When a federal judicial panel dismissed a challenge to Tennessee's redistricting plans for the U.S. House of Representatives and state Senate, it gave the plaintiffs 30 days to refile an amended complaint. The panel had found that while the maps were consistent with "racial gerrymander," they also were "consistent with a political gerrymander." The judges said the group, including the NAACP, would need to provide stronger evidence that legislators knew the maps would harm Democratic voters, including minority voters. The Associated Press reports on the decision not to refile. The refiling period expired Wednesday with official dismissal of the case.

The city of Memphis has designated Front Street between Poplar Avenue and Beale Steet as “Judge Bernice Bouie Donald Street” and will celebrate the naming at a ceremony on Oct. 19. The event will take place at the Renasant Convention Center, Lower Ballroom at 11 a.m. CDT. Honorary signage will be installed along the route paying tribute to Donald’s trailblazing career. Donald retired from the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals last year and has joined the Memphis law firm of Burch, Porter and Johnson. The firm held an event honoring the street naming in July and has more information about the event later this month. View the invitation.

Gov. Bill Lee and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials yesterday addressed rumors circulating on social media that donations for Helene survivors were being confiscated. “There’s a lot of misinformation,” Lee said. “In fact, there’s some belief and understanding that it’s coming from foreign sources just to confuse on the ground what’s happening here. There’s no confiscation of supplies or of products coming in from FEMA or TEMA [Tennessee Emergency Management Agency].” WSMV News has more on the comments and suggestions for items that are needed in Tennessee’s Cocke County. Items may be dropped off at the distribution center at the old Walmart on 613 West Broadway St. in Newport 37821.

The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance has ordered two Constitutional Republican groups to register as political action committees (PACs), Tennessee Lookout reports. The move comes after a complaint was filed against the groups, which claim registration is not necessary and arguing they are private social clubs that do not provide financial support to candidates. Before voting to direct the Sumner County Constitutional Republicans and Tennessee Constitutional Republicans to register, some members of the panel suggested the matter be referred to a separate entity for review, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Those recommendations were not pursued.

On Oct. 14, the Family Law Section will present "How to Use Artificial Intelligence in Your Trial Practice RIGHT NOW." Join us to learn more about integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in your trial practice. By discovering some AI tools that streamline tasks from pre-trial preparation to courtroom presentation, you will equip yourself with practical skills that will make you more efficient, accurate and effective overall. This webinar will be held at noon CDT. Learn more and register here.

Did you know that you can earn CLE credit for writing an article that is published in the Tennessee Bar Journal? For every 1,000 words, authors can apply for one hour of credit. Review the submission guidelines for the Journal and start writing!

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced that federal disaster assistance is available to individuals and businesses affected by Hurricane Helene in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties in Tennessee. Assistance from FEMA may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help recovery from the effects of the disaster. Knox News has more about FEMA individual assistance. Gov. Bill Lee said, "As Tennesseans begin the rebuilding process, I thank our federal partners for granting resources to further our severe weather response and recovery in Northeast Tennessee." Recovery operations continue in the affected areas and additional designations may be made if warranted by the results of damage assessments. Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

The TBA has actively been working with partner organizations this week to plan disaster legal assistance efforts and eventual legal clinics, which will follow recovery efforts. To help prepare for those events, lawyers from across the state are invited to complete this online form to volunteer to help disaster survivors. The TBA Disaster Resources page offers general information for those impacted by disasters, as well as those seeking to provide assistance. The TBA's new Helene Disaster Response page has information and resources specific to this disaster.

Two legal clinics aimed at helping survivors of Hurricane Helene are being planned in East Tennessee over the next two days. Tomorrow, a clinic will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT at the Newport Grammar School, 301 College St., Newport 37821. On Saturday, a clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT at Ober in Hartford, 3565 Hartford Rd., Hartford 37753. No special training is necessary to help survivors file FEMA claims. Since many people have lost their belongings, attorneys who volunteer are asked to bring their own computer, printer and scanner if possible. Those willing to help should let Cocke County attorney Candice Mendez know they plan to participate. She may be reached at 865-474-0380 or Cmendez.law@gmail.com.

CHAD A. READLER, Circuit Judge. Timothy Hall participated in a protest in Detroit. As law enforcement broke up the demonstration, a City of Detroit officer tackled and injured Hall. He was later ticketed by a different city officer for disorderly conduct based upon his participation in the rally. Those events resulted in two lawsuits by Hall, one against the City of Detroit and another against city officers, including the one who ticketed Hall. Each suit was based in part on the premise that defendants retaliated against Hall for exercising his First Amendment rights. After consolidating the suits and denying Hall’s request to extend the discovery period, the district court granted summary judgment in favor of the City but denied the ticketing officer’s assertion of qualified immunity. For these reasons, I respectfully dissent from section III of the majority opinion. I would affirm the judgment of the district court.

Defendant, Antwan Jacques Whitehead, was convicted by a Wilson County jury for second degree murder by unlawful distribution of fentanyl, for which he received a twenty-three year sentence. Defendant appeals, arguing that the trial court erred in admitting certain text messages and that the evidence was insufficient to establish that he knew the substance was fentanyl. After review of the entire record, the briefs of the parties, and the applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.