NewsBreak Original

Aftyn Behn wins special election to fill Nashville seat in legislature. Progressive activist Aftyn Behn, who previously worked for the national Indivisible movement as an organizer in Tennessee, is now headed to the Tennessee General Assembly as a state representative for Nashville's 51st legislative district.

Group condemns lack of action on gun safety during special session. Pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition condemned what they say was a lack of action to protect children from gun violence during a recently concluded special legislative session on public safety.

Democrats claim there's been no "real debate" on substantive gun safety reforms. The leader of the Tennessee Senate's Democratic Caucus is blasting what she says is a special legislative session on public safety that so far has been devoid of any serious debate on gun reform.

Tennessee physicians say ban has harmed the health and freedom of women. Marking one year since a total abortion ban took effect in Tennessee, doctors in the state are discussing the impact the policy has had on their patients. Specifically, a group of Tennessee doctors affiliated with the Protect My Care advocacy group say the law has negatively impacted reproductive healthcare.

Groups call for movement on gun safety legislation. A coalition of advocacy groups is calling on the Tennessee General Assembly to take gun safety seriously as a special legislative session on the issue moves into a second week.

Doctors speak out on rules process used to remove citizens with paper signs. A group of Tennessee physicians affiliated with the health policy advocacy group Protect My Care is expressing outrage after the Tennessee House of Representatives adopted rules for a special legislative session that restrict access to committee rooms and the House gallery and ban even small, paper signs from legislative hearings.

Southern Christian Coalition speaks out on rules of special session, calls for inclusive policies. A group of Tennessee pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition is speaking out against legislative rules they say stifle free speech and silence the voices of parents. The rules were adopted as part of a special legislative session focused on public safety.

Christian advocates call for wisdom, commonsense gun reform. A group of Tennessee pastors affiliated with an advocacy group known as the Southern Christian Coalition visited the state capitol today and offered prayers for lawmakers as a special legislative session on public safety is slated to begin.

Group delivers petition on opening day of special legislative session. A group of Tennessee physicians affiliated with the Protect My Care healthcare advocacy group delivered a petition to the Tennessee General Assembly calling for the body to enact gun safety reform legislation during a special legislative session that begins today.

Legislature to begin session public safety starting August 21st. A special legislative session focused on issues related to public safety is slated to begin next week, and legislative Democrats are promoting key gun safety reform proposals they plan to push during the session.

Lawmakers express frustration that gun safety is not included in session's focus. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee this week issued an official call for a special legislative session focused on public safety. The session will begin on August 21st.

Tennessee Education Association, five teachers file suit against state alleging law on prohibited concepts is unconstitutional. The Tennessee Education Association (TEA) and five Tennessee public school educators have filed suit against the State of Tennessee alleging the state's prohibited concepts law is unconstitutional. The TEA says the law deprives students of a "fact-based" education and puts teachers in an impossible position as state standards may violate this law.

Southern Christian Coalition opposes Tennessee Attorney General's attempt to access personal medical records. A group of pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition is speaking out about Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti's request to gain access to the medical records of Tennessee citizens seeking reproductive healthcare outside the state.

Tennessee's top consumer protection official joins legal effort to undermine federal consumer watchdog. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is backing an effort in support of a legal challenge that would radically change the funding provided to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the nation's top consumer watchdog agency in the financial marketplace.

Skrmetti seeks access to information on Tennessee women seeking abortions outside the state. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined 17 other attorneys general in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asking that states be allowed access to medical information that may indicate a woman is seeking reproductive healthcare in another state.

Legislative leader says letter from Attorney General could harm Black workers and Black business owners. Senate Democratic Caucus Chair London Lamar of Memphis is speaking out about Tennessee Attorney General Johnathan Skrmetti's letter to Fortune 100 companies challenging affirmative action policies.

Southern Christian Coalition calls for compassion for the "marginalized and excluded" A group of Tennessee pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition spoke out against a recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit that allows Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors to go into effect.

Southern Christian Coalition calls out decisions they say are "discouraging" and "harmful" During a week in which a number of Supreme Court rulings were handed down, Tennessee pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition lamented the impact of decisions the group says will harm Tennesseans.

A group of pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition today celebrated a decision by a federal judge that stops the state of Tennessee from enforcing a recently passed ban on gender-affirming healthcare for individuals under the age of 18.

Southern Christian Coalition calls on policymakers to practice love and tolerance. A group of Tennessee pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition called on Tennessee policymakers to adopt policies focused on love and tolerance when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community.