This appeal concerns the modification of a parenting plan. Alexander Georg Warnatzsch (“Father”) filed a petition against his ex-wife Ashly Camille Warnatzsch (“Mother”) in the Chancery Court for Rutherford County (“the Trial Court”) seeking to modify the parties’ parenting plan concerning their three minor children. Mother exercised most of the parenting time under the original plan. Following a hearing, the Trial Court found that Father had proven a material change in circumstances and that the residential parenting schedule should be modified. Mother remained primary residential parent, but Father was granted equal parenting time. Mother appeals, raising various issues implicating the Trial Court’s discretion. We find no reversible error. We affirm.

August 4, 2025 - August 8, 2025.

The TBA filed a petition with the Tennessee Supreme Court to amend Rule 9, section 10.1 to allow bar associations geographically located in the state to receive certain information from the Board of Professional Responsibility. The current rule limits public access to certain contact information to protect attorneys’ safety. The TBA unequivocally supports limiting public access to information to protect attorneys and retired judges from harm to their persons and property. In its petition, the TBA is asking the court to clarify that bar associations serve a different role than members of the public for purposes of sharing this information. Read the full petition and the proposed amendment.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced Friday that the state will seek federal waivers to update its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to promote healthier eating, improve health outcomes and reduce chronic conditions for low-income families. According to a press release, the proposal would allow recipients to purchase certain hot prepared foods, such as rotisserie or grilled chicken, and would exclude processed foods listing sugar or similar sweeteners as the primary ingredient and carbonated beverages where sugar or similar sweeteners are among the first two ingredients. "I’m grateful to the Trump Administration for its leadership to Make America Healthy Again, and thank our grocery retailers, convenience stores, food producers, and beverage manufacturers for working to ensure that healthier choices reach every community across our state,” Lee said.

A Middle Tennessee man returned to prison Friday after an appeals court reversed a 2023 decision that had overturned his murder conviction and freed him after 17 years behind bars. Thomas Clardy was convicted in 2007 for a 2005 shooting at a Madison auto repair shop that killed a man and injured two, NewsChannel 5 reports. He received a life sentence. But he was released in 2023 and has been living free for two years. His lawyers have long argued that no physical evidence ties Clardy to the crime and prosecutors presented no motive at trial. They also say he was at home with his pregnant wife at the time of the shooting. The state appeals court decision now requires Clardy to complete his life sentence. Clardy’s attorneys have filed two clemency petitions, one for exoneration and another for commutation. He also made a direct appeal to the governor for release before returning to prison.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, along with attorneys general from 20 other states, signed a letter urging the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to “restore to female athletes all championships, titles, wins, awards, records, and other recognitions that were wrongfully awarded to male athletes competing in NCAA women’s category events.” In February, the U.S. Department of Education also wrote to the NCAA, calling for restoration of standings following an executive order from President Donald Trump. The department urged correction of past results under former NCAA and National Federation of State High School Associations policies that allowed biological males to compete on women’s teams, WKRN reports. While acknowledging the NCAA’s recent policy update on transgender participation, the attorneys general said it “stops short of full fairness."

U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg requesting removal of a newly added Instagram map feature, WSMV reports. The senators said the feature could put children’s safety at risk by exposing their location to predators and traffickers. According to Meta, the map allows users to see a person’s last active location and where content is being posted from, with updates occurring anytime a user opens the app. Content with a location tag is available for 24 hours after posting. The feature requires users to opt in and can be restricted to friends, close friends or selected individuals, or turned off entirely. However, Blackburn and Blumenthal say some users have reported their location information was shared automatically without their consent.

Nashville businessman Darden Copeland has announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the upcoming Congressional District 7 primary, the Tennessee Lookout reports. Copeland, founder of Calvert Street Group, a Nashville public affairs firm specializing in referendums and land use campaigns, filed his campaign committee statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission on July 24. His announcement comes after weeks of speculation and adds to a growing field of candidates vying to replace U.S. Rep. Mark Green, who resigned from Congress on July 20. The primary election is set for Oct. 7, with the general election scheduled for Dec. 2.

Memphis Attorney Stuart Kenneth R. "Ken" Shuttleworth died July 26. After completing his service in the U.S Air Force,  Shuttleworth attended the University of Memphis Law School and in 1972 became the founder and senior partner of the Shuttleworth PLLC law firm in Memphis. In addition to Shuttleworth’s success as a trial lawyer, he was known to help others in the legal profession through the Tennessee Lawyer's Assistance Program (TLAP). He was appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court to the TLAP Commission, where he served for six years, and for a period of time, served as chair. He also was a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation. A private family service will be held at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Stuart, Florida. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Memphis. Donations in his honor may be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center or the TLAP Foundation.

Former City Judge Walter Williams died last week at age 73. Williams became a judge in March 1991 and served on the Chattanooga City Court for eight years. He earned his law degree from Howard University School of Law and practiced with the Internal Revenue Service in Atlanta before entering private practice. In 1980, he became a partner in the Chattanooga law firm McClarty & Williams, where he primarily handled personal injury, corporate, estate and municipal law cases. Williams retired from the bench in 2003 after 12 years of service and returned to private practice, later serving as senior partner at McKoon, Williams, Atchley & Stanley until his retirement in 2015. Arrangements are being handled by John P. Franklin Funeral Home. Details will be released at a later time. Donations in his honor may be made to the Judge Walter F. Williams 1974 Endowed Scholarship Fund at Morehouse College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 830 Westview Dr., SW, Atlanta, GA 30314.