Tennessee
Here are a few key Tennessee Legislative races to follow on Election Day
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — When it comes to the control of the Tennessee Legislature, our political analyst Pat Nolan thinks it will remain comfortably in Republican hands.
“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time, and this is a big elephant,” said Nolan.
That being said, he thinks both parties have some tight races, where they’ll have the chance to flip some seats.
District 75 in Clarksville
Allie Phillips, the Democratic nominee in House District 75 in Clarksville, got national attention for having to seek an abortion out of state. She was told by doctors her child wouldn’t survive birth.
She’s taking on Republican incumbent Rep. Jeff Burkhart, a former fireman, Clarksville businessman and former Clarksville City Councilmember. Republican insiders think Burkart’s seat is likely safe, but Phillips has the advantage when it comes to fundraising.
“She’s outraised her incumbent opponent two to one, is an indication that not only outside money may be coming in, but local money too. That may be a sign of support,” said Nolan.
District 67 in Clarksville
Rep. Ronnie Glynn, the Democratic incumbent in the House District 67 race, is a business owner and military veteran. He’s being challenged by Republican nominee Jamie Dean Peltz. Peltz works in the healthcare field and volunteers with non-profits in the community.
Glynn only won the 2022 election by about 150 votes, so this race could be razor tight as well.
District 49 in Smyrna
Pat is also watching Smyrna’s House District 49 race, where community organizer Luis Mata, who works with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) won the Democratic nomination. He’s challenging Republican incumbent Rep. Mike Sparks, a longtime businessman and former Rutherford County Commissioner.
Smyrna has long been a Republican stronghold, but Nolan wonders if the district may be turning a little more purple.
“Over time, the demographics in that district might become a little more Democratic there,” said Nolan.
District 60 in Hermitage/Old Hickory
Former staffer for Republican Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton, Chad Bobo, is the Republican nominee in the Hermitage House District 60 Race. He’s taking on Shaundelle Brooks, the mother of Alkilah Desilva, who was tragically killed in the 2018 Waffle House shooting.
There’s no incumbent in this race, with longtimeRep. Darren Jernigan deciding to not seek another term and work in Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s administration. But Nolan thinks Brook’s appeal for gun safety could be compelling in this race.
“Running around town in Nashville, particularly after what happened in the Covenant shooting, that has a lot of bipartisan elements in it too,” he said.
Early Voting in Tennessee ends October 31st. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th.
Tennessee
$660,000 Daily Tennessee Jackpot winner in La Vergne – WBBJ TV
INCLUDES NEWS RELEASE FROM TENNESSEE EDUCATION LOTTERY
LOTTERY WINNER NEWS
Jan. 11, 2025
$660,000 DAILY TENNESSEE JACKPOT WINNER IN LA VERGNE
LA VERGNE– Congrats to a lucky Daily Tennessee Jackpot player in La Vergne, who won the game’s jackpot of $660,000 from the drawing held last night, Jan. 10.
The winning ticket was sold at Walmart Supercenter, 5511 Murfreesboro Road in La Vergne.
Daily Tennessee Jackpot is a Tennessee-only game with drawings held every day. Tickets are just a dollar per play, and for an extra dollar, players can add Quick Cash for the chance to win up to $500 instantly.
No additional information is available until the prize is claimed.
About the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation
The Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation operates from the revenue it generates through the sale of its products. Since January 20, 2004, the Lottery has raised more than $8 billion to fund designated education programs, including college grants, scholarships, and K-12 after-school programs. In addition to the educational beneficiaries, players have won more than $22 billion in prizes and Lottery retailers have earned more than $2.1 billion in commissions.
For more Tennessee news stories, click here.
Tennessee
Tennessee mom loses leg in attack by her own pit bull that left limb ‘basically hanging off’
A Tennessee mom was forced to have her leg amputated after her pit bull savagely locked its jaws around the limb, leaving it “hanging on by a thread” as she tried to break up a dogfight inside her home.
Amanda Mears, 42, was preparing to take her mixed American Pit Bull-American Staffordshire, named Dennis, out for a walk when the dog lunged at Ralphie, an American Bully, after he escaped from a bedroom where he had been kept inside her Murfreesboro home, according to The Mirror.
As Mears, a health care worker, tried to intervene in the vicious attack, Dennis clamped onto her left leg and refused to release his grip, prompting her to choke the animal with her other leg to break free.
“When he charged at my other dog, Ralphie, I got in between them, and that’s when Dennis latched on to my leg and would not let go,” she told the outlet of the terrifying Dec. 10 incident.
“I was a bit scared, but I’ve broken up dog fights before, and I didn’t feel any pain because of the adrenaline. I ended up having to hook my right leg and my arms around him and choked him out to get him off me.”
She said the pit bull also bit her left hand and crushed the bone in her right arm — injuries she didn’t even realize she’d suffered amid her chaotic attempt to pry her dog’s jaws loose while also yelling at her 10-year-old son to stay in his room.
Once Mears finally broke free, she was rushed to a Nashville hospital, where her mangled leg was practically “hanging off.” Doctors told her she could either amputate the limb or undergo a series of painful surgeries over the next two years, the outlet reported.
“I wasn’t able to stand up because my leg was basically hanging off,” Mears, who has four dogs and also homes canines abandoned by their previous owners, recalled.
“I decided to have my leg amputated because to save my leg, I’d have had to have 12 more surgeries over the next two years and I would be in constant pain.”
Mears had her leg removed below the knee three days later and underwent surgery on her arms, according to a GoFundMe launched to help with her medical expenses.
She is also expected to be fitted for a prosthetic.
After spending a week in the hospital, the single mom chose to euthanize Dennis to keep her son safe.
“Dennis has always been the sweetest dog; he’d never been aggressive before,” she told the outlet.
“I decided to have Dennis put down, which was hard. He was my best friend, and I raised him from two weeks old. It was a decision that hurt, but it was not a difficult decision.”
Tennessee
Tennessee football beats out Ohio State for a top transfer portal target
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Tennessee football beat out Ohio State for transfer edge rusher Chaz Coleman, giving the Vols one of the top players in the portal.
Coleman spent one season at Penn State. With the Nittany Lions, the former four-star prospect collected eight tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble in nine games.
Coleman is a native of Warren, Ohio. His offer sheet out of Harding High School included Ohio State, Missouri, Illinois, Ole Miss and Kentucky, among others.
In Coleman’s lone season at Penn State, the Nittany Lions saw a plethora of change.
Former head coach James Franklin was fired in mid-October after a 3-3 start. After finishing the season with an interim staff, Penn State hired Matt Campbell as its next head coach.
The change in staff also led to the departure of Jim Knowles — Penn State’s defensive coordinator who served in that role at Ohio State from 2022-24. He’s not at Tennessee.
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