Connect with us

News from the South - Tennessee News Feed

Tennessee Democrats blast Lee special session | Tennessee

Published

on

www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – 2025-01-15 11:30:00

SUMMARY: House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons criticized an upcoming special session in Tennessee focusing on school choice and disaster relief, calling it an “affront to Tennessee families.” Governor Bill Lee’s three-day session includes a $450 million disaster relief package and educational reforms. Clemmons accused Lee of using the disaster relief as leverage for advancing a school voucher program, stating he could have acted sooner. Democrats likened the session to “hostage taking,” arguing that it unfairly forces a choice between aiding disaster victims and undermining public education. Despite opposition, a poll shows 67% of Tennesseans support school choice.

Read the full article

The post Tennessee Democrats blast Lee special session | Tennessee appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com

News from the South - Tennessee News Feed

Gov. Lee's proposed budget includes $1 billion loan for capital projects, $1 billion to TDOT

Published

on

www.wkrn.com – Tori Gessner – 2025-02-11 17:40:00

SUMMARY: Tennessee may secure a $930 million loan to fund state and higher education construction projects, allowing cash to be allocated for road improvements amidst rising construction costs. Governor Bill Lee’s proposed $59.5 billion budget includes no tax cuts but earmarks funding for 100 new Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers and $1 billion for the Department of Transportation (TDOT), which faces a $38 billion project backlog. The debt would increase annual payments by $61.7 million but maintain the state’s AAA bond rating. Lawmakers will review and adjust the budget before final approval later this legislative session.

Read the full article

The post Gov. Lee's proposed budget includes $1 billion loan for capital projects, $1 billion to TDOT appeared first on www.wkrn.com

Continue Reading

News from the South - Tennessee News Feed

Committee discusses road spending in first look at Lee’s budget | Tennessee

Published

on

www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – 2025-02-11 14:12:00

SUMMARY: During the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee’s review of Gov. Bill Lee’s $59.5 billion budget, members requested details on road projects funded by an additional $1 billion and $80 million redirected from tire sales. Commissioner Jim Bryson emphasized that much of the $30 billion earmarked for roads addresses maintenance of aging infrastructure. Concerns arose about transparency in the Department of Transportation’s budget, with Sen. Ken Yager noting the difficulty in tracking expenditures. Sen. Jeff Yarbro highlighted the ongoing struggles with highway funding, indicating that current measures may be inadequate for long-term solutions.

Read the full article

The post Committee discusses road spending in first look at Lee’s budget | Tennessee appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com

Continue Reading

News from the South - Tennessee News Feed

Tennessee’s medical research is in limbo while the Trump administration considers illegal budget cuts

Published

on

wpln.org – Catherine Sweeney – 2025-02-11 13:05:00

SUMMARY: The Trump administration plans to significantly reduce National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, risking over 9,000 jobs in Tennessee that rely on approximately $700 million annually. The cuts will particularly affect funding for indirect costs vital for lab operations, impacting major universities like Vanderbilt and smaller towns. NIH supports diverse projects, including cancer care improvements at St. Jude and Alzheimer’s pain management research at the University of Tennessee. After a coalition of 22 states filed a lawsuit, a federal judge temporarily halted cuts, stressing the need for adequate resources to conduct medical research. Compliance with the ruling remains uncertain.

Read the full article

The post Tennessee’s medical research is in limbo while the Trump administration considers illegal budget cuts appeared first on wpln.org

Continue Reading

Trending