NASHVILLE (AP) — A state lawmaker in Tennessee resigned suddenly for an ethics violation that became public Thursday, two weeks after he joined fellow Republicans in expelling two Black Democratic legislators for protesting in support of gun control on the state House floor.

2. 'Varsity Blues' trial promises fresh insights in old scandal - Friday, September 3, 2021

BOSTON (AP) — The first trial in the "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions bribery scandal will begin this week, with the potential to shed light on investigators' tactics and brighten the spotlight on a secretive school selection process many have long complained is rigged to favor the rich.

3. Trading racism claims, Tennessee House stays in tense divide - Friday, June 19, 2020

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee House continued to simmer Wednesday after Republicans spiked a resolution the night before for a young black woman shot and killed this year. Speaker Cameron Sexton even kicked off the morning session by telling leaders of both parties to meet with him afterward.

4. Trading racism claims, Tennessee House stays in tense divide - Friday, June 12, 2020

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee House continued to simmer Wednesday after Republicans spiked a resolution the night before for a young black woman shot and killed this year. Speaker Cameron Sexton even kicked off the morning session by telling leaders of both parties to meet with him afterward.

5. Lawsuit challenges Tennessee false campaign literature law - Friday, March 20, 2020

NASHVILLE (AP) — A political action committee is challenging a Tennessee law that criminalizes publishing false campaign literature, arguing that such bans violate the U.S. Constitution.

The nonpartisan group Tennesseans for Sensible Election Laws filed the complaint earlier this month against Attorney General Herbert Slatery and the Davidson County district attorney general's office.

6. Delay of game: Still no rules for online sports betting - Friday, February 28, 2020

What were the odds it would take more than a year to implement online betting in Tennessee?

The Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation has hit a standstill in the adoption of rules for online sports betting. Nevertheless, hope remains that sports fans in Tennessee will be able to legally bet online in time for the 2020 football season.

7. Tennessee reps decide not to decide on Confederate statue - Friday, January 31, 2020

NASHVILLE (AP) — A Republican-led legislative panel has decided not to decide, for now, whether it thinks a bust of a former Confederate general and early Ku Klux Klan leader should be removed from the Tennessee Capitol.

8. Tennessee lawmakers debate Confederate bust removal - Friday, January 24, 2020

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee lawmakers appear divided over a proposal supporting the removal of a bust honoring a former Confederate general and early Ku Klux Klan leader from the state's Capitol.

If approved by the GOP-controlled Legislature, the measure would encourage replacing the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest with an "appropriate tribute to a deserving Tennessean."

9. Look for fewer bills as legislators eye early adjournment, re-election - Friday, January 3, 2020

So far, fewer than 100 bills have been filed for consideration in this year’s session of the 111th Tennessee General Assembly, but they include laws on hot-button issues such as school vouchers, vaping, immigration, guns and gender.

10. Against all odds - Friday, May 24, 2019

Against all odds, legal online sports betting will soon be available in Tennessee, possibly in time for the SEC Championship football game, the college football national championship game, the Super Bowl and most of the Predators’ and college basketball seasons.

11. Casada chief of staff resigns amid allegations - Friday, May 3, 2019

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Republican Tennessee House speaker's chief of staff resigned Monday amid allegations that he sent sexually explicit and racist text messages, and after admitting he used cocaine inside a legislative office building when he held a previous job.

12. Tennessee House OKs sports betting bill, clearing key hurdle - Friday, April 19, 2019

NASHVILLE (AP) — A bill that would allow sports betting in Tennessee passed the House on Wednesday, a key hurdle in a state that has been historically hesitant to expand gambling.

The legislation that passed 58-37 would allow and regulate statewide mobile and interactive sports gambling for people 21 years old and up. Brick-and-mortar betting locations would be prohibited.

13. Accused lawmaker Staples resigns leadership position - Friday, April 12, 2019

NASHVILLE (AP) — A Democratic Tennessee lawmaker says he's resigning from his leadership position after a House ethics panel concluded he violated the General Assembly's sexual harassment policy.

14. Ethics panel: House Democrat violated sexual harassment rule - Friday, April 5, 2019

NASHVILLE (AP) — A Democratic Tennessee lawmaker has been instructed to take "preventative action" after a House ethics panel found he violated the General Assembly's sexual harassment policy.

15. Sports betting bill gains traction in Tennessee - Friday, April 5, 2019

NASHVILLE (AP) — A Tennessee bill to legalize sports betting is gaining traction.

A House committee advanced Democratic Rep. Rick Staples' legislation Tuesday to allow statewide mobile and interactive sports gambling, without brick-and-mortar betting locations.

16. Lawmaker apologizes, denies investigation amid claims - Friday, April 5, 2019

NASHVILLE (AP) — A Democratic Tennessee lawmaker on Thursday apologized for having his behavior possibly misinterpreted after being accused of sexual misconduct, but denied he was under investigation.

17. Tennessee Dems mum on letter surrounding accused lawmaker - Friday, March 29, 2019

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Democrats are remaining mum on their involvement in the ousting of a Republican lawmaker accused of sexual misconduct from leading a legislative education panel.

Last week, Republican Rep. David Byrd resigned as chairman of an education subcommittee at the request of House Speaker Glen Casada. Byrd has been accused by three women of sexual misconduct as a high school coach decades ago.

18. University of Tennessee has concerns on sports betting bill - Friday, March 8, 2019

NASHVILLE (AP) — The University of Tennessee is expressing concerns about legislation to bring sports gambling to the state.

At a House committee bill review meeting Tuesday, university Director of Policy Analysis Josh Warren said there are concerns about college programs that professional teams don't have. He said a fellow student could see a football player walking with a cast in their classroom, and the university's understanding is that the bill would currently allow proposition bets on individual player performance.

19. Public pressure pushes health care to top priority - Friday, January 4, 2019

Bill Lee waltzes into the governorship later this month with more goodwill on his side than most politicians have the right to expect.

The Republican, who takes the reigns Jan. 19, is inheriting a state with an unemployment rate under 4 percent, an improving education system, companies such as Amazon bringing in thousands of jobs and an approval rating of 57 percent, a Vanderbilt poll taken in December shows.

20. Lloyd finds success playing the long game - Friday, August 17, 2018

Sitting at a Greek restaurant and spooning raisins and brown sugar into 10:30 a.m. oatmeal, Bill Lloyd – one of Nashville’s nicest guys – gets only slightly sentimental when pondering the long road traveled since he was at the top of the charts, opening for heroes like Roy Orbison.

21. Nashville's most romantic restaurants for 2018 - Friday, February 9, 2018

Nashville has a restaurant for every mood. If you're looking for romance on Valentine’s Day or any night of the week, you can’t miss with these.

Restaurants new to the list are designated with an *.

22. Mavis Staples, Taj Mahal among Blues Music Awards nominees - Friday, January 5, 2018

MEMPHIS (AP) — Mavis Staples, Taj Mahal and the North Mississippi All-Stars are among the nominees for this year's Blues Music Awards in Tennessee.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Wee Willie Walker and Rick Estrin also are nominated for Blues Music Awards announced Monday.

23. Top Middle Tennessee commercial transactions for April 2017 - Friday, May 19, 2017

Top commercial real estate sales, April 2017, for Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson and Sumner counties, as compiled by Chandler Reports.

24. Most legislators urging slowdown in outsourcing state jobs - Friday, April 28, 2017

A majority of Tennessee’s legislators are asking the state to hold up on a facilities management outsourcing contract with Jones Lang LaSalle.

Seventy-five of the General Assembly’s 132 members, 17 in the Senate and 58 in the House, have signed a letter to Terry Cowles, director of the Office of Customer Focused Government, asking the office to slow down on outsourcing so it can “study and understand the effect” on public services, the economy and state employees.

25. Nashville's most romantic restaurants for 2017 - Friday, February 3, 2017

No matter what romance means to you, Nashville has you covered – and then some. Here’s the list of where to go to celebrate love and some seriously good food.

360 Wine Bar Bistro

6000 Highway 100, 615 353-5604, www.360bistro.com

26. GOP wins 2 Dem seats in Tennessee House, keeps Durham seat - Friday, November 4, 2016

NASHVILLE (AP) — Republicans on Tuesday won two seats previously held by Democrats in the Tennessee House and held on to another formerly held by expelled lawmaker Jeremy Durham.

27. Knox Democrats select replacement for convicted lawmaker - Friday, August 19, 2016

NASHVILLE (AP) — Knox County Democrats have chosen a nominee to replace longtime incumbent Rep. Joe Armstrong, who was convicted of filing a false tax return in a federal trial earlier this month.

28. Nashville's most romantic restaurants for 2016 - Friday, February 5, 2016

Romance can be found all around, in quiet, 50-seat rooms and bustling of-the-moment hot spots. It’s all about the food, the ambiance, the service and, most importantly, your companion for the evening.

29. Nashville’s most romantic restaurants - Friday, February 6, 2015

Romance means something different for everyone, but most people can agree that if there is low lighting, soft music, a charming companion and something delicious to eat, you’ve already got the makings of one outstanding evening.

30. 'We've got something special here' - Friday, June 8, 2012

MANCHESTER – Coffee County Mayor David Pennington might enjoy a Bonnaroo Burger at his family’s landmark restaurant, but he probably won’t be spending much time with Flogging Molly, The Beach Boys, Alice Cooper or others performing for the 80,000 sometimes-mud-encased or sweat-drenched masses huddled at Great Stage Park this week.

31. Against business? GOP split on Romney's practices - Friday, January 6, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — What gives? Some of Mitt Romney's rivals are waging a fierce attack that you'd never think would come from the mouths of Republicans who claim Ronald Reagan as their hero. They're blasting the GOP front-runner for aggressive, wealth-creating business tactics.