Four more women have joined a lawsuit challenging Tennessee's restrictive abortion law, which first was filed in September 2023, bringing the total number of plaintiffs to nine, including two doctors. The Associated Press reports that three of the women were denied abortions while experiencing severe pregnancy complications, forcing them to travel out of state for the procedure. The plaintiffs argue that the law violates pregnant patients’ right to life as guaranteed by the state’s constitution and are asking a three-judge panel to clarify the circumstances that qualify patients to legally receive an abortion. Among the circumstances they want included are fatal diagnoses. The Center for Reproductive Rights, which is representing the plaintiffs, also recently requested a temporary injunction on enforcing the law as the court case proceeds.

Tennessee House Republicans will not pursue last August's temporary sign ban when the legislature convenes Tuesday, The Tennessee Journal reports. A judge last year blocked the sign ban on First Amendment grounds and the temporary rules expired with conclusion of the special session. House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, said that for the regular session, small handheld signs will be allowed so long as they are not held up to obstruct the view of others.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, along with the attorneys general of Montana and Kansas, on Friday led a coalition of 19 states in submitting a public comment letter challenging the legality of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s “Businesses Diversity Principles” proposal. The proposal would push businesses to “strive to meet diversity targets in their long-term workforce plans” and assess DEIA performance using “demographic data across all levels and departments.” The attorneys general argue that the policy violates the law and promotes racial discrimination. Read the press release and the letter.

Knox County At-Large Commissioner Larsen Jay is the first candidate to officially announce his intention to run for mayor of Knox County. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that Jay, a Republican, was elected to the county commission in 2018 and again in 2022, and he served as chairman from 2020-2021. Current Mayor Glenn Jacobs is term-limited and ineligible to run again in the 2026 election.

A new program in Nashville aims to guide currently jailed potential voters through the voting process. The Tennessee Lookout reports that voter registration, navigating the absentee ballot request process, voting rights restoration support and civics education will be a part of the new program, which started in late December. Some people with felony convictions are permanently barred from voting under Tennessee law. Others with felony convictions may have voting rights restored. People with misdemeanor records alone or no criminal record at all can continue to vote, including from jail using absentee ballots.

Tadarrius Bean, one of the former Memphis police officers accused in the beating death of Tyre Nichols, is requesting that his federal criminal trial be moved outside Memphis. According to the Daily Memphian, Bean's attorney John Keith Perry wrote in his request and separate memorandum of support that he was requesting the move due to the amount of media coverage in the case and comments from city officials. He acknowledged that prosecutors would likely oppose a venue change given coverage of the case has been so widespread that moving the trial likely would not impact the outcome. The federal trial is currently set to begin May 6.

The U.S. Supreme Court today declined to hear an appeal of venue change in a lawsuit accusing Exxon, Koch Industries and the American Petroleum Institute of worsening climate change. The refusal to hear the appeal sends the suit back to the state court in Minnesota. The court has similarly rejected appeals in cases in California, Colorado, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Maryland and elsewhere. The justices also rejected an appeal by X Corp, formerly known as Twitter, to consider whether the social media company can publicly disclose how often federal law enforcement seeks information about users for national security investigations. Additionally, the court rejected an appeal from Intel and Edwards Lifesciences to revive part of their lawsuit challenging a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office policy that reduced the number of patents the federal agency reviews. Reuters has more in depth coverage of the decisions.

Monday, Jan. 15, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and several Nashville organizations are hosting events, volunteer opportunities and celebrations of life. The annual Nashville MLK Day celebration begins Wednesday with daily events held through Monday, including presentations, a youth symposium, a march along Jefferson Street and a convocation at Tennessee State University with poet Nikki Giovanni. Get details on the MLK Joint Day of Service on Saturday, Let Freedom Sing on Sunday, a Volunteer Tree Planting on Monday and a presentation at Vanderbilt University with Khalil Ekulona of Nashville Public Radio.

Several new laws took effect on Jan. 1, 2024, including harsher penalties for distracted drivers, the elimination of disabled license plate fees for parents or guardians of a person confined to a wheelchair, and the requirement of car ignition breathalyzers to include GPS technology that will track the car's location at the time of an alcohol test. Additionally, the Tennessee Department of Safety will create a voucher program to reimburse people for the cost of a handgun safety course and the Tennessee Paid Family Leave Insurance Act will amend current code to allow insurances companies to offer paid family leave, which employers could then purchase for their employees. Read the Tennessean's full summary of the new laws.

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up whether former President Donald Trump can be disqualified from appearing on Colorado’s ballot due to his actions surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, reports The Hill. The justices’ order sets the case up to be heard at a speedy pace, with oral arguments scheduled for Feb. 8. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti recently joined an amicus brief urging the court to hear the appeal.