Emma is Back as Tennessee’s Top Baby Girl Name in 2018; William Still Biggest for Boys
Emma has unseated Ava as the number one name for baby girls born in Tennessee, rising to the top of the list of the most popular names for babies born in 2018. William maintains the number one spot as the most popular name chosen for baby boys in Tennessee for the 12th straight year. The […]
New Audit Examines TNReady Testing Failures
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has released a performance audit of the Tennessee Department of Education detailing many of the problems that led up to the difficulties in executing the spring 2018 TNReady tests. The online student assessment tests were plagued with numerous issues including login delays, slow servers, and software bugs. The first signs of […]
Tennessee Receives Funding to Collect Data to Help Prevent Violent Deaths
The Tennessee Department of Health Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner has received $1.4 million in funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to gather critical data on homicide, suicide and other violent deaths. Tennessee is one of ten states to receive new funding to use the National Violent Death Reporting System, […]
General Slatery Announces $6 Million Settlement with Encore Capital, Midland Credit Management, and Midland Funding to Reform Debt Buying and Collection Practices
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III announced today that Tennessee joined 42 states and the District of Columbia in reaching a $6 million settlement with Encore Capital Group Inc. and its subsidiaries Midland Credit Management, Inc. and Midland Funding, LLC, one of the nation’s largest debt buyers. Debt buying involves buying and selling overdue debts […]
Unemployment Rates Drop In Every Tennessee County
NASHVILLE – Each of Tennessee’s 95 counties experienced lower unemployment in November 2018 according to newly released data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). Ninety-one counties had an unemployment rate of 5 percent or lower during the month and only four counties had a rate higher than 5 percent. Williamson County had […]
Tennessee Announces What’s New In Tourism For 2019
Tourism in Tennessee continues to expand with new attractions, impressive state-of-the-art developments, expansions and milestone anniversary celebrations of iconic attractions that help shape “The Soundtrack of America. Made in Tennessee.” 2019 marks several milestones in Tennessee, including Memphis’ Bicentennial, Bijou Theatre’s 110th anniversary in Knoxville, and the 25th anniversary of the RC MoonPie Festival in Bell Buckle. […]
SFMO Warns of Fire Dangers Associated with Heating During Winter
With less than two weeks remaining in 2018, fire fatalities in Tennessee have already exceeded their totals from 2017. Ahead of the first day of winter (Dec. 21), the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is advising Volunteer State residents that the cold weather season is the deadliest time of the year, and fire-safe behaviors could […]
Tennessee’s Annual Financial Report Complete
The state of Tennessee has completed its annual financial report for fiscal year 2017-18. The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is the state’s primary means of reporting its financial activities. It is prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration’s Division of Accounts, and has been nationally recognized for excellence in financial reporting. “Tennessee is committed to maintaining […]
Tennessee Unemployment Drops Ahead of Holiday Season
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips today released unemployment statistics that show the seasonally adjusted statewide jobless rate dropped by 0.1 of a percentage point in November to 3.6 percent. Tennessee employers added 3,400 nonfarm jobs between October and November. The largest increases occurred in the […]
Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission Makes Regulatory Changes in Regard to CWD Confirmation
The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission (TFWC) has made regulatory changes in response to the confirmation of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer in Fayette and Hardeman counties. The changes came at a special called meeting of the TFWC on Thursday (Dec. 20) at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency headquarters. The commission voted to establish […]
TDOT Halts Highway Construction for Christmas Holiday
Road construction won’t delay travelers during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The Tennessee Department of Transportation is once again halting all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state. No temporary lane closures will be allowed for construction on Tennessee roadways beginning at 12:00 p.m. […]
State Experiences Positive Gains in November Revenue Report
Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Larry Martin announced today that overall November state revenues were $1.0 billion, which is 8.98 percent more than November 2017 and $45.9 million more than the budgeted estimate. “The positive gains in November are primarily due to strong sales tax growth,” Martin said. “Sales tax revenues, reflecting consumer […]
AG Slatery Joins Bipartisan Group Asking Social Security Administration to Implement New Database to Prevent Identity Theft
Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III today joined a bipartisan group of 43 states and the District of Columbia urging the Social Security Administration (SSA) to promptly comply with a new provision of federal law that aims to address “synthetic identity fraud.” The provision, Section 215 of S.2155, directs the SSA to develop a […]
Tennessee Military Department Celebrates National Guard’s 382nd Birthday
Soldiers and Airmen gathered in the Hall of Flags at the Tennessee National Guard Headquarters on December 13 to celebrate and honor the 382nd Birthday of the National Guard. Maj. Gen. Max Haston, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, held the birthday celebration and cake cutting to remember the long and storied history of the Guard; the oldest […]
TDEC Provides Energy Education Camps For K-12 Educators
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s (TDEC) Office of Energy Programs today announced summer camps designed to give K-12 educators resources to teach energy conservation in the classroom. “TDEC is happy to offer this professional development opportunity to local educators,” said Molly Cripps, assistant commissioner of TDEC’s Office of Energy Programs. “These programs promote the importance of […]
Tennessee Workers’ Comp Rates Fall For Sixth Consecutive Year
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak today announced that Tennessee workers’ compensation insurance premiums will decrease for the sixth consecutive year to a record low, continuing the trend of substantial savings created for Tennessee employers and workers. “I am pleased to see these continued decreases […]
