NASHVILLE — Lawmakers are calling on the Department of Children’s Services to audit juvenile detention practices statewide following a report by ProPublica and WPLN alleging that a facility in Knoxville openly violated state law without consequences. “…We are requesting an immediate compliance audit of the juvenile detention facilities regarding applicable…

MEMPHIS — Following a bombshell report from ProPublica alleging that a state-licensed youth detention facility in Knoxville is flagrantly violating state law on juvenile detentions, Senate minority leader Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, said the Department of Children’s Services must respond to the allegations. Sen. Raumesh Akbari’s full statement: “The Department of Children’s Services needs to…

Legislation aims to protect access to birth control in a post-Roe legal landscape — NASHVILLE — Sen. Charlane Oliver and Rep. Gloria Johnson joined concerned Tennesseans today to announce Tennessee’s “Contraceptive Freedom Act.” The historic legislation — set to be filed in the 2024 legislative session — seeks to protect and preserve Tennesseans’ right to contraception, including condoms, the pill and IUDs.

MEMPHIS — Senate Democratic Caucus chairwoman Sen. London Lamar, D-Memphis, issued a statement marking the final scheduled meeting of the Republican panel charged with drawing up a recommendation to reject billions worth of federal funding for K-12 students. Sen. Lamar says the rejection of more than a billion education dollars…

Tennessee receives $1.8B in federal funding for students — MEMPHIS — Senate minority leader Sen. Raumesh Akbari issued a statement today advocating for the state of Tennessee to continue utilizing federal funds for K-12 public education students. On Sept. 25, Tennessee’s Republican speakers appointed a 10-member panel to determine whether Tennessee can reject $1.8 …

Senate minority leader Akbari, House minority leader Camper and Rep. Love will attend the event — WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tennessee will be well represented tomorrow at a White House event where President Joe Biden is expected to announce the creation of a federal office on gun violence prevention. Tennessee Senate minority leader Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, and Rep. Harold Love, D-Nashville, will be in attendance along…

NASHVILLE — Senate minority leader Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, issued a statement marking the first week of Gov. Bill Lee’s special session. Senator Raumesh Akbari: “Republicans in the legislature loosened gun laws for a decade and now they’re ignoring grieving families who are begging for new solutions to protect their kids from gun…

Tennessee Senate recesses with no new gun safety reforms — NASHVILLE — Tennessee Sen. London Lamar, D-Memphis, chairwoman of the Senate Democrats, issued a statement today reacting to the first four days of Gov. Bill Lee’s special session on public safety. “Like many concerned parents, we came to this special session to fight for legislation to protect our children from…

204 people, including 24 children, have died from gunshot wounds since the G.O.P. ended session April 21 — NASHVILLE — Democratic lawmakers will introduce a slate of bills at the Aug. 21 special session to keep families and kids safe from gun violence. After The Covenant School shooting this spring and a summer filled with deadly shootings across the state, Democratic lawmakers say their legislation is focused on…