New Online Dashboard Tracks Redistricting Changes in Tennessee

Tennesseans can now see how the 2021-2022 redistricting process has impacted them through a simple address search. The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has created a new online dashboard entitled Tennessee District Lookup that makes it easy to see which legislative districts are now assigned to each address in the Volunteer State. The new dashboard includes updated legislative district […]
Tennessee Needs at Least $61.9 Billion of Public Infrastructure Improvements

Tennessee needs at least $61.9 billion worth of public infrastructure improvements during the five-year period of July 2020 to June 2025—a $3.4 billion (5.7%) increase from the year before—according to a new report by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR). Of the $3.4 billion increase in infrastructure needs reported in this year’s inventory, […]
Is Your Dog a Hero to You? Nominations Open for the 2022 American Humane Hero Dog Awards

American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization, has announced the official start of the 2022 American Humane Hero Dog Awards® campaign. The twelfth annual, year-long campaign seeks to identify and honor the best of our best friends and will culminate this fall with the star-studded “American Humane Hero Dog Awards” gala on November 11 […]
Tennessee Pioneers Permanent Program to Become a Teacher for Free, First State to Sponsor Registered Teacher Occupation Apprenticeship

Paving the way for teaching and educator workforce development nationwide, the Tennessee Department of Education announced today it has pioneered a new way to develop teacher pipelines, and is the first state to be approved by the U.S. Department of Labor to establish a permanent Grow Your Own model, with Clarksville-Montgomery County School System and Austin Peay State University’s Teacher Residency program becoming the first registered apprenticeship program for teaching in the country. Tennessee is the first state in the country […]
Michael Phagan, CPA to run for Trustee

Michael Phagan, CPA announced he will be seeking the office of Jefferson County Trustee in the May Republican primary. Michael currently serves as a County Commissioner for the 3rd District. In that capacity, he serves as Chaplain, as well as Chair of the Long-Range Planning Committee, as a member of the Facilities and Nominating Committees, and formerly as a […]
State Rep. Jeremy Faison’s Capitol Report

House Committees begin work, bill filing deadline set for Feb. 2 The pace picked on Capitol Hill this week as House members worked to finalize their legislative proposals before the Feb. 2 bill filing deadline. House committees began to meet as bills are being introduced and referred to their respective committees. Omicron COVID-19 and TANF […]
Andrew Farmer appointed to Southern Legislative Conference Committee

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, has appointed State Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville, to serve on the Human Services & Public Safety Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) of the Council of State Governments (CSG). “Chairman Farmer’s extensive knowledge and his professional experience related to public safety will be extremely beneficial to the Human […]
Payroll employment rises by 467,000 in January; unemployment rate changes little at 4.0%

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 467,000 in January, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 4.0 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment growth continued in leisure and hospitality, in professional and business services, in retail trade, and in transportation and warehousing. This news release presents statistics from two monthly […]
CDC Reports Increase in Human Rabies Cases Linked to Bats in the U.S.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is raising awareness of the risks of rabies from bats in the U.S. after three people, including one child, died from rabies between late September and early November 2021. The three cases, described in the January 6, 2022, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, bring the total number of cases […]
TN Attorney General, Commerce & Insurance Join CFTC to Stop $68 Million Precious Metals Scheme

The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office and the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) are participating in a consolidated enforcement action to stop a fraudulent precious metals scheme that resulted in solicitations exceeding $68 million from at least 450 investors nationwide. The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office- on behalf of the TDCI- joined the U.S. Commodity […]
Texas A&M study shows paternal alcohol use increases frequency of fetal development issues

Prenatal visits have traditionally focused almost exclusively on the behavior of mothers, but new research from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) continues to suggest that science should be looking more closely at the fathers’ behavior as well. Dr. Michael Golding, an associate professor in the CVMBS’ Department of Veterinary Physiology […]
Gov. Bill Lee Delivers 2022 State of the State Address

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee delivered his fourth State of the State address and presented budget and legislative priorities to a joint session of the General Assembly. Key highlights are noted below, and the full speech as prepared for delivery can be found on the Governor’s website. A budget overview can be found here. Due to Tennessee’s conservative […]
Marcus Reed Announces Candidacy for Re-Election as County Commissioner 10th District

Marcus Reed has announced his candidacy for reelection as County Commissioner for the 10th District. When Marcus ran for election in 2018 he strongly believed there is no room in County politics for self serving desires. He still believes in that statement. Marcus promised integrity, leadership, and fiscal responsibility serving all the citizens of Jefferson […]
Doug Ibbetson Announces Run for Jefferson County District One School Board

Ten-year, Jefferson County resident, Doug Ibbetson, has announced his candidacy to represent District One on the County School Board. District One is comprised of the neighborhoods of Dandridge, Chestnut Hill, Indian Creek, Parrots Chapel, Swannsylvania, Oak Grove, Deep Springs and Piedmont. Ibbetson has a corporate as well as an independent business background which he feels […]
Director of Schools Announces Plans To Resign

Director of Jefferson County Schools, Dr. Shane Johnston, has unofficially announced his intent to vacate his position. Though he has not tendered his resignation, Dr. Johnston has plans to submit his letter of resignation early next month. Johnston has led the Jefferson County Department of Education since July 1, 2018. During his tenure at the […]