Category: News

Republican Gov. Bill Haslam has introduced legislation seeking to ban any open alcohol bottles or cans in vehicles traveling on Tennessee roads.
Tennessee currently bans drivers from drinking at the wheel, but does not extend that prohibition to passengers. That conflicts with federal open container guidelines, which causes about $18 million in federal road money to be redirected toward drunken-driving enforcement.
Haslam wants to change the law so that money can be spent on roads as part of his ambitious transportation funding initiative. But prosecutors and police worry that the money they received to target DUIs would be lost under the change.
The governor has said he would try to replenish those funds from the general fund but has not yet made a specific proposal.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is exploring the idea of equipping its troopers with body cameras.
The Tennessean reports that the idea is included in a request for information about the possible purchase. The request also seeks out new cameras in police cars that record incidents on the road.
It says body cameras are necessary for trooper protection and accurate, complete documentation.
Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Bill Miller says the move doesn’t indicate a policy shift, but a search for more cost-effective in-vehicle equipment.
The request says the Highway Patrol will test out some equipment in April. The agency would still need to solicit bids for a body cameras contract.

The Tennessee Department of Health joins partners in the Statewide Tobacco-Free Coalition in celebrating Tennessee Quit Week Feb. 13-17, 2017. The theme for the week-long campaign is “It’s Quittin’ Time in Tennessee” to celebrate Tennesseans who have quit using tobacco products and inspire more people to join them.
The TDH Commissioner will join former U.S. Senator Bill Frist, MD, founder and chairman of NashvilleHealth and Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness CEO Richard Johnson Tuesday, Feb. 14 at the Tennessee State Capitol to celebrate Tennessee Quit Week and discuss opportunities for citizens, government, business and non-profit leaders to partner in reducing tobacco use in Tennessee. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Old Supreme Court Chamber and is open to the public.
Tennessee Quit Week raises awareness of the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine and other free resources available to help Tennesseans quit smoking and/or using other tobacco products. These proven, effective services can double a tobacco user’s chances of quitting.
Tennesseans who smoke and are ready to quit can call the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine, use a web-based program or attend in-person counseling services and may receive free FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy. These services are provided at no charge to participants. Call the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) to talk with a counselor who will help you create a quit plan. For more information and resources or to enroll online, visit www.tnquitline.org.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) recognized South Cumberland State Park on Monteagle Mountain for Excellence in Resource Management for park staff’s work to improve trails, combat invasive pests and provide richer recreation experiences for visitors over the past year.
“All 56 Tennessee State Parks strive and succeed in achieving our mission to preserve and protect unique examples of natural, cultural and scenic areas,” said TDEC Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Conservation Brock Hill. “But South Cumberland went above and beyond in 2016 thanks to the talent and skills of park staff that protected more land and created a better visitor experience.”
South Cumberland also recently acquired more land for conservation and recreation. Roughly 4,500 acres of land has been added to the park, which includes environmentally sensitive and significant areas like bluff lines, viewsheds, woodlands and some of the best outdoor rock climbing areas in the southeast.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to identify a male subject. The individual allegedly entered EZ Mart and then traveled to Tullahoma and attempted to cash in a stolen lottery ticket.
The male then forced his way into the Dollar General store on Highway 50 in Franklin County.
Anyone having any information is asked to contact Investigator Todd Hindman at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 931-962-0123 or Crime Stoppers at 931-962-INFO.

The body of a man who was reported missing out of Grundy County last month was found Monday.
Sheriff Clint Shrum says the body that was found in Grundy Forest is identified as 25-year-old Brandon Lee Price of Tracy City.
Price was reported missing by his family on January 6.
“The preliminary investigation does not give us any reason to believe there was foul play, but we will not rule anything out until the autopsy has been completed”, stated Shrum.
The Sheriff says a hiker found Price’s body in an area between Werner Point and Sycamore Falls.
Investigators originally believed Price was possibly on his way to California where his father lived.
The body was sent to the medical examiner’s office in Nashville.

Gov. Bill Haslam says the state’s move to require all major online vendors to collect sales taxes on purchases made in Tennessee has drawn a legal challenge.
Under current federal law, states are only allowed to require sales taxes to be collected by companies that also have a physical presence within the state. The Haslam tax rule extends that requirement to all retailers with sales of more than $500,000 per year in Tennessee.
The Republican governor says the legal challenge was filed late last week after the state sent out notices to companies about the change.
Haslam spokeswoman Jennifer Donnals says the challenge was filed with the state Revenue Department, but that all details about the petitioner or the petition itself are covered by state confidentiality laws.

The former Sheriff of Rutherford County is now in a federal penitentiary and out of the jail he was being held in that was located in Grayson County, Kentucky.
Robert Arnold was being held away from the general jail population in the county operated facility.
According to the Murfreesboro Post, “U.S. District Judge Kevin Sharp approved of the move into a pod with three other inmates as long as the jail gave the OK.”
Arnold plead guilty in January to wire fraud, honest services fraud and extortion in a 14-count federal indictment. He will officially be sentenced on May 8, 2017.
Previously, Arnold asked to be released from jail until his May sentencing hearing. The courts turned down that request.
The move from a county operated jail to a federal penitentiary occurred on Monday, February 6, 2017.

Senate Speaker Pro Tem Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) has filed legislation requiring photos to be added to the state’s Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, the method used for delivering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to eligible Tennesseans. The bill aims to deter theft and the selling or trafficking of the cards, while ensuring eligible Tennesseans continue to receive the assistance they need.
EBT is an on-line system in which SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, and cash assistance benefits are stored in a central computer database and electronically accessed by recipients at a point-of-sale machine via reusable plastic cards. Families First, the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, uses EBT cards in transferring benefits to eligible recipients.
There are over one million SNAP recipients in Tennessee which costs about $2 billion in federal funds annually.
Under the legislation, those who already receive benefits would be informed of the new requirement when their benefits are recertified. A photo from the recipient’s driver’s license would be placed on the ETB card. If the recipient does not have a driver’s license, a photo would be made upon certification or recertification of benefits.
The bill would also allow card holders to give a family member permission to purchase food on his or her behalf. As is the case currently, the PIN would be required in order for the purchase to be approved.
Tracy says having the photo on the card will give state authorities or law enforcement the tools they need to identify and prosecute fraud and abuse. (WGNS Radio)