Germs with Unusual Antibiotic Resistance Widespread in U.S.
Health departments working with CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance (AR) Lab Network found more than 220 instances of germs with “unusual” antibiotic resistance genes in the United States last year, according to a CDC Vital Signs report released today. Germs with unusual resistance include those that cannot be killed by all or most antibiotics, are uncommon in a geographic […]
Study Predicts 2018 Flu Vaccine Will Have 20 Percent Efficacy
A Rice University study predicts that this fall’s flu vaccine — a new H3N2 formulation for the first time since 2015 — will likely have the same reduced efficacy against the dominant circulating strain of influenza A as the vaccine given in 2016 and 2017 due to viral mutations related to vaccine production in eggs. […]
State Unemployment Rate Remains Near Historic Lows, Holds Steady From February
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips today announced the March 2018 statewide unemployment rate for Tennessee remained near historic lows and matched the revised rate from the previous month. The preliminary, seasonally adjusted rate for March was 3.4 percent, which mirrored the revised rate for February and […]
Spring Frost, Freezes Are Factors in Fruit Production
Spring frosts or freezes are major limiting factors in consistent production for commercial and home fruit growers throughout Jefferson County. In many years, temperatures during the period leading up to and just past bloom drop to the point where bud damage may occur. Several Factors play a role in the amount of damage actually received. […]
Who’s To Blame For No Lockdown? School Supervised Prisoners Escape With DOE Vehicle
A Thursday afternoon incident at White Pine School has some parents and Board Members questioning why the school did not go on lock down following the escape of two prisoners who were on work detail at the school and the subsequent theft of a Department of Education vehicle that was used in that escape. According […]
Early Voting Begins
Jefferson County jump started the voting process last week as early voting began on April 11, 2018 for the May 1, 2018 Primary Election. While historically Jefferson County has split the election day and early vote tally nearly equally, that was not the case in 2014 for the Primary Election cycle where early voting numbers […]
Governor Haslam, Commissioner Rolfe Announce Van Hool NV to Establish First US Manufacturing Facility in Morristown
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Van Hool NV officials announced today that the Belgian company will establish its first U.S. manufacturing operation in Morristown and create nearly 640 jobs over the next five years. Van Hool, a family-owned Belgian manufacturer of buses, coaches and industrial vehicles, […]
Initiative Promoting High Paying Jobs In Tennessee Passes
House Republicans passed a measure that promotes high paying jobs in Tennessee this week on the House floor. House Bill 1917 continues the Go Build Tennessee Program through 2024 in order to raise awareness about an abundance of high paying jobs available in communities across the state. The measure strengthens existing partnerships so that students […]
Over 10,000 Adults Have Applied For Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship
This week, House Republicans joined with Governor Haslam to announce that over 10,000 adults have applied for Tennessee Reconnect, the state’s program for adult learners to earn an associate degree or technical certificate tuition-free. The application for Tennessee Reconnect opened on February 15 of this year and 10,497 applications had been submitted as of April […]
Tennessee Stolen Valor Act Passes In General Assembly
Wednesday morning, House members unanimously passed a measure to strengthen identity protections for our military veterans. House Bill 2130, also known as the Tennessee Stolen Valor Act, is designed to safeguard the identities of Tennessee veterans who serve the state and nation by cracking down on instances of theft and fraud involving those who attempt […]
Remains of Missing Morristown Woman Found In Grainger County
MPD investigators and agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations have identified the remains of missing Morristown woman Inesha Haygood. Inesha was reported missing by her family January 5, 2016. Since this time, searches have been conducted in several areas and investigators continued to follow multiple leads. The remains were discovered yesterday in rural Grainger […]
Advocates Applaud Passage Of New Adoption Legislation
House lawmakers joined together this week for the unanimous passage of House Bill 1856. The bill streamlines the adoption process in Tennessee, adding updates to the law desperately needed to serve children and families across the state better, advocates say. House Bill 1856 simplifies the surrender form — which was previously very complicated — and […]
House Republicans Pass ‘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. This week, House Republicans passed legislation to combat the state’s opioid problem head on: Tennessee Together. Tennessee Together is a multi-faceted plan comprised of legislation, $30 million in funds through the […]
Tips for Putting Away those Winter Clothes
Winter is on the way out, and with the changing of the seasons comes the packing away of those heavy clothes. Before you trade your winter coats for tank tops and flip flops, there are a few things to consider when storing away your winter clothes. What follows is a series of tips to help […]
Tennessee Maintains Progress on 2017 Nation’s Report Card
Tennessee’s progress remains steady on the 2017 Nation’s Report Card, Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced today, mirroring the national results. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is given every two years to students in grade 4 and 8 in both reading and math. Long considered the “gold star” of large scale assessment, NAEP serves […]
TDOE Announces New Steps to Reduce Testing
Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced today the approval of recommendations that will reduce student testing in 2018-19. The recommendations are the first to be released by the state’s third Task Force on Student Testing and Assessment – which includes educators, parents, and education leaders from across the state – and they resulted from months of […]
