The Tennessee Department of Health announced that Tennesseans will continue to have access to free COVID-19 vaccinations while supplies last even though the federal public health emergency officially ended Thursday. Vaccines will also be available through in-network insurance providers and Affordable Care Act plans. Private insurers and Medicare are now no longer required to provide free distribution of at-home COVID-19 tests. International travelers entering the United States are also no longer required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations to enter the country. Read more about the end of the federal requirement from the Tennessean.

The TBA Elder Law and Juvenile Law Sections will provide a free one-hour webinar on May 24, covering when you need guardian ad litem in domestic law cases versus when you need guardian ad litem in probate cases. Presenters will discuss the requirements of each role, offering tips for beginners and best practices. CLE credit is available for a $50 processing fee. Learn more and register here.

Republicans in Congress have rejected a White House proposal to close tax loopholes and reach a compromise for ongoing debt ceiling negotiations, The Washington Post reports. Targeted measures include cryptocurrency transactions and another for large real estate investors, both rejected by GOP leadership. This signals near-unanimous opposition to using higher revenue to address federal debt. Despite the setback, some experts believe an agreement could be on the horizon. Anonymous sources told the Post that the budget agreement under discussion could include new limits on federal spending and a cutback on unspent pandemic aid funds and reforms designed to unleash domestic energy production. Pending an agreement, the government could run out of money to pay its bills as soon as June 1.

Gov. Bill Lee signed the Tennessee Works Tax Act (TWTA) last Thursday,  the single largest tax cut in state history. The TWTA will provide more than $400 million in savings for Tennessee families and businesses including an estimated $150 million in annual small business tax relief and $273 million for a three-month sales tax holiday on grocery items. The bill also apportions $64 million to simplify tax administration and conform with the federal bonus depreciation provisions of the 2017 U.S. Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. Read more here.

More than a month after a House ethics panel found a sitting state representative sexually harassed a 19-year-old intern, legislative officials have not released any records — or a dollar amount — of what taxpayer money may have been spent to address the situation. The Tennessean reports that it has filed several records requests, all of which have been denied. The paper also reports that the Office of Legislative Administration has declined to provide information on any other ethics or sexual harassment complaints. Also, open government advocates have been trying to find out if House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, knew about and/or approved the expenditure. Sexton told the paper he does not know if expenditures were made and is not aware of anyone in his office signing off on the spending. NewsChannel 5 previously reported that at least $8,800 was spent to relocate the intern.

The 29th annual "Ode to Otha" event, hosted by Neal & Harwell's Bill Ramsey, will be held June 3. The event celebrates the birthday of legendary musician Otha Turner while also raising money for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. This year’s line-up includes Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band, Stacy Mitchhart, Bashful Mountain Duo and more! Admission is all-inclusive and family-friendly, including access to the party, kid's zone and all-you-can-eat and drink. Get tickets in advance here.

The Tennessee Supreme Court rejected a reinstatement request from Davidson County lawyer John P. Brown Jr. on Friday. Brown had been suspended for failure to complete the mandatory IOLTA statement as required by Tennessee Supreme Court rules. On April 18, Brown filed a petition for reinstatement but failed to submit his noncompliance fee, delinquent compliance fee and suspension fee as required. Brown then requested reinstatement without payment of the fees. The court rejected that request saying there is no process in the rules for waiving the fee requirement.

Retired Carthage attorney and former Smith County General Sessions Judge Joe P. Lane Jr. died May 10. A 1968 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, Lane joined the Army and served in Vietnam followed by reserve duty until 1974. He then joined the law office of former Smith County judge and attorney Clint Beasley. Following the death of Beasley in 1979, Lane continued the law practice until 2000. Among his other accomplishments, Lane served as assistant commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Securities and Commerce under former Gov. Ned Ray McWherter and served as Smith County General Sessions judge. A service was held Saturday with burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Murfreesboro. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Carthage United Methodist Church Building Fund, 608 Main St. N. #1212, Carthage, TN 37030.

The University of Memphis School of Law will host a workshop on June 14 on “Making the Move From Practice to Professor.” The event is designed for attorneys who are interested in joining the law school as a full-time, tenure-track law professor but do not know how to take the first step. The information session will run from 4-6 p.m. CDT. Contact Professor David Romantz for more information or to sign up. View a flyer of the event.

The Defendant, Michael Marcell Brown, was convicted by a Madison County Circuit Court jury of first degree felony murder in the perpetration of or attempt to perpetrate robbery; conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, a Class C felony; and attempt to perpetrate aggravated robbery, a Class C felony. See T.C.A. §§ 39-13-202(a)(2) (2018) (subsequently amended) (first degree felony murder), 39-12-103(a) (conspiracy) (2018); 39-13-402(a) (2018) (aggravated robbery); 39-12-101(a) (2018) (criminal attempt). The trial court sentenced the Defendant to life for first degree murder and to six years for each of the two remaining convictions. The court imposed the sentences concurrently to each other but consecutively to the Defendant’s sentences in another case. On appeal, the Defendant contends that: (1) the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions, (2) the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress his pretrial statement, (3) the court erred in excluding hearsay evidence, (4) the court erred in admitting a photograph exhibit because it was not properly authenticated, and (5) the cumulative effect of multiple trial errors requires relief. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.