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Tennessee Lookout
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Independent, nonprofit news site dedicated to cover Tennessee government, policy and politics. Send tips to @[email protected].
Reposted by Tennessee Lookout
New York Young Republican Club gala draws white nationalist, far-right Germans - and Tennessee’s Andy Ogles politi.co/4pG0rzf
New York Young Republican Club gala draws white nationalist, far-right Germans as elected officials skip out
The annual soiree took place as young Republican groups across the country are reeling from POLITICO’s reporting on a racist and antisemitic chat group among prominent leaders.
politi.co
December 16, 2025 at 12:50 AM
What does Tennessee owe its only public historically Black university? A special series rolling out this week, The Debt unpacks the legal case that changed higher education in the state, with continuing ramifications for Tennessee State University. From @tennesseelookout.com, @wpln.bsky.social.
The Debt: Almost 60 years ago, a court case at TSU transformed Tennessee higher education • Tennessee Lookout
"The Debt," produced by Tennessee Lookout and WPLN News, tells of the lawsuit at the heart of Tennessee State University's funding struggles.
tennesseelookout.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:14 AM
U.S. House Republicans released a health care bill Friday evening they hope will help curb rising costs, though the measure doesn’t have the level of Democratic support needed to get through the Senate. From @jennifershutt.bsky.social.
US House GOP preps health care bill for vote before new year • Tennessee Lookout
U.S. House Republicans released a health care bill they hope will help curb rising costs though it doesn’t have the Democratic support.
tennesseelookout.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Reposted by Tennessee Lookout
What does Tennessee owe its only public historically Black university?

A special series rolling out this week, The Debt unpacks the legal case that changed higher education in the state.

From @tennesseelookout.com and @wpln.bsky.social

tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/15/t...
The Debt: Almost 60 years ago, a court case at TSU transformed Tennessee higher education • Tennessee Lookout
"The Debt," produced by Tennessee Lookout and WPLN News, tells of the lawsuit at the heart of Tennessee State University's funding struggles.
tennesseelookout.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Republicans could gain nearly 200 state legislative seats across the South if the U.S. Supreme Court guts a key provision of the federal Voting Rights Act, a new analysis finds. From @jonshorman.bsky.social for @stateline.org.
Republicans could gain nearly 200 state legislative seats in voting rights case, report finds • Tennessee Lookout
Republicans could gain nearly 200 state legislative seats across the South if the U.S. Supreme Court guts the federal Voting Rights Acts.
tennesseelookout.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Reposted by Tennessee Lookout
A proposal to raise water rates in Maury County would fund a new intake for the Duck River.

via @tennesseelookout.com
Proposed Columbia water rate increase for new infrastructure clears first vote
Columbia’s City Council on Thursday advanced a bill that would raise water rates up to 20% per year over the next five years to fund water infrastructure upgrades that the local utility says are…
www.newsfromthestates.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Columbia’s City Council on Thursday advanced a bill that would raise water rates up to 20% per year over the next five years to fund water infrastructure upgrades that the local utility says are necessary for growth and disaster resilience. From @cstephenson.bsky.social.
Proposed Columbia water rate increase for new infrastructure clears first vote • Tennessee Lookout
Columbia’s City Council on Thursday advanced a bill that would raise water rates up to 20% per year over the next five years.
tennesseelookout.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The Debt: What does Tennessee owe its only public historically Black university? Journalist Emily Siner writes about the legal case that changed higher education in the state, with continuing ramifications for Tennessee State University. Produced by @tennesseelookout.com & @wpln.bsky.social.
The Debt: Almost 60 years ago, a court case at TSU transformed Tennessee higher education • Tennessee Lookout
"The Debt," produced by Tennessee Lookout and WPLN News, tells of the lawsuit at the heart of Tennessee State University's funding struggles.
tennesseelookout.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said all Memphis Safe Task Force arrest information, including names, mugshots and charges, is compiled and provided to his office daily by federal officials, but he could not share it. From @anitawadhwani.bsky.social.
Federal 'worst of worst' website fails to shed light on thousands of Tennessee arrests • Tennessee Lookout
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said task force arrest information should be made public but cited the risk of retaliation to him, personally.
tennesseelookout.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:28 PM
It was supposed to be a joyful event. But a Christmas tree and menorah lighting scheduled for late Sunday afternoon at Lippitt Memorial Park was turned into a vigil for the victims of Saturday’s shooting at Brown University. From @rhodeislandcurrent.com.
A community in grief gathers to hold light in ‘one of Providence’s darkest times’ • Tennessee Lookout
More than 200 people braved freezing temperatures in Providence Sunday evening for a vigil honoring the victims of Saturday’s shooting at Brown University.
tennesseelookout.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Immigration arrests under the Trump administration continued to increase through mid-October, reaching rates of more than 30,000 a month. But an ever-larger share of those arrests were for solely immigration violations, not criminal violations. From @timhenderson.bsky.social.
An ever-larger share of ICE’s arrested immigrants have no criminal record • Tennessee Lookout
Immigration arrests under the Trump administration continued to increase through mid-October, reaching rates of more than 30,000 a month. But, rather than the convicted criminals the administration ha...
tennesseelookout.com
December 14, 2025 at 6:05 PM
"The state is taking sides in that it is pushing one set of ideas over another, so there’s no balance that is being promoted generally,” said David Kanervo, retired political science professor at Austin Peay State University.
Tennessee will partner with conservative nonprofit founded by Charlie Kirk • Tennessee Lookout
Tennessee leaders announced Friday the state will partner with Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit founded by the late Charlie Kirk.
tennesseelookout.com
December 13, 2025 at 1:19 AM
The U.S. Senate in long-anticipated votes failed to advance legislation Thursday that would have addressed the rising cost of health insurance, leaving lawmakers deadlocked on how to curb a surge in premiums expected next year.
US Senate hits stalemate on solution to spiraling health insurance costs • Tennessee Lookout
The U.S. Senate deadlocked on a measure addressing how to curb the rising cost of health insurance expected next year.
tennesseelookout.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Tennessee state leaders announced on Friday morning that the state will partner with Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit founded by the late Charlie Kirk. (Originally published by @timesfreepress.bsky.social.)
Tennessee will partner with conservative nonprofit founded by Charlie Kirk • Tennessee Lookout
Tennessee leaders announced Friday the state will partner with Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit founded by the late Charlie Kirk.
tennesseelookout.com
December 12, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Nashville car magnate and political donor Lee Beaman is distancing himself from a federal investigation into the campaign finance filings of U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles.
Stockard on the Stump: Beaman disassociates from Ogles’ shady campaign report • Tennessee Lookout
Republican donor Lee Beaman found his nomination to the Tennessee Valley Authority board stymied by his ties to U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles.
tennesseelookout.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:27 PM
"Lee Beaman is an unacceptable candidate for the TVA Board of Directors, and we’re hopeful that his removal from the agenda today is a sign that the committee is taking a closer look and will ultimately halt his confirmation process," said Appalachian Voices in a statement.
Beaman’s TVA confirmation vote postponed in Senate panel • Tennessee Lookout
A Senate committee has postponed a vote on GOP-megadonor Lee Beaman's appointment to the Tennessee Valley Authority board.
tennesseelookout.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Reposted by Tennessee Lookout
“What most struck me is the brutality and physical violence involved in every story,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal. “This is stuff that should be unrecognizable as America. It should make everyday Americans outraged.”

By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
Immigration Agents Have Often Grabbed and Mistreated Citizens, Congressional Investigators Find
Prompted by ProPublica’s reporting, an investigation by Senate Democrats documented the experiences of nearly two dozen citizens wrongly detained by immigration agents, contradicting the Trump adminis...
www.propublica.org
December 11, 2025 at 11:00 PM
A federal judge in Maryland Thursday ordered the Trump administration to “immediately” release Kilmar Abrego Garcia from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, but it’s unclear if the Department of Homeland Security will follow the judicial order. @arianalfigueroa.bsky.social reports.
Trump administration disputes court order for release of Abrego Garcia from ICE custody • Tennessee Lookout
A federal judge in Maryland Thursday ordered the Trump administration to “immediately” release Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
tennesseelookout.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Just in from @cstephenson.bsky.social: Ford Motor Co. and Korean company, SK Oval, have ended their partnership to build an electric battery plant in West Tennessee. SK On will take over but there is no date set for production to start.
Ford, SK On plan to end BlueOval SK joint venture; SK On will operate Tennessee battery plant • Tennessee Lookout
South Korean battery manufacturer SK On and Ford Motor Company announced plans to end their joint U.S. battery factory venture Thursday.
tennesseelookout.com
December 11, 2025 at 8:54 PM
The Tennessee Supreme Court on Wednesday shot down a lower court's ruling that maps of state House and Senate districts redrawn in 2022 are unconstitutional, ruling that plaintiffs failed to prove harm. From @cstephenson.bsky.social and Sam Stockard.
Tennessee Supreme Court upholds 2022 state legislative redistricting • Tennessee Lookout
The Tennessee Supreme Court vacated a lower court’s ruling that a 2022 state Senate map was unconstitutiona.
tennesseelookout.com
December 11, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Reposted by Tennessee Lookout
In one instance, TDOC’s press release mistakenly refers to Nichols as “inmate Smith,” appearing to confuse the man with Oscar Smith, who was executed in May.
December 11, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Reposted by Tennessee Lookout
“To the people I’ve harmed, I’m sorry.” Thirty-seven years after he was sentenced to death for the 1988 rape and murder of Karen Pulley, Harold Wayne Nichols was executed by the state of Tennessee on Thursday morning.

✏️ @iamstevenhale.bsky.social
Execution of Harold Wayne Nichols in Tennessee - Nashville Banner
Harold Wayne Nichols was executed for the 1988 rape and murder in 198of Karen Pulley. His final statement offered remorse and love for his family.
nashvillebanner.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Since the Dec. 2 special election in Tennessee's Congressional District 7, Democrats have been relitigating the outcome and speculating a more moderate candidate could have won. But is that reality? Editor @jhollymc takes apart the arguments.
Editor's notebook: Democrats pointing fingers over Congressional District 7 lack realism • Tennessee Lookout
Tennessee Democrats engage in a circular firing squad over the outcome of the special election in Congressional District 7.
tennesseelookout.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:06 PM
A Tennessee Comptroller’s Office investigation found that the Weakley County Circuit Court clerk improperly signed petitions to expunge criminal records for someone who was not eligible for expungement under Tennessee law. @cstephenson.bsky.social reports.
Comptroller finds Weakley Co. Court Clerk sought improper expungements • Tennessee Lookout
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office found that the Weakley County Circuit Court clerk improperly signed petitions to expunge criminal records.
tennesseelookout.com
December 11, 2025 at 5:27 PM
The TVA confirmation vote of former Nashville auto magnate Lee Beaman hit a wall this week amid questions about two Washington, D.C. rowhouses he owns and ties to embattled U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles.
Beaman’s TVA confirmation vote postponed in Senate panel • Tennessee Lookout
A Senate committee has postponed a vote on GOP-megadonor Lee Beaman's appointment to the Tennessee Valley Authority board.
tennesseelookout.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:52 PM