Free Republic

(Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld gay marriage bans in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, reversing a recent trend in the federal courts to strike down such bans.

By a two-to-one vote, a federal appeals court in Cincinnati upheld the right of states to ban same-sex marriage, overturning lower court decisions in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee that found such restrictions to be unconstitutional.

Republicans moved up to a 28-5 advantage in the state Senate with Tuesday's election. In Hamilton County, Senator Bo Watson was unopposed. He received 37,377 votes. Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) said, "A great night for Republicans and the cause of conservatism in Tennessee. For the past few years, the Tennessee Senate has been the most Republican east of the Mississippi. After tonight, we join a elite group of Republican super majorities where the majority outnumbers Democrats more than 4 to 1. "These results are decisive proof that, in Tennessee, it matters who governs. I look forward to continuing to...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Voters have decided to amend Tennessee’s constitution in regards to abortion, according to the AP. The amendment reads: Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion. The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Voters have approved a change to the Tennessee Constitution that would prohibit lawmakers from imposing a state income tax. The last serious attempt to impose a state income tax failed in 2002 amid raucous Capitol protests that included a brick thrown through the window of the governor's office. The public backlash against the proposal led several supporters to retire from office or to lose their re-election campaigns.

(VIDEO-AT-LINK)Liberal MSNBC contributor Jimmy Williams said the “old white people” in the South who vote Republican are “going to die someday” and hopefully usher in a new era of Democratic rule in the region. Host Krystal Ball, a former failed Democratic congressional candidate, asked Williams whether white Southerners should just be written off by the party, but Williams said never, saying that since they are “for people” and Republicans aren’t, they would eventually win the day. “Mitt Romney only won South Carolina with 53 [percent], John McCain with 52,” he said. “That’s a changing South. Those old white people? They’re...

The top Republican in the Senate, who could become the majority leader if pro-life Republicans defeat pro-abortion Democrats in top Senate races tonight and pick up a majority of the seats in the chamber, won his battle for re-election. Pro-life Sen. Mitch McConnell defeated pro-abortion Alison Grimes handily, as early election returns in his state showed him getting the vote he needed to return to the Senate. mitchmconnellTop pro-life groups like National Right to Life and the Susan B. Anthony List endorsed McConnell, who has a sterling pro-life voting record during his tenure in Washington. “The contrast between Mitch McConnell...

Name Votes Vote % Yes (x) 20,899 61.4% No (x) 13,145 38.6%

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - A candidate for Tennessee Senate is trying to find out who stole a 100-pound campaign sign. George Thomas is trying to unseat long-time Sen. Thelma Hooper. His campaign sign was placed at the Kwik Sak convenience store on Clarksville Highway after 10 p.m. Monday. "We think this is dirty politics," Thomas said. Less than three hours later, the Thomas camp discovered the sign missing.

Back when Wisconsin and western Russia once shared an address south of the equator, a violent collision in the asteroid belt blasted Earth with meteorites. The space rock smashup showered Earth with up to 100 times more meteorites than today's rate (a rock the size of a football field hits the planet about every 10,000 years). Yet, only a dozen or so impact craters have been found from the ancient bombardment 470 million years ago, during the Ordovician Period. Most are in North America, Sweden and western Russia. There are only about 185 known impact craters on Earth of any...

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - Issues have been reported at some polling locations in Davidson County on this Election Day. he polling location at the Church of the Redeemer in Oak Hill opened an hour and 10 minutes late because election officials said a church employee left the wrong key for poll workers. Three satellite locations were given as alternatives for the voters who were affected. Some voters were frustrated, while others just shrugged it off.

A concerned Williamson County [Tenn.] parent stumbled upon < a href="http://www.menacommoncore.com">this, “On October 24 and 25, hundreds of schools, leadership teams, and teachers from across the region will gather in Dubai, to learn about the Common Core State Standards, share curricula and best practices, and network with each other.” "If Common Core is local and state-led why are they holding Common Core conferences in the Middle East including more than 20 other nations? If Williamson Strong is local and parent-led why is their logo included among the international organizations sponsoring this event?” asks Julie West. And, what is MENA? Middle...

Democrats may be making their last stand in Arkansas. At the beginning of the cycle, Democrats touted a dream ticket that could help rally the party back to relevance after a series of stinging losses in the state. They cheered Sen. Mark Pryor’s (D) centrist profile and strong family name. In the governor’s race, they hoped former Rep. Mike Ross’s long string of successes in conservative southwest Arkansas would boost him. But months later, Pryor has trailed freshman Rep. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) for much of the summer in the Razorback State and former Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.) has had a...

Next Tuesday more is at stake than control of the United States Senate, important as it is. One example is Tennessee’s “Amendment 1,” which is on the ballot and is intended to neutralize a 2000 ruling by the Tennessee Supreme Court. In that 4-1 ruling the Court found, “A woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy is a vital part of the right to privacy guaranteed by the Tennessee Constitution.” As a result, Tennessee now boasts a broader right to abortion than that recognized by Roe v. Wade or the U.S. Constitution. tennessee3The proposed language to be added says, “Nothing in...

As expected, pro-abortion opponents of Amendment 1 continue to draw nearly all their support and funding from the abortion industry itself. Based on disclosures filed through October 25, the 'Vote No' campaign shows just 198 individual donors statewide contributing more than $100 each. In contrast, 16 abortion facilities in Tennessee and across the country contributed a total $3.5 million dollars of $4.0 million reported raised. Additionally, ACLU of Tennessee and New York contributed $200,000. $854,240 Planned Parenthood of Memphis $800,000 Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest $749,500 Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee $275,000 Planned Parenthood of Orange &...

This clip confirms the extent to which condescension on the left has replaced efforts to convince those skeptical of the medical community’s assessment of Ebola’s communicability of their error. In an appearance on CNN on Thursday, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) sought to assure the viewing audience that everyone (including, presumably, the Democratic governors of California, New Hampshire, and New York) is overreacting to the threat of Ebola. When probed by anchor Carol Costello as to why the president’s freshly appointed “Ebola Czar,” Ron Klain, has not come out publicly and assured the nation that there is no medical need to...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The patient at Methodist University Hospital that is being tested for Ebola is in isolation and is in stable condition, resting comfortably. Officials tell us the isolated area is separate from the main hospital on Methodist University Hospital Campus. A Methodist spokesperson also tells us the lab work to be tested has been sent and are waiting on results. Memphis City Mayor A C Wharton released the following statement regarding the situation: I have been briefed by officials of the Shelby County Health Department, the lead agency. I am pleased to hear that out of an abundance...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A patient in the Mid-South is in isolation and being tested for Ebola at Methodist University Hospital is in stable condition. Officials tell us the isolated area is separate from the main hospital on Methodist University Hospital Campus. Methodist University Hospital released the following statement regarding the patient and the effectiveness of Methodist University employees: Our experts have an alternate primary diagnosis that has been established, but in an abundance of caution, the team is still strictly following Ebola protocols to protect all caregivers and others. We are waiting for a definitive Ebola test result which we...

NASHVILLE - In a just-released TV ad, Republican U.S. Sen Lamar Alexander is again linking Democratic opponent Gordon Ball to President Barack Obama and asks voters to "trust me." The television ad, Alexander's third, features the senator speaking directly to the camera, saying, "These are serious times, and here’s the choice. A vote for my opponent is just one more vote for Barack Obama’s agenda. "Trust me with your vote," Alexander continues. "It could mean a new Senate majority that will stand up to terrorism, secure our borders, and make it easier to find a job. And finally, we’ll begin...

Rep. Diane Black is one of the pro-life women members of Congress who is a consistent pro-life voter and outspoken on he issue of protecting unborn babies from abortion. In a new column at the Tennessean newspaper, Black explains why it’s important for pro-life voters to support Amendment 1. The Planned Parenthood abortion business is spending heavily to stop the Amendment, who would enable the Tennessee legislature to pass legislation that would protect women and save unborn children from abortions. Here’s what this pro-life Congresswoman has to say: tennessee3From my time in Congress to my years as a nurse in...