Tennessee

National political reporter Neil W. McCabe said the scene of former President Donald Trump visiting a bodega in West Harlem last week “absolutely” resonates with Hispanic and Black voters, which ultimately makes the left “very concerned.”

Tennessee U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) on Friday joined a number of congressional Democrats who seek to remove the Secret Service protection afforded to former President Donald Trump if he is convicted and sentenced to prison. Cohen was named in a press release issued by Representative Bennie Thompson (D-MS-02), who led the House January 6 committee, as a co-sponsor of the DISGRACED Former Protectees Act, which would amend Secret Service procedures "by automatically terminating Secret Service protection for those who have been sentenced to prison following conviction for a Federal or State felony."

Several state treasurers and other officials sent a letter to Bank of America warning the banking giant of apparently targeting customers with conservative politics by de-banking them—however, Tennessee State Treasurer David Lillard's signature was absent. The letter to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said its signatories are concerned that Bank of America has a "track record of discriminating against religious ministries," a "systemic bias" against politically conservative views, and supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell released the details of his transit referendum that is expected to go before voters in November, revealing his plans will cost $3.1 billion and be partially financed through a half-cent sales tax increase. In a statement, O'Connell called his transit referendum "the best opportunity we've ever had to build out our priority sidewalks, to synchronize signals so you're spending less time at red lights, and to connect neighborhoods via a better transit system that doesn't have to come downtown just to go somewhere else."

Several pieces of Tennessee legislation could see action in the next week, with the bills either held from long calendars or intentionally delayed for further discussion. The state’s amended $52.8 billion budget bill, however, passed both chambers of the State House and State Senate.

Development on Nashville’s East Bank is moving forward as the area prepares for a new $2.1 billion Tennessee Titans stadium, set to open in 2027, and development in the area surrounding it. Both the House and Senate will soon discuss companion bills to create an East Bank Development Authority board after Nashville’s Metro Council approved a deal to have Fallon Co. develop the initial 30 acres of Nashville-owned land in the development area.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced his office is pursuing new charges against the 17-year old involved in last week’s shootout that killed Memphis Police Officer Joseph McKinney.

Nashville Electric Service (NES) has installed more than 6,000 LED streetlights throughout Music City this year as a result of a contract between the utility company and the city.

The Leadership Institute will hold its 2024 Learn Right National Education Summit in Nashville on Friday and Saturday at the JW Marriott.

U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03) was appointed to serve as a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee this week. The Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, a subdivision of the House Appropriations Committee, funds America’s military and national defense.

The Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation announced Tuesday it raised $113,820,000 for education in the Volunteer State during the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), which spanned from January 1 through March 31. “The Lottery is proud to announce this quarter’s results, which reinforce our commitment to funding vital education programs for Tennesseans,” Tennessee Education Lottery President and CEO Rebecca Paul said in a statement.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young confirmed he will ask for a property tax hike, explaining the money is needed to cover a budget shortfall and fund the city's fight against crime. Young announced his plans during a Tuesday event at Mount Vernon Church in Westwood that marked his first 100 days in office, revealing the city needs "at least $30 million" to fulfill obligations previously funded by expiring federal funding. The Commercial Appeal also reported Young also "vowed" a 10 percent "reduction in violent crime" each year he is in office.

Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is considering introducing legislation that would ban National Public Radio (NPR) from receiving federal funding, according to Fox News.

The Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday that strengthened bail requirements. HB 1719 "removes the defendant's financial condition as a consideration for the magistrate in determining the amount of bail necessary to reasonably assure the appearance of the defendant at trial and protect the safety of the public."

A Congressman from Tennessee took to NewsMax to ensure Americans that he won't vote to continue sending taxpayer dollars to Ukraine, and noted that many domestic problems could have been solved with the money Congress has already allocated to the country.  "Of course I'm not going to vote for any more funding for Ukraine," Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) said in a segment on the news station Monday. "$116 billion dollars? We could have built the wall, I believe six times. We could have fixed the Flint, Michigan lead situation a dozen times, probably. We could give every homeless veteran a million dollars in this country with the money we've spent on Ukraine."