid vehicles cleared a key hurdle with state lawmakers on Monday.
Ex-Tennessee lawmaker asks judge to withdraw guilty plea
March 17, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A former Tennessee state senator accused of violating federal campaign finance laws is seeking to withdraw his guilty plea, arguing that he initially did so with “unsure heart and confused mind.”
Tennessee eyes 18+ gun-carry age with court or Capitol deal
March 16, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Two years after Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee led the charge to allow residents 21 and older to carry handguns in public without a permit, younger adults could soon have the same privilege, with or without the governor's signoff.
Tennessee GOP advance new narrow abortion exemption bill
March 15, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Republican lawmakers on Wednesday took another swing at adding a narrow exemption to one of the strictest abortion bans in the United States.
Arkansas lawmakers send Gov. Sanders school bathroom bill
March 15, 2023 GMTLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Transgender people at Arkansas public schools would not be able to use restrooms that correspond with their gender identity under a bill lawmakers sent to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday.
Tennessee Senate OKs push to define ‘sex’; may risk funding
March 13, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Transgender people in Tennessee would be prevented from changing their driver's licenses and birth certificates under legislation approved by Republican senators Monday.
The legislation, which still must clear the House chamber, would define male and female in state law and base people’s legal gender identities on their anatomy at birth.
Nashville sues over Tennessee law halving metro council size
March 13, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nashville officials on Monday sued over a new Tennessee law that will cut the Democratic-leaning city's metro council in half, a move that follows the council’s rejection of efforts to host the 2024 Republican National Convention in Music City.
GOP leader ‘pausing’ social media after liking LGBTQ posts
March 13, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally announced Monday that he is “pausing” all social media activity after revelations that he repeatedly commented on posts of nearly nude photos of a young gay model and other LGBTQ personalities.
GOP leader’s LGBTQ social media activity called hypocrisy
March 10, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's Republican lieutenant governor has apologized after revelations that he interacted on social media to nearly nude photos of a young gay model as well as other posts by the man and other LGBTQ personalities, even as the lawmaker has led a Senate that has passed bills targeting the LGBTQ community.
Tennessee governor OKs bill to cut Nashville council in half
March 9, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican lawmakers and Tennessee's governor signed off Thursday on cutting Democratic-leaning Nashville's metro council in half, a move that follows the council's rejection of efforts to host the 2024 Republican National Convention in Music City.
Lawmakers confirm Dwight Tarwater to Tennessee high court
March 9, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee lawmakers on Thursday confirmed Dwight Tarwater to serve on the state’s highest court starting this summer.
Tarwater will replace outgoing Justice Sharon Lee upon her retirement on Aug.
Tenn. governor vows to sign anti-drag bill as photo surfaces
February 28, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican Gov. Bill Lee says it would be “ridiculous” to conflate a recently surfaced yearbook photo of him wearing women's clothing in high school to drag show performances currently under attack in Tennessee and other GOP-led states.
Trans people face ‘horrifying’ rhetoric at statehouses
February 27, 2023 GMTLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — It was pharmacist Gwendolyn Herzig's first time testifying before a legislative committee when she spoke to several Arkansas lawmakers in a packed hearing room this month about a bill restricting gender-affirming care for minors.
Trans youth care ban headed to Tennessee governor’s desk
February 23, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Transgender youth in Tennessee would be banned from receiving gender-affirming care under legislation currently headed to the desk of Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who has voiced support for the bill.
Bill would ban companies that offer trans care from TennCare
February 15, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The private companies that manage care for most of Tennessee’s Medicaid program could no longer contract with the state if they cover gender-transitioning medical care, according to a bill Republican lawmakers advanced Tuesday.
Tennessee advances bill to narrowly loosen abortion ban
February 15, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s GOP-dominant Statehouse on Tuesday took a first step toward loosening one of the strictest abortion bans in the country, advancing a narrow exemption bill over threats from anti-abortion advocates that doing so would come with political retribution.
Tennessee closes in on trans youth care ban; lawsuit pledged
February 14, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's Republican-led Senate approved a measure Monday that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors, spurring civil rights groups to promise an immediate lawsuit if and when it becomes law.
Tennessee GOP introduces bills that would shake up Nashville
February 13, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — For years, Nashville leaders have watched Tennessee's GOP-dominated Legislature repeatedly kneecap the liberal-leaning city's ability to set its own minimum wage, regulate plastic bag use and place higher scrutiny on police officers.
Tennessee Senate speaker recovering after pacemaker inserted
February 13, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Lt. Gov. and Senate Speaker Randy McNally is recovering after having a pacemaker inserted.
McNally checked into Vanderbilt University Medical Center last week after experiencing symptoms of an irregular heartbeat, the Republican lawmaker said on Twitter.
Faith leaders urge independent review of Alabama executions
February 8, 2023 GMTMONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — More than 170 pastors and other faith leaders on Tuesday urged Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to authorize an independent review of execution procedures, as Oklahoma and Tennessee did after a series of failed lethal injections in those states.
Roads, parks, tax breaks: A look at Tenn. Gov. Lee’s budget
February 7, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Monday unveiled a $55.6 billion state budget proposal stocked with cash for roads, state parks, tax cuts for businesses, state employee pay boosts and more.
Full text of Gov. Bill Lee’s State of the State address
February 7, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Thank you very much. Lieutenant Governor McNally, Speaker Sexton, Speaker Pro Tem Haile, Speaker Pro Tem Marsh, Members of the 113th General Assembly, Justices, Constitutional Officers, cabinet members, staff members, friends, family:
Gov. Lee appoints Dwight Tarwater to Tennessee Supreme Court
February 2, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday announced that he's selected his predecessor's one-time lead legal counsel, Dwight Tarwater, to serve on the state's highest court.
Tarwater will replace outgoing Justice Sharon Lee upon her retirement on Aug.
Arkansas House passes school bathroom bill, heads to Senate
February 1, 2023 GMTLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas House on Wednesday approved legislation preventing transgender people at public schools from using bathrooms that match their gender identity, while a legislative panel endorsed a measure restricting drag performances in the state.
Tennessee advances legislation to ban trans youth care
January 31, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's Republican-dominant Legislature on Tuesday advanced a handful of proposals that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth and severely limit where drag shows can take place.
Tennessee says pair gave incorrect execution drug testimony
January 26, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Two of the people most responsible for overseeing Tennessee’s lethal injection drugs "incorrectly testified" under oath that they were testing the chemicals for bacterial contamination, the state attorney general’s office conceded in a court filing.
State lawmakers: Teach ‘American exceptionalism’ in schools
January 23, 2023 GMTPIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A group of South Dakota lawmakers pushed forward an initiative on Monday that offers an optional social studies curriculum for K-12 and university students rooted in “American exceptionalism” and the founding ideals of the U.S.
Tennessee cuts HIV program with Planned Parenthood ties
January 20, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Top Tennessee health officials attempted to oust Planned Parenthood from a program designed to prevent and treat HIV before eventually deciding to forgo federal funding for the program, despite warnings that doing so will have a devastating impact on marginalized communities, documents show.
2 Tenn. officials fired after lethal injection errors noted
January 19, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Department of Correction has fired its longtime top attorney and another employee following a scathing independent report on failures within the state's lethal injection system.
Officer discipline planned over Tennessee driver’s death
January 16, 2023 GMTMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Police in Tennessee say officers in Memphis face disciplinary action after a 29-year-old Black driver died following a traffic stop.
Tyre D. Nichols' death earlier this month has sparked outrage in the community, with relatives accusing police of beating Nichols and causing him to suffer a heart attack.
Tennessee GOP split over adding exceptions to abortion ban
January 14, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — For months, Tennessee's Republican leaders have maintained that the state's abortion ban — known as one of the strictest in the U.S.
Tennessee Gov. Lee’s 2nd term inauguration set for Jan. 21
January 9, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The inauguration for Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s second term is set later this month.
The Republican’s office says he will take the oath of office on Jan. 21 at Legislative Plaza in Nashville in a joint convention of the state House and Senate.
States target transgender health care in first bills of 2023
January 7, 2023 GMTAfter a midterm election and record flow of anti-transgender legislation last year, Republican state lawmakers this year are zeroing in on questions of bodily autonomy with new proposals to limit gender-affirming health care and abortion access.
Lee: Tennessee high court likely won’t set executions soon
January 6, 2023 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Gov. Bill Lee said the Tennessee Supreme Court will likely wait for the state to finalize changes to its lethal injection process before it schedules future executions, after a blistering report found multiple flaws in how inmates are put to death.
Report: ‘Human error’ helped spur wrong ballots in Nashville
December 30, 2022 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nashville election officials made erroneous updates to voter lists for last month's election and failed to follow steps to make sure they were accurate, leading more than 430 Tennessee voters to cast ballots in the wrong races, the state's elections coordinator determined in a review released Friday.
5 apply for upcoming vacancy on Tennessee Supreme Court
December 13, 2022 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Five people have applied for a Tennessee Supreme Court seat that will open up in the summer.
A court news release says the applicants are Kristi M. Davis, Tom Greenholtz, John C.