NC Policy Watch: “State Democrats went on the offense Tuesday, countering controversial Senate Bill 49 (SB 49), a Republican-backed Parents Bill of Rights modeled after Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, with versions of their own. House Bill 58 and Senate Bill 74, titled “Parents’ and Students’ Bill of Rights” were filed on Monday. The bills, which are…
“Mark Walker Floats a Test Balloon”
the Assembly: “Former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 2022, is seriously considering a run for governor, setting up a potential primary showdown with presumed Republican front-runner Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. In a text message to The Assembly, Walker confirmed he’s taking meetings about a possible gubernatorial run. Two close advisers…
“Tennessee House Speaker Mulls Rejecting US Education Money”
HuffPo: “One of Tennessee’s most influential Republican lawmakers says the state should stop accepting the nearly $1.8 billion of federal K-12 education dollars that help provide support for low-income students, English learners and students with disabilities. House Speaker Cameron Sexton told The Associated Press that he has introduced a bill to explore the idea during…
“All shook up: Why Dems see sliver of opportunity in deep-red Mississippi”
Politico: “Republicans have had a lock on the Mississippi governorship for decades. But Democrats hope that a candidate with one of the most famous last names in America can change that. Democrats are coalescing around Brandon Presley, a public service commissioner and a distant cousin of Elvis Presley to challenge Republican Gov. Tate Reeves. Reeves…
“Rumors About Tyre Nichols Allegedly Having a Relationship with Ex of Cop Are Unsubstantiated”
Snopes: “On Jan. 30, 2023, a number of tweets and memes went viral, claiming that Haley and Nichols were connected prior to the assault, and allegedly through Haley’s ex-girlfriend or ex-wife. These rumors were reportedly refuted by Nichols’ stepfather, and, so far, none of the claims have been substantiated by an independent investigation, or any other parties…
“Mapping the Legacy of Prison Hunger Strikes in TX”
TX Observer: “Hunger strikes remain one of the primary ways people can call attention to conditions inside prisons, short of a federal lawsuit (which, after 1990s legislation, became much more difficult). Robert Perkinson, author of Texas Tough: The Rise of America’s Prison Empire, said multiple factors can lead prisoners to engage in what we might call extreme…
“Jeremy Hutchinson sentenced to nearly 4 years in prison [in AR corruption trial]”
AR Times: “U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker on Friday sentenced Jeremy Hutchinson, the former Republican senator, to 46 months in prison. Hutchinson, son of former U.S. Sen. Tim Hutchinson and nephew of former Gov. Asa Hutchinson, has been all over the news in recent years for charges of bribery, submitting false income taxes and being a deadbeat dad who doesn’t pay child support….
“As Mississippi Hospitals Fail, Leaders Kill Medicaid Expansion Efforts Again”
MS Free Press: “Standing inside a shuttered hospital’s abandoned emergency room in Newton County, Miss., on Monday night, Democratic candidate for governor Brandon Presley blamed Gov. Tate Reeves for the fact that more than half of the state’s rural hospitals are in danger of closing. “This is the reality that Tate Reeves has chosen to…
“E.M.T.s Provided No Care for 19 Minutes After Police Beat Tyre Nichols”
NY Times: “The two emergency medical technicians who first arrived to treat Tyre Nichols after he was severely beaten by Memphis police officers did not provide any care for 19 minutes after getting to the scene, a regulatory agency concluded on Friday as it voted to suspend their licenses. Members of the Tennessee Emergency Medical…
“Southern Democrats Push Atlanta for Convention”
Political Wire: “Southern Democrats are banding together to urge President Joe Biden to select Atlanta for the 2024 Democratic National Convention, arguing the choice would solidify the party’s gains in Georgia and demonstrate commitment to the entire region,” NBC News reports. “Atlanta is one of the three finalists to host the convention, along with New York City…