NASHVILLE — A horse in West Tennessee has tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a virus that can be fatal for horses and humans. The Tennessee departments of Agriculture and Health (TDA and TDH) are advising citizens to take precautions to protect themselves and their livestock.

Newport, Tenn. - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to the indictment and arrest of Melvin James Tucker, former manager of the Hideaway, for tax evasion and theft. Revenue special agents arrested Tucker, 49, with assistance from the Cocke County Sheriff’s office, on Thursday. Bond was set at $50,000.

TULLAHOMA - On Friday, October 18, 2019, the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) welcomed the next generation of Probation and Parole Officers (PPO’s) into our workforce during a graduation ceremony at the Tennessee Correction Academy in Tullahoma.

Newport, Tenn. - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to the indictment and arrest of Gary and Geraldine Ridens, the former owners of Brandywine Creek Steakhouse, for tax evasion, money laundering, conspiracy, and theft. With assistance from the Cocke County Sherriff’s Office, Revenue special agents arrested the Ridens at their residence Thursday. Bond was set at $100,000 each.

NASHVILLE—Today Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn announced that 117 charter schools will receive approximately half of the $12 million that was allocated to the department’s Charter School Facilities fund in Governor Lee’s budget. The money is designed to ensure that students in a Tennessee charter school are being educated in an environment that supports student achievement, safety, and well-being.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe recently approved $500,000 in Commercial Façade Improvement Grants to assist Tennessee communities with downtown improvements.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Tennessee Department of Health, and University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture today announced the detection of the invasive Asian longhorned tick in an additional six Tennessee counties: Knox, Jefferson, Claiborne, Cocke, Putnam, and Sevier.

The Tennessee Department of Correction is working to keep your children safe this Halloween Season.

NASHVILLE – Newly released information from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development shows lower unemployment across the state in September. The seasonally adjusted rate of 3.4 percent is 0.1 of a percentage point lower than the revised August rate of 3.5 percent.

In an effort to provide more efficient results for Tennessee’s cattle producers and veterinarians, Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Lab changed sample requirements for testing cattle persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea (BVD-PI).

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe, and DEVCON officials announced today that the company will expand its operations and locate its headquarters in Memphis.

NASHVILLE--Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions Commissioner Greg Gonzales announced today that the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 9.00 percent per annum. The rate is based on a ceiling of 4 percent over the weekly average prime loan rate of 5.00 percent as published by the Federal Reserve on October 15, 2019.

Tennessee revenues exceeded budgeted estimates for September, which is the second month of the state’s fiscal year.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced appointments to the Tennessee Complete Count Committee which will work alongside the U.S. Census Bureau for the 2020 Census.