State Departments Issue Guidance Around Fentanyl Exposure
The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) and Department of Health today issued new guidance and information around fentanyl and what to do in case of a potential exposure. Recent media reports have highlighted stories of exposure to a white powdery substance assumed to be fentanyl and the wide variety of […]
Four Proposed Amendments to the Tennessee Constitution Will be on the Nov. 8 Ballot
Four proposed amendments will appear on the November 8, 2022 ballot directly after the candidates for governor. For information on amendments being considered for the 2026 ballot, click here. Proposed Constitutional amendments are presented as yes or no questions. A yes vote is a vote to amend the Constitution and adopt the proposed language in the […]
Walter Noe Mendez Mendez -person of interest in the hit-and-run crash that killed an 18-month-old child in south Morristown
Morristown Police Department (MPD) investigators are asking for the public’s help in locating a person of interest in the hit-and-run crash that killed an 18-month-old child in south Morristown last night. At approximately 10:40pm Saturday evening, police were called to the scene on Louise Avenue where a white Scion tC had accelerated backwards into a […]
FDA Finalizes Historic Rule Enabling Access to Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids for Millions of Americans
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule to improve access to hearing aids which may in turn lower costs for millions of Americans. This action establishes a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, enabling consumers with perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment to purchase hearing aids directly from stores or online retailers […]
Kraft Heinz voluntary recall of select Capri Sun Wild Cherry Flavored Juice Drink
Kraft Heinz is announcing a voluntary recall of approximately 5,760 cases of Capri Sun Wild Cherry Flavored Juice Drink Blend beverages. The voluntary recall comes after diluted cleaning solution, which is used on food processing equipment, was inadvertently introduced into a production line at one of our factories. Only the Wild Cherry flavored Capri Sun […]
Updated Mapping Tennessee Education Site Provides New Insights
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has released new interactive online dashboards on K-12 education. The dashboards provide updated education data on schools and school districts for the 2020-21 school year. There are two dashboards: one for public schools and one for non-public schools. The dashboards include data on teacher salaries, student enrollment, school building quality, and state and local […]
Students Can Cast a Ballot in the Tennessee Student Mock Election
Students across Tennessee can make their voice heard in the gubernatorial race between Republican Incumbent Bill Lee and Democrat Nominee Jason Brantley Martin in the Secretary of State’s 2022 Tennessee Student Mock Election. “The mock election allows students to see firsthand how we, as Tennesseans, select our elected officials,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. […]
Farmers Market Week: Buy Local During Peak Produce Season
August is peak produce time in Tennessee for many of your favorite fruits and vegetables. Farmers markets from east to west and in between are packed with fresh produce. Aug 7-13, 2022 is National Farmers Market Week and is the perfect time to stock up and support local farmers. “Farmers markets play an essential role […]
Dandridge Board of Mayor and Aldermen Counter Skyrocketing Inflation With Pay Increases For Town Employees
The Town of Dandridge employees will receive a $2 dollar per hour raise thanks to action taken by the Dandridge Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Monday evening. During the fiscal year 2022-2023 budgeting cycle a 3% raise had been factored into the current budget but that increase proved to be too little to accommodate […]
The Power of Partnership Between AEC and MU Fuels Clean Energy and Projected Savings
White Pine, Tennessee, July 28, 2022 – Appalachian Electric Cooperative (AEC) and Morristown Utilities Commission (MUC) Boards have executed a Power Purchase Agreement with Dancing Horse, LLC (Sunrise Energy Ventures) to purchase solar power from a joint project to be located in White Pine. Both utilities have long-term power contracts with TVA and in exchange, TVA […]
Seasonal Unemployment Boosts County Jobless Rates for June
School employees on their yearly summer break were one of the factors that impacted the June 2022 county unemployment rates, according to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). The latest statistics showed, as they typically do in June, jobless numbers increased in each of the state’s 95 counties. Statewide, unemployment remained unchanged between […]
AG Slatery Leads 22 States Against Biden Administration for Threatening to Withhold Nutrition Assistance for Schools; Programs that Don’t Adhere to ‘Gender Identity’, ‘Sexual Orientation’ Policy
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III, leading a 22-state coalition along with Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, filed a lawsuit today in the Eastern District of Tennessee. The lawsuit seeks to stop the Biden Administration from enforcing an expansive and unlawful interpretation of federal antidiscrimination laws under the threat of withdrawing key food assistance program funding. In the complaint, the multi-state […]
County Commission Gives Nod To Sheriff’s Request
The Jefferson County Commission approved a request from Jefferson County Sheriff Coffey to increase pay for jailers/workhouse. Sheriff Coffey spoke before the County Commission last week regarding the necessity of an immediate wage increase to prevent the exodus of jail/workhouse employees to other better paying counties. He stated that an already seriously understaffed jail/workhouse was […]
District Court Rules: Federal Government Cannot Force Tennessee, 19 Other States to Allow Biological Males to Compete on Girls’ Sports Teams, Use Girls’ Showers/Locker Rooms
In a federal lawsuit filed by Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III and 19 other states’ attorneys general, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee has enjoined the U.S. Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from enforcing new, expansive, and unlawful guidance on federal antidiscrimination laws. The now-enjoined guidance attempted […]
State Rep. Andrew Farmer and Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison announce Tennessee Arts Commission grants for local organizations
State Rep. Andrew Farmer, R-Sevierville, and House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, announce $65,310 in grant funding from the Tennessee Arts Commission to support arts and cultural activities in Greene and Jefferson counties. “We are excited to see these significant investments being made to support local arts programs and facilities in our community,” Farmer […]
Tennessee Takes Action to Make Child Care More Affordable When Families Need It Most
The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is announcing new actions to support child care providers and parents. On July 1, 2022, TDHS increased child care payment assistance reimbursement rates by 20% across all categories of care in the Child Care Certificate Program. Beginning August 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022, TDHS also will waive […]