Haslam Proposes Additional Flexibility for Teachers
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced he would seek additional flexibility for teachers as the state continues its transition to the TNReady student assessment. Under the proposal, teachers would have the choice to include or not to include student results from the 2015-2016 TNReady assessment in his or her evaluation score, which typically consists of […]
New Initiative Inspires Tennessee Tobacco Users to Quit
The Tennessee Department of Health Tobacco Use, Prevention and Control Program is launching a new Statewide Tobacco-Free Coalition. The coalition consists of key stakeholders and community partners from around the state whose purpose is to identify strengths, gaps and opportunities for tobacco control in Tennessee. The Statewide Tobacco-Free Coalition launch aligns with Governor Bill Haslam […]
Budget Season Begins
Budgeting season for the fiscal year 2016/17 kicked off on Tuesday evening, February 16, 2016 with an organizational meeting of the ten member Budget Committee that will be bringing a recommendation before the full County Commission body in June. The Budget Committee is comprised of 10 County Commission members representing the 10 voting distircts in […]
TBI Investigates Detective’s Testimony
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation revealed Wednesday afternoon that they are launching an investigation into Detective Floyd Rodney Burns of the Gatlinburg Police Department. Josh DeVine, a representative with the TBI, stated, “We are only confirming the District Attorney General has requested TBI Agents investigate a perjury allegation involving Rodney Burns. We will conduct the investigation and submit findings […]
Attorney General Announces $470 Million Settlement with HSBC
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III today announced a $470 million joint state-federal settlement with mortgage lender and servicer HSBC to address mortgage origination, servicing, and foreclosure abuses. The settlement with Tennessee and 48 other states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Consumer […]
Tennessee Department Of Labor To Hold Jobs4TN Hiring Event Sponsored By Rep. Dale Carr, Rep. Andrew Farmer And Tennessee Drug Testing
The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development is announcing the Jobs4TN Hiring Event sponsored by Rep. Dale Carr, Rep. Andrew Farmer, and Tennessee Drug Testing. The event will be held on Wednesday, February 17, at 10:00 a.m. (EST) at the River Plantation Conference Center located at 1004 Parkway, Sevierville. A variety of job opportunities […]
DOE Praises Highway Department For Great Job During Bad Weather
I drove many of the county roads that were covered in snow and ice and found them to be impassable when the storm first hit. This county has 998 county roads (over 700 miles) that have to be treated when we have bad weather and it takes time to cover all these roads and miles. […]
Early Voting First Day Totals In – The Race Is On!
Early voting for the March 1st Presidential Primary, as well as local offices of Tax Assessor and Highway Superintendent, kicked off on Wednesday, February 10, 2016. Snow, freezing temperatures and wind were impacting factors on the first day’s early voter turnout, with the initial voting day having relatively low numbers. Total vote count for the […]
Frosty February
Just when it began to appear that spring might be around the corner, Old Man Winter descended, again, upon East Tennessee with a reminder that the changing of the season does not occur for more than a month. Snow fell around the area this week, causing slippery driving for some while others received barely a […]
First Case of Zika Virus Disease Reported in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Health today has received confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the first person in the state to test positive for Zika virus disease. The individual had recently traveled to South America before returning to east Tennessee. “We have been expecting an imported case of Zika virus disease […]
State Fire Marshall Renews Warning About Hoverboard Toys After Fires
The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is renewing its alert to consumers about the potential fire hazards of so-called “hoverboard” toys after two fires were caused by these devices in the past three months in Nashville. One of the fires destroyed a $1 million home, which is the first confirmed house fire caused by […]
Ash Wednesday Ushers in Lent for 2016
February 10 is Ash Wednesday 2016, the Christian holiday signaling the beginning of Lent. Ash Wednesday, and Lent as a whole, celebrate the 40 days that the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke say Jesus fasted in the desert while tempted by Satan. Ash Wednesday traditionally involves a service where crosses of palm branch ash […]
Building 8 Quality Oversight Committee Terminated; White Pine School QOC Holds First Meeting
The Jefferson County Quality Oversight Committee met Tuesday evening to address the final business of the Building 8 renovations and startup of the White Pine renovations. The first meeting, Building 8, began with an approval of minutes from December 15, 2015. A motion by Bradley (2nd Gaut) would approve the minutes. Next, Mike Dockery, Quality […]
Mild Weather Impacts TVA’s First Quarter Earnings
The Tennessee Valley Authority reported a net loss of $37 million for the first three months of fiscal year 2016 ending Dec. 31, 2015. Net income was $118 million lower compared to the same period last year due in part to $131 million lower operating revenues, representing a 5 percent decrease, primarily driven by weather. […]
Cracking Cases
A group of nuclear detectives at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory takes on tough challenges, from detecting illicit uranium using isotopic “fingerprints” to investigating Presidential assassination conspiracies. “A very big capability at Oak Ridge exists for nuclear analytics, all the way from helping commercial production of nuclear power to making sure the […]
