Gov. Lee Announces Statewide Conservation Tour, Proclaims Public Lands Day
This week, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee kicked off his statewide Conservation Tour, highlighting Tennessee’s conservation strategy and celebrating recent investments in state parks, brownfield cleanup and advancement of nuclear energy. The Governor also proclaimed September 23rd, 2023, as Tennessee Public Lands Day. “From Mountain City to Memphis, our state is blessed with natural beauty and rich natural […]
Tennessee Tourism Thrives: 141 Million Visitors Spent a Record $29 Billion in 2022
Tennessee tourism generated $29 billion in direct visitor spending and saw 141 million visitors to the state in 2022, according to newly released data from Tourism Economics. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell announced the news today at Hospitality TN’s Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism in Knoxville. The final report […]
Rescue 180 Honors First Responders In Mission To Save Lives
In accordance with Overdose Awareness Day, September 31, 2023, Rescue 180 honors, first responders for continuing to partner with their mission to save lives by administering the life saving tool, Naloxone. The Substance Abuse Coalition provides the product for all Law Enforcement agencies in the County, free of charge.
TWRA Reports No Boating Related Fatalities Over Labor Day Weekend
For the second consecutive year, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is happy to report there were no boating-related fatalities over the 2023 Labor Day holiday period from Sept. 2-4. There was one incident involving an injury which occurred on Chickamauga Lake and two property damage incidents reported from the TWRA’s four regions across the state. […]
Be Ready for Radiation Emergencies
Protect yourself, your loved ones, and your pets during a radiation emergency by getting inside, staying inside, and staying tuned. It’s Saturday night and you’re at home with your family watching TV. A news alert announces a radiation emergency in your city. What should you do? The answer to that is to stay where you […]
One in 5 Women Reported Mistreatment While Receiving Maternity Care
Twenty percent of women surveyed reported experiences of mistreatment during pregnancy and delivery care, according to a new CDC Vital Signs report. Mistreatment during maternity care was higher among Black (30%), Hispanic (29%), and multiracial (27%) women. “Every mother deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Maternal care is a core component of this nation’s health […]
Area Lakes To Begin Seasonal Drawdown
Jefferson County lakes will soon be sporting their “down” season numbers, as water drawdowns begin on both Douglas and Cherokee lakes, on September 1st. Though the drawdown is gradual, seasonal numbers will not return full-time until March of 2024. According to TVA Media Representative Scott Brooks, the drawdown runs from September 1st to December 1st […]
Tennessee Property Tax Relief Program Celebrates 50th Anniversary
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office is celebrating the 50th anniversary of a program that has helped millions of Tennesseans save money on their local property taxes. The Tennessee Property Tax Relief program began in 1973 to assist qualifying low-income elderly and disabled homeowners as well as disabled veterans or their surviving spouses with their annual property taxes. […]
Campus Ministry Leaders Attempted to Defraud MTSU
An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has resulted in the indictment of three men associated with Middle Tennessee State University’s Campus Outreach ministry organization. The investigation began after MTSU’s Internal Audit staff notified the Comptroller’s Office about the situation. Investigators determined that campus director John Thomas “JT” Farmer, campus minister Greg McCall, and MTSU’s […]
Tennessee Guardsmen responding to Louisiana wildfires
Tennessee’s Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Warner Ross, announced today that two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from Knoxville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion have departed this morning for Louisiana to support state, county, and local emergency responders battling the Tiger Island wildfire burning in Beauregard Parish, the largest wildfire in the state’s history. The 12-person team, to include the flight […]
Jefferson County Opioid Board Accepting Applications For Funding
Jefferson County Opioid Board, created by the office of Jefferson County Mayor Mark Potts, is accepting applications for organizations to receive a portion of funding that is tied to a settlement with the State of Tennessee in excess of $1 billion dollars. Jefferson County is one of several counties that will receive an annual allocation […]
Unlocking New and Old Passions: Tennessee Wildlife Federation Offering Hunting and Fishing Workshops to East Tennesseans
Tennessee Wildlife Federation, one of the largest and oldest nonprofits dedicated to conserving the state’s wildlife and natural resources, is reconnecting residents with the Tennessee outdoors through its hands-on hunting and fishing workshops. For the remainder of 2023, the Federation has 15 workshops scheduled across the state with five located in East Tennessee.Designed to equip […]
Secretary of State Tre Hargett Encourages Tennesseans to Serve Their Community and Become a Poll Worker
On National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, Secretary of State Tre Hargett encourages Tennesseans to serve their community by signing up to be poll workers. “Poll workers are fundamental to running safe and secure elections in Tennessee,” said Secretary Hargett. “That is why I encourage all eligible Tennesseans to serve their community by signing up to […]
COMMISSIONER GONZALES ANNOUNCES MAXIMUM EFFECTIVE RATE of INTEREST
The Federal National Mortgage Association has discontinued its free market auction system for commitments to purchase conventional home mortgages. Therefore, the Commissioner of Financial Institutions hereby announces that the maximum effective rate of interest per annum for home loans as set by the General Assembly in 1987, Public Chapter 291, for the month of September, 2023 is 8.17 percent […]
Gov. Lee Issues Official Call, Presents Legislative Priorities Ahead of Public Safety Special Session
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued the special session proclamation and presented the administration’s legislative and budget priorities that will go before the Tennessee General Assembly during the special session on public safety, convening August 21. “As our nation faces evolving public safety threats, Tennessee remains vigilant and is taking continued action to protect communities while preserving the constitutional rights […]
VITAL POLICY – Special Legislative Session May Result in More Federal Control Over Healthcare, Loss of Medical Privacy, More Liberal Ideology in Public Education
There is a solid set of reasons that most states are avoiding waivers from the federal government to allow federal matching funds for Medicaid to cover the cost of services for mental illness and substance abuse disorders at institutions of mental diseases. Those reasons include potential loss of privacy, data mining of personal information, expansion […]
