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WHITE PINE, Tenn. — Leadvale Access Area on Douglas Lake is temporarily closed to the public as crews work to repair damage caused by Hurricane Helene. The access area, which serves as a popular entry point for boating and fishing, sustained significant structural impacts during the storm.

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 February 2026 is 10.18 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 6.18 percent.

NASHVILLE--Commissioner of Financial Institutions Greg Gonzales announced today that the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 10.75 percent per annum. The rate is based on a ceiling of 4 percent over the weekly average prime loan rate of 6.75 percent as published by the Federal Reserve on January 5, 2026.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) will celebrate the 40th year of the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards in 2026 and invites Tennesseans to submit nominations for the upcoming honors.

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announces a new master plan for the David Crockett Birthplace State Park following flooding damage from Hurricane Helene.

The Tennessee Historical Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, is accepting Federal Historic Preservation Fund Grant applications from January 19, 2026 through February 28, 2026.

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Tennessee State Museum will debut Tennessee Voices, American Stories on January 13, 2026. Organized around three concepts from the preamble to the U.S. Constitution: “We the People,” “A More Perfect Union,” and “The Blessings of Liberty,” Tennessee Voices, American Stories presents artifacts and stories of Tennesseans who helped shape both Tennessee and the nation.

Tennessee recorded a significant decline in traffic fatalities in 2025, with 147 fewer roadway deaths than the previous year, according to year end data released by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. The Tennessee Fatality Analysis Reporting System shows 1,045 traffic fatalities statewide in 2025, down from 1,194 in 2024, a reduction of approximately 14 percent.