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NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced Katie Ashley will serve as director of legislation, the governor’s chief advisor and strategist for legislative matters. The Crockett County native is one of the longest serving Haslam staffers, starting out on his campaign in 2009 before becoming a legislative liaison in 2011 and handling one of the governor’s top priorities: education in Tennessee.

Today, Commissioner David W. Purkey of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) along with Colonel Tracy Trott of the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) are proud to announce the “40 Under 40” award recipient, Sergeant Maureen Velez. Velez was recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in Philadelphia, PA.

On Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, residents of Hamilton and Bradley counties can safely dispose of outdated medications or shred their personal documents and records during a consumer service effort that coincides with National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced today that Director of Legislation Warren Wells will leave the administration on December 1 to join the government affairs team at Unum in Chattanooga. Wells, 34, has served in the Governor’s Office since 2011. He became Gov. Haslam’s chief strategist for legislation in 2015 and was instrumental to the passage of the IMPROVE Act, the Reconnect Act and the STRONG Act, landmark initiatives for Haslam.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam will hold budget hearings for Fiscal Year 2018-2019 on Monday, November 6 through Thursday, November 9. The hearings will be held in the Executive Conference Room on the ground floor of the State Capitol. Haslam, Finance and Administration Commissioner Larry Martin, Chief Operating Officer Greg Adams and David Thurman, state budget director, will preside over the hearings.

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe along with Techni-Glass, Inc. officials announced today the company will expand in Surgoinsville. The custom glass manufacturer will invest $1.5 million and create 54 new jobs in Hawkins County.

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development today announced four new Select Tennessee Certified Sites.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) was dispatched to State Route 81 in Washington County, TN to a motor vehicle crash with injuries and possible fatality.

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Revenue will be holding a series of free, in-person tax workshops for new businesses in Chattanooga, Johnson City, Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville in November.

The arrival of heating season historically equates to a drastic uptick in the number of home fire incidents. As this high-risk period approaches, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) reminds consumers that fire sprinklers are the best way to successfully protect homes, property and lives from fire.

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Shaw Industries Group, Inc. officials announced today that the floor products manufacturer will invest $42 million to upgrade its yarn facility in Decatur.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips today announced the state unemployment rate fell to 3 percent in September, marking the lowest it has been since the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the information in January of 1976. Tennessee first marked a historic low unemployment rate in June at 3.6 percent, which was bested by the July rate of 3.4 percent, and then fell even lower in August to 3.3 percent.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed James L. Gass of Dandridge as special judge for Circuit Court in the 4th Judicial District. Gass’s appointment fills the temporary vacancy due to the recent illness of Circuit Court Judge Richard R. Vance. The 4th Judicial District serves Jefferson, Grainger, Cocke and Sevier counties.