NASA Welcomes Record-Setting Artemis II Moonfarers Back to Earth
The first astronauts to travel to the Moon in more than half a century are back on Earth after a record-setting mission aboard NASA’s Artemis II test flight. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen splashed down at 5:07 p.m. PDT Friday off the coast […]
TN Promise Application Opened on April 1 for the Class of 2027
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) today announced that the TN Promise application is now open for the Class of 2027. For the first time, high school juniors can apply beginning April 1, giving students earlier access than ever before to the state’s last-dollar scholarship. The earlier application timeline allows students and families to begin planning […]
Tennessee Starts Year With Lower Unemployment
After a year of steady unemployment, Tennessee began 2026 with a slight decline in its unemployment rate from the previous month, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January was 3.5%, down one-tenth of a percentage point from December. The rate was […]
Tennessee Guardsmen rescue visitor in National Park
On Wednesday afternoon, April 1, a flight crew with the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion rescued a park visitor suffering from cardiac arrest in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Shortly after 2:40 p.m., Eastern time, the Tennessee National Guard and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency were notified of a park visitor having a medical emergency in need […]
Payroll employment increases by 178,000 in March; unemployment rate changes little at 4.3%
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 178,000 in March, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.3 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job gains occurred in health care, in construction, and in transportation and warehousing. Federal government employment continued to decline. This news release presents statistics from two monthly surveys. The […]
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 2, at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, April 6, at 6:00 a.m. This will provide maximum roadway capacity to motorists […]
Grant Program Available to Protect Private Forestland from Development
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) announces the application period is open for a special round of Forest Legacy Program (FLP) funding made available to landowners to protect privately owned forested land from development. “As conversion of forested land for development increases in Tennessee, the need to conserve critical woodlands grows,” State […]
Important Notice: United States Postal Service Changes to Postmarks
The United States Postal Service announced changes to the application of postmarks that may affect whether certain Tennessee tax filings mailed to the Department of Revenue are considered timely. Read more about how this affects the filing and payment of Tennessee taxes in important notice #26-09 .
Rescue 180 wins non-profit of the year in Jefferson County
Jefferson County’s Substance Abuse Coalition, Rescue 180, was awarded Non‑Profit of the Year for 2025–26. “We proudly honor Rev. Debra Shultz and Rescue 180, Inc. for their unwavering dedication, compassion, and transformative impact in Jefferson County,” shared Sheila Wiggins, President & CEO of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. Executive Director Rev. Debra Shultz said […]
Commission Rejects Mineral Tax Again in 12–5 Vote
The Jefferson County Commission voted 12-5 to reject a proposed Mineral Severance Tax for the second time in less than one year. A resolution to adopt the tax was brought by Commissioner Rob Blevins and was 2nd by Commissioner Jim Snodgrass. In recent weeks, the topic of adopting the mineral tax has gained an audience […]
Tennessee’s Free Real Estate Licensing Program for Qualifying High School Seniors Begins Accepting Applications Starting April 1
Starting on Wednesday, April 1, the Tennessee High School Senior Real Estate Licensing Program will begin accepting applications for 2026. Launched in 2024 through the Tennessee Real Estate Commission, the program offers qualifying Tennessee high school seniors a free way to earn the base education required by the State necessary to sit for the pre-licensing exam and potentially become […]
Election Time In Jefferson County Tennessee – Interview with Nathan Bugg, Administrator of Elections
Pick Tennessee Products Unveils New Website to Better Connect Consumers with Local Producers
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture announces the launch of an updated Pick Tennessee Products website, offering a more streamlined way for consumers to connect with local farmers, producers and artisans across the state. The website redesign follows continued growth in the Pick Tennessee Products program, which includes nearly 3,200 active members. The updated site focuses […]
TDH Reinforces Importance of Naloxone with Rise in Cychlorphine Fatalities
The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) is providing statewide information following more than 30 fatal overdoses statewide, since October 2025, associated with a newly identified opioid known as cychlorphine. Cychlorphine is a synthetic opioid, 10 times more potent than fentanyl and associated with more than 1,633 fatal overdoses (TDH provisional data) in Tennessee in 2024. Opioid overdoses […]
Mayor Mark Potts Declares Saturday, March 28th, as “Celebrate Walking in Balance” day in Jefferson County
In recognition of the “Walking in Balance” theme of the 2026 Spirit of Nations powwow, Jefferson County Mayor Mark Potts has issued a proclamation declaring Saturday, March 28th, as “Celebrate Walking in Balance” day in Jefferson County. The powwow will be held at Jefferson County High School in Dandridge, TN. Mayor Potts, wrote in the […]
