Be A Good Elf” When Selecting, Decorating, & Maintaining Christmas Trees
Opinions may differ on when to start decorating for the holidays, but one thing is certain: Practicing fire safety during the holidays can drastically reduce the likelihood of a home fire. To raise awareness of fire-safe behaviors this holiday season, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is asking Tennesseans to “Be a Good Elf” […]
Holiday Decorations Safety Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics
Twinkly lights, candles, holiday trees and plants, ornaments and other decorations are an important part of holiday celebrations. Besides being festive and fun, the decorations your family brings out every year can help children feel connected to family traditions. To help make sure your decorations are safe, the American Academy of Pediatrics offers some tips: […]
Civil Asset Forfeiture Has Courts Weighing Eighth Amendment
Most Americans find it difficult to believe that private property can be seized by law enforcement officials with little process of law and no criminal conviction. Increasingly, business owners, individual citizens, and corporations are learning about civil asset forfeiture, a process in which a relatively low standard of proof is required for a property seizure. […]
Free Flu Shot Events Planned Statewide Dec. 5 to “FightFluTN”
Get a flu shot! Tennessee’s county health departments are holding special “FightFluTN” events December 5 to provide flu shots at no charge to increase the number of people vaccinated in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health urges all Tennesseans who have not yet received a flu shot this flu season to get one as soon […]
JCHS To See Upgrades To Athletic Facilities: DOE, School Board & County Commission Strive For Gender Equity In Sports Programs
Jefferson County High School will soon see upgrades to their athletic facilities thanks to recent action taken by the School Board and the approval of funding from the Jefferson County Commission. For several months, the Jefferson County Department of Education and the Jefferson County School Board have searched for a means to provide equity in […]
Amazon To Dominate Cyber Monday – Support the Smokies while you shop with Amazon Smile
Amazon is predicted to dominate Cyber Monday sales today. As a corporate partner of Great Smoky Mountains Association, Amazon will donate a portion of your online purchases to GSMA when you start shopping on Amazon.com using this LINK.
TDOE Releases Report on School Safety and Security
Education Commissioner Candice McQueen today released a new report to provide insight on the landscape of school safety in Tennessee. For the first time, the department is releasing information on trends found in the strengths and challenges in school security seen across districts. This new report allows the state to increase awareness, prompt further conversations, and spur […]
Mushrooms: A Tennessee Crop Coming Into New Light
Highly anticipated crops like pumpkins usually get all of the attention during the autumn months. Tennessee mushrooms, however, are coming out of the woodwork this season as a nutrient powerhouse. Mushrooms provide many health benefits, including several nutrients and antibacterial properties. These fungi are typically grown outdoors during the spring and fall months. However, with […]
Record Number of Tickborne Diseases Reported in U.S. in 2017
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show tickborne diseases are again on the rise. In 2017, state and local health departments reported a record number of cases of tickborne disease to CDC. Cases of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis/ehrlichiosis, spotted fever rickettsiosis (including Rocky Mountain spotted fever), babesiosis, tularemia, and Powassan virus disease all increased—from […]
Happy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is the touted by most Americans as their second favorite holiday, following only Christmas. One native bird that might feel differently is the turkey. Though it missed its chance to be the National Bird, losing out to the Bald Eagle, it has found infamy in the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Interestingly, as American consumption of […]
Start Your Holiday Gift Search on Small Business Saturday
As you begin filling stockings and preparing presents this holiday season, locally made artisan or farm products can be the meaningful and personal gift that your family and friends will love. Small Business Saturday is Nov. 24, and many of the businesses showcased that day focus on products found on the farm. Independent shop owners […]
TNECD Releases Annual Labor and Education Alignment Report
A report released by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development highlights in-demand jobs across Tennessee, including occupations in health care, information technology and engineering, among others. TNECD’s annual Labor and Education Alignment Program (LEAP) report, a regional study of occupations in high demand among employers throughout Tennessee, identifies nearly 260 positions statewide with […]
Unemployment in Tennessee Continues Near All-Time Historic Low
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips today released the statewide unemployment rate for October 2018 showing Tennessee’s jobless rate was still near historic lows, despite a slight uptick. October’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October was 3.7 percent, 0.1 percent of a percentage point higher than […]
TVA Handling Above Average Rainfall During Fall of 2018
TVA River Management teams handled above average rainfall and runoff across the Tennessee Valley in fiscal year 2018. That trend continues to be the norm so far in fiscal year 2019 (which started on Oct. 1), with nearly 4 inches of rainfall last week across parts of the Valley and more on the way. Through […]
Cigarette Smoking Among U.S. Adults Lowest Ever Recorded: 14% in 2017
Cigarette smoking has reached the lowest level ever recorded among U.S. adults, according to new data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute (NCI). Still, about 47 million (1 in 5) U.S. adults used a tobacco product in […]
