SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Justice has dismissed investigations into civil rights violations by various police departments, including the Memphis Police Department. A December report had found issues such as excessive force, illegal traffic stops, unlawful arrests, and discrimination against individuals with disabilities. However, with the change in administration, the Justice Department decided to close these investigations, retracting the previous findings. Memphis had previously resisted signing a consent decree, citing high costs and long timelines for changes. The decision raises concerns about potential impacts on the federal case against officers involved in the Tyre Nichols incident.
The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday dismissed all of its President Biden-era police investigations. This included a scathing report by the department last year that Memphis Police (MPD) conducted civil rights violations of citizens.
SUMMARY: A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reinstate millions in frozen grants, affecting six cities including Nashville and 13 nonprofits. The Southern Environmental Law Center and Public Rights Project led the legal challenge to preserve federally funded programs such as energy-efficient housing and solar compost facilities. The Charleston ruling reinstated 32 of 38 canceled grants. Nashville’s two grants—a $4.7 million electric vehicle charging expansion and a $9.3 million bikeway development—were restored. Metro Law Director Wally Dietz said the administration lacked constitutional authority to rescind funds. The administration plans to appeal, with the challenge likely to continue to the Supreme Court.
SUMMARY: May is Mental Health Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of recognizing and addressing mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Beth Tucker, clinical director with Volunteer Behavioral Health, emphasizes the value of awareness in offering support to those struggling silently. Recognizing signs such as social withdrawal or irritability can help people seek assistance. Reducing stigma around mental health through open conversations and offering resources like the 988 crisis line is key. Practicing self-care, such as taking breaks, meditation, and enjoying fresh air, can significantly improve mental health, contributing to long-term well-being.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-21 11:27:00
Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn highlighted the issue of “birth tourism,” where pregnant women travel to the U.S. to give birth, securing U.S. citizenship for their children. Blackburn referenced a 2020 study estimating 33,000 birth tourists annually. She introduced the Ban Birth Tourism Act, aiming to prevent foreign nationals from exploiting U.S. immigration laws for this purpose. Blackburn also mentioned that children born under this practice could later sponsor their parents for U.S. residency. This bill aligns with President Trump’s efforts to end birthright citizenship, with the U.S. Supreme Court expected to rule on his executive order soon.
(The Center Square) – Tennessee Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn says other countries have found another way to obtain birthright U.S. citizenship – an industry known as “birth tourism.”
For a fee, pregnant women can visit the U.S. at the time they are close to their due date, according to a news release from Blackburn’s office. If the babies are born in the U.S., they are citizens under the Constitution’s citizenship clause that says, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”
A 2020 study by the Center for Immigration Studies, quoted by Blackburn, said 33,000 women on tourist visas give birth each year. When the child is 21, he or she can sponsor their parents migration to the U.S.
Blackburn introduced the Ban Birth Tourism Act that would add a clause to the Immigration and Nationality Act.
“Foreign nationals have been exploiting our nation’s immigration laws for far too long, taking advantage of the system to come to the United States for the sole purpose of giving birth to obtain U.S. citizenship for their children,” Blackburn said. “The Ban Birth Tourism Act would prevent foreign nationals, including those from adversaries like Communist China and Russia, from buying American citizenship for their children. As President Trump works to end birthright citizenship, we need to get this bill to his desk.”
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments last week on President Donald Trump’s executive order that would ban birthright citizenship. A decision is expected in June or July.
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: Right-Leaning
The article primarily reports on U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn’s stance on birthright citizenship and her introduction of the Ban Birth Tourism Act. The language and framing used in the piece align with conservative views on immigration, particularly through Blackburn’s criticism of birth tourism and her reference to foreign nationals “exploiting” U.S. laws. By quoting Blackburn’s statement and framing it in the context of President Trump’s agenda to end birthright citizenship, the article emphasizes a conservative perspective on immigration policy. The tone is more supportive of the Republican position and critical of opposing views, reflecting a right-leaning bias in the coverage.
