A long-awaited special legislative session to address public and gun safety issues began Monday with Tennessee’s Republican leadership limiting access to the Capitol and input from lawmakers and the public. Tennesseans began filling the streets around the Capitol and the Legislative Plaza hours before House Speaker Cameron Sexton…
Read MoreState Sen. Art Swann considers himself a gun enthusiast, but he believes this special session of the Legislature should be used to nip mass shootings in the bud, in part by restricting heavy firepower. “I’d like to see us address the AK-47s, something that could shoot that many…
Read MoreTennessee House Republicans passed a set of rules allowing them to silence lawmakers deemed disruptive, off-topic or who “impugn the reputation” of another member during this week’s special legislative session. The new rules are an attempt by Republican lawmakers to find a way to stop Reps. Justin Jones,…
Read MoreIn “Welcome to Capitol Hill: Fifty Years of Scandals in Tennessee Politics,” veteran political reporters Joel Ebert and Eric Schelzig review decades of corrupt and sordid behavior in state politics, from bribery to sexual harassment and assault. The pair cover the single term of Gov. Ray Blanton, whose…
Read MoreSix weeks after the state took majority control of the Nashville Airport board under a newly enacted state law, BNA leaders announced they would start a multidecade process to build a second terminal. Inklings of airport leadership wanting to build a second terminal have floated around for years,…
Read MoreAmong the bills Tennessee lawmakers will consider this week during a special session on public safety is one that would create a new felony offense for making a threat of mass violence. “We’re looking for someone serious about blowing up Second Avenue. We’re talking about a patient making…
Read MoreAs the Tennessee General Assembly prepares to convene Monday for a special session dedicated to public safety — spurred by a mass shooting at Nashville’s Covenant School in March — community and faith groups have organized activities to call attention to gun safety. Sunday, Aug. 20 Rise and…
Read MoreState Rep. Rusty Grills, a West Tennessee Republican, is sponsoring bills that would shift juveniles 16 and up to adult court in gun theft and burglary cases. House Bill 7030 and House Bill 7031, which will be considered in the special session set to start Monday, will deal…
Read MoreGov. Bill Lee’s plan to expand DNA testing to every felony charge in the state is likely to run into opposition when the Legislature convenes for a special session next week. Key lawmakers are holding out support for the bill, and it’s expected to face difficulty in the…
Read MoreJuvenile justice might not have a connection to the shooting deaths at Nashville’s Covenant School, but potential bills could cause a furor next week in the Legislature’s special session — if lawmakers haven’t gotten cold feet already. Gov. Bill Lee’s official call for the session covers a variety…
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