SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, Tenn. — A state lawmaker who represents constituents on Signal Mountain is explaining why she chose not to vote yes or no on Tennessee’s controversial redistricting plan.

State Rep. Michele Reneau (R-Signal Mountain) voted “present not voting” as the House approved a new congressional map during a heated special session.

In a statement, Reneau says the decision reflected concerns about both the process and what happened inside the Capitol.

“I had serious concerns about the timing, process, and unintended consequences,” she said.

Reneau also pointed to the tone of the debate.

She said she did not want her vote to be seen as supporting “the messaging, tactics, or behavior being used by protesters throughout this week.”

Rep. Greg Vital of Hamilton County also voted ‘present.’

We have reached out to his office several times. We will share his explanation in this story if and when we hear back.

The redistricting plan, which has now passed both chambers and is headed to the governor’s desk, reshapes districts across the state, including breaking up the Memphis-based district.

The vote came amid protests, demonstrations and intense debate at the State Capitol.

Reneau says her vote was not about avoiding the issue.

“My vote was not a refusal to take the issue seriously,” she said. “It was a deliberate vote reflecting the complexity of the issue.”

The plan has sparked strong reactions across Tennessee.

Some Democrats have filed legal challenges to block the new map before the next election.

Others have raised concerns about representation, while some lawmakers have floated broader ideas, including changes to how regions are governed.

Depend on us to keep you posted.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The University of Tennessee, Knoxville will celebrate its biggest graduating class yet later this month.

The flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System announced Thursday that approximately 9,000 graduates will be honored across 10 commencement ceremonies from May 14-17.

Tennessee’s student population has grown significantly in recent years, with total enrollment topping 40,000 for the first time for the fall 2025 semester. In 2020, Tennessee’s enrollment was 30,000.

UT had a record-number of first-year applications from the class of 2029 with nearly 63,000 and received 5,300 transfer applications, the most ever.

Two new residents halls opened prior to the fall 2025 semester and the university plans to build new residence halls to replace North Carrick, South Carrick and Reese Hall. Following the recent demolition of Melrose Hall, a 116,000-square-foot student success is expected to open during the Fall 2027 semester.

Ceremonies will take place at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center with the exception of the College of Veterinary Medicine Ceremony, which will take place at the Alumni Memorial Building auditorium. Visit the commencement website for scheduling details, and parking information.

Tennessee Republicans have passed a new congressional map that would crack Memphis’ Shelby County into three different districts, in an effort to eliminate the state’s lone remaining Democratic-held seat.

Currently, Tennessee is represented by eight Republicans and one Democrat.

The district that includes Memphis is majority Black, and Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee called a special legislative session to consider a new congressional map after the U.S. Supreme Court last week weakened the Voting Rights Act’s protections against racial discrimination in redistricting.

Thursday’s legislative votes came amid protests at the state capitol, and after a walkout by Democrats.

State Rep. Justin Pearson, a Memphis Democrat, called the new district maps “racist tools of white supremacy” in House testimony.

Tennessee GOP lawmakers defended the new map, saying their goal is partisan, to send an all-Republican delegation to Washington, D.C.

President Trump has urged Tennessee and other GOP-led states to redraw their maps before this fall’s midterm elections, as part of his mid-decade redistricting push. Earlier Thursday, Tennessee Gov. Lee signed a bill that repealed a state law prohibiting mid-decade redistricting.

Republican lawmakers in other southern states, including Louisiana and Alabama, are moving to eliminate other majority-Black, Democratic-held districts in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision.

Before last week’s ruling, Republicans likely held a narrow lead in mid-decade redistricting — creating districts they can more easily flip to their side — by a few seats over Democratic counter-efforts. Now that lead could double, to perhaps six or seven seats. And that’s if a pro-Democratic redistricting measure approved by voters in Virginia holds up in state court.

With reporting by WPLN’s Marianna Bacallao