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Tennessee New Unemployment Claims Filed Week ending in April 11, 2020

Tennessee New Unemployment Claims Filed Week ending in April 11, 2020

Week Number Week Ending Date Number of New Claims Filed 10 March 14, 2020 2,702 11 March 21, 2020 39,096 12 March 28, 2020 94,492 13 April 4, 2020 116,141 14 April 11, 2020 74,772 Regional Data for Week Ending April 11, 2020 Local Workforce Development Area Number of New Claims Greater Memphis 12,216 Northwest […]

Agriculture Commissioner: The Food Supply Chain Remains Strong in Tennessee

Agriculture Commissioner: The Food Supply Chain Remains Strong in Tennessee

Farmers, foresters, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers ensure community access to safe and abundant food, fuel, fiber, and wood products. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers are still raising livestock and planting and harvesting crops. At this time, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) sees no evidence of agricultural shortages in Tennessee. “The Department is monitoring supply […]

Tennessee Starts Sending $600 Federal Unemployment Benefit

Tennessee Starts Sending $600 Federal Unemployment Benefit

The state of Tennessee has started paying approved unemployment claimants their first installment of the $600 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) benefit, in addition to their Tennessee Unemployment Compensation (TUC) benefit. On Tuesday, April 14, the state distributed benefit payments of close to $94 million to financial institutions for approximately 110,000 unemployed Tennesseans. Most claimants […]

School Board Introduces New Meal Distribution Plan, Extends School Closures

School Board Introduces New Meal Distribution Plan, Extends School Closures

First, there will be no meal distribution tomorrow at Jefferson County School campuses. Meal distributions will resume on Friday, April 17 with the following changes. All school campuses, including Patriot Academy, will serve as distribution sites. The only exceptions will be the main campus of JCHS and Jefferson Academy. Meals will be provided daily from […]

‘Winters’ During Spring?

‘Winters’ During Spring?

Anyone who has lived in East Tennessee for any amount of time knows that once spring arrives, winter isn’t necessarily finished playing its tricks. According to folklore and old wives tales, East Tennesseans receives a visit by five or six different cold snaps, or “winters” as the locals call them. The early arrival of spring […]

NASA Marks Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary with #EarthDayAtHome

NASA Marks Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary with #EarthDayAtHome

As the world observes the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, NASA is highlighting the agency’s many contributions to sustaining and improving our home planet’s environment with a week of online events, stories, and resources. NASA’s investment in space – both the unique Earth science we conduct from orbit and the technology we’ve […]

Public Policies Push Schools to Prioritize Creating Better Test-Takers Over Better People

Public Policies Push Schools to Prioritize Creating Better Test-Takers Over Better People

Personal growth and job skills have taken a backseat to an increased focus on standardized test scores in schools across the nation, according to new University at Buffalo-led research. The study, which analyzed the educational goals of principals at thousands of public, private and charter schools over two decades, found the shift in priorities is […]

‘I Saw You Were Online’: How Online Status Indicators Shape Our Behavior

‘I Saw You Were Online’: How Online Status Indicators Shape Our Behavior

Some apps highlight when a person is online — and then share that information with their followers. When a user logs in to a website or app that uses online status indicators, a little green (or orange or blue) dot pops up to alert their followers that they’re currently online. Researchers at the University of […]

School Board Issues Changes for Child Meal Distribution

School Board Issues Changes for Child Meal Distribution

Thursday, April 9, 2020 the Jefferson County Board of Education met in special called session and unanimously voted to continue the meal distribution for children during the school building closure associated with the Covid-19 outbreak in the State of Tennessee. This follows Governor Bill Lee’s Executive Order 22. Over the last three weeks, children ages […]

Jefferson County School Board Votes to Continue Employee Pay

Jefferson County School Board Votes to Continue Employee Pay

The Jefferson County School Board met last week via remote location to address pending business before the Board. Following the approval of the consent agenda items, the Board approved multiple Board policies on the first reading ( removing policy # 4.700). After a language change to the removed policy was motioned, the motion was withdrawn […]

Select Houchens Industries Stores to be closed on Easter Sunday

Houchens Food Group announced today that all grocery and convenience stores will be closed for Easter Sunday, April 12th, 2020. The day will offer each employee a much-deserved day of rest and time to spend with their loved ones. The store teams have been incredible, and we can’t thank them enough for the dedication and […]

Tennessee Establishes Hotline for Applicants Applying for Emergency Cash Assistance

Tennessee Establishes Hotline for Applicants Applying for Emergency Cash Assistance

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) launched a special hotline this month to help make it easier for families with children to check on their application for emergency cash assistance. Applicants can call 833-496-0661 to learn the status of their application, including approval or denial and how much money the approved family can expect to receive. […]

Gov. Lee Announces $10 Million in Small and Rural Hospital Readiness Grants

Gov. Lee Announces $10 Million in Small and Rural Hospital Readiness Grants

Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the State of Tennessee will allocate $10 million in Small and Rural Hospital Readiness Grants to support hospitals that are facing financial strain due to the ongoing response to COVID-19. “Small and rural hospitals are critical to fighting COVID-19 and these grants will help complement federal aid dollars to […]

Tennessee to Distribute $200 Million to County and City Governments Through Governor’s Local Support Grants

Tennessee to Distribute $200 Million to County and City Governments Through Governor’s Local Support Grants

Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced $200 million in grants to be distributed to every county and city government across Tennessee for one-time, local expenses in fiscal year 2021. “Capital maintenance, public safety and road projects don’t pause for disasters like the March tornadoes and the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Gov. Lee. “This grant fund will […]

Suicide Prevention Starts with YOU: Life is Precious, Powerful, and Purposeful

Suicide Prevention Starts with YOU: Life is Precious, Powerful, and Purposeful

For your consideration, please see the following Op-ed Clark Flatt, President, The Jason Foundation; Misty Leitch, Interim Director, Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network; and Marie Williams, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services If you saw a relative, a friend, or even a stranger choking, you wouldn’t hesitate to try to help.  There […]

Turkey Season to Start as Scheduled; Lakes and Rivers to Remain Open

Turkey Season to Start as Scheduled; Lakes and Rivers to Remain Open

Tennessee’s 2020 statewide spring turkey hunting season will be held as scheduled and the state’s lakes and rivers and access areas controlled by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will remain open. “Governor (Bill) Lee’s Executive Orders 22 and 23 identifies outdoor activity as an essential activity provided that individuals follow Health Guidelines,” said Kurt Holbert, […]