Following a nationwide manhunt for a missing Sumner County 3-year-old last year, Tennessee lawmakers last week approved legislation that allows for an Amber Alert to be issued faster in certain cases.
House Bill 2354 also known as Noah’s Law, allows a custodial parent to seek an emergency court order declaring their child to be in imminent danger if the child is not returned by their non-custodial parent in accordance with a current visitation order or parenting plan.
The ruling could expediate the Amber Alert process for certain cases, according to House Majority Whip Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville, who sponsored the bill.
“A missing child must be in imminent danger before an Amber Alert can be issued,” Garrett said. “Unfortunately, that can be difficult for law enforcement to determine in some cases. With this legislation, authorities will have yet another tool they can use to help find a missing child and bring them home safely.”
In order to be declared in imminent danger, a child must have been reported as missing and 48 hours have passed without contact from the non-custodial parent or the return of the child, according to the bill. There must also be a pending custody, parentage, child support, or dependency and neglect proceeding in court.
The legislation is named after Noah Clare, of Gallatin, who went missing after his non-custodial father failed to return him following a scheduled visit in November. The child was found safe in California later that month. However, it took more than a week for an Amber Alert to be issued since the case did not initially meet the imminent danger threshold.
Noah and several members of his family were in attendance when the new law was unanimously approved by the House chamber on Monday, March 21. The Senate approved the bill earlier this month.
The legislation does not limit the authority of a law enforcement agency to investigate a report of a missing child, notify local media about a missing child or issue any form of missing child alert.
House Bill 2354 will now go to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law. Information about Noah’s Law can be found here.
Thunder Radio political forum set for April 7; deadline to submit questions is April 1
In an effort to better inform our listeners and the electorate at large, Thunder Radio WMSR will host a political forum on April 7 – just before early voting begins for the May 3 Coffee County primary.
This continues an election-year tradition for Thunder Radio WMSR that dates back to 2012.
The forum will run from 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 7. The public is welcome to attend the event, which will be held at The Church at 117 (117 E. Fort St.) just off the square in downtown Manchester.
For those who are unable to attend, the forum will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio: 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app, thunder1320.com and Facebook live. There is no charge to attend.
Anyone wishing to submit questions for candidates should do so by April 1 to josh.peterson.wmsr@gmail.com.
The schedule for April 7 is as follows:
6:00-6:22 p.m.: Circuit Court Judge Part 2
Eric Burch
Bobby Carter
6:27 – 6:49: General Sessions Judge Part 2
Gerald Ewell
Garth Segroves
6:54 – 7:16: District Attorney General
Craig Northcott
Felicia Walkup
7:21-7:43: Circuit Court Clerk
Jenny Anthony
Josh Morris
7:48-8:05: Road Superintendent
Benton Bartlett
Scott Hansert
8:10-8:32 – Sheriff
Chad Partin
Alethia Rawn
Candidates will be provided up to 2 minutes for opening statements and 2 minutes to answer questions. Closing statement of 1 minute will be given if time allows.
Early voting is April 13-28. Election day May 3.
Tennessee House passes ‘food freedom’ act
The Tennessee House passed the Tennessee Food Freedom Act last week, which removes unnecessary and anti-competitive regulations on homemade food items. House Bill 813 recognizes the right of individuals to produce, procure and consume homemade foods of their choice. Present law requires a person to have a license from the Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture in order to manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for introduction into commerce. However, present law provides that a license is not required for certain conditions or when food is not potentially hazardous or subject to permit requirements governing dairy foods, poultry or meat processing, or permits for retail food establishments.
“This is an attempt to make it easier for folks in our communities to use (and sell) locally sourced foods to their friends and neighbors that they produce in their homes. We’re trying to make it a little simpler,” said bill sponsor State Rep. Justin Lafferty, R-Knoxville.
House Bill 813 defines a “homemade food item” as items that are produced and packaged at the private residence of the producer. The bill requires homemade food items to be labeled with the name, home address and telephone number of the producer along with the ingredients in descending order of predominance. For information about House Bill 813 visit here.
TAX TIPS: Business tax returns due soon
By Rosalyn Partin, Manchester H&R Block
If you are responsible for filing tax returns for a business, you are probably aware of the federal filing requirements and due dates. But don’t forget about the filing requirements for various State of Tennessee returns you may be required to complete. Here’s a brief listing of 3 annual filings required by the State of Tennessee:
- Tennessee requires all businesses organized as a Corporation, S-Corp, or LLC to file an Annual Report. This report is due April 1 if your business was organized on a calendar year basis. The report can be filed online at https://tnbear.tn.gov/Ecommerce/AnnualReportID.aspx
- A Business Tax return is required to maintain a general business license. The Business Tax return is due April 18 and is filed online at the Tennessee TNTAP website. https://tntap.tn.gov/eservices If you don’t have a business license but are operating a business in Tennessee, you should contact your County Clerk office to see if you are required to register your business.
- If you have a Corporation, S-Corp, or LLC, you are required to file a Tennessee Franchise & Excise Tax Return. The return is due April 18 if your business is on a calendar year basis. The F&E return can be filed online at the Tennessee TNTAP website. https://tntap.tn.gov/eservices
If you have questions about filing your required returns with the State of Tennessee, call H&R Block now to schedule an appointment. In Manchester TN call 931-728-9462. H&R Block Has Your Back!
Medical marijuana advances out of Tennessee subcommittee
The Tennessee House Health Subcommittee advanced legislation last week to legalize medical marijuana in Tennessee. House Bill 2641, as amended, would allow qualified patients to use and possess certain forms and amounts of medical cannabis in the state.
“This bill doesn’t allow us to grow or dispense,” said bill sponsor State Rep. Bryan Terry, R-Murfreesboro. “It decriminalizes patients that could go to a different state and come back with acceptable forms (of medical cannabis).”
The amount of cannabis a qualifying patient could have would not be allowed to exceed 3 grams of Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in a concentrated product or 3,000 milligrams of Delta 9 THC in infused products.
Recreational use of marijuana would still be prohibited. The Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission would also be required to create and maintain a secure online database for qualifying patients, designated caregivers and qualifying physicians, according to the bill. The registry must be accessible to law enforcement as well as qualifying physicians to verify patient authorization. House Bill 2641 will now go to the full House Health Committee for additional discussion. More information about the legislation can be found here.
Medical marijuana has made the rounds in the legislature in previous years but has yet to be passed through the full assembly.
Grundy County’s Meeks named Jail Administrator of the Year
Last week, Grundy County Sheriff’s Department Captain Melinda Meeks was named Jail Administrator of the Year by the Tennessee Corrections Institute.
Melinda has worked at the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office for 17 years and under four different Sheriff’s. In 2017, Sheriff Shrum appointed Melinda as Jail Administrator. She is a graduate of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy and the National Jail Leadership Command Academy.
STATE NEW: Gov. Lee proposes 30-days of tax free groceries in Tennessee
Tennesseans may soon see some relief on their grocery bill. Gov. Bill Lee last week announced his plan to work with members of the General Assembly to suspend state and local sales tax on groceries for 30 days. This tax cut would provide direct relief for working families amid surging inflation nationwide.
“As Americans see their cost-of-living skyrocket amid historic inflation, suspending the grocery tax is the most effective way to provide direct relief to every Tennessean,” Lee said. “Our state has the ability to put dollars back in the pockets of hardworking Tennesseans, and I thank members of the General Assembly for their continued partnership in maintaining our fiscally conservative approach.”
The Governor’s proposal to suspend state and local sales tax on groceries for 30 days will be included in the fiscal Year 2022-23 budget amendment, which will be delivered on Tuesday, March 29. Exact dates are not yet finalized.
Tennesseans pay more than national average for prescriptions
By Nadia Ramligan, TN Public News Service
A recent report found Tennessee households pay more than $6,000 a year on prescriptions, far more than the national average of around $4,000 dollars.
Yesterday, U.S. Senate lawmakers held a hearing on prescription-drug pricing, as inflation continues to drive up prices.
Steffany Stern, vice president for advocacy at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, testified astronomical drug prices for conditions such as MS force most individuals to rely on charity to cover the costs of their medications.
“It’s very common for people with MS like my mom to have to rely on some kind of financial assistance to afford their costs,” Stern explained. “Our studies show around 70% of people rely on financial assistance just so they can pay their out-of-pocket.”
According to a report from the financial resource company ValuePenguin, since 2010, consumer spending on prescription and nonprescription drugs has increased every year. Last December the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform released a report which showed the list prices of several prescription drugs, including insulin, continue to climb.
Antonio Ciaccia, president of 3 Axis Advisors and CEO of 46 Brooklyn Research, said middle entities called Pharmacy Benefit Managers, who work to negotiate drug prices between insurance companies and pharmacies, are partly responsible for driving up the costs of drugs for consumers.
“Relatively speaking, considering their outsized role in impacting the price of medications, they’ve really kind of been overlooked and left to the side in a lot of the federal legislative efforts on drug pricing,” Ciaccia contended.
Last month the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) deadlocked a vote on whether to examine the business practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers, but some lawmakers are urging the agency to take action. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, recently wrote to the FTC, calling for a study on competition within the Pharmacy Benefit Manager industry.
Tennessee unemployment inches down in February
Newly released data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development showed Tennessee recorded another month of lower unemployment in February. It marked the second consecutive month of decreased jobless numbers across the state.
The February 2022 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.4% was a 0.1 of a percentage point drop from January’s rate of 3.5%. The new figure came in 1.6 percentage points lower than the 2021 rate of 5%.
Tennessee employers created thousands of new jobs during the month. Between January and February, workers filled 19,000 nonfarm positions. The largest increases were in the construction sector, followed by the administrative, support, and waste services sector, and then the accommodation and food services sector.
Between 2021 and 2022, nonfarm employment across Tennessee grew by 129,500 jobs. The largest increase came in the leisure and hospitality sector. The trade, transportation, and utilities sector had the second-largest increase, followed by the professional and business services sector.
Unemployment across the United States also dropped slightly in February. The nationwide seasonally adjusted rate inched down by 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.8%. One year ago, the national jobless rate was 6.2%.
A complete analysis of Tennessee’s February 2022 unemployment data, including industry-specific statistics, is available here (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=09111e62a2&e=29851e7b63) .
Jobs4TN.gov (https://www.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=166478db53c066a7d114ea462&id=77b54c7e26&e=29851e7b63) has tens of thousands of job postings from employers in and around Tennessee, including many work-from-home job opportunities.
Tennesseans have access to both online and in-person job seeker services where career specialists can help them devise a back-to-work plan. They can access those services at their local American Job Center or the state’s workforce development websites. All the information needed to get started is available at www.TNWorkReady.com.
H&R BLOCK STUDENT OF THE WEEK – Paisley Duke
Join us at Thunder Radio and Rosalyn Partin of the Manchester H&R Block and congratulate our student of the week – Paisley Duke.
Paisley is a 5th grader at Hickerson Elementary School. She was nominated by her teachers and administrators. Paisley is the daughter of Lindsey Duke.
Her favorite subject is Math. In her free time she enjoys her pets and riding horses. She also likes to play on her iPad.
All students of the week are selected for their work ethic and excellent attitudes in and out of the classroom.
Rosalyn Partin, owner of the Manchester H&R Block, has been inspired to recognize great kids in our community all year long. H&R Block gives each Student of the Week a commemorative plaque, a special letter of recognition and two tickets to Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park.
Job well done, Paisley.
