Tennessee

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Judge Scraps Tennessee's Controversial Drag Law

Thomas Parker strikes down legislation on restricting drag, calling it 'unconstitutionally vague'

(Newser) - A federal judge says Tennessee's first-in-the-nation law designed to place strict limits on drag shows is unconstitutional. In a 70-page ruling handed down late Friday night, US District Judge Thomas Parker wrote that the law was both "unconstitutionally vague and substantially overbroad." He also added that the...

Biden Tells Expelled Lawmakers They Stood Up for Democracy
Biden Welcomes
Expelled Lawmakers
Apr 24, 2023 6:00 PM CDT

Biden Welcomes Expelled Lawmakers

Three Tennessee Democrats visit White House

(Newser) - President Biden on Monday thanked three Tennessee lawmakers for "standing up" after they faced expulsion for participating in gun control protests at their statehouse. "You're standing up for our kids, you're standing up for our communities," Biden told Reps. Justin Pearson, Justin Jones, and Gloria...

Onstage in Tennessee, Lizzo Makes a Statement

Singer invites drag performers to share her stage

(Newser) - Lizzo made her feelings about a new Tennessee law clear on Friday night, inviting drag performers to join her onstage in Knoxville. The acts who shared her stage at Thompson-Boling Arena included Aquaria, Asia O'Hara, Kandy Muse, and Vanessa Vanjie, Deadline reports. The legislation prohibits "male or female...

After School Shooting, Tennessee Moves to Shield Gunmakers

Bill passes state Senate to protect manufacturers from liability, will now head to governor

(Newser) - In the wake of a deadly school shooting last month, Republican lawmakers in Tennessee awarded final passage Tuesday to a proposal that would further protect gun and ammunition dealers, manufacturers, and sellers against lawsuits. The Senate's 19-9 vote sends the bill to Republican Gov. Bill Lee, despite pushback from...

Feds: Man Applied to Be Hit Man at Parody Site

Air National Guardsman was arrested after meeting undercover FBI agent

(Newser) - Jake Teixeira isn't the only 21-year-old Air National Guardsman facing criminal charges. Tennessee's Josiah Ernesto Garcia was arrested last week after he allegedly offered his services to Rent-a-Hitman.com, unaware that it is a parody site whose owner contacts law enforcement when it looks like requests could...

Florist Refuses RNC Job: 'There's Blood on That Money'

Owners of FLWR Shop urge others in the event industry to follow their lead

(Newser) - The owners of a Nashville floral shop have turned down a lucrative opportunity to provide flowers for a Republican National Committee fundraising event, saying the blood of the those killed in a recent school shooting in the city would be on any money received. The event—which will include former...

2nd Expelled Tennessee Lawmaker Is Reinstated

Board voted 7-0 to appoint Justin Pearson to state House seat before special election

(Newser) - The second of two Democratic lawmakers expelled from the state legislature last week has now been reinstated. The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 Wednesday to reappoint Rep. Justin J. Pearson to his seat in the state House of Representatives, NPR reports. The AP reports that Pearson marched through...

Tennessee Governor Takes Big Step on Gun Control

He urges lawmakers to pass 'red flag law'

(Newser) - Tennessee's Republican governor has taken some firm steps on gun control in the wake of the Nashville mass shooting that killed six people, including one of his wife's closest friends. Gov. Bill Lee signed an executive order Tuesday that will strengthen background checks for gun buyers, the Tennessean...

Nashville Sends Ousted Democrat Right Back to House

Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones retakes the oath of office to supporters' cheers

(Newser) - Days after he was expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives, Justin Jones has been returned to the legislature on a unanimous vote by the Nashville Metropolitan Council. Supporters cheered as the Democrat again took the oath of office on the state Capitol steps Monday afternoon, per the Hill . Jones,...

Democrats Want Seats Back
Democrats Want Seats Back
Apr 9, 2023 5:15 PM CDT

Democrats Want Seats Back

Expelled Tennessee lawmakers hope to be reappointed, then elected again

(Newser) - Two Democratic lawmakers who were expelled by Republican colleagues in Tennessee say they want to be reappointed, then elected back to their seats following their ouster for a protest on the House floor urging passage of gun-control measures. Nashville's metro council is likely to reappoint Justin Jones to the...

Here's What Didn't Get Tennessee Lawmakers Fired

GOP leaders have blocked attempts to punish their members

(Newser) - The Tennessee House chamber where Republicans expressed outrage this week at a breach in decorum was filled daily, for years, by the sound of their colleague ringing a cowbell to mask the lack of applause. A lawmaker's office chair was urinated on by a fellow Republican, a reporter who...

Harris to Meet in Nashville With Expelled Lawmakers

Vice president to speak at service for ousted Democrats

(Newser) - Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Nashville on Friday in response to the removal of two Democratic lawmakers from the Tennessee legislature. She plans to meet with Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, who were expelled on a vote Thursday in the state House, where Republicans hold a supermajority, the Tennessean...

Remaining Dem: Colleagues' Expulsion Was Racist

Members who faced vote warn of 'march to fascism' and 'the silencing of democracy'

(Newser) - Tennessee Rep. Gloria Johnson may have survived expulsion from the state House for joining an unauthorized protest for gun reform on the House floor, but she's not celebrating. "We need to make sure that we stomp out this march to fascism," the Knoxville Democrat said after the...

Tennessee Legislators Expel 2 Democrats Over Gun Protest

Third lawmaker keeps her seat by a single vote

(Newser) - In an extraordinary act of political retaliation, Tennessee Republicans on Thursday expelled two Democratic lawmakers from the state Legislature for their role in a protest that called for more gun control in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting in Nashville. The House, where Republicans have a supermajority, voted to...

If 'Tennessee 3' Are Expelled Thursday, 'Chilling' Implications

Never before has a Tennessee state lawmaker been expelled for a rules violation

(Newser) - Today's the day: Tennessee's state House votes Thursday on Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson, and the three Democratic state representatives are expected to be expelled from the chamber. Republicans hold a supermajority, and are looking to boot the three Democrats due to their unauthorized House-floor protest...

Tennessee Dems Face Expulsion for Gun Reform Chants

Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones, Justin Pearson accused of 'disorderly behavior'

(Newser) - Three Democrats in Tennessee are on the verge of being ousted from the state House after leading protesters in chants in support of gun control. Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson approached the podium between bills on Thursday without being recognized to speak, USA Today reports. Using a...

GOP Lawmaker on Gun Violence: OK, Maybe We Can Fix It

Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett says he's 'floated ideas about mental health' with Democrats

(Newser) - Rep. Tim Burchett was a relative unknown outside of Tennessee before his comments about gun control earlier this week. In the wake of the school shooting in Nashville that killed six, he proclaimed , "We're not gonna fix it," referring to tougher gun laws addressing gun violence in...

Lawmaker Responds to 'Hatred' Over His Shooting Comments

GOP Rep. Tim Burchett has taken criticism after his 'we're not gonna fix it' remark

(Newser) - A Tennessee congressman named Tim Burchett got an unexpected taste of the national spotlight this week after the Nashville school shooting. Interviewed after the assault, the Republican declared that "we're not gonna fix it" because "criminals are going to be criminals" even if tougher gun laws were...

Minutes Before Entering School, Shooter Issued a Warning

'Something bad is about to happen,' Audrey Hale told friend

(Newser) - At 9:57am Monday, Audrey Hale sent several messages to a former middle school basketball teammate, announcing plans to die by suicide. "I don't want to live," the suspected Nashville school shooter wrote, reports WTVF . "Something bad is about to happen," Hale continued. "You'...

3 Children, 3 Adults Fatally Shot at Nashville School

Shooter believed to be Nashville woman, 28, also killed at the Covenant School

(Newser) - This story has been updated with new developments. Three children and three adults were killed in a school shooting Monday morning in Nashville, reports the Tennessean . A shooter identified by police as a 28-year-old Nashville woman also is dead. Police say the shooter entered the private Christian school with two...

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