State lawmakers in Tennessee vote to vacate the entire board of HBCU TSU

Lawmakers in the Tennessee House of Representatives voted on a bill Thursday that vacated the entire Tennessee State University board of trustees, and Gov. Bill Lee quickly signed it into law.He then appointed eight new trustees to the board, all of whom are TSU alums. Republican lawmakers cited financial mismanagement and other issues as the key reasons for the bill. Republicans in the Senate made clear that they wouldn’t compromise on vacating the board after a middle ground emerged in the House that would have only removed some members.“If they can’t manage it, then we need to find people who can,” said Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, author on the House’s version.