Tennessee
Donald Trump touts endorsement wins in Tennessee, calls Gov. Bill Lee a RINO
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee gives a speech at the 2024 RNC in Milwaukee
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee was among several notable Republicans to speak during Day 2 of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 16.
Former President Donald Trump touted his endorsement wins in Tennessee and called Gov. Bill Lee a Republican in Name Only.
Trump took the swing at Lee in a social media post when namechecking Bobby Harshbarger, the Kingsport pharmacist who toppled incumbent state Sen. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, the powerful chair of the Senate Education Committee.
Harshbarger, the son of U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, had nabbed a Trump endorsement in the race while Lee backed Lundberg, one of the more influential senators at the General Assembly and a key ally in his quest to establish a statewide school voucher program.
“I went 10 for 10 on endorsements tonight in the Great State of Tennessee, including Bobby Harshbarger, running against a strong, long-term incumbent supported by RINO Governor Bill Lee. A Great Day for Tennessee–now on to a Complete and Total Victory in November. MAGA 2024,” Trump posted on Truth Social following the election.
The comment highlights Trump’s willingness to lash out at even close allies. Lee, a deeply conservative Republican who chairs the Republican Governor’s Association, has backed Trump and even traveled to Milwaukee in July to help kick off the Republican National Convention.
“I certainly respect President Trump’s decisions to weigh in to races,” Lee told The Tennessean in Milwaukee when asked if he wished Trump hadn’t waded into a local race. “That being said, I’m grateful for Jon Lundberg’s work and what he’s done to work with us. I’ll continue to do everything I can to make sure he gets reelected.”
GREENBRIER, Tenn. (WSMV) – A Middle Tennessee man is facing a 64-count indictment involving child sex crime charges, according to the Greenbrier Police Department.
GPD reports that James Mackenzie Gay was indicted by a Robertson County grand jury following an investigation by the department’s Criminal Investigations Division.
Investigators arrested Gay on Wednesday and he’s now being held at the Robertson County Jail.
Gay has been indicted on the following charges, according to GPD:
- 20 counts of aggravated sexual battery involving a child under 13
- 36 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, possession
- 5 counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, production
- 1 count of solicitation of a minor for rape of a child
- 1 count of sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means
- 1 count of criminal attempted sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means
GPD expressed its gratitude to the 19th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Robertson County Child Advocacy Center for their assistance in this case.
No other information has been released at this time.
Copyright 2026 WSMV. All rights reserved.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — On the fourth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Tennessee Republicans unveiled a new monument at the State Capitol honoring unborn children.
The Roe v. Wade decision allowed states to set their own abortion laws and triggered Tennessee’s Human Life Protection Act, which bans nearly all elective abortions in the state. The law has saved about 10,000 lives each year since taking effect, according to Tennessee Right to Life.
The Tennessee Monument to Unborn Children is located on the southeast side of the Capitol grounds. Lawmakers say it recognizes unborn children whose lives ended through abortion and serves as a place for reflection and remembrance.
The monument was approved by the General Assembly in 2018 and was paid for entirely through private donations.
Republican leaders said the monument reflects Tennessee’s commitment to protecting unborn children and honoring the value of human life.
See Dolly Parton celebrate Tennessean Travel Stop grand opening
The country music legend opened the first location of her Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee.
CORNERSVILLE, Tenn. — Out on the street, the traffic started jumpin’ as travelers made their way to Dolly Parton’s Tennessean Travel Stop on opening day.
“Dolly is on her way,” Tennessean Travel Stop owner Gregory Sachs told the media gathered at the new truck destination in Cornersville, saying Parton would cut the ribbon at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24.
The anticipation had been building all morning at the new roadside destination along Interstate 65. The 80-year-old country legend arrived wearing a blue-and-pink fringe ensemble, complete with her signature stiletto heels.
The “9 to 5” singer used the moment to make a playful quip about travel stop competitor Buc-ee’s.
“I’m sure some of you want to know why I wanted a truck stop,” Parton said. “Well, I couldn’t leave it to beavers.”
Parton ended the brief ceremony with a ribbon cutting, marked by an explosion of multicolored confetti featuring her signature butterfly.
The message drew cheers from guests who had spent the afternoon exploring the property, sampling food from DLY BBQ and trying a “Cup of Ambition” coffee, waiting to see whether Parton would make an appearance. Earlier promotional materials for the grand opening had stated that the country music icon would not attend the public festivities.
The appearance marks one of only a handful of public events for Parton in 2026.
In March, the East Tennessee star returned to Dollywood to launch the theme park’s 41st season after stepping back from several appearances while recovering from health issues and grieving the death of her husband, Carl Dean. During that appearance, Parton told fans she had been rebuilding herself “spiritually, emotionally and physically.”
Parton, who has been open about dealing with kidney stones, said in May that she is working with doctors after “my immune system and my digestive system got all out of whack over the past three years.”
What is Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop?
Located at Exit 22 off Interstate 65 in Cornersville, Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop officially opened to the public on June 24. The flagship location is a partnership between Parton, her longtime manager Danny Nozell and Gregory H. Sachs, owner of the Tennessean Travel Stop brand.
Inspired by Parton’s decades spent traveling the country by tour bus and her East Tennessee roots, the destination combines fuel services, food, shopping, live music and Tennessee-themed hospitality.
Bryan West is a music reporter at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.
-
Minnesota1 minute agoRationalizing Charlotte’s Shocking Decision to Trade LaMelo Ball to Minnesota
-
Mississippi7 minutes agoMississippi Legislature will talk school choice, redistricting in 2027
-
Missouri14 minutes agoMissouri Highway Patrol investigating KCPD officer involved shooting
-
Montana17 minutes ago
Montana DEQ works toward impairment designation for Big Hole River
-
Nebraska22 minutes agoTunnel Talk: 5-for-5 impact on Nebraska volleyball, reseat update
-
Nevada29 minutes agoTerrible’s takeover of Primm gets Nevada regulatory approval
-
New Hampshire32 minutes agoNational Guard Helicopter Rescues 80-Year-Old Canadian Hiker From New Hampshire Peak
-
New Jersey37 minutes agoNew Jersey Hall of Fame Announces Incoming 2026 Class of Inductees
