Tennessee
State takeover of MSCS top GOP priority in 2026 Tennessee legislative session
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – The new year could bring drastic, new oversight to Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
When the state legislature reconvenes for the new session next month, Republicans are laser-focused on passing legislation that allows the state to take over MSCS.
Action News 5 talked to the local GOP leader behind the renewed push to find out what’s changed since last year’s takeover effort failed. During the previous legislative session, the House and Senate versions of the plan differed, and lawmakers could not reach a consensus.
Representative Mark White of Memphis is now proposing that instead of forming an advisory council to guide the Memphis-Shelby County School Board, the state should form a management board—a panel of education experts from Shelby County.
White says they’ll be handpicked by the governor and speakers of the House and Senate. This group will have a lot more power to tell the local school board what to do, and it will have the power to pick a new director of schools.
“What we’re trying to do is break down the bureaucracy in a decades-old system,” Rep. White told Action News 5 during a Zoom interview on December 23.
He says he is more determined than ever before to put people, chosen exclusively by Republicans, in charge of educating 100,000 students in a Democratic-majority city.
“We’re gonna put in some really first-class people, and we need to make it worth their time,” said White. “[So] that they can come in, much like there’s a model going on down in Houston where they’ve done this, and after two years, they do not have any failing schools.“
But veteran school board member Michelle McKissack points to the failure of the ASD, the Achievement School District, as an example of why the state seizing control of Memphis schools won’t work.
Tennessee took over 30 of the lowest-performing MSCS schools in 2012. A decade later, research suggests ASD did not improve student performance, and may have actually led to worse test scores in the high schools.
Commissioner McKissack told Action News 5 in a statement:
“If our priority is students and helping them, then a state takeover does not do that. I believe it will lead to more instability in the district with more change in leadership with a managing board that has no real connection or accountability to the community.
We are playing whack-a-mole with what the problem is…from shortening the terms of five board members to a state audit of the school district. The state has succeeded in getting all nine seats on the next ballot and an audit is still underway. At the bare minimum, the state should let all of that play out to see what the next steps should be.”
MSCS Commissioner Towanna Murphy also sent a statement to Action News 5.
“It is disconcerting to learn that the state continues to pursue takeover efforts. This matter is unrelated to the termination of our former superintendent. The motivation behind this action appears to be financial gain and authority. The state’s previous attempt at control was marked by significant failures.
The potential impact on our children is substantial, and it’s concerning this seems to be of little consequence. Despite our collaborative efforts to find a mutually beneficial solution, our schools are thriving without state intervention.
We believe it would be in the best interest for the state to focus on their own responsibilities, however the prospect of a $2 billion budget appears to be a driving factor. Ultimately this appears to be more about personal interests and less about the well-being of our children.”
Rep. White says in a district where three out of four students cannot read on grade level, and only 20% can do math at grade level, the state’s priorities will include:
- Increasing literacy rates by the 3rd grade
- Boosting math scores
- Plus streamlining and modernizing MSCS buildings
“I don’t want this school legislation to divide people. I want it to bring people together. Because it’s that important for the young people in our community,” said White. “We can do this, and we have a golden opportunity right now to do a better job for the future of our city.”
State lawmakers return to Nashville for the start of the new session on January 13.
Action News 5 reached out to Interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond’s administration for comment, and did not get a response by our Tuesday night deadline.
Click here to sign up for our newsletter!
Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please include the headline.
Copyright 2025 WMC. All rights reserved.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A bill moving through the Tennessee Legislature could reshape how pharmacies do business in the state, with CVS warning it could lead to widespread store closures.
The Tennessee Senate has passed legislation that would change the way pharmacies can operate. The proposal has been dubbed “the CVS bill” because it directly impacts the drugstore chain.
Under the bill, drugstores would no longer be allowed to negotiate prices directly with insurance providers or government programs. Instead, a third party would be required to step in.
The bill is now under debate in the House. CVS says the change would force more than 100 of its pharmacies to close across Tennessee, but lawmakers disagree.
Tennessee football star Jermod McCoy is the player who will likely hear his name called first from the Tennessee program in the upcoming NFL Draft. There are many teams he would fit well, but these three teams are the teams I believe he is the best fit with at this moment.
1. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are in need of a cornerback in the draft class, and they are likely to spend one of their first two picks on one. They are selecting at No. 12 and No. 20 in the draft as of now, and McCoy could hear his name called. He would be joining a decent group of cornerbacks, but he would be an immediate starter, likely alongside a later selection that they make with a cornerback.
It would be shocking if the Cowboys pass on him if they select at 12 and he is still on the board. McCoy would be an immediate starter and would be someone who could shut down a whole side of the field for the Cowboys early in his career.
2. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins is one of the better fits for Jermod McCoy, and it would make the most sense, as the Dolphins could use almost every position after a major haul of their players. They are in a major rebuilding phase and drafting at No. 11 leaves many to believe that McCoy could be in play.
McCoy would likely be their No. 1 cornerbakc the day he got to the franchise, and would have the chance to dominate the way he did in his one season on the field with the Vols. This selection would depend on who drops out of the first ten selections. If he is one of the better players remaining (highly likely) he very well could hear his name called at pick 11.
3. New York Jets
The New York Jets have the chance to be very good when it comes to the draft, as they are drafting at both No. 2 and No. 16. I believe they will be looking to get a cornerback with their No. 16 pick, which would make a lot of sense considering they had to get rid of Sauce Gardner.
McCoy would be the perfect replacement, as they could find themselves in one of the better situations on the defensive side of the football. He can shutdown a side of the field, and I would bet that he would be a great fit with the Jets because of that exactly.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
Tennessee
Nashville Sounds and Autism Tennessee partner to host inclusive Beyond the Label Day for local children
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — At a ballpark built for noise, there is space for something quieter.
During the Nashville Sounds’ “Beyond the Label Day,” kids are learning, playing and experiencing baseball in a way that works for them. Autism Tennessee volunteers stepped in to guide kids through sensory play designed to calm and focus.
From spinning toys to textured fidgets, these tools help turn overwhelming moments into manageable ones. Children engaged with the activities, pointing out shapes like a circle, noticing items like candies, and expressing how nice the experience was.
Adam English, general manager of the Nashville Sounds, said making space for everyone is the goal, even as the stadium announcer calls another Sounds strikeout.
“It’s important for us to raise awareness about autism, but also just make sure that First Horizon Park is an inclusive place for everybody” English said.
The Sounds stadium even has a sensory room for families at every game.
“There’s huge baseball fans that sometimes shy away because of loud crowds and we want to make sure every game out here available” English said.
For Autism Tennessee leaders like Jessica Moore, days like this are about more than awareness. They are about belonging.
“Typically events like this can be super overwhelming… so this is just a way for people to feel like they can come and still be successful” Moore said.
What are your thoughts on making sports venues more inclusive for all fans? Watch the video to see the sensory room in action, and share your experiences with me at kim.rafferty@NewsChannel5.com.
In this article, we used artificial intelligence to help us convert a video news report originally written by Kim Rafferty. When using this tool, both Kim Rafferty and the NewsChannel 5 editorial team verified all the facts in the article to make sure it is fair and accurate before we published it. We care about your trust in us and where you get your news, and using this tool allows us to convert our news coverage into different formats so we can quickly reach you where you like to consume information. It also lets our journalists spend more time looking into your story ideas, listening to you and digging into the stories that matter.
Checking in on Cole: Gallatin rallies around teen battling brain tumor with prayer vigil
Austin Pollack brings us an update on a remarkable young man facing great odds, and his family has one simple request: pray for Cole. I believe in the power of prayer and hope you’ll join me in lifting up Cole and his family.
– Carrie Sharp
-
Technology3 minutes agoThe Vergecast Vergecast, 2026 edition
-
World9 minutes agoMexico pyramid shooter who took hostages and killed 1 is identified
-
Politics15 minutes agoByron Donalds cracks down on persistent border blind spot leaving US vulnerable to overstays
-
Health21 minutes agoHealthy diets spark lung cancer risk in non-smokers as pesticides loom
-
Sports27 minutes agoPGA Tour signals new era with axing of Hawaii events from schedule
-
Technology33 minutes agoAlexa+ lets you order food like a real conversation
-
Business39 minutes agoNew lawsuit alleges Uber is violating drivers’ rights. Here’s how
-
Entertainment45 minutes agoReview: Trigger warning? ‘For Want of a Horse’ gives new meaning to the term ‘animal lover’