More than 77,000 pounds of litter were removed from communities throughout Tennessee as part of the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s (TDOT) 5th Annual No Trash November, a month-long initiative dedicated to keeping the state’s roadways and waterways safe from the harmful effects of litter. This year’s effort surpassed the statewide goal of 75,000 pounds—demonstrating the …
Tag: Chattanooga News
Tennessee Arts Commission Awards Arts and Health Funds to Select Rural Hospitals Including Bledsoe
The Tennessee Arts Commission has awarded $175,000 in grant funding for the inaugural Tennessee Arts & Rural Health Initiative, a pilot program supporting arts-based projects designed to improve health and wellness outcomes in rural Tennessee hospitals. A collaboration between the TN Arts Commission and the Tennessee Hospital Association, this initiative supports 10 hospitals—four in West …
Operation Rural Reset in Bledsoe County
The Bledsoe County Sheriff’s Office announces the completion of Operation Rural Reset, a several months-long narcotics investigations targeting fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution throughout Bledsoe County. This operation was initiated in response to increased drug trafficking activity affecting multiple communities throughout the county. Throughout the investigation, detectives executed multiple search warrants, conducted surveillance operations, narcotics purchases, …
Preorder Your Childhood Cancer Tennessee Licence Plate
Tennessee may soon have a new license plate supporting childhood cancer, but at least 1,000 preorders are required before it becomes available. The Childhood Cancer Organization and The Grayson Foundation are working together to make these plates a reality. As of Tuesday, December 16, there are only 610 preorders and the deadline is January 6, …
Poweball Hits $1.25 Billion for Wednesday’s Drawing
The Powerball jackpot has grown to an estimated $1.25 billion for Wednesday night’s drawing after lottery officials said no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Monday night. The U.S. has seen more than a dozen lottery jackpot prizes exceed $1 billion since 2016. Here is a look at the 3 largest U.S. jackpots won and …
New Laws in Tennessee begin January 1
The new year will bring a new set of laws to Tennessee come Jan. 1, 2026. This follows the array of laws that took effect in the state on July 1, right after the conclusion of the 2025 legislative session. THC and hemp in Tennessee: The Alcoholic Beverage Commission takes over as the regulator for hemp sales …
TDOE Releases 2024-25 ACT State Results
The Tennessee Department of Education (department) released the ACT state results and participation rate for the graduating class of 2025. Thanks to the efforts of schools and districts encouraging student participation on the ACT, the overall statewide participation rate for the 2025 graduating class was 99 percent. The state average composite ACT score was 19.3 …
Path to College and Technical Training Just Got Easier in Tennessee
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) marks a pivotal next step in the state’s TN Direct Admissions pilot by sending more than 45,000 personalized college admission letters—signed by Governor Bill Lee—to eligible Tennessee high school seniors in the Class of 2026. Eligible students can expect to receive their TN Direct Admissions letters this week in mailboxes across …
Gas Prices Hold Steady in Tennessee at Six Cents Less than in 2024
Gas prices across the state fluctuated slightly higher over last week, but fell through the weekend to only a penny more expensive than last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.57 which is 12 cents less expensive than one month ago and six cents less than one year ago. “Right now, Tennesseans are seeing the cheapest gas prices in four years,” …
Emergency Need: Blood Assurance Calls for Donors After Surge in Trauma Cases
Blood Assurance is facing an emergency need for donations after a sudden spike in trauma cases across the region. The increase in emergency situations has significantly strained the nonprofit’s already thin supply. The holiday season is historically one of the most challenging times of the year for blood collection. Hospitals often experience higher demand for …



