Free Republic

<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Gov. Bill Haslam says Tennessee won't participate in a partnership with the federal government in establishing a health insurance exchange.</p>

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Republican lawmaker is proposing legislation that would require schools to inform a student's parents if the child is engaging in homosexual activity. Under the measure sponsored by Sen. Stacey Campfield of Knoxville, a school counselor, nurse or principal can inform parents if their children's "circumstances present immediate and urgent safety issues involving human sexuality." Campfield told reporters on Wednesday that he considers the "act of homosexuality" to be dangerous to a child's health and safety. The measure is part of a similar proposal, known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, that Campfield passed in the Senate...

The following incident happened at a high school only minutes from my home in East Tennessee. I am sure that no one outside of our immediate region has ever heard the story, because the only person who was shot-and killed-was the gunman. These types of stories don’t fit the narrative of those who want “gun-free zones” and so are ignored by the national media. In this case an armed Security Resource Officer, Carolyn Gudger, became a local hero and saved an unknown number of lives by holding the gunman at bay until backup arrived. The text below is drawn from...

KNOTT COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - Kentucky State Police are investigating a deadly shooting. At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Christmas night, Kentucky State Police in Hazard received a call that a person was possibly shot at the Jamestown Village Trailer Park in the Talcum community of Knott County. Police tell WKYT their early investigation indicates that two male subjects went to the residence of Ricky Sweet and asked to borrow gasoline. Police say that Sweet retrieved some gas from an outside storage building, when one of the individuals pulled out a handgun and demanded money. Police say Sweet fought back and...

(Memphis) Two robbery victims turn the tables on the man who tried to rob them. The victims, a man and woman were shot, but in the end its the robber who didn’t make it out alive. Twenty-two-year-old robbery suspect Darius Davis died Saturday. Police say he was shot as his victims tried to defend themselves. It happened early Saturday morning near North Watkins. “I’m still a little shaken up about it,” said Latasha Hodges, who was inside when the shooting started. Memphis Police say Davis was attempting to rob a man and woman in a driveway in the 1100 block...

KNOXVILLE — A Knox County man — released from jail on a burglary charge earlier this week — was shot while allegedly burglarizing a Northeast Knox County home today. Authorities responded just before noon to a home on the 5700 block of Old Tazewell Pike to a possible shooting, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office. Moments later, deputies found an injured man in a blood-spattered white car a couple of miles away near the corner of Washington Pike and Babelay Road.

Knoxville police searched Friday night for two men involved in a break-in attempt that left a would-be robber shot by a West Knoxville resident, authorities said. Knoxville Police Department officers were alerted at 9:56 a.m. of the shooting at 5455 Lance Drive, in the Timbercrest subdivision. The resident was identified as 59-year-old Gary Berthiaume, and the gunshot victim was identified as 19-year-old Joshua Williams, no address available, according to a news release from KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk. Both were treated at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, DeBusk said. Their conditions weren't available Friday night. Berthiaume was sitting on his...

(Memphis) Memphis Police are searching for two men who are on the run after a home invasion in the 3500 block Bigelow in Frayser Wednesday morning. Dareese Lee was in the house with his mother and his brother when he says someone rang the back door bell, “My partner opened the door to see who it was. That’s when they forced their way in.” Lee said there were three men with guns but no mask on. He said he was forced to the ground at gun point and his younger brother Kenny Davis heard the commotion from the back of...

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NASHVILLE — Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey says there's a good chance Democrats will be left with just seven seats in the Tennessee state Senate after the Nov. 6 election. House Speaker Beth Harwell's most optimistic Republican scenario has the minority party with just 24 representatives remaining. They and other Republican leaders say there's virtually no doubt that the GOP will hit a new high-water mark in the 2012 elections by gaining a two-thirds "super majority" in both chambers of the Legislature. There is considerable confidence in Republican ranks that they will go beyond that to what some are calling "a...

The number of U.S. deaths from fungal meningitis linked to potentially contaminated steroid injections rose to 19 with confirmation of two new fatalities in Tennessee and one each in Florida and Virginia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday. The deadly outbreak of the rare disease showed no signs of abating, as 14 new cases of meningitis were reported, bringing the national total to 245, plus two peripheral infections in joints.

DECATURVILLE, Tenn. - The Decatur County Sheriff's Office and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are investigating a weekend shooting in Decatur County. According to the TBI, officials were called to the scene in the 2200 block of Beacon Road around 5:00 a.m., Sunday. Investigators said Cameron Mays was shot and killed in the incident. The resident of the home reportedly told Mays not to come to his home. When Mays entered, officials said the resident shot him. Authorities are investigating the case and trying to determine if the shooting was self-defense. The shooter has not been charged.

The case of a car theft victim who fired shots at the man who was stealing his truck from a Walmart parking lot went before a grand jury. The grand jury decided there should be NO CHARGES filed in the case. Desi Arnez Lawrence, 55, apparently laid his keys down in the Brainerd Walmart September 11. Police say that Christopher Goins picked up those keys and headed outside. They say he found Lawrence's truck and was driving off as Lawrence walked outside. When he saw his stolen truck driving off, he pulled a handgun and opened fire at the perpetrator.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - You know the saying: Don't bring a knife to a gunfight? Try telling that to three students who pulled a Samurai sword on a gun-packing robber. "He chose the wrong guy to mug. I always said I'm not going to give money to someone who mugs me, and I'm living proof. I'm here and he's in jail," said Tyler Michaels, a teenage college student. The person in jail is armed robbery suspect Deadrick Gaines. Michaels said Gaines pulled a gun on him in a parking lot and then demanded they go get money from inside his apartment....

Colorful State Sen. Stacey Campfield seems to court controversy, particularly in his blog, Camp4u. So it was no real surprise when he took a reproachful tone in blog posts on Sept. 11 about the "gas for guns" program announced the day before by the City of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department. The city held a press conference on Sept. 10 to announce that on Sept. 15, it would conduct an event in which it would give people a $50 Mapco gas card plus two tickets to a Memphis Grizzlies basketball game for turning in a gun. The idea was...

Current GOP members of Congress are not impressed. A week ago, former U.S. Senator and former Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) told POLITICO, "I am supportive of exchanges and 'Obamacare' generally." In a commentary in The Week, he asserts, "As a doctor, I strongly believe that people without health insurance die sooner...State exchanges are the solution. They represent the federalist ideal of states as 'laboratories for democracy.'...I love the diversity and the innovation." Frist is talking the talk of the Left. Lack of insurance kills no one. And like many of his former colleagues, Frist must not have read the...

Federal judge William Haynes signed an order on Thursday recommending the approval of a special type of visa for Juana Villegas. Villegas, an undocumented immigrant, sparked controversy after she was arrested and shackled to a hospital bed in the final stages of pregnancy in 2009. Haynes recommended that Villegas be approved for a U Visa — a temporary visa given to immigrants who are the victims of crimes. However, Haynes didn't accuse the Davidson County Sheriff's Office, whom allegedly denied Villegas the use of a breast pump, of committing crimes. Rather, he ruled that Villegas had “met her minimum burden...

<p>It’s football time in Tennessee where longtime gridiron traditions are cherished – from Rocky Top to the Pride of the Southland Marching Band. At the start of every game inside the colossal Neyland Stadium, thousands of the football faithful rise to their feet, remove their hats and pause for the pre-game prayer.</p>

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Security has been stepped up after the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro received a number of angry and threatening phone calls. The calls have come after days of violence in the middle east that claimed the life of a US ambassador among others. Imam Ossama, the leader of the Islamic Center, said he was disappointed over the threats and he's outraged over the recent events in the middle east and condemns the violence. He said local muslims had nothing to do with what has happened overseas. *snip* The Rutherford County sheriff is aware of the angry calls and...

A noble piece of NBA news this afternoon: The Memphis Grizzlies, who are in no need of increased fan attendance, are offering a promotion to help reduce violence in the city of Memphis. This Saturday, the Grizz will join forces with Bloomfield Baptist church in an effort to collect, and dispose of, unnecessary firearms currently on the streets. For every gun that is turned in—no questions asked and no background checks performed, of course—the “donor” will receive two free tickets to an upcoming preseason game. Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal: “The city of Memphis will trade gas cards and Grizzlies...