Gov. Bill Lee stays mum as a deadline looms to opt into a summer food program for low-income kids in Tennessee tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/23/g... @tennesseelookout.com

The number of measles cases is continuing to grow, threatening to undo next year the United States’ status as a nation that has eradicated the disease, according to a report released Dec. 17 by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From @timhenderson.bsky.social with @stateline.org

An audit by the Tennnessee Comptroller finds financial, quality of care problems in state-run veterans’ homes that "raise concerns about whether the board can sustain long-term operations without additional external support.” tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/22/a... @tennesseelookout.com

Tennessee Senate Democrat pushes cannabis reform following federal move tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/22/t... @tennesseelookout.com

NEW: Immigrant rights activist Jeanette Vizguerra went before a judge Friday for a bond hearing at the ICE detention facility in Aurora where she has been detained for nine months. Her lawyers hope to have a ruling on her release within days. By @sarawilson.bsky.social

New from Institute for Public Reporting/Memphis: Since Jan., there have been more than 50 ICE arrests of kids under 18 in Tennessee. At least 22 were under age 10. Two were younger than 4 yo. 38 took place in Shelby Co, site of Memphis Safe Task Force operations www.psrmemphis.org/nearly-60-of...

"Crytzer ruled the comment about Kirk − in part, that the "world is better off without him in it" − is not protected. Shirinian's words were political in context but not in content, the judge ruled, and they do not outweigh UT's interests as an employer." www.knoxnews.com/story/news/e...

Tennessee Court of Appeals will hear challenge to Gov. Bill Lee's deployment of the National Guard in Memphis on an expedited basis. Oral arguments are set for March 5. The Guard will presumably remain on patrol in the city until then. tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/18/t... @tennesseelookout.com

The U.S. Senate confirmed four Trump nominees to the Tennessee Valley Board of Directors Wednesday night but left out Nashville car magnate and political donor Lee Beaman.

In Minnesota, ACLU sues ICE, alleging agency violates constitutional rights of observers and protesters minnesotareformer.com/2025/12/17/a... @minnesotareformer.com

Tennessee U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles calls for deportation of immigrants who don't come from "compatible nations," "worship our god" and "fit the mold" of his vision for America www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

‘Largest investment in state history’: Lee announces $6.6B deal with South Korea metals company  tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/18/l... @tennesseelookout.com

Rep. Harold Love, Jr., a Nashville Democrat, found himself turning to research conducted by his father — the late Rep. Harold Love, Sr. — to find how much money the state owed Tennessee State University. His findings stunned him. From @Tennesseelookout.com and @wpln.bsky.social, Part 3 of The Debt.

After lawmakers forced out the president and replaced the board of Tennessee State University, the state's only public HBCU, they now say its on the right track tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/17/l... @tennesseelookout.com

Between March and Sept, 172 kids in DCS custody spent at least one night sleeping in an office. In NE Tennessee, kids spent an average of 18 days housed in government offices. One was there for 104 days. tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/17/d... @tennesseelookout.com

This is a harrowing account of city under siege www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

HHS media announcement today spelling out credentials for reporters to cover a press briefing:

Some say prospective service members should find another path. Others think that it could be dangerous to cede the military to the current administration.

Just in from @cstephenson.bsky.social: On Monday, Ford Motor Company announced it is scrapping plans to manufacture a next-generation electric pickup truck at BlueOval City in West Tennessee, looking instead to gas-powered pickup trucks with more stable paths to profit.

'One of the people detained was a pregnant Somali woman. Abdisalan Abdi, who owns a money transfer business, watched the woman as she sat down to prevent herself from falling or slipping. Officers grabbed her by the arms and dragged her through the snow' minnesotareformer.com/2025/12/16/k...

@samanthamichaels.bsky.social has been a criminal justice reporter for over a decade. She has lived in an authoritarian country overseas. But she has never seen a police presence like the one in ICE-occupied Memphis. “The people supposedly eliminating crime are making the city unlivable.”

Every generation has fought for Tennessee State University to receive fair funding. The Debt asks the question: What would it mean for Tennessee to finally settle its debt with its only public HBCU? From @TennesseeLookout.com / @WPLN.bsky.social:

Tennessee is one of 10 Southern states that could lose Democratic legislative seats if the U.S. Supreme Court guts a key provision of the federal Voting Rights Act, a new analysis by by Fair Fight Action, a Georgia-based progressive voting rights group, in partnership with Black Voters Matter Fund.

Shelby Co Mayor Lee Harris gets daily Memphis Safe Task Force arrest info, but fears retribution for sharing it “Based on their previous actions they seem willing to do whatsoever to who they perceive as their enemies, including investigations and indictments” tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/15/f...

Underrated scoop from @anitawadhwani.bsky.social . This data would provide so much insight into the day-to-day operations of this expansive, expensive federal initiative. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said he cannot share this data with the public, because he may end up being punished by Trump.

The Debt: What does Tennessee owe its only public historically Black university? Journalist Emily Siner writes about the legal case that changed higher education in the state, with continuing ramifications for Tennessee State University. Produced by @tennesseelookout.com & @wpln.bsky.social.

In an event today at the Tennessee State Capitol, Sen. Marsha Blackburn & state Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin announced there will be chapters affiliated with Turning Point USA at every Tennessee high school. The event was not open to the media tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/12/t...

Ford, which got $1B in state subsidies, has pushed back the opening of its Tennessee BlueOval City electric truck plant 2x in 2 years. This week it announced another shift: Korea-based SK On will manufacture its batteries in Tennessee, formerly a joint venture. tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/11/f...

Suspected ICE Activity Across Nashville Sparks Alarm, Confusion As Rapid Response Groups Chase Reports of Detentions nashvillebanner.com/2025/12/11/i... @nashvillebanner.bsky.social

“He is a Maryville High School graduate. No criminal record. A member of a local church. Event after explaining all of this, ICE refused to release him" ICE wrongfully arrested worker at Hardin Valley construction site, lawyers say www.tennessean.com/story/news/c...

Tennesseans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will no longer be able to use the funds to purchase soda and sugary processed foods after Trump administration officials approved the state’s waivers , which were requested by Gov. Bill Lee. @cstephenson.bsky.social.

A federal judge has ordered the National Guard to leave Los Angeles and return to @governor.ca.gov Gavin Newsom’s control in a stern rebuke of the Trump administration’s contention that it can leave troops in the city indefinitely. bit.ly/3XNvsF3 📝 @nigelduara.bsky.social 📸 Ted Soqui

Tennesseans are increasingly turning to tele-health with out-of-state providers to obtain abortions, a new report released by the Society of Family Planning says. via @tennesseelookout.com

Nashville judges have increased security, asked for assistance from Gov. Bill Lee after GOP Rep. Andy Ogles, posted their pictures and wrote, "As long as local liberals are running things in Middle Tennessee, we are at war" tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/10/m... @tennesseelookout.com

Soybeans have been a top U.S. ag export for decades. What happens when the top buyer stops buying? tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/10/s... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com

Pritzker signs bill enacting immigrant protections in courthouses capitolnewsillinois.com/news/pritzke... @capitolnewsil.bsky.social

Belmont University College of Law Dean, and former U.S. attorney general, Alberto Gonzales will step down from his role, effective May 31, 2026, after 12 years of leadership. https://bit.ly/4oKzYPF

Leaders of 2 major anti-abortion groups call for Trump’s FDA chief to be fired tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/09/r... @tennesseelookout.com @jennifershutt.bsky.social

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday praised the U.S. Department of Agriculture decision to spend $12 billion for one-time “bridge” payments to farmers who experienced trade market disruptions and increased production costs during the 2025 crop year.

Two months after President Donald Trump signed an executive order restricting H-1B visas, soaring costs are roiling rural health care facilities that have long struggled to find staff.

Vecindarios 901 was established to report on Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities in Memphis during the first Trump administration. Thousands now rely on the group's videos, photos and eyewitness reports chronicling the activities of the Memphis Safe Task Force. via @tennesseelookout.com

“I mean it’s tough for people to justify going to Target, when you’ve got men in military fatigues protecting Target, and I guess I put protection in quotation marks," said Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris about the effect a law enforcement task force has on business. From @anitawadhwani.bsky.social.

Trump hung up on a ProPublica reporter after being asked whether his Florida mortgages were similar to those of others he had accused of fraud. 🤔

'A bipartisan majority of Knox County school board members agree with two of the county's Republican state senators: Districts should not be able to deny education to undocumented immigrants. The Tennessee General Assembly may not agree.' www.knoxnews.com/story/news/p...

If Tennessee Democrats perform like they did Tuesday in Van Epps vs Behn special election, Congressional District 5 stays GOP tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/08/i... @friedmanadam5.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com

Some Memphis businesses suffer amid federal Task Force presence tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/08/s... @tennesseelookout.com

Harold Nichols pleaded guilty to rape and murder in 1990 and received unexpected grace from a victim’s mother. On Thursday, Tennessee will execute him by lethal injection. ✏️: @iamstevenhale.bsky.social

Memphis pastor keeps church doors locked to ICE, arms open to immigrants www.psrmemphis.org/pastor-keeps...

Nashville car magnate Lee Beaman (a Trump loyalist who also has served as landlord for House Speaker Mike Johnson & TN Rep. Andy Ogles) draws fire during TVA board confirmation hearing tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/04/c... @tennesseelookout.com

‘Nobody feels safe’: Nashville’s Afghan community faces uncertain future following DC Guard shooting, immigration crackdown wpln.org/post/nobody-... @rosegilbert.bsky.social @wpln.bsky.social