Division, Partners Team Up For Drug Take-Back Event
The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of Consumer Affairs is partnering with numerous state and local agencies from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (EST) Saturday, April 30 for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. “Our partners are an invaluable resource for furthering our mission of protecting Tennessee consumers of all walks of life,” […]
Jefferson Co. Man Charged with TennCare Drug Fraud
A Jefferson County man is charged with TennCare fraud in connection with the sale of prescription drugs paid for by the state’s health care insurance program. The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of the Jefferson City Police Department, today announced the arrest of Brian McDaniel, 43, of White Pine. He is accused […]
Budget Committee Battles Over EDOC Funding
Budget Committee member took a deep swipe at a proposed $2.3 million dollar deficit earlier this week, as the County departments presented their funding requests. The Committee was also faced with EDOC and Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce funding requests that failed to find a consensus during the previous budgeting session. Despite the additional time, […]
State Representative Andrew Farmer Appointed Vice-Chairman Of House Judicial Confirmation Committee
This week in Nashville, State Representative Andrew Farmer (R–Sevierville) was officially appointed Vice-Chairman of the House Judicial Confirmation Committee. The appointment comes after former committee member Jon Lundberg was called to active duty in the United States Navy. The Judicial Confirmation Committee reviews the judicial nominees made by the governor and makes recommendations to the full House […]
TDCI: UnitedHealthcare Announces Withdrawal from FFM
The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) is notifying consumers that UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company will no longer offer coverage to Tennessee consumers through the Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM). The company recently notified the Department about its intent. Today, the company said they plan to only offer coverage in a handful of states next year. […]
EDOC, White Pine School, Commission Policy – Topics Of Quarterly Meeting
The Jefferson County Commission met for their Quarterly Voting Session on Monday, April 18, 2016 in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. The meeting was Called to Order by Commission Chairman Carmichael. All members were present for Roll Call. Minutes from the March 17th meeting were Approved with a Motion from Commissioner Scarlett and 2nd from […]
Representative Jeremy Faison To Run For Re-election
Six years ago, the good people of Cocke, Jefferson, and Greene Counties sent me to Nashville to speak on their behalf-something I consider one of the greatest honors of my life. I have had the privilege of listening to your concerns, your needs, and the issues which you are most passionate about. Meeting so many […]
State Representative Jeremy Faison Passes Legislation to Help Citizens Wrongly Convicted of Violent Crimes
The Tennessee House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed legislation sponsored by State Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) that would help ensure innocent individuals are not wrongly put to death for crimes they did not commit. House Bill 2377 requires law enforcement officials to hold on to biological evidence collected for cases in which the defendant is […]
Greenness Around Homes Linked to Lower Mortality
Women live longer in areas with more green vegetation, according to new research funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health. Women with the highest levels of vegetation, or greenness, near their homes had a 12 percent lower death rate compared to women with the lowest […]
State Board Approves New Tennessee Math and English Language Arts Standards
Today, the State Board of Education voted unanimously on final reading to approve new, Tennessee-specific academic standards for Mathematics and English language arts. A multi-year public review culminated in a six month rigorous revision process led by the Standards Recommendation Committee (SRC), whose members were appointed by the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the […]
Budget Committee Faces $2.3 Million Deficit As Department Requests Roll In
The numbers are in and the Jefferson County Budget Committee got its first look at funding requests for the 2016/17 fiscal year, on Tuesday evening. Uncontrolled expenses, such as recent salary increases for County employees and costs associated with benefits, coupled with departmental “additional needs”, which includes everything from vehicles to additional employees and equipment, […]
Agenda Still Point of Contention with Comission
Agenda format was, again, a topic of discussion as the Jefferson County Commission met for their Quarterly Work Session on Monday evening. Though in March the Commission voted 18-1 to add language to their rules that would require a vote of the full body to remove an item from their agenda outline, the agenda issue […]
UT Professor & Kentucky Business Woman Found Dead In Hot Tub In Gatlinburg
A University of Tennessee Professor and Kentucky Business Woman were found dead in a hot tub early Saturday morning in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Jon Levin, who taught in the Department of Physics and Astronomy for the University of Tennessee Knoxville, and Myra Smith-Findell of Corbin were discovered at Gatlinburg Falls Resort, 820 Resort Way in Gatlinburg, […]
Stargazing Party at Cades Cove
Around two hundred people gathered in a field in Cades Cove to gaze in to the heavens. The National Park Service, along with the Smoky Mountain Astronomical Society, hosted a star gazing event. “Ranger Mike” Maslona greeted visitors, explaining how The Cove was a “giant cereal bowl and we are the Rice Crispies,” pointing out […]
