Local News

Sen. Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield) is calling on Senate Speaker Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) to join the House in calling for a special session on COVID-19 mandates. Roberts recently got a talking to from McNally for allowing his Government Operations Committee to veer into discussions about dissolving the state Department of Health and considering livestock dewormer ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19. McNally has been resistant to holding a special session while the pandemic is worsening and has been skeptical of calls to limit private businesses’ options when it comes to their employees and customers. Roberts is no stranger to going against leadership — sometimes to his own peril. After word got to then-Speaker Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) in 2011 that the freshman lawmaker was raising questions about whether the chamber needed a new leader, Roberts ended up finding himself drawn out of his district the following year in favor of controversial Sen. Jim Summerville (R-Dickson). Roberts defeated Summerville in the 2014 primary to return to the chamber. (Source TNJ: On The Hill Published September 15, 2021 | By Erik Schelzig)

Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee invited Tennesseans to “Rate the Plates” and help choose the state’s next standard license plate by selecting their favorite design at tn.gov/ratetheplates. Per Tennessee statute, the plate is redesigned every eight years if funds are approved in the General Assembly’s annual budget. “As Tennessee celebrates 225 years of statehood, it’s a perfect time to redesign our license plate and feature the Tri-Star that represents each of our state’s unique grand divisions,” said Gov. Lee. “We welcome all Tennesseans to cast their vote and play a role in choosing this piece of our state’s history.” Voting begins today and will conclude at 11:59 p.m. CT on Monday, September 27. The winning design will be announced later this fall and available to the public January 2022. (Source www.tn.gov)

40-year-old Jody Taylor  of Pleasant View has been indicted on multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. TBI agents with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about suspicious files uploaded to an onlne platform. Tha tip led invesstigators Taylor  who is now in the Robertson County Jail on a $10,000 bond. (source Roberston Connection)

There are over 15-hundred new coronavirus cases in Tennessee.  The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to one-million-190-thousand-700.  Nearly 40 additional COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number standing at  14-thousand-450.  There are over 32-hundred COVID-19 hospitalizations in Tennessee. (Source Tennessee Department of Health)

A former teacher at Northeast High School in Clarksville was arrested last week and charged with sex crimes against a minor. Investigators say 46-year-old Liliana Martiza Alvarez used her position as a teacher to get a 17-year-old to engage in sexual contact with her. An indictment says she also engaged in online sexual activity with the teenager. The school system has not yet issued a statement. (Source Clarksville Now)

A limited number of tickets are still available for this weekend’s Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival.  Organizers say there are some very limited two-day general admission and VIP passes on sale at PilgrimageFestival.com.   (Source Press Release)