Josh Peterson

The Tennessee gas price average remains unchanged since last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average is $1.94 which is exactly where prices were one month ago and nearly 41 cents less than one year ago.

The average price in Coffee County is on par with the state average at $1.94, which is up about two cents from the prior week.

“In a typical year, a hurricane season like we’ve experienced this year would have caused gas prices to spike, but 2020 is not a typical year,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Low U.S. gasoline demand has helped contain any impact to gas prices locally and regionally throughout this hurricane season.”

Quick Facts

· 89% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $2.00
· The lowest 10% of pump prices are $1.75 for regular unleaded
· The highest 10% of pump prices are $2.23 for regular unleaded
· Tennessee remains the 9th least expensive market in the nation

National Gas Prices

Over the weekend Hurricane Delta made landfall in southwestern Louisiana as a category 2 hurricane. While the storm caused some disruptions, refineries are reporting operations have resumed. The Colonial Pipeline Line 1, the main gas line, was down temporarily over the weekend due to loss of power, which has since been restored as well as service. Line 2, the distillates line, is currently shutdown without power. While the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement reports that approximately 91% of oil production in the Gulf of Mexico is currently shut-in, as of this morning, inspections are underway and production is expected to resume this week.

On the week, the national gas price average held steady at $2.18 despite a slight jump in demand. At 8.8 million b/d, gasoline demand is just 6% below levels last year at this time. However, the increase isn’t substantial enough to impact supply levels or pump prices. The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) weekly report measures gasoline supply at 226.7 million bbl. That is a decrease of 1.7 million bbl from the week prior, though the drop is likely attributed to high export numbers.

Today, motorists can find gas for $2.25 or cheaper at 72% of gas stations, compared to 12% last October. The national average is a penny less than last month and 45 cents cheaper than last year.

National Oil Market Dynamics

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI decreased by 59 cents to settle at $40.60. Crude prices dropped due to market concern about increasing coronavirus infections worldwide, which could lower crude demand. The drop in prices occurred alongside the EIA weekly report revealing that total domestic crude inventories increased by 500,000 bbl to 492.9 million bbl. For this week, crude prices could decline further if demand concerns continue to worry the market.

Manchester Mayor Lonnie Norman has passed away. He was 79 years old. 

Norman died in the early morning hours of Monday, Oct. 12. Norman was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Oct. 1 and had spent much of the time since then hospitalized.

In August Norman won re-election for his third consecutive term as Manchester’s Mayor. Currently, board-appointed vice mayor Marilyn Howard is performing mayoral duties.

“With a deep sense of sadness and loss, we announce the passing of Mayor Lonnie Norman after being hospitalized for COVID-19 on Oct. 1, 2020,” the City of Manchester said. “Mayor Norman passed away in the early hours of Monday, Oct. 12, after a valiant fight against COVID-19.”

The city’s charter states,  “…in case of a vacancy in the office of Mayor, the Board of Mayor
and Aldermen shall fill the vacancy with the Vice-mayor or from the
remaining members of the Board until the next regular election, at which
time someone will be elected for the balance of the term, if any, or for a
new term. ” 

The next regular city election is in two years – August of 2022. Thunder Radio is currently seeking clarity as to what will be considered the next “regular election.”

We will update this story with more details as we have them this morning.

NOTE, 8:47 A.M. MONDAY: Norman’s body will be escorted through Manchester Monday morning (likely between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.). Police will escort Norman’s body from the Interstate-24 exit 105 through Manchester to Central Funeral Home. 

One person has died as the result of being shot on East Moore Street in Tullahoma. A 16-year old has been charged with murder.

According to Tullahoma Public Information Officer Winston Brooks dead is 21-yaer old Brandon McGee, of Tullahoma.

The shooting was allegedly the result of an argument between McGee and the shooter.

The shooter’s name has not been released. He has been charged with first degree murder.

The shooting took place at the Dossett Apartments at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Story by Nadia Ramligan, Tennessee Public News Service

More than 80,000 Tennessee children were uninsured last year, and that drop is among the highest rates in the nation , according to a new report from the Georgetown Center for Children and Families.

Employer-sponsored coverage is increasingly unaffordable for many families, but Kinika Young – senior director of health policy and advocacy of the Tennessee Justice Center – said most kids are eligible for the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program or “CHIP.”

But Young said the federal government slashed budgets for outreach and enrollment assistance, leaving many parents either unaware of, or confused about, how to get kids covered.

“This report looks at 2016 to 2019, when we had a healthy economy and the lowest unemployment rates in decades,” said Young. “So the picture is likely much worse for 2020.”

The report said the Trump administration’s hostile rhetoric toward immigrants is another factor that left those families too afraid to sign up. It said around 726,000 children have lost health coverage nationwide since 2016 – and predicts the pandemic will continue the trend.

Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown Center for Children and Families, said the number of uninsured children has increased every year of the Trump administration. The largest jump was between 2018 and 2019.

“What’s so troubling is that, you know, we’ve had years and years of progress as a country, in a bipartisan way, to reduce the number of uninsured children,” said Alker. “And what we see now is, that trend has clearly turned around since President Trump took office. And we’re going backwards at an accelerating rate.”

Studies have shown children who are insured are more likely to stay on track for immunizations and receive preventive care. Young noted that during the pandemic, routine doctor and dentist visits are even more critical for spotting potential cases of abuse or neglect.

“Especially for kids who are not having interactions with teachers or other people outside the home at this time,” said Young. “Their only sort of connection to the outside world may be their doctor.”

She notes all Tennessee families enrolled in CoverKids and Tenncare are protected from being dis-enrolled during the COVID-19 crisis, as part of an executive order issued early this year by Gov. Bill Lee.

The annual Manchester Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony will be held in
Manchester on Saturday, November 7th, 2020, with the parade commencing at 10
AM. Lineup for the parade will begin at 9 AM.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 3 parade entries.

The Veterans Day Ceremony will be held immediately following the parade at
11 AM on the Manchester Square. U.S. Army retiree and VFW Post 10904
Chaplain Hans Hooker will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

There will be food and merchandise vendors, and The Clower Family Band will
perform before and after the ceremony. Safe distancing is strongly urged,
and attendees should wear appropriate personal protection as they deem
necessary.

The parade registration form can be found below: