Last week the South Pittsburg Board of Mayor & Commissioners approved a $7,500 donation to help the High School Pirates football team buy state championship rings. Head Coach Wes Stone requested the funds for rings celebrating their 2025 TSSAA Class 1A BlueCross Bowl victory. City Administrator Michael Hudson said similar donations were made by previous …
Category: Government
Unemployment Drops in Most Tennessee Counties
All but four Tennessee counties recorded unemployment rates below 5% in December, according to new Ninety-one counties reported unemployment rates below 5%, while the other four counties had rates of 5% or greater, with the highest rate at 5.7%. Local Counties: Bledsoe County: 3.2% in November; 2.9% in December Grundy County: 5.3% in November; 4% …
Help Trucks Planned for I-24 in Marion County
Motorists traveling on rural Tennessee interstates will soon benefit from enhanced roadside assistance. The Tennessee Department of Transportation has announced the expansion of its Highway Emergency Local Patrol (HELP) program into rural regions across the state. The new Rural Service Patrol initiative is scheduled to commence this spring, starting in Region 2, which encompasses Chattanooga. …
Dunlap Police Warn about Bitcoin Scam
Recently the Dunlap Police Department had a report of a Bitcoin scam of individuals pretending to be a deputy from the Hamilton County Sheriff Office. NO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WILL EVER ASK FOR CASHAPP MONEY OR BITCOIN. A local business has a bitcoin transfer machine; these are not ATMs. Note these are NOT currently illegal. …
Bill Proposed to Post Ten Commandments at Tennessee Schools
The display of the Ten Commandments is already present in numerous churches across Tennessee, and a newly approved bill in the state House would permit their posting in public schools. Opponents argue this action may conflict with the First Amendment and infringe upon the rights of students who adhere to faiths other than Christianity or …
Some Lawmakers want to Change Law Back to Electing School Superintendents
Tennessee lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow school superintendents to be elected instead of appointed. The current law authorizes school boards to appoint directors of schools. This bill would let a county or city that runs a school system choose to have an elected superintendent. Many years ago this is the way superintendents were elected …
Lawmakers want to Add EMS Stations Safe Haven Law
A new Tennessee House bill proposes allowing EMS stations to install baby box drop-offs for safe infant surrender, expanding the state’s Safe Haven Law. Currently, newborns can be surrendered at hospitals, clinics, fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and other staffed locations within 45 days of birth without prosecution. The bill would add ambulance stations as …
New Law Allows Facility Dogs to Accompany Victims and Witnesses in Courtrooms
A recent Tennessee law makes it possible for facility dogs to accompany victims and witnesses in courtrooms throughout the state as they give testimony. Before this legislation, only select judicial districts allowed facility dogs during courtroom proceedings and forensic interviews. Now, any jurisdiction may permit these trained animals if approved by the presiding judge. The …
Get Alarmed, TN Smoke Alarm Program Information
“Get Alarmed, TN!” is a grant-funded fire safety education and smoke alarm installation program administered by the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO). Launched in November 2012, the program distributes fire safety education and 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms to participating fire departments. The fire departments then deliver the education and install smoke alarms in at-risk homes …
Important SNAP Benefit Information
Replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Benefits (SNAP) may be an option for current SNAP recipients who lost food due to power outage or household misfortune. To request replacement benefits, SNAP customers must submit a signed affidavit to the Tennessee Department of Human Services. The affidavit can be downloaded from the “Disaster Related Emergency Assistance” webpage on …



