Governor Lee, Commissioner McWhorter Announce BWXT Initiative in Tennessee, Bolstering Domestic Uranium Enrichment
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter announced April 15th, 2025 a grant for BWXT Enrichment Operations, LLC, a subsidiary of BWX Technologies, Inc., to support establishing a facility for the manufacturing of centrifuge assemblies in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, near Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). As part of […]
Using Fire as a Tool: TVA Executes Controlled Burn on Douglas Dam Reservation
A prescribed fire team from the Tennessee Valley Authority, along with representatives from the Tennessee Division of Forestry carried out a controlled burn Wednesday on TVA’s Douglas Dam Reservation. Close to 40 acres located between the dam and its elevated overlook area were burned with coordinated precision as part of an ongoing effort to enhance […]
VITAL POLICY – Tennessee Property Rights Protection Act Signed Into Law By Governor
The Tennessee Conservative [By David Seal] – Previously published in The Tennessee Conservative Tennessee property owners are safer from the wrath of eminent domain proceedings now that House Bill 444 and its companion Senate Bill 480 have been signed into law. The act limits the power of eminent domain in redevelopment areas and has been assigned Public Chapter number 114 by […]
President Trump Unleashes Permitting Technology for the 21st Century
On April 15, 2025, President Trump took action to ensure the United States is leveraging modern technology to effectively and efficiently conduct environmental reviews and evaluate permits. Permitting reform is a top priority for the Trump Administration and this action will accelerate the process, improve the transparency and predictability of project timelines, and eliminate unnecessary delays […]
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 […]
Military Women’s Memorial Celebrates Contributions by Daughters of the American Revolution Totaling $1 Million in Support of Preserving Stories of Women Servicemembers
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Military Women’s Memorial (MWM) proudly announce that the longstanding commitment by the DAR to support MWM’s mission to honor and tell the stories of women who serve our nation has recently reached a cumulative total of $1 million in contributions to the Memorial. The […]
Knoxville women secure repeat victories at Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon races
More than 6,500 participants crossed the finish line of the 2025 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon at World’s Fair Park during the April 5-6 race weekend, including two local women who repeated their titles. Gina Rouse of Knoxville, a mother of three and Boston Marathon qualifier, took first place among women, marking her fifth time winning […]
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 […]
VITAL POLICY – Focus on Jefferson County CTE Education, Health Science
Health Care is the second fastest growing industry in the United States according to Entrepreneur, a publication that tracks industrial trends and promotes business start-ups. In fact, 23% of the upper East Tennessee regional workforce is related to or dependent on health care businesses. This consists of direct healthcare and all the supporting industries related […]
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 […]
