Attorney General William P. Barr and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex M. Azar III, together with multiple law enforcement partners, on Wednesday announced enforcement actions involving 60 charged defendants across 11 federal districts, including 31 doctors, 7 pharmacists, 8 nurse practitioners, and 7 other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in the illegal prescribing and distributing of opioids and other dangerous narcotics and for health care fraud schemes. On April 16, 2019, a federal grand jury indicted Dr. Harrison Yang, 75, of Manchester, Tennessee, with healthcare fraud violations. This case was investigated by the...

While an effort to enact an abortion heartbeat bill failed last week, anti-abortion lawmakers have refocused their efforts to enact a “trigger” bill that would ban abortions in Tennessee should the Supreme Court alter or overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. The trigger bill, formally known as the “Human Life Protection Act,” had taken a back seat in the General Assembly to the heartbeat bill, which would have banned abortions after a fetal heartbeat could be detected-typically about six weeks into a pregnancy. But even as the heartbeat bill gained traction, including the support of Gov. Bill Lee,...

A bill banning most cell phone use while driving could soon be one of Tennessee’s new rules of the road. The measure passed the State House in a close vote. The bipartisan bill, which is up for a vote in the Senate next week, will likely face similar circumstances there as well. Tennessee ranks No. 1 in deaths due to distracted driving according analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. The new bill would allow for hands-free devices to be used while driving. Violators would have to...

Motlow State Community College is the top performing institution among all colleges and universities in The College System of Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). The numbers affirming this recognition are a product of a review of the state’s higher education performance funding formula that was published this spring. Based on Motlow’s stellar performance, THEC recommended the college receive an increase of 16.6 percent for the 2019-2020 academic year in order to further its service to a growing number of students. Tennessee’s higher education funding model was launched as part of a comprehensive reform agenda in...

COFFEE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION 1343 McArthur Street Manchester, Tennessee 37355 Telephone: 931-723-5150 Facsimile: 931-723-8285 TO: All Board Members FROM: Brett Henley, Chairman SUBJECT: Special Called Meeting DATE: April 22, 2019 TIME: 4:30 p.m. PLACE: Coffee County Board of Education AGENDA I. Call to Order II. Agenda Items 1. Appoint Interim Director of Schools 2. Request to video record the May 13, 2019 board meeting 3. 2019-2020 Budget ***This portion of the meeting is closed to the public*** I. Executive...

The number of confirmed E. coli infections in Tennessee has grown from 21 to 26, according to the latest counts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People typically become sick from E. coli two to five days after being infected. Symptoms include diarrhea, severe stomach cramps and vomiting, and anyone experiencing these should see a doctor. Deputy State Epidemiologist Dr. John Dunn anticipates there will be more cases. While a common strain of E. coli – called 0157 – is a known culprit for making people sick, Dunn points out that the particular strain causing illness in...

The Tennessee Department of Transportation will suspend all interstate construction work this Easter weekend in anticipation of increased holiday travel. TDOT crews and contractors will stop all road construction work that requires lane closures beginning Thursday at 6pm through Monday, April 22nd at 6am. This will provide maximum roadway capacity to motorists expected to travel across the state this holiday weekend. Motorists will still encounter some long-term lane closures on construction projects that will remain in...

Tennessee’s overall fire death rate continues to decline following the national downward trend in the reduction of fire deaths according to statistics compiled in the recently completed annual report for the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO). The report, which includes details of Tennessee’s overall declining fire death rate along with statewide fire prevention and education efforts, compiles data provided by fire departments from across the Volunteer State along with information, statistics, and advancements made by the SFMO’s eight sections. Tennessee, which has historically ranked among the highest states with civilian fire deaths, is now ranked No. 11 in...