The 114th Tennessee General Assembly wrapped up its legislative session in late April, 2026. ... dozens of new Tennessee laws go into effect on July 1. The laws impact the criminal justice system, immigration, education, the environment and families.
* Underage vaping punishment
Under SB1740/HB1679, anyone under the age of 21 who illegally buys tobacco, hemp, vapor or smokeless tobacco would be required to do 50 hours of community service, complete a prescribed court program, and pay a fine between $10 and $50 for anyone between the ages of 18 and 21.
* Allowing deadly force to protect property
SB1847/HB1802 allows the use of deadly force to protect property in certain situations.
Under the law, property owners would be allowed to use deadly force to prevent trespassing, arson, damage to property, burglary, theft, robbery or aggravated cruelty to animals.
The legislation does not allow the use of deadly force against someone who is facing away from the property owner.
* Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act
HB1822/SB1828 requires public schools and public charter schools to teach about the positive impacts of religion on American history.
The list includes 19 historical subjects schools can use for instruction. Of the 19 suggestions, IMO, these might be acceptable, History of the Pilgrims, George Washington's farewell address, The concept of separating church and state.
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Discussing:
- Tennessee: great for business, not so great place to live (1 reply)
- Marsha & China (4 replies)
- AI bubble burst? (2 replies)
- Tennessee paying $637 million over 5 years for voucher software program (2 replies)
- UT paying $2 million to fired professor? (2 replies)
- A bear in Alcoa (1 reply)
- Here are some good Presidents (1 reply)
- Alcoa Hwy construction to extend to 2030 (3 replies)
- Happy 250th, pfft (2 replies)
- Smith & Wesson noise problem (3 replies)
- Are Chat bots a waste of time? (1 reply)
- Musicians dropping out of President's Freedom Concert Series (1 reply)
TN Progressive
- Alcoa property taxes will probably not go up (BlountViews)
- Smith & Wesson not a good fit for Blount County (BlountViews)
- Pellissippi Parkway extension delayed again (BlountViews)
- Blount County early voting record turnout (BlountViews)
- WATCH THIS SPACE. (Left Wing Cracker)
- America As It Is Right Now (RoaneViews)
- A friend sent this: From Captain McElwee's Tall Tales of Roane County (RoaneViews)
- The Meidas Touch (RoaneViews)
- Massive Security Breach Analysis (RoaneViews)
- (Whitescreek Journal)
- My choices in the August election (Left Wing Cracker)
- July 4, 2024 - aka The Twilight Zone (Joe Powell)
TN Politics
- Taco Bell removing lettuce nationwide linked to cyclosporiasis in 5 states (TN Lookout)
- Stockard on the Stump: It’s not debatable, Blackburn shifting for money (TN Lookout)
- Tennessee District 5 candidates vie for constituents spread across the state’s extremes (TN Lookout)
- Rose primarily self-funding as Blackburn leads governors candidates in donations made by Tennesseans (TN Lookout)
- House Dem Leader Jeffries hammers Trump, asks for teachers union help in midterms (TN Lookout)
- Trump cites potential hack of US elections in speech slammed for stoking voter fears (TN Lookout)
Knox TN Today
- Baseball beckons as summer slides away (Knox TN Today)
- Daily Connections: Your East Tennessee Guide | July 17-19 (Knox TN Today)
- Coming Monday: Faith Along the Way (Knox TN Today)
- Jennifer Aniston Inspired Salad (Knox TN Today)
- Karns builds a stage + New launch on Beaver Creek + Farmer Finn + Jason Maxedon ++ (Knox TN Today)
- Tiny faces, bright futures: Red Panda cubs reach another milestone (Knox TN Today)
- Hiking with Harrington: Summer blooms along Little River Trail (Knox TN Today)
- Food City offers exclusive deal for Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud (Knox TN Today)
- Close to Home, Far from Ordinary: Knox the Fox shares recent trip with friends (Knox TN Today)
- Climate technology innovations continue (Knox TN Today)
- Weekend Scene: Newsies Jr. to Grooves in the Garden (Knox TN Today)
- Rosebay Rhododendron adorns the new Linville Falls Connector Trail (Knox TN Today)
Local TV News
- Fatal crash on Maynardville Pike under investigation by THP (WATE)
- Knoxville teen undergoes gene therapy for sickle cell disease, giving family new hope (WATE)
- Blount County school board member resigns, setting up special election (WATE)
- FBI arrests Knoxville man accused of threats to Trump, public officials (WATE)
- From speed enforcement to Grainger County Tomato Festival: Traffic impacts in East TN this weekend (WATE)
- 'A big job' Inside Clayton Homes' Bean Station manufacturing facility (WATE)
News Sentinel
State News
- Free Press Opinion: For the state with worst quality of life, Tennessee certainly attracts a lot of people - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- Times Opinion: Courtesy of Republicans, Tennessee ranks dead last in quality of life - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- Pedestrian dies after being hit on Lee Highway - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- As governor, Marsha Blackburn wants to stop Chattanooga’s China sister city program - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
Wire Reports
- Wall St ends lower for the day and week as chip selloff broadens - Reuters (Business)
- Taylor Farms to Remove Some Products After Link to Cyclospora Cases - The New York Times (Business)
- Voter files explained: Demystifying the widely available data Trump cited in his speech - NBC News (US News)
- Trump urges Darline Graham to run for full Senate term as funeral scheduled for Lindsey Graham - AP News (US News)
- Trump’s Homeland Security Chief Threatens Election Officials With Prison Time - The New York Times (US News)
- Westlake grad identified as victim in Hill Country floods, family says - KXAN Austin (US News)
- Man Sought in Minnesota Fraud Case Returned From Somalia - The New York Times (US News)
- FAA lets Boeing sign off on 737 Max, 787 airworthiness certificates again - CNBC (Business)
- Trump Media to sell Wall Street access to market-moving Truth Social posts - MS NOW (Business)
- China's Moonshot AI claims Kimi K3 can rival OpenAI and Anthropic - BBC (Business)
- Deadly Texas Floods Ebb, but Danger Remains: ‘You Could Hear the Water’ - The New York Times (US News)
- How one moderate Democratic leader is bracing for Israel politics in the next Congress - Politico (US News)
- Second ex-wife seeks protection order against ICE agent who shot man in Biddeford - The Portland Press Herald (US News)
- Semiconductor stocks keep falling as investors go risk-off, Chinese startup releases powerful new AI model - Yahoo Finance (Business)
- Costco, Amazon shoppers urged to check their kitchens after appliance recalled over shock and fire hazards - Fox Business (Business)
Local Media
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