Local News
Governor Bill Lee deliver his fifth “State of the State” address to the Tennessee General Assembly yesterday. He addressed several issues including traffic, education and abortion access. Three women were removed from the gallery after shouting at Lee when he was addressing abortion access in Tennessee. He said “pro-life is much more than defending the lives of the unborn” and claimed it “is not a matter of politics” and is instead “about human dignity.” Lee has previously indicated his support for Tennessee’s current near-total abortion ban.
A state representative is trying to eliminate most early voting in Tennessee. Republican Elaine Davis has introduced a House bill which seeks to delete portions of state law that outline early voting procedures. House Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons says it is disconcerting to see lawmakers who he called extremist trying to make it even harder for working Tennesseans to vote. Clemmons says the Volunteer State currently ranks 47th in voter turnout. A Senate counterpart bill was also filed by Janice Bowling.
The Honda Corporation is issuing a “do not drive” warning for several older vehicle models equipped with faulty airbag inflators. The company says around 82-hundred cars with defective Takata Alpha drivers side airbags are still on the road. They warn that those inflators can rupture in the event of a crash, sending dangerous, and potentially deadly, metal fragments toward a driver’s face. The models that may have unrepaired airbags are Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V, Odyssey, Pilot and Acura TL and CL vehicles made between 2001 and 2003. Owners of the cars included in the recall notice can get them repaired free of charge, with additional details available by searching honda-news-dot-com.
A new bill in Tennessee would determine what happens to a family pet when a couple gets divorced. Sponsored by Representative Caleb Hemmer and Senator Jeff Yarbro, both Democrats, the legislation would allow a court to be involved in whether a pet is provided full or partial custody with their owners involved. If passed, the bill would take effect July 1.