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NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced today that Tennessee’s May 2018 statewide unemployment rate of 3.5 percent marked the 11th consecutive month the figure has been 3.5 percent or lower. While the May unemployment rate represents a slight uptick of 0.1 of a percentage point compared to the April rate of 3.4 percent, year-to-year, it is 0.3 of a percentage point lower than it was in May 2017.

NASHVILLE – While summer is the perfect time to break out the grill and spend time with family and friends, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is alerting Tennesseans to the dangers that accompany outdoor grilling season.

Rural vistas, country music, and easy access from just about anywhere make Tennessee a popular summertime destination.

NASHVILLE – Warmer weather means outdoor events like parties, weddings, and concerts where sky lanterns can often be found. The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is reminding concertgoers that sky lanterns—which are unmanned airborne paper lanterns fueled by flame—can only be operated in the Volunteer State by licensed fireworks professionals.

A Cocke County woman is charged in nearby Hamblen County with doctor shopping for prescription drugs, using TennCare healthcare insurance benefits as payment.

NASHVILLE – With the official start of summer ahead, music lovers are counting down the days until the kick-off of Tennessee’s outdoor festival season. With events like Bonnaroo in Manchester, CMA Fest in Nashville, and Chattanooga’s Riverbend Festival, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is reminding music fans to incorporate safety into their festival plans.

NASHVILLE – In an effort to provide greater flexibility and clarity to Tennessee educators when planning for school safety emergencies, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) today announces new guidance for classroom safety in addition to the adoption of the National Fire Protection Association 2018 Life Safety Code rules for classroom safety measures.

A stranger is just a friend you haven’t yet met, the saying goes. The same is true for the unfamiliar vegetables that will be showing up at farmers markets and in community supported agriculture (CSA) boxes this summer.

A Mississippi woman is charged with TennCare fraud for falsely reporting her residence in order to obtain benefits from TennCare, the state’s taxpayer-funded healthcare insurance program.

MEMPHIS - The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to the arrest of Richard Lee Rudd for tax evasion.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is receiving recognition for several years of work to radically change the way it serves thousands of low-income families. A new case study prepared in partnership with the Ascend at the Aspen Institute honors the department for being among the nation’s leaders in crafting and implementing a 2 Generation, or 2Gen, approach. Tennessee’s 2Gen programs aim to work with children and their parents simultaneously and put both on a path towards permanent economic security.

A Lawrence County woman is charged in Maury County with doctor shopping for prescription drugs, using TennCare as payment for the pills.

NASHVILLE – As June 1 marks the beginning of the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) is advising Volunteer State residents how they can prepare and protect themselves before and after severe weather.