Republican Lawmakers Continue Push To Improve Tennessee Education
A proposal presented by Governor Bill Haslam and Republican lawmakers to improve education in Tennessee easily cleared the House Education Subcommittee this week. House Bill 190, referred to as the ‘Tennessee Choice & Opportunity Scholarship Act’, would give low-income families with students stuck in the lowest performing schools the opportunity to seek educational options outside […]
State Treasurer David Lillard Proposes Fiscally Responsible Pension Reform
State Treasurer David Lillard this week outlined his proposal to reform the state’s pension plan, the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS), to ensure future generations will receive the benefits promised to them during their time as state employees. The proposed changes, which would only affect new employees hired on or after July 1 of 2014, […]
Rosa Parks has a Permanent Place in the U.S. Capitol
National Statuary Hall inside the U.S. Capitol was once the meeting place of the House of Representatives. Now it’s home to a collection of statues and monuments — two from each state — representing some of the defining figures in our nation’s history. Today those sculptures were joined by that of a civil rights icon. […]
Tennessee Roads & Bridges Rank High in 20 Year Report
A new study by the Reason Foundation examining 20 years of highway data finds Tennessee has improved in all seven key areas studied, one of only 11 states to do so. The report, “Are Highways Crumbling? State Performance Summaries”, looked at state highway data from 1989 through 2008. The report measures road performance in several […]
It’s Time to Bring Our Troops Home
In President Obama’s fifth State of the Union address, he highlighted his plan to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. While I disagree with much of the president’s agenda, I do agree it is time to bring our troops home. I am also pleased with the president’s decision to give military […]
Planning Commission Considers Guidelines for Cadaver Research Centers
The Jefferson County Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals met on Tuesday evening in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. The Board of Zoning Appeals meeting preceded the County Planning Commission and only one item was on the agenda. The Board Approved a request for a 15 foot variance for a home to be placed […]
Dandridge Low Income Housing Development To Be Revisited This Thursday
A tax credit housing development that was slotted for the Shrader Road area in Dandridge, adjacent to the Field of Dreams and the new multi million dollar Activity Center investment, hit a bump in the road at last week’s Dandridge Planning Commission Meeting. WODA, an Ohio based Development Company, had appeared before the Planning Commission […]
Senate Resolution Condemns North Korea Nuclear Test, Calls for Additional Sanctions
U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement after unanimous Senate passage of a resolution condemning North Korea’s recent nuclear test, which violated numerous international agreements and poses real dangers to regional and global security. “North Korea’s recent nuclear and missile tests pose real dangers […]
Learn about College Savings and Enter to Win Tickets
TNStars™ program offers Tennesseans a chance to win Today the TNStars College Savings 529 Program is announcing the “What’s Your Game Plan?” promotion to give away tickets to the semifinal games and final game of the 2013 Southeastern Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament. The tournament is being played at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Anyone who visits www.tnstars.com/sec-tickets […]
National Parks Serve as Powerful Economic Engines for Local Communities, Supporting 252,000 Jobs
National Parks continued to be important economic engines for local communities, with visitors generating $30.1 billion in economic activity and supporting 252,000 jobs nationwide in 2011, according to a peer-reviewed report released today by the National Park Service. “Places like the Grand Canyon or the Statue of Liberty take our breath away and inspire us […]
Treasurer Lillard Discusses Future of State Employee and K-12 Teachers Pension Plan
State Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr. is recommending that the General Assembly adopt a number of reforms to the state’s retirement plan for public employees. The Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) is a well-funded pension plan. The proposed changes will only apply to state employees, higher education employees, and teachers hired on or after July […]
Jefferson Memorial Foundation Board Meets
The Jefferson Memorial Foundation Board met on Monday, February 25, 2013 to discuss and take action regarding $12.4 million dollars in funds that the Foundation is charged with investing and distributing. Following a Call to Order by Board Chairman Fain and approval of the minutes, the Chairman informed the Board that action was needed to […]
And Now We Wait
The Jefferson County Commission recently approved funding in the amount of $442,311 for the initial phase of certification for the proposed Megasite project that would be located around the interstate 40 and interstate 81 split. The appropriation came at the request of the Economic Development Board, which is an arm of the Jefferson County Chamber […]
Two Bucks and a Nickel, Can We Hold On?
Though the third month of 2013 is just approaching, the fiscal year for Jefferson County is winding down and the budgeting process for the 2013-2014 fiscal year is in full swing. Jefferson County Finance Director Helton stated that the County side of the financial picture appears to be in a good place heading into the […]
TN House Representative Faison on Property Rights, Gun Rights & Small Business
Tennessee House Representative Jeremy Faison of District 11, which includes a portion of Jefferson County, has spent a considerable amount of time in Nashville recently as the 108th Tennessee General Assembly is currently in session. Though this is Faison’s sophomore year as a Representative, due to redistricting, it is his first term as a Representative […]
Somali Nationals Residing In U.S. Found Guilty of Supporting Terrorist Operations
Four Somali nationals residing in the United States have been found guilty of supporting terrorist operations in their home country of Somali. Basaaly Saeed Moalin, Mohamed Mohamed Mohamud, Ahmed Nasiri Taalil Mohamud, and Issa Doreh were found guilty of financing the Islamic terrorist organization, Al-Shabaab, on Friday, February 20, 2013. Al-Shabaab is an organization that […]
