Melissa Brown
The Tennessean
Nashville, TN, United States
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Past articles by Melissa:
Tennessee General Assembly passes bill to slash Nashville council
The bill would require cities and metros to cap their councils at 20 members and will likely throw Nashville's upcoming elections into chaos. → Read More
Maren Morris, Brothers Osborne, Jason Isbell and more set for benefit concert amid anti-LGBTQ legislation
The lineup for Love Rising includes Brothers Osborne, Jason Isbell, Maren Morris, Allison Russell and more. → Read More
Tennessee House Republicans pass bill to slash Nashville council size
Should the bill's Senate counterpart receive approval from state lawmakers, Nashville's upcoming local elections on Aug. 3 would be upended. → Read More
Tennessee legislature passes ban on gender-transition health care for minors
Republicans overwhelmingly passed a ban on gender-transition care for minors, which will require patients to end current treatments by March 2024. → Read More
Bill to slash size of Nashville's council advances in Senate, despite calls for delay
The bill found a rare Republican opponent on Tuesday, as Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, voted against it. Pody newly represents parts of Davidson County. → Read More
Sen. Jeff Yarbro enters Nashville mayor's race
State Sen. Jeff Yarbro joins a growing list of candidates to be the next mayor of Nashville. → Read More
Nashville to move forward with 2028 RNC, DNC bids after GOP legislative push
Mayor John Cooper sent letters expressing interest in a 2028 RNC and DNC convention after Thursday comments from legislative leadership. → Read More
Tennessee Senate passes school voucher expansion bill
For now, only Hamilton County students would be eligible to join the Education Savings Account. → Read More
LGBTQ advocates plead with lawmakers to vote against anti-drag bill
As Tennessee lawmakers mull legislation that could prohibit drag performances in public, more than 200 people rallied at Legislative Plaza. → Read More
House GOP, Democrats press Tennessee Right to Life during debate over abortion exceptions
The bill to legalize abortions in medical emergencies and other limited circumstances faced its first procedural hurdle in a House subcommittee. → Read More
Independent Nashville candidate files complaint alleging Senate election fraud
But Rueben Dockery, the candidate, faced skeptical senators who said he didn't have enough evidence. They gave him 30 days to respond. → Read More
Tennessee Senate passes bill on 'male and female impersonators' amid drag show debate
The bill classifies "male and female impersonators" as adult cabaret performers and bans "adult-oriented performances that are harmful to minors." → Read More
Effort to expand private school voucher program in Tennessee advances
The bill expands the criteria for Education Savings Accounts and could bring the voucher program to Hamilton County. → Read More
Tennessee bill banning trans youth health care passes Senate committee
The bill, the first filed for this legislation session, has moved quickly through the legislative process. → Read More
Roads, stadiums and DCS: What's in Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's $55.6B budget proposal
Memphis sports venues, TPAC's move, DCS and new roads are the top items in Gov. Bill Lee's $55.6 billion budget proposal. → Read More
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee calls for major investments in roads, aid to parents and children
Gov. Bill Lee gave his first State of the State address of his second term on Monday before a joint session of the legislature. → Read More
Gov. Bill Lee names Knoxville lawyer Dwight Tarwater to Tennessee Supreme Court
Dwight Tarwater previously served as general counsel for Gov. Bill Haslam and is a current partner at a Knoxville firm. → Read More
Tennessee Republicans back bills to add exceptions to abortion ban
Bills filed this week would amend the state law to allow "medically necessary" abortions and some abortions in rape and incest cases. → Read More
Tennessee bill to ban trans treatments for minors advances in committee
Republicans last year filed the legislation, the first of the session, to ban medical procedures, medications and surgeries for transgender youth. → Read More
Tennessee bill filed after drag show controversy advances in General Assembly
The bill would prohibit "adult-oriented" performances from public spaces. It includes a provision on male and female impersonators. → Read More