Both chambers of the General Assembly this week approved legislation banning ranked choice or instant runoff voting in state and local elections. Ranked choice voting is a voting method in which voters rank candidates by preference. The candidate with a majority of first-preference votes wins. If no candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, then the candidate with the lowest preference is eliminated and their votes are redistributed among the remaining candidates. “It is a confusing methodology of tabulating votes,” said House Bill 1868 sponsor State Rep. Kevin Vaughan, R-Collierville. “The counting method is confusing and complex, creates a...

he Tennessee gas price average continues to increase, rising three cents over last week, on average. The Tennessee Gas Price average  is now $3.29 which is 25 cents more expensive than one month ago and 89 cents more than one year ago.   The average price in Coffee County has shot up to $3.30, which is a penny more expensive than the state average and 23 cents below the national average of $3.53. “Gas prices are still rising across the state this week, however, at a much slower rate compared to last week,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Upward tension on gas prices from...

By Rosalyn Partin, H&R Block A few days after you electronically file your tax return you can track it’s processing status. The IRS tracking system is updated once every 24 hours, usually at night. You can track your return by using the IRS website at  IRS.GOV and clicking on the link for “Get Your Refund Status” or through the IRS app IRS2Go. You will need to input the social security number for the primary taxpayer, your filing status, and the amount of your refund as shown on your tax return. The refund tracker follows your tax return from receipt...

 A Woodbury man has been arrested in connection with several mid-state bank robberies. Clifton Knight, also known as the breeze, has been accused of hitting three banks in the area over a 5-week period. This crime spree dates back to December, 2021 with the authorities saying he may have been involved in robbing banks between Murfreesboro and Knoxville.   Surveillance video shows the suspect at Suntrust Bank in Green Hills on January 4, 2022. He allegedly demanded one-hundred dollar bills as well as fifties.   A witness noticed his getaway car and took a picture of the license plate, ultimately...

Gov. Bill Lee announced he will share legislation for the new student-based funding formula, known as the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement formula (TISA), on Thursday, Feb. 24.  “After an extensive process with input from thousands of Tennesseans, we are on the cusp of achieving an updated approach to public education that prioritizes students and invests in the future of Tennessee,” said Gov. Lee. “I thank our partners in the General Assembly who have worked with us for months to improve the way we fund public schools, and I have every expectation that we will get this done during...

A capacity crowd was in attendance for the Veterans of Foreign WarsAll-American Post 10904 Community Awards banquet, held February 14 in theCoffee County Veterans Building. Among those attending were Coffee CountyMayor Gary Cordell, VFW State Commander Brian Walker and several otherofficers with VFW Department of Tennessee. After an incredible meal prepared by VFW Post Chaplain Hans Hooker and hiswife, Post Auxiliary Member Virginia, Lloyd Smith performed the NationalAnthem to open the ceremony. Four new VFW Life Members were welcomed to the Post. Veterans MilitarySupport Appreciation Awards were presented to Beth Murphy of HickersonElementary School; Jamie Harden of Harden Signs;...

The Tennessee Department of Health joins partners across the state in celebrating the seventh annual Tennessee Quit Week February 20-25. The Tennessee Tobacco Program will promote this quit campaign between February 13 – March 4, 2022, with this year’s theme being “My Journey.” The goal is to inspire Tennesseans to live healthier lives by taking advantage of the state’s free resource, the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine, to quit using tobacco products. “In Tennessee, 31 lives are lost each day as a direct result of smoking,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP. “In addition to these tragic early...