The Defendant, Robin Lee Teague, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor for possessing material that depicted a minor engaged in sexual activity, a B felony based on his possession of more than 100 images, and two counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor for exchanging material that included a minor engaged in sexual activity, a Class C felony. The plea agreement contemplated the trial court determining the sentence, and it sentenced him to twelve years for the B felony and six years for each of the C felonies. The trial court then ordered that all the sentences run consecutively to each other for a total effective sentence of twenty-four years, to be served at 100%. On appeal, the Defendant asserts that the trial court improperly ordered consecutive sentencing, in part because it used Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-115(b)(10) to enhance his sentence, which he asserts is forbidden by the Ex Post Facto Clause of the United States Constitution. After review, we conclude that the trial court incorrectly applied 40-35-115(b)(10) to order consecutive sentences. Therefore, we affirm the trial court’s judgments of conviction but remand the case for a new sentencing hearing during which the trial court will reconsider whether consecutive sentencing is appropriate.

Mohamed Miray, Defendant, was indicted for and convicted of first degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison. Defendant was identified and charged in part based upon a match to DNA found at the scene of the murder. Prior to trial, Defendant filed a motion to suppress in which he argued that his DNA was not properly in the Combined DNA Index System (“CODIS”) because he was acquitted of a charge for which he was required to give a DNA sample when arrested and that his DNA should have been removed from the database as a result of the acquittal. The trial court denied the motion to suppress. Defendant was convicted by a jury and filed a motion for new trial. The trial court denied the motion for new trial, and this appeal followed. On appeal, Defendant challenges the trial court’s ruling on the motion to suppress and the sufficiency of the evidence. After a review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

This appeal involves a petition to terminate the parental rights of a mother to her daughter. The juvenile court found that the grounds of abandonment by an incarcerated parent, severe child abuse, and failure to manifest an ability and willingness to assume custody were proven by clear and convincing evidence. The juvenile court also determined that termination of parental rights was in the best interest of the child. The mother appeals. We affirm.

A father petitioned a Tennessee court to modify its previous parenting plan. The father lived in Tennessee, but the mother and the child lived in Arkansas. Claiming Tennessee was an inconvenient forum, the mother moved to transfer the case to Arkansas. The court denied the transfer request. Later, the court entered a default judgment against the mother as a sanction for her failure to appear for her deposition. After hearing proof, it adopted the father’s proposed parenting plan. On appeal, the mother contends that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to modify the parenting plan. She also challenges the court’s denial of her transfer request, its refusal to set aside the default judgment, and the adoption of a modified plan. We conclude that the court erred in modifying the parenting plan without conducting a best interest analysis. So we vacate the adoption of a modified plan and remand for further proceedings on this issue. In all other respects, we affirm.

In this action between parties to an auction contract, the trial court determined that the defendant property company and its individual members had committed intentional fraud, intentional misrepresentation, fraudulent inducement, and civil conspiracy. The court found that during an auction of the defendants’ property, they had bid to increase the price, caused a “shill bidder” to cast bids, and then refused to purchase the property after the defendants’ company cast the highest bid. The court additionally found the defendants liable for damages incurred by the plaintiff auction company and awarded to the plaintiff a total judgment in the amount of $91,825.00. The defendants have appealed. Discerning no reversible error, we affirm.

According to a press release from Gov. Bill Lee, longtime state employee and attorney Andy Kidd will lead the Tennessee Department of General Services beginning Jan. 15, 2026. Kidd will take over for Jeff Holmes, who has served in an interim role since former commissioner Matt Van Epps stepped down after winning his bid for the U.S. House of Representatives. Kidd currently serves as the deputy commissioner of fiscal and administrative services at the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging. He previously served with the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration and in the General Services’ central procurement office. He holds a master’s and bachelor's degree in business administration from East Tennessee State University and a law degree from Nashville School of Law.

The Nashville Arts & Business Council, in partnership with United Way of Greater Nashville and the Nashville Financial Empowerment Center, will host a pro bono tax clinic for artists, musicians and creatives on Jan. 14, 2026. The event will offer individuals the opportunity to meet with a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteer to learn how to file their taxes in the way that is most beneficial for them and/or to meet with a financial counselor for help repair credit and manage debt. Prospective clients should register by Jan. 9, 2026. The event will take place at the Nashville Financial Empowerment Center, 217 South 10th St., Nashville 37206.

More than 30 people, including country music star and Nashville native Jelly Roll, have been pardoned by Gov. Bill Lee, WKRN reports. According to officials, each case was extensively reviewed and the Tennessee Board of Parole was heavily involved in the decision-making. “After thoroughly reviewing the merits of each case, I have decided to grant 33 individuals executive clemency,” Lee said. “Each individual case is unique and warranted consideration, and I thank the Board of Parole members for their thoughtful recommendations throughout this process.” All 33 reportedly have served their sentences and are not subject to any type of supervision. The Tennessean has the full list of those pardoned.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn has introduced legislation to bring accountability to name, image and likeness (NIL) deals and help college athletes invest the money they earn from these arrangements. According to Knox News, the bill would direct the U.S. Treasury to establish NIL regulations, require agents to register with their states before representing athletes, cap agent fees at 5% of the deal, and direct athletic associations to maintain public registries of agents. For athletes, the bill would create tax-advantaged investment accounts and allow up to $35,000 of unused NIL funds to be rolled over into an IRA or other retirement plan once the athlete has been out of college sports for at least a year. According to a press release from Blackburn's office, the proposal has the support of SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and the University of Tennessee.

Missouri-founded law firm Spencer Fane, which has offices in Nashville, will enter the New York market through a merger with Golenbock Eiseman Assor Bell & Peskoe. The move, set to take effect on Feb. 2, 2026, will leave the firm with 700 lawyers in 31 U.S. offices. The news comes as law firm mergers are heating up. Reuters reports that Chicago-founded Winston & Strawn and UK firm Taylor Wessing plan to merge in May while international firm Ashurst and Perkins Coie plan to merge later in 2026. The news source also reports that mergers increased through the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period last year.