Tennessee’s ‘High Quality’ Bonds Generate $40 Million Premium
Tennessee’s colleges and universities will benefit from a competitive low interest rate due in part to a $40 million premium generated by the Tennessee State School Bond Authority’s (TSSBA) successful sale of $207 million of higher education facilities bonds. The bond proceeds will be used to support capital projects at 6 of the state’s colleges […]
TN Attorney General Challenges Unlawful, Unprecedented Order
The State of Tennessee, through the Attorney General’s Office, is appealing a final order from the Davidson County Criminal Court that circumvented established legal procedures. The order exchanged the death sentence of Tennessee inmate Abu-Ali Abdur’Rahman for life in prison, thus essentially granting clemency through a court and a district attorney that both lack the […]
Employment Rises In Tennessee’s Six Largest Counties
Employment rose in each of Tennessee’s six largest counties from March 2018 to March 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS) reported Wednesday. The USBLS qualifies large counties as those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2018. USBLS Regional Commissioner Janet S. Rankin noted that employment gains ranged from 4.0 […]
TN Division of Forestry Monitoring Wildfire Risk
Wildland fire officials with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry are keeping a close eye on weather conditions as the state and region experience a prolonged hot and dry pattern. While the division has not seen an increase in the number of wildfires, nor do indices suggest a high fire danger, the agency […]
Tennessee Graduation Rate Continues to Rise
Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn announced that the graduation rate for the 2018-19 school calendar year was 89.7 percent. Not only is that more than half a percentage point higher than the previous year, but it’s the highest graduation rate on record for Tennessee. That translates into an increase of 183 graduates statewide. Education Commissioner Penny […]
Local Lawmakers Announce Technology Grants for Public Libraries in Jefferson County
State Senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains) and Representatives Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) and Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) announced today that Jefferson County is receiving $7,738 in Technology Grants from the Tennessee State Library and Archives. The lawmakers made the announcement after being notified by Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “Access to technology is something many of […]
Attorney General Slatery Joins Google Bipartisan Multistate Antitrust Investigation
Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III today joined 50 attorneys general in a multistate, bipartisan investigation of tech giant Google’s business practices in accordance with state and federal antitrust laws. The bipartisan coalition announced plans to investigate Google’s overarching control of online advertising markets and search traffic that may have led to anticompetitive behavior […]
Sen. Niceley Gives Keynote Speech at TSU Small Farm Expo Luncheon to “Celebrate the Success of Our Small Farms”
On Wednesday, State Senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains) gave a keynote speech at Tennessee State University’s (TSU) Fifteenth Annual Small Farm Expo and Small Farmer of the Year Awards Program luncheon. Small farmers from across Tennessee, county agents, state dignitaries and other officials attended this year’s program themed, “Celebrating the Success of Our Small Farms.” Niceley spoke […]
Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell Set Sights on Tourism Future
Governor Bill Lee today addressed tourism professionals during the 2019 Governor’s Conference on Hospitality & Tourism at the Music City Center, noting the state’s 2nd largest industry and thanking them for their hard work. He shared his priorities over the next four years and shined a light on how tourism can help achieve successful community-focused […]
TDOT Announces No Lane Closures for Labor Day Holiday
The Tennessee Department of Transportation will halt all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways for the Labor Day holiday travel period. Construction crews will stop all lane closure activity beginning at noon on Friday, August 30 through 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3. This will provide maximum roadway capacity for motorists traveling during […]
TDCI Approves Carriers’ 2020 Rates on the Federally Facilitated Marketplace
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) announces the approval of insurance rates requested by the five carriers offering coverage on the Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) in 2020. “The approved rate filing requests for 2020 benefit Tennessee’s working families by offering them an increased number of coverage choices and a tighter range of prices,” […]
Tennessee House Republicans Choose Jeremy Faison As Caucus Chairman
Members of the Tennessee House Republican Caucus chose State Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) as their Republican Caucus Chairman during a special caucus meeting held inside the Old Supreme Court Chamber. As Republican Caucus Chairman, Jeremy Faison will preside over meetings and is the second ranking officer of the caucus. His duties include calling in conjunction with the […]
Purchase TN Crash Website Available For Crash Reports
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced the launch of an efficient method to access traffic crash reports from law enforcement agencies across the state. Effective immediately, involved parties may obtain their crash reports through www.PurchaseTNcrash.gov. “Our goal is to provide the best customer service to citizens of Tennessee and to those who travel […]
Tennessee Educator Survey Highlights Actionable Ways for Leaders to Support Tennessee’s Teachers
Today the Tennessee Department of Education and Tennessee Education Research Alliance at Vanderbilt University (TERA) released the results from the 2019 Tennessee Educator Survey. Over 45,000 Tennessee educators completed this year’s survey, representing 62 percent of the state’s teachers – an all-time high response rate. Survey results point to progress made and maintained in a […]
TDOE Releases TNReady Results for 2019
TNReady assessment results released today by Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn indicate that students across the state are performing better in almost all math subjects. The TNReady scores also show that more than half the schools in Tennessee – 56 percent – improved their growth scores (TVAAS scores) from the previous year, with 41 percent of […]
AG Slatery and Secretary Hargett Remind Donors to be Wary of Charitable Scams
Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III and Secretary of State Tre Hargett are warning donors about possible charitable donation scams following mass shootings last weekend in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. “Sadly, it’s common for scam artists to take advantage of those who want to reach out and help,” said General Slatery. “You […]
