Tennessee News & Current Events | Public News Service

Memphis Light, Gas and Water is the largest three-service public power utility in the nation, serving more than 440,000 customers in Memphis and Shelby County. (Vika art/AdobeStock)

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

'Share the Pennies' weatherization program tackles climate solutions, reduces cost

By Ashli Blow for Tennessee Lookout.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Tennessee News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publ…

The latest EPA Clean School Bus funding of $940 million goes beyond health and environmental benefits. It supports school districts' transportation needs as well. (Adobe Stock)

$12 million in EPA rebates for clean school buses in Tennessee

Some Tennessee school districts are among 41 in the Southeast receiving funding from the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus rebate pro…

Connectus Health received a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last year. The funding helps improve health outcomes for patients at the highest risk of maternal morbidity and mortality. (Gorodenkoff)

Tennessee health centers bridging gap in women's health care services

The Tennessee Primary Care Association and its affiliated community health centers are working to increase accessibility to essential women's health-c…

As of March, Tennessee still had about 23% of its federal education funding from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief program, which could be used to help boost achievement. The deadline to allocate the funding is Sept. 30. (Adobe Stock)

Kids Count Data Book shows some improvement for TN children

Tennessee ranks in the middle among states for the well-being of its children, at 36th overall in the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E…

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has proposed issuing water withdrawal permits, which would allow several local water utilities to increase the amount of water they pull from the Duck River by about 16 million gallons daily. (RobertMiller/Adobe Stock)<br />

Middle TN's Duck River on list of 'nation's most endangered' waterways

The Duck River, which flows through seven Middle Tennessee counties, has made a national list of "most endangered" rivers. The group American Rivers …

While 67.7% of Tennesseans are homeowners, a rate that ranks 29th in the country, nearly 20% of<br />homeowners are cost burdened. (D Guest Smith/Adobe)

New TN law tackles housing affordability with more multifamily homes

In response to Tennessee's critical housing shortage, a new law allows local governments to incentivize developers to build more affordable housing…

Compared to other states, Tennessee ranks 41st in the country for its higher prevalence of mental illness and lower rates of access to care for youth. (WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Nashville superintendent works to nurture students' mental health

In Tennessee and across the country, Black women who are school superintendents are tackling the challenges faced by students from marginalized …

The Tennessee Lead and Copper Rule tests taps at risk of lead contamination. If more than 10% exceeds the limit, water systems must take action. (GDM photo and video/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

EDF maps show progress on Tennessee lead service line replacement

Tennessee has fallen behind on lead service line replacement, with the Environmental Defense Fund's new maps showing only one utility with a public …

Children of color are disproportionately enrolled in Medicaid, underscoring the unwinding's potential impact on families of color. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: More than 59,000 Tennessee kids lose health coverage post-COVID

A new report from Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families says nationwide, 4.16 million fewer children were enrolled in Medicaid and …

The bill mandates staff to undergo 80 hours of training annually 40 hours on basic school policing and 40 hours on commission-approved school policing curriculum at their own cost. (Rawpixel.com)

Group voices concerns about new TN law arming teachers, staff

Grassroots organizations are sounding the alarm about Tennessee's new law allowing teachers and other school employees to carry guns. Gov. Bill Lee …

Individuals present during atmospheric nuclear weapons testing could qualify for a single, substantial financial payment as compensation. (Hamara/AdobeStock)

RECA expansion bill impacts Tennessee, awaits House approval

A Knoxville-based environmental group is advocating for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expansion, currently awaiting House approval…

The United Auto Workers union has more than 600 local chapters and a history of bargaining contracts with more than 1,000 employers. (Ilja/Adobe Stock)

VW workers make history as first Southern automaker to unionize

Late Friday, a majority of Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga overwhelmingly voted to join the United Auto Workers. The vote is historic, as they are …

Senate Bill 2019, sponsored by Rep. Shane Reeves, R-Bedford, is expected to be signed by the governor. It would take effect July 1, 2024. (18percentgrey/Adobe Stock)

TN poised to expand access to opioid treatment at Community Health Centers

There is light at the end of the tunnel for Tennesseans struggling with opioid addiction, as a bill has been passed to increase access to treatment …

According to a Pew Research study, while a significant majority of Black adults support providing reparations to descendants of enslaved people in the U.S., only a small minority of white Americans shares the same view. (f11photo/Adobe Stock)

TN reparations ban bill set for vote today

The Tennessee House of Representatives plans to vote today on House Bill 474, to end the study of reparations in the state. A Memphis nonpartisan …

A Becker's Hospital report indicates about 85% of healthcare facilities around the country are short of allied health professionals. (Chanelle Malambo/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

VUMC partners with local schools to tackle healthcare staffing shortage

By Laura Aka for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Tennessee News Service reporting for the WorkingNation/Public News Service Coll…

In 2022, Tennessee's uninsured rate was 9.3%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (Annap/Adobe Stock)

'Dual-eligible special needs' coverage may benefit TN seniors

Certain health plans offer benefits for eligible low-income seniors in Tennessee who have special medical needs but not everyone knows they are availa…

A report from the Tennessee HealthCare Campaign recommended the federal government needs to strengthen 340B drug pricing and other federal negotiation mechanisms to make needed medicines more readily available and less expensive for hospitals to purchase and administer. (Spotmatikphoto/AdobeStock)

Medicaid expansion could save TN rural hospitals from closing

A recent report examined how some rural Tennessee hospitals have managed to stay afloat despite financial challenges. The report includes interviews …

Tennessee residents typically spend around $177 per month on electric bills, which amounts to an annual expenditure of $2,124. (ABCDstock/Adobe Stock)

TN bill would boost public's role in TVA decision-making process

Tennesseans want more say in how the Tennessee Valley Authority plans for their future electricity needs and a bill now in Congress could give the pub…

Data show Oak Ridge residents pay $2.67 million in taxes toward nuclear weapons programs. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Alliance: 'Skyrocketing' Y-12 facility costs affect TN taxpayers

A Knoxville-based environmental group is voicing concerns over what it sees as an increasing financial strain imposed on taxpayers by nuclear weapons …

According to the American Lung Association, more than 63 million Americans live in areas with unhealthy spikes of soot pollution. (BCH Photo/Adobe Stock)<br />

TN groups monitoring soot pollution pleased by new EPA standards

The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized stronger air quality standards for soot pollution and one regional organization said it is a step in…

In a 2021 report by the state, about 31% of patients served by Community Health Centers in Tennessee had no health insurance. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br />

Making TN healthcare headway is goal of 'Day On the Hill'

Tennessee healthcare advocates and leaders are headed to the State Capitol on Wednesday to voice their concerns over issues that affect patients' acce…

More than 131,000 Tennesseans have already cast their ballots during early voting. (rawpixel/Adobe Stock)

New Tennessee law could lead to voter confusion at the polls

As municipal elections in Tennessee fast approach, groups are making an urgent push for more voter education - especially in the Nashville metro area…

Regaining voting rights has been shown to reduce recidivism rates, meaning more Tennesseans would<br />be able to reenter their communities, work, and earn money to pay off their debts. (rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: TN voting-rights restoration process 'overly complicated'

In Tennessee, almost a half million people won't be able to vote in any upcoming elections because of a past felony conviction, and one organization …

Bryce Shanklin, a Williamson County career rural mail carrier, unloads the U.S. Postal Service vehicle he uses for delivering mail. (Jeremy Woodard)

Calls for increased rural Postal Service staffing grow louder

Across the country, and especially in rural parts of Tennessee, U.S. Postal Service staffing shortages are being blamed by some for delays in mail …

Hispanic adults have made the most progress in attainment in Tennessee, with an increase of 12.6 percentage points from 2009 to 2022. (Drobot Dean/Adobe Stock)

Report: TN could do more to help improve degrees, certificates attainment

New data show how many people pursue degrees or other credentials after high school, and the numbers show the Volunteer State has some work to do to …

Y12 annually hosts female high school students as part of a program called

Lawsuit probes EPA decision in allowing Oak Ridge landfill

Environmental groups in Tennessee will soon learn more about the approval process behind a radioactive waste landfill which has been processing and st…

Every dollar spent on SNAP generates between $1.50 and $1.80 in local economic activity. For Tennessee, that is a total expected economic impact of up to $140 million from Summer EBT benefits. (NDABCREATIVITY/Adobe Stock)

Summer EBT food program estimated to help 644,000 kids

One in eight Tennesseans who have experienced hunger is a child. The Volunteer State is tackling childhood hunger this summer by opting into the new …

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates a state-level, fully refundable Child Tax Credit of $1,300 for those younger than 18, and $1,560 for children younger than 6, would cut Tennessee's child poverty rate by 25%. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

State of Child report: One in five children younger than 5 lives in poverty

Tennessee's "State of the Child" 2023 report shows some progress, but also highlights ongoing areas of concern. From the Tennessee Commission on …

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expects by the autumn of 2024 to develop national recommended ambient water quality criteria for PFAS to protect aquatic life and human health. (Eifel Kreutz/Adobe Stock)

Report: PFAS chemicals contaminate TN rivers, lakes

The latest research reveals alarming levels of contamination in northeastern Tennessee waterways, by the chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl …

Donors have the opportunity to contribute a full blood donation every 56 days, which is roughly equivalent to eight weeks. (Belish/AdobeStock)

Group urges Tennesseans to donate blood amid critical shortage

Blood donations are important year-round, and January, which is National Blood Donor Month, presents a unique challenge due to the holiday season…

In 2019, Black Americans represented 14% of the total U.S. population, but 33% of the total prison population and 46% of the prison population who had already served at least 10 years. (Framestock/Adobe Stock)

Report cites racial disparity in imprisonment

Tennessee's incarceration rates stand out internationally, and there are glaring racial disparities in prisons and jails. New research examines the …

The latest America's Health Rankings report showed some strengths in Tennessee, including a low prevalence of excessive drinking, and low rates of income inequality compared to other states. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Report: Tennessee ranks 44th for health outcomes

A new report highlights what Tennessee could focus on to improve the health of its residents. The latest America's Health Rankings report ranks …

Launched in 2021, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development's Office of Re-Entry suggests justice-involved individuals register on Jobs4TN before release to facilitate their job search. (Gstockstudio/AdobeStock)

6 people in prison receive bachelor’s degrees from Lane College

Bridging the gap between education and incarceration, six people in Tiptonville, Tennessee, recently got their bachelor's degrees through a historic …

According to Apprenticeship Tennessee, companies investing in apprenticeships see a significant return on their investment, with estimates of a $1.46 return for every $1 invested. (romul014/Adobe Stock)

Apprentices in demand for Tennessee construction careers

The apprenticeship "learn-while-you-earn" model has emerged as a game-changer for Tennessee employers who want to cultivate a skilled and dedicated wo…

Some Marketplace health-care plans offer lower premiums, as the Inflation Reduction Act has extended the federal subsidies that help pay those premiums through 2025. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Tennesseans still have time to sign up before ACA enrollment deadline

In Tennessee and across the country, the deadline to enroll in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act is Friday at midnight. More than 4 …

According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, the Y12 complex has about 4,500 employees and another 2,000 contractors. (Enzo/Adobe Stock)

Alliance sounds alarm on contamination in Oak Ridge

A Knoxville-based environmental group is voicing health and safety concerns about the development of a landfill for radioactive waste from the Y12 Ura…

Determining SNAP eligibility involves considering such factors as residency, age, relationship, citizenship, Social Security number assignment, employment, resources, income and relevant deductions. (Mikhailov Studio/Adobe Stock)

TN families hit 'income cliff' when trying to get SNAP benefits

With the next Farm Bill stalled in Congress and rising food insecurity in Tennessee, advocacy groups say there's a pressing need to address a hurdle …

The latest KFF survey reveals one in six respondents say they can't afford to take time off work to get a COVID-19 vaccine, including more than one-third of Hispanic adults and one-in-five Black adults. (Lakshmiprasad/Adobe Stock)

COVID vaccine resources for older minorities in Tennessee

A new survey found 59% of Black and Hispanic adults reported they have already received the new COVID-19 vaccine or intend to do so. According to …

Hispanic and multiracial high schoolers were most likely to report poor mental health, while Black and Hispanic students were most likely to report symptoms of depression, according to The Sycamore Institute report. (Highwaystarz/Adobe Stock)

Report uncovers trends in TN youth mental health crisis

More young people in Tennessee are experiencing poor mental health and symptoms of depression, and suicide attempts have been trending upward…

The University of Tennessee System saw an increase in enrollment this fall with more than 58,000 students enrolled in the system's five campuses, representing a 4.8% increase from last fall.<br />(Rido/AdobeStock)

UT System rolls out guaranteed admission for top high-school grads

As a bold step to attract academically gifted students, the University of Tennessee System is implementing a guaranteed admissions program. This …

The Social Security Administration calculates its annual cost-of-living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, which is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/AdobeStock)

TN Social Security beneficiaries can expect a 3.2% increase in 2024

Social Security is a critical benefit for older Americans, and recipients in Tennessee and across the country will see an increase in their benefits …

Black Americans have a disproportionately higher prevalence of stroke and the highest death rate from stroke compared with any other racial group. (Waseem Ali Khan/AdobeStock)

Tennesseans encouraged to act 'FAST' on World Stroke Day

In Tennessee and across the country, this Sunday is World Stroke Day. One out of four people worldwide will experience a stroke in his or her …

Report: Major TN utility lags in clean energy transition

A report by the Sierra Club rates utility companies for what they say they are doing to transition to cleaner energy sources, compared to what they …

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found flu shots lower the chance of getting the flu by from 40% to 60% among the general population. (RFBSIP/AdobeStock)

Seasonal influenza prevention starts now in Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Health is offering free flu vaccines at more than 100 county health departments across the state beginning Nov. 1…

Tennesseans will see peak colors for fall foliage across the state through Oct. 28, according to the Farmer's Almanac 2023. (Jacki/AdobeStock) <br /><br /><br />

Report highlights importance of leaving autumn leaves for wildlife

While it might feel natural to rake the leaves in your yard this fall, the leaves might play a more natural role in your garden or lawn. A new …

Medical interpreter cohort students after completing first half of their training. The vision of Centro Hispano is to see every Latino and Latina in East Tennessee thriving culturally, educationally and economically. (Courtesy of Centro Hispano de East Tennessee)

Knoxville nonprofit bridges language divide in Latino community

For the growing population of Latinos in Knoxville, having a medical interpreter can make a world of difference. The nonprofit Centro Hispano de …

The Environmental Protection Agency uses RadNet monitors to track fluctuations in gamma radiation emitted from airborne radioactive particles in Tennessee. (hamara/Adobe Stock)

TN group takes up nuclear weapons prohibition at UN meeting

A Knoxville group of concerned citizens will head next month to an international meeting at United Nations headquarters in New York. Their focus is …

Ford's BlueOval City complex could create up to 30,000 jobs in the region, including site operations and support positions, with more than $1 billion in annual earnings. (Mike Mareen/Adobe Stock)

Ford BlueOval City to boost jobs, economy in rural west TN

Most of the news about the automotive industry this month is focused on the United Auto Workers' strike against the Big Three automakers, but the …

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