Three People in Jefferson Co. Charged with TennCare Fraud
Three Tennesseans are charged with TennCare fraud in Jefferson County. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) with the assistance of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office today announced the arrests: Sherry Ann Ellison, 38, of Morristown, charged with TennCare fraud in an indictment accusing her of obtaining the painkiller Hydrocodone by doctor shopping and using TennCare […]
Teens and Adolescents Who Consume Too Much Salt Show Unhealthy Changes to Blood Vessels
Findings of a new study being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in San Francisco suggest adolescents who consume too much salt have measurable changes in their blood vessels associated with early signs of cardiovascular disease in adults. Arterial stiffness, sometimes called hardening of the arteries, is a known risk factor for heart […]
Bill that Some Fear will Traditionally Define a Husband and Wife Gets the Nod
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today released the following statement regarding HB 1111/SB 1085 sponsored by Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon) and Rep. Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville): “I have reviewed the final language of HB 1111/SB 1085 and assessed the legislation’s potential impact and concerns. The language of this bill is for a general definitions section of the […]
Happy Cinco de Mayo from the Jefferson County Post!
The Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo is today, Friday, May 5, 2017! The holiday’s name literally translates to the fifth of May. While today isn’t a national holiday within the country of Mexico, millions around the world, especially in the United States, use the day to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage. Cinco de Mayo […]
TBI Releases Annual Reports on Hate Crime, Violence Against Law Enforcement Officers
Today, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released two reports, detailing the volume and nature of crime identified as hate crime and violence against the state’s law enforcement officers. The annual studies compile crime data submitted to TBI by the state’s law enforcement agencies through the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System (TIBRS). Among the findings from […]
TWRA Invites Public to Share Input at Upcoming Elk Program Workshops
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is developing a new Strategic Elk Management Plan and invites the public to attend one of two public scoping workshops to share input and hear about the plan’s components. The new plan will help guide future agency decision-making regarding the elk program, which began in the year 2000. Since then, 201 […]
Give and Take as Budget Committee Climbs Out of the Hole
Members of the Jefferson County Budget Committee spent much of Monday evening, May 1, 2017 hearing from County Department Heads appearing before the Committee to plead their case for funding. Committee Members entered Monday’s meeting more than $1 million dollars in the hole but before the final gavel they had trimmed the deficit to just […]
New Data Puts Spotlight on Popular Tennessee Occupations
Today, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD), in cooperation with the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, released occupational employment and wage information for 2016. Using statistical data reported by employers across Tennessee, TDLWD analyzed information for 754 occupations in Tennessee, along with 14 metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas across the state. Tennessee’s […]
TWRA Issues Water Contact Advisory for North Fork Holston River
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has issued a water contact advisory for the North Fork Holston River following a flooding related incident that damaged sewer lines in Virginia. The river continues flowing into Tennessee, prompting TDEC to issue the advisory for recreational activities including swimming, fishing, and boating. According to TDEC, floodwaters caused a […]
Schools Come in with Flat Budget Despite Deep State Cuts
The Jefferson County Department of Education will turn in a balanced budget document for the fiscal year 2017/2018 despite deep cuts in BEP funding from the State of Tennessee. For the upcoming fiscal year, Jefferson County will lose more than three quarters of a million dollars in funding due to a new criteria from the […]
Comptroller Releases Report on Senior Long-Term Care in Tennessee
The Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) has released a report examining the projected growth in Tennessee’s senior population (age 65+) by 2030 and its impact on public long-term services and support programs for low-income Tennessee seniors. The report is intended to provide objective analysis and options for policymakers’ consideration. The report does […]
Department Of Environment & Conservation Announces Upcoming Transportation Awards And Forum
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Tennessee Clean Fuels, announced this week they will hold the third annual Tennessee Transportation Awards and Forum during Clean Air Month from May 23-24 at the Nashville Public Library. The event will bring together state experts, local leaders, and […]
General Assembly Creates Additional Protections Against Child Predators
House members unanimously passed legislation this week to create additional protections against child predators. Communities across Tennessee already rely on the state’s sex offender registry to track and monitor convicted offenders who have moved into permanent residences upon release from prison. House Bill 404 enables law enforcement officials to monitor offenders convicted of child rape […]
House Lawmakers Encourage Tennessee Students To Celebrate Freedom
This week, House lawmakers passed legislation that helps Tennessee students learn the principles of freedom in our nation’s founding documents. House Bill 287 designates the week of September 17 as “Celebrate Freedom Week” in Tennessee public schools. The week-long celebration will coincide with Constitution Day each September 17 and help students learn more about the […]
New Legislation Allows American Sign Language To Satisfy Foreign Language Requirements
This week, Republican lawmakers passed legislation that allows American Sign Language to be used to satisfy foreign language requirements in Tennessee high schools. House Bill 462, known as the American Sign Language bill, was initiated by Molly Ridgeway — a nonverbal student at Maryville College — and her boyfriend, Joshua Anderson. The legislation allows any […]
2017-2018 Budget Amendment Introduced
This week, Governor Bill Haslam introduced his amendment to the fiscal year 2017-2018 budget proposal that will be considered by the 110th General Assembly in the coming days. The appropriations amendment tracks closely to the Governor’s original budget proposal presented to the legislature on January 30, which for the second year in a row does […]
