State and Local News That Matters
Nashville Metro Council considered the first reading of the Fiscal Year 2023 budget and issues like grant acceptances at its latest meeting.
BL2022-1248, a bill on first reading, was the ordinance setting the Fiscal Year 2023 budget and is on the agenda. The full proposal can be viewed on the Metro Council website. It was referred to the Budget and Finance Committee.
Morgan Ortagus, a disqualified candidate in the race for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat, announced to German-owned Politico her participation in an organization called Polaris National Security.
Politico reported, “Morgan Ortagus, the State Department’s chief spokesperson during the Trump administration, has launched a new group called Polaris National Security. The organization, chock-full of former Trump administration and campaign aides on staff and other Republicans on the advisory team, will have a 501(c)(4) and PAC arm.”
Five Star Food Service, Inc. officials announced Wednesday in a press release that the company will expand its headquarters operations in Hamilton County.
A U.S. Congressman from Tennessee spoke out after news that two infants in Memphis were hospitalized because special baby formula they needed for medical conditions could not be found.
“Absolutely tragic,” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) told The Tennessee Star. “This nationwide crisis is landing kids in the hospital, and it’s unacceptable this is happening here in the United States. All our economic might doesn’t mean a thing if we still can’t protect our children.”
The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network launched a new addition to their services for consumers across Tennessee—a weather forecast.
The new feature will allow Star News Network Chief Meteorologist Daphne DeLoren to provide a daily outlook of the conditions across Middle Tennessee.
Federal Election Commission records show that Tennessee Fifth Congressional District Republican primary candidate Kurt Winstead donated to federal Democrat candidates in addition to Republican ones.
Williamson County Election Commission records additionally show that Kurt Winstead voted in Democrat primaries in the past.
Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles praised Tennessee U.S. Senators Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn for their votes against H.R. 7691, known as the $40 billion Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022.
In a statement, Ogles said, “It’s time we follow the words of President Trump and put America First. At a time when mothers cannot find baby formula, we are facing runaway inflation and a disgraceful collapse of our southern border this inept Biden administration seems hellbent in destroying our economy and the middle class with it.”
The appointment of Tennessee’s attorney general is a process unique to this state.
The attorney general is appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court and is the only state attorney general that is a member of the judicial branch, not the executive branch.
Property owners in Davidson County should beware of a new scam letter being distributed, warns the Assessor of Property.
Hundreds of radical pro-abortion activists protested at Legislative Plaza on Saturday on Saturday May 14, and Sunday, May 15.
These protests come in the wake of the leaked draft of a Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
The Tennessee Supreme Court, which in turn is empowered to appoint the state’s attorney general, is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the General Assembly.
The Tennessee Supreme Court is currently made up of justices Jeffrey S. Bivins, Sarah K. Campbell, Holly Kirby, Sharon G. Lee, and Roger A. Page.
Tennessee Republican Party Chair Scott Golden, in a statement exclusively provided to The Tennessee Star, reports that 2022 saw a record number of GOP candidates qualifying to run for office in the state.
“Red Wave ’22 is sweeping across the Nation and there are more Republicans than ever before running in Tennessee. We have more candidates for more offices in more counties than we have ever had in the history of Tennessee,” said Golden.
A new Tennessee film tax credit program will change the way that entertainment companies receive subsidies from the state, but it won’t reduce the amount that those companies receive.
In fact, it is expected to increase the incentives in a program that has paid out $88.6 million since the Visual Content Act of 2006 created the subsidies. An additional $6.5 million in subsidies had already been committed as of the most recently released report on the Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission Production Grant Program at the end of 2021.
Nashville Mayor John Cooper presented his case for public funding toward a new Tennessee Titans stadium in an op-ed posted Thursday by The Tennessean.
While those arguments were presented, Cooper did not include any numbers on how much the city plans to contribute to what is estimated to be at least a $2 billion stadium with a $700 million city investment and $700 million from team ownership, which could include a $200 million NFL loan.
Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) condemned the leak of the draft decision overturning Roe v. Wade on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and spoke out against inaccurate characterizations of what that decision would accomplish.
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Planned Parenthood and the Women’s March Foundation are hosting a pro-abortion rally on Saturday, May 14 in Nashville.
The rally is scheduled to take place from noon to 2pm at Legislative Plaza, located at 719 Church St. Nashville, TN 37203.
The Tennessee Supreme Court, which appoints the state attorney general, is likely to appoint a new one this year via a public application and hearing process in a similar manner to the one it used in 2014 to appoint Attorney General Herbert Slatery.
Slatery, who has been Tennessee’s attorney general since 2014, is not seeking an additional eight-year term.
In a statement released on Twitter, Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III announced that he “has no intention of withdrawing” Tennessee from the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG).
“If you’re looking for bipartisan, effective cooperation on issues that affect Americans across the country, it’s happening at the state level among attorneys general. The National Association of Attorneys General plays a critical role in fostering that cooperation,” he said. “Tennessee has worked with other attorneys general across the country and ‘across the aisle,’ including those who have left the Association. All of those relationships are important to us. We have no intention of withdrawing from the Association and working with other AG Offices.”
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation will host the “Never Forget” parade and concert Friday in Nashville to recognize members of the military and first responders as Memorial Day approaches, the organization announced in a press release.
Congressman John Rose (R-TN-06) and several other GOP members of the House of Representatives held a press conference to highlight the concerns of Americans over a shortage of baby formula.
During the press conference, Rose questioned the administration on their efforts to fix the crisis, as little noticeable improvement has been made.
The Metro Nashville Council agenda for the May 17 meeting is highlighted by the first reading of the budget as well as resolutions accepting grants from various agencies to address mental health, drug overdose, and tobacco issues.
The Tennessee Star previously reported that BL2022-1248, a bill on first reading, is the ordinance setting the Fiscal Year 2023 budget and is on the agenda.
Former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives and candidate in the Republican primary for Tennessee’s Fifth Congressional District Beth Harwell called on Congress to finish former President Donald Trump’s border wall.
Harwell said in a tweet, “Drugs & crime are pouring over our southern border as a result of the Biden Admin’s failed border policies. Open borders don’t work. For the safety of our border patrol agents & families, Congress must prioritize finishing Trump’s Wall & funding our law enforcement officers.”
Congressman John Rose (R-TN-06), alongside 57 other Republicans, voted against authorizing an additional $40 billion in assistance for Ukraine.
According to Rose, he did not have confidence in the Biden Administration to properly oversee the disbursement of the funds, leading to his opposition.
Twelve Tennessee State Parks (TSP) is joining the Tennessee chapter of the American Canoe Association (ACA) to offer low-cost kayaking instruction on May 21st, according to a press release by the Department of Environment and Conservation.
The Kayak 101 classes are being offered by ACA-certified kayak instructors as part of National Safe Boating Week, according to the TSP website. The classes, which normally cost between $50 and $100, are being offered for $15 and begin at 9 a.m.
Retired General Kurt Winstead announced Tuesday the latest additions to his campaign team in the race for the Republican nomination for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.
The campaign has added Fred Davis advertising consultant, Tony Fabrizio and David Lee as pollsters, and The Stoneridge Group as the direct mail and digital voter contact firm.
Gas prices in Tennessee have once again hit all-time highs, as the Biden administration struggles to control rising prices at the pump and elsewhere.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average price per gallon of gas in Tennessee reached $4.12, the highest ever recorded Tuesday. A year ago, a gallon of gas in the state averaged $2.71.
Metro Nashville Council passed a resolution recognizing the Ryman Auditorium at its most recent meeting.
Council additionally considered issues dealing with contracts, grants, and zoning, as well as a resolution recognizing the Ryman Auditorium.
The Tennessee Department of Health, in partnership with the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA), recently awarded hospitals across the state with the BEST Award, the department announced in a press release.
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael in studio for another edition of Crom’s Crommentary.
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Tennessee Star Lead reporter Laura Baigert to the newsmaker line to highlight the newly released 2000 Mules movie by Dinesh D’Souza.