Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Hosts “Tools to Navigate the Opioid Crisis”
Bradley Jackson, the president & CEO of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Friday hosted a regional event focused on engaging the East Tennessee business community about the impact of opioid abuse. The Tennessee Chamber partnered with the Blount Partnership, the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, the Anderson County Chamber, the Oak Ridge Chamber, and […]
Not a Nice Surprise
Surprise medical billing is a real problem across the country and – since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – affects people everywhere. With the ACA’s government mandated changes, insurance companies narrowed physician networks to control costs, offering less robust coverage than we had before the government takeover of the health insurance market. […]
Early Voting Ends Tuesday
Time is running out for Tennesseans planning to vote early in the Presidential Preference Primary election. Early voting ends Tuesday, Feb. 25. Election Day for the Presidential Preference Primary is Tuesday, March 3. “Early voting offers Tennesseans a convenient opportunity to cast their ballots instead of waiting until Election Day,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “Now […]
Dandridge Board of Mayor and Aldermen Send Property Rights Resolution to State Lawmakers
Citing a U.S. Supreme Court case and the U.S. Constitution, the Dandridge Board of Mayor and Aldermen made a resolution calling on state lawmakers to protect private property rights, specifically promoting recently filed house and senate bills that close a “blighted area” loophole that enables local government and housing authorities to condemn viable non-blighted property […]
SCHOOL SYSTEM BRINGS ACTIVE LEARNING PROGRAM TO AFTER SCHOOL STUDENTS
Both Dandridge Elementary and Mt. Horeb Elementary are now implementing the PowerUp Your School fitness and learning program as a part of their after-school activities thanks to support from the Jefferson County Schools Office of Coordinated School Health and student volunteers from Carson Newman University. “We’re excited to provide this opportunity for students in the […]
Legislation Declaring Tennessee The “Volunteer State” Moves Forward
Legislation officially designating the state of Tennessee as the “Volunteer State” is moving forward in the Tennessee General Assembly. House Bill 1562 designates the “Volunteer State” as the official nickname of Tennessee. While Tennessee has held this distinction since 1812, it is not currently documented in state law. The state of Tennessee has been referred […]
Representative Faison Files Proposed Legislation to Protect Farm Tourism Businesses from Liability
State Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) has filed proposed legislation to protect agritourism businesses from claims of property damage by participants. The proposed legislation amends a Title 43 law that was enacted as part of a sweeping tort reform movement in 2009. House Bill 2371 strengthens protections that were previously enacted to create immunity from liability […]
Researchers revise timing of Easter island’s societal collapse
The prehistoric collapse of Easter Island’s monument-building society did not occur as long thought, according to a fresh look at evidence by researchers at four institutions. “The general thinking has been that the society that Europeans saw when they first showed up was one that had collapsed,” said Robert J. DiNapoli, a doctoral candidate in […]
Comptroller’s Office Studies Student Growth Portfolios for Teacher Evaluation
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has released a new report that evaluates the use of portfolios in Tennessee’s teacher evaluation system. Portfolios contain collections of student work, selected by teachers, from two points in time during the school year to show students’ progress in mastering specified state academic standards. The portfolios are scored by fellow teachers, […]
Tennessee Needs at Least $54.8 Billion of Public Infrastructure Improvements
Tennessee needs at least $54.8 billion worth of public infrastructure improvements during the five-year period of July 2018 to June 2023—a $4.8 billion (9.7%) increase from the year before—according to a new report by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR). More than $3.7 billion of this year’s increase is attributable to increases in […]
Jefferson County Commission Stands Up for Property Rights, State Legislators File Proposed Bills
After County Commission made a resolution on January 21, 2020 that aims to protect private property rights, bills were filed in the Tennessee General Assembly to better protect property owners from eminent domain that is initiated by government for private benefit and economic development. The framers of the constitution limited property takings to “public use” under […]
State Representative Andrew Farmer To Seek Re-Election In 2020
Criminal Justice Subcommittee Chair prioritizes safe communities; commitment to education (NASHVILLE, Tenn.) — State Representative Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) Monday announced he will seek re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2020. “It is an incredible honor to serve the men, women and families our community,” said Rep. Farmer. “District 17 and our state are thriving under […]
Jefferson County Schools, Lead Exceeding Allowable Limits Found In Recent Water Tests
In a release from Dr. Shane Johnston, Jefferson County Director Of Schools – Jefferson County Schools recently tested water sources on the campuses of the school district in compliance Jefferson County School Board policy (3.212) that aligns with TCA 49-2-133. The tests were completed in December 2019. The first round of results was provided yesterday […]
Time to Move On
As this impeachment trial drags on, it becomes more and more obvious the Democrats’ impeachment articles are backed by assumptions, not facts. They passed their two Articles of Impeachment – “abuse of power” and “obstruction of Congress” – without evidence President Trump committed a crime and without bipartisan support. Constitutional and criminal law scholar Alan […]
President Trump’s bold vision for Middle East peace
Official White House photo by Shealah Craighead “Peace to Prosperity” is a fundamentally different vision for one of the world’s most complex problems. “My vision presents a win-win opportunity for both sides,” President Trump said today, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu standing alongside him. President Trump also took the step of meeting yesterday with Israel’s opposition leader, […]
