Tennessee
New Tennessee House rules seek to discourage more uproar after highly publicized expulsions – WBBJ TV
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Republican-run Tennessee House has capped how long lawmakers can debate bills and is restricting members from speaking when deemed “out of order.” The new rules passed Wednesday were opposed by many Democrats, including three targeted with expulsion last April for their gun control protest on the House floor just days after a deadly shooting at a Christian elementary school in Nashville. The new rules generally limit each lawmaker to five minutes of discussion per item being considered. They also allow the House speaker to set an overall time limit split evenly between Democrats and Republicans.
Members of the House of Representatives meet on the first day of the 2024 legislative session Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Republican-run Tennessee House on Wednesday installed new rules limiting how long lawmakers can debate bills and restricting members deemed “out of order” from speaking — an effort to discourage further turmoil after the highly publicized expulsions of two Democrats last year.
The wide-ranging set of rule changes was opposed by many Democrats, including the “Tennessee Three”: Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, Rep. Justin Jones from Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis, who waged a protest on the House floor last April calling for gun control just days after a Christian elementary school shooting in Nashville killed six people.
After the protest, Johnson was spared from expulsion by a single vote, while Jones and Pearson were kicked out, quickly reappointed by local officials and then reelected.
The rules approved Wednesday differed somewhat from those temporarily passed for a special legislative session in August called by Republican Gov. Bill Lee in response to The Covenant School shooting. Notably, Republican lawmakers did not reinstate a prohibition on the public holding small signs during committee hearings and floor sessions — a ban a Tennessee judge had blocked.
The rule changes come as the Republican House supermajority is receiving criticism for further limiting access to the public galleries and restricting which news outlets can access the floor.
Under the new rules, each lawmaker will generally have five minutes of discussion per each bill, resolution or motion, and the House speaker can set an overall time limit split evenly between Democrats and Republicans. Additionally, lawmakers will have five minutes to explain their bills in committees, though responding to questions won’t count.
Democrats argued the time caps would unnecessarily constrain debates, especially on complex proposals.
“What we do here impacts people’s lives,” said Rep. Vincent Dixie, a Nashville Democrat. “And we need to make sure that we get it right and take the time to get it right.”
Republicans, meanwhile, said a cap would ensure equal speaking time for both sides. Rep. Jason Zachary of Knoxville referenced a list compiled by the House clerk’s office showing that the several lawmakers who spoke the most in debates during the last regular session were Democrats.
In response, Democrats noted that Republicans have frequently asked to end debates and proceed to the vote, including on contentious bills. Those motions are still allowed under the new rules. Additionally, some Democrats said they were proud to have spoken so often about important issues.
House Majority Leader William Lamberth said he hopes the motions to stop debate won’t be used much now.
“I would ask for both caucuses to resist that impulse if we are under a rule that allows for equal time on both sides,” said Lamberth, a Portland Republican.
Lamberth also said the rule changes introduce “intermediary steps” short of expulsion or censure. The new rule would strictly limit lawmakers from speaking on the floor if they are ruled out of order — for instance, if the House speaker declares they have veered too far off topic on a bill.
If the House votes someone out of order once, the lawmaker won’t be allowed to continue their current comments. If it occurs twice in a day, the lawmaker’s time to debate will be reduced from five to two minutes for that day and the next legislative day. A third out-of-order vote during that time frame will block the lawmaker from speaking on the floor through the next legislative day.
“That’s what these rules are designed to do, is to effectively promote the democracy that’s debated in this House,” said Republican Rep. Johnny Garrett of Goodlettsville.
One of the Democrats expelled last year, Jones, said during Wednesday’s debate that House Speaker Cameron Sexton of Crossville was “drunk with power” in changing the rules. Jones was voted out of order and temporarily quieted before the vote on the new rules.
“These rules are targeting anyone who dissents,” Jones told reporters after the vote.
Jones has sued over his expulsion and a temporary special session House rule that Republicans applied to silence Jones for part of one day in August.
Republican leaders also approved other rules changing how lawmakers can ask parliamentary and procedural questions, which some Democrats, including Jones and Pearson, have increasingly posed on the floor about a variety of topics. They now would need to ask them through their party’s floor leader. The rules also let the speaker call on lawmakers in whatever order he chooses, rather than based on who asked to speak first.
For more news across the state, click here.
The Tennessee Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 8, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Cash 3 numbers from March 8 drawing
Evening: 1-8-7, Wild: 8
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from March 8 drawing
Evening: 1-0-9-7, Wild: 7
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Daily Tennessee Jackpot numbers from March 8 drawing
10-19-30-33-35
Check Daily Tennessee Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 8 drawing
01-31-32-45-52, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Tennessee Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Tennessee Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket, a copy of a government-issued ID and proof of social security number to P.O. Box 290636, Nashville, TN 37229. Prize claims less than $600 do not require a claim form. Please include contact information on prizes claimed by mail in the event we need to contact you.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID and proof of social security number to any of these locations:
Nashville Headquarters & Claim Center: 26 Century Blvd., Nashville, TN 37214, 615-254-4946 in the (615) and (629) area, 901-466-4946 in the (901) area, 865-512-4946 in the (865) area, 423-939-7529 in the (423) area or 1-877-786-7529 (all other areas in Tennessee). Outside Tennessee, dial 615-254-4946. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Knoxville District Office: Cedar Springs Shopping Center, 9298 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922, (865) 251-1900. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.
Chattanooga District Office: 2020 Gunbarrel Rd., Suite 106, Chattanooga, TN 37421, (423) 308-3610. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.
Memphis District Office: Chiles Plaza, 7424 U.S. Highway 64, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133, (901) 322-8520. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://tnlottery.com/.
When are the Tennessee Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
- Cash4Life: 9:15 p.m. CT daily.
- Cash 3, 4: Daily at 9:28 a.m. (Morning) and 12:28 p.m. CT (Midday), except for Sunday. Evening game daily, seven days a week, at 6:28 p.m. CT.
- Daily Tennessee Jackpot: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Tennessee Cash: 10:34 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
- Powerball Double Play: 10:30 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Tennessean editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Tennessee
Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell Among Top Projected Fantasy Football Options in 2026 NFL Draft | Rocky Top Insider
Tennessee football is set to send a handful of players from its 2025 roster to the NFL during this upcoming draft. However, one stands out as a potential breakout star for fantasy football players.
Wide receiver Chris Brazzell proved to be one of the top pass catchers in the SEC this past season, leading the conference in yards per game. Now, he’s widely projected as a second-round pick with the potential to even climb into the first round after a strong combine showing.
With the combine in the books and the draft coming up next month, ESPN ranked incoming rookies on their projected fantasy football output. He clocked in at No. 13 and the seventh-highest ranked receiver.
“Brazzell is a tall, perimeter receiver with a big wingspan who will do most of his damage down field (career 14.2 aDOT at Tennessee) and doesn’t offer much after the catch (class-worst 3.6 RAC),” ESPN’s Mike Clay wrote. “He has good speed (4.37 40-yard dash) and may settle in as a boom/bust low-volume, splash-play fantasy option.”
More From RTI: Three Tennessee Football Players Mocked in the First Two Rounds of NFL Draft by ESPN
Brazzell wrapped up his second season with Tennessee in 2025. In 12 games, he produced 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns on 62 receptions. He proved to be an elite deep-ball threat with Joey Aguilar at quarterback and Josh Heupel retooling the offensive scheme.
His best game came against Georgia at home. Brazzell recorded six receptions for 177 yards and three touchdowns in the game. He went over the 100-yard mark four times and over 90 yards five times.
Prior to that, Brazzell played two seasons at Tulane before transferring to join the Vols for their 2024 College Football Playoff campaign.
The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to begin on April 23 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. If Brazzell does fall outside the first round, he’d likely go the following day when rounds two and three are held. The remaining four rounds are the next day.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Antoine Lorick III scored 18 points, and top-seeded Tennessee State beat No. 2 seed Morehead State 93-67 on Saturday night for the Tigers’ first win in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship game since 1994.
Travis Harper II made five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for Tennessee State (23-9), which shot 16 of 26 from long range. Dante Harris and Carlous Williams added 16 points apiece. Aaron Nkrumah chipped in with 14 points and six assists. Harris grabbed 11 of the Tigers’ 44 rebounds.
George Marshall scored 17 points and shot 4 of 9 from beyond the arc to lead Morehead State (20-13). Anouar Mellouk and Davion Cunningham added 12 points each.
The Tigers scored a Division-I program-record 55 points in the first half for a 21-point lead. Harris scored 16 points and shot 4 of 7 from deep. Harper added 15 points on five 3s. Marshall scored 12 first-half points for Morehead State.
TSU entered having won a program-best 15 conference games. The Tigers won back-to-back tournament titles in 1993 and 1994.
The teams split the regular-season series, each winning at home. Tennessee State won the first meeting 105-100 in overtime. Morehead State won the second 94-86.
___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
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