In February, the Oak Ridge City Council approved the borrowing of $18 million in low-interest state loans to help pay for a $23 million project to fix the municipal sewer system.
On Wednesday, Tennessee officials announced that the loans had been approved. [Read more…]
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has announced that Greg Adams, who has been an IBM executive and longtime employee, will join the governor’s senior team as chief operating officer, a press release said.
His job will be to work with state departments to ensure they’re operating in the most efficient and effective way possible. [Read more…]
Bill Haslam
Legislation changes the definition of “criminal gang offense”
MEMPHIS—Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam on Wednesday held a ceremonial bill signing in Memphis for legislation that rewrites and simplifies the criminal gang offense enhanced punishment law.
Gang-related crimes are of increasing concern across Tennessee, in the state’s rural and urban communities, and the bill, House Bill 196/Senate Bill 202, changes the definition of “criminal gang offense” from a vague and broad definition to a specific list of offenses that will make it easier for prosecutors to seek a greater sentence. [Read more…]
Volkswagen, Roane County, and Tennessee officials celebrate the opening of a $40 million parts distribution center in eastern Roane County on Tuesday.
ROANE COUNTY—A new $40 million Volkswagen distribution center in eastern Roane County will distribute domestic auto parts to a global market for the Passat, which is made in Chattanooga, the company said Tuesday.
The Southeast Regional Distribution Center started operating on a limited basis as a redistribution center in April. It serves five other depots in the United States, as well as warehouses in Canada, Mexico, and Germany.
Later, it will include a parts distribution center for 110 Volkswagen and Audi dealers in the Southeast. [Read more…]
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam last week announced that Deputy to the Governor Claude Ramsey will retire at the end of August to spend more time with his wife, children, and grandchildren in Chattanooga.
A press release said Ramsey, a former Hamilton County mayor, has been integral to Haslam on several key initiatives, including civil service reform, economic development efforts, workforce development training, and improved operation of state government. [Read more…]
The Tennessee Board of Regents on Friday approved maintenance fee and tuition recommendations at its universities and community colleges.
The proposed increases for students taking 15 credit hours would amount to an extra $102 per semester for community college students.
The TBR also approved a new associate of applied science program, a collaborative surgical technology program through Walters State and Roane State community colleges. [Read more…]
Gov. Bill Haslam announces that Oak Ridge has received $200,000 in Clean Tennessee Energy Grant funding for lighting at the Municipal Building and Civic Center.
Gov. Bill Haslam on Monday announced that Oak Ridge is receiving $200,000 in Clean Tennessee Energy Grant funding for lighting in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building and Civic Center Complex.
The money will be used to replace and retrofit existing fluorescent lighting fixtures to LED lighting, a press release said.
It’s the first of 19 grant awards that the governor will be making in the next few weeks, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation said in the press release. Funding for the projects comes from an April 2011 Clean Air Act settlement with the Tennessee Valley Authority. [Read more…]
Information from WYSH Radio
Several people, including two from Clinton, have applied to fill an anticipated 2014 vacancy on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. The opening is the result of an announcement by Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Joseph Tipton that he will not seek re-election in August 2014, creating a vacancy effective Sept. 1, 2014.
Because the statutory provisions for the Judicial Nominating Commission expire June 30, the commission will meet this month to select a slate of candidates for Gov. Bill Haslam to choose from. The Court of Criminal Appeals opening is for the Eastern Tennessee Grand Division. [Read more…]
Bill Haslam
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam had a ceremonial bill signing for a reduction in the Hall Income tax for senior citizens on Tuesday, a press release said.
Haslam signed the legislation during a visit to Crossville. It’s the second piece of legislation cutting taxes in the governor’s 2013 legislative agenda, the press release said. [Read more…]
Bill Haslam
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam on Monday signed legislation that reduces the state sales tax on groceries from 5.25 percent to 5 percent in July.
It was the last step in a two-year effort to cut the state portion of the grocery sales tax to 5 percent, a press release said.
Haslam held a ceremonial bill signing on Monday at Sloan’s Grocery in Vonore in Monroe County. [Read more…]
Bill Haslam
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has vetoed a controversial bill that would have required anyone who visually recorded livestock abuse to turn over the images or videos to law enforcement officers within 48 hours.
Haslam said the Tennessee attorney general has questioned the constitutionality of the bill, and it appears to repeal parts of Tennessee’s Shield Law without saying so. In addition, Haslam said, there are concerns from some district attorneys that the legislation would actually make it more difficult to prosecute animal cruelty cases, an unintended consequence.
In a Monday press release, he said he wants the Tennessee General Assembly to reconsider the legislation, which critics had labeled the bill the “ag gag” bill. There had been an intense campaign urging the governor to veto the measure, with most people expressing opposition, The Tennessean reported. Celebrities such as Carrie Underwood and Emmylou Harris had weighed in as well. [Read more…]
Christopher Michael Ward
Note: This is an edited copy of a Thursday announcement from the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs.
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder regretfully announce the loss of Tennessee soldier Staff Sgt. Christopher Michael Ward of Oak Ridge.
Ward was fatally injured when his patrol was struck by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, which detonated on Saturday, April 6, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Ward was serving with Troop A, 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, Fort Stewart, Ga.
The 24-year old soldier grew up in Arcadia, Fla. However, Ward moved to Tennessee with his mother, Joyce Ward, and attended Oak Ridge High School before earning his General Educational Development, or GED, diploma and enlisting in the United States Army in November 2006. [Read more…]
