Tennessee

Avoid holiday donation Scrooges by following Tennessee Secretary of State’s tips | Opinion

Published

1 year ago

December 5, 2024

Press Room

Avoid holiday donation Scrooges by following Tennessee Secretary of State’s tips | Opinion

Through these wise giving tips, you can treat every day like Christmas morning, give generously, and have a life-changing impact on a neighbor in need through your favorite charitable organization.

Tre Hargett
| Guest Columnist

In the holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol,” the main character − Ebenezer Scrooge − was a miser who hated Christmas. A visit from three spirits, the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come led to Scrooge’s rebirth on Christmas morning, transforming him into a kinder, gentler man.

Unlike Scrooge, Tennesseans don’t need a visit from three spirits to remind them about the true meaning of the season.

National data suggests we are some of the most generous givers to charitable causes in the nation. This distinction comes with a warning − beware of those with bad intentions who would rather operate like cold-hearted misers, exploiting the goodwill and generosity of others.

Pay close attention to the charities to which you donate

Our office strives to help identify these Scrooges through a series of wise giving tips. The goal is to inform and educate consumers to ensure those deciding to give to one of the more than 11,000 active charitable organizations in Tennessee can have the greatest impact with their donation.

Tennesseans should do their research and ensure an entity is registered with the state through our website: https://sos.tn.gov/charities.

They should also say “Bah Humbug!” to anyone pressuring them to give on the spot, ask questions about an organization’s mission, and determine who might benefit from a donation, and how much of their gift will support an individual or cause.

If you donate through an app or website, make sure all personal information provided as part of the process goes directly to the organization receiving your donation.

Ask whether your contribution is tax-deductible and consider using a check or credit card for record-keeping purposes, instead of giving cash.

Lastly, pay close attention to the name of a nonprofit organization. Sometimes these entities have similar names, but that doesn’t mean they are associates − like Jacob Marley and Scrooge.

Tennessee can investigate and pursue violations of the law

Remember, the Division of Business and Charitable Organizations has the authority to investigate and impose civil penalties against groups that violate the Tennessee Charitable Solicitations Act.

If you have questions or concerns, or you think an entity is not operating in good faith, contact us at 615-741-2555.

Through these wise giving tips, you can treat every day like Christmas morning, give generously, and have a life-changing impact on a neighbor in need through your favorite charitable organization.

From all of us in the Tennessee Secretary of State’s office, we wish you a joyful holiday season, and to quote the most famous line from “A Christmas Carol” and the character Tiny Tim, “God bless us, everyone!”

Tre Hargett was elected by the Tennessee General Assembly to serve as the 37th secretary of state in 2009; he has been re-elected to this position in 2013, 2017, and 2021.

Source link

Click to comment

Tennessee

Memphis voters file federal lawsuit against new congressional map, claiming discrimination: ‘White control over Tennessee politics’

Published

8 hours ago

May 12, 2026

Press Room

Memphis voters file federal lawsuit against new congressional map, claiming discrimination: ‘White control over Tennessee politics’

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WSMV) – Three Memphis voters, through the American Civil Liberties Union, have filed a federal lawsuit against Tennessee leaders, claiming the state’s new congressional maps are discriminating against Black voters.

The ACLU announced the lawsuit on Monday, saying that three organizations — the Black Clergy Collaborative of Memphis, the Memphis A. Philip Randolph Institute and the Equity Alliance, are also part of the lawsuit that was filed against Sec. of State Tre Hargett, Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins and several others.

“In May 2026, over the course of mere days, a White-dominated supermajority of the Tennessee General Assembly redrew Tennessee’s congressional map to crack the predominantly Black city of Memphis into three pieces and destroy the only district in which Black voters are able to elect representatives of their choice, shutting Black voters completely out of power in federal elections in Tennessee,” the filing states.

The ACLU and the other plaintiffs echo arguments made by Democrats while the maps were being debated during last week’s special session: “The cracking of Memphis unlawfully targeted Black voters.”

“The new plan carves through the center of Tennessee’s second largest city, dividing neighborhoods that have voted together for decades, splitting numerous counties and precincts, and cutting the Black population into thirds with suspect precision,” the lawsuit says. “The districts then run hundreds of miles east towards the Nashville suburbs, snaking through predominantly White and rural counties to dilute the voting power of now-divided Black Memphians.”

Gov. Bill Lee signed the new congressional map into law last week. The new map splits Shelby County, home of Memphis, into three districts.

Republicans have said the map modernizes the districting process and removes “racial data from the mapmaking process entirely.” Democrats, on the other hand, say that the move is meant to dismantle the Black-majority district.

Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton (R) told WSMV that Republicans “have been very clear” on their intention to secure a ninth Republican seat in the state. He has said the map would help “ensure the state’s representation in Washington reflects its conservative values.”

The lawsuit draws significant attention to the racial makeup of Tennessee lawmakers, describing, “White control over Tennessee politics.” Plaintiffs allege that a white majority “faction” of state leaders “gave bizarre, robotic answers to the most basic questions about the map they were sponsoring.”

“None of the sponsors of the plan would admit who actually drew it, and the lead Senate sponsor—a White legislator with over a decade of service in the Tennessee General Assembly who had attended law school in Memphis — would not say whether Memphis was predominantly Black and claimed not to know that Congressional District 9 was a majority- Black district,” the filing says.

They seem to be referencing Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon), who was asked during the special session if he was aware that the majority of the residents in the ninth district are Black.

“I’m not aware,” he responded. “I know how the map is divided, but I don’t know the racial makeup of the map.”

Stevens got his juris doctorate from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.

The three Memphis residents who took part in the lawsuit are Amber Sherman, a lifelong resident of Memphis and the lead Tennessee regional organizer for Black Voters Matter Fund, Rachael Spriggs, a Memphis resident for more than 20 years who is the director of Power Building for the Equity Alliance, and Kermit Moore, a nearly lifelong resident of Memphis who is the president of the Memphis A. Philip Randolph Institute.

The lawsuit claims intentional discrimination in violation of the 14th and 15th Amendments, as well as retaliation for protected expression and association in violation of the First Amendment.

Plaintiffs are asking the court to declare that the newly drawn map is unconstitutional and restore district lines before primary elections proceed.

Source link

Tennessee

New Tennessee law allows K9 officers to be transported by helicopter, ambulance to vet

Published

20 hours ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

New Tennessee law allows K9 officers to be transported by helicopter, ambulance to vet

Tennessee State Senators Michele Reneau of Signal Mountain and Bo Watson of Hixson spoke today about the new law supporting police K-9’s.

The act allows injured dogs to get stabilization services on-site and then be transported via ambulance or helicopter to a vet hospital.

“In the past, officers were basically putting the k9 in their car and transporting them in their in their own vehicle, they didn’t have an ambulance or an air ambulance,” said Senator Watson. “This allows for an air ambulance. It also allows for a educational program for those in EMS, who will be taught how to manage canines emergency medical condition, which is different than a human’s.”

In April, Erlanger flew a K9 officer from Clay County, to North Carolina.

It was the first time the program was used for a live transport after several training runs.

Source link

Tennessee

What You Need to Know About Tennessee Softball’s Path to Another WCWS | Rocky Top Insider

Published

1 day ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

What You Need to Know About Tennessee Softball’s Path to Another WCWS | Rocky Top Insider

Tennessee softball’s path back to the Women’s College World Series is set. On Sunday night, the Lady Vols were named the No. 7 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and will host the regional stage in Knoxville as it looks to return to the WCWS in back-to-back seasons.

The Lady Vols are matched up with Virginia, Indiana and Northern Kentucky in the regionals. It would play Georgia, Clemson, UNC Greensboro or Charleston in the super regionals.

Ahead of the tournament, here’s a look at each team in the Knoxville Regional and potential matchups for the ensuing best-of-three super regional if Tennessee advances.