Tennessee

Tennessee senator announces ouster plan for DA Mulroy

Published

2 years ago

June 17, 2024

Tennessee senator announces ouster plan for DA Mulroy

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Senator Brent Taylor laid out his plan to oust the Shelby County District Attorney from his position on Monday.

This comes after Taylor and Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton expressed concerns about a diversion program DA Steve Mulroy announced last week.

Mulroy walked back on that plan Monday. According to him, the program would have used a rehabilitative approach for nonviolent offenders charged with possession of a firearm.

Objections to Mulroy’s way of handling criminals are not new, but after the announcement of the diversion program, lawmakers shared more of their opposition to the Shelby County DA.

Speaker Sexton said, “His actions will make Memphis even more unsafe.”

Taylor said the program is not only “nonsensical, but it is dangerous.”

Although he has since rescinded the idea, Sen. Taylor and Speaker Sexton say they are still considering ways to remove Mulroy from his position as district attorney.

“This ouster resolution was never about the diversion program, about whether or not convicted felons should have access to firearms, it was never about that,” said Sen. Taylor. “It was about the DA’s attempt to redefine what crime and punishment is in this state.”

Although the program is no more according to Mulroy, Taylor said he still plans to file an ouster resolution in November, immediately after the November election. He said he has to wait because resolutions cannot be filed for the next General Assembly until then.

Taylor said it would take 22 votes in the Senate and 66 votes in the House of Representatives to remove Mulroy from office.

“There will be committee hearings. DA Mulroy will have due process. He will have an opportunity to come to the General Assembly and answer the charges that will be in the resolution and to defend himself,” he said in a press conference Monday afternoon.

If he is removed, the governor will appoint a replacement who will serve until the next election.

Senate Minority Leader Senator Raumesh Akbari and Senate Democratic Caucus Chairwoman Senator London Lamar condemned the ouster resolution.

Both said in a joint statement, “This unconstitutional attack on Shelby County’s district attorney sets a dangerous precedent. It looks like every local official is now on notice not to cross powerful, state politicians — or else.”

The senators went on to say “Crime did not start with the new Shelby County district attorney, and it is beneath the legislature to threaten local officials over a policy debate.”

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Tennessee

Tennessee football QB Jake Merklinger plans to enter transfer portal

Published

11 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Tennessee football QB Jake Merklinger plans to enter transfer portal

Tennessee quarterback Jake Merklinger plans to enter the transfer portal, Knox News has confirmed.

On3.com and Rivals.com were the first to report Merklinger’s decision. The transfer portal opens on Jan. 2.

Merklinger has also opted out of the Music City Bowl. No. 23 Tennessee (8-4) plays Illinois (8-4) on Dec. 30 (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Nashville. Starter Joey Aguilar will play in the bowl game, so Merklinger was not expected to be a factor. Freshman George MacIntyre will serve as the backup.

Merklinger spent two seasons at Tennessee but barely played and failed to win the starting job. He played six games and went 19-of-33 passing for 221 yards and two touchdowns.

In 2024, Merklinger was a third-string freshman when Nico Iamaleava started. In 2025, he competed for the starting job but lost to transfer Joey Aguilar.

By the end of the 2025 season, Merklinger was neck and neck with freshman George MacIntyre for the backup job. And it didn’t appear that Merklinger would factor in the starting job in 2026.

Merklinger, a native of Savannah, Georgia, was a four-star recruit in the 2024 class. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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Tennessee

Seedy K’s GameCap: Tennessee

Published

23 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

When you have two legitimate Top 20 teams testing each other, it’s never inevitable.

But this U of L task in Knoxville against tall favorite Tennessee sure seemed close to that heading in.

Well coached top level foe at its sold out home.

One whose strength — inside scoring and rebounding — made it a bad matchup for the Cards, whose lack of inside depth and strength has been an Achilles heel from the get go.

That the Vols were hungry and angry coming off three straight Ls made a U of L victory seem an almost impossible task.

Then we learned that back issue of Mikel Brown’s is a problem.

Cards were toast before tip.

It was all evident by halftime — actually well before then.

It just takes a peek at a couple statistics.

Tennessee led by only 7, thanks to some tough Cardinal D. And UT’s woeful FT shooting.

That inside game issue: Volunteers 28 points in the paint. Cardinals 10.

That’s right, Tennessee had more points in the paint at the break than Louisville had points total.

That lack of point guard issue: U of L had 9 FGs at intermission. Tennessee had that many assists on 15 buckets.

Louisville’s strength is depth. At least usually.

During the first 20 Tuesday, the Cards had zero points off the pine. Vols 22. (For the game, the disparity was 34-3. Khani Rooths hit a FT. Wild Man Zougris a garbage time slam.)

Another opening stanza reality that might have you feeling the need to clean your glasses.

Only three guys scored. Adrian Wooley with 12, Ryan Conwell with 11, and Sananda Fru with 4.

Louisville’s second half performance is not worth the bandwidth, my time to write about, nor your time to read.

The final, in a lopsided disappointing loss: 83-62.

There is no sugar frosting this. Against teams with major size and inside presence, Louisville has and will continue to struggle.

When your most talented player doesn’t suit up, it makes it more impossible to overcome.

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Tennessee

A look at new laws proposed in Tennessee

Published

1 day ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

A look at new laws proposed in Tennessee

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