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Nashville Bureau Chief, The Commercial Appeal in Memphis

Richard Locker has worked in The Commercial Appeal's Nashville bureau since 1983, covering Tennessee government, politics and general news, after a year in the newspaper's Memphis headquarters. He previously worked for daily newspapers in Knoxville and Nashville. A Fayetteville, Tenn., native and University of Tennessee graduate, he has worked in The Commercial Appeal's Nashville bureau since 1983, covering Tennessee government, politics and general news. He has covered the administrations of five governors, 30 years of the state legislature, political scandals, prison riots, floods, tornadoes and droughts. Locker is a native of Fayetteville, Tenn. -- home of the poolroom slawburger -- and a graduate of the University of Tennessee.

Featured Statements

Bill Haslam
stated on October 18, 2012 in an article for Time magazine.:

Says Tennessee’s higher education funding model "is 100 percent outcomes-based" and "we are already seeing this model changing the way our postsecondary institutions do business."

By Richard Locker • November 11, 2012
John G. Morgan
stated on September 13, 2012 in Testimoney to the U.S. Senate Education Committee:

"Tennessee students now cover about 67 percent of the cost of their education at public universities, and some 60 percent at community colleges."

By Richard Locker • October 13, 2012
Stacey Campfield
stated on September 11, 2012 in a post on his blog.:

Says that "you can’t destroy the guns purchased in a (gun) buyback program as the city (of Memphis) wants to do."

By Richard Locker • September 26, 2012
Scott DesJarlais
stated on September 2, 2012 in an interview with The Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro:

Defends his vote to push "retirement age to 70" by saying he is for "a process" that would not be fully implemented until "around the turn of the century."

By Richard Locker • September 17, 2012
Tennessee Democratic Party
stated on August 28, 2012 in in a press release.:

Says a federal judge "sanctions Tennessee ‘birther’ lawyer … for bringing a frivolous lawsuit."

By Richard Locker • September 2, 2012
BillHislam.com
stated on August 27, 2012 in a Web posting:

Says that Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam "has made it clear by his repeated actions that he will pursue a policy that promotes the interest of Islamist (sic) and their radical ideology as long as he is governor."

By Richard Locker • August 27, 2012
Dolores Gresham
stated on July 16, 2012 in in an interview with The Commercial Appeal.:

"I didn’t try to push" a bill to reduce lottery scholarship proceeds for students.

By Richard Locker • August 12, 2012
Woody Degan
stated on June 28, 2012 in in an interview with The Commercial Appeal.:

Gov. Bill Haslam is "making our Economic Development department Sharia compliant" by hiring a woman "who specializes in Sharia compliance. That’s what her job is."

By Richard Locker • July 24, 2012
Ron Ramsey
stated on May 18, 2012 in a newsletter.:

Claims credit for food tax reductions that "previous Democrat regimes refused to make."

By Richard Locker • May 27, 2012
Bill Haslam
stated on May 9, 2012 in signing new schools legislation.:

On allowing Shelby County's schools merger commission to finish work before allowing any new merger legislation.

By Zack McMillin • May 20, 2012

Haslam cut taxes, raised surplus -- but Cato gives him a 'D'

By Richard Locker • October 29, 2012
On Tennessee Lottery revenues, reserve funds and Gresham’s False ruling

By Zack McMillin • July 17, 2012