Tennessee’s Unemployment Holds Steady at the Start of 2025
Unemployment in Tennessee held steady in January, matching the rate from December, according to new data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the month came in at 3.7%, while December’s rate was revised to 3.7%. In a year-to-year comparison, statewide unemployment for January went […]
TN AG Warns Consumers: Beware of DeepSeek
As Tennesseans rapidly integrate artificial intelligence into their daily lives, the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office is sounding the alarm about the dangers posed by DeepSeek and other AI products controlled by or accessible to the Chinese Communist Party. “DeepSeek creates real risk for both our country and our consumers,” said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. “The Tennessee state government […]
TN AG Division of Consumer Affairs Announces Previous Year’s Top Ten Consumer Complaint Categories
In honor of National Consumer Protection Week, the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) announces the top ten complaint categories of 2024. DCA received 8,536 formal consumer complaints during the last calendar year. The division diligently routes complaints to appropriate agencies or mediates them. The informal mediation process addresses disputes regarding consumer financial transactions, such as purchasing […]
Comptroller’s Office Studies Informal Removal of Students with Disabilities from Schools
The Tennessee’s Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) has released a new report examining the practice of informally removing students with disabilities from schools in Tennessee. The practice of informal removal restricts or removes a student’s access to a free appropriate public education, a primary right under the federal Individual with Disabilities Education […]
What Tennesseans Need to Know Before the May 7 REAL ID Implementation Deadline
To ensure that residents can fly domestically and access certain federal facilities without any disruptions, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) is urging individuals to prepare for the new requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005, which will take effect on May 7, 2025. Beginning May 7, Tennessee driver licenses and […]
Tennessee State Library & Archives Offering Document Support for REAL ID Applicants
As the deadline to apply for a REAL ID quickly approaches, the Tennessee State Library & Archives today announced it continues offering document support for citizens needing proof of identification to obtain their REAL ID. Tennesseans seeking certified copies of their marriage records before 1974 can obtain these documents through the Library & Archives. These […]
TENNESSEE SUPREME COURT REJECTS FIRST AMENDMENT CHALLENGE TO TENNESSEE’S PERSONALIZED LICENSE PLATE PROGRAM
Today, the Tennessee Supreme Court issued an opinion in Leah Gilliam v. David Gerregano, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Revenue et al., rejecting a First Amendment challenge to Tennessee’s personalized license plate program. Ordinarily, Tennessee license plates contain a randomly generated alphanumeric combination, consisting of letters and numbers, to identify the vehicle. For an additional fee, […]
New Study Finds School Districts Receive More Funding Under TISA
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) has released an evaluation of the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) funding formula for K-12 education. The General Assembly created TISA in 2022 to replace the Basic Education Program (BEP), the state’s former K-12 funding formula. In the first year of TISA, the 2023-24 […]
TN Attorney General Leads Bipartisan Call for Action Against Sellers of Counterfeit, Unapproved, and Contaminated Weight Loss Drugs
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti this week led a 38-state and territory bipartisan coalition requesting that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) take swift action against bad actors who are endangering consumers with counterfeit and unsafe forms of the weight loss and diabetes drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound (GLP-1 drugs). “Millions of Americans rely […]
State Announces Funding for Rural Healthcare Initiatives
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) has awarded $10.7 million in grant funding to support rural healthcare initiatives across the state. Beginning July 1, 2025, 38 organizations across Tennessee will receive funds to strengthen healthcare workforce development in every rural county in the state. Through the Rural Healthcare Initiatives Program, local partners […]
TDOE & TERA Launch 2025 Tennessee Educator Survey
Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) at Vanderbilt University launched the 2025 Tennessee Educator Survey. All educators, administrators, and certified school staff in Tennessee are invited and encouraged to take the survey and share their perspectives and expertise on education issues affecting their classrooms and schools, and help inform strategies and […]
Secretary of State Tre Hargett Warns Tennesseans About Email Spoofing Scam
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett today issued a warning about an email spoofing scam targeting its recipients. This deceptive email containing the subject line: “Exciting News!” claims that Secretary Hargett has filed a sponsorship on an individual’s behalf in Tennessee; it also asks recipients to keep an eye out for an email directly from […]
Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Adds More Than 1,400 Daily REAL ID Appointments as May 7 Implementation Deadline Approaches
With the REAL ID Act of 2005 taking effect in three months, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, TDOSHS, is expanding access by adding 1,432 additional REAL ID-specific appointment slots per day at Driver Services Centers across the state. The REAL ID Act requires anyone 18 or older to have a REAL ID […]
Gov. Lee 2025 State of the State Address: “Tennessee Innovates”
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee released the following excerpts ahead of his seventh State of the State address that will be delivered tonight at 6 p.m. CST in the House Chamber of the Tennessee State Capitol. Tennesseans are invited to view a preview video that highlights the state’s incredible success and bright future. Tennessee Innovates “2025 should be […]
Rep. Andrew Farmer to chair Judiciary Committee
State Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville, was appointed Jan. 16 by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, to serve as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. “Representative Andrew Farmer’s work experience and dedication to the rule of law make him a solid choice to lead our newly unified judicial committee in the House,” Sexton said. “His strong leadership will keep […]
House honors Susie Wiles, first woman named White House chief of staff
The Tennessee House of Representatives on Jan. 27 passed House Joint Resolution 50, honoring Susie Wiles, the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff. A New Jersey native, Wiles began her political career as an assistant to former U.S. Rep. Jack Kemp of New York. She went on to serve in key roles, including […]
