Canterbury Seals the Deal on Douglas Lake
With light wind and shifting water levels across Douglas Lake, anglers were once again forced to adjust on the final day of Stop #3 of the NPFL season. The offshore bite never really came back after Day One, and while shallow patterns remained the deal, water color and stability varied depending on where you were. […]
TWRA – APPALACHIAN BEAR RESCUE PARTNERSHIP ONGOING
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and the Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR) are actively working together to determine the best path forward for black bear rehabilitation in Tennessee. In 2023, six bears housed at ABR developed pneumonia, resulting in the death of one bear, euthanasia of two, and medical treatment of the remaining three. Again […]
Payroll employment rises by 177,000 in April; unemployment rate unchanged at 4.2%
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 177,000 in April, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment continued to trend up in health care, transportation and warehousing, financial activities, and social assistance. Federal government employment declined. This news release presents statistics from two monthly surveys. […]
Jefferson County, TN Resident Convicted of TennCare Fraud
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has announced the conviction of 39-year-old Ashley Barnhart Martin of Dandridge, Tennessee. On April 17, 2025, Ashley Barnhart, also known as Ashley Martin, pleaded guilty to one count of TennCare fraud and one count of theft of services. The OIG’s investigation revealed that Ms. Barnhart failed to report her […]
Jefferson County Budget Committee To Recommend Property Tax Increase
The Jefferson County Budget Committee will forward a recommendation for a six penny property tax increase to the full body for consideration and approval. A motion from Commission Chair/budget committee member Carmichael and 2nd from Budget Committee Vice Chair Huffaker to answer a deficit still just shy of $1.5 million dollars following the recent approval […]
Tennessee Department of Health Confirms Two Additional Measles Cases
The Tennessee Department of Health is confirming today two additional confirmed cases of measles in middle Tennessee. Both persons are currently recovering at home. This brings Tennessee’s total to six confirmed cases of measles during 2025. Both confirmed cases were cooperating with public health officials by quarantining at home because of known exposure to previously confirmed cases […]
TN Attorney General Skrmetti Announces Victory Against Google for Monopolizing Digital Advertising Markets
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti today announced a significant victory in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia after Judge Leonie Brinkema found that Google violated the law by maintaining illegal monopolies in the digital advertising technology industry—stifling competition and harming website publishers, advertisers, and consumers. “When Google reinforces interlocking products to exclude competition […]
Interstate Construction Halted for Easter Holiday Travel
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will suspend all interstate construction work on Easter weekend in anticipation of increased holiday travel. TDOT crews and contractors will stop all road construction work that requires lane closures beginning Thursday, April 17, at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, April 21, at 6:00 a.m. This will provide maximum roadway capacity to motorists […]
Tennessee Air National Guardsmen recognized by Tennessee Senate
Eleven members of the Tennessee Air National Guard’s 134th Air Refueling Wing, headquartered in Knoxville, were recognized by the Tennessee Senate with a Joint Resolution, April 14, for heroism resulting in the awarding of Distinguished Flying Crosses while deployed for Operation True Promise. The ceremony, which was held in the Senate chambers, commended the Airmen’s […]
TWRA ASSESSING POTENTIAL WILDLIFE IMPACTS FROM CHANGES TO CHEROKEE DAM AERATION SYSTEM
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has announced plans to replace the current aeration system at Cherokee Dam with new turbine technology by 2026. These upgrades, designed to improve water quality downstream, may have unintended consequences for aquatic wildlife in Cherokee Reservoir — particularly Striped Bass. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is currently evaluating these […]
Sports Wagering Council Strengthens Rules, Regulations
New rules governing the sports betting industry in Tennessee are a critical advancement in the Sports Wagering Council’s (SWC) mission to preserve the public interest through a safe, regulated sports betting environment. Effective June 30, 2025, the rules revisions strengthen player protections and build on ongoing efforts to eliminate fraudulent activity by patrons on the wagering platforms. The rules also add multi-factor […]
What is Liberation Day and how does it affect me?
President Donald J. Trump has declared a national emergency to tackle unfair trade practices and restore economic sovereignty. Through reciprocal tariffs, he aims to protect U.S. industries, re-shore manufacturing, and strengthen national security. These measures address trade imbalances, reduce dependence on foreign supply chains, and promote “Made in America” to drive economic growth and safeguard […]
Tennessee Highway Safety Office Launches Operation Hands Free
On Tuesday, April 1, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), divisions of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, partnered with Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), local law enforcement, and other traffic safety partners for “Operation Hands Free” to crack down on violators of Tennessee’s Hands-Free Law during National […]
TABC and TDMHSAS Spotlight Underage Drinking During Prom and Graduation Season
With prom and graduation season approaching, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) and Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) are teaming up to remind teens, parents, and retailers what responsible celebration looks like. Serving alcohol to minors and underage consumption are both Class A Misdemeanors in Tennessee with potential jail time […]
TENNESSEE SUPREME COURT REJECTS RETALIATORY DISCHARGE BASED ON EXERCISE OF RIGHT TO PETITION
In a case filed in Hamilton County, the Tennessee Supreme Court today held that Tennessee law does not prohibit a private employer from firing an employee for exercising the right to petition the government granted under the Tennessee Constitution. The case began in 2021, during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Plaintiff Heather Smith was employed by […]
Welcome Home! NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Back on Earth After Science Mission
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 completed the agency’s ninth commercial crew rotation mission to the International Space Station on Tuesday, splashing down safely in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, in the Gulf of America. NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth at 5:57 p.m. EDT. Teams aboard SpaceX […]
