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House kills anti-reparations bill despite lawmaker's effort to save it • Tennessee Lookout

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2 years ago

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House kills anti-reparations bill despite lawmaker's effort to save it • Tennessee Lookout


UPDATED: This story has been updated to reflect a House vote to table the anti-reparations bill.

The Tennessee House voted 52-43 Wednesday to defeat an anti-reparations bill despite the efforts by an East Tennessee House Republican to resurrect the measure.

Before introducing the bill, Republican Rep. John Ragan of Oak Ridge circulated a letter to colleagues seeking their support in passing House Bill 474 to stop counties from looking into reparations and disbursing money to those whose family members were enslaved. 

The measure passed in the Senate on a 26-6 vote but got hung up in the House. Republican Rep. Sam Whitson called for a vote to table Ragan’s legislation.

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In response, Ragan told the chamber that people shouldn’t be forced to pay for the wrongdoing of their ancestors. He pointed out that all Japanese shouldn’t be blamed for the bombing of Pearl Harbor and all Muslims shouldn’t be held responsible for the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.

Ragan noted in the letter that state Sen. Brent Taylor of Memphis brought him the bill and said he will not back down from resistance. He also accused opponents of “blatant bullying and immoral tactics.”

“Frankly, two opposition caucus members have unashamedly engaged in such, hurling repugnant insults and racial slurs in the “People’s House” – apparently without penalty,” Ragan’s letter says. “Regrettably, other members of their caucus have failed to demonstrate the moral courage to oppose such a degradation of our state’s great institution. In fact, some have even supported these actions openly.”

Ragan also said the press, “always hungry for salacious sensationalism and manufactured controversy,” blew the matter out of proportion, causing some lawmakers to consider support of the bill a threat to their re-election.

Democratic Reps. Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin J. Pearson of Memphis have been outspoken foes of the bill. 

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Pearson said shortly before the Wednesday vote, “I am hopeful that this racist bill will be tabled.”

Ragan’s letter asks Republican colleagues to vote their conscience and notes, “It is a good and just bill that helps Tennessee and deserves a vote.”



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Tennessee

Vols Make Splash Hire With Jim Knowles | VFL Kevin Burnett Talks Tennessee Football | The RTI Low Down | Rocky Top Insider

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11 hours ago

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December 14, 2025

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Vols Make Splash Hire With Jim Knowles | VFL Kevin Burnett Talks Tennessee Football | The RTI Low Down | Rocky Top Insider


RTI Low-Down
The RTI Low-Down with Bob Baskerville and Chris Low. Episodes are available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify platforms.

On this week’s episode of The RTI Low Down, Bob Baskerville and Chris Low are diving into a huge week for the Tennessee Football program.

The guys start the show by discussing the Vols’ big move to fire Tim Banks and the splash hire in acquiring defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

Bob and Chris are then joined by VFL and SEC Legend Kevin Burnett to talk about his time on Rocky Top, his thoughts on playing under defensive coordinators, Josh Heupel’s current team, and more.

The guys close down the show by breaking down Tennessee’s 2026 schedule, Vol Hoops’ tough test on the hardwood this week, and much more. Download and subscribe TODAY!

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The RTI Low-Down is brought to you by the Tate Insurance Group. Find out more information at www.tateinsurancegroup.com

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More from RTI: Tennessee Football 2025 Transfer Tracker – Who has Announced They’re Entering the Portal So Far

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0:00 Intro
8:30 Tennessee Fires Tim Banks, Hires Jim Knowles
21:25 VFL Kevin Burnett Talks Vol Football!
43:20 UT 2026 Schedule
50:17 Tennessee Basketball Faces Huge Test on Tuesday
1:01:06 Close



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Remembering one of Middle Tennessee’s largest tornado outbreaks 4 years later

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23 hours ago

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December 14, 2025

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Remembering one of Middle Tennessee’s largest tornado outbreaks 4 years later


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Four years ago, Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky were impacted by one of the largest tornado outbreaks on record. On Dec. 10 and 11, 2021, a tornado outbreak impacted areas from Arkansas and Missouri all the way into northern Indiana and Ohio. There was a total of 66 tornadoes; 16 of […]



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Tracking Music City Bowl opt outs for Tennessee and Illinois

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1 day ago

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December 13, 2025

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Tracking Music City Bowl opt outs for Tennessee and Illinois


Tracking the opt outs for both Tennessee and Illinois before the Music City Bowl on December 30 (5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville:

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Linebacker Arion Carter: Carter over the last seasons had 96 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 31 career games. He had a team-high 76 tackles this season, with 6.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks while appearing in 10 games. He missed two games and was limited against Oklahoma in November while dealing with turf toe injuries. Carter had 68 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss in 13 games last season and 17 tackles and 1.0 tackles for loss in eight games as a freshman in 2023. 

Wide Receiver Chris Brazzell II: He a breakout senior season in his second year with the Vols, catching 62 passes for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns. He had 19 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns in 2024, after transferring from Tulane. In 15 games at Tulane he caught 45 passes for 722 yards and five touchdowns. Brazzell is ranked No. 7 at wide receiver on Mel Kiper Jr.’s NFL Draft Big Board. He’s ranked No. 34 overall on ESPN’s list of the best available prospects in the draft.

Cornerback Jermod McCoy: Did not play this season after tearing his ACL during offseason training in January. He was a star last season with 44 tackles, nine passes defended and four interceptions. He had 31 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games as a freshman at Oregon State before transferring to Tennessee. 

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Illinois

Offensive Tackle J.C. Davis: Bret Bielema said the Illinois starting left tackle is opting out of the Music City Bowl. He was an All-Big Ten First Team pick by the league coaches this season and the No. 3 left tackle this season according to Pro Football Focus grades. He had made 49 straight starts before opting out of the bowl game.

EDGE Gabe Jacas: The Illinois outside linebacker declared for the NFL Draft on Friday night. He led the Big Ten this season with 11.0 sacks. He had 13.5 tackles for loss and 43 total tackles in 12 games this season. He finishes second in Illinois program history for career sacks, with 27.0, trailing only Simeon Rice. Jacas had 74 tackles, 8.0 sacks and 13.0 tackles for loss last season, after combining for 8.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss in his first two seasons at Illinois.



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