Gov. Haslam Vetos ‘Ag Gag’ Bill

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- Gov. Bill Haslam announced Monday that he is vetoing a controversial “ag gag” bill, The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports.

The bill, which would have required any documentation of animal abuse to be given to law enforcement within 48 hours of being made, was the subject of much debate. The sponsors of the bill, farmers, said that it was to ensure speedy investigations of cruelty to animals and livestock investigations.

However, critics like the Humane Society said that mandating that evidence be given to authorities within 48 hours made it easy for officials to thwart investigations of animal cruelty.

It was not clear what side the governor would take in this debate until his announcement. Haslam said that while he understood the concerns of the farmers, and recognized that sometimes footage obtained into investigations of animal cruelty was obtained under false pretenses, he had to veto the bill.

He quoted a legal opinion from Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper delivered last week, who said that the bill was “constitutionally suspect” given the requirements of the First Amendment. Haslam also mentioned that it seemed to implicitly repeal part of Tennessee’s “shield law,” which protects journalists’ ability to collect information.

He recommended that a new, clearer bill be created.

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Police to Charge Elementary School Student with Faking Abduction

(JACKSON, Tenn.) -- Jackson police are investigating a case in which a 9-year-old girl filed a false report regarding an after-school abduction.

Earlier this week, the girl told officers that she had been at a school function at Pope Elementary School and was waiting for a ride home when a man covered her mouth and forced her into the back seat, according to the Nashville Tennessean. She said that when he drove away a police car got behind them and the abductor got scared, pulled over and let her out.

According to the Tennesseean, the girl claimed she was then picked up by a teacher from the elementary school who brought her home. After faculty members were questioned and surveillance tapes were reviewed, inconsistencies emerged.

The girl eventually admitted she had made up the story. The Tennessean reports that the girl will not be arrested, but will be called to answer to the charges of making a fraudulent report.

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Hickory Hill Elementary School Locked Down After Home Invasion

(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) -- A Hickory Hill elementary school was placed on lockdown Thursday morning after a nearby home invasion.

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the robbery occurred at about 7:30 a.m. on the 3400 block of King Arms Street. Nearby Newberry Elementary School was locked down while police investigated the robbery.

There have not been any arrests in the case, according to the Commercial Appeal, but the school lockdown was ended Thursday afternoon.

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Former Police Chief Arrested for Stealing $10K of City Property

(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) -- A retired police chief was arrested on Tuesday after stealing more than $10,000 worth of city property, including a pair of street sweepers.

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Bobby Pate, the former chief of the Memphis Police Department, was indicted after a search of his home found city equipment that had been missing for as long as three years.

In addition to the street sweepers, Pate had reportedly stolen a John Deere tractor, two laptops and a trestle hoist, according to the Commercial Appeal.

Pate, 64, retired as chief of police in 2012. He was charged with theft and official misconduct.

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Southwest Airlines Coming to Memphis

(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) -- On Tuesday, Southwest Airlines officially announced that it is entering the Memphis market, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Starting November 3, Southwest will offer flights from Memphis to Orlando, Chicago and Baltimore/Washington D.C

“We are very happy about welcoming Southwest Airlines into Memphis International Airport. November 3 will be a great day for all Memphians and the Mid-South when that first Southwest Airlines plane touches down at our airport,” said Larry Cox, chief executive officer of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority.

Officials are careful to note that Southwest’s service will be limited at the start, and flights would likely be too infrequent to help frequent business travelers, though the discount airline would likely expand service if business is good.

Southwest merged with AirTran in 2011. AirTran currently offers Memphis-Atlanta trips daily, but Southwest plans to cease AirTran services out of Memphis as they move in.

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