Local News
Chaos erupted in the state house once again Monday afternoon, with citizens removed from the House galleries, a Democratic lawmaker silenced for the day and the rest of the Democratic Caucus walking out of session. During debate on a bill from Rep. Scott Cepicky (that allows law enforcement agencies to assign officers to schools over their wishes, citizens in the gallery of the House were ordered removed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton after becoming angry at a procedural move that silenced Rep. Justin Jones for the rest of the day. Democratic Leader Karen Camper said Jones’ silencing was an “unfair application of the rules,” as a Republican lawmaker, Rep. Gino Bulso, was also ruled out of order twice by the Speaker but did not face the same vote as Jones. That was why, she said, the Democrats walked off the House floor.
A 12-person team of Tennessee guardsmen has deployed to Louisiana in response to the largest wildfire in the state’s history. Two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters headed for Louisiana Monday morning after authorization from Gov. Bill Lee to support state and local emergency responders battling the Tiger Island wildfire burning in Beauregard Parish – which is located just north of Lake Charles and borders Texas.
A 21-year-old Smyrna woman died on Sunday while driving with a Ft. Campbell man in Ohio. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash which claimed the life of Jewel M. Whiting of Smyrna. The driver, identified as 23-year-old Jedidiah D. Marlow of Ft. Campbell, was driving on SR 125 when he traveled off the roadway and struck two traffic signs and a parked vehicle. The vehicle then rolled over and struck another parked vehicle. Marlow was transported to the hospital for minor injuries and court documents state he was intoxicated at the time of the crash. Due to Whiting’s death, Marlow was arrested and is facing charges of vehicular homicide and DUI.