Haslam Appoints Gass Special Judge for Circuit Court in 4th Judicial District
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed James L. Gass of Dandridge as special judge for Circuit Court in the 4th Judicial District. Gass’s appointment fills the temporary vacancy due to the recent illness of Circuit Court Judge Richard R. Vance. The 4th Judicial District serves Jefferson, Grainger, Cocke and Sevier counties. “I appreciate Jim Gass’s […]
TDCI Shares Consumer Tips for Cyber Security Awareness Month
In recognition of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of Consumer Affairs reminds Tennesseans to always keep security and safety in mind when enjoying the benefits of the internet. National Cyber Security Awareness Month, observed every October, was created as a collaborative effort between government and industry to […]
TDCI Announces Approval of Rates for 2018 Individual Marketplace
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) announces today the approval of insurance rates requested by the three carriers offering coverage on the Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) ahead of Open Enrollment for 2018. The rates sought by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Cigna, and Oscar Health for coverage on the FFM in 2018 are as […]
Tennessee Grants Certificate of Public Advantage for Wellmont, Mountain States
Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, today announced the request for a Certificate of Public Advantage from Wellmont Health System and Mountain States Health Alliance has been granted. The approval allows the two entities to combine under the corporate umbrella of Ballad Health. “This has been an unprecedented and complex process, and […]
Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission: Beware Flood-Related Vehicle Scams
Consumers who are shopping for a new vehicle should be aware that flood-damaged cars and trucks from states ravaged by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma will eventually surface in Tennessee. In an effort to raise awareness, the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission, which is part of the Department of Commerce & Insurance’s Regulatory Boards division, is warning […]
State Releases August Revenues
Tennessee revenues were less than the budgeted estimates for the first month of the state’s fiscal year. Finance and Administration Commissioner Larry Martin today reported that overall August revenues were $980.7 million, which is $32.5 million more than August 2016, and $14.9 million less than the budgeted estimates. The growth rate for all taxes in […]
Haslam Proclaims Earth Science Week in Tennessee
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has proclaimed Oct. 8-14 Earth Science Week in Tennessee, which will help promote awareness of the importance of geoscience. As part of Earth Science Week, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Tennessee Geological Survey, in partnership with the American Geosciences Institute, has a limited number of Earth Science Week toolkits […]
Haslam, Barnes Announce Plans To Reform Welfare Programs To Encourage Self-Sufficiency
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Danielle W. Barnes today announced plans to reinstate the federal work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that was waived in 2008 during the economic recession. With the state’s record low unemployment rates and significant job growth, […]
Increasing Number of Tennesseans Dying from Drug Overdoses
Tennessee Department of Health data show 1,631 Tennesseans died from drug overdoses in 2016, the highest annual number of such deaths recorded in state history. This is an increase from the 1,451 overdose deaths recorded among Tennessee residents in 2015. “Each of these numbers represents a person, with family and friends who are now facing […]
Haslam Announces Decreased Unemployment Rates in All 95 Counties
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips today announced that unemployment rates decreased last month in all 95 counties and significantly dropped in many rural counties, which often have the highest unemployment rates in the state. The county figures were released one week after the state posted an […]
State Representative Andrew Farmer Announces Community Development Block Grant For Jefferson County
State Representative Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) today announced that a $424,961 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) has been approved for Jefferson County in order to assist with water system improvements and upgrades. Funding was allocated to Jefferson County under a procedure authorized by the Tennessee General Assembly based on priorities set at local levels where community […]
State Representative Andrew Farmer Works To Protect The Personal Information Of Tennessee Residents
State Representative Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) today addressed the recent Equifax data breach that jeopardized the personal information of more than 143 million U.S. consumers nationwide — including 3 million Tennessee residents — between May-July of 2017. Representative Farmer wants the hardworking families of District 17 to know that he is working to ensure that their […]
Tennessee Helicopters Headed to Virgin Islands
Four UH-60L Blackhawk helicopters and 34 Soldiers assigned to the 1/230th Aviation Regiment, Tennessee Army National Guard, are headed to the US Virgin Islands to assist in recovery efforts following Hurricane Irma. The helicopters were loaded onto C17 Globemaster III and C130 Hercules aircraft from New York and Rhode Island at Joint Base Berry Field […]
Hurricane Irma Evacuees in Tennessee May Be Eligible for Unemployment Benefits
Hundreds of residents from states impacted by Hurricane Irma escaped the impact of the storm by seeking refuge in cities across Tennessee. Many are staying with family or at local hotels and campgrounds and are not able to work. Out-of-state residents, who plan to stay in Tennessee for an extended period of time because their […]
Haslam Issues Statement on Nathan Bedford Forrest Bust
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam issued this statement today regarding the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest in the State Capitol: “My position on this issue has not changed – I do not believe Nathan Bedford Forrest should be one of the individuals we honor at the Capitol. The General Assembly has established a process for addressing […]
TDCI: Don’t Fall Victim to Scholarship & Student Loan Scams
Scholarships and student loans are the most common way to ease the financial burden of tuition costs for many students. Unfortunately, financial predators prey on consumers’ fears of greater monetary responsibility with scams that promise more than they deliver and leave consumers facing greater headaches and debt. The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s (TDCI) […]
