Vice President Kamala Harris is going after more than a 9 to 5 position this November, but she is doing it with the backing of a majority of Tennessee and other United States Democrats.

While Harris has already been voted as the Democratic presidential nominee for 2024, delegates held a “celebratory” roll call vote at the 2024 Democratic National Convention Tuesday night in Chicago. Tennessee lawmaker and native Memphian Justin Pearson was able to help cast Tennessee’s 72 votes for Harris as Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” played in the background.

“We believe that justice will roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream, which is why we are so proud to have been the first state in the union to have planned all of our delegates to Kamala D. Harris,” Pearson said as Parton’s music played in the background.

Before heading to the convention, Person was vocal about his support for Harris and her running mate Tim Walz.

“I am proud to cast my vote at the DNC to officially certify the first woman of color to be the Democratic Party nominee for President — Vice President Kamala Harris,” Pearson said. “Democracy, justice and the soul of our nation are at stake in this election and a vote for Vice President Harris for President and Gov. Tim Walz for Vice President is a vote for democracy, justice and a brighter future for America.

“There is no better leader for our country,” Pearson said in an interview with the Tennessean.

And it won’t be the last time we will see Pearson front and center at the convention this week.

When will Justin Pearson speak at the DNC?

Pearson and state Reps. Gloria Johnson and Justin Jones, who earned the nickname The Tennessee Three in 2023 for standing together and supporting gun control after the Covenant School shooting, are set to speak at the convention on Thursday.

Jones, who represents Nashville, told CNN the trio will address gun violence in the country.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – As the popularity of weight loss drugs increases, so is the number of calls the Tennessee Poison Center is getting about those drugs.

WSMV4 Investigates found that some people in Middle Tennessee are giving themselves too much weight loss medication and ending up in the hospital.

The high demand for drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic led to a nationwide shortage. People are now turning to alternative versions of drugs that are cheaper and easier to get, but local health professionals said they can be risky.

The Tennessee Poison Center had 69 cases in 2023 for exposures to weight loss drugs. In 2017, the year Ozempic was approved by the FDA, that number was zero.

“I think our data is just mimicking the widespread use of these medications,” Dr. Rebecca Bruccoleri with the Tennessee Poison Center said.

With widespread use comes shortages. As NBC News reported this week, some doctors are now embracing compounded versions of the drugs that are essentially a copy of the brand-name medicines.

However, Dr. Bruccoleri pointed out that the alternatives are not FDA-approved.

“I would be concerned about compounded formulations and stick with those that have been manufactured properly,” Bruccoleri said.

Not only are people turning to drug alternatives amid the shortage, but some are also going outside of the traditional healthcare system, like to medspas, to get medication more quickly than they could from a physician.

When people leave with pens and administer their own doses, they risk accidentally giving themselves too much. That is called therapeutic error.

Dr. Bruccoleri said it made up for 73% of cases the poison center saw in 2023.

“It is important that prescribers, pharmacists and patients all work together to make sure patients understand how to use the pens before they go home so these errors don’t happen,” Bruccoleri said.

People who take higher doses than normal experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. People can call the Tennessee Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Copyright 2024 WSMV. All rights reserved.

Tennessee has been slowly rising up ESPN’s 2024 college football power rankings over the offseason, with another bump coming in the final list before the start of the season.

The Vols were slotted at No. 16 in ESPN’s pre-spring football rankings from Mark Schlabach but moved up to No. 15 in the updated post-spring list.

In ESPN’s preseason power rankings from Monday, the Vols have moved up one spot again to No. 14 in the rankings.

While Tennessee’s defensive line is the top unit on the team, all eyes will be on the Vols’ offense with quarterback Nico Iamaleava driving the sports car that is Josh Heupel’s offense. The Vols reloaded with a new receiving threat in Tulane transfer Chris Brazzell before the spring and boast some exciting new running backs to supplement Dylan Sampson’s work.

“Tennessee’s 27 wins in three seasons under Josh Heupel represents the program’s best three-year run since Phil Fulmer won 28 games from 2002 to ’04,” Eli Lederman wrote for ESPN. “Still, pressure hangs over the Volunteers, who enter 2024 with College Football Playoff expectations. Nico Iamaleava takes over under center, tasked with rejuvenating an offense that dipped from its historic 2022 levels last fall, while Dylan Sampson (5.7 yards per carry in 2023) returns in the backfield.”

James Pearce Jr. was recently ranked as ESPN’s top player in college football as he prepares to devastate opposing lines this season en route to the NFL Draft. The Vols’ entire defensive line unit is stout, composed of experienced veterans and talented depth pieces. Tennessee does have question marks in the secondary this season, but a strong pass rush from an impressive defensive line should help things out from time to time.

“There should be stability on the offensive line as LSU transfer Lance Heard settles in next to three returning starters, but Tennessee’s strength lies with a defensive line that led the SEC in tackles for loss in 2023, a group set to be powered again this fall by potential first-round draft pick James Pearce Jr.,” Lederman continued on to say. “A Week 2 neutral-site meeting with NC State will be a litmus test for the Volunteers. Can Tennessee navigate a relatively favorable SEC schedule on the way to the program’s first College Football Playoff appearance?”

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The Vols come in as ESPN’s seventh-highest ranked SEC team on the list behind No. 1 Georgia, No. 4 Texas, No. 5 Alabama, No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 11 Missouri, and No. 13 LSU.

Oklahoma lands at No. 17 followed by Texas A&M at No. 22 to round out the SEC’s nine ranked programs.

Tennessee will start the season as the No. 15 team in the country according to the AP Poll. The Vols have four opponents ranked in the AP Top 25, with NC State landing at No. 24, Oklahoma at No. 16, Alabama at No. 5, and Georgia at No. 1.

See ESPN’s full preseason power rankings here.