News Briefly
Compelling crime stories
Bloodhound Ellie May led Maury County Sheriff's deputies Monday afternoon to the backwoods hiding spot of fugitive Parker Ray Elliot. Elliot allegedly shot and killed his ex-wife and daughter, seriously wounding his 15-year-old son, Seth, in a Thursday night assault at ex-wife Freda's Culleoka home. He was taken into custody without incident, and law enforcement officers, who had acted on a tip from local teenagers, were visibly relieved. Meanwhile the Lebanon trial of Fallon Tallent, 22, who is charged with running over and killing two Wilson County lawmen during an I-40 police pursuit last year, continued.
More than chads are dangling at DCEC
Poor Michael McDonald. Seems like every other day for the past couple of weeks his Davidson County Election Commission has made headlines for ineptitude. Absentee ballots are late. Homeless people are having too much trouble or ease voting, depending on whom you ask. And State Election Coordinator Brook Thompson is getting very publicly grouchy. We wouldn't want to run an agency supervised by partisan hacks—but then again, that's why we don't work for Metro.
Ah, sweet (but depressing) vindication
As if the Scene needed more proof for our recent assertion that the current Metro Council is a graceless pack of dummies, some of them last week decided to engage in two secret meetings, only to be busted by their friends at The Tennessean. See our editorial for more on recent legislative affairs. (Council members, don't be afraid to ask someone to read it to you.)
Driving while Mexican
Did you know that you can be arrested for failing to furnish identification when asked for it by a cop? Undocumented immigrants do. This week the state unveils "driving certificates" for such residents who pass a driver's test, but unfortunately the law is so poorly written that authorities can't decide if they'll accept the cards as valid ID or not. Hey, just leave it up to the cops' discretion. That always works.
