The city of Selmer has elected its first Black woman alderman, WBBJ reports. LaShell Moore, a teacher in McNairy County Schools and a community leader, was sworn in Thursday. According to Moore, one of her goals is to unify the board so the town can thrive and grow. “Being the first African-American woman means a lot not only for me but also for women that will come after me. I am hoping that this will open the door for other women, not only women of color, but for women in general that want to serve in this capacity,” she said.

Gov. Bill Lee was elected in early December to serve as the chair of the Republican Governors Association. He will assume the position immediately and serve for a one year. In addition, Lee has been elected by fellow Appalachian governors to serve as co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) Federal-State Partnership. According to the Tennessee Journal, in this role, Lee will represent the 13 states in ARC's region and work with co-chair Gayle Manchin (wife of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia) who will represent federal interests for the group. The partnership focuses on investments for economic and community growth across the member states' 423 counties. ARC provides grants, publishes research and sponsors learning experiences.

Tax law and sports law will intersect at this TBA CLE covering the tax implications of the NCAA's new policy on name, image and likeness (NIL) activities. If college athletes can earn income on NIL deals, what does that mean for the tax obligations of all involved? Join E. Michael Brezina, a Knoxville attorney and law professor who also co-founded Next Level Athletics and Varsity Sports Group, for this fascinating discussion. The program will be held live in person on Feb. 1 in Knoxville at Tennessee Tax Law and livestreamed to Nashville at Lewis Thomason and Chattanooga at Olsen Law Firm.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young said today in his first press conference since taking office that he plans to enforce a slate of ordinances passed by the Memphis City Council in the wake of Tyre Nichols' death, the Commercial Appeal reports. A few days before stepping down from office, former mayor Jim Strickland said he did not enforce the ordinances because he believed them to be “illegal,” MLK50 reports. The ordinances included prohibitions on police making traffic stops for low-level violations or in an unmarked vehicles. After the press conference, Memphis Police Department Chief Cerelyn "C.J." Davis said the department had been enforcing the ordinances as internal policies.

The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met recently to consider six applicants for an upcoming vacancy on the Tennessee Supreme Court. After holding a public hearing and interviews, the council voted to advance Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judge J. Ross Dyer, presiding judge of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Camille R. McMullen and Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Mary L. Wagner. The council has forwarded the names to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. The vacancy will be created by the upcoming retirement of Justice Roger A. Page, effective Aug. 31. Read the council's press release.

Gov. Bill Lee will propose changes to the state's franchise tax during the upcoming legislative session to offer tax relief to businesses operating in Tennessee and modernize tax collection, reports the Tennessean. Businesses currently calculate their state franchise tax in a dual-pronged model established in the 1930s. Lee also said today he has no plans to propose a rate cut to the state’s 4% grocery tax, one of the highest rates in the nation. Democrats in the state legislature have called for a repeal of the grocery tax while requiring corporations who do business in the state to pay higher taxes.

A former state Supreme Court Chief justice and the first woman to lead the state's highest court will mediate the civil wrongful death suit filed by the widow of an inmate who died last year at the Shelby County Jail, reports the Daily Memphian. Janice M. Holder will oversee negotiations between lawyers for Nicole Freeman and Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr., Chief Jailer Kirk Fields and the Shelby County government. Freeman is asking for $100 million for the death of her late husband, Gershun Freeman, who died Oct. 5, 2022, after an altercation with corrections officers.

The University of Tennessee College of Law recently held a "Celebration of Generosity" reception to honor alumni and friends who provide major philanthropic support for the college. Dean Lonnie Brown welcomed the honored attendees, and two current students and scholarship recipients, Ronald Young and Isabelle Thibault, shared how their educational journeys have been positively impacted by the generosity of donors. Read more about the event.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced it has completed its Nashville office relocation to ONE 22 ONE, 1221 Broadway, Ste. 2400, Nashville 37203. The firm now occupies the top four floors of the 24-story high-rise building. The firm signed a lease for the Gulch property in 2022. Bradley was founded in 1910 and is one of the largest law firms in Nashville with more than 160 attorneys. Read more about the new location,

A new poll by the conservative think tank Beacon Center found Gov. Bill Lee's proposal to expand school vouchers statewide is broadly popular, Knox News reports. The poll, conducted between Dec. 14 and 28, asked respondents whether they would oppose or support expanding the Educational Savings Account program which allows eligible K-12 families to use a portion of per-pupil funding for “private school tuition, tutoring, education therapy, or other educational purposes." Support was highest among Republicans at 85%, though a majority of both independents and Democrats supported the plan.