DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Tennessee AG on NCAA lawsuit: 'Archaic, anticompetitive rules' have disadvantaged student-athletes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailTennessee AG on NCAA lawsuit: 'Archaic, anticompetitive rules' have disadvantaged student-athletesTennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the state's lawsuit against the NCAA over its rules on student-athletes financially benefitting from their name, image, and likeness.

Persons: Jonathan Skrmetti Organizations: Tennessee AG, NCAA, Tennessee

Oklahoma and Kentucky are also taking steps to clarify their abortion bans, though in both states the attorneys general, not physicians, are the ones dictating the terms. Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in 2022, states have been free to enact their own restrictions. “It’s not going to deal with hard calls,” said Greer Donley, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law who is an expert on abortion law. As some states mull how to clarify — without weakening — their abortion bans, abortion rights advocates in several states continue to challenge the bans with lawsuits. Frustrated with the board's inaction, Amy and Steven Bresnen, a couple who are lawyers and lobbyists, filed a petition in January asking it to clarify what circumstances qualify as medical exceptions to the state's abortion ban.

Persons: —, Kristi Noem, ”, Kelsey Pritchard, wasn't, Taylor Rehfeldt, anesthetist, It's, “ It’s, Greer Donley, “, Sen, Erin Tobin, ” Tobin, women's, Jonathan Skrmetti, Donley, “ That’s, Katie Cox's, Greg Abbott, Amy, Steven Bresnen Organizations: —, Republican, Dakota Legislature, Republican Gov, SBA Pro, U.S, Supreme, State Republican Rep, GOP, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, ” South, ” South Dakota Republican, Texas, Tennessee, Lone Star, Texas Medical Board, Texas Medical Locations: Tenn, U.S, “ South Dakota, South Dakota, Kelsey Pritchard . Oklahoma, Kentucky, Oklahoma, ”, ” South Dakota, mull, Tennessee, ” In Texas, Texas

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's decades-old aggravated prostitution statute violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday after an investigation, warning that the state could face a lawsuit if officials don't immediately cease enforcement. LGBTQ+ and civil rights advocates have long criticized the measure as discriminatory, making it almost impossible to find housing and employment due to the restrictions for violent sex offenders. The DOJ letter details several of the struggles of those with aggravated prostitution convictions. A lifetime sex offender registration can stop people from visiting with their grandchildren, revoke job offers, and severely limit housing options. Plaintiffs who had filed a lawsuit seeking to block the aggravated prostitution law in October said the DOJ's letter only further supports their efforts.

Persons: —, ”, Bill Lee, “, Kristen Clarke, Jonathan Skrmetti, David Rausch, Steven Mulroy, it's, Mulroy, ” Brandon James Smith, Skrmetti, “ OUTMemphis, Molly Quinn, OUTMemphis, Adrian Sainz Organizations: U.S . Department of Justice, American Civil Liberties Union, Transgender Law Center, Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, of, DOJ, Associated Press Locations: Tenn, Tennessee, United States, Shelby County, Memphis, Memphis , Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former Ambassador to Poland and longtime Tennessee Republican politician Victor Ashe sued state election officials on Wednesday over a law he claims is so vague that he could be prosecuted for voting in a Republican primary. They argue that Tennessee voters aren't registered by party, and the law does not define what it means to be a bona fide party member, to declare allegiance to a party or long that allegiance must last. The league also worries that volunteers could be subject to a separate law that punishes people who promulgate erroneous voting information. Tennessee voters often decide which primary to participate in based on campaign developments. The lawsuit names Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett, Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins and Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti as defendants.

Persons: Victor Ashe, ”, Ashe, “ Ashe, Phil Lawson, State Tre Hargett, Mark Goins, Jonathan Skrmetti, Goins, Skrmetti Organizations: Tennessee Republican, Republican, Knoxville News, Tennessee Republican Party, Democrat, The League of Women Voters, Democratic, Republicans, State Locations: Tenn, Poland, Nashville, Tennessee, Knoxville

Tennessee's state House map was also challenged in the lawsuit, though the state did defend those boundaries. Ultimately, the three judges panel upheld the House map and ordered the Tennessee Senate to come up with a new district layout by Jan. 31, 2024. “Today's court ruling against the gerrymandered state Senate map is a clear win for the Tennessee Constitution,” said Democratic Sens. The Tennessee Democratic Party said Wednesday that it would continue fighting the ruling on upholding the House map. In April 2022, the panel of state trial-level judges blocked the Senate map from taking effect.

Persons: —, Wednesday's, “, Randy McNally, Jonathan Skrmetti, ”, Democratic Sens, London Lamar, ” Akbari, Lamar, Hendrell Remus, didn’t Organizations: Republican, Republicans, Tennessee Senate, Tennessee Constitution, Democratic, The Tennessee Democratic Party, state's Democratic Party, General, Tennessee Democratic Party, U.S Locations: Tenn, Nashville, Davidson County, gerrymandered, Tennessee, Raumesh Akbari, London, Shelby, Memphis

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Attorneys representing Tennessee transgender teens and their families asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to block a ban on gender-affirming care for minors that a lower court allowed to go into effect. Advocates for trans kids argue that having access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy is safe, necessary health care backed by every major medical group. “Families are losing access to much-needed medical care that has allowed their children to flourish. Health care providers who violated the law risked facing a $25,000 penalty and other disciplinary actions. A federal judge struck down Arkansas’ ban as unconstitutional in June, sparking state officials to ask an appeals court to review that decision.

Persons: Jonathan Skrmetti, ”, Lucas Cameron, Vaughn, “ Organizations: —, U.S, Supreme, American Civil Liberties Union, Circuit, Republican, Assembly, Democratic, Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Health, ACLU, Tennessee Locations: Tenn, Tennessee, United States, Kentucky, ”, U.S, Arkansas, Alabama

REUTERS/Demetrius Freeman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Tennessee Office of Attorney General FollowNov 1 (Reuters) - Three Tennessee families of transgender children on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down a state law banning so-called gender-affirming care, such as puberty blockers and hormones, for patients under 18. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed Tennessee and Kentucky to enforce bans on gender-affirming care in September. Families challenging the Kentucky ban have not yet filed a petition to the Supreme Court. The St. Louis, Missouri-based 8th Circuit last year blocked an Arkansas ban, though the court is expected to consider the issue again. The Tennessee families urged the Supreme Court to take up the issue in part to avoid the "chaos" of conflicting court rulings.

Persons: Demetrius Freeman, Jonathan Skrmetti, Brendan Pierson, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Rights Companies Tennessee, Wednesday, U.S, Supreme, Constitution, Tennessee, Circuit, Republican, . Circuit, Thomson Locations: Washington, New York, U.S, Tennessee, Cincinnati , Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, St, Louis , Missouri, Arkansas

☆ Meta has managed to get 33 US states to agree on something
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

See here: More than three dozen states are suing the parent company of Instagram and Facebook over fears that its platforms’ “addictive” features are harming teens’ mental health. In a federal lawsuit filed in California, 33 attorneys general allege that Meta’s products have harmed minors and contributed to a mental health crisis in the United States. Eight additional attorneys general sued Meta in state courts, making similar claims. And the state of Florida sued the company in its own federal lawsuit alleging it misled users about potential health risks. The federal complaint filed in California calls for court orders prohibiting Meta from violating the law and, in the case of many states, unspecified financial penalties.

Persons: CNN Business ’, New York CNN —, Brian Fung, Frances Haugen, Meta, Jonathan Skrmetti, ”, “ We’re, Haugen, didn’t, can’t, Phil Weiser, Meta’s, you’ll Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Meta, Facebook, Big Tech, Wall Street, ” Colorado, Google Locations: New York, California, United States, Florida, Tennessee

“We are suing to stop the federal government from playing politics with the health of Tennessee women,” Skrmetti said in a statement. In 2021, the Biden administration reversed a ban on abortion referrals by clinics that accept Title X funds. Under the latest rule, clinics cannot use federal family planning money to pay for abortions, but they must offer information about abortion at the patient's request. Then, last year, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, allowing many Republican-led states like Tennessee to impose abortion bans. Tennessee has increasingly called for rejecting federal funding rather than comply with requirements over LGBTQ+ rights, abortion access and other hot-button issues.

Persons: —, Jonathan Skrmetti, ” Skrmetti, Biden, Donald Trump, Roe, Wade, Bill Lee, ” Organizations: U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, U.S, Supreme, Republican, HHS, Tennessee, Republican Gov, Volunteer State Locations: Tenn, U.S, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

☆ Meta's harmful effects on children is one issue that unites Republicans and Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

While Republican and Democratic lawmakers appear more incapable than ever of working together to pass legislation, they largely agree on one thing: Meta's negative impact on children and teens. Another nine attorneys general are also filing lawsuits in their respective states. "Meta has profited from children's pain by intentionally designing its platforms with manipulative features that make children addicted to their platforms while lowering their self-esteem. Meanwhile, Tennessee's Republican Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti noted that polarization in politics is unlike anything this country has seen "since the Civil War." Yet Skrmetti is firmly in James's camp when it comes to Meta.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Chuck Schumer, Faceboook's, Letitia James, Meta, Jonathan Skrmetti, Skrmetti, Matt Gaetz, California's Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden Organizations: Facebook, Intelligence, Senate, U.S, Capitol, Washington , D.C, Republican, Democratic, Meta, Representatives, Republicans, GOP Locations: Washington ,, Florida

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — LGBTQ+ and civil rights advocates on Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit challenging Tennessee's aggravated prostitution statute, arguing that the law stems from the decades-old AIDS scare and discriminates against HIV-positive people. The law was later reclassified in 2010 as a “violent sexual offense," requiring those convicted to face lifetime sex offender registration. Another plaintiff has struggled for years to find housing that complies with Tennessee's sex offender registry requirements. A separate plaintiff is currently incarcerated for violating a sex offender registry requirement and has chosen not to seek parole despite being eligible because complying with registry requirements has become so onerous. According to the complaint, 83 people are currently registered for aggravated prostitution in Tennessee.

Persons: ”, Molly Quinn, OUTMemphis, Bill Lee, Jonathan Skrmetti, David Rausch, Frank Strada, —, Jane Doe Organizations: American Civil Liberties Union, Transgender Law Center, ”, of, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, Memphis Police, Unit Locations: Tenn, Tennessee, United States, U.S, Memphis, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Shelby County

☆ Tennessee attorney general says six states to discuss big-tech investigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti's office said on Monday that there would be a press conference on Tuesday with five other states to discuss a big-tech investigation. The other states participating in the press conference are California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Nebraska and New Hampshire. While Reuters could not determine the topic of the press conference, in November 2021 Tennessee joined seven other states to probe allegations Meta Platforms (META.O) promoted its subsidiary Instagram to children despite potential harms. Separately, Virginia's attorney general's office said on Monday that it would hold a press conference on Tuesday to update reporters on a similar probe into Meta. Reporting by Diane Bartz, Nate Raymond and David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jonathan Skrmetti's, Diane Bartz, Nate Raymond, David Shepardson, Leslie Adler Organizations: Tennessee, Reuters, Meta, Thomson Locations: California, Colorado , Massachusetts , Nebraska, New Hampshire

July 13 (Reuters) - A group of Republican U.S. state attorney generals on Thursday warned the country's largest companies that certain workforce diversity policies could be illegal in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision effectively striking down affirmative action in higher education. The attorney generals urged the companies to abandon race-based quotas or preferences in hiring, promotion and contracting and threatened legal action "sooner rather than later" if they do not. "Companies that engage in racial discrimination should and will face serious legal consequences," the attorney generals wrote. They were joined by the attorney generals of Indiana, South Carolina and Missouri, among others. But in Thursday's letter, the attorney generals said well-intentioned race discrimination is still illegal.

Persons: Kris Kobach, Jonathan Skrmetti, Harvard University's, Neil Gorsuch, George Floyd, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Alistair Bell Organizations: Republican, U.S, Companies, Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, Uber Technologies Corp, Harvard, University of North, Federal, Thomson Locations: Republican U.S, U.S ., Kansas, Tennessee, Indiana , South Carolina, Missouri, Albany , New York

CNN —Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors will now take effect after a federal appeals court lifted an injunction against the law. The appeals court granted a stay of a lower court injunction, which had been blocking enforcement of a part of the state’s ban. The ban prohibits health care providers from performing gender-affirming surgeries and administering hormones or puberty blockers to transgender minors, pending the duration of the appeal. In five states, providing gender-affirming care to minors is now a felony. The association says gender-affirming care creates “effective pathways to achieving lasting personal comfort with their gendered selves, in order to maximize their overall health, psychological well-being and self-fulfillment.”CLARIFICATION: This story has been updated to note that a part of the Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors took effect on July 1.

Persons: CNN —, Bill, Jonathan Skrmetti, ” Organizations: CNN, Sixth Circuit, American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child, Psychiatry, Professional Association for Transgender Health Locations: Tennessee

☆ Judge Finds Tennessee Law Aimed at Restricting Drag Shows Unconstitutional
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Emily Cochrane | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A federal judge said late Friday that a law in Tennessee aimed at restricting drag shows was unconstitutional, saying it was overly broad and violated the First Amendment. The ruling is an initial victory for supporters of L.G.B.T.Q. Tennessee, which passed the law this year with the stated goal of protecting children, was among more than a dozen states that passed measures restricting L.G.B.T.Q. The attorney general of Tennessee, Jonathan Skrmetti, who said he expected to appeal the decision, maintained that the ruling did not affect the rest of the state. He added that the law’s language “is rooted in the U.S. Supreme Court’s long-established First Amendment precedent.”

Persons: Judge Thomas L, Parker, Jonathan Skrmetti, ”, Court’s Organizations: Federal, Court, Entertainment, U.S Locations: Tennessee, Shelby County, Memphis, U.S .

☆ DOJ sues Tennessee, alleging it discriminates against transgender youth with new law
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Activists for transgender rights gather in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on April 1, 2023. The Department of Justice is suing Tennessee for allegedly discriminating against transgender youth with a new state law banning the use of puberty blockers, hormones, and other medical procedures that affirm a child's gender identity. The DOJ asked the U.S. District Court for Middle Tennessee on Wednesday to declare that the law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and to prohibit state authorities from implementing the statute. The lawsuit originally was filed April 20 by the parents of transgender children in Tennessee who are undergoing gender-affirming care. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and Health Commissioner Ralph Alvarado must respond to the suit by May 8.

But many medical associations have said the law is transphobic and that gender-affirming care can be life-saving. The new lawsuit says depriving transgender youth of medically necessary care will have devastating consequences for them and their families. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three families with transgender children and a Memphis-based doctor who performs gender-affirming procedures. Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed the ban into law last month along with a separate measure restricting drag performances in public. Several other U.S. states have banned gender-affirming care for minors, and over the last several weeks groups have sued over laws adopted in Utah, Florida, Indiana and Arkansas.

☆ Drag queens fight back against Tennessee law that classifies drag shows as 'adult cabaret' entertainment and makes them a felony
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Bill Lee signed HB0009 into law, amending a law about cabaret performances. A drag queen suing the state over the law told Insider it violates performers' and parents' rights. Tennessee House Bill 0009 was signed into law by Lee on February 27, amending an existing clause regulating erotic performances to include "male or female impersonators" as "adult cabaret entertainment." The company's all-ages performances feature variety shows and comedies highlighting drag performers in an effort to provide the LGBTQ community with events and activities outside of bars and nightclubs. "Were it not for this law, Absent Friends would not have added an age restriction to its monthly performances."

☆ Ticketmaster provides no real answers as it struggles to explain disastrous Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert sale
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ticketmaster apologized for its chaotic and botched ticket-sale system for Taylor Swift's upcoming tour. "We want to apologize to Taylor and all of her fans — especially those who had a terrible experience trying to purchase tickets," Ticketmaster wrote in a tweet Friday night. "We're working to shore up our tech for the new bar that has been set by demand for the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour," Ticketmaster wrote. This disrupted the predictability and reliability that is the hallmark of our Verified Fan platform," Ticketmaster wrote. According to Ticketmaster, a record-breaking 3.5 million fans registered to the verified presale in hopes of snagging a ticket on Nov. 15.

Ticketmaster announced in a tweet on Thursday it had canceled the public sale of tickets to Taylor Swift's "The Eras" Tour. "Due to extraordinarily high demands on ticketing systems and insufficient remaining ticket inventory to meet that demand, tomorrow’s public on-sale for Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour has been cancelled," Ticketmaster wrote in the tweet. This meant 1.5 million fans were invited to buy tickets while the remaining 2 million were waitlisted. In its statement, Ticketmaster said that even if a ticket sale goes perfectly, fans still tend to leave empty-handed. Despite the bungled pre-sale, Ticketmaster said more than 2 million tickets were sold on Nov. 15 for Swift's tour.

☆ Tennessee AG investigating Ticketmaster after Taylor Swift ticket chaos
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Chantal Da Silva | Chantal Da Silva Is A Breaking News Editor For Nbc News Digital Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

"Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is concerned about consumer complaints related to @Ticketmaster. He and his Consumer Protection team will use every available tool to ensure that no consumer protection laws were violated," Skrmetti's office said in a tweet Wednesday. “If it’s a consumer protection violation and we can find exactly where the problems are, we can get a court order that makes the company do better. The attorney general said he also had concerns about Ticketmaster profiting twice off ticket sales, with the website also facilitating ticket resales. “There is an incentive there for the company to profit twice off the sale of these ticket,” he said, according to WSMV.

☆ Tennessee AG says he's probing the Taylor Swift Eras presale meltdown amid customer complaints about Ticketmaster
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Tennessee AG Jonathan Skrmetti said he's looking into the Taylor Swift Eras presale meltdown. On Tuesday, Swift fans complained of long wait times and outages on Ticketmaster. "You would think Ticketmaster would be prepared," Skrmetti said. At a news conference, Skrmetti said he's investigating consumer complaints about the presale and said antitrust violations "could be an issue," per Bloomberg. He added: "As an industry player, you would think Ticketmaster would be prepared.

☆ Ticketmaster expected 1.5 million 'verified' Taylor Swift fans on the site but 14 million people were trying to get tickets, Live Nation chairman says: 'We could have filled 900 stadiums'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ticketmaster was only supposed to be opened to 1.5 million "verified" Taylor Swift fans for presale. Live Nation's chairman said 14 million people tried to get tickets, and could've filled 900 stadiums. "Despite all the challenges and the breakdowns, we did sell over 2 million tickets that day," Live Nation's Greg Maffei said. However, among the 14 million fans were bots, "which are not supposed to be there," Maffei said. Maffei said Ticketmaster attempted to build "capacity for peak demand," but Swift's ticket sales "exceeded every expectation."

☆ Vanderbilt to pause gender-affirming surgeries for minors
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Officials at Vanderbilt University Medical Center announced Friday that they are pausing gender-affirming surgeries for minors in order to review their practices. If successful, it’s unclear if VUMC would be allowed to resume gender-affirming surgeries for minors, regardless of their internal review. On average, VUMC has provided five gender affirming surgeries to minors every year since its transgender clinic opened in 2018. “The revenues from this limited number of surgeries represent an immaterial percentage of VUMC’s net operating revenue,” Pinson wrote. Only a handful defended the clinic’s services, with some saying the transgender health care they received had been life-saving.

☆ GOP attorneys general call on credit card companies to drop plans for gun store code
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Two dozen Republican attorneys general are urging Visa, MasterCard, and American Express to drop their plans to adopt a new merchant category code for gun retailers, saying the move would infringe on consumers' privacy. In a letter sent to the companies Tuesday, the attorneys general warn the credit card companies that they could face legal action if they move forward with the code adopted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). On Saturday, Senate Republicans sent a similar letter to the three credit card companies. The letters come after the credit card companies announced plans to start applying the new sales code to transactions made at gun stores. "A fundamental principle for Visa is protecting all legal commerce throughout our network and around the world and upholding the privacy of cardholders who choose to use Visa," Visa said in a statement last week.

Search resuls for: "Jonathan Skrmetti"

25 mentions found