Republican U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee says he won’t seek re-election in 2020. Alexander said in a news release Monday that he’s deeply grateful for being elected to serve more combined years as governor and senator than anyone else in Tennessee. As a Tennessee native, Alexander is the only Tennessean ever popularly elected both Governor and U.S. Senator. His 2008 general election vote total of 1,579,477 is the largest ever received by a statewide candidate. He has served more than 24 years in public...

Written By: Mary Grace Stoneking, SNAP Community Outreach Advocate, Legal Aid SocietyChances are, if you live in Tennessee, you probably know somebody who currently benefits, or who has benefited in the past, from the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) is used by more than 1 million people in Tennessee — a state with fewer than 7 million total residents. That means more than 1 out of 7 residents depend on this program to keep food on the table as they keep up with other essential living expenses. As we reflect on our...

On Saturday morning just after 7 am, there was a fatal crash involving a 2004 Buick and a bicycle. According to Tennessee Highway Patrolman Sgt. Shawn Boyd’s report, the Buick, driven by 49-year-old Scott D. Ross of Manchester, TN, was traveling south on Highway 53.  The bicycle was being operated by 63-year-old Terry McCullough also of Manchester.  McCullough was on the right shoulder of the roadway, likewise going south. Ross’ Buick crossed two lanes of traffic and struck the bicyclist. McCullough succumbed to his injuries at the scene. McCullough is known to pull a small trailer with his bike...

The Coffee County District Attorney’s office has filed a motion to revoke the bond of Evans Baird age 79 of Manchester. A man that served as band director for 30 years at Westwood Junior High, now Westwood Middle School, in Manchester was arrested and charged with one count of aggravated sexual battery against a 12-year-old. That is a Class B felony in the state of Tennessee. Baird was also the chorus director at the school and was the director of various events in Manchester before his retirement. He was indicted in Coffee County Court on Wednesday, Nov. 28. Now...

Late Saturday afternoon at 5:30 pm the Tennessee Highway Patrol and other first responders were called to Interstate 24 for a one-vehicle accident. According to Trooper Timothy Gossett’s report, a 2015 Dodge Challenger driven by 45-year-old Michael L. Freeland of Hillsboro, TN was allegedly racing another vehicle on Interstate 24 when he lost control of the vehicle. Freeland’s Dodge entered the wood line and hit a tree. Freeland died at the scene from the injuries he received in the...

James Anthony of Tullahoma, a custodian at Hickerson Elementary School who is hearing impaired, was recently the subject of a video that went viral on YouTube and made national news broadcasts. The video featured a kindergarten class at the school surprising him by singing “Happy Birthday” using sign language. Mr. James, as he is known to the students, was a guest on the Pickler and Ben national talk show on Dec. 3. During the show, Anthony learned that he can attend Motlow State Community College tuition-free through the Tennessee Reconnect Scholarship Program. Joining Mr. James on the TV show...