Tennessee Unemployment Drops for Second Consecutive Month
Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate decreased for the second consecutive month in July, according to newly released data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The preliminary, seasonally adjusted rate for July 2021 is 4.7%, a drop of 0.2 of a percentage point from June’s revised rate of 4.9%. Tennessee’s unemployment rate has been at […]
VITAL POLICY – Jefferson County Republicans Call Primary Elections for May 3, 2022, County Commission Offices Included
Jefferson County Republican Party has called primary elections for May 3, 2022, for the following offices. Circuit Court Judge 4th Judicial District, Part I Circuit Court Judge 4th Judicial District, Part II Circuit Court Judge 4th Judicial District, Part III Circuit Court Judge 4th Judicial District, Part IV Chancellor 4th […]
State Landmarks Lit Green for Child Support Awareness Month
The State Capitol Cupola and other well-known landmarks across Tennessee will be lit green tonight in recognition of Child Support Awareness Month. Each August the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) works to light up recognizable locations in green as a shining reminder of the important role its Child Support Program plays in the health […]
AG Slatery Responds to Sixth Circuit Decision Upholding 48 Hour Waiting Period for Abortions
The full Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals held that Tennessee’s 48-hour waiting period for abortions is constitutional. The Court’s ruling reverses the district court’s decision in Bristol Regional Women’s Center v. Slatery. In its opinion, the Court recognized that, “before making life’s big decisions, it is often wise to take time to reflect. The people […]
Tennessee Department of Health Offering Third Dose of mRNA Vaccine
The Tennessee Department of Health is acting upon recent guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding an additional dose of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine for moderately and severely immunocompromised individuals. On August 13, the CDC accepted ACIP recommendations for an additional dose of the […]
Gov. Lee Signs Executive Order Giving Parents Ability to Opt Out of School Mask Mandates
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order 84 to give parents the ability to opt their child out of a local mask mandate enacted by a school or health board. Gov. Lee’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below: Thanks for joining today. Before we cover an important COVID-19 announcement, I want to express a heavy heart […]
Martha Dandridge Washington Chapter (MDW), National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), Officers for 2021-2022
The Martha Dandridge Washington Chapter (MDW), National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), officers for 2021-2022 are Regent Jane Chambers, First Vice Regent Janet Guyett, Second Vice Regent Jill Evans, Chaplain Elizabeth Finchum, Recording Secretary Karen Bible, Corresponding Secretary Jane Busdeker, Treasurer Wendy Randolph, Registrar Karen McFarland, Historian Jamie Snyder, Librarian Katie Schmidt, and […]
HELP OTHERS, MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SAVE A LIFE – Currently hiring for a Master’s Level Criminal Justice Navigator
HELP OTHERS, MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SAVE A LIFE. The McNabb Center is the region’s leading nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, social and victim services. Do you see yourself in this lifesaving work? We are currently hiring for a Master’s Level Criminal Justice Navigator The ideal candidate has a master’s degree in a health-related field […]
VITAL POLICY – Citizens form Task Group in Strawberry Plains to Fight Expected Creation of Zoning for Slaughterhouse
“Our government is just not responding to us”, an observation made by one resident of Strawberry Plains speaking to a group of about 30 concerned citizens that oppose the building of a slaughterhouse near their homes. The task group led by Beth and David Nelson and other families explored options for convincing planning boards to […]
VITAL POLICY – Your Civic Duty and Sacred Right to Participate in Government, A Forerunner to Constitution Day
Thomas Jefferson held the Tennessee Constitution in extremely high esteem, calling it the “least imperfect and most republican” among other state constitutions, a high complement from the man who authored the Declaration of Independence and drafted the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. The framers of the Tennessee Constitution expressed the importance of civic participation in […]
VITAL POLICY – Maine Repeals Civil Asset Forfeiture, Tennessee Struggles to Protect Property Rights
After decades of attempts, the Tennessee General Assembly continues to work around the margins to reform civil asset forfeiture. By comparison, the state of Maine is now the fourth state to abolish civil forfeiture and replace it with the constitutional model of criminal asset forfeiture. Civil asset forfeiture is the process by which government can […]
VITAL POLICY – OPINION Jefferson County’s “Tourist Punishment Tax” – a Double-Edged Sword that Must be Wielded Wisely
On any given day, the Jefferson County Tourism Office does a great job of attracting tourism business to Jefferson County, as well as the tax revenue that comes with it. Restaurants, markets, grocery stores, caterers, event venues, photographers, and many other businesses derive benefit. Tourists by the thousands sail in, spend their money, and sail […]
VITAL POLICY – OPINION Elected School Directors Back in the Legislative Meat Grinder for 2022, Local Impact Examined, Questions Raised
Until 1992 the voting citizens of Tennessee had the power to elect school directors. The time to return that constitutional power to the citizens is long overdue. Prior to the “Education Improvement Act of 1992”, potential school directors had to campaign, one-on-one with voters, and get acquainted with the citizens whose tax money they were […]
Comptroller’s Office Examines the Cost of Online College Courses
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has released a new report examining the cost of online courses in Tennessee’s public colleges and universities. Tennessee’s public higher education institutions have offered online courses for more than two decades, and the prevalence of online courses has increased during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The report found that more than half […]
Operation Dry Water Set for July 4th Holiday Weekend
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will be participating in Operation Dry Water, July 2-4. Operation Dry Water is a weekend of education and enforcement about the dangers of impaired boating throughout the state. The July 4th holiday means an increase in boater activity on the water and there is also an increase in the number on […]