Payroll employment rises by 177,000 in April; unemployment rate unchanged at 4.2%
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 177,000 in April, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment continued to trend up in health care, transportation and warehousing, financial activities, and social assistance. Federal government employment declined. This news release presents statistics from two monthly surveys. […]
Sold Exclusively at Rooms To Go: American Bolt and Screw Recalls Tip-Over Restraint Kits Distributed with Clothing Storage Units Manufactured by Canyon Furniture Due to Tip-Over and Entrapment Hazards and Risk of Serious Injury or Death
This recall involves tip-over restraint kits that were sold with chests and dressers. The kits were packaged in a red plastic bag containing a plastic zip tie, two white plastic brackets, four screws, two white plastic drywall anchors and an instruction sheet. “American Bolt & Screw MFG CO. LTD, ADDRESS: American Bolt & Screw, 600 […]
SharkNinja Recalls 1.8 Million Foodi Multi-Function Pressure Cookers Due to Burn Hazard; Serious Burn Injuries Reported
This recall involves all Ninja Foodi OP300 Series Multi-Function Pressure Cookers. The cookers have functions that include pressure cooking and air frying. They were sold in black and have a 6.5-quart capacity. “Ninja” is printed on the front of each unit and on the product label. Model numbers OP300, OP301, OP301A, OP302, OP302BRN, OP302HCN, OP302HAQ, […]
Jefferson County, TN Resident Convicted of TennCare Fraud
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has announced the conviction of 39-year-old Ashley Barnhart Martin of Dandridge, Tennessee. On April 17, 2025, Ashley Barnhart, also known as Ashley Martin, pleaded guilty to one count of TennCare fraud and one count of theft of services. The OIG’s investigation revealed that Ms. Barnhart failed to report her […]
TDEC Celebrates Completion of Tennessee’s First Brownfield Remediation Grant Project
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today announced the completion of the state’s first remediation project under the Brownfield Redevelopment Area Grant (BRAG) program. TDEC Commissioner David Salyers joined local officials and members of the community at a ceremony for the occasion. The Morristown Industrial Development Board last year received a $500,000 BRAG […]
Jefferson County Budget Committee To Recommend Property Tax Increase
The Jefferson County Budget Committee will forward a recommendation for a six penny property tax increase to the full body for consideration and approval. A motion from Commission Chair/budget committee member Carmichael and 2nd from Budget Committee Vice Chair Huffaker to answer a deficit still just shy of $1.5 million dollars following the recent approval […]
American Music Tourism Act PASSES House
Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger’s bipartisan American Music Tourism Act passed the House Floor on suspension with bipartisan support. This legislation would require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to implement a plan to support and increase music tourism for both domestic and international visitors. The Act would also require the Assistant Secretary to report to […]
Spring Starts With a Lower Unemployment Rate Across Tennessee
Tennessee’s unemployment rate declined last month for the first time since May 2024, according to the newest data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March was 3.6%, down one-tenth of a percentage point over the previous month. The rate had been 3.7% for six […]
Tennessee Department of Health Confirms Two Additional Measles Cases
The Tennessee Department of Health is confirming today two additional confirmed cases of measles in middle Tennessee. Both persons are currently recovering at home. This brings Tennessee’s total to six confirmed cases of measles during 2025. Both confirmed cases were cooperating with public health officials by quarantining at home because of known exposure to previously confirmed cases […]
TN Attorney General Skrmetti Announces Victory Against Google for Monopolizing Digital Advertising Markets
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti today announced a significant victory in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia after Judge Leonie Brinkema found that Google violated the law by maintaining illegal monopolies in the digital advertising technology industry—stifling competition and harming website publishers, advertisers, and consumers. “When Google reinforces interlocking products to exclude competition […]
Governor Lee, Commissioner McWhorter Announce BWXT Initiative in Tennessee, Bolstering Domestic Uranium Enrichment
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter announced April 15th, 2025 a grant for BWXT Enrichment Operations, LLC, a subsidiary of BWX Technologies, Inc., to support establishing a facility for the manufacturing of centrifuge assemblies in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, near Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). As part of […]
Using Fire as a Tool: TVA Executes Controlled Burn on Douglas Dam Reservation
A prescribed fire team from the Tennessee Valley Authority, along with representatives from the Tennessee Division of Forestry carried out a controlled burn Wednesday on TVA’s Douglas Dam Reservation. Close to 40 acres located between the dam and its elevated overlook area were burned with coordinated precision as part of an ongoing effort to enhance […]
President Trump Unleashes Permitting Technology for the 21st Century
On April 15, 2025, President Trump took action to ensure the United States is leveraging modern technology to effectively and efficiently conduct environmental reviews and evaluate permits. Permitting reform is a top priority for the Trump Administration and this action will accelerate the process, improve the transparency and predictability of project timelines, and eliminate unnecessary delays […]
Interstate Construction Halted for Easter Holiday Travel
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will suspend all interstate construction work on Easter weekend in anticipation of increased holiday travel. TDOT crews and contractors will stop all road construction work that requires lane closures beginning Thursday, April 17, at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, April 21, at 6:00 a.m. This will provide maximum roadway capacity to motorists […]
Tennessee Air National Guardsmen recognized by Tennessee Senate
Eleven members of the Tennessee Air National Guard’s 134th Air Refueling Wing, headquartered in Knoxville, were recognized by the Tennessee Senate with a Joint Resolution, April 14, for heroism resulting in the awarding of Distinguished Flying Crosses while deployed for Operation True Promise. The ceremony, which was held in the Senate chambers, commended the Airmen’s […]
TWRA ASSESSING POTENTIAL WILDLIFE IMPACTS FROM CHANGES TO CHEROKEE DAM AERATION SYSTEM
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has announced plans to replace the current aeration system at Cherokee Dam with new turbine technology by 2026. These upgrades, designed to improve water quality downstream, may have unintended consequences for aquatic wildlife in Cherokee Reservoir — particularly Striped Bass. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is currently evaluating these […]
