Recent stories from Zack McMillin

Does the EPA really want to regulate farm dust?

U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher, a farmer in rural Crockett County, continues to sound warnings about the possibility of the Environmental Protection Agency focusing on regulation of "farm dust." He did so most recently at a forum in Dyersburg, so we decided to look into Fincher's specific claims and determine if the EPA really was concerned about dust kicked up at rural farms.

Did these marijuana claims go up in smoke?

The Truth-O-Meter takes a look back at some recent fact-checks concerning marijuana. Our partners at PolitiFact Georgia rounded up a few of the more interesting PolitiFact items.

Rhetoric rises over payment advisory board

When Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives voted March 22 to eliminate a a Medicare payment advisory board – a vote the Associated Press noted was really just "symbolic" – the rhetoric was flying. Some representatives went a good deal farther than Tennessee’s own Marsha Blackburn, who nonetheless floated a statement about the Independent Payments Advisory Board taking "control" of health care decisions away from patients – and that we’ve ruled False. Most news organizations wrote something similar to the AP about the vote – the Republiucans actually want the IPAB around as an issue through the November elections. It’s worth taking a closer look at the various statements that have been made and consider the actual statutory power IPAB does or does not have.

Lamar Alexander's wind claim: Is it for the birds?

For Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, there are lots of reasons to loathe wind power. The East Tennessean loves his unobstructed mountain views and much prefers the consistently reliable power output from nuclear reactors. And lately he has been claiming that wind turbines lead to a yearly slaughter of birds. His claim about turbines being "a Cuisinart in the sky" for birds reflects at least one estimate, but others show lower numbers. And there's this -- among manmade hazards, wind turbines play a tiny role in bird deaths.

Super Tuesday preview: GOP claims you may have heard, may hear again

With the GOP presidential primary just more than a week away, we know some Tennesseans may be just tuning in. Others may have already heard it all before. But which claims are true? Which are the most misleading? With help from our partners, PolitiFact Tennessee presents a preview of GOP talking points that may proliferate in the run up to the March 6 primary.

Bergmann attacks EPA, says it arrests for infractions that make "no sense"

Count Memphis's perennial 9th Congressional District Republican candidate, Charlotte Bergmann, among those Republicans targeting the Environmental Protection Agency for overreach in how it enforces of the nation's laws aimed at protecting the environment. A statement on her website claims the EPA has been making arrests and cosing small businesses over what she characterizes as nonsense enforcement "to anyone but the EPA." We thought we would take a closer look.  

Examining 'Don't Say Gay' bill sponsor's claims about AIDS, gay men, risks of sexual activity

State Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville, caused quite a stir with controversial assertions about origin of AIDS, risks of gay sex vs. straight sex and much more. We put one claim on the Truth-O-Meter on Friday, but wanted to share what our research turned up on some of the others, as well.

Men, monkeys and the origin of AIDS

PolitiFact Tennessee explores the controversial claim of a state senator that AIDS was transmitted to humans because "one guy" had sex with "a monkey" and then started "having sex with men."

Headed to week three, raring to go

Keep sending those suggestions, and thanks for all the early support and encouragement.

Introducing PolitiFact's Haslam-O-Meter

Our new feature will track and rate the campaign promises of Gov. Bill Haslam.