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JCPenney re-opens in Oak Ridge

Posted at 12:45 pm May 27, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

JCPenney filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday, May 15, 2020, after closing during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Oak Ridge store, pictured above on May 5, has re-opened. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The JCPenney store in Oak Ridge has re-opened. The store is in Main Street Oak Ridge in the center of the city.

The store is open limited hours: from 12-7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday.

There are dedicated hours for at-risk customers: 11 a.m.-12 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday. At-risk customers include the elderly, pregnant women, and people with underlying health issues.

It hadn’t been clear if the Oak Ridge store, which had been temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, would re-open after JCPenney filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday, May 15.

But it is now open. Customers can enter through the doors on the Cinemark Tinseltown side of the store.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, COVID-19, Front Page News, Health, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: bankruptcy, COVID-19, JCPenney, Main Street Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge

JCPenney files for bankruptcy; Oak Ridge store remains closed

Posted at 3:51 pm May 16, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

JCPenney filed for bankruptcy on Friday, May 15, 2020, and the Oak Ridge store, pictured above on May 5, remains closed. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was last updated at 3 p.m. May 20.

Saddled with debt and already struggling, JCPenney filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday after closing its stores because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Oak Ridge store remains closed.

It’s not clear if or when the Oak Ridge store will re-open. It’s listed as temporarily closed.

Other JCPenney stores that are listed as temporarily closed in the area include locations in Turkey Creek in Farragut, West Town Mall in Knoxville, and Foothills Mall in Maryville.

JCPenney is the largest retailer to file for bankruptcy protection since the COVID-19 pandemic forced stores to temporarily close, according to CBS News.

There are only two JCPenney stores open in Tennessee. They are both near Nashville in Middle Tennessee. One is in Mt. Juliet, and the other is in Murfreesboro.

The company closed its stores and offices about two months ago, on March 18, because of COVID-19. It temporarily furloughed most hourly store employees starting April 2.

In a press release Friday, JCPenney said it will close stores in phases during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy. But details about the specific stores and their closing dates haven’t been announced.

JCPenney didn’t initially say how many stores might close, but over the weekend, there were reports that the company planned to close almost 30 percent of its 846 stores—about 192 stores by February and another 50 in 2022. That will leave the company, one of America’s most well-known chains, with just over 600 stores. Before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the United States, JCPenney had announced plans to close six of its stores in April, according to CNN.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: bankruptcy, COVID-19, JCPenney, Jill Soltau, Main Street Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge

2014 Election: Constitutional amendments, wine in groceries, a candidate’s record

Posted at 3:21 pm November 3, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

League Women Voters Constitutional Amendment Forum

Corinne Rovetti, co-director and family nurse practitioner for the Knoxville Center for Reproductive Health, second from right, discusses Amendment 1, which is on Tuesday’s ballot, during a forum in October. Also pictured are moderator JoAnn Garrett, right; Judy Cornett, second from left, distinguished professor in the College of Law at the University of Tennessee, who discussed Amendment 2; and Sherry Davis Kasper, professor of economics at Maryville College, who discussed Amendment 3.

 

Many voters remain confused about the four proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot in Tennessee on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4.

Three of the amendments were discussed during a League of Women Voters forum in Oak Ridge in October, and you can find a guide to the four amendments here.

The first amendment, Amendment 1, is related to abortion, and it appears to be the most divisive.

Here’s the full text of the proposed amendment to the Tennessee Constitution:

“Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion. The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Education, Government, K-12, Oak Ridge, Slider, State, Top Stories Tagged With: abortion, Amendment 1, Amendment 2, Amendment 3, Amy Rothfeldt, appellate judges, ballot, bankruptcy, College of Law, constitutional amendments, Corinne Rovetti, driving while intoxicated, DUI, earned income, election, election day, Food City, grocery stores, JoAnn Garrett, John DeClue, Judy Cornett, Knoxville Center for Reproductive Health, Kroger, Laurie Paine, League of Women Voters, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, liquor by the drink, lotteries, Maryville College, Melissa Eads, Oak Ridge Board of Education, payroll, regulations, Roe v. Wade, Sherry Davis Kasper, tax, Tennessee Constitution, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee Supreme Court, University of Tennessee, veterans organizations, Vilma DeClue, Why Yes on 1, wine

Sponsored: Mostoller, Stulberg, Whitfield, and Allen celebrate 40 years

Posted at 1:40 pm October 31, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Mostoller, Stulberg, Whitfield, and Allen Attorney Photo 2014

The attorneys at Mostoller, Stulberg, Whitfield, and Allen in Oak Ridge are pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

Two middle‐aged women graduated from the University of Tennessee Law School in October 1974. Since no one would hire them, Ann Mostoller and Dorothy Stulberg formed a partnership and set up their own law practice as Mostoller and Stulberg. They were surprised when the local Bank of Oak Ridge was willing to lend them $2,000 as start‐up money without requiring their husbands’ signatures. The women rented space in the Cappiello Building on Tulsa Avenue and began to practice law. In their case, they were truly “practicing.”

Some local folks were willing to trust them with their wills and other legal matters. The new attorneys served low‐income clients by offering divorces at fees based on incomes. The partners accepted appointments to criminal cases. Although women in law was an anomaly at that time, several male attorneys in the area were willing to assist them, for which the women were extremely grateful.

After about a year, the women were appointed to serve as public defenders in Anderson County. During this one-year appointment, the new attorneys became experienced with criminal jury trials. Although they did not continue to practice criminal law, the appointment provided good experience and good exposure both for the attorneys and the public.

During the first few years of practice, the women represented Vickie Cape in her challenge to the half‐court basketball rules then followed in Tennessee. Federal Judge Robert Taylor ruled in favor of Vickie, but the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) appealed the decision, and the case was reversed in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. However, the next year, TSSAA changed the rules, and women have continued to play full-court basketball ever since. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Oak Ridge, Sponsored Posts Tagged With: 40th anniversary, Alice Moore, Anderson County, Ann Mostoller, attorneys, bankruptcy, Cappiello Building, Celia Hastings, criminal law, disability law, Dorothy Stulberg, education law, Elaine Robinson, Hannah Tippett, Hillary Kershaw, Judith Whitfield, Kathy Townsend, Katy Everitt, law, Mostoller and Stulberg, Nancy Brown, paralegal, personal injury, probate, Social Security disability, special education, Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, Tracey Williams, TSSAA, University of Tennessee, University of Tennessee Law School, Vickie Cape, William Allen, wills

Formerly USEC, now Centrus Energy, company emerges from bankruptcy

Posted at 11:35 am October 2, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

American Centrifuge Technology Manufacturing Center

The American Centrifuge Technology Manufacturing Center in south Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photo courtesy USEC/Centrus Energy Corp.)

Centrus Energy Corporation announced this week that it has satisfied all the conditions to emerge from a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The conditions were outlined in a reorganization plan approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on September 5.

The plan became effective Tuesday, and Centrus, formerly known as USEC Incorporated, emerged from the restructuring in a “stronger position to supply customers with nuclear fuel and support the energy and national security needs of the United States,” a press release said.

Centrus stock was expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday under the ticker symbol LEU.

“Throughout the restructuring process that began March 5, 2014, the company has continued to meet all of its obligations to customers and vendors and will not require external exit financing upon emergence,” the release said. The company had maintained its NYSE listing throughout the Chapter 11 process. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: American Centrifuge, American Centrifuge Technology, American Centrifuge Technology Manufacturing Center, bankruptcy, Centrus, Centrus Energy, Centrus Energy Corporation, Chapter 11 bankruptcy, John Welch, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, reorganization plan, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, USEC, USEC Incorporated

DOE explores options for enriched uranium technology for national security

Posted at 5:17 am May 6, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

American Centrifuge Technology Manufacturing Center

The American Centrifuge Technology Manufacturing Center in south Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photos courtesy USEC)

USEC, UT-Battelle to preserve centrifuge enrichment capabilities on interim basis

USEC and UT-Battelle have signed a $33.7 million, five-month contract to continue operating centrifuges and conducting research and development activities on a uranium enrichment project deemed important for national security and possible commercial use.

The agreement with UT-Battelle, which manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was signed May 1. The five-month term ends Sept. 30. The new agreement includes options for two six-month extensions valued at about $41.7 million each. The total price of the contract with the options is roughly $117 million.

USEC, which is now an ORNL subcontractor, previously performed research, development, and demonstration work on the project, the American Centrifuge Project, under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy that had been in place since June 12, 2012. That cost-sharing agreement expired April 30. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: ACTDO Agreement, American Centrifuge Manufacturing LLC, American Centrifuge Project, American Centrifuge Technology Demonstration and Operations Agreement, Babcock and Wilcox Technical Services Group Inc., bankruptcy, centrifuges, DOE, enriched uranium, Ernest Mozin, Form 8-K, National Nuclear Security Administration, national security, nuclear fuel, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Piketon, research and development, Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. Department of Energy, uranium enrichment, USEC, USEC Inc., UT-Battelle

USEC centrifuge agreement extended, but future uncertain as workers receive WARN notices

Posted at 10:01 am April 15, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Centrifuge Machine Manufacturing

In Oak Ridge, USEC workers take part in centrifuge operations, testing, and manufacturing for the American Centrifuge Project. (Photos courtesy USEC)

Note: This story was last updated at 11:11 a.m.

The American Centrifuge Project, a program that would enrich uranium for commercial nuclear power plants and has operations in Oak Ridge, got a little extra time this week.

Several billions have already been spent and funding was set to expire April 15, but USEC announced Tuesday morning that the research, development, and demonstration agreement was extended through April 30. That was done at no additional cost to the taxpayer through “prudent management of existing program funds by USEC,” the company said in a press release.

In the meantime, USEC said it continues its discussions with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which could take over the management of the project for national security purposes. The DOE takeover was announced by Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing earlier this month.

The future of the project is not clear and several hundred workers have received notices that they could be laid off. On Friday, USEC Inc. spokesperson Paul Jacobson said the 60-day notices, which were effective March 19, were sent to 174 USEC employees in the Oak Ridge area and a total of 400 workers. Most of the other workers are in Piketon, Ohio, but there are also a few at USEC headquarters in Bethseda, Md. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, DOE, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Aimee Mills, American Centrifuge Plant, American Centrifuge Project, B&W, Babcock and Wilcox Co., bankruptcy, centrifuges, DOE, enriched uranium, Ernest Moniz, Fukushima, nuclear power plants, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Paul Jacobson, research and development, research development and demonstration, U.S. Department of Energy, uranium, uranium enrichment, uranium fuel, USEC, WARN notices

USEC bankruptcy filing won’t affect daily operations in Oak Ridge, company says

Posted at 7:00 pm March 10, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Centrifuge Machine Manufacturing

In Oak Ridge, USEC workers take part in centrifuge operations, testing, and manufacturing for the American Centrifuge Project. (Photos courtesy USEC)

The Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and financial restructuring plan that USEC Inc. announced last week will not affect daily operations in Oak Ridge or the American Centrifuge Project, a company spokesman said Monday.

The bankruptcy filing and financial plan are a restructuring of the balance sheet of the parent company, USEC Inc., spokesman Paul Jacobson said. He said the company is trying to strengthen its balance sheet and be a stronger sponsor of the American Centrifuge Project, a “next-generation” U.S. uranium enrichment technology. USEC Inc. is a global energy company that is a leading supplier of enriched uranium fuel for commercial nuclear power plants.

The company currently has 304 people working on the centrifuge program in Tennessee. In Oak Ridge, workers take part in centrifuge operations, testing, and manufacturing.

“This plan for restructuring our debt and equity will have no effect on our employees, who will continue to receive paychecks and benefits in the ordinary course,” Jacobson said. “As we have communicated to our employees previously, some employees will be impacted by several ongoing initiatives that are unrelated to the restructuring.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: American Centrifuge Project, B&W, Babcock and Wilcox Co., bankruptcy, centrifuge program, Chapter 11, Chapter 11 bankruptcy, financial restructuring, nuclear fuel, nuclear power, Oak Ridge, Ohio, Paducah, Paul Jacobson, restructuring, Securities and Exchange Commission, Toshiba Corp., U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. Department of Energy, United States Enrichment Corp., uranium enrichment, USEC Inc.

IMPACT Services cleanup scheduled to end Friday

Posted at 1:47 pm June 27, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

IMPACT Services Waste

The last of more than one million pounds of low-level radioactive waste at the former IMPACT Services site at Heritage Center in west Oak Ridge was scheduled be shipped out today.

It’s considered a success story—a one-year, $1.2 million state project to ship out more than one million pounds of low-level radioactive waste from a company that has declared bankruptcy—and it’s scheduled to end Friday, officials said last week. The last waste, stored in an open-air shed at the site, was scheduled to be shipped out today, but it has been delayed a day or two.

The project began in May 2012 after IMPACT Services Inc., a company that processed low-level radioactive waste, declared bankruptcy. The company had operations on property leased from the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee at the northwest corner of Heritage Center, the former K-25 site in west Oak Ridge.

In the past year, state and contractor officials said during a tour last week, a total of roughly 1.6 million pounds of waste and equipment has been shipped out, including to other processors and sites in Oak Ridge, Florida, and a landfill in Clive, Utah. The waste has been shipped from the site in 1,200 containers on some 220 truck shipments. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, East Tennessee Technology Park, Government, Oak Ridge, Roane County, State, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: bankruptcy, cleanup, Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee, Division of Radiological Health, EDi, Environmental Dimensions Inc., Heritage Center, IMPACT Services Inc., Judy Hardt, K-25, low-level radioactive waste, Mike Marable, Roger Fenner, SAIC, TDEC, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, U.S. Department of Energy

IMPACT Services cleanup coming to end with one million pounds shipped

Posted at 1:19 pm June 20, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

IMPACT Services Waste

The last of more than one million pounds of low-level radioactive waste at the former IMPACT Services site at Heritage Center in west Oak Ridge will be shipped out next Thursday.

Considered a success story, the one-year, $1.2 million state project to ship out more than one million pounds of low-level radioactive waste from the west Oak Ridge site of a company that declared bankruptcy about one year ago will end next week.

Already, about 1.1 million pounds of waste in about 1,200 containers have been shipped off the Heritage Center site, including to other processors and sites in Oak Ridge, Florida, and an EnergySolutions landfill in Clive, Utah, officials said during a Thursday morning tour.

A half-dozen shipments remain between now and Friday, June 28, said Judy Hardt, project manager for SAIC, which is performing the on-site work under a contract with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, East Tennessee Technology Park, Government, Oak Ridge, State, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: bankruptcy, cleanup, Heritage Center, IMPACT Services Inc., Judy Hardt, K-25, low-level radioactive waste, Roger Fenner, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

ETTP waste processor files for bankruptcy

Posted at 12:18 pm May 25, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

IMPACT Services Inc., a company that processes low-level radioactive waste in west Oak Ridge, has filed for bankruptcy, Tennessee officials said Friday morning.

The company has about one million pounds of waste at East Tennessee Technology Park, the former K-25 site. State officials said workers are at the site to ensure the materials are safe.

“It should be reiterated that the material at the facility is secure and a radiation safety officer remains onsite,” said Meg Lockhart, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Government, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: bankruptcy, IMPACT Services Inc., radioactive waste, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, waste processing

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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