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An investigation by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) into suspected fraud involving the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) has resulted in five felony theft-of-property guilty pleas and the recovery of $21,705 in restitution.

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has announced it will follow its comprehensive black bass management model to develop the state's upcoming 2028–37 Tennessee Trout Management Plan. The announcement came at the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission’s October meeting in Bristol.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is accepting proposals for projects to address nonpoint source pollution (NPS) and improve or protect water quality across Tennessee. The deadline to submit proposals is Dec. 1, 2026.

Nashville –The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) is excited to take the first step in implementing the federal education tax credit program and to expand opportunities for students across all educational settings. The preliminary interest form for the federal education tax credit is now open to interested Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). Tennessee is one of 30 states that have made an advanced election to participate thus far.

Beginning Oct. 15, Tennesseans must obtain a free burn permit before burning leaves or natural debris or conducting prescribed burns. As wildfire season begins, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) encourages residents and visitors to observe National Fire Prevention Week by practicing fire prevention and exercising extra caution when burning outdoors.

The Commissioner of Financial Institutions hereby announces that the maximum effective rate of interest per annum for home loans as set by the General Assembly in 2025, Public Chapter 290, for the month of November 2026 is 11.37 percent per annum. The maximum effective rate of interest per annum for home loans shall be set at an amount equal to four (4) percentage points above the average prime offer rate (APOR), as defined in 12 CFR 1026.35, that applies to a thirty-year fixed loan, as published by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), or its successor federal entity. For the most recent APOR statistical data available preceding the date of this announcement, the calculated rate is 7.37 percent.

NASHVILLE--Commissioner of Financial Institutions Greg Gonzales announced today that the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 11.00 percent per annum. The rate is based on a ceiling of 4 percent over the weekly average prime loan rate of 7.00 percent as published by the Federal Reserve on October 5, 2026.

HENDERSON COUNTY, Tenn.-- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is temporarily closing Browns Creek Lake and Browns Lake Road in Natchez Trace State Park for parking renovation of the area beginning Oct. 19 through Oct. 30, 2026.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health is partnering with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help prevent rabies by distributing oral rabies vaccine for wild raccoons along Tennessee’s borders with Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. The annual baiting program administered by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, will begin in Tennessee on October 7, 2026.

The American Red Cross says if a fire starts in your home, you may have as little as two minutes to escape. A working smoke alarm provides early warning, but knowing what to do next matters just as much. That is worth thinking about during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 4-10. Home fires happen every day. According to the Red Cross, there is a home fire somewhere in the United States about every minute and a half. On average, someone is injured in a home fire every hour and someone dies about every three hours. The good news: there are simple steps you can take now.