The federal Department of Education Department yesterday zeroed out loan balances for nearly 153,000 borrowers, who borrowed $12,000 or less, have been paying their student loans for at least 10 years and enrolled in the Biden administration's Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan which launched last summer, National Public Radio reports. Republican lawmakers have tried to stop the SAVE plan, arguing it is outside of the administration's authority and criticizing the president for campaigning for votes with the new policy. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said the administration is "using the negotiated rulemaking process [under the Higher Education Act of 1965] to come up with a debt relief plan that will positively impact Americans and give them an opportunity to get back on their feet." 

The Beck Cultural Exchange Center in Knoxville will host a panel discussion at 6 p.m. EDT tomorrow on policing and police encounters as part of their Black History Month events and ongoing conversations on racial justice. The event name —"The Talk" — comes from the conversation that generations of Black parents have had with their children about what to do if they are stopped or questioned by police officers. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, 10 speakers are scheduled, including retired Knoxville Police Department Chief Nathaniel Allen, former NAACP President Dewey Roberts, former Knox County Commissioner Diane Jordan and attorney Dillon Zinser. In addition, Knox News Executive Editor Joel Christopher and reporter Angela Dennis will join a panel to discuss what their reporting has revealed about the effects of policing in the community. Nzinga Amani, a police reform activist, and community member Nahshon Bain-Greenidge also will share their experiences with local officers.

A bill sponsored by state Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville, passed the House State Government Committee on Wednesday, despite legislative attorney Matt Munday cautioning that it might be unconstitutional. The bill in question would prevent local governments from sending General Assembly members who are expelled “for disorderly behavior” back to the same seat, reports the Daily Memphian. State Rep. Bryan Richey, R-Maryville, is sponsoring a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that is similar to Garrett’s bill. Richey’s resolution would go further, preventing the expelled member from holding office for four years after the expulsion. That resolution is expected to be heard next week.

Gov. Bill Lee and state Senate leadership this week announced differing proposals to introduce universal school vouchers to Tennessee. The key difference in the two plans is testing accountability. Chalkbeat reports that the governor's plan does not require participating students to take annual tests to measure whether the Education Freedom Scholarship Act leads to better academic outcomes. The Senate’s proposal requires recipients in grades three to 11 to take some type of norm-referenced tests approved by the state Board of Education. It also favors open enrollment across school systems. The House has released a third version, which would allow well-performing public schools to see more flexibility on student testing requirements, while the state would take on more costs to pay public school teachers and staffers’ health-insurance benefits, reports the Tennessee Journal.

Nashville's Metro Council on Tuesday unanimously passed Mayor Freddie O'Connell's $514 million capital spending package. The second phase of construction of a new Juvenile Justice Center will receive $60 million of that total, reports the Tennessean. The facility is slated to open in spring 2027. Other funded projects include upgrades and maintenance for Metro Nashville Public Schools and transportation-related initiatives.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) will host a power of attorney/advanced health care directives clinic on March 21 at 10 a.m. EST at the Jonesborough Senior Center, 307 E. Main St., Jonesborough 37659. Volunteering remotely is an option. Contact Caroline Rogers with questions or to volunteer.

The 2024 Elder Law Forum will take place in person July 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT at the Belmont University College of Law. This annual staple for Tennessee attorneys provides insight from top professionals while allowing attendees to meet with other lawyers in the practice area. Topics will include litigation in elder law, dementia concerns, conservatorships, helping clients suffering from dementia, ethics, and much more.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has reversed the decision of a Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility hearing panel, which has recommended suspending the law license of Nashville attorney Brian Manookian. The court instead permanently disbarred Manookian. The court held that, after Manookian’s continuing, serious violations of multiple Rules of Professional Conduct, even after receiving several sanctions and suspensions, disbarment was the only appropriate action. Read the BPR press release on the disbarment.

Michael Regier, general counsel and secretary at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), will retire at the end of the academic year, and Douglas Mefford, managing counsel in the Office of Legal Affairs, will succeed him effective July 1, according to a press release from VUMC. Mefford joined VUMC in 2013 and has led initiatives to restructure the LifeFlight air ambulance program and Vanderbilt Imaging Services. He has also supported the Medical Center’s regional hospital acquisitions in Lebanon, Shelbyville and Tullahoma, and helped negotiate VUMC’s minority interest in Tennova Healthcare – Clarksville.

Memphis Area Legal Services Inc. (MALS) has announced that Loyce Lambert Ryan has joined the organization as interim executive director following the departure of Cindy Ettingoff. Lambert Ryan served as judge for the Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court Division XV from 2000 to 2022. She was appointed in 2004 by then-Gov. Phil Bredesen to the Governor’s Task Force on Sentencing Guidelines, and in 2015 by the Tennessee Supreme Court to serve on the Indigent Defense Task Force. Additionally, MALS has appointed Gortria C. Banks as chief operating officer. She joined MALS in August 2023 after serving as associate executive director of the Community Legal Center. Read more in a press release from the organization.