Listen A Memphis lawmaker wants to expand the benefits of the Tennessee Reconnect grant to people in prison. Democrat Barbara Cooper said incarcerated people who are able to go to community college could help fill job openings after they’re released.
The Tri-Star State: What To Expect Of The New Legislative Session
Listen Hundreds of bills have already been filed in the Tennessee General Assembly and the House is only one week in while the Senate is just set to begin. Now committees will start discussing the measures.
The Tri-Star State: Gov. Bill Lee Talks About His Priorities
Listen Gov. Bill Lee says he plans to focus on education and criminal justice reform throughout his tenure. Although he still hasn’t gone into details, he says partnerships with the private sector and nonprofits will be key in tackling those issues.
Bill Lee Sworn In As Tennessee’s 50th Governor
Listen Republican Bill Lee pledged to work toward creating safer neighborhoods and acknowledged his administration will face challenges with the opioid epidemic and access to health care, after he took the oath of office Saturday morning to become Tennessee’s 50th governor.
In His Final Hours, Haslam Wrestles With Requests For Clemency
One of the few remaining acts for outgoing Gov. Bill Haslam is to decide about 30 requests for clemency. The Republican governor says he and staffers have been sorting through the applications, with the aim of consistency.
Bill Lee Selects Texas Reform Advocate Penny Schwinn For State’s Next Education Commissioner
Listen A top official in Texas has been tapped to lead Tennessee’s Department of Education. Gov.-elect Bill Lee announced today that Penny Schwinn, the chief deputy commissioner of academics for the Texas Education Agency, will be the state’s next education commissioner.
The Tri-Star State: Corker Blames Trump For Shutdown
U.S. Sen. Bob Corker left Washington, D.C., earlier this month in the middle of a government shutdown and, once again, he criticized President Donald…
Tennessee House Clamps Down On Debates Over National Politics
Listen The open mic portion of the Tennessee House of Representatives is over. GOP leaders have pushed through rules that eliminate the personal orders period, and added tight restrictions on what they can say during the segment that replaces it.
The Tri-Star State: Haslam Reflects On 8 Years In Office And What He Hopes Bill Lee Will Learn
Listen Gov. Bill Haslam wraps up eight years in office at the end of this week. His tenure has been marked by some nationally recognized successes — like boosting college enrollment — and one big defeat: the failure of his Medicaid expansion plan, Insure Tennessee.
The Tri-Star State Extended Interview: Glen Casada — His Rise To Speaker And What He’ll Do
Listen Earlier this week, we aired a profile of incoming House Speaker Glen Casada. The position gives the Franklin Republican broad powers to shape the direction of the state legislature — on everything from what bills come up for votes to how lawmakers investigate and police misconduct.
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