Haslam: Tennessee Will Lead the Nation in Jobs, Education and Government Efficiency
In his final State of the State address to the General Assembly, Gov. Bill Haslam this evening challenged all Tennesseans to lead the nation in creating high-quality jobs, improving the education of our students, and providing the most efficient and effective state government services. “Seven years ago we raised our expectations. We became the kind […]
County Commission Freezes Funds For Animal Shelter Until Open Surrender Is Reinstated
Jefferson County Commissioners gathered Monday for an early evening meeting in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. The meeting was the regular voting meeting that had been previously canceled due to inclement weather and was preceding an already established budget committee meeting. Commission Chair Tucker called the meeting to order. Following the approval of the agenda […]
Jefferson County Fair Looks To Settle Debt, In Hopes Of Lease
Last week the Jefferson County School Board was faced with the issue of a lease agreement with the Jefferson County Fair. The grounds that have housed the Jefferson County Fair belong to the Department of Education and, as of the meeting Thursday evening, January 25, 2018, the terms of the past lease had not been […]
School Board Questions Uncompleted Capital Projects
The Jefferson County School Board met for their regular monthly meeting last week. This was the first voting meeting since the installation of Interim Director of Schools Finchum. Following the approval of the agenda and consent agenda, the Board received a brief overview of the state of the Special Education Department from Department Director Bowlin. […]
Tennessee Counties End 2017 With Continued Low Unemployment
County unemployment rates released today by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) show unemployment remained below 5 percent in an overwhelming majority of the state’s 95 counties during December 2017. The latest statistics also highlight how each county had significantly lower unemployment compared to one year ago. Eighty-nine counties experienced unemployment under […]
Mosquitoes Remember Human Smells, but also Swats, Researchers Find
Your grandmother’s insistence that you receive more bug bites because you’re ‘sweeter’ may not be that far-fetched after all, according to pioneering research from Virginia Tech scientists. The study, published Jan. 25 in the journal Current Biology, shows that mosquitoes can rapidly learn and remember the smells of hosts and that dopamine is a key mediator […]
Welfare Reform Initiative Gains Support From House Republicans
This year, House Republicans are leading efforts to reform Tennessee’s welfare system. Last fall, the Haslam Administration announced an initiative to reinstate the work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents who rely on the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for assistance. By reinstituting work requirements, approximately 58,000 able-bodied adults who are not currently meeting […]
Republican Leaders Unveil ‘Tennessee Together’ Plan To Help Combat Opioid Epidemic
While the federal government has only just commenced conversation about the opioid epidemic, Tennessee leads the way in fighting the situation here at home. On Monday afternoon, Governor Haslam joined with Republican leaders to unveil a new initiative to combat the state’s opioid problem head on: Tennessee Together. Tennessee Together is a multi-faceted plan comprised […]
ATVs Are Dangerous to Children: New Data Demonstrates Continued Risk of Injury and Death
According to preliminary data released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), at least 53 children lost their lives in 2016 due to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and an estimated 26,800 children were injured seriously enough to require treatment in a hospital emergency department. Compared to 2015, the rate of serious injuries increased slightly, while deaths decreased […]
DICKERSON, FAISON INTRODUCE MEDICAL CANNABIS ONLY (MCO) ACT
State Sen. Steve Dickerson (R-Nashville) and Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) today introduced the Medical Cannabis Only Act of 2018, legislation that would allow Tennessee patients with specific health conditions access to safe, regulated medical cannabis oil-based manufactured products only. Dickerson and Faison led the Medical Cannabis Task Force for the Tennessee General Assembly this fall, […]
Body of Missing Morristown Man Located
The body of missing Morristown man, Robby Shultz, has been located by officers of the Morristown Police Department. Officers located the body shortly before 5:00pm Wednesday. After deciding to expand the search, officers returned to the heavily wooded area near where his vehicle was found last week. There are no obvious signs of trauma on […]
Investigation Finds UT Athletics Staff Accepted Trips and Entertainment from Vendors
An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has revealed a number of issues related to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Sports Surface Management. These issues include trips and entertainment that were provided to UT Athletics staff by a department vendor and prospective vendor. The investigation began after the University of Tennessee Department of Audit and […]
Eating insects might seem yucky, but they are nutritious and there is no reason you can’t
The thought of eating an insect makes most people cringe – at least those who live in America, Canada and Europe, a minority of the world’s population who would not let a cricket, grasshopper or beetle near their dinner table. The “yuck” factor, however, does not have anything to do with nutrition, digestion or evolution. […]
U.S. Supreme Court sides with the States in WOTUS Decision
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III applauds the United States Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to reverse the Sixth Circuit ruling in Waters of the United States (WOTUS). The Supreme Court’s decision to require the rule be challenged in federal district courts, a more local and direct route than being limited to the U.S. Court of Appeals, helps […]
Roe Issues Statement on Government Shutdown
Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after Senate Democrats voted to shut down the government last night: “I joined my House Republican colleagues in fulfilling one of Congress’ most basic duties, which is to keep the government open. It is unconscionable that Senate Democrats prefer shutting down the government instead of […]
December Revenues Higher than Expected, Show Increase from Previous Year
Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Larry Martin announced today that revenues for December posted higher than expected and exceeded the monthly revenues from the previous year. State revenues for December were $1.4 billion, which is a growth of 11.34 percent and $139.9 million more than December 2016. “Total revenues in December were higher […]
