In a half-hearted effort to address decades of mismanagement and poor student performance, the state’s largest school district, Memphis-Shelby County Schools, released a six-page accountability plan earlier this year. But that’s nothing compared to the Comptroller, who recently released over 660 pages of a scathing audit detailing the district’s financial missteps. It doesn’t take a…
By Taylor Barkley When ice storm Fern knocked out power for more than half the state, energy stopped being an abstraction. It is hard to philosophize about the grid when the house is cold and dark. So it is no surprise that the latest Beacon Poll found Tennesseans unusually united on one subject: the power…
By Jason Edmonds Policy discussions generally focus on ideology or the hot topic of the day, but energy is such a constant in our lives it often rises above debate. Energy is ever-present when monthly bills arrive, when we fill up our vehicles, and even when we turn on the lights. That is, until we…
The Johnson City Commission recently proposed raising its property tax rate by 28-cents, soaking taxpayers with a 20 percent increase. The proposal is not driven by the typical claims of underfunded basic city services like roads, police, and fire departments, but instead by the frivolous need to fund a new aquatic center. With a price…
By Justin Owen Tennesseans have strong opinions about education in our state. That’s no surprise, as the quality of a child’s education directly impacts their future, economic prospects, and opportunities. For three years, we have tracked the public’s sentiment of K-12 education in the Beacon Poll. We have also delved deeper into education issues in…
Private property rights are the cornerstone of a free and prosperous society.
Imitation is among the highest forms of flattery, and states across the country continue to flatter Tennessee.
Unions are less relevant in the workplace, more influential in politics.
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For media inquiries, contact Taylor Justice at taylor@beacontn.org.
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