Latest Headlines
Daylight Saving Time Year-Round Bill Passes in the House
The Tennessee House has advanced a proposal that would keep the state on daylight saving time year-round. House members voted 86-5 on Monday for legislation that would scrap the twice-annual time shift – but only if Congress first passes a federal law allowing states to observe daylight saving year-round and the proposal was later adopted by te Tennessee General Assembly. The bill must still pass the Senate. Other states are considering similar conditional legislation. President Donald Trump also likes the idea of permanent daylight saving nationwide. Daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday of March, when clocks move...
“Stop. Trains Can’t.” Campaign Rolls Along in Tennessee
A campaign designed to encourage people to use greater caution at railroad crossings has been relaunched. The campaign – which costs $5.6 million and is called “Stop. Trains Can’t.” – is spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Railroad Administration. According to a release from the Department of Transportation, 270 people were killed at railroad crossings alone. 99 of those deaths were after drivers attempted to go around lowered crossing gate arms, which USDOT points out that this is a ten-year high. The number of people who have died while trying...
Gov Lee’s Voucher-like Proposal Moves Forward by One Vote
An already contentious voucher-like proposal took a dramatic turn in Tennessee as Republican leaders refused to acknowledge a vote spiking the proposal on the House floor and Senate leaders advocated for a drastically different version. Tuesday’s action marked the latest evolution stemming from Gov. Bill Lee’s education savings account proposal – known as a voucher-style program allowing families to take public dollars to pay for private school tuition and other expenses. In the House, Speaker Glen Casada refused to accept a vote tally spiking the voucher bill by just one vote. Instead, he held the floor for more than...
D.A. Corrects Released Information–Tullahoma Police Chief Pleads No Contest and Resigns Position
According to Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott, Tullahoma Police Chief Paul Blackwell pled to a no contest (not admitting guilt) on Monday. This was in reference to tampering with evidence. Blackwell resigned his position from the City of Tullahoma and gave up his police certification. He received a four-year sentence that is deferred, meaning he will serve that sentence on probation. He can have his record expunged if his record is clean after that period of time. District Attorney Craig Northcott had originally told WMSR News that Blackwell pled to Class C felony but later corrected that information:...
Pedigo Named Interim Director of Coffee County Schools
WMSR News reported earlier this month that the Roane County school board had selected Coffee County Director of Schools Dr. LaDonna McFall to be their next director. On Monday afternoon the Coffee County School Board, on a 6-0 vote selected former Deputy Director Joe Pedigo as interim director. Esther Sims was absent from the meeting. McFall will continue as director until May 9 and Pedigo will take over at that time. Pedigo will begin work on May 1 as deputy director until May 9 and then will become interim director. The length of his term will be on a...
Bond Hearing set for James Richard McCoy, Jr.–Accused of 1st Degree Murder
On Friday (April 26, 2019) James Richard McCoy, Jr., will be in court for a bond hearing. McCoy’s attorney Doug Aaron will be asking for a bond to be set. He has been housed with no bond at the Coffee County Jail since his arrest for 1st Degree Murder, Tampering with Evidence, Domestic Violence and Abuse of a Corpse. On September 9, 2018, 46-year-old Lisa McCoy of Manchester was found deceased by Manchester Police. She had been shot several times at her home on Duck River Road. The woman’s husband, 54-year-old James Richard McCoy, Jr., was charged with the...
National Day of Prayer Event set for Manchester
The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. In 1988, President Reagan signed an amendment to the law that designated the first Thursday of May as the National Day of Prayer. On May 2, 2019, the Manchester National Day of Prayer will be held in the board room at the Manchester City Hall building. Marylyn Howard told WMSR...
Safety Tips for those going to NFL Draft
As many as 300,000 spectators are expected in downtown Nashville when the National Football League (NFL) holds its annual draft from April 25 – 27, 2019, in Music City. The event, which is free and open to the public, will bring worldwide attention to Tennessee. To assist those who might be attending the event, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) is offering safety, insurance, and scam prevention tips. OUTDOOR EVENT SAFETY. Attending an outdoor event with thousands of people creates unique safety challenges. Remember these tips to stay safe: • Familiarize yourself with the locations of medical...
