Local News

Two search warrants reveal TBI agents sought evidence in connection to three alleged crimes connected to the Millersville Police Department. TBI agents raided the headquarters of Millersville Police as well as the White House home of Shawn Taylor, the assistant chief of the police department, hauling out cases and boxes. Earlier this year, a heated meeting was held to address safety and leadership concerns in the city. In 2023, the Millersville police chief and assistant police chief resigned amid allegations surrounding staff members and issues with the P.O.S.T. Commission, the group that sets standards for police.

Gunfire erupted outside the home of controversial Wilson County pastor Greg Locke late Tuesday night. Locke said he returned home with his family and found his home had been shot at by a “madman.” The WCSO said Locke’s son was home at the time but was not injured. The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Locke’s home was hit by between 30-50 bullets during the shooting. Damage was found to the exterior of the home, the vehicles parked outside, and some damage inside the home. Locke is the founder and lead pastor of Global Vision Bible Church in Mt. Juliet. The church has been the target of vandalism and widespread criticism in recent years over hard stances taken by Locke and his congregation on social issues and associated political campaigns.

Governor Bill Lee said he suspects the state is “closer than further” from having a new death penalty protocol in place, which is required before Tennessee can resume executions amid a two-year pause. In April 2022, Gov. Lee ordered all executions be paused in TN after discovering the state wasn’t testing the lethal injection drugs as required in its own protocol, among other problems. Lee then tasked the TN Dept. of Correction and other organizations with developing a new death penalty protocol before the state could resume executions. Lee didn’t give the department a deadline to complete the protocol.

A new report by a Tennessee think tank, ThinkTennessee, found the Volunteer State has consistently trailed behind other states when it comes to voter registration rates. The ThinkTennessee report said that in 2022, TN was 42nd in the country in terms of voter registration rates and 41st in 2020. Meanwhile, in 2020, nearby states including Georgia ranked 28th, Kentucky ranked 23rd, and Alabama ranked 21st, according to the data. Tennessee is one of seven states that require voters to register at least 30 days before the election, the furthest in advance, while other states offer same-day registration. In addition, legislation passed in 2023 made it more difficult for felons to cast a ballot after they served their time. The law requires a convicted felon who wants their voting rights restored to first have their gun rights restored.