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| | | 🧑⚖️ Lawsuits Challenge New Congressional Map | Just hours after state Republicans passed a new congressional map to dilute Black and Democratic voters, the Tennessee NAACP filed an emergency lawsuit challenging its legality. The suit argues that according to state law, legislators cannot change congressional districts outside the traditional census cycle, and that Gov. Bill Lee failed to specifically authorize lawmakers during the special session to suspend that law before redrawing the districts. [Tennessee Lookout; WKRN] | - More lawsuits: The Tennessee Democratic Party and local lawmakers have also filed a lawsuit, and seek an immediate injunction to stop the new map from going into effect before congressional primaries on Aug. 6. The new maps “will cause significant voter confusion, will impede the ability of state and local election officials,” the lawsuit says. [Nashville Banner; 🔐 The Tennessean]
- Impact on elections: Davidson County Elections Administrator John Richardson says while he’s confident his office can implement the new redistricting plan, it will take a “Herculean effort.” Early voting for the congressional primary begins July 27, and absentee ballots must be sent to active-duty military by June 22. New congressional candidates have until May 15 to submit their paperwork. [🔐 The Tennessean]
- Find your new district: Check here to see what congressional district you live in now, based on the redrawn map. [Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury]
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| What Nashville's Talking About |
| | 🏫 How Education Bills Will Impact Nashville Schools | The main Tennessee General Assembly wrapped last month, and on today’s podcast, we’re discussing the education bills that passed with Melissa Brown, Tennessee bureau chief for Chalkbeat Tennessee. From voucher expansion to the Ten Commandments and stricter internet policies, here’s how recently passed education bills will impact Nashville’s schools. [🎧 City Cast Nashville] | | | 🚗 Mayor Frustrated by Waymo | It’s been one month since Waymo’s driverless vehicles have been on Nashville roads, and Mayor Freddie O’Connell is expressing frustration. “We can’t issue a citation to a driverless vehicle,” he explained. “So, they can violate a traffic law, and there’s no consequence.” A state law prohibits local governments from having any regulatory authority over Waymo. [NewsChannel 5] | | | 🏛️ Councilmembers Discuss Childcare Zoning | At Thursday’s Metro Council meeting, councilmembers passed legislation that would ease childcare center zoning in its second of three readings, and approved grant criteria from the Metro Arts Commission. Nashville has also been awarded a $2.44 million federal grant to modernize waste and recycling facilities. [Nashville Banner] | | | 🚌 WeGo Increases Service | The Nashville MTA Board has approved WeGo Public Transit’s summer service changes, which will go into effect on July 5. Changes include buses every 30 minutes at the airport and for the Opry Mills route, adding service routes in Madison, and expanding South Nashville and Bellevue WeGo Link Zones. [WSMV] |
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