VITAL POLICY – Dr. Monty Sharp Facilitates Medal of Honor Character Development Training for Jefferson County High School Staff
Critics of public schools often point to the lack of patriotic education and the absence of character-related values in school curriculum. These pundits would have one less thing to complain about if they spent one afternoon with Dr. Monty Sharp, Assistant Principal, Jefferson County High School, or witnessed 2000 students reciting the Pledge of Allegiance […]
The brain pays attention to unfamiliar voices during sleep
A good night’s sleep is not as simple as it appears. While you snooze, your brain continues to monitor the environment, balancing the need to protect sleep with the need to wake up. One example of how the brain accomplishes this is by selectively responding to unfamiliar voices over familiar ones, according to new research […]
WHO recommends two new drugs to treat patients with COVID-19
The drug baricitinib (a type of drug known as a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis) is strongly recommended for patients with severe or critical covid-19 in combination with corticosteroids, says a WHO Guideline Development Group of international experts in The BMJ today. Their strong recommendation is based on moderate certainty evidence that […]
Ed Stiner, Jefferson County Register of Deeds, Announcing Plans To Seek Re-election In The May 3rd Republican Primary
Ed Stiner, Jefferson County Register of Deeds, is announcing plans to seek re-election in the May 3rd Republican Primary. Stiner said, “It is my distinct honor and privilege to serve the people of Jefferson County as the Register of Deeds.” During his time in office, Stiner has trimmed his budget every year by instituting cost […]
Mayor Mark Potts Seeks Re-Election
Jefferson County Mayor Mark Potts will be seeking re-election for a second term as Mayor of Jefferson County. Potts is a lifelong resident with family roots deeply entrenched in Jefferson County. He is the son the of the Betty Potts, who recently became one of Jefferson County’s centenarians, and the late Glenn Potts. Mayor Potts […]
AG Slatery Sues to Block Federal Head Start Mandates
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III has joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging the Biden Administration’s recent mask requirements for toddlers and COVID-19 vaccinations for staff and volunteers in Head Start Programs. “We have consistently opposed mandates in the context of education, defending state statutes passed by our General Assembly. This challenge is consistent with our past positions, […]
November Unemployment Numbers Drop in Most Counties
NASHVILLE – The employment situation improved in a majority of Tennessee’s counties during November, according to data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This comes after the statewide unemployment rate returned to pre-pandemic levels for the month. Eighty-five counties recorded lower unemployment rates in November, while five counties saw no movement with their rates, […]
EDITORIAL – PATRIOT ACADEMY, JEFFERSON COUNTY’S HIGH SCHOOL TWILIGHT ZONE
A few years ago, a couple of school board members called to ask me about a “new concept” they were considering for Freshman students at Jefferson County High School. What about designing a special program, they said, for ninth graders to ease the transition from middle school life to the challenges of high school, something […]
CPI for all items rises 0.8% in November; gas, food, shelter, vehicle indexes all rise
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.8 percent in November on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.9 percent in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 6.8 percent before seasonal adjustment. The monthly all items seasonally adjusted increase […]
Secretary of State Encourages Wise End of Year and Holiday Giving
As Tennesseans prepare to make end of year and holiday season charitable contributions, Secretary of State Tre Hargett cautions donors to be wary of scams. “This time of year, as we enjoy the holidays and look to the New Year, many Tennesseans are planning to support their community through charitable giving,” said Secretary Hargett. “It’s […]
Payroll employment rises by 210,000 in November; unemployment rate declines to 4.2%
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION — NOVEMBER 2021 Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 210,000 in November, and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage point to 4.2 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Notable job gains occurred in professional and business services, transportation and warehousing, construction, and manufacturing. Employment in retail trade declined […]
UT Launches Farm-to-Table Beef Program
High-quality, locally sourced ‘UT Beef’ is now being served on the University of Tennessee Knoxville campus. Produced at UT’s Northeast Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center in Greeneville, and being prepared and served through an agreement with UT Dining Services managed by Aramark, the farm-to-table effort supports sustainable agricultural production by utilizing locally grown beef as […]
A.M. Fire At Carson-Newman University’s Pedersen Nursing Building
Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City, TN – A call was reported at 7:43 a.m. concerning a fire at Carson-Newman University’s Pedersen Nursing Building. There are no injuries. The fire is contained and the damaged is being assessed. We are grateful for the response and support by our local fire and police departments. University officials are working […]
VITAL POLICY – Tennessee and Jefferson County’s Constitutional Dilemma with Food Truck Regulations
Local Regulations Two of Jefferson County’s five municipalities regulate the operation of food trucks, White Pine and Dandridge; Jefferson City, New Market, and Baneberry do not. The regulations and fees that Dandridge impose on food trucks are centered around health and safety; but the White Pine regulations exceed health and safety by regulating the number […]
AG Slatery Files Lawsuit Challenging Biden Administration’s Vaccine Mandate for Private Sector Employees
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III and six other attorneys general have filed a petition before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit challenging the Biden Administration’s vaccine mandate for private sector employees. The coalition asks the court to review the emergency temporary standard issued by the Biden Administration’s Occupational Safety and Health […]
