Area News
Vivian Jones The Center Square The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled fear of contracting the coronavirus will not be an excuse to vote absentee in November. Absentee ballots already submitted to vote in Thursday’s primary will remain valid. “Recognizing that absentee ballots already have been cast for the Aug. 6, 2020 election consistent with the trial court’s…
The Tennessee River Museum in Savannah is hosting a new popup exhibition from the National Archives. The exhibit titled “Rightfully Hers” commemorates the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. It contains simple messages exploring the history of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, women’s voting rights before and after the 19th, and its…
Vivian Jones The Center Square Tennessee lawmakers will return to Nashville on Aug. 10 for a special session to consider legislation to provide COVID-19-related liability protections for health care providers, businesses and schools. Gov. Bill Lee signed a proclamation Monday afternoon calling for the legislative special session. “It is now more important than ever that…
Jai Templeton, a sixth generation farmer, former state Commissioner of Agriculture and past McNairy County mayor is running for state Senate to represent District 26. Senate District 26 comprises Chester, Decatur, Fayette, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, McNairy and Henderson counties. Templeton has lived in the district his entire life. “My great, great, great grandparents are buried here…
Vivian Jones The Center Square Tennessee state Sen. Katrina Robinson, D-Memphis, has been charged with using more than $600,000 in federal grants for personal expenses, including for her wedding and honeymoon, legal fees for her divorce, and a campaign event, federal prosecutors say. A criminal complaint with charges of theft and embezzlement involving government programs…
Tennessee State Parks are providing a 10% discount for Tennessee residents for overnight accommodations through a new program applying to most campsites, cabins and lodge rooms across the state. “Our parks belong to Tennesseans, so it is only fitting that state residents pay less than out-of-state visitors for overnight stays,” Jim Bryson, deputy commissioner of…
Vivian Jones The Center Square Dr. Deborah Birx, a top White House Coronavirus Task Force adviser, advised all mayors in Tennessee to mandate use of masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Birx said that right now, 70% of Tennessee counties have mask mandates in place, but she said requirements are needed in…
Vivian Jones The Center Square Tennessee’s Attorney General has issued an opinion that mandates requiring citizens to wear face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is constitutionally defensible. The opinion addresses whether mask mandates infringe on constitutional right to liberty and freedom of speech, and whether local governments have authority to issue such mandates.…
Trauma surgeon Manny Sethi visited Hardin County on Wednesday to speak to local voters and explain why he wants them to vote for him for U.S. Senate. Sethi is currently running in the Aug. 6 primary election for the Republican Party candidate nomination for the seat being left vacant by Lamar Alexander, who announced last…
A Selmer man was sentenced to nearly 39 years in prison for bank robbery, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced Tuesday. A news release says that after a three-day jury trial in October 2019, a federal jury convicted Gene Allen Howell, 39, of two counts of aggravated bank robbery, two counts of using a firearm…