Alternate bills would establish clear, legal exceptions for abortion in cases of rape, incest or sex trafficking — NASHVILLE — In response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, state Democratic lawmakers announced they would introduce legislation to restore access to reproductive healthcare in Tennessee. Watch the full press conference here Democrats say, their first legislative attempt will be to codify privacy and health protections…

President Biden’s American Rescue Plan funding ‘worked,’ Memphis senator says MEMPHIS — Tennessee Sen. Raumesh Akbari issued a statement congratulating students and educators at Memphis-Shelby County Schools for their achievement on the spring TCAP test. Her full statement: “Our students and teachers have emerged from the challenges of the pandemic with an incredible academic performance. “This doesn’t happen by accident! Memphis-Shelby County Schools are trending up because we have tireless and dedicated educators, support staff and district leadership.

Memphis senator says decision overruling Roe will worsen maternal outcomes — MEMPHIS — Reacting to the U.S. Supreme Court’s “unprecedented” decision to overrule constitutional rights guaranteed by Roe v. Wade, Tennessee Sen. London Lamar, D-Memphis, vows to keep working toward reproductive justice and equality. Her full statement: As a woman who has lost a child during pregnancy, I know that every…

MEMPHIS — Tennessee Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, condemned the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade in a statement Friday: The Supreme Court just reset the clock on women’s constitutional rights to 1972. …

‘51 Years Behind Bars’ premiered this week — Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis), a champion for juvenile sentencing reform, is featured in a documentary premiering this week that explores the lengthy sentences handed down to juvenile offenders in Tennessee, which has the longest mandatory prison time for juveniles convicted of murder of any state in the nation. For years…

Senator ‘disappointed’ by Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order — MEMPHIS — Tennessee Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) issued a statement calling for action to reduce gun violence in Tennessee. Her message comes hours after Gov. Bill Lee signed an executive order related to school security without taking any direct action to address the crisis of gun violence. Her full statement…

Senate proclamation follows spate of gun violence across Memphis and the nation — MEMPHIS — Tennessee Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) is marking National Gun Violence Awareness Day after a Memorial Day weekend that left more than a dozen people shot in Memphis. In Nashville, a security guard was gunned down Thursday. The gun violence in Tennessee follows high-profile shooting incidents at a church…

NASHVILLE — The 2020 Census results said counted 6.9 million people living in the Volunteer State. Now the U.S. Census Bureau says that number was off by 4.8% — roughly 330,000 people. With nearly one out of every 20 citizens missed, it’s one of the worst undercounts in the nation. …

Republican Attorney General Herbert Slatery III will not seek another term — NASHVILLE — With news of Attorney General Herbert Slatery’s imminent departure as the state’s top lawyer, Senate minority leader Jeff Yarbro says the next person to fill the role should ditch the partisanship that’s clouded the office. Here’s the full statement from Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville: During General Slatery’s tenure…