Tim Reeper, the father of the man who was fatally stabbed at Trousdale Turner prison in Correction, recently spoke before the Legislative Committee.

Despite instances of riots and multiple charges, public sentiment has intensified towards removing the private prison operator from the Hertsville Correctional Center.

Republican Representative Michael Hale from Smithville expressed growing concern on social media about the ongoing issues at Trousdale Turner. He, along with District Attorney General Jason Lawson, called for the Tennessee Department of Corrections to consider transferring operations to Brentwood-based CoreCivic.

A grand jury in Trousdale County has recently filed 41 charges related to incidents at the facility. Lawson indicated that more charges are likely as investigators continue to analyze video evidence.

In discussing the search for a new operator, Lawson highlighted that prison-related crimes have significantly burdened the local court system, with new cases piling in almost every four days. He pointed out that merely extending sentences doesn’t enhance the safety or living conditions for inmates.

“The persistent problems illustrate that CoreCivic is incapable of resolving the situation. While Tennessee does require additional bed space for Trousdale Turner, the transition of management to the Tennessee Department of Corrections has been overdue,” Lawson stated.

This year, Congress passed legislation aimed at penalizing CoreCivic by removing prisoners from facilities when the death rate exceeds that of state-run prisons.

The riots earlier this June appear to have heightened awareness of these issues.

However, Governor Bill Lee has been somewhat slow to respond and doesn’t seem to be approaching any solutions regarding Trousdale Turner.

“The state has a duty to maintain oversight,” Lee remarked this week when asked about the situation. He acknowledged the state’s responsibility for proper prison management.

Lee refrained from providing specifics or suggesting whether CoreCivic should implement changes amid ongoing investigations.

The state has imposed $44.78 million in penalties on CoreCivic since 2022 for contractual violations, including $15 million in the latter half of 2024 and early 2025. Most of these penalties stem from staffing shortages, which have been 7% more severe than those in state-run facilities, making oversight challenging.

Even with these issues, the state continues to pay approximately $240 million annually, despite chronic low staffing, increasing violence, and ongoing federal civil rights investigations into Trousdale Turner, which have persisted even under the previous administration.

Gallatin Republican Senator Ferrell Heil mentioned that both he and other lawmakers, along with constituents, are “frustrated” by the situation at Trousdale Turner, according to Hertsville Vidette.

Hale also suggested uncertainty about what steps the Department of Corrections should take, as the state does not seem ready to take over the prison. He plans to visit the facility for better insight.

“I’m not quite there yet. I’m not saying I won’t go, but there’s a clear need for significant changes there, and I’ve heard they have made some adjustments,” Hale remarked.

Lebanon Republican Senator Mark Podi is backing legislation aimed at penalizing CoreCivic for high mortality rates. He expressed the need for a comprehensive review of the prison system and is scheduled to tour the facility alongside CoreCivic representatives.

“I want to assess the situation firsthand and consider the available options,” Podi said. “We certainly can’t afford to repeat incidents like the recent riots or the hostage situation involving a security guard.”

Podi noted that Trousdale Turner is the most “visible” issue, yet he believes the underlying problems are more extensive than what’s happening there.

Please board the boat

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell has joined the ranks of Republican state leaders calling for attention to the cleanup of ice in cities he oversees.

In the wake of immigration sweeps in early June, O’Connell updated an executive order requiring Metro Nashville officials to report any encounters with immigration enforcement agents within 24 hours. This order was originally issued by former Mayor David Briley five years ago, but O’Connell has recently faced political backlash, even as he finds himself under federal scrutiny.

Lee tends to oppose executive orders.

“I don’t believe reporting helps. Anything that obstructs support for federal efforts isn’t productive,” he commented during a brief press conference this week.

Interestingly, Lee and other legislators from Tennessee frequently assert that the federal government should refrain from intervening in local matters unless absolutely necessary, such as during emergencies like a major flood, health crises, or when it comes to supporting vulnerable populations.

When President Donald Trump initiated the deportation program, Lee seized the opportunity to allocate funds toward assisting federal enforcement, investing $200 million in local grants to establish a clandestine immigration enforcement office within the state’s Department of Security and Homeland Security. Intriguingly, supervisors were hired even before the fiscal year budget took effect on July 1.

Is this premature action?

It appears Lee has more inclination to support federal directives than to back local mayors.

Don’t worry, just move on

Former Tennessee House Speaker Glenn Casada is seeking a retrial after a conviction in a political corruption case lasting four weeks.

His legal team argues that the prosecutor accidentally played a tape during his initial FBI interview, which created unfair bias against him. The state contends that improper use of unedited recordings contributed to the fraud charges, and this could be grounds for a new trial.

Casada was found guilty on 17 counts, while his co-defendant faced 19 counts related to bribery, fraud, and money laundering linked to a political vendor named Phoenix Solutions, operational from late 2019 to mid-2020.

Despite the situation, both Casada and Koren are likely to appeal the verdict. The question now is whether they can endure another four weeks within the confines of federal court.

Rumors about House Speaker Sexton contemplating a run for Congress have circulated for over a year. However, during a brief interaction, he confirmed he is not running for Congress.

Still, speculation surrounds a major announcement he might make in August. Unless he intends to reveal he’s actually from Nashville instead of Crossville, it doesn’t seem like it will be particularly newsworthy—unless he hints at aspirations for the governor’s office, which would position him head-to-head with Senator John Rose and potentially the next governor without officially entering the race.

Recent reports indicated that he paused plans for state surveillance based on artificial intelligence as part of Trump’s budget proposal, signaling a potential shift from his previous campaign promises.

“Broken plates, broken parts/The streets are filled with broken hearts.”

*Bob Dylan – “Everything’s Broken”