Tennessee

  • In Tennessee, Bills Targeting Pride Flags, LGBTQ Students Near Passage

    Amidst a flurry of legislative activity targeting LGBTQ+ rights, Tennessee lawmakers are on the brink of passing bills that could severely restrict the visibility of LGBTQ+ identities in public and charter schools. Advocates for LGBTQ+ rights are sounding the alarm as at least 18 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced this year, adding to the challenges…

  • Legal Questions Loom After Mum Mistakenly Shoots Teen Daughter in Tennessee: ‘I Just Want to Hold My Baby’

    In a heartbreaking incident in Nashville, Tennessee, a mother, DeAnn Radley, is grappling with the unimaginable loss of her 13-year-old daughter, Dearria Radley. The teen tragically lost her life when a gun inside her mother’s purse discharged while she searched for her keys. According to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, the incident occurred late in…

  • Today in History: James Earl Ray Pleads Guilty to Assassinating Martin Luther King Jr.

    On March 10, 1969, a significant chapter in American history unfolded as James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to the assassination of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee. This pivotal moment marked a somber milestone in the ongoing struggle for equality and justice. Ray’s guilty plea, entered in a Memphis courtroom, shocked…

  • New Court Filings Challenge Conviction in 2008 ‘Lester Street Murders’ On Grounds Of Forced Confession

    In a recent development, new federal court filings have cast doubt on the conviction of Jessie Dotson, the man found guilty in the infamous 2008 “Lester Street Murders” case. The filings raise questions about the tactics employed by the Memphis Police Department during the investigation and suggest that Dotson’s confession may have been coerced. The…

  • Justice Department Sues Tennessee for Enforcing State Law that Discriminates Against People with HIV

    The Justice Department on Feb. 15 filed a lawsuit against the State of Tennessee and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The department previously notified Tennessee and the TBI that they violated the ADA by enforcing the state’s aggravated prostitution statute against people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). That letter of findings…

  • Proposed Bill That Will Make Assistance in Minors’ Abortions a Felony Advances

    In Tennessee, contentious bill proposing to criminalize adults who aid minors in obtaining abortions made significant progress in the General Assembly subcommittee on Tuesday, Feb. 13. The legislation, championed by state Rep. Jason Zachary, a Republican from Farragut, introduces the Class C felony of “abortion trafficking of a minor.” If enacted, the bill would apply…

  • Kyra Harris Bolden Is The First Black Woman Appointed To The Michigan Supreme Court, Here’s Her Story

    Kyra Harris Bolden has etched her name in history as the first Black woman appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court. Recently sworn in by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Bolden, at 34, succeeds Justice Bridget Mary McCormack, marking a significant milestone in Michigan’s legal landscape. Bolden draws motivation from her family’s tragic history; her great-grandfather was lynched…