114th TN General Assembly convenes; McNally, Sexton re-elected Speakers State lawmakers headed back to Nashville this week to convene the first session of the 114th Tennessee General Assembly. The Senate and House were gaveled into session Tuesday, Jan. 14, to swear in legislators and to formally elect leadership positions. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally was re-elected for a... All three constitutional officers re-elected to another term Members of the Tennessee Senate and House re-elected all three of the state’s constitutional officers during a joint session of the 114th General Assembly on Jan. 15. State officials issue guidance to protect humans, animals from bird flu As bird flu becomes an increasing concern for hunters, farmers, pet owners, and backyard birders, Tennessee state agencies are advising all residents to take proper precautions. Boyd Center Report Shows Tennessee’s Economy to Surpass US Growth in 2025 With the effects of the pandemic and economic recovery largely behind it, Tennessee’s economy is expected to find a more stable growth path and expand faster than the U.S. overall in 2025, according... News Across Tennessee Knoxville becomes first Charging Smart Tennessee city The city of Knoxville has become the first Tennessee city to join the Charging Smart program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office and operated by Drive Electric Tennessee. The new technical assistance and designation program provides no-cost technical... Tullahoma Fire Department rescues duck The Tullahoma Fire Department rescued a duck trapped in an icy pond during recent snow. A local resident discovered one of the male ducks on the bond was partially frozen and stuck to the ice in the pond with nearby ducks swimming nearby and expressing distress. After being unable to free the duck... Kingsport breaks ground on second BlueCross Healthy Place The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation and the city of Kingsport recently gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new BlueCross Healthy Place at Riverwalk Park. The park, located along the Holston River, spans 8.8 acres and connects to the Kingsport Greenbelt trail system. It... Johnson City receives federal art grant for sculpture exhibition The Johnson City Public Art Committee has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Challenge America award of $10,000. The NEA has approved 272 Challenge America awards nationwide totaling $2,720,000 as part of the recent announcement of fiscal year 2025 grants. The NEA funds... Knoxville receives federal grant for pedestrian bridge project The city of Knoxville has been awarded a $24.7 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help realize the South Knoxville Pedestrian Bridge. This is the third application the city has made for the bridge... Italian composites manufacturer to open first U.S. facility in Chattanooga Microtex Composites, Inc. officials announced the company will expand its presence by locating the company’s first U.S. operations, creating 26 new jobs and investing nearly $3.8 million in Chattanooga through the project. Based in Italy, the composites manufacturer has experienced rapid growth in... People Jim Sells Jim Sells Jim Sells, longtime mayor of Rogersville, has made the decision to step down after nearly 48 years as mayor and more than 50 on the Rogersville Board of Mayor and Alderman. Sells was first elected as an alderman in 1971 and then ran for mayor in 1977. He was recently elected to his twelfth term as... Don Dallenbach Don Dallenbach Capt. Don Dallenbach of the Hendersonville Fire Department died Jan. 12, 2024, at the age of 58 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Dallenbach was a 32-year veteran of the Hendersonville Police Department where he most recently served as a Captain on C Shift at Station 5. He was described... Melody Lewis Melody Lewis Melody Lewis has retired has the city recorder of White Bluff after 35 years of service. Lewis joined the city as its recorder in August 1989, having previously worked as a teacher’s aide at White Bluff Elementary School, the Tennessee Department of Human Services, and for the Dickson County... Charles Hall Charles Hall Charles Hall has been appointed to fill a vacant position on the Collierville Board of Mayor and Alderman. A sixth-generation Collierville native, Hall owns Hewlett and Dunn Boot and Clothing Company on Collierville’s Town Square with his wife. Hall began work with the company in 1998, buying a... Jewel Jordan Jewel Jordan Jewel Jordan has been selected to fill a vacancy on the Collierville Board of Mayor and Alderman. A resident of Collierville for more than 40 years, Jordan brings a wealth of experience in community service, leadership and problem-solving to the role. A local business owner, Jordan has been active... Germantown announces public works leadership changes Germantown has announced two new members of its public works team as the city’s longtime public works director retires. Bo Mills Bo Mills will retire as Germantown’s public works director in April after nearly four decades of service to the city. Mills joined the city in 1985 and has served as director of... State Briefs TDEC accepting applicatoins for Solid Waste Management grants The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is accepting applications for the first round of solid waste materials management grants this year for communities and other eligible entities across the state.Applications for Waste Reduction and Organics Management grants are... TDEC clears waterways affected by Helene All advisories urging the public to avoid contact with bodies of water affected by Hurricane Helene have been lifted by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The advisory had been put into place on Oct. 2, 2024 and specifically referenced the Doe, French Broad, Nolichucky, Pigeon... Tourists rate Tennessee second-friendliest state Tennessee was ranked the second-friendliest state in the nation by the World Population Review’s Friendliest States of 2024 Study. Minnesota ranked as the friendliest state followed by Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, and Wyoming. The survey was compiled from a poll taken by tourists to report... Tennessee November revenues $129.8M less than budgeted Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson announced that revenues for November were $1.35 billion, which is $72.2 million less than November of last year and $129.8 million less than the budgeted estimate. General fund revenues were $137.3 million less than the... Wolf River becomes newest Tennessee State Forest The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry has announced the creation of the new 5,477-acre Wolf River State Forest, the 16th state forest in Tennessee. Opening to visitors in 2025, the land is a portion of the historical Ames Plantation that is now home to the Hobart Ames... Tennessee unemployment ticks up slightly in November Tennessee’s unemployment rate increased to 3.5% in November, up from 3.4% in October. According to Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD), Tennessee’s November 2024 unemployment rate was unchanged from its November 2023 rate. The state’s unemployment rate still remains below... TML Updates TDEC accepting applicatoins for Solid Waste Management grants DRA Announces Funding Available for 2025 Community Infrastructure Fund, Strategic Planning Cities can now apply for $1.35B in federal funds for climate resilience Tennessee Historical Commission now accepting applications for federal historic preservation grants Delta Regional Authority announces funding opportunities Restore Return Relief Advocacy
