Tennessee
Tennessee Gov. Lee deploys 100 National Guard troops to U.S. southern border
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Thursday that he has authorized the deployment of 100 Tennessee National Guard troops to the U.S. southern border, the second time he’s done so while in office.
“America continues to face an unprecedented border crisis that threatens our nation’s security and the safety of Tennesseans,” Governor Lee said. “The federal government owes Americans a plan to secure our country, and in the meantime, states continue to answer this important call to service. I am again authorizing the Tennessee National Guard to help secure the Southern border, and I commend these troops for providing critical support.”
Lee’s release says guard members will deploy by the end of this month to provide support in 3 ways:
- Patrolling and providing additional security presence along the border
- Assisting road and route clearance, barrier placement and debris removal
- Staffing outpost operations
Governor Lee made a similar move in December 2021, announcing he was sending 50 guard members to the border, saying they were needed there ‘to address drug trafficking at the source.’
But that move drew criticism for the governor. The Southern Christian Coalition called the visit a way to gain political points while more pressing issues are happening on Tennessee soil.
Rev. Dr. Kevin Riggs of Franklin Community Church said
Tennessee is not a border state, and he is using this visit to gain political points instead of helping struggling Tennesseans. Over 80,000 Tennesseans are currently unemployed, and their federal unemployment payments were cut off by Governor Lee just last week. Many of these people are suffering, unable to pay their bills or buy groceries, causing a true crisis at home,” in a statement.
Our sister station WZTV asked the governor what he had to say in response to that. The governor replied sending the troops to the border was ‘a top priority from my perspective.’
Lee later visited those troops, who came home later the next year.
The ability of U.S. Border Patrol to hold migrants has been a key concern as more migrants came to the border in the days leading up to the end of immigration restrictions linked to the pandemic, referred to as Title 42, earlier this month.
Title 42 allowed U.S. officials to quickly expel migrants without letting them seek asylum, but it also carried no consequences for those who entered the country and were expelled. In the leadup to the end of Title 42, the U.S. introduced tough enforcement measures to discourage people from just arriving at the border, encouraging them instead to use one of the pathways the U.S. has created to facilitate migration.
The Biden administration is facing a lawsuit aimed at curtailing its ability to release migrants from custody even when facilities are over capacity.
Blas Nunez-Neto, assistant secretary for border and immigration policy at the Department of Homeland Security, said border officials had been encountering a little less than 5,000 people a day since Title 42 expired.
Depend on us to keep you posted.
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Tennessee
New Tennessee law requiring AEDs in high schools goes into effect
![New Tennessee law requiring AEDs in high schools goes into effect](https://www.wate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2022/03/tennessee-state-capitol1_1525724124999_41960956_ver1.0.jpg?w=1280)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Tennessee’s “Smart Heart Act” is now in effect after it was signed by Governor Bill Lee in May. The legislation requires automatic defibrillators in schools and also establishes protocols for medical emergencies related to cardiac issues.
As of July 1, each public and non-public school where students attend grades 9 through 12 must maintain an automated external defibrillator (AED) thanks to the Smart Heart Act. The law also requires that the AED be made accessible during the regular school day and athletic events.
The Tennessee General Assembly passed the Smart Heart Act, sponsored by Cepicky and Hensley, in April 2024.
“Nothing is more important than keeping our students healthy and safe, and the Smart Heart Act ensures schools will be ready to respond in the event of a cardiac-related emergency,” Gov. Bill Lee stated in May upon signing the legislation into law. “I commend the General Assembly for their commitment to Tennessee students in passing this legislation.”
The Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which was launched in 2023, comprises major sports leagues and leading health advocacy groups seeking to drive the adoption of policies that could help prevent fatalities from Sudden Cardiac Arrest among high school students. Among the priorities include clearly marked AEDs at or within minutes of each high school athletic venue, an emergency action plan specific to each athletic venue that is posted and regularly rehearsed, plus education in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with AED use, for coaches and school personnel.
Tennessee
Tennessee father and son win big on $1M scratch-off: ‘I ain’t ever eating bologna again’
![Tennessee father and son win big on $1M scratch-off: ‘I ain’t ever eating bologna again’](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/Lottery-win.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024)
They won big, no baloney!
A Tennessee father and son duo vowed they’d be eating like kings after winning nearly $1 million on a $20 scratch-off ticket.
Jody — who chose not to share his last name — father purchased a $1 million Casino Nights Kentucky Lottery scratch-off game at a gas station in Adairville, Kentucky, on June 8, according to the Kentucky Lottery.
After purchasing the ticket, Jody’s father, whose name wasn’t revealed, couldn’t wait to play and began scratching the ticket right at the Adairville Market, which is roughly 12 miles away from Springfield, Tennessee, where Jody lives.
“I said [to the clerk], ‘If I hit this million dollars, I ain’t ever eating bologna again,’” the father said, according to lottery officials.
The top prize was revealed within the first couple of rows, and he matched the three key symbols next to the top prize amount.
“It kind of shocked me,” the father said.
Ecstatic over the win, Jody’s father said he called his son immediately to break the joyful news.
“He went, ‘You’ll never believe what I just did,’” Jody told lottery officials.
“And, I said, ‘what?’ He said, ‘We just won a $1,000,000!’ I was sitting there thinking, yeah right, I don’t believe you!”
Jody’s father then hightailed over to his son’s home, where the two planned on driving to Kentucky Lottery Headquarters that following Monday and discussed how they would claim the prize.
The father-son team arrived at headquarters in Louisville on June 10 and opted for the lump sum of $700k.
Large lotto winners can choose between taking their winnings home as a lump sum or annuity payments.
But while at the headquarters to claim their prize, finding out that they had won a life-changing amount of money didn’t stop the father from performing chores around the house.
Jody’s father shared that he still hopped on his lawnmower and mowed his yard while they waited over the weekend to cash in the ticket, according to officials.
Jody shared that the duo planned to invest their new money after paying off all their bills.
“Houses are paid off. Cars paid off, done. We will be bill-free probably next week,” Jody shared.
“You become debt free, and you don’t have any bills.”
Since the father and son opted for the lump sum, lottery officials said they took home a check for $504,000 after taxes.
The gas station where the lucky ticket was bought will also receive a check for $7,000 for selling the winning ticket.
Tennessee
Nashville gets first rainbow crosswalk to support LGBTQ community • Tennessee Lookout
![Nashville gets first rainbow crosswalk to support LGBTQ community • Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/LBGTQ-Crosswalk003-scaled.jpeg)
Hundreds of Middle Tennesseans gathered near in East Nashville Saturday to paint the city’s first rainbow crosswalks as a celebration of LGBTQ pride.
The event, which was sponsored by Metro Councilman Clay Capp, drew scores of elected officials, community members and a couple of protesters.
The crosswalk intersection at 14 and Woodland Streets is in front of the Lipstick Lounge, which opened in 2003 is one of only 20 lesbian bars in the U.S.
Nashville elected officials begin painting a rainbow crosswalk outside the Lipstick Lounge in East Nashville.
(Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
A street preacher with his Bible admonished participants painting the rainbow crosswalk. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
Metro Nashville Councilmember-at-Large Olivia Hill gives the peace sign to everyone before painting. (Photo:John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
Heather Sapphire, Kennedy Ann Scott and others start painting the crosswalk. (Photo:John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
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