Motlow State Community College will re-open its campuses to in-person students for the fall semester. Motlow’s re-opening aligns with the Tennessee Board of Regents institutions across the state. The college began initiating its return to campus plan beginning May 10. Specific details for accessing campuses and services are available at www.mscc.edu or by calling 1-800-654-4877 between 8 am – 4:30 pm...

Both Tennessee chambers unanimously approved House Bill 1047 which requires ‘truth in sentencing’ for violent criminals and sex offenders.  The bill requires any person convicted of violent or sexual offenses that typically target women and children to serve their full sentencing term as assigned by a jury or judge. It applies to offenses like rape, sexual battery, continuous sexual abuse of a child, sexual battery by an authority figure, incest, promoting prostitution, aggravated child abuse, domestic assault, aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and trafficking for a commercial sex act.   While House Bill 1047 does not remove judicial discretion,...

After holding steady last week, gas prices in Tennessee rose three cents, on average, over the last week. The Tennessee Gas Price average  is now $2.72 which is 3 cents more than one month ago and $1.12 more than one year ago.  As of Monday, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Coffee County was $2.64, which is 8 cents below the state average and 32 cents below the national average of $2.96.“The shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline late last week will likely have implications on both gasoline supply and prices in Tennessee, and those could happen as early as this week,”...

Those wishing to receive COVID-19 vaccination in Coffee County will have multiple opportunities to do so over the coming weeks with no appointments needed. On Monday, vaccinations are available at the Manchester Health Department from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and at the Tullahoma Health Department from 4:30-6:30 p.m. On Tuesday, vaccinations are available from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the Manchester Health Department, 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Tullahoma Health Department and a pop up vaccination site will be located near Interstate 24 Exit 105 from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday Manchester Health Department, 9-11 a.m. Tullahoma Health Department, 9-11 a.m. Southern Family Markets...

Before adjourning last week, the Tennessee General Assembly approved legislation creating the Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission. The commission will serve as a nonpartisan, medically-focused entity that will study federal and state laws regarding legalization of medical marijuana. House Bill 490 requires the commission to make recommendations to the General Assembly on ways to implement an effective, patient-centered medical cannabis program in Tennessee upon the reclassifying of marijuana on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s list of Schedule I drugs. The current classification of marijuana by the federal government makes it illegal to use the drug, even for medicinal purposes.  The bill adds...

By Nadia Ramligan, TN Public News Service Tennesseans historically have had few opportunities for public participation in the redistricting process, and this year, some advocacy groups are working to change that. Shanna Singh Hughey, president of the nonpartisan think tank ThinkTennessee, said in past once-in-a-decade cycles, residents have mostly submitted draft maps or shared their opinions with their legislators. But in the previous cycle, she said, only four draft maps were submitted. “One extremely important opportunity for the public is the ability to submit their input and draft maps,” Hughey contended. Hughey believes lawmakers should maintain websites that serve as...

Officials with Capstar Bank of Manchester went to Coffee County Central High School Lady Raider Softball Field (Terry Floyd Field) on Thursday to make a donation to the program. The donation was sizable – and was used to pay for the purchase of a storage shed placed outside the fence down the right field line. The shed is used for field tool storage. “We’ve been needing something like this for a while,” explained Coffee County softball coach Brandon McWhorter. “We were storing all of our field tools in one small room attached to the visitor’s dugout and it just...

On Tuesday, May 4, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Chattanooga District responded to a BOLO from the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) that their troopers were in pursuit of a stolen Rolls-Royce out of Georgia. THP Sergeant David McVey observed the stolen vehicle speeding at 177 mph on I-24 WB in Marion County, Tennessee. The stolen vehicle then passed a Porsche 944 and caused the driver of the Porsche to crash into the rear of the Rolls-Royce. Both vehicles pulled to the shoulder of I-24 at the 127 mm just outside of Coffee County, where two males exited the Rolls-Royce...