SUMMARY: Nicholas Wayne Hamlet was arrested in South Carolina for the murder of Steven Lloyd, initially reported as a bear attack in Monroe County. Hamlet had called authorities, claiming to be attacked, leading them to a dead body identified as Brandon Andrade; however, it was actually Lloyd. Investigations revealed Hamlet had taken out $8 million in life insurance policies on Andrade since 2017, suggesting financial motives behind the murder. His wife was implicated as an accessory. Hamlet was found on the roadside and recognized by hospital staff before being extradited back to Tennessee for a court appearance.
Here is a complete timeline of the Monroe County murder case and the actions of suspect Nicholas Wayne Hamlett.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-07 12:51:00
(The Center Square) – Rep. John Clemmons, D-Nashville, made it clear that he was frustrated during the debate over a bill that would allow school districts to ban children illegally in the country.
House Bill 793, sponsored by Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, would also allow schools to charge tuition to students who could not provide documents that show they are citizens or in the country legally.
Clemmons said the bill is about “punishing innocent children.”
“I’ve given up on trying to compel people with empathy or heart, love, anything like that so I’m going to talk money,” Clemmons said. “This bill would drain over a billion dollars in federal funds from the state to carry out an unconstitutional policy. LEA’s would lose $70 million plus in TISA funding. If I sound frustrated, if I sound mad as hell, it’s because I am.”
LEA is an acronym for local education agency; TISA is an acronym for Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement.
When given a chance to respond, Lamberth said, “I am sure you spent some time over the weekend thinking about that and I appreciate you sharing it with us.”
Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston, acknowledged the large crowd in the committee room that opposed the bill. They later booed him.
“We’re not talking about immigrants, we’re talking about illegals,” Fritts said to boos from the crowd. “There is a distinct difference.”
The crowd began to recite “The Lord’s Prayer” as the Committee Chairman Justin Lafferty, R-Knoxville, called for the vote. The committee recessed until the room cleared.
The bill passed along party lines, with Republican Rep. Jeremy Faison of Cosby joining Democrats. Its next stop is the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee.
Several people started singing “Jesus Loves the Little Children” after the bill was passed. The committee recessed, and Tennessee State Troopers were called in to remove the protestors, who were holding signs in the committee room.
The Senate version of the bill has cleared all committees and could go before the full chamber this week.
More than two dozen Chattanooga business owners are condemning a bill to require student immigration background checks in Tennessee’s public schools as “economically reckless.”
The Tennessee Small Business Alliance represents restaurants, real estate firms, retail stores and other local employers operating within the district represented by Sen. Bo Watson.
Watson, a Republican, is cosponsoring the legislation to require proof of legal residence to enroll in public K-12 and charter schools. The bill would also give public schools the option of charging tuition to the families of children unable to prove they legally reside in the United States – or to deny them the right to a public education altogether.
House Leader William Lamberth of Gallatin is a co-sponsor of the bill, which has drawn significant — but not unanimous — support from fellow Tennessee Republicans. Lamberth’s version of the bill differs from Watson’s in that it would make it optional — rather than mandatory — to check students’ immigration status in all of Tennessee’s more than 1700 public schools.
The bill, one of the most controversial being considered during the 2025 Legislative session, has significant momentum as the Legislature winds down for the year even as it has drawn raucous protests at times. The legislation will next be debated on Monday in a House committee.
A statement released by the business alliance described the legislation as a “political stunt that’s cruel, economically reckless, and completely out of step with local values.”
Citing estimates compiled by the nonprofit advocacy organization, American Immigration Council, the statement noted that more than 430,000 immigrants in Tennessee paid $4.4 billion in taxes – more than $10,000 per immigrant.
Watson, in an emailed statement from Chattanooga public relations firm Waterhouse Public Relations, said his bill “raises important questions about the financial responsibility of educating undocumented students in Tennessee—questions that have long gone unaddressed.”
The statement said the Supreme Court’s 1982 decision in Plyler v. Doe, which established the right to a public school education for all children regardless of immigration status, has “never been re-examined in the context of today’s challenges.” The statement said Watson is committed to a “transparent, fact-driven discussion about how Tennessee allocates its educational resources and how federal mandates impact our state’s budget and priorities.”
Do our representatives believe that undocumented children — who had no say in their immigration status — should be denied a public education, even though their families already pay taxes that fund our schools?
– Kelly Fitzgerald, Chattanooga business owner
Watson has previously also said the legislation was prompted, in part, by the rising costs of English-language instruction in the state’s public schools.
Democrats have criticized that argument as based on inaccurate assumptions that English language learners lack legal immigration status.
Kelly Fitzgerald, founder of a Chattanooga co-working business and one of 27 employers that signed onto the statement of condemnation, criticized lawmakers.”
“Do our representatives believe that undocumented children — who had no say in their immigration status — should be denied a public education, even though their families already pay taxes that fund our schools?” said Fitzgerald, whose own children attend Hamilton County Public schools
“My children are receiving a great education in our public schools, and I want every child to have the same rights and opportunities as mine do,” she said.
“In my opinion, this is not something our legislators should be spending their resources on when there are much larger issues at hand in the current environment,” she said. “We should leave children out of the conversation.”
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Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-04 16:29:00
(The Center Square) – At least five people have died and that number is expected to increase after severe storms hit the western and middle portions of Tennessee.
“There has been a great deal of storm activity and damage,” Gov. Bill Lee said in a Friday news conference with emergency leaders. “And yet there’s more to come.”
Lee issued an emergency declaration ahead of storms that moved through the state on Thursday. A tornado was confirmed in the McNairy County town of Selmer, where at least one person died, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
There were two deaths in Fayette County, and one each in Carroll and Obion counties, the agency said.
More storms are expected this weekend especially west of I-65, according to the National Weather Service.
“Do not be surprised by a severe storm or tornado watch soon,” the agency said Friday afternoon on social media. “We are still watching Saturday afternoon and night for peak storms and flash flooding.’
Some areas could see up to 8 inches of rain this weekend, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
“Life safety missions are currently ongoing and is the top priority in our rescue and response operations,” agency officials said in a report. “Once life safety missions are complete and the storm system moves through the state, TEMA alongside our local and federal partners will begin damage assessments.”
Lee was on the ground with first responders touring damage Thursday and Friday.
“Middle and West Tennesseans face a long road to recovery after severe weather, and there is great hope in seeing how communities are coming together to serve their neighbors in this time of need,” Lee said said Gov. Lee. “We will continue to look for every opportunity to support local recovery efforts.”
