With apologies to Robert Zimmerman, “the times they are a-changing.”

Unlike Bob Dylan’s 1964 song of rebellion, Capitol Hill isn’t turning into a bed of liberals, although someday the first could be last. In fact, it could turn more conservative this fall before things take a different direction. But leadership down the line in both parties is due for a big turnover.

2. County Mayor-elect Harris Resigns State Senate Seat - Thursday, August 30, 2018

County Mayor-elect Lee Harris announced his resignation from the state Senate on Wednesday, a day before he is sworn-in for the county post he won earlier this month.

3. Last Word: Court Watch, Haslam on Education and George Will on the Senate Race - Friday, August 24, 2018

The last of the testimony concluded in Memphis Federal Court Thursday with legal briefs due from all sides in the case of Memphis Police Department surveillance of protesters by Sept. 24. Then U.S. District Judge Jon P. McCalla will make his ruling on whether the Tennessee ACLU has standing to bring the lawsuit. And if he rules the organization does have standing, he will then rule on what sanctions the police department will face for the surveillance over the last two years.

4. Panel Dismisses GOP Governor’s Race Campaign Finance Complaints - Friday, August 24, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee panel has dismissed campaign finance complaints against two Republican gubernatorial candidates that preceded the Aug. 2 primary election.

The Registry of Election Finance on Wednesday dismissed a complaint about GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Lee from June. The complaint claimed Lee used his businesses to supplement his campaign without disclosure and beyond limits.

5. David Hawk Seeks Speaker post - Monday, August 20, 2018

Republican state Rep. David Hawk, an opponent of the 2017 IMPROVE Act and gas-tax increase, delivered the second shot for the House Speaker’s post, entering a race expected to hotly contested as the 111^th General Assembly prepares to convene.

6. State Rep. David Hawk Announces Tennessee House Speaker Bid in Contested Race - Friday, August 17, 2018

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Republican Rep. David Hawk has announced that he is running for state House speaker, setting up a contested race to succeed Speaker Beth Harwell.

7. Harris Claims County Mayor, Democrats Sweep Other Countywide Offices - Monday, August 6, 2018

State Sen. Lee Harris easily beat County Trustee David Lenoir to become the next Shelby County mayor in the Thursday, Aug. 2, county general election, leading a Democratic resurgence in county politics.

8. Harris Elected County Mayor, Bonner as Sheriff - Friday, August 3, 2018

State Sen. Lee Harris easily beat County Trustee David Lenoir to become the next Shelby County mayor in the Thursday, Aug. 2, county general election, leading a Democratic resurgence in county politics.

9. Hard To Find an ‘Adult In The Room’ in This Year’s Ads - Thursday, August 2, 2018

Television executives, ad reps and political consultants will hate to see this governor’s primary race end. But they can take solace from all the pain they’ve helped dole out while dining on caviar and grilled halibut while in the Caribbean Islands this fall, if they like fish eggs.

10. Election Verdict - Thursday, August 2, 2018

A week into the early voting period, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen was quizzing Democratic nominee for Shelby County mayor Lee Harris about the path of Harris’ campaign to election day. The race between Harris and Republican nominee David Lenoir was already getting dicey, with Lenoir’s attacks on Harris continuing at their debates and moving into mailers, including a controversial mailer featuring a picture of Harris that was noticeably darker than Harris is in real life.

11. Turnout Growing With 2 Days to Vote Before Aug. 2 - Friday, July 27, 2018

With two days left in the early voting period, 63,244 citizens had cast ballots in Shelby County in advance of the Aug. 2 election day. The last day of the early voting period is Saturday, July 28.

12. Tennessee GOP Governor's Race Turns to Spat Over Trump, Immigration - Thursday, July 26, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Loyalty to President Donald Trump tops the Republican checklist in the governor's race in Tennessee, right up there with championing gun rights and low taxes and decrying abortion.

13. 2 Dems Give Final Debate Pitch Before Tennessee Gov Primary - Tuesday, July 24, 2018

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Two leading Democratic candidates for Tennessee governor were largely in agreement on the issues during their final debate Sunday night before the Aug. 2 primary.

14. Last Word: The Fuse, TnReady on SCS Literacy Efforts and Death By Amazon? - Monday, July 23, 2018

More than 32,000 of you have voted early in advance of the Aug. 2 election day through Saturday and going into the final week of early voting, which runs through July 28. That compares to 37,168 early voters through the first eight days in 2014 for this same election cycle and 41,310 in 2010 at the same point. In 2010 and 2014 there were 21 early voting sites compared to today’s 27. And the Downtown location was the only site open for the first two days of those early voting periods compared to five of the 27 sites open for the first three days of the current period. For the full 2014 early voting period, keeping in mind the differences, there were 82,403 early voters and in 2010 there were 93,700.

15. Harwell Backs Medical Marijuana in GOP Tennessee Governor's Race Ad - Monday, July 23, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — State House Speaker Beth Harwell is running a TV ad about supporting medical marijuana as she tries to separate herself from the Republican field for Tennessee governor before the Aug. 2 primary.

16. Pence Touts Conservative Credentials of Blackburn, Black - Monday, July 23, 2018

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence touted Republican tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks Saturday, using a visit to Tennessee to also heap praise on the conservative credentials of two GOP congresswomen waging tough campaigns for statewide offices.

17. Last Word: MemFix 4's Big Weekend, Early Voting Six Days In and Grizz Moves - Friday, July 20, 2018

A big weekend to avoid the interstate with a rare closing of I-240 between the 385 split and the I-40 split and Poplar over I-240 also closed in both directions. This kicks in Friday evening and runs up to Monday morning’s rush hour as TDOT crews work to replace four bridges in East Memphis using a relatively new process in which parts of the bridges are assembled in advance and then moved into place. The bridges are both Poplar bridges, the Park Avenue bridge and the Norfolk Southern rail bridge. And this will happen all over again in about a week’s time using the same schedule, weather permitting. Weekenders on the interstate already have some experience with a milder version of this with the interstate projects on the south leg

18. Tennessee Republican Governor Race Debate Canceled - Wednesday, July 18, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A Republican debate in the Tennessee governor's race is canceled after three of four leading candidates dropped out.

According to WKRN-TV, on Friday former state economic development chief Randy Boyd announced he was pulling out of the Nexstar debate Sunday night due to a scheduling conflict. Boyd said early voting already started and he will be out visiting with voters.

19. Shelby County Early Voting Tops 4,300 - Wednesday, July 18, 2018

A total of 4,324 citizens had voted early through Monday, July 16, the last day of the 14-day voting period confined to five sites. Early voting expanded Tuesday to 22 additional sites across Shelby County.

20. Early Opening - Friday, July 13, 2018

Early voting in advance of the Aug. 2 Election Day opens Friday, July 13, at five locations across Shelby County. On Tuesday, 22 additional sites will be open through July 28. Between the Shelby County Election Commission and Chancery Court there were three other sets of early-voting locations and hours in a three-week period before Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins signed off Tuesday afternoon on a fourth set.

21. Lee: GOP Governor Race Attack Ads 'Not What a Leader Does' - Thursday, July 12, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Bill Lee has released an ad criticizing what he calls dishonest attack ads in the GOP gubernatorial primary, saying he's "not going down that road."

With early voting approaching Friday, Lee's ad argues the attacks aren't what a leader does and show some candidates will say and do anything to get elected.

22. Last Word: The Jenkins Ruling, No More City Court Clerk and Harwell's Quest - Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Making your early voting plan for Friday’s debut of the voting period in advance of the Aug. 2 election day? Well, you might want to hold off until after Tuesday morning. That’s when the latest changes could get set in stone … or not.

23. What Do Statewide Candidates Say About Education in Tennessee? - Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Gov. Bill Haslam and the General Assembly have invested in education during the last eight years. Has that been a good investment and should it continue? What do the candidates propose for the next four to eight years?

24. Late Entry, Different Strategy Set Tone In Harwell’s Run for Gubernatorial Nomination - Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Her campaign got a later start than her rivals seeking for Republican nomination for Tennessee governor.

House Speaker Beth Harwell has also conducted a basic campaign built around her experience in government.

25. Fitzhugh Challenges Dean’s 'Pragmatism' - Monday, July 9, 2018

Democratic contender for Tennessee governor Craig Fitzhugh is challenging the idea of rival Democrat Karl Dean’s “pragmatic” view of coexisting as governor with Republican supermajorities in the state House and Senate.

26. District 99 State Rep. Ron Lollar Dead at 69 - Friday, July 6, 2018

State Rep. Ron Lollar, R-Bartlett, who had served Northeast Shelby County in the state Legislature since 2006, died Friday morning in his sleep. He was 69 years old.

Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald, who was at Lollar’s house, was among several people who confirmed the representative’s death in the early morning hours.

27. Diane Black Proud of Unfavorable Ratings With ‘Far Left’ - Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Republican contender for Tennessee governor U.S. Rep. Diane Black drew the endorsement of the American Conservative Union as she spoke at the national group’s Memphis forum Monday, July 2, on jobs and the economy.

28. Floodgates Burst On Attacks In Tennessee Gop Governor’s Race - Monday, July 2, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The floodgates have burst on attack ads in Tennessee's Republican gubernatorial primary.

New TV ads keep hitting the airwaves after U.S. Rep. Diane Black's commercial this week that labeled former state economic development chief Randy Boyd and businessman Bill Lee as moderates. All four leading Republican contenders have touted their conservative credentials throughout the campaign, and now Black and Boyd are trying to pick each other's claims apart.

29. Black Fires First Candidate Attack Ad in Tennessee Governor's race - Friday, June 29, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Congresswoman Diane Black labels businessmen Randy Boyd and Bill Lee moderates in the first Tennessee gubernatorial race attack ad by a campaign.

30. McCormick: No Evidence of Any Scandal - Thursday, June 28, 2018

Mercurial Republican Rep. Gerald McCormick went from kicking ass to kicking back. Only three days after saying his now-former Democratic opponent, David Jones, would realize how little he has in common with District 26 in Chattanooga “when he gets his ass beat in November,” McCormick abruptly announced he would not seek re-election this year and would be leaving the House effective Oct. 1.

31. Mike Huckabee endorsing Randy Boyd for Tennessee governor - Monday, June 25, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is endorsing Republican Randy Boyd for Tennessee governor.

32. Republican debate for Tennessee governor canceled - Monday, June 25, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Organizers have canceled a scheduled Republican debate for governor because two of the leading candidates said they would not participate.

The Tennessean reports the debate had been scheduled for Tuesday at Belmont University between Knoxville businessman Randy Boyd, House Speaker Beth Harwell and Williamson County businessman Bill Lee. But organizers decided to cancel the debate after Boyd and Harwell withdrew amid negotiations about the event's details.

33. NRA endorses Black in Tennessee governor's race GOP primary - Friday, June 22, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The National Rifle Association has endorsed U.S. Rep. Diane Black in a crowded Republican primary field for Tennessee governor.

34. Last Word: County Budget Compromise, MEM After 5 Years and Elvis - Tuesday, June 19, 2018

There is nothing like the end of a term for those holding elected office. That’s what gets most of the credit for the Shelby County commission’s smooth ending to its budget season Monday. A final reading of the revised county property tax rate of $4.05 still awaits. But the commission went a long way toward locking that in with the approval of everything else at the Monday session.

35. Complaint Targets Tennessee Governor Hopeful's Business Help - Tuesday, June 19, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A campaign finance complaint is questioning how a Republican hopeful for governor is getting political help from his businesses, among other concerns about how he's raising money.

36. Tennessee House Speaker Contender Won't Seek Re-Election - Tuesday, June 19, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A longtime Tennessee lawmaker who had expressed interest in running for House speaker says he won't seek re-election.

Republican Rep. Gerald McCormick of Chattanooga tells the Chattanooga Times Free Press he will withdraw from his House race Monday and will resign Oct. 1 to take a full-time job with Asa Engineering and Consulting in Nashville.

37. What Do Statewide Candidates Say About Health Care in Tennessee? - Tuesday, June 19, 2018

According to Think Tennessee’s State of Our State dashboard, the state ranks near the bottom in the number of adults with heart disease, obesity and diabetes. It also ranks near the bottom of all states for the health of senior citizens, infant mortality, number of adults who smoke, and at the absolute bottom in childhood obesity. Tennesseans are, on the whole, not healthy. What can and should our next political leaders do about it?

38. Last Word: Bird Is The Word, Governors Quartet and Charlie Morris's Secret - Friday, June 15, 2018

Former Vice President Joe Biden plays the Orpheum Friday evening. Maybe that isn't the right way to put it -- unless there's a drum solo no one is talking about. Free Bird?

I'll take it as further evidence of the new American politics that is evolving and is far from settled at this point. Politicians do paid speaking gigs all the time. And at times it is controversial. But the gigs are usually some kind of speaking fee to make remarks at a corporate function -- not selling individual tickets on line. This is ostensibly to promote Biden's new book and book deals and politicians go way back. But in a lot of cases, those are free events in a book store. When Biden was last here, it was as vice president at the Norfolk Southern intermodal rail yard in Rossville.

39. TBA Gubernatorial Forum Focuses on Criminal Justice Reform - Friday, June 15, 2018

Four of the major contenders for Tennessee governor told the annual convention of the Tennessee Bar Association Thursday, June 14, that they each favor keeping the state attorney general a position appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court.

40. Line Between ‘Get Out the Vote,’ ‘Crossover’ Melts In Campaign Heat - Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Get Out The Vote – the plan known among politicos by the shorthand GOTV – has slipped across the line that separates it from “crossover” – the sometimes-controversial act of pushing to get those on the other side of the partisan divide to cross political lines and vote for the other party’s nominee.

41. If Only Legislators Could Focus on Important Issues - Thursday, May 24, 2018

A year-old law enabling Tennessee colleges and universities to keep secret the “proprietary” fees they pay money managers for handling risky investments is likely to be reviewed this year.

42. Tennessee Candidate: Florida Students Used as Anti-Gun Props - Thursday, May 17, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Republican candidate for Tennessee governor Bill Lee is claiming that the "liberal media," teachers unions and the "far-left lobby" have used students who survived the deadly Florida school shooting as "props to push their anti-gun agenda," saying he's sickened by it.

43. Two Shots Didn’t Phase Lawmakers in Jack Daniel’s Case - Thursday, May 17, 2018

When Van Halen front man David Lee Roth opened a bottle of Jack Daniel’s on stage back in the ’80s, the last thing he thought about was taxes and court appeals when he took a big swig of whiskey.

44. Tennessee Election Panel Won't Pursue Harwell Complaint - Wednesday, May 16, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee panel has voted not to pursue campaign finance complaints that question House Speaker Beth Harwell's help from a political committee and a $3.1 million self-loan to her Republican gubernatorial campaign.

45. What Do Statewide Candidates Say About Rural Tennessee? - Saturday, May 12, 2018

Like most of America, Tennessee’s metropolitan areas have prospered during the last eight years, while the rural areas have lagged in almost every measure. The state has 19 of its 95 counties classified as “distressed.” What can and should we do to give every Tennessean a chance to succeed?

46. Tenn. Legislature Breaks TNReady Gridlock, Adjourns Session - Thursday, April 26, 2018

NASHVILLE – The House and Senate broke gridlock Wednesday night on problems stemming from the results of troubled TNReady testing by passing legislation saying no “adverse action” would be taken against teachers, students or schools for poor test scores.

47. TNReady Causes Gridlock in Tenn. Legislature - Thursday, April 26, 2018

NASHVILLE – The day after Republican House leaders called for a review of the state’s TNReady testing vendor, the House of Representatives and Senate got stuck on the impact of botched testing this spring and the potential for incorrect student scores affecting teacher evaluations.

48. TNReady Causes Gridlock in State Legislature - Thursday, April 26, 2018

NASHVILLE – The day after Republican House leaders called for a review of the state’s TNReady testing vendor, the House of Representatives and Senate got stuck on the impact of botched testing this spring and the potential for incorrect student scores affecting teacher evaluations.

49. Governor's College Credit Requirement Bill Fails in House - Wednesday, April 25, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A bill by Republican Gov. Bill Haslam that would require certain college scholarship students to finish 30 hours of credits annually has failed in the Tennessee House.

50. House Passes Bill for Monument to Unborn - Monday, April 23, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee House has passed a bill that calls for a monument to unborn children to be placed on the state capitol grounds.

If passed by the Senate and signed into law, private funds would be raised for a monument to victims of abortion.

51. Lee, Boyd, Black Talk Confederate Monuments, Oppose Pre-K Expansion - Thursday, April 19, 2018

Three of the four major contenders for governor in the Aug. 2 Republican primary disagree with the removal of Confederate monuments from city parks but also disagree with the state legislature’s decision to cut $250,000 of city funding in retaliation.

52. What Statewide Candidates Say About Opioid Crisis, Public Safety - Saturday, April 14, 2018

The spread of opioid abuse claimed over 1,600 lives in Tennessee in 2016, and it is getting worse. Methamphetamine abuse, while not getting the headlines, has increased. Gun violence and murder is increasing. What proposals do our candidates have to help Tennesseans address these public safety issues?

53. Candidates for Governor Give Millions to Their Own Campaigns - Friday, April 13, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee candidates for governor are raising millions of dollars in contributions, but the big money is coming from the contenders themselves.

A state campaign finance disclosure report filed this week shows that Republicans Diane Black and Bill Lee had the most in contributions this quarter – each around $3.3 million.

54. Three Incumbents Unopposed at August Primary Ballot Deadline - Monday, April 9, 2018

Three incumbent Democratic state House members in the Shelby County delegation to the Tennessee Legislature were effectively re-elected Thursday, April 5, at the noon deadline for candidates in the Aug. 2 state and federal primaries to file their qualifying petitions.

55. Three Incumbents Unopposed at August Primary Ballot Filing Deadline - Friday, April 6, 2018

Three incumbent Democratic state House members in the Shelby County delegation to the Tennessee Legislature were effectively re-elected Thursday, April 5, at the noon deadline for candidates in the Aug. 2 state and federal primaries to file their qualifying petitions.

56. Tennessee Lawmaker Running Again Despite Allegations - Wednesday, April 4, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee state lawmaker has announced that he is running for re-election despite being mired in scandal after three of his former teenage basketball players accused him of sexual misconduct when he was their coach about three decades ago.

57. In-State Immigrant Tuition Bill Dead in Tennessee - Saturday, March 31, 2018

A bill to offer in-state tuition for Tennessee public college students whose parents brought or kept them in the country illegally has stalled because House leadership won’t let it go forward, the sponsor said Wednesday.

58. In-State Immigrant Tuition Bill Halted in Tennessee in House - Friday, March 30, 2018

A bill to offer in-state tuition for Tennessee public college students whose parents brought or kept them in the country illegally has stalled because House leadership won’t let it go forward, the sponsor said Wednesday.

59. Tennessee Lawmaker Questions Motives of Female Accusers - Friday, March 30, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee lawmaker on Wednesday questioned the motives of three women who accused him of sexual misconduct as their high school basketball coach decades ago, but he didn't outright deny the accusations.

60. Last Word: Yoga's Return, Strickland on MLK50 and The Broad Water Tower Move - Thursday, March 29, 2018

The two parks where Confederate monuments were removed this past December will feature some new experiences now that spring is here both by the calendar and by all that flowers and clouds that are heavy with rain. Memphis Greenspace, the nonprofit that bought Health Sciences and Memphis Parks from the city at the end of 2017, will roll out its first programming for the two parks next week including a Truth Booth at Memphis Park along with the return of Downtown Yoga. It will be tai chi Tuesdays and yoga Thursdays at Health Sciences Park along with a lunchtime music series.

61. Leaders Want State Rep To Resign Over Charges - Thursday, March 29, 2018

The speaker of Tennessee’s Senate has joined the call for a lawmaker to resign after three women accused him of sexual misconduct as their high school basketball coach decades ago.

Speaker Randy McNally called for Republican Rep. David Byrd to step down Wednesday. House Speaker Beth Harwell has also asked for his resignation.

62. Questions for Feds Delay TennCare Work Requirement Bill - Tuesday, March 27, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee lawmakers have temporarily hit pause on their push to make many able-bodied adults either work, volunteer, or take classes if they don't have children younger than 6, in order to keep their TennCare health coverage.

63. What Do Statewide Candidates Say About Infrastructure Investment? - Saturday, March 24, 2018

Is investment in public infrastructure important? And should Tennessee have more dedicated revenue sources to pay for construction and maintenance of infrastructure across the state, or is the existing tax structure – primarily the state tax on fuel, and wheel taxes – sufficient to pay for what Tennessee needs to sustain and grow its economy?

64. Tennessee House OKs TennCare Work Requirements Push - Wednesday, March 21, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Republican-led Tennessee House has passed legislation aiming to require certain able-bodied TennCare recipients to spend 20 hours a week working, volunteering or attending school.

65. Dean: ‘It’s Kind of Our Turn’ in Governor’s Race - Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Democratic contender for governor Karl Dean is pushing hard the idea that Democrats can win one of the two statewide races on the Tennessee ballot this year.

66. Tennessee Declines to Cover Legislative California Trip - Monday, March 19, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee's Republican House and Senate leaders say the state isn't paying lawmakers or staffers to attend a California legislative summit.

In a letter Thursday, Senate Speaker Randy McNally and House Speaker Beth Harwell said the state won't cover the National Conference of State Legislatures conference trip in Los Angeles because of California's ban on state-paid trips to Tennessee.

67. Panel Dismisses Campaign Finance Complaints Against Black - Thursday, March 15, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee panel has dismissed two campaign finance complaints against Republican U.S. Rep. Diane Black in her gubernatorial bid.

68. House OKs Bill to Ban TennCare Money to Abortion Providers - Wednesday, March 14, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee's Republican-led House has passed legislation seeking federal approval to ban TennCare payments to abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, for non-abortion services.

69. Civil War Re-Enactor Outflanked On Statues, Medicaid Expansion - Friday, March 9, 2018

When state Rep. Steve McDaniel was a youngster he often read the historical marker at the intersection of Highway 22 and Wildersville Road detailing Confederate Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest’s first West Tennessee raid in the Battle of Parker’s Crossroads.

70. Last Word: Rising River, Driving The Dream and Harwell Advances Medical Pot - Thursday, March 1, 2018

The Mississippi River at Memphis should reach flood stage at any moment. As Last Word was going up online Wednesday evening the National Weather Service at Memphis put the river level here at 33.52 feet. Flood stage at Memphis is 34 feet. The river is forecast to crest some time next week at 38 feet, four feet over flood stage. Keep in mind that in April 2011, the river at Memphis crested 10 feet higher, at 48 feet on the Memphis river gauge – which turned to be the one on the support beams of the bridge over Beale Street at Riverside Drive. That was the second highest river level at Memphis ever recorded.

71. Governor Hopefuls Largely OK With TennCare Work Requirements - Thursday, March 1, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee's candidates for governor said Tuesday that they are largely supportive of proposed TennCare work requirements, but some of them expressed concerns about possible costs and bureaucracy.

72. Medical Marijuana Legislation Moves Ahead - Thursday, March 1, 2018

NASHVILLE – Bolstered by House Speaker Beth Harwell’s tie-breaking vote, Rep. Jeremy Faison’s medical marijuana legislation took an important step Tuesday, Feb. 27, in the General Assembly.

73. Governor Hopeful's Group to Manage Minor League Ballclub - Tuesday, February 27, 2018

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A company owned by Tennessee candidate for governor Randy Boyd will manage day-to-day operations of another minor league baseball team.

74. Last Word: Plans and More Plans, Badu and Byrne and Gun Bills In Nashville - Thursday, February 22, 2018

Plans, plans, plans. I’ve seen so many overhead views and schematics in the last 24-hours that I had to go for a walk in the rain Wednesday to avoid vertigo. I saw a lot of green Save the Greensward t-shirts Wednesday evening at the Pink Palace that looked like they hadn’t been out of the bottom drawer in a while and even a couple of banners.

75. Complaints Question Harwell's PAC Help, $3.1M Self-Loan - Thursday, February 22, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Two campaign finance complaints question House Speaker Beth Harwell's help from a political committee and a $3.1 million self-loan to her Republican gubernatorial campaign.

76. Last Word: Looking In The Lookout, Women in Business and The Race for Governor - Monday, February 19, 2018

What would bring a Memphian on his own to The Lookout – the restaurant and bar at the top of the Pyramid? The view, of course. So after the obligatory walk outside to the views south along the riverfront and west across the river, I settled in Sunday for the view from within. I lined up with both of the tree stumps in the round fish tank in the center of the Pyramid’s apex, a steampunk frog watching from above.

77. Comptroller: City Obeyed Most Rules in Sale of Parks - Saturday, February 17, 2018

The state Comptroller’s Office has determined the city of Memphis’ Dec. 20, 2017, sale of Health Sciences Park and the easement to Memphis Park to Memphis Greenspace Inc. appropriately followed related laws with the exception of requiring Memphis Greenspace to submit an application so it could gauge the nonprofit’s financial stability.

78. Diane Black, Husband Lobbying Against Medical Marijuana - Friday, February 16, 2018

Medical marijuana legislation sponsored by state Rep. Jeremy Faison is hitting a hurdle with gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Diane Black opposing it and her husband trying to kill the measure.

79. Comptroller: City Obeyed Most Rules in Sale of Parks - Thursday, February 15, 2018

The state Comptroller’s Office has determined the city of Memphis’ Dec. 20, 2017, sale of Health Sciences Park and the easement to Memphis Park to Memphis Greenspace Inc. appropriately followed related laws with the exception of requiring Memphis Greenspace to submit an application so it could gauge the nonprofit’s financial stability.

80. Comptroller: City of Memphis Followed Most Rules in Sale of Parks - Wednesday, February 14, 2018

The state Comptroller’s Office has determined the city of Memphis’ Dec. 20, 2017, sale of Health Sciences Park and the easement to Memphis Park to Memphis Greenspace Inc. appropriately followed related laws with the exception of requiring Memphis Greenspace to submit an application so it could gauge the nonprofit’s financial stability.

81. Last Word: MLGW Rate Hike, The May Ballot So Far and Old Dominick's Taxes - Wednesday, February 7, 2018

The Tobacco Corner, a Poplar Corridor landmark, is closing in April. There was once a set of Tobacco Corners that look like the one at Poplar and Mendenhall and they included “newsrooms” – places to buy magazines, sometimes adult, and newspapers -- after buying tobacco. In almost 50 years, none of those product lines are what they once were. And the legacy of a homegrown business is disapperaring, too. 

82. Harwell Plans to Back Faison’s Medical Marijuana Legislation - Wednesday, February 7, 2018

House Speaker Beth Harwell is supporting medical marijuana legislation, saying she believes Tennesseans “deserve” an option to dangerous opioids.

83. Bill Would Ban TennCare Pay for Abortion Providers - Saturday, February 3, 2018

A Tennessee Republican lawmaker has proposed a ban on TennCare reimbursements to abortion providers for non-abortion services.

At a news conference Wednesday, Republican Rep. Jimmy Matlock announced legislation seeking a federal waiver to exclude providers from TennCare if “direct or indirect” use of state money will promote or support elective abortions.

84. Last Word: Closing the Loophole, Skeleton Hotel Update and Jubilee Conversion - Friday, February 2, 2018

The state legislator who sponsored the most recent version of the law making it much more difficult to remove Confederate monuments acknowledges that the city of Memphis found a legitimate loophole in the 2016 law he crafted. Republican Steve McDaniel, of Parkers Crossroads, tells our Nashville correspondent Sam Stockard that he has a bill in the House to close the loophole. But it won't undo what happened here. Although there is still a court fight over that taking shape.

85. Digest - Monday, January 29, 2018

Memphis Toys R Us

To Remain Open

A representative with Toys R Us has confirmed to The Daily News that the retailer’s Memphis location, at 7676 Polo Ground Blvd., won’t close after all.

86. Bill Seeks to Ban TennCare Payments to Abortion Providers - Friday, February 2, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee Republican lawmaker has proposed a ban on TennCare reimbursements to abortion providers for non-abortion services.

At a news conference Wednesday, Republican Rep. Jimmy Matlock announced legislation seeking a federal waiver to exclude providers from TennCare if "direct or indirect" use of state money will promote or support elective abortions.

87. Tenn. Governor Candidates Talk Transparency, Medicaid and Megasite - Friday, February 2, 2018

Five of the seven major contenders in the 2018 Tennessee governor’s race called for more transparency in government but said there are questions about when to disclose information about companies seeking to locate or expand in Tennessee.

88. Towns Sponsoring Gun Security Bills in a ‘Dangerous World’ - Thursday, February 1, 2018

NASHVILLE – State Rep. Joe Towns was like a lot of other legislators when he arrived at the renovated Cordell Hull Building for the start of the 2018 legislative session.

89. 9:30 a.m.: Live-Stream the Tennessee Gubernatorial Forum - Thursday, February 1, 2018

The Tennessee Press Association holds a forum Thursday, Feb. 1, in Nashville featuring the announced candidates for Tennessee governor. The live stream – moderated by Eric Barnes, publisher of The Daily News and TPA president – starts at 8:30 a.m., and the forum is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.

90. Report: 538 Public Records Exemptions in Tennessee Law - Wednesday, January 31, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A report has found that there are now 538 exemptions to Tennessee's public records law, about six times as many as there were three decades ago.

According to the state comptroller's office, the Tennessee Public Records Act only had two statutory exceptions when it was enacted in 1957. By 1988, a legislative committee reported there were 89 exceptions.

91. Last Word: Risks by Race, ASD Changes in Frayser and Binghampton Style - Thursday, January 25, 2018

African-American children are more likely to die after surgery than white children, according to a new study by researchers at UTHSC and Le Bonheur. The researchers found that in every category that goes into determining the chance of dying, the risk for white children was overestimated and underestimated for black children. And the dynamics of the risk work differently by race. The conclusion is race-specific models on the issue work better than non race specific models.

92. Immigrant Tuition Splits Tennessee Governor's Field in Forum - Thursday, January 25, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Candidates for governor in Tennessee largely agreed on broad issues facing education during the race's first televised forum Tuesday, except for a partisan split on in-state tuition for immigrants whose parents brought or kept them in the country illegally.

93. Tennessee Governor Touts $30M Plan to Fight Opioid Epidemic - Wednesday, January 24, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam touted a $30 million plan Monday that focuses on prevention, treatment and law enforcement to attack an opioid epidemic that kills at least three people a day in Tennessee.

94. Medicaid Expansion Splits Tenn. Governor Hopefuls in Health Forum - Monday, January 22, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A health care forum Friday illustrated the partisan split in the Tennessee governor's race over Medicaid expansion, with Democrats ranking it their top priority and Republicans opposing it or espousing other priorities.

95. Thompson Wants Session Suspended for MLK Events - Saturday, January 20, 2018

Democratic state Rep. Dwayne Thompson of Cordova wants legislative leaders to suspend the current session of the legislature April 4 and 5 so lawmakers can attend events in Memphis marking the 50th anniversary of the sanitation workers strike and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

96. Despite Need, Expanding Health Care Not in Cards - Thursday, January 18, 2018

Springfield resident Felicity Palma struggled mightily when she moved to Tennessee from Florida two years ago after suffering health problems and losing her job.

The 47-year-old former social worker became homeless for a period when she came here, and now she finds herself in a health insurance coverage gap as she tries to get treatment for ulcers, sciatica, fibroids and thyroid disease. Debt is piling up on her, too, for the care she does receive.

97. Thompson Asks for Suspension of Legislative Session for MLK Anniversary - Monday, January 15, 2018

Democratic state Rep. Dwayne Thompson of Cordova wants legislative leaders to suspend the current session of the legislature April 4 and 5 so lawmakers can attend events in Memphis marking the 50th anniversary of the sanitation workers strike and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

98. Tennessee House Speaker Proposes Medicaid Work Requirements - Friday, January 12, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell has filed legislation to pursue TennCare work requirements for able-bodied adults without young children.

99. Shot Fired From Memphis Ignites Civil War Rematch - Thursday, January 11, 2018

Confederate Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest died in 1877, but 140 years later some people just can’t let their hero or the Old South go away.

In fact, the state Legislature is set to reignite the Civil War – to some degree – in 2018. We hope no gunshots are fired.

100. Tennessee Lawmakers Begin Session With Elections Looming - Wednesday, January 10, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee lawmakers have gaveled in for a legislative session colored by upcoming elections, House Speaker Beth Harwell's bid for governor and Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's final lap before he hits term limits.