Payroll employment increases by 178,000 in March; unemployment rate changes little at 4.3%
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 178,000 in March, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.3 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job gains occurred in health care, in construction, and in transportation and warehousing. Federal government employment continued to decline. This news release presents statistics from two monthly surveys. The […]
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 2, at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, April 6, at 6:00 a.m. This will provide maximum roadway capacity to motorists […]
Grant Program Available to Protect Private Forestland from Development
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) announces the application period is open for a special round of Forest Legacy Program (FLP) funding made available to landowners to protect privately owned forested land from development. “As conversion of forested land for development increases in Tennessee, the need to conserve critical woodlands grows,” State […]
Important Notice: United States Postal Service Changes to Postmarks
The United States Postal Service announced changes to the application of postmarks that may affect whether certain Tennessee tax filings mailed to the Department of Revenue are considered timely. Read more about how this affects the filing and payment of Tennessee taxes in important notice #26-09 .
Commission Rejects Mineral Tax Again in 12–5 Vote
The Jefferson County Commission voted 12-5 to reject a proposed Mineral Severance Tax for the second time in less than one year. A resolution to adopt the tax was brought by Commissioner Rob Blevins and was 2nd by Commissioner Jim Snodgrass. In recent weeks, the topic of adopting the mineral tax has gained an audience […]
Tennessee’s Free Real Estate Licensing Program for Qualifying High School Seniors Begins Accepting Applications Starting April 1
Starting on Wednesday, April 1, the Tennessee High School Senior Real Estate Licensing Program will begin accepting applications for 2026. Launched in 2024 through the Tennessee Real Estate Commission, the program offers qualifying Tennessee high school seniors a free way to earn the base education required by the State necessary to sit for the pre-licensing exam and potentially become […]
Election Time In Jefferson County Tennessee – Interview with Nathan Bugg, Administrator of Elections
Pick Tennessee Products Unveils New Website to Better Connect Consumers with Local Producers
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture announces the launch of an updated Pick Tennessee Products website, offering a more streamlined way for consumers to connect with local farmers, producers and artisans across the state. The website redesign follows continued growth in the Pick Tennessee Products program, which includes nearly 3,200 active members. The updated site focuses […]
TDH Reinforces Importance of Naloxone with Rise in Cychlorphine Fatalities
The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) is providing statewide information following more than 30 fatal overdoses statewide, since October 2025, associated with a newly identified opioid known as cychlorphine. Cychlorphine is a synthetic opioid, 10 times more potent than fentanyl and associated with more than 1,633 fatal overdoses (TDH provisional data) in Tennessee in 2024. Opioid overdoses […]
Mayor Mark Potts Declares Saturday, March 28th, as “Celebrate Walking in Balance” day in Jefferson County
In recognition of the “Walking in Balance” theme of the 2026 Spirit of Nations powwow, Jefferson County Mayor Mark Potts has issued a proclamation declaring Saturday, March 28th, as “Celebrate Walking in Balance” day in Jefferson County. The powwow will be held at Jefferson County High School in Dandridge, TN. Mayor Potts, wrote in the […]
Comptroller’s Office Updates Review of State Benefits and Services for Veterans
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has released an updated report detailing state-provided benefits and services available to veterans and their families. The report, prepared by the Office of Research and Education Accountability, identifies both benefits that can be quantified in state dollars and those that cannot. Quantified benefits include direct state spending as well as state […]
TDCI Returned Over $15.67M To Tennessee Insurance Consumers In 2025
The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) announces that $15.67 million was returned to Tennesseans in 2025 through the Department’s mediation and restitution efforts. Since 2020, a total of over $80 million has been returned to Tennessee insurance consumers by TDCI’s Consumer Insurance Services team, which mediates complaints between consumers and insurance companies. In 2025, TDCI’s Consumer Insurance […]
CPI for all items rises 0.3% in February; Shelter Up
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in February, after rising 0.2 percent in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.4 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for shelter rose 0.2 percent […]
Katy “Fox” Huffaker Announces Candidacy For Re-Election As Jefferson County Commissioner District 1
Katy “Fox” Huffaker is announcing her candidacy for reelection as a representative of the Jefferson County Commission District 1. Katy is the wife of Keith Huffaker. They have two children. She is the daughter of Nancy Fox and the late Buford Fox. Katy graduated from Jefferson County High School in 1988. She obtained a degree […]
