As a scientist who has studied groundwater aquifers and the complex of laws and regulations that keep an aquifer healthy for years, I understand the very real risks an oil pipeline spill would pose to the region’s most precious resource, the Memphis aquifer.
Read MoreThe American Rescue Plan (ARP) that I voted for last week and that President Biden has now signed into law is truly transformational for residents of Memphis. Not only does it address the immediate needs associated with the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout, which has led to much misery, closed businesses and increased unemployment, but it also shores up our modern social safety net in a way that’s both unexpected and long overdue.
Read MoreI remember the days when then-State Senator Steve Cohen was a lone voice in the wilderness as he began introducing medical cannabis bills in TN. Since then, year after year, legislators in Tennessee propose cannabis law reform bills without much hope of passing them. Unfortunately, Tennessee does not have the ability to place citizen-backed ballot initiatives up for the entire state to decide. T
Read MoreOn May 23, 1940, in Fayette County, a black farmer, Burton Dodson came to blows in a heated argument with another man. The other man was white and the fight quickly drew a crowd. The sheriff quickly “deputized” the men in the crowd. The group later surrounded Mr. Dodson’s house and called for him to surrender. Mr. Dodson fled amid gunfire and returned fire as he ran into the woods to avoid capture. In returning fire, he killed one of the “deputies.” Mr. Dodson fled to East St. Louis, Illinois where he was later captured in 1959. He was extradited back to Fayette County to stand trial for murder.
Read MorePicture this: an eager Shelby County third grader receives a final report card for the school year. Despite the challenges of virtual learning, a seemingly never-ending global pandemic, attempting to return to a sense of normalcy in school, and the emotional toll of the combination of these, the child has managed to make the honor roll in all subjects. Upon closer inspection, however, the student notices a stamp, with the words “Retained”…
Read MoreTennessee is in a healthcare hole and our government keeps digging. Shelby County, like the rest of the state, faces an ongoing healthcare crisis from the COVID-19. Like everyone else, I have followed the news closely as hospital capacity has dwindled and deaths have soared. As an attorney whose practice involves helping the injured and the disabled, I have increasingly seen the secondary casualties of the epidemic.
Read MoreThe US Constitution mandates that every ten years the government conducts a census of its citizens. The information is used to redraw governmental districts and, if necessary, reapportion the number of congressional seats on the federal, state, county, and city level. The primary aim is to make sure each congressional district has as close to the same number of citizens as possible.
Read MoreWe need to figure out how to break the “Golden Rule” of politics. Every once in awhile, TN Democrats HAVE the money to win but we grossly misspend it. Under the golden rule of politics, whoever has the gold makes the rules. This effectively means that the biggest fundraiser for the state will primarily direct where funding goes. The natural outcome of that is that a candidate for Governor or Senate who had no connection to TNDP decision-making previously is suddenly put into a position where he directs the vast majority of funds raised in that election cycle. The priorities of those individual candidates rarely overlap with those that are trying to flip down ballot races. The end result is that money does not get prioritized to turning out D voters in competitive down ballot districts where the investment could actually make a difference.
Read MoreI’m going to break some Future901 rules with this article. It is going to be too long. It is going to be too candid. It is going to talk about Trump. I need to do all of those things though to explain where Tennessee is politically and why it is critically important that we learn from this election and move forward. First, anyone who follows our social media or blog will notice that we almost never discuss national figures, particularly not President Trump. This is intentional. Our goal is to flip legislative seats in Tennessee.
Read MoreIt feels like it’s been forever since Election Day, and I apologize for not writing sooner. But I did want to take a moment to say thank you and tell you all how incredibly grateful I am to have taken this amazing journey with you this past year. I have been simply overwhelmed by the outpouring of support you all have sent my way since our loss. Your wonderful messages and kind words have made our defeat much more bearable.
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