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NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips today released new labor statistics that showed unemployment across Tennessee continued at near-historic low levels in September. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.6 percent in September mirrored the August 2018 rate and is just 0.3 of a percentage point higher than Tennessee’s all-time low unemployment rate of 3.3 percent.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today made the following statement on death row inmate Edmund Zagorski: “I am granting to Edmund Zagorski a reprieve of 10 days from execution of the sentence of death imposed upon by him by a jury in 1984 which was scheduled to be carried out later today. I take seriously the responsibility imposed upon the Tennessee Department of Correction and me by law, and given the federal court’s decision to honor Zagorski’s last-minute decision to choose electrocution as the method of execution, this brief reprieve will give all involved the time necessary to carry out the sentence in an orderly and careful manner.”

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed Darrell L. Scarlett of Murfreesboro as Circuit Court judge for the 16th Judicial District, which serves Rutherford and Cannon counties. The appointment fills a new trial court judgeship established this year by the Tennessee General Assembly. “We are fortunate to have someone with Darrell Scarlett’s experience in the 16th Judicial District,” Haslam said. “That experience prepares him well to serve in this newly created position.”

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe recently approved more than $550,000 in Façade Improvement Grants to assist Tennessee communities with downtown improvements.

NASHVILLE – Gov. Bill Haslam has appointed Andrew J. Gibbons of Kingsport as public defender for the Second Judicial District, which serves Sullivan County. Gibbons will replace Stephen Wallace, whose retirement is effective November 1. Gibbons has been an assistant public defender in the district since 2001. In that position, he handled a wide range of criminal defense cases. A lifelong resident of Sullivan County, Gibbons has worked closely with Wallace in his previous position.

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development today announced that Gov. Bill Haslam, former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Franklin businessman Bill Lee will be the keynote speakers at the 2018 Governor’s Conference on Economic and Community Development.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today received a report from educators with feedback, recommendations and immediate action steps on how to improve the delivery of the state’s elementary and secondary assessments known as TNReady. The report was generated from a recent statewide roundtable listening tour with teachers, testing coordinators and school administrators, and from educators who submitted comments through an online feedback form.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today granted executive clemency to five current or former Tennesseans. “These five individuals have made exceptional positive contributions to their communities and will be able to contribute even further by these grants of executive clemency,” Haslam said. “After thoughtfully considering their cases, I believe these individuals are deserving of pardons.”

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced a $2,500 reward for information leading to the apprehension, arrest and conviction of Kirby Gene Wallace, doubling the $2,500 reward already offered by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Wallace is wanted for first degree murder, felony murder, aggravated arson, especially aggravated kidnapping, especially aggravated robbery, especially aggravated burglary, and theft of property. Wallace is currently at large and is believed to be in the Stewart and Montgomery County area.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed Michael E. Spitzer as Circuit Court Judge for the 21st Judicial District, which serves Hickman, Lewis, Perry, and Williamson counties. The appointment fills the new trial court judgeship established by the Tennessee General Assembly earlier this year.

NASHVILLE – Governor Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam on Wednesday partnered with five-time National Football League MVP Peyton Manning to raise awareness and funds for The Pat Summitt Foundation, financing research, treatment and support for those facing Alzheimer’s disease. Both a lunch event at Wellspire Nashville and a private, ticketed dinner held Wednesday at the Tennessee Residence together raised more than $550,000 to benefit the fund established by the late head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteer basketball team, Pat Summitt.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Commissioner of Education Candice McQueen today announced that all 147 school districts in Tennessee have completed the first-ever statewide assessment of school facilities and safety procedures. Additionally, all districts have submitted applications to receive their allocations of the $35 million school security funding and may now use these funds to implement identified school security and safety needs. “We have made security for children at our schools a priority, so there was an urgency to have all schools assessed and the funding allocated to increase school safety as we started the school year,” Haslam said. “I thank the members of the School Safety Working Group for their work to identify solutions, the General Assembly for making these funds available, and state and local public safety officials for promptly completing the assessments.”

NASHVILLE – Tennessee’s unemployment rate remained near historic low levels in August, despite a slight increase, according to the latest statistics released today by Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips. The preliminary, seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate for August was 3.6 percent, just 0.1 of a percentage point higher than it was in July. Prior to August, Tennessee’s unemployment rate remained at 3.5 percent for three consecutive months.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Stonepeak Ceramics, Inc. officials announced today that the company will expand and open a new production line at its Crossville facility.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today named Jennifer Donnals as director of communications for his administration. Donnals most recently served as press secretary to the governor. “Over the past three years, Jennifer has been a key member of our team, leading many of our communications and media relations efforts,” Haslam said. “Jennifer’s expertise and relationships both within the administration and without will only help us as we continue to share Tennessee’s successes in education, jobs, and efficient and effective government.”