Citizens Align to Oppose Commerce Park in White Pine
Citizens opposing the location of the proposed White Pine Commerce Park met last week to organize their efforts to derail the project. While there are multiple reasons cited from those opposing the Commerce Park, location and funding appear to top the list. Stress on roads, property value impact and proximity of an established similar park […]
Spring Forward Sunday, March 12, 2017
Winter may have taken a vacation, but many of us know that the cold weather could still make a comeback this weekend. However, there is one piece of good news on the horizon: Daylight Saving Time will officially begin on Sunday March 12, 2017. The time will spring forward at two o’clock in the morning […]
House Republicans Move Forward With Critical Legislation To Combat Welfare Fraud
At the end of February, House Republicans moved forward with critical legislation designed to combat welfare fraud in Tennessee by passing House Bill 227 on the full House floor. Once passed by the Senate, the bill will travel to the desk of Governor Bill Haslam to be signed into law. House Bill 227, referred to […]
Broadband Accessibility Act Gains Momentum
Earlier this week, House Republicans advanced House Bill 529 through the Business and Utilities Subcommittee, with the legislation gaining much-needed momentum as it continues its path to the full House floor for a final vote. House Bill 529, the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act, was created after the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) produced […]
House Republicans Encourage Growing And Selling Of Tennessee-Based Agricultural Products
House Republicans moved forward with legislation to help encourage the growing and selling of Tennessee-based agricultural products across the state. As filed, House Bill 299 is a pro-small business bill that removes governmental regulations and red tape that have placed undue burdens on the distribution of homegrown, locally produced food products. Currently, all food manufacturers, […]
Senate approves legislation making it easier for veterans to determine how their military training can count as credit in Tennessee’s colleges and universities
Legislation that will make it easier for veterans to determine how their military training can count as credit in Tennessee’s colleges and universities was approved by the Tennessee Senate on Monday. Senate Bill 1232, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville), also grants in-state tuition to anyone currently living in Tennessee who is using […]
State Rep. Andy Holt Pays Traffic Camera Tickets With Monopoly Money, Introduces New Legislation To Fight Them
On Thursday, Tennessee State Rep. Andy Holt (R-Dresden) took to Facebook Live where he paid two traffic camera tickets with Monopoly money and a photographed image of a $50 bill. On one of the payments, Holt wrote “In the spirit of justice,” before sending it off to processors. Holt says he did the video in […]
House Leaders Advance Legislation Establishing Long-Term Care For Those With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Members of the House Health Committee advanced legislation thatthat would establish a long-term system of care for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. House Bill 384establishes the Tennessee Council on Autism Spectrum Disorder. This 16-person advisory council would make recommendations and provide leadership in program development regarding matters concerning all levels of […]
Tensions Rise As Razor Wire Comes Down At Mountain View
Serious changes are on tap for Mountain View Youth Development Center and the impact of those changes have been the cause of concern for local government officials and citizens. Mountain View is currently a state run, “hardware secure” youth correctional facility located on Industrial Drive in Dandridge,Tennessee. As is typical with a “hardware secure” correctional […]
Area Elected Officials Attend Municipal Government Overview Course
Marianne Reese of Dandridge and Chris Fair of New Market were among the municipal government officials who participated in Level I of the Elected Officials Academy on January 27 and 28, 2017 in Luttrell. The Elected Officials Academy is a program designed for elected officials. The curriculum designed for the academy was developed to give […]
New Proposal Targets Illegal Opioid And Prescription Drug Suppliers
As House Republicans boost their efforts to combat the opioid and prescription drug epidemic in Tennessee, new legislation has been introduced that would impose tougher penalties on illegal opioid and prescription drug suppliers. House Bill 786 would enable law enforcement to charge illegal suppliers with voluntary manslaughter when they cause death to a user by […]
Quick Tips to Help You Survive Allergy Season
The seasons never seem to be able to make up their mind here in East Tennessee. Warmer weather in the middle of winter has left many of us in a tail spin, and for most that spin involves the early arrival of seasonal allergies. Many are looking for relief this time of the year and […]
States Declare Victory in Fight to Uphold School Rights
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III today announced a victory for the states in their fight to uphold school rights. The 13-state coalition is withdrawing its lawsuit after the U.S. Department of Justice agreed to drop its appeal of a nationwide injunction. The moves were preceded by the federal government rescinding an Obama administration directive […]
NASA Examines Deadly Spring-Like Weather with GPM Satellite
Rainfall from spring-like downpours in the U.S. from February 25 to March 1 were analyzed at NASA using data from the Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM satellite. Record breaking warm temperatures this winter have caused plants to bloom early in the eastern United States. Unfortunately this has also resulted in the formation of spring-like […]
Governor’s Rural Task Force Launches New Website and Searchable Resource Database
The Governor’s Rural Task Force has launched a new website and resource database for Tennessee’s rural communities, featuring comprehensive information about the task force and a searchable database that catalogs available programs and resources. The website, a recommendation made by the task force in its October 2016 strategic plan, includes information from nine state departments […]
Federal Grant Provides Jobs to Workers Dislocated by Sevier County Wildfire
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) and Walters State Community College have started to distribute a $5.8 million National Dislocated Worker Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor that will fund the hiring of workers dislocated by the November wildfire in Sevier County. The grant will fund jobs that will assist in […]
