SUMMARY: A Tennessee judge has ordered that Byron Black’s heart implant be deactivated before his execution by lethal injection. Black, convicted of a 1988 triple homicide, has a device that delivers electric shocks if his heart malfunctions. His lawyers argued it would cause unnecessary pain during execution. Chancellor Russell T. Perkins agreed, ruling that not disabling the device would violate constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The Department of Correction must have qualified personnel and equipment on hand to deactivate the implant. Despite appeals citing Black’s intellectual disability, his death sentence remains unchanged. Execution is not expected to be delayed.

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SUMMARY: U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Nashville to highlight intensified ICE operations and deportation efforts in Tennessee. She reported nearly 2,700 arrests since June 10, mostly involving individuals with criminal charges or convictions. Noem criticized Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell for not cooperating with ICE, accusing him of endangering agents, which he denied, emphasizing local efforts to fight violent crime. Noem also targeted Belmont University for allegedly enrolling undocumented immigrants. Labeling Nashville a “sanctuary city,” she announced more ICE agents and resources will be deployed. When asked about transparency, Noem said the agency is following legal due process.

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SUMMARY: Intense storms in southeast Memphis caused 13 power poles to fall along Shelby Drive near Getwell, leaving thousands without power. MLGW and Memphis Police have blocked affected roads due to live power lines posing a significant danger. One downed line even crushed a car, though the driver is expected to be okay. The outages have impacted many homes and businesses in the area amidst extreme heat, complicating recovery efforts. Utility crews are working through the night to clear debris and restore power, with no estimated timeline for repairs yet. Authorities have closed a half-mile stretch of the road for safety.

At least 16 power poles on Shelby Drive were knocked down around 7 p.m. Thursday. And on Friday morning, MLGW crews were …

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