Tennessee lawmakers have passed a bill to require public schools to prominently display the national motto, “In God We Trust.”

It would take effect immediately if Republican Gov. Bill Haslam signs it. The legislation passed the Senate unanimously and cleared the House in an 81-8 vote, with both chambers controlled by Republicans.

2. State Lawmakers Pass ‘In God We Trust’ School Bill - Friday, March 23, 2018

Tennessee lawmakers have passed a bill to require public schools to prominently display the national motto, “In God We Trust.”

It would take effect immediately if Republican Gov. Bill Haslam signs it. The legislation passed the Senate unanimously and cleared the House in an 81-8 vote, with both chambers controlled by Republicans.

3. Rotating Forrest Bust Out of Capitol Gains Momentum - Thursday, February 1, 2018

Confederate Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest’s days in the State Capitol could be numbered. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican, says he could support a move to rotate Forrest’s bust out of the Capitol and make sure Capitol displays are “more reflective of the entire history of Tennessee.”

4. Getting Started - Saturday, August 12, 2017

Every journey of a thousand miles begins with that first single step. Every song, that first note; every long-lasting relationship can trace back to that first hello.

The countless business startups in Memphis, many maturing thanks to the city’s myriad accelerators and entrepreneurship programs, likewise all unfold the same way. They all start, no pun intended, with that first idea that leads to the creation of an enterprise – hopefully a successful, money-making one.

5. Last Word: How Do You Get On The List, Sedgwick & Thornwood and Musicals - Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Monday was Presidents Day and thus a holiday at City Hall. But for the occupant on City Hall’s top floor it was anything but a holiday. The list Memphis Police made for who has to have a uniformed police officer next to them to go anywhere in City Hall is turning into a controversy over possible surveillance of citizens participating in the last year or so of protests around the city.

6. State Lawmakers Confronted Over Anti-LGBT Bills - Friday, February 17, 2017

NASHVILLE – The unveiling of legislation undercutting same-sex marriage and enforcing transgender bathroom rules turned into a short-circuited press conference and confrontation Wednesday, Feb. 15.

7. Flurry of Bills Affecting LGBT Community Filed in State Legislature Before Deadline - Wednesday, February 15, 2017

NASHVILLE – Tennessee lawmakers met last Thursday’s legislation-filing deadline with a host of social measures one Memphis representative describes as “wedge bills” because they drive people apart.

8. Bills Affecting LGBT Community Filed Before Deadline - Tuesday, February 14, 2017

NASHVILLE – Tennessee lawmakers met last Thursday’s legislation-filing deadline with a host of social measures one Memphis representative describes as “wedge bills” because they drive people apart.

9. The Crooked Path to Durham’s Ouster - Thursday, September 22, 2016

State Rep. Kevin Brooks set the tone for Jeremy Durham’s ouster in prayer, of all places. Quoting from Luke, the Cleveland Republican opened the recent extraordinary session of the General Assembly saying, “Heavenly Father, you’re very clear in your word when you say that every valley will be filled, every mountain and hill brought low and the crooked places made straight and the rough places made smooth.

10. Legislators Sweating the Small Stuff - Thursday, May 26, 2016

My late father kept a paper weight on his desk at home that read: “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”

Well, we’re sweating the small stuff – from the federal government down to the states – with this harangue over transgender bathrooms.

11. Legislative Losers: All Who Disagree With Legislators - Thursday, May 5, 2016

The 109th General Assembly is done – almost – for the year. Here’s a look at the winners and losers.

Winner: State budget

Buoyed by $400 million in surplus revenue from fiscal 2015 and $450 million in projected surpluses for the coming fiscal year, Gov. Bill Haslam spread the wealth in a $34.9 billion budget. 

12. Tennessee GOP Leader Vows Retribution for Transgender 'Blackmail' - Wednesday, April 20, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – House Republican leader Gerald McCormick on Tuesday vowed retribution for companies that spoke out against a transgender bathroom bill in Tennessee.

13. Legislators Playing Expensive Game With LGBT Issues - Thursday, April 14, 2016

The silly season is in full swing on Capitol Hill, but the “bathroom bill” and any jokes surrounding it are no laughing matter anymore. It’s getting downright expensive.

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery said this week the bill dealing with transgender student use of restrooms could cost the state more than $1.2 billion in federal funds for K-12 and higher education.

14. Lawmakers Lure Us In With Momentary Sanity, And Then... - Thursday, April 7, 2016

Just when it appears the Tennessee Senate is made up of sensible people – as evidenced by the killing of de-annexation legislation – the body is changing course with a Bible-thumping measure.

15. Transgender Bathroom Bill Dies in Subcommittee - Wednesday, March 23, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A bill that would require transgender students to use bathrooms that match their sex at birth has failed.

The bill died in a House Education Administration and Planning Committee meeting Tuesday that was packed with transgender youth who opposed the measure.

16. Bill Would Require Students to Use Bathroom of Birth Sex - Thursday, March 17, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A bill that would require transgender students to use bathrooms that match their sex at birth is gaining momentum in the Tennessee legislature after passing in a House subcommittee.

17. Anti-Abortion Legislation Finds Little Resistance - Thursday, April 2, 2015

Buoyed by passage of Amendment 1 last fall, legislation restricting abortions is starting to roll – with relative ease – through the General Assembly.

Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, and Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, began the push recently with measures backed by Gov. Bill Haslam, House Speaker Beth Harwell, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and the Republican ranks. Their bills couldn’t even draw enough resistance to require a roll-call vote.

18. Anti-Abortion Bills Advancing in House - Wednesday, March 25, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Proposals that seek to re-enact abortion laws that were struck down by a state Supreme Court decision are advancing in the House.

The two bills passed the House Health Subcommittee on voice votes Tuesday.

19. No ‘No-Go’ Zones? No Matter. Lynn, Ketron Have Plan - Thursday, March 12, 2015

File this under ultra-preventative measures. State Rep. Susan Lynn and state Sen. Bill Ketron admit they’ve never seen a “no-go zone” in Tennessee. Yet they are sponsoring legislation enabling the state attorney general to investigate such areas where people and public workers are being systematically intimidated or excluded, report it to the Department of Justice and, ultimately, eliminate such zones to comply with state and federal law.

20. From Despair to Belief - Saturday, July 19, 2014

A July weekday afternoon, about 2:45. It’s the perfect time for just about anyone to be nodding off in class.

But in the basement of Midtown Church of Christ, where HopeWorks Inc. is housed, class is in session and a dozen men and their teacher are having a lively discussion.

21. Henneberger Joins First State Bank Small-Business Lending Division - Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Sean Henneberger has joined First State Bank’s small-business lending division as vice president/business development officer in the Memphis market. In his new role, Henneberger will help small businesses pursue loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program.

22. Blank Joins WKNO-FM As News Director - Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Christopher Blank has joined WKNO-FM, the Mid-South affiliate of National Public Radio, as news director. Blank, who has produced feature stories for the station since 2011, will oversee local news production for “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered.”

23. House Barely Approves Animal Abuse Reporting Bill - Friday, April 19, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – A bill seeking to require anyone recording or taking photos of livestock abuse to turn images over to law enforcement within 48 hours was approved in the House on Wednesday with the bare vote minimum needed.

24. Senators Press to Allow Student IDs for Voting - Wednesday, March 27, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – The Senate sponsor of a bill to allow people to display student IDs to vote said Monday he plans to press ahead with the matter even through the version approved by the House would not allow the practice.

25. House to Hear New Version of Voter ID Bill - Tuesday, March 26, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Student identification cards issued by public universities could not be used to vote under legislation scheduled to be heard on the House floor Monday evening.

The measure was amended in a House committee last week to remove the use of student IDs. Less than a week before, the full Senate voted 21-8 to pass a bill to allow such IDs.

26. Tennessee House Strips Student IDs From Voting Bill - Wednesday, March 20, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – A House committee has stripped student identification cards issued by public universities from a bill about photo IDs that can be used to vote.

Tuesday's change comes less than week after the full Senate voted 21-8 to pass a bill to allow student IDs to vote.

27. Evans Joins American Esoteric as Vice President - Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Dr. Jess Evans has joined American Esoteric Laboratories as vice president of technical operations. In his new role, Evans is responsible for instrumentation, personnel, operational performance and quality assurance for the Memphis laboratory.

28. East Joins Carriage Crossing As Marketing Coordinator - Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Kendra East has joined Carriage Crossing as marketing coordinator. East’s new responsibilities include creating and implementing the lifestyle center’s yearly marketing budget, spearheading onsite events and leading merchant communication.

29. Nichols Joins Spirco As Engineering Mgr. - Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Matthew Nichols has joined Spirco Manufacturing as engineering manager.

Hometown: I currently live in Olive Branch. My hometown is Thaxton, Miss.

30. Employees Weigh In - Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Want to know what employees think it takes to create engagement? Meet Ellen Schmall, receptionist at Adams and Reese LLP. Ellen says when she joined the firm it was her first real job, and she’s been with the company for 15 years. “When people see what needs to be done, they jump in and do it,” she says. Ellen believes people are engaged because, “We treat everyone the same. When you know people care about you, you will try harder to do a better job.”

31. Tea Party Event Seeks to Rally Tenn. Voters - Wednesday, October 27, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The latest Tea Party rally in Nashville is necessary to spur people to vote conservative candidates into office, Tennessee Republican lawmakers said Tuesday.

With only a few days left before Election Day, the Tennessee Tea Party was to host a Tuesday stop by the Tea Party Express, a national cross-country tour encouraging people to vote.

32. Proposal Opposes Federally Mandated Health Plans - Wednesday, April 14, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee lawmakers against a resolution that opposes federally mandated health care initiatives said Monday it’s unnecessary because of the recent passage of President Barack Obama’s reform legislation.

33. Tenn. Rep. Donna Rowland Not Seeking Re-Election - Friday, April 2, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The list of Tennessee House members not seeking re-election grew longer on Thursday with Republican Rep. Donna Rowland's announcement she plans to retire after a decade of service.

34. Health Freedom Act Moves on to House Committee - Thursday, April 1, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Scores cheered as Tennessee legislation that would require the state attorney general to mount a legal challenge to the massive federal health care overhaul progressed in the House on Wednesday.

35. Tenn. Bill Would Require Abortion Coercion Signs - Wednesday, March 17, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A House committee on Tuesday delayed a vote on legislation that would require abortion clinics in Tennessee to post anti-coercion signs because of concerns from some lawmakers.

36. Beavers Changes Mind, Will Bid for Senate Return - Friday, March 12, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Republican state Sen. Mae Beavers said Thursday she's abandoning her bid for Wilson County mayor and will instead seek re-election to the Senate.

37. Tenn. Senate Votes to Reject Health Care Mandate - Thursday, February 18, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Senate on Wednesday passed a bill to require the state attorney general to mount a legal challenge to any federal law to require participation in a health care system.

38. Tenn. House to Vote on Menu Labeling Veto Override - Tuesday, February 9, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee House is set to vote on whether to turn back Gov. Phil Bredesen's veto of a bill to limit authority for requiring calorie counts on restaurant menus.

The Senate last month voted 24-7 to override the Democratic governor's veto.

39. Senate Rejects Veto On Menu Labeling - Friday, January 29, 2010

The state Senate has voted 24-7 to override Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen’s veto of a menu labeling bill.

The bill would only allow local elected government bodies to require calorie counts on menus, and prohibit unelected ones like health boards from setting those requirements.

40. Lawmakers Want Tenn. AG To Block Health Care Bill - Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Two Republican state lawmakers in Tennessee want the state attorney general to take legal action to block health care legislation that appears headed for passage in Congress.

Reps. Susan Lynn of Mt. Juliet and Debra Maggart of Hendersonville call the federal program an “unfunded mandate.”

41. Rep. Susan Lynn to Run for State Senate - Wednesday, August 19, 2009

MT. JULIET, Tenn. (AP) - Republican Rep. Susan Lynn has announced she will run for the state Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Mae Beavers next year.

Lynn, of Mt. Juliet, will have to give up her state House seat to run for the upper chamber. Beavers is leaving the Legislature to run for Wilson County mayor.

42. Standalone Ethics Commission Fails in House Vote - Thursday, June 18, 2009

Efforts to keep the Tennessee Ethics Commission as a standalone entity have likely been dealt their final blow in the House.

Republican Rep. Susan Lynn of Mt. Juliet, the chairwoman of the House Government Operations Committee, on Wednesday declined a request from House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner to bring up the extension bill that she earlier had taken off notice.

43. Lawmaker Seeks to Extend Tenn. Ethics Commission - Tuesday, June 9, 2009

NASHVILLE (AP) – One of the main supporters of legislation to keep the state Ethics Commission independent hopes to convince lawmakers that it should be given a chance to operate under new leadership before being merged with the Registry of Election Finance.

44. Bill Would Make Tenn. Ethics Commission Part of Merger - Wednesday, June 3, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Lawmakers have agreed to merge the Tennessee Ethics Commission and Registry of Election Finance into one entity they believe will be more streamlined and economical.

It will be called the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance and will be governed by a board of directors composed of six members of the registry and six members of the commission, which is scheduled to terminate at the end of this month.

45. Bill Would Allow Local Menu Labeling Requirement - Wednesday, May 20, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A bill advancing in the House would allow local governments to decide whether to require restaurants to provide calorie counts on menus.

The proposal sponsored by Republican Rep. Susan Lynn of Mt. Juliet originally sought to ban any state or local government from requiring calorie counts.

46. House Panel Nixes 'Do Not Serve Alcohol' Licenses - Wednesday, March 18, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A proposal to give recovering alcoholics the option of having "Do Not Serve Alcohol" written on their driver's licenses has failed in a House subcommittee.

The proposal sponsored by Rep. Susan Lynn, a Mt. Juliet Republican, died when no committee member seconded the motion to consider the bill on Tuesday.

47. Dem Says Williams Foe Offers Deal for Chairmanship - Friday, January 30, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Democratic lawmakers told The Associated Press on Thursday that Republican Rep. Brian Kelsey offered to tamp down attacks against new House Speaker Kent Williams in exchange for a committee chairmanship.

48. Speaker’s Sex Harassment Complaint Hearing Delayed - Thursday, January 29, 2009

NASHVILLE (AP) – The female lawmaker who filed a sexual harassment complaint against new state House Speaker Kent Williams has been hospitalized because of stress, said a colleague who lodged the accusation.

49. House Committees Divided Equally by Party - Monday, January 26, 2009

New state House Speaker Kent Williams last week kept his promise to split up committee assignments equally between the two parties despite turmoil surrounding his election and allegations of sexual harassment against him.

50. New Tenn. House Speaker Denies Harassment Claim - Thursday, January 22, 2009

New Tennessee House Speaker Kent Williams issued a statement Tuesday denying that he’s ever sexually harassed anyone after details surfaced regarding a 2007 incident with another Republican lawmaker.

51. Necessities Bags Provides Comfort In Traumatic Time - Thursday, August 28, 2008

When a woman learns she has breast cancer, the news alone can be devastating. Throw on top of that news the possibility of losing one or both of her breasts in order to save her life, and the devastation can be much greater.

52. Bredesen Signs Citizenship Requirement for Notaries Public - Friday, May 2, 2008

NASHVILLE (AP) - The governor has signed into a law a measure to require notaries public to be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.

The bill sponsored by Rep. Susan Lynn, a Mt. Juliet Republican, and Sen. Bill Ketron, a Murfreesboro Republican, passed both chambers of the Legislature unanimously.

53. State Bill Would Grant Students Leave to Visit Parents in Military - Tuesday, March 18, 2008

NASHVILLE (AP) - Students would be allowed up to 10 days of excused absences to visit a parent or guardian in the U.S. military who is on leave in another country under a bill on its way to the governor for his consideration.

54. Archived Article: Newsmakers - Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Le Bonheur Hires Two New Surgeons

Taylor Elected to TTLA Board of Governors

Chris Taylor was elected to the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association Board of Governors. Taylor, a shareholder in Hill Borens Memphis office, also will serve as a TTLA ...

55. Archived Article: Memos - Wednesday, June 18, 2003
Khara Woods was the 2003 recipient of the John Paul Jones Journalism Scholarship

Khara Woods was the 2002-2003 recipient of the John Paul Jones Journalism Scholarship at the University of Memphis. Woods, a 21-year-old senior journalism major, is ...

56. Archived Article: Memos - Wednesday, May 21, 2003
James Pascover was appointed Better Business of the Mid-South director of marketing and communications

James Pascover was appointed Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South director of marketing and communications. Pascover brings more than 20 yea...

57. Archived Article: Memos - Wednesday, October 25, 2000
Victor Mills was named as the general manager of the Peabody hotel Victor Mills was named general manager of the Peabody hotel. He joined the Peabody Hotel Group in 1990 through the Peabody Orlando hotel. During his tenure, he earned the Peabody Gro...

58. Archived Article: Memos - Wednesday, December 23, 1998
FDX Global Logistics Inc FDX Global Logistics Inc. announced several appointments. Debra A. Gray has been named vice president and chief financial officer. She previously was staff vice president of finance for the FDX information and logistics serv...

59. Archived Article: Back - Wednesday, June 19, 1996
The Black Business Association of Memphis is sponsoring a day of activities dedicated to women in business on June 20 The Black Business Association of Memphis is sponsoring a day of activities dedicated to women in business on June 20. Activities w...

60. Archived Article: Cutline - Tuesday, January 16, 1996
cutline Lynn Trusedale, Susan Hargett and Thomas Milam watch a video on Friday at the Center for Southern Folklore depicting the life of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Beale Street attraction was one of many that held events commemorating t...