Category: News

The Tennessee Finance Commissioner says the state’s overall revenue collections for November are slightly more than they were this time last year.
The commissioner said Tuesday that November collections were $768.2 million, which is 0.35% above last November.
He said November collections for this year were $17 million less than the budgeted estimate, and the general fund fell short by $13.6 million.

Gov. Bill Haslam has decided not to create a state-run health insurance exchange, leaving the operation to the federal government. Haslam announced his decision during a speech Monday. The governor, who had until Friday to decide, said the lack of information from the federal government was “scary.” The exchanges, part of the federal health care overhaul, create new online markets where consumers will be able to buy individual private health insurance coverage. Haslam previously said the state likely could run an exchange more efficiently but acknowledged getting legislative approval would be difficult. Many Republican lawmakers ran for office on a platform of opposing President Barack Obama’s health care plan. Tea party supporters protested the idea of a state-run exchange outside the Capitol last week, deriding it as “Haslamcare.”

Olde Towne Christmas Stroll, a longstanding Tullahoma Tradition… The city invites you to join them Tuesday, December 11 from 5pm – 8 pm. This free musical celebration takes place in Tullahoma’s historic district at sites delineated by luminaries. In keeping with the spirit of Christmas, the city asks you to bring a newly wrapped toy for Toys for Tots or non-perishable food item.

The murder trial of a Manchester man wrapped up on Friday in Coffee County Circuit Court. Jeffrey Smithson was accused of murdering his 81-year-old aunt Virginia White in August of 2011 in her Ingram Place Apartment in Manchester. A jury on Friday found Smithson guilty of first degree murder, first degree felony murder, theft of over $1,000, and especially aggravated robbery. White’s body was discovered after neighbors reported not seeing her. She was found with panty hose wrapped around her neck, blood on her face and she had what turned out to be a blow to the back of her head.
Smithson went on the run and was found a few days later in a field in Cannon County. He has been held in the Coffee County Jail under a $1 million bond. After hearing testimony from Virginia White’s sons, that brought some to tears, Jeffrey Smithson was sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole.

Recently elected State Senator Janice Bowling of Tullahoma is fighting her removal from the Tennessee Republican Party’s executive committee for having missed three consecutive meetings.
State Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney said automatic removal is in the bylaws and she was removed after missing a Dec. 1 executive committee meeting. Bowling contends she didn’t miss three “consecutive” meetings.
She said she missed last week’s meeting because of a secondary infection due to a “severe allergic reaction.” She said she ran a high fever and had to be treated with antibiotics.
Bowling claims she suspects the cause of her illness was black mold in her assigned Senate office.
She said she notified party official she would have to miss the meeting.
State Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney has said automatic removal is in the bylaws.

As the number of motorcyclists killed in crashes continues to climb in Tennessee, an audit shows that federal grants used to increase motorcycle safety is too restrictive.
The Tennessean reports the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that there were too many restrictions on $45.9 million in federal grants given to states. The audit found states would see more benefits with fewer limitations, for instance being able to choose whether to offer driving education courses or more traffic enforcement.
The number of motorcyclists killed has surged this year. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security says 133 people had died in motorcycle crashes by Tuesday compared to 114 for all of 2011.

A treasure of Tennessee history is coming back to life.
State officials are starting to move back into the state Capitol building.
The building has been closed for several months for renovations.
Among the big projects was updating the air conditioning system. The old system was so old they couldn’t find parts anymore.
Visitors to the Capitol will notice other changes.
The renovations came in on time and under budget, about $15.7 million of your tax dollars went to update the 153-year-old building.

While Republican U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais may have persevered over a series of damaging revelations to win a second term in Congress, he all but exhausted his campaign account to do so.
DesJarlais, a Jasper physician who had sexual relationships with patients and once urged 1 of them to seek an abortion, spent $1.25 million on his campaign to defeat Democratic challenger Eric Stewart of Winchester and was left with just $15,660 on hand when the dust settled.
DesJarlais was left largely isolated in Congress following his victory, but has rebuffed calls that he either resigns or abandons plans to run for another term.
Several Republicans have publicly stated their interest in running for the 4th District seat in 2014, and DesJarlais’ depleted campaign coffers will likely give them more hope.

The murder trial of a Manchester man wrapped up on Friday in Coffee County Circuit Court. Jeffrey Smithson was accused of murdering his 81-year-old aunt Virginia White in August of 2011 in her Ingram Place Apartment in Manchester. A jury on Friday found Smithson guilty of first degree murder, first degree felony murder, theft of over $1,000, and especially aggravated robbery. White’s body was discovered after neighbors reported not seeing her. She was found with panty hose wrapped around her neck, blood on her face, and she had what turned out to be a blow to the back of her head.
Smithson went on the run and was found a few days later in a field in Cannon County. He has been held in the Coffee County Jail under a $1 million bond. After hearing testimony from Virginia White’s sons that brought some to tears, Jeffrey Smithson was sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole.

The murder trial of Jeffrey Smithson continues in Coffee County Circuit Court today.
Smithson is accused of murdering his 81-year-old aunt Virginia White in August 2011 at her residence at Ingram Apartments in Manchester. The case expected to go to the jury today.
Yesterday testimony was presented by experts from the TBI Crime Lab concerning DNA samples derived from evidence. Also presented was evidence from Smithson’s cellphone of where he allegedly texted an individual wanting morphine after the death of White. The state medical examiner testified yesterday afternoon.