Latest Tennessee state government News

Booted from GOP ballot, Trump House pick to advise ex-rival
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A one-time U.S. House hopeful in Tennessee who landed former President Donald Trump's endorsement before state Republican Party officials booted her off the ballot is now providing national security advice to another candidate in that race. Morgan Ortagus is...

Gov: No timeline yet on school vouchers after court ruling
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said Friday that he doesn't have a timeline yet on when his administration might roll out a long-blocked school voucher program that saw its biggest legal roadblock removed by the state's high court this week. The Republican told...

Illinois man convicted of giving son rifle he used to kill 4
PEKIN, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois man faces up to three years in prison after being convicted of illegally giving his son an assault-style rifle he later used to shoot and kill four people in 2018 at a Waffle House in Tennessee. A judge convicted Jeffrey Reinking last week of illegal...

Court clears path for long-blocked Tennessee school vouchers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's highest court ruled Wednesday that Republican Gov. Bill Lee's school voucher program does not violate the state's constitution, clearing the biggest hurdle for a program that would let families use taxpayer dollars on private schools. The...
Tennessee Democratic Party to host 3 gubernatorial debates
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Officials with the Tennessee Democratic Party say they will host three gubernatorial debates ahead of the upcoming August primary election. According to a news release, Democratic candidates Jason Martin, Carnita Atwater and JB Smiley Jr. will participate in...
Federal judge strikes down Tennessee bathroom signage law
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday struck down Tennessee's first-of-its-kind law requiring businesses to post special signs if they allow transgender people to use the bathroom of their choice. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger makes permanent her...

Records: 2 people in execution knew drugs hadn’t been tested
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — At least two people connected to a Tennessee execution that was abruptly put on hold last month knew the night before that the lethal injection drugs the state planned to use hadn't undergone some required testing, newly released records show. Citing an...

NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week
A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out. Here are the facts: ___ New Tennessee abortion pill law...
Judge declines to place ousted GOP hopeful back on ballot
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday denied a congressional hopeful's motion to reverse his removal from the GOP primary ballot. In his 19-page decision, U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw said that while the Tennessee Republican Party may have possibly violated...

Tennessee GOP leaders not planning to ban contraception
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Top Republican leaders in Tennessee say they don't have plans to ban contraceptives as they await a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on whether the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case will be overturned. Earlier this month, a leaked draft opinion suggested the...
