Local News
Governor Bill Lee says the journals of the Covenant School shooter are being released “very soon.” The governor made the statement on social media last night, saying he has been in contact with Metro Police Chief John Drake. MNPD spokesperson Don Aaron said the writings were being reviewed and prepared for public release earlier this week. Lee calls the shooting a “tragedy beyond comprehension,” adding that Tennesseans “need clarity” on the incident.
A trial date is set for a lawsuit surrounding the La Vergne Police Department sex scandal. Hearings for litigation filed by former officer Maegan Hall are scheduled for March 18th of 2025. Attorneys for Hall claim she was sexually groomed by superior officers and was the victim of extensive sexual harassment. Former department leaders Sergeant Lewis Powell, Sergeant Henry “Ty” McGowan, and Chief Burrell Davis are named as defendants in the case. All of the officials involved were fired earlier this year after an investigation found evidence of undisclosed relationships between Hall and other officers, including sexual conduct while on duty and on city property.
The BISSELL Pet Foundation is teaming up with Dogtopia to bring its Spring National “Empty the Shelters” adoption event to more than 350 shelters in 45 states from May 1-15. During the event, adoption fees at participating organizations will be just $50 or less per cat or dog. As the nation’s largest funded adoption event, “Empty the Shelters” has helped nearly 140,000 pets find loving homes with an average of 1,000 pets adopted per day during quarterly national events.
The Portland Police Department has been certified as an accredited law enforcement agency by the Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. To achieve accreditation with TLEA, an agency voluntarily submits to a three-year process of enhancing the agency’s professionalism and effectiveness — utilizing 164 law enforcement standards and participating in a thorough onsite assessment.