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ThreeStar status awarded to 85 counties, including Anderson, Roane

Posted at 9:20 am August 17, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Bill Hagerty

Bill Hagerty

Submitted

93 out of 95 counties meet audit committee requirement

NASHVILLE—The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development on Thursday announced that 85 out of 95 counties, including Anderson and Roane, have been awarded ThreeStar status. In addition, since the ThreeStar community development program began requiring eligible communities to create and maintain a County Audit Committee in January 2013, the number of counties with Audit Committees has increased substantially. As of March 2013, there were 32 audit committees around the state; as of July 2014, there are 93.

“The ThreeStar program is a vital component to our state’s overall level of success, providing counties with a proven roadmap for continued economic and community strength, which in turn helps Tennessee win new investment and jobs,” Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty said. “Tennessee has been recognized as the number one state in the nation for economic development, and these audit committees support Governor Haslam’s overarching goal of making Tennessee the most efficiently run state on every level. I congratulate all of our ThreeStar counties and those communities who are taking the initiative to create Audit Committees and work toward achieving fiscal strength and efficient government.”

The Audit Committees are designed to help each county improve their financial management and reporting practices, and help ensure the implementation of good internal controls to prevent or detect fraud, a step towards achieving fiscal strength and efficient government. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Front Page News, Government, Roane County, State, Tennessee Tagged With: Audit Committee, Bill Hagerty, Bill Haslam, community development, Comptroller of the Treasury, economic development, Five Pillars, governor, Justin P. Wilson, Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, ThreeStar, ThreeStar status, TNECD

Alexander, Fleischmann finish first in primaries

Posted at 1:58 pm August 8, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Lamar Alexander and Johnny Alley

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, left, a Tennessee Republican, campaigns at Dean’s Restaurant and Bakery in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, one day before he beat Tea Party challenger Joe Carr, a state representative from Middle Tennessee, in the seven-candidate GOP primary. Alexander is pictured above with Anderson County Property Assessor Johnny Alley.

 

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

Ninth District judicial race close; Supreme Court justices retained

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander finished far ahead of a Tea Party challenger in the Republican primary on Thursday, and Representative Chuck Fleischmann narrowly beat Weston Wamp, the son of former Congressman Zach Wamp, in the second battle between the two men.

Alexander’s top opponent in the seven-candidate GOP primary was State Representative Joe Carr of Middle Tennessee. Alexander, who lost in his home district of Blount County, had 329,929 votes, compared to 269,883 for Carr, according to unofficial results posted by the Tennessee Secretary of State.

George Flinn, a Memphis radiologist and radio station owner, finished a distant third, with 34,568 votes.

Alexander, a former Tennessee governor and University of Tennessee president, will face Democrat Gordon Ball in the November 4 general election. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Federal, Federal, Government, Morgan County, Roane County, Slider, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Election Commission, Bill Haslam, Caitlin Nolan, Charles Brown, Chuck Fleischmann, Cornelia Clark, Democrat, Dennis Powers, District 36, Fifth District, Gary Wade, George Flinn, GOP primary, Gordon Ball, governor, House District 33, Jason Zachary, Jim Tracy, Joe Carr, John J. Duncan Jr., John Ragan, Lamar Alexander, Mary Headrick, Mike Pemberton, Ninth Judicial District, November 4 general election, Randy McNally, Representative, Republican, retention election, Scott DesJarlais, Scotty Mayfield, Sharon Lee, Supreme Court justices, Tea Party, Tennessee Secretary of State, Tennessee Senate, Terry Adams, Third District, Tom McFarland, U.S. senator, Virgil Kidwell, Weston Wamp, Zach Wamp

Gov. Haslam has campaign stop in Oak Ridge on Wednesday

Posted at 1:44 pm August 3, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Governor Bill Haslam

Bill Haslam

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, who is running for re-election this year, will make a campaign stop in Oak Ridge on Wednesday. It’s one of a series of campaign stops across the state this week.

Haslam will be at Dean’s Restaurant in Jackson Square for “Lunch with Bill” at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. He’ll also be making other stops across East Tennessee on Wednesday, including in Chattanooga, Athens, Lenoir City, Sevierville, Dandridge, and Knoxville.

The Tennessean reported on July 11 that three other Republicans and nine other candidates also are running for the state’s highest office, but none are expected to seriously challenge Haslam, a former Knoxville mayor.

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Bill Haslam, campaign stop, Dean's Restaurant, governor, Lunch with Bill, Oak Ridge, re-election, Tennessee

Haslam signs bill to reduce grocery tax

Posted at 7:34 pm May 20, 2013
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Governor Bill Haslam

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…]

Filed Under: Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Bill Haslam, governor, groceries, grocery sales tax, HB 193, sales tax, SB 199, Tennessee General Assembly

Governor says legislative agenda underscores top priorities

Posted at 9:57 am February 1, 2013
By Tennessee Office of the Governor Leave a Comment

Governor Bill Haslam

Gov. Bill Haslam

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam this week announced his priorities for the 2013 legislative session, building on momentum from his past proposals focused on attracting and growing Tennessee jobs, pursuing meaningful education reform, managing an efficient and effective state government, and strengthening public safety.

“In working together over the past two years with the Legislature, we’ve accomplished a lot for the people of Tennessee, and I look forward to working with the 108th General Assembly in the same way,” Haslam said. “Our proposals represent our top priorities of making Tennessee the No. 1 state in the Southeast for high quality jobs, continuing to improve education, being the best managed state in the country, and keeping our citizens safe.”

The governor’s legislation:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Bill Haslam, Criminal Gang Enhancement statute, education, General Assembly, governor, grants, Halls Income Tax, jobs, legislative agenda, public safety, sales tax, scholarships, school choice, state government, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Improvement Act, top priorities

Former candidate for governor sworn in as TVA board member

Posted at 10:17 am January 11, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Michael McWherter

Michael McWherter, former Democratic candidate for governor, was sworn in as a Tennessee Valley Authority board member on Thursday in Nashville. (Photo courtesy of TVA)

A former Democratic candidate for governor became the newest member of the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors on Thursday.

Michael McWherter, of Jackson, Tenn., took the oath of office Thursday in a ceremony in Nashville. His term will expire on May 18, 2016.

McWherter was confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate on Jan. 1, and he was sworn in by U.S. District Judge Todd J. Campbell of the Middle District of Tennessee during a ceremony at the Estes Kefauver Federal Building and Courthouse.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: board of directors, Democratic candidate, governor, Michael McWherter, Tennessee Valley Authority, TVA, U.S. Senate

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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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