Tennessee’s Gov. Bill Lee on Monday unveiled his $52.5 billion budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, an increase from the $41.8 billion budget that the Republican proposed for the current year. The 2022-23 spending plan includes increases for law enforcement, education, state workers, roads and more, buoyed by better-than-expected revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic … Read more
Police in Tennessee say one child has died and another is in the hospital after they were found unresponsive in a hotel pool. Memphis police said on Twitter that one of the male victims was pronounced dead at a hospital Saturday night and the other was transported to a hospital in critical condition. The boys, … Read more
An intellectually disabled former Tennessee death row inmate will be eligible for parole in about five years after a judge re-sentenced him Monday to serve two concurrent life sentences, giving hope to Pervis Payne’s family that he could be a free man relatively soon after serving more than three decades in prison. Shelby County Criminal … Read more
A man and woman have been charged with first-degree murder in the fatal drive-by shooting of a 7-year-old boy on the Fourth of July, prosecutors said. Jordan Pittman, 19, and Angieline Kennedy, 21, also have been indicted on charges of attempted first-degree murder after two women were critically wounded in the shooting that killed Kelby … Read more
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music and its music academy in Tennessee are once again offering an online concert and a virtual tour in honor of Black History Month in February. The Memphis-based studio produced soul music by Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, the Staples Singers, Booker T. and the MGs, Wilson … Read more
Memphis police say one child has died and another is in the hospital after they were found unresponsive in a hotel pool. Memphis police said on Twitter that one of the male victims was pronounced dead at a hospital Saturday night and the other was transported to a hospital in critical condition. The boys, ages … Read more
Mississippi lawmakers are sending their governor a bill that would create a medical marijuana program for people with serious medical conditions. If it becomes law, as anticipated, Mississippi would join the majority of states that let people use cannabis for medical reasons. The House and Senate on Wednesday both passed the final version of the … Read more
Republican lawmakers in Tennessee passed their state House map on Wednesday, finishing the final task in their once-a-decade state legislative and congressional redistricting work. The Senate vote sends the House plan to Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who is expected to sign all three new maps. Democrats argue the map dilutes the power of minority voters, … Read more
Tennessee residents are invited to reserve native trees to plant during the state’s annual “Tennessee Tree Day” event on March 19. There are 10 native tree species to choose from on a first-come, first-served basis. A small donation is requested for each tree. Trees can be reserved on the Tennessee Environmental Council website at www.tectn.org.
Two men have died in separate shootings involving Tennessee law enforcement officers, authorities said. One man died early Wednesday in Shelby County and the other died Tuesday across the state in Jefferson County, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Preliminary information indicates the shooting in Shelby County happened after the man fled a traffic … Read more