State Briefs

The Tennessee Aquarium has celebrated the arrival of its 29 millionth guest during its 33-year history. The guest in question was a member of the Lee family from Tupelo, Miss., which included mom and dad, Vince and Olivia, and sons Connor, 5, and Calvin, 3. In addition to seeing the Sand Tiger...

Centerville and Milan will share in $9.6 million in funding shared among 34 communities through the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s latest round of ThreeStar Grants. Centerville Mainstreet will receive $74,500 while Milan will receive $250,000 through the program, which...

Home prices continued to climb across Tennessee in the second quarter, according to a report on the state’s housing market from the MTSU Business and Economic Research Center in the Jones College of Business. The report found home prices in the state edged up 0.7% over the first quarter, above the U...

While the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has increased testing capacity and hired additional scientists, evidence backlogs will continue to affect investigations, prosecutions, and justice for Tennesseans unless lab capacity is expanded and more funding is allocated. 

The Tennessee Advisory...

Secondary-education enrollment is up by 2.9% in Tennessee, according to newly released numbers by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. The new report on fall enrollment showed a 2.9% increase in both headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment with the first-time freshman rate...

Tennessee’s August unemployment rate remained at 3.6% in August, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). The August rate remained unchanged from both July 2025 and August 2024. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.3% at August. Between July and August...

Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson announced revenues were above budgeted estimates for the first month of the state’s fiscal year.  

August revenues were $1.6 billion, which is $15.6 million more than the monthly estimate and $57.6 million more than August...

The number of colorblind viewfinders in Tennessee State Parks has expanded to 13 with the addition of viewers to T.O. Fuller State Park in Memphis, Roan Mountain State Park in Roan County, and Pickett CCC Memorial State Park in Jamestown. The viewfinders, designed to alleviate red-green...

The Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) has announced $33.5 million in federal grants to be distributed statewide, including grants to 196 municipal police and fire departments. 

A division of Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS), THSO is distributing the grants from the...

Nobody Trashes Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s (TDOT) official litter prevention campaign, has received six awards from the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Nashville Chapter. The 39th Annual Parthenon Awards brings together Middle Tennessee’s public relations...

Tennessee revenues exceeded budgeted estimates for the month of July. 

Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson reported that total July tax revenues were $1.8 billion, $125.5 million more than the budgeted estimate and $134 million more than July 2024. The total tax growth...

The Tennessee and Arkansas Departments of Transportation have decided on a new name for the iconic Interstate 55 bridge over the Mississippi River, honoring three legends in both states. Now known as the Kings’ Crossing, this bridge will be named for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., B.B. King, and Elvis...