Tennessee News

Civil rights museum honors Michelle Obama, grassroots group

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Former first lady Michelle Obama and The Poor People’s Campaign have been chosen to receive Freedom Awards from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. The museum said Wednesday that Obama and the campaign’s leaders,…

Judge blocks Tenn. gov's mask opt-out order in Shelby County

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee from allowing parents to opt out of school mask requirements in Shelby County, the state’s largest county that includes Memphis. U.S. District…

Keith Urban's tour production manager, 72, dies from fall

PUT-IN-BAY, Ohio (AP) — The longtime tour production manager for country star Keith Urban has died after falling from a stage while preparing for an Ohio concert. The Port Clinton News-Herald reports 72-year-old Randy “Baja” Fletcher died Aug. 27 at…

Gov. Lee has no plans to take up Texas abortion law

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican Gov. Bill Lee says he has no plans to introduce anti-abortion legislation similar to what Texas adopted earlier this year. Lee told reporters on Thursday that the state is awaiting a ruling on the state's…

Fired Tennessee vaccine director files federal lawsuit

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The terminated vaccine director in Tennessee has sued the state in federal court and says she wants to clear her name. Michelle Fiscus was fired after Republican lawmakers objected to her promoting COVID-19 vaccinations for teenagers.…

Senator Hagerty taps a top adviser for new chief of staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty says he will replace his departing chief of staff with a top member of his office who previously served in former President Donald Trump's White House. The Republican senator from Tennessee says…

Man convicted of running over, killing Memphis officer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee jury has convicted a man of fatally shooting a restaurant customer, and then running over and killing a police officer during a high-speed chase in Memphis’ downtown. The Shelby County district attorney's office said…

Ida rains temporarily hamper cleanup after Tennessee floods

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Authorities say rain from Tropical Depression Ida is temporarily hampering cleanup efforts for a rural Tennessee community ravaged by recent deadly flooding. But the extra dousing has brought on no recurrence of any flooding so far…

Man's drowning is Tennessee's 17th boating-related death this year

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Wildlife officials say the drowning of a Tennessee man in the Cumberland River over the weekend marks the state’s 17th boating-related death this year. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said it responded to a drowning call…