Newsroom

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced that Director of Legislation Katie Ashley will leave the administration on November 9 to join Bradley Arant Boult Cummings to serve as senior advisor for government affairs and economic development. As part of the governor’s legislative team for the past eight years, Ashley played an essential role in budget and policy development that led to Tennessee being recognized as a national leader in education, economic development, efficient and effective government, and fiscal strength.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed two additional members to the Board of Trustees of the University of Tennessee. Decosta Jenkins and Jamie Woodson join the board in advance of the meeting scheduled for November 2. The appointments follow passage of the University of Tennessee Focusing On Campus and University Success (FOCUS) Act earlier this year. The legislation restructured the UT Board of Trustees to enhance governance of the UT system.

Tennessee corn farmers and landowners will be able to vote on a statewide checkoff referendum to consider a 1 cent per bushel assessment of corn sold.

KNOXVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced today the award of a transportation alternative grant for $1,865,149 to the city of Knoxville for the Northwest Greenway Connector - Phase 2. This project includes construction of a greenway beginning at a new trailhead at Middlebrook Pike (SR-169) and Third Creek Road and ending at the SR-62 Western Avenue Pedestrian Bridge. The project also includes landscaping, a retaining wall, ADA upgrades and fencing.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) proudly announces that “Get Alarmed, Tennessee!” will continue into 2019 after Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials recently approved a $333,334 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant.

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

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.

Year after year, pumpkins have made perfect fall decorations and delectable treats for many Tennesseans.

NASHVILLE – Sending and receiving money is easier than ever before thanks to electronic fund transfers, often called person-to-person (or P2P) payment systems. Person-to-person payment systems, like PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle, allow consumers to link bank accounts, debit cards, and/or credit cards in order to send and receive money to another party via mobile and desktop applications.

NASHVILLE - Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Administrator Abbie Hudgens has been named president of a prestigious national association. Members of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) recently elected their 2018 – 2019 board of directors and welcomed Hudgens as the board’s new president.

NASHVILLE - A national association recently honored the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s Chief Judge with its Leadership and Service Award for his role in creating and hosting the first New Judges’ Boot Camp in Nashville earlier this year.

Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton is announcing the appointment of Heather Slayton as Assistant State Forester for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) Division of Forestry.

NASHVILLE – In honor of National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 7-13), the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) congratulates Greenfield Fire Chief Bob Dudley for the 30th anniversary of Greenfield’s Fire Prevention Festival.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder recognize the service and sacrifice of U.S. Marine Corps Private First Class William Franklin (Frank) Cavin of Hancock County, who was killed in the Battle of Tarawa on November 20, 1943. He was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division on Betio Island and was among 1,000 Marines and Sailors killed during the World War II battle with the Japanese. He was 18 years old.