Tennessee
Tennessee bill penalizing homelessness passes legislature
Tennessee Republican lawmakers handed laws Monday to make tenting on public property a misdemeanor crime, which critics say successfully criminalizes homelessness.
Below HB978, if an individual camps on the shoulder, right-of-way, bridge, overpass or underpass of a state or interstate freeway, they might face a misdemeanor offense and a $50 advantageous or neighborhood service requirement.
Tennessee Home Republicans on Monday superior the laws, which cleared the Senate final week after a prolonged debate. The laws will now go to Gov. Invoice Lee’s desk.
Sponsors Sen. Paul Bailey, R-Sparta, and Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, have defended the invoice as a device native legislation enforcement may use to handle homelessness.
The laws provides the general public property provision to the Equal Entry to Property Act of 2012, which made tenting on state-owned property a felony. A fiscal assessment of the laws discovered zero convictions beneath the Equal Entry to Property act.
The 2012 legislation additionally gave native governments the power to impound and eliminate tenting tools used on public property that isn’t designated for tenting.
“This could be as much as native authorities as to whether or not they wish to implement this legislation,” Bailey stated throughout a Senate session. “This isn’t necessary, however simply provides them the power to take action.”
Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis, stated he skilled homelessness a number of occasions as a baby and criticized the laws, calling for a extra “compassionate” method.
“Thank God this legislation wasn’t in place the place I used to be dwelling,” Parkinson stated Monday on the Home ground. “These are particular person tales on the market, particular person conditions, and to criminalize people who’re in these conditions is only a horrible, horrible thought. It is not consultant of the values of our state, the values of our individuals right here in Tennessee.”
Advocates making an attempt to handle homelessness have opposed the invoice since its introduction final 12 months.
“If you cannot be in any of these locations, then the place are you imagined to be?” requested Paula Foster, govt director of OpenTable Nashville. “If persons are being criminalized for falling asleep someplace, anyplace … What are we going to do?”
Democrats and a few Republicans opposed the laws, which handed the Senate with a 22-10 vote. Home members voted 57-28 for the invoice, with six declining to vote.
Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, drew widespread criticism final week for meandering feedback tenuously connecting Adolf Hitler to the laws. Niceley stated Hitler at one level lived on the streets and used the expertise as a “option to join with the plenty.”
“Individuals can come out of those camps and have a really productive life, or in Hitler’s case, a really unproductive life,” Niceley stated.
Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Nashville, called the comments “embarrassing” to Tennessee.
Melissa Brown, Adam Friedman and Arcelia Martin are reporters for The Tennessean. Attain them at mabrown@tennessean.com, afriedman@tennessean.com and amartin1@gannett.com.
Tennessee
Titans Receive Bad News on Potential QB Target
The Tennessee Titans are in desperate need of an upgrade at quarterback. Sure, Will Levis had a few nice performances midseason, but it’s starting to become clear that they need to go in another direction.
The easiest path to landing a franchise quarterback is always through the NFL Draft, but the Titans’ ability to land Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward will completely depend on their draft positioning.
Tennessee can also turn to free agency to find an answer, which is why the Titans have been linked to Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold.
Darnold is smack dab in the middle of a breakout campaign with the Vikings and is slated to hit the open market this coming offseason.
With J.J. McCarthy waiting on deck, there is no way Minnesota retains Darnold, right?
Well, Dianna Russini of The Athletic says otherwise.
“They spent a first-round pick on J.J. McCarthy last spring and Darnold is in for a big payday in March. Despite that, after conversations with a team source, one thing is clear: The Vikings want Darnold back in Minnesota for 2025,” Russini wrote.
Of course, just because the Vikings want Darnold back does not necessarily mean he is a guarantee to return to Minnesota. However, the Vikings are slated to have expansive cap room, so they certainly have the financial wherewithal to pay him.
The question is, would the Titans offer Darnold more?
Darnold has thrown for 3,776 yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 67.2 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 105.4 this season.
The 27-year-old was originally selected by the New York Jets with the third overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft and languished between the Jets and Carolina Panthers for the first five years of his career before landing with the San Francisco 49ers as Brock Purdy’s backup in 2023.
He then signed a one-year deal with the Vikings last March.
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Tennessee
Tennessee OL John Campbell Jr. declares for 2025 NFL Draft
John Campbell Jr. will enter the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Tennessee offensive lineman, who began his career at Miami before playing the last two seasons with the Vols, declared for the draft on Saturday night.
TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM
Campbell made the announce on his Instagram.
“I am could not be more proud to be a Volunteer and a Hurricane,” Campbell penned in the post. “I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to represent both programs…With sincere gratitude and anticipation for what lies ahead, I am officially declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.”
The 6-foot-6, 330-pound Campbell was a four-star prospect out of Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Florida in the 2018 class when he signed with Miami.
After red-shirting his freshman year, Campbell played in 11 games for the Hurricanes in 2019 and in seven games with four starts as a redshirt sophomore in 2020 before leg surgery sidelined him for the 2021 season.
With a medical redshirt, Campbell played one more season at Miami in 2022 and then transferred to Tennessee ahead of the 2023 season. He initially played at left tackle, earning a starting spot there but missed the last three games with injury.
After the Vols brought in LSU transfer Lance Heard, Campbell moved to right tackle in 2024, starting in 13 games and playing 500 snaps. He earned an position grade of 48.3, according to Pro Football Focus.
Campbell is one of a number of veteran players that Tennessee will lose off of its offensive line from this season. Fifth-year seniors in center Cooper Mays and guard Javontez Spraggins are out of eligibility.
Tennessee added former Arizona guard Wendell Moe out of the transfer portal and signed five-star tackle David Sanders in its 2025 recruiting class, who will compete for Campbell’s vacant spot in the spring.
Tennessee
Titans Lose Starting RB For Jaguars Game
The Tennesseee Titans have ruled out starting running back Tony Pollard for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports.
Pollard was listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report due to an ankle injury, but according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, he planned to play through it. Rather, his absence stems from him dealing with the flu, which will reportedly prevent him from travelling with the team on Saturday.
After arriving from the Dallas Cowboys in free agency, Pollard has enjoyed a solid first season in the Music City. In 15 games, the 27-year-old has rushed for 1,017 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 4.3 yards per carry. He’s also been a decent check-down option with 41 receptions for 238 yards.
With Pollard sidelined, the Titans will look for second-year back Tyjae Spears to carry the load in the backfield. The former Tulane star has had a disappointing sophomore season, rushing for 217 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 3.4 yards per carry, so the Titans will hope to get him going before the season ends.
Joshua Kelley, who hasn’t played for Tennessee since his arrival in late October, could also get some looks as well.
The Titans and Jaguars kick off from EverBank Stadium at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
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