County unemployment rates for August show the rate decreased in 83 counties, increased in six counties, and remained the same in six counties. Coffee County was unchanged in August staying at 7.0 percent. Grundy County went from 9.7 to 8.7 percent. Cannon County went from 7.3 to 6.5 percent. Bedford County went down from 7.9% in July to 7.2 in August. Franklin County dropped from 7.5 to 6.4. In Moore County they also went down from 7.2 to 6.2%. Warren County’s unemployment rate for August was 7.8 percent, which is a drop of 1.1 percent from the July rate...

In less than six weeks, Tennessee voters will decide on a controversial abortion amendment. Known as “Amendment #1,” a “yes” vote would alter the state constitution and allow state lawmakers to enact tighter restrictions on abortions in Tennessee. A “no” vote would maintain the status quo. Voters will be faced with the decision in the State General Election on November 4. The restrictions would include licensure for abortion facilities, inspections of those facilities, and a 48-hour waiting period for women seeking an abortion. If the amendment passes, basic abortion rights would still be protected under the United States Supreme...

Tennessee is asking a federal appeals court to overturn a ruling that TennCare must provide applicants with a fair hearing if it cannot process their requests on time. States that participate in the Medicaid program are required to determine eligibility within 45 days in most cases. If the state does not meet that deadline, the applicants are entitled to a hearing. TennCare applicants filed suit earlier this year complaining that their applications had been pending for months and the state had refused to provide hearings. The state has blamed all delays on the federal government. But in a Sept....