Supreme Court largely sides with public officials in social media case The U.S. Supreme Court has issued rulings clarifying how and when public officials can block users and delete posts from their social media accounts, largely siding with government officials. The... TML Visioning Committee holds first meeting Members of TML’s first-ever Visioning Committee met earlier this month to identify ways to best position TML for the future. The TML Board of Directors created the 17-member committee to identify... City leaders talk urban growth, property tax cap, other issues at TML Legislative Conference Municipal officials from across Tennessee gathered to discuss issues including a proposed property tax cap bill, potential changes to increase property reappraisals, managing community growth... GPS-powered darts helping Belle Meade recover stolen, suspect vehicles without need for pursuit A new technology is helping the Belle Meade Police Department recover stolen vehicles without engaging in high-speed pursuits. Belle Meade Police Chief Chuck Williams said the department recently... News Across Tennessee Jonesborough in the running for USA Today Historic Small Towns The town of Jonesborough is competing against 20 other small towns across America to be named among USA Today’s 10 Best Historic Small Towns. Nicknamed the “Storytelling Capital of the World” and home of the National Storytelling Festival, Tennessee’s oldest town was recommended for its museums and... Work progresses on new Dresden municipal complex Construction of the new Dresden Municipal Complex is expected to be complete by the end of the year. At present, work is being done to finish the roofing and electric, plumbing, and gas utilities are nearly complete. The new complex is being constructed on the former site that was severely damaged... Alcoa approves water purification system upgrades Alcoa City Commissioners unanimously approved the replacement of an essential water purification machine at the city’s water treatment plant. The city will purchase a $500,000 Microclor hypochlorite generation system to purify drinking water, replacing an old system that is nearing the end of its... Chattanooga receives $2M federal grant for innovative transit project The city of Chattanooga has received $2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to conduct crucial feasibility and design work on infrastructure components of the Westside Evolves plan. The funds are part of more than $50 million in grant awards issued to 34 technology demonstration... Knoxville receives $42.6M USDOT grant to connect East Knoxville, Downtown The city of Knoxville and Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) are receiving a $42.6 million U.S. Department of Transportation Grant that will improve connectivity between East Knoxville and the city’s downtown. The project's goal is to make the urban wilderness in South Knoxville... Schneider Electric to open Mt. Juliet, expand Smyrna locations Schneider Electric officials announced the company will expand its manufacturing presence in Mt. Juliet and Smyrna. The company will create 355 as it locates a new facility on Maddox Road in Mt. Juliet and expand its Smyrna location with the creation of 100 new jobs. Together, both projects... People Bruce Cureton Bruce Cureton Bruce Cureton, who served for 15 years as fire chief of the Knoxville Fire Department, died March 14, 2024 at the age of 81. Cureton served as chief from 1982 to 1997, retiring after 30 years in the fire service. Cureton was a lifetime member of the International Fire Chiefs Association. During his... Haley Elliot Haley Elliot Haley Elliot has been selected as the new tourism program coordinator for Visit Farragut. In the role, she will focus on social media management, event coordination, and community outreach via the Mobile Visitor Center (MVC). Elliot is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University. Matthew Trollinger Matthew Trollinger Matthew Trollinger has been selected as the new town manager for Signal Mountain. Trollinger comes from Somerset, Md., where he has served as town manager since 2019. Prior to that, Trollinger served as village manager of the village of Martin’s Additions, Md., for three years and as a paralegal... Eric Bittner Eric Bittner Eric Bittner has been confirmed by the Clarksville City Council to become the next city attorney and will assume the role on May 1 following the retirement of longtime City Attorney Lance Baker. Bittner has practiced law in Clarksville since 1995 and has served as the city’s deputy city attorney... Longtime managers Cox, Ogles announce retirements Two long-serving city managers – Gatlinburg’s Cindy Cameron Ogle and Morristown’s Tony Cox – are retiring in March with a combined 85 years of public service. Curtis Hayes Curtis Hayes Curtis Hayes has announced his decision to retire as mayor of Livingston after 18 years in the role. Hayes was first elected as mayor in 2006, becoming both the first African-American mayor of Livingston and the first African-American mayor in all of Overton County. A lifelong resident of Livingston... State Briefs State February revenues $59.9M under budgeted estimates Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson announced that February revenues were less than budgeted estimates. Overall February state revenues were $1.325 billion, which is 0.43% less than February 2023 and $59.9 million less than the budgeted estimate. “State tax... TVA presents $1.5M to Tennessee RiverLine program In a strategic alliance initiated in January 2021, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, established themselves as principal partners in the creation of the Tennessee RiverLine – North America’s next great regional trail system, spanning 1.2 million acres... Infrastructure planning grants awarded to 37 cities State officials announced 37 municipalities are among 50 entities that will share in $10.7 million in infrastructure planning grants. Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter announced recipients of Infrastructure Planning Grant (IPG)... Tennessee January unemployment inches up to 3.5% Tennessee started the new year with little movement in its seasonally adjusted unemployment rate. New data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) showed the statewide jobless number inched up only 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.5%. December’s revised rate was 3.4%. In a... TDEC announces solid waste grants The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is accepting applications for the first round of recycling and solid waste reduction grants this year for communities and other eligible entities across the state.Grants for education/outreach and organics management are available now... State January revenues $97.8M less than budgeted; over last year's collections Tennessee revenues for the month of January exceeded collections from January of 2023, but were less than the budgeted estimates. Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson reported that tax revenues were $1.95 billion, which is $15.8 million more than January of last year, but $97.8 million... TML Updates Grant Writing Training to be held in Nashville April 9-10 USDA announces grant programs benefiting rural communities Applications open for Summer Food Service program TDEC to host webinars on new brownfields grants Restore Return Relief Advocacy