The Tennessee Department of Human Services began issuing partial November SNAP benefits after receiving updated federal guidance related to the ongoing government funding lapse.
President Donald Trump granted a pardon to Rep. Diana Harshbarger’s husband Robert Harshbarger Jr., who served time for health-care fraud.
The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump granted full pardons to former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his ex-chief of staff Cade Cothren following their corruption convictions.
Gov. Bill Lee’s FY26 budget proposal includes $148.6 million in recurring funding for the new Education Freedom Scholarship Program, creating 20,000 scholarships and expanding school choice statewide. The plan marks the largest expansion of education options in Tennessee history.
A federal judge has dismissed Blount Pride’s lawsuit over Tennessee’s drag-performance law, finding no evidence of a real threat or violation of free-speech rights.
The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is warning that SNAP benefits will halt Nov. 1 if the shutdown continues — while an unprecedented partisan message on its website blames Senate Democrats for the lapse, prompting Hatch Act questions and leaving 700,000 Tennesseans at risk of losing food aid.
Tennessee ranks among the least indebted states in the nation, with per-capita debt under $3,000 and AAA credit ratings that reflect decades of cautious fiscal management.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is defending a state law that blocks non-residents from obtaining public records, sparking a First Amendment challenge and renewed debate over transparency.
Former Rep. Robin Smith of Hixson was sentenced to eight months in federal prison for her role in the Phoenix Solutions corruption scheme that ensnared former House Speaker Glen Casada and aide Cade Cothren, closing a chapter on one of Tennessee’s most damaging political scandals.
Nearly 700,000 Tennesseans could lose SNAP benefits Nov. 1 if the federal shutdown continues. Gov. Bill Lee’s administration says it will not use state reserves, leaving households waiting on federal action.