Reposted by @vivianejones.bsky.socialHolly McCall @jhollymc.bsky.social · 30/04/2026Photos from @tennesseelookout.com photojournalist John Partipilo was on the scene in South Nashville for ICE raids of an apartment complex, nearly one year after raids first shook the city. 0148
vivianejones.bsky.social @vivianejones.bsky.social · 30/04/2026I asked Tennessee Govs. Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam about problem solving in politics, and about the challenges Tennessee's next governor will face. Here's what they said: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...tennessean.comCivics with civility? Bredesen, Haslam discuss state of TN politicsWhat's ahead for Tennessee? Two former governors discuss politics ahead of the 2026 elections. 010
vivianejones.bsky.social @vivianejones.bsky.social · 09/03/202619 months ago, the gov's Faith Based office fought for the state to sign a $4.2M no-bid contract with Oregon-based tech company The Contingent to "supercharge" foster family recruitment. The company was under audit at the time. There's been no recruitment spike. www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...tennessean.com$4.2M no-bid foster recruitment contract shows no pronounced increaseTouted by the Governor's Office of Faith Based & Community Initiatives, the contract was to make a "radical difference" in foster family recruitment. 000
Reposted by @vivianejones.bsky.socialLiam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 06/03/2026For its first 5 years, Gov. Lee's Faith Based Office supported a six-member staff with entirely private donations. Now, it's almost completely run on $1.5 million in state funds. They provided @vivianejones.bsky.social with little detailed info on that spending: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...tennessean.comFew details on how Faith Based Office spends taxpayer funds 3 years inGov. Bill Lee pitched the Faith Based Office as an entirely self-funded entity. Now, 86% of the office's budget is state-funded. 011
vivianejones.bsky.social @vivianejones.bsky.social · 26/09/2025Wondering where students & schools participating in TN's new taxpayer-funded private school voucher program are located? While population details are still not available, @thetennesean.bsky.social mapped new data on school and student county locations from TDOE: www.tennessean.com/story/news/e...tennessean.comEd chief touts transparency amid ‘mad scramble' voucher rollout as lawmakers seek detailsAs lawmakers seek more data on Tennessee's $144M private school voucher program from the Education Department, its commissioner touts transparency. 100
Reposted by @vivianejones.bsky.socialProPublica @propublica.org · 14/02/2025Who what when where why not be our Valentine? Send these to someone you’re headline over heels for. 💌 12661108
vivianejones.bsky.social @vivianejones.bsky.social · 14/02/2025This week in politics: -Are grocery tax cuts coming this year? -Schwinn's job under scrutiny in UF audit -Holt named to Duck River panel despite previous EPA complaint -Sparks alleges prosecutorial pressure in Kelsey case For @thetennesean.bsky.social subscribers: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...tennessean.comThe week in politics: Why there's no consensus among GOP leadership on grocery tax repealPlus, Penny Schwinn's Florida job got new scrutiny, Lee appoints a Duck River working group. 010
vivianejones.bsky.social @vivianejones.bsky.social · 28/01/2025With pressure mounting from out-of-state groups to support a statewide school voucher program in Tennessee, rural officials generally oppose bringing vouchers to their community, while many rural lawmakers say they will support the policy anyway. www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...tennessean.comHow rural lawmakers could prove pivotal in Tennessee voucher debateMany local officials in rural areas oppose school vouchers. Some state lawmakers from those areas back Gov. Bill Lee's plan. 011
Reposted by @vivianejones.bsky.socialSteven Hale @iamstevenhale.bsky.social · 28/01/2025From this morning's @nashvillebanner.bsky.social newsletter, I asked how Metro Nashville Public Schools will handle immigration enforcement activity at schools: 2118
vivianejones.bsky.social @vivianejones.bsky.social · 28/01/2025GOP lawmakers signaled they aim to end the special session this week, meaning nearly $1B of legislation on school vouchers, hurricane relief, transportation funding and immigration enforcement could be pushed through the General Assembly in just days. www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...tennessean.comTennessee's $1B special legislative session kicks off, expected to wrap this weekA special legislative session to tackle school vouchers, Helene aid and immigration kicked off on Monday. 011
vivianejones.bsky.social @vivianejones.bsky.social · 15/01/2025Breaking: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is calling a special legislative session beginning Jan. 27 on: —private school vouchers —Helene disaster relief —preparations to implement Trump immigration policies @itsmelissabrown.bsky.social has details: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...tennessean.comGov. Bill Lee calls special session to tackle vouchers, disaster relief and immigrationThe special session would allow lawmakers to focus on the topics in a more dedicated way. The special session would begin Jan. 27. 000
vivianejones.bsky.social @vivianejones.bsky.social · 15/01/2025Newly obtained text messages show that former top House aide Cade Cothren discussed a separate, similar kickback scheme as early as 2016, involving a consulting firm used by top Republican leaders and the House GOP Caucus. From me @thetennesean.bsky.social www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...tennessean.comText messages show Cothren discussed kickback scheme as far back as 2016Cade Cothren was a longtime legislative aide who at one point was chief of staff to former House Speaker Glen Casada. 000
vivianejones.bsky.social @vivianejones.bsky.social · 10/01/2025-Lee meets with Trump at Mar-a-Lago -Foreshadowing a special session on vouchers, Helene -Bill proposes a new 5% tax on lottery tickets -New filing in Jones v. Sexton lawsuit And more this week in politics from @itsmelissabrown.bsky.social and me: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...tennessean.comThe week in politics: Lee meets with Trump at Mar-A-Lago, nears decision on special sessionPlus, new legislation to create a lottery ticket tax and law passes on women's suffrage monument. 000
vivianejones.bsky.social @vivianejones.bsky.social · 08/01/2025Expanding Tennessee's oversight over federal grants and local laws, preparing for an end of the U.S. Department of Education and expanding opportunities for child care providers are top priorities for Speaker Cameron Sexton as lawmakers return to the state Capitol. www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...tennessean.comTennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton outlines his top priorities as lawmakers returnThe 2025 legislative session will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 12 p.m. CT. House Speaker Cameron Sexton discussed his priorities. 000
vivianejones.bsky.social @vivianejones.bsky.social · 07/01/2025Tennessee's legislature will return to the State Capitol one week from today (excuse me while I find the largest available coffee cup). Here are 7 key issues to watch when they come back, from @itsmelissabrown.bsky.social and me: www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...tennessean.com7 key issues to watch at the Tennessee legislature as the 114th General Assembly convenesThe new 114th Tennessee General Assembly convenes Jan. 14 and will begin tackling a host of issues. Here are some to watch. 000
vivianejones.bsky.social @vivianejones.bsky.social · 18/12/2024Since 2019, TN DCS has collected $31.5M in Social Security benefits for orphans in state custody to fund their care. On average, $42k/child. With a high homelessness rate as DCS youth age out, Sen. Jeff Yarbro says TN should keep the money in trust for the kids. www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...tennessean.comDCS collected $31.5M from orphans in state custody since 2019Since 2019, the state has collected $31.5 million in Social Security benefits for children in state custody, according to the agency. 000
Reposted by @vivianejones.bsky.socialDuane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · 17/12/2024A little @vivianejones.bsky.social scoop to start the day. Lee administration already meeting with potential school voucher vendors ahead of the legislative battle over a statewide expansion next year. www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...tennessean.comLee administration meets with possible Tennessee school voucher vendorsThe Tennessee General Assembly will consider legislation next year to expand school vouchers statewide. 101
vivianejones.bsky.social @vivianejones.bsky.social · 03/12/2024Gov. Bill Lee has repaid $1,900 in travel expenses to a Florida resort island conference this summer at the request of the TN Ethics Commission, who found the expenses constituted an indirect illegal gift. www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...tennessean.comGov. Bill Lee repays travel expenses following new Tennessee Ethics Commission opinionEthics commissioners determined Tuesday the expenses paid by the nonprofit constituted an indirect gift to the governor. 121
