www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-30 12:15:00
(The Center Square) – Democrats and Republicans from three states are supporting a 287-mile trail that would include Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina.
The lawmakers are asking for a feasibility study on the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail. U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., said Wednesday the trail deserves a national scenic designation.
“The Benton MacKaye Trail is an invaluable part of my district in East Tennessee that thousands of Tennesseans and Americans hike each year, and the trail connects some of the most beautiful and pristine parts of Tennessee with Georgia and North Carolina,” Fleischmann said.
The trail that winds through the Southern Appalachian Mountains was completed in 2005, according to Bob Cowdrick, president of the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, which has supported its development since 1980, according to the bill.
“This study would help protect our storied outdoor heritage for future generations, support local economies, and provide a wide array of recreation opportunities for everyone from day hikers to thru-hikers and solo trekkers to families,” Cowdrick said.
The trail’s path is made up of 95% of federal land. It passes through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Chattahoochee-Oconee, Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests. It begins at North Georgia’s Springer Mountain and ends at North Carolina’s Mount Sterling, according to the Benton MacKaye Trail Association.
The bill is cosponsored in the House by Democrats Steve Cohen of Tennessee and Lucy McBath of Georgia. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., is also a cosponsor. Republican North Carolina Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd are cosponsoring it in the Senate with Rep. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga. The bill is currently in the House Natural Resources Committee.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article reports on bipartisan support for a feasibility study on the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail, without advocating for a particular ideological stance. The language used is factual and neutral, primarily focusing on the collaboration between Democrats and Republicans from three states. The article does not show a clear bias in favor of one political party or the other. It simply highlights the specifics of the bill, its sponsors, and the potential benefits of the trail, such as supporting local economies and outdoor recreation. Therefore, it adheres to neutral, factual reporting without promoting a specific viewpoint.
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is advocating to ban mail-in ballots and voting machines, claiming without evidence that mail-in voting leads to fraud. He urges Republicans to support a shift to paper ballots only, aiming to sign an executive order before the 2026 midterms. Tennessee Republicans, including Sen. Joey Hensley and Rep. Tim Rudd, back Trump, citing election security and strict absentee ballot rules requiring valid reasons. Conversely, Democrats like Rep. John Ray Clemmons argue the plan undermines democracy and voter rights, noting Tennessee’s low voter turnout results from restrictive laws. The U.S. Constitution allows states to set election rules, but Congress can intervene.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee authorized 160 National Guard troops to deploy to Washington, D.C., joining other Republican-led states in supporting a federal security mission ordered by President Trump. The troops will assist with monument security, community patrols, federal facility protection, and traffic control, funded and regulated federally. This deployment follows Trump’s controversial federal takeover of D.C. law enforcement despite local opposition and declining crime rates. Lee also plans to deploy Guard members to aid Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Tennessee. Critics, including Democratic Rep. John Ray Clemmons, argue the deployment distracts from other issues and militarizes the city unnecessarily.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is dispatching National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., this week to join the president’s law enforcement takeover in the nation’s capital.
Acting on orders from President Donald Trump, the governor granted a request to help the District of Columbia National Guard with a “security mission,” spokesperson Elizabeth Johnson said.
Tennessee will join several other Republican-controlled states and send 160 Guard troops this week to D.C. “to assist as long as needed,” according to Johnson. They will work with local and federal law enforcement agencies on monument security, community safety patrols, federal facilities protection and traffic control, she said.
The Tennessee Guard deployment will be funded and regulated by the federal government.
At least four other Republican governors are sending nearly 1,000 National Guard troops to D.C. after Trump activated 800 D.C. soldiers.
Trump ordered the federal takeover of Washington, D.C., law enforcement despite opposition from local officials who said crime is down some 30%.
Following a legal challenge by D.C. officials, the Trump administration backed off appointing a federal official to head the department and agreed to leave the city’s police chief in command. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, though, told local police to work with federal officers on immigration enforcement even if city laws are conflicting.
Lee also said he would deploy National Guard troops to provide logistical help with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Tennessee so they can spend more time on deportation.
Democratic state Rep. John Ray Clemmons of Nashville accused the governor of “uprooting” Guard personnel from their families to distract people from Trump’s “refusal to release the Epstein files,” a reference to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation and whether Trump is mentioned in the documents.
Clemmons pointed out violent crime in D.C. decreased by 26% this year while overall crime is down by 7%.
“If Trump was serious about addressing crime in D.C., all he and Congress have to do is better support and fund D.C. police, as they have the power to do, rather than militarize one of the most beautiful cities in America,” Clemmons said.
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Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Left-Leaning
The content presents a critical view of Republican actions, particularly focusing on Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and former President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C. It emphasizes opposition from Democratic officials and highlights concerns about militarization and distraction from other issues. The article’s framing and choice of quotes suggest a perspective that leans toward the left side of the political spectrum, critiquing conservative policies and leadership decisions.
SUMMARY: A recent Tennessee Education Survey of nearly 40,000 teachers reveals most middle and high school teachers find cellphone use disruptive, with 73% reporting cheating via phones. While 94% say schools restrict phone use during class, half of high school teachers want a full campus ban. A new state law bans wireless devices during instruction but lets districts set specific rules. Teacher retention is driven mainly by school culture, despite only a third being satisfied with pay. Most teachers support current discipline methods and evaluations, with early-career teachers spending more time on discipline but generally satisfied with evaluations improving their teaching.
