Tennessee

Tennessee General Assembly kicks off with restrictions to media, public

Published

2 years ago

January 9, 2024

Tennessee General Assembly kicks off with restrictions to media, public

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Restrictions and limitations were put on the public and media Tuesday when lawmakers went back to session. Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton, put a policy in place, blindsiding some lawmakers, preventing the public from sitting in part of the gallery.

In the West Gallery, Tuesday morning, members of the media were told to remain in one area of the gallery. Many journalists who report from the floor were told they were not on a list to be there.

On Tuesday, Lawmakers were given one ticket each when they got to the Capitol. That ticket is for anyone who wants to go up to the West Gallery and watch lawmakers in session.

The east side was full of dozens of interns, a few rows of Covenant School moms, and activists, one of whom was kicked out after shouting during a moment of silence.

WSMV4 asked lawmakers when they found out about this. House Democratic Caucus Chair, Rep. John Ray Clemmons, said it was short notice.

“We didn’t know it was going to happen,” he said. “We found out less than an hour after we walked into the building that the general public was going to be barred effectively from this house.”

Rep. Clemmons hopes Speaker Sexton rethinks the policy. WSMV4 asked House Republicans and Speaker Sexton’s Director of Communications for a statement, which we have yet to receive.

GUN REFORM

About a dozen moms of Covenant School students were front and center for the start of the legislative session to remind lawmakers they haven’t left. Many were at the Capitol over the summer for the special session on gun reform. Mary Joyce, with Covenant Families for a Brighter Tomorrow, said they are picking up right where they left off. After only a few bills were passed during the special session, they are still pressing for solutions.

On their agenda this session is to pass bills on safe storage, protocols for fire alarms during active shootings, and preventing child autopsies from being released. They plan to attend and testify at committee meetings. One bill, already filed by State Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood), would allow the writings from the Covenant School shooter to be released. That is one piece of legislation Joyce said they are very against.

“It is a slap in the face, and it sends a clear message to Covenant and to the Covenant families who are activating,” said Joyce. “It is an open investigation, and we don’t feel like it is right to let that information into the public space.”

SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM

Last year, Governor Bill Lee proposed he would file legislation this session on school vouchers, allowing 20,000 Tennessee students to go to private schools. More than 70 people with Americans for Prosperity were at the Capitol today to speak with lawmakers about what they want to see in the legislation.

“If you have a seat at the table and you are crafting legislation, you have a better shot at getting what you want in the bill, in the actual bill, when it makes it through the process,” said Tori Venable, State Director at Americans for Prosperity.

Wednesday, Governor Lee is expected to announce legislation for protecting musicians when it comes to artificial intelligence. The House is also expected to vote on the rules the House Select Committee on Rules proposed Monday.

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Tennessee

Tennessee murder suspect arrested in Omaha

Published

9 hours ago

November 21, 2025

Press Room

Tennessee murder suspect arrested in Omaha

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A man accused of murder in Tennessee more than a year ago had his bond denied in Douglas County Court on Thursday.

Authorities in Omaha took 30-year-old Nigel Farmer into custody late Wednesday.

Nigel Farmer, 30(Shelby County Sheriff’s Office)

On Oct. 29 2024, deputies in Memphis found a 31-year-old woman shot and killed at a home. After deputies conducted an extensive investigation, Farmer was identified as the suspect.

He will remain in Nebraska while awaiting extradition, which he wavied in court Thursday.

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Tennessee

Dense fog then rounds of rain for Middle Tennessee

Published

1 day ago

November 20, 2025

Press Room

Dense fog then rounds of rain for Middle Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) –

FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY – TODAY

Widespread fog has developed across Middle Tennessee to start off our day with visibility dropping to less than half a mile in some areas. Prepare for a longer morning commute and use caution while driving through foggy areas.

We are also tracking some widespread rain that will move through this afternoon through our evening commute. At times the rain will come down heavy and could cause ponding on roadways. We’ll even get to hear a few rumbles of thunder but there is no severe weather threat. Rain wll taper off late this evening and into the overnight hours. Highs today will be in the mid 60s.

FRIDAY FORECAST

More off and on rounds of showers will continue through our Friday. While we will certainly find some decent dry time, keep the umbrella handy and keep an eye to the sky. Yes there will be a few thunderstorms, but there is still no severe weather threat to be worried about. Highs on Friday will top off near 70. More scattered showers and storms will move in Friday night and lingering into early Saturday morning.

WEEKEND FORECAST

As mentioned above, a shower or two could lingering into Saturday morning, but most of us will stay dry as we try and break the clouds in the afternoon. It will be cooler Saturday afternoon with highs in the mid to upper 60s.

We’ll do a better job at getting sunshine back on Sunday with temperatures in the low 60s.

NEXT WEEK

A dry and sunny start to our Monday, but clouds increase quickly in the afternoon with highs staying in the 60s.

Rain move in Monday night and through Tuesday with a few rumbles of thunder as well. A shower or two will linger into Wednesday before a shot of colder air around Thanksgiving

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Tennessee

Tennessee joins settlement against Greystar over ‘anticompetitive’ rent pricing scheme

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2025

Press Room

Tennessee joins settlement against Greystar over ‘anticompetitive’ rent pricing scheme

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee has joined a multistate settlement proposal with the nation’s largest property management firm over allegations it unfairly rigged their prices for rental units.

According to Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s office, the proposed settlement with Greystar Management Services, LLC, resolves allegations of “anticompetitive practices that resulted in artificially-increased rents” for renters in Tennessee.

The property management giant reached a non-monetary settlement consent decree with 9 states, including Tennessee, according to the AG’s office.

An investigation from a bipartisan coalition looked into Greystar’s participation in an “algorithmic pricing scheme” that allowed multiple property management companies to share their supply and pricing data among each other through a service called RealPage.

RealPage is a revenue management software utilized by many property management companies, including Greystar.

By sharing the sensitive renal data, the states alleged the property management companies were able to artificially inflate and align their rental prices, thus reducing competition in the multi-family residential rental market.

Greystar alone operates nearly 950,000 rental units nationwide, including more than 6,000 in Tennessee.

The AG’s office said the proposed settlement represents one step in broader enforcement efforts, as they continue to pursue legal action against RealPage and four other property management companies.

“Tennessee renters were stuck paying too much because property management companies shared information through the RealPage software to artificially inflate prices,” Skrmetti said in a release. “It’s not fair, it’s not right, and we are putting a stop to it by holding these companies accountable.”

⏩ Read today’s top stories on wkrn.com

The proposed consent decree, if approved by the Court, would require Greystar to do the following:

Refrain from using any anticompetitive algorithm that generates pricing recommendations using its competitors’ competitively sensitive data or that incorporates certain anticompetitive features;
Refrain from sharing competitively sensitive information with competitors;
Accept a court-appointed monitor if it uses a third-party pricing algorithm that is not certified pursuant to the terms of the consent decree;
Refrain from attending or participating in RealPage-hosted meetings of competing landlords; and
Cooperate with the coalition’s claims against RealPage

Tennessee joined in the proposed settlement with California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Oregon, according to the attorney general.

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