Why do only a small portion of the voting age citizenry bother to vote in presidential elections? It’s because the majority know their vote doesn’t matter. Here are some details from the National Popular Vote Advocacy Group. State winner-take-all laws are the reason why the vast majority of American voters are politically irrelevant in presidential elections. These laws award all of a state’s electoral votes to the candidate who gets the most votes in each separate state... more

Hamilton County government has found a new way to prevent access to public records:get rid of them. It's not really new. It's the oldest trick in the book. In late July last year, a reporter with the Chattanooga Times Free Press became concerned that the county government was not following state law in its responses to public records requests... more

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. — Colossians 3:17 The second year of the 111th General Assembly started back in Session at noon on January 14th. We have a new Speaker of the House, Cameron Sexton, from Crossville. ... more

On the evening of Jan. 21, I realized for the first time that the community I was raised in was being compromised and maybe it has always been this way, it has just taken me 24 years to realize it. That evening I sat on the second floor of the courthouse and listened to a few speak about the refugee relocation situation before people like Holly Johnson could speak up. Holly Johnson is the state refugee coordinator for Catholic Charities of Tennessee... more

Tennessee has a rich news media environment with more than 120 traditional subscription-based weekly and daily newspapers, several free newspapers, alternative press, an established black press, 34 television news stations, public and commercial radio stations, niche news outlets focused on single topics like education or the legislature, business journals, a new nonprofit news organization in Memphis, a new university-based Institute for Public Service Reporting also in Memphis, independent student-run college newspapers and TV stations, and a variety of one- or two-person digital-only shops run on grants, grit or both.. ... more

On Tuesday, January 21, I will be introducing a resolution at 5 p.m. on the third floor of the Bedford County Courthouse. This resolution is a resolution of No Consent to Refugee Resettlement in Bedford County, Tennessee. As many of you have read over the past few weeks, Governor Bill Lee has announced his consent to initial refugee resettlement in Tennessee in response to Executive Order 13888 issued by President Donald J. ... more

When I talk with citizen groups in Tennessee about open government, people tell me they want more information about what their government is doing, not less. An informed citizenry results in better and more accountable government. But in plain language, people just want to know what's going on, particularly when it affects their lives directly... more

A lot of awards shows and other programs generally do an "in memoriam" segment honoring those of the trade who passed during the year. In 2019, we've lost our fair share of loved ones, friends and co-workers in Bedford County. This week Bedford County Emergency Medical Services and this entire county lost one of its own dedicated emergency medical services workers, Capt. Chris Wrenn. Our hearts go out to his family... more

The state Report Card is online line at the Tennessee Education Association's website. More features continue to be added to this website in an effort that the community better understand state indicators. I have learned much, and been a little aggravated at times, I'll admit, reading this report over the years. It certainly has been an "educational" process for this reporter... more

It's that time of the year again when I do a little easy reading -- Tennessee Department of Education's annual Report Card. I must admit, I really do prefer Louisa May Alcott's "Christmas Treasury" or "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens... more