A dangerous heatwave has settled over the Tennessee Valley and is expected to continue through mid-next week. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) projects power demand to peak at 33,000 megawatts, potentially surpassing last summer’s high. TVA says it’s prepared but urges Tennesseans to take steps to save energy and lower bills. Quick Tips to Cut Energy Use: Raise your thermostat a few degrees …
According to data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, annual seasonal changes in employment, such as school breaks, increased county unemployment rates across Tennessee. All 95 Tennessee counties reported an increase in their unemployment rates over the previous month in June. Seventy-one counties had unemployment rates of less than 5%. The remaining …
State Rep. Iris Rudder, R-Winchester, announced $175,000 in state funding was awarded to the City of Whitwell and the Town of Decherd. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) will administer the funding through two separate programs: Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF) and Tennessee Recreation Initiative Program (TRIP). Both were approved by the General Assembly in the 2025-26 …
According to a state analysis, Hamilton County will likely lose its status as Tennessee’s fourth-most-populous county within the next five years. A 2024 analysis from the Boyd Center at the University of Tennessee projected that Rutherford County’s population would surpass Hamilton County’s by this month, based on census population figures released in 2022. New census …
A new law restricting cell phone use in Tennessee classrooms will take effect in the upcoming school year. Under this legislation, state school districts are required to implement policies prohibiting cell phone use during instructional periods. Exceptions must be made to accommodate students with learning disabilities or medical needs who may require phone access during …
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) has launched TN Direct Admissions. Using existing academic data, this new pilot program automatically accepts eligible high school seniors into in-state public and private universities and the state’s community and technical colleges (TCAT). Research shows that the college application and financial aid process often feels too complex, causing many students …
Dozens of communities across the Volunteer State will see funding from the Local Parks and Recreation Fund, the Recreational Trails Program, and the Tennessee Recreation Initiative Program. On Monday, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Office of Outdoor Recreation announced $22,059,191 in grants from those funds and programs. The City of Whitwell will receive …
Parents in Tennessee are upset after state-funded scholarships for their children were revoked due to an administrative mistake. The Education Freedom Act, signed by Governor Bill Lee, offers nearly $7,300 for private school tuition and drew 33,000 applicants within hours of launching. A TDOE spokesman said via email, Due to an inadvertent error, 166 Education Freedom …
Tennessee’s sales tax holiday runs from Friday, July 25, to Sunday, July 27. During this event, families can buy school-related items—like clothing, classroom supplies, laptops, and tablets—tax-free, as long as each item meets set price limits. Clothing and school supplies must be under $100 per item; technology items, including tablets, are capped at $1,500. Some …
Jackson County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) officials in Alabama are asking residents for input on the 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan. Officials are working on the plan, and community input is needed to finish it. Residents are asked to take an online survey to help EMA officials with the plan. Residents can share firsthand experiences, identify community-specific hazards, …
