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Governor Bill Lee and Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. are announcing 15 businesses will benefit from the latest round of Agricultural Enterprise Fund (AEF) awards.

The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to Carlos Flores Ramirez, owner of Carmen’s Taqueria, pleading guilty Thursday. Judge Barry Tidwell accepted Ramirez’ guilty plea to five counts of tax fraud and placed him on six years’ supervised probation. He also ordered Ramirez to pay $304,745.77 in restitution.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter announced today that Minnesota-based McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing, Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company, will be investing more than $50 million to expand its manufacturing presence in Tennessee.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate remained unchanged for July 2022, according to newly released data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). For the third consecutive month, the rate has held steady at 3.3%.

Nashville – A visitor accused of smuggling drugs into a Tennessee Department of Correction facility will now face murder charges following the overdose death of an inmate.

NASHVILLE--- The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) is pleased to announce that more than 18,000 Tennessee teenagers between 15-17 years old have taken the driver’s license knowledge test online since it became an option three months ago on May 16, 2022! The test may be administered in the comfort of your own home 24/7 which offers convenient hours that don’t interfere with work or school.

Any purchase sight-unseen carries risk, and that’s especially true for livestock. Tennessee’s State Veterinarian is advising livestock buyers of best practices and legal requirements before purchasing animals for import into Tennessee.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the appointments of Erin Merrick to succeed Jonathan Skrmetti as Chief Legal Counsel, effective September 1, and Casey Black Sellers to succeed Laine Arnold as Director of Communications, effective September 2. Skrmetti will assume the role of Tennessee Attorney General and Reporter. Arnold will lead communications for the governor’s re-election campaign in addition to starting a strategic communications venture for corporations and causes.

Nashville – The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) has received a $200,000 grant that will assist offenders expiring their sentence find stable housing upon release.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes, today announced Governor Bill Lee’s appointment of retired U.S. Army Colonel Kevin Stewart as the new commander of the Tennessee State Guard. Stewart will be promoted to the rank of Brig. Gen. (Tenn.) and assume command of the State Guard during a ceremony at Nashville’s Joint Force Headquarters on Oct. 1.

CHATTANOOGA– The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) is accepting applications for the Chattanooga Citizens’ Academy. The first class starts on September 27 and graduates November 8. Weekly sessions are on Tuesdays and run from 5:45 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. CST. The academy is designed to give citizens a better understanding and awareness of THP and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Citizens will receive hands-on instruction and training from state troopers and other department personnel throughout the academy. Classes will be at the Region 2 Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) office.

MEMPHIS – The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) is accepting applications for the Memphis Citizens’ Academy. The first class starts on September 20, and ends November 1. Weekly sessions run from 5:45 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. CST. The academy is designed to give citizens a better understanding and awareness of THP and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Citizens will receive hands-on instruction and training from state troopers and other department personnel throughout the academy. Classes will be held weekly on Tuesdays, at the Greater Imani Church in Memphis.

Governor Bill Lee has recognized Jill Johnson, D.V.M. of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) with the Governor’s Excellence in Service Award for exceptional service to the state and her fellow Tennesseans. Dr. Johnson is an Animal Health Veterinary Medical Officer serving 13 Middle Tennessee counties.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment is conducting a change of command ceremony at Knoxville’s West High School football field on Sunday, Aug. 14, at 1 p.m.

A public hearing to offer comments on Tennessee’s Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) application has been scheduled for August 19, 2022. The SSBG plan can be found on the DHS website.