State News

Former Knox County Rescue Financial Administrator Stole More Than $44,000

Image Credit: Office of the Tennessee Comptroller The Center Square [By Jon Styf] – The former financial administrative assistant for Knox County Rescue was allegedly found to have misappropriated more than $44,000 during an investigation from the Tennessee Comptroller’s office. Charlotte McLawhorn is accused of spending more than $24,550.30 of KCR funds via credit card […]

Tennessee Legislators File Bills To Change State Election Laws

Image Credit: Blake Wylie / CC The Tennessee Conservative Staff – Tennessee lawmakers are considering several pieces of legislation that would bring changes to elections laws in the state. The following bills regarding election proceedings have been filed in the 113th General Assembly for consideration in their 2024 session so far: Senate Bill 1705 (SB1705) […]

Former Lebanon High School Teacher Convicted Of Statutory Rape

Image Credit: Wilson County Sheriff’s Office & Google Earth The Tennessee Conservative [By Rebecca Scott] – A former Lebanon High School teacher has finally been sentenced for crimes committed in 2015 and 2016. Michael R. Hargis was charged in 2021 and pleaded guilty in July of 2023 on charges of statutory rape by an authority […]

Tennessee Lawmakers Push For AI Protections For Musicians

Image Credit: PxHere / Public Domain The Center Square [By Jon Styf] – At both the state and federal level, Tennessee politicians are pushing protections for musicians against artificial intelligence producing fake works from them. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Tennessee legislative leaders and both musicians and music industry representatives gathered to introduce Tennessee’s Ensuring Likeness […]

Tennessee Collected $9.1M On $495M In Bets For December ’23

Image Credit: Amit Lahav / UnSplash The Center Square [By Jon Styf] – Tennessee saw $495 million worth of gross sports wagers in December while collecting $9.1 million in privilege tax. The total gambled was up from $440.4 million of gross wagers in December 2022 while the tax collections were down from $9.4 million. The […]

Bill Filed to Terminate Tennessee Parent’s Rights After Six Months of “Substantial Noncompliance”

Image Credit: Annie Spratt / UnSplash The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] – This week Rep. Ed Butler (R-Rickman-District 41) filed a bill that would effectively make it easier to funnel children away from their parents and into state custody. House Bill 1808 (HB1808) as introduced, amends Tennessee law by requiring Tennessee’s Department of Children’s […]