Tennessee Senate speaker recovering after pacemaker inserted

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Lt. Gov. and Senate Speaker Randy McNally is recovering after having a pacemaker inserted.

McNally checked into Vanderbilt University Medical Center last week after experiencing symptoms of an irregular heartbeat, the Republican lawmaker said on Twitter. He said tests indicated he would need a pacemaker and later updated that surgery on Friday to implant the device was successful.

McNally, 79, said he was grateful for the messages, prayers and support he has received. The East Tennessee resident has served in the state legislature since 1978 and said he looks forward to getting back to work.

Hamblen GOP to hold Party Reorganization

The Hamblen County Republican Party Reorganization 2023 with the Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, will be Monday, Feb. 20 at Republican Headquarters at 1625 East AJ Hwy. at 5 p.m.

The Hamblen County Republican Women meet at Headquarters on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023 at 6 p.m.

Speaker is Scott Golden, Tennessee Republican Party chairman

Officer fired in Tyre Nichols case had minor reprimands

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A Memphis police officer who hit Tyre Nichols with a stun gun during a traffic stop that preceded Nichols’ brutal beating by other officers had a prior record of minor infractions before he was fired, records released Monday showed.

Preston Hemphill was terminated Feb. 3 after an internal Memphis Police Department investigation showed he violated multiple department policies for his role in the Jan. 7 arrest of Nichols, who died in a hospital three days later.

Nichols was beaten after police stopped him for what they said was a traffic violation and he fled the stop. Video released after pressure from Nichols’ family shows officers holding him down and repeatedly punching, kicking and striking him with a baton as he screamed for his mother.

Nichols’ death at the hands of police is the latest to prompt nationwide protests and an intense public conversation about how police treat Black people.

Hemphill, who is white, was the third officer at the traffic stop that preceded the arrest but was not at the location where Nichols was beaten after he ran away.

On body camera footage from the initial stop, Hemphill is heard saying that he used a stun gun against Nichols and declaring, “I hope they stomp his ass.”

U.S. poet laureate to speak at Rhodes College in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — U.S. poet laureate Ada Limón is scheduled to read from her writings later this month at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, the school said.

Limón will read her poetry and sign books at the college on Feb. 23 as part of the Jack D. Farris Visiting Writers Series, Rhodes said in a statement Monday.

Limón was named the 24th U.S. poet laureate in July. Her acclaimed collection “Bright Dead Things” sold more than 40,000 copies, and she has published six books of poetry, most recently “The Hurting Kind.” She also has hosted the podcast “The Slowdown.”

Limón also will speak to students in an advanced poetry writing course taught by Caki Wilkinson, associate professor of English and director of creative writing.

The writing series is named for novelist, poet and playwright Jack D. Farris, who taught English at Rhodes from 1961 to 1984, the school said.

Rhodes is a liberal arts college with enrollment of about 2,000 students.