Appellants filed a motion to recuse the trial judge on the basis that the judge lives in the same neighborhood as a possible expert witness. The trial judge denied the motion. We affirm.

The appellant has filed a notice of appeal as of right from interlocutory orders entered by the trial court. Due to the lack of a final judgment, this Court does not maintain subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate the appeal. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed, and the portion of this Court’s prior order directing that the matter be scheduled for the next oral argument docket is vacated.

The trial court terminated Mother/Appellant’s parental rights on the ground of severe child abuse and on its finding that termination of her rights is in the children’s best interests. Mother appeals. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Father was held in criminal contempt for willful failure to provide Mother with the current address where he and their child resided. The court fined him $50 and sentenced him to serve 10 days incarcerated, though it suspended the incarceration upon good behavior and continued compliance with court orders. The trial court also granted Mother attorney’s fees related to the prosecution of that count of contempt. Father appeals. We affirm and remand for a determination of Mother’s attorney’s fees on appeal.

In this interlocutory appeal, the employee asserts the trial court erred by denying her request for additional medical treatment and temporary disability benefits following her alleged back injury. The employer initially provided medical treatment and paid temporary disability benefits. The authorized treating physician, who had initially opined the employee’s complaints were caused primarily by the work accident, reviewed video surveillance and the employee’s written account of the accident and opined that her complaints were not primarily caused by the work incident. Thereafter, the employer denied the claim. Following an expedited hearing, the trial court determined that the physician’s opinion was unequivocal and was presumed correct, and it denied the employee’s request for additional benefits. The employee has appealed. Having carefully reviewed the record, we affirm the trial court’s decision and remand the case.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments will consider seven applicants when it meets to select nominees for an upcoming vacancy on the Court of Appeals Western Section due to the retirement of Judge Kenny Armstrong on Feb. 9, 2026. The applicants include Lori R. Holyfield, Eileen Kuo, Steven Wayne Maroney, Jeffrey E. Nicoson, Gadson William Perry, Monica Rae Rejaei and John B. Turner Jr., according to a press release. Public interviews of the applicants are scheduled for Dec. 10 at 9 a.m. CST in the chambers of the Jackson City Council, 109 E. Main St., STE 107, Jackson 38301. At the conclusion of the interviews, the council will vote to send three applicants to the governor. Any member of the public may attend the public hearing and can express, orally or in writing, objections concerning applicants for the vacancy. For questions contact Administrative Office of the Courts Assistant General Counsel Laura Blount at 615-741-2687.

An attorney for former state Rep. Robin Smith of Hixson is calling for a full presidential pardon following her federal sentencing in a public-corruption case, NewsChannel 5 reports. Smith pleaded guilty to honest-services wire fraud connected to a taxpayer-funded mailer scheme. After her guilty plea, she cooperated with prosecutors in their cases against former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and one of his top aides. In October, she was sentenced to eight months in prison, followed by one year of probation and a $7,500 fine. Her attorney argues that Smith has met the conditions they say merit clemency. Smith’s sentencing order begins Jan. 5, 2026.

The U.S. Marshals Service released immigration arrest totals from the Memphis Safe Task Force for the first time since mid-October, reporting that Task Force officers made 319 administrative, or immigration-related, arrests in October. According to the Daily Memphian, that is about 17% of the total 1,862 arrests during the month. Other arrests included 813 served warrants for unspecified charges, 203 for narcotics, 162 for firearms and 10 for homicide.

Baker Donelson and the University of Tennessee Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs will host an invitation-only event Nov. 12 from 2 to 6 p.m. CST at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville to celebrate the 100th birthday and legacy of former U.S. Sen. Howard H. Baker Jr. Baker, Tennessee’s first popularly elected Republican senator, was known for his civility, bipartisanship and decades of public service, including roles as Senate majority leader and White House chief of staff to President Ronald Reagan. The program will feature former U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, and  Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota; attorney and former ambassador A.B. Culvahouse; Knoxville businessman James A. Haslam II, who worked as a fundraiser for Baker; health care executive Alan Levine; author Jon Meacham; and Emily Reynolds, who worked as a special assistant to Baker. The group will share reflections on Baker’s enduring influence on public service and civic life. Read more in a news advisory from Baker Donelson.

Gov. Bill Lee announced Monday that $5 million in state funds will be distributed to food banks in all 95 counties, with grants allocated based on the number of people receiving SNAP benefits in each region. The announcement comes as families across the state continue to face uncertainty over federal food assistance programs during the federal shutdown. Lee said the funding is part of the state’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative, which is coordinating relief efforts statewide, NewsChannel 5 reports. Tennesseans needing food assistance or wanting to volunteer can visit FeedTN.org for more information. The Trump administration said earlier this week that it will partially fund food aid for millions of Americans after two federal judges ruled it must use contingency funds to pay November benefits.