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☆ Trailblazing Black trans singer Jackie Shane finally gets her due in Tennessee
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-20 | by ( Dan Allen | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

Hers is the most unconventional of success stories, but Jackie Shane wouldn’t have had it any other way. The memorial is especially significant for its setting in the capital of Tennessee, where trans rights have recently been targeted. A gifted young Nashville soul singer who saw too few opportunities for herself as a Black trans performer in the Jim Crow South of the late 1950s, Shane joined a traveling carnival. Jefferson Street in North Nashville on March 19. Flash forward to the 2010s, when a series of Canadian music connoisseurs rediscovered Shane and resurrected her career in absentia.

Persons: Jackie Shane wouldn’t, ”, Sarah Calise, Crys Matthews, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, Olivia Hill, ” Calise, Jackie Shane, Jim Crow, Shane, Seth Herald, William Bell’s “, “ Jackie, Lorenzo Washington, “, ” Shane, Jackie Shane Story, Michael Mabbott, Lucah Rosenberg, Lee, Elliot Page, ” Mabbott, could’ve, Mabbott, Jeff Goode, Jackie, Jason Kempin, ’, Museum Services Michael Gray, Washington, ’ ” Organizations: Nashville, Historical Commission, Nashville Mayor, NBC News, Getty, Jefferson Street Sound Museum, North Nashville . Washington, Toronto, Toronto Star, North Star, PageBoy Productions, Country Music Hall of Fame, Music Hall of Fame, Music, Museum Services, NBC Locations: Tennessee, city’s, Jefferson, North Nashville, Nashville, Black, AFP, Canada, Toronto, Los Angeles, North Nashville .

Jim Sasser, who served 18 years in the U.S. Senate and six years as ambassador to China, has died. Gray Sasser, his son, said his father died Tuesday evening at his home in Chapel Hill, N.C., of an apparent heart attack. Sasser, a Democrat, represented Tennessee in the Senate from 1977 to 1995. President Bill Clinton then appointed him ambassador to China, a post he held until 2001. After he retired as ambassador, Sasser became a consultant.

Persons: Jim Sasser, Gray Sasser, Bill Clinton, Sasser, Republican Bill Brock, Republican Bill Frist, Elizabeth Sasser, “, Sen, Albert Gore Sr, Brock, Gore, Sasser’s, Dad, Mary Organizations: U.S . Senate, Democrat, Republican, Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt Law School, Democratic, Tennessee Democratic Party, Frist, Senate, Harvard University, State of Locations: U.S, China, Chapel Hill, N.C, Tennessee, Memphis, Tenn, Nashville, State, State of Tennessee

☆ These are America's 10 worst states for quality of life in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Scott Cohn | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

2024 Quality of Life Score: 119 out of 325 Points (Top States Grade: D-) Strengths: Crime, Voting Rights, Worker Protections Weaknesses: Air Quality, Reproductive Rights, Health Care9. 2024 Quality of Life Score: 98 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: F) Strength: Air Quality Weaknesses: Voting Rights, Crime, Reproductive Rights6. 2024 Quality of Life Score: 96 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: F) Strengths: Child Care, Air Quality Weaknesses: Crime, Inclusiveness, Health Care5. 2024 Quality of Life Score: 85 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: F) Strength: Air Quality Weaknesses: Reproductive Rights, Health, Worker Protections, Voting Rights3. 2024 Quality of Life Score: 83 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: F) Strength: Child Care Weaknesses: Voting Rights, Inclusiveness, Worker Protections2.

Persons: CNBC's, Rebecca Noble, Katie Hobbs, Kansas Thomas Barwick, Bacchus, Chandan Khanna, Wesley Bell, Michael B, Thomas, Michael Pomante, Bill Lee's, Seth Herald, Bill Lee, Oklahoma Dr, Franz Theard, Paul Ratje, Dobbs, Oklahomans, Elijah Nouvelage, Darwin Varela, Brandon Bell Organizations: Business, Arizona, Abortion, Arizona House Republicans, American Lung Association, American Hospital Association, Democratic, Health, Kansas, Digitalvision, Getty, FBI, Louisiana Police, AFP, United Health Foundation, Louisiana Department of Education, Louis County Board, United Democracy Center ., Tennessee Educators, The Tennessee Bureau, Investigation, Volunteer State, Rights, Republican Gov, Care, National Conference of State Legislatures, Reproductive Clinic, Washington, Washington Post, Guttmacher, Sooner State, Alabama Voters, Alabama, Center, Election Innovation, Research, Oxfam America, State, Indiana, Getty Images Indiana, Hoosier State, Reproductive, Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center Locations: States, Arizona, Phoenix , Arizona, Sunflower, America . Kansas, Kansas, New Orleans, Pelican, Louisiana, Missouri, Louis, Louis County, St, Ann , Missouri, United Democracy Center . Missouri, Tennessee, Nashville, Nashville , Tennessee, Seth, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Santa Teresa , New Mexico, Oxford , Alabama, Delaware , Mississippi, New Hampshire, Alabama, Hoosier, Indiana, Eagle Pass , Texas

☆ This old 2020 email from Mark Zuckerberg might just be the explanation for his extreme makeover
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewMark Zuckerberg has certainly stunned the world with his transformation from a hoodie-loving nerd to a chain-wearing tech bro. Mark Zuckerberg emails Peter ThielJanuary 4, 2020 pic.twitter.com/0oqreeFKUO — Internal Tech Emails (@TechEmails) July 7, 2024Interestingly, Zuckerberg wasn't the only one who saw himself as a youth icon. The company has seen increased competition from the likes of TikTok, which hooked users with its focus on short-form videos. Zuckerberg wrote in his post. AdvertisementThe image makeover has also delivered a huge PR boost for Zuckerberg, who wasn't always seen as the coolest guy in tech.

Persons: —, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Zuckerberg, millennials, Jonathan Skrmetti, Thiel, I'm, might've, hydrofoiling, wasn't, Daniel Ek, Forbes, Ek, He's, he's, Zuckerberg didn't Organizations: Service, Facebook, Business, Meta, BI Locations: Tennessee, USA, Cambridge

☆ Woman posing as her therapist wife counseled patients online, investigations found
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Brammhi Balajaran | Fabiana Chaparro | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A person made an unsettling discovery on social media in February 2023 – the woman she’d been seeing for online therapy sessions wasn’t actually a therapist. CNN tracked down an online obituary for 58-year-old Tammy Heath-Randolph that lists Peggy Randolph as the deceased’s wife. Randolph “denies knowing” Heath-Randolph had been conducting therapy sessions using her Brightside Health Therapist Portal log-in credentials, the settlement agreement states. Brightside Health took “swift and decisive action” once it learned of the breach, a statement provided to CNN. The impacted patients were fully reimbursed, Brightside Health said.

Persons: she’d, ”, Peggy Randolph, Randolph, Tammy Heath, Heath, Randolph “, ” Heath, “, Brightside, “ We’re, Hannah Changi, Randolph’s, ” Randolph Organizations: CNN, “, Florida Department of Health, Health, Randolph, Brightside, KFF Health Locations: Tennessee, Florida, Randolph, Heath

☆ Attorney General looking into attempted foreclosure of Elvis Presley’s Graceland home
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Isabel Rosales | Chris Youd | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is looking into the attempted foreclosure auction of Elvis Presley’s iconic Memphis home, known as Graceland, by an alleged private investment company. On Wednesday, Naussany Investments and Private Lending LLC dropped its foreclosure efforts against Graceland. Danielle Riley Keough, Presley’s granddaughter and heir, filed a lawsuit earlier this month to halt the foreclosure sale claiming Naussany Investment’s paperwork was bogus and an attempt to defraud the family. Naussany Investments produced paperwork that Lisa Marie Presley defaulted on a $3.8 million loan, prior to her 2023 passing, and used Graceland as collateral, according to court documents. Even the notary public whose name appeared on the disputed document, told the court in an affidavit that they had never notarized Lisa Marie Presley’s signature.

Persons: Jonathan Skrmetti, Elvis Presley’s, Danielle Riley Keough, Presley’s, ”, Lisa Marie Presley, “ Lisa Marie Presley, Lisa Marie Presley’s, Presley, Elvis, Alicia Owens Organizations: CNN, Tennessee, Naussany Investments, State of, Graceland, Tennessee Department, Financial, Investments, Private, Department Locations: Memphis, Graceland, Shelby County , Tennessee, State, State of Tennessee, Tennessee, Kimberling City , Missouri

☆ Van Jones: There’s hope and despair in what happened to my home state
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Van Jones | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Many were shocked last year when the Tennessee legislature dramatically expelled state representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson. When I was a legislative intern, the state of Tennessee was controlled by the Democrats and my boss was a man named Jimmy Naifeh. But even in my Southern home state, no opponent tried to score cheap political points based on his Arab background. Left-leaning or moderate Tennesseeans have virtually no say in their state legislature on the political matters that govern their lives. Van Jones, with Justin Pearson and Justin Jones CNNSo even on issues like gun violence — on which a large majority of Tennesseans in both parties would like “red flag” laws — nothing gets done.

Persons: Anderson Cooper ”, Van Jones, Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, Gloria Johnson, Pearson, Jones, —, Jimmy Naifeh, I’m, won’t, Odessa Kelly, Kelly, Matthew Shoaf, Shoaf Organizations: CNN, GOP, Tennessee House, Tennessee Capitol, Tennessee, Democrats, Democratic Party, Tea Party, Republican, Justin Jones CNN, Odessa, Democratic, Congressional District, The, The Tennessee General Assembly Locations: Tennessee, Nashville, Lebanese, American, . Tennessee, Democratic, Tennessee’s, The Tennessee, Odessa, Sumner County

☆ Judge bars NCAA from enforcing parts of its NIL policy for student-athletes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Jamiel Lynch | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A Tennessee judge has temporarily blocked the NCAA from enforcing parts of its interim policy that would have restricted how student athletes negotiate compensation for their names, images and likeness. The so-called NIL policy included NCAA bylaws that would have prohibited student athletes from negotiating with any third-party entity, including schools or boosters. To be sure, it is pure speculation to assume that student-athletes would receive more lucrative NIL deals in an open market. Fair market value may be equal to or less than the NIL deals student-athletes can currently receive after selecting a school. But without the give and take of a free market, student-athletes simply have no knowledge of their true NIL value.

Persons: CNN —, “, Jason Miyares, Chancellor Donde Plowman, Nico Iamaleava, Clifton L, Corker, ’ ”, ”, CNN’s Jacob Lev Organizations: CNN, Virginia, University of Tennessee, UT, Spyre Sports, NCAA, ” CNN Locations: Tennessee, Virginia, Commonwealth of Virginia

The case heads to court separately from another federal lawsuit filed in October by LGBTQ+ and civil rights advocates over the aggravated prostitution law. The Republican-carried legislation would only remove the requirement that those convicted of aggravated prostitution must register as a violent sex offender. Court documents in the other federal lawsuit say that more than 80 people are registered for aggravated prostitution in Tennessee. Because she had to register as a sex offender, the woman has experienced periods of homelessness while struggling to find safe housing compliant with sex-registry requirements. Tennessee law also bars her from changing her legal name to match her gender identity, the lawsuit states.

Persons: ”, Kristen Clarke, general's Organizations: U.S . Justice, Justice Department, Republican, Justice Department’s Civil Rights, for Disease Control, The Justice Department Locations: Tenn, Tennessee, United States, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Shelby County, Memphis

☆ Taylor Swift campaigning for Joe Biden? Younger campaign aides are reportedly hoping to make it happen
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewAs President Joe Biden looks ahead to an all-but-certain rematch against Donald Trump, there's one possible endorsement that reportedly has younger staffers buzzing: Taylor Swift. And I also have custom cookies 🍪💪😘📷 @inezandvinoodh pic.twitter.com/DByvIgKocr — Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) October 7, 2020But this time, Biden campaign staffers are hoping to leverage Swift's star power in an even bigger way, according to The New York Times. AdvertisementAccording to The Times, the Biden campaign recently urged applicants to a social media position not to describe how they would use Taylor Swift — because too many people had already done the same. More than 35,000 people registered to vote after Swift urged her Instagram followers to do so in September.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Taylor Swift, Biden, I’ll, e, Tim, flo, Tim e, Tay, Sen Organizations: Service, Business, NFL Locations: America

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The state of Tennessee has agreed to pay $150,000 to settle a federal lawsuit by its former vaccine leader over her firing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current and former health commissioners, and the state's chief medical officer agreed that they will not “disparage” Fiscus. Some lawmakers even threatened to dissolve the Health Department because of such marketing. A publicized Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security investigation indicated the package was sent from an Amazon account using a credit card, both in her name. Those are among several laws passed by Tennessee Republican lawmakers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that restrict vaccination or masking rules.

Persons: Michelle Fiscus, ”, Fiscus, “ Organizations: Tennessee Department of Health, Department of Health, Department, COVID, of Health, Republican, Tennessee Department of Safety, Homeland Security, Tennessee Republican Locations: Tenn, Tennessee

☆ Tuohy family denies Michael Oher accusations, says NFL player was paid for 'The Blind Side' story, court documents say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Jennifer Henderson Eric Levenson | Jennifer Henderson | Eric Levenson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Oher’s petition says soon after he moved in with the family in 2004, the Tuohys gave him legal papers he thought were necessary for the adoption. Conservatorship was the tool chosen to accomplish this goal.”“There was never an intent to adopt him,” the Tuohy’s response states. The Tuohys say it is “demonstrably false” that Oher only found out in February 2023 that he wasn’t adopted. The Tuohys say all the money received from “The Blind Side” movie has been split equally between Sean and Leigh Anne, their two children and Oher – 20% each. The Tuohys said Oher’s share was paid to them, they paid the taxes for a period of time but wrote Oher a check for his full 20% share.

Persons: Sean, Leigh Anne Tuohy, Michael Oher, Oher, “, ”, Oher’s, Conservatorship, wasn’t, Tuohys, Michael Lewis, Leigh Anne, Don Barrett, Mike, ” Barrett Organizations: CNN, NFL, football “, NCAA, Ole Miss, Mike’s Locations: Tennessee, Oher

☆ Michael Oher: 'The Blind Side' star's long effort to correct the record
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Eric Levenson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —In his 2011 memoir, Michael Oher wrote that he had a special skill for forgetting his difficult past. Sean Tuohy told the Daily Memphian that his family was devastated. In 2003, he began to stay more often with the Tuohy family, whose daughter Collins also attended Briarcrest. Another contract from April 2007 exists that was “purportedly signed by Michael Oher” in which Oher gives away his name, likeness, voice, etc. “It’s hard because you have to defend yourself, but whatever he wants, we’ll do,” Sean Tuohy said, according to the Daily Memphian.

Persons: CNN —, Michael Oher, “, ”, Oher, White, Sean, Leigh Anne Tuohy, Steve Farese, Sean Tuohy, Michael, Don Yaeger, “ ‘, I’d, Ole Miss Michael Oher, Ole, Matthew Sharpe, ” Oher, Michael Lewis, Lewis, Mike, Collins, Tuohy, David Bergman, Sandra Bullock, Oscar, Lily Collins, Tim McGraw, Jae, Quinton Aaron, Warner, Larry French, “ Michael, Michael Oher’s, Oher “, Michael Oher ”, ” Tuohy, “ We’re, he’d, ‘, You’ve, It’s, Sean Tuohy Jr, ’ ”, Tiffany Roy, Kobi, Kierstin, Jim Rome, that’s, ’ Organizations: CNN, ”, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Briarcrest Christian School, University of Mississippi, Baltimore Ravens, AP, Academy, Warner Bros, Baltimore, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, NFL, Foundation, Creative Artists Agency, Daily, Barstool Radio, ’ ” CNN Locations: Memphis, Tennessee, Oxford , Mississippi, Baltimore

☆ Michael Oher, depicted in ‘The Blind Side,’ alleges he was never adopted by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, but signed into a conservatorship
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Jennifer Henderson Eric Levenson | Jennifer Henderson | Eric Levenson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

A lawyer for Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, Steve Farese, said they have no comment but will be issuing a statement Tuesday. During the summer after his junior year, Oher started staying with Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy occasionally. Instead, the papers appointed Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy his conservators. Another contract from April 2007 exists that was “purportedly signed by Michael Oher” in which Oher gives away his name, likeness, voice, etc. Sandra Bullock won best actress for her performance of Leigh Anne Tuohy in the 2010 82nd annual Academy Awards.

Persons: CNN —, Michael Oher, ”, Sean, Leigh Anne Tuohy’s conservatorship, Oher, Leigh Anne Tuohy, Steve Farese, Sean Tuohy, “, Michael, ” Sean Tuohy, Oher’s, Michael J, ” Oher, Michael ”, Tuohy, Dad ”, “ Michael, Michael Oher’s, Oher “, Michael Oher ”, Conservators, Michael Lewis, ” Tuohy, Lewis, “ We’re, he’d, ‘, You’ve, It’s, Sandra Bullock Organizations: CNN, NFL, Juvenile, Creative Artists Agency, ESPN, University of Mississippi, Ole Miss, Baltimore Ravens, AP, Baltimore, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers Locations: Tennessee, Memphis, alma mater, Baltimore

☆ ‘The Blind Side' subject Michael Oher says adoption by Tuohy family was a lie, he was cut out of money from movie
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Doha Madani | Diana Dasrath | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Michael Oher #73 of the Carolina Panthers watches play against the Arizona Cardinals during the NFC Championship Game at Bank Of America Stadium on January 24, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. "The lie of Michael's adoption is one upon which Co-Conservators Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sean Tuohy have enriched themselves at the expense of their Ward, the undersigned Michael Oher," the petition to terminate the conservatorship in Shelby County Court in Tennessee said. The story of Oher and the Tuohy family became the subject of an Oscar-winning film, "The Blind Side," starring actor Sandra Bullock in the role of Leigh Anne Tuohy. According to the petition, Oher does not recall signing the agreement for the rights to his life story. In addition to termination, Oher's petition requests the court issue an injunction barring the Tuohys from using his name and likeness.

Persons: Michael Oher, —, Conservators Leigh Anne Tuohy, Sean Tuohy, Sandra Bullock, Leigh Anne Tuohy, Michael Lewis, Leigh Anne, Oher, Michael, Oher's, Tuohys Organizations: Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, NFC, Bank Of America, NFL, Shelby County Court, Century Fox, Briarcrest Christian School, NBC News, Creative Artists Agency Locations: Charlotte , North Carolina, Shelby County, Tennessee

☆ Musician Jack White, a one-time Elon Musk acolyte, is auctioning his Tesla after slamming Musk's 'disgusting' approach to running Twitter and unbanning Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Jack White is auctioning off his Tesla Model S, with the top bid currently $31,500. The White Stripes' singer used to be a fan of Elon Musk, performing a free concert for Tesla workers. But then he slammed Musk's decision to restore Donald Trump's Twitter account. Jack White is getting rid of his Tesla Model S, months after he slammed Elon Musk's revival of Donald Trump's Twitter account. At $31,500 with four days remaining, White's Tesla looks set to be the most expensive item.

Persons: Jack White, Elon Musk, Donald Trump's, Elon, Tesla, White, Henry Ford, Musk Organizations: Tesla, Stripes, Donald Trump's Twitter, Records, Twitter Locations: Tennessee, Fremont , California

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

☆ Here's an exclusive look at the pitch deck that Kira Learning, a startup that provides AI-powered software to help teach computer science to K-12 students, raise $15 million from investors like NEA
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Madeline Renbarger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Edtech startup Kira Learning uses AI-powered software to help K-12 students learn computer science. The idea was to help students become familiar with computer science before they get into college. Teachers in these schools had never taught computer science before, and many were new to learning coding skills themselves. The partnership will make Kira Learning's computer science courses available to all public middle and high schools in the state, at no cost to schools, Pasinetti said. Check out the 16-slide pitch deck that Kira Learning used to raise $15 million in Series A funding from NEA and the AI Fund:

Persons: Andrea Pasinetti, Andrew Ng, Pasinetti, Ng, Kira, Jagriti Agrawal, Kira Learning's, Kira Learning Organizations: Stanford University, Stanford, NASA, NEA, AI, AI Fund, Innovation Network Locations: Tennessee

CNN —Tyre Nichols, the 29-year-old Black man who was violently beaten by Memphis police officers in January, died from blunt force trauma to the head and his death has been ruled a homicide, his autopsy results revealed Thursday. Nichols was repeatedly punched and kicked by five Memphis Police Department officers on January 7 following a traffic stop and brief foot chase. A toxicology report performed on Nichols detected the presence of chemicals associated with marijuana and alcohol use, the report says. CNN has contacted the Shelby County medical examiner to obtain a direct copy of Nichols’ autopsy report. The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office told CNN on Tuesday that it will not pursue criminal charges against Hemphill.

☆ Opinion: Why expelling me from the legislature backfired on Tennessee Republicans
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Justin J. Pearson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Editor’s Note: Tennessee Rep. Justin J. Pearson is a Democrat and former community activist in Memphis. And yet, calls for common sense gun reform measures fall on deaf ears in our legislature where a Republican supermajority is wildly out of step with most people’s values. People in Tennessee aren’t even required to purchase a permit to publicly carry guns in the state of Tennessee. And we are required by the Tennessee State Constitution to object to policies injurious to the well-being of our constituents. My constituents sent me to the Tennessee State House to continue this work in their name.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 10 (Reuters) - Tennessee state Representative Justin Jones returned to the state House on Monday, pumping his fist and declaring "power to the people" as a Nashville-area council restored him to office following his expulsion over a gun protest. The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County voted 36-0 on Monday to make Jones, 27, the interim representative. REUTERS/Cheney Orr 1 2 3 4 5"I want to welcome the people back to the people's house," Jones said in brief remarks upon being reseated. Addressing supporters before the vote, Jones accused the Republicans of operating "plantation politics" and abuse of power. Before the vote, the spokesperson said the House would seat whomever the county legislatures appoint "as the constitution requires."

☆ Nashville-area board may return lawmaker expelled from Republican-controlled statehouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Daniel Trotta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

April 10 (Reuters) - A Nashville-area county council meeting on Monday may vote to return to the statehouse one of two Democratic Tennessee lawmakers who were expelled from the chamber last week after participating in a gun control protest. Returning Jones would send a pointed message to the Republicans who expelled him. A Memphis-area board of commissioners plans on Wednesday to consider reappointing Pearson on an interim basis to the seat from which he was removed. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris flew to Nashville on Friday to support the three Tennessee lawmakers targeted for expulsion. Jones, 27, was elected to Tennessee's House of Representatives last year.

☆ Nashville-area board may return Democratic lawmaker who was expelled from Republican-controlled statehouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Daniel Trotta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Cheney OrrApril 10 (Reuters) - A Nashville-area county council may return to the statehouse one of two Democratic Tennessee lawmakers who were expelled from the chamber last week over a gun control protest when it meets on Monday to fill the vacant seat. On Wednesday, a Memphis-area board of commissioners will consider reappointing Pearson to the seat from which he was removed. Jones and Pearson both said on Sunday they hoped to be reappointed and that they would run again in special elections. Republicans also targeted Johnson but came up one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed to oust her. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris flew to Nashville on Friday to support the three Tennessee lawmakers targeted for expulsion.

☆ Who’s Undemocratic in Tennessee?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Today’s partisan panic about democracy is brought to you by the state of Tennessee, where Democrats are making secular saints out of two state lawmakers expelled by the House for disrupting the legislative work of their colleagues. Will representative government survive? Yes, somehow we think it will. Tensions were high at the state capitol last week, amid protests calling for something to be done in response to the recent shooting at an elementary school in Nashville. Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson seized control of the House floor with a bullhorn, demanding action and leading the spectators in the gallery in chants of “Gun control now!” and “No action, no peace!”

☆ 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."

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